Chapter 29: I Also Do Not Know the Answer to Peace

Konan's gaze was resolute.

Although she did not fully believe the mysterious merchant's words, the unfathomable mystery and strength the other party displayed were absolutely superior to everyone in the Akatsuki.

Yahiko, who possessed a gentle heart and a warmth like the sun, had already died.

He believed that everyone could understand one another, and he died on the path to realizing peace, cutting short this naive road.

The remaining friend, Nagato, inherited Yahiko's will; possessing the Rinnegan, he wanted to use absolute, overwhelming power to make the world welcome a new birth amidst pain.

Only she herself,

had always followed in the footsteps of the two, unable to provide them with the slightest bit of help.

Thinking of Nagato struggling forward in pain, and then of Yahiko smiling as he welcomed death, she finally asked the doubt buried deep in her heart.

If...

even the mysterious merchant, whose strength surpassed Nagato's, did not know the answer to peace.

What should she do?

In this instant, Konan even regretted asking the question; she had clearly thirsted for it for countless years, yet she became timid while waiting for the answer.

"The answer to peace?"

Fang Yi's expression was surprised; he knew this was also a probe from Konan.

Behind the screen, the White-haired Loli grew nervous; she had browsed through countless worlds, and worlds that could thoroughly welcome peace were extremely rare.

Wherever there is life, there will be conflict and slaughter.

Technology, genetics, secret realms, Martial Arts, Magic, Weirdness... countless worlds.

As long as life possesses the desire to survive, the arrival of war cannot be stopped.

Even she, who had survived for countless eons, did not know the answer, so it was even less likely that her master would know.

If that were the case, the mysterious persona that had been so painstakingly built up would develop a flaw.

Fang Yi shook his head and said, "I am not a God, merely a merchant selling the Samsara Game, so I do not know either."

Konan's expectant gaze dimmed; she clenched her fists, and her fingertips, painted with the signature nail polish of the Akatsuki, pierced deeply into her palms.

As expected...

Fang Yi said honestly, "I have traveled through many worlds, and conflict and slaughter always exist."

From the mouth of the White-haired Loli, he knew the endings of countless worlds, and none of them were very pleasant.

"Peace, does it not exist?"

A trace of a smile appeared at the corners of Konan's mouth, as if she were tasting a bitter candy.

"Peace exists; the answer to peace does not."

Fang Yi continued to shake his head, and after saying this convoluted sentence, he pointed to the players around them and said, "Just like you all, having different identities, the answer to peace in your hearts is naturally different."

"To most people, ending war is peace."

With a wave of his hand.

A giant light screen suddenly appeared in the center of the plaza, projecting the scene of Sunagakure.

Everywhere there was sand, the land was barren, and there was a drought and lack of water; even the ninjas would fill their dwellings with giant ceramic vats, praying for the descent of sweet rain.

Immediately following was Iwagakure, surrounded on all sides by rocks, with blocked transportation; fierce winds would often howl past, kicking up sky-filling gravel and causing casualties.

Kirigakure was surrounded by thick fog year-round; the humid climate caused germs to run rampant, and fishermen were dragged into the deep sea by massive sea creatures and lost their lives.

When it came to the Land of Rain,

Konan's eyes moved, as if she understood what the mysterious merchant wanted to say.

She asked, "Are you trying to say that barren and meager resources are the cause of war?"

Fang Yi nodded and said, "That's right. Sufficient resources cannot thoroughly welcome peace, but they can quell the majority of wars."

In the Ninja World, why was it always Konohagakure that was besieged during the two consecutive Shinobi World Wars?

Isn't it because Konohagakure occupied the largest swaths of the most fertile territory, while the remaining territories were all scraps unsuitable for survival?

There is no absolute peace,

Fang Yi could not think of a way either, but to quell war and let the majority welcome peace was very possible.

Konan frowned and said, "But... this problem cannot be solved."

The output of food is limited, fertile soil is scarce, and environments suitable for living are all firmly occupied by the great nations.

After all, although this world has all sorts of flashy Ninjutsu and technology ripened by war, it fundamentally lacks systematic scientific knowledge.

