Fuma lay on the large bed, watching Tsunade's serious expression. He sighed softly and spoke with some emotion:
"It's nothing to worry about. Lady Mito just holds on to some lingering concerns. She likely won't say much—there's no need to overthink it."
But Tsunade didn't reply. She stood before the mirror, meticulously adjusting her formal attire. She carefully pinned her hair up into a dignified style, adding a vibrant touch of lipstick to her lips.
"This is none of your business. This isn't a simple dispute between a grandmother and her granddaughter—it's a matter between two women.
A diplomatic matter between the wives of the Senju and Uchiha clan leaders."
"Men should stay out of this. Just wait quietly at home and don't meddle in things you don't understand." She huffed and turned away, leaving Fuma behind on the bed with a flick of her wrist.
With that, Tsunade walked out the door without looking back, leaving Fuma lying alone, seemingly abandoned like a pitiful man cast aside after a fleeting affair.
"Bang!"
The door slammed shut, leaving the room quiet except for Fuma's thoughts.
He lay there, quietly reminiscing about the lingering warmth and scent left behind. A soft smile played at the corners of his lips before he got up and began tidying the room, adopting the role of a dutiful househusband.
.......
Fuma had initially worried about how Tsunade would react upon returning to the village.
Considering the current tension between the Uchiha clan and the leadership of Konoha, he had thought she might raise irrational demands.
In fact, during his first discussion about the future with Orochimaru, Fuma had bluntly said:
"If someone falls behind on the path we're taking—whether it's even Tsunade—I won't stop for them."
Though it may have sounded like he was boasting, Fuma was firm in his convictions. His path was unyielding.
In a world where power derived from chakra and the Otsutsuki clan's bloodlines, the policies of Senju Tobirama—dismantling the great clans and supporting civilian shinobi—were meaningless.
Fuma was determined to forge the path of the "Great Shinobi Clan."
His goal was to gather all shinobi with traces of Otsutsuki bloodline, offering them the highest regard and pooling their resources to further his quest for the ultimate power hidden in those bloodlines.
The Uchiha, Uzumaki, Senju, Hyuga, and even the Kaguya clan—all of them were integral pieces of his grand design.
Even abilities that had only been hinted at in legends, such as the 'Ketsuryūgan' of the Chinoike clan, were resources Fuma planned to secure.
This wasn't purely for himself. With his unique abilities, Fuma only needed abundant materials with extraordinary properties and a vast source of chakra to inch closer to perfection.
However, for the people he cared about—Tsunade, Minato, Orochimaru, and the members of the Uchiha clan—they lacked the same advantages.
The Otsutsuki bloodline's power was the best path for them.
Tobirama, a brilliant scientist and strategist, had likely misunderstood the potential of these bloodlines, possibly mistaking general biological concepts for the reality of shinobi.
This miscalculation led him to dismantle the Senju clan—a short-sighted decision that Fuma deemed irrational.
.........
Fuma had feared that Tsunade, raised with Senju values, might have a dramatic reaction upon learning of his plans. But to his surprise, she calmly embraced everything.
She even enthusiastically examined the Uchiha clan's financial records and teased Fuma, planting kisses on him as she laughed:
"If I'd known you were this good at making money, we wouldn't have waited years to get together!"
Though lighthearted, her words showed her stance. Not only did she not oppose the Uchiha clan's expansion, but she also seemed supportive of its rapid growth.
When Fuma fully disclosed his plans, including his and Orochimaru's schemes in the Hidden Mist and their intentions to overthrow the Land of Water, he braced himself for resistance.
Instead, Tsunade smiled softly, her delicate hand brushing his face as she spoke with heartfelt emotion:
"I knew the kind of man you were when I chose you. I've long since prepared myself for this life.
Even if you told me you were planning to challenge the Sage of Six Paths, I wouldn't be surprised—nor would I stop you."
"Do you think I'd expect someone like you—a man who, at just over ten years old, could bring me gifts from foreign daimyo—to settle for an ordinary shinobi's life?"
"I'm Tsunade, the eldest princess of the Senju clan, the sole heir of the Shikkotsu Forest's teachings, and the woman of Fuma Uchiha—the future matriarch of the Uchiha clan."
"My vision and understanding run far deeper than you might think."
Her words, so sincere and profound, left Fuma momentarily speechless.
........
Later, as they reconciled, Fuma presented Tsunade with a small, milk-white pendant—the crystallized form of the 'Box of Ultimate Bliss'. He solemnly fastened it around her neck and said:
"In the past, you wore a gift from the Senju clan's leader, Hashirama Senju."
"But now, as the future matriarch of the Uchiha clan, it's time to leave the past behind. This is a treasure worthy of someone of your status."
Tsunade accepted it with a pleased smile, admiring the exquisite pendant.
She set aside her previous green necklace, placing it in their home's storage, feeling an undeniable sense of pride.
"A woman who can wear a Six Paths artifact as jewelry—how many are there in this world?"
When Fuma brought up her meeting with Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade's response only deepened his admiration for her. With a resolute gaze, she declared:
"The way Lady Mito treated the Uzumaki clan after marrying into Konoha is exactly how I'll handle the Senju clan as the Uchiha matriarch."
"Don't worry—I've had this figured out since the night you invited me to dinner."