Hakushi looked at Asuma with a surprised smile.
The last time he saw Asuma in person was back when he was serving in Konoha.
Because the other was the Third Hokage's son, Hakushi had paid some attention to him during his time at the Ninja School.
Later, he also heard some rumors about him. Due to ideological differences, he argued with his father, the Third Hokage, left the village, and joined the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, forming the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
He could be said to be quite a rebellious Konoha Ninja.
"Hmph, you're here specifically to find me, aren't you?"
Asuma didn't answer but asked in return, with a cold smile.
Hakushi didn't mind the coldness in Asuma's eyes at all and nodded with a smile, finding nothing to hide.
"I'm just a bit interested in the rumored rebellious son of the Hokage, so I came to see you specially."
"Are you really such a boring person?"
Asuma frowned and asked.
"You're more interesting than I imagined; how could it be boring? Abandoning a future of destined glory and wealth, questioning the correctness of Konoha and the Hokage. If you weren't the son of the Hokage, you'd already be carrying the name of a Renegade Ninja like me."
Hakushi spoke truthfully.
Asuma remained silent.
He knew that Hakushi wasn't wrong with what he said.
In the past, he vehemently opposed Konoha's 'jewel'. Strictly speaking, he was an unstable element disrupting Konoha's stability and should be imprisoned for reform, or even defect from Konoha.
But because his father was the Hokage, he was able to remain undisturbed in Konoha.
At the Daimyo's side, he was also well taken care of without any neglect.
The son of the Hokage, although he didn't like it, he still enjoyed all the benefits and advantages brought about by this identity.
"I said, it's very interesting. In my view, as the son of the Hokage, having such unconventional thoughts is the greatest disgrace to the Hokage himself."
"So you're here to watch what unfolds in Konoha, aren't you?"
Asuma took a deep breath and looked at Hakushi with cold eyes.
Hakushi continued to chuckle lightly and moved forward, stopping slightly only when he reached Asuma's side, gazing at the city view Asuma had just been watching.
"Things like that don't really matter. I'm just very interested in you as a person. Both of us have rebelled against the Will of Fire, but I can see you're very confused now. Fear and unease are all written on your face."
Hakushi said softly.
Asuma moved a little to the side.
"As the intel says, you are an extremely dangerous man. I won't be deceived by your sweet talk. In the past, you deceived the Hokage, didn't you?"
Asuma said this, his expression becoming serious.
"There's no such thing as deceit or non-deceit. At the time, I was just fulfilling my duties as a Konoha Ninja, and your father, the Third, believed in me, that's all."
"Sophistry."
Deceit is deceit, yet he insists on saying such pretty words. Asuma felt that this man was using it to justify his defection from beginning to end.
"Whatever. No need to be so bitter and hostile. I came to you just to have a casual chat. Besides Tsunade-sensei, I rarely have a calm conversation with a Konoha Ninja. After all, someone like Jiraiya is always talking about prophecy this, prophecy that; I don't think there's any need to engage with him."
Hakushi said with a helpless smile.
Seriously, just how much of a fool would have to believe that eradicating him would restore peace to the Ninja Realm?
He didn't even know that his existence or demise could concern peace in the Ninja Realm.
Even without him as an anomaly, the truth always lies there and will eventually be uncovered by someone, just a matter of time.
And if they truly believed in what he said, Yahiko of the Akatsuki was an example.
The Akatsuki, with its own bloody and tear-inducing history of development, had long proved that Jiraiya's proposed path was worthless.
The most beautiful wish led the then Akatsuki to Hell.
It was precisely because of this that drove Nagato to take a completely different path.
"Chat?"
Asuma was somewhat stunned.
Seeing the stunned expression on Asuma's face, Hakushi continued to smile and said, "Yes, I'm quite interested in your unconventional ideas. Even though I'm a Renegade Ninja of Konoha, as fellow rebels, we might have common topics. Because what the First Hokage couldn't achieve in his lifetime, I've realized in my hands, you must be very curious to know what the answer is, right?"
Seeing Asuma's continued dumbfounded expression, the smile on Hakushi's face grew even more pronounced.