Ninja Ice House

Chapter 601 Resistance

According to Jiraiya, during the most dangerous period of the Second Shinobi World War, the war almost collapsed. During this agonizing time, Hiruzen Sarutobi persevered with unwavering determination, and thinking about it now still sends chills down my spine.

Even the fledgling "Sannin" were almost killed by Hanzo of the Salamander in the Land of Rain. Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki Senju, and Dan Kato both died. Kagami Uchiha, whom the Uchiha clan regarded as their hope and who had gained the trust of Tobirama Senju and the village's higher-ups, also died early.

This shows just how critical the battle situation was.

Why is Shimura Danzo's position unshakeable?

Many Konoha ninjas who had contact with him felt that this senior had gone mad and his behavior was too far from the righteous path. However, no one ever suspected that he would betray them, because he was a true "Stalinist" who took the interests of the village as his own responsibility and absolutely followed the overall policy. He didn't care about the means or the legitimacy of the matter. As long as it was beneficial to the village, he was willing to talk and cooperate. However, if using intrigue, breaking promises, or instigating assassinations could bring greater benefits, he would not hesitate to use them.

Everyone believed that he would risk his life for the benefit of the village, and they did not believe that he would harm Konoha. Ultimately, it was because he had truly led the Root organization to make great contributions to the village during the various Shinobi World Wars, especially during the nearly twenty years from the Second Shinobi World War to the early stages of the Third Shinobi World War.

Most of the injuries on Shimura Danzo's body were from the battles and fighting during that period. He even looked much weaker and older than Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado, which was the result of his body being overdrawn and depleted after being seriously injured time and time again.

If it weren't for the years of selfless dedication of these senior figures, the order of the so-called Five Great Nations and Five Great Ninja Villages, where each village was a nation, would have collapsed long ago.

"The Third Shinobi World War ended, and Konoha Village had only been established for about forty years, it was still very young..."

"That's true!"

If we were to move this timeline to the Ming Dynasty of the previous life, Zhu Di would still be persisting in his northern expeditions, Zheng He would still be making his voyages to the Western Ocean, and the Tumu Crisis, marking the transition from prosperity to decline, would still be several decades away.

This shows that the five great ninja villages are truly young. Many elders who have lived through the Warring States period, such as Chiyo, Onoki, and Genji, are still alive, and people's memories of the Warring States period are still quite clear.

It's really too close.

It feels like many years have passed, but it's actually only the time span of one or two generations.

"After the Third Shinobi World War, the village defeated all its formidable opponents without much trouble, and the losses were far less than expected. In addition, with a constant stream of young geniuses and a wealth of successors, we 'old folks' who still carried a lot of past experience truly realized that the order of the village and the country could really be stabilized. Until the Nine-Tails attacked the village, the Fourth Hokage died in battle, and Orochimaru defected, all the visions of peace collapsed in an instant."

Why did Dream Space choose this time period as its entry point?

Because everything was so beautiful—about individuals, about the village, about the ninja world.

It seems that later generations finally inherited Hashirama Senju's last wish and worked hard to realize it.

As it turns out, all perfection is just a fleeting illusion.

Love seems elusive, friendship is crumbling, bonds are precarious, and the village's authority is also wavering, with the possibility of being drawn into another great war at any moment.

For decades, everyone's efforts have seemed like a joke.

"It is precisely because I realize that there are some things I may never be able to accomplish in this lifetime that I am willing to believe in the Great Toad Sage's claim of being the 'Chosen One' and to work hard for it. I am indeed not smart enough to steer things in the direction I hope, so I need more people, especially the 'Chosen One', to work with me. It's much better for everyone to brainstorm and work together than for me to waste my time and energy on my own!"

"It's a normal thought that if you can't do it yourself or feel that it's too difficult, you need more comrades and successors."

"Those sages of Mount Myōboku do have a good relationship with me... and with Konoha Village, and they are willing to fight alongside me, but... who can guarantee that they will always be so close to us?"

"Those big toads...have goals and stances; they are not objective!"

"Yes, how could I possibly believe that those who are willing to risk their lives to personally compete are doing so simply because they are kind, willing to help me, or for that little bit of chakra?"

Being on the same path temporarily doesn't mean you'll always be on the same path; it's normal to have conflicts of interest.

Jiraiya said leisurely:

"I trust Mount Myōboku and am willing to regard those summoned beasts as close comrades-in-arms. We will definitely fight side by side in the future for the ninja world, for the peace and tranquility of my hometown and my friends and family. However, I do not want to be left with nothing but self-pity and futile regret after they disappoint me, just like I was powerless to win back Orochimaru and change his mind. I also want to have my own strategies and plans, instead of being completely led by the nose."

"Have hope but don't rely on it completely?"

Gu Shanbu Shui nodded to himself.

Jiraiya's confidence and composure gave him the right to say and think this way.

Nearly half of his strength came from the help of Mount Myōboku, but if those giant toads hadn't interfered and he had just developed naturally, he would definitely be worse than Jiraiya is now.

Not necessarily!

Without Gamamaru's guidance, Jiraiya might have encountered other opportunities during his travels and become even stronger.

As they chatted, Jiraiya seemed to have shaken off his previous negative emotions and asked curiously:

"Who is stronger now, you or the first generation?"

"I am definitely stronger now, even stronger than Hashirama Senju at his peak, but... if he cooperates with Madara Uchiha, there is a possibility that he can defeat me. Of course, it's just a possibility, after all... the difference in strength and life level is quite large."

"As expected, why don't you use your strength and influence to bring peace to the ninja world? I think that poor guy Nagato who went down the wrong path has a life goal that is within your grasp."

"Because it's useless, Jiraiya-senpai. The goddess of the rabbit from a thousand years ago accomplished it, but the Sage of Six Paths ended it. And since even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't do it, why do you think I can?"

"Is there an even stronger enemy?"

Kosugi Bokusui smiled and shook his head, pointing to Jiraiya's chest as he replied:

"Because of the existence of people like you, even if the possibility is small, it is inevitable that my oppressive rule will be overthrown in an almost infinite amount of time; it's just a matter of sooner or later."