He scratched his orange hair and coughed twice, trying to regain his sense of being a "senior brother": "Ahem... Well, junior brother, have you also studied Ninjutsu from the teacher?"
Senju Chen shook his head and added a piece of firewood to the fire. Sparks splashed, reflecting his calm profile, "No, but my uncle will occasionally give me some pointers."
"Then... the teacher..." Konan hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but speak, his voice as thin as a gnat, "Does he... really go there often... to collect materials?"
After asking, her cheeks turned red.
Senju Chen glanced at her and suddenly smiled, "Of course. Uncle Master is very professional. Last time I collected information, I heard that he was chased three streets."
"Pfft!"
Yahiko couldn't hold it back and laughed directly. The corners of Nagato's tight mouth also slightly raised an almost invisible arc.
The embarrassing incident about Jiraiya brought us closer in an instant. The last remaining barriers in the factory also melted away in this tacit laughter.
As soon as the atmosphere became warm, Yahiko's chatterbox opened up completely.
"After the master left, we have been following his teachings and established an organization!"
"Our goal is not to kill or to fight! We are to bring peace to this cursed country!"
"The war has brought too much pain to this land, we must end it all!"
He talked endlessly about the concept of "Akatsuki", from the initial mutual support to now absorbing more and more war-torn Amegakure ninjas. He painted a grand blueprint, a new world without disputes and where people can understand each other.
Nagato and Konan listened quietly, with complete trust and following in their eyes. They looked at Senju Chen, as if they were also looking forward to the approval of this mysterious junior brother.
Senju Chen never interrupted, just listened quietly, playing with a small branch in his hand.
It wasn't until Yahiko's mouth went dry and he stopped with a look of anticipation on his face that he spoke slowly.
"Rely on dialogue to achieve mutual understanding?"
"Yes!" Yahiko nodded heavily.
Senju Chen raised his eyes, his eyes were clear, but seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts.
"What if someone doesn't want to 'understand' you, but just wants to stab your heart with a knife?"
One sentence made all Yahiko's excitement get stuck in his throat.
The factory fell into silence again. This question was too sharp and too realistic.
Seeing his confused expression, Senju Chen suddenly smiled and threw the branch in his hand into the fire.
"Yahiko Senior Brother, your ideal is great."
"But if you want to make lions and tigers sit down and listen to you reason, you must first have the strength to smash their teeth with one punch."
He stood up, dusted himself off, and glanced at the three of them.
It's so cute and innocent.
He secretly thought, but it is this innocence and enthusiasm that is provocative. This is the best rough jade, and only needs an excellent craftsman to carve it into the most perfect work of art.
After Yahiko finished speaking, Senju Chen sincerely praised, "A very great ideal! You are worthy of being the person that Uncle Master likes. You are striving for such a lofty goal. I sincerely admire you."
These words made Yahiko feel very excited, as if he had found a soulmate.
However, Senju Chen changed the subject.
"But... Senior brother Yahiko, I am a straightforward person. Don't blame me for attacking you. You are still too idealistic."
This word instantly chilled the atmosphere around the campfire.
"Senior brother, your ideal is an eagle soaring in the sky, but your method is like a baby walking on the ground." Senju Chen's expression became solemn, making the three of Yahiko feel an inexplicable pressure.
"Reasoning with Hanzo of the Salamander? What's the difference between that and discussing peaceful coexistence with a hungry beast? The reason why he hasn't taken direct action against you until now is not because he agrees with you, nor because he is generous, but because... you are still too weak."
"We are not weak, we have many partners, and everyone can work hard for this ideal." Yahiko did not agree with Senju Chen's words and immediately retorted.
"What do you think you think of Hanzo of the Salamander now?" Senju Chen asked directly.
"We..." Yahiko was speechless for a moment.
"In his eyes, your organization is just a group of small fish and shrimps flopping in the mire. He doesn't even bother to get his hands dirty for it, so what you are facing now are ordinary ninjas."
Senju Chen's words were like a sharp knife, mercilessly cutting through the cruel reality they were unwilling to face.
"But once your development arouses his fear, once he thinks that you, a little fish, may grow into a great white shark, what do you think he will do?"
Yahiko's face turned pale.
"He will first pretend to have peace talks, then set a trap, using the 'peace' and 'recognition' you most desire as bait, and finally, when you are most relaxed, he will uproot you and crush you to pieces!"
"At that time, you will truly face the terrifying power of Shinobi World and Demigod. Do you think that with your current strength, you can defeat Hanzo of the Salamander?"
"In this world, you still have to rely on strength to speak, not on sincerity."
Senju Chen's voice was not loud, but every word was so heart-breaking that Nagato's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Looking at the blank expressions on the faces of the three people who were struck by reality, Senju Chen knew that the time had come.
He leaned forward slightly and spoke in a low voice, full of deception. "Of course, for you now, being weak is not only your shortcoming, but also your... biggest advantage."
"Weakness... advantages?" Senju Chen's words immediately stopped Yahiko who was still thinking about how to refute.
When can weakness become a strength?
"Because you are weak, you are not taken seriously. Because you are weak, you are not easily targeted. Weakness is your greatest protective color."
Only Konan heard this and seemed to have figured something out. He looked at Senju Chen who was talking with some surprise.
"If you still want to realize your ideals, then in the future, you cannot openly challenge the authority of Hanzō. That would be self-destruction. You must transfer development from above ground to underground!"
"Underground?" Yahiko repeated subconsciously.
"That's right." Senju Chen's eyes were shining with wisdom and strategy, "Don't stare at the 'city' of Amegakure. This is the foundation of Hanzō and the core of his power. You can go to the villages ravaged by war, to the corners forgotten by the world, and to the civilians who are oppressed by the power of Hanzō!"
"Unite them, help them, give them food, give them hope, and let them become your most solid supporters! Establish your foundation in the vast 'rural areas'. Use the policy of surrounding the city with the countryside to develop step by step."
"When the hearts and minds of the entire Land of Rain are towards you, and when all the villages become your barriers, Amegakure, the so-called 'city', will become an isolated island! At that time, it will rot and collapse from within without you attacking it!"
These words, like a thunder, exploded in the minds of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan!
This is a path they never imagined!
It's not about challenging the powerful head-on, but about taking money from the foundation, from the bottom of the cauldron!
Yahiko's breathing became rapid, and his body trembled slightly due to excitement. The flame in his eyes that was almost extinguished was rekindled at this moment, and it was stronger than ever before!
He seemed to have seen a brand new road leading to peace!
"But... this requires a lot of supplies, intelligence, and..." Yahiko calmed down after getting excited and spoke of the practical difficulties.
Senju Chen smiled.
You must know that he is now the strategic commander of the entire Land of Rain.
"Don't worry." The smile on his face was gentle and reliable, "Since your ideal is so great, how can it be justified if I don't help?"
"I can provide you with supplies, intelligence, and even some necessary 'arms'."
"You guys just need to let it go and do it."
Looking at the sincere eyes of the young man in front of them and listening to his promise full of "money", Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were completely conquered.
In their eyes, this "junior brother" who fell from the sky is no longer a mysterious strong man, but a guiding light that illuminates their path forward, and is the most powerful and reliable comrade who helps them realize their ideals!
Senju Chen Seeing the three people's expressions of tears of gratitude and renewed hope, the smiles on the corners of their mouths deepened.
The wisdom of my ancestors has never deceived me.