Chapter 286: Is The Power Of Ninjutsu Merely, Or Primarily, Something That Exists To Serve Battle, Slaughter, And Destruction?

"Jiraiya-sama, and everyone present."

Shinichi did not answer directly. Instead, he threw out another question as his gaze once again swept across the entire audience: "In your opinion! Is the power of Ninjutsu merely, or primarily, something that exists to serve battle, slaughter, and destruction?"

This question caused everyone to fall into deep thought. Many people subconsciously nodded, giving various answers with different wording but the same core meaning.

"Most Ninjutsu really are for battle and killing..."

"Even support-type Ninjutsu ultimately exists to improve combat effectiveness."

"The essence of Ninjutsu is weaponry..."

Some even cited history: "From the Warring States Period until now, the evolution of the Ninjutsu system has almost entirely revolved around how to more effectively injure enemies and protect oneself..."

At this moment, a somewhat nervous yet exceptionally resolute, clear young girl’s voice rang out, breaking the almost one-sided chorus of agreement.

"B-but Medical Ninjutsu isn’t!"

It was Shizune!

She gathered her courage and raised her hand. Her face carried a trace of nervousness from being the focus of everyone’s gaze, but she still continued: "Medical Ninjutsu is used to save people! To save lives, soothe pain, and give hope! It... It isn’t for killing!"

Shizune’s words were like a clear spring. In the eyes of many Medical Ninjas or those who agreed with her ideals, light also began to shine.

Kurenai Yuhi, who sat beside her, lightly bit her lip when she heard this. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end still spoke: "Shizune, you’re right. Medical Ninjutsu itself exists to heal the wounded and save the dying."

"But within our current system, isn’t the value of Medical Ninja still, to a large extent, to treat comrades injured in battle so they can return to the battlefield faster and continue fighting? From this perspective, Medical Ninjutsu is still part of serving war and combat, only in a different way..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she herself found the argument somewhat cold, yet it was difficult to deny the reality within that logic. Many of the Medical Ninjas present also revealed complicated expressions.

Shizune opened her mouth, wanting to refute it, but for a moment, she did not know how to express herself.

Yes, within the current war system, their Medical Ninjutsu still seemed bound to the war chariot called warfare, becoming indispensable logistical support for maintaining high-intensity combat.

The eyes of the entire hall once again focused on Shinichi.

Jiraiya did not immediately voice his opinion. He merely looked toward the calm-faced boy before him and asked: "Shinichi, what do you think?"

Meeting his gaze and also facing all the focused eyes upon him, Shinichi slowly spoke: "What if there were a kind of Ninjutsu that allowed people to fly through the sky, letting even ordinary people use it to cross mountains and seas, connect distant towns, and reunite separated loved ones?"

"What if there were a kind of Ninjutsu that could gather water and purify filth, restoring vitality to dried-up land and bringing sweet springs to thirsty villages?"

"What if there were a kind of Ninjutsu that could shape stone, making the construction of houses effortless, allowing roads to be built rapidly, and enabling ordinary people to possess sturdy homes and convenient transportation?"

"Or what if there were a kind of Ninjutsu that could accelerate plant growth, turning barren farmland fertile, doubling grain production, and driving hunger away from the world?"

The several what-ifs Shinichi threw out in succession seemed to unfold before everyone a picture completely different from bloody battlefields, one filled with vitality and hope.

"However, what I want to tell everyone is that these Ninjutsu have always existed within our ninja power system."

"Wind Style can regulate local climates, disperse harmful miasma, and perhaps, through more refined research, achieve the possibility of assisted flight I just mentioned!"

"Earth Style can reshape terrain, level land, reinforce riverbanks, guide water systems, and with incredible efficiency mold bricks and stone while constructing the framework of houses and infrastructure!"

"Water Style can likewise be deeply developed in its abilities to purify, nourish, and guide water, solving drought and pollution. Its social value is immeasurable!"

"Lightning Style, through its precise control, stimulation, and transmission of energy, if deeply researched, might become the core principle behind some form of long-distance communication or precise energy supply!"

"Wood Style even more so! The mighty power the first Hokage used to pacify chaotic times and create forests, if its aspects of creating life and promoting growth were guided outward and used to improve crops, desert greening, and stabilize ecosystems, how profound would its significance be!"

"And even Fire Style!"

Shinichi’s words landed upon the field he excelled at most: "It can likewise be applied to precise forging, smelting, and even certain forms of soil improvement under specific conditions!"

His words struck many like a bolt of enlightenment!

That’s right!

They were too familiar with how these techniques looked in battle, to the point that it had become fixed thinking.

But the other possibility Shinichi described was like sunlight piercing dark clouds, instantly illuminating the vast side they had long ignored.

Ninjutsu had never been only about killing.

It was merely that for thousands of years, the ninja path had gradually become trapped within the narrow cage of a combat profession.

"Have you all realized it?" Shinichi slowly swept his gaze across the entire hall and continued, "If we cast aside the heavy outer shell of slaughter, war, and destruction, we will discover that Ninjutsu serving connection, creation, healing, and prosperity has always existed within the power passed down to us, waiting for us to rediscover it, develop it deeply, and truly make good use of it!"

"Ninja could have become architects of civilization, not merely destroyers."

"Chakra should have become more of a bridge for connection and creation, not merely a blade for tearing apart and destruction."

"Ninjutsu should not be narrowly defined as combat tools or killing techniques. Ninjutsu should become the power to build the world, improve people’s lives, and truly push the era forward!"

"The first thing we must do is liberate the power of Ninjutsu from the single dimension of combat and slaughter. When the power of Ninjutsu can genuinely become productivity and creativity that improves every ordinary person’s life and promotes the development of society as a whole!"

"When ninja can use extraordinary power to serve the masses and become builders and guardians who create greater public value!"

"Only then can the identity of ninja truly break free from the fated shackles of being tools for killing and return to the essence and mission originally bestowed upon us by the ancestor of ninja, the Sage of Six Paths!"

The moment these words were spoken, it was as if heaven and earth split apart!

This was no longer a simple advocacy of ideals, but the depiction of a clear, practical, and even world-shaking new path capable of overturning the very foundation and developmental direction of the entire Shinobi World!

An unprecedented brilliance burst from Jiraiya’s eyes, as though a traveler wandering through darkness for ages had finally seen a lighthouse guiding the road ahead. He almost immediately and impatiently asked: "Shinichi! If the day you speak of truly arrives, will people finally be able to genuinely and completely understand one another? Will war disappear forever? Will the Shinobi World... The Shinobi World finally welcomes eternal peace?!"

Yet unexpectedly, Shinichi merely gently shook his head.