Chapter 64: Mission to Uzushiogakure
The air in front of Uchiha Raizen shimmered, and a kunai wrapped in a sealing tag landed with a soft thud at his feet—a message delivered via the High-Speed Body Flicker Technique.
He picked it up, the familiar chakra signature telling him all he needed to know. "The Shadow Guard. I understand, the time has come. Deliver your message," Raizen said, addressing the empty space around him.
A figure clad in the standard armor of the patriarch's personal guard flickered into view for a mere second before blurring again. "As sharp as ever, Sixteenth Elder," a disembodied voice echoed. "The Patriarch requests your presence at his residence immediately. He has a mission for you." With those words, another kunai was left as a marker, and the guard's presence vanished completely.
"Heh, no time to waste, it seems," Raizen muttered to himself.
He quickly changed into his formal elder's attire, the Uchiha fan prominent on his back, and made his way to the compound of Uchiha Tajima.
A few minutes later, he stood before the heavily guarded entrance. "Uchiha Raizen, answering the summons of the Patriarch," he announced.
The guard at the door bowed respectfully. "Elder Raizen, right this way. You are expected."
He was led directly to the main hall. Uchiha Tajima was already seated, waiting. To his side stood Uchiha Madara, whose usual confident demeanor was replaced by a brooding, hesitant silence.
"Patriarch," Raizen began with a formal nod. "You have a mission for me?"
"I believe you can surmise what it is," Tajima replied, his voice even. "Your proposal has been set in motion. Our envoys to the Uzumaki clan have returned. They have agreed, in principle, to a marriage alliance. Their princess, Uzumaki Yana, is to be wed to Madara. Your task is to lead the delegation to retrieve her."
Upon hearing the name 'Uzumaki Yana,' a flicker of confusion crossed Raizen's mind. His knowledge, fragmented as it was, recalled a different name—Uzumaki Mito—as the most prominent princess of that clan, the one destined for Hashirama. Had the Senju already made their move? But if they had, why would the Uzumaki agree to the Uchiha's proposal? The timeline felt wrong, the pieces misaligned.
What was causing this deviation? Was it simply the butterfly effect of his own actions, or was there a more active, malicious force at work? The only entity with both the motive and the longevity to subtly manipulate clan politics on such a scale was Black Zetsu. But how was it influencing these decisions?
"Elder Raizen?" Tajima's voice, sharper this time, cut through his racing thoughts. "You seem distracted. A rare sight."
"My apologies, Patriarch. It is nothing," Raizen said, refocusing. "I am prepared for the mission. Who else will be part of the escort party?"
"You will co-lead the team with Uchiha Senna. Sixteen of our finest shinobi will accompany you as guards and bearers. You depart today. The sooner this is done, the better."
"Understood."
With his acknowledgment, a team of Uchiha shinobi filed into the room behind him. Each carried a ornate red lacquered chest, no doubt filled with the bride price—gold, silk, scrolls, and other treasures meant to impress the Uzumaki. Raizen's role wasn't to worry about the contents of the boxes, but to ensure they, and the princess, arrived safely. He was more interested in seeing the fabled Village of Longevity, the home of sealing masters, for himself.
A day and a half of hard travel found the Uchiha delegation deep in neutral territory, the landscape growing more rugged with each mile.
"We should make camp here for the night," Raizen announced, gesturing to a sheltered mountain col that offered protection from the wind and a clear vantage point.
Uchiha Madara, who had been largely silent throughout the journey, simply grunted in agreement. "A day and a half of non-stop travel is enough. We rest."
The team efficiently stored the precious cargo under a large, overhanging rock that provided natural cover. They gathered dry wood, and soon the comforting crackle of a campfire pierced the chilly evening air, its light pushing back the gathering shadows of the forest around them. The mission was underway, but Raizen couldn't shake the feeling that the path ahead was not the one he had read about in history.