As for the few scientists, Orochimaru's main focus is also on genetics and biological medicine.

Konan could not think of any way to increase resources.

"To tell the truth, ninja is truly a profession that makes one feel foolish."

Fang Yi rubbed his brow and said, "Do you know? Many worlds I have seen have no powerful energy like chakra at all; they slash and burn, record the days by studying the rotation of the sun and moon, find the most suitable days for planting crops, and increase food production by cultivating seedlings."

Konan's brow furrowed slightly.

As a ninja, she felt uncomfortable hearing the other party use sarcasm to deny all ninjas.

"Must Ninjutsu be used for fighting?"

The original intention of the Otsutsuki in creating the Ninjutsu Sect was to provide bare-handed humans with the power to reclaim land, and then the power for mutual understanding.

Unexpectedly, after developing for countless years, the two abilities that most needed to be passed down were forgotten, and everyone went off to study combat Ninjutsu.

Hearing this, Konan was instead stunned, and subconsciously said, "Isn't a ninja meant for fighting?"

Nobles provide assets, and ninjas serve the nobles.

Ninjas slaughter and fight each other for resources, and after winning, they allow the Daimyo to have the qualifications to be firm at the negotiating table when distributing resources.

Not just Konan,

but including all the players present, whether they were Nobles, commoners, or ninjas from great or small nations.

Isn't that the destiny of a ninja?

"Did the Sage of Six Paths say that the destiny of a ninja is to fight?"

Fang Yi swept his gaze over all the bewildered players, finally letting his eyes rest on Konan, and asked: "Ninjas who possess chakra are clearly capable of farming with ease, splitting mountains and rocks, and building houses, surpassing commoners a hundredfold; why waste chakra and Ninjutsu on fighting?"

"This is because..."

Konan opened her mouth, then suddenly widened her eyes.

Why waste chakra on war?

"Because of hatred!"

A Chunin from the Hidden Stone suddenly shouted.

He thought of the friends and family killed by ninjas from enemy nations and said angrily: "My younger brother, and my father, both died at the hands of Konoha ninjas; I must take revenge on them!"

Including Sasuke Uchiha, many people showed expressions of agreement.

With years of war, whose family hasn't lost someone?

These seeds of hatred took root and sprouted, until now they are intertwined and impossible to untangle.

"Most hatred is as small as dust, and in the end, it will be submerged and forgotten by the rolling torrent of history."

Fang Yi glanced at him, then looked at Konan and said: "Back then, the chaos of the Sengoku era far exceeded the present, and the hatred was a hundred times more intense than it is now, yet it was still turned around by the will of two people."

Not just the Ninja World, but also the Sengoku era of the Great Qin Empire in another world; blood feuds that lasted for hundreds of years were erased by the inertia of unification.

"Therefore, to quell war, one needs not only a goal but also powerful strength."

"In my view, your Akatsuki is the organization in this world most likely to realize the ideal of peace in the Ninja World."

Seeing is believing.

A screen of light appeared, showing unimaginably tall buildings, strange iron-boxed objects, and citizens living and working in peace; although there were still small-scale wars, for the Ninja World, it was already an unimaginable paradise.

Powerful military force, a stable power base, firm beliefs, and loyal partners.

Akatsuki possessed all the foundations to unify the Ninja World, but lacked guidance and direction, which is why they ultimately fell short of success.

Senju Hashirama once had the opportunity, but unfortunately, he had no political sense at all and chose to give up that opportunity.

The unification of the Ninja World would inevitably bring about cultural unification.

And by instilling the concept of unification into everyone's minds—a mental imprint—the structure of the war-torn era would be completely broken.

Supplemented by an excellent system and the technological products within the Samsara Game Mall, peace could be realized to the greatest extent.

Of course, this is still not permanent peace, nor is it the answer to peace.

But in the absence of external enemies, it could bring about a thousand years of peace.

This path proposed by Fang Yi exploded like a bolt from the blue, clearing the haze in Konan's heart.

Although there were still many doubts, it was as if she saw a glimmer of light in the fog, illuminating a rugged path amidst the confusion and chaos.

"There is no permanent peace, but there is lasting peace?"

(End of this chapter)