Chapter 12 - Uchiha Integrating into Konoha? Weren't they always?
Early the next morning.
Just as Bai Ye was about to prepare for the clan meeting, two figures blocked his path at the room's entrance.
Looking at the two people in front of him, a hint of surprise flashed in Bai Ye's eyes, then he returned to his calm demeanor.
He hadn't expected them to find him so quickly.
"Clan Leader Bai Ye, although it's a bit presumptuous, may we have a word with you?"
Shisui adopted a very humble posture.
Although he was worried that Bai Ye might be a radical, and knew that if Bai Ye was a radical, there might not be much to discuss between them.
But at least he had to try, and since the other party was now the Clan Leader, he naturally needed to be respectful.
"Clan Leader"
Itachi, on the other hand, felt a bit awkward. Although he had mentally prepared himself before coming, a Clan Leader around his age, someone he had even seen at the Ninja Academy.
In the blink of an eye, he suddenly became his Clan Leader, and he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
"Is there something you need? I'm about to go to the clan meeting soon."
Bai Ye pondered for a moment, then stepped aside, inviting the two inside to talk.
"Thank you."
Shisui looked at Bai Ye gratefully, then motioned for Itachi to come into Bai Ye's home with him.
After inviting them to sit down and pouring them each a cup of tea, Bai Ye didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "What do you need me for?"
Although he already knew their purpose, Bai Ye still had to feign ignorance.
"Clan Leader, I want to know how you plan to deal with the issues between the Uchiha and Konoha once you take office?"
Although Shisui was a bit surprised, since Bai Ye had asked twice, he naturally didn't hide anything.
He directly began to ask Bai Ye how he intended to handle the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha.
"Oh? How do you think I should handle it?"
A hint of amusement flashed in Bai Ye's eyes as he looked at Shisui and Itachi and asked.
These two really aren't trying to hide anything, are they?
Are they just here to gather intelligence for Konoha?
"I think we should show Konoha that our Uchiha Clan poses no threat!"
After Shisui finished speaking, he stared intently at Bai Ye, clearly wanting to see Bai Ye's specific reaction. Itachi, beside him, was doing the same.
"How do we show that our Uchiha Clan poses no threat? Should we dig out all the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, or perhaps cripple all our Ninja? If we do that, then the Uchiha Clan would indeed pose no threat to Konoha."
Bai Ye spoke, a cold sneer flashing across his face.
It was a shame Shisui had even awakened his Mangekyo; he hadn't expected his mind to be so simple.
"This"
Shisui was stunned. Right, he had only ever thought about making the Uchiha Clan no threat to Konoha, but how exactly would they become no threat?
It seemed the only way was as Bai Ye had said, right?
"Shisui, you are too naive. Why would our Uchiha Clan be a threat to Konoha? Where did this threat theory come from?"
Bai Ye was still very curious.
Why did Shisui believe the Uchiha Clan posed a threat to Konoha?
And who told Shisui this theory of threat?
"Shisui, if the strength of a Ninja clan also poses a threat to Konoha, then is the Hyuga Clan a threat? Is Ino–Shika–Chō a threat? Are the Sarutobi and Shimura clans a threat?"
"Furthermore, Shisui, there's one more thing I want to tell you: Do you know why the clan members resisted?"
Bai Ye shook his head, looking at the somewhat speechless Shisui, and posed a question.
Shisui raised his head in confusion, then shook his head. In truth, he probably knew in his heart, but couldn't articulate it.
"You know the clan members suffered grievances. Why did they resist? Wasn't it precisely because they felt threatened? When Uchiha Madara said he wanted to take the clan members away, the clan members were unwilling to leave. Why? Because peace was hard-won. If they hadn't felt threatened, everyone would have to be out of their minds to think of resisting!"
It was simply absurd!
Even when Uchiha Madara returned to Konoha, he didn't take the Uchiha Clan with him.
For you to say now that the Uchiha Clan was overthinking it, that's clearly impossible!
If there was no threat, why would anyone resist? Who doesn't want peace?
"Bai Ye, a clan, a clan, why do all Uchiha people believe the clan is the most important? Can't you stand from the Hokage's perspective, from a higher vantage point, to view this matter? If we integrate into Konoha, why would Konoha target us Uchiha? Why doesn't Konoha target other Ninja clans?"
Itachi raised his head and looked at Bai Ye, his eyes filled with disappointment.
He had initially thought that Bai Ye, as a genius like himself, would certainly consider problems from the same high perspective.
But Bai Ye was still confined within the clan.
Could it be that Bai Ye was also limited by the clan?
"Heh heh, Itachi, you say why am I limited to the clan?"
"Exactly!"
Shisui tried to pull Itachi back, but in the end, he couldn't.
Listening to his words, Bai Ye's cold sneer deepened.
"Then why do you limit your perspective to one village? Why not focus on the entire Ninja continent? Sunagakure constantly lacks water, why don't you go deliver water to Sunagakure? Iwagakure constantly desires Konoha's land, why don't we in Konoha give them land? Kumogakure wants our Konoha Kekkei Genkai, so we can give Kumogakure Kekkei Genkai. Kirigakure's economy is impoverished, why doesn't our Konoha send them money? Why do other Ninja villages specifically target our Konoha in battle?"
What the hell!?
This TM is possible?
Shisui's eyes widened, and he was completely stunned.
And what he said wasn't wrong!
"Itachi, first, you need to understand that you are a member of the Uchiha Clan, and only then are you a Ninja of Konoha. If we follow your thinking, then are the branch and main families of the Hyuga also used to oppose Konoha?
Furthermore, what you said about understanding things from the Hokage's perspective—I'm sorry, why should we stand from their perspective? Why don't you stand from the Uchiha Clan's perspective to understand? Why don't you stand before the vulnerable groups within the clan and think about whether they want to be targeted by Konoha?
And integrating into Konoha? Itachi, this is the funniest joke I've ever heard.
Why should our Uchiha Clan integrate into Konoha? Hasn't the Uchiha Clan always been in Konoha? Wasn't Konoha founded by our Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan? How else should we integrate? Should we disband like the Senju? And if we don't count as integrated, then why hasn't the Hyuga Clan integrated into Konoha? Also, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans took away the central area that originally belonged to our Uchiha Clan after the Nine-Tails' Chaos.
I'd really like to ask you, why could they take it? Was it because they had a Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and a Hokage Advisor, Danzo Shimura? Their actions were too unsightly, Itachi. Our Uchiha have always been in Konoha, it's just that those few individuals in Konoha cannot tolerate the Uchiha!"
After speaking, Bai Ye coldly looked at Itachi, whose face was somewhat grim. At this moment, Itachi felt as if his worldview was gradually collapsing.