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Chapter 158: Naruto, You Can Let Go of Hatred, But Can You Make Others Let Go?
Black cloak with red clouds. Light blue-purple hair, surrounded by white paper...
"It's you!" Kakashi frowned deeply and shouted, "Akatsuki's White Tiger!!"
More and more Konoha ninjas arrived, surrounding the area three layers deep. Although they hadn't seen Konan, that Akatsuki cloak was fresh in their memories.
The Akatsuki Organization!
Not long ago, it was the Akatsuki, wearing these very clothes, who destroyed all of Konoha's buildings. All Konoha ninjas held kunai and ninja swords, staring at Konan in the center with extreme wariness and hatred.
Even though no one in the village died in that battle comparable to a natural disaster, as they were all revived by the Akatsuki leader in the end, many villagers and ninjas still suffered. In that terrifying explosion, many lost arms or legs, ending up physically disabled. These people were lucky not to die on the spot, but also very unfortunate. Because they weren't within the scope of the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
After all, they didn't die, so they didn't need resurrecting. But the injuries on their bodies were real; they were the direct victims of that disaster. Among them were many Konoha ninjas, as well as their friends and families.
The village destroyed, numerous villagers and ninjas injured. Just because the Akatsuki leader revived those companions who died in battle at the end, did he naively think he could atone for his sins? That he could make them completely let go of hatred and pretend nothing happened?
Naive! How was that possible?!
Personal injuries, houses and property accumulated over years of struggle all turned to nothing. Who would bear such costs? Who would compensate for their losses? In the end, they had to bear it all themselves. It was absolutely impossible not to hate and resent the culprits who created this tragedy and pain!
The Akatsuki Organization was Konoha's enemy, and every member was an enemy!
Shikaku Nara maintained his composure, raising a hand to stop the Konoha ninjas from launching an attack. He stared tightly at Konan, puzzled.
Why is she different from what the intelligence says?
He hadn't seen this Akatsuki member either. But relevant intelligence, whether from Jiraiya or Naruto, described her. She should be 35 years old, possessing Paper Ninjutsu. But looking at her now, she was clearly only in her early 20s.
And Ice Release...
Shikaku looked at the shattered ice behind her, his eyes filled with suspicion. Could her true identity be an orphan of the Yuki clan?
He composed himself and asked in a deep voice, "Akatsuki's White Tiger, why have you invaded my Konoha again?"
Looking at the Root corpses on the ground, with the smell of blood lingering in his nose, his voice became even colder. "These Root ninjas were all killed by your Paper Ninjutsu, right? What did you do to the entire Root? Where are Elder Danzo and those hundreds of Root ninjas?"
Seeing the silent base entrance behind Konan, Shikaku actually already had the answer in his heart. The entire Root was probably...
But he found it hard to accept this reality. That was the entire Root, an important component of Konoha's power. If they were truly wiped out, it would be another major loss following Pain's attack on Konoha.
"Danzo? Root?" Konan remained expressionless, her gaze quickly sweeping over the Konoha ninjas before her. Not finding Naruto, she looked up slightly at the forest behind them.
A golden-haired figure leaped out from it, landing beside Kakashi.
It was Naruto Uzumaki.
Since the main target had arrived, Konan said coldly, "Whether it's Danzo Shimura or the entire Root, I have wiped them all out."
Whoa!
At these words, all Konoha ninjas were in an uproar and commotion. They gripped their kunai and swords tighter, even more wary. However, the hatred in their eyes only increased slightly. After all, the reputation of the Root and Danzo was already rotten in their hearts. The increased hatred was merely for "Konoha ninjas" being killed.
Naruto stared blankly at the gruesome, bloody headless corpses on the ground. The pungent smell of blood made him feel nauseous. Since becoming a ninja, he had never seen such a bloody scene, and his hands had never been stained with any human life or blood.
That's right, since his debut, Naruto Uzumaki hadn't directly killed anyone yet...
In this cold ninja world filled with slaughter... as a ninja possessing such powerful strength, never having truly killed anyone was indeed bizarre.
Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes wide.
"Why..." He looked at Konan with a mix of anger and confusion, questioning in a low voice, "Why did you kill them..."
"They were all Konoha ninjas, my comrades. Why invade Konoha again and kill them..."
Tears flowed from the corners of his eyes, genuine emotion showing as he shouted tearfully:
"Before Nagato died, didn't we already reconcile? We let go of hatred for each other and reached true mutual understanding between people!"
"Why... why haven't you let go, why create new hatred?! Answer me, Konan, why!!!"
Konan looked at Naruto screaming in pain, thinking of the conversation in front of Nagato's corpse that day. Not only Nagato, but she herself had been persuaded by Naruto's sincere words. Entrusting their dreams to him.
[Naruto, since Nagato chose to believe in you, then I will believe in you too. Yahiko, Nagato, and I, as well as the Akatsuki's dream of peace, are all entrusted to you.]
Thinking of her state of mind when she said those words, Konan's eyes became slightly dazed. She looked at Naruto with a complex expression. At that time, Nagato died, the Akatsuki was destroyed, and she had lost all hope, letting go of everything. She was persuaded by Naruto's "Talk No Jutsu." But now the situation had changed drastically. With Alex's help, she had new motivation to strive and was no longer in despair.
"Naruto..." Konan said coldly. "Danzo Shimura and the entire Root are my enemies. They killed Yahiko; they must pay the price."
"Like I said, you cannot understand Nagato's pain, or mine."
"I indeed cannot understand." Naruto clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into his palms, blood dripping down. "But continuing hatred will only repeat the same tragedy. Big Brother Nagato chose to believe in me before he died. You saw it with your own eyes and acknowledged my philosophy, my Nindo. Why now..."
He looked pained, unable to comprehend. "...Why create slaughter and hatred again..."
"You are too naive, Naruto." Konan's turbulent emotions calmed down, her voice turning cold.
"Let go of hatred? Mutual understanding between people? As long as there are ninjas in this world... no, as long as humans exist, it is absolutely impossible to achieve."
She swept a cold glance at all the Konoha ninjas. "Ask your Konoha comrades. Will they let go of hatred, understand their enemies, and reach reconciliation?"
Naruto looked bewilderedly at Kakashi and the three clan patriarchs beside him, then at the Konoha ninjas on the periphery. Without exception, everyone had hatred in their eyes. Impossible to let go, even more impossible to understand the enemy.
But he wasn't discouraged. He looked at Konan and said firmly, "I don't know if I can do it, but I will always persist! Keeping my word is my Nindo! If I give up understanding others, then the meaning of my Nindo and dreams will turn into bubbles."
"I believe the world where people understand each other will come one day. At that time, the entire ninja world will be restored to peace, with no more disputes or slaughter. Everyone can live happily with smiles everywhere. That is a very beautiful future, and I will strive for it all my life."
"Is that so..." Konan shook her head, unaffected by Naruto's speech. She asked expressionlessly, "Forget the future, let's talk about the present. Can you understand my pain, let go of the hatred of me killing Konoha ninjas, pretend nothing happened, and let me leave?"
"Or make your Konoha comrades stop hating me, understand me, and let me go?"
"After all, you said it yourself: fighting more will only repeat the same tragedy and create hatred. Now is the time to practice your Nindo and philosophy."
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