Himura's voice echoed inside the small wooden hut. Yahiko's pupils widened, staring blankly at him, as if he had just received a revelation.
Shiratori heard these words and clicked his tongue inwardly.
So soon, already beginning Yahiko's enlightenment education?
Could it be that the inspiration for Akatsuki came from Yahiko hearing Himura's words right now?
"Hanzō used the means of war to win peace for the Land of Rain. He was formidable, worthy of everyone's respect. But along the way, too many people were sacrificed. As far as I know, in the last battle with Suna, Ame suffered terribly, didn't it?"
Himura looked at Shiratori.
He was a direct participant in the war, someone who had carved out a formidable reputation on the battlefield. No one knew the casualties of that final battle better than he did.
Shiratori nodded and said honestly, "You're right. In that war, Ame nearly lost everything."
Himura smiled faintly and nodded toward him: "I know."
According to rumors in the shinobi world, it was none other than Shiratori, who turned the tide in that last war and saved Ame from defeat.
Before them now was a child whose body harbored unimaginable power.
"Beyond the ninjas of Ame, far too many civilians of the Land of Rain perished in that war. And in the battles against Konoha and Iwa as well. Throughout the entire war, thousands upon thousands died in the Land of Rain every single day."
Himura's voice grew heavy.
"Yes."
Shiratori nodded.
This was a truth that could not be hidden.
"But if it hadn't been done, the Land of Rain would never have seen peace. As the battlefield of the great nations, even more would have died. Though Hanzō-sama's war caused countless deaths, from then on no more wars would be fought in the Land of Rain!"
Himura nodded. He didn't argue. That much was indisputable. Hanzō's contributions to the Land of Rain were plain for all to see.
"I know. I was just wondering… if there might be a gentler way to take the place of war?"
Shiratori stared at the man before him, thinking, What nonsense is he spouting?
Out of the corner of his eye he glanced at Yahiko beside him, only to find the boy's eyes shining, staring at Himura as though he had met his soulmate.
"Maybe there's a way to achieve peace without waging war?"
Talking nonsense right here, huh? Shiratori rolled his eyes inwardly.
In times like these, there weren't many so naive as Himura..
"What way?" he asked.
He wanted to hear just what kind of outrageous remarks this Himura could make.
"Dialogue?"
"What if Hanzō led Ame and sought negotiations with the great nations instead?"
"Perhaps the result would be different. No bloodshed, no deaths, no fighting…"
Himura seemed to sink into a beautiful dreamlike vision.
"..."
Is this even realistic?
Without strength, who would listen to you talk?
The moment you open your mouth, the enemy cannons would already be firing.
You got the order wrong.
First you fight, then you negotiate.
Otherwise, who would bother talking with a weakling?
Still, Shiratori didn't puncture Himura's beautiful fantasy.
After all, in the shinobi world there were far too many people who clung to such idealistic dreams. And he had one right beside him.
He turned to look at Yahiko.
By now, Yahiko was completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
After Himura spoke those words, Yahiko finally realized what it was he had been unable to express in his own heart.
Himura had pierced through the thin veil covering Yahiko's inner thoughts, allowing him to clearly see his own true feelings.
Yahiko and Himura resonated instantly.
"You're right!"
"I don't like Hanzō precisely because of his violent methods! Even though there are obviously better ways to resolve things, he always chooses the most brutal option!"
Yahiko said loudly, his hands pressing down on the table, his excitement plain on his face.
"Of course, I admit it!"
"He led Ame to the end of the war, and he is incredible! But the fact that his war killed countless people is also true! I admire his strength, but I don't support his methods!"
His voice grew louder and more fervent, his eyes shining as he stared at Himura.
Himura's eyes lit up, he hadn't expected Yahiko's thoughts to align with his own.
"What do you think?" Himura asked, turning to Shiratori.
He knew the boy was mature, one who thought independently about the world.
Shiratori lowered his gaze. "Maybe there really are more peaceful methods… but the war is already over, and it was Hanzō-sama who ended it."
He couldn't directly refute Himura. After all, his character was also supposed to be someone who loved peace.
He couldn't break character.
Himura gazed softly at the boy before him. He understood his dilemma.
As Hanzō's student, he couldn't betray his teacher, but as a ninja, he leaned toward seeking peace through peaceful means.
"Violence will never bring about true peace," Himura said from the depths of his heart.
"Yes."
"Only love can allow peace to last forever."
Shiratori stared at Himura and spoke each word with firm conviction.
So cringe... But for points!
[Affection detected]
[Himura: +3000 points]
[Yahiko: +3000 points]
[Total accumulated: 6000 points]
[Curse Growth - Love: 33.9%]
"In the war, I did everything I could to save the lives of ninjas. That was the only thing I could do," he said quietly, lowering his head.
His voice carried heavy guilt.
Himura's feelings grew complicated. For someone Shiratori's age, what he had accomplished was already extraordinary. And yet the child seemed to hold himself to impossibly harsh standards.
[Affection detected: Himura +1000 points]
[Curse Growth - Love: 34%]
"I hope you all can use negotiation to resolve conflicts," Himura said.
"Not violence. Just like when you said earlier you wanted to drive the other ninja villages out of the Land of Rain."
He looked at Yahiko. These children would one day be the pillars of the Land of Rain. He hoped they wouldn't continue Hanzō's path of violence.
Hearing Himura's words, Yahiko's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. He hadn't realized his own contradiction until Himura pointed out the truth in his heart.
Just like Himura, he wished to resolve all conflicts through peace, whether between people, between villages, or between nations.
"You're right! I will properly persuade the ninjas to leave the Land of Rain!"
Yahiko promised Himura earnestly.
Himura who had seemed odd at first now shone brilliantly in Yahiko's heart.
