klisemfg Chapter 944 Her Shoulders
Chapter 944 Her Shoulders
Zhang Hai's eyes remained unwavering; he was as calm as ever, yet his tone carried a hint of firmness. "Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary. We cannot maintain pure ideals in every battle." He paused for a moment, gazing intently at Minato and Kushina, his eyes deep. "I have no regrets, nor do I feel guilty about it."
Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing a sense of helplessness and pain. This conversation was destined to be fruitless, and it would not allow either of them to fully understand the other's position.
Minato finally shook his head and sighed softly. "Zhang Hai, although your path is different from mine, I still wish you well. I hope you can find what you are pursuing."
Zhang Hai did not respond, but simply turned around and walked away into the distance.
Minato's gaze was resolute. He stood on the rock, staring intently at Zhang Hai, as if confronting an opponent he didn't fully understand. His loyalty to Konoha and his determination to protect the village seemed to surge within him, uncontrollable.
“You say I’m naive,” Minato said in a low voice, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes. “You say I’ve made too many compromises for my ideals and sacrifices, but you don’t understand. The Hokage is someone I’m willing to give everything for; I can’t betray Konoha’s ideals.”
Zhang Hai sneered, his tone icy and provocative: "Your so-called ideal is nothing but a beautiful fantasy. You say you're willing to sacrifice everything for Konoha, but are you prepared to sacrifice your responsibilities as a father for this ideal? Are you willing to abandon your promise as a husband for the future of Konoha? Your so-called sacrifice is built on the suffering of others. Can such a sacrifice bring a bright future?"
A flicker of confusion and pain crossed Minato's eyes. He frowned, seemingly pondering Zhang Hai's words. But he still shook his head, his resolute gaze unwavering: "My choice is for the future of the village. I cannot allow Konoha to suffer annihilation under my leadership as Hokage. For the future of Konoha, for the happiness of the villagers, I am willing to give up everything. You cannot understand this sense of responsibility because you have never faced it."
Zhang Hai's sneer deepened: "A sense of responsibility? You talk about it as if it's for everyone's happiness, but true happiness is never achieved through sacrifice. You sacrifice yourself, you sacrifice your family, do you think Konoha will become better? I don't see the 'future' you're hoping for." He paused, his voice low, "And I, I only want to make a real change, not through sacrifice, not through false ideals, but through strength."
A hint of confusion flickered across Minato's face. He was beginning to waver, but he still held firm to his position: "What kind of power are you talking about? You want to change the ninja world, but no one can overthrow everything by themselves. Do you think you can solve all the problems and break this bloody world by your own strength? You don't understand true responsibility at all."
Zhang Hai's eyes sharpened, like a cold blade: "What is true responsibility? To let innocent lives be buried for your ideals? To let the entire ninja world continue to cycle in bloodshed and sacrifice for the sake of so-called 'justice'? I think you haven't seen the true face of the ninja world at all. You can't see those oppressed souls, you can't see the price paid for 'peace'. You can only see your own narrow sense of responsibility and mission."
Minato took a deep breath, a flicker of pain in his eyes: "Your path is one of despair. You want to destroy everything, but who will rebuild this land? Who can bear the price?"
Just then, Zhang Hai suddenly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them abruptly. His tone became calm and resolute: "My path is to change the order of the entire world, not to destroy everything, but to break the hypocritical framework behind your so-called peace. Konoha's peace is built on the suffering of others, and my power will truly shatter all of that."
He looked at the water gate, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination: "If you are unwilling to walk alongside me, then stand in your place and continue down your path of 'responsibility.' But you don't need to try to persuade me anymore. I will forge my own path, no longer relying on your ideals and sacrifices."
Minato's expression turned grave. Although his heart had wavered, he still held fast to his beliefs: "Zhang Hai, you will inevitably encounter endless challenges on this path, and perhaps you will eventually lose everything. But I cannot let you embark on this irreversible path with an uncertain future and chaos."
Zhang Hai didn't respond further. He simply turned around and left the high place of Hokage Rock with firm steps. He had made his choice, and no matter how difficult the future might be, he would never look back.
Elsewhere, Obito was gradually recovering with the help of White Zetsu. His body, crushed by the rocks, was healing, and a white, unidentified substance spread around his wounds, as if some mysterious force was making him even stronger. A flame of vengeance flickered in Obito's eyes, yet his familiar face revealed deep pain and helplessness.
White Zetsu stood aside, watching Obito recover, and said coldly, "You've almost recovered. Next, you'll need to face Rin and Kakashi's predicament. If you still want to return to Konoha, then act quickly."
Obito's eyes were filled with unease and anxiety: "Rin is still around Konoha, I can't wait any longer. Kakashi... they must be safe before I get back." His voice was low and cold, revealing a strong determination, "No matter what, I will avenge Rin with my own hands, and I will not let the mistakes of the past continue to torment me."
White Zetsu nodded slightly, having already discerned the increasingly intense desire for revenge in Obito after his resurrection: "You are no longer that child trapped in the past. Your power is now greater than before."
Obito's gaze hardened, a cold smile playing on his lips: "This time, I will use my own methods to completely change the future of Konoha."
Obito stood amidst the shattered ruins of the underground cave, panting heavily, his hands clenched tightly, the crimson Sharingan between his fingers gleaming with fury. Just moments ago, he had finally been reborn. He was no longer the weak being trapped beneath the stone wall. The intervention of White Zetsu, especially the replacement body it provided, had given him a new lease on life. Obito's body had recovered almost perfectly, and the irresistible power behind him was constantly growing, transforming into an undercurrent that gradually overwhelmed his reason.