Chapter 19: A Very "Uchiha" Proposal

Raiden stood frozen, eyes wide, trying to process what Madara had just said.

"...Marriage?" he finally stammered, his voice barely audible. He had expected a lot from this meeting—maybe some strategic alliances, maybe talk of how to unite the clans—but marriage? This wasn't on his list.

Hashirama, lying next to them on the ground, practically exploded into laughter. "You've gotta be kidding me! Raiden, tied down to an Uchiha?!" He rolled onto his side, clutching his stomach as he laughed even harder. "You'll have to learn how to fight with more than just seals if that's the case!"

Raiden shot Hashirama an exasperated glare. "This isn't funny!"

Hashirama, barely catching his breath, wiped away a tear. "No, no. It's very funny."

Madara, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed by Raiden's panic. "It's not a joke. A union by marriage will solidify the trust between our clans. It'll make the transition easier when we decide to ally in the future."

Raiden stood there, his mind reeling. This wasn't something he had even considered. Marrying into the Uchiha clan? He didn't even get married in his last life! "And if the marriage fails?" he asked, grasping at straws. "We'll end up fighting in a shinobi divorce court?"

Hashirama snorted, trying and failing to hold back more laughter. "Divorce court? You'll be too busy dodging Uchiha kunai if that happens!"

Madara raised an eyebrow. "Marriage is serious business in my clan. It's a sign of absolute loyalty. It's not something to joke about."

Raiden's mouth opened and closed as he tried to process the situation. "Look, I wasn't exactly expecting this level of... commitment when we talked about uniting the clans."

Madara's expression remained firm. "If you're serious about this grand plan of yours—about uniting the shinobi world—you need to show the Uchiha that you're willing to bind our fates together."

Raiden sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. But can we focus on conquering the shinobi world before we get into wedding plans?"

Hashirama grinned, sitting up. "No avoiding it now, Raiden. You've been officially drafted into the Uchiha family!"

"Great," Raiden muttered sarcastically. "I can already feel the in-laws watching me like hawks."

Madara, sensing the conversation was moving away from humor, shifted his focus. "You said you want to unite the clans. What's the first step in your plan?"

Raiden straightened, grateful for the change in direction. "The first step is obvious—we take control of our respective clans. Leadership is key. We can't make any significant moves unless we're in charge."

Both Madara and Hashirama nodded in agreement. The gravity of the situation returned, and the humor began to dissipate as the reality of what lay ahead set in.

"But gaining control isn't enough," Raiden continued. "Once we're in charge, the next move is to secure resources. The shinobi world runs on power and supplies. Whoever controls the flow of resources controls the battlefield. We can't just focus on winning battles; we need to control trade routes, territories rich in resources, and alliances with smaller clans."

Madara's eyes gleamed with interest. "Go on."

Raiden knelt down, drawing a rough map of the continent in the dirt with his finger. "Right now, the major clans like the Uchiha and Senju dominate because of their sheer strength. But there are smaller clans—ones that could be easily influenced or coerced into supporting us."

Hashirama's eyes narrowed as he studied the map. "You're suggesting we take over these smaller clans without fighting?"

"Exactly," Raiden replied, tapping on the areas he'd marked. "Why waste manpower on a full-scale assault when we can secure them through diplomacy and trade? Some clans are tired of constant fighting. We offer them protection in exchange for loyalty."

"And the ones that refuse?" Madara asked, his voice sharp.

"We make them understand that resistance is futile." Raiden's voice was calm, but his words carried weight. "Not by killing them—but by showing them that aligning with us is their best chance for survival. We present a united front, one too powerful to ignore. If that doesn't work, we systematically cut off their supplies. They'll come to us eventually."

Hashirama nodded slowly, starting to see the bigger picture. "You're talking about controlling the flow of everything—food, weapons, information."

Raiden smiled. "Exactly. We're not just creating a temporary alliance. We're laying the foundation for a long-term system where the clans depend on us for survival. Once we have control of resources, we don't have to fight every battle head-on. We'll win wars without ever needing to draw our weapons."

Madara looked impressed. "You think like a general."

"Sometimes, the best battles are the ones you don't fight," Raiden replied. "Look, all of this fighting between clans is about resources, power, and territory. If we can provide stability—if we can become the sole source of stability—they'll flock to us. Once that happens, no one will question our authority."

"And the larger clans?" Madara asked, his voice calculating. "The ones who might not appreciate us meddling with their influence?"

"We deal with them carefully," Raiden said. "We don't confront them directly—at least not at first. We focus on weakening their alliances. Divide and conquer. Once we've secured a strong enough foundation, we turn our attention to the bigger players. But by that time, it'll be too late for them to stop us."

