Konoha's Tatsuya

The ship sliced through the waves, leaving a long white wake in its trail. In the distance, the setting sun painted the horizon a brilliant gold.

Leaning against the ship's railing, Tatsuya and Itachi sat side-by-side.

"Tatsuya-san," Itachi began suddenly, staring out at the breathtaking vista, "what do you believe is the true nature of this world?"

"The true nature of the world?" Tatsuya turned to look at the intensely serious young Uchiha beside him and shrugged. "Beats me."

The way geniuses think really is different! Tatsuya had pondered such questions himself, but never dwelled on them. Why? Because they were too damn complicated.

"Then what does it mean to be a ninja?" Itachi pressed. "Why must we always fight?"

"Ninja is just a label," Tatsuya stated plainly. "At our core, we're merely tools—weapons wielded by our villages in times of war. And as weapons, we must always be ready for battle."

"But why can't villages just coexist peacefully?"

"Desire and ambition fuel conflict," Tatsuya replied. "As long as humanity exists with its inherent nature, war can never be truly eradicated."

"So," Itachi's voice dropped, "is lasting peace in the shinobi world truly impossible?"

"Fleeting peace, perhaps. Lasting peace? That's much harder. Unless..." Tatsuya mused, his gaze drifting back to the horizon. "Unless someone truly transcendent appears. Someone like the First Hokage, capable of uniting the world under their strength, someone whose influence could endure beyond a normal lifespan. Only then might true, lasting peace be possible."

"Endure beyond a lifespan? But humans are mortal," Itachi murmured.

"Exactly," Tatsuya chuckled, pushing himself up from the railing. He gazed towards the horizon, his voice carrying clearly over the wind. "We're mortal. So why tie ourselves in knots over things we can't control? While we're here, let's just focus on protecting those we care about and living our lives to the fullest."

Itachi said nothing.

After watching the fading light paint the sky in silence for another moment, Tatsuya turned back to Itachi. "Itachi, one person's strength, one person's perspective... it's always limited. Don't try to bear the weight of the world on your own shoulders. Learn to rely on others. Learn to trust."

"Trust others..."

The sea wind snatched Itachi's murmured words, carrying them away.

Meanwhile, in the second-floor cabin just behind them, Terumi Mei leaned against the window frame, an unreadable glimmer in her eyes. She had overheard their entire philosophical exchange, and now her gaze lingered on Tatsuya out on the deck. The golden sunset bathed him in light, making him seem almost radiant.

Ruthless decisiveness in battle, yet possessed of a certain thoughtful gentleness... Which facet represented the real him? Mei wondered.

Several days later, the ship docked at a port in the Land of Fire. The group of six disembarked and began traveling inland at a leisurely pace. With no mission deadline looming, their return journey slowed considerably, allowing them to appreciate the scenery of the Land of Fire.

Along the way, the development Tatsuya had half-hoped to see failed to materialize. Terumi Mei and Kakashi showed no particular interest in each other; there wasn't the slightest spark between them. Instead, Mei seemed rather curious about Tatsuya himself, occasionally striking up conversations with him during their travels.

Tatsuya's approach to these interactions followed his personal "Three Nos" principle: Don't initiate, don't refuse, don't commit. After all, Mei was undeniably one of the shinobi world's great beauties, and Tatsuya had no qualms about pleasant conversation with an attractive woman.

After several days of travel, they arrived at a small town in the south-central region of the Land of Fire named Taketa Town, home to roughly two or three thousand people.

Though small, Taketa Town was relatively well-known in the region for two thriving industries: gambling and bathhouses. Walking through its streets, one frequently saw wandering samurai and shinobi, many drawn specifically by these popular forms of entertainment. For shinobi and samurai, who constantly walk the razor's edge between life and death, finding moments to unwind is essential. The streets were lined with numerous gambling dens and bathhouses.

As they strolled along, Tatsuya suddenly stopped.

Not far ahead, two dejected figures were shuffling out of a gambling den. They were none other than Konoha's Princess Tsunade—legendary for her terrible luck yet seemingly bottomless funds—and her apprentice, Shizune, who cradled a small pig in her arms. Judging by their slumped shoulders and glum expressions, it was painfully obvious that Tsunade, Konoha's Legendary Sucker, had just been thoroughly cleaned out again.

Following Tatsuya's gaze, Kakashi and Guy also spotted Tsunade and Shizune. Looks of mingled pleasure and hesitation crossed their faces.

Princess Tsunade of Konoha suffered from severe hemophobia following the deaths of her younger brother, Nawaki, and her lover, Dan Katō. Shortly after the Second Shinobi World War, she left the village, embarking on a long journey of wandering, gambling, and generally losing money. Konoha's leadership had always kept track of her whereabouts, but considering her trauma, her status as a Sannin, and her lineage, they generally avoided disturbing her.

Sensing their stares, Tsunade and Shizune looked up from the gambling den's entrance. When Tsunade's eyes landed on Kakashi and Guy, surprise registered on her face, and she strode towards them purposefully. As she approached, her gaze swept over Mei and Ao, easily identifying their Kirigakure headbands.

Tatsuya and Itachi, however, she largely ignored. When she had last been in the village, Tatsuya had been a nobody, and Itachi just a child; she wouldn't recognize either of them.

"Lady Tsunade!" Kakashi and Guy greeted her respectfully with bows.

"Well, if it isn't Kakashi and Guy," Tsunade replied with a grin. "Returning from a mission in the Land of Water, are we?" Despite her years away, seeing the younger generation of Konoha shinobi thriving genuinely pleased her. Konoha was, after all, the place she had lived and fought for.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Kakashi confirmed quickly, proceeding with introductions. "These are our squadmates, Tatsuya and Uchiha Itachi. And these two are Kirigakure Jonin, Terumi Mei and Ao. They are traveling to the village under orders to discuss an alliance between our villages."

"I've been away from the village so long, village politics are none of my business anymore," Tsunade waved a hand dismissively, though her tone was surprisingly magnanimous. "But hey, since we ran into each other, let's grab some food! My treat!"

With that, she turned and headed straight for an izakaya down the street. Behind her, Kakashi, Guy, and the others naturally followed immediately.

Tatsuya, however, watched her go with a distinctly skeptical expression. He strongly suspected the 'Princess' had gambled away every last ryo and was actually angling for them to pay. Shizune's mortified flush pretty much confirmed it.

An intriguing glint sparked in Tatsuya's eyes as he fell into step behind the others. As it happened, he had a few questions he wanted to put to the legendary Sannin. And if worst came to worst, maybe this particular problem could be solved simply by throwing enough money at it.