In Konoha, power can be bought. But marriage? That's a killing blow.
"The Uchiha clan's offer will not disappoint."
Fugaku Uchiha stood tall, confidence written all over his face.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, finally interested. He leaned back slightly, eyes roaming over Fugaku with lazy amusement.
"Oh?"
"Go on. I'm listening."
Fugaku clenched his teeth.
The original offer the clan had prepared clearly wouldn't be enough. If he wanted to win today, he'd have to bleed a little more.
"Master Alaric," Fugaku said firmly,
"the Uchiha clan is willing to transfer an entire commercial district near our core territory to you—free of charge."
"We will also assign five Uchiha jōnin to serve under your command."
"What do you think?"
Alaric considered it.
The commercial district was valuable—busy, profitable, and well-developed.
But the jōnin?
That part annoyed him.
Guards? Or spies planted right next to me?
His expression cooled.
Fugaku panicked.
"We'll also—" he rushed on,
"—form a marriage alliance with the Sarutobi clan!"
That one landed.
Alaric finally nodded, satisfied.
An Uchiha bloodline legally entering the Sarutobi family?
That was worth far more than money.
Across the room, Hiashi Hyuga's face darkened.
Unlike the Uchiha, the Hyuga system forbade bloodline dilution.
Hyuga married out, and you got a new Hyuga—eyes and all.
This single move had nearly checkmated him.
Seeing Hiashi hesitate, Fugaku smirked.
"What's wrong?"
"Did the Hyuga clan come empty-handed?"
"Or are you saying Master Alaric isn't worth serious terms?"
That did it.
Hiashi snapped.
"Enough, Fugaku."
He turned to Alaric, voice steady but urgent.
"Master Alaric—do you remember my daughter, Hinata?"
"You once saved her from a group of street thugs."
Alaric's interest flickered again.
"She's never forgotten you," Hiashi continued.
"And as her father, I've decided—today—to betroth her to you."
"Tonight, Hinata will come to the Sarutobi estate."
"Along with the Hyuga clan's dowry."
Silence.
Then—
Fugaku's heart dropped.
You bastard.
He finally understood.
This wasn't negotiation.
This was execution.
"Hiashi Hyuga!" Fugaku exploded.
"You shameless—!"
Hiashi smiled calmly.
"You offered marriage."
"I offered my daughter."
"You can't blame me for having one."
That line killed the room.
Fugaku went dead silent.
Because the truth hurt:
He had two sons.
And no counterplay.
Alaric didn't bother hiding his satisfaction.
Hinata living with him?
Perfect.
Close proximity meant confidence.
No more fainting spells.
No more blushing herself unconscious before anything even started.
This was long-term value.
Without wasting another second, Alaric tossed two Advisor uniforms onto the table.
"Enough."
"The Advisor seats are yours."
"But—" his gaze slid to Fugaku, sharp and amused,
"from now on, Advisor Uchiha listens to Advisor Hyuga."
Fugaku nearly blacked out.
Hiashi, on the other hand, bowed with a gentle smile.
"Understood."
"I'll have Hinata brought over tonight."
They left soon after.
Back at the Hyuga compound, cheers erupted.
The elders praised Hiashi's decisiveness.
Hinata herself turned red on the spot—
and nearly fainted.
Hiashi watched quietly, guilt easing just a little.
She likes him anyway, he reasoned.
A win for everyone.
The Uchiha compound, however, was chaos.
"Unacceptable!"
"We're the strongest dōjutsu clan!"
"And now we take orders from the Hyuga?!"
In the corner, an elder muttered under his breath:
"If only the clan head had a daughter…"
The room went dead silent.
Fugaku's face darkened like a thundercloud.
"Who said that?"
"Step forward if you've got the guts."
No one moved.
Because some truths—
were more dangerous than any jutsu.
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