Unshakeable Desire

Although he did not understand what "lickspittle" meant, Jiraiya saw the disdain in Shiraishi Yoshijo's eyes. After thinking for a moment, he took a book from his robes.

"This book is called Road to Peace. It's very popular in Peach Country. Since you wrote it, are the dreams of peace described in it your own ideas?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo gave an evil smile. "Do you think someone like me wouldn't have any desire to achieve peace?"

"No, quite the opposite. In the end, war is the root cause of all suffering. You're intelligent, so you certainly understand that. It's just that your ideas are far too extreme. Peace achieved under the crushing pressure of military deterrence is not true peace at all!"

"That's your view. Peace is something that simply does not exist. Even without war, suffering would still follow humanity. Like how you can never win Tsunade's heart, or how Orochimaru cannot fulfill his ambitions. Even children instinctively compete with one another. Can you understand this suffering that humanity is born with?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo paused, then mocked, "Do you remember Hiruko? Why did that guy defect from Konoha? Wasn't it because he wanted to surpass those of us who had always been better than him, his peers? Now he has turned himself into neither man nor ghost. Jealousy turned him into something utterly ugly, but that is humanity's true face!"

"Desire—desire that can never be satisfied. Jiraiya, how long are you going to remain so naïve? Wake up, idiot. Humans are that kind of creature. Your so-called ideals are merely self-satisfaction. No one wants the peaceful life you keep talking about!"

"No matter what you say, I will always believe that day will come. The savior must exist. The Great Toad Sage's prophecy cannot be wrong!" Jiraiya said with a