Madaras engagement to Kana Uzumaki had come out of the blue.
For Akane at least, which said something about how busy she was with the village probably, but said awful things about how badly she'd been neglecting the clan in the wake of the village. It made her feel guilty as all hell, and Akane found herself scrambling to make it home and check in with her people more often.
Kana herself was lovely at least. She reminded Akane of those homemakers who obsessed with reality television, just the chatty, gossipy kind of woman that knew to keep it classy but kept herself much more well informed than most people would ever give her credit for. She wasn't much of a Kunochi, but she didn't need to be to marry Madara. The matriarch position was largely ceremonial these days, and Kana knew her way around a tea party. She would be happy to wed a man so high up the food chain, so to speak, and at this point the Uchiha elders were probably lighting incense that Madara was willing to wed anyone at all-he was considered quite old for his first marriage.
Akane had tea with her on several occasions, mostly to put to bed any lingering thoughts the elders might have that Akane could be convinced to fight for Kana's position. But also to get a feel for another out of clan Kunoichi in a position of power.
If Akira didn't marry within the clan the clan at large would begin muttering about a Senju takeover, instead of just the bitter Lineage Kunoichi that felt slighted over missing out on the position. Not that Akane thought her little brother could be convinced to marry at all. Not when the only two people he'd ever loved were set to marry each other.
Uchiha weren't exactly known to fall out of love, once they started loving someone at all. Not platonically or romantically. Even upon a betrayal, when all that love should turn to hate-there was always a little too much love left over. That never boded well for Uchihas that didn't have their feelings reciprocated.
She'd been genuinely impressed that Akira could feel so passionately for more than one person at a time.
Then there's the simple matter of keeping how he felt to himself and respecting the couple. Seeing the Ametarasu lineage running around to prepare for another inter clan wedding had reminded Akane that Cho kept putting off her wedding to her brother in favor of work. Work that Akane tended to delegate to the woman that was basically her second in command. It was yet another thing to feel terribly guilty about-so she made Cho promise her to pick a date, Akane would handle the rest.
There was a lot to the rest-enough that Akane had been forced to drag Kei into it, Cho being her second in command meant she did a lot of Akane's delegation as well, Kei-whose job was usually to keep her abreast of clan sentiment, was a more free agent and better able to help her get things done-although he wasn't as helpful with writing the missive themselves, as Cho often was.
It was nice to spend some time with her brother in law regardless. Uchiha tradition stated that Uchiha men married brides into their parents home, and as Aiko would never marry a man out, and Emiko was technically married in, Akane had shared a home with Kei most of their lives. Once the clan created a new compound in the village, however, Kei had asked for a place of his own, understandably enough, he'd want a bride of his own someday.
Part of reading for her brother's wedding was reading the home, but their house had been built with the knowledge that Akio would have Cho moving in as soon as he could, and while the woman didn't technically live with them, it was only technically. Her brother and future sister in law lived like a married couple already, she thought it was one of the reasons Akio hadn't actually grown to resent her.
Between the clan head's wedding and her own families, Akane found herself more buried in paperwork than usual-and it finally got her properly upset about Tobirama's ever petty missives.
The man did passive aggressive the way he did everything else, brilliantly. Never anything she could call him out on, never anything disrespectful-just subtle little insults that were meant to sting. Akane could play the game herself of course, but that would take time and energy she didn't have to spare. She thought the only reason Tobirama could manage was that he could split himself into several different bodies to accomplish what he did.
It didn't mean Akane was above revenge though. No, Akane didn't have to kill them with kindness, no-instead she simply waited for her moment-and in a netting with the Nara about just how much woods their deer actually needed to take up, it happened to come.
They ran out of sashimi, and Akane, with a butter wouldn't melt in her mouth expression, smiled and ordered more, idly commenting, "We wouldn't want to see Tobirama's wet kitten expression much longer, now would we?"
