I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

With Tenten informing him she would be busy the rest of the week, Wu intended to get some serious training done back at the Sarutobi Estate. The morning after his meeting with Hiruzen, however, the front gate and walls of the estate were punched through by a 158cm tall blonde with a ponytail, prominent bangs framing her face, brown eyes, and a massive rack, shouting, "Sarutobi Wu! If you don't get out here right this instant, this whole house is coming down...!" Emerging from the manor's interior, Wu had his brows raised as he asked, "What's up?" despite knowing full well why the deceptively young-looking woman was present. Instead of answering Wu's question, Tsunade attempted to grab him by the collar, failing several times in a row before shouting, "Stand still so I can grab you...!" Raising his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, Wu allowed Tsunade to grab his collar. He also permitted her to drag him to a secluded section of the estate, an unperturbed expression on his face as he looked up at the sky and remarked, "Quite the weather we're having..." Planting Wu on his feet, Tsunade glared at him with all the ferocity of a cougar, her right eye twitching as she asked, "Care to venture a guess as to where I just came from?" Without missing a beat, Wu replied, "All things considered, you're either returning from a meeting with the old man or a significant losing streak at the gambling quarter. Either way, I'm not sure why you're angry with me, of all people." With an 'are you serious' expression on her face, Tsunade suppressed the urge to bury Wu into the ground, proclaiming, "You're a real piece of work, you know that? Why didn't you refuse when the old man asked if you were willing to inherit the duties and responsibilities of the Senju Clan? You're young enough to be my grandson...!" Spreading his hands in an expression of helplessness, Wu retorted, "We wouldn't be having this conversation if you had grandchildren. As for why I refuse? It's because the arrangement benefits everyone, you most of all. You don't want the responsibility of having children, but you also-" Interrupting Wu's explanation, Tsunade began massaging her forehead as she muttered, "Of course, it's like this...you always were the type that put too much thought into everything..." Exhaling a tired sigh, Tsunade met Wu's gaze with a serious expression as she asserted, "Listen, brat. I know you're trying to 'help,' but you did more than enough by giving me that peach. You don't need to involve yourself in this matter any more than you already have. Just enjoy your youth, and have fun, okay? You'll only understand how precious it is once it's gone..." Though he 'appreciated' the sentiment Tsunade was trying to convey, Wu crossed his arms and adopted a serious expression of his own as he flatly replied, "I refuse." Blinking in surprise, Tsunade tilted her head slightly to the side and asked, "I beg your pardon...?" in audible confusion. Maintaining his stance, Wu asserted, "You're a good woman. I wouldn't have agreed to the old man's proposal if you weren't. If I have the choice between letting you fall into the hands of another man or claiming you for myself, even if it's just on paper, I would be a fool to choose the former. I understand fully that you only see me as a 'brat,' but I'm sure I can prove otherwise, with time." Before Tsunade could fully process what he was trying to convey, Wu's expression hardened further as he said, "Senju Tsunade. Please become my woman." Taken aback by Wu's words and 'intensity,' Tsunade found herself at a complete loss. She believed Wu was making a 'serious' mistake, but, at the same time, she knew he wasn't the type that just jumped head first into an arrangement. Thus, even though she really should have shut him down then and there, she remained silent, a contemplative frown marring her face. Estimating that Tsunade just needed a slight push, Wu left her at an even greater loss for words as he abruptly took a knee and repeated, "Please..." in a serious, sincere, and ostensibly hopeful tone. Feeling a mixture of giddiness and frustration, enough to cause her lower jaw to tremble, Tsunade grabbed the sides of her head and shouted, "Ah, geez! Why do you have to be so fucking serious and responsible, you little shit!? How am I supposed to let you down gently when you're like this...!?" Without missing a beat, Wu adopted a wry smile and 'graciously' pointed out, "You don't 'have' to let me down..." Feeling even more conflicted, Tsunade released a groan of frustration, pulling on her bangs as if she were trying to yank out her hair. One of the downsides to having her youth restored was an increase in the production of various hormones. Tsunade hadn't felt this frustrated since she was an actual teen, so she eventually shouted, "I can't deal with this right now...!" before storming off in an irritable huff, taking one final wall with her as she stormed out of the estate... ... .. . Following Tsunade's little 'tirade,' Wu returned to his training as if nothing was amiss. He had pushed Tsunade as far as he could without risking the rapport he had built with her over the past year. All he could do now was let the old man work his magic while he considered how he would explain the situation to Tenten. Assuming Tsunade said yes, Tenten's position as the de facto 'head' of Wu's harem would be jeopardized. Tenten had looked up to Tsunade her entire life, actively striving to become like and eventually surpass her idol as a legendary Kunoichi. Her respect and admiration for Tsunade were so great that Wu wouldn't be surprised if she were the first to volunteer her womb if the former