TSSITWON Chapter 201: You Must Be Cunning

A long silence enveloped the cave. The campfire flickered once more, while outside, the rain continued to pour, soaking the ground that had long been filled with suffering.

Yahiko clenched his fists. He could feel his heart racing. What the masked man had just said... was something Yahiko had never considered before.

Nagato and Konan stared at Yahiko, waiting for his reaction.

Finally, Yahiko took a deep breath and looked at the masked man with determination. "I will consider it."

Beneath his mask, the mysterious man smiled faintly.

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Inside a damp and dark cave in Amegakure, the sound of raindrops trickling from the crevices of the rocks could still be heard, even as the intensity of the rain outside began to lessen.

The air felt cold, and the scent of wet earth mixed with the smell of moss clinging to the cave walls. The dim light from the small torch they carried was just enough to illuminate part of the room, creating shadows that danced on the rough stone surface.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood there, facing a mysterious figure wearing a demon mask. The masked man wore a long black cloak that appeared slightly damp from the humid air.

The man's eyes, hidden behind the holes of the mask, radiated calmness and sharpness, as if he could see into the souls of the three of them.

"Right! What is your name?" Yahiko finally asked with a curious tone, realizing that they had never known the identity of the masked man.

The masked man merely chuckled softly, his tone light, almost playful. "I... You don't need to know who I am..." the masked man said casually, as if his name was not something important.

Nagato, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice sounding heavier and more serious. "… Thank you… Thank you for your suggestions and advice, but I really want to know your name and how you know about Sunagakure and all the things you mentioned earlier?" Nagato's eyes narrowed sharply at the masked man, trying to penetrate the mystery surrounding the figure before them.

"Nagato! It's rude to ask such questions!" Yahiko admonished firmly, glancing at his friend with a hint of disappointment. Yahiko understood that everyone had their own secrets, and this masked man clearly had many things he wanted to hide.

However, the masked man did not seem disturbed by Nagato's question. On the contrary, he grinned behind his mask and then let out a long sigh.

"How do I know?" the masked man repeated, as if enjoying their ignorance. "If you truly want Amegakure to be at peace, then you not only need to have an army and an economy, but you also need an information network. Everything I said can be bought in the Black Market."

The masked man slowly walked toward the cave wall, where he leaned back casually before speaking again, this time in a deeper voice.

"The most important thing to make Amegakure safe and peaceful is not just combat strength. No matter how strong you are, if you don't know which enemy will attack, you will still lose. You must know who can trigger a war, who has great power, and who is pulling the strings behind the scenes."

"If you have a vast information network, you can prevent war before it happens. Peace cannot be achieved by merely thinking idealistically and naively. You need to be someone cunning, ruthless, and intelligent. This world does not recognize the word 'fair,' and if you want to protect Amegakure, you must think realistically and act before the enemy has a chance to move."

Every word spoken by the masked man pierced like a dagger into the consciousness of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.