Chapter 120 They Don't Need to Like It

"If this is how it ends—with the Third losing everything, turning from a glorious and great Hokage into a despicable man while Jiraiya keeps running away—it seems like we've completely won, driving them out of Konoha. Jiraiya and his group have been utterly defeated."

"But if you think about it carefully, maybe Jiraiya will still find some unexpected benefit..."

"Unexpected benefit?" The faces of Tsunade and the other two simultaneously showed surprise.

Hiroki explained, "Consider the relationship between the Third and Danzo. While they seem at odds on the surface, there's always something strangely harmonious between them."

"Whenever the Third couldn't take action personally, information would quietly slip to Danzo, who then took care of matters."

"In other words, the Third Hokage projected the darkness in his heart onto Danzo, allowing himself to remain eternally pure, noble, and righteous."

"If the Third had lived, things might have continued that way—Jiraiya could project the darkness he didn't want to face onto him, developing seamless understanding between them..."

Tsunade started to speak but caught herself. She felt Hiroki was both right and somehow not, yet she couldn't immediately figure out how to argue against it.

Would Jiraiya really become someone like that? She wondered.

But thinking deeper, it actually seemed plausible.

Pain can make people cynical, and endless failures and frustrations dull their determination and drain their drive.

He glanced at the bottles of sake already on the table and the three cups set in front of Naruto, Jiraiya, and the Third, silently criticizing the restaurant staff for their poor service awareness.

After only briefly licking his dry lips, he continued, "That's why, after thinking it through, I decided it was better for the Third to die. This allows us to directly tear away Jiraiya's mask, forcing him to touch those dirty affairs with his own hands."

"He's always thought we're the villains, right? Then how can he claim to be saving the world while drowning in corruption?"

Tsunade's eyes shifted slightly. Maintaining an expressionless face, she waited for him to continue.

"The relationship between Jiraiya and Naruto is quite strange indeed. Naruto may seem like the central character, but in reality, his opinions aren't important at all. He's sheltered, smothered in love, and shoved forward by the weight of others' expectations and the moral burden they've placed on his shoulders..."

As he spoke, he shook his head. "...Perhaps he will never understand what he truly wants. He's nothing more than a decoration."

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"If I'd just killed the Third outright, Jiraiya and Naruto would've become even more tightly bound together."

"Aren't they already joined at the hip anyway?" Yugao interjected. "Are you expecting Naruto to develop distrust toward Jiraiya? He's not exactly deep—he'd never pick up on it."

"Maybe..." Hiroki shrugged lightly, a calm smile appearing on his face. "This time, aside from Frog's orders, Jiraiya will likely gain another new motivation—hatred. Because hatred alone can conceal the wounds in his heart."

For some inexplicable reason, Tsunade suddenly felt annoyed inside. Turning her head sideways, she took several deep breaths.

Finally, she couldn't help but turn back and meet Hiroki's gaze, speaking in a slightly cold tone. "Do you really think you're something special?"

"Shutting people away, watching them tear each other apart while you sit back and observe everything like it's some kind of human experiment, acting as if you're the creator..."

"Kaguya favors you for a reason—it's because you two are fundamentally the same kind of person."

Shizune looked confused.

Hiroki calmly stared at her. "Tsunade, when you go to meet the Daimyo..."

"I know already," Tsunade cut him off directly. "Don't show your face in front of me recently."

Hiroki didn't say anything and simply got up and left.

"Tsunade-sama..." After Hiroki left, Yugao opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

"They both have serious personality flaws. Or would you want him using these tricks on us later?" Tsunade remarked.

Kaguya sneered coldly. Who exactly are you implying?

Walking down the road, a gentle breeze passed by, yet Hiroki still felt somewhat troubled in his heart.

He didn't think there was anything extreme about his approach.

Perhaps this was just what happened when people with completely different beliefs insisted on working together.

"It doesn't matter if they don't like me. As long as I like them, that's enough," Kaguya suddenly spoke.

"Mm."

While strolling, Hiroki pondered his next move.

Considering Tsunade's current attitude, there was no point hoping she'd follow his orders anytime soon.

Looks like he'll have to head to the Country of Grass himself.

Thinking this, he had White Zetsu take him back to the Country of Hot Springs.

After emerging from a dream they couldn't tell was real or not, Hiashi Hyuga and others regained consciousness and found their surroundings had changed.

Rising from the lake, they arrived at a vast land.

The light was bright, the land covered in lush greenery, yet there were no signs of human life.

"Head of the clan, all these houses are empty," a Branch House Jonin spoke as they passed one ruined ninja village after another.

"Who are you?"

Just as Hiashi Hyuga and his group hesitated over where to explore next, a boy appeared before them.

His eyes remained tightly shut, his figure short and frail, his face pale, appearing very weak, speaking with a faint, listless voice.

"And you are?" Hiashi Hyuga asked in return.

"My name is Toneri Otsutsuki. This is the Moon."

"The Moon?" Hiashi Hyuga was taken aback, murmuring, "So Moon Ninjas really do exist..."

At this moment, he had completely forgotten about the fellow Hyuga clan member who had fallen into the lake earlier.

"Toneri Otsutsuki, we come from the Hyuga clan. Our clans share ancient ties. We mean no hostility—we came especially to visit. Where are your elders? Take me to see them."

"They're all dead," Toneri Otsutsuki said with a gloomy shake of his head. "Everyone died. I'm the only one left."

Hiashi Hyuga stood frozen.

All of them are dead? So he had come here for nothing?

He had hoped to ask about the complete history of the Hyuga clan, and even more so about the secret behind the Byakugan.

After a moment's thought, a puzzled expression appeared on Hiashi Hyuga's face. He asked, "So aside from you, are there absolutely no other living people—no members left from any other families?"

"There's no other clan," Toneri shook his head. "The only people living on the Moon are the Otsutsuki Clan."

Hiashi fell silent.

If there was only one clan, there shouldn't be any hostile forces. Then why did everyone die?

"Uncle, what brings you here?" Toneri suddenly asked.

"Honoring my ancestry and tracing my lineage," Hiashi replied vaguely. "Paying homage to the ancestors."

"I see. Our ancestor died hundreds of years ago, and we've built a statue for him. If you'd like to see it, I can take you there," Toneri offered.

Hiashi paused briefly before turning to the other Hyuga clansmen. "You wait here."

After he finished speaking, he followed Toneri's steps.

When the two disappeared from sight, a group of puppets suddenly rushed over, surrounding the remaining Hyuga clansmen, and without uttering a word, launched an attack on them.

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