Starting with the Uchiha clan, they began cultivating demonic arts.

Chapter 12: Another Encounter

Seeing that Kakashi was having some indigestion after being given a bowl of toxic chicken soup by Uchiha Tou, Hatake Sakumo turned to look at Uchiha Tou, seemingly hoping that Uchiha Tou could enlighten Kakashi.

Uchiha Touyu secretly rolled his eyes, but he couldn't ignore his current top henchman, so he could only continue speaking to Kakashi:

"I know you're going to talk about ninjas being tools, obeying orders, or the bonds between comrades, but please consider this carefully: aren't ninjas made up of people?"

"Since it is made up of people, it is impossible to completely erase their humanity and turn them into true tools."

"Otherwise, if all ninjas are just tools, then what's the point of electing a Hokage? What's the point of distinguishing between Jonin, Chunin, and Genin? Everyone's just a tool anyway. Have you ever seen a tool that can command other tools?"

"We're all just tools, so why bother with a ninja world war? Do tools really have grudges against each other?"

The "ninja tool theory" is nothing more than brainwashing of ordinary ninjas by the village's higher-ups. Even Uchiha Tou wouldn't bother pointing out the numerous logical flaws in it.

If ninjas are just tools, then what about the Hokage, Mizukage, and others chosen from among them? High-level tools?

Even advanced tools are still tools. Why should they be able to command other tools? Your impact drill can even command nails to be hammered into the wall by themselves!

They're all tools now, and the Ninja World War was even more ridiculous. But no one has ever seen hammers and axes from a toolbox randomly hammering each other!

These words left Kakashi completely bewildered, and he spoke with a blank look in his eyes:

"So... we should cherish our companions even more?"

"Didn't I tell you? Cherishing yourself is more important than cherishing your companions!"

"I once heard a saying in some ancient books: 'Respect the elderly as you would your own parents, care for the young as you would your own children.' I think this saying makes a lot of sense, and most people's interactions should follow this principle!"

"Respect the elderly in your own family, and extend that respect to the elderly in other families; care for the young in your own family, and extend that care to the young in other families" is a saying from Mencius. It means that by respecting the elders in your own family, you can extend that respect to the elders in other families; and by caring for the children in your own family, you can extend that care to the children in other families.

In other words, it means loving your own family first, and then extending that love to other strangers as well.

This is the true mindset of normal people. Even so-called saints are merely people who love more broadly and deeply. They still have distinctions between close and distant relatives, and between those inside and outside the family.

As for the idea of ​​boundless love, loving everyone broadly and equally—that's what the ancient Chinese called "God"!

If someone thinks they can love everyone as broadly and equally as God, they are basically insane.

Sakumo Hatake's behavior is more or less influenced by some kind of mental illness, probably because he was brainwashed too much when he was young, and even now that he's grown up, the root of the problem is still quite stubborn.

Of course, after dying once, Konoha's White Fang's condition improved significantly, but his son started having problems.

Fortunately, Kakashi's illness is still in its early stages. He received his father's legacy scroll and was repeatedly fed some toxic motivational quotes and profound truths by Uchiha Tou. Now, he seems to have a good sense of repentance.

"Respect the elderly as you would your own parents, care for the young as you would your own children... I never imagined you could say such reasonable things, but why did Father choose that path?"

Uchiha Touyu pursed his lips, wanting to say that it was because his father was stuck in a rut, had a mental breakdown, and couldn't think straight for a moment.

However, considering that Sakumo Hatake's spirit was right beside him and he had to give him some face, and that speaking too harshly might get him chopped off by Kakashi, he held back his urge to retort and instead spoke in a gentler tone:

"Perhaps it's because Sakumo Hatake didn't understand this principle that he cared so much about other people's gossip—look at me, those idiots in the entire ninja academy have been talking about me behind my back for three or four years, and I still don't care, do I?"

Kakashi, who was still pondering carefully, couldn't help but roll his eyes after hearing what Uchiha Tou said. This guy really has no shame!

(But he's right. If his own father were truly as shameless as him, he probably wouldn't care about the gossip outside at all!)

Seeing that Kakashi had finally regained some of his agility and was no longer the emotionless tool he was in the original story, Uchiha Touya finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at Kakashi:

"How about going out for a workout? You've been cooped up at home for ages and haven't exercised in a long time, have you?"

"I've learned quite a bit from Senior White Fang's scrolls, how about a sparring match?"

Kakashi, having recovered somewhat, even regained some of the arrogance he once possessed as the greatest genius of Konoha. He spoke calmly:

"It would be good to spar a bit. Father's swordsmanship is not easy to learn. If there is anything you don't understand, I can give you some pointers. At least in terms of the basics, even Father admits that I am ready to graduate."

Kakashi's arrogance was quickly shattered by Uchiha Tou's performance.

On the training ground, watching the lightning flashing around Uchiha Tou and his lightning-fast figure, after just a few moves, this famous genius ninja of Konoha already had a short sword to his neck, leaving him with an expression that made him want to curse.

"How is this possible?! How long has it been since you got the scroll? In such a short time, you've already mastered the White Fang Sword Technique!"

Aside from the fact that the lack of wind-style chakra reduced Uchiha Tou's speed and attack range, the other differences between Uchiha Tou and Hatake Sakumo were that Tou's chakra wasn't pure enough, his swordsmanship wasn't skillful enough, and he lacked combat experience. However, he had already mastered the basics of swordsmanship.

"Haha, after all, I am an Uchiha, and my Sharingan has recently been upgraded, so the ability of the Copying Eye is still very useful."

Kakashi squinted, staring at Uchiha Touyu in front of him without saying a word. Although the Sharingan of the Uchiha was known as the Copying Eye, in reality, it could only copy some ordinary elemental ninjutsu.

Some ninjutsu require extremely high chakra control and chakra nature transformation to perform, which the Sharingan simply cannot replicate.

As for other true techniques such as various secret arts, ninjutsu related to Yin Release and Yang Release, sealing techniques, barrier techniques, ninjutsu and taijutsu, and composite bloodline limits, the Sharingan has absolutely no effect on them.

Sakumo Hatake's White Fang Sword Technique belongs to the category of ninjutsu and taijutsu, and it also requires extremely high levels of chakra control and chakra attribute transformation. Even if a normal Uchiha stares his eyes out, he still can't learn it at all!

Could it be... that this guy is actually Father's disciple? They just haven't made it public yet?

(End of this chapter)