"Clan Head, word from patrol. The Inuzuka clan head is heading for the Hokage Tower with several clansmen," a Police Force Uchiha reported.
"Uncle, we have to move fast," Renji said, anxious. "Block them and invite them to us. If the Hokage steps in, what leverage do we have left?"
"Have the next sector intercept. Use reverse summoning if needed," Uchiha Nobunaga ordered crisply.
"Go invite the Grand Elder. Tell him we intend to negotiate with the Inuzuka," Nobunaga added with a small smile. Everyone clearly felt they had this cornered clan on the hook.
"Uncle, I'll go to the Summoning Realm myself to pick suitable hounds. Also, I suggest we learn from Lord Hokage's playbook and have my father join the talks," Renji said, glancing at his father with a calm grin.
Alright, Dad, time to shine. Whether we bring them to our side will depend on your Uchiha-style Will of Fire.
A few Uchihas, each with a giant hound, intercepted the Inuzuka party. "Greetings. I am Uchiha Shingen," the lead Uchiha said. "By order of our clan head, we invite the Inuzuka to the Uchiha compound to discuss cooperation." He patted his partner, the giant hound Yasha.
Inuzuka Xiaotian understood immediately what this meant. Their clan's lifeline was gripped in Uchiha hands. Refusing was not an option. He had hoped to involve the Hokage, but the Uchiha moved faster.
"The Uchiha's invitation is generous. We will go now," Xiaotian replied, swallowing his unease, and turned toward the Uchiha district.
At the gate, they were greeted by the Third Elder and Takuma Uchiha. The two had been chosen to receive the Inuzuka because they were the friendliest faces of Uchiha leadership.
They traded pleasantries and headed for the Grand Elder's residence. Along the way, Takuma animatedly introduced the great hounds they passed, their origins, innate talents, and how terrifyingly strong they were when paired with Uchiha shinobi. The Third Elder explained how to live with the hounds, how gentle they could be, and their habits, noting that many could speak.
At the residence, Nobunaga and several three-tomoe elites waited at the door to greet them. The Uchiha were laying it on thick with sincerity and warmth.
This shocked the Inuzuka. In their minds, the Uchiha were pride incarnate. Since when did they host like this? A few even wondered if they were trapped in genjutsu.
Inside the courtyard, many high-ranking Uchiha were present. Faces the Inuzuka recognized were all here. Their hearts thumped. Was this a show of force? What were the Uchiha planning?
"Hahaha, you must be the Inuzuka clan head. Truly impressive bearing," the elder in the center said, stepping forward to clasp Xiaotian's hand. "I am Uchiha Sora, Grand Elder of the Uchiha. Welcome."
"Come, sit inside. It has been too long since we hosted guests," Nobunaga called.
Guided by Sora and the senior Uchiha, the Inuzuka entered a room with a large round wooden table. When they sat, they found every Inuzuka seated between two Uchiha, one on each side.
Takuma clapped, and the Inuzuka flinched, thinking the trap would spring. Instead, Uchiha youths carried in fruit, wine, and platters of meat until the table was full.
Now they were sure it had to be genjutsu. They channeled chakra and whispered "Release."
Renji, watching from within the hall, nearly laughed out loud.
"Raise your cups to welcome our honored guests from the Inuzuka," Sora said.
The Uchiha all lifted their cups with friendly smiles. Xiaotian forced one of his own and clinked cups with Sora and Nobunaga. Seeing their leader drink, the Inuzuka eased slightly, and the toasts began to flow.
After a few rounds, Nobunaga gave a look. Enough prelude. Bring out the main course.
Takuma nodded. "Senior Xiaotian, to be frank, we invited you here for an important matter."
He stood and spoke like a seasoned orator. "Long ago, our Uchiha forebears, alongside the Senju, rallied the clans and civilians, braving hardships to build Konoha's glory.
"Yet because of misunderstandings, the village grew wary of us. We have never stopped trying to mend those rifts. In the First and Second Great Wars, we bled for Konoha. Still, recognition eluded us. When a body is wounded, we go to the hospital. When a heart is wounded, who heals it? The Uchiha have endured."
He drank a cup, then continued. "We stitch our own hearts with love. We still love this village. We still fight for it. We will not give up on breaking through walls of prejudice or cutting the cords of rumor. We will step into the light, stand with all who love Konoha, and build a better future together."
The surrounding Uchiha applauded. The Inuzuka looked bewildered. What did this have to do with them? Still, with the mood surging, they clapped along.
Seeing the timing was right, Takuma went on. "Recently, my son Renji obtained a summoning scroll on a mission. It belongs to the Hellhound Clan. That is why you see ninja hounds at our side. It turns out this is a legacy of our ancestors. Only Uchiha blood can sign the primary pact, and it binds to a single signer.
"So only Renji holds the master contract. But every awakened Uchiha can form an individual equal contract through him. In other words, from this moment, that summoning clan stands side by side with the Uchiha as partners in life and death."
As he spoke, great hounds padded into the hall and nuzzled their partners, turning the meeting into a joyous reunion of man and beast.
Hearing this, Xiaotian and his clansmen felt their hearts plummet. They had hoped this was just a normal summoning scroll that the Hokage might help balance out. Instead, it sounded like a death sentence for their lineage. With Sharingan and Hellhounds together, where did that leave the Inuzuka? Faces turned ashen.
Nobunaga signaled for restraint. They had guests, after all. Seeing the Inuzuka's expressions, he nodded to Takuma to continue.
"We held the Great Summoning Ceremony at dawn," Takuma said. "From now on, we will grow and fight with our partners until life's end.
"When word of your clan's distress reached us, we convened immediately. We agreed that just because Uchiha recovered a long-lost partner, we could not let the Inuzuka be reduced to shinobi who could not even step outside. We are comrades of one village, brothers in one trench. Uchiha will not watch our own suffer.
"So we racked our brains and found a way. Though non-Uchiha cannot contract the Hellhound Clan, we can let Hellhounds breed with your finest ninja dogs."
It struck the Inuzuka like a bolt of hope. Of course. Puppies. What a lifeline. It felt like someone hauling them from quicksand. This might be their last chance.
They forced themselves to stay calm. Good things never came without a price. What would the Uchiha demand?
Sora stepped in smoothly. "We propose cooperation. Together we will build an area in Konoha to house our partners. We also hope your clan can provide feed and share experience in living with ninja dogs. We do not ask for your clan's jutsu."
Xiaotian blinked. That was it? Housing? Feed? He hugged his dogs when he slept and ran a dog clan. This sounded like a gift.
Nobunaga continued. "That is the outline. The details will take time. Raising a new ninja-dog lineage is not simple. We will be feeling our way together. What do you think, Clan Head Xiaotian?"
Xiaotian was still stunned, combing the offer for traps. Since when were the Uchiha this easy to talk with? Had generations misjudged them? He realized he barely knew them beyond rumor.
Seeing him hesitate, Sora spoke gently. "Do not overthink it. Cooperation requires both sides to nod. If you disagree, we will not force you. If you agree, your clan becomes our partner, and we treat partners with the highest respect. No one bullies our partners. Not even the Hokage."
He opened his three tomoe with a calm, unblinking gaze.
Takuma stepped in, steady and warm. "If our clans work together, the Hokage will be pleased. It strengthens both our houses and the village. He might even grant land. Expanding into the Forest of Death could be ideal.
"In any case, our wish is simple. We want everyone in Konoha to live better, free from prejudice under the same sky. This is a signal of friendship. I believe the Inuzuka can receive it. What do you say, Senior Xiaotian?"
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