Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?-Chapter 265: Chakra as a Bond for Peace!

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Perhaps some chose the kunai simply because they overthought the question, convinced the tenth question couldn't be that simple, that there had to be a trick.

Others might have simply treated it as a coin flip, a 50/50 chance, and chosen the kunai on a whim.

But if this scenario were played out in the real Shinobi World, it would become a true test of human nature.

If the Village truly informed everyone that choosing the healing bandage was safer, guaranteeing personal survival, while choosing the kunai was a gamble—How many of those who confidently chose the kunai now would waver at the last moment, switching to the bandage?

Once the number choosing the bandage surpassed the kunai, the situation would become even more dire. That small minority, willing to choose the kunai for their comrades even when faced with death, might be eliminated by the harsh realities of the Shinobi World.

Perhaps—only Konoha Shinobi would still unhesitatingly choose the kunai.

But it didn't matter.

They had chosen the kunai! And the glory proclaimed by Ibiki Morino would now be theirs!

Ride the wave!

Especially Ibiki's final words.

Leaving the examination hall, they could proudly display their kunai-marked answer sheets, puffing out their chests. They could approach potential clients at the mission assignment desk and declare, "Choose me! I will raise my kunai and fight to the death to protect you and complete the mission!"

This was the pragmatic mindset. But there were also those genuinely moved, shedding tears of gratitude for their comrades.

So this is the Will of Fire...

Though they were Shinobi from different Villages, with opposing loyalties, they couldn't help but be moved by Ibiki's words.

Some excitedly asked their teammates which option they'd chosen, only to be met with stammering uncertainty, their initial enthusiasm dampened.

In contrast, they looked at the Konoha Shinobi, excitedly comparing their kunai-marked answers...

Watching them foolishly bump fists in the air, a pang of envy arose.

Though they knew choosing the healing bandage guaranteed survival, they still wished their comrades were the kind of irrational fools who would choose the kunai, ensuring everyone lived together.

Humans... or rather, Shinobi—were complex creatures.

———

Of course, such psychological tactics might only be effective on younger, less experienced Genin whose loyalties were still forming.

For the older Shinobi, weathered by hardship, solely focused on obtaining their Chunin certification, there was nothing to consider.

Self-indulgent sentimentality.

Passing the first round was all that mattered! Friendship, foolishness, bonds—irrelevant... Only the Chunin certificate, and the subsequent increase in mission pay, were real!

This was true even for Shinobi like Zabuza.

His heart had long grown cold.

Unlike his counterpart in the original timeline, he hadn't had the chance to defect from the Village and elope with his partner. The last vestiges of warmth in his heart seemed to have been extinguished by the harsh realities of being a Kirigakure Shinobi.

However, as Zabuza unclenched his fist, the answer sheet revealed his choice for the tenth question: [Kunai]

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"Tch—" Zabuza clicked his tongue. "So the question really was just a question, no hidden meaning. I overthought it."

———

Outside the examination hall, the crowd erupted.

Ibiki's speech had struck a chord. Some dismissed it as mere sentimentality, while others embraced Konoha's Will of Fire, deeming it noble and worthy...

"Shinobi... should be like this!"

"Perhaps this was the Sage of Six Paths' intention when he first bestowed ninjutsu upon the world, when he founded the Shinobi Creed~"

———

This was a test!

Gojo Kaigetsu's gaze turned skyward, his expression profound.

The tenth question of the Chunin Exam, on its surface, was an opportunity for him to spread his unique interpretation of the Will of Fire throughout the Shinobi World via the Fire Games.

Perhaps this question would be recorded in the future annals of Shinobi history.

Many who chose the healing bandage might mock the Konoha Shinobi who chose the kunai. But Gojo Kaigetsu believed that the vast majority of ordinary people in the Shinobi World would ultimately favor the Konoha Shinobi who collectively chose the kunai.

After all, Konoha's Shinobi were fools willing to sacrifice themselves for their comrades, for their Village. If one could live in Konoha, protected by such foolish Shinobi, wouldn't that be... romantic?

Perhaps, from a certain perspective, the Konoha Shinobi, guided by the Will of Fire, were a force fighting for the common people?

Despite Advisor Gojo having... 24-hour access to this Shinobi force fighting for the people...

When Konoha eventually planted its flag in the daimyo mansions and hidden Villages of the four great nations, the future citizens under his rule, the rule of Gojo Kaigetsu would likely be more receptive.

Setting aside national loyalties, Konoha's Soldiers, led by the benevolent Lord Gojo, were on the side of the common people!

