Chapter 72: Theory of Darkness
"Why do we need peace? Because none of us want to die. Conversely, if we are all determined to die together, then peace will prevail."
Deep within Konoha's Root headquarters, Danzo Shimura, his body wrapped in bandages, spoke calmly to the assembled shinobi. His tone was detached, analytical, as if discussing the weather rather than the fate of nations.
Just as he had left quietly, Danzo returned to Konoha shortly after the New Year without fanfare or announcement. No one truly noticed his reappearance; one day, he was simply there again, occupying the same seat he had always claimed.
Yet something about him had changed. The air of sharp intimidation that once surrounded him was gone. What remained was heavier, an aura of quiet inevitability. Where the old Danzo had been a man forcing himself to shoulder burdens, the current Danzo seemed like one who had already borne them.
After receiving a private apology from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo had in turn admitted his own faults. He confessed that, no matter what, he should have supported the Hokage's will without reservation. Even in the shadow of Aizen Sosuke's rise, he should have obeyed in public and plotted only in private.
This act of contrition deeply moved Hiruzen. Still, the Hokage imposed tighter restrictions on Root's operations and funding. Danzo accepted them silently. After a short rest, he resumed his position as head of Root.
However, Root was no longer what it once was. The cold efficiency and ruthless perfectionism that had defined the organization began to fade. Instead, Danzo started giving public lectures, discourses on the unseen truths of the shinobi world.
At first, these theories circulated only within Root. But curiosity spread quickly. Soon, chunin and jonin began attending, drawn by whispers of Danzo's insights into the darkness of the ninja system. The once secretive Root base gradually transformed into a place of instruction, a forum where Danzo openly revealed what had long been hidden.
Initially, his words sparked outrage. The idea that Konoha, a beacon of light and unity, had a dark side was an offense to many. But as time passed, even the most idealistic shinobi began to realize that his words carried truth. The world wasn't pure. Konoha's strength depended on shadows. Someone had to bear that darkness.
Gradually, Danzo's Theory of Darkness spread throughout the ranks. It became a philosophy, an explanation for why peace must be maintained through control and fear.
"Peace is not born from flowers and applause," Danzo said in one lecture, his voice low and raspy. "It is a flower that blooms from terror, pain, disaster, and despair. True peace comes only when every man understands that nothing can be gained through conflict. When war yields no profit, only then will the soil for peace appear."
He paused, letting the silence weigh on his listeners.
"When researchers can no longer extract data from their experiments, they abandon them. When a man is full, he stops eating. The same is true for war. No sane person starts one without benefit. Only when fighting brings no advantage will even the strong learn restraint."
His next words were like knives, cold and precise.
"The First Shinobi World War was inevitable. Konoha's vast resources, the population boom brought by the village system, and the imbalance of power across nations, all of it made war unavoidable. The smaller nations had to fight to survive, to thin their populations, to stabilize their numbers. Without it, they would have collapsed beneath their own weight."
"The Second War was no different, merely an extension of the first. Every demand made upon Konoha, from land to bloodline secrets, was born from desperation."
Danzo's tone was monotonous, even dull. His words came slowly, hoarsely, like a dying scholar lecturing to an empty hall. The bandages covering his face and body only added to the morbid impression, a man scarred by war, dissecting its meaning for those who still bore its marks.
Only a few dozen shinobi gathered to listen, yet every one of them was utterly focused. They were all veterans, scarred, maimed, or broken in some way, and Danzo's words resonated deeply with them. Many took careful notes as he spoke, their eyes reflecting both sorrow and understanding.
For them, this was not just theory, it was vindication.
The Root had once been a rumor, a ghost whispered about in the alleys of Konoha. Now it stood before them, its truths laid bare.
Though his lectures lacked structure, Danzo's words cut straight to the heart of the shinobi world. He wasn't a teacher; he was a man explaining the cost of survival in the simplest, most brutal language possible.
When he finally ended his lecture and dismissed the class, the shinobi lingered. They exchanged notes, muttering among themselves in reverent tones. These were the men and women who had long since lost faith in the ideal of the Will of Fire. To them, Danzo's words were like a revelation, a lightning bolt illuminating the hidden path beneath the light.
They had found a philosophy that explained their suffering.
As the crowd dispersed, none of them noticed the figure standing quietly at the back of the hall. A man in a white haori, his presence as calm as moonlight.
"An excellent theory and presentation, Elder Danzo."
Aizen Sosuke stepped forward, clapping softly. His serene smile contrasted sharply with the oppressive atmosphere.
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