Bai Ye only saw cannibalism throughout the katon: the will of fire.
For children who haven't reached adulthood, and whose will hasn't been fully formed in various aspects, they are actually influenced to a great extent.
In fact, according to his speculation, Senju Hashirama's original intention in formulating the katon: the will of fire was to make all families in the Village abandon their prejudices and family interests, then disband all families and integrate into Konoha like the Senju Clan.
But is that possible?
It's simply impossible!
And so, starting from the Third Hokage, the katon: the will of fire changed.
Perhaps in his early days, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that his rule had caused dissatisfaction among many people. He chose to abdicate and hand over power to the common Ninja, Minato Namikaze, but he was unwilling to give up everything, still maintaining control over Anbu.
By the time he took office for the second time, the katon: the will of fire had completely become a tool for him to rule the Village.
"Clan Leader Bai Ye, isn't the Village we are in now able to survive because the katon: the will of fire has always run through it, and isn't it because of the katon: the will of fire that it has always maintained its status as the First Ninja Village?"
Shisui's face flashed with a bitter smile, trying to refute Bai Ye, but finding no points to refute, he could only bring up these vague things to debate with Bai Ye.
He wasn't debating for others, but for his own persistence over the years.
"What truly makes the Village number one is not the so-called katon: the will of fire, but people like you and me who are for the Village, common Ninja, clan Ninja, and the efforts of all villagers. If a will alone could make the Village strong, then everyone might as well stop cultivating in the future and just strengthen their will. Why bother cultivating diligently? Shisui, the katon: the will of fire has long changed in their hands. Can't you see clearly what has happened over these years, one by one? The Uchiha and them have reached an irreconcilable point!"
The peace of the Village was exchanged for the sacrifices of others.
If they had all fought in the Ninja World War, then Bai Ye would have no reason. Danzo was still alright, at least he commanded on the battlefield, while Hiruzen Sarutobi just stayed in the back.
And for so many years, those who sacrificed the most have always been these clan Ninja.
Has the Uchiha sacrificed less over the years?
Then why do sacrifices not bring the deserved outcome?
"Do you know why the clan members have always wanted a Hokage to appear in the Uchiha Clan?"
Bai Ye raised his head and asked Shisui.
"Why?"
Shisui was a little confused. In fact, everyone knew that it might be very difficult for a Hokage to emerge from the Uchiha Clan.
However, it seemed that there was always an inexplicable obsession with the position of Hokage within the clan.
Even when the radical faction kept shouting for rebellion, their slogan was to overthrow the current Hokage and for them to become Hokage, not for the entire Uchiha to rebel and be irreconcilable with Konoha.
"Because they paid but didn't get the desired result. For so many years, the Uchiha Clan couldn't even participate in decision-making. The clan members believe that since we have sacrificed so much, we should receive some treatment that we originally deserved, and this treatment has not only not improved but has even worsened.
Over these years, we sacrificed the most in wars, received the least, or even nothing, while smaller clans like Sarutobi, Shimura, Mito, and Utatane, because of the existence of a Hokage and an Elder Council, could always get a lot of benefits, but their contributions were pitifully small. Do you think this is fair?
What we Uchiha want is fairness, fairness, and damn fairness!"
If fairness cannot be obtained, what else is there?
Bai Ye stood up and then pointed outside: "Shisui, come with me to see the clan."
He knew that what he could say had been said quite clearly.
He could only wait for Shisui to think for himself.
And now Bai Ye wanted to take Shisui to see the clan. Over the years, probably because he was ostracized by the clan members, Shisui rarely stayed in the clan for long.
Following closely behind Bai Ye, the surroundings of the Uchiha Clan had all been renewed. Because they moved from that area, everything here was renovated, returning to their original dwelling place.
Everyone in the clan was very satisfied.
At least initially in this central location, many shops required them to walk a long way. Ninja naturally didn't need to worry, but ordinary people had to walk a long way, and not everyone in the Uchiha Clan was a Ninja.
