Chapter 200 Nagato's Visit The sight of
Deidara before me was utterly pathetic. His clothes were filthy, and his once meticulously groomed long blond hair was now greasy and tangled. The four or five empty ramen bowls piled around him, and the way he was still wolfing down his food, made it clear he was starving.
This was understandable. Last time, his escape was clearly well-planned and prepared, like a trip. But this time, Deidara's departure seemed impromptu. Not only was he unprepared, but he even tore off his headband before fleeing. Generally speaking, survival in the ninja world is quite difficult for rogue ninjas unless they are exceptionally strong. Just dealing with attacks from wandering ninjas seeking bounties at underground gold exchange shops is troublesome enough.
Moreover, this kid probably didn't bring much money with him. As for stealing food? Deidara probably wouldn't stoop to that level.
After Deidara finished his sixth bowl of ramen, soup and all, he let out a satisfied burp and slumped down at Kakashi's dining table.
At that moment, Jiraiya, who had come with Naruto, noticed the Iwagakure headband with a tear in it, which Deidara had probably tossed aside because it was in the way. He frowned and asked,
"A rogue ninja from Iwagakure? Naruto, how did you get involved with him?"
Jiraiya's expression was very serious. The fact that rogue ninjas were universally condemned was a common understanding among ninjas in the ninja world. Not knowing the inside story, he naturally didn't want Naruto involved in such matters, especially since this one was a rogue ninja from Iwagakure, a great ninja village just like their own Konoha.
"What rogue ninja? Perverted Sage, this is my older brother!" Naruto muttered somewhat discontentedly, then handed a glass of water to the seemingly overeating Deidara.
Deidara took the drink and gulped it down before letting out a long sigh. He said to Naruto, "Thanks, bro."
"How long has it been since you last ate?" Uchiha Touko couldn't help but ask.
"Three or four days," Deidara replied. "I left in a rush, without any money, and there were some annoying flies on the road. After dealing with them, I had nowhere to replenish my energy."
"So what are you planning to do after that?" Uchiha Touko asked.
"Go back to work, of course," Deidara said.
"Didn't your teacher arrange a job for you similar to what you had in Konoha during those two years? Why did you have to defect?" Uchiha Touko asked.
"Don't mention it, it makes me angry!" Deidara said. "That old man started some kind of construction company, saying he wanted me to continue being a demolition expert, but their construction engineers' artistic level is far inferior to Yamato's. All they do is repair houses all day. Making me their demolition expert is just a pure insult to my art!"
Uchiha Touko felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this. It seemed that Onoki only noticed that Konoha was making money off Deidara and didn't consider Deidara's feelings at all. When he was in Konoha, the construction projects he undertook were spectacular projects in the ninja world. But after returning, Onoki made him repair houses. It was like asking those art masters to paint soulless imitations. It was no wonder that Deidara, who had extremely high standards for art, couldn't accept it.
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"However, it's a bit difficult for you to come back to work." At this moment, Uchiha Touko said with some difficulty, "If you hadn't removed your village's headband when you left, I could have tried to get you some kind of external technician status. But now you're a rogue ninja wanted by Iwagakure. Harboring rogue ninjas from other villages is tantamount to declaring war on that village."
"Then what should I do? Uncle Hokage, you can't just watch me get caught by that old man, can you?" Deidara said.
"How about in a few days, I'll introduce you to a new job?" Uchiha Touko thought of Nagato, who would be coming to Konoha in a few days, and said, "Although the working environment and nature of the job may not be that great, they shouldn't stop you from honing your art in your spare time."
"Then I'll leave it to Uncle Hokage." Deidara nodded. He wasn't picky about the conditions Uchiha Touko mentioned. As long as he could focus on his art, he would be happy even if he had to sleep under a bridge and eat pig swill.
"However, you should stay here and not go out during this time. Your teacher will be leading a team to Konoha in two days to participate in this year's Joint Chunin Exams. If he catches you, I won't be able to help you."
"Don't worry, I won't go anywhere during this time," Deidara quickly replied.
...
After settling Deidara in, two days later, the genin from the Land of Rain who came to participate in the Joint Chunin Exams also arrived in Konoha. On the surface, their leader was Konan, who helped the Land of Waterfall fill the gap in high-level combat power during the past Waterfall-Earth War and successfully helped the Land of Waterfall resist the offensive of the Land of Earth, thus making a name for herself as an angel in the ninja world.
However, even the genin from the Hidden Rain Village who came to participate in the Chunin Exams this time did not know that a dark red-haired man mixed among the villagers of Konoha who came to watch was their true leader. At this moment, Nagato leaned against his wheelchair, watching the scene of Konan meeting with Uchiha Touko.
"Your Excellency, I've long admired your name." Uchiha Touko smiled and extended his hand to Konan.
"I should be the one saying I've long admired you," Konan said with a smile, shaking Uchiha Touko's outstretched hand.
"In any case, welcome to everyone from the Land of Rain to Konoha for the Chunin Exams. I wish you all the best in achieving the results you desire," Uchiha Touko said with a smile. "Furthermore, Konoha has prepared a sumptuous banquet within the village to entertain you, our guests from afar."
After saying this, Uchiha Touko led the group from the Land of Rain to the high-class restaurant that Gato had opened in Konoha.
After treating the genin from the Land of Rain and the accompanying jonin leaders to a hearty meal, Uchiha Touko prepared tea in the tea room of the restaurant, awaiting the arrival of his true guests.
Before long, Gato personally led Konan and Nagato, who was in a wheelchair being pushed by Konan, into the secluded tea room that Gato had reserved especially for Uchiha Touko.
