Chapter 323

"...In summary, the third phase of the Shinobi world's order, starting from the division of the original Ninjutsu and continuing until the formation of various nations in the Shinobi world, was a period where the ideologies of the dominant Ninjutsu and the Six Paths coexisted and constantly clashed.

Before the emergence of nations, the Shinobi world's order, based on the ideology of the Six Paths, dominated the mainstream thought. Despite the evolving power ideologies, the foundational ideas established by the Ninjutsu remained unshakeable.

Then came the clans. Due to the spread of Ninjutsu, clans emerged and became the primary social units of the Shinobi world. Ultimately, during this period, the primary influence on the Shinobi world's order was the power of individuals (clans). Did everyone get that?"

Early summer, amidst the mountains and fields.

A small river flowed, shadows of trees swayed.

Watching Shinji, who was holding a history textbook and teaching the three kids, Minato found it hard to reconcile this Shinji with the cold and ruthless Angolman he saw in his dreams.

His teachings were clear and devoid of personal bias, simply recounting history and summarizing it.

Even Minato found himself captivated.

The division of Ninjutsu led to the formation of family-based clan units that resembled nations. For some unknown reason, the world regressed to a primitive state during that century and began to develop anew.

Before the appearance of Ninjutsu, the world's history was a grand heroic epic. The blank century erased all past achievements, returning the world to a primitive-like stage.

Thinking about this, not only did the mature-minded Minato but also the three kids, felt a sense of regret and curiosity.

What exactly happened during that period? Even if the mysterious powers waned and humanity lost the ability to fly or teleport, what kind of power could erase thousands of years of history?

What happened before the emergence of Ninjutsu?

After confirming that the three kids had finished taking notes, Shinji nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, today's history lesson ends here. Tomorrow, we'll start with the order of the Shinobi world after the emergence of nations, divided into two phases. Study it on your own."

Hearing this, Minato felt a surge of excitement. He had read through the children's textbooks and knew that this final phase of history covered his idol, the First Hokage!

Finally, he would get to hear Mr. Anli teach about his idol, which made him eager.

Thinking of this, Minato, wearing an apron with a towel wrapped around his head, skillfully stirred the pot.

However...

The next morning.

"...In summary, after the emergence of Shinobi nations until the establishment of the one-country-one-village system, individual power's influence on the Shinobi world's order diminished. No longer could individuals with absolute power sway the entire Shinobi order.

No matter how powerful, even those you heard about in the village or along the way, like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, had to navigate national and international relations.

The primary feature of this phase was nations hiring clans (shinobi) for warfare. This fundamentally reflected the evolution of Shinobi history, with an increasing number of entities participating in establishing the Shinobi order."

Hearing this, Minato felt a complex mix of emotions, mainly because his idol was only briefly mentioned.

However, he didn't get discouraged because, at this rate, tomorrow's lesson would cover his idol. He might even get a chance to impress the kids with his knowledge!

Minato was intimately familiar with the grand life of Senju Hashirama. He remembered the dates of all his significant achievements and could recite his famous quotes by heart.

"It feels like... the clans became stray cats, no, stray cats," Karin said, causing Minato's face to darken. He wanted to refute but found it quite apt.

Originally, society was clan-based, but it transitioned to nation-based, with clans becoming mercenaries, no longer participating in basic labor, and simply being hired muscle.

Whoever provided food got their service. Stray cats was indeed a vivid and fitting term! But what about after the one-country-one-village system was established?

House cats? No, not quite. House dogs?

"Yeah, it does feel that way," Kimimaro nodded.

Then, Shinji sensed a wave of resentful emotions coming from Minato.

Watching Minato, who was flipping the pot listlessly, Shinji decided as the boss to comfort him.

...

After dinner, while eating watermelon, Shinji, with his sticky hands covered in watermelon juice, patted Minato's shoulder and said, "Minato, don't be so down. In tomorrow's lesson, shinobi won't be stray cats anymore. They'll evolve directly into house dogs! That's a significant cross-species evolution!"

Minato: ...

"Mr. Anli, do you really think shinobi are like house dogs now? I thought you wouldn't personalize such things!"

"Didn't they replace samurai and bind themselves to the nation? Aren't they house dogs?"

Shinji's question left Minato speechless. Reflecting on it, modern shinobi did resemble house dogs, though their 'home' was a nation.

"Speaking of which, in tomorrow's lesson, why don't you explain to Karin about the downfall of the Uzumaki clan? Also, why the Land of Fire didn't aid its ally? After all, you were the one who told her about the Uzumaki clan, right?"

"Uh..."

Minato remained silent, knowing that Konoha indeed did not intervene. They only sent an ANBU to retrieve his wife, and that was for her to become the Jinchuriki.

Even Minato felt Konoha's behavior was somewhat ungrateful. What good was an alliance if they didn't help? They should have provided substantial aid!

On the other hand, Minato also understood that Konoha had its reasons. War decisions weren't made by Konoha alone.

First, any military action needed the Daimyo's approval, as funding and support came from them. Konoha couldn't just deploy troops on its own.

Second, as a military power recognized by the state, the village prioritized national interests.

Friendship with other villages?

Sorry, it comes after national interests.

If helping the Land of Whirlpools compromised the country's interests, the village wouldn't act.

"Mr. Anli, I don't think I can explain it well."

"No, you can. You just thought of part of the correct answer. I'll fill in the rest."

Minato: ...

So, I have no secrets from you?

...

Another morning.

"...The establishment of the one-country-one-village system ended the Warring States period and solidified the five great nations' superordinate status, bringing a brief peace to the Shinobi world.

This peace had its limitations, such as the ongoing arms race between major nations and the fact that smaller nations became collateral damage for the peace of the five great nations..."

