Chapter 1: The Unexpected Proposal
--
The village of Shinzoku, a hidden village governed by a council of devils and demons, lay nestled in a dark forest, far from the conflict of the Fourth Shinobi War. Sirzechs Lucifer, the respected and powerful leader of this village, stood in the center of his council chamber, surrounded by his advisors, family, and his wife, Grayfia. To his left sat his parents, Zeoticus and Velelana, both renowned for their wisdom, and on his right, the cunning Azazel, who had long been a trusted friend and advisor. They were gathered to discuss an important matter involving Sirzechs's younger sister, Rias Gremory.
The council was lively with debate about the topic of Rias's arranged marriage to Riser Phenex, a marriage alliance that Sirzechs found distasteful. Despite his influence, his hands were tied in the matter—at least, until Azazel spoke up.
Azazel leaned forward, glancing around the room as he suggested, "Why not consider an alliance with another village? One that values strength and honor as much as we do, but without the burden of arrogance?"
Sirzechs raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And which village would you suggest?"
Azazel smiled slightly. "Konoha. They may be human, but their strength is undeniable. With the outcome of the Fourth Shinobi War, they're stronger than ever. Imagine what a marriage with someone of that village's stature could do for us."
Zeoticus nodded thoughtfully. "It would indeed be better than giving our daughter's hand to Riser," he admitted, casting a wary glance at the rest of the council, who listened with interest. "At least this way, we'd align ourselves with a strong, respected clan and gain potential allies."
Velelana agreed, her gaze shifting between her husband and son. "It could strengthen our ties and bring new resources to Shinzoku. And," she said with a sly smile, "we wouldn't be sacrificing Rias to that… pervert."
Sirzechs rubbed his chin, considering the proposition. "If Konoha is to be an option, we'd need a marriage that holds influence. But who in Konoha would be strong enough—and trustworthy enough—to marry Rias?"
The council members murmured to one another, sharing nods and whispers, until someone suggested, "Sasuke Uchiha. He is both powerful and prestigious, the last of his clan. He possesses both the Sharingan and the Rinnegan. A marriage to Sasuke could bear strong heirs."
The council was soon filled with voices in favor of Sasuke. One advisor leaned forward, saying with confidence, "Think about it—Sasuke is famous across the shinobi world. He would bring honor and respect to Shinzoku and would match Rias in power."
Zeoticus shook his head, frowning. "But who would vouch for Sasuke's character? We know he's strong, but what kind of husband would he be to our daughter?"
The council members looked at each other, uncertain. Their enthusiasm for Sasuke's strength didn't necessarily mean he was the right choice as a husband.
Azazel suddenly cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "There is… another option," he said, a hint of excitement in his tone. "Naruto Uzumaki. He's arguably the strongest shinobi in Konoha, and he's known for his integrity, loyalty, and compassion."
The room grew quiet. Sirzechs studied Azazel, his interest piqued. "Naruto Uzumaki," he repeated. "The hero of the Fourth Shinobi War?"
Azazel nodded. "The very one. Not only did he play a vital role in winning the war, but he also possesses the Nine-Tailed Fox, a creature of immense power. With Naruto, you'd be aligning with someone who commands respect not only in Konoha but in the entire shinobi world."
Grayfia's eyes sparkled with interest. "Naruto does sound like a suitable candidate for Rias. Not only is he powerful, but his reputation for honesty and kindness means we can trust him."
Sirzechs took a deep breath, weighing the options. "Very well. Naruto Uzumaki seems like the best choice. I'll have a message sent to Konoha with our proposal for a marriage alliance, requesting Naruto's hand for Rias."
An advisor stepped forward to carry out the command, while Zeoticus, who remained thoughtful, asked, "Are you certain Naruto can be trusted with our daughter's future, Sirzechs?"
Sirzechs nodded, a confident smile spreading across his face. "Yes. I believe he can." But his smile faltered a bit as he added, "Now… the only challenge left is breaking the news to Rias."
Grayfia laughed softly, and Velelana joined her. "Good luck, Sirzechs. Let's hope she doesn't tear you apart when she finds out."
Sirzechs gulped, already imagining Rias's reaction. The council dispersed, leaving him to prepare for what would undoubtedly be a difficult conversation with his sister.
--
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Naruto was enjoying some rare downtime with his friends from the Konoha 12. They were gathered in a small training ground, reminiscing about their recent missions and laughing about old memories.
Naruto suddenly shivered, feeling a strange chill run down his spine. "Whoa! What was that?" he muttered, rubbing his arms.
Kiba chuckled, nudging him with his elbow. "Getting cold feet or something, Naruto?"
Naruto frowned. "No, it just… felt like something big's about to happen. Like… something life-changing."
Ino smirked, crossing her arms. "You're always so dramatic, Naruto."
"Yeah, just relax, man!" Kiba added, grinning.
Naruto forced a laugh, though the uneasy feeling lingered. "Maybe you're right. I'm probably overthinking it." But as they continued their banter, he couldn't shake the nagging sense that his life was about to take a major turn.
--
Just a short while later, a messenger hawk from Shinzoku soared into Konoha, carrying Sirzechs's proposal. The message was delivered straight to the Hokage, who gathered the Konoha 12 for an important announcement.
"Listen up, everyone," the Hokage began. "We've received a marriage proposal from Shinzoku, a powerful village of demons and devils. They've requested an alliance with Konoha, and they're specifically requesting that Naruto marry Sirzechs Lucifer's sister, Rias Gremory."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?! Marriage? Me?"
His friends burst into laughter, not even trying to hold back their reactions.
Sakura smirked, crossing her arms. "Looks like you were right about something big happening to you, Naruto."
Naruto flushed, running a hand through his hair. "But… marriage? I didn't sign up for that!"
Shikamaru shook his head, sighing. "This is such a drag, but think about it, Naruto. A marriage alliance could strengthen Konoha's position and give us powerful allies."
Hinata blushed but offered a kind smile. "Naruto, you've always been about helping others. Maybe this alliance could bring peace between our villages."
Naruto groaned, feeling overwhelmed. "I guess… but it's still a lot to take in." He scratched his head, his friends' laughter ringing in his ears as he tried to process the news. Deep down, though, he knew he'd probably end up going through with it. After all, if it could help protect his village, he'd be willing to do whatever it took—marriage included.