Shuji didn't reply immediately, instead finding a secluded park, sitting on a swing, toes touching ground, gently swaying.
Itachi followed quietly, sitting on a bench steps away.
He'd felt no initial sense of status. Old estate, elder—once prominent clan, now declined. Common in past lives' places; during salaryman days, his family similar—not quite clan, yet someone managed.
Senju more complex: clan head proactively split, assets divided—condition: change surname. Unchanged kept old estate, remnants.
If Senju brothers lived long enough, Senju would scatter thoroughly.
But brothers didn't outlive Senju Momoka; post-death, surname-changers lost Hokage above, bred unease—linked around sole surviving elder in old estate.
These, via recommendation letter, Uchiha grounds, Fugaku's probes, Shuji gradually sensed.
And Tsunade's attitude, words, Shikkotsu Forest contract—confirmed: in others' eyes, he likely represented current Senju.
Could he? He'd no contact with them. Granny Momoka leaned against non-involvement.
But truly couldn't?
Not really; post-Hashirama, Senju symbolized by Wood Release. Yamato outside bloodline; Shuji pure Senju—show fist, then Wood Release, become representative.
Do so?
In Degarashi, choice made—reality forbade true slacking.
"Itachi," amid swing's creak, Shuji's voice broke park silence. "What problem does Uchiha face now?"
"Arrogance." Itachi blurted instinctively.
Shuji laughed—sound abrupt in empty park.
"Arrogance never the issue."
He stopped swing, feet firm: "Another angle, Itachi—what departments in village?"
Itachi unsure why asked, but ever good student.
"Admin, Anbu, Medical, Education, Interrogation, Police—under these, direct Hokage office: Analysis Squad, Sealing Squad..."
"Your ninja number?" Shuji followed.
"012110."
"Means, to you, registered ninja total 12,110," Shuji simple-calculated.
"Six departments."
"Including all ninja clans, decades, over twelve thousand ninja enterable Konoha direct power organs—only these six."
"Uchiha monopolizes one: Police."
"Police big department, Itachi."
Like silent thunder in Itachi's mind.
Angle never considered!
Always, Itachi felt Uchiha arrogance bred no allies, post-Nine-Tails Night edged to village fringe—dissatisfied clan arrogant, danger-unaware.
"But... Second-sama..." Itachi's voice dry.
"Police symbolizes Uchiha glory—as village-founding clan, Hokage-denied consolation, representing Uchiha status other clans, ninja unreachable." Shuji voiced the rest.
"Since Second Shinobi World War, battlefield-renowned, glory-bringers to village—who Konoha ninja?"
Answer instant in Itachi's mind: "Third Hokage, Sannin, White Fang, Yellow Flash."
Uchiha, besides recent Body Flicker Shisui, and unheralded Kannabi Bridge sacrifice Obito, seemed no more legends thrilling, awing whole Konoha.
Until Third War, Konoha forces strained—Police under Fugaku intercepted Iwa ninja; war then nearing end via Minato's activity.
"Uchiha glory, amid decades' heroes, dimmed—plus three years ago..."
Seeing Itachi's eyes' undisguised shock, faint gray, Shuji consoled: "Police as Konoha guard, generally non-deployable—reasonable."
Here, genuine sigh rose: Second Hokage Tobirama caged Uchiha in "glory" prison—whole clan content.
Uchiha Madara-era Izuna's rebellion attempt caught by Anbu, but Second no clan punish—instead bolstered Police independent kingdom.
Duty-bound, Police rarely main battlefields, yet handled village-disciplined ninja—self-inviting hatred.
With Uchiha temperament, facing overt/covert hostility, alienation—only deepened innate pride, closure, disdain outsiders.
Cycle vicious, Uchiha isolation, exclusion in Konoha—inevitable.
Plus that not-fully-dead revived Obito's deed—no wonder canon Uchiha massacre, other clans barely stirred.
Itachi unconsole; thought Uchiha issue self-arrogance, isolation, high-layer tensions.
Now...
Inky eyes despair flowed.
Such straits—clan, doomed extinction?
"Senpai, already... no way?"
"Of course not."
Tobirama designed left Uchiha path.
Independent kingdom itself huge political capital, ready platform.
Key: Uchiha willingness, resolve break shackles, transform true power source.
Itachi head snapped up, eyes faint light.
Then hand gently patted shoulder.
"Uchiha end not dead end—from start, true chance always in Uchiha hands."
"This path shouldn't outsider-point. How survive, metamorphose—Uchiha own think, decide."
"So, back original question," Shuji withdrew hand, met Itachi's complex gaze.
"My view on Uchiha? None. To view, ideate, decisively act—Uchiha themselves."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild