Uchiha's personal opinion

Ashura was somewhat puzzled.

Uchiha Tokumitsu was too lazy to say much. He simply waved towards the outside of the hall, casually called over a servant ninja, and had him take out his copy of the 'Bakufu Top Secret Edition' of quotes, which he then handed to Ashura.

"...Aren't they different?"

Ashura was momentarily at a loss.

What do you think?

Uchiha Tokumitsu waved for the attendant ninja to leave, and said irritably, "You've lived for so many years, don't you even understand the principles of covering up one's mistakes and speaking ill of one's elders?"

"Could it be... fake?"

Ashura was even more surprised.

"All the versions are true, but sometimes telling the truth doesn't mean telling the whole truth..."

"So, your subordinates died because of your deception and for your ambition?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu walked to the altar in the side hall and stood there, looking at the names of his clansmen who had died in battle with the army after he left to govern the northwest.

“I gave them what they wanted, and they gave me what they could, that’s all.”

"From the Shogunate to the United Company, and even to the transformation of Konoha, the construction of new districts, and the benefit to all the common people within its jurisdiction, this is what the Shogunate has always been doing and has been consistently doing!"

"Also, do you remember what your followers looked like? What their names were?"

"And another thing, how have you managed to remain so innocent and carefree after thousands of years?"

"This……"

Ashura was somewhat at a loss.

The words he had prepared were now impossible to utter.

“I am their lord, and they are my subordinates; they sacrificed their lives for me, and I will repay them by giving them their families. This is the responsibility of the shogunate.”

Uchiha Tokumitsu's tone was very calm.

"The same sentence, spoken at different times, in different contexts, and with different tones, can have completely different meanings... Surely you don't know this basic common sense?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu was genuinely puzzled.

Ashura's expression was visibly stiff.

"Then you've been protected too well..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu felt somewhat amused and exasperated. "Or perhaps, all the information you've been exposed to has been filtered too thoroughly?"

"...Is that so?"

Ashura's expression was somewhat dazed.

Could it be that I have been reincarnated since ancient times, constantly fighting with my brother Indra, and that all my beliefs and convictions are just a trap set by others?

"It's not quite an information cocoon, but you have indeed been intentionally or unintentionally guided to do things that others find illogical, whether through language or the heterogeneous chakra you mentioned... So what others see as normal becomes abnormal in your eyes."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said leisurely.

These words, which seemed to be the result of reading someone's mind and providing answers to their inner confusion, sent a chill down Ashura's spine.

"I can't read minds..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu seemed to have seen through Ashura's heart once again, and said something seemingly sincerely.

You still dare to talk!

Ashura was even more bewildered.

"However, you are just too easy to understand."

Uchiha Tokumitsu shrugged. "Even an ordinary Jonin, as long as he has received training in facial expression control and emotion interpretation, can glean something from your changes in expression..."

"Is that so..."

Ashura chuckled self-deprecatingly: "No wonder..."

"By the way, I'd really like to hear how you used to define justice and evil?"

"Furthermore, what is your view on the spontaneously formed order in the ninja world?"

"And what is your platform?"

A series of problems completely silenced Ashura.

"I……"

He opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words came out.

"So, you're just doing things based on gut feeling?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu chuckled.

Ashura felt that the laughter was full of sarcasm.

But what hurt him the most was that he had no way to refute it.

“I have read my father… the Sage of Six Paths’ writings about a wonderful new world, and I understand the purpose of establishing the Ninja Clan. That is also the goal I strive for.”

Asura continued to explain, but his eyes grew increasingly confused.

"So, what should we do?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu asked again.

"I……"

Asura hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Yes!

From ancient times to the present, how can his ideal world be realized?

It seems that... each of his reincarnations, under his influence, has devoted all their energy to fighting and debating with his brother.

What about the justice, order, and future of the ninja world that he has always advocated and upheld?

What exactly is the purpose of what you are doing?

Uchiha Tokumitsu remained aggressive.

"Fame? Fortune? Or a battle of egos?"

Ashura was somewhat unsteady, but still tried to argue: "Life is but a dream, fame and fortune are fleeting, only virtue and wisdom endure..."

"Life is like dust, fame and fortune are like passing guests; you and your names will perish, but the rivers will flow on forever."

Uchiha Tokumitsu shook his head repeatedly, denying Ashura's statement: "You can only live in other people's worlds!"

"If you only read the scriptures but don't debate them or interpret them, you'll end up like this!"

"...And what about you?"

Ashura asked in a low voice.

"I am the author of the scriptures!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said with absolute certainty.

"How to write scriptures..."

"First uphold the scriptures, put them into practice, and then you can achieve transformation..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu handed over "Tokumitsu's Sayings (Bakufu Top Secret Edition)".

Ashura took the book, still bewildered.

"In my opinion... there's no need for two months of house arrest."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said calmly, "You can leave tomorrow and then try to travel around the ninja world."

"……Walk?"

"Measure the ninja world with your footsteps, feel the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death of commoners, nobles, ninjas, merchants, and artisans, and then try to experience what it feels like to be a human being..."

"All beings suffer, and only by saving themselves can they save themselves; there has never been a savior in this world, nor is there any need for a chosen one."

"The world has always been here, so what if humanity perishes? In the vast galaxy, what is eternal and immortal?"

"If you can't even control your own thoughts, then no matter how strong you are, you're nothing more than a puppet in someone else's hands!"

After saying that, Uchiha Tokumitsu patted Ashura on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Chapter 432 Self-Redemption

"I've decided to leave."

The day after meeting Ashura, Uchiha Tokumitsu learned from the priestess Risa that Ashura was preparing to leave.

When Uchiha Tokumitsu arrived at the shrine again, Ashura had already changed his clothes.

"Are you really planning to travel all over the ninja world on foot?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu was somewhat surprised.

At this moment, Ashura looked exactly like an ascetic monk. After completely suppressing his chakra aura, his face turned somewhat sallow, and even his originally brilliant golden hair was completely shaved off.

"Last night I learned how to weave straw sandals from the monk who was in charge of receiving guests. I also learned how to tan fur, spin silk and weave hemp cloth, and so on. Moreover, if you use some ninjutsu techniques, these skills are actually quite simple."

Ashura's emotions also seemed to have become very calm.

It's as if... they've seen through the ways of the world.

"Ninjutsu has always been the primary productive force in the ninja world, but it was previously used for killing and war."

Uchiha nodded, and said with a hint of approval, "So, have you decided on your goal?"

"Redemption".

Ashura answered without hesitation: "Those who wish to save others must first save themselves. Only by taking each step steadily can we achieve the goal of benefiting the entire ninja world when we succeed!"

"……Good."

Uchiha Tokumitsu raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

If this is truly Ashura's self-enlightenment... then isn't he too easily led astray?