Tobirama had gone stone still, the stuff non-reaction Akane had long learned was his version of a twitch. He couldn't exactly respond and have it be acknowledged she'd just called him a kitten to his face and in mixed company after all, that would simply give the rumor mill more fodder when Akane had just given it plenty.
She'd met his eyes over her tea cup and sipped leisurely, eminently pleased with herself.
Tobirama's passive aggression did lift after that, although having the person who was ostensibly her biggest village building partner actively avoid her wasn't great for their productivity-Tobirmas new missive runner made it hard to mind.
Akane did fail to stop herself from flirting with Kotaro. He fiund her every few days. Usually with paperwork Tobirama mysteriously would rather have delivered instead of handing over during a meeting, but Kotaro always found time to banter and had long made it clear he would refuse to leave her alone until he could get her to smile.
It was hard not to.
Kotaro had an energy about him-the enthusiasm for life most people lost at age five that was surprisingly charming on a full grown man, despite Akane doing her best not to notice. He was gorgeous with wine red hair, purple eyes and dark skin, especially when standing next to a paper pale Uchiha.
He stood out like a sore thumb in their compound, but he was never self conscious about it, or hid his interest in Akane, so she'd found him more than once chatting cheerfully with some old widows that could happily sing her praises for hours.
It was embarrassing.
It was also why she wasn't terribly surprised when he asked her for a spar. As a way to get her out of her compound and alone, it was a great tactic. If he hadn't spent weeks winning favor and grinning at her with a twinkle in his eye, Akane might have refused, or at least brought someone to watch the spar.
Instead she went alone.
"I hear those who see the color of your flame before battle often turn around and run," The Uzumaki teased."How could such a little girl make cowards out of so many shinobi?"
"You've only got so much to say because it's a forbidden technique and one that is never used against an ally, let alone in a good natured spar?" Akane lobbed right back.
"Good natured," Kotaro affected an outraged expression, "Who said anything about good natured? I have secured this spar with the most nefarious of intentions."
Akane laughed, anticipation bubbling through her. She'd been so caught up in village administration and clan preparations that she'd barely trained enough to retain her impressive muscle tone and whether good natured or not, she'd very much been looking forward to sparring against someone good enough to manage protection detail for the Uzumaki princess.
"I can do nefarious." Akane assured him and pounced.
The first exchange of blows was a test. Checking speed and reaction time to gauge the pace of the spar. Unspoken shinobi etiquette, if Akane wanted to use jutsu she would disengage and lob a fireball at him; a small, slow one, and then they'd begin properly.
But all Akane had were fire jutsu really, and it had been a long time since anyone she trained with regularly indulged her with a full taijutsu only match. Akio had sworn them off by age fifteen, and Naoya would only do it if the follow up match was focused on weapons-which had never been her greatest strength.
Fire and fists were where Akane was completely in her element. She loved it-even when her kimono was soaked through with sweat and she remembered there was a reason Uzumaki were famed for their stamina. She was the better taijutsu user and it showed when, despite being twice as tired as her sparring partner was, she managed to pin him.
Akane was beaming, exhilarated with her win, pressing the larger man into the ground with chakra and strength, "What was that about the big bad Uzumaki with nefarious intentions?"
The next thing she knew, Akane was on her back-glowing blue chains keeping her in place as the man she'd just sassed hovered over her with a mischievous smile. "I did warn you."
Kotaro was a broad man, he towered over her as his chains held her aloft and brought her dangerously close to his face. Close enough, that she could see all the shades of purple in his eyes. Close enough that their noses almost touched.
Close enough to kiss.
Akane licked her too dry lips, eyes going half linen as she let herself fall for the blatant seduction. He'd broken the etiquette only after she'd won their spar, so it could hardly be an ego thing. "So what, exactly, is your dastardly plot?"
"The plan," Kotaro began, pulling her close enough they shared a breath of anticipation, "was to get you tired enough that you wouldn't be able to torch me to ash for doing this."
