This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 180 The Will of Fire (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

The Konoha members discussed their countermeasures in front of Ryuji, but Ryuji didn't care at all and observed them with great interest.

I had seen most of these people at the duel venue six months ago, but there were also many unfamiliar faces.

For example, there's the perennial genin carrying a black pot on his back, and the Uchiha boy who looks only about ten years old but wears a green vest that only chunin and above are qualified to wear.

There are many other people who leave a lasting impression but whose imposing presence should not be underestimated, especially these elderly people who are hunched over, thin as a rake, and look like they are about to die.

Not only was his aura impressive, but he also spoke without any politeness, displaying an attitude of being a senior that left everyone speechless.

"Kid, can we change the terms?"

At this moment, the elder of the Hyuga family asked again.

Ryuji chuckled softly and ignored him.

He has already made his offer; whether or not Konoha agrees is up to them, and he will not accept any bargaining.

The elders of the Hyuga clan didn't seem to mind, and chuckled, "This is an advantageous condition for you."

After saying that, he glanced at the people around him and continued, "If, and I mean if, we agreed to pay with the lives of three hundred and ten of our comrades, what kind of people do you think we would offer in exchange?"

Before Ryuji could answer, he blurted out the answer first.

"Those who have committed serious crimes but do not deserve to die, those with a long history of misconduct, and those who meet the minimum standards in the criteria."

"What I want is for the murderers who killed my comrades to pay with their lives. As long as they are ninjas still serving Konoha, I don't care about their past."

Ryuji finally spoke, emphasizing the phrase "ninjas still serving Konoha".

It means that as long as they are currently registered ninjas of Konoha, their past or abilities are irrelevant, but don't try to use prisoners from the jail to fill the quota.

"That's only natural," the elder of the Hyuga clan said matter-of-factly. "If Konoha were to agree to your conditions, they naturally wouldn't tamper with this. But I have a better suggestion; would you like to hear it?"

Long Er gazed at the flames of war in the city, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "...Tell me about it!"

"How about we trade our lives for the lives of those young people?"

"No!"

Before Ryuji could answer, the young people from Konoha started shouting.

The elders of the Hyuga clan ignored them, only smiling as they watched Ryuji suddenly turn around.

"Are you sure?"

Long Er's eyes flickered.

He looked around and saw that none of the elderly people who had been dragged into this by the Hyuga clan elders objected.

"What's there to be uncertain about?"

The elder of the Hyuga clan said nonchalantly, "We're all old bones now, and we don't know when we'll die. Isn't it a good deal to exchange our thirty-odd old lives for the lives of over three hundred young people?"

What a load of rubbish!

If all human lives are equal, then this statement makes no sense.

It is tragic, but human life is inherently unequal.

These veterans, who dominated the ninja world even before the founding of Konoha and survived the end of the Warring States period, World War I, and World War II, were all once top-tier masters.

Their rich life experience can provide valuable advice to the village, and the skills they have learned throughout their lives can allow future generations to grow up standing on the shoulders of giants from the very beginning.

Even when they are nearing the end of their lives, they can still contribute their last bit of energy when the village is in crisis, just like now.

These elders have made invaluable contributions to Konoha's current state.

The 310 Chunin with their foul personalities, tarnished pasts, and no future potential are no match for the 30-odd elderly people here.

"Fine, I'll stop immediately if you all commit suicide!"

Upon receiving the answer, Ryuji agreed without hesitation.

What's there to hesitate about?

These elderly people are not only far more valuable than the three hundred and ten ordinary ninjas, but their status and position are also incomparable.

Using the lives of 310 ordinary Chunin to avenge their comrades versus using the lives of over 30 high-ranking, powerful elders revered by the enemy to avenge their comrades—these two situations are on completely different levels just by being reported.

"No, I won't allow it!"

The young people, led by Minato Namikaze, stepped forward to stop them, saying, "How can we let our ancestors, who dedicated their lives to the village..."

"Shut up!"

The old man, referred to as the "little old man," glared angrily at the young people around him.

"You all think I'm tired of living and want to die, right?"

"If you had any backbone, this old man wouldn't be protecting Konoha in this way. You're useless at protecting the village, yet you have the nerve to stop us? Do you want to eat my spit and my cane?"

This short, stocky old man spoke without any mercy, leaving the Konoha members so ashamed they couldn't lift their heads.

Seeing this, he looked at Long Er and examined him carefully from head to toe.

"Such a young brat! Truly, the younger generation is to be feared!" The old man took a deep breath and continued, "Young man, remember your promise, or I will haunt you even as a ghost."

He left behind a harsh remark and gently pressed his hand against his heart.

Then, his body jolted, and he fell straight down.

"senior!!!"

The young people of Konoha cried out and shed tears.

The other elderly people shook their heads and sighed.

"To think we'd be reduced to executing such a non-guaranteed agreement..." The elder of the Hyuga clan looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Little monkey, and all of you, you must remember this humiliation. In this ninja world, weakness is a crime. You must become strong, or this will happen again."

"This shame will be etched in our hearts. Farewell, our predecessors!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi knelt down with a thud and prostrated himself before the old man, and the others followed suit.

Looking at the group of young people on the rooftop, the elderly people all smiled broadly.

"Sarutobi, remember this: only by protecting the young can you ensure the future of the village. This brat from Sunagakure has already proven this to you. Remember that!"

After saying this, the old people said no more, each using their own methods to leave this world peacefully.

The young people who were still alive cried out loud.

Looking at this scene, Ryuji felt a mix of emotions.

Is this the Will of Fire?

Having transmigrated from his previous life, he was acutely aware of how important core values ​​and action plans that are widely accepted are to an organization.

But I only knew about it; this was the first time I had experienced it firsthand.

(Once I get back, I'll figure out a Will of Sand.)

He took a deep breath and said, "Since you've shown your sincerity, then I'll show you some sincerity too!"

As he finished speaking, the puppet army that had been attacking and destroying the city flew back to the floating continent.

At the same time, a puppet landed next to Long Er and carried him upwards.

"You must pay the remaining compensation by tomorrow. If you cannot pay by tomorrow, then all your ancestors died in vain."

(End of this chapter)