Chapter 38: Let the World Burn

Before Dan could respond, Itachi continued speaking, "When I was eight, my friend Tenma Izumo was killed by a man in a mask, which triggered my Sharingan.

My father, upon hearing this, didn't care about my feelings. He was merely feeding the fish, happily congratulating me, saying that I had truly become a member of the Uchiha clan. I later learned that for the Uchiha, the death of a comrade or loved one is a sacrifice made to obtain the power of the Sharingan. Many clan members sacrificed the lives of those they cherished, using the mental anguish of that moment to stimulate the awakening of their eyes.

Whoever can endure this pain is considered 'worthy.' This is the secret of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, our so-called 'pride.'"

His words were laced with disdain and mockery for the Uchiha. "So that's how it is," Dan commented, though he held a different view. He hadn't experienced the pain of losing a loved one. Instead, he had awakened his Sharingan during a joyful moment of significant breakthrough in his fitness training.

A joyous awakening.

However, he figured Itachi wouldn't believe him if he shared this. Itachi suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on Dan, asking, "Uncle, did you move out because you rejected the so-called pride and honor of the Uchiha clan?"

He wanted to know Dan's true thoughts, whether he, like Itachi, was disappointed and disgusted with the Uchiha clan's customs. However, Itachi was disappointed by Dan's response, "No, I simply wanted some peace and quiet. I didn't think too much about it."

Itachi lowered his head at Dan's words, and they continued walking. After a while, Itachi asked another question, "Uncle, both the higher-ups and ordinary civilians in the Leaf Village despise the Uchiha. Are we truly an inherently evil clan, as the Second Hokage once said?"

"Where did you hear that?" Dan asked back, shrugging nonchalantly, "Why care about what others say? Even if we are inherently evil, as long as we accept our true selves, that's all that matters."

Dan never cared about others' opinions. Even if the entire ninja world cursed him, he wouldn't be discouraged. He would continue to eat and drink as usual, not taking it to heart. Similarly, even if the entire ninja world praised him, he wouldn't feel anything and would continue to be himself.

This is called distinguishing between internal and external matters, discerning the realm of honor and disgrace, and then achieving inner freedom. It's a philosophy from his previous life.

Itachi was surprised by Dan's words, his brows furrowed, "Uncle, your perspective is too high for me to understand."

Dan patted Itachi's head, "You're still young, it's normal not to understand. Also, don't think about things like an adult all the time. Some things don't need your worry."

Some things? Itachi was intrigued. Was his uncle referring to the relationship between the clan and the village? He caught the implication in Dan's words and quickly asked, "Uncle, where do you think the relationship between the Uchiha and the village is heading? Can they eventually reconcile?"

Dan looked at Itachi again, shook his head, and said decisively, "Impossible."

"Why?"

"Since the Fourth Hokage's death and the Third's reinstatement, the day the Uchiha were pushed to the edge of the village by the Leaf's higher-ups, the rift between the two has been irreparable. It will only

grow larger until it completely breaks. Over the years, the higher-ups have used every means to suppress the Uchiha. Under such pressure, the Uchiha will inevitably be forced to rebel and take the path of a coup."

Dan calmly stated his judgment. A coup? Itachi was taken aback. Shisui had also told him that if the hawkish faction within the clan gained power, the worst-case scenario would be a coup.

Unbeknownst to them, the uncle and nephew had taken a long walk around the mountain path, eventually reaching the top of the Hokage Rock. Below them were the majestic and imposing faces of the Hokage, lined up in a row. At this moment, the setting sun cast a warm glow, and a brilliant sunset painted half the sky red.

From here, they could see the entire Leaf Village, its buildings fanned out in a magnificent view. The bustling streets below were lined with shops and filled with people, showcasing the village's prosperity.

However, the Uchiha's clan land was located in the upper right corner of the fan-shaped area, appearing remote and desolate, out of place with the rest of the Leaf Village. It was as if they were outsiders.

A gust of wind blew, causing the hair and clothes of the uncle and nephew to flutter. Itachi, after a long contemplation, finally asked Dan his last question, "Uncle, if one day the Uchiha decide to stage a coup, which side will you stand on? The clan... or the village?"

Dan didn't answer immediately, but instead asked, "What about you?"

"I... I don't know," Itachi replied, his face filled with confusion. In fact, when he, as an Uchiha, said he didn't know, it already indicated that he wouldn't stand with the clan, but rather leaned towards the Leaf Village. In Itachi's heart, the clan had already fallen into narrow-minded tribalism. His guide was Uchiha Shisui, and what he followed was the true Will of Fire that Shisui represented.

Hearing Itachi's answer, Dan wasn't surprised. Although he had decided to "correct" his nephew's personality, changing a person's long-established thoughts wasn't something that could be achieved by beating them up once. It would take several beatings. But today, Dan didn't plan to beat up his nephew.

"As for me," Dan began, meeting Itachi's expectant gaze. He spoke two words, his gaze drifting towards the horizon, pausing for a moment. Dan's thoughts hadn't changed. In his view, the Leaf Village was a terrorist organization, no different from the absurd small countries of his previous life. Its destruction wouldn't be a pity.

The Uchiha clan wasn't any better, a classic example of arrogance leading to self-destruction.

However, if, like in the original story, the Leaf Village didn't pay any price and let Itachi and Tobi wipe out the Uchiha, that would be too boring. For a transmigrator, witnessing the Uchiha clan's night of annihilation was like watching a movie he had already seen. What was the point?

What Dan wanted to see was a fierce battle between the Uchiha and the Leaf Village's higher-ups, a fair fight. In this grand drama, Dan had no intention of being the protagonist, but he didn't mind being the screenwriter behind the scenes, personally destroying the Leaf Village's conspiracy to ensure that the Uchiha and the Leaf Village could fight each other with all their might.

Let them fight. Let them both be severely injured, or even all die, leaving a clean, white expanse where all prosperity has vanished.

Then, the world would be quiet. With this thought, Dan revealed a smirk, telling Itachi, "Whether it's the Uchiha clan or the Leaf Village, I don't care. But I sincerely hope they fight each other. The scene would be spectacular, don't you think?"

Thinking of that scene, Dan couldn't help but look forward to it, feeling a long-lost... joy. Just like when he first awakened his Sharingan. Perhaps, when that day truly comes, he might be able to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan with this joy.

Itachi's expression froze. His uncle's answer was unexpected, leaving him completely stunned. "Why... why?" Itachi managed to ask, coming back to his senses.

"Because your uncle..." Dan ruffled Itachi's hair, his lips slowly curling into a brilliant smile, "Just wants to watch the world burn."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dan's eyes suddenly transformed into the shape of a three-tomoe Sharingan. Although they both had a three-tomoe Sharingan, Dan's eyes were even more crimson than Itachi's. Hidden deep within those seemingly calm pupils was a madness unknown to others.

Itachi trembled, staring at Dan's eyes. In the reflection of his uncle's pupils, Itachi saw the entire Leaf Village, as if it was shrouded in a sea of blood-red flames.

The Leaf Village was beautiful and peaceful under the setting sun, but it was also like a fragile painting that would burn fiercely until it turned to ashes once ignited. At this moment, Itachi finally saw the dark abyss in his uncle's heart.

Uchiha Dan was undoubtedly a madman.

...