"In her eyes, that difference is like an unbridgeable chasm. So she ignores it—perhaps even grows irritated and punishes it. To her, it is merely the removal of 'noise,' the maintenance of proper order and distance."
Hagoromo's voice carried an insight beyond his years.
"That is the problem, Hamura. Mother does not understand—or perhaps does not wish to understand—the villagers' longing."
"And the villagers, in turn, cannot possibly comprehend Mother's position, her concerns, or that cold sense of 'difference' born from bloodline and perception."
"Both sides see only from their own perspective. Each believes the other is wrong—unreasonable. The misunderstanding grows like a snowball, larger and larger."
Hamura stared blankly, instinctively protesting, "But… Mother already said it was impossible! That's not a misunderstanding—it's a fact!"
"No, Hamura." Hagoromo shook his head again, eyes bright with conviction. "Whether power can be granted is only the surface issue. The deeper issue is the lack of understanding."
"If… there were a way for Mother to truly see the villagers' thoughts and hardships—and for the villagers to understand Mother's stance and the truth of this world—so that both sides could feel each other's struggles…"
"Then even if power still could not be given, wouldn't the reason for that impossibility be understood?"
"And the resentment, dissatisfaction—even greed—born from ignorance… would they not lessen? Or at least not burn so fiercely?"
The more he spoke, the clearer his thoughts became. A near-idealistic light gradually kindled in his eyes.
"If everyone could truly know another's heart—understand their thoughts and feelings—would misunderstandings not decrease?"
"Would conflict and strife not become avoidable?"
"And Mother… would she not have to remain so lonely and guarded, high above the clouds?"
Hamura was utterly stunned.
He stared at his brother as if seeing him for the first time.
Every word made sense on its own. But together, they opened a door he had never imagined.
For the exalted Kaguya to "understand" ant-like villagers?
For humble villagers to "understand" the heart of a goddess?
It overturned everything he believed—almost fantastical.
"B-Brother…" Hamura opened his mouth, only to realize he had no response.
His brother's ideas felt too strange—perhaps even dangerous. They subtly challenged the absolute authority of their mother's way of rule.
Hagoromo saw the shock and confusion on Hamura's face. He gently placed a hand on his brother's shoulder and said no more.
But the thought—the seed of belief—had already taken root.
Perhaps this was the very beginning of the philosophy that would one day lead him to found Ninshū, to spread chakra, and to pursue "understanding" and "connection" as the Sage of Six Paths.
Within the Heavenly Curtain, the young Hagoromo's words about "mutual understanding" and "knowing one another's hearts to dispel misunderstanding" struck the shinobi world like a stone cast into a still lake.
The ripples, however, were not admiration—but shock, confusion, and ridicule.
"The Sage of Six Paths… was he really that naïve in his youth?"
A middle-aged shinobi scratched his head in disbelief.
In his experience, the shinobi world revolved around power,利益, and hatred.
Understanding?
That was either the victor's rhetoric—or the desperate wish of the weak.
"How could he think like that? That's absurd!"
"Expect the strong to understand the greed of the weak? Expect a deity to sympathize with ants? That's like asking a tiger to understand why rabbits fear it!"
"Exactly! If an ant gets crushed without you even noticing, how are you supposed to 'understand' it?"
"But now that I think about it… doesn't that line—'people should understand each other'—sound familiar?"
"Of course it does! Didn't that Naruto Uzumaki kid keep shouting about that in the previous visions of the Heavenly Curtain? Always going on about understanding and forgiveness?"
"Right! That blond brat! Who would've thought—over a thousand years ago, even the Sage of Six Paths had similar ideas? What kind of inheritance is that…?"
Many wore expressions of disbelief, as if witnessing a thousand-year relay of impractical idealism.
One voice mocked sharply, "Understand them? If they want power, you must understand why they want it. What if they want your life? Your everything? Are you going to kneel down and try to understand that too? Ridiculous!"
Some shinobi who prided themselves on realism showed dawning—or even angry—realization.
"I think I understand now why the shinobi world fell into a thousand years of warfare during the Warring States Period."
"Maybe… the root of it began here."
"From the Sage of Six Paths onward, this overly idealistic talk of 'understanding'—ignoring the reality of power and human nature—warped the order of the world!"
"If the strong don't firmly establish rules and enforce order, but instead waste time trying to understand the weak, chaos is inevitable!"
Though extreme, such reasoning resonated with some.
Konohagakure
Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno turned in unison to look at Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto squirmed under their gazes. When he noticed the faint, mocking "I knew it" expression forming on Sasuke's face, his cheeks burned.
"H-Hey! Why are you looking at me?! I didn't say that! The Sage of Six Paths did!"
Sasuke folded his arms and slightly lifted his chin, his expression brimming with the unmistakable pride and superiority of a prodigy.
"Hmph." His voice was low, but it cut straight into Naruto's ears. "This just proves it. All that nonsense you keep spouting about 'understanding' and 'forgiveness'—it's nothing but childish fantasy."
"Even the legendary Sage of Six Paths was naïve in his youth. And what happened? The world still descended into chaos. Your ideas were wrong from the start—immature."
"What did you say?! You jerk, Sasuke!"
Naruto exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Though only nine years old, not yet tempered by the trials that would later shape his convictions, and not yet repeating "understanding" as a creed, Sasuke's outright dismissal—and that infuriatingly superior look—was enough to ignite his temper instantly.
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