“Since Renye agrees, do as you please,” Uzumaki Mito sighed helplessly.
Tobirama didn't want to get married, and there was nothing she could do.
With Renye to look after him in the future, there was no need to worry at all. Renye was a very filial child, and she believed Tobirama’s later years would not be bad.
Perhaps this was why Hashirama had Tobirama adopt Renye in the first place?
“Sister-in-law, when you have time, you can find a suitable woman for this kid,” Senju Tobirama said softly to his sister-in-law, glancing at the wide-eyed Renye.
Renye hadn't expected Senju Tobirama, that scoundrel, to not only use him as a shield but also dig a huge pit for him.
He had finally managed to divert Aunt Mito’s attention, and now, it was back on him again…
You don’t play kickball like this!
This Old Man purely got drenched himself, then tore up someone else’s umbrella.
“You’re right,” Mito nodded in agreement. “It is indeed time to find a suitable woman for Renye.”
Although Tobirama had no intention of marrying, wasn't there still Renye?
He was already at an age where he could start thinking about marriage.
“Renye, Auntie will introduce you to some girls your age then,” Uzumaki Mito said with a smile.
“No, thank you, Aunt Mito,” Renye shook his head like a rattle-drum, his face full of resistance.
Marriage? Impossible to marry in this life!
He’d rather use that time to improve his own strength and develop more powerful poisons.
As for women? He wasn't interested at all!
Having one Senju Tobirama at home was troublesome enough; he didn’t have the energy to look after another woman.
Uzumaki Mito frowned slightly upon hearing this. Why were both of them unwilling to marry?
“Tell me why you’re refusing?”
She felt that Tobirama had led Renye astray, and his words and actions had made the child not want to marry.
While Renye was still young, his mindset could still be changed. If a few more years passed, he might become another Tobirama.
“Why refuse?” Renye was stumped by the question.
He couldn’t possibly tell Aunt Mito that he, like Uncle, wasn’t interested in women, could he?
Using the same excuse would greatly diminish its effect, and Aunt Mito wasn’t that easy to fool…
Blame Senju Tobirama, that Old Man, Renye gave him an annoyed glance.
Senju Tobirama pretended not to see Renye’s gaze and slowly said, “Kid, I’m asking you a question.”
He had a look of complete indifference, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Although he didn't want to marry, he wanted to see Renye settle down and start a family.
Renye’s hand under the table clenched, making a creaking sound, wishing he could punch that Old Man in the face.
“Aunt Mito, I’m still young,” Renye pulled out the age excuse.
He was only sixteen now, still a child, and getting married and having children was indeed too early.
Senju Tobirama raised an eyebrow. This kid’s excuse sounded so familiar; he seemed to have used it a decade or two ago…
“Sixteen is not too early,” Uzumaki Mito said with a smile. “Let me introduce you to a few girls first. Whether it works out or not, we can talk about it later.”
Senju Tobirama covertly glanced at his sister-in-law. He was very familiar with this tactic, using a passive approach to meet suitable women.
If he wasn't satisfied with the few women he met, he could always find others.
As long as he met enough women, he would eventually find someone he liked.
His elder brother and sister-in-law had used this trick on him too, but he wasn’t interested in women, so he easily resolved it.
He wondered if this kid could see through the trick?
Through his observation of Renye, Tobirama saw that this kid, like himself, was not interested in women at all.
He didn’t know if it was his influence or Renye’s inherent nature, but the truth no longer mattered.
One could only say, like father, like son…
He hoped this kid could perfectly handle his sister-in-law’s offensive, otherwise, he would just have to obediently get married and have children.
“No, thank you, Aunt Mito,” Renye forced a smile. “I’ll find a girl I like on my own…”
First, pretend to be interested in girls, giving the elders the illusion that he was looking for a partner, which could drag this matter out indefinitely.
When asked by elders, he would just say he hadn’t found a suitable one yet. This excuse could at least delay it until he was twenty-five or older.
As for what happens after that, he would leave it to his future self to handle. The immediate priority now was to muddle through this matter.
Senju Tobirama nodded slightly, a satisfied expression on his face. This kid was indeed as clever as he was.
Not bad, he had his demeanor from back in the day!
Mito initially thought Renye’s words made sense, but seeing Tobirama beside her, her expression suddenly became strange.
This excuse felt somewhat familiar…
“Renye, you can’t use this excuse to drag it out until you’re twenty or thirty and not get married, can you?” she asked suspiciously.
Because a certain person had done exactly that, and still hadn't married to this day.
Renye: “???”
The plan had just been proposed and hadn't even been put into practice, so why was it exposed already?!
He subconsciously looked at Senju Tobirama, only to see the Old Man quietly turn his head away, not daring to meet his gaze.
These tricks were all what he had left over…
This kid was still too young.
Renye: “…”
He finally knew why he was discovered. So, this Old Man had already used these excuses to death.
It seemed this Old Man had used quite a few excuses, causing him to be seen through as soon as he spoke…
Now he didn’t even know what excuse to use.
Facing Mito’s suspicious gaze, Renye awkwardly touched his nose, planning to try a different approach.
“Aunt Mito, this kind of thing can’t be rushed. You can’t make me marry a girl I don’t like, can you?”
“Only by being with someone you like will marriage be happy… Is a marriage forced by elders truly happy?”
Uzumaki Mito was stunned upon hearing this.
Her marriage was an arranged one, and she hadn’t even met Hashirama before they married.
She remembered before she got married, she was constantly worried and fearful, afraid that her husband would treat her badly, and that she would be ostracized and bullied after marrying into Senju.
Fortunately, she was lucky, and Hashirama, whom she met, was a very good person. They gradually developed feelings for each other through their time together…
Other women in arranged marriages were not as lucky as Mito; being bullied and ostracized after marrying was a common occurrence.
Renye’s words reminded her of her own experience at the time…
Back then, she had no choice and was forced into an arranged marriage.
Now that there was a choice, why force Renye and the others?
Seeing this, Renye knew he had successfully persuaded Aunt Mito.
Arranged marriages are not advisable; free love is the true way!
Although he wasn't interested in women, at least he had an excuse, didn't he?
“Renye, you’re right. It’s better for you young people to decide such matters yourselves…”
Uzumaki Mito said softly, no longer mentioning introducing girls to Renye.
“Mhm, I know, Aunt Mito,” Renye’s mouth was almost stretched to his ears.
He finally managed to muddle through, it wasn't easy!
Senju Tobirama looked at Renye in disbelief, his eyes flashing with shock and incredulity.
This kid actually persuaded his sister-in-law so easily?
Then what were all the excuses he had made over the years for?!
“Little Tsunade, when you get married in the future, you must find a boy you like, okay?” Uzumaki Mito dotingly put a piece of food into Tsunade’s bowl.
“Grandma, what are you saying?” Tsunade’s small face instantly turned crimson.
“Haha, Little Tsunade is shy,” Uzumaki Mito chuckled, covering her mouth.
“Hmph, I’m not talking to Grandma anymore!” Tsunade pouted in dissatisfaction.
“Alright, alright, Grandma won’t say anymore.”
Renye looked at this scene with a strange expression. Would Tsunade really get married?
If he remembered correctly, she would be a spinster in the future, right?
After all, the two people who pursued her both died in the end…
…
…
PS: Slacking off is either zero times or countless times. I have deeply realized my problem! Starting tomorrow, it will be a minimum of three chapters, often four chapters, and occasionally five chapters! Until all the owed chapters are made up! I still owe eight chapters now.
I have uninstalled Delta and started writing properly, 嘤嘤嘤… Thank you for the gifts, everyone.