It was still by the small river near the Hatake Clan grounds. Several freshly caught fish crackled softly as they roasted over a small bonfire, their aroma drifting through the quiet night air.
On the grass nearby, Uchiha Gen and Hatake Seiko sat cross-legged, facing each other.
The two were discussing their earlier taijutsu training. Uchiha Gen did most of the talking, calmly pointing out the flaws and inefficiencies in Seiko's movements, while Seiko listened intently. From time to time, he raised questions, his face alternating between frustration and delight as he grasped new insights.
After a while, Hatake Seiko finished eating a roasted fish. He casually tossed the bones aside, then looked at Uchiha Gen. His eyes flickered, hesitation clearly written across his face.
"Seiko, do you have something on your mind?"
Noticing the change in his expression, Uchiha Gen set down the fish in his hand and asked.
After a moment of silence, Hatake Seiko finally spoke.
"Gen-kun… it's about my uncle."
"…Sakumo-sama?"
Uchiha Gen paused, not expecting Seiko to still be troubled by that matter. He let out a soft sigh.
"Haven't I told you before? If you can't reach an answer, then stop forcing yourself to think about it. Your uncle's matter is already in the past."
"No—Gen-kun, I've figured it out!"
Hatake Seiko suddenly raised his voice, emotion spilling out before he could stop himself.
Realizing his outburst, he quickly calmed down and continued in a low voice,
"These past few days, I've been thinking nonstop. I even asked the clan elders about what happened back then."
"Only then did I finally understand what might have happened to my uncle… but I still can't bring myself to accept it."
He clenched his fists.
"The most likely truth is that my uncle—Hatake Sakumo—was framed by the Village."
He spoke the final words slowly, his eyes sharp with restrained fury.
Guided by the questions Uchiha Gen had raised earlier, Seiko's thoughts had gradually formed a clear direction. The more he analyzed the incident, the more certain he became that there was something deeply wrong about it.
"But there's one thing I can't understand," Seiko continued bitterly.
"Why would the Village do that to him? My uncle was a hero. Everything he did was for Konoha."
Uchiha Gen looked at him quietly. In Seiko's eyes, he saw anger, confusion—and something darker.
This was the first time Hatake Seiko had truly felt the hidden shadow beneath the Village he loved.
Uchiha Gen let out a short, mocking laugh—but when Seiko's expression tightened, he stopped.
Then, his face turned solemn.
"Seiko… can I trust you?"
Seiko froze for a moment before answering without hesitation.
"Gen-kun, you can trust me completely."
Uchiha Gen met his gaze.
"Then listen carefully. Everything I say from now on must stay between us. Not a word to anyone else."
"I understand."
Only after Seiko nodded firmly did Uchiha Gen stand up. He pointed toward the massive stone faces carved into the distant cliff.
"Do you see that?"
"…The Hokage Rock."
"That," Uchiha Gen said quietly, "is the reason your uncle fell."
Seiko frowned, confused.
"After the Second Shinobi World War," Uchiha Gen continued, "dissatisfaction within the Village grew. Sandaime's authority wasn't absolute back then."
"At the same time, the Sannin had only just earned their fame. Their influence hadn't yet reached its peak."
He paused, then asked,
"Do you know whose name was mentioned most often when people spoke about the next Hokage?"
Seiko swallowed.
"…My uncle?"
"Exactly."
Uchiha Gen placed a hand on Seiko's shoulder.
"If nothing had happened, Hatake Sakumo would have been the strongest candidate for the Fourth Hokage."
Seiko's eyes widened. His face flushed, pride and shock crashing together in his chest.
"Hokage… Uncle…"
After a long silence, he asked hoarsely,
"Is that why the Village abandoned him? Was he… unqualified?"
Uchiha Gen shook his head.
"You don't understand how terrifying the name Konoha's White Fang was across the entire shinobi world. Your uncle was a legend—someone who surpassed even the Sannin in reputation."
"If he had become Hokage, most of the Village would have supported him without objection."
He then changed his tone.
"But there were people who didn't want that."
"Who?!" Seiko blurted out.
Uchiha Gen's lips curved into a cold smile.
"The Village's upper echelon."
"…The Third Hokage?" Seiko asked hesitantly, disbelief heavy in his voice.
Uchiha Gen didn't answer directly.
"The people who truly decide things in this Village."
Seiko clenched his teeth.
"I believe you, Gen-kun. I just… never imagined that Lord Third could be involved in something like this."
Uchiha Gen chuckled softly.
"Do you think kindness and darkness can't coexist in the same person?"
"…Can't they?"
"That just means you haven't seen enough."
"Human beings are complicated," Uchiha Gen said calmly.
"The Sandaime truly loves Konoha. That much is real."
"But love doesn't prevent compromise."
"When someone threatens the balance of power—even unintentionally—dark choices are made."
Seiko whispered,
"Then why was my uncle deemed unacceptable?"
"Because he didn't belong to their line."
Uchiha Gen's eyes sharpened.
"From Tobirama-sensei to Hiruzen-sama, and even the advisors, the Village's leadership has always been inherited through the same ideological lineage."
"The First Hokage was Tobirama's brother. The Second chose the Third. Naturally, they believed the Fourth should follow the same path."
"To them, the Village isn't something everyone shares equally."
"It's something they manage."
"And anyone who disrupts that order becomes a problem."
He exhaled softly.
"Your uncle was one such casualty."
"Just like my clan."
Seiko stiffened.
"Why do you think the Uchiha are constantly monitored and restrained? Why isn't the Hyūga Clan treated the same way?"
"It's simple."
"Only the Uchiha possess the power to rival the Hokage's authority."
Silence fell between them.
Hatake Seiko felt as though his entire worldview had been shaken. Every instinct urged him to deny what he had heard—but deep down, reason whispered that it made too much sense.
Then, Uchiha Gen spoke again.
"Seiko… will you become my partner?"
"Will you help me tear away the darkness of this Village?"
Seiko looked into Gen's eyes.
After a brief silence, his expression hardened with resolve. He extended his hand.
"Gen-kun… we already are partners."
Uchiha Gen grasped it firmly.
Under the flickering firelight, the two smiled—
unaware of how deeply that promise would shape their futures.
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