Undercurrent

Uchiha Madara sat in his seat as clan leader. The chair, crafted from solid obsidian, felt cold and heavy, reflecting his current state of mind. The red and white Uchiha fan crest, once a symbol of supreme glory and power, hung high on the wall behind him. Now, it seemed shrouded in the lingering shadow of war and heavy fatigue. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan granted him the ability to see everything and harness his powerful eye power. His vision was unprecedentedly clear and sharp, allowing him to discern even the subtlest trajectories of chakra flow. However, this power did not alleviate the immense burden he bore. Instead, it felt like a more delicate and painful bond, tying him ever more tightly to the fate of his clan. Every time he used it, he could almost hear the sighs of Izuna and his father's departed spirits.

Izuna's death, along with his father Uchiha Tajima's defeat in battle, are like two deepest, most painful, and unhealed scars, searing his heart day and night, the driving force that drives him forward and torments his soul. Now, not only must he contend with the ever-growing might of the Senju Clan, particularly the seemingly limitless power of Hashirama Senju and his cunning and resourceful brother Tobirama, but he must also contend with the growing instability and undercurrents within his own ranks. Beyond the usual awe in his fellow clansmen's eyes, a tinge of unease, suspicion, and even... a subtle hint of fear begins to linger.

The atmosphere in the oval-shaped clan meeting hall was oppressive, like the stillness of the sea before a storm, the air so thick it was almost suffocating. A few oil lamps flickered with a dim glow, barely illuminating the varied faces of those present. Several of the most senior Uchiha elders, those with the greatest authority and who could even, on a regular basis, constrain the clan leader's decisions, sat at the specially appointed seats slightly higher than those of ordinary clan members, their faces sullen. The oldest, Uchiha Fire Core, was the leader. His face was as withered as dried bark, riddled with wrinkles. But the gaze from his sunken eye sockets remained as sharp as a hawk circling high in the sky, awaiting its prey. His voice was hoarse and low, yet it carried an undeniable weight honed by the passage of time. Each word struck like a hammer striking a dull drum:

"Chief Madara," he nodded slightly, his etiquette was impeccable, but his tone was tentative, "In recent days, there have been several border frictions and large-scale conflicts with the Senju clan, and our men have suffered heavy casualties... Especially the outstanding young men, many of whom have lost a lot, which is truly a pain for the family. Although you are unparalleled in bravery and talent, and have recently gained... new eye power (he carefully avoided the sensitive word 'eternal Mangekyo'), and can be called the pillar of our clan, however, the battlefield is ruthless, and two fists cannot beat four hands. In the long run, this may not be a good strategy." His words sounded like worried concern, but in fact they were sharp, and he cleverly linked the heavy losses in the clan with Madara's "independence".

Before he finished speaking, another equally powerful elder beside him, the Uchiha Yashiro, a middle-aged man with a slightly plump face but shrewd eyes, immediately interrupted with a more urgent tone: "Elder Fire Core is absolutely right. The brothers Hashirama Senju and Tobirama complement each other's abilities and work together in perfect harmony. The power of their Wood Style and Water Style ninjutsu is becoming increasingly terrifying, and their strength is growing at a rate far exceeding our expectations. On the other hand, our clan suffered a huge loss with the tragic and heroic sacrifice of Lord Izuna, which has caused a gap in our clan's high-end combat power and a lack of successors. Now, it is extremely difficult for the clan leader to maintain the current precarious situation alone. It will exhaust all his energy. How can he even talk of reviving the family's glory and avenging our blood feud?" His words were even more blunt, almost blatantly labeling Madara as "unable to support the family alone", questioning his leadership's inability to bring substantial victory and hope for the family's future, and even vaguely blaming him for the unsuccessful revenge.

The other few mid-level cadres and elite jonin who were sitting scattered around the field all lowered their heads when they heard this, not daring to express their opinions easily, but the anxiety and uneasiness in the air became increasingly thicker.

Madara's cold, slow gaze swept over everyone present. His deep, eternal Mangekyō Sharingan (unactivated, remaining a simple, dark darkness), imbued with immense power yet laden with boundless sorrow, showed no trace of emotion, like a bottomless, icy pond. Yet, the bone-chilling low pressure and the terrifying, battle-hardened aura he emanated from him sent a chill through the hearts of many present. They subconsciously avoided his gaze, finding it difficult to breathe.

The meeting room fell into an awkward silence, with only the crackling sound of the burning oil lamp.

After a long time, Ban slowly spoke, his voice calm and without any emotion, as if he was discussing something that had nothing to do with him: "So, according to the elders, what should we do now?" He threw the question back lightly, neither angry nor defensive, showing the composure that a clan leader should have, but also with an inviolable aloofness.

Uchiha Hikari exchanged a knowing glance with the other elders. He coughed dryly and spoke slowly, his tone becoming more earnest, as if fully concerned with the future of the clan: "It's not a brilliant opinion. In my humble opinion, perhaps... in this critical moment, our clan needs to open its mind and seek some... powerful external support. Relying solely on the Uchiha Clan's strength to fully compete with the currently powerful Senju seems increasingly... inadequate. Working in isolation is probably not a long-term solution."

"External assistance?" Madara's brows knitted slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the hard armrest unconsciously. "What exactly do you mean?" He was already alert in his heart. These old guys would never do anything without a purpose.

Uchiha Fire Core took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. His cloudy but shrewd eyes looked directly at Madara, and he uttered two words that were not unfamiliar to the ninja clan during the Warring States Period, but which made the proud Uchiha feel complicated: "Marriage."

Those two words, like two boulders dropped into a calm lake, instantly sent ripples through the sullen conference room. From the audience, a subtle commotion and gasps echoed, unable to be completely suppressed. Marriages were not uncommon among the major ninja clans during the Warring States Period, often used as a political tool to forge temporary alliances, resolve conflicts, or exchange resources. However, for the Uchiha clan, who prided themselves on their bloodline limits, were generally arrogant, and placed great emphasis on family purity and unity, actively seeking marriages outside the clan was, to some extent, a disguised denial of their own strength, potentially even inviting unpredictable risks.

Madara remained silent, his fingers pausing their tapping on the armrest. He understood, more than anyone, the weight and significance of "marriage" in political maneuvers. But deep down, he utterly resented the idea of ​​entrusting his family's fate and future to the fragile bonds of marriage. This contradicted his belief in absolute power and the supremacy of his own strength. He was even more unwilling to see himself, or anyone else in his family, manipulated by the elders, used as a tool or pawn for their own gain. Izuna's death had already instilled in him a painful sensitivity to the word "sacrifice."

However, as he pondered the pros and cons and risks of a marriage alliance, he failed to immediately perceive the glint of meaning and a tacit understanding that flickered beneath the elders' gazes, seemingly filled with concern for the nation and its people, when they mentioned the idea of ​​a marriage alliance. A hidden undercurrent, unknown to him, had long been brewing within the family while he focused on confronting powerful external enemies. And its ultimate target wasn't him, but his only vulnerability: his sister, Uchiha Aoi, whom he had carefully protected, away from the bloody maelstrom and now nestled in a noble mansion in the capital. The elders' calculations had long since settled on this princess, a princess of noble descent, who had been living in exile.