The war had not been launched for the time being.
Then what about Hizashi Hyuga?
Did he die for nothing?
Did he deserve it?
Was Neji Hyuga supposed to lose his father from childhood???
Kumogakure had clearly been the ones who committed the crime.
Why, instead, did the Hyuga Clan have to make amends?
A murder had taken place on Konoha soil, yet their own people were the ones held responsible???
What kind of spineless government and logic was this?
"Nagato, how did your parents die back then? Have you forgotten?"
Mingren struck directly at Nagato's heart.
"!"
Nagato's pupils contracted.
The most painful thing in his life had been his parents' deaths.
During the last Ninja World War, he had still been a child.
Two Konoha ninja had broken into his home and killed his parents...
Because of that, the incident had remained a festering wound in his heart.
"Ise and Fusang, husband and wife. One was a renowned doctor, and the other was a housewife..."
As Mingren recounted the story,
everyone relived the story of Nagato's parents once more.
"When the Second Shinobi World War broke out, Ise and Fusang ignored the danger to themselves and insisted on treating the civilians and ninja of the Land of Rain. In the end, they died at the hands of Konoha ninja..."
Mingren's words made Nagato recall that tragedy once again.
His breathing quickened, and his gaze began to tremble.
"So... your parents deserved to die? They deserved to lose their lives for your so-called greater good? Why should innocent people pay for the sins committed by Konoha's invaders?"
"You refuse to deal with Konoha's invaders. They killed your parents, yet you still refuse to deal with them. Instead, you turn around and say... if we fight against Konoha's invaders, people will be injured and die later on... What kind of bullshit logic is that? Is your brain full of shit?"
"I... I..."
Nagato staggered back several steps.
His pupils widened, and his breathing grew even more ragged.
The interrogation of his heart, coupled with the tragedy he did not want to remember, had clearly destabilized him.
"Nagato...!"
Konan immediately supported him, her face filled with worry.
Yahiko frowned tightly as well, suddenly realizing that in tonight's war of words, they had likely... lost.
"This world is too cruel to Good People and too tolerant of evil people!"
Mingren took another step forward.
The Akatsuki Organization members actually began to feel as though they were the ones in the wrong.
"Evil people deserve to die! Only Good People have the right to live in this world! I will kill every last evil person! The moment they even think of doing evil, they will be so terrified they cannot sleep..."
"Fate... truly is strange..."
As Mingren continued his rebuke,
Hanzo shook his head.
Ise and Fusang.
Hanzo remembered their names and had met them before.
That couple had been very famous back then.
They had been selfless people active on the battlefield.
Many civilians and ninja of the Land of Rain had received treatment because of them, gaining a chance to survive.
Hanzo studied Nagato's red hair and could not help sighing. "He looks so much like her..."
That hair color was exactly the same as his mother's...
But he had never expected
that Ise and Fusang would be killed by Konoha ninja, meeting such an end.
"Perhaps..."
Perhaps they could try handling the Akatsuki Organization through negotiations.
It could also be considered repayment for Ise and Fusang.
As Hanzo pondered,
Mingren's rebuke had not yet ended.
"To be honest... I deeply despise you people from 'Akatsuki'!"
Mingren said, pointing at Yahiko's nose.
"What did you say?!"
The Akatsuki Organization members had already been humiliated and angered by his tirade. Now that they saw him openly condemning them, they became even more furious.
"You are clearly a group of ninja who refuse to obey Hanzo, yet you wear Amegakure forehead protectors. What could be more ridiculous than that?!"
Mingren swept his gaze over everyone's foreheads, his eyes full of contempt.
"If you think Hanzo is no good and even want to overthrow him, then raise your own banner. Rather than secretly calling yourselves Akatsuki while still operating under the identity of Amegakure ninja!"
"Indeed... that is a problem."
Hanzo nodded slightly.
This was the knot in his heart.
These young people of the Akatsuki Organization were indeed capable.
Yet they insisted on wearing Amegakure forehead protectors.
They were not Amegakure ninja, nor did they obey his command, so why did they wear those forehead protectors...
Mingren said, "I get it... When you do good deeds, it is Akatsuki's doing! When you do evil, it is Amegakure's fault, right!"
If it was not to dump responsibility while having it both ways,
then why else would they do this?
"You...!!"
The Akatsuki Organization members glared furiously at Mingren.
They wanted nothing more than to rush up and beat him senseless.
Yet faced with Mingren's rebuke, they could not refute him.
Because... from the standpoint of righteousness, the Akatsuki Organization truly did have a problem in this regard.
"Petty behavior! With the way you conduct yourselves, you will never accomplish anything great!"
That was indeed the truth.
In the Original Work, the Akatsuki Organization's final outcome had been total annihilation.
Amegakure had also been reduced to ruins.
Therefore...
Mingren had never considered entrusting the Land of Rain to Akatsuki's protection.
Off to the side, Asuka
let out a slight sigh of relief.
Hearing Mingren condemn the Akatsuki Organization,
she was completely reassured.
Because she now understood
that Amakawa Mingren absolutely could not, and would not, join Akatsuki.
"So... Amegakure still has hope, doesn't it?"
Asuka decided
that once tonight's matter was over, she would personally try inviting Amakawa Mingren to join Amegakure.
Because if a peer like him—someone with firm resolve, extraordinary potential, and a clear understanding of right and wrong—joined them,
he would surely inspire more of Amegakure's younger generation to support Amegakure.
Perhaps that would be the most suitable future.
Three-Way Interrogation
As Mingren debated with Yahiko and the others,
inside a nearby warehouse...
Pakura and the others had also formed a three-way standoff with Minato Namikaze and Kitsuchi.
The dim yellow light cast the prisoner's silhouette.
Pakura had just captured an Akatsuki Organization member with her subordinates for interrogation.
In the process, they had flushed out several little tails following behind them.
Kitsuchi and the others stopped hiding and stepped directly out of the shadows.
Before long, Minato Namikaze's group also revealed themselves, standing together with his disciple Kakashi and Orochimaru.
The three groups scrutinized one another.
They assessed whether they should make a move.
The Akatsuki Organization member trapped in the middle felt immense pressure because of it.
Every faction present consisted of ninja renowned throughout the Ninja World.
Hero of the Sand, Pakura of Scorch Release.
The Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, and Orochimaru of the Sannin.
The son of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
The powerful figures of three shinobi villages had gathered here, forming a triangular standoff.
After glaring at one another for a while,
all three sides ultimately decided to offer courtesy before resorting to force.
Pakura said, "You are here because of the Underground Exchange as well, aren't you..."
Before Pakura sat an Akatsuki Organization member tied to a chair.
To determine whether Akatsuki had done it, capturing someone for interrogation was undoubtedly the simplest method.
"Then it seems our objectives are the same." Kitsuchi glanced around, estimating that a fight would not break out anytime soon.
"The Ninja World War is already nearing its end. Continuing to fight is meaningless."
Minato Namikaze stepped forward.
With Mr. Orochimaru joining them, their side was undoubtedly stronger and had more say in the matter.
"Why not share intelligence? That way, everyone can complete their missions perfectly."
Before you continue