SMST: The Village Hidden in the Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "SM", "R1/2", "ST" and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 14
Meanwhile…
"I would like to thank you for coming, Lady Rantsu," says Elder Homaru Mitokado (gray-haired with glasses and trimmed beard), as he sits with the other Hidden Leaf Village Elders Utatane Koharu (gray-haired woman) and Danzo (one limb and bandaged eye).
Usagi eyes the assembled group, as Lady Tsunade sits attentively by her side. She hated politics, and she hated having her family's affairs scrutinized…especially when Ranma, her husband, was not around.
She then glanced over towards Tsunade's direction. She didn't need to use her hyper-senses to tell that the "Fifth Hokage" was pregnant…with Ranma's child. Not that she was against the idea, for a variety of reasons, especially in light of what she did to become a demon lord (specifically the Yama "Queen" Trigona, ruler of the Fifth Level of Diyu…or the Eastern versions of Hell), but Usagi did wonder why she was not told of this recent development. Putting that aside, Usagi decides to focus on the present situation at hand.
"You're welcome, Elder Homaru," Usagi says pleasantly. "I am surprised that you wanted to speak to me, considering the fact that normally you have business with my husband."
"Lady Usashinko, we simply want to request your presence as a matter of courtesy," Elder Utatane says pleasantly, as she sipped her tea. "We are honored that you would invite us to your son's wedding."
"No, the honor is mine, Elder. It would have been rude for me to bar you from attending."
"Quite."
Danzo, ever the shrewd one, cleared his throat.
"If my colleagues will not get to the point, then I will," Danzo says. "It has been recently learned that your clan is in possession…of the Sharingan bloodline trait."
Usagi raises an eyebrow, looks as Tsunade, and then looks at Danzo.
"That is correct."
"Why was this information kept from us?" Homaru asked.
"If there were other Sharingan users, we would have liked to have known this," Utatane interjects.
Usagi folds her arms.
"For what? To be used as 'weapons'?"
"That's not what we're implying-"
"Itachi Uchiha's betrayal and Orochimaru's attack left the Hidden Leaf Village more vulnerable than need be," Danzo says. "What if it was known that there was an entire clan that possessed the Sharingan?"
"With all due respect, Elder Danzo, the Hidden Leaf Village is as strong as ever," Tsunade says. "This generation of shinobi are the most talented in recent memory, and I am making the changes necessary to see to it that the village continues to get stronger."
"Personally, I wonder what is the real reason for this…interrogation," Usagi says, as she glances over towards Danzo.
"Lady Usashinko, there is no need to be suspicious of our motives," Utatane says. "We do not pry into your affairs needlessly, so at least give us THAT benefit."
"The fact of the matter is that we did not know that the Rantsu clan was a branch clan of the Uchiha," Homaru says. "Furthermore, we do wonder why no one from your clan chose to reveal themselves as successors to the Uchihas."
Usagi sighs. She would have to edit her words just enough to make her story essentially true…without giving away the facts.
"You have to understand that the Rantsu came about because of a falling-out between my husband's paternal line and the Uchiha clan elders," Usagi says. "As a result, 'we' broke away from the clan."
"Why did you not respond to what Itachi Uchiha has done?" Danzo asked.
"To do what? Are the Rantsu(s) supposed to deny his younger brother the right to avenge his family's death? Besides, by the time we learned of what Itachi had done, it was far, far too late. And technically, we aren't REALLY Uchiha(s) anyway, since a new bloodline has come about as a result of this…separation."
"Ah, yes," Danzo says in a gruff manner. "Your family surfers from the curse of 'gynethropy'."
"In a manner of speaking, though none of the males in my clan, as far as I know, change during the phases of the full Moon."
"While, I presume, the females in your clan carry the trait," Utatane says.
"I suppose so, though the trigger of my clan's…curse is different," Usagi says. "But we're not here to talk about my family's personal problem, no?"
"No, we are not," Danzo says. "We elders agree that the Rantsu clan should take the place of the Uchiha as protectors of the village."
