To be honest, from the perspective of the Konoha Ninja, Asuma should not allow himself to listen to the heresies that Hakushi is about to speak, which contradict the Will of Fire. That in itself is the ideology represented by Hakushi.
However, from the perspective of Sarutobi Asuma as an individual, wanting to know something different from the Will of Fire is a very necessary thing.
Because Hakushi is indeed correct; they are all rebels.
It's just that Hakushi is ready and practicing a different path from Konoha.
Whereas he, is still in the stage of theories and thoughts, yet to find the answer he seeks, hence his continuous confusion.
He knows that he can't let Hakushi continue speaking like this; once he takes heed of the other's words, it means there's almost no turning back for him.
This man is the mortal enemy who killed his brother and sister-in-law.
His heart tells him this, but when he tries to refuse, Asuma opens his mouth, moves his lips, yet finds he can't utter a single word.
Finally, he still said, "I don't need to hear the answer from a renegade ninja."
Rather than a temporary tactical retreat, Asuma's current appearance is more like a disgraceful escape.
He is very afraid of the blasphemous words Hakushi might say next, the so-called answer that might overturn his imagination.
So, fleeing is Asuma's only choice now.
His indecisiveness, both fearful and restless, yet anticipation inexplicably.
Struggling between Konoha Ninja and rebel.
Watching Asuma's fleeing figure, it looks like he intends to escape the so-called reality, to which Hakushi just shrugged indifferently.
Dealing with someone full of rebellious thoughts like Asuma is indeed troublesome.
Even his father, the Third Hokage, spent so many years, tried various means, yet couldn't make Asuma have a change of heart. Hakushi wouldn't dare to hope that the other could really sit down and listen to the arrangements of someone stranger like him.
No matter what, there's still the so-called vendetta over his brother and sister-in-law between them.
With such a rift in place, persuading Asuma itself is not a simple task.
Just like Tsunade, it requires time to prove. If they cannot genuinely wish for change from the heart, then even if they are brought into one's camp, sooner or later they will rebel, betray at the key moment.
"Though Konoha is quite uninteresting now, Konoha's ninja is not as boring as imagined."
Perhaps seeing too many things of submission, Asuma's rebellious thoughts stand out vividly within Konoha.
Perhaps the already deceased Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had noticed a little sign too.
After all, he was the founder of the Ninja School institution, weakening the Ninja Clan, including the Senju Clan he belonged to, raising the status of civilians.
Although the reform was not thorough enough, causing Konoha's Ninja Clan to still be too conservative in this aspect, the other clearly noticed forces from another class and emphasized development.
His harshness towards the Uchiha Clan and towards his own Senju Clan is also harsh.
Such talent is truly a political figure, when necessary, the interests of his own family can also be used to diminish, targeting the Uchiha Clan is merely due to political necessity, not a mere personal vendetta.
The only pity is that he died too untimely.
The First Ninja World War changed many structures of the Ninja Realm.
Konoha also fell off the pedestal completely, no longer aloof.
Of course, Asuma's rebellion and the path practiced by the Second Hokage are not in tune.
Asuma denies the dominating Hokage system in the Ninja Village.
One nation, one village, as literal meaning implies, is a union of a country and a village, from start to finish, they are not a whole.
The path practiced by the Land of Fire and the path practiced by Konoha have never been the same thing.
The union is because of interest.
And the trend of interests is like the mercenary system needed for ninja survival.
This is the most core essence of one nation, one village, an unchanged mercenary nature from the Warring States Era to the present.
Although Asuma doesn't understand the principles within, he is clearly aware of the irrationality of the one nation, one village system.
This irrationality is also the source of Asuma's rebellion.
Therefore, Asuma's escape seems insignificant in Hakushi's eyes.
If he can continue to firmly hold his belief, then, without Hakushi speaking, he will sooner or later come back actively to inquire, rather than simply avoiding the facts.
If Asuma's will is not so steadfast, Hakushi will also act as if he never said anything, he won't engage with the other anymore, settle things as an enemy from now on.
No matter what he does, Hakushi won't lose anything.
◎
"What a terrifying guy..."
Returning to the inn, Asuma realized his back was already covered in cold sweat and was breathing heavily.
Recalling the alluring words from Hakushi, fortunately, he fled in time just now; if he hadn't done so, perhaps he would be influenced by them now.
No matter what, he is a Konoha Ninja. Although his ideals don't match with the Hokage, betrayal is something he has never considered doing.
In fact, he has no need to accept the allurements from the renegade ninja, no matter how much the other has done in this country, it doesn't change the fact that the other is inherently a renegade ninja.