This was the most intuitive feeling: life became more convenient. Previously, they could only do business within the clan because the location was too remote, and the surrounding areas were all other Ninja clans, so they naturally didn't need to come to the Uchiha to buy things.
As a result, many Uchiha goods were not selling well. But after returning here, even with prejudice against the Uchiha, this was the central point with enough foot traffic, so people would naturally choose to come to the Uchiha to buy things.
"Hello, Clan Leader, Big Brother Shisui."
"Sasuke? How do you feel here?"
Bai Ye looked at Sasuke with some surprise. This kid seemed to have just finished school.
He actually met Sasuke for the first time. He had to admit that this period's Sasuke looked really cute.
He wasn't yet in that phase where he liked to show off more the more he got beaten, and got beaten more the more he showed off.
And Sasuke's eyes seemed to show great admiration for him?
"Does the Clan Leader know me?"
A hint of excitement flashed across Sasuke's face. He didn't expect Bai Ye to know his name.
He didn't remember ever meeting Bai Ye.
And Shisui had known Sasuke for a long time due to his older brother, Uchiha Itachi.
"Of course I know. I've heard of Fugaku's youngest son, and he's a genius student at the Ninja Academy!"
"Not really..."
Sasuke was actually a little shy. Being praised by Bai Ye like this, in his opinion, his level was simply incomparable to Bai Ye's.
"He really is a genius. I heard he's first in the school, right?"
Shisui stroked his chin, a hint of recollection flashing in his eyes. If he remembered correctly, Uchiha Itachi had told him about his younger brother's grades before.
As expected of Itachi's younger brother!
Shisui couldn't help but sigh in his heart, talent really is inherited.
"Being first in school doesn't count for anything at all. If only I could be like Clan Leader Bai Ye!"
"Oh? Like me?"
A hint of interest flashed in Bai Ye's eyes. Hearing Sasuke say this, he wanted to hear what Sasuke's opinion of him was.
"Of course, because everyone is now saying that because of the Clan Leader, we can all return to our original base and uphold the glory of the Uchiha Clan. Damn it, I used to think the Clan Leader was inferior to my father!"
Sasuke was very young during the Nine-Tails' Chaos, so he didn't really understand these things.
He only generally knew that the Uchiha Clan didn't originally live here, because he occasionally heard complaints from other Uchiha Clan members.
But it wasn't until Bai Ye reclaimed it, and Sasuke also moved with them, that he realized the Uchiha's former residence was actually in the very center of Konoha.
It was very convenient to go anywhere.
And Sasuke heard that Bai Ye was the one who reclaimed all of this, which made him admire Bai Ye even more.
He had been wrong to think his father was the most suitable Clan Leader.
"Is that so? I remember Sasuke always aimed to be like his Oni-chan, didn't he?"
Bai Ye stroked his chin, and an idea suddenly popped into his mind.
Actually, dealing with Itachi seemed much simpler.
Shisui needed a lot of convincing, and Itachi was hard to fool, but one shouldn't forget that Itachi had a weakness, and that was Sasuke.
If he could abduct Sasuke, it didn't seem impossible.
Moreover, Sasuke's ideology hadn't fully formed at this stage, so he could completely instill his own ideas into Sasuke according to his will.
Instead of letting him follow the bitter and deeply resentful Itachi, it would be better for Sasuke to follow him.
After thinking about this, Bai Ye's heart also stirred.
"That's not the same, I feel I'm just..."
Sasuke was still young, and some things he couldn't articulate clearly at once.
He just felt that Bai Ye was very powerful, but his Oni-chan was also powerful!
But then again, he felt Bai Ye was more powerful than his Oni-chan, because the whole clan thought Bai Ye was powerful. Even his own father had been full of praise for Bai Ye recently, which made Sasuke curious and also had some psychological impact.
"Actually, there's no need for too much instruction, Sasuke, do you want to train with me?"
Bai Ye said directly.
Upon hearing Bai Ye's words, both Sasuke and Shisui were shocked.
"Clan Leader..."
