Naruto Online: Hyuga Branch Family? Let's go all out!

Chapter 144 Talking Under the Bamboo Shoots

On a raised hill in the land of fields, there grows a giant ailanthus tree.

Under the ailanthus tree was a meadow, where only one kind of grass grew, and it was so clean that it looked as if someone had taken special care of it.

Such a prime location naturally became the best place to chat.

The two sat down on the grass, and Black Jutsu stood beside them waiting.

Ban asked, "What's your name?"

"Hyuga Yasuto!"

"Oh, oh!" Spotted nodded. "Where's your father?"

"Hyuga Toki!"

"." Ban thought for a moment, then realized he didn't recognize it.

"What's your grandfather's name?"

"Hinata Ida!"

"Oh, so you're that Ida guy's grandson!" Madara finally recognized a familiar name. "But Ida's talent back then was quite ordinary. How could he have given birth to such a genius?"

"It's alright. While parents certainly play a role in genius, it depends more on upbringing. Does genius necessarily have to be found in the clan leader's lineage?"

"That's true!" Spot nodded, even though his father was the clan chief and he was also the clan chief.

However, the Uchiha clan has always ruled that whoever is the strongest becomes the clan leader.

He became the clan leader not because he was the clan leader's son, but because he was strong enough!

"Do you know who I am?" Ban asked again.

"I have some guesses!" Ning Yuan said, "You have the Sharingan, which proves you are an Uchiha, and you're my grandfather's generation. If we think about it carefully, the only Uchiha who left Konoha during that period should be Uchiha Madara, but according to records, he died in the battle with the First Hokage. So you survived that battle?"

"Haha, you're really smart, you even guessed my identity!" Madara could tell from Ning Yuan's tactics and the various ninjutsu he developed that this man was quite intelligent.

Without intelligence, even if you were given ninjutsu, you wouldn't be able to learn it at your age!

Unexpectedly, his wisdom was not only reflected in combat.

"In that battle, I did lose, but I had a secret technique that allowed me to survive. On the other hand, Hashirama Senju, who was known as the God of Shinobi, died after fighting me. So tell me, who really won that battle?"

"From a survival perspective, you've won, but from a publicity perspective, everyone knows you've lost and he's won, so from the public's perspective, he's the victor!" Ning Yuan said.

"I don't care what the masses think!" Madara said bluntly. "Just a bunch of mediocre people who blindly follow the crowd!"

Ning Yuan smiled and said, "The world is indeed full of mediocre people, but it can also nurture geniuses with astonishing wisdom. These geniuses are just the ones who can lead the development of humanity. So, in my opinion, this world needs geniuses, but it also needs the cradle of geniuses—ordinary people!"

"Is that so!" Ban didn't take it seriously, but after thinking about it carefully, he had to admit that Ning Yuan's statement was correct.

Even among the Uchiha clan, not all are geniuses; many are unable to awaken their Sharingan and can only live as ordinary people their entire lives.

But even these ordinary people can give birth to super geniuses who can change the course of a battle.

This child observes the world from a very strange perspective, yet it is also very insightful; there are many things he himself has never thought of.

Thinking of this, Madara asked, "Between Hashirama and me, who do you prefer?"

"Of course I like you more!"

Ban was taken aback, then chuckled and asked, "Why me?"

"Because you're sitting next to me, who else would you talk to if not me?" Ning Yuan said matter-of-factly, "If Hashirama were asking me a question, I would definitely answer him!"

"You little rascal!" Ban was speechless, but hearing this answer, he couldn't stay angry. He could only mutter something and then ask, "Seriously, tell me the truth. Even if you like him, it's fine. I'm not the kind of person who holds grudges!"

"Oh, if that's the case, then I still like you!"

Ban was mentally prepared to hear that person's name, but he never expected that after all the twists and turns, he would still prefer him.

"Why?!" Madara asked curiously, "Doesn't your Konoha village always preach about Hashirama's greatness?"

In contrast, Madara has almost no notable achievements.

"He is indeed great, but..." Ning Yuan thought for a moment, how should he put it?

Because your character is relatively well-rounded and realistic, and your ending is relatively tragic?

In contrast, Hashirama is just a larger version of Naruto.

It seems that all Asura reincarnations are like this.

In contrast, Indra only reincarnates chakra, but it doesn't seem to affect his personality much.

Although Sasuke and Madara are both arrogant, the entire Uchiha clan is arrogant, so this shouldn't be a problem with Indra's chakra.

But you can't tell Ban this answer.

Ning Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Maybe you're more genuine!"

"Really?" Madara asked, "Is it because you've seen me but not Hashirama?"

"No, that's not it. The feeling I'm describing is hard to describe. It's a bit like," Ning Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Hashirama is like that aloof village chief, while you're more like the eccentric old man next door. Although the old man isn't as powerful as Hashirama, he's more approachable!"

"Do I also make people feel close to me?" Madara was speechless, thinking back to when he left the Uchiha clan, not a single person was willing to follow him.

This doesn't seem like the kind of person you want to get close to!

"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore!" How old are you? Still trying to win a child's affection.

Ban asked, "Have you graduated? Why aren't you wearing a headband?"

"I haven't graduated yet without a headband!" Ning Yuan said.

"Huh?" Madara was taken aback. "With your strength, you haven't graduated yet? I heard there was a guy at the Ninja Academy named Kakashi who wasn't as strong as you, but he graduated at the age of 5!"

"That's because Kakashi demonstrated his strength, but Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know my strength!"

"Why?" Madara asked, "Wouldn't it be better to demonstrate your strength and then receive the treatment befitting a genius?"

