Comparison of the two Hokage: Both ninja worlds are devastated.

She was mocking Jiraiya.

"Haha, I begged you to take it before but you wouldn't, now look what's happened, you're the one begging me now, aren't you?"

……

The scene then sped up, and judging from the position of the sun, most of the day had probably passed.

In the Senju clan's territory, inside a giant bathtub.

Uehara Siming suddenly emerged from the water like a fish, tossed her hair lightly, and then wiped the medicine off her face.

Somewhat helplessly said:

I deeply respect your wishes, admire your determination, and understand your thoughts.

However, it's not so simple to get me to take you as a disciple.

As you can probably tell, I'm different from ordinary children; I can't be lured away with just a piece of candy.

I have my own ideas.

---------

"I'm going!"

"What the hell? Wasn't it you who tried every means to become Jiraiya's apprentice before?"

"I've never seen anything like it. So many people want to be taught by the Three Sannin but don't even wait to be taught by them. Jiraiya took the initiative to accept him as a disciple, and he still made excuses and negotiated terms?"

"Jirai is going to become withdrawn too, haha."

"As expected of the Hokage, treating the title of disciple of the Three Legendary Sannin like a piece of candy, it's really... speechless."

"So he is the Hokage, and you are just an ordinary Konoha Jonin."

"So that's what Jiraiya was doing, chatting away with those two. Turns out he was trying so hard to take them as disciples but got ignored. Haha, this is different from what someone was bragging about earlier."

……

When Uehara Shimei said this, not only was Jiraiya dumbfounded, but countless people in the two ninja worlds were also shocked beyond belief.

It's not so simple to accept me as your apprentice.

Listen to that! Does that make any sense? Anyone who didn't know better would think someone was begging you to become their apprentice.

If any fellow countrymen from Earth saw this scene, they would surely shout:

Jiraiya, he's in the CPU, he's in the UFO.

First, take the initiative to approach and attract the target's attention, then release signals to gradually gain the other party's approval.

Once the target is completely caught in the net, the situation has already reversed, and the initiative is in your own hands. You can do whatever you want with them.

Unfortunately, kings rarely meet; in the same world, it's rare for two time travelers to exist simultaneously.

In the scene, Uehara Shinmei leaps out of the bathtub and quickly wraps herself up tightly in a bathrobe.

He sighed, looking with some regret at Jiraiya who seemed deeply affected, and said:

Do you know what the most terrifying and least desirable enemy in the world is?

Jiraiya's eyes flashed, quite puzzled as to why this kid would ask such a question.

Weren't we talking about becoming apprentices? What kind of bizarre turn is this?

However, he still tried to answer:

"A powerful ninja with no weaknesses?"

Uehara Siming shook her head slightly.

"Then, an ambitious person blinded by greed?"

"A vicious and bloodthirsty person?"

"A hypocrite who appears benevolent on the surface but harbors evil intentions?"

"I understand. You're a smart person, so you must be afraid of an even smarter adversary, right?"

"I can't think of anything."

At this moment, Jiraiya still had no idea what Uehara Shimei was up to.

After failing to guess correctly several times, he decided to give up and wait for the correct answer to be revealed.

"So this is someone like you, Lord Jiraiya."

Uehara Siming slightly raised her head and fixed her suddenly sharp gaze on him.

And the moment I heard the final answer,

At the end of his gaze, Jiraiya's expression instantly turned one of utter shock and astonishment.

Then, a strong sense of disbelief welled up from it.

He even wondered if there was something wrong with his ears, or if the kid was playing a trick on him.

But seeing Uehara Shimei's sharp gaze, Jiraiya instantly realized that the other party was not joking.

Although she is not even ten years old

However, ever since that discussion about peace two years ago, he no longer regarded the other person as an ordinary child, but as a fellow traveler with whom he could communicate on an equal footing.

It sounds strange, incredible.

However, if the chosen one of prophecy doesn't possess any extraordinary abilities, how can he change the world?

The unprecedented changes in the ninja world over the past millennium could not have been initiated by an 'ordinary' person.

This was a question that Jiraiya quickly understood after meeting Uehara Shimei, and it was also the reason why he was willing to lower himself to eagerly take on a disciple.

He believes that Uehara Shinmei is very likely that person.

Therefore, at this moment, Jiraiya was truly shocked, confused, and even angry.

He himself pursues peace, while Uehara Shinmei is a wise man who can see through the root cause of the war in the ninja world.

Even if they don't admire each other, they should at least share the same ideals. How could they possibly become enemies?

Not only Jiraiya at that time,

Hearing this completely unexpected answer, countless people in both ninja worlds were quite astonished.

They already knew that Uehara Shimei was Jiraiya's disciple, and given their previous discussion about peace, it wouldn't be surprising if they suddenly decided to chop off a chicken's head, burn yellow paper, and become sworn brothers.

How did we become enemies in the blink of an eye, and the most terrifying enemies at that?

Seemingly sensing Jiraiya's confusion, Uehara Shimei's voice rang out once more.

"The so-called enemies you mentioned are nothing more than ordinary enemies who threaten our lives."

The truly terrifying enemy is the enemy of faith, the enemy of obsession, the enemy of ideals, and the enemy of the path one must take and practice.

When a person possesses lofty beliefs, great thoughts, unwavering will, a determination to die for their cause, and a dream they are willing to pursue even at the cost of everything, then they are truly capable of achieving their goals.

Such beings are indomitable and tenacious, and would never regret their actions even if they were to die ten thousand times.

Do you remember the Valley of the End?

Two such people, if they are going in different directions, will be the most terrible enemies to each other.

Unfortunately, we are all like that.

Unfortunately, the path I'm planning to take is somewhat different from the world you envision it to be.

If you really choose me, then you have to put all your bets on me.

That is, to unconditionally believe that I can accomplish everything, and to wholeheartedly support me no matter how absurd, irrational, or incomprehensible I do, and to do my best.

Even if it goes against one's own ninja way, will, and beliefs.

This must be the crucial decision the Great Toad Sage foretold, determining whether the ninja world's future will be one of stability or destruction and change.

Lord Jiraiya, what we pursue is a great undertaking that is unprecedented in all time, to create a new world and lay the foundation for future generations.

On this gambling table, life is the cheapest thing.

So, next time you come, be prepared.

Chapter 21 A Cruel Struggle of Beliefs

Uehara Siming's firm voice fell.

Jiraiya fell silent.

His angry expression suddenly turned to understanding, and then even a little frightened.

His hands were clenched into fists and trembled uncontrollably.

He had considered many possibilities, but he never expected the final result to be like this.

Two people who want to pursue peace may become enemies, even the most terrible and necessary enemies, because of their different choices of path.

But he had to admit that Uehara Siming was right.

The other party has already rejected the path of mutual understanding between people. If we do not have enough awareness and continue to move forward, we will become enemies sooner or later.

This is the real reason why he finally decided to take the other person as his apprentice, even though two years had passed since that discussion ended.

Didn't I have similar worries back then?

Just as Uehara Shinmei said, this is a difference of belief, a struggle of paths, something that is more important than life itself, and no one will back down even a step.

Just like the Valley of the End back then,

The First Hokage sacrificed his life force to kill his best friend, thus truly establishing the ninja village era.

Not just Jiraiya,

Upon hearing Uehara Siming's explanation, countless people fell silent for a moment.

The struggle for life is cruel enough; the loser will lose the right to live as a human being.

The struggle over ideals that are more important than life itself will be far more brutal than the former.

Because the lifelong pursuit of the loser will be completely destroyed, their dreams will be denied, and their hopes will be shattered.