He was truly guiding Yahiko to see the path within his own heart. A smile spread across Yahiko's face, and he bowed toward Himura:
"Thank you! I will definitely keep moving forward! I will influence this village! Influence this country! Influence the entire shinobi world! I will spread the way of peace, so that ninja will no longer be filled with violence!"
His voice reverberated throughout the wooden hut. His emotions surged with intensity, and his face gave off a faint glow.
"..."
No matter how he acted, Shiratori couldn't compare to these naturally gifted types.
Himura stared blankly at Yahiko.
Had his words truly influenced this child so deeply?
If so, that was wonderful!
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Shiratori felt that at any moment, the two of them were about to collapse into each other's arms and weep.
"No matter what, I'm deeply moved that you can have such ideals!"
Himura broke into a radiant smile. Then his gaze shifted Shiratori.
"What about you? As Hanzō's student, you possess the true power to influence Ame!"
With that one sentence, Himura had poked a hornet's nest.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan's eyes all turned toward Shiratori at once. He had never told them that he was Hanzō's student.
To Yahiko and the others, his explanation had always been that he was working under Hanzō. Now that the truth had been exposed, it wasn't unexpected, yet his face remained completely calm.
"Shiratori!"
Konan's voice trembled. She faintly sensed that a war was about to break out.
"You're Hanzō's student!"
Yahiko's scream drowned out Konan's voice.
"Why would you take Hanzō as your teacher?"
"What about Jiraiya-sensei?"
"What is he to you!"
Yahiko roared at Shiratori.
"..."
Was Yahiko a firecracker? He exploded at the slightest spark!
He glanced at Himura, who seemed startled by Yahiko's sudden outburst, staring in shock at him.
At this time, Jiraiya and his teammates had just been granted the title of the Legendary Sannin by Hanzō, but their names were not yet widely known throughout the shinobi world.
Himura had long lived in seclusion in Kikyōhara, and the news he heard was mostly about wars involving the Land of Rain. He hadn't paid much attention to the title of "Sannin."
He vaguely felt the name "Jiraiya" was familiar, but couldn't remember who it was or when he had heard it.
"He is also my teacher." Shiratori calmly looked at Yahiko. "Hanzō-sama as well… is also my teacher."
"Why did you hide this from us?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Why take Hanzō as your teacher!"
Yahiko's pupils were bloodshot as he stared at him.
At that moment, he suddenly realized, he gap between them and Shiratori had widened.
They had no idea what kind of friends he had made, what enemies he had encountered, or how much he had grown during that time apart.
Their understanding of Shiratori was far too limited.
Even something as important as Hanzō being his teacher, they had only learned from someone else's mouth.
[Pain detected]
[Multiple sources: +5000 points each]
[Total accumulated: 15,000 points]
[Energy transferred to Kenjaku]
[Development progress: 51.3%]
At some point, Konan's face had already become covered with tears. What she feared most was Shiratori and Yahiko quarreling.
Whether it was Shiratori or Yahiko, they were both the most important people to her, she didn't want to lose either of them.
Her wish had always been only one: For this family to be safe and together.
Nagato, by contrast, showed no expression; compared to her, he seemed far too indifferent.
His gaze pierced past his red hair, landing on Shiratori's face.
For the first time, he realized, within Shiratori's heart, there were actually many things more important than them.
The same was true for Yahiko. Both Shiratori and he placed their ideals above everything else, while Nagato and Konan placed Shiratori and Yahiko above everything else.
[Pain detected: Nagato +10,000 points]
[Energy transferred to Kenjaku]
[Development progress: 52.3%]
"Because you hated Hanzō, at that time I never even had the chance to tell you this."
"Because he is a strong ninja worthy of respect, and I am proud to be his student."
Shiratori spoke to Yahiko calmly.
"You don't understand."
Yahiko stared deeply at him.
"More than the fact you apprenticed under Hanzō, what angers me most is your concealment!"
Yahiko had no desire to let go of his hand.
He didn't want to walk a separate path from him.
Clearly, he and Shiratori shared the same dream, so why must they part ways?
So this time, he chose to speak his true feelings instead of sulking.
Shiratori looked at Yahiko in surprise. For a moment, he had the illusion that Yahiko had suddenly grown up.
"...Sorry. I won't hide things from you again."
Inwardly, he stuck out his tongue.
Lying, of course I'll keep hiding things in the future.
Yahiko couldn't help but laugh.
As the "older brother," he had to forgive the mistakes of his younger siblings.
"Alright!"
"From now on, let's not hide anything from each other!"
In the briefest moment of distraction, Himura saw the four children throw themselves into each other's arms.
"..."
So all my worrying was pointless. There was never any need to doubt their bond.
It was strong.
Konan sniffled. As long as Shiratori and Yahiko reconciled, it was enough.
Even Nagato's heart eased a little. They were back to how they had been before.
"So it turns out you're really Hanzō's student... no wonder you always spoke up for him..."
Yahiko couldn't help but mutter in a low voice.
"No," Shiratori smiled at Yahiko. "Even if I weren't his student, I would still defend him. On the battlefield, I saw the truest side of him. He isn't afraid of death, nor afraid of wounds, he only fears being unable to protect Ame, unable to bring peace to the Land of Rain."
Of course, he couldn't guarantee what kind of man Hanzō would become in the future. But at least the Hanzō of now was someone worthy of respect.
Yahiko snorted twice, but in the end didn't argue further.
After all, Shiratori had fought side by side with Hanzō on the battlefield, no one here understood Hanzō better than him.
And even if Yahiko didn't trust Hanzō, didn't he at least trust Shiratori?
If Hanzō weren't a good man, Shiratori would never have taken him as his teacher.