Peace

Suddenly, a doorway appeared in the tree in front of Issui, and pieces of paper scattered in all directions, opening a path for Issui to enter the tree hole.

"You've finally arrived. What a fateful encounter! You are the Eye of Heaven, and I am the Rinnegan. Perhaps we share the same destiny, but we have chosen different paths to peace. We have both experienced the pain of our villages being destroyed and our loved ones being slaughtered. I want to know what peace is like for people with the same fate."

From the dark tree hollow came Nagato's soft voice, which contained no hatred or hostility, only a sigh.

Upon entering the tree hollow, Issui immediately saw Nagato's Nagato and miserable appearance. His back was riddled with black sticks of varying lengths, his body was hunched over, and there was not a single normal part of his body. He was skin and bones, with no trace of fresh muscle. Beneath him was something that looked like a vehicle.

This is the man who started the war, recruited missing-nin, plundered Tailed Beast, and caused Konoha's current state of devastation. He is, without a doubt, a scoundrel. Yet, this scoundrel's appearance evokes a pang of sadness in Issui. He is an unfortunate man, having experienced two of the greatest tragedies in his childhood—the deaths of his parents and his close friend Yahiko. After Yahiko's death, he inherited Yahiko's organization, becoming the leader of Akatsuki. A twisted ideal was born within him: to cultivate peace amidst a cycle of suffering!

Issui. This was an ordinary person affected by the darkness and hatred of the world. Even with his immense power, Nagato was not immune to worldly suffering. He too felt hatred and pain, only more profoundly than most. Feeling abandoned by the world, he gradually lost faith in it and in peace. He wanted to use his power to control and change the world, to achieve so-called peace in his own way. In truth, he was a tragic figure. He proclaimed himself a god, but in reality, he was just an ordinary person.

Nagato looked at Issui with that pitiful expression and said angrily, "What kind of expression is that? Are you pitying me? I am a god, I don't need pity. You should pity yourself. Your own village has been destroyed, yet you still stand here like nothing happened. And your new village has been destroyed by me, yet you pity your enemy. You are a truly pathetic wretch."

Issui wasn't angry. He said calmly, "When the village was destroyed before, I acted like nothing happened because I had invested the lives of everyone in the village into my own. Even for their sake, I wanted to live well. They didn't die; I carried their share with me. As for the village now being trampled to pieces by you, I'm not angry because I believe you will repent for the destruction of this village."

Nagato laughed Nagato after hearing Issui's words, "I will repent? No, you don't understand. The more completely this village is destroyed, the happier I am. How could I repent for those lowly beings? You fool!"

Issui waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about that for now. Let's discuss why you hate Konoha so much."

"It doesn't matter if I tell you, you must have felt this way before. Our village is much weaker than the ninja villages of the Five Great Nations. Being a small country sandwiched between the Five Great Nations, we have become a victim in their struggles."

The Five Great Nations powers are so vast that they must protect their interests in battles against other great powers, otherwise their countries, villages, and people will suffer. However, it is we, the weak and small countries, who become the battlefields for these great powers. In every war, my country suffers from poverty and widespread famine and prisoners of war... After countless wars, the great powers remain peaceful and prosperous, while we, the small country, are left with only endless pain.

During the Second Shinobi World War, when Konoha and the other Five Great Nations went to war, our Uzumaki Clan's country also became cannon fodder on Konoha's battlefield. In the most difficult moment, it was our weak country that fought fiercely on the front line, but in the end, it was the Land of Fire that enjoyed the fruits of the war. Even when our village was facing annihilation, Konoha did not extend its righteous hand to help us.

My parents sacrificed their lives in the war that engulfed the entire ninja world. The country was shattered, the village was destroyed, and everyone was displaced. Of the surviving Uzumaki Clan, less than one in ten survived.

Thus, I became a lonely war orphan, living a precarious and aimless life. But after I met Konan and Yahiko, we lived together like brothers and sisters. Then, Jiraiya- sensei led us into the world of ninjas. After he left, Yahiko resolved to build a ninja shrine to protect everyone from the harm of war and to change the world...

