Naruto: How to Be an Undercover Shinobi

Seeing Fugaku's puzzled expression, Reiji tapped his fingers on the low table, paused in thought, and said,

"Fugaku, think about it.

You can accept your friend's strengths and weaknesses, right? Why is that?

Because he's just your friend. All you expect from him is companionship in everyday life.

Take me, for example. I have my own strengths and flaws.

But I'm just your teacher—no authority, no status. What expectations do you have of me?

Maybe just that, when you come across something you don't understand, you can ask me about it.

I'll give you my answer, and whether you take it or not doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, it's up to you to think things through for yourself.

But!

It's different when someone holds power.

People with power also carry responsibility.

Like the Uchiha Clan Head—do you think your clansmen support him for no reason?

Absolutely not.

They expect a lot from him. They want him to improve their lives, to lead the Uchiha to greatness, to embody their ideals of what a leader should be.

And are your clansmen all the same? Do they never change?

Of course not.

People are constantly changing. You'll never find two identical leaves in the world.

That means your clansmen have wildly different expectations of their leader."

At that point, Reiji calmly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at Fugaku with a faint smile.

Fugaku stared at Reiji's hand holding the teacup, then hesitantly added,

"Sensei… so you mean I should find the things about the Clan Head that don't meet the clan's expectations… and tell everyone?"

Before he even finished, Rie rolled her eyes hard and muttered,

"You're such a dummy! Why would you tell everyone? Are you upset you haven't made enough enemies? Or is your life just going too well?"

"What do you mean, Rie?"

Still just a boy barely over ten, Fugaku couldn't match Rie's slyness—she'd spent years soaking up everything from Reiji.

Seeing his confusion, Rie raised her palm and tapped it with a finger, annoyed.

"Idiot. Did you forget what Brother taught us?

Power equals desire—and people with desires will always clash with others!

Figure out where the Clan Head fails to meet expectations, then pass that info to his rivals!

Let them spread it. Let them work for you to hit your target."

Fugaku's eyes lit up. He suddenly remembered that secret meeting he'd witnessed between Danzō and the Clan Head at Naka Shrine.

Watching him, Reiji calmly tapped the table and said in a low voice,

"You're right. And Rie's right too. But neither of you sees the full picture."

Without waiting for them to speak, he continued.

"How can you be sure what the Clan Head 'fails to meet' is really failing to meet expectations?

What you think doesn't meet the standard might be exactly what someone else hopes for.

People are different. Don't be so quick to judge things with your own bias."

Seeing the lingering confusion in their faces, Reiji tapped his forehead, then thought for a moment before offering a simple example.

"Let's say I help the widow at the end of the village carry water—do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?"

And without giving them a chance to answer, Reiji went on.

"Some people think I'm a good person—always willing to lend a hand.

Some think I'm a fake and can't stand me.

Some think I have ulterior motives, that I'm after the widow at the village gate because I'm lusting after her.

A thousand people, a thousand faces. Don't waste your time trying to guess what's in people's heads. That's just foolish.

What you need to do is gather every little detail about the Clan Head's daily life. Let the clan get to know him—really know him.

As for how they judge him? Leave that to them.

The more they know, the more complicated their opinions will become.

That's what it means to peel away the veil of mystery."

As Reiji finished, Fugaku suddenly looked up, eyes sparkling.

Sensei, how is your brain wired?! When will I ever be as sly as you?

Off to the side, Rie gave a proud little smirk and teased playfully,

"Brother~ Brother~ I know you so well—how come I never get tired of you?"

Reiji's face darkened instantly.

Because, kid, I'm your "brother" in name, but in truth, I raised you like a damn father! No matter what idiotic thoughts you come up with, it won't change the fact that I practically wiped your nose and butt since you were little!

After chatting for a bit longer, Reiji and Rie saw off a now fully energized Fugaku.

...

Back in the tea room, Reiji picked up his cold tea, took a slow sip, and his gaze dimmed and flickered with thought.

The Uchiha Clan—pride ran in their blood.

Whether it was Kagami's pro-Hokage faction or the Clan Head and the elders who placed the clan above all else, they were all fiercely proud of their name.

Reiji was sure of one thing: these people would rather die than give up the name Uchiha.

But that wasn't the result he was aiming for.

The Uchiha name could remain in Konoha—but it must not appear in the new Amegakure he was building.

Splitting the Uchiha Clan had been easy. But eroding the pride rooted deep in their hearts—that was the real challenge.

At that thought, Reiji's brows gradually knit together as he reviewed every step he'd taken.

He had guided and hinted, pointing Kagami Uchiha toward a path—a hard path, with the destination in sight but littered with thorns.

If Kagami weren't so fragile—if he were more like Fugaku, the brat he had personally trained!

If his skin were thicker than Konoha's village walls!

Then maybe he'd have had a real shot at success.

But Kagami, shaped by his Uchiha upbringing, even with Tobirama Senju's Will of Fire guiding him, was still proud and sensitive at heart.

The best he could do was spread his beliefs and form a new faction within the Uchiha.

And as he rose to the upper ranks of Konoha, his group slowly gained traction.

But Kagami lacked ambition. His faction couldn't hold together, let alone function as a true political force.

Thinking about all of this, Reiji couldn't help but picture Tobirama Senju's annoyingly handsome face.

The students he and his brother raised—what a colorful bunch.

There was Torifu Akimichi, the least remarkable. Then Kagami, idealistic but lacking in execution.

Next came Hiruzen Sarutobi, full of ambition, sharp in execution, and an absolute lecher.

Then Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—ambition without responsibility, neither of them lechers, just two spineless opportunists.

And finally, Danzō Shimura—driven by power, highly effective, but not a lecher either.

Based solely on ambition, execution, and how much of a pervert someone was, Hiruzen really was the most "qualified" to become the Third Hokage.

Truly, the old saying wasn't wrong—moderation wins in the end.