"If fighting could provide us with the truth, nobody would make any mistakes in their lives. A person's life is not that easy. The truth you must learn from yourself, from how you live your life."
Himura Kenshin
The small boat with its simple brown color, marking it as a sort of symbol of ambassadorial neutrality, knifed through starry blackness and the tumult ocean toward the emerald bright islands of Uzushiogakure and the cluster of varying sized islands, some volcanos, some not, that encircled the massive labyrinth. The largest islands were huge, blocky fortresses, staggering in shape, split at one end and encircling the water around them that pooled towards the nearby whirlpools that spread out for miles.
Trees, foliage, and shrubbery bristled from every possible place, connecting the islands through a chain of gnarled plexus, and smaller islands circled the big ones like gnats. The more traditionally shaped boat, with its paddles, arches, and squared-off sitting space, looked insignificant in the shadow of the plexus, but it continued toward it, undeterred.
The view in front of them, captured from their position on the boat's center, to which they were headed, was Uzumaki Eiji, his reddish orange hair blowing gently in the ocean breeze. The young man wore his perpetually calm expression, mouth straight, even brow emphasizing his contented nature. His olive skin reflected the ambient moon light of the ship, all pale and cold in contrast to his dark robes.
"Now's the time to work on your diplomacy. Torture is complicated and precise, it's just not about killing or inducing fear."
Yuko turned slightly in her seat to acknowledge the man beside her. "What do you mean, Souji?"
"I was told of you and Hiyori sparing only one man. Those rabble will die in due time with how things are proceeding."
"What is wrong with killing them?" Yuko asked, genuinely curious.
Souji regarded her carefully. "There are certain...Training protocols we are going to implement that our parents, and the leaders before them put into place in similar situations."
Yuko blinked, waiting for a more detailed explanation.
Souji didn't gratify her with such a response. "Tell Eiji we wish to make landfall at once."
"Yes, sir." Yuko said, giving him a covert bow before turning to face Eiji across the way. "With all due respect, Uzumaki-san, we the ambassadors request that they we allowed to make landfall immediately."
Eiji nodded quickly. "Hisao-sama would be happy to receive your presence at your convenience."
Yuko hesitated, glancing back at Souji. "Sir?"
"Proceed, Yuko." Souji said.
Souji watched silently as the islands loomed before them, filling the view with their majestic bulk. Souji was tall, powerfully built with prominent, sharp features. He was clean shaven and his hair was worn long allowed to flow freely to his shoulder blades. His hakama, kimono, and haori were typically loose-fitting and comfortable, an obi binding them at his waist where his katana and nodachi hung just out of view, but within a finger's reach. His flinty eyes fixed on the island and Eiji as if to see what waited within the Uzumaki compound, and also what was in the young man's heart.
Certain countries and villages taxation of the trade routes between the land and ocean had been in dispute since its inception, but until now all the Uzumaki had done in response was isolate themselves and not do any business. Well, it wouldn't be accurate to say they completely isolated themselves, as much as they chose who they did business with.
Which were very, very few.
Eiji being out in the open so plainly was the first act of outright defiance, and while the Uzumaki was a powerful clan, equipped with its own battle fleet, army of warriors, and army of Fuinjutsu masters, this action here was atypical. The Uzumaki were peace loving, content, and could be entrepreneurs, but they were by no means warriors.
He shifted his weight as the boat moved slowly into the gap in the island's outer edge toward the sandy beach. Currents took hold, guiding the boat closer where sealing symbols locked the ship in place. It seemed Uzumaki had been mobilizing around this expanse for almost seven months. While none of this was Souji's concern, he could not ignore the implications of what it meant if he failed in the discussions today, or however long they took. The Uzumaki were peaceable and loving. That was the nature of their clan and the dictate of their creed. For thousands of years they had never strayed from this creed, and it became a constant source of stability and order in a turbulent world.
