Alex_Fabianoki
patreon
TSSITWON Chapter 198: A Group of Foolish People
🕑 Added 2025-02-16 11:59:08 +0000 UTCThe three of them immediately jolted. Yahiko furrowed his brow, Nagato tensed up, and Konan bit her lip slightly.
"Yes," the masked man continued, his voice flat yet piercing. "A group of foolish people who are too idealistic, without considering the reality before them."
The masked man extended his hand near the campfire, allowing the orange light to illuminate his worn black gloves. Thin steam rose as the moisture from the masked man's clothing evaporated in the heat of the fire.
Yahiko sharpened his gaze. "Why do you think we aren't thinking realistically?"
Yahiko's tone sounded confused, but the look in his eyes reflected an unwavering determination. The campfire danced in the reflection of Yahiko's eyes, as if mirroring the burning spirit within him.
The masked man slowly turned, staring directly at Yahiko. The eyes hidden behind the mask felt oppressive, as if assessing and judging them.
"Trying to start a revolution in Amegakure is a foolish act," the masked man said casually, but his words echoed in the silence of the night. "Especially if the goal of the revolution is to make Amegakure a neutral country, uninvolved in the war between the three great villages—Konoha, Iwa, and Suna. It's nearly impossible."
Yahiko opened his mouth, but the masked man did not give him a chance to speak.
"Why? Because Amegakure is weak."
A heavy silence hung in the air.
The words were simple, but their impact was like a dagger piercing their convictions.
"Amegakure... is weak..." Yahiko repeated the words softly, as if trying to grasp the weight of the statement.
Yahiko lowered his head, staring at the campfire with an unreadable expression. Konan glanced at Yahiko briefly, while Nagato remained silent, though his jaw tightened.
The masked man took a slow breath before speaking again, this time in a lower tone, as if recounting a grim old tale.
"Yes, Amegakure is weak. That is why the three great villages chose Amegakure as the battlefield."
The masked man crossed his arms over his chest, allowing the words to sink into their minds before continuing.
"If Konoha wants to fight Suna, they can battle in Tanigakure, which is closer. If Konoha wants to face Iwa, they could simply pass through Kusagakure. Suna and Iwa? They could meet in Ishigakure. But why do they always choose Amegakure?"
The masked man explained, leaning slightly forward, his voice becoming quieter but more intense.
"Because Amegakure is weak."
The silence that followed felt suffocating. Only the crackling of the fire and the patter of rain could be heard between them.
"Hanzo the Salamander, the ninja known as 'Demigod,' is indeed strong. But that man is still human."
The masked man moved his fingers in the air, as if drawing something invisible.
"And humans... will eventually grow old. As someone ages, the ideals they once held can turn into a fear of death. Hanzo is no exception."
The masked man paused for a moment, allowing the words to sink in before continuing in a deeper voice.
"The Hanzo who once wanted to bring peace is now rarely seen. Why? Because that old man fears death. And when the leader of a nation begins to disappear from the sight of their people, the strength of that nation will weaken. That is why Amegakure has become an easy target to be used as a battlefield."
Yahiko clenched his fists tightly. He felt something pressing on his chest, but he refused to succumb to that thought.
"No," Yahiko finally said, his voice full of determination. "I believe... peace will be achieved in this world."
The masked man stared at Yahiko in silence. Then, the shoulders of the masked man began to shake. "Pff-hahaha!"
