Senju Wakama was very clear about his own position.
Following Brother Zetsu's advice, he didn't meddle in Tsukuyo's affairs, keeping a low profile, clocking in for work daily and leaving on time.
Other clan members were working themselves to the bone, just to hear a word of praise from the princess.
But Senju Wakama had to hide, never doing any superfluous work.
There was a reason for this decision.
Second Brother Tobirama, in an attempt to please his younger sister, had been working incredibly hard, always sharing any good things he discovered with Tsukuyo.
The result was that Tsukuyo used Tobirama like an animal.
Senju Wakama, watching from afar, found it terrifying.
Even though Second Brother Tobirama was just an ordinary person, because he was "too clever" and "too diligent," Tsukuyo frantically taught him all sorts of knowledge.
Consequently, Tobirama spent more time with Tsukuyo, occupying more of her time, but the work he did also increased exponentially.
After Senju Tobirama finished learning, he took on the heavy responsibility of teaching this knowledge to others.
Tsukuyo only needed to teach Tobirama, while Tobirama had to teach hundreds, even thousands of people, and even began contemplating how to compile textbooks to spread the information more efficiently.
Senju Tobirama had to work, and what awaited him was an endless amount of tasks.
If one sought hardship, there would be an inexhaustible amount of it.
Senju Wakama suddenly felt fortunate that he had his younger sister's favor; even if he didn't try to please her like Second Brother Tobirama, his sister still cared for him.
Knowing this, Senju Wakama continued to be an inconspicuous older brother, juggling both work and wooing women; that's what he considered living life.
As for matters like revitalizing the Senju clan, Elder Brother Hashirama, Second Brother Tobirama, and his younger sister were handling it.
As for Fourth Brother Itama, that guy still had the hot-bloodedness of a young man, hoping to be a useful person just like his older brothers.
Senju Wakama, on the other hand, wouldn't bother.
The rainy season had not yet ended.
The sky was always raining.
The Hot Spring Street was filled with colorful umbrellas.
The umbrellas were items provided by the Hot Spring Village, and their surfaces were painted with naked-eye 3D artworks, a technique the clan members had recently learned.
The nobles didn't understand these techniques; they just thought they looked beautiful.
Each umbrella surface was unique.
Some nobles even spent heavily to buy all the umbrella designs.
This situation also drove the prices of these three-dimensional painted umbrellas to exorbitant levels.
They had already become art collectibles.
"...It hasn't even been a year, yet every time I visit the Senju clan, I feel immense changes."
The speaker was a beautiful girl with flowing black hair, dressed in a Hot Spring Street yukata.
She slowly turned her head, looked at the young man beside her, and smiled slightly, "Wouldn't you agree, Wakama?"
"Miss Tamayo," Senju Wakama said with a beaming smile, "the herbs have been fully supplied, but the final payment was already made in advance, so we need you to sign the contract."
"Oh, my~ only discussing business with me, how unpleasant," Tamayo Nara cast a sidelong glance at Senju Wakama.
In this era, kunoichi actually had a very difficult time.
To avoid being used like cattle, they strived to become shinobi.
And to protect herself, Tamayo Nara would usually disguise herself as an ugly woman.
Yet now, whenever she was on Senju clan territory, she would go to great lengths to dress herself up to look her prettiest.
Only Senju Wakama's attitude towards her remained unchanged, which genuinely angered her.
She, a young lady, was being so forward, yet Senju Wakama remained perfectly composed.
Tamayo Nara had a suspicion: being able to ignore her meant Senju Wakama was well-versed in such matters, not some naive country bumpkin who had seen nothing of the world.
However...
Before, Senju Wakama was genuinely afraid that if Tamayo Nara slept with him, she might complain, and then the more principled Tsukuyo would make him marry Tamayo Nara.
Since there was no news, inside or out, of Senju Wakama being married, Tamayo Nara felt she still had a chance, and a very good one at that.
No matter who the girl Senju Wakama had been with was, if she had given so much without a proper title, Tamayo Nara wouldn't even consider her.
Men, after all, who isn't lecherous?
As long as he eventually stayed by her side, he would still be a good man.
Tamayo Nara, full of schemes, smiled and said, "Signing the contract is no problem, but I wonder, after signing, will this young lady have the honor of sharing a casual meal with you, Wakama?"
Senju Wakama's smile remained unchanged, "Miss Tamayo, haven't I been accompanying you through the festival market all this time? After all that walking, you must be full by now."
Tamayo Nara snorted, "It's raining now; I'd like to go back to an inner room to eat hotpot. I hear your Senju clan produces many varieties of hotpot, so many that one or two meals aren't enough to try them all. We should eat what we can. You wouldn't refuse a partner's request, would you?"
Senju Wakama raised an eyebrow.
How could he not know what Tamayo Nara meant?
This girl's lust was insatiable; she wouldn't give up until she had him in bed.
Senju Wakama pondered for a moment.
What was there for him, a man, to be so precious about?
Miss Tamayo was being so forward...
Given Senju Wakama's deep understanding of Tsukuyo's cunning ruthlessness and insidious cruelty, coupled with the Nara clan's previous indirect conflicts with the Senju clan.
Honestly, even if Tamayo Nara made a fuss, if Senju Wakama simply told Tsukuyo he wasn't interested, what could the Nara clan do?
Senju Wakama sighed, "Miss Tamayo, why must you insist?"
Tamayo Nara looked at Senju Wakama and smiled without speaking.
"Are you interested in me, or do you genuinely want to marry me?" Senju Wakama didn't beat around the bush; he knew he had the confidence to act as he pleased.
Tamayo Nara was taken aback, then blurted out, "I want to marry you."
Senju Wakama shook his head mercilessly, "No, you don't qualify yet. At least, not as you are now."
Tamayo Nara looked wronged, "Can't you be a little more subtle?"
"What's the use of being subtle if the outcome remains the same?" Senju Wakama shook his head, "It's my honor to be liked by you, but Miss Tamayo, marriage isn't just about two people; it's about two families. You... are not quite qualified yet."
"Besides, with so many girls liking me, I have the right to choose. Why should I specifically choose you? Have you thought about that?"
Tamayo Nara's calculating mind tightened, as if she was deep in thought.
Senju Wakama raised his hand, gesturing to everything before them, and said, "As you've also said, the Senju clan is changing with each passing day; every time you come, you witness immense changes."
"You should be very clear that whether commoners or Daimyo, as long as they are human, they will always seek benefit and avoid harm in whatever they do."
"Marriage is the same. Marrying for love is because both parties provide each other with emotional benefits; marrying for money is because both parties provide each other with material benefits."
"It's just that the former sounds noble, while the latter appears vulgar, but in essence, there's no difference."
"So, I ask, if I marry you, if I agree to you, what benefits would I gain?"
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