Tsukuyo didn't get angry, simply continuing, "If you truly can't stand it, then become the one who sets the rules. Make others abide by your rules. When that time comes, no one will oppose your ideas, will they?"
Uchiha Madara took a deep breath, remaining silent.
"You're still too weak, aren't you?" Tsukuyo scoffed, adding smoothly, "Alright, I'm busy with clan affairs. If you don't have anything else important, I'll be taking my leave."
"You said you would lead the Senju clan to surrender to my clan. When?" Uchiha Madara asked quietly.
Hidden in the shadows, Senju Wakama's expression turned slightly odd. He remembered Tsukuyo saying she wanted to become stronger than anyone else, then lead the entire clan to surrender to the Uchiha, demanding the Uchiha provide food and shelter. If the Uchiha didn't accept, she would beat them until they did.
At the time, besides Senju Wakama, his other brothers had thought Tsukuyo was joking.
Wakama, however, believed Tsukuyo was capable of such bizarre actions. He hadn't expected Uchiha Madara to believe it too.
Moreover, Brother Zetsu had also said that even though the current Tsukuyo hadn't grasped the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit, the Sharingan, it didn't stop her, with her Wood Release and Sage Body, from being invincible.
Tsukuyo had acquired the Wood Release and Sage Body from her elder brother, Hashirama.
But Tsukuyo 'grew' faster than Hashirama; she knew better how to use her advantages against an enemy's weaknesses.
Tsukuyo paused for a few seconds, then smiled. "Madara, are you that impatient?"
Uchiha Madara remained silent, his face adopting the typical Uchiha stoicism.
Tsukuyo didn't tease him further, instead stating leisurely, "Relax, it'll be soon... Pray, Madara. Pray that your clansmen can withstand that loving thrashing of mine."
"What are you planning?" Madara's expression remained grim.
As Tsukuyo's close friend, Madara knew her capabilities well.
Tsukuyo, who could control plants and animals, could spy on everything within the Uchiha clan through all living things.
For Madara, this was a terrible experience.
The Uchiha clan members who didn't know the truth lived their lives within the clan compound as usual.
But Madara, aware of the truth, fell into extreme anxiety every day, always feeling that if he let his guard down for even a moment, various strange animals would be staring at him from nearby.
Even though many individual animals were quite weak compared to shinobi clans, their sheer numbers were overwhelming. Impossible to kill them all, simply impossible!
As long as these creatures lived, the Uchiha clan's privacy was completely exposed to Tsukuyo.
Madara was extremely frustrated.
Since things had already reached this point, Madara genuinely wished for the two clans to merge. That way, Tsukuyo wouldn't spend all day watching them for amusement.
However... the process would undoubtedly be painful. Madara was well aware of this, so he might as well ask directly.
Tsukuyo silently gazed back at Madara for a long moment before speaking, "I know you still cooperate with your old clients."
The Uchiha clan's long-standing client was the Hachisuka family, lords of Rikkoku City. Coveting the mineral resources of the Land of Pine (Matsu no Kuni), they continued to target the Land of Pine's ruler, Hori Hideie.
Previously, due to Tsukuyo's schemes and manipulations, the Hachisuka family had undergone internal strife and a major change in leadership.
Needing to stabilize their internal situation, the Hachisuka had temporarily halted their actions against the Land of Pine, allowing both the Land of Pine and the Senju clan a chance to rest and recover.
After a period of internal reshuffling, the Hachisuka family had stabilized once more.
Having settled down, the new head of the Hachisuka family intended to start realizing the 'grand ambition' left unfinished by his predecessors: seizing the Land of Pine.
The consequence of the Hachisuka family hiring the Uchiha clan was that, in the near future, the Land of Pine, facing a life-or-death struggle, would inevitably turn to the only clan capable of contending with the Uchiha – the Senju clan.
Madara was tired of the scheming. He knew very well that once things developed to that stage, what kind of damage a frenzied Tsukuyo could inflict upon the Uchiha clan.
Madara had no desire to reach that point.
A mischievous smile appeared on Tsukuyo's face. "You think I'll tell you?"
Madara took another deep breath, gritting his teeth. "What can I do?"
"Oh, so you want to help me," Tsukuyo beamed.
Madara snorted, "Is there a problem?"
"Sure," Tsukuyo smiled amiably. "Spend some money, hire some third-rate shinobi, and go assassinate all the male heirs of the Hori Hideie family."
Madara couldn't help but blurt out, "Hori Hideie of the Land of Pine will definitely hire your Senju clan to work for them afterwards! What are you trying to do?"
"Exactly. Have some 'scrubs' go peck at the Land of Pine's ruler, just enough to make the ruler spend money asking me to solve her problem for her," Tsukuyo chattered on.
"We would have done that even if you hadn't said anything," Madara replied, looking displeased.
Having one's own plans anticipated by the opponent felt incredibly grating.
Moreover, it proved Tsukuyo knew the Uchiha clan like the back of her hand.
"You need to be a bit more ruthless, otherwise, if the Land of Pine's ruler isn't scared shitless, she absolutely won't hire us to sort things out. Because the current Senju clan, protected by our medical expertise, doesn't readily accept the old kinds of missions anymore."
A wicked expression crept onto Tsukuyo's lovely, smiling face. "But as long as the pay is good enough, we'll still take the mission. So, I'm counting on you, Madara."
With that, Tsukuyo turned and left, showing no sign of lingering.
Leaving Uchiha Madara standing alone in the dark wind, silently watching her retreating figure.
Senju Wakama witnessed the entire scene.
Just as he thought, Tsukuyo didn't hide her flaws in front of Madara at all; she couldn't even be bothered to pretend.
Wakama always waited until his girlfriend was far away before leaving alone – something Tsukuyo had taught him back then.
With this action, Wakama successfully showed his girlfriends his care and affection without words.
In reality, he did nothing but stand there a little longer, spacing out for a short while, yet both Hyuga Miyu and Uchiha Yuki seemed deeply moved by it.
Tsukuyo had explicitly told Wakama back then that if this was a subconscious act, it conveyed to the girls through action that he cherished them in his heart.
But between Tsukuyo and Uchiha Madara, there was absolutely no similar sign.
Tsukuyo didn't care about Madara's feelings at all; instead, she provoked him repeatedly.
From the tone and wording Madara used when speaking to Tsukuyo, it was clear that if he didn't absolutely have to, Madara wouldn't want to talk to Tsukuyo at all.
Senju Wakama was somewhat puzzled. That there could actually be a man like Uchiha Madara in this world, immune to Tsukuyo's captivating beauty – he was quite a character himself.
As Tsukuyo departed, Senju Wakama followed in her footsteps, heading rapidly towards the clan compound.