Chapter 198: Nagato's Visit
Deidara before them – how could the word 'miserable' even suffice? Setting aside his filthy clothes, his once meticulously groomed long blonde hair was now stained with greasy dirt, and even had some curls and knots. Furthermore, from the four or five empty ramen bowls piled beside him and his current appearance of still wolfing down food, it wasn't hard to see that this kid was probably starving.
This was hardly surprising. The last time this kid ran out, it was clearly after careful planning and preparation, as if he were going on a trip. But this time, Deidara's escape seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision. Not only had he made no preparations, but he had also slashed his headband before running off. Generally speaking, survival for a rogue ninja in the ninja world was quite difficult. Unless one's strength reached a certain level, just dealing with the attacks from wandering ninjas想 (xiǎng - wanting/thinking of) the bounty from the underground exchange stations was troublesome enough.
Moreover, this kid probably didn't bring much money when he left. As for resorting to robbery for food? Deidara probably couldn't bring himself to do that.
After Deidara finished his sixth bowl of ramen, noodles, broth and all, he finally let out a satisfied burp and slumped down beside the dining table in Kakashi's house.
Just then, Jiraiya, who had followed Naruto over, also saw the Iwagakure headband with a slash across it, which Deidara had presumably tossed aside finding it obstructive. He couldn't help but frown:
"An Iwagakure rogue ninja? Naruto, how did you get involved with him?"
Jiraiya's expression was very serious. The matter of rogue ninjas being hunted by everyone was basically a consensus among ninjas in the ninja world. Unaware of the inside story, he naturally didn't want Naruto to get involved in such things, especially since the one before them was a rogue ninja from Iwagakure, a major ninja village like their Konoha.
"What rogue ninja, Pervy Sage! This is my big bro!" Naruto grumbled somewhat discontentedly, then handed a glass of water to Deidara, who looked stuffed.
After Deidara took it and gulped it down, he let out a long sigh of relief and said to Naruto, "Thanks, little bro."
"How long has it been since you last ate?" Uchiha Douhuan couldn't help asking upon seeing the situation.
"Three or four days, I guess," Deidara replied. "I left in too much of a hurry, didn't bring any money. Then there were some annoying flies on the road. After dealing with them, there was nowhere to replenish my supplies," Deidara explained.
"Then what do you plan to do next?" Uchiha Douhuan asked.
"Return to work, of course," Deidara stated.
"Didn't your teacher arrange a work position for you similar to the one you had in Konoha those two years? Why on earth did you have to defect?" Uchiha Douhuan inquired.
"Don't mention it! I get angry just talking about it!" Deidara exclaimed. "That old man set up some construction company, said I could continue being a demolition expert. But their engineers' artistic level is far too inferior to Big Bro Yamato's! All they do is repair civilian houses all day! Making me their demolition expert, isn't that purely defiling my art?"
Uchiha Douhuan also felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this. It seemed Onoki had only noticed that Konoha was making money off Deidara, without considering Deidara's emotional needs at all. When he was in Konoha, the construction projects he worked on were all grand-scale endeavors that could be considered marvels in the ninja world. Yet after returning, Onoki made him repair civilian houses. This was like asking those great art masters to paint soulless imitations. It would be strange if Deidara, who had extremely high artistic standards, could accept that.
"However, it'll be a bit difficult for you to come back to work now," Uchiha Douhuan then said with some difficulty. "If you hadn't slashed your village's headband when you left, I could still find some ways to work things out, get you some kind of externally hired technical personnel status. But now you are a rogue ninja wanted by Iwagakure. Harboring a rogue ninja from another village is tantamount to declaring war on that village."
"Then what should I do? Hokage Uncle, you can't just watch me get caught by that old geezer, can you?" Deidara pleaded.
"How about, in a few days, I introduce you to a new work unit?" Uchiha Douhuan, thinking of Nagato who would be coming to Konoha in a few days, then said. "Although the working environment and nature of work there might not be as favorable, they probably won't stop you from refining your art in your spare time."
