"I don't know..." Aoki's voice was full of pain.
He shook his head and said, "I don't know where to go. I have nowhere to go."
Aoki looked up at the deep blue sky and said, "Any place without war would be good. I just want to live in a peaceful world, without having to worry every day that I or others will die."
"I want to see children running and playing in the streets, not learning how to dodge kunai and ecplosive tags."
"I want to see old people enjoying their twilight years, not starving and freezing in shelters."
"I want to see life cherished, not easily sacrificed."
"I just want a world like that, why is it so hard?"
Tears welled up in Aoki's eyes, but he held them back.
Haruki looked at Aoki.
What a coincidence!
Aoki's ideal was the same as his.
"If only there was a way to bring peace to the world..."
"Even if that method requires a huge price, it's better than the endless mutual slaughter we have now."
This was sounding more and more familiar.
Haruki gasped in his heart. He looked at Aoki in front of him, and felt Nagato's gaze behind him.
Oh, Nagato was still here, he had to maintain his persona.
"You're right."
Haruki's voice was soft, but his eyes, as he looked at Aoki, were full of power.
"War only brings pain and destruction. No matter what name it is waged under, it is always the innocent who suffer in the end."
Aoki looked up at him in surprise, seemingly not expecting a young man to say such words.
Haruki continued, "I have participated in war, and I have treated the wounded on the front lines. I have personally watched lives slip away in my hands. Everyone ultimately cannot escape the clutches of war."
Haruki sighed deeply, "I constantly ask myself, what is the meaning of war? If war never ends, no matter how powerful my Medical Ninjutsu is, everything I do is merely delaying death, not truly saving lives."
Aoki listened intently to Haruki's words, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes.
"Later, I understood a truth." Haruki's voice became even more resolute.
He stared at Aoki, saying word by word, "To truly save lives, we must fundamentally eliminate war. And to eliminate war, we must create a completely new world order."
Aoki looked at Haruki in shock.
Haruki took a deep breath and said, "Aoki, if you truly long for peace and are unwilling to return to meaningless slaughter, then I have a suggestion."
Aoki gulped, looking nervously at Haruki, his hands supporting his body trembling slightly.
Haruki looked directly into Aoki's eyes and said, "Join us."
"Join our Akatsuki."
"We are working to create a truly peaceful world."
"This is not an easy path, and it may require a huge price, but everyone in the Akatsuki is not afraid of the storms ahead."
Aoki's eyes widened, and his gaze involuntarily flickered to Nagato, who had been standing silently by his side. Nagato showed no expression, merely returning his gaze calmly with his Rinnegan.
"Akatsuki?"
Aoki asked hesitantly, "Is it just the two of you?"
Haruki shook his head. "Of course not. More and more ninja are joining us. Everyone in the Akatsuki is a ninja fighting for peace."
"Aoki." Haruki solemnly called Aoki's name.
"From your heart, I feel your aversion to war. Since that's the case, are you willing to join the Akatsuki?"
Haruki looked at Aoki with burning eyes and said, "Together, we will create a peaceful new world."
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato's Affection Value +3000]
[Your Love Curse Growth Value has increased to 53.7%]
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato's Faith Value +3000]
[Your Cursed Spirit Suguru's rank has increased to 74.6%]
Aoki looked at Haruki in a daze. Haruki's smile was reflected in his eyes.
Create a peaceful new world?
Such a grand dream...
Aoki was speechless for a moment.
Aoki murmured, "But how will you create a peaceful new world?"
Haruki said, "By replacing war with peaceful dialogue, allowing everyone in the Ninja World to gradually understand each other."
"Let negotiation be the way to resolve conflicts."
Aoki fell into thought.
Haruki extended his hand towards Aoki and said, "Join us, and let's work to create a truly peaceful world."
Aoki looked at Haruki's firm and sincere face. He slowly lowered his gaze, staring at Haruki's outstretched hand. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and a determined light flashed in his eyes. He grasped Haruki's hand.
"Okay, I'll join." Aoki said.
His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally firm.
"No matter how difficult this path is, it's better than returning to that hopeless battlefield."
Haruki showed a faint smile and said, "Welcome, Aoki."
Aoki nodded, and softly said, "I once thought of many ways to achieve peace, but none were possible, because one person's strength is small."
Haruki interrupted Aoki, "Yes, that's why we created the Akatsuki, to attract more people to join the Akatsuki, and use the strength of all of us to create a peaceful world."
Aoki looked at Haruki. He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, "Have you ever thought that there's a way to achieve permanent peace without anyone sacrificing?"
Haruki stared at Aoki.
If what Aoki wanted to say was the Eye of the Moon Plan, then he could shut up.
He just said, how could he coincidentally save a ninja whose ideals aligned with the Akatsuki?
It seemed he had already been targeted by a strange old man.