Chapter 36: The True Cause of Everything

"Alright, I'll tell you, then," Mirai said, his gaze fixed intensely on Shisui. "But remember, this knowledge stays with you alone. You must never tell anyone else!"

Shisui looked back at Mirai's serious expression, his own face growing solemn.

"Don't worry. Even if it costs my life, I'll keep this secret."

"To understand this, we have to go back to the Sengoku period..." Mirai paused, organizing his thoughts as Shisui leaned forward, listening intently. "Before Konoha was founded, shinobi lived and fought as clans, constantly at war over paid commissions."

"The Hyūga clan, the Sarutobi clan, the Shimura clan, the Hozuki clan, the Uzumaki clan... among them, the strongest two were the Senju and the Uchiha."

"Whenever one clan took a contract, the opposing side would hire the other clan to counter them," Mirai continued. "Over time, the Uchiha and Senju grew into mortal enemies, each determined to eliminate the other."

"This hatred lasted until Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha each became clan leaders. Together, they decided to end the bloodshed that forced even young children into battle. Sweeping through the warring states, they established the One Nation, One Village system."

"And so, Konoha was born."

Shisui listened in rapt attention, his eyes wide with wonder. Though he'd read parts of this history in clan scrolls, he hadn't yet encountered these details. Mirai's words opened his eyes to a whole new world.

"After Konoha was founded, Hashirama Senju was appointed as the First Hokage. However, after some time, Madara sensed a grave flaw in the system they'd built. He believed it would inevitably breed darkness, so he chose to leave Konoha."

"It's worth mentioning," Mirai added, "that when Madara left, he urged the entire Uchiha clan to follow him. But his clan members, having grown accustomed to peace, no longer wished to fight. They saw themselves as part of the village now."

So that's how it was…! Shisui thought, though confusion lingered. If the entire clan turned their backs on Madara back then to stay in the village, why have things soured so much now?

As if sensing Shisui's doubts, Mirai continued, "After Hashirama's death, his brother Tobirama Senju took the position as the Second Hokage. But Tobirama was very different from his brother. He was openly distrustful of the Uchiha."

"The 'evil of the Uchiha'... it was practically Tobirama's catchphrase."

"Under his policies, the Uchiha were gradually pushed out of Konoha's central leadership and were even relocated to the outskirts of the village. To ensure the Uchiha wouldn't aim for the Hokage position, Tobirama established the Konoha Police Force, assigning village security matters to the Uchiha."

Hearing this, Shisui raised his right hand. "Mirai-senpai, wasn't giving the Uchiha the village's security responsibilities a sign of trust?"

Mirai shook his head. "Shisui, you're too naïve."

"Our clan's members are often quiet and don't easily express what they're feeling. Tobirama knew this. That's why he established the Police Force for us."

"The village's true safety is managed by the Hokage's Anbu. The so-called 'public security' is mostly dealing with petty squabbles among villagers. And whether we handle things fairly or not, it still breeds resentment among the people."

"Over time, this resentment turned into hostility, leading to the strained relationship between our clan and the villagers," Mirai explained. "Tobirama handed us a weapon... but it was a blade pointing back at us."

As Mirai's words sank in, Shisui felt a sudden clarity, a sharp sense of understanding.

No wonder the relationship between the Uchiha and the villagers keeps deteriorating, no matter how hard we try. This problem began with the Second Hokage's schemes!

After a while, with Shisui deep in thought, Mirai sipped his tea and continued,

"Later, when Tobirama was on his deathbed, he appointed Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage."

"The so-called jōnin voting system was just for show. Despite being one of the village founders, the Uchiha lost all voice in the process."

"And under Hiruzen Sarutobi and his ally Danzo Shimura, who inherited Tobirama's ideology, the suppression of the Uchiha grew, leading to the situation we're facing today."

"Shisui, now that you know the truth, who do you think is responsible for all of this?"

Shisui hesitated for a moment before speaking firmly, "It's the village's fault!"

The answer was clear. The tension between the Uchiha and the village stemmed entirely from the prejudice of the Second Hokage and his successors.

"Trying to change the Uchiha alone is pointless," Mirai said in a low, steady voice. "What truly needs to change is Konoha itself."

"My eyes can see the future, Shisui. If this goes on, the Uchiha are destined for ruin."

"Mirai-senpai, what should we do, then?" Shisui asked, a hint of panic in his voice.

"The village's entire power structure is in the Third Hokage's hands. Changing something that entrenched... it feels impossible."

Mirai's expression remained calm. "The solution is simple."

"Once we possess overwhelming power, everything will change naturally."

Shisui looked at Mirai, startled. "Mirai-senpai, are you suggesting… leading the Uchiha in a rebellion?"

"Shisui, failure would make it a rebellion. Success would make it a revolution."

"But… do we really stand a chance against the village? And if we start a coup, so many lives will be lost."

Mirai let out a short, disdainful laugh. "Remember this, Shisui: they're the ones who forced us onto this path."

"And with me here, things may not be as dire as you imagine. Once we show a strength that makes the Hokage's side despair, their power will crumble."

Seeing Mirai's unwavering confidence, Shisui felt himself captivated. He never would have thought that this young man, just a few years his senior, hid the spirit of a fearsome beast within.

"Now that you know everything, tell me your thoughts," Mirai said with a smile.

"Mirai-senpai, I'll work hard to grow stronger so that your hand is even better positioned." Shisui bowed low, pressing his forehead to the ground in a gesture of absolute respect.

Seeing him, Mirai quietly withdrew his hand from his weapon pouch.

Shisui was only the beginning.

One day, under his leadership, the Uchiha would become a force the entire shinobi world would revere!

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