Uchiha Fugaku wanted to speak but held back.
Uchiha Fugaku held back but wanted to speak.
Uchiha Fugaku forgot what to say.
How did you manage to analyze so soundly, like a tiger on a rampage, only to arrive at such an outrageous conclusion?
Yes, I admit, you've got a point.
A disciple can never be closer than a husband, can he?
If you really could marry Lady Tsunade, then the Senju clan's political legacy might well shift from the disciple faction led by the Sarutobi to you, kid.
The price would be three Kage-class Senju disciples giving you a death stare, eight kunai stuck in your back as "suicide"… Of course, that's for later. At least the Senju legacy would be in hand.
But the problem is—can it be done?
It can't, you guy!
Uchiha Yorin acted as if he didn't see the clan head's face about to crack, and continued to revel in his own artistry, talking to the clan head at length.
"As the saying goes, 'three years older, hold a gold brick; thirty years older, hold the whole realm.'
A Uchiha's life is a lifelong love-and-war with the Senju.
From Lord Madara and the First Hokage, to Lord Madara's brother Uchiha Izuna and the Second Hokage. Next it's my turn with Lady Tsunade.
They, the previous generation, couldn't practice polyamory, so there was no way.
But Lady Tsunade and I have no such scruples.
I don't mind that she's older than me. For the Uchiha clan, I'm willing to make this sacrifice. From now on, call me Konoha Macron."
That's what Uchiha Yorin said, and that's pretty much what he thought.
The Yin Seal is a wonderful thing. Just look at the sheer volume of "books" on every site.
As they say, if you cross into Naruto and don't marry Tsunade, that's a whole year's business lost. Isn't this a kind of Naruto-Sasuke substitute meal?
…
Hearing him say this, Uchiha Fugaku finally couldn't hold it in and couldn't help but gripe:
"Yorin, is there not a possibility… that it's not you disdaining Lady Tsunade, but Lady Tsunade disdaining you?"
At that, Yorin paused, then laughed cheerfully:
"Hahaha, Clan Head, you do love to joke. My 'handsome' stat is a full thirty-two points\~ How could Lady Tsunade possibly disdain me?"
Uchiha Fugaku: "…"
He looked carefully and had to admit one thing—Uchiha Yorin did have a bit of looks.
But to rely on that to achieve the goal is a bit too bizarre. Bizarre to the level you'd think the ninja world was facing an alien invasion.
Still, setting aside the ridiculously out-there conclusion, he rather appreciated Uchiha Yorin.
Not only because Yorin's brain worked well—his analysis opened a new world for Fugaku, letting him view the Hokage question from a higher vantage—but also because he was optimistic about Yorin's future.
As everyone knows, the Uchiha are the clan of manic laughter. The stronger they get, the madder they are; the madder they are, the stronger they get.
In Fugaku's eyes, Yorin was already mad enough to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Because Fugaku himself had awakened the Mangekyō, he knew how powerful and terrible that force was. So he thought:
"If we had two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, the Uchiha could sleep easy.
Even if we truly end up at odds with the village, with two pairs of Mangekyō we could cleave wind and waves and laugh to the end!"
If Yorin knew what the clan head was mulling over right now, he'd pat Fugaku's shoulder and, laughing, say, "Hahaha, Clan Head, I said you like to joke and you still wouldn't admit it."
But Yorin hadn't used genjutsu on him, so he didn't know.
He merely continued, meeting Fugaku's gaze with confidence, and in return the clan head let out a long sigh:
"All right, specifics—how are you going to do it? Let me say first, your plan is too far-fetched, so I won't give you much support."
Yorin: "Relax, I won't act rashly. As for support, please just have the clansmen keep an eye on Lady Tsunade's movements while they're out on missions. That okay?"
"That is indeed fine. Is that really all you need?"
"Yes, that's all. You just find Lady Tsunade; leave the rest to me." Uchiha Yorin was very confident:
"You know—the key isn't the courting, it's finding her. Lady Tsunade spends her days dodging debts. Her stealth skills are maxed. We need a large organization's carpet search to locate her.
Once we find her, we can start the courting."
…
Looking at Yorin's confident face, Fugaku wanted to ask exactly how he planned to court her.
But he opened his mouth and closed it again.
He was facing a madman capable of awakening the Mangekyō and becoming the Senju clan's live-in son-in-law, while he himself was just a pitiful Uchiha clan head.
He'd had enough shocks for one day; no need to make himself more uncomfortable.
"Mm. Then let's do that. Head to the Hokage Building to file your mission… and report the Cloud ninja matter. Have the Second Elder go with you—I need to rest."
To remember the Hokage Building after so much shock—worthy of a clan head. I hail you as the strongest.
Having gotten a satisfactory answer, Yorin cheerfully nodded, said, "No problem!" gave Fugaku a thumbs-up, and turned to leave.
Fugaku watched him go, stayed silent for a long while, then sighed:
"In any case, it's a good thing… Will Kakashi be the next Hokage?
If so, we should prepare in advance.
As for Itachi, having him apprentice under Kakashi—he's a bit too old. And among the others, no one stands out… which means—Mikoto, Mikoto, come here a moment!"
In the end, Uchiha Fugaku started shouting loudly for his wife.
The clan head's lady came at the call, curious what her husband wanted. She quickly found out, and immediately felt shy:
"What are you doing, in broad daylight—you lecher—don't you feel ashamed…" Uchiha Mikoto feigned reluctance yet was, overall, quite cooperative.
…
And so, because of Uchiha Yorin, the second son was born a few months earlier than in history. And because the timing was off, his bodily traits changed a little.
What did Uchiha Yorin think of this?
Yorin: "I've never much cared."
Sasuke is the clan head's son, not his. It's Fugaku having kids, not him. Besides, he already has a first son, Itachi—filial to a fault, perhaps, but it's not like the line's cut off, so what's there to fuss about?
More importantly, let's see the dumb system's task.
…
Yes—while discussing the Uchiha clan's future with the clan head, the dumb system issued another task.
By the end of the talk, that task had already been completed by Uchiha Yorin.
\[Stage Task · Support from Shinobi Clans: To rebuild the Senju, you must gain support from Konoha's shinobi clans. Task goal: obtain the support of one major Konoha shinobi clan. Rewards vary by which clan supports you.]
…
\[Stage Task · Support from Shinobi Clans (Uchiha) completed. Reward: Sharingan has been issued]