couldn't 'stomach' the responsibility. Imagining Tenten giving birth to one of Tsunade's children while the latter assisted the delivery, a wry smile developed across Wu's face. He usually wasn't affected by such sentiments, but even he could see how...peculiar his circumstances were. Before his encounter with Hiruzen, he had largely excluded Tsunade from his plans. Now, he would need to revise almost all of them 'around' her. It was kind of exciting...reminding him of the way he felt after his initial encounter with the Raikage... Sensing someone intruding upon his training field, Wu's gaze sharpened as he muttered, "I swear to all the Gods in Heaven..." Swinging his staff, Wu uprooted the reinforced wooden post, sending it crashing through the surrounding trees, narrowly missing the person who was attempting to spy on him. After dodging Wu's 'attack,' a middle-aged man with long, spiky white hair and an outfit resembling a Kabuki performer jumped out, hands raised as he said, "Whoa, now. Cool your jets, kid. I just stopped over to ensure you weren't in the same condition as the front gate." Shouldering his staff, Wu pretended to be surprised, asking, "Jiraiya...? I didn't expect to see you here. Did the old man recall you for the Chunin Exams?" "Right..." As he had always been skeptical of Wu, questioning his credibility as the 'Child of Prophecy,' Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly before remarking, "I heard about the arrangement proposed by the old man. I might be a little biased, but aren't you a little young to be engaging in village politics? You should be-" Narrowing his eyes into a half-lidded expression, Wu revealed, "I initially took your side in the discussion with the old man. However, he was right when he pointed out that you've had forty years to sway Tsunade's heart. I don't mind giving you a peach, but you're mistaken if you think I'll back down after coming this far. I don't make decisions rashly, and I always try to follow through on what I've decided." Losing his usual smile, Jiraiya asserted, "Tsunade suffered a lot during and after the war. It broke my heart anew every time I saw her like that, but I also respected her decision when she snubbed my affections. I can never express how truly grateful I am for you giving her a second chance, Wu-kun. However, I can't approve of this situation...the Senju had already become a defunct Clan by the end of the war. Reviving them now will only cause tensions between the villages and place a disproportionate burden on Tsunade. If you genuinely care for her, you would permit her to live her life in peace..." Regaining his severity, Wu insisted, "That's precisely what I'm doing. The only person that can make a decision in this matter is Tsunade herself. All I'm doing is giving her the option of shifting her burden onto me, someone who isn't afraid of how the other villages might react..." Punctuating his words, Wu tossed a pale pink and white peach at Jiraiya, explaining, "That's a twenty-year peach. I would give you a fifty-year one, but I'd rather not test to see if it would return you to your infancy. Do with that what you will. I intend to do the same." Instead of immediately consuming the peach, Jiraiya slipped it into his pocket, saying, "This doesn't change anything. However, so long as you don't attempt to pressure Tsunade into accepting the arrangement, I'll drop the matter here..." Finished with what he had to say, Jiraiya turned away and used Shunshin to 'flicker' away at an impressive speed. In the wake of his departure, Wu just rolled his eyes before attempting to return to his training. Fortunately, his next guest wouldn't arrive until later that night. Unfortunately, it just so happened to be a drunken Tsunade, busting into his room and forcing him to drink alongside her as she complained about everything from his age to his hair color while simultaneously talking about herself as if she were the most incredible thing to happen to the Elemental Nations in the past fifty-one-years... ... .. . With Tsunade having kicked him out of his room, Wu spent much of the early morning relaxing in the hallway, lying on the ground with his hands behind his head. He planned for her to 'discover' him when she eventually woke up, so he was passing the time tracking the Chakra signatures that entered his range. He couldn't help rolling his eyes each time he sensed Jiraiya stopping by, but he also couldn't blame the man for his obsession. Tsunade didn't have the best personality, but her power, appearance, and, most notably, her breasts were near the pinnacle of what a woman could achieve without 'external' assistance. Recalling all the breasts he had come into contact with throughout his life, a faint smile developed across Wu's face. He had never understood the appeal of bulbous meat sacks danging from a woman's chest when he was younger, but his perspective had gradually shifted after an 'incident' with Ino. Just as he had asked Hinata to use her Gentle Fist Technique against him to increase his resistance to having his Tenketsu, Wu had permitted Ino to practice her Mind-Body Switch Jutsu on him. Having his mind invaded and body hijacked was, as could be expected, very unpleasant. However, as it was possible to break free from such techniques with adequate willpower, Wu proactively goaded Ino into using it against him. He even resisted it a few times, prompting the nettled blonde to practice in secret, fooling him into believing she had reached a bottleneck before surprising him several months later with a 'complete' takeover. After that...Wu learned quite a bit about the 'vengeful nature' of women and the unfettered curiosity of pubescent girls... ... .. . (A/N: O_O...)

