Sarutobi Asuma had no designs on the Rinnegan.
While the Rinnegan was powerful, for Sarutobi Asuma, it ultimately wasn't his possession and carried significant hidden dangers.
As for his own Electromagnetic Eye, though currently inferior to the Rinnegan, it might not be in the future.
Sarutobi Asuma had also considered letting Yahiko and the others go to Konoha.
But if they were to go to Konoha, they would have followed Jiraiya back then.
Since his transmigration and rebirth, Sarutobi Asuma increasingly felt that a person's fate was difficult to alter.
It wasn't that destiny was predetermined, but rather that when you tried to change things, the trend had already been set.
Therefore, he merely offered a couple of reminders, urging them to do their best and leave the rest to fate.
Later, if Nagato were to invade Konoha again, destroying the Rinnegan then would be a good option.
Even though destroying the Rinnegan probably wouldn't prevent Uchiha Madara's revival.
"For a jutsu like Impure World Reincarnation, if Uchiha Madara knows how to undo it, then he also knows how to perform it."
Sarutobi Asuma sighed, glanced back at the Akatsuki's stronghold, and then dispelled his shadow clone.
On the way back.
Beside Jiraiya, Sarutobi Asuma received the memories from his shadow clone and turned to Jiraiya, saying, "Lord Jiraiya, your three disciples are doing well."
Jiraiya laughed heartily, "Those are talents I personally trained!"
After laughing, Jiraiya suddenly sighed, "However, the situation in the Land of Rain is likely difficult to change. I hope they can continue to protect themselves."
A land of constant warfare like the Land of Rain, unless the major ninja villages coexist peacefully, would inevitably be chaotic.
"With something like the Rinnegan, it's probably impossible for things to be peaceful."
Sarutobi Asuma said, "Danzō was frequently active in the Land of Rain before, attempting to win over Hanzō. He's likely already clashed with the Akatsuki. Given Danzō's personality, he might have already set his sights on the Rinnegan."
The legend of the Rinnegan wasn't known only to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's expression darkened upon hearing this.
He knew that even though Danzō was no longer the leader of Root in name, he still held control over Root ninjas.
What's more, Orochimaru was currently in charge of Root.
And Orochimaru had, for a period, been Danzō's subordinate.
The two of them were even engaged in some form of cooperation.
However, thinking about the power of the Rinnegan, Jiraiya felt relieved, but Danzō's involvement meant deepening the rift between Yahiko's group and Konoha.
But how to resolve this?
Sarutobi Asuma said, "Get rid of Danzō!"
Jiraiya almost rolled his eyes, saying, "Danzō is, after all, a representative of the Shimura Clan, as well as a comrade and fellow warrior of the elders. He has also made significant contributions to Konoha."
Sarutobi Asuma snorted, "Contributions are contributions, and transgressions are transgressions!"
"Do contributions grant him the right to do as he pleases?"
"However, you're right, we can't kill Danzō just because of the Land of Rain."
Yahiko and the others were outsiders, while Danzō was currently considered one of their own.
Even if he sympathized with Yahiko's group, or considered the bigger picture, he couldn't use Yahiko's group as an excuse to kill Danzō.
This was a case of "where you stand depends on where you sit."
Moreover, without Danzō, Yahiko wouldn't have died and wouldn't have been corrupted.
No!
For the plan to proceed smoothly, Black Zetsu would definitely find a way to kill Yahiko, this stumbling block who could also cause Nagato to darken.
This old monster was quite adept at manipulating people.
"Asuma, you fellow, you're nothing like the old man!"
Jiraiya complained.
Normally, Sarutobi Asuma appeared very gentle and easy to talk to, friendly towards his comrades and others in the village.
But when it came to killing, he showed no hesitation.
Someone like Danzō, he dared to say he would kill him and actually do it!
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "He's just my old man, not me, so of course, we wouldn't be exactly alike."
"Besides, it's precisely because I saw the old man's various constraints and compromises that I don't want to become the next him."
"Although politics is the art of compromise, Konoha is a military organization. Do we talk politics?"
"Might makes right!"
"If it weren't for the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara possessing great martial power back then, and being the first to establish the system of one country, one ninja village, we would probably still be in the Warring States period."
"Back then, when the First Hokage and the others distributed the Tailed Beasts, what was the basis? It was powerful military deterrence!"
Jiraiya shook his head. "The First Hokage was indeed powerful, revered as the God of Shinobi, but he didn't misuse his strength. He understood the pain of the various ninja clans during the Warring States period and was determined to end the war."
Sarutobi Asuma nodded. "The First Hokage was truly great!"
"Their ideals were also beautiful, and they even achieved them briefly, but in the end, they were all shattered."
"From the First Great Ninja War to now, the scale has grown larger each time, far surpassing any war during the Warring States period."
"The children still end up on the battlefield."
"Lord Jiraiya, please don't forget, I'm only 13 years old!"
Jiraiya felt a jolt.
"If the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara had unified the entire ninja world back then, would there have been subsequent Great Ninja Wars?"
"Would we still have had to rush to the battlefield before reaching adulthood, fighting against those older than us, or those our own age?"
Sarutobi Asuma exhaled, saying, "Of course, there are no 'ifs'!"
"But the facts have proven that the path the First Hokage took was a dead end!"
"The peace he maintained collapsed the moment he died!"
"Therefore, we who come after should learn from our predecessors' lessons and explore another path!"
"Defeat those who are unwilling to submit, make those who don't understand see reason, and then bind them with a unified system and rules!"
"If the entire ninja world is unified, even if our generation is gone, and ambitious individuals emerge, their goal will still be to unify the ninja world."
"There might still be wars, but ultimately, there will be unification, and there will be a long period of peace."
"Perhaps a century, or perhaps several centuries…"
Of course.
What he didn't say was.
That peace and unifying the ninja world were merely stepping stones for his pursuit of longevity and the vastness of the stars.
"So, the path you want to take can't achieve true peace either," Jiraiya said.
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head. "From the moment we are born, war has always accompanied us, helping us grow step by step, and eventually becoming the apex predators on the food chain."
"War can never end."
"The difference lies in what we fight for!"
Jiraiya fell silent.
He knew he couldn't convince Sarutobi Asuma.
Despite his young age, the boy's thoughts were already very mature, and his worldview was firmly established.
It was possible that he himself would be the one convinced.
Perhaps I should go ask the Toad Sage if he's dreamed of Asuma… Jiraiya thought.
Konoha, 24th day, afternoon.
Seeing the gates of Konoha, Sarutobi Asuma genuinely broke into a smile.
He was finally back!
I wonder if Kurenai has grown up.
And Shizune…
A wave of longing surfaced.
Sarutobi Asuma parted ways with Jiraiya and, not bothering to go to the Hokage Building, headed straight home.
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