I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

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...)

With his plans to kick back, relax, and just train for around fourteen hours ruined, Wu meandered around Konoha with no clear destination. He was tempted to visit Kaia, but the last time he went to the Inuzuka Compound, her mother insinuated that he should basically 'breed' her on the spot. While Wu wasn't so attached to physical appearances that he would shun Kaia for her boyishness, pushing her down and taking her from behind like a dog wasn't at the top of his 'to-do' list. He imagined he would, at some point, but he didn't like being pressured into doing something without any clear, tangible benefits. Some might consider the act of fucking a tangible benefit, but, as someone with several options, Wu would be 'giving' a lot more than he received in such a situation... Pulling a shiny golden Ryo from his Storage Pouch, Wu gave it a quick flip to decide his fate. If it landed with the date stamp up, he would surprise Tenten by spending the day with her parents, helping out around the store until she returned from training. If it landed with the date stamp down, he would bite the bullet and visit the Inuzuka Clan Compound, albeit with the intent of 'just' visiting. Either way, he would be heading to Yakiniku Q before anything else. Flipping the gold coin unnecessarily high into the air, high enough that a normal person wouldn't even be able to see it, Wu's expression morphed into a flawless deadpan when a fucking crow swooped in out of nowhere and snatched it out of the air. "..." Resisting the temptation to chase after and beat the shit out of the crow, Wu put his hands into his pockets and silently made his way to Yakiniku Q. As for where he would head after that? Well, technically speaking, the coin never landed. He could flip another, but he decided he might as well see what fate had in store, passing much of the remaining day wandering around without a purpose... ... .. . After idling about in Wu's room for several hours, even taking a nap at one point, Tsunade inferred she was being 'ghosted.' She was tempted to wait around until Wu returned, just to spite the little brat for daring to reject her for some snot-nosed lasses, but she figured that would be too petty, even for her. With several hours to cool her head and at least 'attempt' to view things from Wu's viewpoint, Tsunade could see how her request was just a 'little' unfair. She also understood that her attempts to avoid responsibility were the direct cause of the current situation. No matter how she looked at it, Tsunade knew that Wu had been doing her a pretty massive favor by accepting Hiruzen's proposal. Because of her most recent attempts to avoid her responsibilities, she had basically forced the matter. Wu allowing her to use 'his' women as surrogates was probably the best possible outcome, given the circumstances. However, instead of being grateful for his sacrifice, Tsunade had wanted him to give up even more just to protect her 'pride' as a woman. While pride was undoubtedly important, Tsunade was well aware that she had thrown away her dignity and several other things throughout her long depression. For twenty-five years, she had drowned her misery in alcohol, consumed countless drugs, used her body to get her way, and gambled with such wanton indifference that she had bankrupted one of the most affluent Clans in the world. With all that in her ledger, not to mention the veritable mountain of 'baggage' she carried, did she even have the 'right' to be prideful? Exhaling a sigh, Tsunade removed Wu's shirt before tossing it onto his bed and making her way, buck naked, to the bathroom. Along the way, she passed by a standing mirror, something Wu often used to check the condition of his body. Upon seeing her reflection, Tsunade did much the same, once again awed by the disparity between her present appearance and the wrinkled 'husk' she once was... Despite her healthy complexion and the perkiness of her ass and tits, three things most women would have been exceptionally grateful to possess, Tsunade couldn't help exhaling a frustrated sigh, muttering, "God dammit..." before turning away from the mirror and making her way into the bathroom... ... .. . After meandering about for most of the day, Wu returned to the Sarutobi Estate, believing not even Tsunade could be obstinate enough to wait an entire day just to spite him. When he didn't immediately sense her Chakra, a gratified smile developed across Wu's face until he noticed that Hiruzen was actually home. While it wasn't uncommon for Hiruzen to be in his own house, the elderly Kage was usually busy until late in the evening. He seldom came home early, and when he did, it was generally because they needed to discuss something. The servant standing near the entrance, clearly waiting for his arrival, further confirmed Wu's suspicions. Without giving the servant a chance to greet him, Wu raised his hand and said, "Yeah, yeah. I know. Thanks for coming out to wait. I'll go see him in a moment." Bowing respectfully, the aging servant responded with a polite, "Have a good evening, Young Master." before returning to her other duties. As for Wu, he made a short stop at his room to see if Tsunade had bothered to clean up after herself(she didn't) before making his way over to Hiruzen's study. There, he found the old man without his hat, a 'teasing' smile on his face as he nursed a wooden pipe packed with much more than tobacco. Seeing the look on the man's face, a look of disbelief marred Wu's as he asked, "She actually said yes...?" Nodding his head in affirmation, Hiruzen mused, "She didn't seem all that enthused by the notion, but she brought the marriage contract and Clan Registration Form over to the Council a few hours ago. Congratulations, Wu-kun. I don't imagine things will be easy for you moving forward, but you've managed to succeed where countless other men have failed. All you need to do is sign and stamp this paperwork, and Senju Tsunade will be your lawfully wedded wife..." Pushing the papers toward Wu, Hiruzen was amused to see the boy just staring at them with a blank expression on his face. He had heard about what occurred the previous day and was aware that Wu had been kicked out of his room later that night. He didn't know the 'specifics' of what had occurred, but he didn't find it any less amusing to see someone like Wu at a loss. Gods knew he could use a bit of humbling... After recovering from his genuine yet excessively prolonged stupor, Wu sat down in front of Hiruzen, asking, "And she didn't say anything about the 'ultimatum' she gave me? I'm not signing this paperwork if she thinks, even for a moment, that I'm going to simply 'give up' my other