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So-called shinobi are merely killing machines wrapped in a skin called "shinobi."
This statement might be somewhat extreme, but the existence of shinobi as a class only leads to a world where wars become extremely frequent. Of course, even without shinobi, where there are people, war is inevitable. However, without shinobi, the frequency of war would drop significantly, far from being as rampant as in this current world.
From this broader perspective, shinobi are pure killing machines.
The anime Naruto, in its later stages, began shifting its theme from "bonds" to "war."
The appearance of the Six Paths of Pain was the turning point.
To be honest, regarding war, Kagaya didn't have particularly positive views. After all, the topic was too heavy, too unsolvable. In the original story, whether it was Nagato or Naruto, their desire to create a world without war seemed, in Kagaya's view, an overly idealized notion.
Where could absolute peace exist? At least, in Kagaya's opinion, it was impossible. The afterlife maybe?
Moreover, this world had shinobi.
In this world, shinobi were equivalent to soldiers from Kagaya's previous life, but there was one key difference. The primary purpose of soldiers' existence was war, but soldiers weren't absolutely necessary only during war. More often, they were seen as a defensive force rather than an offensive one. Shinobi were different. The purpose of shinobi's existence was to "carry out missions." Whether in times of peace or war, shinobi had to accept "missions."
Because shinobi relied on this to survive, and shinobi villages relied on this to survive. As the common saying goes, people always have to eat. Even someone as powerful as Kagaya had to eat to live.
Therefore, shinobi had to accept and carry out missions from others—to survive.
This very point destined shinobi to be unable to coexist peacefully. Since they had to accept missions from others, what kind of missions would shinobi accept? For example, if you were a client needing to commission a mission to shinobi, what would be more appropriate?
Without a doubt, missions that required the use of force were most suitable for shinobi. For other aspects, one could simply find experts in those fields; there was no need for shinobi.
Thus, the current nature of shinobi made a peaceful world unattainable. More often, they were seen as an offensive force rather than a defensive one.
Even at this point in time, where there seemed to be no war on the surface, that was only true for the Five Great Nations. For small countries, missions carried out by some shinobi from the Great Nations could trigger massive wars within their borders.
Regarding the topic of peace, the implementation plan Kagaya most admired in the original story was Sasuke's revolution plan towards the end.
Yes, to fundamentally reduce wars in this shinobi world, one had to change the shinobi system itself.
However, discussing this now was meaningless. Kagaya looked at Araki Mumei and smiled. "I won't kill you. Just treat me as an ordinary person."
Mumei looked at Kagaya with suspicion. He couldn't shake the feeling that this rogue ninja had other motives. "R-Really?"
Kagaya nodded. "Of course. But there's one thing I'm curious about. Since you're all so afraid of shinobi, why not find a more hidden place to rest?"
Doing business to survive was a matter of necessity. No matter how afraid of shinobi one was, to live, one had to take to the roads transporting goods. Kagaya could understand that. But resting was different. They might have little choice over their travel route, but they could absolutely decide their resting spots. Why sit out in the open, visible at a glance?
Mumei quickly provided the answer. "Originally, there shouldn't have been any shinobi around here. Many of the most vicious shinobi avoid this area because... we were secretly following a shinobi unit."
Kagaya frowned. "Secretly following a shinobi unit?"
Mumei nodded. "Yes. They're very powerful. Shinobi with no business here generally avoid them."
This was normal. In the wild, most shinobi were on missions. So, unless necessary, shinobi would minimize encounters with other shinobi.
Shinobi themselves knew that shinobi weren't exactly good-natured folks. Once encountered, there was a certain possibility the other party might attack you.
If there truly was a very powerful shinobi unit ahead of Mumei, following behind them would indeed be the safest option.
Unfortunately, Kagaya, this reckless newcomer, had barged in and caught them.
Karin, under normal circumstances, wouldn't maintain large-scale sensory perception. It was mentally taxing. The brain constantly processing information from tens of kilometers around was painful. So, Karin hadn't detected the shinobi unit ahead either.
"Do you know who they are?" Kagaya asked.
Since there were shinobi ahead, and powerful ones at that, it was better to ask.
Mumei's gaze shifted evasively. "Well, I heard they're the Hokage of Konoha."
Kagaya was taken aback.
Konoha's Hokage? Konoha had a Hokage? Wasn't the Third dead? It was unlikely Jiraiya would take the position. So, did that mean Jiraiya had found Tsunade and brought her back?
Kagaya had been staying on the sea recently, so his information was outdated.
"I see," Kagaya replied. Then, he looked back at Karin.
Karin nodded. She understood what Kagaya meant.
Closing her eyes, her sensory range expanded dramatically.
A moment later, Karin opened her eyes, a trace of surprise in them. "Kagaya, the people ahead are... Tsunade from before, and Kakashi, and that guy in green, plus some other very strong chakra presences. I don't know who they are."
Kagaya raised an eyebrow. "So many? And Tsunade... So, Tsunade became Hokage. But shouldn't a Hokage stay in Konoha handling administrative affairs? What's she doing out here?"
Kagaya naturally wouldn't remember details like a Hokage needing to report to the Daimyo upon taking office. If he could remember such details, he'd have a photographic memory.
Why Tsunade was out here, Kagaya didn't know. But whatever it was, it had nothing to do with him. After all, Tsunade had helped transplant his eyes. Although superficially, Kagaya had only agreed to do one thing for her, in reality, for all time hereafter, unless absolutely necessary, Kagaya would not target Tsunade.
The Uchiha clan valued emotions deeply—not only prone to holding grudges but also to remembering "kindness."
Kagaya, having transmigrated into an Uchiha, was naturally influenced by this.
So, even though Kagaya was now frighteningly strong, he decided to actively detour around Tsunade and the others ahead, not wanting to hinder them.
Clicking his tongue, Kagaya turned his attention back to Mumei. "Alright, I understand the situation. Now let's talk about what you plan to do next. If possible, I'd like to help you."
Mumei fell silent for a moment, then spoke with determination in his eyes. "I have no shinobi talent whatsoever. I want to keep trying, to see if I can become a merchant!"
Kagaya smiled slightly. Perseverance was, in many cases, an excellent quality.
"Is that so?"
"Yes!"