The Konoha's group discussed countermeasures right in front of Ryuji, and Ryuji didn't mind at all, looking at them with great interest.
Most of these people had been seen at the duel arena half a year ago, but there were also many unfamiliar faces.
For example, the eternal Genin with a black pot on his back, a young Uchiha who looked only about ten years old but wore the green flak jacket only Chunin and above were qualified to wear.
And many others who left an impression but whose presence could not be underestimated. Especially those elderly with hunched backs, emaciated figures, looking like they were about to return to the earth.
Not only did they have astonishing presence, but they also spoke without reservation, their seniority demeanor utterly unapologetic.
"Kid, can the conditions be changed?"
At this moment, the old man from the Hyuga Clan asked again.
Ryuji gave a light smile but did not respond.
He had already stated his conditions. Whether they agreed or not was Konoha's business; he did not accept bargaining.
The Hyuga old man didn't mind either, chuckling lightly. "This is a beneficial condition for you."
After saying that, he glanced around at the people present and continued, "Suppose, I'm just saying suppose, suppose we agree to use the lives of three hundred and ten comrades as compensation. What kind of people do you think we would offer?"
Without waiting for Ryuji's reply, he provided the answer himself.
"Those who have made major mistakes but whose crimes don't warrant death, those with notorious pasts, and those who meet the minimum standards of your condition."
"I want the lives of those who killed my comrades. As long as they are still Shinobi serving Konoha, I don't care about their past."
Ryuji finally spoke, emphasizing the phrase 'still Shinobi serving Konoha'.
Meaning, as long as they were currently registered Shinobi of Konoha, he didn't care about their past or abilities, but don't try to use prisoners from jail to pad the numbers.
"Naturally." The Hyuga old man said matter-of-factly. "If Konoha agreed to your conditions, we naturally wouldn't play tricks on this point. But I have a better suggestion here. Would you like to hear it?"
Ryuji gazed at the battle flames in the city district, remained silent for a moment, then said, "...Let's hear it."
"How about using the lives of us old folks in exchange for the lives of those young ones?"
"No!"
Before Ryuji could answer, the younger generation on Konoha's side all protested.
The Hyuga Clan's old man paid them no mind, just smiled and looked at Ryuji, who had sharply turned around.
"...Are you sure?"
Ryuji's eyes trembled slightly.
He looked around. None of the other old men whom the Hyuga old man had dragged into this opposed.
"What's there to be unsure about?"
The Hyuga old man said nonchalantly, "We're just a bunch of old bones, not knowing which day we'll die. Using over thirty of our old lives to exchange for over three hundred young lives… isn't that a great deal?"
'A great deal, my foot!'
If all human lives were equal, then this statement would be fine.
But although it's tragic, human lives are not equal.
These old men who had dominated the Shinobi World before Konoha's founding, surviving through the late Warring States Period, the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, were all once top masters without exception.
Their rich life experiences and knowledge could provide the village with invaluable advice. The skills they had learned over a lifetime could allow future generations to stand on the shoulders of giants from the start.
Even at an age where they were about to enter the earth, they could erupt with their final embers of heat when the village faced crisis, just like now.
Konoha's achievements today owed much to these old men.
Three hundred and ten Chunin with bad character, tarnished pasts, and no potential future couldn't be compared with the over thirty old men here.
"Fine. As long as you all commit suicide, I'll stop immediately!"
Having the answer, Ryuji agreed without hesitation.
What was there to hesitate about?
These old men not only had far greater value than three hundred and ten ordinary Shinobi, but even in terms of status and position, the two were not on the same level.
Using the lives of three hundred and ten ordinary Chunin to avenge comrades versus using the lives of over thirty highly respected, enemy-treasured old men to avenge comrades… just spreading the word, these two situations were completely on different levels.
"No, I won't agree!"
Led by Minato, the younger generation stepped forward to stop them. "How can we let seniors who have dedicated their whole lives to the village..."
"Shut up!"
The old man called 'little old man' glared fiercely at the surrounding young people.
"You think this old man has lived enough and wants to die, is that it?"
"If you all were a bit more capable, this old man wouldn't have to use this way to protect Konoha. You have no ability to protect the village, yet have the face to stop us? Do you want a taste of my spit and walking stick?"
This short-statured old man minced no words, scolding the Konoha group until they hung their heads in shame.
Seeing this, he then looked at Ryuji, examining him carefully from head to toe.
"To think it's such a young kid. Truly, the younger generation is formidable!" The little old man took a deep breath and continued, "Kid, remember your promise in the end. Otherwise, even as a ghost, I won't let you off."
Leaving behind this harsh warning, he pressed gently on his own heart.
Then, his body trembled, and he collapsed straight down.
"Senior!!!"
The Konoha's young people cried out, tears streaming down.
The remaining old men shook their heads and sighed.
"To actually end up executing such an agreement with no guarantee..." The Hyuga old man looked at Hiruzen. "Little monkey, and all of you, must remember today's humiliation well. In this Shinobi World, weakness is a sin. You must become stronger. Otherwise, what happened today will occur again in the future."
"Today's humiliation, we will surely remember it in our hearts. Seniors, rest in peace!"
Hiruzen knelt with a thud, bowing to the ground before the old man. The others followed suit one after another.
Looking at the crowd of young people on the rooftop, the old men smiled heartily.
"Hiruzen, remember this: only by protecting the young can the village's future be ensured. This Suna kid has already proven this to you. Remember it firmly!"
After these words, the old men said no more. Each used their own methods, departing this world painlessly.
The still-living young people cried out loudly.
Watching this scene, Ryuji felt somewhat complicated inside.
'So this is the Will of Fire!'
Having crossed over from his previous life, he was very clear about how important deeply ingrained core values and guiding principles were for an organization.
But he only knew it; experiencing it personally was a first.
'After returning, I'll come up with a Will of Sand.'
He took a deep breath and said, "Since you have shown sincerity, I'll also show some sincerity."
As his words fell, the puppet army attacking and wreaking havoc in the city district flew back to the Floating Continent one after another.
Simultaneously, a puppet landed beside Ryuji, carrying him upward.
"The remaining compensation must be delivered by tomorrow. If you cannot deliver it before tomorrow, then your seniors will have died in vain."