Who are friends, who are enemies?

"Are we just going to sit by and watch?"

Yahiko's fists clenched.

In his opinion, Kyoichi didn't understand the suffering of the small nations at all. He was pointing fingers from the perspective of a large nation, which Yahiko found detestable.

Kyoichi shook his head, not dwelling on the topic. "You say you're trying for peace. What's your method?"

"The conflicts between the large nations leave us small nations with nowhere to turn. With Amegakure's strength, if we can rally the smaller villages, we can form a force to persuade the large nations to stop fighting."

Yahiko said.

"On what grounds?"

"What?"

"Why would the small nations listen to you? Why would Hanzo listen to you? Why would the large nations listen to you?"

Kyoichi spread his hands.

Naive.

Akatsuki wants to change the landscape, but with just this little bit of military might, they want to form alliances to deter the great nations...

The idea is good.

Too bad.

Perhaps it can only be realized in dreams, or if Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan become as strong as Hashirama or Madara.

But then again.

If they had that kind of strength, would they still need the support of the small nations and Hanzo?

They could just charge in.

"This would be beneficial for all small nations, so why..."

Yahiko trailed off, stunned mid-sentence, unable to continue.

Halfway through his answer, he realized something was wrong.

"You think it's beneficial, but does everyone think that way? Take Takigakure, for example."

"This..."

Yahiko was taken aback.

Takigakure had only received one Tailed Beast back in the day.

If there was one strongest small nation besides Amegakure, it would undoubtedly be Takigakure.

But.

Would Takigakure listen to him?

Those small nations, by attaching themselves to large nations, received considerable support annually and maintained a certain level of peace domestically with their own ninja villages.

Even.

Each small village might harbor the ambition of accumulating strength and developing, hoping to one day surpass the great nations. Takigakure was one such example.

Everyone had complicated motives. How could they unite?

He couldn't find an answer.

"Let me ask another question: if a league of small nations were formed, who would be in charge? Hanzo, or you? I can see that you three don't seem to be on the same path as that Demigod."

"..."

Yahiko was stumped again.

Who would lead?

Himself?

According to Kyoichi's logic, that was clearly impossible, as the other small nations wouldn't agree.

But.

If they didn't unite, how could they confront the large nations?

"Do you even know what the other small nations want? Look, you haven't even figured out who your partners are, let alone your enemies. You still think you can achieve peace. Give it a rest, you'll only end up hurting yourself and others."

With that, Kyoichi sheathed the Thunder God Sword.

Minato was speechless for a moment.

Kyoichi's words...

were incredibly impactful!

Even he was left questioning, let alone Yahiko and the other two.

"That's all I have to say. As for this kid, Senior Minato, you can handle him. I'm just a newly promoted Jonin, I don't know how to deal with this sort of thing."

As Kyoichi spoke, his figure dissolved into mist.

A familiar Body Flicker Technique.

Minato was silent for a moment.

You spewed a bunch of words and then ran off.

What about me?

I'm just a Shadow Clone!

He looked at Yahiko and Konan. Fortunately, neither of them showed any signs of attacking.

"Wait!"

Yahiko finally came to his senses.

Kyoichi had moved too fast.

By the time he reacted, the person in front of him was gone.

He looked at Minato, then at Konan and the unconscious Nagato in the distance. After much thought, he gritted his teeth and said, "Senior Minato, could you let Konan take Nagato away? I'll go with you! I want to ask this Jonin for more guidance."

"This..."

Minato was a bit troubled.

Kyoichi's questions were too profound, raising many contradictions that couldn't be resolved in a few words, otherwise the Ninja World wouldn't be in chaos to this day.

Furthermore.

He didn't know how to handle Yahiko for the moment.

But after thinking about it, Nagato seemed to possess a special ability, and Konan's origami combined with Explosive Tags posed a greater threat to the children. It would be better to take Yahiko back, as he was the easiest to deal with.

Because he was rational enough.

Yahiko knew very well what he could and couldn't do—except for wanting to use the power of a small country to fight against a large one.

Although naive, Minato knew very well that peace was the dream of Jiraiya, them, and even himself. He currently had no leads, and Yahiko and the others had at least started taking action.

There was nothing to mock about that.

He believed Kyoichi's original intention wasn't to mock.

"I know, I was very excited before, thinking my efforts could bring about peace in the Ninja World, but now I'm lost..."

Yahiko sighed.

Peace?

Let alone the Ninja World, according to Kyoichi, he probably couldn't even handle Hanzo.

Although Nagato and his subordinates trusted him completely, it was precisely because of this trust that he couldn't make such a hasty decision—especially after someone pointed out the flaws in his plan.

Minato, however, was pondering that if Kyoichi's Team 1 hadn't arrived, he wouldn't have been able to pursue them, and Yahiko and the others would naturally have missed him and not met.

So.

The current situation was truly a chain reaction.

Team 1 was on a mission, discovered some wandering bandits, and through interrogation, learned of ninja activity in the Land of Rivers.

They came to provide support and found Yahiko.

Minato cleared his thoughts, scratched his head, and was at a loss for what to do.

Kyoichi had given him a difficult problem, and he himself had run off quickly.

"Alright, you come with me. Konan, take him back so your people don't worry."

Minato thought about it.

It was better to have fewer troubles than more. Currently, Konoha didn't have the capacity to provoke Amegakure, nor did it have the strength to eliminate these ninjas.

Besides.

Yahiko and the others hadn't done anything wrong, so there was no need to eliminate them.

"Thank you!"

Yahiko bowed deeply.

He knew.

This matter made things difficult for Minato, especially now that Minato was taking him back...

But.

Minato had agreed, which made him overjoyed.

"Yahiko, this..."

"Konan, you take Nagato back. Don't worry about me, I'll be back soon."

Yahiko comforted Konan.

"Be careful."

Konan's feelings were complicated.

She wasn't like Yahiko, who thought so much. She just wanted to live well with Yahiko and Nagato, but Yahiko had his own pursuit—peace.

Born from childhood experiences, catalyzed by the desire for Jiraiya's teachings.

Akatsuki itself was also created for this reason.

However.

Kyoichi's few words had almost completely overturned Yahiko's thoughts.

Konan couldn't give an answer, so she could only let Yahiko search for it himself. Furthermore, she knew Akatsuki would have to explain its actions this time to Konoha.

Otherwise, it might truly be as Kyoichi said, and Hanzo would move to eliminate Akatsuki.

She wrapped Nagato in folded paper and watched Yahiko and Minato leave.

Kyoichi left that area and quickly headed toward where Asuma and the others were.

From afar, he could already hear sounds.

However.

The fight should be over; it was more the sound of begging for mercy.

Minato had only sent a clone, so he wasn't worried about this side. After all, Minato was the future Yellow Flash, famous throughout the Ninja World. If he couldn't even handle these bandits, it would be a huge embarrassment.

"Teacher's back!"

Kurenai Yuhi sensed Kyoichi approaching and her face lit up with joy.

Although Minato Namikaze took good care of them, it always felt like something was missing without their teacher present.