The Uzumaki were considered by many to be more of a theorizing and philosophical study group, or happy go lucky idiots, more than a shinobi or mercenary clan, with history so far back that their origins were the stuff of myth. The Uzumaki had always been talented in chakra. Years had been spent in its study, in the contemplation of its meaning, in mastery of its power. Slowly the Uzumaki had evolved, abandoning their practice of and belief in a life of isolated meditation in favor of a more outward-looking commitment to social responsibility.
Which is why their goods helped sustain the economy in dire times.
Understanding chakra sufficiently to master its power required more than private study and training. It required service to the greater community and implementation of a system that would guarantee freedom and peace for all. That battle was not yet won outside of Uzumaki territory and it probably never would be won. There was no system and nobody was thinking of a greater community of diversity. But, the Uzumaki would not see it lost for anyone else due to lack of trying or not providing a way for others to follow.
In his own time, thousands of Uzumaki in service to their land carried on the ideal each day of their lives in a hundred thousand different islands spread across an ocean so vast it could barely be comprehended.
He turned slightly as Yuko came up to stand beside him.
"Are we to have the discussion now?" She asked softly.
Souji shrugged a little. "We will be taken to the main island, but I am not sure if we will meet with Hisao at this late an hour."
He glanced momentarily at his sister's protégé, taking her measure. Yuko was nearing her twenties, she was more than three years younger than him, and she was still perfecting her craft. She was not yet a captain or highly ranked member, but she was close to being ready. She had the experience having survived more than her share of life and death battles.
Yuko was shorter than him, but far more compact and very quick. Her smooth, stoic face suggested an immaturity that had been long since shed. She wore the same type of clothes as Souji, but her hair was put in the style that everyone tended to go with, long and flowing, save for the thick ponytail that hung to the middle of her back.
Souji looked around at the interior of the island fortress, humming in deep thought. "Why Uzushiogakure, do you think Yuko? Why would Hashirama come here like he did, when there are a few clan leaders he could have went to...Most larger and more likely to embrace the notion of conflict."
Yuko said nothing. Uzushiogakure was indeed an odd choice for Hashirama to stay in, a village, technically the only true shinobi village as there was no damiyo. It was at the edge of the Elemental Nations and in the middle of whirlpools, sea monsters, kaiju, and the hovel as many called it were not particularly important in the grand scheme of things.
Its leader, Hisao, was something of an unknown. Not new to the position of leader, Hisao had been leader for more than five decades before the beginnings of blockade-to keep people out rather than in-had begun. Hisao was well aged at this point, but it was rumored he was prodigiously talented in sealing, extremely well trained in sealing, and had immense reserves of chakra.
It was said he could hold his own with anyone in a political arena.
It was said he could be circumspect or bold when necessary, and was wise beyond his years.
Souji hesitated a moment longer, thinking the matter through as much as he could, then turned to Yuko.
"Come, let's be off."
They passed downward through the island's jungle bowels to the other side, waited for their ship to the main island to arrive, and finally boarded ship and pulled the locking bar. Raising the hoods of their cloaks to help conceal their faces from the torch light, they stepped out into the pathway. A tall woman named Chitose was waiting to escort them to the building their meeting would take place in. The young woman took them from the bay down a series of stone pathways and canals to an empty conference building and motioned them inside.
"I hope you both will be comfortable here." Chitose's gentle demure echoed through the oval room.
"Thank you for being so hospitable." Yuko bowed in respect.
"Hisao-sama will be with you both shortly."
Chitose turned and went out, carefully sliding the doors shut behind her.
Souji watched her go, glanced briefly at the exotic, blooming flowers near the door, then moved quietly to join Yuko at a broad window that looked out through the maze of islands to where the lush green spheres of vegetation hung suspended against ocean.
"I have a bad feeling about this..." Yuko said after a moment of thought, keenly observing the surroundings of Uzushiogakure.
Souji glanced around. "I don't sense anything."
