Chapter 25: The Strong Ones
"A real... strong - one?"
"Yes, because a real strong - one disdains to draw his sword against the weak." Ling's expression remained gentle. "Isn't there a saying? The strong direct their blades at the stronger, while the weak turn their blades on the weaker... I think it's very good that Madara has pity for the weak."
Before Madara could say anything, Uchiha Kenji spoke up. "Just keep pulling his leg. You'll mess your younger brother up sooner or later."
"What do you mean by pulling his leg... I'm serious."
Uchiha Kenji curled his lips. "Then why did you break that guy's nose with a punch when Yakuki showed mercy to a woman last time? No, maybe it was Eiji? Forget it, I can't remember his face... "
"You're talking about Yakuki," Ling snorted softly and frowned. "That idiot who was led astray by a few words from the mission target..."
Madara: ...Mine was also a mission target, right?
Seemingly aware of what Madara was thinking, Ling turned his head and said, "Yakuki's situation is different from yours. That time, we took on a mission. Yakuki pitied a spy who came to gather intelligence and had already shown hostility and used force. It would have been okay just to feel pity, but he even wanted to help the spy escape... I was already being merciful by just breaking his nose."
"That's true..." Uchiha Kenji sighed. Looking at the open space near the stream ahead, his steps gradually slowed down. "I remember Ling said something really cool and scary back then. Let me think -
[I don't want to take action against the clan members, but it doesn't mean I can't. Keep your stupid pity for others until after the mission. If anyone else makes such a low - level mistake, I'll break their hands and feet and drag them all the way back to the clan.]
You don't know, Madara. Ling came back, carrying a blood - covered person in each hand. His expression was super scary. Coupled with those ruthless words... Several of us thought he had killed Yakuki out of anger at that time."
Madara was stunned. "Big brother... said such things?"
"Yes, I did say that." Ling let Yata land on his shoulder and took out some beans for feeding birds from his pocket. After Yata finished eating, he released the Summoning Technique. "After all, for me, just protecting what I want to and what I should has already exhausted all my energy...
So when the existence of the other party may threaten my bottom line, I'll take action without hesitation, regardless of who the other party is or what their difficulties are... Even if I know that sometimes my actions are morally unjustifiable."
Madara withdrew his gaze from the white smoke that burst out from Ling's shoulder. "Morally unjustifiable...?"
"Simply put, it means that when I put myself in their shoes and evaluate the situation, I think they are right." Ling's gentle smile remained on his lips. "Let's judge based on this mission.
Madara should have also noticed that those bandits are actually just villagers who had to find another way out because the tax law was too harsh. They only did what they did because they couldn't make a living and exploited the loopholes in the law. If it were me, I might even do something more extreme.
But even though I pity them, I still won't hold back. Because a good Father here might be a parasite in the eyes of the lord, while he is a villain in the eyes of passing merchants, an easy - to - handle mission target that can earn us a large commission in our eyes, and a hero who dares to resist in the eyes of most villagers..."
Madara was stunned again, looking even more confused. "If he is a hero in the eyes of most people, aren't we doing something wrong?"
"Then has Madara ever thought about what would happen if many villagers in the world followed their example here?"
Madara was not a dull person. He quickly realized the result of people following their example. "... It would be war."
"That's right, it's war, and it's a rebellion war that is destined to be large - scale."
Ling's smile faded a bit. "We ninjas exist because of wars and conflicts and should be grateful for having something to do when wars break out. However, before someone can look beyond this era into the future, this rebellion war will only meaninglessly deplete the country's foundation and our manpower...
Madara, this world is not a piece of paper with fixed information that has only one solution no matter how you look at it. The complexity of human nature means that nothing in this world can satisfy both sides... When one side gains benefits, the other side's interests are doomed to be damaged. All we can do is protect what is related to us and make changes according to the development of the times."
Having said that, Ling reached out and ruffled Madara's hair. "Big brother doesn't have the ambition to achieve world peace, nor the strength to match such an ambition. But if you want to do it, big brother will support you."
"Come on, come on, stop using this opportunity to lecture your little brother," Uchiha Kenji, who had simply scouted the surroundings, walked back. "I checked. The water in the stream is good. Go and clean the blood off your body first."
Ling turned his head and smiled. "Okay, then I'll trouble you with setting up the camp."
Uchiha Kenji didn't rush to set up the camp. Instead, he looked at Madara, who was standing aside with clenched fists and pursed lips. "What, still feeling bad?"
"...Yes, a little," Madara lowered his head and looked at his hands. "Although big brother said so, I still don't know if what I did was right or wrong, and there are still some things that are a bit..."
"Well, it's a common problem for newbies. Then I'll also teach you a bit of experience," Uchiha Kenji stroked his chin. "[Pity the enemy, and your family will die.] Just remember this and act accordingly."
Madara looked up at Uchiha Kenji speechlessly. "...I understand this kind of truth even without you telling me."
"Then what else is there to worry about?"
Madara retracted his gaze, looking a bit awkward. "I just didn't expect big brother..."
Uchiha Kenji immediately showed an understanding look. "Ah, you didn't expect Ling to do something to the clan members, did you?"
Madara's body stiffened and he nodded slightly. "I remember big brother has always been a very gentle person, and if I remember correctly, the rules of conduct said not to do anything to the clan members..."
"Well, it did say so, but Ling never rigidly adheres to those rules... We knew it when he violated the rules and took us to the pleasure quarter, casinos, hot springs, and sake houses to relax after some missions when he found that we felt uncomfortable with some missions, and he even hid it from the clan."
Madara looked kinda dazed. "But I heard from big brother Akihiko and the others that big brother Ling is very tolerant of the Uchiha clan members. He won't be too harsh on them even if they make mistakes during missions..."
"That tolerance means Ling is tolerant of clan members who can't fully use their strength because of their own lack of power or psychological Mondai. He'll do his best to help them overcome their weaknesses and maximize their value..."
Uchiha Kenji looked rather strange - looking. "Madara, don't you really think that Ling is the kind of gentle and kind - hearted person who tolerates others without a bottom line? If so, even if you're Ling's younger brother, I'll laugh at you.
Those who are unanimously recognized as the best among their peers must rely on more than just charm to convince their peers. Except for a few in our Uchiha clan generation who really don't like fighting, we've all been overpowered by Ling in terms of force. Anyway, in our Uchiha clan that lives by fighting, strength is the best way to have a say. Without strength, even the best charm is just empty talk."
[Is absolute strength the key to having a say...?]
Madara nodded thoughtfully. He understood.