After Naoto woke up, he felt completely disoriented. He seemed unable to distinguish between the illusionary world and reality for a time.
At this moment, the other two also woke up, displaying the exact same mental state as Naoto, making normal communication impossible for a while.
Uchiha Mirror had his men take them back to their temporary camp to change their soaked clothes.
The three dazed individuals made no move, allowing the Leaf ninjas to change their clothes for them.
Naturally, the items they carried fell into the hands of the Leaf ninjas.
Of course, there was nothing valuable among them, merely provisions, drinks, and ninja tools.
Coming from the pouring rain outside into the warm and comfortable tent, Naoto and his two companions felt their cold bodies gradually warm up.
Someone also brought them simple food, which they instinctively ate, immediately alleviating their hunger.
With that, they seemed to awaken from a dream, truly coming to their senses.
"Feeling better now?" a gentle voice asked.
The three looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man in his thirties smiling at them.
Naoto recognized this man; he was the one who had suddenly appeared and trapped them in genjutsu, seemingly from the Uchiha clan.
The three quickly tensed up, but soon realized they were already in the enemy's lair.
Their ninja tools had been confiscated, and their chakra was sealed by the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist.
Now, they could at most use taijutsu, but their weakened bodies clearly made escape impossible.
Realizing their predicament, the three felt a wave of despair.
They had undoubtedly been captured, and according to their village's orders, once captured, they would be branded as traitors to the village.
Originally, they had planned to either take the enemy down with them or commit suicide when faced with such a situation, but now, none of them made a move.
They exchanged glances, seeing surprise in each other's eyes, and then understood why their companions were acting this way.
Each of them had experienced that scene in the genjutsu, and the village's heartlessness had shaken their resolve, making them question whether dying like this was truly worth it.
Although it was just an illusion and not true reality, their hearts were filled with fear, afraid that it might be real, just like Uchiha Mirror's answer to Naoto: "No, it might also be a reality that is about to happen."
Uchiha Mirror quietly watched the three uneasy individuals, smiled slightly, and said, "Don't be in a hurry to die.
Life is hard-won.
Now that you have the chance to live, you should cherish your lives."
One of them wanted to speak, probably to say, "How could you understand our feelings?" but he immediately stopped, perhaps remembering the earlier genjutsu, and realizing that the other party might indeed understand the situation they were facing.
Just as the other party had thought, Uchiha Mirror looked at the three of them and said, "I already know why your will to fight is so strong.
To be honest, I used to admire you, thinking that Sunagakure could cultivate such powerful ninjas.
Although you are enemies, you are worthy of respect.
But when I learned the real reason, this idea changed.
I never expected that Sunagakure would adopt such a brutal policy, forcing you to seek death."
The three remained silent, not knowing how to answer Uchiha Mirror, who then continued, "I think you should know that the first ninja village established was our Konohagakure.
When the First Hokage, Lord Hashirama, established this village, it was because he didn't want the children of the clans to have no choice but to go to the battlefield.
He wanted to give them a peaceful environment and end the endless wars.
Although the wars have not completely ceased, at least the children in the village are protected.
Every ninja who goes out to fight believes that their combat is protecting their family and homeland.
I think this is the awareness a ninja of a ninja village should have, but Sunagakure's actions are truly disappointing to me."
In Sunagakure, propaganda about Konohagakure was always negative.
However, in the current era, ninja villages were no longer as isolated as in the past.
Moreover, to learn from Konohagakure's commercial policies, Sunagakure also sent its ninjas out to escort merchants from the Land of Wind, and Naoto and his companions were no exception.
Therefore, they also heard good things about Konohagakure, which did not align with their village's propaganda.
In the past, they could deceive themselves by saying that this was the enemy spreading false information, and that the village could not possibly be lying.
Although deep down they vaguely felt that Konohagakure's reputation might truly be good, after all, the joyful expressions of the merchants who came to trade seemed to be sincere, and some of them were even merchants from desert countries.
