The Master of Konoha's Legacy

This ability to perceive the mind is called the "mind's eye," and it is acquired through spiritual practice.

What we perceive cannot be definitively confirmed to be true.

"You should read the Buddhist scriptures I gave you often. If you ever feel lost, you can come to the Temple of Fire to find me."

The group had now reached the mountaintop.

All that could be seen were the monks of Yuji Temple, who were welcoming Jigo with their hands clasped together.

The head priest of Yunoji Temple, Keishū, bowed to Jigōichi and said:

"I have met Master Diwu."

"I have met Master Huizong."

"Tomorrow is the Buddhist debate, so please ask Master Diwu to rest at the temple for the night."

"Good."

At night, Uchiha Tonan and Kakashi took turns protecting Jigo's safety.

Kakashi was in the first half of the night, and Uchiha Tonan was in the second half.

The crescent moon, like a small golden boat, rests among the sparse branches.

Diwu sat cross-legged in front of the Buddha statue, meditating.

Uchiha Tonan, meanwhile, sat motionless in front of the monk's quarters.

He secretly distracted himself by controlling the white doves to conduct reconnaissance.

In this world, we must never let our guard down.

The white doves, lurking in various places, opened their Sharingan. With the added insight of the Byakugan, everything in the entire Rose Street was taken in.

Uchiha Tonan clearly saw many people who possessed chakra.

Most of these people are probably ninjas from the Land of Hot Water, who came here specifically to secretly maintain order.

Suddenly, a figure was caught by a white dove and entered Uchiha Tonan's field of vision.

This chakra...

That is!

Uchiha Tonan suddenly opened his Sharingan and activated Mirror Heaven and Earth Rotation at full power, constantly zooming in on his vision.

A figure appeared in my pupils, and it kept getting bigger.

At that moment, Kakuzu, who was resting on his hotel bed, suddenly felt a sense of being watched.

He immediately turned over and looked out the window.

All that could be seen outside was a desolate and bleak scene, with nothing at all.

"Is it just my imagination?"

Kakuzu pondered for a moment, but could no longer sense the spying he had just felt, so he could only go to sleep with a sense of vigilance.

Just as Kakuzu turned over, the white doves on the water tower on the hotel rooftop had already spread their wings and flown away from this place.

Are they that vigilant?

What did this guy do here?

They probably aren't after me, my head isn't worth much.

Uchiha Tonan silently put away his Sharingan.

"Squeak~"

Just then, the dim light shone on Uchiha Tonan, and the door to the monks' quarters behind him was opened.

Uchiha Tonan turned around and saw that Jigo was staring at him with a solemn expression.

Just now, when Uchiha Tonan activated his Sharingan.

While meditating in his room, Diwu sensed an extremely evil power.

"Master Diwu, aren't you going to rest?" Uchiha Tonan said gently.

Jigo paused for a moment, then sat down next to Uchiha Tonan, gazing at the cold crescent moon and saying in a deep voice:

"Just now, I sensed an evil aura."

Uchiha Tonan shifted his gaze from Jigoku, looked up at the night sky, and murmured:

"It emanates from me."

Diwu nodded and whispered:

"You were originally a ninja, so I shouldn't have interfered."

But I am, after all, a monk, and it is my duty to help all sentient beings.

The cool moonlight shone on Uchiha Tonan's calm face.

"Does the master want to save me?"

[Chapter 52. A Long Night's Talk Leads to Successful Deception]

Jigo shook his head, gazing intently at Uchiha Tonan with his deep eyes:

"Ordinary people can't see through you, but I can see the evil beneath your hypocritical mask."

But you're right, you're so pure, so pure that I have absolutely no confidence that I can guide you.

Uchiha Tonan gazed at the night sky, closed his eyes, took a breath, and a slight smile appeared on his lips:

"Master, do you think this dark and windy night is perfect for murder?"

"You want to kill me to silence me."

Do you think I would?

"will not."

"why."

"Because you need to maintain your mask of hypocrisy when you are weak."

Uchiha Tonan chuckled and shook his head, then turned to look directly into Jigoku's eyes and said:

"So, is good and evil judged by the mind or by actions?"

“This…” Jiwu frowned and began to think.

Uchiha Tonan continued to press:

"Kind-hearted, but with blood on his hands."

Evil intentions, yet helping others do good.

Which of these two types of people is good and which is bad?

After a long silence, Jiwu finally sighed and said:

"If you are the latter, then I am being too attached to appearances, and you are a good person."

"Can I hear your story? I'm curious why your heart is so dark."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Tonan lowered his head and said in a low voice, "This all started when I was at the Ninja Academy..."

As Uchiha Tonan narrated, time flew by.

Diwu listened with increasing fascination, sometimes frowning and sometimes unable to bear it.

After Uchiha Tonan finished speaking, Jigo sighed with a melancholy expression:

"This is really too cruel for you."

Uchiha Tonan gave a wry smile, staring blankly at the whitening horizon, and murmured:

"The moment I killed Mina with my own hands, I was plunged into eternal darkness."

But if I don't kill her, how can I face the deceased Qian Ling, and how can I face the Will of Fire that I have always upheld?

Looking at Uchiha Tonan's thin body, Jigo felt a pang of pity and gently patted his shoulder, comforting him, "A karmic entanglement is hard to untangle; the fault doesn't lie with you."

Uchiha Tonan forcefully slapped Jigo's hand away, trembling all over, and growled:

"If I'm not wrong, why do people always treat me coldly?"

Just like you, Master, you're always on guard against me.

Diwu was immediately stunned, and said with a face full of shame, "I... it's because my cultivation is not enough."

Uchiha Tonan took a deep breath and waved his hand, saying:

"I'm sorry, I didn't control my emotions."

Actually, I've been reading the Buddhist scripture you gave me these past few nights.

Seeing that Uchiha Tonan had composed himself, Jigo asked with a guilty look, "Did I help you in any way?"

Uchiha Tonan shook his head and said, "It didn't help much, I just learned what Buddha is."

A hint of a smile flashed in Diwu's eyes. He did not believe that Uchiha Tonan could comprehend such an age-old question as "What is Buddha?" just by reading an ordinary Buddhist scripture.

But still curious, he asked, "Can you tell me about the Buddha in your heart?"

Uchiha Tonan said with a devout expression, "Buddha is a symbol of wisdom and enlightenment."

"Your insight is unique." Diwu nodded, without criticizing whether the statement was right or wrong.

Uchiha Tonan pressed his advantage, saying, "I saw a saying in a Buddhist scripture: 'Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.'"

Diwu smiled slightly and explained, "This saying is said to have been spoken by the ancient virtuous monk Master Sheng Yen, who requested that it be widely circulated among future generations."

According to legend, Master Sheng Yen was the most virtuous and eminent monk who was closest to the Buddha.

However, countless monks throughout history have tried to understand the mystery of this saying, but all have failed.

No matter how you look at it, this statement is a fallacy.

Uchiha Tonan nodded and said, "That statement itself is a fallacy; it's meant to deceive people."

Diwu immediately stopped smiling and pretended to be serious, saying, "Child, do not slander our virtuous ancestors."