Naruto: As a genin, I just want to live a normal life.

Page 166

"Even if this path leaves many regrets, in my opinion, no matter how I choose my life path, every path will lead to a certain stage."

"I'll regret it."

"In that case."

"I might as well keep going and see what the end of this road is."

"So, is your path one of betraying Konoha, killing your sister, and killing your comrades?" Jiraiya's tone grew increasingly somber.

"No!"

"Where did Jiraiya-senpai get the idea that I, Nawaki, betrayed Konoha?"

Jiraiya was slightly taken aback, thinking to himself, "You've joined Roran and the White Cross, haven't you betrayed Konoha yet?!"

Are you trying to argue with me?

"Senior Jiraiya, I don't understand what you mean by betrayal, so I'm just asking." Nawaki calmly met Jiraiya's fierce gaze. "Besides, the Dean has never asked me for any information about Konoha, nor have I told him."

"Furthermore, I have never killed a single Konoha ninja."

"What, then, is betrayal?"

"..."

"Orochimaru-sensei should have already started human experiments and conducted Wood Release research, right? May I say that?"

Seeing Jiraiya's shocked expression, Nawaki continued:

"Orochimaru-sensei is the real ninja who betrayed Konoha."

"After all, experimental subjects will inevitably be used eventually..."

boom!

Jiraiya's wine glass fell and slammed against the table, and Nawaki's voice immediately stopped.

The air was quiet for a while, and after all the guests around had turned their heads away, Jiraiya whispered an 'sorry'.

"No, Jiraiya-senpai. This was destined to happen, so there's no need to apologize to me."

But Jiraiya was, after all, a Konoha ninja, so naturally he had to refute Nawaki on behalf of the village: "But the root cause is..."

"It's because the power of your Loulan is too great that the experiment has been restarted."

"Otherwise, the third generation will not agree."

“No. The Third Hokage will agree.” Nawaki directly refuted Jiraiya’s statement, shook his head slightly, poured a drink for the bewildered Jiraiya, and said, “People get old.”

"As people grow old, their desires gradually change from simple and innocent at the beginning to endless demands."

After pouring the wine and setting down the wine pot, Rope Tree placed his hands on the table and gently clasped them together.

“When I was young.”

"My goal is to become Hokage and protect everyone in the village."

"That......"

Rope Tree said helplessly, "Don't rush, let me finish."

"Jiraiya-senpai doesn't seem to be calm either. He probably had a conflict with the Third Hokage over this matter."

"..."

"The reason I joined Loulan was to give up my identity as a Konoha ninja."

The root of all this is that I've come to understand a principle.

"What's the point?"

"The human heart is unpredictable."

Jiraiya was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but Nawaki didn't seem to notice and continued explaining:

"The development of this society is driven by the trust that exists between people."

But the world of ninjas is full of hypocrisy. Nawaki's words were filled with disappointment.

"And it is easy for people to fight each other over their own selfish desires."

"Then Loulan wouldn't do that?" Jiraiya asked.

"Yes. But our top management will prevent such a thing from happening."

In this way, even if such a thing exists, it won't become serious.

This is the difference between the ancient Loulan Kingdom and Konoha Village.

After finishing his sentence, Rope Tree picked up the wine glass in front of him, took a sip, and said with a wry smile, "The reason why Loulan has developed so rapidly is not only due to the issue of 'resources,' but also to reasonable regulation, which has effectively curbed the growth of unhealthy desires."

"so."

"I chose to join Loulan because I wanted to see what the end of Loulan was."

"Don't you care about the end of Konoha?"

“I care. But I also see the end.” Nawaki sighed, and Jiraiya was slightly startled: “What end? Disappearance? Destruction? Or…”

Rope Tree's eyes seemed to see the future: "One day, when the distribution of benefits within the village becomes unbalanced, infighting between the family and the village will occur."

At that time, will Jiraiya-senpai be standing behind the village, or behind all the ninja clans, big and small...?

"Of course...of course..."