women for her..." Though he blinked in surprise, Hiruzen didn't hesitate to shake his head, answering, "As far as I'm aware, she was consenting to the proposal we discussed previously. At the very least, that's how she made it appear to the Council. I'm afraid you'll need to discuss the-" Before Hiruzen could finish speaking, Wu pricked his thumb and stamped each document. So long as Tsunade didn't inform the Council that he was prohibited from marrying other women, he didn't need to worry too much about the potential backlash. If push came to shove, he could just divorce the temperamental Senju and move on with his life. Seeing how quickly Wu proffered forth his thumbprint, an amused chuckle emanated from Hiruzen's throat. He honestly couldn't blame Wu for being just a little enthusiastic. If he were fifty years younger and didn't have any attachments to life, he might have tried approaching Tsunade himself... Interrupting Hiruzen's daydreaming, Wu gave the man a skeptical look as he questioned, "So, what now? Do I just mosey on over to the Senju Clan Compound and make myself at home...?" Supplying a slight nod, Hiruzen answered, "Now that you have signed the paperwork, it is as much your home as Tsunade's. Just know that you will always have a place here if you ever need to 'escape' or cool your head. I will instruct the cleaning staff to leave your room untouched." Returning a nod of his own, Wu's expression and tone softened as he replied, "Thanks, Jiji. I appreciate it." with a smile. Then, without any real expectations about what was to come, he returned to his room, packed up some of his personal effects, and made his way over to the Senju Clan Compound, the largest Estate in all of Konoha. It had fallen into a state of disrepair after twenty-some-odd years of neglect, but it was still regarded as the most prestigious and historic location in the village... ... .. . Though she had consumed nearly a liter of alcohol to calm her nerves, Tsunade's legs were twitching like someone with restless leg syndrome as she 'patiently' waited for Wu to arrive. As more and more time passed, her desire to rush out and tear up the documents compounded. However, as she couldn't think of a better 'resolution' to the circumstances she had created, she remained seated, glaring at the entrance to the main house with a massive bottle of cheap sake in hand. Fortunately, just as the sun had finished its descent over the horizon, Wu appeared on the path leading to the entrance. Tsunade's body tensed as she saw him, but she managed to calm herself by chugging nearly a third 4.5L bottle. Her metabolism and tolerance blew most people's out of the water, so even though the sake had an alcohol content of 16%, she didn't stumble while attempting to climb to her feet. She did, however, have the ruddy complexion and demeanor of a drunk as she said, "It's about damn time you showed up, brat..." Blinking in feigned surprise, Wu pointed to himself and asked, "Could you be talking about me?" Furrowing her brows, Tsunade pointedly remarked, "I don't see any other brats around, do you?" Shrugging his shoulders, Wu calmly pointed out, "Well, you're married to this brat. I'm glad you changed your mind, by the way. I'm not ashamed to admit I spent most of the day just wandering around and feeling lost after what happened this morning..." Though she was initially planning to continue arguing for a bit, Tsunade blinked in surprise and asked, "Seriously...?" in a disbelieving tone. She hadn't spent that much time with Wu over the past year, but she couldn't imagine him wandering around in low spirits. Shrugging a second time, Wu allowed Tsunade to jump to reach her own conclusion on the matter. If she asked around, it would be pretty easy to confirm he had been wandering around the entire day. He just wasn't in a depressive state while doing so. It might have looked that way to others, but the truth of the matter was that he was simply bored. Reading into Wu's silence, Tsunade took a shallow breath before exhaling a tired sigh. She knew Wu wasn't a fragile boy who needed coddling, but it was hard to deny that she wasn't taking advantage of him. If not for the peach he had given her, this would be a 'very' dubious situation... Though it was probably a little too late to be asking such things, the glare on Tsunade's face visibly softened as she asked, "Are you sure about this, kid? It isn't too-" Before Tsunade could finish speaking, Wu's expression and tone became firm as he said, "Tell me what I need to do to convince you I'm serious. I can't make you my only woman, but I'm willing to do just about anything else. Just name it." "..." Forcing herself to remain calm, Tsunade took several deep breaths before surprising Wu as she calmly replied, "You don't have to do anything, kid. I wouldn't even have this 'opportunity,' much less this body, if it weren't for you. I'm not sure how things will work out, but I'll at least try to abide you having other women. Just..." Narrowing her eyes into a serious expression, Tsunade added, "Just don't expect me to play second fiddle to anyone. You're 'my' husband. I expect you to take that seriously..." Since Tsunade wasn't explicitly asking him to do anything, Wu nodded his head, maintaining his 'serious' expression as he answered, "I swear it..." in a deep, earnest-sounding tone. Seeing no trances of falsity or deception in Wu's gaze, Tsunade exhaled her most prominent sight yet, even going so far as to cradle her forehead as she muttered, "I can't believe I'm about to do this..." Before Wu could ask what she meant, Tsunade regained her intense look, glaring at him as she said, "Get inside. I have no intention of planning any ceremony, so we'll consummate the marriage directly. This is also your chance to prove to me you aren't 'just' a brat, so I expect you to put some effort into it..." Though he would have refused two days prior, Tenten's 'permission' to do as he pleased compelled Wu to narrow his eyes, a mischievous smile on his face as he asserted, "Trust me...you won't be disappointed..." Unaware that Wu was still a virgin, Tsunade snorted through her nose, half-turning as she said, "Don't compare me to those little brats you've been playing with..." before turning around fully and leading the way into the manor. The Senju Clan's financial plight meant she couldn't afford any servants, so the only people living within the 40-room castle were herself, Shizune, and her pet pig, Tonton. As a result, the interior felt like a haunted manor, a notion that brought a devilish smile to Wu's face as he had every intention of making Tsunade scream... ... .. . (A/N: This...this was unexpected...*sweating intensifies*)

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...)

Chapter 51: Carrot and Stick