Moriki-san Has a Close Friend

Night fell on the Nara Clan Estate.

Senju Moriki, his face dark with gloom, stared at the brightly lit Nara household, a multitude of grievances brewing within him—

When Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju were still alive, no ninja clan could refuse an invitation from the Senju Clan. Now that he was clan head himself, the Ino-Shika-Cho had the audacity to put on airs with him.

All this talk about it being inconvenient to visit the Senju Clan—in Senju Moriki's eyes, it was nothing but excuses.

Just like the Uchiha Clan, they were all scheming for themselves, all traitors and rebels. They simply wanted to watch the once-glorious Senju of the Forest fall from grace and drag them down from their pedestal.

(If only Mother's Nine-Tails Fox were sealed inside me, I could control its power too. Then how could I tolerate Kumogakure running rampant?)

(Without Kumogakure, Lord Tobirama wouldn't have died. I would surely have succeeded him as the Third Hokage. And now it's come to this—Mother, who refused to go to the front lines and unleash her power as the strongest Jinchuriki, must bear some of the blame.)

Senju Moriki conveniently ignored the fact that it was Tobirama Senju himself who had forbidden Mito Uzumaki from joining the battle. Within Konoha, if the Senju Clan Estate lacked a powerhouse to guard it, Tobirama feared the Uchiha would strike at their home.

(After seeing the Susanoo, I can understand Mother's decision to wait and watch, but I cannot accept that Uchiha Takeyasu, who caused Lord Tobirama's death, is strutting around so arrogantly.)

(I will use my own methods to crush the Uchiha's arrogance, cut off their dreams of becoming Hokage, and make them a disgrace throughout the Land of Fire.)

Senju Moriki let out a heavy, turbid breath, clenched his fists, and steeled his resolve.

Guided by a servant at the gate, he entered the Nara Clan Estate. Before long, he came face to face with the Nara Clan Head, Nara Shikamei, who was kneeling in the room, waiting for him.

The Nara Clan were not only the sharp minds of the Ino-Shika-Cho but also the sole suppliers of the precious medicinal ingredient, Spirit Beast Antler. They possessed deep expertise in traditional medicine—this was Senju Moriki's primary reason for coming.

If he couldn't win in a direct fight, he would use "poison" instead.

"Moriki-san, please, have a seat."

"Thank you, Clan Head Shikamei."

Setting aside his resentment toward the Ino-Shika-Cho for the moment, Senju Moriki exchanged a few casual pleasantries with Nara Shikamei before cutting to the chase.

"Moriki-san has a close friend in need of a potent pill for male vitality—one that takes effect immediately upon ingestion?"

Nara Shikamei looked oddly at Senju Moriki, who had inherited the Senju of the Forest's excellent physique and radiated a vibrant life force.

He had originally thought Moriki was here to inquire more deeply about the true cause of Tobirama Senju's death, or even to blame the Ino-Shika-Cho and demand their open support for the Senju of the Forest. Nara Shikamei had been racking his brains over that—but it turned out the man had an unspeakable problem.

(No wonder Moriki-san has been married for seven or eight years and only has Princess Tsunade as his daughter.)

(Well, when it comes to a man's troubles down there, it's perfectly understandable.)

(The Senju of the Forest's numbers have dwindled far too severely. If they could lie low for a decade or two and focus on producing many children, they would once again be a great family of the Ninja World, surrounded by allies. And if a Wood Release user awakened among them, that would be something else entirely.)

Letting the Uchiha Clan have the upper hand for now wasn't a fatal blow. The other clans were watching too; there was no way the Senju of the Forest would be annihilated by the Uchiha.

"Moriki-san, you've come to the right person."

"Our Nara Clan, besides the antlers, also produces a top-tier pill with remarkably potent effects, effective for both men and women. It goes through eighteen processes and takes two and a half years to manufacture successfully."

After a moment's thought, Nara Shikamei wore a reassuring smile that said, "I understand everything, just leave it to me." If Senju Moriki had known the thoughts behind that smile, he would have flown into a rage on the spot.

Having only one child was meant to emulate Hashirama Senju.

During the Warring States Period, everyone had many children to ensure successors—so that if one died in battle, the family line wouldn't end. Hashirama originally had three younger brothers; two didn't survive to adulthood, killed by enemies.

After Konoha was founded, the peaceful, stable environment led Hashirama to believe there would be no more war or slaughter, so he had a single child with Mito Uzumaki.

When Senju Moriki grew up, he married a girl from the Uzumaki Clan and fathered Princess Tsunade. After that, a mountain of affairs revolved around him as the eldest son—learning this, studying that, wishing they could split him in two. Even Shadow Clone Jutsu sometimes wasn't enough.

But that feeling of being valued and revered made Senju Moriki chase after it eagerly. Yet the elders' gazes grew increasingly disappointed, plunging him into a vortex of confusion.

Love was set aside, training hit a plateau, and political affairs marginalized him. Senju Moriki couldn't understand why things didn't go his way—his intentions were always good!

(I'll use this matter to make Mother see me in a new light!)

"As expected of the Nara Clan—you always put people at ease."

Senju Moriki forced a stiff smile onto his face. To be honest, coming to Nara Shikamei to ask for such little pills was something he absolutely did not want to do. No matter how he thought about it, it was a humiliating affair.

But Senju Moriki couldn't trust his close aides either. The moment he spoke of it, there was a nine-out-of-ten chance it would reach Mito Uzumaki's ears, and he would lose even more face.

So, for the sake of the Senju of the Forest, Senju Moriki decided to throw caution to the wind!

"Moriki-san, rest assured. Whether before or after the sale, the Nara Clan is worthy of the Senju of the Forest's trust."

Hearing Nara Shikamei's veiled promises to keep his mouth shut and support the Senju of the Forest, Senju Moriki's smile relaxed a little, though a stifling feeling lingered in his chest.

"Please wait a moment, Moriki-san. I'll go fetch the little pill."

Seeing Senju Moriki fidgeting uneasily, Nara Shikamei took the initiative with understanding. Soon, he emerged from the room, holding a wooden box that gave off a faint woody scent.

"Moriki-san, inside this box is our clan's finest miraculous medicine—the Super God Mighty Pill. For an ordinary person, just scraping off a bit of powder is enough to perform with vigor. Under no circumstances should you swallow the whole pill—it would be fatal!"

(Super God Mighty Pill, so potent it could kill?)

(How wonderful!)

Senju Moriki suppressed the joy rising in his heart, reached out with both hands to accept the wooden box, and nodded solemnly.

Seeing the genuine smile on Senju Moriki's face, Nara Shikamei also wore an enigmatic grin and spoke softly.

"Additionally, the Super God Mighty Pill can also work on women, aiding in conceiving children—its effects are even stronger than on men. Please use it judiciously, Moriki-san."

(As if I'd ever give it to a woman.)

(This is for that Naturally Evil Uchiha Brat, Uchiha Takeyasu.)

(I made you the pillar of the Uchiha younger generation in Uchiha Shikata's mouth.)

(And this thing isn't poison either. As long as you're careful, people will just think the Uchiha brat has hit a desperate mating season.)

(That's right, let him throw his weight around on a sow, become Konoha's biggest joke, and nail him to the pillar of shame in the Ninja World!)

(The only problem now is how to get the Uchiha brat to swallow it.)

Senju Moriki replied with an awkward yet polite smile, then made up some excuse and hurried away.

Nara Shikamei watched Senju Moriki's impatient retreating figure, sighed, and shook his head, a look of sympathy only a man could understand in his eyes.

"Truly a turbulent time. I hope the Senju of the Forest can weather this storm."