His Weakness for Beautiful Women × A Political Marriage

Nara Dan smiled at Uchiha Fugaku's words but didn't take the bait. Instead, he went straight to the point.

"But if I want to drink such fine tea,"

"then the matter must be difficult to resolve, right?"

Uchiha Fugaku shook his head, a hint of amusement in his expression.

"No, it isn't difficult."

"For you, Dan-kun, it's not only easy to arrange—the benefits are substantial, too."

Nara Dan gave Fugaku a noncommittal look and said nothing. His eyes made the question plain.

It was simple enough: don't beat around the bush. Just get to the point.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned serious, and he began to explain.

"Dan-kun's stature is recognized throughout Konoha."

"And our Uchiha Clan's position in Konoha is common knowledge, too."

"I don't want the Uchiha to fall into an abyss under my watch."

"As far as Konoha is concerned, the Uchiha are innocent."

Nara Dan seemed not to hear Uchiha Fugaku's heartfelt words. Without changing expression, he took a sip of scalding tea.

The message was clear: go on. I might not be buying it, no matter how much you build up to your point.

Uchiha Fugaku wasn't discouraged. He simply continued, getting to the heart of the matter.

"So, we need your friendship, Dan-kun!"

"Let's form a marriage alliance, Dan-kun!"

Nara Dan nearly spat his tea all over Fugaku. It took him a few swallows to get it down.

"Heh, heh, heh."

Setting down his tea, Nara Dan couldn't help laughing.

"Tell me..."

"Do I look like some lecher to you?"

"Why has every clan come up with the same idea?"

First the Hyuga, now the Uchiha. Nara Dan knew he was a catch, of course. A Kage at eighteen was a rare sight in history.

And who knew? Perhaps one day he'd reach the heights of the First or Madara Uchiha, the God of Shinobi.

But he couldn't understand why every clan was trying to tie him down with a woman.

To his surprise, Uchiha Fugaku answered in an unusually serious tone.

"It's precisely because we know you aren't a lecher, Dan-kun,"

"that we want your friendship so badly."

Hearing this, Nara Dan stopped laughing. Instead, he studied Uchiha Fugaku again, as if seeing him in a new light.

As expected, none of these clan heads are easy to deal with.

The information from the story in my previous life only tells part of the tale.

In truth, anyone capable of leading a clan must have vision and resolve.

Nara Dan understood that Uchiha Fugaku's words had a double meaning.

It was no secret that the Third was a lecher. Fugaku was saying that Nara Dan wasn't like him.

By the same token, he'd recognized that Nara Dan wasn't the sort of politician who manipulated people without limits or principles.

On the surface, Nara Dan didn't care about anything except his strength and training.

But that was also a sign that his spirit was purer than most people's.

Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi had seen, through their dealings with Nara Dan, that he was a man who honored loyalty but wasn't shackled by the so-called Will of Fire.

With character like that, on top of incomparable potential and even power, how could he not be worth courting?

A marriage alliance was, in fact, the best way to bind Nara Dan to them. Interests were always in flux; anyone could offer a better deal.

But loyalty was different. Once it was given, no amount of self-interest could sway it.

Meanwhile, Konoha's political landscape had only a few factions: the Hokage faction, led by the Third and including Ino-Shika-Cho and the Sarutobi Clan;

then the elders' faction, led by Danzo and the two elders. They were supposed to shoulder some of the Hokage's responsibilities, but they also held a share of the power, much like the Cabinet in his previous life.

Their influence had grown this extensive largely because the Third had indulged them. Put a stronger Hokage in charge, and just see how much say those old fossils would have.

Finally, there was the neutral faction led by the Hyuga. It was a smaller group, and it generally stayed out of political struggles with clear partisan leanings.

As for the Uchiha...

Well, that was wishful thinking.

The Third and his people had never considered the Uchiha part of Konoha. The clan wasn't even included in Konoha's political system. Otherwise, things wouldn't later have escalated into the horrific massacre of the entire clan.

Now, Nara Dan's arrival had disrupted Konoha's political balance. Many political forces had begun gravitating toward the Nara Clan, whether they meant to or not.

That included Danzo's elders' faction and the neutral Hyuga.

So, with a shift in political power all but inevitable, the Uchiha wanted to secure a share of the benefits—

perhaps even rejoin Konoha in earnest and become true members of the village, instead of remaining the Police Force.

Clearly, the Uchiha had high hopes for Nara Dan.

They believed that his arrival, his strength, and his special status were bound to upset the Hokage's three-way political balance.

"Then..."

Nara Dan looked at Uchiha Fugaku's serious expression and asked,

"if we form a marriage alliance..."

"have you Uchiha already chosen someone?"

Uchiha Fugaku paused, then gave a name that was both unexpected and, somehow, entirely understandable.

"Uchiha Mikoto."

Good grief!

The moment he heard that familiar name, Nara Dan looked at Uchiha Fugaku differently.

Buddy, I don't think...

I don't think it has to come to this.

Nara Dan wore a strange expression and nearly said something, but seeing Uchiha Fugaku's serious face, he swallowed his words.

Uchiha Fugaku, however, grew anxious, thinking Nara Dan wasn't interested in Uchiha Mikoto.

"Dan-kun!"

"Mikoto is a few years older than you,"

"but she's the best marriageable woman in the Uchiha Clan in terms of looks, talent, and personality."

"And I've heard that you, Dan-kun..."

Uchiha Fugaku didn't finish the sentence, but the knowing look on his face said it all.

They were both men. What was the point of pretending? Men understood men best.

A mature woman certainly had her appeal.

"Phew..."

Nara Dan's feelings were incredibly complicated. He stared intently at Uchiha Fugaku—or rather, at the top of his head.

He even felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"Sigh..."

For a moment, Nara Dan almost couldn't bring himself to refuse Uchiha Fugaku's well-intentioned offer.

Fugaku-kun was truly making a great sacrifice for his clan.

But then Nara Dan remembered how Uchiha Fugaku had surrendered without resistance to Uchiha Itachi, and he understood.

At least now, Nara Dan was sure that Uchiha Mikoto and Fugaku weren't involved yet. They were probably just acquaintances.

Otherwise, Fugaku wouldn't be "recommending" her so enthusiastically.

"I understand your clan's kind offer."

Nara Dan took another sip of tea to steady himself.

"Something this important is something I could decide on my own,"

"but in the end, I should ask my clan for its opinion."

Nara Dan had no choice but to use the same excuse he'd given Danzo earlier.

"Why don't I discuss it with my clan first?"

I've already tried to pick up the pace! Any faster and the story will fall apart!

So give me a reward for not putting the book on hold!

I promise every chapter will have something exciting!