Hashirama smiled. "So, what you're saying is... we don't just fight with brute strength. We fight with strategy, using every tool at our disposal."

"Exactly," Raiden nodded. "Brute strength has its place, but we'll make our mark through control, influence, and long-term vision. We need to be thinking five steps ahead of everyone else."

Madara's expression softened, and for the first time, he looked genuinely impressed. "I like your way of thinking."

Hashirama looked between the two of them, the playful energy from before completely gone. "So, when we become the leaders of our clans, the first course of action is to secure resources and start building alliances with the smaller clans."

"Right," Raiden confirmed. "That's how we establish ourselves. Once we have enough influence, we bring in the larger clans. We don't challenge them—we convince them that peace is in their best interest."

Madara nodded, eyes burning with determination. "We'll make them see."

"Now that's a plan," Hashirama added with a grin. "Looks like we're on the right track."

Raiden added "But that is just the land of Fire there is much more chaos outside of it"

Hashirama looked curiously at Raiden while Madara asked, "You mean the land of water, earth, wind, and lightning."

Raiden nodded, a grin forming on his face. "Exactly. The shinobi world doesn't end with the Land of Fire. If we want to create lasting peace and true control, we have to expand outward. But we need to be smart about it. We can't just rush into open conflict with everyone."

Hashirama, leaning back on his hands, gave Raiden a curious look. "So, what's the plan, then? You're not suggesting we fight all the major nations at once, are you?"

Raiden shook his head, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "No. At least, not directly. We'll use a smoke screen tactic."

"Smoke screen?" Madara repeated, intrigued.

Raiden smirked. "We make it look like the clans within the Land of Fire are still at war. Keep up appearances—Uchiha versus Senju, Uzumaki doing their own thing—but behind the scenes, we're solidifying our alliance. We let everyone believe the internal conflicts are consuming us, while we secretly prepare to strike out."

Madara nodded slowly, his mind clearly working through the possibilities. "And while they're distracted with the chaos inside the Land of Fire, we hit them where they least expect."

"Exactly," Raiden said, tracing his finger over the rough map he had drawn earlier. "Our first target will be the Land of Water. They're isolated and difficult to access, but if we secure them first, our rear will be protected. No one will be able to strike us from behind."

Hashirama scratched his chin, his eyes narrowing as he considered the plan. "The Land of Water is tough... they've got natural defenses. But if we secure it, you're right—our back will be protected. And with their resources, we can push outward."

Raiden nodded. "After we secure the Land of Water, Hashirama, you'll lead a strike on the Land of Lightning. Their military strength is impressive, but they're spread thin. If we can destabilize their leadership, they'll crumble."

Hashirama grinned. "I like the sound of that. I've heard their forces are tough, but they rely too much on brute strength. I'll take care of it."

Raiden turned to Madara. "As for you... you'll lead our forces into the Land of Wind. Their territory is vast, but they don't have the numbers to defend it properly. Once we get them to spread their forces thin, you'll crush them with surgical strikes."

Madara's eyes lit up with approval. "A mix of Uchiha and Senju forces... we'll take them by surprise."

Raiden nodded. "We'll use a mixed army of shinobi from the Land of Fire—Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and others. Our combined strength will be unmatched, but we won't reveal our true alliance until we've already started taking these territories."

Hashirama leaned in, his voice growing more serious. "And what happens when the other nations catch on? Once we've taken these lands, the other major players—like the Land of Earth—will come after us."

"That's the beauty of it," Raiden replied with a confident smile. "By the time they realize what's happening, we'll already be too powerful. They'll be forced to negotiate or risk destruction."

Madara nodded, eyes burning with determination. "And if they resist, we finish what we started."

"Exactly," Raiden said. "We play the long game. We don't rush. We conquer the surrounding nations first, one by one, while they think we're too busy fighting each other to notice. By the time they realize the truth, it'll be too late."

Hashirama grinned. "I knew bringing you into this was the right idea. You think like a real strategist."

Raiden chuckled. "Someone has to. And trust me, once we start, there'll be no stopping us."

Madara smirked, standing up. "Then it's settled. The first move is ours. We'll build the alliance, solidify our power, and strike where they least expect."

Raiden looked between Hashirama and Madara, feeling the excitement build. They were on the verge of something monumental—a plan that could reshape the entire shinobi world. The future lay before them, and Raiden knew they were destined to change it.

"Of course, none of this will work without that marriage alliance."

Raiden groaned. "And we're back to this again…"

Hashirama burst out laughing once more, and even Madara's lips twitched into a smirk. Raiden rubbed his temples, resigning himself to the inevitable.

Conquer the world first, deal with Uchiha marriage proposals later.