Chapter 109: Reconciliation Achieved
The Hot Spring Villa.
Before even entering, Senju Wakama knew exactly how many people were inside the mansion, thanks to the markings on the main gate's doorpost.
Senju Wakama had just received a formal request for a meeting from Nara Shikabane, the Nara clan head, via one of his subordinates. He then entrusted his current task to another clan member.
He crossed the courtyard and entered the living room.
There, a ramrod-straight middle-aged man sat alone in the main hall of the living room. His black hair was pulled back into a high topknot, and the Nara clan crest was embroidered on his cuffs. His expression was placid, his gaze hollow, a look of utter nothingness on his face.
The Senju clan wore unified attire, their slim-fitting robes, whether on men or women, giving them an air of graceful charm.
In contrast, their visitors wore a motley assortment of clothes, and in terms of visual impression alone, they seemed a cut below the Senju.
Though the Nara clan head wasn't one to seek attention.
It had to be said, most people are visual creatures.
Good-looking people, those with elegant temperaments, always left a pleasing impression, and interacting with them was more enjoyable.
At first glance, an indescribably peculiar feeling stirred within Senju Wakama. Nara Shikabane, being well-traveled, had certainly met members of the Senju clan before. Yet today, he felt a bizarre sensation leaping repeatedly within his heart.
After seeing Tamayo Nara, Nara Shikabane realized that other clan members also felt this way. The Senju clan... they were too beautiful. Both men and women seemed to possess a heaven-sent beauty. This was too strange. For every single person to be overly beautiful was simply not normal. And now, Senju Wakama gave Nara Shikabane the same feeling. Could money truly alter a clan's appearance?
His mind brimming with a thousand questions, Nara Shikabane gave a slight nod. "A pleasure to meet you."
"My name is Senju Wakama; you should know my identity." Senju Wakama lowered his gaze. "You must be here for Miss Tamayo, correct? My apologies. Before I left last time, my physical condition was precarious, so I may have been a little heavy-handed with Miss Tamayo. Please forgive me. However, rest assured, Miss Tamayo's honor remains intact."
Nara Shikabane remained silent.
Tamayo Nara had already told him the full truth of the matter. However, Senju Wakama brought it up unprompted at their first meeting, instantly seizing control of the conversation's direction.
Nara Shikabane sighed, speaking in a light, soft tone. "...I am ashamed of Tamayo's rudeness. She wishes to apologize to you in person, but her condition isn't ideal. Would you mind accompanying me?"
Senju Wakama offered no objection, lifting his hand, gesturing him to proceed.
Nara Shikabane rose, leading Senju Wakama upstairs.
This was originally Senju Wakama's private residence; he had lent it to Tamayo Nara for temporary lodging, yet she had done such a thing to him. Senju Wakama was being quite magnanimous.
Nara Shikabane said no more.
The two entered a guest room on the second floor.
The bedroom's decor was simple, but its space was generous.
Senju Wakama usually met Uchiha Yuki in a more secluded, confined room, as the smaller space made Uchiha Yuki feel secure. Tamayo Nara lay on the bed, looking like a lily about to shatter, her lips murmuring softly, "I'm sorry..."
Senju Wakama sighed, walking to the bedside and sitting down. "Miss Tamayo, truthfully... being liked should be a cause for happiness. However, it's best for everyone if you don't act so... extremely in the future."
"Mm... I'll remember that. Thank you." Tamayo Nara was expressionless. Senju Wakama directly activated his "Art of Skillful Hands," pressing it onto Tamayo Nara and quietly resolving her distress.
After that, Senju Wakama, as a matter of routine, checked Tamayo Nara's pulse, pulled out paper and pen to write a prescription, advised her to rest well, and added that her room and board would be fully covered until her recovery.
Thus, with the intervention of the Nara clan head, Senju Wakama and Tamayo Nara quickly reached a reconciliation.
The examination was done, the prescription written.
Senju Wakama politely took his leave.
Nara Shikabane personally escorted him to the villa's main entrance.
After Senju Wakama departed.
Nara Shikabane narrowed his eyes slightly, standing silently at the entrance for a long time.
Unbeknownst to him, a voice sounded from behind him.
"Clan Head-sama..."
It was Tamayo Nara's weak voice. Nara Shikabane looked in her direction. "You can stand now. It seems your condition has improved."
"It's incredible, but it's true." Tamayo Nara nodded, but she was still very tired, leaning against the doorpost.
Then, Tamayo Nara glanced at the doorpost she was leaning on and said, "...The Senju clan, they're not just skilled in medical arts."
Nara Shikabane followed Tamayo Nara's gaze to the color revealed in the opening on the doorpost.
He remembered that it had displayed orange earlier. Now, the movable module within the opening displayed red.
Tamayo Nara spoke softly, "It's a mechanism that seems useless, but isn't. When there's nothing 'extra' in the house, it shows the lowest color. If someone enters, the weight changes, and the color on the doorpost tells the visitor how many people are inside the house."
They had both been in the inner room just now, so they hadn't seen the doorpost change. Senju Wakama departed, and Nara Shikabane had escorted him out. The house had lost the weight of two people. Now, with Tamayo Nara also stepping out, the house displayed the color representing 'empty.'
Nara Shikabane's brow furrowed deeply.
He recalled the letter from Senju Butsuma, the Senju clan head, several months ago, inviting the major ninja clans to merge and intermarry, to create a shared future.
But Nara Shikabane knew that most ninja clans would never agree to such a naive and foolish proposition.
Now, after personally experiencing the Senju clan's peculiarities.
Nara Shikabane felt quite envious of everything about the Senju clan, but also more wary of them.
He would have to reconsider...
He still needed to figure out the Senju clan's true objectives. Were they really... aiming for mutual progress?