Yuko nodded. "It's about Konoha and Kumogakure...Something...Elusive."
Souji put his hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Keep your concentration here. That is where it belongs."
"I can't just blow off the Senju brothers..." Yuko said with a small scowl, remembering her early lessons on the war zones.
She looked out the window again, eyes distant.
"How do you think Hisao will deal with the hidden village's demands or a united attack?"
Souji gave an easy shrug. "These people are peaceable and amicable. Hisao may take a little while. He is powerful, but his eyes are piercing...They see through everything. He can read the times very well, and when Hashirama returned from this place, he founded Konoha shortly afterwards...The negotiations will be short, I imagine. Unless there is something you want to speak on."
On the bridge just outside the conference building, Ashina and his lieutenant, Dai-In, stood staring in shock as Chitose the woman they had sent to look after Takeo's ambassadors just finished giving her report.
"What did you say?" Ashina asked, tone brisk.
Chitose was impervious to the looks both the men gave her. "The ambassadors are Souji Domou and Yuko Uchiha. Souji is one of the bravest commanders alive and Yuko's hair is easily recognized. I am quite certain it was them."
Dai-In, an anxious, restless sort, wheeled on his companion. "I had a feeling we'd be getting a visit from them sooner rather than later. Hashirama seems to have founded his village and there is Kumogakure which was founded before his...Things are moving too fast!"
Ashina made a placating gesture. "Ease yourself, young one. I'll wager they are completely unaware of Hashirama's moves regarding this matter. Go. Distract them while I contact Hisao-sama."
The other Uzumaki gaped at him. "I'm not going in there with those two."
Ashina nodded at Chitose, who bowed, made a small laughing sound in response, and went out.
When the cheeky woman was gone, Dai-In summoned Eizou, the third member of their delegation, and drew both his compatriots to a closed, separate space in a nearby shop where they could be neither seen nor heard by anyone else. He took a few moments to come into the room. Hisao did so strong shouldered, cloaked in a kimono and overcoat so that nothing but his face could be seen.
"What is the panic?" Hisao asked.
Dai-In found his throat so dry that for a moment he could not speak. "The ambassadors Takeo sent are Souji Domou and Yuko Uchiha."
"Yuko Uchiha?" Hisao breathed the word softly, observantly, and there was a measure of calm about his acceptance of the news.
"The red haired Uchiha woman that they call a swift and brutal killer. The same one that took the Yuki's Hyoton scroll and is Ahiko Domou's Protege."
"Are you sure?"
Ashina found the resolve he had gathered for this moment quickly firming. He stared at the regal form of Hisao in respect. "They have been identified by Eiji, Hisao-sama."
Unable to endure the silence that followed, Eizou put himself into the gap. "This scheme of Hashirama's has failed and is getting out of control, Hisao-dono! The blockades and fortresses are almost finished! We dare not go to war despite all of that! If they ever find out about our masks-"
Hisao turned slightly, cutting his hand through the air. "Are you saying you would rather go up against Souji Domou or the combined front of four villages, Eizou? I am almost amused you'd get so emotional as to even propose that."
Dai-In set his jaw, narrowing his eyes. "If the full extent of our powers is ever discovered..."
Hisao flicked his eyes towards his right hand. "Ashina-dono."
The firm Uzumaki stepped forward quickly. "Yes, Hisao-sama?"
Hisao's voice was calm and even. "I don't want Eizou to pass within my sight again until he is of a cooler mind. Do you understand? "
Ashina nodded, face showing little emotion. "Of course."
He wheeled on Eizou, but the young man was already making his way from the room, his face filled with a mix of frustration and fear. When he was gone, Hisao looked at Dai-In and Ashina with narrowed eyes, his brow wrinkling. "We must accelerate our plans to some extent on the surrounding islands and waterways. Begin reinforcing the fortresses and begin construction of bunkers."
Dai-In glanced at Ashina, who was trying his best to be as still as possible. "Of course."
