"As long as you succeed, they can enjoy the results with a clear conscience."
"That kind of peace has no value to me."
Everyone in the dim space fell silent.
Hidan opened his mouth, but for once, he did not immediately sneer.
Biwa Jūzō's brow furrowed deeply.
Konan's fingers tightened slightly, and the paper at her side rustled faintly.
Orochimaru's eyes, however, lit up.
Lie Yang's views were brutally cold, yet equally direct.
He had neither praised sacrifice from the perspective of humanity nor expressed agreement with Pain's ideals. Instead, he had pointed straight to the most fundamental problem with the plan.
Why should Pain bear everything alone?
Why should those innocent people gain peace without changing anything themselves?
Pain's expression darkened.
"Redemption has never been about weighing personal gains and losses."
"You should step outside your own position and look at the problem from the perspective of the entire Shinobi World."
"As long as war can be ended, it doesn't matter who pays the price."
"Wrong."
Lie Yang looked at him.
"Of course it matters who pays the price."
"Because that price determines whether the result is worth it."
Pain's Rinnegan shifted slightly.
Lie Yang continued, "If I truly wanted to quell conflict and save the world, staying in Konoha would have been enough."
"With my strength, Konoha wouldn't dare remain my enemy. If I were willing to take the position of Hokage, I could forcibly silence every voice of opposition in the village."
"I could even eliminate everyone who refused to obey."
"That would give Konoha a brief period of peace."
"But I didn't do it."
Pain fell silent for a moment.
"Because you refuse to take responsibility?"
"Because my principles are different from yours."
Lie Yang raised his eyes.
"Hatred has never been the sole root of