c56: Concept Indoctrination
After returning home, Gen Uchiha stripped off his shinobi armor and fitted mission gear, walked into the bathroom, and took a hot shower to rinse away the sweat and fatigue from his recent assignment. Emerging refreshed, he dressed in a traditional black-bottomed Uchiha clan robe, patterned with subtle moiré wave designs, a style favored by high-standing members of the clan.
He strolled to the refrigerator, retrieved a can of chilled citrus juice his preferred drink after missions and sat on the sofa, slowly sipping. After lying down for a brief moment to rest, he reached for his finely crafted Kusanagi sword, secured it to his belt, and stepped out once more.
"Xuan is back. He looks especially handsome today."
"Thank you for the compliment, ma'am," he replied, nodding politely to the older clan member.
"Xuan, heading out again?"
"Just going to the training ground," he answered casually.
"You work so hard. No wonder they call you one of the Uchiha Twin Stars."
"Uncle, that's far too generous."
"Xuan, I heard your performance at the Kikyo Pass was outstanding. Fugaku-sama was pleased."
"I'm just grateful I didn't bring shame to the Uchiha name."
"You're one of the clan's great hopes."
"…"
By now, Gen Uchiha's name had gained significant recognition within the clan, especially among the younger generation. Previously, he walked beside his peers—Shisui, Itachi, and occasionally Obito drawing less attention. But now, moving alone, clan members frequently stopped to greet him with warmth and admiration.
Gen didn't allow the attention to go to his head. He responded to every greeting with modesty and grace, never acting superior despite his rapid rise in status.
This humility won him quiet respect from the common members of the Uchiha. While many Uchiha shinobi treated civilians with a neutral or occasionally cold indifference some appearing aloof or self-important Gen maintained the rare balance of confidence without arrogance.
As he strolled toward the Uchiha clan's Third Training Ground, he exchanged light conversation with several clansmen. Arriving shortly after, he spotted Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi deep in shurikenjutsu training amidst the dense woodland of the training area.
"Xuanzu finally arrives," Shisui said with mock frustration, watching Gen approach with his usual relaxed pace.
"I went home, took a shower, rested a bit," Gen replied lazily. "Then I ran into half the clan along the way. You know how that goes."
Without waiting for a reply, Gen leapt lightly into the trees, landing on a thick branch and reclining comfortably against the trunk.
"You're not training?" Shisui asked, pausing mid-throw.
"Do I look like I dressed for training today?" Gen gestured to his robe with a smirk. "I came here to chat, not sweat."
"Chat, huh?" Shisui's eyes lit up with interest. "I'm in. What are we talking about?"
He always enjoyed talking with Gen there was always something new to learn, and Gen's worldview was often far broader than others their age. Every conversation with him felt like peeling back the curtain on a deeper reality.
Shisui stopped his throwing practice, leapt into the tree, and landed beside Gen with easy familiarity.
"I didn't have a specific topic in mind," Gen said, resting one arm behind his head. "Anything on your mind?"
Shisui was silent for a moment. Then he recalled something from earlier in the week. While training with Itachi, the younger boy had asked him a piercing question: "Why do wars happen?" Shisui had answered reflexively"Because of hatred." But the answer had felt incomplete, simplistic.
He wanted to know what Gen who always seemed to think a few steps ahead would say.
"How about war?" Shisui said finally. "Why does war happen?"
At that, Uchiha Gen gave a small smile, unsurprised by the question. He had expected Shisui to choose something thoughtful and weighty—not just idle conversation.
And just like that, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
The wind rustled through the leaves overhead. Itachi, still training quietly nearby, slowed his pace, ears perking up, sensing that something deeper than sparring or clan politics was about to be discussed.
Uchiha Itachi, who had been practicing with focused intensity, pricked up his ears when he heard the conversation shift. He, too, was curious what kind of thoughts would the person whom Brother Shisui admired so deeply hold?
"Shisui, what's your take on it?"
"I think it's because of hatred," Shisui answered after a pause, "but… I've always felt it's not that simple. I just can't seem to grasp the deeper reasons." He scratched his head, looking sheepish.
"In my view, hatred is indeed a factor but only a symptom. It's not the true root."
"Then what do you think the essence is?"
"I think the essence is competition over resources."
"Resources?" Shisui repeated, blinking in thought.
