Over the next few days, I just navigated a few renegotiations. The loss stung. But it wasn't much. The real shit started when I went to the Kurokami clan. I had expected them to act now since the Hokage was out of the picture. I was happy with the way things were, but as I said, the best time to start against us would be now. The other clans had no incentives to go up against us. This one did. We were disrupting their monopoly. And now we had no backer, while the Nara still backed them.
The Nara controlled the whole of the weapons market in Konoha overall. But their own chief works were in steel and chakra weapons, along with logistical supplies like carts, food pills, etc. They had no skin in the Fuinjutsu tags game except prestige and the extravagant annual 'gifts' the Kurokami gave them on their clan head's birthday.
But the Kurokami did have skin in the game. Before we were kids. Then we were nuisances protected by the Hokage. Now we're threats left unchecked. I expected them to force me into submission through tribute or something. My thoughts were interrupted as a servant opened the door and led me inside.
Their clan compound was fancy. Really fancy. The compound we erected was good. But this was ridiculously fancy with carvings on every door and statues in the garden kind of way. There were Kurosawa symbols in our compound too. But none as intricate as this. And not made in things like marble either.
Haruto, Emiko, and I were led to a lavish guestroom as we waited. We left our guards at the entrance for now. Three was the standard size of a delegation within Konoha. The lavishness was to show me their prestige. The wait to show me my place. But since you were being pampered with food and refreshments. You couldn't complain. By protocol, as a head, I should have been accompanied by an elder or heir of the clan while I waited and ate, even if the head was busy and talks could not be held. We had three servants.
Half an hour later. A young man of 21 came in, accompanied by a middle-aged guy of 40 and two girls about my age.
"I hope I didn't make you wait long, Kurosawa-san. You understand the job sometimes takes time."
No apology, and san instead of sama. That told me the attitude of the clan. They were being absolutely barbaric by formal standards. Despite how you all must have read in a lot of LNs, Usual interactions, unless there was a direct conflict with arrogant young masters, were like this. Dismissive. Punitive.
Why was I not taking offense at not being greeted by the head? Well, politically, the heirs were regarded with the same reverence. After all, if he never acts in the head's capacity. How will he learn?
"No, I understand. Besides, I enjoyed your hospitality."
"I am glad. So let's start with introductions first. I am Kurokami Rei, and this is my sister Kurokami Shiori. This man here is one of our esteemed elders, Kurokami Gen'ei, and his granddaughter, Kurokami Yozora." The rest just nodded. Yozora bowed — a full, perfect bow, posture low and disciplined. Her chakra was steady, but I caught a flicker of something sharp behind her composed expression. Not fear — focus.
She was trained to observe.
I smiled faintly. "I am Kurosawa Ren, head of my clan. With me, Kurosawa Haruto, commander of the Summer Legion, and his deputy, Kurosawa Emiko."
We exchanged polite nods and the kind of empty courtesies diplomacy demanded.
Then Rei leaned forward, hands clasped lightly.
"Let's begin, Kurosawa-san. We've been reviewing your clan's recent supplier contracts. Very... impressive. Direct trade routes, no intermediaries. Quite a bold move."
The problem. We were ignoring their existence.
"Efficiency saves both chakra and coin," I said evenly. "Less time wasted means less decay in sealing ink. Stability follows."
Gen'ei chuckled — a dry, humorless sound. "Efficiency, yes. But tradition builds stability. Without oversight, even the strongest seals fail. Which brings us here — the Association proposal. The Kurokami have upheld fuinjutsu standards for a century. Your clan's inclusion will preserve that legacy."
There it was — the declaration saying. Don't worry. I am one of you. If I accepted. I would have fallen in line. That was fine. I was hoping for steady growth anyway.
I nodded. "The Kurosawas have no issue with regulation. We'll join the Association, pay the standard tax."
For a moment, Rei and Gen'ei exchanged a silent glance. Rei's smile widened. "I'm relieved to hear that. But you see, alliances built only on signatures fade. Trust, however, is something that must be sealed in more personal ways."
My gut sank.
Rei continued smoothly, "Elder Gen'ei's granddaughter, Yozora, has shown remarkable talent in fuinjutsu. A marriage between her and you would solidify our alliance. A symbol of unity — and stability."
There it was, blunt as a kunai to the chest. The "marriage of stability." It was not the marriage itself that had me saying no. But I knew their Modus Operandi. The association was a tie; this was the real shackle. All other Fuinjutsu clans had married a branch family member from Kurokami.
Haruto's eyes flicked to mine. Emiko kept her silence, though her fingers drummed once on the table.
I said, "You're proposing a union."
"Indeed," Rei said, smiling faintly. "It would show faith to the rest of Konoha. Every major clan strengthens its partnerships through marriage."
Haruto's voice came out low, cutting. "Then offer your sister, Kurokami-san. Isn't that how you strengthen partnerships?"
A pin could've dropped in that silence. Shiori's hand tightened on her sleeve, though her face remained calm. Rei's smile didn't falter, but his eyes sharpened.
Gen'ei cleared his throat. "Let's not be hasty. This is an honorable offer. My granddaughter is well-trained, cultured, and versed in sealcraft. It would elevate both our clans."
Emiko dropped in, "Then why not make it a marriage to Haruto? He is looking for it anyway?"
Haruto smiled. "Yes, I would be happy to accept."
Their expressions soured. "Lord Gen'ei is one of our most esteemed elders."
"Haruto is the commander of the Summer Legion and has served as acting head before."
"But your clan and ours are not in the same position, though. Serving as an elder in the Kurokami, I have seen much more than you have in your short tenure. You also need to prove legitimacy. I think this marriage will elevate your clan."
He was referring to our refugee origins. On this, he was right. I had thought about this too. But that was not the problem.
Haruto gave a cold smile. "Elevate? You mean infiltrate. A wife can see the ledgers, the seals, the scroll rooms. She reports back, doesn't she?"
Yozora's eyes flickered, just once — not in guilt, but in acknowledgment. She knew Haruto wasn't guessing.
Shiori faked mock outrage. "How dare you, Haruto-san! You're treating a devoted bride as a potential spy." Yeah, we shouldn't have said that. But Haruto was angry.
Rei's tone cooled. "Call it what you wish. Unity requires trust. Or perhaps you have something to hide?"
"I have nothing to hide," I said quietly, "but nothing to give away either."
Rei leaned back, voice still polite. "Then I'm afraid the Association may not recognize uncooperative clans."
I did not want this. A conflict with these guys without the Hokage's support will cost us. A lot. I did not want that. Besides, allying with such a clan did not feel too bad. I had long accepted my marriage to be an alliance anyway. But I wanted an ally in my bed, not a spy. There was an agreement between me and the village to give them the new seals we made. But the tacit understanding was that we'll give them the important ones. While keeping a few for ourselves secretly. Her entry will drastically reduce the seals that could be kept secret from half to less than a tenth. That was unacceptable. I knew I could surpass these guys by the start of the 3rd war. An information leak would slow us by decades.
"Very well then. We will be engaged and married when we turn 18." They all stopped to look at me." Rei smiled, seeing victory.
"But she agrees to bond with a Kami."