"So after extensive discussion, here are the conditions we've come up with."
The Konoha delegation leader handed over a sealed scroll to the Uzumaki Elder who had been assigned as their primary liaison. The old man's weathered hands accepted it with practiced dignity, breaking the seal and unrolling the parchment to examine its contents.
His eyes moved across the carefully written terms, and his expression shifted subtly as he processed the offer.
Terms for Voluntary Jinchūriki Candidate:
1. Full ownership of one complete business street in Konoha's commercial district, including all buildings and land rights.
2. If the candidate is female and willing, marriage arrangement to Nawaki Senju, future patriarch of the Senju Clan.
2a. If the candidate is male and willing, marriage arrangement to Riyota Senju, current heir to the Senju bloodline.
3. Complete access to all ninjutsu techniques existing within the Senju Clan's archives, with no restrictions on learning or teaching.
Preferred condition: Candidate should ideally be no older than ten years of age.
Looking at these three seemingly simple conditions, the Elder fell into deep thought, his fingers unconsciously stroking his long white beard.
Even though the offer appeared straightforward on the surface, after receiving these benefits, any Uzumaki who accepted would directly gain enormous power and influence within Konoha's political structure.
Controlling one of Konoha's five major business streets meant the candidate would never lack money in the future. More importantly, they'd have constant opportunities to form connections with the Fire Country's wealthiest merchants, and eventually even with nobility.
The economic influence alone was staggering—whoever controlled that street would essentially become one of Konoha's major commercial powers overnight.
And marrying into the Senju Clan's direct bloodline, potentially becoming the spouse of the future patriarch? There was no need to elaborate on what that meant politically. It was essentially offering to make an Uzumaki one of Konoha's most powerful figures within a single generation.
"Okay," the Elder said finally, rolling up the scroll with careful precision. "I will inform all willing candidates of these conditions. They can make their own decisions based on complete information."
The delegation leader bowed respectfully. "That's all we ask. Freedom of choice, with full transparency."
.........
"Patriarch, here are the conditions Konoha has offered for potential jinchūriki candidates."
The Elder handed the scroll to Elric, who accepted it with mild curiosity. He unrolled it and scanned the contents quickly, his expression remaining neutral throughout.
Honestly, Elric didn't particularly care about this matter on a personal level. It would make things slightly more convenient when he eventually brought the Fire Country under his influence—having an Uzumaki in a position of power within Konoha's structure could be useful—but it wasn't critical to his plans.
He might care about civilian deaths. That's why he decided to expand his economic and political influence slowly before making any major moves. But he don't give a shit how many ninja die in the process.
Ninja signed up for a life of violence. Civilians didn't have that choice.
"Okay," Elric said, handing the scroll back. "Just inform the candidates. See if anyone's willing to volunteer under these terms. It's their choice to make."
"Yes, Patriarch." The Elder bowed and quickly left to begin the notification process.
The moment the door closed behind the Elder, a loud, demanding voice echoed from inside Elric's bedroom.
"Hey, Elric! I finished it! Give me another game!"
Tsunade's shouting carried clearly through the walls, her tone carrying that particular combination of triumph and addiction that only video games could produce.
This leech, Elric thought with resigned frustration.
It had been fine at first. He'd shown her the computer as a distraction, expecting her to play for an hour or two and then lose interest.
But the moment Tsunade had discovered the gaming library—dozens of titles that Marvel Elric had thoughtfully included when setting up the system—she had become glued to the screen like the worst kind of shut-in. She only emerged from the room to eat, and even then, she'd try to bring food back to continue playing.
And she'd even kicked Elric out of his own bedroom, taking it over completely, sprawling on his bed with the controller and absolutely refusing to leave.
She'd only gone out the previous night when Orochimaru had physically dragged her away for some supposedly important delegation discussion, and even then, she'd complained the entire way.
If it wasn't for his mother's intervention and insistence on being a good host, Elric would have definitely thrown this addict out onto the street long ago.
With a resigned sigh, he walked toward his commandeered bedroom to set up a new game for his uninvited guest.