But now, first, the events in the genjutsu made them begin to doubt their village.
If such encounters were real, was such a village worthy of their loyalty?
Secondly, Konohagakure brought them into their camp, gave them dry clothes, and offered them food.
Their actions were completely different from what the village propagated, and instead were closer to the information they had heard from merchants.
"Because your combat was indeed very brave, and I also feel you deserve respect, I deeply sympathize with you, to be treated that way by your village," Uchiha Mirror said, a hint of pity in his eyes.
One of Naoto's companions couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "That, that was just genjutsu, you made it up!"
His voice lacked conviction as he spoke.
"You should know that genjutsu is cast based on your inner perceptions.
Any kind of genjutsu is like this.
The fact that I could create such a genjutsu world means that you truly have such worries in your hearts, doesn't it?" Uchiha Mirror retorted.
The Sand ninja who asked the question was immediately speechless, because he had no way to refute it.
Deep in his heart, there truly was a doubt about that command.
He wasn't a fool.
Previously, he could rely on his loyalty to the village to prevent himself from doubting—after all, the village had carefully nurtured him—but after truly experiencing such an illusion, the doubts that were already present in his heart began to magnify.
This was also why he didn't choose to commit suicide immediately.
To die for such a village, wouldn't that be too ridiculous?
The Sand ninjas of today were not like the traditional ninjas of the Warring States period, whose wills were twisted by cruel systems.
They lived openly in Sunagakure, had their own families and friends, and didn't have to worry about betrayal from family or deception from friends, so their self-will was still very strong.
For ninjas in the era of ninja villages, the villages could not adopt the methods used to train traditional ninjas in the past.
That kind of traditional education could train ninjas to go to their deaths without a word—like Danzo Shimura's Root ninjas were—but due to changes in the environment, traditional education was no longer effective for new-era ninjas, replaced by a more relaxed training method.
Although they would still consider the village as an object of loyalty, once they encountered betrayal, they would not be indifferent like traditional ninjas, but would question the reasons.
From this perspective, new-era ninjas became more like human beings.
Against this backdrop, ninjas would choose whether to stay or leave based on the actions of their village or others.
For example, Roshi, the jinchuriki of Iwagakure, became a wandering monk due to ideological differences with the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
Sasori of Sunagakure killed the village leader and fled to pursue his ideals.
Kakuzu of Takigakure accepted a mission to assassinate Hashirama Senju, but was abandoned by the village's higher-ups.
In despair, he slaughtered the higher-ups and left.
Zabuza Momochi risked assassinating the Mizukage to seek change, but failed and was forced to flee.
Kisame Hoshigaki repeatedly executed his fellow villagers to protect the village's secrets, but his superior, Fuguki Suikazan, who taught him this philosophy, was secretly colluding with the enemy.
After Kisame angrily killed Fuguki, he felt an emptiness and was attracted by the Eye of the Moon Plan advocated by Obito Uchiha, who appeared before him, betraying Kirigakure and joining the Akatsuki.
These events would have been completely unimaginable during the Warring States period.
This might be one of the differences between new-era ninjas and old-era ninjas, mainly that human emotions are more evident in new-era ninjas, while old-era ninjas are more like cold weapons.
Therefore, after Naoto and his two companions realized that their village might betray their loyalty, they could no longer trust their village as before, nor were they willing to die for it.
"Out of humanitarian spirit, I don't want you to die in vain, and I believe you won't choose to fight either," Uchiha Mirror said, looking at each of them.
Everyone he gazed upon lowered their heads, clearly having lost the will to fight.
"Considering your village's regulations, I won't make things particularly difficult for you.
Although you are prisoners, we will treat it as if all of you have died and arrange for you to go to another place where Sunagakure will not be able to find you," Uchiha Mirror said with a smile.
"Presumably, upon learning of your 'deaths,' Sunagakure should not do anything to your families."
