"I'm a bad person, so it's normal for you to have your suspicions about me." Senju Wakama said with an indifferent expression, extending his hand towards Uchiha Yuki. "Come on, let's go eat something. Even though we've already eaten, I can still keep you company."
At a time like this, Senju Wakama wouldn't utter any high-sounding words to prove his unwavering loyalty.
To be honest, Senju Wakama had no idea what the future held.
Senju Wakama never made grand boasts or promises; he held onto the present.
In the future, both men and women would change due to their constantly evolving experiences.
Things they once liked might become less appealing.
People they once disliked might not be so detestable anymore.
Uchiha Yuki had spent a long time with Senju Wakama, and she understood him quite well. Smiling, she placed her hand into Senju Wakama's.
Hand in hand, the two walked into the Hot Spring Street.
And in a nearby corner.
Tamayo Nara, dressed in a Senju Hot Spring Street yukata, silently watched their departing figures.
At the same time, beside Tamayo Nara was a small figure.
The small figure wore a special child-sized female yukata from the Senju clan's Hot Spring Street. Her hair hung loose, her bangs almost covering her eyes, and she was deliciously eating ten skewers of grilled locusts she held in her hand.
Below this little girl's eyes was a crescent-shaped black mark.
If Senju Wakama were here, he would surely recognize her: this was Aburame Aoi, the loli 'older sister' from the Aburame clan sent to negotiate food ingredient cooperation with the Senju clan.
Tamayo Nara said eerily, "Hey, stop eating. I paid you, so you have to help me."
"Got it. It's just tailing him, right? Don't worry, my insects have memorized his scent." Aburame Aoi said expressionlessly, "For the sake of the money, I won't lose track."
Tamayo Nara whispered, "Wakama is extremely perceptive; you must be careful."
"How careful do I need to be? Insects are everywhere anyway. He can't possibly suspect every insect is tracking him, can he? Only someone not right in the head would be that paranoid." Aburame Aoi said mercilessly.
"In any case, don't let him discover you." Tamayo Nara whispered, "Can your insects memorize the scent of the girl next to him?"
"Hmm? What exactly do you want to do?" Aburame Aoi looked puzzled, quickly finished the grilled insects in her hand, and then tossed the bamboo skewers into a nearby food waste recycling bin.
"Tell me, if she died, would Wakama come to me?" Tamayo Nara looked at Aburame Aoi, asking very seriously.
Aburame Aoi stared expressionlessly at Tamayo Nara for a moment. "Are you a Nara clan idiot?"
Tamayo Nara: "…"
Aburame Aoi looked eerily at Tamayo Nara. "Do you think a proud person like Senju Wakama would fall for a weakling of a girl?"
"Of course not…" Tamayo Nara sighed helplessly, admitting she had been holding onto a sliver of hope.
"If you provoke Senju Wakama, he won't kill you for the sake of the Senju clan's great cause, for now." Aburame Aoi said coldly, "But if you provoke a powerful romantic rival, and you can't kill her, she will definitely turn around and kill you."
"I want to try it out," Tamayo Nara said hesitantly.
"Then be prepared to become mortal enemies with Senju Wakama." Aburame Aoi remained expressionless.
"At least I can test the waters, right? I just want to know what makes that girl better than me." Tamayo Nara gritted her teeth.
"Competitiveness is very dangerous, especially when it's for a man." Aburame Aoi shook her head, disapprovingly saying, "Love-struck foolishness is uncalled for. Why must it be him? I think quite a few men in the Senju clan are good-looking."
"Those are just good-looking, that's all," Tamayo Nara snorted.
Although the two had been talking all this time, they had already concealed themselves in the shadows and silently followed.
Meanwhile, Senju Wakama, who wasn't overly concerned about this, had already brought Uchiha Yuki a bowl of Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup.
A few emerald green vegetables were sprinkled on the creamy white soup, and the aroma of the soup, mixed with the scent of the vegetables, blended into a unique fragrance.
"You've been hungry for a while, so warm your stomach first. There's pepper in this," Senju Wakama said, handing the bowl and spoon to Uchiha Yuki.
Uchiha Yuki accepted the soup without ceremony and began to drink.
This dish was considered a specialty of the Hot Spring Street, and Uchiha Yuki had eaten it before. She found it novel that offal could be made to taste this good.
The pepper in the soup was of excellent quality, supposedly specially cultivated by Tsukuyo.
Uchiha Yuki wasn't entirely sure if this ingredient truly had medicinal value.
But the nobles believed it.
Observing the Senju clan's development up close, Uchiha Yuki was amazed by Tsukuyo's marketing strategies.
Senju Wakama knew everything about the Hot Spring Street; he was well aware of the day's restaurant specials. He would precisely locate delicious food and then have Uchiha Yuki sample each one.
The Senju clan earned vast sums daily, and these ingredients were inexpensive, so there was nothing much to say about them.
According to Tsukuyo's health preservation philosophy, they wouldn't eat too much.
Senju Wakama accompanied Uchiha Yuki, eating snacks along the way.
After Uchiha Yuki had eaten until she was about seventy percent full, Senju Wakama picked her up again and, in a stealthy manner, left the Hot Spring Street.
Tamayo Nara, who had been tailing them, immediately lost their trail after Senju Wakama used his stealth technique.
However, Tamayo Nara had already prepared; relying on Aburame Aoi's insect swarm for tracking, she surprisingly still found Senju Wakama's route.
Senju Wakama's Hot Spring Villa had been given to Tamayo Nara to live in, and his own residence was occupied by Uchiha Madara and Tsukuyo, so he couldn't return anywhere. Therefore, he went directly to the Naka River, where he used to rendezvous with Uchiha Yuki.
That elaborately decorated cave, regularly maintained by small animals, was a hidden and undisturbed place, perfectly suited for their rendezvous.
Moreover, the mountain had been excavated inside to create inner rooms, complete with all necessary furnishings.
On the way, Senju Wakama briefly explained their destination, and Uchiha Yuki did not object.
The two quickly arrived at the cave they hadn't visited in a long time.
Senju Wakama greeted the small animals outside the cave, then led Uchiha Yuki into the hidden place.
Shortly after they entered the cave.
Two figures emerged from the nearby forest.
Tamayo Nara, guided by Aburame Aoi, found this place.
"Where is it?" Tamayo Nara carefully observed the surrounding environment.
Aburame Aoi whispered, "That place covered by vines up ahead, it's hollow behind there. It's a cave with a hidden interior, and my insect swarm tells me it's been elaborately decorated, just like a habitable house."
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