Wouldn't It Be Possible to Marry Them Both?

While the various villages discussed the Uchiha Clan's rise to the position of Third Hokage, peaceful, tranquil Konoha welcomed the sunrise of a new day.

After a sleepless night, Uchiha Takeyasu faced the mirror and put on the elegant, dark-colored kimono Uchiha Shikata had sent over the night before. When it came to looking after people, the old Clan Head really couldn't be faulted.

He'd also trimmed his bangs, making his dark eyes look even more alert.

Soon, the mirror reflected a handsome, noble-looking youth. He looked less like a ninja who killed without batting an eye and more like a young prince from a courtly family.

"This will do."

Just as Uchiha Takeyasu was ready to go find Uchiha Shikata and the other two elders to act as witnesses, Uchiha Shikata unexpectedly arrived first, his expression somewhat peculiar.

"Are you marrying the Feudal Lord's daughter, or a girl from the clan?"

The sudden choice caught Uchiha Takeyasu off guard. He looked at Uchiha Shikata and asked in confusion, "Wouldn't it be possible to marry them both?"

"Huh?"

Uchiha Shikata was taken aback, too. In his mind, only nobles could have multiple wives and concubines. How could lowly ninjas, who never knew if they'd live to see the next day, possibly enjoy such a privilege?

But as Uchiha Shikata looked at the youth before him, whose noble bearing was impossible to miss, he suddenly felt there was nothing wrong with Uchiha Takeyasu marrying a few more women. He could have several more exceptional children that way.

If one or two of them awakened the Mangekyo, the Uchiha Clan would undoubtedly grow even stronger.

Then Uchiha Shikata asked, "No one's ever said you can't marry more than one. So, Young Lord, will you go to the main hall to see Princess Kaori, or will you go see Naori?"

"Of course I'll see Naori first."

Uchiha Takeyasu answered without hesitation. "Naori was the first girl I ever fell for. Princess Kaori may be the princess of the Land of Fire, but if I had to choose one, I'd choose Naori."

"There's no shortage of princesses in the Ninja World, but there's only one Naori."

"It's wonderful that the Young Lord sees it that way. The unity of the clan comes before everything else."

"But forgive this old man for adding one more thing."

Uchiha Shikata said solemnly, "Once Princess Kaori marries into the Uchiha, she'll be one of us. She'll also serve as a bridge between the Uchiha Clan and the Feudal Lord's Palace. I hope the Young Lord will treat her just as well."

"I'll naturally cherish and care for my wives."

Uchiha Takeyasu made his promise, then set off for Uchiha Naori's home. When he reached the entrance, he paused and summoned Tachibana.

Seeing the pleading look on Tachibana's cat face, Uchiha Takeyasu was extremely pleased, though he kept up his fierce expression.

"Big-Mouthed Cat, I've got a task for you."

"Lord Takeyasu, no matter what the task is, Meow will make sure it gets done!"

"Princess Kaori is in the clan's main hall now. Get over there at once and curl up in her arms."

"Understood, Lord Takeyasu! Huh? What kind of task is that?"

Tachibana blinked, his cat eyes full of confusion.

"You silly little cat. You're supposed to help Princess Kaori feel at ease and, little by little, make this place feel like home."

"Meow~"

At that moment, Tachibana adored the warm smile on Uchiha Takeyasu's face.

Uchiha Shikata headed toward the main hall, where Uchiha Kaku and Setsuna Uchiha were meeting with the Feudal Lord's envoys.

Wearing a veil and a twelve-layered robe, Minamoto Kaori sat quietly beside Minamoto Kazuhiko. Looking at her elder brother, who had dragged her out first thing in the morning as if afraid no one would take her off his hands, she couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness, despite her cool temperament.

Her hands were clasped together beneath her sleeves, revealing the distress in the young girl's heart.

(Uchiha Naori...)

Minamoto Kaori couldn't help thinking of the purple-haired girl she'd met once before, the one she'd clashed with. In her situation, hoping to see her would surely make Naori laugh at her.

(I wish I could see Tachibana. I wonder where he is.)

In the vast, secluded Uchiha Clan Compound, the only one Minamoto Kaori knew well was that little chubby cat. He was also the only thing she had to look forward to.

"Meow~"

After answering a few of the Uchiha Three Elders' questions in a matter-of-fact manner, Minamoto Kaori suddenly heard a familiar meow and turned to look.

As Minamoto Kaori watched in delighted surprise, a plump orange cat with a little belly came scampering toward her, then sprang into her arms.

"Princess Kaori, Tachibana's back again."

Tachibana lifted his head. From beneath her veil, he could see Minamoto Kaori's smile, as radiant as spring sunshine breaking through the thaw. He spoke in a distinctly catlike way.

"His master was worried Princess Kaori might be nervous, so he sent Tachibana here. He hopes Princess Kaori will think of this place as her home."

Minamoto Kaori said nothing. Her clear, ruby-red eyes simply began to sparkle as her flawless, pale hands gently stroked Tachibana's soft fur.

"Honored sirs, what is this?"

Minamoto Kazuhiko noticed the character "武" on the back of the plump orange cat's clothes. Since they were on Uchiha land, he turned to the Uchiha Three Elders with shining eyes.

"Yes, this is the Young Lord's Ninja Cat. He's accompanied the Young Lord through many dangerous missions and is very dear to him."

Seeing this, Uchiha Shikata clapped his hands and laughed. "Prince Kazuhiko, things are about to work out wonderfully for both of us."

"Thank you for your kind words, Clan Head Shikata."

Minamoto Kazuhiko was overjoyed. Before coming, he'd been uneasy, worried that Uchiha Takeyasu would be stubborn and set his heart on just one woman, costing him the chance to marry off his sister. Now he felt reassured, and his words carried a note of ease.

The two sides chatted more and more pleasantly, and soon they were discussing the bride price and dowry.

The Feudal Lord's Palace might not have much else, but it had plenty of money. Even Uchiha Setsuna, who hadn't thought much of Minamoto Kazuhiko and had looked down on him a little, was impressed by his lavish generosity.

"Prince Kazuhiko, you truly are a remarkable man!"

Uchiha Setsuna's praise pleased Minamoto Kazuhiko, who was also considering how to bind the Uchiha Clan to the Land of Fire's cause with money and supplies.

Such thinking came from the extraordinary trustworthiness of ninjas!

There were countless ninjas who risked their lives to complete missions, and the Uchiha Clan was among the best of them. With the right approach, it wasn't impossible to get a number of Uchiha to work for him.

"Since Prince Kazuhiko is so generous, my Uchiha Clan won't be stingy either."

"From this day on, four of our elite squads will answer directly to Princess Kaori. We guarantee she won't be mistreated once she joins the Uchiha."

Each of the four elite squads could be compared to a Security Department unit. Their leaders were four Three Tomoe Elite Jonin, and their members were twelve Two Tomoe ninja, half of them Jonin. They could easily overwhelm the ninja villages of some small countries.

It was a return gift for Minamoto Kazuhiko's generous dowry.

Minamoto Kazuhiko didn't know much about the squads, but seeing how solemnly Uchiha Shikata spoke, he understood their value and was delighted.

Though the bride price and dowry both belonged to Minamoto Kaori, as her elder brother, he could ask his sister for a little help. Surely she wouldn't refuse him?

(Still, I really should get on better terms with Kaori.)