This question immediately put Ryun on alert.
The answer seemed simple. He could just echo the stance taken by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Normally, as a civilian who wasn't even a ninja, he had no right to define the Will of Fire.
Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen specifically asked Ryun to do just that.
"Do not hesitate, speak your mind freely. We are accustomed to a shinobi's way of thinking. Perhaps we should also listen to the opinions of civilians."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled amiably, but Ryun did not believe a word he said.
The Will of Fire was not merely a slogan. It was akin to the political creed of Konoha, the fundamental principle used to unite everyone.
As shinobi, one must be prepared to sacrifice oneself for the village when necessary, to become the flames that nurture the new leaves of Konoha.
As civilians, one must accept the hardships brought by war without complaint, constantly striving for the revival and strength of the village.
Such a thing had no right or wrong; its very existence meant it could not be questioned by anyone.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was not asking Ryun to question it, by asking him to propose a different perspective, he was essentially pushing Ryun onto a tightrope.
Why was he doing this?
And what kind of answer did he want?
Ryun had not found an answer from his previous simulations. This indicated that within the short time after his simulation, something must have changed.
Was it because he got close to Yūhi Kurenai, and their relationship progressed too quickly, causing Sarutobi Hiruzen's displeasure?
After all, Sarutobi Asuma should have already begun his pursuit of Yūhi Kurenai. Sarutobi Hiruzen might have felt that Ryun was getting close to his future daughter-in-law. It was normal for him to be unhappy.
Or was it because Shimura Danzo had stirred things up, wanting Sarutobi Hiruzen to take this opportunity to test Ryun's true nature?
Without intelligence, even though Ryun had served as an advisor to a Kage more than once, he couldn't figure out the reason.
Time passed second by second. Ryun, pretending to be deep in thought, was running out of time.
Many people below the stage who were on good terms with Ryun also became nervous, realizing that if he didn't answer this question well, losing face would be a minor issue; he might even incur the dislike of many.
It seemed Sarutobi Hiruzen came here not only to support Ryun but also to subject him to a test.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the distance.
Might Guy ran over quickly with Lee and Neji, and Guy was even shouting loudly.
"Lee, Neji, the final three hundred meters, charge at full speed!"
"Come on, burn your youth!"
"Yahoooo!"
Lee screamed, turning into a gust of wind.
Neji had a dark line on his face, but he also sprinted quickly.
When the three of them approached, they sensed the atmosphere was somewhat off.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, knowing Guy's strength, naturally would not give him a hard time. He said, "Guy, you've worked hard on your mission. Find a seat anywhere."
"As you command, Hokage-sama."
Facing Sarutobi Hiruzen, Guy was also extremely respectful.
He just glanced at Ryun in confusion, not yet realizing what was happening.
However, when he followed Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze to Ryun, he immediately understood. Ryun was being put on the spot.
Just as he was thinking if he could help in any way, Ryun suddenly smiled.
"Hokage-sama, may I be allowed to tell a story?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled and said, "You are a writer, naturally most adept at telling stories. I also enjoy listening to your stories. Tell it."
Ryun nodded and said, "The story begins on the day I nearly died and then struggled to survive."
Ryun briefly recounted the story of how he was nearly beaten to death just for yawning at midnight, and then how he was saved.
In fact, many shinobi already knew about this incident, as Konoha was a small circle after all.
They just didn't expect that Ryun would dare to tell this story in front of so many people, as it was equivalent to exposing the unpleasant scandal of discord between Konoha shinobi and civilians.
Sure enough, Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile also stiffened a bit.
He did want to test Ryun, but he didn't want Ryun to slap him in the face.
Fortunately, Ryun then shifted the direction of his talk and did not comment on the issue itself.
"Please consider this: Given my experience, what kind of expectations would I hold for the Will of Fire?"
Ryun looked around at everyone, waiting for them to start thinking deeply before saying, "My answer is: The Will of Fire should be the will of unity. It should be a method that does not distinguish between shinobi and civilians, allowing everyone to live equally in Konoha, united in their efforts for the prosperity of the village."