As Shinji continued lecturing, the three kids listened and took notes. When he mentioned Senju Hashirama distributing tailed beasts to balance power among nations, Karin raised her hand again.

"Koro-sensei, if it was to balance power and prevent wars, why not distribute the tailed beasts to weaker, more vulnerable small nations? Giving them to already strong nations makes smaller ones even more vulnerable."

"Isn't the answer obvious?" Kimimaro said coolly. "Koro-sensei just said Senju Hashirama used Wood Release, indicating he had a wooden brain."

Minato: ...

Shinji chuckled and answered, "Karin, remember this: in this world, the seats for happiness (peace) are limited. True peace doesn't exist.

Sacrificing a few for the happiness of many is considered 'justice.' Though it may take years of life experience for you to truly understand.

Back to the textbook, the symbolic peace among the five great nations required a buffer zone. Without it, limited peace would quickly turn into conflict. That buffer zone consists of the smaller nations situated between the great ones.

You could call it a sacrifice zone for the five great nations' peace, and this won't change even if one day, genuine peace among the five great nations is achieved."

"Teacher, the sacrifices decided unilaterally by the five great nations without the small nations' consent... is that really justice?" Kimimaro asked, raising his eyebrows.

"The majority (great nations) consider it so, while the minority (small nations) view that justice as evil, a form of tyranny."

Listening to this, Minato, despite his reluctance to admit it, found it hard to refute.

It reminded him of Angolman's fate—sacrificed without his knowledge for peace. And it echoed many current events.

Even Konoha sometimes sacrificed a few for the benefit of the many.

"My home, the Land of Whirlpools, and the Grass Village that took in my mom and me... are they such sacrifices too?" Karin asked, her face showing a hint of sadness.

"There's a slight difference. The Land of Grass might be, but the fall of the Land of Whirlpools was more complex, involving various factors. You can ask your teacher Minato to explain."

Suddenly called upon, Minato looked at the expectant faces of the three kids and Shinji and finally relented.

...

After Minato's explanation, Shinji silently praised his cooking and security chief. It reminded him of a story from his past life about a Tsinghua University gatekeeper who got admitted to the university.

There was a similar feeling of unexpected excellence.

First, Shinji had mentioned the buffer and sacrifice zones, and the allure of the Uzumaki clan's unique abilities and sealing techniques to other nations.

Second, the Uzumaki clan failed to keep up with the times, not realizing that the era of single clans had ended.

The era of allied shinobi villages in a one-country-one-village system was upon them. A single-clan nation like the Land of Whirlpools was doomed to be swept away by the tides of history.

"And Konoha? Did they help the Land of Whirlpools?" Karin asked. "Weren't they allied? As the strongest, if Konoha helped, wouldn't..."

Minato was at a loss. Speaking ill of Konoha was something he could never do.

At this point, Kimimaro, who was starting to sound almost surrealist, spoke calmly, "Koro-sensei said that countries and people are different. There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.

In the era of one-country-one-village, Konoha prioritized its nation. Friendship and alliances were unrealistic.

They wouldn't risk unnecessary losses to save the Land of Whirlpools. This is reality. The Uzumaki clan failed to see this and didn't plan ahead.

They trusted Konoha completely and shared all their sealing techniques, a foolish move without understanding the political landscape!"

Listening to Kimimaro, Shinji silently applauded his realism. He was surprised at how quickly Kimimaro had adopted a more pragmatic mindset under his tutelage.

Haku, on the other hand, was still gentle and soft-spoken. Though he hadn't fully grasped these concepts, he often expressed a desire for everyone to be happy.

Shinji hoped Haku wouldn't become overly idealistic.

"I... but they trusted Konoha so much..."

Seeing Karin's eyes filled with unresolved feelings, Minato refrained from offering comfort. Kimimaro's harsh words were true.

Even if Konoha had played an unheroic role in the demise of the Land of Whirlpools, it was also true that the Uzumaki clan's naivety played a part.

Perhaps joining Konoha from the start would have been better.

At that moment, Karin's clenched fists relaxed, and she looked up resolutely. "I refuse to accept this 'justice' that sacrifices a few for the peace of many! There must be a way to make everyone happy without sacrificing anyone!"

Shinji was startled. Is she a perfect idealist?

He quickly dismissed the thought. Karin's statement showed she hadn't dismissed Kimimaro's realism entirely. She wasn't a pure idealist.

"That kind of path doesn't exist," Kimimaro countered, frowning. "History hasn't shown any such path for thousands of years. It's just a dream!"

"If it doesn't exist, we'll find and create it! Right, Haku?"

"Huh? Me?" Haku was surprised.

"Of course! You've always been by my side, right?"

"Yes," Haku smiled, then glanced at Shinji. "I... also want everyone to be happy."

It seemed Haku leaned more towards idealism. Shinji noted this and looked at Karin holding Haku's arm.

Perhaps people should be like Karin, grounded in reality but reaching for ideals.

Is Karin a new socialist explorer?

"It seems they have ideological differences," Minato remarked, pulling Shinji from his thoughts.

"Quiet, you. You're the most unrealistic, empty dreamer who doesn't understand reality."

"Uh..."

Minato laughed awkwardly, not denying it.

Indeed, he had been a dreamer, thinking love and hate caused wars, only recently understanding that conflicts evolved with the times.

During the era when clans were the primary social units, love and hatred could explain conflicts.

But once nations formed, conflicts became driven by interests, with love and hatred taking a back seat.

After the one-country-one-village system, conflicts were purely about interests.

"Anyway, you all did well in today's lesson. But some things are best experienced firsthand. Tonight, we have a field trip."

"Field trip? At night?"

Shinji tapped Karin's head lightly with a book. "Yes, tonight. Be prepared, and everyone will write an essay afterward."