Although the Uchiha clan has many internal problems, one thing they have in common is that they highly respect talent.

As long as you demonstrate abilities beyond your peers, resources, money, and ninjutsu will soon come knocking on your door.

"This generation's Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha is not one to tolerate anyone!" Ning Yuan said. "He wants his son to become the Fourth Hokage or the Fifth Hokage, so anyone in Konoha who could threaten the Hokage position is suppressed by him. If he can't suppress them, he simply uses physical means to kill them!"

"You've only heard of Kakashi, but you don't know his father committed suicide!"

"Is that so?" Madara frowned and looked at Black Zetsu.

"That's true!" Black Zetsu nodded. "I just got this information, but I haven't had a chance to tell you yet."

Then the kid started following him.

"This Hiruzen Sarutobi, I remember he's Tobirama's apprentice, right? No wonder, just like his teacher, he's not very strong himself, so he spends all his time racking his brains to use underhanded methods to mess with people!"

Ning Yuan shook his head: "The two of them are different. Tobirama knew his strength was weak, so he went to great lengths to research and experiment, creating forbidden ninjutsu to improve his power. Hiruzen Sarutobi, on the other hand, knew his son was weak, but instead of trying to help him improve, he used power and manipulation to suppress others. To describe his behavior in a classic way, it's like saying, 'Instead of improving himself, he'd rather slander others.' How can someone like that compare to Tobirama? He's not even worthy of carrying Tobirama's shoes!"

"Instead of improving yourself, you'd rather slander others!" Madara Uchiha pondered this statement, then nodded in satisfaction. "Now that you mention it, I understand exactly what kind of person Hiruzen Sarutobi is. But what you don't know is that Tobirama is also someone who loves to speak ill of others. His slander against the Uchiha clan has never been lacking!"

"What did he say?"

"He said the Uchiha are an inherently evil clan!" Madara sneered, "The reason is simply that the Uchiha clan can gain immense power by awakening their Sharingan, and he doesn't have such eyes, so he's just jealous!"

"I think he didn't say that out of jealousy, but rather because of his lack of knowledge!"

"He lacks knowledge?" Madara chuckled. Although he didn't want to admit it, Tobirama's wisdom was indeed the highest among them.

But unexpectedly, he was criticized by his juniors for lacking knowledge.

"Hahaha, hiccup?" Madara was about to laugh when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Wait, why do you always say good things about Tobirama whenever I mention him? You don't actually idolize him, do you?!"

"Yes!" Ning Yuan nodded emphatically. "Is it not allowed?"

The worship of the Second Hokage is just a persona that Ning Yuan created, but he has to maintain this persona even when facing Madara.

After all, it's normal to hide one's strength; ninjas all need to conceal their abilities.

But if one's admiration for the privileged is fake, it creates the impression that this person is good at deceiving others.

As a result, everyone will assume that everything you say is false, and thus they will be wary of you, guard against you, and be on guard against you.

"What's so admirable about someone like him!" Madara said irritably. "Besides, didn't you just say you liked me?"

"The Second Hokage wasn't among the candidates you provided!!"

Ban was both amused and annoyed, but he couldn't retort. He could only shake his head helplessly and ask, "You like me because I'm genuine, but what's with liking him?"

"Don't you think he's amazing?" Ning Yuan asked. "He doesn't have Wood Release or Sharingan, but he managed to stand on the same stage as you prodigies just by relying on his knowledge. That's the power of hard work, and the power of knowledge!"

"Coincidentally, I'm also a person who pursues knowledge. If I don't admire him, who else should I admire?"

"Knowledge?" Ban was momentarily stunned, then felt a sense of novelty.

His generation included those who pursued power, those who pursued authority, and those who pursued dreams.

But when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge, Tobirama is truly the only one.

But you can't say that pursuing knowledge is wrong. If Madara hadn't seen the black stone tablet in the Uchiha clan's territory and gained new knowledge, how could he have awakened the Rinnegan?

"Knowledge is power!" Ning Yuan said calmly. "Especially for people like us who don't have any powerful bloodlines, pursuing knowledge is the simplest and most convenient way to become stronger!"

Madara nodded in agreement, beginning to understand why a Hyuga clan member would use elemental ninjutsu instead of Gentle Fist.

So this is a studious Hinata, then there's no problem.

"To break free from the limitations of family and bloodline and embark on the path of pursuing knowledge, you're quite remarkable, kid. I acknowledge you!" Ban raised his hand, patted Ning Yuan's shoulder, and then asked, "However, I do feel that pursuing personal strength isn't true strength!"

"Then what truly constitutes strength?"

Ban's lips curled into a slight smile as he said calmly, "Of course, it's someone who holds the world and all living beings in their heart!"

Now we're finally getting to the main topic!

"What do you mean?" Ning Yuan blinked, somewhat bewildered.

"To only care about one's own strength is nothing but selfishness driven by power, strength, and beauty! But if you keep the world in your heart, you will be worshipped by everyone, just like Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and me back then. Do people worship our strength? No, what people worship is the better life we ​​can bring them!"

"If we rely on our overwhelming power to indiscriminately kill innocent people and harm the masses, then the title we earn will not be that of ninja gods or ninja demons, but rather ninja demons!"

Asura refers to someone who has committed numerous killings, but he is also a legitimate deity, not a derogatory term.

After explaining his philosophy, Ban looked down at Ning Yuan: "Ning Yuan, do you want to be someone who pursues personal strength, or a god who holds the world in his heart?"

(End of this chapter)