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Chapter 182: Planting a Tiny Seed
"Armed Mediation!"
Yahiko's heart jolted. His fingers tightened instinctively, his knuckles turning white. He looked at the man before him in disbelief, his shock mixed with an irrepressible worry.
"Brother Matsu... no, Senior, with Amegakure's current strength, we aren't powerful enough to face the Five Great Nations, are we?" He squeezed the words out with difficulty, his gaze sweeping over the wrecked interrogation room and the cold corpse on the floor.
Hanzo was dead. The supreme ruler of Amegakure had been erased with casual ease. While this was exhilarating, it also meant Amegakure would be completely exposed to the eyes of every nation.
Dragon turned. His deep gaze settled on Yahiko. Outside, the gale howled, blowing back the hair on his forehead to reveal eyes that held infinite power within their calm.
"Face them?" Dragon repeated softly, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint, almost imperceptible arc. "When did I ever say we were going to 'face' them?"
Instead of answering directly, he asked a question: "Yahiko, why do you think the Five Great Nations start wars?"
Yahiko paused, then answered instinctively, "To... fight for resources, for land, and for their own interests."
"Interests." Dragon nodded, his eyes seeming to see through all the turmoil of the world. "And I am simply going to change the definition of those 'interests.' Or rather... change the way they obtain them."
He walked to the shattered window, letting the cold rain wet his face. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.
"This world has been at war for too long. Everyone struggles in pain, while those at the top enjoy it. Amegakure is just a microcosm. All the small nations in the shinobi world, all the innocent civilians—they are all just pawns in this game."
"So, to break the game, one must flip the board," Dragon said, his tone growing firmer. "And flipping the board doesn't mean you have to fight every player to the death."
Looking at Dragon's back, Konan felt her sense of closeness transform into an awe-inspiring reverence. She had never seen anyone talk about subverting the entire shinobi world with such a calm demeanor.
Nagato's Rinnegan flickered beneath his hair. He sensed the vast, restrained power within Dragon—a power that resonated with his own Rinnegan chakra. It made him vaguely understand that this man might truly be able to bring about the peace Yahiko dreamed of.
"But what exactly do we do?" Yahiko pressed. He was desperate for an answer; it concerned the dream he had fought for his entire life.
"Don't worry, I'm here." Dragon turned his head, giving Yahiko a reassuring look.
"I'm not suggesting we throw our lives away or blindly charge into a head-on collision. What I mean by 'Armed Mediation' is more of... a demonstration." Dragon turned his gaze toward the dark night sky, as if looking through the rain to the distant Five Great Nations.
"One can only set new rules when they are outside the existing ones."
He knew in his heart that this world was just a virtual dungeon, a battlefield Blake used to "train" them. All the pain and struggle were, in a sense, just a "program." However, while the world was simulated, the love was real. Arashi's love for Konan, Yahiko's thirst for peace, and Nagato's loyalty to his friends—these emotions were so authentic that even he, a bystander from another world, could not remain indifferent.
Since the love was real, the world was real. He truly hoped this newborn Akatsuki would grow into a towering tree. He wanted to bring a real spark of hope to this world.
He was once Monkey D. Dragon. In the world of One Piece, he had endured, planned, and waited to overthrow the corrupt rule of the Celestial Dragons and build a nation of freedom and equality. Here, he had a chance to start over—a chance to validate his ideals more directly and violently.
Blake had said that their actions here would determine the power and future they would obtain in the real world. He needed that power, but more importantly, he wanted to use it to protect those he cared about and fulfill the ideals he had yet to achieve.
He knew the Five Great Nations had long been hardened into a fixed mindset by perpetual warfare. They were used to solving problems with blades and ninjutsu, used to measuring interests through bloodshed. But what Dragon wanted to do was show them another choice—a choice that could bring true peace.
Dragon looked at Yahiko. He had high hopes for this boy.
"Armed Mediation..."
Yahiko was still chewing on those words.
Confronting the Five Great Nations? Even Hanzo only maneuvered in the gaps between the Three Great Nations, using the terrain and his own reputation to buy a moment of respite. Yet the man before him wanted to take the initiative.
It seemed suicidal.
"I..." Yahiko opened his mouth to protest, but found his throat incredibly dry.
In his moment of hesitation, a small, cold hand gently grabbed the corner of his shirt. It was Konan. The girl's eyes were still red, but her beautiful gaze held no doubt or wavering.
"I'll listen to Brother Matsu."
Her voice was soft but exceptionally firm. For some reason, she felt an incredibly familiar sense of security from this man she had just met. It was just like the brother who had once been willing to shield her from all the wind and rain.
They were the same kind of people. The kind of people you could stand behind without ever fearing the sky would fall.
Yahiko's body jolted. He looked at Konan's resolute profile, then at Nagato, who remained silent but whose Rinnegan flickered with light.
He suddenly understood. Akatsuki was founded to bring peace to this world. What were the Five Great Nations in the face of that? Besides, Matsu had killed Hanzo and avenged Arashi. They could never repay such a debt.
"Senior!"
Yahiko suddenly dropped to one knee, pressing his right hand firmly against his chest. This was the highest mark of respect for an Amegakure ninja.
"I agree with your decision."
Dragon helped Yahiko up, then turned his gaze back toward the broken window. The sound of rain was like a drum, beating against the labyrinth of steel and pipes.
"Before that, we need to handle some internal village affairs."
Konan looked worried and took a step forward. "Senior Matsu, you mean..."
"A purge," Dragon said. His tone was as casual as if he were talking about cleaning a room. "The invaders who shouldn't be here."
"Yahiko, if you want peace, you must first learn how to hold a blade. The rain is heavy tonight; it's perfect for washing away blood."
"Follow me."
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