After dropping the two off, Kado tactfully left. Inside the tea room, a faint incense scent filled the air. Nagato, pushed in by Konan, immediately saw Uchiha Touko intently brewing tea.
After a while, as the aroma of tea spread with the boiling water, Uchiha Touko poured tea into the two cups before looking up at the two. "Sorry to keep you waiting, please."
Nagato and Konan looked at the teacups offered to them, making no other move, simply watching Uchiha Touko quietly.
Uchiha Touko wasn't annoyed, and smiled as he said, "It's been three years since we last parted ways in Kirigakure. Your Land of Rain has been closed off for these three years; I wonder how things have progressed?"
"Thanks to the Hokage, things have been alright," Nagato replied calmly.
"Lord Nagato, what brings you to Konoha?" Seeing that Nagato didn't seem inclined to small talk, Uchiha Touko cut straight to the point.
Nagato took a deep breath and said, "After leaving Kirigakure, although our Akatsuki organization suspended its activities in the ninja world, we have been keeping a close eye on your and Konoha's movements. I have a few questions I hope the Hokage can answer for me."
"Alright," Uchiha Touko nodded, indicating that he could begin.
"Now, four of the nine tailed beasts in the ninja world are within your Konoha territory. I originally thought you intended to use the power of the tailed beasts to wage war, but after the Six-Tails lost its jinchūriki, you released it back into the wild at the Tailed Beast Nature Reserve established in the Land of Fire. So, I want to know, what is Konoha's purpose in collecting the tailed beasts?"
Uchiha Touko smiled upon hearing this question, then looked at Nagato and asked, "Before answering your question, I also want to ask you, your Akatsuki organization must have also wanted to collect the tailed beasts, right? Now the Five-Tails of Iwagakure is still in your hands. So, can you tell me, what is your purpose in collecting the tailed beasts?"
"Deterrence," Nagato said unhurriedly. "I originally planned to use the power of the tailed beasts after collecting all of them to make the great powers that want to wage war at will experience the pain of war. Only after experiencing pain will everyone realize the value of peace, thus bringing peace to the ninja world. As for why I abandoned my plan..."
After saying this, Nagato looked at Uchiha Touko in silence.
In their last encounter, Uchiha Touko effortlessly withstood all of Nagato's attacks. His prized Six Paths of Pain were like toys in Touko's presence. Nagato realized then that even if he collected all the Tailed Beasts, he probably wouldn't be a match for Touko, given that Touko possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, the most effective eye against Tailed Beasts in the entire ninja world.
"This won't work," Uchiha Touko sighed.
Nagato gave Touko a deep look and nodded.
Seeing Nagato's expression, Touko realized the other might have misunderstood him, so he added, "Even without me in the ninja world, achieving peace through such means is impossible."
"What makes you say that?" Nagato asked.
"Everything you've envisioned is nothing more than what our village's First Hokage did. The First Hokage and Madara truly dominated the ninja world back then; their will represented the will of the ninja world. They both wanted peace, so before their deaths, the ninja world enjoyed an unprecedented ten-year period of peace since the Warring States period. But, as you've seen, the First Hokage's death immediately triggered the First Shinobi World War."
"No, the consequences of your plan might be even more severe than before. Because if you truly succeed, what you created won't disappear with your death. If the sword you forged falls into someone else's hands, can you guarantee that your successor will be as pure as you?" Uchiha Touko said. Nagato
fell silent upon hearing this.
Uchiha Touko was right. The reason he so desperately longed for peace was because he had truly experienced the pain of war, but what if he died?
"Furthermore, I have one more piece of advice for you: 'Possessing a powerful weapon breeds murderous intent.' Allowing someone who has never experienced the brutality of war to obtain the ultimate weapon you created is perhaps more dangerous than the war itself," Uchiha Touko said.
After Uchiha Touko's words, a long silence fell over the tea room.
"Is there really no way to end this war in the ninja world?" After a long while, Nagato sighed helplessly.
"Let me answer your question first. Konoha is indeed collecting the Tailed Beasts, and like your Akatsuki, we have a plan to collect all the Tailed Beasts," Uchiha Touko said. "As for the purpose of collecting the Tailed Beasts, it is for the peace of the ninja world."
"For peace?" Nagato frowned slightly. "But I haven't seen any indication of your pursuit of peace in your actions. Whether it's your interference in the war between the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Earth, providing the Land of Waterfall with a large number of ninja tools, or your actions in the Land of Water, none of it seems like the work of a force that pursues peace. You seem more like you are preparing for war."
"Nagato?" Konan wanted to remind Nagato, who seemed to be getting a little carried away, but Uchiha Touko just smiled and waved his hand after hearing what he said.
"It's alright," Uchiha Touko said. "Nagato-sensei is right. Konoha has indeed been preparing for war, but that doesn't hinder our goal: peace in the ninja world."
Hearing Uchiha Touko's words, a hint of doubt appeared in Nagato's eyes.
"Have you considered the essence of war, Nagato-sensei?" Uchiha Touko asked.
"The essence of war?" Nagato frowned.
"Yes, war is a continuation of politics. In the three Shinobi World Wars, Konoha was always the one being besieged. Do you know why? Because their rulers coveted the fertile land of the Land of Fire. And in the Second Shinobi World War, the Land of Rain was chosen as the battlefield for the three-way conflict between fire, earth, and wind. Do you know why? Because none of the rulers of those three countries wanted their homeland to suffer losses."
"Therefore, if war cannot be resolved at this level, then peace will never come," Uchiha Touko said.
"So, what do you plan to do?" Nagato asked after a moment's hesitation.
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(End of Chapter)