Shisui thought Bai Ye wanted to threaten Itachi with Sasuke.
"It's just normal guidance. I feel Sasuke is quite to my liking."
Bai Ye slowly explained. Threatening Itachi was indeed a bit of that, but he probably also wanted to change Sasuke according to his own will.
Childhood was the easiest time to deceive; once they grew up, it would be really difficult.
Moreover, taking Indra as a disciple and changing his subsequent path should also count as him changing the plot, right?
"Really?" Sasuke looked at Bai Ye with anticipation, but the next second he became conflicted: "But Oni-chan..."
He was actually afraid that if he accepted Bai Ye's guidance, and then his Oni-chan wanted to guide him in the future, he would be very conflicted.
At that point, it wouldn't feel good to refuse either of them.
But he was very tempted by Bai Ye's proposal. Although Sasuke was currently first in the Ninja Academy, he still felt it wasn't enough. He had also heard the legends of his Oni-chan in the Ninja Academy.
He actually hoped to graduate early as well, so he could catch up to Itachi better.
"It's fine, it's just training. So, Sasuke, if you're free tomorrow, do you want to train with me?"
The Ninja Academy also didn't have classes on weekends. On weekends, they either played or trained on their own.
Sasuke wouldn't refuse Bai Ye's kindness, and then nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Then it's settled, Clan Leader!"
As if afraid Bai Ye would go back on his word, Sasuke mentioned it to Bai Ye the moment he turned around.
This child...
Bai Ye smiled. He had to admit, raising a Sasuke seemed quite fun.
"Shisui, let's keep going."
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
Although he didn't know what Bai Ye's purpose was in taking him through the Uchiha Clan, Shisui obediently followed behind Bai Ye.
Around them, people kept greeting Bai Ye. Whether they were elders, children, or clan Ninja, each of them, at least at this moment, was grateful to Bai Ye in their hearts.
"Do you see, Shisui? They just want to live peacefully like this. They haven't done anything wrong. When you were fighting for Konoha, why didn't you look at the children and elders in the clan? You are now leading the clan members step by step towards destruction. They don't want to die."
Behind him, Shisui listened to Bai Ye's words, his heart already turbulent. He also understood what Bai Ye's purpose was in taking him through the clan.
He truly hadn't walked through the Uchiha Clan like this in a very long time.
"Clan Leader, so you are not planning to go to war with Konoha?"
"I've already said it, Konoha is not our enemy. Our real enemies have always been just those few. Ultimately, Shisui, you need to understand whether you are choosing those few people or our clan, and I will handle the relationships with other clans before acting."
Saying that, Bai Ye turned his head to look at Shisui, then raised his left hand and patted his shoulder, saying: "That's enough, Shisui. You probably have your own things to do later, so I won't delay your time. Go think about it yourself."
"I understand, Clan Leader."
Shisui nodded, then watched Bai Ye's back gradually disappear, lowered his head and thought for a while, then leaped away from there.
In a secret forest.
This was where Shisui and Itachi often met. Itachi had been waiting there for a long time. Upon seeing Shisui arrive, Itachi eagerly looked at Shisui and asked: "Shisui, did the Clan Leader want something from you?!"
He felt something was off about him meeting Shisui alone.
"Itachi, there's something I want to tell you."
Shisui was silent for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Itachi very seriously: "I want to help the Clan Leader achieve his vision. At least now I feel he is right, and everything we did before was futile.
Not only are we disliked by the clan, but even the Village doesn't really trust us. Clan Leader Bai Ye is right, most people in the Village don't actually want to be our enemies.
On the contrary, everyone can actually coexist peacefully, but only a few don't think so, and our continued complacency will only lead the Uchiha Clan to extinction. We shouldn't place our hopes on them. At least, I'm a little afraid to trust them now, what do you say, Itachi?"
After Shisui finished speaking, he didn't continue, but gave Itachi some time to think.
Itachi, on the other hand, had a mental breakdown at this moment. After talking for a whole afternoon, you betrayed me?!