Needing to use the bathroom, Tsunade awoke with a pained groan, her vision swimming before she cradled her head and used the Mystic Palm to alleviate her hangover. Afterward, she took a moment to inspect her surroundings, memories of the previous night resurfacing in her mind as she gave herself a quick once-over. Confirming everything was where it should be, Tsunade muttered, "Well, at least he didn't try to take advantage of me while I was drunk..." before rising from Wu's bed. Fortunately, despite having a very traditional layout, Wu's bedroom had an attached bathroom, complete with a shower and a small, Ofuro-style bath. Giving her pits a quick whiff, Tsunade snorted in disgust before peeling away her clothes, tossing them to the side, and turning on the hot water. She ordinarily wouldn't bathe in another person's home, but she wanted to see if Wu had the 'audacity' to try and sneak a peek at her. Before that, however, she relieved herself, exhaling a sigh before staring at the floor with an unfocused look. Though it made her feel frustrated and annoyed each time she did so, Tsunade mentally replayed the scene of Wu 'proposing' to her. She lacked the perfect recall of Wu, but she wouldn't have been able to become the best Iryonin in history if she struggled with remembering things. Recalling the serious expression on Wu's face and the 'sincerity' in his tone, Tsunade muttered, "That brat...I wonder how many girls he's fooled with that exact expression..." Hanging her head, Tsunade propped herself up with her right hand and knee, unable to shake the impression she was about to make a 'very' big mistake. What Wu didn't know was that, rather than losing all of her bets, as per usual, Tsunade had gone on a winning streak. She had told herself that if she went into the red, she would immediately tell Hirzuen, Wu, and the Council to go fuck themselves. Unfortunately, every time she placed a big bet with the intention of losing, she won a lot more than she lost... With the bath nearly overflowing, Tsunade muttered, "I can't believe I'm actually considering this..." before getting up to turn it off. Getting inside caused a considerable volume of water to displace, but after destroying the front gate and several walls, Tsunade didn't care if she caused a bit of water damage. As the heat from the bath permeated her body, chasing away her fatigue and filling her with a sense of comfort, Tsunade began to absentmindedly inspect her body. It had been more than a year since Wu gifted her what appeared to be an ordinary peach, claiming it would 'make her beautiful' again. She had nearly smacked him for implying she was ugly but stayed her hand due to peach's fragrant aroma. Now, even though an entire year had passed, Tsunade still couldn't believe she had regained her youth, an indescribable blessing that was also a curse... Sinking into the tub until only the upper half of her face was revealed, Tsunade started to blow bubbles as she thought, ("Perhaps this is what I deserve for refusing to live but being too afraid to die...if I had just ended it all instead of taking Shizune as my apprentice, none of this would have happened...") As if to end things then and there, Tsunade sank further into the tub, eyes closed as she exhaled the breath from her lungs and waited. She had long lost track of the number of regrets she had, but no matter how tantalizing the notion of simply inhaling was, she couldn't bring herself to do it. There was still so much she had to do...so many memories she had to honor... ... .. . Sensing Tsunade's approach and feeling the vibration of her footsteps through the floor, Wu immediately relaxed the tensions in his body and pretended to be asleep. Guilt was a powerful tool, so he intended to give Tsunade a light push by giving her the impression she had forced him to sleep outside on the cold hard floor. Hearing the door to his room slide open, followed by Tsunade saying, "Get up, brat..." Wu opened his eyes, briefly feigning confusion before widening them in genuine shock. Instead of her previous outfit, Tsunade wore one of his baggier t-shirts. Under normal circumstances, Wu wouldn't even bat an eye at this. The problem was that it was the 'only' thing she happened to be wearing... Raising her foot, Tsunade attempted to step on Wu's face as she asked, "Where are you staring, brat?" Unfortunately, while she was able to get out her words, Wu effortlessly evaded her attack by tilting his head to the side, his mouth slightly agape and eyes still wide. Resisting the urge to tap dance on the boy's face, Tsunade turned around and ordered, "Just get up and come inside..." before walking deeper into the interior. Though he was