“A truly…
strong person?” “Mm.” Ryo’s expression remained gentle.
“Because a truly strong person has no interest in drawing their blade against the weak.” He smiled faintly.
“Isn’t there a saying?
‘The strong raise their blades against those stronger than themselves; the weak raise their blades against those weaker than themselves.'” “In my opinion, the fact that you can feel compassion for the weak is a good thing, Madara.” Before Madara could respond, Kenji spoke up.
“There you go again, filling your little brother’s head with nonsense.
At this rate, you’ll completely brainwash him.” “What do you mean, nonsense?” Ryo protested.
“I’m being serious.” Kenji clicked his tongue.
“Then why was it that when Masaki—or maybe Eiji?
Whatever, I can’t remember faces—when that guy showed mercy to a woman during a mission, you punched him hard enough to break his nose?” “That was Masaki.” Ryo snorted softly, his brows knitting together.
“The idiot who let a mission target manipulate him with a few sob stories…” Madara: …Wasn’t my situation also involving mission targets?
As though sensing what Madara was thinking, Ryo turned toward him.
“Masaki’s situation was different.” His tone became more serious.
“That mission was an escort assignment.
The person he sympathized with was an enemy scout who had already revealed hostile intent and taken action against us.” “Feeling sympathy is one thing.” “But he actually tried to help her escape.” Ryo shook his head.
“Breaking his nose was already me being lenient.” “That’s true enough…” Kenji sighed.
As they approached a clearing beside a stream, he slowed his pace.
“I still remember what Ryo said back then.
It was pretty cool and pretty terrifying.” He rubbed his chin.
“Let me think…
Ah, right.” Kenji lowered his voice and mimicked Ryo’s tone.
“Just because I don’t want to lay a hand on my clansmen doesn’t mean I can’t.
Save your pointless sympathy for after the mission.
If anyone makes a mistake this stupid again, I’ll break their arms and legs and drag them back to the clan myself.” Kenji laughed.
“You should’ve seen him, Madara.
He came back carrying two blood-soaked idiots under one arm each.
His expression was terrifying.” “And after saying something that heartless…” “We honestly thought he’d killed Masaki too.” Madara blinked.
“…Elder Brother actually said something like that?” “Mm.” Ryo nodded without embarrassment.
Yatagarasu landed on his shoulder, and Ryo took a handful of feed from his robes.
After the crow finished pecking at the seeds, he released the Summoning Technique.
As the crow vanished in a puff of smoke, Ryo continued calmly.
“After all, I only have enough energy to protect the people and things I truly want to protect.” His smile remained gentle.
“What I care about already consumes all of my attention.” “So when someone’s existence threatens my bottom line, I won’t hesitate to act.” “No matter who they are.” “No matter what reasons they have.” “Even if I know my actions may be impossible to justify morally.” Madara’s gaze followed the dispersing smoke before turning back toward Ryo.
“Impossible to justify morally…?” “In simple terms,” Ryo explained, “it means that if I place myself in their position and judge the situation fairly, I might conclude that they’re right.” He paused.
“Take this mission as an example.” “You probably noticed it too.” “The so-called bandits were really just villagers who couldn’t survive under oppressive taxes and had been forced to seek another path.” “They exploited loopholes in the law because they had no other way to live.” Ryo smiled faintly.
“If I were in their position, I might have done something even worse.” Madara listened quietly.
“Even so,” Ryo continued, “I still wouldn’t spare them.” “Because that good father in his daughter’s eyes…” “…might be a parasite in the eyes of the local lord.” “A criminal in the eyes of traveling merchants.” “A lucrative mission target in the eyes of shinobi like us.” “And a hero in the eyes of many villagers who admire his resistance.” Madara froze.
His confusion only deepened.
“If he’s a hero to most people…
doesn’t that mean we’re the ones doing something wrong?” “Then have you considered what would happen if villages across the country all followed this example?” Madara wasn’t foolish.
The answer came to him quickly.
“…War.” “Exactly.” Ryo’s smile faded somewhat.
“War.” “And one on a massive scale.” He looked toward the darkening sky.
“We shinobi survive because conflict exists.
By that logic, perhaps we should be grateful whenever war creates work for us.” “But until someone appears who can think beyond the present era and guide the future itself…” “…a rebellion like that would only waste a nation’s strength.” “And waste countless lives.” He sighed softly.
“Madara, the world isn’t a sheet of paper with one correct answer written on it.” “Human nature is complicated.” “Which means almost nothing in this world can satisfy everyone.” “When one side gains something, another side inevitably loses something.” He reached out and ruffled Madara’s hair.
“The only thing we can do is protect what matters to us…” “And adapt ourselves to the changing times.” Then he smiled.
“Your brother doesn’t possess some grand dream of world peace.” “Nor do I have the strength necessary to pursue such a dream.” “But if you decide that’s what you want someday…” “I’ll support you.” “All right, all right, enough with the life lessons.” Kenji returned after making a quick inspection of the surrounding area.
“I checked.
The stream water is clean.” He looked toward Ryo.
“You should wash the blood off first.” Ryo tilted his head and smiled.
“Fair enough.
Then I’ll leave setting up camp to you.” Instead of immediately starting on the campsite, Kenji turned toward Madara.
Madara stood nearby with his fists clenched, lips pressed tightly together.
“Still feeling conflicted?” “…A little.” Madara lowered his head and looked at his hands.
“Even after hearing what Elder Brother said, I still don’t know whether what I did was right or wrong.” “And some things still feel…
difficult to accept.” “Mm.
That’s a pretty common rookie problem.” Kenji stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Then let me give you a piece of advice too.” He spoke plainly.
“If you pity your enemies, your family will die.” “Remember that and act accordingly.” Madara looked up at him, speechless.
“…I already understand that much.” “Then what’s there to struggle with?” Madara looked away again.
His expression grew awkward.
“I just never imagined Elder Brother would…” Understanding immediately appeared on Kenji’s face.
“Ah.” “You never expected Ryo to lay hands on his own clansmen, right?” Madara stiffened before giving a small nod.
“I always thought Elder Brother was a gentle person.” “And if I remember correctly, clan rules specifically prohibit attacking fellow clansmen.” “Mm, they do.” Kenji shrugged.
“But Ryo has never been the type to follow rules rigidly.” “I figured that out the moment he started breaking regulations to take us to pleasure districts, gambling houses, hot springs, and taverns after difficult missions.” “He claimed it helped us deal with psychological stress.” “And he kept all of it hidden from the clan.” Madara looked stunned.
“But Akihiko and the others always said Elder Brother was extremely tolerant toward his clansmen.” “They said he never criticized people too harshly, even when they made mistakes during missions.” Kenji laughed.
“That kind of tolerance refers to people whose abilities are limited by lack of strength or mental barriers.” “Ryo does everything he can to help those people overcome their weaknesses and contribute as much as possible.” His expression became strange.
“Madara…” “You don’t actually think Ryo is the kind of saint who tolerates everything without limits, do you?” “If you really believe that, I’d laugh at you—even if you’re his little brother.” Kenji folded his arms.
“Someone doesn’t become the undisputed strongest of his generation through charisma alone.” “Most of us have been beaten down by him at one point or another.” He snorted.
“In a clan that lives by combat, strength is the greatest authority.” “Without strength…” “All the charisma in the world is meaningless.” Absolute strength is true authority…
Madara pondered those words silently.
He understood now.
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS NextChapterStudios Liked It?