Within the rippling, transparent barrier, Nawaki watched the middle-aged ninja die before his eyes, his expression complicated. His lips pressed together slightly.
"Big Brother Aizen, is war really necessary?"
Nawaki asked softly.
At his words, Aizen, standing inside the barrier, smiled faintly and replied in a quiet voice.
"Don't let one person's death shake your convictions, Nawaki. War inevitably brings pain, but at the same time... it also holds the seeds of hope for us."
A hint of confusion appeared in Nawaki's eyes. He didn't understand. Aizen continued softly.
"Wars occur between all kinds of living things. Ever since humans first appeared, war has accompanied every era. Countless people have died in wars, so there's no need to lament the death of a single person."
"And it isn't just the age of the shinobi... There were wars in the Warring States period, the Kamakura period, the Nara period... Every era has had wars. They're unavoidable. You could say that people in every age have experienced such painful times."
At Aizen's words, sadness showed in Nawaki's eyes. He asked softly,
"Then... can we really end this suffering...?"
As if he had inherited Hashirama Senju's compassionate nature, Nawaki always felt deep sympathy for those who suffered.
Aizen didn't reproach him. Looking at Nawaki, who was now almost as tall as he was, he raised a finger and gently tapped the boy on the forehead as Nawaki's expression fell.
Nawaki froze.
A faint smile played on Aizen's lips as he said softly,
"What a kind child. But kindness alone can't save this world. Only power can free people from suffering, Nawaki."
As he spoke, a faintly fervent light flashed in Aizen's eyes. His voice grew subtly excited.
"The war that has existed like a curse since humanity's birth will eventually be broken by