half-tempted to comment how he intended to do precisely that, Wu rolled to his feet and followed after Tsunade in 'stunned' silence. When she sat on his bed, he just stared at her from several meters away until she furrowed her brows and said, "Sit down." Instead of moving over to the bed as Tsunade intended, Wu dropped down and sat in seiza in the center of the room, his back straight as a board as he stared back at her with a blank expression on his face. His actions caused her brow to twitch slightly, but she just pulled her leg up onto the bed, adopting a very unladylike posture that barely concealed the more 'important' bits with her foot. Seeing Wu's gaze follow her actions, his eyes widening slightly, Tsunade's expression became pointed as she remarked, "You little pervert..." As his actions were calculated, Wu did not attempt to justify them as he raised his gaze to meet Tsunade's, patiently awaiting whatever she had to say next. It took well over a minute, but she eventually exhaled through her nose and said, "I don't know what star you were born under, but it's clearly a fortunate one. Consider yourself lucky, brat...I have decided to accept your proposal..." Though he still had his wits about him, Wu pretended to enter a daze before taking things a step further by falling over like a statute, still in a flawless seiza. Tsunade gave him a stupefied look, but before she could say anything or ask if he was okay, Wu abruptly bounced to his feet and shouted, "Booyah! Jackpot, baby...!" Recovering from her brief stupor, a smile developed across Tsunade's despite the twitching of her eye as she appended, "Don't get too excited, brat. This doesn't mean you suddenly have a license to do whatever you want with my body. Also, before we talk about anything else, we need to discuss your penchant for flirting with other girls. If you're serious about becoming the incumbent Head of the Senju Clan, you're going to have to stop playing around." While she didn't know how far Wu had gone, Tsunade knew for certain that he had 'played' with multiple girls. The thought of being in a harem, even if it was ultimately just a facade, made her uncomfortable. So too did the thought of getting pregnant, but that was marginally more acceptable than implanting her eggs into a bunch of brats and watching them raise her kids... Catching Tsunade more than a little by surprise, the excitement drained from Wu's face, replaced by a serious expression as he said, "I refuse." in a firm tone. Then, before she could get irate or ask him to explain himself, he asserted, "Think what you will, but I'm not a bastard who toys with the hearts of women. Anyone I've set my sights on, I did so willingly and with the intent to help them improve. They have all accepted that I am fated to have numerous wives and have agreed to work together. I will not spit in the face of their resolve by simply 'throwing them away' to marry another woman. You are remarkable, Tsunade. You truly are. But I'm asking you to walk the same path while you're asking me to 'abandon everything' just to be with you...it's not a fair compromise. Not even remotely..." "..." Though her instinct was to tell Wu he could go fuck himself, Tsunade found herself cowed by his words. She realized she hadn't really thought about things from his perspective, but, at the same time, she couldn't just become 'one' of Wu's women. Her pride wouldn't allow her to play second fiddle to anyone, especially not girls half or even a third her actual age... Before Tsunade could compose herself, Wu left her feeling at an even greater loss as he bowed his head, a look of profound regret on his face as he somberly muttered, "I'm...sorry for wasting your time..." Without waiting for a response, Wu turned around and promptly 'fled' from the room. He could deduce from Tsunade's words and choice of clothing that she planned to 'put her foot down' before giving him a 'reward,' but as much of his behavior was an act, he was also being sincere. There was no way he would give up girls like Tenten, Tayuya, or any other girl he had set his sights on just to be with somebody who had to force herself to be with him. He was looking for partners, strong women who could help him achieve his goals and vice versa. Tsunade was out of her depths if she believed he was somehow 'fortunate' to be allowed to give up everything just to be placed under her heel... ... .. . Not expecting someone she had agreed to marry to just 'run off,' Tsunade just stared at the door to Wu's room in bewilderment. She really had been planning to reward him when he promised to give up other women, so she felt a little...ashamed to be left sitting atop his bed, naked from the