"Since Renya has agreed, then do as you wish."
Uzumaki Mito sighed helplessly.
Tobirama didn't want to get married, and there was nothing she could do about it.
With Renya serving him in the future, there was no need to worry at all. Renya was such a filial child, she believed Tobirama's later years would not be bad.
Perhaps that was the reason Hashirama had made Tobirama adopt Renya in the first place?
"Sister-in-law, when you have time, you can find a suitable girl for this kid." Senju Tobirama glanced at Renya, whose eyes had gone wide, and spoke softly to his sister-in-law.
Renya never expected this bastard Tobirama to use him as a shield, and now he was even digging a pit for him to fall into.
He had finally managed to divert Mito-san's attention, and now it had turned back on him again…
Passing the ball like this? Unbelievable!
This old man was just pulling others down with him because he had suffered himself.
"You're right," Mito nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Renya should be matched with a suitable girl."
Although Tobirama had no plans to marry, wasn't there still Renya?
At his age, he could already begin discussing marriage.
"Renya, when the time comes, Auntie will introduce you to a few girls your age." Uzumaki Mito smiled warmly.
"No need, Mito-san." Renya shook his head like a rattle-drum, his face full of rejection.
Marriage? Impossible in this lifetime!
If he had the time, he'd rather use it to strengthen his power and develop stronger poisons.
As for women? He had no interest at all!
Having one Senju Tobirama in the house was already troublesome enough—he had no energy to serve a woman on top of that.
Hearing this, Mito's brows furrowed slightly. Why were both of them unwilling to marry?
"Tell me, why do you refuse?"
She suspected Tobirama had corrupted Renya, teaching him by example that marriage was unnecessary.
If Renya's mindset wasn't corrected while he was still young, in a few years he would become another Tobirama.
"Why do I refuse?" Renya was caught off guard.
He couldn't exactly tell Mito-san that, like Tobirama, he had no interest in women.
Using the same excuse again would have half the effect—and Mito wasn't so easy to fool…
He glared resentfully at Tobirama. This old man was to blame!
Senju Tobirama pretended not to notice Renya's look and said slowly,
"Kid, she asked you a question."
He wore the very picture of indifference, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Though he had no desire to marry himself, he still wanted to see Renya build a family.
Beneath the table, Renya's hands clenched tightly, cracking his knuckles. He wished he could punch the old man in the face.
"Mito-san, I'm still too young," Renya replied, using age as an excuse.
He was only sixteen, still just a child—surely marriage was far too soon.
Tobirama raised an eyebrow. That excuse sounded awfully familiar. He himself had used it… maybe ten or twenty years ago.
"Sixteen isn't too young," Uzumaki Mito said with a smile. "I'll just introduce you to a few girls. Whether anything comes of it is up to you."
Tobirama's eyes flicked subtly toward his sister-in-law. He knew this tactic well—introducing girls little by little.
If the first few didn't work, others could be brought in.
Meet enough girls, and eventually one would suit.
His elder brother and sister-in-law had used the same method on him. Only his lack of interest in women had rendered it useless.
Would this kid see through the ploy?
From his observations, Tobirama could tell Renya was like him—completely disinterested in women.
He wasn't sure whether Renya had turned out this way because of him, or if it was Renya's nature all along—but the reason no longer mattered.
Like father, like son…
Hopefully the boy could resist Mito's advances. Otherwise, he'd be forced into marriage and fatherhood.
"No need, Mito-san," Renya forced a smile. "I'll meet girls I like on my own."
By pretending to be interested in girls, he could trick the elders into thinking he was open to marriage. Then he could drag it out for years.
Whenever asked, he'd just say he hadn't found the right one yet. That excuse could buy him time until he was at least twenty-five.
What came after, he'd leave to his future self.
The priority now was to get through this moment.
Tobirama gave a faint nod, satisfied. This kid was just as clever as he had been.
Not bad. He had his own flair from back in the day.
Mito had almost been convinced by Renya's argument, but when she saw Tobirama, her expression suddenly grew odd.
This excuse… sounded too familiar.
"Renya, you're not planning to use this excuse to avoid marriage until you're thirty, are you?" she asked suspiciously.
After all, someone had once done exactly that—and even now, remained unmarried.
Renya: "???"
His plan hadn't even begun, and it was already exposed?!
He instinctively looked at Tobirama, only to see the old man turn his head away, avoiding his gaze.
These tricks were all leftovers from his playbook…
The boy was still too young.
Renya: "…"
So that was the reason—this old man had already worn the excuse threadbare.
He must have used so many excuses that Renya's had been instantly recognized.
Now Renya didn't even know what to say.
Under Mito's doubtful stare, he awkwardly rubbed his nose and tried another approach.
"Mito-san, these things can't be rushed. You wouldn't want me to marry someone I don't even like, would you?
Only when you're with someone you truly love can marriage bring happiness… Would a marriage forced by elders really be happy?"
Mito was stunned.
Her own marriage had been political. She hadn't even met Hashirama before the wedding.
She remembered how anxious and afraid she had been before marrying—worried her husband would treat her poorly, or that she'd be bullied in the Senju clan.
She was lucky. Hashirama had turned out to be a good man, and their bond had grown with time.
But many women in arranged marriages weren't so fortunate.
Renya's words brought those memories flooding back…
Back then, she had no choice. She'd been forced into marriage.
Now that the children had a choice, why force them?
Seeing her hesitate, Renya knew he'd succeeded.
Arranged marriage was outdated—free love was the way!
Even if he had no interest in women, at least now he had a valid excuse.
"Renya, you're right," Mito said softly. "Such things should be decided by you young people yourselves."
"Mhm, got it, Mito-san," Renya replied, grinning ear to ear.
Finally, he had wriggled out of it. Not easy!
Tobirama stared at him in disbelief, his eyes full of shock.
This kid had actually persuaded his sister-in-law so easily?
Then what had all his years of excuses been worth?!
"Tsuna, when you grow up, remember to marry a boy you like, alright?" Uzumaki Mito said fondly, putting food on Tsunade's plate.
"Grandma, what are you saying?" Tsunade's face turned scarlet.
"Haha, little Tsuna is shy," Mito chuckled, covering her mouth.
"Hmph, I'm ignoring you, Grandma!" Tsunade pouted unhappily.
"Alright, alright, Grandma won't tease you anymore."
Watching the scene, Renya's expression was strange.
Would this girl really get married?
If he remembered right, she would become a late-blooming spinster…
After all, the two men who pursued her both ended up dead.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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