Life Is Like Going to the Bathroom

"My younger self... I see. That was Teacher Jiraiya's philosophy."

Perhaps she was recalling those beautiful memories, because a warm smile blossomed across Konan's face.

As for Naruto Uzumaki... strictly speaking, he had already fulfilled his promise. After all, he had only promised "peace" as the ending to the story.

Just like the romance novels Teacher Jiraiya wrote, the ending came at the moment of marriage. He hadn't seen what life would be like after the sunshine faded, with all its petty troubles, so he didn't concern himself with it.

Just as Hyuga Kiyonari had written in the journal.

[No one can order a sixteen-year-old who has become the world's strongest ninja to do something he doesn't want to do.]

At least... the strongest person in this world was a naive idealist. From a certain perspective, Teacher Jiraiya's teachings had been quite successful.

"Sigh."

Konan sighed helplessly. So... should she let Nagato read this journal?

After thinking it over for a while, she came to her answer.

No.

Because the Mysterious Masked Man was still alive.

Until they found a way to kill him for certain, if Nagato learned what was in this journal, he would definitely go kill the Naruto Uzumaki of this era. But if that happened, and they failed one day in the future, there would be no one left who could stop that Masked Man.

Everything Akatsuki did was built on one premise: they firmly believed that the power of the Rinnegan was unmatched.

But now, the myth that the Rinnegan was invincible had shattered. At least, it had shattered for her.

The path Yahiko had taken had failed. The path Nagato had taken had failed too. Even after the Masked Man took control of Akatsuki and used his hidden power to set off the Fourth Shinobi World War, he still failed.

A path pursued through force would inevitably run into even greater force.

Peace, and what came after peace... was there really no other way?

Konan flipped through the journal, only to find that its contents stopped abruptly. There was nothing more, yet it still seemed unfinished. It was like...

"A serialized novel."

Konan closed the journal and put it in her desk, but after a brief hesitation, she took it out again and placed it under her pillow.

This room wasn't safe. It would be better to keep the journal with her.

The next morning.

As soon as Tsunade entered the Uchiha Clan Grounds, she sensed that something was off. The Uchiha Clan had become quite hostile toward outsiders. If things kept developing this way... it was no wonder Fugaku had come to her.

"Lady Tsunade."

Fugaku Uchiha waited outside the residence with his family. Tsunade's eyes swept over them and lingered for a moment on Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha.

So they were the group she'd seen that day. What a coincidence.

"There's no need to be so formal." Tsunade waved a hand and headed straight inside.

Fugaku led Tsunade to the reception room. Sasuke stared at the closed door, confusion and resentment on his face.

"Big Brother," he couldn't help asking Itachi, "who is she? Even Father went out to greet her personally... He didn't even do that when Lord Hokage came."

He quietly explained, "Father did that because he—and all of us—respect Lady Tsunade herself."

In the reception room, Fugaku and Tsunade sat facing each other. Mikoto Uchiha served them tea, then left.

"Clan Head Fugaku, forgive me for dropping by without warning." Tsunade got straight to the point.

"Let's skip the pleasantries and keep this brief. Anbu should have notified all the major clans last night. That's why I'm here."

"Of course!" A trace of excitement flashed in Fugaku's eyes. "Konoha has never been one to let others walk all over it. Since Kumogakure dared to provoke us, we should hit back!"

The war concerned Konoha, yet Tsunade had visited the Uchiha alone. The meaning behind that was obvious.

She wanted to use this opportunity to give the Uchiha a helping hand. If so, the Uchiha couldn't let her down.

He paused, his tone growing more eager. "Lady Tsunade, the Uchiha Clan is willing to serve the village and you. We can send a hundred and fifty elite ninja to fight, including thirty jonin with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. If that's not enough, we can provide even more."

"That's not necessary." Tsunade's tone was perfectly calm.

Fugaku froze. "What?"

"I said there's no need for the Uchiha to send so many ninja." Tsunade repeated herself. "Cut your numbers down to a third. Better yet, draw up a plan to divide the hundred and fifty ninja into three waves."

Fugaku hadn't expected that answer. He'd assumed Tsunade would gladly accept the Uchiha's support, perhaps even express gratitude or admiration for his generosity.

But she had refused.

Fugaku suppressed his confusion and tried to persuade her again. "Lady Tsunade, if I may speak frankly, against a powerful enemy like Kumogakure, we should commit as many elite forces as possible. The Uchiha Clan is willing to—"

"I know the Uchiha Clan is willing." Tsunade cut him off again, her gaze sharpening. "But this force is mine. You'll do as I say."

"But if we don't earn merits, how can the Uchiha—"

Fugaku grew agitated. The words he'd truly wanted to say slipped out, then he forcibly cut himself off. He shouldn't have lost his composure like this. But... hope was right in front of him. Why was Tsunade snuffing it out?

The Uchiha had been excluded by the Konoha High Command for far too long, and the clan's resentment was growing. In his eyes, this war was the perfect opportunity. As long as they distinguished themselves, the Uchiha's return to the center of power wouldn't be a mere pipe dream, and the Hokage Position would no longer be out of reach!

Tsunade didn't offer much explanation. At the same time, her forceful manner was meant to make sure the Uchiha in the first wave would be more willing to follow orders.

The plan Hyuga Kiyonari had proposed was, in fact, much like what Great-Grandfather had done when he dissolved the Senju Clan. By forcibly bringing ninja from different clans together in this force and tempering them into a unified whole, there would be only one thing that could ultimately bind them together.

Konoha, their shared home.

That was why Tsunade had even kept the plan from the Third. If its true purpose were revealed, it would inevitably arouse suspicion and resistance from the various clans.

After all... the Senju Clan was gone. No one knew whether this force might have the same effect in the future.

Tsunade suddenly chuckled and said with interest, "Clan Head Fugaku, my student once said something rather amusing."

Fugaku had no idea what she was getting at, but he replied, "What?"

"He said, 'Life is like going to the bathroom. Once you've done enough, that's good enough.' So..."

Tsunade blinked and ended the meeting with a single sentence.

"I'll have Shisui Uchiha transferred here as my deputy."