Chapter 129: Willing to Give Everything
Brother Zetsu said Tsukuyo wasn't as carefree as him.
Although her defying ability meant Tsukuyo wouldn't die, it was close to a fate worse than death.
Though originally male, she could only maintain a female appearance.
Not only was her outward appearance clearly female, but she also possessed an irresistible beauty.
She would encounter the jealousy of women and the adoration of men.
In this environment, she was extremely miserable.
People around her wouldn't see her as a man, and she herself would likely be gradually influenced by her female form over a long period.
Senju Wakama didn't know what grave mistake Tsukuyo had committed that led the supreme entity to punish her this way.
Even if he knew the reason, Senju Wakama was helpless; it would only add to his troubles.
And now, everything Tsukuyo did was merely to divert her attention, alleviate her suffering, and at the same time, desperately seek a path to release while remaining immortal.
Brother Zetsu had analyzed it.
In this world, only Uchiha Madara could help Tsukuyo.
No one else, including Senju Wakama, could help her.
The Uchiha Clan were naturally cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
As long as the Uchiha Clan acknowledged you, they would go through fire and water for you, sacrificing everything, even if they discovered your path was arduous or even rejected by society.
If the Uchiha Clan recognized you, even if your path led to utter devastation, they would follow it to the very end.
The Senju Clan was different.
The benevolent Hashirama Senju had a moral compass so "upright" it was almost perverse.
If the path Tsukuyo took was, in Hashirama Senju's eyes, incorrect, he wouldn't help her continue; instead, he would become a stubborn obstacle, preventing Tsukuyo from further "mistakes."
This was also why Tsukuyo tried everything to be kind to Uchiha Madara.
In this world, the only ones powerful enough were Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara.
And the only one who could stay with Tsukuyo all the way to the end was Uchiha Madara.
Senju Wakama would become an enemy of Tsukuyo for the sake of this world;
whereas Uchiha Madara would become an enemy of this world for Tsukuyo's sake.
This was the difference between Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju.
Senju Wakama took a deep breath. "I understand. By the way, how have you considered what I told you before? About… me wanting to leave this world with you…"
Brother Zetsu's tone became somewhat peculiar. "Are you certain you can bear the consequences?"
Senju Wakama looked puzzled. "You have to tell me the cost first. How can I be certain if you just vaguely say I'll bear consequences without telling me what they are?"
Brother Zetsu said blandly, "First, what I just demonstrated to you – that I can instantly know the past and lives of anyone and anything in this world as long as I observe them for a long time – this ability was told to me by a 'System' that comes with me."
"System?" Senju Wakama was even more puzzled. "What is that…"
"You can understand it as a power controlled by us gods who transcend this world, a power different from you natives."
Brother Zetsu continued, "You can understand it as a 'Godhead,' and my Godhead was given to me by my mother, Kaguya. She can reclaim it at any time."
"That is to say, this isn't my exclusive Godhead; I don't have an exclusive Godhead yet."
"And the raw material for creating these 'Godheads' is the 'human life' of devout believers…"
"A 'Godhead' requires a believer who is willing to give everything to us, who holds an undying devotion to us; it is such a person, transformed by their life, soul, and power."
"And only when this person willingly sacrifices everything to become our exclusive 'Godhead' can they be intimately connected to us."
Senju Wakama listened while slowly stepping forward, his expression growing increasingly solemn.
"You mean…" Senju Wakama stared blankly at his feet.
"It means that when the 'Godhead' I received from my mother breaks down and becomes unusable for various reasons, similar to the predicament Tsukuyo faces, you must willingly give everything to me and become my 'Godhead.'"
Zetsu explained dispassionately, "From a being with free will, you would become an inanimate object incapable of independent action."
"Of course, for now, the 'Godhead' I possess hasn't shown any malfunctions or problems, so you'll be safe for at least hundreds, or even tens of millions of years. By becoming my 'Godhead' reserve, you would completely transcend life and death, escape this confined world, and become immortal 'data'."
Senju Wakama trembled involuntarily. He remained silent for a long while before quietly saying, "So, Tsukuyo is trying to find a way for Brother Madara to give everything for her, to sacrifice his life to become her new 'Godhead'? That would be too cruel for Brother Madara…"
Zetsu giggled. "Tsukuyo has no idea what a 'Godhead' is made of. She's trying another method, but if Uchiha Madara himself is willing to give everything to save her, it's not impossible."
Senju Wakama asked, puzzled, "Tsukuyo doesn't know?"
"Right, that's why she wants to find me, to ask me how to repair a broken 'Godhead.' She has no idea what the raw materials are." Zetsu chuckled softly. "But I won't tell her. The truth would cause her more pain; it's better to maintain the status quo."
At this point, Zetsu finally asked with a serious tone, "So, Wakama, I must ask you, what is your decision?"
"To continue in this world, remaining an ignorant native, living through birth, aging, sickness, and death according to predetermined fate, cherishing the time Tsukuyo has bought for you, valuing hard-won happiness, and then peacefully passing away when it's time to return to the earth."
"Or, to become my dependent, transcend this world, possibly dying tomorrow, or perhaps after tens of thousands of years and traveling through countless worlds."
Senju Wakama took a deep breath and quietly said, "Brother Zetsu, let me… consider it further."
Having known Zetsu for several years, Senju Wakama had received Brother Zetsu's favor.
He respected Zetsu, but his feelings for Zetsu hadn't reached the point of giving everything, of undying devotion.
This was too difficult.
In a person's lifetime, they might never find another who would give everything for them.
Such a person was rare to encounter.
Therefore, Senju Wakama understood the arduousness of Tsukuyo's future path, and he was powerless to help.
It was once again time for the seven-day agreement with Uchiha Yuki.
Today was a bit special.
After Tsukuyo returned, the Hyuga Clan still exchanged resources with the Senju Clan.
Previously, Hyuga Haku would often come for "experiences," but after more frequent visits, the envoy dispatched by the Hyuga Clan this time was none other than Hyuga Miyu.
This was somewhat problematic for Senju Wakama.
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