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"Nawaki dreamed of becoming Hokage, but have you ever thought about why he had such a dream? Let me tell you: because his grandfather was a ninja, his grandmother was a ninja, his father and mother were also ninja, and even his older sister, you, are also a ninja. This means that from the moment he was born, he was destined to become a ninja!"
Wu Jie pointed at the Naruto with closed eyes and said, "Just like that annoying little brat, as a ninja, his greatest dream is naturally to become the strongest ninja, which is the Hokage. But what is the price of this dream?"
"Tsunade-sama, you might as well imagine: if, when Nawaki was born, this world was already unified, there were no more wars, and countries no longer needed to make young children become ninja to fight on the battlefield. If his dream wasn't to become Hokage, but to become a doctor, or a singer, an actor, or something... then, would he still have died on the battlefield? Please look at Naruto, this annoying little brat. Do you think a child like him, who harbors the same dream as Nawaki, how long can he survive on the battlefield in the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War? A day? Or a week?"
Wu Jie continued, "Do you still remember how many children under the age of ten Konoha sent to the battlefield in the previous Shinobi World Wars? Those children who should have been in their parents' care, playing and frolicking in school, how many of them ultimately survived? Even for these children who survived, after they grow up and start families, their children in the future can only become ninja, and then continue to face the uncertainty of death on the battlefield."
"To have all the painful things they encountered cycle through their own children once more, is this the meaning of their lifelong struggle? How tragic is that! Tsunade-sama, please wake up! Ninja! They are the ANBU of this world's chaos! As long as ninja and ninja villages continue to exist, children like Nawaki will continue to die on the battlefield, because becoming a ninja is their only choice!"
"I know that many casualties will be caused in this process, and many innocent people will die. However, if we can end the wars in our era, then the number of these casualties will surely not be greater than the casualties caused by the future tenth, or even twentieth, Shinobi World War!"
"Tsunade-sama, now before you are two injured patients. One has a 60% chance of survival, but he is just a Genin, and he was only injured because he was caught in the crossfire. The other has only a 20% chance of survival, but he is a Jonin, and an outstanding ninja army commander at that. His survival could even determine the outcome of this war. Similarly, you can only save one of them now."
"Choosing the Genin with a 60% chance of survival is clearly the easiest choice, because not many people will blame you for it. But the war will continue, and you will still have to make the next choice, and the one after that. However, once you choose that Jonin, you gain the hope of being able to end the war completely! Even if the surgery ultimately fails, leading to both their deaths, at least you didn't choose the easiest path out of avoidance, but instead shouldered the heavy responsibility and put forth all your effort for the dream in your heart!"
Wu Jie took a deep breath, then delivered his final speech with passion and emotion, "Sixty years ago, a great leader established Konoha, ending the wars in the Land of Fire. He brought hope to the common people, like a glorious dawn. However, sixty years later today, we must face the tragic fact that peace has not truly arrived. Under the oppression of power and the push of militarists, the Shinobi World War has already occurred three times, and civilians are still the biggest victims of war!"
"I came here to remind you that now is a very urgent moment, now is absolutely not a time to remain calm! There are some things I must say: ninja have already brought too much harm to this world. We must put an end to all this! As long as the light of peace does not arrive, the whirlwind of war will continue to shake the foundations of this world!"
"I have a dream that one day, on the red mountains of the Land of Earth, the children of former Iwagakure ninja and the children of former Kumogakure ninja will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
"I have a dream that one day, even Kusagakure (Village Hidden by Grass), a place where justice is hidden and oppression prevails, will be transformed into a paradise for people to enjoy."
"I have a dream that one day, my four children will live in a nation where they will not be made into ninja, but will be able to become lawyers, writers, or dancers."
"I have a dream today."
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of peace shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together!"
"This is our hope. With this faith, I have come before you..." Wu Jie extended his hand towards Tsunade. "With this faith, we will be able to walk out a path of hope from the endless wars. With this faith, we will fight together, support each other, and create lasting peace, because we know that one day, we will surely be able to achieve it!"
"And when all this happens, the voice of peace will resound in every country, every village. Let us all hold hands and sing together..."
