Night had fallen over the Nara Clan Estate.
Senju Moriki's expression was dark as he gazed at the brightly lit Nara Clan compound, brewing with resentment—
When Hashirama Senju and Senju Tobirama were alive, no clan could refuse an invitation from the Senju Clan. Now that he was Clan Head, even Ino-Shika-Cho was putting on airs.
All that talk about it being inconvenient to meet at the Senju Clan Compound was just an excuse, as far as Senju Moriki was concerned.
Just like the Uchiha Clan, they were all scheming for their own benefit. They were all traitors, hoping to laugh at the once-glorious Senju of the Forest and drag them down from their pedestal.
(If Mother's Nine-Tails Fox were inside me, and I could control its power, how could I tolerate Kumogakure's insolence?)
(Without Kumogakure, Lord Tobirama wouldn't have died. I could have taken the Third Hokage's place, too. Things had come to this because Mother, who could have gone to the front lines and displayed the strength of the strongest Jinchuriki, didn't take part in the fighting. She has to bear some responsibility.)
Senju Moriki conveniently ignored that Senju Tobirama had refused Mito Uzumaki's request to join the battle. Within Konoha, if no powerful fighter remained at the Senju Clan Compound, Senju Tobirama had feared the Uchiha might raid their home.
(After seeing Susanoo, I can understand Mother's decision to wait and see, but I can't accept that Uchiha Takeyasu killed Lord Tobirama and is now swaggering around.)
(I'll use my own methods to crush the Uchiha's arrogance, kill their dreams of becoming Hokage, and make them infamous throughout the Land of Fire.)
Senju Moriki let out a long breath, clenched his fists, and made up his mind.
Guided by the servant at the gate, he entered the Nara Clan Estate. Before long, he was ushered into a room, where Nara Shikamei, the Nara Clan Head, sat waiting for him.
The Nara Clan were not only the brains of Ino-Shika-Cho; they were also the sole supplier of Spirit Beast Antler, a precious medicinal ingredient, and had deep expertise in traditional medicine. That was the main reason Senju Moriki had come.
If he couldn't beat them head-on, he'd use "poison."
"Moriki-san, please, have a seat."
"Thank you, Clan Head Shikamei."
Temporarily setting aside his resentment toward Ino-Shika-Cho, Senju Moriki chatted casually with Nara Shikamei for a few moments before getting to the point.
"Moriki-san has a close friend who needs a precious pill for men's... needs. Something that works immediately once taken?"
Nara Shikamei gave Senju Moriki an odd look. He'd inherited the excellent physique of the Senju of the Forest, and his whole body radiated vigorous vitality.
At first, he'd thought Senju Moriki had come to ask more about the real cause of Senju Tobirama's death—or even to blame Ino-Shika-Cho and demand that they openly support the Senju of the Forest. Nara Shikamei had been dreading that conversation. He hadn't expected Moriki to have a private problem instead.
(No wonder Moriki-san has been married for seven or eight years and has only one daughter, Princess Tsunade.)
(Still, it's entirely understandable for a man to have some kind of difficulty in that department.)
(The Senju of the Forest have dwindled to a frightening degree. If they could lie low for a decade or two and have plenty of children, they'd once again be a prestigious clan with guests crowding their halls. And if a Wood Release user appeared among them, that would be even more remarkable.)
The Uchiha Clan gaining the upper hand for a while wasn't a matter of life and death. The other clans were watching, too. There was no way they'd let the Senju of the Forest be wiped out by the Uchiha.
"Moriki-san, you've come to the right person."
"My Nara Clan has more than antlers. We also have a top-grade pill with remarkable effects on both men and women. It takes eighteen steps and two and a half years to make."
After a moment's thought, Nara Shikamei gave him a reassuring smile that said, "I understand. Leave everything to me." If Senju Moriki had known what was behind that smile, he would have lost his temper on the spot.
Having only one child was meant to follow Hashirama Senju's example.
During the Warring States Period, everyone had children in great numbers to ensure their clan had heirs. That way, one death on the battlefield wouldn't leave a family without descendants. Hashirama Senju had started with three younger brothers, but two had been killed before they reached adulthood.
After Konoha was founded, the peaceful, stable environment convinced Hashirama Senju that war and bloodshed would be things of the past. He and Mito Uzumaki had one child.
When he grew up, Senju Moriki married a young woman from the Uzumaki Clan, and they had Princess Tsunade. After that, a mountain of responsibilities fell on him as the eldest legitimate son. He had to study this and learn that; it was as if his elders wanted to split him in two and put both halves to work. Sometimes even Shadow Clone Jutsu wasn't enough.
But Senju Moriki had craved that feeling of being valued and admired. Meanwhile, the looks his elders gave him grew more and more disappointed, leaving him lost and bewildered.
Romance had fallen by the wayside, his training had hit a bottleneck, and he'd been sidelined in clan affairs. Senju Moriki couldn't understand why things weren't going his way. His intentions had always been good!
(I'll use this to make Mother see me in a new light!)
"As expected of the Nara Clan. You make people feel they can count on you."
Senju Moriki forced a stiff smile. To be honest, he'd been dead set against coming to Nara Shikamei for a pill like this. No matter how he looked at it, it was humiliating.
But Senju Moriki couldn't trust one of his own men with the matter. As soon as he said the words, there was a good chance they'd reach Mito Uzumaki—and then he'd be even more mortified.
So, for the sake of the Senju of the Forest, Senju Moriki had decided to take the plunge!
"Moriki-san, rest assured. From before the sale to after it, the Nara Clan is worthy of the Senju of the Forest's trust."
As Nara Shikamei kept making it clear, both directly and indirectly, that he'd keep the matter confidential and support the Senju of the Forest, Senju Moriki's smile grew a little more natural. Still, he felt a knot in his chest.
"Please wait a moment, Moriki-san. I'll go get the pill."
Seeing how restless Senju Moriki was, Nara Shikamei considerately went to fetch it. A short while later, he returned with a wooden box that gave off a faint, woody scent.
"Moriki-san, this contains my clan's finest elixir, the Super God Mighty Pill. For most people, just a scrape of the powder is enough to give them a night of glory. Do not, under any circumstances, swallow the whole pill. It could cost you your life!"
(The Super God Mighty Pill is strong enough to be fatal?)
(How wonderful!)
Senju Moriki suppressed his excitement, reached out with both hands to take the box, and nodded solemnly.
Seeing the sincerity in Senju Moriki's smile, Nara Shikamei responded with one of his own, full of unspoken understanding. Then he spoke quietly.
"Also, the Super God Mighty Pill works on women, too. It can help with conceiving, and its effects are even stronger for them than for men. Please use it at your discretion, Moriki-san."
(I'd never give it to a woman.)
(This is for that Naturally Evil Uchiha Brat, Uchiha Takeyasu.)
(I'll show you what it means to be the standard-bearer of the Uchiha younger generation—the very one Uchiha Shikata was talking about.)
(Besides, this isn't poison. If I'm careful, people will just think the Uchiha brat has entered an insatiable rut.)
(That's right. I'll make him strut around on a sow, turn him into Konoha's biggest laughingstock, and nail him to the Ninja World's pillar of shame!)
(The only question now is how to get the Uchiha brat to swallow it.)
Senju Moriki returned an awkward but polite smile, then made up an excuse and hurried away.
Watching Senju Moriki's retreating figure, Nara Shikamei sighed and shook his head, his eyes full of the sort of sympathy only one man could feel for another.
"What a turbulent time. I hope the Senju of the Forest make it through this ordeal."
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