"Sasuke... Why do you think this way?" After a brief silence, Itachi Uchiha finally asked.
"This matter is already very clear."
Sasuke didn't understand why his brother was questioning him. "It was those villagers who first spread rumors in the village, slandering Kakashi, the village's hero. The Konoha Military Police Force was simply enforcing the law."
"Spreading rumors?"
Itachi was puzzled. He knew that the clan and the Konoha Military Police Force had used force in this matter, but he wasn't aware of the specifics.
"Yes. Recently, the village was full of rumors about Kakashi being a bloodthirsty murderer, saying that the number of his comrades who died at his hands during the Third Shinobi World War was in the double digits." Sasuke explained.
"But even so, the clan shouldn't have used force against the civilians of the village. We are shinobi; we must not use violence against civilians." Itachi said.
"That's not right, brother. Our teacher taught us that to punish without first teaching is cruelty; to teach and yet see no change, then punishment is just. If the Konoha Military Police Force had acted without warning, then they would have been wrong."
"But when the rumors first started spreading, the Konoha Military Police Force had already established clear rules, informing the villagers that such actions were unacceptable. Yet, those villagers still continued. In that case, the Konoha Military Police Force stepping in to educate them was the right thing to do."
"Did he really teach you that?"
Itachi gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe that his once obedient little brother was now saying such things. Was this still the cute little brother he remembered?
"What's wrong, brother? Did sensei say something incorrect?"
Sasuke was confused. To him, this was something even a seven-year-old could understand.
"Of course it's wrong!"
Itachi wanted to correct Sasuke's way of thinking immediately and argued: "The villagers may have done something wrong, but violence shouldn't be the answer. The Konoha Military Police Force had other, more peaceful options. Using force will only deepen the divide between the clan and the village."
"No, brother. That won't work."
Sasuke shook his head firmly. "Sensei taught me that petty people fear power but do not respect virtue. The only way to make them respect the law is to show them the consequences of breaking it."
"Sasuke!"
Itachi's expression became serious. "How can you call the villagers petty people?"
"Brother, that's not what I meant."
Seeing Itachi's anger, Sasuke quickly explained: "Of course, not all villagers are petty, but the ones arrested by the Konoha Military Police Force certainly are."
"Why?" Itachi frowned.
"Sensei taught me that to spread rumors without verifying the truth is a betrayal of morality. People who blindly believe and spread rumors have no sense of morality. If they lack even basic morality, wouldn't you consider them petty people?" Sasuke reasoned.
"That's enough!"
Itachi angrily interrupted Sasuke. He was growing frustrated with Sasuke constantly saying, sensei taught me. "Didn't he teach you about the Will of Fire?"
Itachi's sudden outburst startled Sasuke, who looked at his brother in confusion. He didn't understand why Itachi was so angry.
Realizing that he had frightened Sasuke, Itachi took a deep breath and softened his tone.
"Sorry, Sasuke. I lost my temper. Did your teacher ever teach you about the Will of Fire?"
Sasuke shook his head. "Sensei mentioned it occasionally, but he always said that since the academy talks about it every day, he didn't need to go into detail."
'Kuragami Uchiha is truly up to no good. He teaches all this, yet doesn't teach Sasuke about the great Will of Fire.'
Itachi sighed inwardly. After taking another deep breath, he asked: "Sasuke, do you think what the Konoha Military Police Force did aligns with the Will of Fire?"
Sasuke nodded. "Of course! Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The fire's light will continue to shine upon the village and help new leaves grow."
"Brother Kakashi is a hero who burns himself for the sake of the village. If we are guided by the light of heroes, we should also protect those who burn for the village. If even heroes who sacrifice themselves can be slandered at will, who would ever want to sacrifice for the village in the future?"
"That... is your understanding of the Will of Fire?" Itachi asked.
"Is there something wrong with it?"
Sasuke asked in confusion. "Then how do you understand the Will of Fire, brother?"
Itachi opened his mouth but hesitated. He wanted to refute Sasuke's words, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't find a flaw in his reasoning.
"Brother, if you were a hero who burned yourself for the village, but after everything you sacrificed, people slandered you, and even your family suffered because of it, what would you do?"
Sasuke suddenly asked. Through Kuragami Uchiha's teachings, Sasuke developed his own sense of right and wrong. At the same time, he noticed that his brother seemed to reject these beliefs, so he wanted to convince him.
"I..."
Itachi imagined such a scenario and was left speechless. After a long pause, he finally said with difficulty: "I would endure it all in silence... because we are shinobi. A shinobi is someone who endures everything."
"Brother, is that truly how you feel?"
Sasuke pressed. "You hesitated just now, didn't you?"
Itachi fell silent. He couldn't accept the thought of experiencing such injustice himself.
"Brother, you wouldn't accept it either, right?"
Sasuke looked at Itachi. "Sensei taught me not to do unto others what you do not wish for yourself."
Itachi remained silent. After a long sigh, he finally said: "I understand, Sasuke. Get some rest. I have something to do."
Their long-awaited conversation ended without a resolution.
After leaving Sasuke's room, Itachi let out a deep sigh. He changed into his gear, stepped outside, and disappeared into the night.
Meanwhile, at Shisui Uchiha's home, even though his shift had ended, Shisui was still in his study, carefully reviewing the testimonies they got from the Anbu who interrogated the three clans for their connections to Orochimaru.
At this time, a knock at the door interrupted him. Shisui raised his head with a puzzled expression on his face. Who could it be this late at night?
He put away the documents, walked to the door, and opened it. Upon seeing the visitor, a smile appeared on his face.
"Itachi? You're back?"
"Shisui."
Upon seeing his mentor and close friend, Itachi managed a brief smile.
"Come in and have a seat." Shisui led Itachi inside, pulled out a short table, and the two sat down on the floor.