The elders' coercion
The next morning after settling in, Uchiha Aoi awoke in her temporary quarters. A light morning mist drifted in from the window, shrouding the Uchiha clan land in a hazy haze. After a quick wash, she prepared to greet her brother, Madara, only to be informed that the elders were already waiting in the meeting hall.
The meeting hall, a simple and imposing structure located in the heart of the clan's territory, was instantly overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere she felt as she entered. The soaring ceiling was painted with the Uchiha family crest, a round fan, which, in the dim light, seemed to stare at her like eyes. Six elders, led by Uchiha Kagome, sat on sandalwood chairs on a raised platform, their expressions solemn and their gazes sharp.
Uchiha Hikari was the most prestigious of the elders. Though over sixty, he still stood tall and straight, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light. He didn't stand, simply raising his hand slightly to gesture for Aoi to stand in the center of the hall. The other five elders' gazes fell on her, making her feel like a prey being watched.
"Ms. Aoi, welcome back." Huo He's voice echoed in the empty hall without any warmth. "I'm sure you've seen that our family is facing a critical moment of life and death."
He paused, his gaze fixed on Aoi like a substance. "We have powerful Senju enemies surrounding us, pressing us forward at every turn. Since the death of Master Izuna last year, we have been losing battles against the Senju. Last month, seventeen outstanding members of our clan were killed, including three jonin who had awakened the Three Magatama Sharingan."
Another elder, Uchiha Aoki, chimed in, his voice hoarse and deep, "Internal talent is dwindling, and resources are scarce. Our food reserves are barely enough to last two months, and medicinal materials are even more scarce. The wounded are not receiving timely treatment, and the children's food rations have been cut three times. Uchiha, this is the most dangerous moment."
Aoi lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. She could feel her heartbeat quickening, her hands freezing cold. She had heard of these situations before, but she had never imagined they were this serious.
Uchiha Fire Core slowly stood up, walked to the edge of the platform, and looked down at the girl below: "Although the clan leader is brave, he cannot handle it alone. The only way now is to seek powerful external assistance to help our Uchiha survive this disaster and continue our bloodline and glory."
At this time, the elder sitting on the far right, Uchiha Hiro, added, his eyes fixed on Aoi, "After much consideration and difficult consultations by the Council of Elders, we ultimately believe that a marriage with the Night Moon Clan of the Land of Lightning is the fastest and most effective way forward."
"The Night Moon Clan?" Aoi repeated the name subconsciously, her mind rapidly searching for information about this clan. The Night Moon Clan was a powerful ninja clan from the Land of Lightning, renowned in the ninja world for their lightning-style ninjutsu and powerful physical techniques. It was said that their members were all tall and strong-willed.
Uchiha Huohe nodded and said, "That's right. The Yeyue clan is very powerful. If we can form an alliance with them, the pressure on our Uchiha clan will be greatly reduced, and we can even turn the tide of the war! We have already made preliminary contact with the Yeyue clan, and they are very interested in this proposal, but there is one condition -"
He paused, his eyes fixed on Aoi's pale face. "They require that the person they marry must be a direct blood relative of the Uchiha clan leader."
A marriage? The Yeyue Clan? Aoi's head shot up, the color draining from her face, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief! She finally understood! The so-called "responsibility" they'd summoned her back to was to use her as a political pawn, marrying her off to a completely unfamiliar, renowned ninja clan!
"No... I..." Her intense resistance nearly made her blurt out a refusal. Her voice trembled as countless thoughts flashed through her mind—leaving her hometown, marrying a stranger, and spending the rest of her life in an unfamiliar environment...
"Miss Aoi!" Uchiha Huohe's voice suddenly became stern, carrying a strong sense of oppression, "This is not a joke! This concerns the survival of the entire Uchiha! It is not something that can be influenced by your own emotions!"
He stepped down from the platform and approached, "You have Uchiha blood flowing in your veins, and have enjoyed the protection of your family for many years. Although you are away from the clan's territory most of the time, do you know how many ninjas the family secretly sends to protect you? Do you know how many members of the family sacrifice their lives every year to protect the clan's territory?"
Another elder said coldly, "Or would you rather watch your brother Madara fight to his death alone? Watch the Uchiha clan be completely destroyed, and let the blood of your parents and Izuna-sama be shed in vain?!"
These words were like the sharpest kunai, piercing her most vulnerable part with precision. Aoi thought of her parents who died in battle, of Izuna's brother's last words, and of Madara carrying the family's burden alone.
"But... why me?" Her voice trembled with fear and anger. "Is there no other way? We can form an alliance with other families, or seek support from the daimyo..."
Uchiha Aoki snorted coldly, "Naive! Do you think we haven't tried these things? The Daimyo of the Land of Fire has long been won over by the Senju Clan. Other clans are either struggling to protect themselves or are afraid of the Senju Clan's strength and dare not intervene. Only the Yeyue Clan, far away in the Land of Lightning, has both the power and no vested interests in the Senju Clan."
The elders took turns speaking, their tones sometimes harsh or persuasive, but the core of their message was only one - she had to accept this political marriage.
Aoi felt it was difficult to breathe, as if an invisible giant hand was strangling her throat. She looked around, at the solemn faces of the elders, at the family crests on the round fans above the hall staring back at her, and suddenly felt a suffocating despair.
Finally, she whispered, "Please...please give me some time to think about it."
Uchiha Fire Core narrowed his eyes, and after a moment of silence, he nodded: "Okay. But please don't make us wait too long. The fate of the Uchiha cannot wait."
Aoi almost stumbled out of the meeting room. The stares from behind her were like thorns in her back, making her want to escape from this suffocating place as soon as possible.
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