"Hey, Elric."
While he was in the middle of loading up a new RPG for her—one of the longer ones, hopefully it would keep her occupied for a while—Tsunade suddenly called out, her voice unusually serious.
Elric glanced over his shoulder. She was sitting on his bed, the controller resting in her lap, her expression thoughtful rather than focused on the screen.
"Can you tell me what your future goals are?" she asked quietly. "Your real goals, not the official clan heir responsibilities."
Elric's hands paused on the keyboard for just a moment before continuing. "I really don't have any grand future plans," he said with deliberate casualness. "Maybe I just want to enjoy my life for now. Live comfortably. Not worry too much about destiny or fate."
"That's not what you said before."
"Before?"
"You know, when we were playing together as kids," Tsunade continued, her voice taking on a nostalgic quality. "You told me about your dream at the time. Do you remember?"
Elric's movement paused completely this time.
The truth was, he wasn't actually a genius with perfect recall. And memories from when this body was a child, before his previous life's memories had integrated?
Those were fragmentary at best. Let alone remembering specific childhood conversations, he sometimes had trouble remembering what he'd said just a month ago when it wasn't important, like a normal person.
But admitting that in front of a girl went against every instinct he had.
Pretending to be cool and knowledgeable in front of girls was a boy's natural instinct—practically coded into male DNA across all universes. How could he possibly admit that he'd forgotten some childhood promise?
So he answered in the most nonchalant voice he could manage, trying to sound like he totally remembered and just didn't think it was important enough to mention: "Hmm? Oh, that."
"Haaaa, you really haven't changed at all, have you?" Tsunade said while laughing, genuine amusement in her voice.
Elric felt a flash of embarrassment as his lie was instantly exposed. His carefully constructed facade of cool indifference crumbled immediately.
She saw right through that.
Tsunade continued, her laughter fading into something more wistful. "You know, I'm really sad that you forgot about our promise. I actually took it seriously all these years. I've been thinking about it."
Before Elric could ask what promise she was talking about, Tsunade kept speaking.
"That time, after my second grandfather died, I was crying in the gardens." Her voice grew softer, touched with old grief.
Elric listened silently, something in her tone making him pay attention.
"You found me there," Tsunade said. "And you sat with me while I cried. Didn't say anything at first, just... stayed. And then, when I finally stopped crying enough to talk, I told you about my dream. The thing I wanted more than anything."
She looked up at him, her eyes holding memories he couldn't access.
"And you promised me something. Did you really forget?"
Elric tried desperately to recall the memory. But his mind was a chaotic mess of overlapping recollections—Isshiki's thousands of years of Ōtsutsuki history, his own previous life in another world entirely, memories from the other versions of himself, and buried beneath all of that, the actual childhood memories of this body.
It was hard to locate specific unimportant memories in that tangled mess. Everything blurred together.
But after several long moments of mental searching, focusing specifically on memories involving Tsunade as a child, something finally surfaced. Fragmented words. A feeling. The vague outline of a conversation.
Oh. Oh no.
His face began to feel warm as the memory crystallized. He remembered now—or at least, he remembered enough.
"What are you talking about?" Elric said, his voice sounding strained even to his own ears. "How could I possibly forget such an important promise?"
The words came out automatically, his mouth operating on pure defensive instinct.
"Your dream is my goal," he continued, each word making his face burn hotter with embarrassment at how dramatic it sounded when said aloud by his current self. "I will make it real, no matter what it takes."
The more he spoke, trying to recall the exact phrasing of what he'd apparently said as a child, the more he felt his face burning with acute embarrassment.
Why did childhood me make such dramatic promises? he thought desperately. What kind of chunibyo nonsense was I spouting?
But he'd already committed. Couldn't back down now. That would be even more embarrassing.
Tsunade looked up at Elric's back—he'd deliberately turned away while speaking, unable to face her while saying such mortifying things—and a small, genuine smile appeared on her face.
It wasn't the teasing smirk she usually wore when mocking him.
"So is it still valid?" she asked quietly. "That promise. Does it still stand, even now?"
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