Under the constricted gazes of everyone present.
What was originally the "Sloth" that remained unmoving, no matter how hard others strained until their faces turned red,
let out a crisp, sharp hum the instant Jiraiya gripped its hilt.
Buzz!
At this moment, the will named "Sloth" scrutinized his soul.
And granted its approval.
Because the essence of the word "sloth" was not truly idleness.
It was "evasion," it was "inaction."
Treating his carnal desires as a romance exclusive to novelists, using his power to choose an ethereal Child of Prophecy, viewing his evasion as a sage-like detachment from worldly affairs...
He was evading, yet never knew he was evading; when others pointed it out, he would say that reality was ugly and he was powerless to change it.
He was mediocre in intellect, most skilled at writing erotic novels, yet he earnestly pursued nobility and elegance.
He traveled through various countries, documenting the myriad aspects of the world, yet never truly changed anything.
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, do no evil.
He was an idealist who evaded reality.
Click.
A sheathless broadsword was pulled from its scabbard. It was unsharpened, its blade edges showing a blunt, stony texture.
"..."
Jiraiya's breathing hitched. Even though he had pulled out this sword, he felt only a heavy, acrid sensation in his chest.
Sloth, this sword was telling him, was the true color of his soul.
This sword had seen through his pretense of lechery and the pride of a hero, truly penetrating to his essential nature of "evasion."
"Sloth, then?"
Hyuga Kawa calmly watched the scene. He had already guessed the reason Jiraiya was able to pull out this sword.
There is only one true heroism in the world: that is, after recognizing the truth of reality, to still love life and strive to change it.
It is to act unhesitatingly, even knowing one is destined to lose, knowing one cannot change anything.
Even Hashirama Senju, because he brought change to the ninja world with his limited life and power, could be called a hero.
Perhaps Jiraiya, at the end of his life facing Pain, could be called an "unwavering" hero for Konoha.
But if one looks at his entire life, evasion consistently permeated his choices.
Tsunade, Orochimaru, Akatsuki, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Konoha, the Shinobi World...
Was he truly unaware of Tsunade's thoughts? Did he truly not notice Orochimaru's transformation? Was he truly unprepared for Akatsuki's future?
Did he truly not understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's repeated hints? Could he truly not see the darkness hidden deep within Konoha?
Impossible.
It was precisely because he knew all this, and believed he was powerless to change, that he chose to evade everything and place his hopes on the Child of Prophecy.
But did he truly believe that the current state of the ninja world could be changed by one person?
"Jiraiya-sensei."
The Nara Jonin finally broke the oppressive, deathly silence, asking: "Is there anything special about that sword?"
Jiraiya snapped out of his trance, forcing a smile onto his pale face: "This sword..."
He touched the blunted "Sloth" to the ground, as if pressing a slow-motion button within a five-meter radius around him.
Buzz!
Tiny dust particles floated in the air, along with breaths and heartbeats, gradually slowing down, and slowing down even more.
But everyone's thoughts did not become sluggish; they could clearly feel all the changes around them.
"Wh-what, is, this?!"
Someone's words, uttered in astonishment, also became twice as slow within the affected area.
The dullness in Jiraiya's heart was also overwhelmed at this moment, replaced by shock at the abilities displayed by this sword.
Within a five-meter radius around him, only his speed was normal.
"Ten seconds duration, five-meter radius?"
Feeling the rapid depletion of chakra within him, Jiraiya lifted the broadsword from the ground.
The world before their eyes returned to normal time flow, but everyone remained in a state of profound shock and silence.
Time slowing.
This harmless broadsword possessed such a bizarre ability.
"This..." Shikamaru's father swallowed, "This is something a sword can do?"
"The duration is a bit short, and the range isn't too large."
The Nara Jonin forcibly suppressed the alarm in his heart, calmly analyzing: "Slowing down time flow by half, its operational space for combat application is quite limited."
"No." Jiraiya pursed his dry lips. "I can feel that this sword can become even stronger."
"..."
Everyone, including the Nara Jonin, fell silent again, then turned their intensely burning gazes towards the remaining six swords.
If the abilities of these other six swords were also so powerful and bizarre...
"Jiraiya-sama." Someone couldn't help but ask, "How exactly did you pull it out?"
Hearing this, everyone present turned their gaze to Jiraiya. Only a few who had some understanding had flickering eyes.
"I..."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, but couldn't speak, his face slightly pale.
This feeling was undoubtedly like exposing his long-standing self-deception, completely negating all his past choices.
"It's no use; everyone is different."
Knowing the reason for Jiraiya's awkward silence, the Nara Jonin shook his head and explained: "If you can't pull it out, you can't. But you can try all of them."
Hearing this, although there were still some lingering doubts, no one pressed further.
Those who hadn't tried all the swords simply stepped forward to try the others.
However, there was basically no change.
Until Hatake Kakashi walked up to "Envy," his finger gently resting on the hilt.
Buzz!
The same scene as with Jiraiya recurred. The "Envy" was instinctively pulled out by Kakashi, who then stared blankly, his face suddenly turning ashen.
Actually, beyond the so-called "Seven Deadly Sins," there were also their corresponding "Seven Heavenly Virtues."
Lust, Sloth, Greed, Pride, Wrath, Gluttony, Envy.
Chastity, Diligence, Charity, Humility, Kindness, Temperance, Patience.
Yes, the opposite of envy is actually "patience."
Envy, to be precise, is bitterness.
It is the desire to possess, but not having.
Kakashi's object of bitterness was no one else.
It was his own self, his past self.
His current self, who had lost everything, disappointed Obito's expectations, and had Rin's blood on his hands.
He harbored bitterness towards his past self, who had once possessed everything and then personally destroyed it all.
This was his true nature.
Creak.
Hatake Kakashi's hand trembled slightly, looking at the wakizashi named "Envy" in his grasp.
This blade emitted an intensely uncomfortable, chilling aura, like maggots clinging to bone. The twisted patterns on the sword seemed to reflect the ugliest corners of a person's heart.
Just as he was about to throw the sword away, a hand gripped his wrist.
Kakashi subconsciously looked up, seeing Jiraiya with a complex expression, who simply shook his head at him.
"Calm down," Jiraiya quietly asked, "What's the ability?"
Kakashi forcibly suppressed the fear of having his essence seen through, his voice hoarse: "Counterfeit Mirror. It replicates a potential future image of the target and fights with the target."