The name made the three of them fall silent. Of course, they knew. Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, the legend who built Konoha and was known as the God of Shinobi.
The masked man continued with a cynical tone, his voice laced with hidden mockery.
"Hashirama is a foolish man. Hashirama had the power to end all wars, yet he chose to prolong them."
Yahiko narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you mean?"
The masked man sighed and leaned against the cold stone wall. "If Hashirama hadn't distributed the Bijuu to other villages, the ninja world wouldn't be like this. Konoha would remain the strongest, and the other four great villages would never be able to compete with them. No one would dare challenge them. But what did Hashirama do? He preferred to share that power, giving other villages the means to fight back. The result?"
The man let out a small laugh, his laughter sounding bitter.
"Endless wars. Do you want to know why? Because of human selfishness. Look at Sunagakure, a village that consists only of desert. They lack food, clean water, and other resources. Hashirama offered them fertile land, but they refused. They preferred to obtain Bijuu as weapons rather than land for farming. The result? They continue to fight to maintain their existence."
Yahiko fell silent, his expression shifting slightly. He had never thought about it that way before. Nagato and Konan exchanged glances, doubt evident in their eyes.
"So you want to say that the only way to achieve peace is by conquering the ninja world?" Yahiko asked firmly.
The masked man nodded slowly. "Yes. If you are strong enough to conquer the entire world, then no one will dare to oppose you. There will be no wars. There will be one ruler, one law, one truth. That is how true peace is achieved."
The three orphans swallowed hard. The man's words were so harsh, yet at the same time, there was an undeniable logic in them.
However, Yahiko shook his head firmly. "No... I'm sure that even without conquering the world, peace can be achieved!"
The masked man stared at Yahiko in silence. This time, even though the man's mask concealed his expression, there was something in his voice that sounded... sad?
"Yes... perhaps..." the masked man murmured softly, as if speaking to himself.
The atmosphere fell silent again, only the sound of rain and the crackling campfire could be heard.
Suddenly, the masked man changed the subject. "If you want Amegakure to achieve peace, then you must prepare an army. Gather all the orphans, train them to become ninjas. If they do not want to kill, at least they must be able to survive. This world will show no mercy to the weak."
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan looked at the masked man in genuine shock.
"An army?" Yahiko repeated the word, as if trying to digest the idea.
"Yes," the masked man continued. "If you have a large enough army, you will be strong enough to protect Amegakure. However, strength alone is not enough. You also need resources, especially money. And how do you obtain it?"
Yahiko fell silent, waiting for the masked man's answer.
"Fish farming."
Their eyes widened.
"Do you know why Kirigakure can survive despite its small territory and being surrounded by the sea? Because they have abundant fish resources. They are the largest fish suppliers in the ninja world. Meanwhile, Amegakure is surrounded by water, but has only let it flow without producing anything. Why not take advantage of it?"
Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato exchanged glances. The idea... made sense.
"Amegakure could become the largest fish supplier for other villages. In that way, you not only gain economic benefits but also influence. If a village relies on fish supplies from Amegakure, then they won't easily attack you."
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[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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