Chapter 117 The Freeloading Uzumaki Clan
After Senju Wakama had settled Tamayo Nara, who had taken a "sleeping pill," he immediately left the Hot Spring Villa.
Tamayo Nara was right; as a man, Senju Wakama wouldn't lose out in any way.
Moreover, she wasn't actually ugly; in fact, she was both innocent and seductive, a truly rare beauty, and she had even offered herself willingly.
However, Senju Wakama knew his own situation.
Tamayo Nara had previously poisoned Senju Wakama, which led to Senju Wakama having a thoroughly enjoyable time with Uchiha Yuki...
Afterward, Senju Wakama was forced into "sage mode" and truly didn't want to engage further. If Tsukuyo were home, it would be fine, but the problem was she wasn't!
"...Sister, when will you come home? Your brother is running out of pills..."
Senju Wakama headed to his residence.
It was pitch black inside the inner room.
The moment he entered, he heard a "buzzing" sound like an insect.
Upon hearing the sound, before Senju Wakama could locate its source, he asked, "Murien, it's late. Is there something important?"
As Senju Wakama spoke, he lit a candle.
"Squeak..." Murien's plump little body appeared in a nearby corner.
Senju Wakama looked over and saw the little mouse pull a leaf from a small satchel behind its back, then furtively push it onto the ground in front of him.
Senju Wakama locked the door, then bent down to pick up Murien's "message."
On the leaf were small words written in black ink: "The Uzumaki clan head's eldest grandson wanders around the Princess's Old Residence daily."
Senju Wakama: "..."
Itama had previously mentioned that the Uzumaki clan, having received an invitation from Senju Butsuma, had politely declined the proposal to merge into a single village but were willing to form a marriage alliance with the Senju clan and remain allies forever.
No sooner had their reply arrived than the Uzumaki clan's people also reached the Senju clan's territory.
At the time, Senju Wakama had suggested hosting the Uzumaki clan at the Old Clan Grounds.
The New Clan Grounds had only recently been established, and the Hot Spring Street was only open to VIPs. The vast New Clan Grounds and Hot Spring Street were areas protected by Tsukuyo's "Grand Grass."
Unless one was a special individual, they generally couldn't access the interior.
The Old Clan Grounds were still maintained because Tsukuyo was nostalgic.
Some clan members still resided at the Old Clan Grounds.
Since Tsukuyo had added drainage and water facilities to the New Clan Grounds, living there was certainly much more convenient.
Many Senju clan members would bathe and change clothes at the New Clan Grounds, then return to the Old Clan Grounds to rest at night.
The Old Clan Grounds were also regularly cleaned by clan members.
But in reality, that area had become the residence for most of the animals under Tsukuyo's command.
Some four-legged wild animals would voluntarily clean the Old Clan Grounds.
Therefore, even with the New Clan Grounds, most Senju clan members would still frequently return to the Old Clan Grounds.
To outsiders unaware of the truth, it seemed as if the Senju clan hadn't changed much.
In fact, due to its convenient facilities, the Senju clan's New Clan Grounds were more suitable for hosting honored guests.
However, the Uzumaki clan's behavior displeased Senju Wakama, which was why he suggested hosting them at the Old Clan Grounds and simultaneously concealing everything about the Hot Spring Street.
Up until now, only the Hyuga clan and the Nara clan were aware of the internal situation of the Hot Spring Street.
Other ninja clans, even if slightly observant, only knew that nobles came to the Senju clan for recuperation; few ninja clans knew the specific details.
Now, based on Murien's brief intelligence report, Senju Wakama felt his suggestion was correct.
The Uzumaki clan had spent these years sealing mountains, planting forests, and having many children, residing on an isolated island overseas. The missions they took weren't particularly difficult combat-oriented tasks, so their limited information access was normal.
The Senju clan's changes had been too rapid for other ninja clans to react.
Before the Senju clan's New Clan Grounds were officially opened to the public, the Uzumaki clan was, of course, unaware.
Senju Wakama quietly asked, "Murien, what exactly does he want to do?"
No sooner had he spoken than Murien pulled out a slender pen from its small satchel again and continued writing a few words on another leaf, handing it to Senju Wakama.
Senju Wakama picked it up and looked.
Tiny, fly-like characters jumped off the page: "He wants to marry the Senju Princess and plans to meet her at night, hoping something will happen. Unfortunately, the Princess is not home."
Seeing this message, a cold sneer appeared on Senju Wakama's face.
Whoever this man was, Senju Wakama truly admired him.
He hadn't even met Tsukuyo and was already fantasizing.
Murien didn't stop; it continued writing. The next message was:
"The ingredients were provided by Kumata's family, consisting of the wild boar clan from the neighboring mountain who refused to submit to the Princess, and other uncooperative birds of prey. They were made into roasted meat to entertain the Uzumaki clan."
"The Senju clan's chefs, having inherited the Princess's true culinary skills, made the roasted meat so delicious that the Uzumaki clan loved it immensely. They had been eating for a day and a night yesterday and would probably continue today."
"The Uzumaki visitors have enormous appetites. Kumata is unhappy and asked if these freeloaders could be driven away. If they keep killing, the wild boar clan will face extinction. 'Once the wild boar clan is extinct, there will be no more roasted meat to eat.'"
Upon seeing these messages, Senju Wakama's brows furrowed.
Kumata was quite familiar with Senju Wakama; the cave dwelling in Nangakawa Forest was even scouted out by Kumata for Senju Wakama.
Senju Wakama even paid Kumata with meat as rent, leasing their "home."
And these bears were living beings under Tsukuyo's command.
They weren't ninja beasts, yet they possessed spiritual awareness and were on good terms with Tsukuyo.
Of course, Nangakawa Forest was vast, and not all animals were willing to submit to the Senju Princess's command.
Furthermore, Tsukuyo didn't accept just any animal as her "subordinate."
Senju Wakama had personally observed Tsukuyo's process of taking "subordinates."
If two peak-level members of the same species were vying for the position of "king" within a clan,
Tsukuyo would always help the slightly weaker side.
She said that whether human or creature, the one at the very top was always unruly; they wanted to be king themselves and would never submit to anyone.
In such circumstances, it was extremely difficult to bring them under one's control.
Therefore, most humans who wanted to turn fierce beasts into their pets first had to defeat these beasts into submission.
But Tsukuyo didn't want to do that.
She wanted loyal "family," not dangerous "subordinates."
Animals that were forced into submission only yielded because they couldn't defeat you. In the future, given any opportunity, they could retaliate, and might even try every means to trample the one who had once humiliated them.
Adding flowers to embroidery couldn't compare to sending charcoal in the snow. Tsukuyo would continuously rescue spiritually aware animals injured by the "king," thereby establishing a reciprocal relationship with them.
Currently, Nangakawa Forest was divided into two factions.
One consisted of various clans led by the "kings" of their respective animal groups;
The other was the animal faction under the command of the Senju Princess.
Senju Wakama quietly said, "Go tell Kumata to wait a few more days. If the wild boar population sharply decreases, switch to fish or other hostile animals for food, then report this matter to Tsukuyo."
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