Akane shuddered with pleasure when Kotaro kissed her.
She was with a gorgeous man who made her smile, he had planned out a great date, and the endorphins from the spar wasted no time in augmenting the sensation of making out with someone she was so drawn to. The heat of his body where it was pressed against hers, even the feather soft hum of chakra from his chain felt like they were pushing her pleasure along.
Akane couldn't remember ever feeling so good.
Certainly not in her current life.
They kissed for what felt like hours. They kissed until they began to grind on each other, Kotaro's length caught between them as Akane soaked her kimono with more than sweat. They kissed until Kotaro pulled back and tore open the aforementioned Kimono, and kissed between her thighs as pleasure shattered her.
They kissed after he looked deep into her eyes as she welcomed him inside of her. Sharing soft wet kisses as they helped each other over the edge.
Cleaning up after wasn't even embarrassing because Kotaro had prepared beforehand. He even had a spare Kimono in her size.
Akane had never had a lover in her current life.
It was actually fairly common for warriors to have affairs, even the Kunochi. Thousands of years of clan combat had popularized contraceptives in the shinobi world long ago. Akane had been taught how to make an herb mixture that stopped her ovulation for a year back when she learned how to read and write. She took the awful concoction once a year religiously since she was thirteen. Some clans were harsher on their Kunochi and ensured complete sterilization before they were even allowed out of the compound-but bloodline theft was one of the largest concerns in the elemental nations, and it was one that had long been addressed in the sense of kidnapping the Kunochi of most clans. The men had it worse and had to drink their nasty contraceptives once a month.
Akane wasn't sure why the Uzumaki had been so gun-ho to seduce her, but she didn't mind in the least and hoped to enjoy a repeat performance. It wouldn't be a secret, nosy elders and Akanes position in the clan being what it was, but it would be some dearly needed and appreciated stress relief-especially if it was always prefaced by a spar. She'd never tried friends with benefits as Samantha but she was, with the experience of two amazing orgasms, quite open to giving it a shot.
"I would like your permission to court you." Kotaro blurted, tucking his head down bashfully enough she thought there might be a blush hiding under the color of his skin and baffling Akane.
"We already have a political engagement with your clan," Akane pointed out after an awkward silence where she tried to figure out why the Uzumaki would want to court her. He was gorgeous, funny, and had just proven to be a phenomenal lover-he surely had his pick of women in the village.
Kotaro frowned, evidently very serious. "Not as a representative of my clan. As a man-I would be honored if you gave me the opportunity to woo you and prove a worthy husband."
Akane had a moment of complete dissonance. This wasn't being informed she had a child bride, like her lone experience if anything smacking of romance in her current life. This wasn't the elders trying to make a 'good match' between the Uchiha and another clan, and Kotaro wasn't interested enough in village politics to see marrying her as a good avenue to pursue more status.
He also didn't just want sex. Didn't want to be her boyfriend or lover to see whether or not they worked out. Courting was already the first step to an engagement. He wanted their relationship to end in marriage.
Akane had known Kotaro liked her. That he was attracted to her and enjoyed her company-but courtship, especially courting another clans Kunochi, was something you did when you were in love with someone and wanted to show how serious you were about your feelings and what exactly your intentions were.
"We've only known each other for a couple of months." Akane protested reflexively.
Kotaro shrugged, "Life is short. I want to spend the rest of mine with you."
That-that was a shinobi truth.
Any mission gone wrong, any attack on their village, it could be their last.
Akane didn't want to marry within the Uchiha clan. She hadn't put much thought into a relationship since most shinobi in the village from other clans would take any overtures on her part as some political ploy. She'd shelved the thought of romance, too caught up in trying to bring the village into some semblance of order.
But Kotaro was an Uzumaki. His clan wasn't in the village. He was funny, cute, evidently thoughtful and she couldn't figure out why she was trying to talk herself out of a relationship with the man.