We founded Akatsuki under Yahiko's leadership. My principles were then recognized by many thoughtful and capable ninjas, and the organization grew stronger day by day. With our hard work, our organization gained considerable renown in the ninja world. But that day... I began to understand a truth: humans are foolish creatures who can never understand each other.

Our organization's growth threatened Amegakure's rule in Hanzō, and as a result, he and Danzo of Konoha tricked us. To save me and Konan, Yahiko willingly sacrificed himself. To be honest, that moment was incredibly painful...

To ensure that Yahiko's death was not in vain, I resolved to carry on Yahiko dream and change the world...

I founded this underground organization to break free from this Uzumaki. It possesses the power to destroy a nation in an instant. Only by inflicting true pain on the world can this agonizing terror suppress war and lead the world towards stability and peace.

This immense power is the power of the Tailed Beast. By gathering Nine Tailed Beasts, we can revive the most powerful Tailed Beast — the Ten-Tails. However, the existence of Konoha is blocking Yahiko and my dream. For the sake of the Nine-Tails, we must destroy this village.

Konoha is not only an existence I hate, but also an obstacle to the organization's development. Therefore, its fate is sealed: destruction!

Nagato spoke at Nagato in a calm tone. He didn't feel tired, but rather very comfortable. He felt it was good to express all his feelings, and that it was good for them to understand.

Nagato finished speaking. After Issui moment of silence, he said, "Nagato, I'm just a little bit luckier than you because I found my own bond and promised myself to protect it. I understand the hatred and darkness of this world, and then I'll break it."

While I sympathize with your story, I cannot condone your actions. Although we share a similar fate, the world is not a place to test the law. Attempting to achieve peace through destruction is itself a form of darkness.

Nagato fell silent. Yes, was his method a kind of darkness? He had never spoken to anyone about his own affairs, nor had he ever discussed peace with anyone. Using destruction to achieve peace was just an impulsive act born of anger. Perhaps he could learn about peace from this guy. In any case, his life was numbered, so why not have a discussion with him, not only for Yahiko's dream, but also for his own? Peace—this word truly made him yearn for it.

"Since that's the case, don't you want to rid this world of darkness and hatred? Then let me ask you, if I kill all your current relatives, friends, and lovers, what will you do? Don't you want to kill me? Don't you want to hate me? If you hate me and kill me, we'll be trapped in endless vendettas and hatred. How can you change this world? How can you bring peace? You can't even save yourself..." Nagato asked tentatively, his eyes fixed on Issui, hoping that Issui could give him a perfect answer.

Issui smiled and said, "Of course I hate you, I hate you deeply, and I want to kill you from time to time. That's my answer, but..."

Nagato frowned and asked, "But what?"

"But I believe that one day the people of this world will trust each other, and I also believe that I can break the shackles of this world and build a new ninja world..." Issui continued, his tone very heavy and certain.

Nagato, enraged by Issui's words, laughed loudly, "Haha... So that's your answer? So you want us... you want us to wait for you to bring peace to the world? What a joke! True peace is a pipe dream. As long as we live in this cursed world, peace is just a pipe dream. I thought you would give me a satisfactory answer, but now it seems you are ignorant..."

"No, one day I will try to break this curse. If peace truly exists, then let me realize it. More important than the method is the power of trust. Believe in yourself, believe in your companions, and together change this cursed world. Peace is not a pipe dream; it will definitely come true. I will firmly grasp it and make it a reality!" Issui said meaningfully.

After listening to Issui's words, Nagato fell silent. What a strange guy, what an inflammatory speech. Well then, I'll believe him this once.

"One day, I will try to break this curse. If peace truly exists, then let me realize it. More important than the method is the power of trust." I think I've said that before. I see my former self in you. Are you really sure you can bring peace to this world? Nagato asked.

Issui extended his left thumb, pointing to his chest, and said, "I will keep my word. I will use my power to change this world, to give it a new definition, and to bring peace and stability—in the past, in the present, and in the future. Believe in yourself, believe in your comrades, believe in the village, believe in the entire ninja world. This bond connects us all. With everyone's trust and help, I will fulfill this vow of peace, swearing it from my heart!!!"