Naruto, all the ninja women love me, and Konoha depends on me.

Chapter 113 Brother Zetsu, I Also Want to Escape the Chessboard

Zetsu whispered, 「If Tsukuyo hadn't insisted on saving your life...」

Senju Wakama: "..."

Zetsu: 「Because of her, I gave up maintaining the original 'destiny.' I also want to see what kind of mess she can make of this world if I do nothing...」

Senju Wakama was speechless for a long time.

Until the water in the bathtub overflowed and flowed into the surrounding groove.

Senju Wakama spoke again, "Thank you, Brother Zetsu." Thank you for sparing my life...

So far, Zetsu hadn't harmed him, and had even taught him many things. Senju Wakama was still willing to believe Zetsu.

It would be simple for Zetsu to kill him, but Zetsu hadn't done so.

If he were to maintain the original destiny, Zetsu should have killed Senju Wakama.

「You're welcome. Is there anything else you want to ask?」 Zetsu was still smiling.

Senju Wakama thought for a moment before saying, "Brother Zetsu, if I want to leave this world like you, what should I do?"

「I knew you were all the same. Once you know your true situation, few wouldn't want to jump out of this world.」 Zetsu stated directly, 「If you become Tsukuyo's retainer, perhaps Tsukuyo can help you.」

"Can't I become your retainer?" Senju Wakama frowned.

Zetsu: 「I myself am Mother's retainer. Although I can also take retainers, it's not that simple; I'd have to report it to Mother...」

Senju Wakama then asked, "Does becoming a retainer mean worshipping Tsukuyo like a god, revering her as a deity?"

Senju Wakama pressed, "Then what should I do?"

Zetsu once again let out a cryptic chuckle. 「Let me think about it...」

...

Hot Spring Street.

Guest Villa.

Nara Shikabane welcomed Senju Butsuma.

The two sat facing each other inside a pavilion outside the sleeping corridor.

"...My apologies, Chief Nara, I've been busy with affairs and only now managed to find time to meet with you."

Senju Butsuma was wearing the standard robes of the Senju clan, looking refined and amiable.

Nara Shikabane looked at Senju Butsuma with a complex expression.

The two had had the fortune of meeting a few times before.

But the previous Senju Butsuma had always worn red layered armor, appearing overbearing.

The current Senju Butsuma could be said to have undergone a sudden change in demeanor.

The attire on Senju Butsuma was no different from that of other Senju clan members in Hot Spring Street.

But Nara Shikabane felt that the person who designed this set of clothing was truly terrifying.

Ninjas usually blend into crowds, drawing no attention.

Yet, the Senju clan seemed to do the opposite. Everyone wore well-fitted, elegant clothes that drew much attention when walking in a crowd, yet once they entered the forest, the strange patterns on the fabric would blend in with the scenery of the forest.

The most frightening thing was that these identical outfits, coupled with the average handsome and beautiful faces of the Senju clan, easily made people fall into the illusion of facial blindness.

Identical clothing, identical hairstyles, identical handsomeness and beauty.

If Senju clan members of similar stature stood in a row, observers from afar would have the illusion of seeing multiple identical twins.

This feeling of identical beauty was chilling.

"In fact, I came uninvited, please forgive me." Nara Shikabane lowered his gaze, analyzing the gains and losses in his heart.

Senju Butsuma folded his arms, his gaze sharply fixed on the person before him.

He had already heard about the conflict between Tamayo and Wakama. Although Wakama had reported the incident to him and had already reached a reconciliation with the Nara clan, still...

Senju Butsuma recalled his unreliable and manipulative Tsukuyo, sighing helplessly.

It was better for a young lady to be reserved.

Yet, Tsukuyo was growing increasingly terrifying.

She wasn't even of marriageable age, but she had already become an invincible Amazon.

Shaking off his distracting thoughts, Senju Butsuma said softly, "Chief Nara, you are a smart man; you must understand my intention, right?"

Nara Shikabane gave a bitter smile. "Ninja clan mergers require more careful consideration. I trust you can understand."

Senju Butsuma said no more.

This was merely Senju Butsuma's effort to realize his daughter Tsukuyo's dream; he would never have considered such a possibility before.

So be it...

This is also good...

...

At the same time.

Senju Wakama's residence.

Black Zetsu said he needed to think and remained silent.

Senju Wakama didn't rush him either. After bathing and changing, Senju Wakama didn't rest immediately. Instead, he carried a box of maple leaf manju sold on Hot Spring Street and went to Tsukuyo's courtyard.

Tsukuyo's boudoir was very luxurious, with a clean wooden floor beneath which Murien's entire family actually resided.

After pushing the door open, Senju Wakama went to a specific corner behind the door, gently tapped the wall, and quietly said, "Is Murien home? I brought gifts to see you..."

A few minutes later.

A mouse scurried out from a mysterious spot. This plump little mouse sat beside Senju Wakama on the sleeping corridor connecting Tsukuyo's outdoor area to the courtyard.

Murien held a black maple leaf manju in its paws, its tiny mouth nibbling small gaps into the bun.

Senju Wakama, on the other hand, held a notebook with rows of tiny characters.

Before Senju Wakama arrived, he had written all his questions in it.

Then, he bribed Murien with maple leaf manju, asking Murien to answer using a pen.

And now, in Senju Wakama's notebook, Murien had already "answered" all the questions.

Senju Wakama asked: How has Tsukuyo been doing at the Uchiha clan these past two days?

The mouse, Murien, answered: Delicious food, good sleep, comfortable living, absolutely wonderful.

Senju Wakama asked: Has anything special happened around Tsukuyo recently?

The mouse, Murien, answered: Yes, Madara proposed to Tsukuyo.

Senju Wakama asked: When will she return?

The mouse, Murien, answered: Probably in winter.

...

Senju Wakama looked speechlessly at Murien's earnest phrasing, especially seeing "Madara proposed to Tsukuyo."

Senju Wakama: "???"

Senju Wakama looked at the notebook, then at the little mouse gnawing on a maple leaf manju.

They stared at each other, speechless for a while.

Senju Wakama couldn't help but inwardly grumble, "Are you sure this isn't just a random reply after reading?"

If Murien hadn't been well-fed and always adorable after following Tsukuyo, Senju Wakama would have suspected it was just writing nonsense to get more manju.

Senju Wakama organized his thoughts for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Brother Madara... he seemed to have told me that, to live a few more years, he would absolutely avoid any entanglement with Tsukuyo."

Murien's soybean-sized eyes blinked. It raised a paw, signaling for Senju Wakama to hand over the notebook.

Senju Wakama did as told.

Immediately after, Murien's tiny paw picked up a slender pen and wrote in the notebook, 「Tsukuyo said that because she has to bear the patient's pain during the healing process, she no longer wants to live so painfully. She also has no reason to live, so Madara, to make her abandon the thought of death, decided to become her reason for living...」

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