Chapter 37: Life is Like Using the Toilet
"My younger self... I see. That's Sensei Jiraiya's philosophy."
Perhaps recalling those beautiful memories, a gentle smile bloomed on Konan's face.
As for Uzumaki Naruto... strictly speaking, he'd actually fulfilled his promise. After all, he'd only promised "peace" as the story's ending.
Just like the romance novels under Sensei Jiraiya's pen—endings only fixed on the wedding moment. As for whether sunshine would be followed by a chaotic mess of daily life, if he didn't see it, he wouldn't care.
Just as the journal's Hyuga Kiyonari said:
[No one can order someone who became the world's strongest ninja at sixteen to do things he doesn't like doing.]
At least... this world's strongest was a naive idealist. From a certain perspective, Sensei Jiraiya's teachings were quite successful.
"Sigh."
Konan sighed helplessly. So... should she show this journal to Nagato?
After brief consideration, she reached her answer.
No.
Because the mysterious masked man still lived.
Before finding a definite method to kill him, if Nagato knew this journal's contents, he'd definitely go kill the current Uzumaki Naruto. But that way, if they failed someday in the future, no one could stop that masked man.
All of Akatsuki's actions were built on one premise: they firmly believed the Rinnegan's power was unmatched.
But now, the myth of the Rinnegan's invincibility had shattered—at least it had shattered for her.
The path Yahiko walked failed. The path Nagato walked also failed. Even if the masked man, after taking Akatsuki's control, used his hidden power to launch the Fourth Shinobi World War, he still failed.
Paths practiced through force would inevitably encounter even stronger force as obstacles.
Peace, and what came after peace... was there truly no solution?
Konan flipped through the journal pages but found the content stopped abruptly with no continuation, yet seemed unfinished. Like...
"A serialized novel."
Konan closed the journal and placed it in her desk drawer. But after brief hesitation, she took the journal out again and placed it under her pillow.
This room wasn't safe. This journal... better to keep it on her person.
...
The next morning.
The moment Tsunade entered the Uchiha compound, she sensed the wrong atmosphere. The current Uchiha clan had become quite resistant to outsiders entering. If things continued developing this way... no wonder Fugaku had sought her out.
"Lady Tsunade."
Uchiha Fugaku waited with his family at the estate entrance. Tsunade's gaze swept across them, pausing briefly on Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.
So it was the combination she'd seen that day. What a coincidence.
"No need for such formality." Tsunade waved dismissively, striding directly into the estate.
Fugaku led Tsunade into the reception room. Sasuke looked at the closed door, his face carrying some confusion and indignation.
"Brother," he couldn't help asking Itachi beside him, "who is she? Even Father personally came out to greet her... Lord Hokage's visits weren't treated this way."
He explained quietly. "Because Father does this out of respect—his respect, our respect for Lady Tsunade herself."
Inside the reception room, Fugaku and Tsunade sat facing each other. After Uchiha Mikoto served tea, she departed.
"Clan Head Fugaku, pardon my sudden visit." Tsunade got straight to the point.
"Let's skip pleasantries. Keep it brief. Last night, the Anbu should have notified all major clans. That's precisely why I'm here."
"Naturally!" Excitement flashed through Fugaku's eyes. "Konoha has never been one to be slaughtered at will. Since the Cloud Village dares provoke us, we should naturally strike back!"
War was Konoha's business, but Tsunade had personally visited the Uchiha. The deeper meaning was self-evident.
She wanted to use this opportunity to help the Uchiha. Since that was the case, the Uchiha absolutely couldn't disappoint her.
He paused, his tone growing more fervent. "Lady Tsunade, the Uchiha clan is willing to serve the village, to serve you. We can provide one hundred fifty elite ninja for battle, including thirty jonin who've awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. If that's insufficient, we can add more personnel."
"Unnecessary." Tsunade's tone remained very calm.
Fugaku froze. "Hm?"
"I said, the Uchiha doesn't need to dispatch so many ninja." Tsunade repeated. "Reduce your numbers to one-third. Best to make a plan—divide these one hundred fifty ninja into three batches."
Uchiha Fugaku hadn't expected such an answer. In his expectations, Tsunade should happily accept Uchiha support, even feel grateful or appreciate his generosity.
But she'd refused.
Fugaku suppressed his inner confusion, attempting further persuasion. "Lady Tsunade, forgive my frankness. Facing a powerful enemy like the Cloud Village, we should deploy as many elite forces as possible. The Uchiha clan is willing to—"
"I know the Uchiha clan is willing." Tsunade interrupted him again, her eyes growing sharp. "But this force is mine. What I say goes."
"But if we don't achieve merit, how can the Uchiha—!"
Fugaku's emotions surged. A heartfelt statement escaped before being forcibly cut off. He shouldn't have lost composure like this. But... when hope clearly stood before him, why was Tsunade extinguishing it?
The Uchiha had been ostracized by Konoha leadership for far too long. Clan members' grievances grew increasingly heavy. This war, in his view, was an excellent opportunity. As long as they achieved military merit, the Uchiha's return to the power center wouldn't be a moon reflected in water. The Hokage position would no longer be unreachable!
Tsunade didn't explain further. Simultaneously, her strong-handed display was also hoping the first batch of participating Uchiha would be somewhat obedient.
The plan Hyuga Kiyonari proposed actually had something in common with Grandfather's dissolution of the Senju clan years ago. Forcibly integrating and refining ninja from different clans within this force—ultimately, only one thing could tightly bind them together.
Konoha, their common home.
Therefore, Tsunade had even concealed this from the Third Hokage. If the plan's truth leaked out, it would inevitably trigger doubt and resistance from various clans.
After all... the Senju clan no longer existed. No one knew whether this force would achieve the same effect in the future.
Tsunade suddenly laughed, saying with interest, "Clan Head Fugaku, my student once said something very interesting."
Fugaku didn't know what medicine she was selling, only responding, "What?"
"He said, 'Life is like using the toilet—good enough is good enough.' So..."
Tsunade blinked, using one sentence to end this meeting.
"I'll transfer Uchiha Shisui to serve as my deputy."
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