Usagi looks at each of the Elders.
"Oh, I see where this is going," Usagi says. "No."
"NO?" Danzo yelled. "But-"
"But what? Be used as weapons, for when you try to take over the village…like last time?"
"How DARE you-!"
"Lady Usashinko, please," Utatane says. "We're only concerned about the safety of this village."
"And you are right to be concerned. However, the Sharingan is not a tool, nor are those who possess this trait."
Pause.
"When my clan formed the pact with the First Hokage, we vowed to protect the village anyway. However, it has always been up to the Hokage, and those under him or her, to manage the available resources that MY clan has provided to the village. So say that we are not doing OUR part to promote the welfare of OUR people."
"And if I might add, elders, the Rantsu(s) have put the properties and land of the Uchiha(s) in trust until the Uchiha brothers settle their own affairs," Tsunade interjects.
"And don't worry about Sasuke," Usagi says. "He'll be groomed to be the head of the Uchiha clan when it is his time."
"If he survives," Danzo smirked.
Usagi looks at Danzo with a hardened expression.
"My husband is one of the best martial arts trainers around," Usagi says. "My children are a testament to this. You do remember what had happened when those aliens invaded came to the village?"
Usagi was referring to the fact that aliens, members of the infamous "Sinestro Corp" (who bore rings of power that could create yellow-colored constructs as weapons, like that of the members of the Green Lantern Corp), attempted to destroy the Hidden Leaf Village. Although Usagi's son Kenshin is known to be a "goofball" and womanizer, he defeated the aliens with the help of his summoning creature "Fu Shin", a dragon.
"Humph," Danzo replied.
"Sasuke WILL be ready, count on that."
Usagi then rises from her seat. Others rise as well.
"If that is all, I have family to attend to."
"Of course," Hamoru says, as he rose as well.
"And you all are still invited to my son's wedding…including you, Elder Danzo."
"I will talk to you all later about this," Tsunade says.
"Of course," Utatane says with a nod.
As soon as the two enters the hallway, Tsunade's assistant Shizune and Tsunade's summoning piglet "Ton-Ton" greet them.
"Lady Tsunade, is everything okay?' Shizune asked with worry.
"Oink?" Ton-Ton interjects.
Usagi looks at Tsunade, which caught her attention…
'You and I need to talk, Tsunade,' Usagi thought telepathically.
Tsunade nods her head in reply. She then turns to her assistant.
"Everything is fine," Tsunade says. "Meet me in my office in an hour…we'll discuss this matter."
"Of…of course," Shizune says.
"Oink…"
Once alone, Usagi and Tsunade go on a long walk without saying a word to each other.
Upon arriving as the grassy field, the two women look out towards the village below.
"You wanted to speak to me?" Tsunade asks warily.
"Take a listen," Usagi says.
Tsunade listens. She could hear the birds chirping. She could hear various human activities…mainly from the children below.
"I'm listening…"
"THIS is the reason to keep the likes of Danzo from having ANY influence over this village, Tsunade," Usagi says. She then turns to her personal physician.
"So, when is the baby due?"
"About six months- hey!" Tsunade yells. "How did you know that I was pregnant?"
"Well, duh, you are starting to show, you know."
"Humph."
"May I?"
Tsunade looks at Usagi apprehensively, but nods her head in consent.
"Thank you," Usagi says, as she placed a hand on Tsunade's belly. "Hmmm…definitely a girl-"
KICK!
Usagi felt movement.
"And feisty, too."
"Yes…"
"Um, Lady Rantsu, about the baby-"
"No need to say anything," Usagi says. "And besides, this is something I'll take up with Ranma."
Tsunade nods her head, and turns her attention to the village below. If she were told that she would have ended up as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, Tsunade would have told them that they were crazy to assume such a thing. Now…she didn't see herself as anything but.
"Lady Rantsu?"
"Yes?"
"You can stop rubbing my belly," Tsunade says. "It looks weird, and I am not some Buddha either."
"Oh, sorry about that."
Tbc.