"Peace at last! Peace at last!"
"Thank Almighty Kaguya! We are free at last!"
Thank you all, my speech is over.
Tsunade dazedly placed her hand in Wu Jie's. She murmured, "To bear the sin of slaughter in order to achieve permanent peace... could it be, this is the true purpose hidden behind you all?"
Wu Jie smiled and replied, "No, this is just something I made up on the spot to persuade you."
Crack! Wu Jie felt as if his hand was about to be crushed.
Shaking his reddened and swollen hand, Wu Jie's lips curved upwards as he continued, "Tsunade-sama, what you cannot deny is that even if our goals are different, we are walking on the same path. Peace will eventually be born from our hands. Your grandfather ended the wars in the Land of Fire sixty years ago, but his ideals were not successfully realized. Then, sixty years later, if you can end the wars of this world, I think that would be a very wonderful thing."
Kabuto suddenly interjected at this point, "Jiraiya-sama just said that humans are the ANBU of conflict. Even if the ninja world is unified, war will never disappear. Your idea is ultimately just an unrealistic fantasy."
Wu Jie's lips curved slightly upwards as he shook his head and said, "No. People only rebel when they don't even have enough food to eat. They won't take up knives and go to war because they can't eat steak and barbecue. And the resources of the ninja world are extremely abundant; it's just that long-term wars have kept society stagnant. After the ninja world is unified, we can concentrate our efforts to ensure everyone has enough to eat. At that time, this world will only be a stage for schemers, not a battlefield for heroes."
Kabuto retorted, "The population will grow indefinitely. There will come a day when resources are insufficient!"
Wu Jie suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, "Ahahaha, then let me create a world where each couple can only have one child!!!"
Wu Jie suddenly calmed down, then said, "After the ninja world is unified, the country will no longer need to consider external threats. Under these circumstances, can't the population still be controlled?"
Jiraiya, who had just regained his senses, shivered violently, then immediately shouted loudly, "Tsunade! Don't believe him! War only brings suffering! Haven't we seen this countless times already!? Only by letting everyone understand each other can we welcome true peace!"
Tsunade was silent for a moment, then said softly, "But great-grandfather did indeed join forces with Uchiha Madara to end the wars in the Land of Fire..." After the Land of Fire was unified, the disputes surrounding it became Hokage succession battles that only a few could participate in. True wars that would engulf everyone had, at least within the Land of Fire, disappeared.
Wu Jie interjected at this point, "Mr. Jiraiya, if you truly have Tsunade-sama's best interests at heart, then you should also support her going to the Land of Whirlpools, because at least until the later stages of the war, that will be the safest place. Unless you are only thinking of your own selfish desires and want her to use her own body to fill a fire pit, that's why you insist she returns to Konoha."
"Tsunade! I..."
Before Jiraiya could finish, Tsunade, her brow tightly furrowed, interrupted him, "Jiraiya, let me calm down for a bit first. Too many things have happened at today's gathering. I need some time to clear my thoughts. My apologies, everyone, I'm no longer in the mood for drinking. Please allow me to take my leave now."
After speaking, Tsunade left with Shizune.
Seeing Tsunade like that, Jiraiya slumped down dejectedly. Decades of friendship let him know that Tsunade was indeed moved. As for whether she would agree to Uzumaki's offer to become the Acting Head of State of the Land of Whirlpools... At least this probability was much higher than her returning to Konoha to become the Fifth Hokage.
If... if Tsunade really intends to stand against Konoha... Jiraiya's eyes gradually became resolute. If she really intends to harm the village, then...
Wu Jie's demonic voice suddenly sounded, "Oh, it seems Mr. Jiraiya has made some kind of incredible resolution in his heart. Is it to decide to completely eliminate Tsunade-sama before she poses a threat to Konoha?"
Jiraiya's eye twitched, then he looked coldly at Wu Jie. "You truly are a demon. But you were right about one thing: I am indeed a very naive person. But thankfully, you reminded me. So, once you give me an opportunity, I will absolutely use all my strength to kill you! There will absolutely be no room for mercy!"