Hyuga Bai stared at Senju Tsukuyo, his tone growing urgent, his heart racing.
Before coming, Hyuga Bai had repeatedly warned himself not to speak recklessly in front of the princess.
Yet, for some reason, gazing at Senju Tsukuyo's beauty that seemed to eclipse the heavens and earth, Hyuga Bai couldn't suppress the words in his heart; he wanted to pour them out to her.
During his days back in the Hyuga clan, he dreamt every night, and this otherworldly, beautiful face would appear in his mind.
He couldn't forget her voice, her smile, her appearance.
He couldn't escape the bewitchment of her words.
A thousand words gathered in his heart, impossible not to speak.
"Are you talking about the marriage proposal?" Senju Tsukuyo's hands didn't stop moving as she smiled. "Thank you for your affection. This princess is so beautiful; it's only natural that you'd like me."
Hearing Senju Tsukuyo's response, Hyuga Bai's tense heart surprisingly relaxed, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Indeed."
Senju Tsukuyo giggled. "But many people like me, Bai. Are you confident you can make the others admit defeat?"
"The hope seems quite slim," Hyuga Bai frankly accepted the cruel reality.
"But you can't get anything if you don't try, right?" Senju Tsukuyo's lips, stained red as if by flower juice, held a smile. "So, do your best, Mr. Hyuga. Work hard for the merger of our two clans. When that time comes, there won't be as many worries as there are now..."
"That might be a long process," Hyuga Bai sighed again.
"But believe me, it will definitely succeed." Senju Tsukuyo finished counting all the coins at hand, then stored them away with a storage scroll. Finally, she looked at Hyuga Bai and said, "Next spring, I will be traveling for a while. The task of receiving you might be handed over to someone else."
"Is it a particularly troublesome mission? Must you go yourself?" Hyuga Bai narrowed his eyes slightly.
A mischievous smile appeared on Senju Tsukuyo's face. "It is indeed very troublesome because... I have to face the Uchiha clan."
Senju Tsukuyo didn't hide it from Hyuga Bai.
She wanted to unite not only the Hyuga clan but all ninja clans, including the Senju clan's mortal enemies, the Uchiha clan.
Hyuga Bai knew very well that if this beauty before him managed to unite the Uchiha and Senju clans, the Hyuga clan would then more clearly feel her sincerity.
Recalling Senju Tsukuyo's demonic and divine-like figure, Hyuga Bai also smiled. "I wish you good fortune in your endeavors in advance..."
Winter passed, and spring arrived.
The men sent by the Lord of the Land of Pine, after enduring many hardships, finally arrived at the Senju clan in the spring.
At this time, many nobles, due to business reasons, began to reluctantly leave the Senju clan's hot spring resort street.
Although it was the off-season for the hot spring area, the Senju clan's territory still needed Clan Head Butsuma to oversee things, as well as more clansmen to maintain operations.
After discussions, this time, the troublemaker Senju Tsukuyo was added to the escort mission for the Land of Pine.
This time, Hashirama and Tobirama were in the accompanying team, but Senju Wakama and his younger brother Itama stayed in the clan lands.
Itama was still young but was already a good hand at business; he participated in various operations within the clan's territory.
During this period, Itama was in the clan's main kitchen, learning about food operations from the chefs responsible for festival delicacies.
Senju Wakama was not in the same operational system as this younger brother.
Each was busy with their own affairs, and gradually, the relationship between the blood brothers became distant.
However, Senju Wakama didn't mind; it wasn't necessary to meddle in each other's business anyway.
Senju Tsukuyo was not in the clan lands.
Senju Wakama took on some of Senju Tsukuyo's responsibilities, patrolling the forest bordered by everyone's grass daily.
For the current Senju clan, the Three Basic Jutsu were undoubtedly the most in-demand fundamental ninja techniques.
The main body handled mental work.
Clones handled physical labor.
Even so, for the ever-expanding Senju clan, manpower was increasingly insufficient.
The current Senju Wakama, even while working, still didn't neglect his dates with Uchiha Yuki.
Uchiha Yuki had to change into Senju clan attire and accompany Senju Wakama as a young lady to patrol the outskirts of the Senju clan's territory.
"...Wakama..."
Today, Uchiha Yuki was unusually melancholic, hesitant to speak as soon as they met.
Senju Wakama didn't force her to say everything but, as before, first helped her change clothes and then did her makeup.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Uchiha Yuki could clearly feel that Senju Wakama's makeup skills were becoming more mature. The natural makeup made it difficult to tell if she was wearing any.
But undoubtedly, it looked comfortable and beautiful.
Senju Wakama was giving Uchiha Yuki a detailed introduction to the large patch of huge umbrella-shaped flowers in the forest on the outskirts of the clan lands.
Uchiha Yuki was preoccupied. "...The day before yesterday, our clan held an unusually serious clan meeting, discussing..."
Before she could finish, Senju Wakama extended a finger and pressed it against her bright red lips. "Don't say it, Yuki. There's no need to betray your clan."
A trace of anxiety flashed in Uchiha Yuki's eyes.
But Senju Wakama didn't intend to let her continue, instead saying, "I know about your Uchiha clan's employment relationship with the Hachisuka family of Rift Valley City, and I also know that the Hachisuka family is targeting our Senju clan's old client, the Land of Pine. We are fully aware of your actions."
Uchiha Yuki: "!!!!"
Uchiha Yuki was extremely shocked.
In fact, since getting to know Senju Wakama, Senju Wakama had truly been in a relationship with her and never mentioned matters between their two families.
Even when mentioning family matters, Senju Wakama only talked about general affairs.
Generally, it was because he had given some gift and worried Uchiha Yuki wouldn't know how to use it that Senju Wakama would give some innocuous explanations, not involving any family secrets.
Senju Wakama also never asked about matters related to the Uchiha clan, no matter what it was...
But now, Uchiha Yuki suddenly realized that Senju Wakama didn't ask because he simply didn't need to.
"You should believe my words; our two families will merge sooner or later."
Senju Wakama stood on high ground, shoulder to shoulder with Uchiha Yuki. He looked down at the vast sea of trees surrounded by the snow-white, umbrella-shaped flowers, and said word by word, "I know you're worried about your clansmen..."
Uchiha Yuki: "...."
No... she wasn't worried about her own clansmen; their Uchiha clan was very strong, okay?
She was clearly worried about the Senju clan...
However...
Uchiha Yuki couldn't get the words out.
Instead, she heard Senju Wakama ramble on, "This time my sister is going personally. Your clansmen might not die, but they will live a life worse than death."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuki frowned.
These days, she had had enough of Senju Wakama constantly mentioning his "invincible" sister.