Dust in the air danced restlessly. Battle was imminent.
Many Iwa ninjas' murderous gazes fell upon Haruki.
There was no mercy on the battlefield. Mercy towards an enemy was cruelty towards oneself. Ninjas didn't need such a thing as mercy.
If blame was to be assigned, it could only be that this kid had bad luck.
"Please wait!"
Haruki, standing in front of Minato, suddenly spoke, his voice calm and firm, a stark contrast to his appearance.
He faced Iwagakure's hundred-man squad directly, his body small, especially when contrasted with the large figures of the Iwa njnjas.
The Iwa ninjas frowned slightly, this kid certainly had courage. Since they were destined to die here today, there was no harm in giving them a chance to say their last words.
Minato subconsciously reached out to pull Haruki behind him, but Haruki gently shook his head, his gaze firm as he continued to take a few steps forward. He looked straight ahead at the Iwa ninjas before him.
"Before the battle begins, could you tell me why you want to kill Konoha ninjas?"
A low chuckle echoed through the Iwagakure squad. They looked at Haruki mockingly.
Why kill Konoha ninjas?
Why didn't he ask why Konoha ninjas wanted to kill Iwa ninjas?
The Iwa Jonin's cold gaze swept over Haruki as he said, "War needs no reason. Kid, you only need to know that Konoha and Iwagakure are at war, that's enough."
Haruki agreed with this answer, but his persona did not.
"But war needs a reason!" Haruki insisted.
"Killing also needs a reason!"
The Iwa Jonin narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "Last month, Iwagakure lost nearly three thousand ninjas in its conflict with Konoha. Isn't that a reason? We are here for revenge."
Haruki looked earnestly at the Iwa Jonin, his eyes clear, without hatred, only sadness for the lives lost in the war.
"I am sorry to hear that. In the war between Iwagakure and Konoha, Iwagakure shouldn't be the only one to lose companions, right?"
"Konoha has also lost many ninjas, and the people of the Land of Grass, they are the most innocent."
"You are not the only ones who have lost companions, nor are you the only ones suffering, so why continue to create pain and slaughter?"
"Hatred only creates more hatred, doesn't it?"
Haruki looked at the Iwa Jonin in confusion, as if he didn't understand their thoughts.
[Ding!]
[System detected Minato's Affection value +3000]
[Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 52.5%]
Minato hadn't expected to hear such words from a young boy. The last time he heard such a statement was from his sensei, Jiraiya. This time, he heard it from a stranger, a young boy.
Haruki's words made the Iwa Jonin sneer. "Naive! If we let go of hatred, the enemy will raise their weapons. We will only lose more companions."
The Iwa Jonin's tone shifted, and he continued, "Moreover, the ninja world is inherently a place where the strong prey on the weak. You Konoha occupy the most fertile land, enjoy the richest resources, and naturally become the target of all."
Haruki: "..."
What hatred, what companions, in the end, it was all for profit.
Haruki retorted, "Can resource issues really be solved through war?"
"Isn't the way to solve problems for everyone to work together?"
The Iwa Jonin scoffed. "Enough!"
"Kid, I don't want to hear your naive statements anymore."
Haruki was expressionless. You can choose not to listen, but you can't interrupt my performance.
"Before we kill each other, I want to ask, do we really have no other solution?"
"Are ninjas only meant to exist as tools of slaughter?"
"The First Hokage established Konoha, and the First Tsuchikage established Iwagakure, weren't they all for the sake of protecting important people and creating peace?"
"When did we forget our initial ideals?"
Haruki's eyes were filled with confusion. He stared intently at the Iwa ninjas opposite him.
The Iwa Jonin was silent for a moment, and the ninjas around him also said nothing.
"I have to admit, you're very articulate, but sweet talk won't win a war. Sweet talk won't stop a war either."
"Peace can only be seized by our own hands."
The Iwa Jonin clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Haruki: "..."
Why?
Why is this?
Why can Naruto succeed with sweet talk, but he can't?
Is it just because Naruto is the protagonist?
Isn't he also a protagonist?
At least give him some protagonist treatment, make these ninjas moved.
"Peace isn't seized! Violence can never bring peace!" Haruki shouted at the Iwa Jonin, his voice imbued with deep emotion.
"I am an orphan of war, I have also participated in war, been on the battlefield."
"Relying on violence, you will never achieve peace! And you will never protect peace!"
The Iwa Jonin stared at Haruki. He raised the long sword in his hand, his eyes cold.
"I regret to say, no matter what you say, today we will cut you down here."
The Iwa Jonin paused, then honestly added, "However, you have good eloquence."
Haruki: "..."
Why did the Iwa Jonin add that last sentence?