"Yes. Look at the Land of Fire. It's the richest nation in the entire ninja world."
"The Land of Fire has abundant natural forests, fertile soil, clean water, rich minerals, and a mild, stable climate."
"Wait, climate is a resource?" Shisui asked, surprised.
"Of course. Who wouldn't want to live in a region with fresh air and consistent weather patterns? A stable climate supports agriculture, trade, and infrastructure."
"That makes sense."
"The Fire Country's geography and climate have allowed it to support a large population. Its agriculture is advanced, its commerce flourishes, and its economy is robust. Even though other great nations like the Land of Wind or the Land of Earth have strengths in specific areas, they can't match the overall balance and prosperity of the Land of Fire."
"And if one country flourishes far more than the others, do you think the rest won't desire a piece of it for their own survival, development, or national pride?"
"If you look back at the First, Second, and Third Great Ninja Wars were any of them started by Konoha or the Land of Fire?"
Shisui's eyes narrowed as he began to connect the dots. After Gen's earlier suggestions, he had started reading clan archives and Konoha's military records. He'd only skimmed through a portion, but he could recall some major details.
Thinking back on it, he realized that Konoha had never been the aggressor in any of the major ninja wars. In each case, Konoha was drawn into the conflict as a defender besieged by a coalition of other villages, though the number of enemy factions varied.
The Third Great Ninja War had involved the most aggressive coalitions yet, with more than four minor hidden villages attacking Konoha from different fronts.
In that brutal conflict, even with its strong ninja force, Konoha suffered devastating losses.
"You're right. Konoha never initiated any of the wars."
Shisui nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with realization.
By now, Uchiha Itachi had completely stopped practicing and was standing silently beneath the tree, listening closely to every word.
"Hatred," Gen continued, "is a tool. A convenient excuse used by political leaders to incite the masses, boost morale, and justify violence. It creates a moral high ground—so they can wage war in the name of justice, when in truth they're pursuing advantage."
"And that advantage includes personal power, national interest, village prosperity, and economic control."
"Besides resources, other causes of war include ideological conflict, territorial disputes, political agendas, and unresolved historical grievances."
"Can you explain those more?" Shisui asked with interest.
At that moment, Uchiha Itachi, unable to hold back, cautiously approached and stood at the base of the tree, looking up.
Gen glanced down at him briefly, a faint smile playing at the edge of his lips, then continued, "What I'm about to say isn't doctrine it's just how I've come to understand it. Take it as family discussion, not absolute truth."
"Ideological conflict," Gen began, "refers to differences in belief systems, values, and cultural identity."
"Like the cult-like sects scattered throughout the shinobi world. Some follow doctrines so different, even opposite, to others that peaceful coexistence becomes impossible."
"When persuasion fails, and peaceful negotiation is no longer viable, it often leads to forced conversion or violent suppression. That sparks war."
"Territorial disputes are easier to grasp. While the Five Great Nations have established borders, minor nations frequently clash over land."
"And land disputes are almost always resource disputes in disguise."
"As for political motivations those are more complex."
He leaned back against the tree and continued, "Sometimes wars are used by village elites to redirect domestic dissatisfaction. Other times, war is waged to gain leverage in diplomatic negotiations, or to achieve strategic dominance."
"Then there are historical grievances. Old grudges that fester between families, villages, or entire nations. These grudges pass down across generations. All it takes is a single incident a border skirmish, a failed treaty, a betrayal to ignite them into war."
"Wars are intricate and layered, but if you strip it all away, they boil down to competition over resources, interests, and survival."
"Whether or not my view is accurate… you'll have to judge for yourselves in the future. I'm still verifying it too."
At this, both Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi fell silent, each lost in his own thoughts, carefully digesting Uchiha Gen's words.
Shisui reflected on his own experiences everything he'd witnessed in missions and read in documents. The more he thought, the more Gen's explanation made sense.
As for Itachi, he was still too young to form a complete judgment. But something about the conversation had planted a seed deep within him.
A single seed of perspective preconceived, but not baseless. And once future experiences watered it, it could grow into conviction. If Gen's view proved true, the consequences of that belief could ripple outward and shape destinies.
Then, breaking the silence, Itachi looked up with serious eyes, his mind drifting back to the carnage he had witnessed on the battlefield.
"Brother Gen… is there any way to stop war?"
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