Nawaki smiled and said, "In the end, Konoha Village has its own unique grassroots ninja system among the major ninja villages. Both clan ninjas and commoner ninjas have the opportunity to be promoted to the middle and upper levels."

The village of Iwagakure has incompetent grassroots cadres; they frequently send out groups of genin (lower-ranking ninja) during wars, with the Tsuchikage holding the power.

In Kirigakure, the ninja clans hold power, with important positions in their hands, while the Kage have little say.

The underdeveloped economy of Sunagakure has led to corruption among its leaders, who have devised various methods to increase their personal wealth for their own benefit.

As for Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village).

Seeing Jiraiya's shocked expression, Nawaki chuckled and said, "It is said that only members of the Yotsuki clan can inherit the Raikage title, but they do not mistreat other Kumogakure ninjas because of this. They are very willing to spend money and resources when training ninjas, so they are still a relatively united large ninja village."

The above analysis was conducted by Shirahoshi based on past intelligence during a high-level meeting held before the various states of Loulan were in turmoil and the Land of Earth declared war.

"And Konoha."

"Actually, to put it nicely, it's about unity."

"But in reality, they often do things that are detrimental to unity."

"It's a village with a lot of complicated issues."

Nawaki calmly expressed the views of the five great ninja villages, leaving Jiraiya speechless with shock.

"Are all of these... your... no, all of them intelligence analyses from Loulan?"

"More or less." Rope Tree took a small sip of his drink, then glanced at the harmonious atmosphere of the tavern around him. "Peace is hard-won."

"I no longer want to get involved in ninja matters."

"Sister, Shirahoshi, Mikoto, and Minato, when the time comes, we will release them naturally."

You can rest assured, as long as they follow our rules, we, the people of Loulan, will absolutely not use torture or tamper with their belongings when they leave.”

"...I hope so."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief. The words about Nawaki in his mind reminded him of Orochimaru's words not long ago... It seemed that everything made sense.

Ring ring ring——

Rope Tree glanced down at his phone, picked it up, and answered, "Hello?"

The voice on the other end of the phone said, "Lord Tree, the Sand Spirit has taken the Konoha ninja Shirahoshi away for interrogation!"

"..." Nawaki was silent for a moment, then looked down at Jiraiya who was deep in thought. It was as if the promises he had just made suddenly slapped him in the face.

"Okay, I know."

"I'll be there right away."

Chapter 131 The Formal Meeting Between Future People and Past People

"Welcome to Loulan, Konoha ninja."

“I’ve heard about what happened before, and I can really understand your desire to rescue your companion.”

"But I'm sorry."

"Rules are rules."

Sally, sitting on the throne in front of him, leaned against the cushions, facing the four ninjas representing Konoha, completely fearless.

"Can't we pay money? We can pay the appropriate compensation, we just hope to get Minato and the others to leave early..."

Before Jiraiya could finish speaking, Sally shook her head and said, "No."

"This is the rule, please wait a while."

"..."

Queen Sally was so forceful that Jiraiya had to sigh. But then he noticed that Tsunade hadn't spoken. He turned to look and saw that Tsunade seemed to have become a shy girl, her gaze occasionally sweeping towards Shirahoshi. Mikoto was doing the same.

Shirahoshi, on the other hand, calmly looked at Sally, then noticed Jiraiya's gaze. They met eyes, she smiled slightly, then resumed her calm expression, continuing to act like a passerby...

No way! What on earth happened to you guys this week?!

Jiraiya's mind was filled with countless questions, but since the Queen of Loulan had said so, he could only nod in acceptance.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

"So, does the envoy from Konoha have anything else to discuss?"

"If not, I'll have to go to work now."

Sally laughed.

"..." Jiraiya thought to himself that he could only leave the room.

Afterwards, Mikoto Uchiha took out some cash she was carrying and handed it to the staff to make up for the damage to the house a week earlier. Only then did the group of four leave the central area of ​​the inner city and come outside.

"We're finally free!"