"Then I'll be counting on you, Hokage Uncle!" Deidara nodded. He wasn't picky about the conditions Uchiha Douhuan mentioned. As long as he could peacefully delve into his art, he'd be happy even sleeping under a bridge and eating pig swill.
"However, during this period, stay put here and don't go out. Your teacher will be leading a team to Konoha in two more days for this year's Joint Chunin Exams. If you get caught by him, I won't be able to help you."
"Rest assured, I won't go anywhere during this time," Deidara quickly promised.
...
After settling Deidara, another two days passed. The Genin from the Land of Rain, coming to participate in the Joint Chunin Exams, also arrived in Konoha. On the surface, their team leader was Konan, who, during the past Waterfall-Earth War, had helped fill the void in Takigakure's high-tier combat power and successfully helped Takigakure resist the Land of Earth's offensive, thereby making the name "Angel" renowned in the ninja world.
However, what even the Amegakure Genin participating in the Chunin Exams this time didn't know was that, currently mixed among the Konoha villagers who had come to spectate, a red-haired man was their true leader on this trip. At this moment, Nagato leaned against his wheelchair, watching the scene of Konan and Uchiha Douhuan meeting.
"Lady Angel, I've long admired your great name," Uchiha Douhuan chuckled, extending his hand towards Konan.
"It is I who should say I've long admired you," Konan said, shaking the hand Uchiha Douhuan extended, smiling.
"Regardless, welcome everyone from the Land of Rain for coming to Konoha to participate in this Chunin Exam. I hereby wish you all can achieve the results you desire," Uchiha Douhuan said with a smile. "Additionally, Konoha has also prepared a sumptuous banquet within the village to entertain all our guests from afar."
After speaking, Uchiha Douhuan led the group from the Land of Rain to the high-end restaurant Kado had opened in Konoha.
After treating the Amegakure Genin and their accompanying Jounin team leaders to a grand meal, Uchiha Douhuan brewed tea in a private tea room within the restaurant, awaiting the arrival of his true guest.
Before long, Kado personally escorted Konan and Nagato, who was in a wheelchair being pushed by Konan, into this secret tea room Kado specially reserved for Uchiha Douhuan.
After Kado brought the two there, he sensibly departed directly. Inside the tea room, a faint fragrance of incense wafted around. After Nagato was pushed in by Konan, his first glance fell upon Uchiha Douhuan, who was intently brewing tea.
After a while, as the fragrance of tea diffused with the infusion of boiling water, Uchiha Douhuan poured tea for the two cups before him, then finally looked up and said to the two, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Please."
Nagato and Konan looked at the teacups placed before them, made no other movement, and just quietly looked at Uchiha Douhuan.
Uchiha Douhuan wasn't annoyed either, and said with a smile, "It's been three years since we last parted ways in Kirigakure. Your Land of Rain has been isolated all these three years; I wonder how your development has been."
"Tolerable, thanks to Lord Hokage," Nagato said unhurriedly.
"Lord Nagato has come to Konoha this time; I wonder what guidance you have?" Uchiha Douhuan, seeing Nagato didn't seem to intend to chat idly, decided to cut straight to the chase.
Nagato took a deep breath, then said, "After leaving Kirigakure last time, although our Akatsuki organization suspended its activities in the ninja world, we have been constantly monitoring your and Konoha's movements. There are a few questions I hope Lord Hokage can clarify for me."
"You may," Uchiha Douhuan nodded, signaling the other to begin.
"Currently, among the nine Tailed Beasts in the ninja world, four are already within your Konoha's territory. I originally thought you intended to use the Tailed Beasts' power to launch a war. However, after the Six-Tails lost its Jinchuriki, you established that Tailed Beast nature reserve within the Land of Fire and released it back into nature. So, I wish to know, what is Konoha's purpose in collecting Tailed Beasts?"
Uchiha Douhuan, after hearing this question, first chuckled, then looked at Nagato and asked, "Before answering your question, I also wish to ask you: your Akatsuki organization should have also wanted to collect Tailed Beasts before, right? Iwagakure's Five-Tails is still in your hands. Then, can you tell me, what is your purpose in collecting Tailed Beasts?"
