The journey did not take long. Soon, the group arrived at the Light and Shadow Building, the heart of Akatsuki Village's political affairs. Its towering structure gleamed under the sunlight, half in shadow, half illuminated, embodying the balance its name suggested.
By all logic, everyone who had come along should have waited in the reception hall. The talks ahead were meant to be private and highly confidential, involving matters of alliance, trust, and national survival. Yet Uzumaki Shinji had chosen to bring someone with him—a girl, barely more than a teenager.
She was striking in her own way. Her large, bright eyes seemed to glimmer with curiosity, and her red hair, tied high in a ponytail, made her appear both youthful and lively. Every so often, she would steal glances at Shinji, her gaze soft, her expression full of admiration, and occasionally even daring enough to wink playfully.
Her presence, however, was inappropriate. Negotiations between leaders were serious business; outsiders, especially children, were rarely welcome. But Uchiha Makoto, who presided as the Light and Shadow of Akatsuki Village, chose not to make an issue of it. If Shinji wanted her there, then so be it. A guest was still a guest.
After the necessary pleasantries were exchanged, the atmosphere quickly settled into one of formality. Shinji wasted no time in presenting his purpose:
He had come to form an alliance between the Uzumaki clan's Uzushio Village and the rising power of Akatsuki Village.
Makoto listened in silence. Though his expression remained calm, his thoughts were conflicted. He had hoped—perhaps naively—that the Uzumaki might one day fully join Akatsuki Village. But that hope was nothing more than a dream. An alliance was all Shinji was willing to offer.
Disappointment aside, Makoto knew better than to dismiss the proposal outright. The Uzumaki were no ordinary clan. Their loyalty and courage had been tested time and time again. Unlike Konoha, which often stood still when its allies were in peril, the Uzumaki clan had shown unflinching bravery. They had fought beside Konoha during both the First and Second Great Ninja Wars, even to the point of crippling their own nation. Their destruction had been the price of their loyalty.
Such a clan was not only useful but also reassuring. If they stood with Akatsuki, the alliance would be worth more than gold.
Still, Makoto refrained from giving an immediate answer. Things too easily obtained were seldom cherished. If the Uzumaki wished for his support, they would have to prove their sincerity.
Even if the clan head himself came to negotiate, mere words would not suffice. Akatsuki Village was no minor power that could be swayed by empty promises. Though young, Akatsuki stood as Konoha's equal in the Land of Fire, if not in history then in influence. Konoha had the Senju clan, the Uzumaki clan, and bonds that spanned generations. Akatsuki had built itself from nothing but still stood firm, commanding respect.
For that reason, Makoto expected more than just talk. If Shinji wanted an alliance, he needed to place real benefits on the table. Of course, Akatsuki would also honor its side, providing tangible returns. To Makoto, this was no mere alliance—it was business.
Shinji understood this as well. Uzushio Village's situation was dire. A small nation with a limited population, it struggled to sustain itself. The Warring States period had only recently ended, yet instability lingered across the lands. Every clan, every village, needed time to heal. For Uzushio, financial support was a lifeline.
"Master Light and Shadow," Shinji began, his tone heavy yet dignified. "I will speak plainly. Uzushio Village cannot last much longer without aid. If Akatsuki is willing to lend us a hand…"
He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. His request was clear enough—funds, resources, the means to survive.
It was no surprise that Shinji turned to Akatsuki instead of Konoha. He had refused Konoha's offers repeatedly in the past, and to crawl back now, hat in hand, would be humiliating. Moreover, the clans of Konoha themselves struggled to obtain funding. Countless requests had been rejected. For Uzushio, which had no formal ties, to demand aid would be unthinkable.
At best, they might receive token support, but it would come burdened with a debt of favor from the Senju and Konoha. And favors, Shinji knew, were heavier than chains. To repay such debts could cost not just wealth but lives.
By contrast, Akatsuki offered something different. Here, the relationship could be framed as business, an exchange of interests. Allies trading support, not supplicants begging for alms.
Makoto folded his hands, his Sharingan eyes gleaming faintly as he studied Shinji. "I understand Uzushio's difficulties. Akatsuki's finances are indeed stronger, but they are not infinite. Funds do not blow in with the wind. If you seek our support, tell me—what can your clan offer in return?"
Shinji hesitated, then nodded. "What do you wish to gain from Uzushio?"
Makoto did not hesitate. "The inheritance of your sealing techniques."
The words struck like thunder. For the Uzumaki clan, their sealing arts were the pride of generations, the very foundation of their identity.
"Impossible!"
The cry came not from Shinji, but from the girl beside him. She had remained silent until now, but her composure broke. Her eyes flared with indignation as she took a bold step forward.
"The sealing techniques are the Uzumaki clan's most sacred treasure!" she declared. "They can never, ever be handed over!"
Shinji winced. "Tsubaki Shizuku…" He gave a helpless smile, embarrassed by her outburst. In the solemn chamber of diplomacy, her interruption was rude, but her words were not wrong. And truthfully, even he had no intention of conceding so much.
Turning back to Makoto, Shinji spoke firmly. "Master Light and Shadow, please forgive her manners. But you must know, I cannot agree to such a demand."
Makoto, however, remained calm. He had expected as much. In negotiations, no one revealed their true bottom line at the start. His first demand had been deliberately excessive. Now came the real bargaining.
"Very well," he said smoothly. "Then allow me to amend my request. I do not need the complete inheritance. Instead, I ask this: let members of the Uzumaki clan lend us their expertise when needed. Send a few masters of sealing techniques to reside in Akatsuki Village permanently. Their presence would strengthen us both."
This, Makoto believed, was a fair compromise. Akatsuki's greatest weakness lay in its lack of strong sealing techniques. Their barriers were crude at best, barely adequate. With the Uzumaki's help, that gap could be filled.
But there was another reason as well—one tied to the Hyuga clan.
Makoto had long sought to recruit members of the Hyuga branch family, hoping to draw them away from their oppressive main house. Yet every attempt had failed. The caged bird seal, which the main family controlled, was a cruel leash. It could be activated remotely, destroying the branch member's Byakugan and life alike. The Hyuga conducted regular inspections, ensuring no branch member could leave undetected.
If it were not for that seal, the branch family might already have fled in droves.
Breaking the caged bird was nearly impossible—but perhaps it could be countered. If the Uzumaki could devise a sealing array to temporarily suppress the curse mark, even for a short time, it might give defectors the chance they needed. Seeds could be planted, alliances forged.
That was why Makoto needed them.
Shinji considered this carefully, then nodded. "That much is acceptable. But in return, I would like to add one more condition."
Makoto raised a brow. "And that is?"
Shinji's gaze was steady, his tone decisive.
"Marriage."
The word dropped heavily between them.
For a small nation like Uzushio, numbers were everything. Their people were few, their strength limited. To survive, they needed allies—powerful ones. Konoha was already a bond they could not afford to sever, but they could not rely on only one tie. Another ally, of equal weight, was necessary.
And who better than Akatsuki Village, with its growing power and ambitions?
Shinji's eyes lingered on Makoto. Young, talented, and already the pride of the Uchiha, Makoto was the perfect candidate. A union between their clans would bind their fates together.
The Senju had ties with the Uchiha through Konoha. Why should the Uzumaki not claim the same?
For the sake of Uzushio's future, marriage was not simply an option—it was a necessity.
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