"Yes, of course." Ashina took a quick breath. "What of Souji and Yuko?"
Hisao seemed to grow more calm within his robes. "This meeting was going to happen sooner or later because there are drastic changes happening outside of Uzushiogakure, and even more that will soon happen because of the Water damiyo and those clans encroaching on every territory. I will speak with them."
"You don't mean someone killed their young?" Dai-In asked, eyes going wide.
"I don't believe it was Hashirama if this actually happened." Ashina answered.
"Then why-"
Hisao looked at Dai-In and Ashina carefully. "Shinobi may have killed their young and Hashirama is founding a village where clans will come together on the surface."
Ashina maintained a respectful silence.
Hisao stared at the space in front of him for a moment, then turned to Ashina.
"Do not be too certain of that young man's motives, Ashina-san. Do not be blinded by the flamboyant idealism of his words."
In the conference room in which they had been left, Yuko and Souji stared at each other across a long table.
"I know some clans make their guests wait very long. There's a lot of formalities too. Is it normal for Uzumaki to make their guests wait this long have the long formalities?"
Souji grunted softly. "To be honest-"
Before Souji could finish, the door slid open, showing Chitose bearing a tray of drinks and food. She crossed to their table, placed the tray before them, and set the cups down.
Carefully and expertly, she filled Yuko's glass with tea and Souji's with sake.
She moved back then, waiting.
Souji motioned to his companion, and they lifted the drinks and tasted them.
Slowly, Souji nodded at the young woman, who took her leave, then looked at Yuko. "To be honest I'm surprised it wasn't Hisao that met us. I'm sensing an unusual amount of distress right now. There's a lot of maneuvering..."
Yuko placed her drink back on the table, contemplating the statement for a moment as she looked outside. Covered walkways and canals crisscrossed the village's vast interior, and irregular openings brought verdant vegetation deep inside. At every turn, every staircase, every spiral and stop, exterior views of the lake, ocean, the island forests, and the sheer cliffs were framed by finely worked clefts.
What Uzushiogakure may have lacked in color, it made up for in luster.
"Perhaps our coming here has shown them things could be moving quickly outside of Uzushiogakure...The shinobi world is trying to attain peace with these villages, but that effort is going to take away the peace the Uzumaki have enjoyed. It is strange-"
Before Yuko could voice her thoughts, the door slid open.
She took note that Hisao had sharp eyes, bellied with calm and observance. Before Hisao introduced himself, then lowered himself onto a soft seat cushion, Yuko knew just from how he carried himself that he was a leader. He spoke in a calm, clear tone. There was no deceit nor wavering in his tone.
"Souji, it's been some years since we've last seen each other. You're looking well I must say. I am glad for the diplomacy you've shown in coming here, but it grieves me to report that I have nothing but sad tidings for you."
"Sad tidings?" Souji asked.
"My eldest daughter has left this place of her own free will and has not only joined Konoha, but she helped found it with Hashirama. She will use one of our forbidden sealing techniques in the future I am afraid." Hisao explained, tone grim.
"What about the rest of the Uzumaki? Where do they stand?" Souji ventured quietly.
"Ashina was taken by the man's word, but he can't see Hashirama's ideals beyond the surface. That is Ashina's problem, it appears. None of my children save for Mito have joined Konoha, and the other Uzumaki will not be so inclined like Mito and Ashina...However...
"However?" Yuko asked, voice surprisingly small.
"It is possible some may heed Ashina."
Yuko raised her head slightly, tipping her gaze towards Hisao instead of full on. "You mentioned forbidden sealing before?"
"We've had to seal kaiju and other sea monsters away, or into certain objects if necessary. We have seals pertaining to the Bijuu as well. After the last time someone tried to take control of the Four Tails, Nine Tails, Eight Tails, Five Tails, and Seven Tails, the Uzumaki had to rein them in with our specialty. Our scouts searched the attack areas for the chakra, and more than enough was picked up for us to work with. Enough that we can contain, seal, suppress, and subjugate them."
