Uchiha Fugaku started to speak, then stopped.
He stopped speaking, then wanted to speak.
He forgot what he wanted to say.
How did you manage to lay out such a sharp analysis—only to land on a conclusion this absurd?
Fine, I admit it: you've got a point.
A student can be close, sure—but can he be closer than a husband?
If you really could marry Tsunade-sama, then the Senju's political legacy might well shift from the Sarutobi-led "student line" onto you.
The price would be three Kage-class members of the Senju-student faction death-staring you until you "commit suicide" with eight kunai in your back… but that's for later. At least the Senju legacy would be in hand.
The question is: can you pull it off?
You absolutely cannot, you ridiculous man!
Uchiha Yorin, as if he didn't notice the way the clan head's expression was about to crack, kept basking in his own artistry and laid it on thick.
"As the saying goes: three years older, you're holding a gold brick; thirty years older, you're holding the realm.
An Uchiha's life is a love-and-war story with the Senju.
From Madara-sama and the First, to Madara's brother Izuna and the Second. Next it's my turn with Tsunade-sama.
They couldn't make it work in the last generation for… reasons.
But Tsunade and I don't have those scruples.
I don't mind that she's older. For the Uchiha clan, I'm willing to make that sacrifice. From today, please call me 'Konoha Macron.'"
That's what Yorin said—and it was pretty much what he thought.
The Yin Seal is a wonderful thing—judging by the, uh, volume of certain fan works online.
If you get isekai'd into Naruto and don't marry Tsunade, did you even do any business this year? Isn't that practically a Naruto–Sasuke substitute?
…
At this point Fugaku finally couldn't hold it in and blurted out:
"Yorin, has it occurred to you that… maybe it's not you turning up your nose at Tsunade-sama, but Tsunade-sama turning up her nose at you?"
Yorin blinked, then laughed brightly:
"Hahaha, Clan Head, you kidder—my [Handsome] stat is a full thirty-two points~ How could Tsunade possibly dislike me?"
Fugaku: "…"
He scrutinized him and had to admit: Yorin did have a bit of a look.
But winning on that alone? That's bizarre enough to make you think the ninja world's facing an alien invasion.
Still, setting aside the wildly ridiculous conclusion, Fugaku found plenty to admire in Uchiha Yorin.
Not only was his head sharp—his analysis had opened a new door, letting Fugaku consider the Hokage question from a higher vantage—but he also had high hopes for Yorin's future.
As everyone knows, the Uchiha are the clan of manic laughter: the stronger you are, the madder you get, and the madder you get, the stronger you are.
In Fugaku's eyes, Yorin was already "mad" enough to awaken the Mangekyō.
And because Fugaku himself had awakened the Mangekyō, he knew how powerful and terrifying it was. So he thought:
"If we had two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, the Uchiha could rest easy.
Even if we truly stood against the village, with two pairs we could ride the storm and laugh last!"
If Yorin knew what the clan head was mulling over, he'd clap him on the shoulder and chuckle, "Hahaha, Clan Head, I said you like to joke and you denied it."
But Yorin hadn't used genjutsu on him, so he didn't know.
He only kept looking at Fugaku with confident eyes—earning a long sigh from the clan head:
"Alright. Specifically—how do you plan to do it? And for the record, your plan is too out there, so I won't be giving you much support."
Yorin: "Relax, I won't act rashly. As for support, just have our clansmen keep an eye on Tsunade-sama's movements when they're out on missions—okay?"
"That's fine. Is that all you need?"
"That's all. You just find Tsunade-sama; I'll handle the rest." Uchiha Yorin was very confident.
"You know, the key isn't the 'strategy'—it's finding the person. Tsunade-sama is always skipping town over debts. Her hide-and-seek skill is maxed. You need a large organization sweeping the map to locate her.
Find her first—then you can start the strategy."
…
Looking at Yorin's confident face, Fugaku really wanted to ask for details—how exactly did he plan to "woo" her?
But he opened his mouth… and closed it again.
Sitting before him was a Senju son-in-law prospect crazy enough to awaken the Mangekyō, and 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 that's that. Head to the Hokage Tower and file your mission report… and bring up the Cloud ninja incident. Have the Second Elder go with you. I need to rest a bit."
Even after all those shocks, he still remembered the Hokage Tower. As expected of a clan head—I dare call him the strongest.
Pleased with the answer, Yorin nodded, said, "No problem!" flashed a thumbs-up at Fugaku, and turned to leave.
Fugaku watched him go, stayed silent for a long while, then murmured:
"In any case, it's a good thing… Will Kakashi be the next Hokage?
If so, we should prepare ahead of time.
As for Itachi, apprenticing under Kakashi—he's a bit too old; and among the other clansmen, no one stands out… which means—Mikoto. Mikoto, come here!"
Following that train of thought to the end, Uchiha Fugaku raised his voice and called for his wife.
Mikoto-sama arrived, curious what he wanted—and quickly found out, which made her shy:
"What is it—broad daylight, you shameless man…!" She feigned resistance but, overall, cooperated.
…
And so, thanks to Uchiha Yorin, the "Second Pillar" (Sasuke) was born a few months earlier than in history. And because the timing was different, some of his physical traits shifted a bit.
What did Uchiha Yorin think of this?
Yorin: "Doesn't bother me."
Sasuke is the clan head's son, not his. He's the one having kids, not Yorin. And there's already an eldest son—Itachi—even if he's a little too dutiful. It's not like the line's ending. What's there to fuss over?
More importantly, time to check the dumb system's new quest.
…
Yes—while he was talking with the clan head about the Uchiha's future, the dumb system issued another task.
By the time the conversation ended, Uchiha Yorin had completed it.
[Phase Quest · Clan Support: If you want to rebuild the Senju, you must win the backing of Konoha's ninja clans. Objective: Gain the support of one major Konoha clan. Rewards vary by clan.]
…
[Phase Quest · Clan Support (Uchiha) complete. Reward: Sharingan issued.]