Senju Wakama stood beside the observation deck, gazing down at the boundless sea of trees below. He said, "Yuki, when you possess the power to look down upon all creation and stand in the position of a clan head, you won't think this way."
As he spoke, Senju Wakama pointed to the bustling street below.
This was the monumental achievement the Senju clan had built in less than five years.
Senju Wakama continued, "Yuki, did you know? The Ninja World is very small."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuki lowered her head.
Senju Wakama used to think the Ninja World was so vast, with so many places he had yet to visit.
But Zetsu had described countless different worlds to Senju Wakama—worlds that Tsukuyo also knew of, and had even visited.
This made Senju Wakama yearn for the sea of stars.
Senju Wakama stared at the Hot Spring Street below and said faintly, "In such a small world, resources are finite. Or rather, there are only so many resources to go around."
"When one group of people becomes wealthy, another group is bound to fall into poverty. That's because the wealthy group has seized resources by virtue of their strength, thus causing the weaker group to become impoverished."
"The tax policy my sister spoke of is about the Daimyo using his power to seize resources from the people under his rule."
"In truth, how is that any different from ninja clans seizing resources from one another?"
"The strong take more, and the weak can only resign themselves to their fate."
"This world has always been one where the strong devour the weak. The law of the jungle has never left us. Whether in ancient times or now, the weak can only be forced to accept the rules set by the strong."
Uchiha Yuki lowered her gaze. "Perhaps you're right. But I am slow-witted. I must admit that the environment I grew up in has limited my imagination. In the days since I've known you, I've learned so many things—perhaps things that others could never encounter or enjoy in their entire lifetime."
"I'm so sorry. I've clearly enjoyed the benefits you've given me, yet I questioned you. I'm the one who deserves to be damned..."
Senju Wakama looked at her with a smile. "The fact that you're upset shows you still have your humanity. It's normal."
"My sister is the reincarnation of a god, born into the Senju clan. It is our clan's great fortune. She is powerful enough to let our entire clan live a good life."
"But she also knows that she is destined to be lonely. The various ninja clans are my sister's enemies, the commoners of the Land of Fire are my sister's enemies, the great nobles are my sister's enemies, the Daimyo of every nation are my sister's enemies, and even our own Senju clan... is my sister's enemy..."
Uchiha Yuki's eyes widened, speechless.
"My sister wants to dominate the Ninja World and achieve a great unification. She must balance all the powers within it—commoners, nobles, Daimyo, and ninja clans must all be treated as one and the same. She stands on high, looking down on all creation with cold indifference. Only then can the world she speaks of be realized in her hands."
Senju Wakama took Uchiha Yuki's hand, leading her to look down at the view below together.
These were words Senju Wakama was saying to himself as much as to her.
It was a philosophy Brother Zetsu had once told him.
He hadn't understood it before.
But now... he suddenly understood.
Long ago, Tsukuyo had told him to write down the things he didn't understand in a notebook, saying he would figure them out sooner or later.
Knowledge is only useful to a person once it becomes their own.
"...Sorry, Yuki. I've said a lot of strange things to you." Senju Wakama took Uchiha Yuki's slender hand in his and said with a smile, "Let's go get lunch. Tsukuyo will take care of Madara for us today, so he won't be bothering us for a while."
After hearing Tsukuyo's inhuman 'art of governance,' Uchiha Madara was bound to argue with her for a while.
That would give Senju Wakama the chance to share his heartfelt feelings with Uchiha Yuki.
Their once-a-week date couldn't be ruined by such tedious matters. They were in the prime of their reckless youth and couldn't let their current physical condition go to waste.
And then... they did it to their heart's content...
...
When night fell once more,
Senju Wakama personally saw Uchiha Yuki out of the clan grounds.
When he returned to his private room,
Senju Wakama was soaking alone in the artificial hot spring in his bathroom, murmuring, "Brother Zetsu, you were silent for a while. Was it because Aburame Aoi was spying on me? Why didn't you warn me?"
As soon as he said this, Senju Wakama heard Brother Zetsu's lewd laughter in his ear. "I generally don't interfere in your affairs. Besides, Wakama, why are your moral standards so high?"
"Tsukuyo is weary of romance between men and women, but you're different. A girl offers herself to you, and you don't take the meal. Are you stupid?"
"You and Uchiha Yuki didn't get together because of love at first, did you? Your feelings for each other grew over time."
"What? No other girls catch your eye? Just have Tsukuyo give them cosmetic surgery to make them look like your type."
Soaking in the warm water, Senju Wakama scoffed. "Brother Zetsu, it's not that I'm so moral. I'm just thinking about a very important question."
"If I were willing to become your vassal, Brother Zetsu, are you certain you could take me away from this world?"
Zetsu giggled. "Of course. Although I lie often, this time I'm telling the truth. Whether you believe it is up to you."
"Then... Brother Zetsu, make me your vassal." Senju Wakama leaned against the edge of the hot spring, gazing up at the steam-filled ceiling.
He had been thinking about this for a very, very long time.
Zetsu had made it very clear.
If he did nothing, under Tsukuyo's protection, Senju Wakama could certainly live a safe and happy life, then die of old age, ending his time in this world and vanishing from existence.
However...
If he didn't know anything, those brief few decades would certainly have been worth it.
But now, knowing too much, Senju Wakama had become greedy.
Senju Wakama wanted to see other worlds.
His old way of thinking—'living this one life well is enough'—was actually born of necessity.
Because even if he wanted to live for a few hundred more years, it would likely be impossible. It was better to cherish the little time he had.
But Black Zetsu had given Senju Wakama another choice.
He could stay here, live out his few decades, and then disappear from the world.
Or he could follow Black Zetsu and leave this world. He might die, it was true, but he would die anyway if he stayed here as an ordinary person.
By leaving with Zetsu, he could live a while longer.
There was a huge difference between living a few decades and dying of old age versus dying after living for a few hundred or a few thousand more years.
Every extra year was a year gained.
Black Zetsu said with a grin, "If you've made up your mind, I can modify your identity right now. Once you become my vassal, I can immediately take you to experience other worlds. Have you decided?"
Senju Wakama stared at the ceiling and murmured, "Yes. I've decided."
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