Chapter 50: World Peace? Only in Dreams

Early the next morning, Takuya was once again woken up by the sound of the door. He thought it might be Kushina, but it turned out to be Mikoto.

Rubbing his eyes and stepping out from his bedroom, Takuya yawned and asked, "Mikoto, what brings you here so early?"

"It's not that early anymore," Mikoto replied with a gentle smile, placing a lunchbox on the table and pulling Takuya to sit down. "Have something to eat first, then I'll tell you why I came over this early."

Is there really something up? Wait, I haven't even brushed my teeth yet.

Torn between hygiene and hunger, Takuya decided to eat first and attend to his morning routine later.

"Takuya, I might have to leave the squad and join the Police Force," Mikoto said with a smile, watching Takuya devour the food she prepared. Once he had almost finished, her smile faded, replaced by a more somber expression.

"Join the Police Force?" Takuya was taken aback.

He was still contemplating how to broach the subject with her, what reasons to give for his advice, and here Mikoto was bringing it up herself.

Was this what they called a timely pillow when one is dozing off?

Amused by his own thoughts, Takuya couldn't help but laugh.

"It's because of your aunt, right?" Takuya stuffed the last piece of cake into his mouth, looking at her.

Mikoto nodded reluctantly. "Last night, Uchiha Fugaku, the clan's young leader, came to our house representing the clan head. He spoke with my mother about how promising they think I am and that they'd like me to join the Police Force in a clerical role. They would also assign a senior ninja to mentor my training."

"My mother agreed, believing it's the best for my growth, especially since the Uchihas understand the Sharingan best."

In terms of using the Sharingan, Takuya indeed couldn't match the expertise of those Uchiha who had been activating it for years. With such a mentor, Mikoto's abilities would surely improve swiftly and correctly.

What to do? Will Takuya agree?

If he gets upset, how should I appease him?

Mikoto's heart was in turmoil.

"This is actually a good thing," Takuya finally said.

"Huh?" Mikoto was prepared for Takuya's anger, but his response caught her off guard.

Setting down his chopsticks, Takuya gently squeezed Mikoto's cheeks, "Honestly, if you hadn't mentioned it, I was going to suggest you join the Police Force myself."

"The new war is coming, and the village won't keep me idle. I'll likely be sent to the battlefields in the River Country or the Rain Country. Minato and I might have to leave, and if you were to stay in the village without a proper team, joining the Police Force and getting Uchiha training would be safer and more beneficial for you."

"But wouldn't that be dangerous for you on the battlefield?" Mikoto, forgetting that Takuya was still pinching her cheeks, spoke with a slight whistle.

"At that moment, her concerns were solely about the dangers Takuya might face on the battlefield."

"How could it be?" Takuya quickly let go of her cheeks, careful not to leave any marks.

With a confident smile, he reassured her, "Even on the battlefield, I'll be the one hunting the enemies, not the other way around. Aren't you confident in my abilities?"

Sure, as if only you get to kill the enemies and they can't touch you. You sure dream big. But indeed, Takuya had the strength to protect himself on the battlefield.

Getting up and heading to the bathroom, he continued, "So what's there to worry about? If you stay in the village, you could spend more time with Kushina. She'd definitely be happy to know you're staying."

Imagining how elated Kushina would be, Mikoto couldn't help but smile.

After Takuya's persuasion, Mikoto set aside her worries and successfully joined the Police Force as a clerical worker, reportedly earning a handsome salary.

Days went by, and battles raged across the Land of Fire. The ninja from the Sand kept wreaking havoc, forcing Konoha to dispatch forces to quell and drive them away.

Surprisingly, the village had yet to send any orders Takuya's way.

"Takuya, could we have guessed wrong?" Beside a small river during a training break, Minato and Takuya sat eating grilled fish.

"Who knows," Takuya mused, puzzled himself. Could the Third Hokage have changed his approach? It seemed unlikely.

With the war straining Konoha's resources and a second conscription drawing ninjas from all families into battle, it made no sense for them to be left idling in the village.

Tossing a fish bone into the fire, Takuya teased, "What, are you that eager to join the battlefield?"

"Of course not!" Minato's voice shot up.

He was not one who relished in bloodshed. If given a choice, he would wish for a world without wars, where people from all nations could live in peace.

"Sigh, I just wish the world could be peaceful without wars."

A noble idea, yet utterly fantastical.

Takuya didn't bother to dampen his friend's spirits with reality; human conflict was eternal. There had been wars before the ninja system, and they continued after its establishment.

The only time of relative peace was during Hashirama's reign, whose formidable strength intimidated other villages.

With Hashirama gone, the First Ninja War had erupted, and even Tobirama with all his jutsu couldn't hold the world in peace.

"Takuya, why do wars even happen? Can't the ninja world ever be at peace?"

"It might be," Takuya nudged Minato, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "in your dreams. Now go wash your hands; you've been scratching your head with those greasy fingers. I can't stand watching it."

Minato, unaware, was embarrassed.

Can't you wash your hands before scratching? Where did you pick up that habit?

Years of friendship, and Minato still hadn't changed. Takuya half-joked, "Be careful, or you might scratch off a piece of your scalp one day."

"..." Minato felt an inexplicable urge to hit someone.

Forget it. Can't win this. I'll just dream of peace then.

His friend was right. True peace was only found in dreams.

As an injured troop returned to Konoha, Tsunade, exhausted, intended to head straight home to rest but decided to stop by the Hokage's office first.

"Bang!" The door to the Hokage's office flew open violently. Hiruzen and his advisors frowned, ready to scold the disruptor, but they held back upon recognizing her.

"Tsunade, you're not a child anymore. Can't you show some manners?" Koharu scolded.

Ignoring her, Tsunade addressed the Third Hokage directly, "Old man, all the injured have been brought back safely and are now at the hospital waiting for treatment."

"If there's nothing else, I'm going to sleep. I'm exhausted. You knew I wouldn't rest easy when you called me back to the village, but still, you had me escort a bunch of injured ninjas."

Rather than getting upset, the Third Hokage smiled warmly, "Then go rest. The hospital will take good care of them. Thank you for your hard work."

"Good to know," Tsunade replied, tiredly. "It's so annoying not having anyone to play cards with on the front line."

Feeling her dark circles had deepened and her skin worsened, Tsunade lamented the war's toll on her. If not for the war, she would have been living leisurely in Konoha, occasionally treating a patient for some extra cash before hitting the casinos.

A wonderful life interrupted by the relentless demands of war.

Tsunade was determined to give Jiraiya a piece of her mind once she returned; he had dared to tease her about her gambling.

The Third Hokage wisely chose to ignore her last remark. Hoping for a card game on the battlefield? Dream on. Should he also arrange for Jiraiya to have models for his research on the battlefield?

"Ah, if only," Tsunade sighed, resigning herself to the harsh realities of the ninja world.

*****

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