"I hope that one day, the hierarchical differences between powerful clans, ordinary clans, and ordinary people in the village will no longer exist. Everyone can merge into one big family, and the barriers between people will be completely eliminated."
"I know this may be very difficult, but I will try to do it, as an ordinary person. Please bear witness to my efforts."
After Ryun finished speaking, no one applauded him, because they all looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared expressionless, but in reality, he faintly felt a toothache.
What Ryun said about the Will of Fire was childish and naive.
Yet, this understanding of the Will of Fire originated from the First Hokage. It was his initial vision for the village, the earliest version of the Will of Fire.
And it was under Senju Hashirama's influence that the Senju Clan integrated into the village of Konoha, choosing to sacrifice the clan itself for the development and strengthening of Konoha.
The result, naturally, was that cooperative families like the Sarutobi rose to prominence one after another. With the Uchiha Clan annihilated today, the Sarutobi had become Konoha's largest clan.
In other words, Konoha's current structure was a product inherited from the original Will of Fire. Theoretically, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not oppose the First Hokage's Will of Fire.
But if he inherited and promoted this Will of Fire, then Sarutobi Hiruzen would have to take action against his own family. This was absolutely impossible.
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
Before coming, Sarutobi Hiruzen had listened to Danzo's advice. He originally wanted to take this opportunity to admonish Ryun, to make him understand that he could only be a follower of the Will of Fire, and even if he became famous, he must write works with correct ideology.
But Ryun invoked the theory of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen with no way to accuse Ryun of being wrong.
Indeed, as Danzo had said, this young man was not willing to follow him one hundred percent and had his own ambitions.
However, what Danzo said was not entirely correct either. A person with the First Hokage's ideology might not follow Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders, but he probably wouldn't pose any harm to the Leaf either.
As for whether Ryun might say one thing and do another, preaching Senju Hashirama's ideas while acting differently, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not worried about that.
At present, many influential shinobi from the entire village were present, and Ryun's words would spread throughout Konoha.
Unless Ryun wanted to lose his footing in Konoha, from now on he could only follow the path of the First Hokage.
After all, gossip in the Leaf could kill.
The result of Ryun practicing the First Hokage's Will of Fire would definitely be bumpy everywhere. When he retreated in the face of difficulties, Sarutobi Hiruzen could then admonish him—at least, that's what Sarutobi Hiruzen believed.
"Hmm, very much in the idealistic style of the First Hokage. No wonder you started your novel with Uchiha Madara."
Sarutobi Hiruzen lightly applauded. Only then did the shinobi and civilians below the stage begin to cheer for Ryun.
Ryun smiled and waved. He knew he had passed this hurdle.
But it was merely passing a hurdle.
The development Sarutobi Hiruzen had just hoped for was probably that Ryun would unconditionally support his version of the Will of Fire. After all, in his view, Ryun should be considered one of his direct followers.
But how could he know that in Ryun's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen only had a few months left to live?
Ryun would not be foolish enough to tie himself to Sarutobi Hiruzen at this time.
Moreover, now that Ryun had achieved some strength, he would not allow himself to become Sarutobi Hiruzen's pawn, to be manipulated at will in the coming months.
Even if the other party unleashed a dog named Danzo to bite him, it was impossible!
What, you say endure?
Three months ago, Ryun would have chosen to endure.
But today, three months later, if Ryun still endured after all his efforts until now, wouldn't his efforts have been for nothing!
Afterwards, Sarutobi Hiruzen verbally praised Ryun a few times and returned the podium to him.
Ryun's signing session officially began. People who bought books lined up in front of Ryun, waiting for his signature.
Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally would not ask for Ryun's signature. He symbolically bought a book and returned to the Hokage's office.
There, Shimura Danzo was waiting for him.
Shimura Danzo always wore an expressionless face, but when he opened his mouth, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his mockery was about to leap out.
"Sarutobi, I told you, he is an unstable element and will not obediently follow you."
"Let me make him disappear now, to save him from stirring up trouble in Konoha later when his fame grows even greater."
Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored Danzo's words and instead asked a very direct question.
"Danzo, aren't you paying too much attention to him?"
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