Satomi was very concerned about the results of this meeting, but she lacked the qualifications to participate and could only wait at home for Fūmori Masaki to return. Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she quickly put down what she was doing and went to ask Fūmori Masaki what the final outcome was.
Seeing Fūmori Masaki's calm expression, Satomi felt a sense of relief; if the meeting's outcome had been bad, Fūmori Masaki wouldn't have such an expression.
After Fūmori Masaki sat down, he began to tell Satomi about the situation with the Uchiha Clan. Just as Satomi had thought, Lord Hashirama had resolved the incident very smoothly. She said happily, "That Uchiha Kagami should become the clan leader, right? With him there, I believe the Uchiha Clan can live in harmony with the Village, not like before."
"Yes, indeed." Although Fūmori Masaki said this, he silently added in his heart, "As long as Kagami doesn't die midway."
Uchiha Kagami was undoubtedly someone who stood on the side of the Village. As long as he remained the Uchiha Clan's leader, the Uchiha Clan would not betray the Village. And in the future that Fūmori Masaki knew of, the Uchiha Clan eventually fell to the point of near-extinction, which had a certain connection to Uchiha Kagami's premature death.
Fūmori Masaki also had some understanding of the Uchiha Clan's traditions. This clan revered powerful strength, and those who were powerful would earn their respect. Therefore, under this concept, some rather cruel competition rules had also evolved within the Uchiha Clan.
Even Uchiha Kagami, who had been personally established by Uchiha Madara, relied on his outstanding talent and strength to win the support of most people in the clan. According to normal history, Uchiha Kagami should have passed away after the age of twenty-five. Even in this era where people married very early, it was impossible for Uchiha Kagami to leave behind an adult heir, and a young clan leader would simply not gain the clan's recognition.
According to the Uchiha Clan's traditions, they generally selected a new clan leader through intense competition. This process was usually accompanied by bloodshed and pain. A clan leader selected through this method would possess sufficient strength and would be the only one capable of gaining the trust of the clansmen and leading the entire clan forward.
If there were no other accidents, after Uchiha Kagami died, the Uchiha Clan would likely have selected a new clan leader through this method—otherwise, the subsequent clan leaders wouldn't have fallen to Uchiha Sasuke's branch, as it wasn't as if Uchiha Kagami hadn't had descendants—and since the newly selected clansman was not Uchiha Kagami's successor, he naturally could not inherit the close relationship established between Uchiha Kagami and the Konoha High Command. Coupled with the Uchiha Clan's personality issues, the subsequent gradual estrangement was understandable.
The reason Senju Tobirama took Uchiha Kagami as a disciple was largely because he hoped to use Uchiha Kagami to influence those within the clan who rejected the Village, allowing the Uchiha Clan to gradually establish a sense of identification with the Village. However, Uchiha Kagami's premature death caused the clan to lose the bond of trust with the high command. The Uchiha Clan grew increasingly distant from the center of power, and Senju Tobirama's hard work was essentially wasted.
If the Uchiha Clan was to truly become an inseparable part of Konohagakure, Uchiha Kagami absolutely could not die, or someone had to be found to succeed him before he died, so as not to let this bond of trust break.
Fūmori Masaki thought to himself, it seemed there was one more reason to protect Kagami from dying, but the problem was still huge; he didn't know what mission Uchiha Kagami died in. However, at least it was confirmed that he would have an accident at the age of twenty-five, so he would keep an eye on it when the time came.
Looking at Satomi's relaxed appearance, Fūmori Masaki said, "By the way, Lord Hashirama hopes that we can get married soon. Furthermore, that guy Kagami came up with an idea to have our wedding on the same day as his."
"Huh? Uchiha Kagami is also getting married?" Satomi was stunned at first, then realized the meaning of the latter sentence, and opened her eyes wide, saying, "We are going to get married on the same day?"
"Yes, do you not like that?" Fūmori Masaki asked.
