Chapter 75: A Fine Tradition
Being a teacher to a fledgling little chick?
Even if Uchiha Kei had a terrible memory, there's no way he could forget what he just said about Uchiha Itachi!
Sure, becoming Itachi's teacher might bring him closer to Uchiha Fugaku, but just thinking about what that kid would do in the future made it hard for Kei to feel any warmth toward him.
As a spectator, Kei might've been able to gloss over Itachi's actions and focus on his deep love for his little brother, sacrificing everything for him—even earning the reverent title of "Itachi the God."
But now that he was an Uchiha himself? Honestly, the fact he didn't knock out Kakashi, throw a few kunai, and jump down a cliff to strangle this kid was proof enough that he still had a shred of conscience.
Sure, the brat was still young and had some potential to change. But Kei had no interest in trying to "save" him—just like how he wasn't bothering to find out what Shisui was up to these days.
Kei wasn't like those other transmigrators. No "Jonin at five, Mangekyō at ten, beat Madara at twelve" overpowered nonsense.
He was already thirteen, pushing fourteen. He knew what kind of talent he had—and he had no intention of playing hero.
"If my plan works out, maybe I'll be 'reforming' him in my own way," Kei thought to himself. "And even if he still ends up running into the arms of the Third, at least he'd be a useful pawn."
Of course, aside from this strategic reason, there was another, deeper one for Kei's refusal.
It was the terrifying "tradition" in the world of Naruto: students always kill their teachers.
Just think about the classics—
Orochimaru killed his teacher, the Third Hokage.
Obito killed his teacher, Minato.
Nagato killed his teacher, Jiraiya.
Even Kakashi almost got killed by Sasuke.
Being a teacher was dangerous, and with some of the things Kei planned to do in the future, that danger doubled.
Kei might believe he'd be stronger than Itachi eventually, but ambushes were a ninja's worst fear. And Kei himself was really good at ambushes—he knew just how deadly they could be.
So Kei turned Fugaku's proposal down flat. No vague excuses this time—just a firm "No."
You could imagine Fugaku's expression. He hadn't expected Kei to be so direct, and for a moment, his brows knit tightly together.
Now Fugaku started to seriously wonder if Kei had someone backing him from the shadows—why else would he make such a "foolish" decision?
"I need a proper answer, Kei," Fugaku said with a more serious tone. Even little Itachi was staring at him curiously.
"I'm not the right person to be young master Itachi's teacher," Kei answered firmly. "First, I still need to work on myself. My fundamentals are lacking, as you know. Second, Itachi's teacher should be someone with a clear political stance. There are plenty of options—not necessarily from within the clan."
Ah yes, the old pass-the-buck maneuver. Kei wasn't going to take that job no matter what.
Whether Itachi turned into a good little disciple or a dutiful executioner, it had nothing to do with Kei.
And he wasn't wrong—Fugaku's son, as the future heir, should have a politically symbolic mentor. Choosing a teacher for him could reflect the clan's internal stance and alliances.
Whether or not Fugaku actually had a clear position, using Itachi's apprenticeship as a gesture of goodwill or political statement was a very smart move.
Though Kei was seen as part of the "moderate faction," both the doves and hawks knew this kid hadn't really sided with anyone.
So his refusal made perfect sense: Don't pick me. Pick someone with a political stance—from inside or outside the clan.
"I see... You're being cautious. I understand," Fugaku nodded after a brief silence. "Let's put Itachi's mentorship on hold for now. He's still young—only four years old."
Kei finally let out a breath of relief. Looks like he had dodged the Itachi bullet… at least for now.
But before he could savor that win, Fugaku added, "Still, when you have time, I hope you can guide him a little. Just help broaden his worldview and teach him right from wrong."
"…Got it, Clan Head," Kei replied, face stiffening as he glanced at the now fidgety Itachi.
It was hard to outright reject a request phrased like that, especially after Fugaku left the door open with that "when you have time."
And time—ah, that magical word—was extremely flexible. Kei could just be busy. If push came to shove, he'd just dump the kid on Kakashi.
After all, Kakashi was going to be Itachi's superior someday. Why not let them bond early? Could Kakashi even say no to a kid from the Uchiha?
With all those awkward matters out of the way, Fugaku didn't bring up anything else about the clan or the village. Instead, he began casually asking Kei about his recent life.
It felt almost like an elder checking in on the younger generation. He even asked about the ninja sword Kei wore at his waist.
After hearing the story, Fugaku scolded Kei for not seeking help from the clan. If it were anyone else, they'd probably be moved to tears. But Kei felt nothing.
That "friendly family chat" lasted about an hour before it wrapped up—Kei had to go, and Fugaku's wife came out to call them in.
Kei left the Uchiha household with a smile. This time, he didn't bother to hide it as quickly as before—because this time, he really was pleased.
The meeting had gone very well. Kei could tell he'd successfully piqued Fugaku's interest even more—a crucial step forward in his plan.
"Now comes the waiting game... Time to find the right moment to toss out the next set of bait."