Naruto fell silent, listening intently. These were thoughts he had never truly considered before. Growing up under the protection of Konoha, a powerful hidden village, he had always seen it as a place of peace and security.
In his memory, the village had always been quiet and safe. War felt like something distant, something belonging to older generations. Even though the last great war had ended barely a decade ago, to him it already felt like another lifetime.
The Third Hokage sighed deeply, his expression heavy. "Even if Konoha doesn't seek to invade others, we sit on fertile land, rich in resources. Our location is ideal. That makes us the target of envy and ambition. Other villages are always watching us."
Naruto frowned, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Then why don't we just unify the shinobi world? If there's only one nation, one village, then there won't be any more wars."
The idea had slipped out before he could stop himself. He had remembered fragments of dreams, images of a world where people lived under one banner, free of endless conflict. The concept of unity had left a deep impression on him, and now, faced with the Hokage's words, it surged to the surface.
"What?" Hiruzen turned sharply toward him, surprised. His usually gentle features hardened with seriousness. "Why would you think something like that?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Naruto raised his eyebrows. "There are too many countries, too many villages. That's why wars keep breaking out. But if we unite them all, if the world becomes one, then there will be no reason for war."
He spoke with certainty, as though recalling something proven. In his dreams, unified nations had managed to sustain peace for centuries at a time. Compared to the endless cycle of fighting every decade or two, wasn't that far better?
"Do you realize how many lives would be lost in trying to accomplish that?" Hiruzen's voice grew firm, almost sharp. He saw something dangerous in Naruto's eyes, something that reminded him of another man Uchiha Madara.
But Naruto didn't flinch. His gaze stayed steady. "If one generation sacrifices itself for peace, then it's worth it. With their lives, they'd create decades, even centuries, of peace for the future. If that's the cost, then I'm willing to pay it."
He meant it. In those strange dreams of his, there had been times when one generation had shouldered terrible burdens, only for the future to flourish. Why couldn't it happen here?
"Dangerous thoughts," the Hokage muttered, frowning. "The villages were founded so that children could live in peace. Don't ever forget that."
Naruto bit his lip and fell silent, but inside, he couldn't shake the conviction that he was right. The memories of his dreams felt too real, too convincing. A fractured world, dozens of competing factions that was what seemed unnatural. Unity, true unity, was the path to peace.
He looked around at Konoha, at the ruined houses and the injured shinobi still recovering. Even after a hard-won victory, was this peace? What about the First, Second, and Third Great Ninja Wars? Were those not proof enough that the current system was broken?
If people kept dying because the world was fragmented, then maybe the only solution was strength his own strength. If he could become powerful enough to unite everything, then no more lives would have to be lost.
For the first time in his young life, Naruto's thoughts stretched far beyond the borders of Konoha. He had begun to imagine a future where he could change the world itself.
Fortunately, the Uchiha clan's district lay on the outskirts of the village and had escaped major damage during the invasion. Sasuke, at least, would not have to spend fortunes on rebuilding.
But the rest of Konoha grieved. Houses were in ruins, families mourned. The days that followed were filled with both reconstruction and sorrow. A mass funeral was held for those who had fallen.
Naruto and Sasuke wore black as they walked quietly toward the memorial stone. Villagers lined the streets, bowing slightly as they passed.
"Thank you, Naruto, Sasuke," whispered one villager. "If not for you, the beast would have destroyed everything."
Another wiped tears from her apron. "My shop would've been crushed if you hadn't driven it away. Thank you."
An old man's voice trembled as he said, "Because of you two, there are fewer names to carve into that stone today."
A little girl with braided hair clutched a piece of candy in her small hand. She stepped forward nervously. "Naruto-nii… this is for you. Mama said you chased away the monster that eats houses. My doll was safe because of you."
Her cheeks were pink, her eyes bright as she declared, "When I grow up, I'll be strong like you and Sasuke-nii. I'll protect the village too!"
Sasuke's steps faltered. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught her dress fluttering in the wind. His lips, usually pressed into a hard line, softened slightly.
Naruto smiled warmly and took the candy, patting her head. "Then we'll count on you."
He popped the candy into his mouth. With his words muffled, he turned to Sasuke. "Y'know, I figured something out."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"If we want peace to last… we have to unify everything. That's the only way." Naruto's face was calm, but his words carried weight.
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. "Unify… the whole shinobi world?" No one had ever spoken to him about such an idea. His life's goal had been simple: avenge his family, restore the Uchiha name. Beyond that, he hadn't allowed himself to dream so far.
Yet here was Naruto, talking about changing the entire world.
Naruto nodded. "I told the Hokage, but he said too many would die if we tried. But what if we didn't need anyone else to fight? What if we were strong enough to do it ourselves?"
For a long moment, Sasuke was silent. Then, slowly, a crooked smile tugged at his lips. His fist clenched with a surge of determination. "Only you would think of something like that. But… yeah. I'll help you. We'll do it together."
Naruto's chest warmed at his friend's words. That was Sasuke his rival, his brother, always ready to stand by him.
The funeral was quiet. White chrysanthemums lay in trembling hands as shinobi honored their fallen comrades. The Third Hokage spoke the final words:
"Wherever leaves fly, the fire burns. That fire will shine on the village, and new leaves will always sprout."
Later, Hinata slipped away from the Hyuga clan to approach Naruto. Her eyes, filled with quiet resolve, met his. She listened carefully as he shared his dream of unity, and when he finished, she nodded with conviction.
"No matter where you go," she whispered, "I'll follow you."
Naruto's heart softened. He reached out, gently brushing her hair with his hand. "Thanks, Hinata. You're really something."
And in that moment, the boy who once only dreamed of becoming Hokage was beginning to dream of something far greater.
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