The shackles of fate
In the dim tea room, time seemed stretched, every second filled with cool, cruel calculation. Uchiha Akira, worthy of being the Council of Elders' handpicked envoy, was eloquent and, with unwavering deliberation, he portrayed a naked exchange of political interests as a bright and smooth path guiding a lost girl.
He described the "brilliant" prospects of a marriage with the Night Moon Clan: how a powerful military alliance would instantly reverse the Uchiha clan's precarious border situation; how the Night Moon Clan's prestige would deter the threatening smaller clans, giving the Uchiha clan a precious breathing space and opportunity for development; how, as a link between the two clans, Miss Aoi would be treated with the utmost courtesy and respect after her marriage, and might even influence the Night Moon Clan's future decisions, securing greater long-term benefits for the Uchiha clan. He deliberately downplayed the harsh environment of the Land of Lightning and the Night Moon Clan's sturdy character, instead emphasizing the "sense of security" and "glory" brought by their martial spirit.
"Please rest assured, old lady," Uchiha Akira said sincerely. "The elders are well aware of Miss Aoi's wealth and status, and we will never wrong her. For this marriage, our clan will do its utmost to prepare the most generous dowry and the most magnificent ceremony for Miss Aoi. We will make sure that the Yeyue clan sees our sincerity and regard for us, and that Miss Aoi will have enough confidence and dignity to live in a foreign land. This is not just an alliance, but also a search for a strong support and a glorious future for our noble Uchiha princess."
Grandma listened in silence, as still as the deepest pond. Occasionally, she would raise her eyelids and ask one or two pointed questions, poking at the heart of the matter and potential risks: "What is the temperament of Young Clan Leader Ai of Yeyue? Does he have concubines? What are the attitudes of the Great Masters of the Land of Lightning toward ninja marriages? If the interests of the two clans clash in the future, how will Aoi's position be protected? Regarding the military assistance promised by your elder, what are the specific scale, timeframe, and commanding officers? How will this be implemented? And how much substantive say will my family have in future Uchiha internal affairs?"
Each question was like a precise scalpel, peeling away the flowery diplomatic rhetoric to explore the most practical interests. She wasn't marrying off her granddaughter; she was conducting a rigorous political investment assessment, ensuring that every investment would yield a sufficiently stable and long-term return, and that her family's resources and support would not be wasted.
Uchiha Akira was obviously well prepared and gave detailed and reliable-sounding answers to these questions one by one. Although there were some vague answers and promises that could only be verified in the future, the overall framework and the "sincerity" shown seemed to be enough to impress people.
Finally, when Uchiha Akira, on behalf of the Council of Elders, promised in black and white in a draft secret agreement (although not formally signed, it had already taken shape), which included three years of support for scarce materials, the dispatch of no less than fifty elite ninjas for tactical support in the event of a large-scale attack by the Senju clan, and the need to seek and respect the opinions of the old lady's family in future important decisions of the Uchiha clan (especially in relations with the Fire Nation nobles), the last trace of faint reluctance and hesitation on the old lady's face, which belonged to a grandmother, completely dissipated like mist blown away by the wind.
She slowly lifted the cup of bitter, cold tea in front of her and took a sip, as if to moisten her throat, dry from the long negotiations, and also as if to prepare for what was to come. Then, she slowly put the cup down, her voice steady and without a single inflection, carrying a sense of finality:
"In that case, I understand. Aoi, after all, carries the Uchiha bloodline. As the daughter of the main family, she enjoys the family's support and it is her responsibility and duty to help the family solve its problems. I cannot shirk this responsibility. In principle, I agree with this matter."
She paused and added, her tone businesslike, "Specific matters, including the betrothal gift specifications, dowry list, escort arrangements, and the details of the terms just discussed, still need to be discussed in detail with your elders and implemented one by one. It is imperative that the terms are clear and the responsibilities are clearly defined to avoid unnecessary complications in the future."
This was the final, irreconcilable acquiescence. Though, in the softest corners of her heart, she might have felt a fleeting pity for the quiet, well-behaved granddaughter she had watched grow up, this personal, insignificant emotion paled before the grand scheme of family interests, power consolidation, and the political landscape, easily drowned by the cold tide of rationality. She even used the word "responsibility" to convince herself that this was the inescapable, preordained fate of all noble women, especially those like Aoi, with troublesome ninja blood flowing through their veins. Maximizing family profits through this was her best destiny.
"Thank you, old lady, for your understanding and consideration of the overall situation!" The huge stone that had been hanging in Uchiha Zhao's heart finally fell to the ground. He immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. "Please rest assured! The elders will remember your support today and will never let you down! All the promised terms will be fulfilled one by one! We will ensure the most glorious and dignified ceremony for Miss Aoi, ensuring her a respected position in the Yeyue Clan and a worry-free life!"
The news reached the distant Uchiha clan at top speed through extremely secret, encrypted channels. The anxiously awaited elders were overjoyed upon learning that the highest authority in the capital had relented. They immediately intensified secret negotiations with the Night Moon clan's envoys, formally putting the marriage on the agenda, bargaining and refining the terms. Simultaneously, they began intensively planning how to formally confront the powerful Madara clan leader, who would undoubtedly be extremely opposed to this matter, and how to most safely and securely retrieve their crucial bargaining chip—Uchiha Aoi—from the capital's magnificent prison, reclaiming the precarious Uchiha clan and ushering it into the stage of its predetermined destiny.
An invisible web woven of power, profit, and cold calculation has quietly been woven, slowly but inexorably closing in, precisely enveloping Uchiha Aoi, who, far away in the capital, remains unaware of her impending fate, perhaps still preoccupied with some trivial girlish concerns. Her personal wishes, her emotional belonging, her fleeting hopes for the future, have been reduced to the most important, yet least valued, and expendable pawns in this grand chess game of family survival and power. The shackles of fate, with their cold, metallic sheen, are tightening around her neck and wrists with precise precision.
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