After Senju Wakama said this with conviction,
Black Zetsu was silent for a good while before saying, "If you're sure you won't change your mind, I'll have to take action."
"Brother Zetsu... after I become your vassal, can I still stay in this world for a few more years?" Senju Wakama asked with some hesitation.
Although Uchiha Yuki hadn't said anything particularly affectionate, Senju Wakama could feel her emotions for him.
If Senju Wakama were to suddenly disappear today,
Tsukuyo might guess why he had vanished, but what about Uchiha Yuki?
And then there was Hyuga Miyu. Although they had reconciled, Hyuga Miyu was trying to improve herself, intending to start over with Senju Wakama from scratch.
If he disappeared, how would Hyuga Miyu react?
Aburame Aoi, Tamayo Nara...
Unconsciously, Senju Wakama realized that even though nothing had happened with them, it felt as if bonds still existed.
On the verge of taking the final step, Senju Wakama couldn't help but look back on his life of the past dozen or so years.
His memories really only began after Tsukuyo's transformation; by that count, his memorable years might not even amount to a dozen.
Zetsu chuckled. "How should I explain this to you... I'm like an entity that watches over the world, and my vassals are puppets under my command who do the things I can't be bothered to do. You understand that part, right?"
"When I need you, you work. When I don't need you, you can live however you want."
"After all, I've known you for many years. Thanks to you, Tsukuyo hasn't discovered my existence."
"After you become a vassal, you can leave this world whenever you get tired of this life. It's only a matter of ten or twenty years, anyway."
"By that time, the ninja village will surely have been established, and you'll have no lingering worries."
Senju Wakama asked cautiously, "Can... can I bring Yuki with me?"
"You can, but I suggest you say goodbye to them in this world."
Zetsu laughed sinisterly. "You know, other worlds are much larger than the Ninja World, with far more people."
"You can never know what kind of new bonds you'll form, nor do you know what you'll become in the future."
"As time passes, your thoughts will change, and your preferences will change too."
"Ah, people... it's best to quit while you're ahead. Leave yourself with some good memories, rather than waiting for the subject of those memories to sour and leave you with a shadow you'll never forget."
Senju Wakama was silent for a moment, then sighed. "You're right, Brother Zetsu."
Black Zetsu chuckled lightly. "Besides, as my vassal, once you leave this world, you'll actually be an immortal being, just like me and Tsukuyo."
"Leaving your lovers in their prime is also a way of leaving them with some dignity. After all, you will be ageless and immortal, while they will grow old and die. When that time comes, some things will inevitably change, no matter what."
Senju Wakama nodded gravely. "I understand now. Thank you, Brother Zetsu."
Black Zetsu's voice echoed in Senju Wakama's ear. "If that's the case, then... let's begin..."
Black Zetsu's voice had just faded.
"Wait—"
Senju Wakama suddenly cried out. Then, with a splash, he stood up from the hot spring pool, casually grabbed the men's yukata that was waiting nearby, put it on, and said, "You can begin now."
Black Zetsu laughed. "Alright."
This time, along with Black Zetsu's laughter,
Senju Wakama felt the scenery around him suddenly begin to move.
Not moving left or right, but fading.
It was as if a vibrant reality was gradually turning into a hand-drawn picture, its brilliant colors slowly draining away.
First, the red in his vision disappeared, then the orange, then yellow, then green...
Gradually, the world before his eyes turned into a black and white scene, like something from the underworld.
And the three-dimensional objects around him gradually dissolved into lines.
Finally,
everything before him became a black and white line drawing.
The sight was both stunning and terrifying to Senju Wakama.
His body felt nothing unusual,
yet when he raised his hands, he saw that they too had become part of the black and white drawing.
And when he looked up again,
a translucent rectangle appeared before him.
On this rectangle, rows of Hanzi were materializing from left to right.
Thanks to the fruits of his persistent efforts in learning Hanzi from Tsukuyo over the years,
Senju Wakama could completely understand what the left-to-right script meant.
「Name: Senju Wakama」;
「Sex: Male」;
「Identity: Zetsu's Vassal II」;
「Status: Normal」
...
Huh?
That's it?
Senju Wakama looked left and right, waited for a good while, and found no more information on the panel before him. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zetsu, this is..."
"Hee hee hee..."
Zetsu's laughter came through. "This is a status screen. I previously took in an Obito from another worldline as a helper, so he's Number One, and you're Number Two. However, this system is very crude. I can't give you too many privileges for now. The panel will be improved once you decide to leave here for good."
In other words, this thing was useless to Senju Wakama for now.
"However, I can personally take you to see another world. But, to cross between worlds, you'll need my permission. You can't cross over on your own." Zetsu said ominously, "Sorry, but the restrictions are for safety. If we're too reckless, Mother will get angry. When that happens, I might not even survive, let alone you. When you're not strong enough, it's best to follow the rules."
Senju Wakama nodded. "Then... can you take me to see it, Brother Zetsu? It doesn't have to be for long. I just want to take a look at that happy world Tsukuyo described."
"Of course. Right now." As soon as Zetsu's voice faded,
Senju Wakama felt the surrounding scenery gradually returning to its original state.
Everything that had become black and white lines grew vibrant once more.
The difference was that the hot spring pool at his feet now shone with a strange light, emitting a magnificent glow.
"...Next, Wakama, you must follow my instructions." Zetsu's voice rang in his ear. "Stand on the edge of the bath, don't jump in. Just stand there, take a deep breath, and wait quietly..."
Senju Wakama did as he was told.
Immediately after, a cold wind suddenly blew into the enclosed space.
Having just stepped out of the hot spring, Senju Wakama couldn't help but shiver. In that brief moment of distraction, when he came to his senses again,
Senju Wakama found that the scene before him had changed.
A cacophony of sounds reached his ears—a strange noise, a mixture of human voices and some kind of static he didn't recognize.
Besides that, what lay before him was no longer the enclosed wall of the bathroom, but a vast night sky.
Senju Wakama focused his gaze and saw stretches of magnificent, brightly lit buildings ahead.
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