Senju Wakama didn't inquire further about Tsukuyo's plans.
Brother Zetsu had advised him not to meddle in Tsukuyo's affairs and let her handle things herself.
How Tsukuyo dealt with people like Uchiha Madara or Hyuga Haku was her own business; Senju Wakama's curiosity ended there.
Winter arrived, and the Senju clan welcomed another prosperous year.
These days, the Senju clan was changing rapidly.
Every day brought something new.
To prevent any unpleasant experiences for the distinguished guests vacationing with the Senju, the clan's compound defenses were extremely tight.
In the outermost perimeter nearest the compound, strange trees were planted, and beyond the woods grew dense thickets of Giant Sunbane.
This "Giant Sunbane" was described as a kind of hellish plant. According to Tsukuyo, it belonged to the Apiaceae family, could grow up to seven meters tall, with single leaves reaching 1.5 meters wide – truly enough to blot out the sun. Its flowers were snow-white, umbrella-shaped, and released beautiful white, fluffy seeds in the summer.
This plant was extremely cold-resistant, remaining vibrantly green even in winter, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding snow-covered landscape. Its beautiful flowers and leaves attracted the attention of many vacationing nobles. It also made these pleasure-seeking aristocrats firmly believe in the legends about the life-giving power of the Senju clan's "Wood Release" crops, effectively promoting the Senju clan's enterprises.
However, the furanocoumarins produced by this towering plant, when exposed to sunlight, could destroy human cell DNA, leading to photodermatitis. Furthermore, this infernal plant's growth pattern involved continuous invasion of other species, seizing more suitable and warmer locations, capturing all sunlight, crowding out all other vegetation, and gradually occupying all land through suffocating means. In the process, its unique toxins would also damage the soil structure.
If left uncontrolled, it would choke out all crops; wherever it spread, other plants couldn't survive – a typical "green desert."
This plant was created by Tsukuyo using Wood Release. Beautiful and terrifying, much like herself – akin to a femme fatale.
But precisely because Tsukuyo created it and presided over the Senju clan, the plant remained under her control and wouldn't easily spread beyond its designated areas.
Currently, the dense thickets of Giant Sunbane surrounding the Senju clan served as effective protection and an ornamental feature.
Senju Wakama couldn't understand a single sentence when these characters were strung together, but that didn't stop him from meticulously recording it all with a brush and passing it on to Senju Tobirama.
Anything related to Tsukuyo piqued Senju Tobirama's interest.
To prevent his brilliant older brother from meddling in his own affairs, Senju Wakama always tried to find ways to keep Tobirama busy.
As soon as new knowledge appeared, his brother would get absorbed, leaving no time to pry into Wakama's business.
...
In winter, the Senju clan compound was immersed in a mist-shrouded, ethereal state.
Year-round artificial hot springs kept the clan grounds as warm and humid as spring or autumn.
Come winter, the hot spring street entered its peak season.
Many nobles came here to escape the cold, spending fortunes at the temple fair's prize drawings.
Everyone within the Senju clan was incredibly busy, running off their feet, and Senju Wakama was no exception.
Although he missed Uchiha Yuki dearly, his demanding duties only allowed him to send her gifts at agreed times to soothe her mood. He himself had to return to the clan grounds and take charge of his assigned tasks.
Senju Wakama was proficient in the "Technique of Skillful Hands," so his primary role was essentially that of the "Prize Distributor."
He strictly controlled the "win rate" for customers opening blind boxes.
If he wanted a customer to win, they would win. Whatever prize he wanted them to win, that's the prize they would receive.
Senju Wakama needed to memorize the faces and detailed information of all the nobles who came seeking entertainment.
The poor had bad 'luck'.
The rich households had good 'luck'.
First, let the target customers get a taste of winning, then have them draw a "stop drawing item." To redeem the prizes they won earlier, they had to pay more money to continue.
In just one short month, using the "Technique of Skillful Hands," Senju Wakama openly and honestly earned a huge sum of money from these "wealthy patrons."
Late at night.
Senju Wakama delivered the money to Tsukuyo's place before returning to his own exclusive residence.
Over the past few years, as the Senju clan grew increasingly wealthy, clan members had all received independent, luxurious houses – one per person.
Initially, not having to share a house with others felt unfamiliar to most, but now... it felt incredibly good.
Senju Wakama soaked alone in the steaming hot spring in his room's bathroom.
He held a wooden cup filled with wine fragrant with mountain grapes.
"...Uchiha Madara is surprisingly obedient. He really hired third-rate ninja to assassinate the lord of the Land of Pine," Senju Wakama sighed softly into the air.
"Hehehe..."
Black Zetsu's voice came from behind him. "Even if Tsukuyo hadn't suggested it, the Uchiha clan would have done it anyway. They've learned the benefits of borrowing a knife to kill from Tsukuyo."
"The Land of Pine has already sent over ten letters via messenger, requesting our Senju clan's protection."
Senju Wakama recalled what he learned when Father Butsuma kept him and his brothers behind after the clan meeting a few days ago, a strange expression crossing his face.
In the dead of winter, the Senju clan's hot spring resort business was booming.
The clan simply couldn't spare the manpower to accept other external missions.
Just maintaining security within their own territory, preparing food, and managing other medical and operational services already stretched their personnel thin.
Experiencing this firsthand...
Everyone seemed to somewhat understand why Tsukuyo didn't want to wipe out other ninja clans but sought ways to merge them all.
Isn't making lots of money and living well a good thing?
Fighting and killing, back and forth – the ultimate goal was always for one's own clan members to live better lives.
All ninja clans could become tools for making money, and everyone, including themselves, plus all the nobles and commoners, could be treated like harvestable crops.
Losing even one 'crop' would cause Tsukuyo great distress.
The Land of Pine, targeted by the Uchiha clan, wanted to hire the Senju for protection.
But the Senju clan was extremely busy and couldn't spare the personnel, so they sent a letter politely declining the Land of Pine's request.
The Senju clan even thoughtfully included a suggestion: advising them to hire the Hyuga clan, or failing that, the Sarutobi clan, the Shimura clan, or even the Ino-Shika-Cho trio combination.
After repeated delays like this...
The Land of Pine's lord seemed to be getting anxious.
Tsukuyo received definite news from her bird informants: the heir to the Land of Pine's leadership was being personally dispatched to the Senju clan to request their intervention.
Naturally, the Senju clan wouldn't easily offend a benefactor.
Especially a benefactor as rich as the Land of Pine.
If this client was showing such sincerity, Tsukuyo suggested they should probably accept the commission after all.