"For many similar problems, what should actually be considered are the changes in timing and circumstances... This boat, which cannot slow down or stop in the turbulent current, must always make a choice—and what determines the consequences of that choice?"
Ino "asked" her own answer—the problem itself was where the answer to this "difficult puzzle" lay.
The "answer" itself was very simple, so simple it could be summarized by these six words: "Nature is similar, habits differ"—
What a society's "long-standing habits" are determines what the "choice" is.
"Is it... evaluation?"
Inoichi Yamanaka was the first to keep up with his Princess Ino's line of thinking.
Shikaku Nara and Choza Akimichi's eyes also lit up as they listened.
"Yes—evaluation. All of a person's actions are subject to the long-standing habits within a group, which is to say, the evaluation of a region's customs, habits, and ideologies. So-called good people, bad people, loyalists, traitors, kindness, and evil are all within this evaluation... When a person is born, their nature is the same, then they are influenced by their corresponding environment and thus become different."
"So what kind of choice the person on the boat makes is a matter of consensus, not a moral paradox, nor a question of the value of life."
"For example, if the environment the boatman lives in has the concept that rules are above all, and every aspect of people's lives is bound by the most ruthless rules, then this person would choose to directly hit those five small boats—because the others are in violation, and he is in compliance. The rules would allow him to kill without any burden!"
"Conversely, if this place is full of human touch, then this person would choose to turn—this is an option where five is greater than one."
Ino's voice was clean and cool, just like the wind of this night... "Five is greater than one; this in itself is the greatest respect for life."
Of course—
If one gets tangled in meaningless "sophistry," it would involve the equivalence of life and the issue of disrespecting the life of that "one"—it might even escalate to commodifying life and putting a price on it. Quietly replacing this numerical comparison with another kind of value comparison—in the end, the person who falls into this logical trap will get completely stuck in a dead end... "It really is an answer worth thinking about..." Shikaku Nara looked up at the sky, thinking: "She really is an amazing girl. If Shikamaru... forget it, one shouldn't find a wife who is too smart, otherwise, she's not easy to trick..."
Choza Akimichi looked up at the moon in the sky. The moon shone down through the large gaps in the tree canopy, unobstructed.
He thought of Konoha's White Fang from this answer... The White Fang's "choice"?
"For the next Hokage of Konoha, the Sandaime should favor Kakashi, right?"
Choza Akimichi's words seemed a bit abrupt.
"Kakashi? Probably... Arranging for him to lead teams so many times was intentional to let him build his own foundation. Furthermore, the status of the Hatake family... his own ability is also sufficient..."
The status of the Hatake family? Ino suddenly became curious—isn't the Hatake family just a small clan? What status do they have?
Then an old piece of gossip hit her; Ino was simply dumbfounded as she listened, completely stunned by this gossip.
The mother of Konoha's First and Second Hokage brothers was actually a woman from the Hatake family. The First and Second were essentially Sakumo Hatake's great-uncles, and by the time it reached Kakashi, he could barely call the two of them "Great-Great-Uncles."
And the so-called "Senju of the Forest" actually came from Hashirama Senju's Ninjutsu—the entire Senju clan didn't actually have many people; it was more of a large collective formed by small clans attaching themselves as vassals. The Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans were all originally vassals of the Senju brothers—from this perspective, the Uchiha truly were a "great clan."
The number of people in one clan was actually equivalent to the alliance formed by the Senju brothers and multiple clans, not just in numbers but also in power.
Truly impressive.
"The term 'Senju of the Forest' comes from the First Hokage's Ninjutsu, Veritable 1000-Armed Kan'on. When performed, Wood Release transforms into a giant wooden Buddha with a thousand hands, which is why that name spread. Later, when the village was founded, it was originally going to be called Senju Village or Forest Village, but with the Uchiha joining, those names weren't appropriate, so it was called Konoha..."
... "If Kakashi becomes the Fifth Hokage, that would be quite good too... it just depends on when he can come to terms with it! No one can help with that kind of thing."
"How come I haven't seen this part of history in the history books at home?" Ino asked.
"Actually, it's there..."
It's just that some things can't be seen by relying solely on records if no one explains them—the records mention 'Senju Butsuma's wife, Senju Aom,' but as for who this 'Senju Aom' was, if you don't look carefully, you'd never find out. So who was 'Senju Aom'? She was actually Sei Hatake, who simply took her husband's surname after marriage.
Inoichi Yamanaka gave Ino another example that left her completely stunned—for example, Princess Tsunade.
The mother of Princess Tsunade, one of Konoha's Sannin, was from the Yamanaka Clan. According to seniority, Inoichi Yamanaka should call her Great Aunt, and Ino should call her Great-Grand-Aunt.
Based on relatives, Inoichi Yamanaka should call Tsunade'sister,' and Ino should call her 'maternal cousin aunt'... Ino was completely shaken... No wonder the eldest of the Senju family, Hashirama Senju, had black hair, while the second had white hair; clearly, the eldest took after the father and the second took after the mother.
No wonder Princess Tsunade has light blonde hair, almost the same color as the people of the Yamanaka Clan.
No wonder I became 'well-endowed' as I grew up.
Sure enough—
Do some inheritances get preserved?
Blonde hair, big chest, good figure.
Tsk!
"That's just how it's said... relatives like us are already very distant from Princess Tsunade..." Inoichi Yamanaka laughed. Yet in his heart, he had to admit how important this layer of kinship was—the Yamanaka Clan certainly had ability, but without this kinship, the Hokage-sama wouldn't trust them so unreservedly.
However, there was no need to tell Ino about these intricacies; it's better for a child this small to have less contact with such things.
Ino gave Inoichi Yamanaka a roll of her eyes and thought whimsically: "Dad, if I met Princess Tsunade and called her 'Aunt,' would she..."
Halfway through, Ino shivered... thinking: "Oh my god, what was I thinking? Calling her 'Aunt' would probably get me killed by Princess Tsunade. Maybe I should just call her'Sister'... Compared to my safety, seniority and politeness can be dispensed with! After all, calling her 'Grandma' is Naruto's exclusive right... Life is so hard for me."
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