The words had barely left Neji's mouth when the Fourth Raikage froze for a heartbeat—then threw back his head and laughed.
Tsuchida, by contrast, sank into thoughtful silence, weighing the proposal's feasibility.
Yugito's lips twitched, a faint scowl tugging at her face. "Neji," she asked dryly, "what's with this sudden fascination for older, married women?"
Neji straightened, expression solemn. "Yugito, don't misunderstand. I'm doing this for the good of the Village."
Her golden eyes narrowed with disbelief. "Mm-hmm," she muttered, clearly unconvinced.
Neji almost sighed. He should have anticipated her suspicion. Hadn't there already been precedents—Vortex Kana, Yakushi Nono? He mentally chided himself for not mentioning them first.
Tsuchida finally broke the silence. "Raikage-sama, Neji is truly the most suitable choice."
"I think so as well," the Fourth Raikage said after a moment's thought. His sharp eyes gleamed, then softened as he nodded slowly.
On paper, the most obvious candidates for such a political marriage were the AB brothers—the Raikage himself and Killer Bee. Their rank and fame made them natural symbols of the Hidden Cloud. But everyone knew neither of them had interest in romance. Any marriage would be a duty to their clan, a pragmatic act to extend the family line. They certainly wouldn't strong-arm a widow into anything.
Neji was different.
He had already accomplished a diplomatic miracle by persuading the proud Uchiha to ally with Kumogakure. His contribution to the Village was undeniable and deserved to be rewarded. For the Uchiha as well, Neji had stepped in during their hour of greatest crisis, saving the clan from destruction. Now he was merely making a request that was political more than personal—one the Raikage could hardly reject.
And from the Uchiha perspective, there was no real reason to oppose it either. Neji was Kumogakure's rising star, a shinobi many already whispered might become the Fifth Raikage. Pairing him with Mikoto carried symbolic weight: the uniting of Byakugan and Sharingan, the two legendary dōjutsu bloodlines of the ninja world. What sparks might fly from such a union?
The age difference hardly mattered. Political marriages were never about romance; their meaning was strategic and far-reaching. Finalize a proper prenuptial agreement and the rest could be negotiated.
When the meeting finally ended, Neji, Yugito, and Tsuchida filed out together. The Raikage lingered, gazing into the moon-washed night before striding toward a heavily guarded tent.
"Raikage-sama," the ANBU on duty greeted him respectfully.
He waved them aside and entered.
Inside sat a blond boy devouring a small mountain of food with cheerful abandon. Naruto looked up mid-bite, bright blue eyes blinking.
The Raikage's chest tightened. He hadn't expected Neji to bring the Nine-Tails jinchūriki here—let alone the son of Namikaze Minato himself.
That hair: the same burnished gold. Memories of the legendary Yellow Flash stirred—a man who had shone so brilliantly he eclipsed even the Sannin. Many had believed Minato would transform not only Konoha but the entire shinobi world. Yet less than a year after becoming Hokage, he was gone.
"Uncle?" Naruto tilted his head, puzzled by the sudden presence.
The Raikage inhaled deeply and met the boy's gaze. "Naruto," he said gravely, "be my son."
---
Meanwhile, far from the Land of Lightning, events were also shifting.
A force of two to three thousand men could never approach undetected. In the Land of Waterfall, the Tsuchikage Ōnoki felt his stomach tighten as he received the latest intelligence: the Uchiha had joined the Hidden Cloud.
Logic screamed that if the Uchiha had sent a distress call to Iwagakure, they must have contacted other villages too. The Waterfall Country lay closer to Earth than to Lightning. Surely Iwa should have been first to respond. Yet the Uchiha had gone directly to Kumogakure.
Why?
Had the Cloud offered terms impossible to refuse?
And how could the Uchiha be so certain Iwa would not present a better deal?
What gnawed at Ōnoki even more was the timing. Kumogakure's forces reached the Uchiha days before Iwa's scouts. It seemed almost… scripted.
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. He turned to the blond youth beside him. "Deidara, do you recall hearing that Kumogakure's Two-Tails jinchūriki once led a team to the Chūnin Exams?"
Deidara grunted affirmation.
The old Tsuchikage's gaze sharpened. Uchiha defection clearly made Kumogakure the greatest beneficiary. Perhaps the "distress signal" to Iwa had been mere misdirection—bait to slow them down while the Cloud struck a secret bargain.
