Everyone stared blankly at the massive screen spanning the sky.
Which path could truly bring peace?
They could even change their choice freely before the final result.
Naruto: "Peace? Of course it comes from eliminating hatred. Only through mutual understanding can people achieve it!"
Uchiha Madara: "Ridiculous. Peace requires overwhelming force. Without Hashirama and me during the Warring States Period, people would still be slaughtering each other endlessly!"
Senju Hashirama: "Ahahaha, Madara, are you finally acknowledging the days we fought side by side? But I still think peace must be built step by step. It's a difficult process."
Uchiha Madara: "I regret letting you become Hokage. During the summit, you even bowed to the other Kage—utterly humiliating! Why didn't you bow to me too?!"
Senju Hashirama: "Uh… do you want me to? If you do, I can bow to you as well."
Uchiha Madara: "I…"
Senju Tobirama: "Big Brother, even for peace, there's no need to lower yourself like that. And you even distributed the tailed beasts… sigh."
That was true.
After founding Konoha, the First Hokage had distributed the tailed beasts among the nations in order to ease tensions.
He even humbled himself to secure peace.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "The First Hokage's actions weren't wrong. At the time, they did bring about peace."
Nagato: "Foolish. To think such foolish actions came from the God of Shinobi. Using the tailed beasts to strengthen yourself and instill fear—that would have been the correct approach."
"Look at the current shinobi world. Is there peace?"
The First Kazekage, Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and others: "We recognize Senju Hashirama's actions. You are nothing but a terrorist."
Nagato: "Hahaha, you hypocrites. If you hadn't received the tailed beasts, even if Hashirama bowed a hundred times, it wouldn't have mattered!"
"What you care about is利益—利益! Peace means nothing to you!"
The chatroom erupted into heated debate.
The topic of peace had existed for ages.
Every few years—or decades—a great ninja war would break out.
After the war, everyone spoke of peace.
Before the war, everyone clamored for battle.
Typical—once the wounds healed, the pain was forgotten.
As for breaking the rotten system—
Almost no one discussed it.
Or rather, very few.
Konan: "Maybe… something really is wrong with this world. I don't fully understand why—but there's one thing I clearly feel."
"That is… inequality."
"Why can great nations oppress smaller ones at will?"
"Why can they seize anything they desire?"
"Why is it so hard just to live as an ordinary person—why is even food and survival a struggle?"
She remembered her childhood—
Going hungry, stealing food, and later returning it.
That experience…
She would never forget.
The ten seconds passed quickly.
[Support Voting Results]
[Option 1 (Peace must be built gradually): 8%]
[Option 2 (Peace through force, eternal illusion): 15%]
[Option 3 (Peace through force, instilling fear): 25%]
[Option 4 (Peace through eliminating hatred and mutual understanding): 51%]
[Option 5 (Peace through breaking the rotten system): 1%]
Naruto: "Yes! Looks like everyone agrees with Pervy Sage! Peace comes from eliminating hatred—this is great!"
Jiraiya: "Ah… seems my life hasn't been in vain after all. I've finally done something meaningful."
Minato Namikaze: "Mutual understanding is important… otherwise, Kushina and I would argue all the time…"
Uchiha Madara: "You fools. Only force can achieve all of this!"
When he saw one of the options hinting at his plan, his heart skipped a beat.
But seeing that no one discussed it—
He relaxed.
The stone tablet in the Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine could only be fully read with the Rinnegan.
They wouldn't decipher it.
Maybe they misunderstood the illusion…
Madara felt relieved.
Senju Tobirama: "Looks like not many support your approach, Big Brother. I told you—they're driven by利益, not ideals."
Senju Hashirama: "Is that so? That's a shame. But it was the best solution I could think of at the time. And besides—I'm not last place, I'm second to last! Hahahahaha!"
His hearty laughter echoed through everyone's minds.
Tsunade could already picture her grandfather standing with hands on his hips, laughing loudly…
Being second to last is something to be proud of? There are only a few options!
Nara Shikaku: "The last-place option only has 1% support… that's incredibly low. Even the First Hokage's approach reached 8%."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Is the system of this world rotten? I don't think so."
Fourth Raikage A: "I think it's fine. What's rotten about it?"
Might Guy: "Uh… this question is beyond my understanding."
Hyūga Neji: "I think it's rotten to the core."
Hidan: "Not rotten enough! The glory of Lord Jashin hasn't fully descended yet!"
As everyone continued debating the issue of "corruption"—
The white screen lit up once more.