Naruto's eyes widened, completely stunned by Lin Nan's rapid-fire questions.
In the original story, Naruto had also been successfully swayed by Obito's words.
At that time, Obito launched a wide-range attack, but Naruto had exhausted his chakra and couldn't shield the entire Allied Shinobi Forces, resulting in heavy casualties.
Most importantly, Neji had died while saving Naruto, struck by the Eight Trigrams Palms Rotation technique.
This was a devastating blow to Naruto, shaking him to his core. Had it not been for Princess Hinata stepping forward, Naruto would likely have turned to darkness on the spot.
He might not have fully succumbed to darkness, but the collapse of his convictions would have been extremely severe.
Strength was meant for protection, not destruction, but how many people could one truly protect?
If he couldn't even protect his closest friends, how could he protect others?
Lin Nan's words struck directly at Naruto's heart.
What was the point of having strength now?
The war would still continue, and people around him would still die.
Just like Minato and Kushina, and Jiraiya, back then.
Touching upon his pain, Naruto retorted hysterically, "Strength is meant to protect those around us, never to destroy. My father, my master, they both taught me this. Peace doesn't necessarily arise from destruction; it can be born from love and sincerity!"
"If a house is broken, I don't know if it can be repaired with so-called love, but if there's an opportunity to tear down the old house and build a new one, why should we miss it?"
"Do you remember what I told you before, Naruto?" Lin Nan continued. "Solely defending and waiting for a chance to counterattack often doesn't break the deadlock. We need to take the initiative. Even if there's sacrifice in the moment of abandoning defense, only then can we truly break the stalemate."
"The statement that strength is meant to protect those around us is not wrong, but if we only defend and wait to be bullied, must we always wait for things to happen before trying to mend them?"
"If we truly want to bring genuine peace to the ninja world, we must strike hard, eliminate all evil and dross, and rebuild our homeland on the ruins!"
"By nipping war in the bud, there will naturally be no war orphans or hatred. Must we wait for war to arrive before we charitably take in these so-called war orphans and rescue the innocent victims of war? What is the point of that?"
"Naruto, you are a war orphan, but you chose to let go of your hatred. However, you must understand that not everyone is like you. Just because you can let go, doesn't mean others can!"
"Vengeance begets vengeance, and hatred is passed down from generation to generation. This house is already riddled with cracks and worn thin, Naruto. It can no longer be repaired!"
"Follow me. The path I am taking is the correct one. Without war, there will be no suffering, no tyranny, no bullying, no oppression, only a world of hope and light!"
"Come, Naruto…"
Lin Nan slowly extended his hand.
Naruto's dull eyes looked vacant, and as if possessed, he reached his hand out towards Lin Nan.
"That's right, this is the most correct choice!"
Lin Nan smiled kindly.
"Where does it hurt (Naruto)!"
However, at that moment, a shout suddenly rang out. Naruto instantly snapped awake and retreated.
Lin Nan frowned, then dodged an incoming slash from Sasuke.
He came out of Kamui space?
So fast!
"I will prove to you, Mr. Lin, that peace can be established not only through destruction, but also through sincerity and love!" Naruto's resolve seemed to have firmed up.
Lin Nan's expression remained neutral, while Sasuke glanced at Naruto in surprise.
The persuasion had failed after all.
If he had told Sasuke what he had just said, there was an eighty percent chance Sasuke would have sided with him.
After all, Sasuke's current thoughts were probably quite similar to his own.
However, Lin Nan wasn't particularly interested in Sasuke.
A rebellious whelp, ninety percent of his ninety-pound weight was rebellion.
Still, convincing Sasuke had one advantage: it would break up the Naruto-Sasuke duo.
Lin Nan immediately spoke, "Sasuke, your thoughts are the same as mine. There's no need to be enemies. We can build a world free from falsehood and manipulation!"
Sasuke merely sneered, then drew his bow and fired an arrow at Lin Nan.
Lin Nan did not dodge. His Susanoo simply phased through.
This was not because Sasuke disagreed with Lin Nan's ideals, but rather because Sasuke clearly wanted to be the master. How could a man live under another's command?
Lin Nan understood his thoughts and thus dropped a bombshell!
"I can help you resurrect your brother. Mind you, *resurrect*, not Edo Tensei!"
As soon as he said this, Sasuke froze.
"Sasuke, don't listen to his lies!" Naruto shouted.
Lin Nan calmly replied, "I can also help you revive your father and Jiraiya. The Sage of the Six Paths' DNA must be somewhere in Mount Myōboku!"
Naruto blinked in surprise.
"Don't doubt me, Naruto!" Lin Nan spread his arms and looked at Sasuke. "You both know very well that I don't care about this worthless life of mine. After the world of peace is built, I will have Orochimaru Edo Tensei everyone you wish to revive, and then I will use the Rinnegan and all my chakra to perform the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, granting them new lives!"
"Why would you be so kind?" Sasuke sneered.
Lin Nan replied, "You can ask Naruto. After I die, I will be stronger than I am now! So, there's no need for me to live. I have no great attachment to being alive. Being neither human nor ghost suits me better!"
Sasuke looked speechlessly at Naruto.
Naruto's face was stiff; he clearly didn't know what to say.
After all, he had just told Lin Nan that he was much stronger in death than in life.
Finally, Naruto spoke.
"Edo Tensei requires human sacrifices. Resurrection implies death. I believe neither Jiraiya-sensei nor my father would want me to revive them. So, spare us the trouble!"
Naruto had become clever.
Before Lin Nan could react, Sasuke's forehead was covered in dark lines.
Sacrifices or not, Sasuke didn't care. If Itachi could be truly resurrected, then he would have no regrets.
After all, he still felt guilty about killing his own brother with his own hands. Even after Itachi was Edo Tensei and they had opened their hearts, Sasuke still harbored some regrets.
Lin Nan saw the wavering in Sasuke's eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
Honestly, if both Naruto and Sasuke were lost, he would have no one to rely on.
Peace was easy, but governing after peace was difficult. He couldn't control all those in power with genjutsu, as that would be no different from the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Naruto was a hero. If he stood by Lin Nan's side, then others would surely have no objections!
Lin Nan was not an irresponsible person!