"Of course we must destroy every system in the shinobi world and reset everything to zero. Only then can new flowers bloom amid the ruins."
"The peace Uchiha Xuantou created is nothing but a false peace."
"A ninja's nature is to fight, and under Uchiha Xuantou's oppressive rule, this false peace will only develop into an even more devastating war."
"Therefore, we must start a war before that war arrives."
"Follow Lord Pain's will and let the world know pain!"
In an underground base Nagato had left behind in the Land of Rain.
Murotsu fervently explained his ideals to the group of ninja Uchiha Hikari had captured overnight.
All of these people would become the future foundation of the Zero Organization.
With Xuanyin so powerful now, the newly formed Zero Organization could not afford to attract its attention, nor did it need weak genin wasting its remaining supplies.
Thus, most of the captured ninja were chunin, with three jōnin among them.
But before Uchiha Hikari, whom even prestigious clans like the Senju and Hyūga had needed to join forces to fight during the Warring States period, these people were no different from genin.
One by one, they were brought to the base to listen to Murotsu preach his ideals.
"What bullshit about new flowers. We have Lord Xuandou. We don't need any reset to zero."
A thin middle-aged man stepped forward.
"If you know what's good for you, let us go now. Otherwise, Lord Xuandou won't give you a second chance."
"Exactly. With Lord Xuandou here, we don't need destruction or war. We need peace."
"Lord Xuandou is enough. We don't need anything else..."
Everyone spoke out, accusing Murotsu and the others of scheming behind the back of a shinobi world that had finally been unified.
They had no