When a new ideology emerges, it is bound to face doubt and scrutiny from all sides.
It may even be attacked outright.
Hidan: "Equality for all, living in peace and prosperity? Impossible! Lord Jashin would never allow it!!!"
Uchiha Madara: "This must be some kind of genjutsu. How could such a thing even exist? Might as well…"
The scene on the screen continued.
[Jiraiya fell into confusion. The boy's theory was vastly different from his own beliefs—yet it carried a strangely irresistible appeal.]
["Uh… I plan to record all the ninjutsu I know into scrolls and give them to you."]
[The boy turned and asked, "What's the condition?"]
["Hahaha, what condition could there be?" Jiraiya scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.]
[But under the boy's clear gaze, he still chose to speak honestly. "I want to stay by your side and teach you ninjutsu… and also see your talent."]
[In his view, without strength, everything else was just empty talk.]
[The boy thought for a moment, then said, "I have great talent. I don't need you to teach me—just give me the scrolls. During this time, I want to visit the Land of Fire."]
["Why?" Jiraiya asked.]
[The boy smiled slightly. "If I want to create a new world, I need to understand how rotten the current one is. The Land of Fire is the most prosperous nation—if even its people live in hardship, then other places will only be worse."]
[Jiraiya laughed. "The Land of Fire is the richest. When you get there, you'll be shocked—it's practically a new world!"]
[The boy smiled faintly. "Without investigation, there is no right to speak. Maybe you're right."]
["And this investigation can also help prove something from another angle—whether hatred can truly be eliminated, and whether a peace built on mutual understanding can actually exist."]
["That's two lines of investigation… quite a heavy workload."]
[Jiraiya grew serious, his voice deep. "I also want to know whether the theory I envision is correct."]
["My name is Jiraiya, a shinobi of Konoha. What is your name?"]
["My name?"]
["From today onward… I am Kagerō."]
[Kagerō spoke in a low voice.]
[A Kagerō cannot be extinguished—it spreads endlessly. And it can set the entire world ablaze.]
With that, the first segment of the comparison came to an end.
The red-framed screen slowly dimmed.
Tsunade: "It's unbelievable… those words came from an eight-year-old. There's so much depth to them."
Senju Hashirama: "According to his thinking, true peace requires breaking the system through revolution… then was what I did wrong? Maybe it was… after all, the shinobi wars have happened again and again."
Senju Tobirama: "Compared to Nagato, I'm more optimistic about this boy. He possesses many qualities that Nagato lacked at the same age."
Fourth Raikage A: "Hmm… I'm starting to look forward to it too. A boy with such ideals—what kind of changes will he bring to the shinobi world?"
Jiraiya: "Kagerō… is this the boy my counterpart met in that other world? Why do I feel… a bit envious?"
Hidan: "That brat is all talk! 'System'? What nonsense is that? I only believe in Lord Jashin!"
Nagato: "Only overwhelming power determines everything. Without strength, all of this is meaningless."
Mei Terumī: "How exciting… I support this young man. I want to see how far he can go."
Ōnoki: "That idea of investigating the Land of Fire—very interesting. It's a good chance to expose the false prosperity they boast about."
Danzō: "Expose? There's nothing to expose. The Land of Fire is prosperous to begin with!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "And Konoha, guided by my Will of Fire, is more united than any of your villages!"
Fourth Raikage A: "Nonsense! You two old fools! The Land of Lightning is—"
Ōnoki: "No, the Land of Earth—"
Rasa, Mei Terumī: "Go on, keep arguing. We'll just watch."
Just as the argument escalated—
A majestic voice echoed once more in everyone's minds.
[Support Voting Activated]
[Question: Which of the following paths do you believe can achieve true peace?]
[1. Peace is built step by step, with the dream that shinobi can help one another.]
[2. Peace is maintained through absolute force, trapping the world in an eternal illusion.]
[3. Peace is enforced through overwhelming power, using fear to deter all.]
[4. Peace comes from eliminating hatred—only then can mutual understanding arise.]
[5. Peace is achieved through revolution, breaking the rotten system to create a world of true equality and prosperity for all.]
[Support voting will occur after each dual comparison segment. Each round allows ten seconds for selection. Choices may be changed freely before the final comparison ends.]
[All participants who select the correct answer will receive the final reward, including all forms of human-imagined creations (such as resurrection items, lifespan, power, and more).]
The atmosphere grew tense once more.
This time—
The stakes were even higher.