waist down and wearing his t-shirt... After nearly two full minutes of staring with her mouth slightly agape, Tsunade lowered her head and asked herself, "I couldn't possibly be in the wrong here, can I? I mean...what self-respecting woman, much less one with my background, would accept being in a harem...?" Shaking her head, Tsunade muttered, "Impossible..." despite the notion she was making a grave mistake. One of the reasons she had accepted Wu's proposal was because he was one of the better choices. The only other person she might consider was Jiraiya, but even if Wu gave him a peach, there would be a disparity in their ages. There was also the fact that Jiraiya was an incurable pervert and, due to the need to maintain his information network, rarely in Konoha. Though it made her feel like a cradle robber, Tsunade concluded that if she had to choose between Jiraiya and Wu, she would choose the latter. Jiraiya and her might have worked out when they were kids, but she had known the man for over forty years. She had also spurned him for close to twenty-five, so it just didn't feel right to choose him now... Exhaling one of the most exasperated sighs of her life, Tsunade plopped down on Wu's bed, arms and legs splayed out as she stared blankly at the ceiling above. She had a lot to think about, and this was also the first time she was on the receiving end of a rejection. The most incredulous thing about that was that she had been rejected by a boy that had proposed to her...a proposal she had accepted... ... .. . (A/N: Tsunade isn't wrong, but neither is Wu. Asking him to sacrifice for her when he is going out of his way to ensure she can live as she pleases isn't very considerate xD...)

"On the subject of girls that might join our family, have you talked to Kaia, Ino, Sakura, and Hinata yet? I'm sure Kaia would be more than happy to become your bride." Shaking his head, Wu asserted, "While I'm sure she would want to be my woman, her loyalty lies with the Inuzuka. Besides, if she were the type of woman who would abandon her path for sexual gratification, she wouldn't be my number one subordinate..." Since she had only spoken to Kaia a few times, Tenten didn't question Wu's understanding of the exceptionally spirited Inuzuka. Instead, she asked, "And what about the others? I know you spoke with Hinata before you left last time. Things have calmed down a bit between them, but her relationship with Naruto remains...tenuous." Shrugging his shoulders, Wu revealed, "It will either be her or her sister. The 'powers that be' within Konoha still want to tie me to the village, and the only prominent Clan with two female members of significant status is the Hyuga. As for Ino and Sakura...unless the former forfeited her status as the Yamanaka heiress, she can't marry me 'or' Sasuke. Whoever ends up with her would need to be adopted into her Clan, so she's in a pretty sticky situation, politically speaking." "And Sakura...?" Suppressing a chuckle, Wu mused, "Sakura is Sakura. She let herself be wrangled into Ino's antics, but her obsession with Sasuke is clinical. She was bullied due to her hair color and enormous forehead, and Sasuke just happened to be the first boy to tell her she was cute. Since then, she has effectively brainwashed herself into loving him..." Smiling wryly, Tenten remarked, "Yeah...it would take something pretty drastic for that girl to give up her obsession. I just figured I would ask. You know, considering the things the four of you did together..." Making a very 'meaningful' gesture with the fingers of his right hand, Wu teased, "Just say the word, and I'll expand your horizons broader than you could have ever imagined..." Though a faint blush colored her cheeks, Tenten rolled her hazel eyes and remarked, "Yeah, yeah. Considering your skills, not to mention your ability to alter your size, I'm sure you're a little monster in the bedroom. I'll judge your performance when you're rewarding my efforts. I'm not just going to ask for it, and you shouldn't get too carried away while 'playing' with other women." Nodding his head, Wu replied, "I'll keep that in mind." before eating a few pieces of grilled meat and asking, "What do you have planned for the rest of the day? I still need to speak with the old man, but I can come over to your place once everything's been wrapped up." Adopting a smile, Tenten gave Wu the impression she was going to say yes, so he was a little surprised when she said, "I don't think Gai-sensei would mind, but we're supposed to be practicing coordination as a Team right now. I want to say yes, but it would be pretty selfish of me to skip out on a prior commitment." Instead of being bothered by Tenten's