"So, you just don't want to marry Princess Mito?"
After the frantic Hashirama Senju finished waving his arms around and explaining his troubles, Shingetsu tilted her head, her chin resting in both hands. Understanding dawned on her young face, and she immediately cut to the heart of what this man, who was nearly cracking under the pressure to marry, really wanted.
"Well..."
Beads of cold sweat formed on Hashirama's forehead. He opened his mouth as though he still wanted to defend himself, but under Madara's demonically fierce stare, he quickly surrendered.
"Yes, that's exactly it."
"Then go to the Uzumaki Clan right now and tell them that!"
Madara Uchiha was so furious he was practically bristling. He glared at Hashirama Senju, whose mood instantly darkened, and wanted nothing more than to punch the gloomy fool who had once again huddled in a corner to grow mushrooms.
Was he Hashirama's mother? How dare he bother him over such petty bullshit!
"You're a grown man. Stop dragging your feet and go sort this out."
"But that really wouldn't be right. If I did that, where would it leave Princess Mito?"
Hashirama half closed his eyes, his brows drawn tight. For a moment, he was swayed, but in the end, he merely sighed and shook his head with difficulty.
He understood the weight his position carried, and he knew just how eager the Uzumaki Clan was to deepen its friendship and ties with the Senju. If he really followed Madara's advice and went straight to the Uzumaki Clan to tell them that he was a widower who didn't want a wife, Princess Mito would undoubtedly become a laughingstock and might even be blamed by her own clan.
Wouldn't that be humiliating her?
No matter what, Hashirama didn't want his selfish wishes to hurt