"Deterrence," Nagato said unhurriedly. "I originally planned, after gathering all the Tailed Beasts, to use their power to make the major powers that casually launch wars also experience the suffering brought by war. After experiencing suffering, everyone would realize the value of peace, thereby allowing the ninja world to achieve peace. As for why I abandoned my plan..."
After speaking, Nagato looked at Uchiha Douhuan silently.
In their last encounter, Uchiha Douhuan had casually deflected all his techniques. His prized Six Paths of Pain were like toys before the other. Nagato realized then that even if he gathered all the Tailed Beasts, he likely wouldn't be Uchiha Douhuan's match. After all, the other possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, the greatest counter to Tailed Beasts in the entire ninja world.
"This way won't work," Uchiha Douhuan sighed.
Upon hearing this, Nagato looked deeply at Uchiha Douhuan, then nodded.
Seeing Nagato's expression, Uchiha Douhuan also realized that the other party might have misunderstood his meaning, so he added, "Even if I didn't exist in the ninja world, wanting to achieve peace through such means is still an impossible task."
"How can you say that?" Nagato asked.
"Everything you envision is nothing more than what our village's First Hokage accomplished back then. Ancestor Madara and the First Hokage truly dominated the ninja world in their time. Their will represented the will of the ninja world. They both wanted peace. So, before they passed away, the ninja world, since the Warring States period, experienced an unprecedented ten-year period of peace. However, you've seen the result: as soon as the First Hokage died, the First Great Ninja War immediately began."
"No, the consequences of your plan might be even more severe than back then. Because, if you truly succeeded, the thing you created would not vanish with your passing. This blade you forged, if it falls into someone else's hands, can you guarantee that your successor will be as pure as you?" Uchiha Douhuan said.
Hearing this, Nagato instantly fell into silence.
Uchiha Douhuan was right. The reason he yearned for peace so much was because he had truly experienced the suffering of war. But what if he died?
"Additionally, I have one more thing to tell you: he who holds a sharp weapon develops the intent to kill. To let someone who has never experienced the cruelty of war obtain the ultimate weapon you created – this matter might be even more dangerous than war itself," Uchiha Douhuan stated.
As Uchiha Douhuan's voice fell, the tea room fell into a long silence.
"Is there truly no way to end the wars in this ninja world?" After a long pause, Nagato sighed powerlessly.
"Let me first answer your previous question. Konoha is indeed collecting Tailed Beasts. And, like your Akatsuki organization, we have a plan to gather all the Tailed Beasts," Uchiha Douhuan said. "As for the purpose of collecting Tailed Beasts, it is also for the peace of the ninja world."
"For peace?" Nagato frowned slightly. "But I haven't seen any indication in your country's actions that you pursue peace. Whether it's your interference in the war between the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Earth, providing large quantities of ninja tools to the Land of Waterfall, or your actions in the Land of Water, none of it seems like something a peace-seeking power would do. You look more like you're preparing for war."
"Nagato?" Konan, seeing this, wanted to remind Nagato, who seemed to be getting a bit worked up. But Uchiha Douhuan, after hearing the other's words, waved his hand with a smile.
"No matter," Uchiha Douhuan said. "Mr. Nagato is correct. Konoha is indeed constantly preparing for war. But this does not hinder Konoha's purpose, which is for the peace of the ninja world."
Hearing Uchiha Douhuan's words, a trace of doubt also appeared in Nagato's eyes.
"I wonder if Mr. Nagato has ever pondered the essence of war?" Uchiha Douhuan asked.
"The essence of war?" Nagato frowned.
"Yes. War is the continuation of politics. In the three Great Ninja Wars, Konoha was always the one being besieged. Do you know why? Because their rulers coveted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire. And in the Second Great Ninja War, the Land of Rain was chosen as the battlefield for the three-way conflict between Fire, Earth, and Wind. Do you know why? Because the rulers of these three countries all didn't want their own homelands to suffer losses."
"Therefore, if war cannot be resolved at this level, then peace will never arrive," Uchiha Douhuan stated.
"Then, what do you intend to do?" Nagato asked after some hesitation.
(End of Chapter)
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