words, Wu returned a smile and playfully remarked, "Yet another reason I chose you over everyone else. Relationships might be a compromise, but compromising your integrity to pander to someone else leads to moral decline. You're making the correct decision." Rolling her eyes, Tenten gave a playful retort, inadvertently embarrassing herself as she responded, "Gee, thanks, dad...I'm 'so' happy to have your approval..." Narrowing his eyes in amusement, Wu waited for Tenten to go completely red in the face before sending her over the edge as he whispered, "I don't mind if you call me Daddy..." Fortunately, they were in a private, decently soundproofed room... ... .. . Preempting Hiruzen's summons, Wu made his way to the Hokage tower with a bit of pep in his step. As paradoxical as it sounded, the more time he spent 'away' from Konoha, the more it felt like home. At the very least, he had good food and an even better woman to welcome him back upon his return. Since they could tell Wu was headed to the Hokage's Tower, none of the ANBU that had been keeping an eye on him bothered to interfere with his walk. Instead, they gave him a wide berth as, shortly after the rumors of Saiko Dadi began to circulate, Hiruzen placed an S-Rank information block on all information related to Wu. As such, he now had a status comparable to a Jinchuriki within the Village Hidden in the Leaf. And rightly so... Upon reaching the Hokage's Tower, Wu didn't have to wait long before the middle-aged receptionist informed him that the Hokage was ready to see him. This time, Wu entered through the door proper, briefly stunning the elderly man before he quickly composed himself, adopted a grandfatherly smile, and said, "Welcome back, Wu-kun. Based on the numerous rumors circulating about, I take it you thoroughly enjoyed your trip outside of the village?" Returning a smile of his own, Wu replied, "There were a few hiccups here and there, but, overall, it was pretty fucking awesome. The Two-Tails was a bit of a disappointment, but Raikage was a lot stronger than I expected. I ended up giving him one of my peaches after blowing a hole through his chest and lung. A twenty-year one." Though his left eye twitched when Wu casually mentioned giving one of their greatest enemies one of his peaches, Hiruzen didn't chastise or try to lecture him. Wu was the only one who could cultivate the mystical fruit, so the only person who had any say in who he gifted them to was himself. With Wu's consent, he had given his own peach to their R&amp;D Department, but the mysterious fruit ended up shriveling the moment they pierced its skin... With a noticeably wry smile, Hiruzen gestured across from him, saying, "Please, take a seat. We have much to discuss, and I'm sure you'd prefer to get it over with quickly." As instructed, Wu took his usual perch atop empty air before recounting everything Hiruzen 'needed' to know about his journey outside the village. This included the information related to Orochimaru, the invasion, and the fact that Tayuya was working as his double agent. What he didn't disclose were the specifics of his encounters in Kumo, the headway he made with the Kazekage's daughter, and his ever-expanding ambitions for the future. After hearing everything Wu had to say, Hiruzen needed a few minutes to process everything, his silvery-grey eyes staring off into the distance as he softly inquired, "Have you reconsidered your decision about whether or not you will accept the Hokage position? You're still young, but I can think of none better suited to wearing the hat..." Shaking his head, Wu reminded, "We had an agreement, old man. You let me do what I want, and I make sure that Konoha's enemies pay the price if they have aspirations for the village. If you're really desperate to be rid of the hat, give it to the melon girl. Considering I saved her from being an infertile husk, she owes me&mdash;you cheeky little monkey." Seeing the glimmer that flashed across Hiruzen's eyes the moment he mentioned the last of the Senju, Wu's gaze narrowed as he asked, "Don't tell me that woman finally 'came to her senses.' Besides, is she the apple of your favorite apprentice's eye? Jiraiya gave me some excellent...advice when I was younger. Even I would feel a modicum of guilt if I snatched up the woman he had been aiming at for forty years..." Though he gave a sagely nod, Hiruzen pointed out, "That's the issue. It's been forty years, Wu-kun. Twenty-five since Tsunade's lover, Kato Dan, was killed in battle. At this point, both Jiraiya and Tsunade need to move on with their lives. Tsunade has proposed donating her egg cells, but the political ramifications of such an act...I get a headache just thinking