"It's not that. What is Lord Hashirama's opinion?"
"He thinks it's very good and even clapped in approval at the meeting. If you think it's not good, I can go tell Lord Hashirama." Fūmori Masaki said.
"I already said it's fine." Satomi puffed out her cheeks and said, "I'm just a little surprised, after all, it's getting married on the same day."
If it were in Konohagakure, this would indeed be a very novel thing, Fūmori Masaki thought to himself. He then brought up what Uchiha Kagami had told him; he felt he should still tell Satomi and ask for her opinion: "On the way back, Kagami wanted to make an agreement with me, saying that if our child and his child happened to be a boy and a girl, we could try to arrange a betrothal."
"Did you agree?" Satomi asked, her eyes wide.
"No." Fūmori Masaki laughed, "This also requires asking for your opinion. How could I make a decision on my own? The child is also born by you, right?"
"It's good that you know." Satomi snorted. If Fūmori Masaki had really decided on his own, even if she thought it was okay, she would still be a bit angry. "He is the leader of the Uchiha Clan; it's considered us marrying above our station if he's willing to form a marriage alliance with us. However, I think it's better to let the children decide for themselves. It doesn't matter if they are close from a young age, though."
"That's the same as my thought." Fūmori Masaki smiled and asked with some curiosity: "Satomi, if you didn't like me, would you have refused even if Lord Hashirama had set the engagement?"
"That goes without saying; I wouldn't want to spend my whole life with someone I don't like." Satomi looked at Fūmori Masaki and lowered her head slightly: "Rather, it's precisely because I like you that Lord Hashirama had me set an engagement with you."
Fūmori Masaki's gaze shifted slightly. When they had set the engagement back then, they were only nine years old. He didn't even know what liking someone meant and had muddled through the engagement with Satomi. But listening to Satomi's tone, it seemed that because Satomi had a good impression of him, Lord Hashirama had brought the two of them together.
Fūmori Masaki slowly recalled past events, remembering that after being taken in by Lord Hashirama and temporarily staying within the Senju Clan, he had been deeply hurt by the loss of his family. During that period of convalescence, there was a girl who had also lost her parents who had talked with him. Later, after he recovered, he only thought about becoming stronger and hadn't seen that girl again.
Thinking back now, wasn't that girl Satomi? But he had been blinded by pain, his heart only thinking of training, and he had forgotten about that girl. As a result, when they got engaged, even though the other person was clearly that girl, he had forgotten.
"Heh." After remembering this, Fūmori Masaki couldn't help but chuckle softly; he really was an idiot.
"What are you laughing at?" Satomi glanced at Fūmori Masaki.
"Laughing at a blockheaded guy." Fūmori Masaki shook his head and mocked himself: "Clearly knew someone, but ended up forgetting when we met again."
Satomi quickly understood what Fūmori Masaki meant and snorted softly: "You finally remembered. When we got engaged, I was still expecting you to have something to say to me, but you acted just like a stranger."
"I'm sorry, it was my fault for making you sad." Fūmori Masaki said quickly.
"It wasn't that exaggerated." Satomi was indeed a bit angry at the time, but after getting along for so many years, she no longer cared about this matter. It was just that because Fūmori Masaki brought it up again, she recalled her feelings at that time and couldn't help but say a few words. Anyway, she was about to marry Fūmori Masaki, so this matter was in the past.
"However, Masaki is still Masaki after all." Satomi rested her cheek on her hand and smiled: "During this time, Masaki seems so much more reliable than before, as if he's not the same person. But now it seems that Masaki hasn't changed, which is really great."
Fūmori Masaki was slightly stunned. After having the experience of another life, he often couldn't distinguish who he really was. Was he Fūmori Masaki who had gained another set of memories, or was he another person who possessed the memories of "Fūmori Masaki"? Now hearing Satomi say this, although Fūmori Masaki still had some doubts, the confusion in his heart temporarily vanished.