Doujin Artist: Looks like trying out something new isn't such a bad idea.
This is an Actor: People should try new things, but they should also consider the feelings of those around them. Eriri, wouldn't Aki Tomoya prefer if you didn't get involved in that kind of thing?
Doujin Artist: W-what? I have nothing to do with him! Stop making things up! Wait, Anzen, how do you know Aki Tomoya?
Eriri froze, suddenly feeling uneasy. Could it be that Anzen has access to fictional works from her world? No, that's impossible, right? Her world doesn't have aliens, ninjas, Hollows, or Soul Reapers—there's no way it could be part of some fictional story.
But the next second, her unease was confirmed.
[Notification: This is an Actor has uploaded the work *How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend*]
This is an Actor: That's how I know.
Doujin Artist: ...
Amegakure Village's Angel: Eriri, you okay?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Are you alright?
Doujin Artist: I'm fine. Really, I'm totally fine. I don't care about that guy anyway, we're not even friends. I'm fine. I really am.
Amegakure Village's Angel: The way you're saying that doesn't sound like you're fine at all.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: You don't have to act tough in front of us.
This is an Actor: If you're feeling sad, it's okay to cry. That's just a natural way for people to let out their emotions.
Doujin Artist: I-I'm not gonna cry!
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: That's a relief.
Amegakure Village's Angel: If she can still talk in that tsundere tone, then things aren't too bad.
Doujin Artist: Aaaah! I am NOT a tsundere! Stop listening to Gin's nonsense!
This is an Actor: I'm really glad you're bouncing back so quickly. But trust me, the way you're talking right now is a textbook example of tsundere.
Doujin Artist: Anzen! Not you too… Whatever. Honestly, I think it's just because I've read Gin and Konan's story. Compared to what they went through, my situation is nothing.
This is an Actor: You don't have to think like that. Konan's fate has already changed, hasn't it? Knowing the story in advance is like having foresight—you should be able to change your own ending too, right?
Doujin Artist: No, it's different. Gin and Konan had their lives pushed forward by others, which is why they had the will to fight back. But I'm not like them. Even after everything I did, in the end, that guy still didn't choose me. Since that's the case, there's no point in forcing it.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Eriri, I support you!
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Yeah! A guy who's that indecisive isn't good enough for our Eriri anyway!
No point in forcing it, huh?
Looking at Eriri's message, Aizen's lips curled into a slight smile. These people in the chat were even more interesting than he had expected.
At first, he was just trying to steer Eriri away from BL. Not that he had anything against it—he just didn't want to end up in a BL comic himself.
After all, in his past life, there were tons of fans shipping him with Gin Ichimaru. Who knows? One day, Eriri might get the idea to draw something like that. That would be… unsettling.
But now, things had taken an unexpected turn. The mood in the group chat and Eriri's own change in perspective gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.
So this is what having a family feels like. Not bad at all.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Aizen turned to the boy sitting next to him. "Do you like the taste of the dango here, Itachi?"
The boy looked about nine or ten, his long black hair tied into a ponytail behind him. He was holding a skewer of colorful dango, his cheeks stuffed full.
Hearing Aizen's question, Itachi gave a small nod. "It's really good."
"Even if it's good, you shouldn't eat too much," Aizen said with a gentle smile, reaching out to pat the boy's head. "Too many carbs can make you gain weight."
Itachi paused for a moment, then stopped eating. "Aizen, Shisui has been having more and more conflicts with the clan lately."
"I see." Aizen didn't ask much, just let out a soft sigh.
After a brief silence, Itachi spoke again in a quiet voice. "Can't the village and the clan just get along?"
"In a world with limited resources, people will always want more," Aizen replied, his words sounding both like an answer and a sigh. "Once doubt and suspicion take root, conflicts and divisions naturally follow."
"If we want to solve this completely, there are only two ways: Either an overwhelming external force appears to suppress everything and force people to unite, or one side is completely destroyed."
"I don't want either the village or the clan to be destroyed," Itachi said bitterly. "But there's no way an external force like that will just appear, right?"
To Itachi, such a force would mean another war between the Five Great Ninja Villages. While small conflicts still happened, every village was maintaining the appearance of peace. A large-scale war was simply impossible for now.
"If it doesn't exist, then create it yourself." Aizen spoke calmly, his confident gaze reflecting through his glasses. "Itachi, are you willing to carry the weight of this madness with me?"
Itachi was stunned, as if he suddenly understood something, his face full of disbelief. "Aizen… you…"
Uchiha Itachi had never expected that this mentor-like older brother would say something like this. Creating a force powerful enough to threaten Konohagakure with his own hands—was that even possible? And why would Aizen want to do this?
Right now, Itachi's mind was filled with both curiosity and confusion.
"Of course, I won't ask you to believe me." Aizen smiled gently. "I just want you to place your hopes and expectations on me. If you're ready, then follow me."
Watching Aizen's figure slowly fade into the distance, Itachi clenched his teeth and quickly followed.