Rumors and gossip are like weeds after the rain-they grow with the wind and are impossible to stop.
Before Kagami could even clarify the rumors about whether Tobirama was "capable" or not, a fresh one had already sprouted, Lord Tobirama and his little girlfriend were so deeply in love that he had to visit her late at night, and the two of them chatted at the shop entrance for half the night.
Half the night? Why not stay up all night!
The absurdity of it was beyond words.
In the office, Tobirama felt a headache coming on due to his hangover and couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
To maintain a clear mind for handling daily affairs, he had always been someone who disliked drinking. Born in the Warring States era, where life was constantly at risk, alcohol would dull his senses, making it difficult to react swiftly when faced with a powerful enemy.
Such a delay could easily cost him his life, so his aversion to alcohol had persisted.
Hashirama, watching his brother close his eyes to ease his discomfort, also recalled the gossip circulating in the streets.
Incapable?
He stared at Tobirama, who was sitting on the desk as if it were a chair, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
His younger brother had always been perfectly normal-tall, even more handsome, and wherever he went, countless single women would swoon over him.
Whether it was his inner qualities or his outward appearance, he was an exceptional individual. There was no way the word "incapable" could be associated with him.
But upon closer thought, Hashirama already had grandchildren, while Tobirama remained single. That did not seem a bit unusual.
Back in the days of constant warfare, whenever the topic of marriage came up, Tobirama would say he didn't know when he might die at the hands of an enemy and didn't want to leave a woman a widow.
Later, when the Warring States era ended and Konoha was founded, he still didn't consider marriage, throwing himself entirely into his work.
Hashirama was the nominal village leader or more like a mascot, while the actual operations and management of the village were mostly handled by Tobirama.
It was true that he was busy, but...
Hashirama was struck by a sudden realization.
Could it be that Tobirama was using his busyness as an excuse to hide something?
Tobirama had been wrestling with his eyes closed, but he suddenly felt an eerie atmosphere floating around him.
He couldn't help but open his blood-red eyes, only to see his older brother sitting behind the desk, tears streaming down his face.
Tobirama was so startled that he nearly fell off the desk.
"W-what are you crying for?"
Hashirama rushed over in a flash, grabbing Tobirama hand, his tears flowing like a river.
"It's all my fault as your older brother for not paying enough attention to you. I had no idea you were facing such a serious issue. Don't worry, I'll do everything in my power to..... I'll find the best doctors from the five great nations to treat you, believe me, we'll definitely cure you, Tobirama!"
Visible chakras emanated from Tobirama body, and the overwhelming aura was something even Hashirama, who was used to it, found intimidating. Tobirama eyes seemed to be on the verge of spitting fire, and Hashirama quickly dodged to the side.
"I'm telling you, snap out of it! It's one thing for others to talk nonsense, but why are you joining in? Are there no sane people left in this village?"
To Hashirama, Tobirama rage seemed like the fury of a man whose hidden weakness had been exposed, and his dignity trampled. As a result, the sympathy in Hashirama eyes deepened, as if to say "I understand, I really do."
"What do you understand? Ahhh, this is so infuriating! How stupid can you be? As the village leader, can't you just act like a decent person and focus on your work? Why are you always thinking about such nonsense? Are you a fence-sitter, swaying with the wind?"
While the office was in chaos with Hashirama and Tobirama at odds, over at the fortune-telling shop, Kagura welcomed a VIP guest-the village leader wife, Mito Uzumaki.
Mito was truly beautiful, and Kagura couldn't help but stare for a moment. Who doesn't enjoy looking at a beauty? Appreciating beauty is something that transcends gender.
But then Kagura remembered the doujinshi she had once drawn featuring Mito and the First Hokage.
Ugh- instantly, she felt so embarrassed that her face turned red.
Mito walked around the shop for a while before finally turning her gaze to Kagura. Faced with such a beauty, Kagura instinctively felt nervous, not knowing where to put her hands.
Mito, however, didn't carry herself with the airs of the village leader wife. Her gentle smile was warm and approachable.
"So you're Kagura. Indeed, you're a very pretty girl. I've heard that Tobirama is quite fond of you?"
"Heard? From whom?"
"Naturally, from the villagers."
Kagura forced a bitter smile. The rumors had even reached the ears of one of the involved parties' family members.
"Although there are some unfavorable rumors about Tobirama, I believe they can't be true. Don't you think so, Kagura-san?"
Having learned from her last mistake, Kagura clenched her teeth and refused to answer this time. Whether she said yes or no, it was a trap. She had been fooled once, and she wasn't going to let it happen again.
"I've also heard that Tobirama came to see you yesterday without even resting properly after returning. It seems your relationship is quite strong."
How exactly did this "strong relationship" manifest? Was the chaos at the door considered a sign of a strong bond?
"I think you might be misunderstanding something, Madam."
"Am I? I've been through it all, so I understand matters of the heart. Even though Tobirama is older than you he extremely reliable, whether it's software or hardware-well, as for the hardware..." Mito pondered how to phrase it more pleasantly.
"His abilities are quite outstanding overall. You won't lose out if you marry into our Senju family in the future."
"Wait a minute!" Kagura quickly interrupted her. "What do you mean by 'marry into the Senju family'? What would I even do there? Perform the Thousand-Armed Guanyin dance?"
"Thousand-Armed Guanyin?" Mito frowned in confusion. "Are you talking about the 'True Thousand Hands'?"
"..." Kagura silently wept inside. It was like talking to a brick wall.
"That Wood Release is Hashirama Kekkei Genkai. Even if you wanted to learn it-"
"I don't want to learn it. I have no interest in learning it at all. I'm just a lazy person who wants to live the life of a wealthy woman."
"Oh, don't be shy. I understand young girls can be reserved. Tobirama isn't getting any younger, and it's high time he settled down. This has always been a major concern for Hashirama and me. Now that the two of you are in love, why wait? Let's have the wedding in the next few days."
This woman just wouldn't listen!
She kept rambling on without noticing that Kagura entire being was screaming a bold, capitalized "NO."
Being forced into marriage after transmigrating into the Naruto world-Kagura was probably the first. A truly unprecedented and unparalleled situation.
At the tender age of twenty-three, even her own mother had never pressured her like this. Why was this woman so brazenly barging in and treating this nonexistent matter as a done deal?
"Can I even stay in Konoha anymore?" After Mito left, Kagura gazed at the bustling streets, muttering to herself, utterly speechless.
If this continued, wouldn't she be forced to marry Tobirama and become the wife of the Second Hokage? Forget whether she even wanted to get married-just thinking about the First Great Ninja War breaking out in a few years, and Tobirama being fatally wounded by Kinkaku and Ginkaku of Kumogakure during the second phase of the war, she had zero desire to marry him.
The identity of a widow didn't suit her at all. Besides, transmigrating here only to get into a relationship without exploring the world-what kind of life was that?
She wanted to be someone with no men in her heart, wielding her blade with divine ease.
She wanted to roam freely across the Five Great Nations.
With this in mind, Kagura decided she couldn't stay comfortably in Konoha any longer. She had to escape before Mito sent someone to fetch her for the wedding.
She would run as far as she could, preferably out of Konoha, where they would never find her.
No time to waste. Kagura belongings were pitifully few-just two sets of clothes.
She packed them into her backpack, bought some bread and rice balls from a shop, and set off lightly equipped with just her backpack.