NARUTO BLINKED, taken aback by the sudden curiosity. Though unbeknownst to Boruto, it was a loaded question too. Perhaps the impulsive response would be to denigrate Madara & invalidate the ancient long plight he’d been trying so vehemently to resolve. But Naruto couldn’t. If the same question had been asked of Pein, Naruto would find himself at the same dilemma. “Has Sasuke-kun been telling you stories again?” He quipped lightheartedly. “Well, if you really want to know, I guess the answer’s pretty complicated. He was actually the one we fought during the Great Ninja War -- the war’s instigator.” Naruto stared off to the ground, partly lost in thought. “The war wasn’t about territory or petty disputes. In a way, Madara was fighting for his answer to the question of peace. Madara saw its achievement through a genjutsu; and others, such as myself and the Shinobi around you, saw it through perseverance. It isn’t an illusion, and I don’t think it’s impossible either. Madara did. That’s why he believed the only means to peace is through an illusion. In a way, I still find myself asking that question - what is peace? What can I do to find it? But I think one thing the War taught me was to always keep pushing, and never giving up on finding its answer. I think we’ve begun to taste its idea, with the Allied Shinobi Forces and all.” He smiled, recalling the allies he’d gained, and the bridges he helped mend. “Even Sasuke fought for his vision of peace, and, as you know, now he’s practically the second Hokage.” Naruto looked back up, an awkward grin decorating his features. “And, heh heh, well --- Kaguya’s another story for another time.”
