As Jiraiya's voice gradually faded, the weight of what Uchiha Hikaru had said began to settle over him.
Only now did he truly realize how small Konoha was compared to the vastness of the Fire Country.
At that moment, Tsunade gave Uchiha Hikaru a quick blink, a signal between them.
Hikaru nodded in understanding.
"Yes, Hokage-sama is right."
"I'm sure you all know that only a select group of wealthy and powerful shinobi can afford to live within a ninja village."
"But the majority of civilians may never set foot in a ninja village in their entire lives."
"They're poor. They simply don't have the money."
"Jiraiya, do you get what I mean?"
"For example… do you remember your time in the Land of Rain?"
At those words, Jiraiya immediately thought of the three orphans he once trained.
Nagato. Konan. Yahiko.
Now… they'd all taken separate paths from him…
He shook his head, pulling his mind away from memories, and looked back at Hikaru. Despite everything, he still disagreed.
"The Land of Rain ended up like that because of the war," he argued. "If peace were restored, it wouldn't be that poor anymore."
Hikaru's gaze deepened—full of quiet disappointment.
How can Jiraiya… of all people… not see this?
He's traveled through the entire shinobi world for decades. He's given everything in pursuit of peace—following the Toad Sage's prophecy, seeking the Child of Prophecy. How could he not understand something so simple…?
He looked around the room again. But it wasn't just Jiraiya. Most of the people present wore puzzled expressions. Only a few had serious, contemplative looks.
Then someone spoke.
"Senior Jiraiya… you're wrong. Poverty doesn't come from war. It comes from oppression."
It was Hiashi Hyuga, seated near Jiraiya.
Jiraiya blinked. "Oppression?"
Hiashi nodded. There was sorrow in his eyes—and anger too, buried deep.
"Yes. Oppression."
"The village to the country. The country to its people."
"It's like how Danzo treated the ninja clans… like how our Hyuga main house treats the branch family."
"If the village lacks money, it demands funds from the daimyo. If the daimyo lacks money, he raises taxes. And in the end, the burden always falls on the common people."
"Didn't Danzo demand people from all the major clans?"
"Our Hyuga clan… the main family keeps extracting value from the branch family…"
By the end of his words, Hiashi's hands were clenched into fists.
Everyone knew the story. His own twin brother, Hizashi, had died to protect him—sacrificed under the weight of that system.
And just a few months ago, Neji had nearly been taken away under direct pressure from Danzo, who was still Hokage's advisor at the time.
Hiashi's quiet fury sent a ripple through the room.
Jiraiya lowered his gaze, jaw clenched.
He didn't want to admit it… but reason told him it was the truth.
He'd spent his entire life chasing the prophecy. The vision of the Great Toad Sage. The hope that one "Child of Prophecy" would bring salvation to the shinobi world.
But when it truly mattered…
It wasn't the Child of Prophecy who saved the village.
It was the collective uprising of the ninja clans, led by Uchiha Hikaru, that brought down Danzo and forced the Third Hokage into retirement.
Not a chosen one.
Just a group of people who stood together.
Suddenly, a chill ran through Jiraiya's spine. He took a step back and bumped into the chair behind him, nearly tripping.
Clatter!
"Heh… haha…"
"You all continue. I need to go make dinner for Naruto."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and dashed for the exit.
BANG!
The door slammed shut behind him with a loud crash, leaving silence in its wake.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Everyone in the room had heard Jiraiya boast countless times about the Child of Prophecy. About the peace he believed was destined to come.
But this moment shattered the dream he had clung to for most of his life.
Even Orochimaru looked sympathetic.
He knew that kind of despair well…
It was the same despair he'd felt when Itachi revealed the flaws in his Reanimation Technique, exposing the cracks in his pursuit of immortality.
But it was Uchiha Hikaru who had given him new hope—who showed him a path beyond obsession.
Hopefully… Naruto can bring Jiraiya back to his senses...
Clap. Clap.
Hikaru struck the blackboard with his palm twice.
The sound snapped everyone back to the present.
"You understand now, don't you?"
"In terms you can grasp—wars erupt because of oppression."
"And true peace cannot exist as long as that oppression remains."
"Unless everyone in the shinobi world has enough to eat and a roof over their heads… peace will remain a fantasy."
"That is our ultimate goal."
"To create a world where the dream of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha can finally come true!"
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Then…
"…Uhh…"
Choza Akimichi hesitantly raised his hand, his fingers trembling.
"Um…"
"So… how exactly did we get from business wars and cultural invasion to… world peace?"
"I-I don't quite get it. Could you maybe explain again…?"
Immediately, half the room let out small sighs of relief.
Thank God!
He asked it first! I thought I was the only one who didn't understand! (;￣Д￣)
Heads subtly nodded. Nervous glances exchanged.
I'm not the only fool. Thank goodness…
Uchiha Hikaru stared at the group before him, holding his forehead in exasperation.
Seriously…?
So the only people who understood the whole damn thing are Shikaku, Hiashi, Orochimaru, and Kurenai…?
He glanced at Tsunade—she looked back with those big, confused eyes.
Oh no... even the Hokage doesn't get it... (¬_¬")
He couldn't help but feel like a high school math teacher again...
"Everyone understands, right? No questions?"
And all the "students" nodded solemnly.
Teacher's thoughts: "Good! Everyone understood!"
Students' thoughts: "I nodded because I have no idea what you said… I thought I was the only one who didn't get it… please, someone ask the question…"
And then—like a divine hero—Classmate Choza raised his hand.
The true savior of the class! (｡•́︿•̀｡)
Finally, "Teacher" Hikaru realized the painful truth.
Most of the room… was totally lost.
So he sighed.
No choice but to start explaining everything… all over again.
...
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