Tsubasa slowly reached out and hugged his father back. His voice was gentle, tinged with guilt and gratitude. "Thank you, Father. I'm sorry for making you worry. Look, I'm completely better now. I feel so strong I could be a strongman! From now on, I definitely won't get sick and make you worry again." He nestled in his father's arms, a reassured smile on his face as he felt the warmth of his embrace. Sunlight fell gently on father and son, as if gilding the heartwarming scene.
Just then, a childish voice tinged with pride suddenly rang out, breaking the warm moment. Tenmei stood beneath the eaves, chest puffed out and looking pleased with himself. "Gold-Swallowing Beast, call me big brother from now on, and I'll protect you. If anyone around Hokage Street dares to bully you, just tell them my name. It'll definitely work!"
Tsubasa lifted his head from his father's embrace and looked at his filthy younger brother. Seeing how smug he looked, he couldn't help laughing. "Then sorry for the trouble from now on, little brother Tenmei. But I can't call you big brother. Who told me to be born before you? That's not up to us. Heaven decided it, didn't it?"
Tenmei sniffled, his face full of indignation, and waved a little hand through the air. "Ninjas go by strength! When we play ninja games outside, whoever's stronger gets to be the big brother. Don't you understand? Stop going on about who was born first."
The corners of Tsubasa's mouth curled up, and his eyes filled with amusement as he teased, "I'm not a ninja, so why would I go by strength with you? We're at home now, and no matter what, you'll always be my little brother. That can't be changed."
Tenmei's little face instantly turned bright red. Clenching both fists, he shouted angrily, "So you were born a year earlier. What's there to be so smug about? I'm not calling you big brother unless you can beat me someday. Hmph!"
As the two traded words, their mother, Senju Ga, hurried over. She gently brushed the dust off Tenmei, her brows knitting slightly as she chided him. "All right, all right. Look at you, you're filthy. Were you fighting with someone at school again? Hurry upstairs and wash up. It's almost time to eat."
Tenmei immediately perked up again, thumping his chest. "Mom, I was amazing today! I fought Uchiha Iwa and Hyuga Chisha all by myself and beat them until they begged for mercy. Now I'm the strongest in the class!" He tilted his head up proudly.
Senju Ga smiled helplessly and gave his little bottom a gentle pat. "All right, all right. Go take a bath, then put on some clean clothes and come down to eat."
Tenmei answered with a cheerful "Okay!" and scampered upstairs, his footsteps full of energy.
Senju Ga turned around with a gentle smile and addressed everyone. "Father, sisters-in-law, please sit down. It's time to eat."
Sixth Aunt In Senju smiled, her eyes full of affection. "Little Tenmei is getting naughtier and naughtier, but he really is adorable. Things always feel lively whenever I see him."
Fifth Aunt Ame Senju nodded with a smile. "It's wonderful that he's so lively and cute. Having him around brings so much life to the house."
Senju Ga shook her head with a rueful smile, her eyes full of helplessness. "Tsubasa and Tenmei are complete opposites. Tsubasa was frail and sickly from childhood, always lying in bed. I worried so much about him. As for Tenmei, he has more energy than he knows what to do with, and he's gotten up to every kind of mischief. I can't even remember how many messes I've cleaned up for him."
Eldest Aunt Dō Senju took Senju Ga's hand, full of envy. "You should be content. Both children are healthy now, and that's better than anything. If you think they're too much trouble, give one of them to me. I'd be happy to take care of him."
Second Aunt Gi Senju sighed softly, longing in her eyes. "How about letting me raise Tsubasa? I'd cherish him like a treasure. You have no idea how much we sisters-in-law envy you."
Kaidō Senju came over too and suggested with a smile, "Hua'er, why don't you let us sisters-in-law raise both Tsubasa and Tenmei? We'll worry about them for you. You and Tenpuku can keep trying and have a few more."
Nanshin Senju chimed in from the side. "Exactly. Tsubasa has fully recovered now, too. We sisters-in-law will work a little harder and pay off the debt. Then you and Tenpuku can have more children without worrying. We'll help you raise them. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Senju Ga's face flushed slightly as she listened. She hurriedly turned toward the kitchen, leaving them with the words, "We'll talk about it later."
Senju Yasuhei looked at his daughters-in-law and sighed inwardly. Every one of them had suffered a bitter fate.
Held in his father's arms, Tsubasa watched his aunts' eager pleas for a child. His heart was warm yet a little heavy, and he was wholly occupied with thinking about how to repay their kindness. The story of Wei Xiaobao marrying seven wives, which he had seen in his previous life, suddenly came to mind, and he subconsciously murmured to himself, "I'll marry seven wives in the future, one for each aunt, and carry on the family lines for my uncles and aunts."
The moment the words left his mouth, Tsubasa suddenly felt the air around him fall completely still. He looked up in confusion and saw six pairs of eyes fixed on him, all filled with surprise and anticipation, as if they had glimpsed the dawn in the darkness.