Upon hearing this, the Sand ninjas immediately became agitated.
This was their biggest concern: they didn't want to die for such a village, nor did they want their families to be implicated if they became prisoners.
Uchiha Mirror's approach resolved their worries, but there were still other issues...
"As for your whereabouts after the war ends—" Uchiha Mirror happened to mention this at that moment, "You don't have to worry.
We will ensure that after you return to Sunagakure, you can live with your families and will not face any harsh treatment."
"What are you going to do? Are you going to destroy Sunagakure?" Naoto couldn't help but ask.
The others also looked at Uchiha Mirror with some nervousness.
Although the actions of Sunagakure's higher-ups greatly disappointed them, they were, after all, native residents of the Land of Wind.
Moreover, there were some trustworthy people in Sunagakure.
Only the higher-ups issued the orders, and at the time, there were people who protested, but they were forcibly suppressed.
Furthermore, if Sunagakure truly disappeared, where would he go, and how would his family live?
These were all things he needed to worry about.
"We have never had any intention of destroying any ninja village.
Our Konohagakure's desire has always been to maintain peace in the ninja world.
As long as these things can be achieved, we respect the existence of every ninja village.
However, the actions of Sunagakure's higher-ups have already crossed the line.
Therefore, we will remove those Sunagakure higher-ups who support aggression and replace them with trustworthy Sunagakure ninjas who are willing to maintain peace," Uchiha Mirror said.
"So that's how it is," Naoto felt his body relax a little.
"If that's the case, I don't think anyone would support such inhumane regulations, would they?" Uchiha Mirror smiled.
"You fought hard for your village until the very end; you shouldn't be treated like this."
The three truly didn't know what to say.
Konohagakure not only didn't kill them but also resolved their worries and acknowledged their brave fighting.
Although Konohagakure intended to overthrow the high-ranking officials within their village, they also felt that this was precisely what should be done.
Those high-ranking officials were simply inhumane, a world apart from the people of Konohagakure.
At this moment, the resentment towards the village that had been suppressed daily all poured out from their hearts—the dissatisfactions with Sunagakure were not limited to that command.
If Uchiha Mirror hadn't been present, they would surely have complained to each other, criticizing the high-ranking officials for their heartlessness and speaking their minds freely.
"I have one more thing to ask of you," Uchiha Mirror said.
"Of course, it's nothing that will trouble you.
I hope you can persuade your other companions to surrender.
Their treatment will be the same as yours.
I imagine you have no reason to refuse, do you?"
Of course, there could be no such thing as a reason to refuse.
Naoto and the others also had no intention of letting their companions follow such orders and die in vain; they felt it wasn't worth it!
Compared to Sunagakure, they now felt Konohagakure was more trustworthy, and Uchiha Mirror's assurance relieved them of any worries after surrendering.
It was just about persuading others to surrender; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
After the three Sand ninjas excitedly left, a Konoha ninja who had been standing by asked, "Lord Mirror, are your promises truly without issue?
Will the village agree to such terms?"
"Why wouldn't they?
The Third Hokage has always stated that there is no need to covet the land of the Wind Country; it's not worth occupying, and it's better to let the people of the Wind Country keep it.
If that's the case, then a pro-Konoha ninja village and daimyo are needed," Uchiha Mirror said quietly.
"These people will become the pillars of Sunagakure in the future.
Having received our kindness, they will inevitably lean towards our side.
What we are giving up are only things that were already planned.
Why wouldn't they agree to such a worthwhile deal?"
Subsequently, Uchiha Mirror received excellent news.
After being persuaded by Naoto and the other Sand ninjas, all but a few stubborn individuals among the remaining Sand ninjas surrendered.
The situation in this area was resolved without a single casualty, and nearly two hundred Sand prisoners were taken in.
With the end of the initial battle, a report of this engagement was quickly written, detailing its causes and consequences, and sent to Konohagakure.