036  - The Shinobi Amazons {PT. II}

NADESHIKO VILLAGE

"I don't care that he is a prodigious Uchiha, nor do I care about how talented he is or how compatible we would be together! I am not getting married to him!"

Marika rubbed her temple in frustration as her successor refused to see reason.

"Shizuka—"

"No, sensei! I am sorry, but I cannot do this! I already have someone I love!"

"Shizuka! Shizu—"

*bang*

Marika winced as the shoji was violently thrown open. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying to the gods that the door was undamaged. As she peeked past her lashes to examine the expensive fixture, silently praying not to have to be forced to have it replaced, her gaze caught her unruly student still standing at the door, seemingly unable to pass. The matriarch felt a flush of embarrassment as she realised who stood at the entrance. 

"Humph!" her student puffed as she glared disdainfully at the Uchiha at the door. The scarred, one-armed boy moved to the side, allowing the rotten child to storm away.

Sasuke stared at Shizuka as she departed before glancing back at Marika seated seiza in the room, one eyebrow raised in apparent confusion. 

"...I hope I am not intruding?" he asked without entering the room.

"No," Marike sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "No, you are not, Uchiha-san. Please, come in. Have a seat."

The boy nodded calmly before stepping into the room. Seeing him so polite made Marika feel a tad uncomfortable, a feeling of guilt rising in her heart as she fully realised what she was about to ask of him. 

"Would you like some tea?" the matriarch asked.

"You did promise me some, didn't you? I really hope you aren't about to go back on your words."

Marika forced a laugh as the feeling of guilt in her heart grew. The next moment, however, she ruthlessly stamped down the emotion.

"Yui! Bring in the tea, please!" Marika ordered. 

"Yes, Chīfu-sama," came a reply from beyond the paper-thin walls. 

"How are you feeling now, Uchiha-san?" Marika asked, her attention panning back to the boy seated across from her.

"I'll live," he shrugged, throwing the matriarch off balance for a moment.

"...That's good to hear," Marika replied moments later, still unsure if it was the most appropriate thing to say in response. Thankfully, just as she was struggling to find the best angle to change the topic without coming off as awkward, Yui entered the room with the requested refreshments, momentarily distracting her guest. 

"Thank you," the Uchiha whispered, flashing a smile at the kunoichi who offered him the tea. Yui, of course, possessing the right amount of social intelligence required of her post, did not display any outward reaction as the Uchiha's raw scars scrunched up with his smile. She simply smiled back in response, nodding, before turning to leave the room. 

Marika watched the boy as he took an exploratory sniff of the beverage in his hands before taking a sip from the cup. 

"Excellent tea," he complimented simply. Marika couldn't tell if he liked it or not. 

"I have had some tea," the boy continued, his smile polite, "so what is it you wanted to talk to me about, Lady Marika?"

"Straight to the point are we?" Marika replied, returning the smile. "I can appreciate that, but before we begin, I wanted to ask what are your opinions about my village."

"My opinions? I am not sure if my opinions on this matter would be of any significant value, Lady Marika. Given Nadeshiko's area of influence never once in its history overlapped with Konoha's, nor did I personally have any tangible connections to this region, I never felt the need to properly educate myself on it. At best, I know some surface-level information, but we both know data that ungrounded would be subjected to significant bias, hence, rendering it worthless. As for what opinions I have formed about the village since my arrival? I do not believe I have stayed here long enough to be able to provide an informed judgment."

Marika nodded, finding herself less guilty and more pleased with her choice the longer she stayed in the boy's presence. "That is understandable," she replied. "Given you have established how little you know of this place, I would like to educate you a little. Would that be ok, Uchiha-san?"

"Of course, go ahead."

"Well, to begin, this entire island is under the military jurisdiction of this village. We have no daimyō that we report to, and instead have an economic relationship with the local lords. We maintain law and order in these regions, protect the shipping lanes, and handle all shinobi contracts required of us as part of our civil obligation and in exchange, we receive funding from the lords who are delegated the task of managing the rest of the populace. 

"Also unlike Konoha, matters of succession here are completely internal, fully independent of outside influence. Families of this village are organised through matrilineality and rulers are chosen via a democratic process during which all major family heads cast a vote to choose amongst a short list of nominees who they would want to take the reins after the previous leader passes. Strength is admired here above all, hence, women from this village must venture outside to find men strong enough to defeat them for marriage."

"...I see," was all the Uchiha said in response.

"...What do you think of my successor, Uchiha-san?" Marika tried again.

"...I know it is easy to forget due to how much further my body has developed compared to my peers, but I hope you do remember I am thirteen?" the boy asked, amused.

Marika winced internally but powered on, keeping the emotion off her face. "When it comes to matters of succession, Uchiha-san, age becomes irrelevant. Disregarding your age, you are very much qualified to be my successor's consort."

The boy snorted at that, his gaze narrowing. "I also hope you remember, I am an Uchiha. A patriarch of the noblest of clans. I am no one's consort."

Marika took a sip from her cup. "Fine, we could have a marriage of equals. It won't be the first time such a thing would be happening in Nadeshiko's illustrious history."

"...That sounds more acceptable," —Marika breathes a sigh of relief— "but for what reason on earth should I wed myself to your successor?"

The matriarch froze, the cup she was bringing to her mouth pausing in mid-air. She looked up to meet the Uchiha's blank stare, confused. 

"...What?"