During dinner, Yahiko returned as well, but not without a price—after being forced into a "bandit boss" hairstyle by Shigeo Aburame, he teared up while eating his meal.
He didn't resist. He knew that hair could grow back in a few days, but bruises from a beating would take much longer to heal.
This hard-earned wisdom came at the cost of many tears and lessons.
After dinner, Shigeo Aburame began cleaning up the dishes, just like always. Once he was done, he noticed Yahiko and the other two still sitting inside the house.
Puzzled, he asked, "Aren't you heading out to train today?"
Before he could finish his question, Yahiko stood up with a serious look and bowed deeply.
"Senior Brother, Nagato has told me everything. Please teach me how to change this country. I'm begging you!"
Nagato bowed alongside him. "Please, Senior Brother!"
"Uh…"
Shigeo Aburame was taken aback by their solemn gestures, but soon, he chuckled.
"Haha, there's no need to be so formal. It's just some shallow insights of mine—nothing that grand. Let's sit and talk."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Yahiko and Nagato obediently knelt on the floor, looking eager to listen.
Seeing their serious expressions, Shigeo Aburame also crossed his legs and smiled as he began.
"The Land of Rain has always been a battleground for the great nations, plagued by constant wars year-round. Do you know why?"
"It's because the Land of Rain is too weak!" Yahiko clenched his fists and slammed them onto the table. "That's why it gets bullied by other countries!"
Nagato frowned but said nothing.
Taking in their expressions, Shigeo Aburame shook his head with a smile.
"That's not it. The Land of Rain isn't weak. Take the recent war as an example—Hanzo was the one who actively declared war on the Land of Iron, the Sand Village, and the Leaf Village."
"What?!" Yahiko was stunned, disbelief written all over his face. "Why would Hanzo do that?"
"Ah, naturally, for profit."
Shigeo Aburame sighed and looked at Yahiko with some pity.
"You probably don't realize this, but the Land of Rain is actually very strong—second only to the five great nations in military power. If Hanzo had chosen to declare neutrality like the Land of Iron, the great nations wouldn't provoke the Land of Rain so easily. It wouldn't be worth the trouble for them."
"…"
Yahiko fell silent. Shigeo Aburame's words had shattered many of his assumptions.
Nagato, on the other hand, seemed deep in thought.
"Senior Brother, are you saying that wars aren't caused by hatred but by profit?"
"Exactly!"
Shigeo Aburame smiled, nodding as Nagato grasped the point immediately.
"It's all about profit. The desire for power, land, and wealth creates conflicts. When those conflicts can't be resolved, wars break out."
As he spoke, he placed an apple on the table.
"This represents the land and resources of the ninja world. Now, the four of us represent four nations, but there's only one apple. How do we divide it?"
Yahiko frowned. "Just split it into four parts!"
"Heh, alright!"
Shigeo Aburame laughed, took a knife, and cut the apple in half. He placed one half in front of himself.
"I'm the strongest, so I'll take half. You three can divide the remaining half. Deal?"
Yahiko and the others nodded reluctantly.
Then Shigeo Aburame cut the remaining half into two and handed them to Nagato and Konan. Finally, he spread his hands toward Yahiko.
"That's it. There's none left."
"Uh…" Yahiko froze, then burst out angrily, "This isn't fair!"
"So what?" Shigeo Aburame asked him, "What are you going to do about it?"
"Redistribute it!"
"That's not happening."
Shigeo Aburame shook his head, took the apple, and ate it in a few bites. Tossing the core onto the table, he said, "Now there's only this. The rest is in my stomach. Unless you cut me open, you're not getting it back."
"…"
Staring at the apple core, Yahiko fell silent. He understood the metaphor now, as well as the Land of Rain's plight. His mood sank.
Nagato, however, remained spirited, his eyes fixed on Shigeo Aburame.
"Senior Brother, you must have a solution, right?"
Konan nodded in agreement. "Yes, Senior Brother must have an idea!"
Seeing their faith in him, Shigeo Aburame couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha, of course, there's a way."
He picked up the apple core, broke it open, and placed its seeds in front of Yahiko.
"Look, even though the apple is gone, the seeds are still here. Plant them, nurture them, and when the tree grows, you'll have more apples, won't you?"
"But…" Yahiko still looked troubled. "Even if we grow apples, won't they just get stolen?"
Shigeo Aburame raised an eyebrow. "Then fight whoever tries to steal them. Do I really need to teach you that?"
"But if we fight, there will be war again. Isn't that the same as before?" Yahiko grew more conflicted.
At this point, Konan spoke up, "Then why not share the apples with everyone—"
"No!"
Before Konan could finish, Nagato interrupted firmly.
"If we seek peace through compromise, that peace won't last. Only through strength can peace endure."
"Nagato…"
Konan stared at Nagato, noticing a newfound determination in him.
Shigeo Aburame noticed it too and laughed again.
"Well, Nagato, if it were up to you, what would you do?"
"I'd protect the apples!" Nagato declared without hesitation. "No one would take them from me."
"Hmm." Shigeo Aburame nodded. "And then?"
"Then… um…"
Nagato faltered, looking to Shigeo Aburame for help.
"Senior Brother, what should I do next?"
"Haha, that's for you to figure out!"
Shigeo Aburame laughed and turned to Yahiko.
"Changing the Land of Rain isn't something that can be done overnight. It may take generations of effort and countless hardships."
"I understand!"
Yahiko stood up, grabbed the apple seeds, and declared, "I'll plant the seeds and gain the power to protect them. I'll use my hands to change this country!"
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
Nagato and Konan also stood up.
The three looked at each other, their determination reflected in one another's eyes, and burst out laughing.
Yahiko walked outside, dug a hole in the ground, and carefully planted the seeds. He placed a circle of stones around them as a marker before returning inside.
"Senior Brother," he said seriously, "we can't change this country alone. Please become our leader. With your wisdom, guide us. I'm begging you!"
He knelt on one knee.
Nagato and Konan followed suit.
"Senior Brother, please!"
"Help us, Shigeo Senior Brother!"
Shigeo Aburame: "…"
I was just ranting—how did it come to this?
(End of Chapter)