Souji's mouth almost dropped. "Are you telling me you have psuedo Bijuu here?"
Hisao shook his head. "No...That is improbable."
"The Bijuu are hatred and malice. That kind of chakra simply will not go away nor be dormant." Souji wasn't quite ready to just blow it off.
This wasn't even the reason he was here.
Hisao thought over his next statement, observing Souji and Yuko with his piercing, keen eyes. "There's a chance that chakra could and will lash out. That is why it remains sealed away. However, the Four Tails, Five Tails, Nine Tails, Eight Tails, and Seven Tails themselves are not sealed...If that were the case a scroll wouldn't be suitable. An object would not suffice either."
Yuko lightly bit her lip, feeling the shift in tone, she stared at Hisao, measuring her tone carefully. "What makes you think it wouldn't be suitable?"
Hisao crossed his arms over his chest. "The Bijuu are nine pieces of chakra from the Chakra Monster given form and personality by Rikudo. If they were mere hatred and malicious intent-which our seals can subjugate completely, in essence, we'd vanquish them instead of sealing them away into scrolls or objects. Our fuinjutsu would nullify them completely to the point they wouldn't ever exist."
"That doesn't explain how a scroll or object isn't suitable for sealing a Bijuu..." Yuko trailed off, eyes narrowing critically.
What Izuna said before! Souji seethed in silence, his jaw aching from how hard he clenched his teeth.
"A Bijuu's chakra will likely evaporate just a body, unless certain things are done beforehand to make the body sustainable. In essence they'd have an appearance like you and I, but able to shift back and forth if they wished to. A scroll or object, no matter how large or powerful with sealing jutsu, would only contain them for a decade, maybe five decades at the most." Hisao said.
From the depths of her burning heart, came a black smoke of hatred. Yuko's eyes flashed crimson, three brilliant tomoe rotating menacingly. "You talk of sacrificing someone to the Bijuu!"
Hisao maintained his composure, but slowly leaked out some of his immense chakra. The Sharingan was nothing to scoff at or take lightly.
"Rikudo was the only one to ever become a container...He sacrificed himself...And it was because that Monster's power was too immense. Even he and his brother fighting together couldn't bring it down for good." Souji added, tone going low.
Hisao closed his eyes, gauging Souji's and Yuko's deepest thoughts carefully. "So it is the world in which Hashirama has put into play. That will be the new system, even if it doesn't gain a foothold for eighty years, after that, decades after, eventually it will."
Yuko felt drained.
"What do you plan to do now that you know this?" Hisao asked.
"We'll continue our discussion moving forward with marriages between our two clans, or any of the clans coming together in our coalition."
Hisao hummed softly. "I am honored to offer you one or two of my daughters, if you wish. I trust you and Mikito-she has never been one to be self serving. She's always taken things too hard and to heart."
"You would do that for us?" Yuko asked.
Hisao's response was simple and with finality. "We Uzumaki owe the Domou a great debt, and debts are always honored, More importantly we Uzumaki and Domou share an entente and mutual understanding. This is long before our time that our people were amicable with each other."
A gentle wind moved the chimes just outside, and Yuko looked from Souji to Hisao, trying to gauge what they were thinking.
Both of their expressions were grave.
"A very real and severe threat is descending on Uzushiogakure. When my daughter becomes a container..." Hisao noted.
Yuko's face lost color.
"Don't be so brash, Yuko-kun. Do you believe that you both coming here, my eldest daughter doing such a foolish thing, or Hashirama coming here is the sole cause of this impending threat?" Hisao asked, clear tone cutting the air.
Yuko's expression was marked with confusion. "Is it not?"
"The shinobi world is changing. How would the Uzumaki not be effected or affected?"
