Marriage Arranged

"Give the conditions I just stated some careful thought, Clan Head Tenfu," Ryū said.

Hyuga Tenfu remained silent. Hyuga Rika puffed up with anger, feeling that Ryū was, in some ways, even more hateful than Black Zetsu. He was actually forcing her to marry his son—wasn't that taking advantage of someone's misfortune?

Still, she was not too worried. She believed her father would not treat her like merchandise to be bought and sold.

"Mito, Ashina, take Clan Head Tenfu and the others to rest first."

"Alright."

The two siblings quickly led the group away, leaving only Ryū in the courtyard. He lifted his teacup and savored its contents.

"Black Zetsu..."

His thoughts churned.

He had only ever heard about Black Zetsu's evil, twisted nature from others before. Only after actually exchanging blows with him just now did he realize how terrifying and troublesome the other man was.

Black Zetsu's terror did not lie in his strength, but in his cunning. He lurked in the darkness, secretly brewing conspiracies like a shadowy mastermind. Who knew when he might strike someone a fatal blow?

As the saying went, it was not thieves stealing that people feared, but thieves setting their sights on them. And this thief had his sights set on people's eyes.

Ryū suddenly understood the fear that the Uchiha and Hyuga had lived under due to Black Zetsu all these years. Anyone would be afraid in their position. If it had not been for his second son Shusen's marriage, he truly would not have wanted to risk making an enemy of Black Zetsu by helping the Hyuga Clan.

With the money and provisions sent by the daimyo, plus the Uzumaki Clan's own reserves, they had enough to get through the initial stage of building the village if they lived frugally. The "great gift" Hyuga Tenfu had promised was optional—nice to have, but not essential.

Ryū had already come to terms with it. He had once been deeply disappointed in his second son, believing him to be worthless and an embarrassment. But over the years, he had gradually accepted reality. Though he never said it aloud, he had acknowledged that Shusen was ordinary and mediocre. The clan's great future would fall either to Mito or Ashina; it had nothing to do with him.

That was why Ryū had begun arranging a way forward for him long ago. Hyuga Rika was Hyuga Tenfu's legitimate daughter. If the two married, they would surely live well in the future.

"Black Zetsu, there is no enmity between you and the Uzumaki. I am doing this only for my son's sake. I hope you know better than to take your anger out on us and fight the Uzumaki to the death over this."

Ryū thought silently. No matter how this ended, he would not regret today's decision.

That evening, Hyuga Tenfu came calling again.

This time, he came alone. Without wasting words, he got straight to the point and agreed to Ryū's marriage alliance terms, consenting to let Rika marry Shusen.

Hyuga Tenfu had originally been unwilling to sell his daughter, but after learning that Black Zetsu had overheard his conversation with Ryū, he had no choice but to agree no matter how reluctant he was.

It was easy to imagine that if he did not bring back the sealing technique he wanted from this trip, Black Zetsu would surely subject him to even more frenzied attacks. That bastard would do anything to obtain the Byakugan. He had to crush Black Zetsu's covetous designs on the Byakugan!

If Hyuga Tenfu had initially wanted the sealing technique half to deal with Black Zetsu and half to deal with the branch family, then now, at least ninety percent of his reason was to deal with Black Zetsu.

Even if the branch family successfully revolted, overthrew the main family system, and became independent, the Hyuga Clan would at least still exist. But Black Zetsu was different. If he continued gouging out their eyes, the Hyuga Clan might even be destroyed by his hand.

"Mito, bring Shusen back later. Have him meet Hyuga Rika tomorrow."

During dinner, Ryū spoke to his daughter.

Mito and Ashina both froze, exchanging glances.

"Father, Clan Head Hyuga agreed?"

"Mm."

Ryū answered flatly. He was always this stern and unsmiling at home. "Choose a date next. After some time, we can arrange their wedding."

"I... I'm going to have a sister-in-law?" Ashina's eyes widened in bewilderment. Everything had happened far too quickly.

After just a few words this afternoon, I suddenly have a sister-in-law?

Mito hesitated before speaking. "Hyuga Rika is quite pretty, and her family is a good match for ours. But she seems rather impatient. She and Shusen may not necessarily get along..."

Out of consideration for her brother's pride, she did not directly voice her concern that Shusen might be abused by his wife after marriage.

"Whether they get along is their business."

Ryū did not think much of it. Shusen would be under his watch every day after marriage anyway. Could a Hyuga woman really turn Whirlpool Village upside down?

"Still, we should get Shusen's agreement. It would be troublesome if he does not like Hyuga Rika." As the only woman in the household, Mito was more thoughtful and considered more things.

"Doesn't like her?"

Ryū snorted. "He is merely a special chunin. Being able to marry a genius of the Hyuga Clan is his good fortune. He should be celebrating in secret—what right does he have to look down on her?!"

Ryū was telling the truth. If Hyuga Tenfu had not needed something from him, and if this opportunity had not happened to arise, Shusen would never have had a chance to marry Hyuga Rika. At most, he would only marry an ordinary girl from the clan in the future.

"Don't overthink it. Marrying Hyuga Rika will bring great benefits to both Shusen and Whirlpool Village."

Mito fell silent for a moment and said nothing more.

She knew her father was doing this for her brother's sake, but matters of the heart were...

"Anyway, if it were me, no matter how powerful someone I disliked was, I would never marry him. And even if the person I liked was mediocre, I would still..."

Mito seemed to think of someone, and two rosy blushes suddenly crept across her cheeks. She lowered her head and quietly continued eating.

"What?! I only went out on patrol, and Father found me a wife?!"

In the mountain forest, Shusen was stunned after meeting up with his sister, his eyes widening like bells.

He was truly shocked. After his cover had been blown at noon, he had hurriedly slipped away and knew nothing of what happened afterward. He never expected Hyuga Tenfu to agree to his father's blatantly extortionate terms.

You Hyuga are a great clan, at least have some backbone!

How could you sell your daughter for glory?!

"Yeah!" Ashina said excitedly. "Second Brother, Sister and I both met our sister-in-law. She's very beautiful, and she's the most outstanding genius of the Hyuga Clan. She's wonderful!"

Shusen: "..."

"If she's so wonderful, do you want to marry her?"

Ashina: "??"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Mito said, torn between laughter and tears. "Come back with us first. Father said he'll arrange for you to meet Rika tomorrow. Take it slow, there's no rush. Don't be nervous either."

After Shusen left, responsibility for the guard squad passed to Uzumaki Maple Leaf. Everyone crowded around to congratulate him.

They had all been out carrying out missions and scouting the enemy, but one trip outside had gotten Shusen a wife arranged by his father. It would have been impossible for them not to envy him.