Will of Fire

Karin did not ask why Nao was doing those seemingly unrelated things. The feeling of not needing to think for herself and merely following orders was actually quite nice.

Karin simply did not want to be separated from Nao, but she did not say it aloud.

Wave after wave of people searched for the Box of Bliss. Following Nao's instructions, Karin tossed the box onto Iwagakure's main route. If Iwagakure still could not obtain it, that could only mean they were too stupid. It would not matter much if someone else took it away.

Worth mentioning was that Orochimaru had also been drawn in. He sent people to search everywhere through the ruins of the Land of Grass, while quite a few White Zetsu beneath the ground were likewise looking for the Box of Bliss. Karin carefully avoided them and set off toward the Land of Rain.

Konoha remained prosperous and peaceful, but some things seemed to have changed. Children might not have felt anything, but the older shinobi felt it deeply. Put simply, they had lost a certain confidence.

Having gone through three Shinobi World Wars, Konoha had emerged victorious each time, yet it had gained nothing from those wars. Instead, it had been steadily losing things.

The Shinobi World's structure had shifted from one superpower and four major powers to five major powers. Back when Hashirama and Madara were both alive, Konoha shinobi could swagger through the Shinobi World without fear; no one dared offend them. Now Kumogakure repeatedly bullied them right on their doorstep. Such an obvious shift in status was truly enough to make one physically uncomfortable, especially for the elders who had lived from the founding of the village until now.

No matter how skillful the political maneuvering, it could not change the essence of an appeasement policy. Once or twice might be understandable, but after too many times, anyone would start having doubts.

Hyuga Hiashi was feeling somewhat uneasy now. His elder nephew, Neji Hyuga, had been growing increasingly close to the Uchiha orphan, looking every bit like intimate friends. Yet this was not a sight Hyuga Hiashi wanted to see.

The Uchiha clan was a massive pit filled with historical baggage. Hyuga Hiashi had no desire whatsoever to involve himself with the Uchiha, fearing that it would cause the village higher-ups to misunderstand. He had hinted at it several times, but Neji merely pretended not to understand. Hyuga Hiashi could hardly activate the Caged Bird to stop Neji from making friends, could he?

Hyuga Hiashi felt somewhat guilty toward Neji, and the other elders of the Main House would not do anything to him either. What had happened back then was plain for all to see. If they mistreated Neji, the Hyuga Main House might as well throw away its dignity.

Afterward, more and more people learned that Neji and Sasuke were close in private. It became even harder for Hyuga Hiashi to play the villain separating lovers; it would only make him seem guilty. He could only let things take their course.

It was another day after school at the Ninja Academy. Sasuke and Neji walked side by side down the road. A swing was tied beneath a tree in front of the school building, and a boy in an old orange jacket sat quietly in the shade. None of his usual mischief showed on his face. He was alone, and very quiet.

As he watched the two walking together, Hokage's eyes shone with anticipation. Yet Neji and Sasuke, passing by him, completely ignored Hokage. That person had once said that Hokage might carry some kind of memetic contamination capable of distorting human cognition. It was best not to come into contact with him, or even think about him.

Sasuke desperately restrained himself from looking at Hokage. Only after they had gone some distance away did he let out a faint sigh.

"What's wrong with you? Getting all melodramatic again?" Neji mocked mercilessly.

Neji's tone was heavy. "Neji, what do you think I should do?"

"What do you mean, what should you do?" Neji asked back.

Sasuke bit his lip hard. "I clearly know what a disgusting, hypocritical line the so-called Will of Fire is. Shisui and Itachi were both brainwashed by that will until they became anti-human. But sometimes, I can genuinely feel the warmth of the Will of Fire, and even lose myself in it.

"The tragedies we suffered were clearly all caused by Konoha. I should hate Konoha, so why is it that when I meet Iruka, Might Guy, or the old lady who sells tricolor dango, I cannot muster even the slightest hatred toward them? Sometimes, I even feel like I understand Itachi a little. Neji, am I like some kind of clown?"

Neji nodded. Sasuke was having another episode, just as expected. Uchiha really could not be allowed to think, or something would definitely go wrong!

Neji patted Sasuke on the shoulder and comforted him like an older brother. "No, Sasuke, you are not a clown. Hating Konoha and not hating Iruka do not conflict. There is no necessary connection between them. You are no longer a child; you should understand the difference between a 'group' and an 'individual.'"

Neji had understood that long ago. He resented Konoha, but he did not resent Tenten or Rock Lee.

"An individual cannot represent a collective, and a collective cannot fully represent an individual. The Will of Fire you feel may not be the same thing as the Will of Fire upheld by Iruka or Might Guy."

Neji's words were rather obscure, and Sasuke was predictably confused. "I don't understand what you're saying."

Neji asked Sasuke a question instead. "Do you think the 'Will of Fire' practiced by Shimura Danzō and the 'Will of Fire' practiced by Might Guy are the same idea?"

It was an apt example, and Sasuke was instantly enlightened. "I understand now. The Will of Fire is merely a string of vague words, and everyone can interpret it differently. On the surface, everyone believes in the Will of Fire, but in truth, it is difficult to unify their thinking. What I hate is the Will of Fire of Konoha's higher-ups. It has little to do with other people."

Neji wore the expression of a teacher pleased with a promising student. "In the end, the problem lies with the Will of Fire itself. As the ideological guideline of a village, it has no guiding principles whatsoever. It lacks detailed measures and standards—its starting point, its focus, its endpoint, its planning goals, its accountability system, none of that exists! The whole thing is empty idealistic bluster. Anyone who did not know better would think it was a brainwashing slogan from a pyramid scheme!"

The Will of Fire had originally been proposed by Hashirama Senju, most likely. How should he put it? You could trust Hashirama Senju's character, but not his brain!

Sasuke stared at the eloquent Neji in shock. "You're only one grade above me. Why do you know so much?"

Neji was equally shocked by Sasuke's ignorance. "That lord is extremely knowledgeable. Have you never once sought his guidance?"

The Black Shadow and the Hyuga ancestor were both spiritual avatars of the Demon. Neji knew perfectly well that some unknown big shot had chosen him. Since he could not resist, he might as well squeeze as much benefit out of him as possible.

Sasuke was dumbfounded again. He suddenly felt that Neji had utterly crushed him in every way, and his mood immediately soured~.

Although Sasuke could now slaughter innocent people without even blinking, one question had always lingered in his heart. The more he thought about it, the more tangled he became. Perhaps he should also ask that Black Shadow.

At the crossroads, the two parted ways. Neji put away his amiable expression, and a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes. "My lord, we need to watch out for Sasuke. I'm afraid he might turn against us at the last moment."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

The old man of the Six Paths making a move had stimulated Indra's Chakra. It was normal for Sasuke to be affected. If not for wanting to keep Indra around to cause trouble, the Demon would have swallowed him whole long ago!