Yahiko's orange-haired head tilted slightly as he looked at Minato, Jiraiya, and Uchiha Yoruki before him. His sincere, unwavering gaze seemed to pierce through the tension in the air, speaking volumes before his words even reached their ears.
From the quiet conviction in his voice, it wasn't difficult for the three to understand his true intentions. Yahiko didn't seek to support Hanzo out of ambition or malice but rather to protect the people of the Land of Rain. His aim was simple yet profound: to shield innocent civilians from the horrors of war.
The Land of Rain had been ravaged during the Second Shinobi World War, a battleground for the three major nations of Fire, Wind, and Earth. The unrelenting clashes had left the small nation in ruins, its lands soaked in blood and its skies heavy with sorrow. Thousands of innocent lives had been lost, leaving behind orphans like Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, who had grown up amidst the chaos.
Although the three of them had been fortunate enough to survive and find guidance under Jiraiya, not everyone had been so lucky. The scars of war ran deep, carving despair into the hearts of those who had lost their homes, families, and futures.
They understood this pain too well.
For Yahiko, his mission to protect the Land of Rain was more than just an ideal; it was a necessity born from his past. Those who had never experienced the destruction of their families and the agony of displacement could never truly comprehend his feelings.
Minato and Uchiha Yoruki, however, were not strangers to loss.
Yoruki, who had recently endured the heart-wrenching pain of losing his father, felt an involuntary flicker of emotion in his otherwise steely gaze. Minato, too, was no stranger to sacrifice. His own wife had once been taken from him, and the burden of sealing the Nine-Tails into his newborn son was a choice that haunted him still.
Yahiko's plea stirred something within them, a resonance with their own struggles. Yet, Minato's expression remained calm as he considered the words of the young leader before him.
He thought of the ideals of the First Hokage, who had always advocated for peace and discouraged the invasion of other nations. It was a sentiment rooted in the Warring States Period—a time when life expectancy barely reached thirty years, and chaos reigned supreme. The First Hokage had sought to build a new world where children wouldn't have to fight on blood-soaked battlefields, but such dreams were difficult to realize.
The reality was that war often forced even the most noble intentions to compromise.
Minato took a deep breath, his azure eyes locking onto Yahiko's. "You're right," he began, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. "The First Hokage did say that we should strive for peace and avoid unnecessary conflict."
"But," he continued, his tone growing firmer, "we didn't choose this war. We didn't want to fight. But if we don't act now, our own people—our families—will be the ones suffering. To protect them, we must defeat our enemies."
Yahiko's expression wavered for a moment, a flicker of hope dashed by Minato's resolve. Konan and Nagato exchanged glances behind him, their emotions hidden behind calm exteriors, though tension radiated from their every movement.
Yahiko turned his gaze to Hanzo and the others, hoping for a sliver of agreement. Instead, his eyes met the cold, calculating stares of Rasa and his allies.
"If that's the case," Yahiko began cautiously, "why don't we both stop? If no one fights, then no one gets hurt."
Minato's lips curled into a small, humorless smile. Before he could respond, Uchiha Yoruki's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"What a naive idea," Yoruki muttered, his tone as sharp as the blade in his hand. He slowly raised his right arm, pointing the weapon toward Yahiko and his group. "You should ask them first," he said, his eyes narrowing on Rasa and the others. "Do you think they're willing to stop?"
Yahiko turned his head, and his heart sank at the sight before him. Rasa's murderous glare and Rōshi's impatient scowl made it clear that peace was not an option for them.
Rōshi's voice, low and disdainful, rumbled through the air. "Kid, if your idea of help is just spouting nonsense, then spare us the speech." His fiery temper burned just beneath the surface, a reflection of the lava release he wielded.
"If you're intent on fighting," Yahiko countered, his voice steady despite the tension, "do you really think you stand a chance with your current strength?"
Rōshi snorted. "It's true we're at a disadvantage now, but do you think we'll just roll over because of your pretty words? You're too naive. Konoha has the upper hand, and they'd be fools not to press it. If we retreat now, the other great nations will only regroup and strike back harder."
The harsh truth of Rōshi's words cut through Yahiko like a blade. Deep down, Yahiko knew he was right. Wars weren't won or stopped by idealism alone. Yet, Yahiko clung to the hope that there was still a way to avoid further bloodshed.
"Teacher," he said, turning to Jiraiya with a desperate edge to his voice. "Can't you stop this? Please."
Jiraiya's eyes softened with regret, but his response was resolute. "Yahiko," he said, his voice heavy with the burden of his position, "this is war. As much as I want to stop the fighting, we cannot let this opportunity slip away. If we let them recover, they'll return stronger, and the people of the Land of Fire will suffer."
His words carried a finality that left no room for argument. The dignified aura that emanated from him silenced even the whispers of protest in Yahiko's heart.
"Take your people and leave," Jiraiya said, his tone softening slightly. "I promise you that Konoha will not harm the civilians of the Land of Rain."
Yahiko's shoulders sagged as the weight of Jiraiya's words settled over him. The man who had once been his teacher, his guide, now stood firmly on the opposite side.
Behind Yahiko, Konan's lips parted as if to protest, but she hesitated, her resistance giving way to sorrow. Nagato clenched his fists beneath the folds of his robe, his trembling betraying the storm of emotions within.
The air grew thick with tension, and the world seemed to hold its breath as everyone awaited Yahiko's next move.
Finally, he exhaled a soft sigh, his brow unfurrowing as his expression shifted to one of resolve.
"Konan, Nagato," he said quietly, glancing back at his comrades. "I'm sorry."
The two looked at him, their eyes wide with understanding.
"If it comes to it," Yahiko continued, "you two should leave. Live to fight another day."
Konan's initial resistance melted into calm acceptance. "You're the leader of Akatsuki," she said, her voice steady. "Whatever you decide, we'll follow without hesitation."
Nagato's fists tightened further, his voice firm despite the turmoil inside. "I've told you before, Yahiko. What you want to do is what I want to do."
The three of them stepped forward, bowing deeply to Jiraiya, their teacher. With each movement, the weight of their decision became clear.
When they straightened, Yahiko's gaze was steely as he looked into Jiraiya's eyes one final time.
"If this is how it must be," Yahiko said, his voice unwavering, "then we have no choice but to stand on Hanzo's side. We cannot allow foreign ninjas to endanger the people of the Land of Rain."
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