Uchiha Yan: You go persuade Tobirama. Yui: Me?

Within the Uchiha compound.

Uchiha Yan sat at the head of the room, his gaze resting on the young girl kneeling before him. She was about sixteen or seventeen, with long black hair casually tied behind her head by a white ribbon. Her features were delicate—not breathtakingly beautiful, but her brows and eyes carried a gentle, soothing warmth.

She wore a plain-colored kimono and knelt with proper but restrained posture, her hands neatly placed on her knees. She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet Uchiha Yan's eyes.

"Uchiha Yui."

"Here!"

"Now, I have an important mission for you."

Uchiha Yui said, "Lord Yan, Yui's strength is too lacking. I'm afraid I'll delay your important affairs..."

Within the Uchiha Clan, female ninja who had not awakened their eyes by sixteen were basically classified as "logistical personnel." She had never set foot on a battlefield.

She never could have imagined that Uchiha Yan would summon her in person.

"This mission has nothing to do with strength."

"If I say you can do it, then you can definitely do it. I believe in you."

"Please give your orders, Lord Yan."

"You—go sleep with Senju Tobirama."

"...Persuade? Me? Um... do you mean I should try to persuade Lord Senju Tobirama?"

"I said sleep—with him."

"Ah... Lord Yan, this... how could I possibly do that?!"

Senju Tobirama—he was the Senju Clan's second-in-command, Konoha's deputy leader. What right did she have?

Uchiha Yan said, "Senju Tobirama was born into an age of war and spent half his life fighting, never enjoying riches or glory. Now that beauty and sweetness are being offered to him, why would he refuse? No matter how strong Senju Tobirama is, he is still a man. A normal man."

"Uchiha Yui, I believe in you."

"But... but..."

"No buts."

Uchiha Yan rose to his feet and walked over to Uchiha Yui, his gaze resolute. "This is a mission. For the Uchiha Clan, and for Konoha."

"Yes... I obey."

Ever since that wicked plan had first occurred to him, Uchiha Yan had found it more and more feasible the longer he considered it.

As long as Senju Tobirama was a normal man, he would never be able to resist the bait Uchiha Yan had carefully selected for him. Uchiha Yui was that bait—someone as forceful as Tobirama usually encountered women who were obedient, a common trait among women of the Warring States era. Gentle, submissive, treating men as their heavens, never resisting and never questioning. Tobirama had seen too many of them and had long since become immune.

But Uchiha Yui was different.

Though she belonged to the Uchiha Clan, she lacked the Uchiha arrogance. Uchiha ninja, male or female, all carried an innate pride in their bones—the pride of the Sharingan, the pride of ocular techniques, the pride of standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world. That pride made them strong, but it also made them difficult to approach.

Uchiha Yui, however, was an exception.

Her talent was ordinary. At sixteen, she still had not awakened her eyes, and she had always been an unremarkable presence within the clan. She had never been to war and had spent her life in the compound handling everyday affairs, retaining a young girl's innocence and naivety. She did not understand scheming, did not understand conspiracies and calculations, and did not even understand how to hate someone.

Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Yui—this was practically the ninja world's version of a domineering CEO falling in love with a lowly employee.

The more Uchiha Yan thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.

A few days later, in Konoha White Palace's People's Conference Room.

Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Yan, Uchiha Izuna—and Uchiha Yui, standing in the corner. The five had gathered in one room.

"Lord Hashirama."

Uchiha Yan spoke first. "Regarding this trip to the Uzumaki Clan to propose marriage, Lord Madara has already given his orders. As long as Lord Hashirama has use for them, you may freely choose anything from Konoha's treasury. We must let the Uzumaki Clan see Konoha's sincerity."

Senju Hashirama asked, "Madara isn't going?"

"Lord Madara, as Hokage, must remain in Konoha. For this trip to the Uzumaki Clan, the Uchiha side will be represented by Lord Izuna, Yui, and myself." He pointed at Uchiha Yui in the corner. "Yui will be responsible for everyone's daily needs."

Uchiha Yui hurriedly bowed, her voice still trembling slightly. "G-Greetings, Lord Hashirama. Greetings, Lord Tobirama."

Senju Hashirama casually waved a hand.

Senju Tobirama merely responded with a cold "Mm," not even giving her a proper glance.

"Big Brother."

Senju Tobirama spoke. "I will lead this trip to bring Sister-in-law Mito back. Try to speak as little as possible."

Senju Hashirama scratched his head, looking utterly innocent. "Why?"

Senju Tobirama said bluntly, "It would be bad if Big Brother upset Sister-in-law Mito. Big Brother, you're going to the Uzumaki Clan to propose marriage. If you keep talking about Madara all day after arriving at the Uzumaki Clan, what will Sister-in-law Mito think?"

The Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan were bound by blood alliance. This marriage between his brother and Sister-in-law Mito would surely alter the Senju Clan's position in Konoha. Uzumaki Mito was no weakling, and with her help, Tobirama was confident he could suppress the Uchiha Clan. Therefore, he would not allow any accidents to occur with this marriage alliance.

Uchiha Yan said, "Lord Hashirama, I heard that the Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan are distant relatives. They are born with Sage Bodies, possess immense chakra, and are skilled in sealing techniques..."

"That's right."

Senju Hashirama nodded and, unusually, began explaining in earnest. "The Uzumaki Clan's defining trait is their naturally enormous chakra reserves. Although the Senju Clan also possesses abundant chakra, compared to the Uzumaki Clan, we are still generally inferior. Some Uzumaki clansmen possess chakra reserves that do not fall short of even mine."

Senju Tobirama frowned slightly.

He sharply noticed that this was not the first time Uchiha Yan had been probing for information about the Uzumaki Clan. A few days ago, during a meeting, Uchiha Yan had suggested that Uchiha Madara also go to the Uzumaki Clan to seek marriage. Now, he was again pressing his brother for details about the Uzumaki Clan.

All along the way, Uchiha Yui silently followed behind Uchiha Yan, not daring to say a single extra word.

Senju Tobirama was cold as an iceberg, radiating an aura that warned strangers to stay away.

While Senju Tobirama merely wanted Uzumaki Mito as his sister-in-law, what Uchiha Yan wanted was the entire Uzumaki Clan.

If the Uzumaki Clan could be brought into Konoha, Konoha's overall strength would rise to another level. The Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques stood unrivaled in the ninja world, their constitution rivaled the Senju, and their chakra reserves were unmatched throughout the ninja world—how could such a powerful clan be settled with by marrying just one woman?

This trip to the Uzumaki Clan was not only to propose marriage for Senju Hashirama. Perhaps he could also propose marriage for Uchiha Madara.

Uchiha Yan calculated in his heart.

When the time came, there could be a grand fusion of bloodlines—the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki bloodlines intertwined. Maybe they could truly produce a Sage of Six Paths.

He glanced back at the trembling Uchiha Yui behind him, then looked at the frosty Senju Tobirama ahead.

As for Tobirama's side... he would leave that to Yui.