Inside the Uchiha compound.
Uchiha Hikaru sat at the head of the room, his gaze falling upon the young girl kneeling before him.
She was about sixteen or seventeen, her long black hair casually tied back with a white ribbon.
Her features were delicate—not strikingly beautiful, but there was a gentle warmth in her eyes that put people at ease.
She wore a plain kimono, her kneeling posture proper and reserved, hands resting neatly on her knees.
Her head was bowed, not daring to meet Hikaru’s eyes.
“Uchiha Yui.”
“Yes!”
“Now, I have an important mission for you.”
Uchiha Yui said, “Hikaru-sama, Yui’s abilities are meager.
I fear I would only hinder your important work…”
In the Uchiha clan, a female shinobi who had not awakened her Sharingan by sixteen was essentially relegated to the “support personnel” category.
She had never set foot on a battlefield.
She never expected Uchiha Hikaru to summon her personally.
“This mission has nothing to do with combat ability.”
“If I say you can do it, then you can.
I believe in you.”
“Please give your orders, Hikaru-sama.”
“You—will go and sleep-convince Tobirama Senju.”
“…Persuade?
Me?
You mean…
to go and convince Tobirama Senju-sama?”
“It is sleep-convince.”
“Ah…
Hikaru-sama, this…
this is impossible!”
Tobirama Senju—the second-in-command of the Senju clan, the Chancellor of the Chancellery.
Who was she to even approach such a man?
Uchiha Hikaru said, “Tobirama Senju was born into chaos and has spent half his life in warfare.
He has never known comfort or pleasure.
If we tempt him with beauty and tenderness, how could he refuse?
No matter how strong Tobirama Senju is, he is still a man.
A normal man.”
“Uchiha Yui, I trust you.”
“But…
“No buts.”
Hikaru rose and walked over to Yui, his gaze firm.
“This is an order.
For the Uchiha clan.
For Konoha.”
“Yes…
I understand.”
Ever since that wicked plan had taken root in his mind, Hikaru had grown more convinced of its viability.
As long as Tobirama Senju was a normal man, he would be powerless against the bait Hikaru had carefully selected.
Uchiha Yui was that bait.
A man as strong as Tobirama had encountered countless women who were submissive—it was the norm for women in the Warring States Period.
But Uchiha Yui was different.
Though she was an Uchiha, she carried none of the clan’s pride.
Uchiha shinobi, male or female, all bore an innate arrogance—the pride of the Sharingan, the pride of their dojutsu, the pride of standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
That pride made them powerful, but it also made them unapproachable.
Uchiha Yui was an exception.
She was average in talent, still unawakened at sixteen, an insignificant presence in the clan.
She had never set foot on the battlefield, always staying within the compound to handle daily chores.
She carried a girl’s innocence and naivety.
She did not understand scheming, did not understand intrigue, did not even understand how to hate someone.
Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Yui—they were practically the shinobi world’s version of a domineering CEO falling for a lowly office girl.
The more Hikaru thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.
A few days later, in the People’s Conference Room of the Konoha White House, five people gathered: Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Uchiha Hikaru, Izuna Uchiha, and Uchiha Yui, who stood in the corner.
“Hashirama-sama.”
Hikaru spoke first.
“Regarding this visit to the Uzumaki clan to propose marriage, Madara-sama has already given his instructions—anything from Konoha’s storehouses that Hashirama-sama requires is yours to take.
We must ensure the Uzumaki clan sees Konoha’s sincerity.”
Hashirama asked, “Madara isn’t coming?”
“Madara-sama, as Hokage, must remain in Konoha.
For this journey to the Uzumaki clan, I will be accompanied by Izuna-sama and Yui.” He gestured toward the girl in the corner.
“Yui will be responsible for tending to everyone’s daily needs.”
Uchiha Yui quickly bowed, her voice still trembling.
“H-Hashirama-sama, Tobirama-sama.”
Hashirama waved a hand carelessly.
Tobirama merely gave a cold “Hmph,” not even sparing her a glance.
Tobirama spoke up.
“For this journey to bring Sister-in-law Mito back, I will lead the way.
You should speak as little as possible.”
Hashirama scratched his head, looking puzzled.
“Why?”
Tobirama said bluntly, “It would not do for you to offend Sister-in-law Mito.
Brother, you are going to the Uzumaki clan to propose marriage.
If you spend the whole time talking about Madara, what will Sister-in-law Mito think?”
The Uzumaki and Senju clans were blood allies.
This marriage between his brother and Mito Uzumaki would certainly improve the Senju’s position in Konoha.
Mito Uzumaki was no weakling—with her help, Tobirama was confident he could keep the Uchiha in check.
He would not allow anything to go wrong with this alliance.
Hikaru said, “Hashirama-sama, I heard the Uzumaki and Senju are distant relatives, naturally possessing the Sage Body, immense chakra, and mastery of sealing techniques…”
“Correct.”
Hashirama nodded, unusually serious as he explained: “The Uzumaki clan’s hallmark is their naturally immense chakra.
Though the Senju also possess great chakra, we generally cannot match the Uzumaki in that regard.
Some Uzumaki have chakra reserves that rival even my own.”
Tobirama Senju frowned slightly.
He keenly noticed that this was not the first time Hikaru had probed about the Uzumaki.
A few days ago in the meeting, Hikaru had suggested that Madara should also seek a bride from the Uzumaki.
Now he was pressing his brother for more details about the clan.
Throughout the journey, Uchiha Yui followed quietly behind Hikaru, not daring to speak a word.
Tobirama Senju was cold as a mountain of ice, radiating an aura that warned others to keep their distance.
While Tobirama merely wanted Mito Uzumaki as his sister-in-law, Hikaru wanted the entire Uzumaki clan.
If the Uzumaki could be brought into Konoha, the village’s overall strength would rise to another level entirely.
The Uzumaki’s sealing techniques were unrivaled in the shinobi world.
Their physiques rivaled the Senju’s.
Their chakra reserves were second to none.
Such a powerful clan—how could it be enough to marry just one woman from them?
This trip to the Uzumaki was not only for Hashirama’s proposal—perhaps it could also serve to secure a bride for Madara.
Hikaru calculated silently.
A great bloodline fusion—Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki, their bloodlines intertwined.
Perhaps they could even birth another Sage of Six Paths.
He glanced back at the trembling Uchiha Yui behind him, then ahead at the icy Tobirama Senju.
As for Tobirama…
that would be Yui’s task.