037  - The Shinobi Amazons {PT. III}

NADESHIKO VILLAGE

"...I don't understand what you mean, Uchiha-san?" Marika replied, a sinking feeling rising in her chest. Rarely does one turn the hand of a kunoichi from Nadeshiko, especially not one as attractive as Shizuka. Marika groaned as the image of a white-haired man with a red line extending from under his eyes surfaced in her mind.

Not him too!

"I mean, why should I have to settle with your successor?" the Uchiha continued with all the calmness of a stern father berating his favourite daughter. "In case you've forgotten, I am quite literally the last living, marriageable Uchiha; a prodigy born from a line of exceptional shinobis. My ancestors succeeded the legendary Madara Uchiha and maintained headship of the clan for over a century through nothing but sheer competence. My father before me was regarded as a monstrous shinobi, having earned himself the title Evil Eye Fugaku on the battlefields of the Third Shinobi Wars. I myself inherited a derivative of his title via my own effort at the age of six. 

"Even the accursed weasel that shares my lineage is no slouch having proved him instrumental in the systematic extermination of my noble clan.

"With all this empirical data, I believe it should be safe to assume that any progeny sired of my seed would possess immense potential. Even without considering any of that, simply the fact that any progeny sired of my seed would be near-guaranteed to possess my clan's signature dojutsu, the Sharingan, should be more than enough reason to explain why I would be hesitant to breed your successor. You are quite literally asking for me to hand over an invaluable kekkei genkai in exchange for… the privilege to wed your successor? That's absurd."

Marika placed her cup down on the table, her gaze trained on the young man seated across from her. The Uchiha stared back, undaunted, as he took a sip from his cup. Despite all that had been said, Marika could feel the hope and anticipation budding in her heart. 

Why? 

He hadn't left yet, that's why.

The smug bastard was bargaining!

Marika licked her lips as she subconsciously revised her reply. "What would it take for a wedding between you two to take place?"

"Nothing," the Uchiha replied, confusing her. "A wedding simply cannot take place. She is to be my consort; I would breed her, fulfilling her societal obligation to bear children for a powerful man. Also, your village gets the most talented female child born of our union as its successor. That's a win no matter how you look at it."

Marika shook her head in opposition to his demands. "That is impossible, Uchiha-san. The leader of Nadeshiko cannot be subordinated to another; this is one of the oldest rules that shape the matters of succession in this village. Shizuka simply cannot become your consort if she is to become chief."

"Then find another to take her place."

Marika shook her head again. "It has to be Shizuka."

The Uchiha fell silent as he observed her silently. "Daughter?"

"Niece," Marika replied.

"Ah… nepotism at its finest," the young man sighed. "Fine then, she can choose not to be my consort and still bear my progeny so long as she swears off marriage to another; this oath is to be upheld by the village at the threat of her life. I would tolerate no stains to the Uchiha name. Not any more."

Marika gritted her teeth together. "...Fine."

"Now that we've found common ground, let's discuss what this would cost you…"

The matriarch dreaded where the conversation was now heading. "What do you want?" she asked warily.

"First, I intend to punish Konoha for their crimes against my clan. Openly attacking the patriarch of a clan is more than enough reason to declare war. I would require Nadeshiko to provide military aid in that regard."

"I would not be dragging my village into a conflict against Konoha for you, Uchiha-san," Marika refused immediately. 

"Understandable," the Uchiha replied. "To be honest, I would prefer my connection to this village remained a secret for as long as possible anyway so we agree in this regard. All I require from Nadeshiko is materiel support, not personnel. Not a single kunoichi needs to leave the village to fight my war, but I expect to be able to use your explosive tags and storage seals on the battlefield, as well as sufficient funding to hire mercenary-nin in place of the kunoichis that would have seen battle otherwise."

"...We would need to work out the details of this at a later date, but it can be arranged.'

"Good. Now for my second request, I would be requiring a maximum security facility in which I can store a high-value… prisoner."

"...Who is this prisoner exactly?"

"A Hyuga. I intend to collect one for research purposes and would require a discrete location to store such an individual."

"...Odd, but that can also be arranged."

"Wonderful. And for the final request, I want a signed agreement guaranteeing that even if Nadeshiko refuses to join the Uchiha clan's side in the event of any conflict from now henceforth, they would remain completely neutral. Also, during said conflict, even if Nadeshiko remains neutral they would still maintain economic ties with the Uchiha clan and its allies, whilst completely cutting off trade with its enemies."

Marika paused at that one as she considered its far-reaching implications. She almost turned the young man down at that, but the prospect of gaining a kekkei genkai as potent as the Sharingan for her village made her hesitate. In her state of indecisiveness, she questioned herself regarding the possibility of the Uchiha getting into a conflict with another hidden village and quickly realised how unlikely it was. There was also, the matter of whether the boy would survive long enough for that to actually become an issue with his apparent insistence to escalate a conflict with Konoha. The most likely scenario would be the young man lying dead on some battlefield somewhere in a few months, leaving behind Shizuka bearing the Uchiha's only heir and Nadeshiko as the sole remaining custodians of the Sharingan.

"...Fine, that can also be arranged," she said, a smile threatening to curl her lips at the thought. 

"Good." the Uchiha nodded in approval.

Marika watched as he took another sip of his tea before suggesting hesitantly. "...I would advise you laid low here until you come of age; I would feel more comfortable making actual investments in this plan of yours when my successor is with child."

"No need," the Uchiha replied. "I am virile as I am; as long as the girl is ready, we can get started. You can use the few weeks it would take for the signs of fertilization to appear to begin fulfilling our agreement and everyone stays happy. It might not seem like it, but I am currently running on a timetable. In a few months, this agreement would no longer be as appealing to me as it is now, and if, somehow, I even still consider it worthwhile then, we might need to renegotiate the whole deal. I am not sure you would be so willing to agree then."

Marika frowned. "...Are you sure?"

"Of course, I am sure. You can't claim to know my body better than I do. But if you still have your doubts, you can have Yusuke-san arrange a test. That ought to clear things up, no?"

Marika's brows remained furrowed. "I am still not comfortable pushing things so fast. Can't you try to push back whatever it is you have planned for a few months at least? She is a normally quiet child, but at the moment, I don't think Shizuka would even tolerate, much less agree, to this at all."

"That's none of my concern," the Uchiha replied, his countenance suddenly turning cold. "If she remains indecisive or refuses to come to terms with the reality of things in a week from now—I don't care if she is your niece or whatnot—go find someone else. If a week passes and you still yet have not found a girl for me to put a child into, I will take my leave. If our paths cross after that we might revisit this matter at such a time if it is convenient for us both.

"Either way, goodnight, Lady Marika. I must have my rest. Medic's orders."

And with that, Sasuke rose, leaving the woman to her thoughts.