Tears glistened in Dō Senju's eyes, and her voice trembled slightly, though it was full of tenderness. "Little Tsubasa, sweetheart, your eldest aunt is taking you at your word."
The other five aunts were just as excited and said in unison, "I'm taking you at your word too!"
Senju Yasuhei stared intently at Tsubasa, shock and a trace of relief in his eyes. His sons and grandsons had died in battle, and his daughters-in-law had been left widowed. For years, it had weighed on his heart like a great stone, so heavy he could hardly breathe. Now, hearing Tsubasa's words, he suddenly felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps this really could resolve the burdens in his daughters-in-law's hearts, as well as the pain he had carried for so many years.
Everyone knew that the Uchiha Clan was a clan of love, and that its members awakened the Sharingan upon losing their loved ones and family. Yet few knew that the Senju Clan was also a clan of love. Members of the Senju Clan married only one person in their entire lives, their deep devotion unwavering until death. Some even chose to die for love after their spouses passed away, and such cases were by no means rare. Thus, to the Senju Clan, Tsubasa's declaration that he would marry seven wives was utterly shocking, like a boulder thrown into a still lake, stirring up a thousand waves.
Meeting his aunts' longing gazes, Tsubasa felt their weight, as though they carried years of hopes and worries. His heart warmed, though he was also a little nervous. After considering his words for a moment, he smiled and said, "Let's eat first and talk over the meal. I'm practically starving."
Soon, the family was seated around the dining table. Strangely, though, everyone just sat quietly without picking up their chopsticks. Their gazes were fixed on Tsubasa, the anticipation in their eyes so palpable that his palms grew slightly sweaty.
Tsubasa took a deep breath and slowly looked around before standing and lifting the juice in front of him steadily with both hands. His gaze was gentle and sincere, and his voice trembled slightly. "First, I'd like to offer a toast to my elders. All these years, while I was sick, you took such good care of me and never gave up on me from beginning to end. Without you, I wouldn't have recovered today." With that, he tilted his head back and drained the glass of juice.
After finishing his juice, Tsubasa saw that his family was still watching him without moving, the eagerness in their eyes seeming to urge him to give them the answer they had long awaited. He stopped keeping them in suspense and steeled himself, as if making some momentous decision. Raising his hand high, he said loudly, "I swear here today that from now on, my aunts will be my six mothers! When I grow up, I'll marry seven wives, and each mother can choose one of my wives. The children they bear will all be adopted into my aunts' families, so that my late uncles' family lines can continue!"
Senju Yasuhei's face flushed red with excitement, and his eyes widened as he suddenly bellowed, "Good! That's wonderful!" The excitement and joy in his voice seemed ready to burst through the roof.
At those words, his aunts' eyes instantly reddened, and tears spilled down their cheeks. Their throats seemed to be blocked by something, leaving them unable to make a sound except for choked sobs. Their hands trembled slightly. Some gently covered their mouths, while others raised their hands to wipe away their tears over and over. The bitterness and grievances of all those years seemed to have found an outlet at that moment.
Senju Tenpuku and Senju Ga exchanged a glance, relieved smiles appearing on their faces, though their eyes were red too. They knew all too well how difficult these years had been for their sisters-in-law, and all those days and nights of toil and worry turned into the emotion they felt now.
Tsubasa scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and gave them a playful smile. "The wives you mothers choose for me have to have my approval, though. I don't want to marry an ugly woman." As soon as he said it, the somewhat heavy atmosphere lightened considerably.
Dō Senju hurriedly wiped the tears from her face and broke into a smile, her expression full of affection. "Don't worry, Little Tsubasa! An ugly woman wouldn't be good enough for our Little Tsubasa. Your mother will find you the finest, prettiest girl to be your wife."
Gi Senju smiled and agreed. "In another ten years, you'll be old enough to marry. We'll definitely find you the finest, prettiest girl, so you can rest completely assured."
The seven mothers soon began an enthusiastic discussion, each taking turns to name the outstanding little girls in Konoha who were around Tsubasa's age. Their faces shone with dreams of the future, as if those wonderful days were already close at hand.
Little Tenmei paid no attention to the adults' affairs. As a seasoned food lover, he had long been unable to restrain himself in front of a table full of his favorite dishes. He ate with his head down, chopsticks darting from plate to plate. He piled his bowl high with food and stuffed his mouth full, yet his eyes remained fixed on the other delicacies on the table. He was a little foodie through and through.
Mei'er sat quietly beside Tsubasa with a gentle smile, eating and occasionally placing food in his bowl. She looked at him, her eyes full of love and happiness, as if this moment were her most precious treasure.
Seeing his sisters-in-law and wife in such good spirits, Senju Tenpuku's heart was filled with joy. He exchanged a smile with his father, then raised his cup and drank to his heart's content. Laughter and cheerful voices rang out around the table, and an air of warmth and happiness filled the room.