Kakuzu Joins

Orochimaru and Tsunade fell into thought after hearing Hyuga Shin's words, realizing that someone was scheming against them.

Even their teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, might have been involved.

That left them uneasy.

Though they did not want to believe it, Hyuga Shin's words planted a seed of distrust in their hearts.

Because there were far too many problems with this hunt targeting Nawaki! They could not help but let their thoughts run wild.

Next, Hyuga Shin shifted the topic to the war.

He had questions he wanted to ask Orochimaru and Tsunade.

He also wanted to know what they truly thought when the Sage of Six Paths was not interfering.

"What are your thoughts on this Shinobi World War?"

"It's nothing more than a reshuffling caused by a sharp increase in conflicts of interest between villages and internal contradictions!" Orochimaru saw things very clearly and directly pointed out the crux of the conflict.

"I agree with Orochimaru as well!" Tsunade echoed.

"Then in your view, is the system of one village, one nation complete?" Hyuga Shin asked again.

Orochimaru and Tsunade fell silent, their faces thoughtful, and did not rush to answer.

They were both intelligent people and understood what Hyuga Shin meant.

If it were truly complete, where would all these wars have come from?

"It definitely isn't complete. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many wars!" Orochimaru said after thinking for a moment.

"Perhaps it does have shortcomings, but since it was able to form the current situation, there must be some reason behind it," Tsunade said, still somewhat naive.

"Then if the Shinobi World were unified, would that be better?" Hyuga Shin continued to convey his philosophy and ideas.

"If it could truly be done, it should be much better than now. At the very least, it could eliminate external disputes, and war would disappear as well."

"But correspondingly, internal disputes probably wouldn't be few either."

Orochimaru was very intelligent. After a little thought, he stated the advantages and disadvantages of unification.

"I think it would be very hard to achieve. Even you and Grandpa didn't manage it, did you?"

In Tsunade's view, the hatred that had existed in the Shinobi World for so long was very difficult to erase. Even Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara had not been able to do it, so it would be even more impossible for anyone else.

"Actually, your grandfather and Madara did have the idea of unifying the Shinobi World, and they had enough ability to make it happen."

"It was just that an unexpected change occurred afterward."

"Like you said, Orochimaru, if you had the chance, would you unify the Shinobi World?"

Hyuga Shin revealed a secret from the era of village-building in response to Tsunade's question, then asked Orochimaru in turn.

"I would. If the chaotic Shinobi World could be unified, it would be a good thing for the vast majority of ninja." Orochimaru held an approving attitude toward the idea of unifying the Shinobi World.

Right now, he was still a person with true thoughts of his own, which also allowed Hyuga Shin to see his vision and scope.

"Tsunade, what about you?"

"I'd probably support it too." She was a woman after all, with relatively less ambition and conviction, and Hyuga Shin did not pay it too much mind.

This also let Hyuga Shin confirm that, without the influence of the Sage of Six Paths' will, the intelligent people of the Shinobi World were still fairly normal.

At the very least, they could tell whether something was good or bad.

It was just that most ninja had rather outdated views, carried too many restraints, and could not leap out of the mire.

Hadn't the former Hashirama also been persuaded by him and Madara?

After getting a sense of where they stood, Hyuga Shin stopped asking too many questions and merely chatted casually with the two of them.

Before long, Tsunade turned the topic to when Nawaki would be treated.

Hyuga Shin said that now was not the time yet and that he needed to make further preparations, telling Tsunade not to worry.

Although he had successfully stolen right under the Sage of Six Paths' nose, he still did not act too recklessly.

Although he had enough confidence to confront the Sage of Six Paths, and the boldness to make the entire world his enemy, there was no need.

If he wanted to go farther, he had to make this group of masterminds too busy dealing with themselves to have time to trouble him.

The road of sowing seeds was still long and arduous, and protecting those seeds was also an urgent matter.

Hyuga Shin needed to go into seclusion and think of a solution.

Not long after, Orochimaru, as the commander-in-chief of the army, got up and left. After all, as the commander, he still had quite a lot to do and not much time.

Moreover, he also had to launch revenge against the Iwagakure ninja.

Although he had a clear understanding of war, there were still some things Orochimaru, being in the middle of it, had no choice but to do.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Tsunade also took her leave. She still had to continue guarding Nawaki.

Recently, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already sent multiple messages urging her to return to the village, but Tsunade simply ignored them. Especially after guessing that Nawaki had been sold out, she wanted even less to go back to the village.

The filter she had toward Hiruzen Sarutobi had already been shattered by Hyuga Shin.

In the days that followed, the Rock Battlefield entered a period of fierce fighting.

No one knew how many people had died on the battlefield.

They had paid with their lives solely for the laughable internal struggles and interests of each village's upper ranks.

The ninja system, with its institutions that had lasted for thousands of years, had long since rotted away.

For the strong, the pursuit of power would never let them stop.

Likewise, for those in power, their hunger for authority would only grow greater and greater.

The evil in human nature could not withstand temptation.

It was the same for anyone, and the Shinobi World was even worse!

Not to mention that the Sage of Six Paths was fanning the flames in the shadows, controlling the direction of the Shinobi World.

The recent Kage had basically lost the First Kage's code of conduct of dedicating everything to the village, becoming more and more aloof and high above everyone else.

To the point that later on, they basically stopped going to the battlefield at all.

Perhaps only the Raikage, who had yet to ascend to the position of Fourth, still had some bloody courage.

What was even more incomprehensible was that these ninja actually approved of this philosophy.

Sending a group of young people to the battlefield—what difference was there between now and the Warring States Period?

He really wanted to use Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama and let him see just how absurdly wrong he had been.

Just as Hyuga Shin was preparing to go into seclusion and think of a way, the ring on his hand flashed, and a figure was projected out.

"I agree to join, but as for how to proceed and what the later plans are, you'll need to explain them to me in detail."

In the end, Kakuzu had failed to escape Hyuga Shin's schemes.

He had thought it through. Rather than drag out a pointless existence with no goal, it was better to do something meaningful.

Although the Perfect World Hyuga Shin spoke of seemed somewhat unreliable, Kakuzu could not help being interested.

"I am very pleased that you are willing to join. I believe that with our efforts, creating a Perfect World will absolutely not be empty talk!"

Hyuga Shin immediately welcomed Kakuzu's joining and served him a bowl of motivational soup.

"Right now, I need you to find some qualified companions and invite them to lay the foundation for our Perfect World."

"The follow-up plan will have to be delayed for a while. There is still a difficult problem that needs to be solved, but don't worry, it shouldn't take too long." Hyuga Shin then responded to Kakuzu's question.

"Which qualified companions? Do you already have targets?" Kakuzu asked.

"The Sand Village's genius puppeteer Sasori, and Yugakure's envoy of the evil god, Hidan."

Afterward, Hyuga Shin roughly explained the two's basic information to Kakuzu and reminded him to be especially careful and not underestimate them.

Having received his mission, Kakuzu did not waste a word. He immediately said he would set out as soon as possible, find them, and bring them back.

The burning fire of a wage slave's spirit blazed fiercely.

This made Hyuga Shin extremely satisfied with Kakuzu's straightforward, get-things-done style.

The first seed had already sprouted. He had to hurry and get ready!