Souji traded looks with Yuko, focusing on Hisao solely. "We will defend the Uzumaki if this land is ever threatened, and we will do our best not to spill blood on your peaceful land. However, it would be more prudent and wise for you to join our coalition. If you have anticipated a unified assault on Uzushiogakure from more than one shinobi village, than you have already factored in Hashirama nor Konoha itself would in this event, help you."
"You might want to find a more politic way to refer to it."
Yuko shook her head. "I'm here to be diplomatic, but I won't skirt around certain things. I will be very blunt with you, because honesty is something we need right now. The Uzumaki...Your children, the generations after us...Are all far too important and precious to be wiped out because of fear mongering and an inability to help. Even if Mito were to use that forbidden fuinjutsu, that is no ground for the Uzumaki to scatter across the world because of genocide. All of the Uzumaki, all of your teachings...They will be valued and honored in our amalgamation."
Hisao firmed his jaw, composing himself. "Identify yourself, young woman."
"I'm Yuko Uchiha, but I am half Kizoku. I was raised in the Uchiha compound, so my surname is Uchiha."
Hisao's eyes widened briefly, his mouth parting just slightly."Kizoku you say...Yuko Uchiha, the one known as swift killer...What are your duties?"
"I assist with anything that I can. I've never been given an official rank. I can probably speak with Ahiko-san or Izuna-san to make a potential list of people who are able to marry, if you're interested. If more than three couples will be married or courtship is to begin, a list would be a wise thing to have just so we have things in order."
"What would we want with the list?"
"Nothing in essence. It's just a means to ensure that everyone is being honest with each other."
Hisao put his right fist under his chin. "If more than one person from one side of things gets married...I understand where you are coming from."
"I hope my meaning isn't confused, Hisao-sama." Yuko deferred.
Hisao adjusted his stance slightly, slowly relaxing. "Your honesty..."
Yuko averted her gaze for a second, keeping her shoulders straight. "I only speak bluntly."
"So, will you be honest with me?"
Yuko was beyond astonished. "You mean you really want my view on something?"
Hisao clenched a fist, and put it to his chest firmly. "I am of the old generation...I was born four decades before Butsuma, Tajima, Daishiro, Heisuke, Karei, Hijikata, Sasuke, and many others who are or were prominent recently...The mentality has always been...Either they surrender, or there's genocide. Only when enemies are vanquished can there be peace. Even those in the Uzumaki fell prey to such a mindset back then and unleashed monsters upon the Elemental Nations and our own lands."
Yuko carefully considered the man's words, reading beneath them. She sought the source itself. "Smaller clans have joined us for fear of what you mentioned. Right now it is just confined to the shinobi and mercenary clans, but soon it'll start between the villages themselves, the capitals, and the countries. The very lands themselves will be at war, all founding shinobi villages and vying for supremacy."
Hisao nodded, allowing her to continue.
Yuko drew her brows together, rubbing at her chin. "The Uzumaki would have no place in such a world where people are sacrificing their own to Bijuu using a fuinjutsu created by the Uzumaki, ultimately."
Hisao set his jaw by a millimetre, meeting Yuko's eyes with his own piercing gaze. "You've said it honestly."
"I've seen the carnage shinobi bring." Yuko said.
"You and I both, Yuko-kun. However, this is a terrible crime against all who lost children to the Hyuga and Sarutobi. They've gone too far this time and Konoha, and the Fire country allowing such a transgression...It is madness and only shows that the Uzumaki will be dealt the same blow."
"I thought you were able to summon the sea monsters and Kaiju that you have sealed away." Souji said in way of replying, holding his voice as steady as possible.
"I can summon them, but sealing them once more may pose a bit of problem. I am not as young as I used to be, I haven't lost any strength...But, there is an edge in having youth." Hisao insisted.
"I promise you that I will petition immediately to have garrisons sent here."
"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. It'd be an excellent way to speed up the marriages between our kin, and the others who have joined you. I have work to do in sending Uzumaki to your compound as well."
