Naruto: Uchiha's Resolve

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In the early morning, a thin mist hung over the Uchiha clan's territory as Uchiha Kagami walked aimlessly, his eyes bloodshot. He had been wandering the streets of Konoha since he left the Senju compound, and by the time he returned home, his thoughts were in turmoil.

At first, he had been consumed with finding out who in the Uchiha clan leaked the news of Tobirama-sensei's death. But now, calmer, he questioned what good it would do even if he found the culprit. Without the Uchiha clan's support, such sensitive information would never have spread through Konoha so swiftly.

Could Uchiha Tomita, the head of the clan, have orchestrated this? He was one of the few who had the authority to mobilize the Uchiha resources so quickly. But could Kagami really go against the clan leader for Sarutobi Hiruzen's sake? Just the thought of it made his head spin, filling him with confusion and dread.

As he continued down the path, several passing Uchiha members greeted him, their eyes lingering on him with strange expressions. Word had spread quickly; they had all heard that Uchiha Kagami had supposedly abandoned the Hokage to return to Konoha. To them, he was the pride of the Uchiha, a genius, someone who would never act in such a dishonorable way.

"Is it true what Captain Uchiha Hirito said? Did you really leave the Hokage behind?"

"And about Sarutobi Hiruzen becoming the next Hokage—is that true as well?"

Their words buzzed around him, intensifying his frustration and confusion.

"Who are you talking about?" Kagami demanded, his disbelief apparent. "Uchiha Hirito?"

Could it be? Had the one to leak Tobirama's death been Uchiha Hirito?

That thought shook him. He trusted Uchiha Hirito deeply; they had trained together for years. Hirito had always been regarded as a respectable Uchiha by Tobirama-sensei, even seen as someone who understood the Will of Fire. If he could betray that trust, it would be devastating.

Kagami felt a surge of panic as he struggled to comprehend it. "This can't be true. Someone must be trying to mislead me!"

Desperate, he attempted a genjutsu release technique, hoping he was under an illusion. But nothing changed; the murmuring crowd continued to surround him, discussing Uchiha Hirito.

"Enough!" Kagami snapped, pushing past them. He had to find Uchiha Hirito immediately and hear the truth directly from him. Surely, there was a reason—perhaps the clan leader had coerced him into this.

In seconds, he had dashed to Hirito's home using the Body Flicker Technique, arriving with a sense of urgency that bordered on desperation.

"Uchiha Hirito," he called out, catching his breath. "Did the clan leader force you into this? Did he make you go to the front lines and leak Tobirama-sensei's death?"

Uchiha Hirito looked up from his morning training, confused but calm. Kagami's bloodshot eyes and distraught expression must have given him pause. He tilted his head, an amused smirk flickering across his face. "Forced me?" Hirito repeated with a mocking edge in his voice. "Do you think Uchiha Tomita could force me to do anything?"

Kagami felt as though the floor had dropped from under him. There was a strange hardness in Hirito's tone, an unfamiliar disregard that made him seem like a different person altogether.

"Listen carefully, Kagami," Hirito continued, his eyes glinting with something dark. "I'm the one who ordered the security team to spread news of Tobirama's death across Konoha. Uchiha Tomita had nothing to do with it. He didn't even know."

A chill crept down Kagami's spine as he processed Hirito's words. The man before him no longer resembled the person he thought he knew.

"Are you telling me," Kagami asked, voice trembling, "that the Uchiha Hirito who upheld the Will of Fire all these years—was that just an act?"

A brief silence followed. Then Hirito gave a short, cold laugh. "Pretend? You could say that. But it's only natural, isn't it? The Uchiha are prideful, arrogant, and completely misunderstood. Even the most basic courtesies—things I learned as a student, like treating others with respect, greeting villagers, or even helping someone cross the street—are seen as abnormal for our clan."

Kagami's heart sank as he watched Hirito speak with such nonchalance. This was not the Uchiha Hirito he had once looked up to.

"I've played my part well," Hirito continued. "For years, I played the dutiful, fire-willed Uchiha. And it worked. Tobirama-sensei trusted me, as did everyone else. But now that he's gone…" Hirito's voice dropped, and he gave a dismissive wave. "Why should I bother?"

"Uchiha Hirito, how did you become like this?" Kagami's voice cracked as he struggled to reconcile the friend he had known with the person standing before him. "You weren't always like this…"

"Times change, Kagami," Hirito replied coolly, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "When Tobirama-sensei was alive, I kept up appearances. But now that he's gone, I have ambitions of my own. If Uchiha Tomita gets in my way, I'll deal with him."

Kagami was speechless, his thoughts reeling. The man before him was no longer the Uchiha Hirito he thought he knew. He was seeing someone far darker, someone willing to cast aside everything Konoha and the Will of Fire stood for.

"There's no need to keep pretending anymore," Hirito declared, his voice laced with a dangerous finality. "I will become Hokage. And as for Tomita? He can't stay clan leader if I'm to take that role."

Kagami clenched his fists, his heart heavy with a mix of anger and grief. He had believed in Uchiha Hirito, thought he had embodied the same ideals they had shared during training. Now, those beliefs were shattering before him.

"All this time," Kagami murmured, almost to himself. "You were hiding your true self. You pretended to care about the Will of Fire, just to manipulate those around you."

"Think what you like," Hirito said dismissively. "But don't waste your breath questioning me any further. I've told you the truth."

End of the Chapter.

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