Itachi Uchiha arrived at Yosuke's room with his head lowered, eyes flickering, saying nothing.
"What's wrong? Why the long face? If it's because of what happened earlier today, I didn't take it to heart at all — you don't need to worry."
Yosuke thought Itachi was upset because of Fugaku Uchiha.
"Yosuke-dono… what is peace?"
Yosuke looked at the young Itachi in surprise. Someone his age was already thinking about questions like this?
"That depends on how you define peace."
Itachi looked at Yosuke with confused eyes. He didn't understand what a 'definition of peace' even meant.
Patiently, Yosuke explained:
"I divide peace into three types."
"The first is utopian peace: no war, no conflict, no sacrifice, no hatred. A peace where every person and every living thing can live freely and happily."
"The second is peace through power: using overwhelming strength to restrain everyone and thereby maintain peace."
"The third is peace through rules: creating laws that apply to everyone. Each person must live according to those rules, and if they break them, they're punished. Peace created by order."
"So, Itachi — which kind of peace would you choose?"
Without hesitation, Itachi answered, "The first one! World peace!"
Just as he expected, Yosuke smiled and shook his head.
"It looks beautiful, but that kind of peace only exists in fantasy."
Confused, Itachi asked, "Why? Isn't that the true form of peace?"
"Itachi, you're forgetting one thing — human emotion. Humans are humans because they're ruled by their emotions. Joy exists, but that means anger exists as well. World peace is beautiful, but it's impossible."
Itachi felt a heavy weight in his chest. He uncertainly continued, "Then… what about the second one? Peace enforced through power?"
"That's the easiest peace to achieve — unify the world with absolute strength and then restrain everyone. But such peace doesn't last long."
"It's tied directly to the ruler's ideology. If the ruler's thoughts change even a little, the peace crumbles. Even if the ruler stays pure, what happens when they die? People will go to war again to seize the position of power."
Itachi's breathing stalled. He realized that although Yosuke had given him three answers, none of them were truly correct.
"Yosuke-dono… the third one is wrong too, isn't it? Because once rules interfere with someone's interests, it's hard to expect everyone to obey them."
Yosuke nodded.
"That's right. When rules harm someone's interests, many won't choose to sacrifice those interests. They'll think about breaking the rules instead — taking back what they believe is theirs. And when that happens, peace disappears."
Itachi lowered his gaze, frustration twisting in his chest.
Was true peace really unattainable?
"Peace is a false proposition," Yosuke said softly. "It's not even a real 'problem' to solve — it's just a vision. You can't make everyone think the same way you do. The moment you start asking how to achieve perfect peace, you've already walked into a dead end."
Itachi looked up at Yosuke, eyes full of helplessness.
"Yosuke-dono… then what should I do?"
Gently, Yosuke placed a hand on his head.
"Just follow the peace you believe in."
But Itachi clenched his fists, unwilling.
"But it feels like the peace in my heart… won't last much longer…"
"If you keep pushing the true idea of peace forward, then someday — when civilization has advanced far enough — real peace might appear. What we can do isn't to control that future, but to guide it."
Itachi's clenched fists slowly relaxed.
"Guide it…"
The fog in his heart began to clear, but he still didn't know how to guide anything. So he humbly asked again:
"If it were you, Yosuke-dono… what would you do?"
This time, Itachi's question left Yosuke silent. Yosuke sat cross-legged on the floor, thinking. Itachi sat quietly beside him, not daring to interrupt.
After a while, Yosuke finally spoke:
"I would implement all three kinds of peace."
Itachi looked at him with hopeful eyes, waiting for the answer.
"I'd first use power to create temporary peace. Then I'd establish rules to maintain balance. And after that, I'd spread the ideology of peace across generations — let it be passed down. As civilization advances under a system of balanced power… maybe true peace will one day appear."
Hearing this, Itachi's eyes brightened, excitement rising uncontrollably.
He felt that Yosuke's method might really be feasible. If the seeds of peace were planted in everyone's hearts, then one day, true peace would come.
Itachi bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Yosuke-dono."
Yosuke waved his hand.
"I only told you what I believe. The one who decides is you."
Then Yosuke suddenly looked at Itachi seriously.
"Itachi… you've shown remarkable insight these past days. I've grown very fond of your potential. So I want to teach you everything I know. Itachi — will you become my disciple?"
The unexpected invitation stunned Itachi for a moment. Then he pressed his forehead to the floor.
"I am willing! Please teach me, Master Yosuke!"
Helping Itachi to his feet, Yosuke said:
"When I fought your father, the sword style I used was Sun Breathing — created long ago by a powerful swordsman, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, for the purpose of slaying demons."
"Slaying… demons?"
Itachi asked in surprise. Weren't demons just legends?
"Just think of them as myths. The technique I personally created is called Blood Breathing, derived from Sun Breathing. Once you master Sun Breathing, I'll teach you Blood Breathing."
Yosuke had checked with the system beforehand to ensure Itachi could learn it.
The system had answered:
[When the host was resurrected, although he retained the characteristics of a demon, his blood no longer had the ability to turn others into demons. However, by giving his blood, he can grant others the ability to use his techniques.]
With that confirmation, Yosuke decided he would indeed pass Blood Breathing on to Itachi.
Sun Breathing may be the nemesis of demons, but not of humans. In fact, at this moment, Yosuke's strongest offensive style was Blood Breathing.
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