These words were sharp—barely veiled in politeness, their meaning plain to all.They pointed directly to Furukawa Itoshiki's identity as an outsider, casting doubt on his legitimacy.
The air in the hall chilled. A heavy silence fell once more, tension coiling through the room like a drawn bowstring.
Tsunade's brows furrowed slightly. She was just about to step in to respond when Itoshiki stopped her with a glance—steady, composed, reassuring.His expression remained calm, lips curved in a mild, pleasant smile, as if the barbed remark from Elder Senmao hadn't even registered.
"The elder speaks true. Bloodline is the foundation."Itoshiki's voice was clear, even, and effortlessly carried across the room.
"When the dormant Senju blood awakened within me, it was Lady Tsunade herself who recognized and confirmed it.""Later, I had the immense honor of visiting Lady Mito as well. Through her guidance and favor, I was allowed to live and cultivate within the Senju compound."
His words were gentle, but tactfully firm—an elegant riposte that invoked two unshakable pillars of the clan's legacy: Tsunade and Uzumaki Mito.And at the mention of Mito, even the stern expression of Elder Senmao shifted.
Mito Uzumaki—wife of the First Hokage, master of sealing arts, and the first jinchūriki of the Nine Tails—was a name revered not only within the Senju, but across all of Konoha.
Itoshiki's tone changed slightly, gaining a subtle yet unmistakable gravity. His gaze swept across the gathered elders, calm yet powerful."The shadow of war has barely passed. Konoha stands on the edge of recovery. The world watches—eyes upon the village… and upon the Senju clan."
"The question we must ask ourselves is this—""Will we cling to traditions so tightly that we fade from history, forgotten in its flow?""Or will we grasp this rare opportunity, and reignite the glory once lit by the First Hokage himself?"
He paused. Then, with quiet intensity:"Such moments do not come twice."
His logic was sound. His delivery—equal parts respectful and bold—left no room for dismissal. He did not grovel for acceptance; he earned his place through word and presence.He had clarified his legitimacy and then posed the simple truth: change, or vanish.
Across the room, the expressions of several branch family representatives shifted subtly. Their rigid faces now held traces of thought—hesitation giving way to consideration.
Tsunade, seated beside him, turned her gaze slightly.She watched Furukawa Itoshiki, who spoke with steady confidence and a natural command, quietly seizing the initiative.Her golden eyes shimmered, lips curving into the faintest, proudest smile.
This man… never let her down.
The tension in the room began to dissolve, replaced by a more receptive atmosphere.The discussion that followed was far more fluid, the air more open.Itoshiki's performance—strength matched with wit, conviction with grace—forced even the most skeptical elders to begin re-evaluating their impressions of him.
By the time the midday meal arrived, the mood had lightened. Laughter occasionally broke through as wine glasses clinked, and the seeds of consensus began to take root.
As the sun began to dip beyond the treetops, the branch elders took their leave—quiet, contemplative.
Warm golden light poured over the silent courtyard, gilding the ancient architecture in amber hues.Tsunade and Itoshiki walked side by side beneath the eaves, their shadows stretching across the polished floorboards.
"Hmph. Not bad today."Tsunade elbowed him lightly, her voice teasing, her usual air of command softened into something warmer.
"Naturally," Itoshiki replied, mimicking her earlier tone with mock arrogance, lifting his chin in playful pride."You forget who I am."
Tsunade laughed softly, the kind of laugh that lingered."Shameless."
They came to the familiar koi pond at the center of the estate.Sunset blazed across the water's surface, koi swimming slowly beneath the ripples, as a gentle breeze stirred the stillness.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Only the wind filled the quiet, carrying the scent of pine and sun-warmed wood.
Then—softly, deliberately—Tsunade drew a breath.She turned to face him, the sunlight painting gold into her eyes and hair.
"Itoshiki."
His name was spoken gently, but with a tremor—one not of fear, but of significance.
"Hm?"
He looked at her, and in her gaze, he saw it clearly—this was the moment he had sensed would come.
Tsunade hesitated for just a heartbeat. Then her words came, slowly, carefully, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink.
"Grandma Mito… and I…"Her voice was soft but steady now. She didn't look away."We both believe you're ready to shoulder something greater."
She exhaled, and with it, came the words that shifted everything.
"Itoshiki, would you… be willing to become the new pillar of the Senju clan?"
The pillar.For someone not born of the main line, even one with Senju blood, such a role came with only one path——To marry Tsunade, the last princess of the clan, bearer of its purest lineage.
From that moment onward, he would no longer be Furukawa by name—But Senju.He would inherit not only the bloodline… but its destiny.
Itoshiki's heart gave a quiet jolt.
And then—it began to beat faster.
He had long sensed this moment would come.But when the words finally left Tsunade's lips, they still struck him like a thunderclap.
To become the head of the Senju clan.To marry Tsunade.
Even knowing it was likely—he hadn't expected the weight of it to feel so immense.
He looked at her—saw the flicker of hope and hesitation in her eyes, the way her hands were unconsciously clenched in her lap.Her composure was her armor, but now… she had lowered it. And in its place, she offered trust. She offered herself.
Tsunade's heart pounded within her chest.She bit her lip lightly, eyes not daring to look away. For once, the unshakable Sannin seemed nervous.
Itoshiki reached out slowly and took her hand in his.
It was cool to the touch—slim, elegant, trembling ever so slightly.He held it gently, as if afraid to break something precious, letting his warmth ease into her palm.
His gaze met hers, steady and sincere.And then, he smiled. A quiet, confident smile that carried no hesitation.
"Tsunade."His voice was low, calm, but carried something deep beneath—something that echoed.
"Haven't I already made my feelings clear?"
He gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, grounding them both in this singular moment.
"But now, let me ask properly—""Tsunade… will you become my wife?"
Not as a piece on a political chessboard.Not as the final step in legitimizing his place.But as herself.
To stand by him—not as a symbol—but as the woman he cherished.
Tsunade's eyes widened.
For a heartbeat, she said nothing. The world seemed to hold its breath with her.And then—
A soft sound. Barely audible.
"…Yes."
She didn't hesitate again.
Itoshiki drew her into his arms, enveloping her in an embrace that was both protective and tender.Her form pressed against him, warm and real, and her heartbeat—once fluttering—now beat in rhythm with his.
Her golden hair spilled over his chest like sunlight, carrying that faint, familiar scent that always lingered after she walked past.
He wrapped his arms around her tighter.Gently, he rested his chin atop her head and closed his eyes.
No matter what lay ahead—no matter what burdens or storms—He made a silent vow.
He would never let the woman in his arms carry them alone.
...Patreon Seasay