Those nobles and Shinobi lords perched above them? What did their shared blood matter? When faced with a true choice, would they stand with the common people, the ordinary Shinobi?

Gojo Kaigetsu had played his first card, laying the foundation of legitimacy for his future rule over the Shinobi World.

A crimson specter began to haunt the Shinobi World~

Instilling empathy for foolish Shinobi was just the first layer.

As for the second layer...

Gojo Kaigetsu looked towards the Sky.

"Sage of Six Paths, if you're watching, you should see this, right? Give me some sign."

Gojo Kaigetsu desperately wanted to tap into the Sage of Six Paths' power.

It was maddening.

Knowing that this Ancient being was constantly observing the Shinobi World, possessing the power to instantly reshape its destiny.

But this treasure remained elusive, like a flower reflected in a mirror, a moon shimmering on water—visible, yet untouchable... It was like an old man craving a cigarette but unable to get his hands on a lighter!

Gojo Kaigetsu's mind raced, searching for a way to obtain this Yin-Yang Release treasure.

Setting aside everything else, if he possessed the Sage of Six Paths' Yang Power and Yin Power, he could instantly become the ancestor of the Shinobi World, crushing anyone who opposed him.

Silencing all dissent, bestowing blessings upon the lower-ranking Shinobi and commoners.

Then, using bait, lure out Black Zetsu and eliminate it. The Hokage Tower's reign would be secured for millennia, a unified empire.

There would be no need for Naruto and Sasuke to save the world. When they grew up, they would find themselves in a peaceful Shinobi World ruled by the Gojo clan.

———

To gain the Sage of Six Paths' trust...

When manipulating Orochimaru, Gojo Kaigetsu had already expounded upon the spirit of the Shinobi Creed. But the Sage hadn't responded. Now, he had demonstrated the essence of the Shinobi Creed before the entire Shinobi World, and still... silence.

Was he truly unseen? Or was it because Gojo Kaigetsu's surname wasn't Uchiha, Uzumaki, or Senju?

I could marry into the clan! I could take Tsunade's name!

"Sage of Six Paths, if you're watching, I can marry Tsunade tonight and change my name to Senju Kaigetsu..."

He preached about founding the Shinobi Creed, spreading its spirit. But ultimately, he'd left his most precious legacies to the reincarnations of his own sons.

Human nature is understandable.

If Gojo Kaigetsu were in the same position, he might do the same.

But humans were inherently hypocritical.

"Or perhaps... I've misunderstood the Shinobi Creed?"

"Unlikely."

Gojo Kaigetsu wasn't sure.

What truly was the spirit of the Shinobi Creed?

The Sage of Six Paths' original intention was for chakra to become a bond, like light, connecting the power and hearts of individuals. To break down the barriers between people, achieving true peace.

But looking throughout Shinobi history, only the God: Nativity of a World of Trees technique combined with the Infinite Tsukuyomi had ever truly connected everyone's chakra.

The Shinobi Creed spirit was essentially Hagoromo's wishful thinking.

And because of his wishful thinking, the Shinobi World had endured millennia of conflict.

Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki's contribution in sealing Kaguya, eliminating the near-insurmountable threat she posed, must be acknowledged.

As a rebel against Kaguya's old regime and the founder of the new era, the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, should have been revered as an unparalleled God in Shinobi history.

But his actions after defeating his mother—creating the Shinobi Creed, leaving behind endless future conflicts—could only be described, as Black Zetsu put it, as "foolishness."

Thus, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, who should have been a pivotal figure in Shinobi history, became a mythical figure, a character in legends.

Hagoromo believed that chakra, this superhuman power, wasn't meant for individuals. Its purpose was to reshape the world.

So, he taught humans how to use chakra.

He disseminated this absolute power.

Just as Hashirama Senju later distributed the Tailed Beasts.

Hoping that chakra would increase food production, reduce conflict between Villages, that humans would learn to use chakra to manipulate nature, achieve stability and prosperity, and solve the fundamental problem of survival.

He supplemented this with religious-like ideological control, creating the Shinobi Creed to quell rebellious desires, teaching people about suffering, why they must endure it, why they must connect, understand, and cooperate...

Solving both survival and spiritual problems simultaneously to stabilize the nation and solidify his rule.

Humans learned to use chakra, evolving it into the five basic nature transformations—fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning—successfully solving the food crisis.

If the Sage of Six Paths had been immortal, perhaps the Shinobi Creed spirit could have endured.

But as time passed, humans, having mastered chakra, didn't develop as Hagoromo had hoped.

And the Sage himself began to age, facing a critical question—

Who would succeed him?

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