"You are here promising an alliance. But how do I know that you will not turn on your provider like you turned against the Hokage?"
This is where words came into play. They weren't here to change interests. They could not. They were there to establish them clearly. Diplomacy was not the art of speaking. It was the art of presenting. I have to now show my interests in a light where my conflict with Lord Third does not lay a seed of doubt for the Uchiha.
Fugaku's next move was obvious. A marriage contract. Why does everyone want a marriage contract, you ask? Well, it was the most reliable form of long-term alliance. Plus, with the death trigger in play, personal influence on me was a way bigger factor in my clan than interests and mood.
"If you promise not to defend the man who is experimenting on my kin. I assure you. I will not turn. You do know that Danzo is already back in play unofficially, right?"
"Yes, the hokage is a very persuasive man."
Meaning he gave a big enough concession for his friend's advice.
"In usual circumstances. I would have agreed to the guarantee, I think you plan to propose. But in order to fulfill your first and most important condition. I have already sent my commander, Haruto, to the capital. That option is void."
You might ask why I was on the back foot. Especially since I was promising more votes than they were. This was because my clan would be exerting the entirety of its power in the form of temporary support for this vote alone. While the Uchiha would be providing the physical backing on which the other votes will stand. Otherwise, the other clans, especially the small and middle ones, would never agree to be part of those 40.
Power reigned supreme. That was why the small clans did not object despite having only 10 votes in the Council.
And the Uchiha could rally those 20 votes simply by voting, with little financial and physical effort. The smaller ones were already under their thumb completely.
"I see why you would play that card. But is that really wise?"
"It is."
"Then what is my guarantee?"
Now comes the part where the Uchiha craziness comes into play.
"It is a risk."
"Yes, but why should I take it?"
I paused. Intentionally.
"I did not take the Uchiha for cowards." Silence. Then, outraged shouts from both Yashiro and the elder. But I ignored their words and stared straight at Fugaku.
"Your ambition isn't small. If you wait for a guarantee on it. You will be waiting until the end of time. If you think you can get that seat without risks, you are a fool. That hat doesn't come cheap." This was the advantage of transmigration. And one of the major reasons for my not wanting to leave Konoha. You knew the people here inside out. Everyone knew that any major clan had ambitions for the hat. I knew just how deep those ambitions ran. I knew the Uchiha had coveted it obsessively for decades. To the point where they plan a military coup down the line.
The situation wasn't as dire as it would be in the future. But their craziness was.
"Your clan is currently not worth that promise."
"If I manage to rally 40 votes. It would be."
He laughed, and he laughed hard. And I got to know why they call the Uchiha laughter Demonic. "Yes, if your connections in the capital work out. And you manage to rally forty votes. You would be worth it. Fine. The Uchiha promise you the support you need if you manage to hit the 40-vote mark."
And it is done. We're officially in play.
-----
The first thing I did when I returned was to send a hawk to the capital. This temporary alliance will help in the negotiations with the Daimyo, too.
From the corner of my eye, I had seen shadows disappearing as we returned. Of course, we were under watch. And my next move will announce to the village if I am in play or I am out.
I sent Daichi, Hotaru, and a few guys from their legion to rile up a few small clans and set up a meeting with AKSE.
The AKSE was simply a buyable votebank. They had no stakes in the bigger picture, for they could not influence it. So they either voted with the majority or they voted with the majority or voted with whoever paid. They could be swayed with a discount deal. It would strain our revenue stream. But not enough to break us. I just hoped that the Hokage would underestimate me and not buy out their votes. I could not outbid him.
And when the meeting came. I needed to be ready. The final vote was in one week. One week to change my destiny.
If the capital and AKSE worked out, the FAK will vote for me, too. That makes 10+14 24 votes. I needed more.
I needed people who would vote for long shots, too.
In the evening, Mai from Summer and Mina from Winter came to me at almost the same time.
"The AKSE agreed to a meeting tomorrow."
"An ANBU is here."
-----
I was in his office again. This kind of felt like being called into the principal's office now. I was in trouble.
He did not say anything. I now recognize this heavy silence as his go-to weapon when intimidating juniors.
"Why do you insist on making this painful and humiliating? I thought you had understood."
"I thought you had too. I stopped fighting. Is it necessary to completely destroy my clan?"
"The unification of the Fuinjustsu community is paramount for the stability of the village. This village has roughly 750 masters. 120 rogue masters are a problem. Especially after they learn advanced seals."
"The Uchiha may have rejected me. But I will still fight. I will not go down quietly."
"If they rejected you. Then this fight is over. If you go quietly, I am willing to make a few concessions."
"No, it is not. I know loss is inevitable. But I will not go down easily. I will be heard. I will at least show the other clans your nature as I go down."
This time, he just scoffed. "They are not fools. They will not go against their own interests."
Gone was the polite grandfatherly man. This was my first time seeing the politician. Come to think of it. I now think that he had just hoped to gain my loyalty with the initial illusion of freedom. He was playing the long game. Lulling me into liking him and enforcing loyalty. He had played well. I had started to regard him as my mentor. If not for the Danzo conflict. By the time of war. I would have accepted him as my son's Godfather, too.
"I understand that now. But I will try to do so anyway."
He had given up pretense when he realized I could not be controlled by emotions anymore. I had seen political trickery before. But the level of emotional and technical manipulation I had been under? This was a first and terrifying realization. And now, as I was free of it. I could see a lot of strings he had attached to a lot of other people right in front of me when I was with him. He was a spider. Actually, he was worse. At least the flies caught in its web knew that they were trapped. His prey never even knew.
"This will cost you, little Ren."
"So I've heard."
--------------------------
Author's Note
Today marks one month from the day I decided to work as a writer professionally. The money is low, but the spirit is high. Cheers friends!
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