For a society to truly form as a collective, it must inevitably forget—or distort—parts of its own history.
It was an objective, scientifically observable phenomenon And yet…
It was deeply irrational.
Unfortunately, Konoha’s shinobi had never enjoyed anything resembling a comprehensive education.
The rank-and-file shinobi who sacrificed their labor—and often their lives—for the village rarely understood such things.
And those who did understand them had no intention of teaching them to the people beneath them.
Watching the increasingly agitated villagers and shinobi gathered around him, Kei became calmer and calmer.
That calmness came from confidence.
Not confidence in his strength— But confidence in knowledge.
Kei knew perfectly well that the greatest advantage he possessed after crossing into this world wasn’t merely his “system.” It was his education.
His understanding of history.
He knew exactly how deeply the uneducated revered knowledge.
Otherwise, why was it that throughout history, once a society stabilized, the scholar-gentry and educated elites inevitably reclaimed power from the rough men who had conquered the world through force?
Even in a world with universal compulsory education…
Countless people still blindly believed self-proclaimed experts and sensationalized media.
That was simply human nature.
People longed for knowledge.
Yet…
They were also naturally lazy.
Most people wanted answers…
Without putting in the effort to find them.
And that inevitably gave rise to another instinct.
Faith in authority.
Today…
Kei intended to become that authority.
The crowd became increasingly restless under Kei’s words.
Even Fugaku began to grow uneasy.
For the first time, he seriously considered sacrificing Kei to protect the clan.
The Uchiha Clan had controlled the Konoha Military Police Force for generations.
That position naturally placed them in opposition to ordinary villagers.
It was much like the relationship between law enforcement and street vendors.
Without official backing…
The conflict could only continue to intensify.
The shinobi standing before them had just returned from the battlefield.
They wore the title of Konoha’s heroes.
Behind them stood countless ordinary villagers watching the exchange.
And now…
A member of Konoha’s most infamous clan was openly making inflammatory statements.
If they didn’t do something…
Wouldn’t that disgrace the title of “hero”?
The only reason no one had acted yet wasn’t because they feared Kei’s guards.
It was because they didn’t want bloodshed inside the village.
At least…
That was what they told themselves.
They couldn’t simply kill Uchiha Kei in broad daylight.
But they certainly couldn’t let this villain go unpunished.
A selfish coward who refused to fight while spewing dangerous rhetoric…
Surely someone like that deserved condemnation.
Fugaku knew the situation couldn’t continue escalating.
He regretted raising the matter publicly.
Originally…
He had intended to use his authority as Clan Head to pressure Kei into accepting command of Uchiha forces.
If Kei distinguished himself on the battlefield, the Uchiha would once again produce an outstanding young leader.
Someone who was Uchiha…
Yet not the Clan Head.
That would satisfy both the Uchiha and the Hokage.
After all…
Shisui already existed as a precedent.
There should have been no reason for the Hokage to object.
If Shisui hadn’t leaned so heavily toward the Hokage’s Faction, Fugaku wouldn’t have needed to cultivate another rising star.
From Fugaku’s perspective…
This opportunity should have benefited Kei as well.
Yet Kei clearly didn’t see it that way.
Children really are unreliable…
This youngster simply doesn’t understand a leader’s intentions.
Uchiha Danjō is far steadier.
Once again, Fugaku found himself thinking about Kei’s trusted subordinate.
The older man who managed Kei’s affairs flawlessly.
The one who always anticipated Kei’s intentions.
Who quietly filled every gap Kei left behind.
It filled Fugaku with envy.
Kei’s followers were united.
Capable.
Loyal.
Meanwhile…
His own people consisted either of stubborn traditionalists still worshipping Madara Uchiha…
Or traitors basking beneath the light of the Will of Fire.
Unfortunately…
A subordinate loyal to someone else would never become his own.
Sooner or later…
I’ll put Danjō in charge.
I can’t allow Kei to continue making a mess of things.
Today’s performance had disappointed Fugaku immensely.
Yet…
If one Uchiha stumbled…
The entire clan suffered.
Even though it had been Fugaku himself who proposed sending reinforcements…
If today’s events weren’t handled carefully…
The label of “cowards unwilling to fight” would fall upon the entire Uchiha Clan.
At that point…
They would be forced to send even more shinobi to war…
Only to wash away that humiliation.
That was the last thing Fugaku wanted.
He was just about to publicly rebuke Kei— To pin the accusation of cowardice on him alone— And then order Kei’s faction onto the battlefield by force— When Kei spoke first.
The emotions of Konoha’s shinobi and civilians had already reached their peak after Kei demanded payment.
And when emotions reached their highest point…
That was when a person’s beliefs were easiest to shatter.
The most effective way to destroy someone wasn’t by killing their body.
It was by making them doubt everything they believed in.
Kei smiled.
“Oh?” “So all of you love the Land of Fire that much?” He paused.
“Then tell me…” “When has the Land of Fire ever loved you?” Silence.
Then…
The crowd visibly erupted.
Blood rushed to countless faces.
Several civilian-born shinobi standing in front nearly lost control and almost attacked Kei on the spot.
Unable to solve the problem with violence…
They desperately searched for words to refute him.
But anger rarely allowed room for reason.
Or perhaps…
There simply wasn’t an answer.
The entire crowd fell silent.
“…Huh?” “How could the Land of Fire not care about us?” But how…
Could anyone actually prove that it did?
That question quietly surfaced in everyone’s mind.
Moments earlier, these same people had occupied the moral high ground.
Now…
Not one of them knew how to respond.
The faint smile on Kei’s face grew even more obvious.
One man.
Making an entire crowd question itself.
That…
Was how authority was established.
Kei slowly shook his head.
“You people…” “You don’t even understand the relationship between the Land of Fire and Konoha.” “And yet you’re talking to me about love?” He sighed softly.
“Is ignorance really what gives you the courage to face death without fear?” At that moment…
Kei’s confidence came from every advantage he possessed.
His education.
His knowledge as someone from another world.
Even the natural pride of a great clan looking down upon commoners.
Standing quietly on the street…
He somehow gave even the shinobi watching from the rooftops the illusion that he was looking down upon them all.
He smiled faintly.
“How naïve.”