"Very well, Asuma."
Aomi smiled sincerely, his smile full of appreciation: "Just like you, I think the same way."
"So, what do you think the current Konoha leadership would do in the situation I mentioned?"
From the beginning, Aomi didn't intend to answer Asuma's question directly. Instead, he used a rhetorical approach, guiding Asuma's thoughts step by step with questions, letting him arrive at the answers himself.
The conclusion reached this way is one that Asuma thought out himself, not imposed by Aomi, making it deeply ingrained and stable in his heart.
"I-I don't know!"
Asuma frowned, a hint of panic appearing in his eyes.
Would the current Konoha leadership really refuse to sacrifice some ninjas for a peace agreement as Aomi suggested?
Asuma already had an answer in his heart, but combining his origin as the son of the Hokage with that outrageous answer was incredibly shocking for him.
Such a village was completely different from what Asuma thought Konoha should be!
Forget about the Will of Fire; if it were like that, Konoha would become a hell that devours its people... The Will of Fire's hat could be arbitrarily placed on a Konoha Ninja's head to send him to his death!
Aomi appreciated Asuma's turmoil, yet his words were comforting: "I don't know the answer to this question either, Asuma... Even if we have some guesses about events that haven't occurred, we can't be certain."
"But if you already have reservations in your heart, it indicates that you are dissatisfied with Konoha's current situation."
"In this Ninja World, if you want to change something, the correctness of thought often ranks second; force is the key to ensure those pests dare not speak..."
Aomi tugged at Asuma's sleeve, looking at the burn marks there, and asked, "Are you training in fire chakra transformation?"
Asuma nodded awkwardly: "Yes, Aomi, the Sarutobi Clan specializes in Fire Release."
Aomi nodded knowingly, then raised a finger.
A red flame spiraled up from Aomi's fingertip, dancing freely in the air.
Asuma focused intently on the flame, which resembled a flying dragon.
He recognized its value; this was an advanced fire chakra form and nature transformation!
"Aomi, you're not only adept with water chakra but also master fire chakra so well!"
Asuma admired Aomi, then remembered Aomi's origin, scratching his head: "I forgot you were from the Uchiha Clan, Aomi..."
Aomi smiled and shook his head, tapping his finger repeatedly.
More flames appeared in mid-air, and these small, lively flames gathered together one by one.
Asuma stared dumbfounded at this scene.
Suddenly, the previously individual flames had become a robust fire dragon, roaring in mid-air!
The fire dragon seemed to have a life of its own, spiraling above Aomi's head, looking down at Asuma with both majesty and gentleness.
"Asuma, I'm very grateful that you could share your thoughts with me today."
Under the might of the fire dragon, Aomi's face didn't appear imposing but instead seemed more gentle, highlighted by the firelight: "In this somewhat oppressive village, finding someone who shares your beliefs is really difficult..."
"But as I said, to make the village a better place, it needs strength as a foundation."
"Asuma, if you trust me, relax your mind. I will help you awaken your potential with these eyes."
Aomi revealed his Sharingan generously, and under the flame's illumination, the usually scarlet Sharingan appeared warm and clear.
Asuma stared into Aomi's eyes, murmuring: "This... this is the Sharingan, completely different from what I heard..."
Moments later, feeling Aomi's warm power in his eyes, Asuma nodded vigorously: "Thank you, Aomi!"
The Tomoe spun vigorously.
Within the Genjutsu, Asuma felt as if he had become Aomi, personally igniting each flame, watching them gradually grow, strengthen, and combine into a fire dragon that illuminated the world and dispelled darkness...
Asuma immersed himself in this sensation.
The light and darkness from the fire dragon gave him a strong sense of deja vu, as if he himself was that growing flame...
After a long time.
Asuma slowly opened his eyes.
Aomi stood smiling in front of him, the fire dragon now spiraling in his palm: "Asuma, catch it!"
Asuma instinctively reached out his hand, seeing the fierce fire dragon rush toward his palm. Startled, he heard Aomi's encouraging words:
"Believe in yourself, you can do it!"
At this moment, the residual sensations from the Genjutsu world began to revive in Asuma's memory.
Asuma gritted his teeth, boldly extending his hand...
Meanwhile, Aomi's fingers subtly twitched, controlling the chakra's intensity.
"Aomi, I did it, I did it!"
Elated, Asuma looked at the fire dragon in his hand. While his thoughts might dwell on the village and the Will of Fire, at heart, he was still just an eight-year-old child.
The ability to master a powerful jutsu filled Asuma with unparalleled joy, and his affection for Aomi reached its peak!
What veteran Jonin teacher from the Sarutobi Clan?
Couldn't compare to Aomi!
Smiling, Aomi watched the bouncing Asuma, slowly clasping his hands together and withdrawing the fire dragon.
"Asuma, while many things may seem difficult or impossible to accomplish, if we want to change the current state, we must at least have the courage to try..."
With an earnest gaze, Aomi slowly spoke to Asuma: "Just like our village now, we're merely ordinary Ninja School students; how difficult is it to change the village to the way we want it to be?"
"However, some things aren't undone simply because they're difficult."
Asuma nodded seriously, his expression becoming solemn: "Aomi, I understand!"
"To be honest, I even thought about becoming a wandering ninja to escape the reality that I cannot endure but cannot change..."
"But with you, Aomi, I believe now that I have enough courage!"
Aomi shook his head: "Asuma, I'm just a clumsy explorer, and I'm actually quite confused..."
"Many things I judge inaccurately, too. Asuma, I regard you as a friend; what I want to tell you is, don't take all my words as the truth."
"Instead, think more, Asuma..."
"Observe more, think more, seek out what you deem correct and find the people and things that you believe in..."
Asuma was taken aback.
Aomi's exceedingly objective self-assessment and his sincere advice brought a warm yet bitter feeling to Asuma's heart.
There was only one person like that in the village, Aomi alone!
Smiling, Aomi extended his palm to him: "Let's work hard together, Asuma."
Without hesitation, Asuma grabbed onto it: "Together, Aomi!"
[Detected a strong sense of longing from Sarutobi Asuma towards the host, binding as target!]
As Asuma's emotions fluctuated.
In the valley, within Uchiha Madara, inside Aomi, Senju Tobirama's heart also trembled...