It wasn't like she couldn't reject his marriage proposal if their attempt at a relationship wasn't going well. The longest courtship period she'd heard of was six months-people in Samantha's world had been engaged in less time, and time as fiancés could be extended if she didn't feel ready so quickly for marriage.
"I accept," Akane said, breaking the palpable tension Kotaro had been waiting with.
He swept her back into her arms in excitement, twirling her around even as he dipped his head for their latest kiss.
"You won't regret this," He vowed. Solemn in a way she might not have believed him capable just hours before.
"We'll see," Akane smiled at him, hope and delight entwining in her chest. She was very much looking forward to being wooed by him.
For the next three months, Akane was incredibly grateful Kotaro wanted her as a wife. Especially with all the wedding preparations reaching their fevered pitch.
Going on dates with Kotaro was a fantastic distraction. He even got along well with her family. Her mother thought he was a bit loud, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes that he liked Akane a lot, and Akane found she never shied away from sharing the sentiment.
"He's too old for you," Naoya had grumbled. Older brother that he was.
Akane had shrugged, "He makes me happier than I was before."
It had been enough for Naoya.
Not that her brothers hadn't tag teamed and given Kotaro a demonstration of why breaking Akanes heart could be a rather fatal mistake, but Kotaro told the story with enough dramatics that Akane could tell he'd taken it for what it was-her older brothers doing their best to protect her the best way they new how.
And then it was time for both weddings.
Madaras wedding reminded her of Izunas, just with less tension and significantly more guests. The village had grown after all and there were much more politically important guests to invite and entertain. Kotaro had hardly left her side even when he was technically supposed to be entertaining several of their guests as a close relative of the bride.
It was nice, long and exhausting-but nice all the same. Kana was a beautiful bride, and a gracious one too, the clan was in good hands with her as a matriarch.
Akio and Cho's wedding was thankfully smaller, even if they had to accommodate their own politically significant guests during the ceremony. Cho was important enough to Akane for her wedding guests to speak of her place in the clan and Village at large.
But the celebration after was more private-just friends and family. Kotaro, who had attended as her date for the wedding, asked her if she'd want just as traditional a marriage. Akane had laughed, pointing out she'd hardly have much of a choice, her place in the clan and village being what it was. Kotaro had smiled and her, humming thoughtfully in a playful manner that had made her heart flutter.
She was beginning to think she could picture a life married to the man.
As happy an occasion as it was, Akane had been sure to keep an eye on Akira. Even drawing her youngest brother to a dark corner and making sure he'd be alright.
"I'll be fine," Akira said firmly.
He sounded like he believed it.
Akira was a little too calm for Akanes liking actually-not that she wanted her little brother sad and heartbroken, but the only reason he'd be so calm was if he had something in the works.
Akane side eyed him, "Just what are you planning?"
Akira had grinned at her, pure little brother mischief, "Now that would be telling."
Akane hoped the newlyweds were at least granted their honeymoon period before they actually had to deal with whatever wooing attempt Akira saw fit for a married couple.
As for whether it worked or not? Akane decided that was a problem future Akane could deal with.
X
Guess whose back! And with a 10k buffer too, thank everything that's holy. That means update schedule should be resuming.
This is actually a fairly happy chapter, upon reflection, and yes I was puzzled about how that even happened in this fic lol, the magic of Konoha I guess. That or the magic of the ever charming Kotaro. Low key I could have written a better smut scene, but I never get terribly graphic about violence in this fic so it'd feel pretty lopsided to go in on the sex tbh.
As for the possibility of a Cho/Akio/Akira triad? Listen, if Akira has nothing else he's got the audacity okay-he was gonna shoot his shot at some point, Twas written in the stars. Not that it's not incredibly awkward for Akane to feel like two of her brothers might be dating each other and her best friend, like damn.
Next up is our first of Akane's twin nieces Hinata, and her perspective of this world thus far.
As always please tell me what you think! I genuinely appreciate the feedback.