"What does it look more like?" Jin's gaze sharpened. "More like a dictator?"
"I didn't say that."
"But that's what you think." Jin rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, turning his back to them. "Jiraiya-sensei, Grandma Tsunade, do you know what I saw on my trip to the Land of Water?"
Neither answered. They waited for him to continue.
"I saw a village battered and broken by the Blood Mist Policy. I saw countless shinobi dying over meaningless hatred. I saw a place that could have been beautiful, ruined beyond recognition by foolish political games."
Jin turned around, a fierce light shining in his eyes.
"You call me a dictator, but under my rule, there won't be any more pointless wars, no more vendettas between villages, and no more children losing their parents to the ambitions of adults."
"But that kind of peace is built on fear!" Tsunade retorted. "What kind of peace is there without freedom?"
"Freedom?" Jin laughed, his tone light. "Grandma Tsunade, do you think there's any real freedom in the Shinobi World today? Do ordinary people have the freedom to choose not to be caught up in war? Do children have the freedom to choose not to become shinobi? Do shinobi have the freedom to refuse their missions?"
The string of questions left Tsunade speechless.
It was true. In this world, freedom had always been a luxury.
"I won't deny that my methods are rather extreme." Jin returned to his seat. "But sometimes, moderate reform isn't enough. Someone has to step forward and break the old order, even if it means bearing everyone's blame and hatred."
Jiraiya was silent for a long time before speaking. "Have you ever considered what will happen to this order, built on your personal authority, if you die or disappear