Tsunade looked into Hakushi's eyes, revealing a heavy seriousness, along with a trace of fear and dread even she hadn't noticed.
"Your goal... could it be..."
Unlike Shizune, who was listening in a daze, utterly confused, Tsunade felt only endless coldness.
She never imagined that Hakushi's goal would be this.
He wanted to overthrow not just the ninjas, but the entire world's structure.
The Daimyo, the aristocrats, the ninjas, the civilians—at that time, every class would be swept in and unable to escape.
Hakushi's face showed a look of reminiscence, and he smiled, "To be honest, when I first came into contact with this world, I was curious about everything. But at the same time, I felt the world shouldn't exist in this way. Maybe I'm inherently incompatible with this world."
It's unimaginable to live summer days without air conditioning.
It's unimaginable for people to travel and still have to ride unbelievably bumpy carriages.
The roads are full of potholes, with no one to fix them.
Young children going to school aren't discussing what games to play today or sharing their interests, but rather, they're gathered discussing how to fight, how to kill on the battlefield.
Only when their tender faces were covered in blood did they realize that this world was like hell, not the kind of world they wanted.
If that's the case, then they can only hold onto their original thought and challenge fate.
"Doing this, many people will die!"
Finally, Tsunade spoke in a deep voice.
"A path that has never been seen before is now gradually being paved forward under my efforts. What future this path will ultimately bring, no one knows now."
Hakushi didn't answer Tsunade's question directly, but rather expressed his view.
"Then what's your purpose in coming to me?"
"I wish to invite Teacher Tsunade to join my camp. Although previously, due to Lord Jiraiya, there were some misunderstandings between us. But from the perspective of enemies, these things are understandable to Teacher Tsunade. What I'm doing now is actually the same thing that Lord First wanted to do back then."
Although the First Hokage's ideal was just one of the byproducts.
"But all I've seen is endless war, not a shred of peace!"
Tsunade stared intently at Hakushi's indifferent face.
"It's necessary. To establish a new pattern, the old must naturally be cleared away. Although cruel, I can't find another way to replace it. Once the unnecessary is eliminated, one can draw any kind of composition they want on a pristine white sheet."
Hakushi spoke seriously, unafraid to meet Tsunade's gaze.
Tsunade furrowed her brows, not giving a response.
"Previously, I used the relationship between civilians and the Ninja Village as an example, not to provoke the relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire. In fact, I don't need to do that. Because no matter what Konoha does next, I will persist on the road I've chosen. If you can't become a comrade on the same path, then you'll only be an enemy."
The internal relations of Konoha are too complex, the high-level powers are chaotic, after the Uchiha Clan incident, although various ninja clans show no reaction on the surface, they are already restless in private.
In such a Konoha, there seems no hope for reform for the time being.
"I'm afraid I cannot agree."
Tsunade still shook her head.
Even though she knows that Hakushi is not on an evil path like Jiraiya said, but rather exploring a path like her grandfather.
However, she had many involvements with Konoha that she could not abandon.
Whether in kin or spirit, she could not betray Konoha.
"Don't refuse so quickly, Teacher Tsunade. There's still time to think. The purpose of my visit today is to let Teacher Tsunade know that in this world, not only the Daimyo, aristocrats, and ninjas are human, the ones that should not be forgotten the most are those silent grassroots people. The reason the Land of Demons has developed so quickly is also largely due to these people. As long as they're willing to have their chains removed, they too possess the power to change the entire world."
However, these people can't achieve quick results like ninjas.
They need to explore step by step in the darkness, searching for the light known as truth.
"Verify the upcoming changes in structure with your eyes and heart, don't limit everything within the Will of Fire, when that time comes, Teacher Tsunade, tell me your true decision. According to my judgment, the time for that opportunity to arrive won't be too far."
Hakushi stood up from his seat, tidied his somewhat wrinkled clothes, and Raidenmaru jumped down, following beside him.
"So, that's all for today."
Saying this, Hakushi walked towards the door, but when he reached it, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and said:
"Oh, about the concern Teacher Tsunade had earlier about many people dying in the war, there's really no need to worry about that."
"What?"
"With the problem of the Bursting Insects resolved, there's temporarily no need to worry about the threat of the Nokizaru Group. Given the Fourth Raikage's unyielding nature and his speed of action, what's happening in Woods Village now... Teacher Tsunade was a bit careless this time."
After Hakushi said this, Tsunade's body trembled, her pupils shrinking tightly.
After Hakushi's reminder, she already realized what kind of severe consequences would follow her assistance to the Fourth Raikage.
"That's why I said the issue of many people dying is really not something to worry about. Because even in non-war times, many people will still die."
When Tsunade agreed to help the Fourth Raikage, Hakushi had already foreseen the outcome for Woods Village.
If Woods Village had bargaining chips to negotiate with the Raikage, they could avoid the fate of destruction.
But... Woods Village has no qualification to negotiate with the Raikage.
Being eliminated by the Raikage is the only outcome for Woods Village.