about them..." Shrugging his shoulders, Wu asked, "So, what do you want me to do? Try and seduce a woman more than four times my age? She might resemble a teenager in her true form, but she's still a temperamental granny hellbent on wiping her ass with the legacy of the Senju." Exhaling a sigh, Hiruzen turned his chair to the side, once again staring off into space as he softly asserted, "You're the only one I can trust with this matter, Wu-kun. The Council is well aware of Tsunade's 'revitalization' and have been pressing for the emergency enactment of the Clan Restoration Act. There is nothing they can do to force the matter, but I'm certain that Tsunade feels at least some obligation to restore her Clan...if she is going to be forced into a decision, I would rather he be with the one responsible for her revitalization than someone hand-picked by the Council..." As it didn't truly matter to him, Wu decided to get to the heart of the matter, asking, "So, instead of permitting me to create a Clan of my own, you want me to marry into the Senju? That would certainly achieve your goal of 'tying' me to the village, but there are just a few major problems with that..." Understanding what Wu was referring to, Hiruzen remarked, "The other girls you have set your sights on..." Nodding his head, Wu appended, "Tsunade is a proud woman. Even if she feels indebted to me, do you genuinely believe she would accept being in a harem? It might make things easier for her, but I can't really imagine her getting along with women half or even a quarter of her age." Though he could see where Wu was coming from, Hiruzen responded, "I have considered that. That takes me back to what I said previously, about Tsunade willing to donate her egg cells..." Realizing what Hiruzen was getting at, an understanding, "Ah..." emanated from Wu's throat. If Tsunade simply donated her eggs and permitted their implantation into surrogates, the fate of the Senju would fall squarely into the hands of the Council. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, from a purely objective point of view, but it was virtually guaranteed that some of Tsunade's eggs would go 'missing.' The autonomy of the surrogates would also need to be restricted as it was only a matter of time before potential successors of the Senju began clashing over their birthright at the behest of people who would see them as puppets... Understanding Hiruzen's intentions, Wu remarked, "So, what you're really asking me is to 'protect' Tsunade and the legacy of the Senju by allowing her to use 'my' women as surrogates. That way, she wouldn't be forced to marry, and she could essentially live as she pleases while others bear the burden of her legacy...not a terrible plan." Feeling gratified by how quick Wu was on the uptake, a smile developed across Hiruzen's face as he replied, "I'm glad you think so. However, there is one thing you're overlooking, young Wu..." Seeing Wu raise his brows in suspicion, a mischievous twinkle appeared in Hiruzen's eyes as he elucidated, "You will need to marry Tsunade, making you the de facto Patriarch of the Senju. She might be resistant to the idea at first, but now that her body has reverted to that of a teenager, she will doubtlessly have 'needs.' Tsunade isn't a promiscuous woman. Once you marry, you become the only person she can depend on to 'alleviate' such urges..." Unable to contain himself, a wolfish grin developed across Wu's face as he remarked, "You perverted monkey. Just how much time have you spent thinking about your female disciples getting it on? You better pray I never catch you spying on us with that crystal ball of yours..." Though he might have tried if Wu was an 'ordinary' Shinobi, Hiruzen was being sincere as he said, "I would never. Tsunade is like a daughter to me, and I regard you as my grandson. Once this arrangement has been made, I have no intention of meddling in your personal lives. I would, however, like to see at least one successor to the Senju bloodline before I breathe my last..." Since Hiruzen's death would inconvenience him quite a bit, Wu had no qualms about giving the man a thumbs up and saying, "Leave it to me. I still have no intention of accepting that hat, but I can promise you'll have more 'grandchildren' than you know what to do with." As he had no doubts about Wu's 'capabilities,' Hirzuen exhaled one final chuckle, saying, "Thank you, Wu-kun..." before eventually releasing the ever-dependable boy from his office... ... .. . (A/N: You guys have no idea how long it took to come up with a 'proper' justification for Tsunade being a potential member of the MC's harem xD...)

Chapter 50: Is this the Legendary 'Springtime of Youth?'