Yuko noted a slight crack in Hisao's stoic expression, a slight twinge of...
Pain?
Perhaps remorse?
"May I ask why you allowed Mito-san to leave?" Yuko asked.
After a moment's reflection, Hisao decided that he had little to lose here, and he wanted to continue to press Yuko and Souji, so that he could gauge they were always being sincere and honest. "I've been tracking a malicious chakra for a very long time...Do you know what I speak of?"
"There are no Bijuu in the Fire country anymore. Syrus, Hashirama, and that whole garrison did battle with the Two Tails...But, that was a while ago." Yuko said.
"Well, who can blame Hashirama or Tobirama not even being able to sense where they are, or could possibly be? It isn't chakra you must sense, but intent...They are closer than you may even think." Came Hisao's ominous reply.
Souji and Yuko traded looks.
"There are no Bijuu here, I assure you. Kaiju and sea monsters, yes, but not Bijuu." Hisao paused for a long moment, then nodded slowly, conceding the point.
"My father always spoke very highly of you. I wish he was still alive-I could use his help right now."
"I don't think Heisuke would ever join you. He is from that old generation like I am." Hisao replied, an alarming smile on his face.
One of confidence and calm.
"My father was a man of flaws. He had the well being of the Domou and Uzumaki in mind, always...However, he couldn't see the bigger picture."
"He knew all about the corruption in the noble courts and this system. We all do, of course. But, Heisuke would have never gone along with the status quo, with that corruption, if he had known the truth as I have. He would have done the same thing as I and found a village within his own land or perhaps he would have taken the same action as you've done..."
The pause was dramatic, demanding a prompt from Yuko.
"The truth?"
"Indeed, the truth. What if I told you that the shinobi system now, and the one Hashirama put into play was always under the control of a dark lord?"
That hit Souji and Yuko as profoundly as any of the cataclysmic jutsu ever unleashed upon them.
"A dark lord?" Yuko questioned.
"That's not possible." Souji said.
"We would be aware of it. Certain shinobi and mercenary clans would be aware of it. Summonings would also be aware of it without a doubt! Someone or something would feel this presence." Yuko insisted.
"Hatred and lust for power has clouded most vision, Yuko-kun. Soon, Hundreds and thousands of damiyo and lesser lords will be under the influence of a dark lord. The Kage of any village founded or to be founded, will by principle alone be under the influence of this dark lord."
"I don't believe you." Souji said flatly.
He only wished he held that truth as solidly as he had just proclaimed.
"Butsuma, Tajima, and any major shinobi clan leaders were once in league with the dark lord." Hisao explained, and given the events of at least a decade before this point, it seemed more than a reasonable claim.
"What happened?"
"They were all betrayed within the span of ten years by the dark lord. A Nara by the name of Kiyoshi came to me for help decades ago, he told me everything. His own council, nor any shinobi would believe him or any of them. I tried many times to warn Butsuma of his blood letting, but he wouldn't listen to me. Once they sense the dark lord's presence and realize their error, it will be too late. If they do, that is."
Hisao took a deep breath.
"We must join together and vanquish this lord of darkness before he can get his foothold, and if we can't vanquish him we must stop his plan from coming to fruition. I believe there are too many powerful and dangerous individuals around right now for him to make his move so boldly, therefore he is waiting in the shadows until the time is ripe to attack."
It all seemed so reasonable, so logical, so attuned to the facts of Hisao as Yuko had learned them, but more importantly had been told by others. Beneath the rational words and calm tone was a feeling she knew only flew in the face of that logic. It was the truth because while they were here talking, the coast and ocean front of the mainland was under siege from the Water damiyo and the mad clans.
"We will be honored if the Uzumaki were to join." Yuko said honestly.
Hisao, cultured and regal, gave a great nod, then turned to leave the room. He gestured for the duo to follow with a wave of his hand.
"Let's finalize things." Hisao tossed back at them as they exited the room.