The three stood shoulder to shoulder at the village entrance.
"The plan's canceled. What now?"
Minato handed Maki the scroll filled with Explosive Tags.
"We come up with a new plan."
Maki took the scroll. Ever since they had provided relief to the refugees, no one had left.
After wandering through this war-torn world, they probably had nowhere left to settle.
"Minato, from the moment this war began, everyone has treated these civilians as pawns."
Maki watched the scene before him and spoke slowly.
"Their lives have never counted as lives. They're just expendable resources."
"I know you meant no harm. You simply wanted to end the war sooner."
"People can guard against malice. But completely selfless goodwill? There's no defense against that."
Minato lowered his head slightly, his voice softening. "I was wrong."
"You don't need to apologize."
Maki shook his head, his tone calm.
"If protecting Konoha means we can sacrifice innocent people from other countries, how are we any different from Hanzō and his tyranny?"
With that, he stepped out of the camphor tree's shade and walked straight into the crowd of refugees.
"You don't have to suffer anymore!"
"My name is Hayato Satomi. I'm a squad captain with the Land of Iron's border patrol."
"I'll build you a haven without war!"
The village entrance fell silent, leaving only the patter of rain.
The middle-aged woman who had been holding a baby slowly rose to her feet.
The child in her arms had stopped crying and was sleeping peacefully, nostrils fluttering gently with each steady breath.
"So what do you intend to do now?"
"This land, this village, and the abandoned fields around it."
Maki looked around, his voice carrying clearly to everyone's ears.
"From today onward, this place is called the Great Love Society."
"We won't