Whether choosing to lose everything or to lose their entire fortune, it's a huge loss.
No one would engage in such an unprofitable business.
Unless their power is so immense that they are invincible.
Otherwise...
Even if the extorted party knew this was a Senju clan trap, since they couldn't defeat the Senju clan to begin with, they could only obediently pay the compensation.
But... what if the ninja clan that was defeated and demanded compensation didn't have that much money...?
This question had just emerged in their minds.
The Senju Princess's smile deepened, "...If you have no money, and only one life, then come work for the Senju clan until the debt is repaid."
Tamayo Nara: "..."
This is essentially free labor!
Her calculations were clearly laid out.
Remembering that the Senju clan had specifically developed the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, allowing all clan members capable of ninjutsu to split themselves into more than three busy clones within the clan territory,
Tamayo Nara understood: the Senju Princess wanted to free-ride on labor and had long been waiting for them to come knocking, seeking a fight.
For the first provocation, the Senju Princess, out of courtesy, merely flexed her muscles.
If there were a second time, they would become mere beasts of burden in the Senju Princess's hands, their entire clan reduced to negative assets, working for her for free for a lifetime, repaying war reparations for generations.
This was terrifying!
Living like this was worse than clan annihilation!
Aburame Aoi's face also darkened.
But they heard the Senju Princess continue, "This was actually inspired by the ninja clans behind you people recently. I custom-made this plan overnight. So, how about it? Do the two of you intend to lead your respective entire clans into this pit of fire?"
"No..." Tamayo Nara shook her head like a rattle-drum.
You yourself said it was a pit of fire.
Anyone who jumps in is foolish!
Aburame Aoi and Tamayo Nara acted in unison.
"What a pity then," a bored expression appeared on the Senju Princess's face. "Do the two of you have any other questions? Feel free to ask me at any time. Any intelligence you require, I can tell you; I will absolutely not conceal anything."
Tamayo Nara shook her head, forcing a bitter smile, "You truly are... terrifying..."
"Hehehe..." The Senju Princess maintained her smile, "Miss Tamayo, correct? The benevolence and malevolence of human nature change with time and place."
"There are gray areas in human nature; the higher the degree of gray, the darker and more evil it becomes."
"The closer the grayness in human nature tends towards white, the purer white and more benevolent it becomes."
"Good and evil, in a single person, are opposing and unified, cyclical, like Yin and Yang."
"When you are still weak, you will find that most of what you encounter is the malevolence of human nature; the process of rising to prominence is the process of being bullied."
"Because of this, you will think deeply, you will continuously explore, and you will discover that the human heart is unfathomable. You can expect anything and everything, but you must never place your expectations on another person."
"Putting aside matters of cooperation, you and I belong to different ninja clans; we are inherently in a competitive or opposing relationship."
"There is only one way to escape my targeting..."
Tamayo Nara took a deep breath and blurted out, "...That one way is to become your 'closest kin,' just like the Daimyo of the Land of Fire!"
In other words, only by merging with the Senju clan could one possibly become the Senju Princess's 'closest kin.'
In that instant, Tamayo Nara thought of too much.
If the Senju Princess wanted the major ninja clans to merge into one, it was to make them her 'closest kin,' to create a beautiful and happy future together.
Then, what was the Senju Princess's intention in becoming 'closest kin' with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire?
The Senju clan... wanted to merge with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, to make the entire Land of Fire its 'closest kin.'
This conjecture frightened Tamayo Nara.
Yet, once this thought appeared in her mind, it lingered stubbornly.
If it were anyone else, perhaps it couldn't be done, but if it was the silver-haired beauty before her, perhaps it truly could be accomplished.
"Yes, become my 'closest kin.' I don't scheme against my own people; I will unite my own, single-mindedly, to collectively scheme against outsiders and friends alike." The Senju Princess's smile gradually twisted into a mischievous grin.
That smile was like winter's ice and snow, sending shivers down their spines.
This was an overt scheme.
Even if they knew the Senju Princess's objective, what could they do?
Active submission, or 'passive submission.'
It was merely a matter of time.
Judging by the Senju clan's constantly evolving situation.
The Senju clan was still in a period of rapid development.
When the Senju clan truly developed to a certain point and began to slow its pace of growth, that would be the doomsday for other ninja clans.
Tamayo Nara closed her eyes in pain. She took another deep breath and asked, "...Is Senju Wakama's beloved girl from the Uchiha clan?"
Hearing this question, Tsukuyo looked surprised, but still eyed Tamayo Nara curiously and nodded, "Yes, however, she is now both of the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan, isn't she?"
"You... are actually faking a fight with the Uchiha clan?" Aburame Aoi, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but interject.
"Faking a fight? No, no, no, our long-standing feud is very real; we've killed countless members of each other's clans, and the conflict is irreconcilable." The Senju Princess smiled brilliantly, absolutely refusing to admit it. "Besides, with which eye did you see us faking a fight? Didn't my elder brother and Madara renovate large tracts of land across the Land of Fire?"
"Since it's a blood feud, then Senju Wakama..." Tamayo Nara pressed for details.
"His romantic relationship is his personal business; it doesn't escalate to racial hatred." Senju Tsukuyo reached out and caressed her own cheek, seemingly shy, a blush appearing on her face, making her look alluring. She spoke with a longing expression, "Isn't forbidden love between a man and a woman from opposing factions a moving and heroic love story in romance novels?"
"I don't prevent their forbidden love; I even transform their experiences into novels, bind them into serialized stories, and sell them throughout the Land of Fire."
"This story is incredibly popular with young women; from noblewomen in the Daimyo's mansion to common girls in entertainment districts, all are willing to spend money to buy it."
"And not to mention, this also brings a significant income to the Senju clan."
As she spoke, Tsukuyo continued with a beaming smile, "Oh, right, based on your experiences and emotional progress, Miss Tamayo is one of the newly appearing harem members in the novel. The feedback from everyone is that they hope the author writes you to die..."
"But don't worry, I'm always truthful, and I don't use real names for characters, only pseudonyms, so don't worry about being ganged up on."
Tamayo Nara: "..."
Aburame Aoi, beside her, had a ashen face and dared not speak. She felt that she too had been written into a novel by this wicked Princess and planned to buy it and read it once they left.
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