Naruto: I Have a Gravity Training Room-Chapter 437 - 436

"Ahem! We've certainly felt Konoha's goodwill." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

A rarely seen smile appeared on A's face. Then, just as rarely, he asked cautiously, "So then… how exactly would this grand alliance work?"

Ōnoki and Mei clearly meant the same thing. If Konoha wasn't going to pursue total unification, then they couldn't refuse some kind of alliance. They just hoped it wouldn't be too overbearing.

Then everyone turned to Natsuki.

After all, it was Natsuki who'd proposed the grand alliance—so he had to have something in mind, right?

Natsuki twirled a pencil between his fingers, thinking. "Honestly, there are parts of Akatsuki's philosophy that I agree with."

Akatsuki's philosophy?

Everyone froze for a beat, instinctively looking toward Konan.

Konan hadn't expected it either. She hadn't anticipated Natsuki bringing up Akatsuki out of nowhere.

Natsuki continued, "Akatsuki's original idea was to gather the tailed beasts, create tailed-beast weapons, become the enemy of the entire shinobi world—and by doing that, force the entire shinobi world to unite and move toward peace. And looking at this war, Akatsuki's objective… actually came true. The Five Great Villages and the major nations fought together. Everyone set aside prejudice and stood shoulder to shoulder to protect the shinobi world. We came to understand each other, trust each other. We also learned, more deeply than ever, how hard-won peace truly is. And after the war, the people's hearts are turning toward peace. That's a very good beginning."

People looked at each other, one after another, nodding with open agreement.

It was true. This war had united everyone. Even villages and individuals who'd been sworn enemies had set aside old hatred and bias.

After the war, everyone yearned for peace. You could easily foresee decades of peace ahead.

Seen that way, perhaps Akatsuki's original philosophy had been partly right.

Hearing that, Konan's eyes shimmered with emotion.

Clearly, if parts of Nagato's ideals were being acknowledged, then at least some of what he'd done hadn't been in vain—and in that moment, her heart softened.

But what Natsuki said next made everyone's faces change.

"Now that everyone knows the truth about the shinobi world—Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was a powerful being from beyond the stars. She brought the Ten-Tails' God Tree here to plant it, and then she plundered this world's power. Someone that strong, someone with a lifespan that long… can't possibly be the only one. It should be a clan.

"To put it simply, the Ōtsutsuki are very likely a predatory clan out there in the cosmos, going from world to world and stripping them clean. Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was just one member of that clan.

"And one day, her kin will find this place. When that happens, the shinobi world will face calamity all over again."

The instant those words fell, everyone's expressions shifted violently.

Some of them might have had vague suspicions already, but hearing Natsuki say it out loud still sent a chill through their bones.

The progenitor of chakra, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, had been that terrifyingly strong—and yet someone like her was merely one individual in a clan. They lived long. They plundered worlds. And the shinobi world was nothing more than one stop on their route.

The shinobi world had endured Kaguya's catastrophe—but what about the next Ōtsutsuki?

What if the next group arrived in greater numbers, with even greater strength?

Wouldn't the shinobi world still end in annihilation?

Just imagining that future made everyone's scalp go numb. They couldn't even fathom it.

Ōnoki's voice stuttered. "So that's why you agree with Akatsuki's philosophy… because we really do have a common enemy, and we're being forced to unite to face whatever disaster comes next?"

"That's exactly right!"

Natsuki nodded firmly. "The shinobi world is one whole. We have enemies from beyond. So we need to stop all meaningless fighting—stop wasting ourselves on internal wars—and unite. We need to become stronger together, to face the Ōtsutsuki threat. That's the purpose of the grand alliance. My proposal—who agrees? Who objects?"

Everyone shook their head decisively. No one was going to object to that. (For the most exhilarating novels, go to Faloo Novel Network!)

Faced with a world-ending enemy, internal wars became irrelevant. An alliance was the only sane answer.

Gaara pressed, "Specifically, how would it work?"

Natsuki didn't bother playing coy. "Centered on the Five Great Nations, with all smaller nations joining—forming a grand alliance. The alliance signs a peace accord: war is forbidden. Any disputes are to be coordinated and resolved through alliance council meetings. Any nation or faction that starts a war will be denounced by the alliance—and if necessary, we act directly to stop it.

"That way, there's no war between major powers, no slaughter, no sacrifices. And the smaller nations won't be trampled and ravaged whenever the great powers clash. That's how we achieve peace across the entire shinobi world."

"I support the alliance," Konan said first.

She understood better than anyone the disasters war brought. The Land of Rain had once been a battlefield for the Five Great Nations. A country ravaged by war was left shattered—its people starving, corpses everywhere, endless suffering…

If an alliance could bring peace, she would naturally be the first to support it.

Mifune immediately spoke as well. "I support it too!"

The Land of Iron had always maintained neutrality, but Mifune knew perfectly well that eternal neutrality was impossible. And against powerful shinobi, samurai didn't have much ability to resist.

If you can't beat them, you join—survival came first.

A, Ōnoki, Mei, and Gaara all nodded in agreement as well. This outcome was the best possible one.

Natsuki continued, "The alliance's goal is complete peace: to prevent meaningless internal bleeding, to let everyone grow stronger together, and to prepare for the future catastrophe. As for how each nation and village governs itself, the alliance won't interfere. If needed, the alliance should even help solve difficulties. Mutual aid is best.

"Also, we should sign a peace-based trade agreement.

"Brutal plunder through war is never sustainable. True strength comes from developing your own nation—and trade is the best means of growth. For example, the Land of Wind has a harsh environment—mostly desert—and its resources are extremely scarce. But it isn't lacking wind. Couldn't they research wind power generators, then sell electricity to other nations? And if the Land of Wind lacks water, the neighboring Land of Rain has plenty—couldn't they buy water at low cost? That solves Wind's water problem and also helps Rain's economy.

"Every nation has its own strengths. The Land of Earth has abundant minerals. The Land of Water has hydropower. The Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire go without saying. Develop your advantages, cooperate through trade, and progress together—that's the true path."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Applause broke out across the room, praising Natsuki's proposal.

It was true—compared to looting through war, independent development was far more reliable.

As long as peace endured, trade would naturally flourish. Even resource-poor countries wouldn't be unable to grow strong.

Only Naruto looked dizzy, as if his head were full of fog. He'd basically never considered any of this, and this wasn't the kind of thinking he'd "unlocked," so he probably didn't really understand.

Someone who spent all day shouting that he'd become Hokage thought being Hokage meant charging into battle first and protecting the village and everyone else—without realizing that a Hokage had far more to consider.

(End of Chapter)

[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]

[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]

[Thanks for Reading!]