Senju Wakama greeted her with a smile, "Brother Haku didn't come with you this time?"
Hyuga Miyu smiled. "Of course he came. Father thinks he gets along well with the princess, but as for me..."
As she spoke, she fell silent.
Senju Wakama understood what she meant and didn't dwell on it. "I see. He really doesn't give up, does he? My sister is just toying with him, really... I've told him so many times, but he won't listen."
Sigh...
"Shiro seems to know his place. He just wants to be by the princess's side, to just watch over her. To be happy when she's happy and troubled when she's troubled. He told me that just this is enough for him..." Hyuga Miyu said softly.
Seeing Senju Wakama smile without a word, Hyuga Miyu suddenly blurted out, "You and the princess are biological siblings... If the princess is toying with Shiro, then what about you... Are you toying with me too?"
Senju Wakama looked at Hyuga Miyu in silence.
He recalled everything from the day he met Hyuga Miyu until now.
Senju Wakama truly did not like Hyuga Miyu.
Just as Tsukuyo had said.
Senju Wakama could deceive anyone, but he couldn't deceive himself. He didn't like her, and that was that. It had nothing to do with whether she was easy to get or not.
In comparison, Uchiha Yuki was actually easier to win over, but Senju Wakama admitted he liked her more.
Perhaps it was because his relationship with Uchiha Yuki was one he had sought out himself.
Who knows?
Fate is just that strange.
He knew Hyuga Miyu had her own agenda and that they couldn't meet again. Besides, he now had Uchiha Yuki's companionship and had no need for any further contact with Hyuga Miyu.
Yet, he adhered to a personal rule of "I won't bring up breaking up if you don't."
Their relationship remained ambiguous to this day.
To say Senju Wakama and Hyuga Miyu were lovers wasn't quite true in practice.
But to say they weren't, Senju Wakama still maintained the habit of writing letters to Hyuga Miyu.
The words and phrasing in the letters were always so warm and pleasant.
There was nothing vulgar or ambiguous in his words; he simply updated Hyuga Miyu on his recent activities as a matter of routine.
Senju Wakama's life wasn't just about Uchiha Yuki; his daily routine was far more rich and varied than that of other ninja his age.
With one letter a month, Senju Wakama could fill a dozen pages even without mentioning Uchiha Yuki, and he only needed to send Hyuga Miyu two.
He wouldn't mention the Senju clan's secrets;
He wouldn't mention his new love, Uchiha Yuki;
He wouldn't mention that he actually disliked Hyuga Miyu.
And so, month after month, year after year, Hyuga Miyu had received many letters.
They recorded more than just the daily life Senju Wakama shared with her;
They also chronicled the continuous development of his calligraphy, his handwriting transforming from childish to commanding.
They recorded his ever-maturing choice of words, signaling his transformation from an inarticulate boy into a socially adept adult.
Though unable to see Senju Wakama, Hyuga Miyu could sense his growth through his writing.
Sensing this, Hyuga Miyu was both happy and afraid.
Senju Wakama was growing too quickly, so fast that Hyuga Miyu could no longer keep up with him.
To this day.
The relationship between the Hyuga and Senju clans had softened, waiting only for an opportunity to become closely united.
Hyuga Miyu was also permitted to see Senju Wakama.
But many things seemed to have changed.
"...We... can never go back to how things were." Hyuga Miyu looked at Senju Wakama and said solemnly, "But I hope that I can be a part of your future."
That was not an easy line to respond to.
Senju Wakama sighed. "With our two clans on good terms, we will all be part of each other's futures."
As he spoke, Senju Wakama glanced at the sky and said casually, "When did you get here? It's almost time for the Grand Feast Festival. Should we head over together?"
Hyuga Miyu slowly approached Senju Wakama. With her head lowered, she asked, "Wakama, what book were you just reading?"
Senju Wakama answered perfunctorily, "Some notes on medicinal preparations. As you know, most of the commissions our Senju clan accepts these days are related to medical care and wellness."
The book he had just been reading was full of blocky Chinese characters, simplified ones at that, which didn't exist in this world at all.
There was no way Hyuga Miyu could understand them.
Of course, even if she could, it wouldn't matter. So what if it was a chemistry textbook...
"You're working so hard... Using clones for work while your real body, instead of slacking off, is constantly studying new knowledge." Hyuga Miyu praised with a smile.
"It can't be helped. The Senju clan is where it is today because of everyone's collective efforts," Senju Wakama said, going along with it.
But then Hyuga Miyu, her tone unchanged, said, "So... this must be your real body, right?"
"Yes," Senju Wakama replied subconsciously.
Wait...
Why would she ask that?
The strange thought had just crossed his mind.
When Senju Wakama saw Hyuga Miyu's slender fingertips suddenly form a knife-hand and strike him sharply.
Senju Wakama's eyes widened.
He felt a numbness spread from the point of impact, and his whole body began to go numb, refusing to obey his commands.
In that moment, Senju Wakama understood.
Hyuga Miyu had struck some of his chakra points, temporarily paralyzing him.
For her to do this, she must have been planning it for a long time, studying the chakra network in advance.
But why?
Senju Wakama's face twisted, but he forced himself to remain calm and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing, Miyu?"
Hyuga Miyu didn't answer him right away. Instead, she silently let him lean against her shoulder and dragged him into the darkness of a corner.
This was a busy area of the hot spring street. The surrounding dark alleys were usually empty of people, but there would be animals sent by Tsukuyo to monitor the area, as well as containers for storing tableware and leftover food.
Supporting the immobilized Senju Wakama, Hyuga Miyu quickly skirted the crowd, entered a dark alley, and after several twists and turns, actually entered the hot spring room where she was staying.
As he was being dragged along, Senju Wakama made eye contact with the nearby animals. They were clever and fled immediately, presumably to go and report to Tsukuyo.
Besides, Brother Zetsu should be on him.
So, apart from a brief moment of panic caused by his initial confusion, Senju Wakama was now as steady as a mountain.
Shoving Senju Wakama through the open window of the room, Hyuga Miyu followed him inside.
This was one of the Senju brothers' Hot Spring Villas, often used to house the representatives from various clans who came to discuss business.
"What are you doing?" Senju Wakama asked calmly.
Although he had the confidence to protect himself, his mental assessment of the cause behind Hyuga Miyu's actions was not optimistic.
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