Chapter 18: Konohagakure Shouldn't Be Like This!

"Senior Yamanaka Chujiu, the Execution Line you told me about yesterday, is Konohagakure really that dark?"

"Itachi, Konohagakure is an incredibly powerful existence; its radiance is enough to illuminate the Ninja World, but you must know that the brighter the light, the darker the shadow it casts."

"Of course, the shadows in Konohagakure right now... are indeed a bit too large."

"Senior, what would it be like to make the shadows less vast? Would it be a paradise of pure light?"

"No, pure light and pure darkness are no different; heaven and hell are of the same origin. Only a world of vibrant colors is a happy human realm."

"I don't understand..."

"Do you like your younger brother?"

"I do, I like him very much!"

"Haha, you don't hide your affection for your brother at all."

"Then when your brother grows up and you play hide-and-seek together, will you prepare little pranks to scare him?"

"Of course I will."

"That, too, is darkness."

"How can that be?"

"Because darkness and light cannot define themselves; they must rely on each other to determine their own meaning."

"If you pursue absolute light and eliminate all true evil, then harmless little pranks will become darkness simply because they aren't gentle enough."

"... Senior Yamanaka Chujiu, what do you think the best Konohagakure would look like?"

"Hmm, vibrant, with fair opportunities and equal dignity. Although there would still be dark places, the light would always be striving to penetrate them, allowing even those who suffer the most tragic lives to see hope."

"That sounds wonderful... Senior, tell me about the shadows of Konoha. Is it the Third Hokage?"

"Not exactly, but Hiruzen Sarutobi is the root that casts this massive shadow."

"In other words, if we kill the Third Hokage, Konohagakure can be saved."

"..."

"You cannot think that way. Itachi, the world is not that simple. It is not black and white, and it is certainly not a problem that can be solved by killing one person."

"Does Senior mean that killing Hiruzen Sarutobi now would actually make things worse?"

"Yes."

Yamanaka Chujiu felt for the first time that sometimes a child who is too smart is even more maddening than one who is too dull; even a lunatic's train of thought might not turn so smoothly.

His original plan was to instill information and knowledge to overload Itachi Uchiha's brain, thereby causing the dream to collapse gently.

But Itachi Uchiha was that kind of peerless genius who understood everything at a hint, learned instantly, and could draw inferences about other cases from one instance.

No matter how difficult the social knowledge Yamanaka Chujiu instilled, he could quickly understand and accept it.

The educational pleasure triggered by this was so intense and intoxicating that he had unknowingly said too much.

When Yamanaka Chujiu inadvertently said: "As the Hokage who holds power, Hiruzen Sarutobi needs to be responsible for all the problems in Konohagakure."

"This is called: With great power comes great responsibility!"

After that, the conversation between the two could never escape the Third Hokage, and Itachi Uchiha listened with wide, round eyes, fully focused.

Hiruzen Sarutobi is not a bad person, but he is not a qualified Hokage either, at least not the current version of him.

In domestic affairs, he continued the Second Hokage's policy of "supporting civilians and suppressing ninja clans."

He vigorously promoted the popularization of ninja education, expanded the enrollment scale of the Ninja Academy, and greatly increased the number of ninja in Konohagakure.

With civilian ninja as his base and task distribution and resource allocation as his means, he eased the conflicts between ninja clans, promoted rapid economic development, and ensured sufficient supply of materials.

He vigorously promoted the "Will of Fire," using spiritual inspiration to unite the hearts of Konoha Ninja, making Konohagakure's strength even greater and solidifying its status as the strongest ninja village in the Ninja World.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi never left Konohagakure and did not directly participate in wars, his title of "Ninja Hero" was well-deserved.

But as Hiruzen Sarutobi grew older, his strength no longer reached its peak, and his self-confidence gradually faded.

The most iconic turning point was the suicide of the White Fang of the Leaf; the one who died that day was not just Hatake Sakumo, but also the "Ninja Hero" Hiruzen Sarutobi, replaced by the "Professor of Ninjutsu," the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage is a collection of contradictions.

He used sophisticated, gentle means to win over ninja clans, yet he allowed Shimura Danzo to persecute the Uchiha and other clans.

His love for children remained sincere, yet he would send children under ten to the battlefield.

He vigorously supported Minato Namikaze while forcefully suppressing the rising reputation of Orochimaru.

He exhausted his efforts to handle the village's official business, yet he did not hesitate to hollow out the authority of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

He strictly demanded much from his own son, yet turned a blind eye to the expansion of the Sarutobi Clan.

He held high the banner of the "Will of Fire," yet indulged the Hokage Advisors in monopolizing power.

What the Konoha Ninja could not tolerate most was the Third Hokage's increasing weakness toward enemies.

After Konohagakure won the war, the Third Hokage took the initiative to negotiate peace with Onoki, abandoning war reparations and vast tracts of land, merely to reach a peace agreement faster.

This unprincipled compromise did not move Onoki; instead, it allowed the Fourth Raikage to see through Hiruzen Sarutobi's weakness, stimulating the opportunistic nature of Kumogakure.

The war therefore lasted longer, and Konohagakure paid an even greater price.

As the victor, Konohagakure was actually in such dire straits that it began to default on pension payments.

Yamanaka Chujiu knew that what was said in the dream would influence Itachi Uchiha, but would not leave behind specific memories.

So he spoke openly: "Itachi, do you think such a Third Hokage, who was wise at first but became muddled later—one who could be called an 'Emperor who lost his way'—should step down completely?"

Itachi Uchiha said firmly: "Senior Yamanaka Chujiu is right, the Third Hokage should have stepped down long ago!"

"Konohagakure shouldn't default on pensions, shouldn't have any Execution Lines, shouldn't be threatened by war... in short, Konohagakure shouldn't be the way it is now!"

"For the sake of Konohagakure, we must defeat the incompetent Third Hokage!"

When Itachi Uchiha solidified his belief in defeating the Third Hokage, Yamanaka Chujiu watched with satisfaction as the Tsukuyomi dream world changed.

The red moon quietly transformed into a silver moon; although the sky was still red, its brightness had increased significantly.

More importantly, the flesh and blood mud on the ground was rapidly decreasing, and under Yamanaka Chujiu's gaze, it disappeared completely.

However, Yamanaka Chujiu was also surprised to discover that Itachi Uchiha had not kept himself clean; his body was covered in mud, his face was smeared with blood, and only his eyes were shining brightly.

Itachi Uchiha looked at Yamanaka Chujiu with a firm gaze and said, "Senior is right; only by becoming brave and facing the bloodiness and cruelty of war head-on can I ensure that peace and tranquility lie behind me."

As expected, this kid is a martyr at heart.

Coincidentally, Yamanaka Chujiu is one too, which is why they are able to understand each other.

A good man of Huaxia spends his whole life looking for an opportunity, a chance to make his death full of ritual and to leave his name in history.

He just wouldn't sacrifice himself for Konohagakure.