[The boy merely turned his head slightly at the arrival of the younger Jiraiya, then picked up the lunchbox from the campfire and began eating.]
[Outside, more than a dozen corpses lay soaking in the rain, their faces pale.]
["…Aren't you afraid?" Jiraiya asked, pointing toward the bodies outside, surprised by the boy's calm expression.]
[The boy blew lightly on his food, took a sip of the hot soup with a slurp, and let out a small sigh of relief. "Will they disappear just because I'm afraid?"]
[Jiraiya was stunned.]
[He had been furious at seeing so many civilians dead in the rain—but upon spotting the boy in the ruined house, he had felt a glimmer of hope.]
[That was why he approached him. Yet the boy's mindset far exceeded his expectations.]
[Whether he feared them or not—the bodies were still there. So why fear them at all?]
[Jiraiya walked over to the fire. Seeing no reaction from the boy, he sat cross-legged and suddenly pulled out a bundle of sushi from his robes. Picking up a piece, he popped it into his mouth, his face full of enjoyment. "Haha, want some? It's really good."]
["…You're childish." The boy glanced up at him and said flatly.]
"Pfft!"
Everyone who saw this couldn't help but laugh.
Those familiar with Jiraiya laughed even harder.
Tsunade: "That kind of trick might work on ordinary kids—but trying it on someone this mature? You're just asking for embarrassment."
Orochimaru: "Oh? This child is interesting. I'm starting to take an interest."
[After finishing his meal, the boy used rainwater dripping from the eaves to wash his lunchbox. Turning back to Jiraiya, he asked, "Do you have any ninjutsu scrolls? I want to learn ninjutsu."]
["Learn ninjutsu?" Jiraiya looked at the scattered, poorly formed scrolls beside the fire, puzzled. "Why?"]
["I want to change this filthy world."]
[His eyes shone with determination. Amid thunder and heavy rain, it felt as though his resolve had already been set in stone.]
["Oh? You want peace—become strong?" Jiraiya looked at the boy, thinking to himself—could this be the Child of Prophecy?]
["The peace of the strong is an illusion."]
[The boy's gaze was unwavering. "True peace can only be achieved by breaking the cage!"]
[Jiraiya straightened, sitting upright as he stared at the boy, unconsciously repeating his words.]
["The peace of the strong is an illusion…"]
["True peace can only be achieved by breaking the cage…"]
["…What do you mean? Then why do you still want to learn ninjutsu?"]
[The boy looked at him as if he were an idiot. "In this world, everyone worships strength. Whoever has power gathers followers."]
["So I need strength first—then I can talk about breaking the cage."]
[Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly, but inwardly he was deeply shocked. He had never expected such words from a child.]
[He continued, "Then once you have strength… what cage are you going to break?" He gestured around in confusion.]
[The boy sighed softly. "The cage is the system—a rotten system. Shinobi are merely tools of that system."]
["What I want to create is a new world where everyone is free, equal, and able to live in peace and prosperity."]
["Only revolution can achieve that!"]
[Jiraiya was utterly shocked. Shinobi… tools of the system? This was the first time he had ever heard such a statement.]
["Isn't peace about eliminating hatred and creating a world of mutual understanding and tolerance?"]
[The boy shook his head. "You should leave. If you haven't lived in hell, how could you understand its suffering? Can such suffering disappear with a single word like 'tolerance'?"]
["Do you think you're a Buddha? Even a Buddha can't empty hell!!!"]
Naruto: "What… just happened?"
Senju Hashirama: "This boy… what incredible presence!"
Senju Tobirama: "Impressive. Eliminating hatred isn't just empty talk—it's extremely difficult. Achieving mutual understanding is even harder… nearly impossible."
Danzō: "Exactly. If you've never been in hell, how could you understand its suffering? There's no such thing as tolerance in that situation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Danzō, who exactly are you mocking?!"
Mei Terumī: "Peace requires strength first—because everyone is drawn to the strong. That part is true."
Jiraiya: "Why does it feel like I just got lectured by an eight-year-old? And yet… what he said actually makes some sense."
Nara Shikaku: "Shinobi are tools of the system… this Akatsuki leader isn't simple. I'm curious what he'll become in the future."
That was right.
As Konoha's top strategist, Shikaku was exceptionally perceptive.
Compared to Pain, who destroyed a single village—
The boy from the other world aimed to overturn the entire world itself.
No one would escape.
The scale of destruction between the two was incomparable.
Nagato: "The peace of the strong is an illusion? True peace is breaking the cage? Equality for all? Impossible! This world is ruled by the strong."
Konan: "I don't know… but those words—'equality for all'—they stir something deep inside…"
Fourth Raikage A: "Shinobi are tools of the system? That's complete nonsense!"
Gaara: "I feel like I understand something… but I can't quite put it into words. I'm looking forward to what comes next."
Minato Namikaze: "A world where everyone is free, equal, and lives in peace… I've never heard such an idea before. Becoming Hokage should be the correct path, shouldn't it?"