"There wasn't any other paper at hand, so I had to give him that to wipe with," Seiryu said with a shrug.
"But Sensei, wasn't that the treaty you signed with the Tsuchikage?" Neji asked.
"That's right, it was," Seiryu nodded. "Strange, isn't it?"
Both students looked at Seiryu with puzzled expressions.
"The moment these so-called treaties are signed, their fate is already to be torn up someday. So, they're not really worth much in themselves," Seiryu said with a smile.
"Do you know why there have been three previous Great Ninja Wars?" Seiryu asked his two disciples.
Sasuke and Neji thought for a moment before Sasuke answered, "Because other countries covet our Land of Fire's fertile land?"
"Exactly," Seiryu nodded in satisfaction. "That's it. The root cause of all three Ninja Wars was the other countries coveting our land. Every time, it was Konoha alone against multiple nations."
"So, do you really think a piece of paper like this can keep the Tsuchikage in check and make him set aside his greed to be friends with us?" Seiryu asked with a smile.
"I understand now," Neji and Sasuke both nodded.
"That's why this treaty is no different from toilet paper—in fact, it's not even as good as toilet paper for wiping," Seiryu said.
Just then, Naruto returned to the carriage, grumbling, "Sensei, that toilet paper you gave me was way too rough. My butt hurts."
Hearing this, the three others in the carriage burst out laughing.
Naruto, not knowing what had just happened, thought they were all laughing at him and complained, "What are you laughing at? That paper was really hard!"
"Hehe, Naruto, do you know that was probably the most expensive trip to the bathroom you'll ever take?" Neji couldn't help but tease.
Indeed, how could it not be? After all, the paper he'd just used was, in name, the symbol of peace between two nations.
After the group returned to Konoha, news of the non-aggression pact signed between Uchiha Seiryu and Onoki quickly spread throughout the shinobi world.
Reactions varied. Some, like the simple-minded Daimyo of Grass, privately called Seiryu and Onoki a pair of fools—after all, Fire and Earth didn't even share a border, so what was the point of signing a non-aggression pact?
But the Damimyo and village leaders of the two smaller countries between them—Rain and Waterfall—were not so optimistic.
In the Rain Village's high tower, Nagato stared at the map of the shinobi world, deep in thought. Two non-adjacent great nations signing such a seemingly pointless treaty—clearly, the ones who needed to watch out were the small countries caught in between.
"Seiryu and Onoki probably already worked out how to carve up us small countries," Nagato muttered. "Looks like the plan needs to move faster."
Rain Country stayed quiet because Nagato believed he could control the situation with his own power. But Land of Waterfall was less calm.
As a small country, Waterfall did have a ninja village, but their strength was negligible. Their only asset was the foresight of their first leader, who'd paid a huge price to obtain the Seven-Tails from Hashirama Senju. But their current Jinchuriki hadn't matured yet, so against Konoha or Iwa, Waterfall was like an ant before an elephant.
Grass Village's fate was a warning, and aside from the Seven-Tails, Land of Waterfall wasn't much stronger.
"Looks like our only hope is to pick one of the two sides and become their vassal," said Waterfall's current leader, Iwata Zeki, at a high-level meeting.
"So, should we choose Iwa or Konoha?" his advisor asked.
The room fell silent. Either way looked grim.
"Fire Country," the leader finally answered, voice heavy.
"Fire? But Uchiha Seiryu seems hard to deal with," the advisor said.
"At least he can win. Onoki is getting old—if anything happens, does Iwa even have a capable successor?" Iwata Zeki said.
"True," everyone nodded at that reasoning.
"Send someone to contact Uchiha Seiryu," Iwata Zeki ordered.
…
Back in Konoha, Seiryu first checked on official business.
"You did a great job. Why don't you come help out at the Hokage's office more often?" Seiryu joked as he poured tea for Kakashi.
"Give me a break!" Kakashi replied with his trademark dead-fish eye. "Between the police force and your office work, I haven't even had time to read!"
"Alright, alright." Seiryu smiled. "By the way, the four Genin chosen by the police force did well in the exams. They didn't become Chunin officially, but I think they're qualified. Promote them when you get a chance."
"Understood," Kakashi nodded.
As they chatted over tea, the office door was knocked.
"Come in," Seiryu called.
Gato entered, bowing politely.
"Hokage-sama, Assistant-sama." With a greasy smile, Gato set down a gift on the desk. "This is Yukihara rock tea from the Land of Snow—only thirty produced a year. It'd be wasted on me, but in your hands, Hokage-sama, it's a true collector's item."
"You're thoughtful," Seiryu nodded, accepting the gift.
Gato then produced a stack of exquisitely bound books for Kakashi.
"What's this?" Kakashi's eyes lit up.
"I've heard you're a fan of Jiraiya's works, so I went to great lengths to collect a first edition set of Icha Icha Paradise for you. I wanted to get Jiraiya-sama's autograph, but he's missing lately, so I hope you don't mind."
"Very good," Kakashi said, putting the set away. These first editions were limited to only ten sets in the whole world; Kakashi had missed out back then, so this was a real treat. The autograph could wait.
Seiryu watched with satisfaction—Gato really knew how to curry favor.
"How's the task I gave you coming along?" Seiryu asked.
"Rest assured, Hokage-sama. The ninja tool factory is built and ready to begin production as soon as the materials arrive," Gato reported.
"Good. Wait for my word to start," Seiryu instructed.
"Understood. By the way, I've opened a high-end restaurant here in Konoha. If you and Assistant-sama are free tonight, I've arranged a banquet. Would you honor us?"
"A banquet?" Seiryu looked at Kakashi.
"I'm free. Bring Naruto and the others?" Kakashi agreed.
"Alright. Go make the arrangements—we'll be there soon," Seiryu told Gato.
"Yes!" Gato replied, leaving with a huge smile to prepare the feast.