Chapter 26: Uchiha

"Is there something you need, Uchiha?" Natsuro looked up at Sasuke, who stood in front of him with a cool expression. He didn't feel offended; in fact, he found the young boy somewhat endearing.

As for the legendary rivalry and competition, he had little interest. While character can be influenced by environment, he didn't feel the need to act like a child over it.

Sasuke stared at Natsuro with his dark eyes, filled with frustration. Finally, he said, "Next time, I will definitely surpass you!"

With that, Sasuke turned and walked back to his seat.

Natsuro was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but smile. Even in the world of ninjas, children remained children. Sasuke's earnest expression and his cool demeanor were genuinely charming.

He even thought about taking pictures to show them when they grew up, imagining it might even bring in some profit.

However, Sasuke's declaration didn't faze him. He wasn't easily surpassed, and though Sasuke was one of the 'cheats characters', it was clear he had a long way to go.

Thinking about Sasuke, he had a positive impression of him. Driven and ambitious, Sasuke's pride, though evident, wasn't excessive compared to other Uchiha members. His declaration was driven by a sense of pride and self-respect, which was understandable.

In his previous life, he hadn't felt the same way, finding him arrogant and unpleasant, particularly towards Naruto. Back then, his simple dislike was based solely on Sasuke's treatment of Naruto and his constant talk of revenge.

Now, he saw things differently. Though Sasuke's pride was significant, it was not at the level of being unbearable, and his effort and talent were undeniable. Compared to other Uchiha members, Sasuke was quite decent.

As for Sasuke and Naruto's relationship, the surface discord was apparent, but there was more to it than met the eye.

Sasuke's desire for revenge was understandable. His entire clan had been slaughtered; why should he not seek vengeance? If he were in Sasuke's shoes, he would never forgive Konoha, and even if Danzo were dead, it wouldn't end there. If Sasuke showed indifference after such a tragedy, he would truly be a lost cause, an unforgivable traitor.

Moreover, Sasuke's focus on revenge might be influenced by the Indra's chakra, but he understood that such intense emotions were not abnormal given his circumstances.

Regarding Sasuke's older brother, Itachi, known for his unparalleled Sharingan genjutsu, he struggled to understand his actions. Trying to ease the conflict between his clan and the village was one thing, but slaughtering his clan when the effort failed was another.

He couldn't comprehend or want to understand Itachi's reasoning.

He knew that if anyone from Konoha dared to harm his mother in the future, regardless of who they were, high-ranking officials or elders, if he had the strength, he would not hesitate to topple the village along with them. No one could stop him then.

Such thoughts, however, limited his perspective. Shinai was living well in Konoha, with a decent job and benefits that allowed her to raise him. For Shinai, it was enough.

So he had no thoughts of betraying the village. He knew that Konoha had many dark sides, some of which were hard to bear. But what did it matter to him? He wasn't a saint aiming to correct all injustices. He was just an ordinary person wanting to grow stronger and protect those he cared about.

Moreover, Konoha's darkness was formidable, but was any other village cleaner? It was merely a matter of degrees. In a world with ninjas, there were no truly clean places.

As for the things he found distasteful, if he gained the ability, he could try to change things. If not, he would simply ensure they didn't affect him or those he cared about.

He had always known he was selfish and had no desire to change that. It was what it was.

Therefore, he just couldn't understand Itachi's actions. Perhaps the minds of those in the world of ninjas had their own logic...

But these issues weren't his concern. Let Sasuke and Konoha's higher-ups worry about them.

Reflecting on the timing, Natsuro glanced at Sasuke and thought about recent events in the village. He didn't follow the village's situation closely but noticed that tensions with the Uchiha clan were escalating.

So, was it nearing the time of the Uchiha massacre?

He considered this. He knew about the event but not its timing. It seemed it might be approaching.

As for the Uchiha massacre night, he had no intention of changing it or getting involved. He was just a minor character. Would he go there seeking death?

Considering his mother's usual routines, she would likely have little interaction with the Uchiha, which reassured him. 

He then reflected on the Uchiha situation. Ultimately, he felt resigned to the tragedy. It was a pity for Uchiha Fugaku, the relatively peace-seeking clan leader. If not for Danzo, perhaps the Uchiha and the village's relationship could have been somewhat eased, though still tense. It might not have reached the point of rebellion.

But Danzo was Danzo. As long as he was around, any attempt by the Uchiha to reconcile with the village was futile. Even alleviating the tension was nearly impossible.

Perhaps Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan had temporarily clouded his judgment, prompting the rebellion? But he doubted it. As a clan leader, Fugaku shouldn't have thought a single Mangekyo could successfully challenge the strongest village.

The rebellion likely stemmed from desperation, seeing the Mangekyo as a last-ditch effort.

Then came betrayal from two accomplices and, ultimately, a disloyal son who wiped out the clan...

It was indeed tragic.

He was just grateful he wasn't born into the Uchiha clan. If he had been, his priority would be figuring out how to escape Konoha. He didn't think he could change the Uchiha-Konoha dynamics, nor did he want to. Perhaps advocating for Shisui to eliminate Danzo?

"Forget it" overthinking only causes headaches. This was all pure speculation thus unprovable and useless so there was no point thinking about it.