Ōnoki's chest heaved with anger. He had been careless, blinded by the glittering advantages of recruiting the Uchiha. More than anyone, he wanted to prevent their alliance with Konoha. But he had underestimated the Fourth Raikage's resolve.
And he knew the Raikage's grudge ran deep. During the Third Great Ninja War, Iwagakure forces had surrounded and killed the Raikage's father. That blood debt would never be forgiven. If the Cloud gained the Uchiha's power, they might surpass even Konoha and seize the title of the strongest village. Retaliation against Iwa would be inevitable.
After a long silence, Ōnoki let out a harsh chuckle. "Kitsuchi," he said to his son, "the situation in the ninja world changes faster than anyone can predict. We cannot stay idle—and neither can Konoha. Go to the Leaf. If the Third Hokage shows sincerity, form an alliance."
Kitsuchi hesitated. "An alliance… with Konoha? But before the Uchiha left, they were our bitterest enemy."
"There are no eternal friends or enemies," Ōnoki replied coldly, "only eternal interests. We opposed Konoha for Iwagakure's sake. Now, for the same reason, we may join hands. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father." Enlightened, Kitsuchi bowed and departed to open talks with the Leaf.
---
Back in Kumogakure, Shisui Uchiha guided his clansmen through their first days in their new homeland.
"Shisui-clan leader, Yashiro-senpai," said the graceful secretary Mabui, bowing lightly, "our temporary camp may feel a little rough. Please forgive us. Permanent facilities will follow soon."
"No, no," Shisui answered quickly. "We are already very satisfied."
His words were sincere. In less than two weeks, the Cloud had built a camp capable of housing two to three thousand people—an efficiency far beyond the Uchiha's expectations. Though the land allotted lay just outside the main city, the Raikage's own office was scarcely two kilometers away, a clear sign of trust.
The atmosphere was, of course, different from Konoha. A few locals regarded the newcomers with open suspicion, some even with hostility. Yet most simply watched in wary curiosity. That, to Shisui, was already a vast improvement. In Konoha, even polite words had been rare.
Mabui's gentle smile returned. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate. The Village will do its best to meet your requirements."
Shisui inclined his head. Yashiro and the others relaxed slightly as well.
"One more matter," Mabui continued. "Raikage-sama wishes to meet formally with you both to discuss the Uchiha's future arrangements in Kumogakure. Are you available?"
"Of course," Shisui said without hesitation. "It will be our honor."
Soon they followed her up the steep mountain path to the Raikage Building, an imposing structure carved into the cliff itself. Inside, nearly every senior official awaited them, even Killer Bee dragged in from training.
"Raikage-sama," Shisui and Yashiro said respectfully, bowing first to the leader seated at the head, then to the assembled council.
The Raikage waved them toward the seats opposite. "Sit. From now on, we are family. I dislike excessive formality. Today we discuss how the Uchiha will settle here."
For three intense hours they reviewed every detail: housing, integration of ninja into various departments, social benefits, and civic obligations. To Shisui's surprise, the conversation remained cordial and constructive. There was no hostility, no attempt to isolate or exploit them.
Kumogakure offered ordinary rights and duties—no special privilege, but no deliberate discrimination either. The Raikage understood that granting lavish favors would only paint the Uchiha as targets. Better to let them blend in naturally.
When the meeting finally ended, Shisui and Yashiro exchanged astonished looks as they stepped into the crisp night air. For the first time in years, they felt genuinely welcomed.
"This is the first time," Shisui murmured, "that anyone has treated us like their own children."
He turned serious. "Yashiro, our priority now is helping the clan adapt. The Raikage requires our ninja to join various departments. These opportunities were unimaginable in Konoha. We cannot squander them."
"I agree," Yashiro said. Then, frowning slightly, he asked, "But what do you make of the Raikage's wish for a marriage alliance—specifically with a married woman?"
Shisui paused, considering. For the Sharingan? If so, why Mikoto in particular? Other talented women in the clan, like Uchiha Izumi, could have served the same purpose. The puzzle remained unsolved, yet ultimately it didn't matter.
"Kumogakure has shown great sincerity," he said at last. "We must not waste it. Whatever the Raikage's deeper motives, we will take the proposal seriously. I will speak to Aunt Mikoto myself. She will know what is best for both our family and our new home."
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