Chapter 35: The Ties That Bind

"Has this kid always been this good?" 

Uzumaki Mito carefully set the document down and leaned toward Uchiha Sarah, his voice low yet curious. 

"Yeah! Ever since he got the hang of it, he's been exceptional," Sarah replied with a warm chuckle. "He's always been on top of his game, hasn't he?" 

Mito's eyes gleamed with both admiration and a hint of envy. "Awesome! I really envy you—if Nawaki were even half as brilliant as him, I wouldn't be so worried." 

With a resigned smile, Mito extended two documents toward Sarah. "Let's set aside the chatter for now and sign the covenant," he suggested. 

Sarah's smile broadened as she retorted, "I've already signed and sealed my part—you're the only one left!" 

"OK!" Mito agreed. Sarah swiftly signed her name in bold strokes and pressed her handprint onto the papers. With each taking a copy, the covenant was sealed—a binding promise for their future. 

"Here!" Mito announced, handing over a thick stack of scrolls to Sarah. "This is everything you asked for: the Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama's Water Style, and several books on sealing techniques. All of it is here—feel free to examine it." 

Sarah waved her hand dismissively, a playful glint in her eyes, as she sent the scrolls into the space-time gate. "No need to double-check right now," she said confidently. "If something's missing, I'll find it later. And besides, there's no way you'll slip away without me noticing!" 

Mito narrowed his eyes in a mix of curiosity and surprise at her swift method. After a brief pause, he shifted the conversation. "By the way, have you heard about the situation in the Whirlpool Country?" 

Sarah raised her eyebrows and smiled knowingly. "Of course I have. We Uchiha always stay well-informed about what's going on." 

Her tone grew urgent. "It seems the other four major ninja villages are planning a coordinated attack on the Whirlpool Country. Their goal is to seize its unique bloodline and harness its ancient sealing techniques." 

Mito leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Why would they do that? Are they expecting us to help in their scheme?" 

Sarah's response was blunt. "Yes, they are—but that request is outside our current covenant. An ally of an ally doesn't automatically become my ally." 

Mito nodded thoughtfully. "You can help, but it will come at another price," he stated firmly. 

"Of course," Sarah agreed calmly. "Now, tell me your conditions." 

Mito's gaze hardened with resolve. "The fate of the Uzumaki clan is separate from our alliance with the Senju and Uchiha. If we're to work together, we must establish clear and unequivocal terms." 

Sarah paused, considering the gravity of the situation. "From what I gather," she said slowly, "after this incident, I doubt the Uzumaki clan can continue to stay in the Land of Whirlpools. The pressure from the four major ninja villages will force their hand." 

Mito's voice grew somber. "Exactly. Unless we intervene, the four major ninja villages won't stop until they've taken everything they want." 

A heavy silence settled between them as the weight of impending conflict loomed. This covenant wasn't just a document—it was a lifeline for their clans, a promise of strategic partnership in a world teetering on the edge of chaos. 

Sarah met Mito's gaze with unwavering determination. "Then we must act decisively," she declared. "Our terms must ensure the survival and independence of our clans. We cannot allow our legacies to be erased by outside forces." 

Mito nodded. "Very well," he said resolutely. "Let this covenant be our beacon of hope and our shield against the storms to come." 

In that charged moment, amidst whispers of alliances and the threat of conflict, they braced themselves for a future where every promise could be the key to survival.

"By then, the Uzumaki clan might have no choice but to move to Konoha—or even join Konoha directly, right?" 

"Yes!" Sarah replied decisively. 

Uzumaki Mito nodded firmly. "I'm going there in person this time. Even if Uzumaki Akihime disagrees, I will force this matter through!" 

He continued, his voice laced with urgency. "The clan can't always be on guard. In the eyes of the four major ninja villages—and even Konoha—the Uzumaki clan is just a succulent piece of meat waiting to be devoured. Who wouldn't want a bite?" 

Mito's tone softened, though the determination remained. "Joining Konoha is our best destination. It's the most effective way to save the Uzumaki clan. The Senju are currently weak, and if our distant yet allied clan joins forces with them, it will greatly boost their strength and competitiveness. It's truly a win-win situation." 

A pause fell over the room before Sarah broke in with a new proposal. "After that, I'd like us to obtain a copy of the Uzumaki clan's sealing technique—one that doesn't involve any blood secrets. And further, I hope that our three clans can eventually initiate a system of mutual marriage." 

A murmur of surprise rippled through the group. Mito frowned in confusion. "Hmm? The previous conditions were within my expectations, but that latter idea… I didn't see that coming." 

Even Tsunade, who had been quietly discussing matters with Ethan, now stopped mid-conversation, her interest clearly piqued by Sarah's unexpected condition. 

"Why would you want Uchiha intermarriage with Senju and Uzumaki?" Mito asked, genuinely puzzled. "Is it simply to bind the three clans closer together?" 

Sarah chuckled softly. "Haha! This involves a secret among the three clans," she said with a knowing smile as she exchanged a glance with Ethan. 

Leaning closer, she continued slowly, "I learned from some ancient clan books that thousands of years ago, the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki clans may have all descended from the same ancestor." 

"The Sage of Six Paths!" came the immediate exclamation. 

Both Mito and Tsunade were taken aback. "Huh? Are you certain?" they asked in unison. "You're saying that Senju and Uchiha have been fighting for thousands of years, yet their ancestor is the same person? And that ancestor is the Sage of Six Paths? It sounds almost mythological." 

Sarah nodded confidently. "That's exactly right." 

She then turned to Tsunade with a thoughtful look. "Have you ever studied the blood cells of Uchiha and Senju?" 

Tsunade shook her head dismissively. "Not really my field of interest. That's something Orochimaru would probably dive into." 

Sarah pressed on, her tone analytical. "But I do understand what you mean. The two share significant overlap and complementarity at the blood level, which could indeed prove that the tribes share a common ancestor." 

A brief silence ensued before another voice joined in. "I truly believe that what you're saying is correct," someone remarked. 

"But if they come from the same ancestor, then why has a feud between Uchiha and Senju persisted for a thousand years? It seems unreasonable. What changed along the way?" 

"Who knows?" came the vague reply. 

Sarah, who had gathered ample knowledge from Ethan, explained further. "It's the lingering grudges between the two sons of the Sage of Six Paths—the brothers Ashura and Indra. Frankly, their rivalry isn't even worth delving into in detail." 

"Even now, brothers can turn against each other," another voice noted. 

"A thousand years have passed, and such conflicts could erupt at any time," Sarah added vaguely, addressing Kaidō. 

"That's right!" Kaidō agreed, and Tsunade nodded in affirmation. 

Mito then steered the conversation back on track. "So, what does all this have to do with your proposal for intermarriage among the three clans?" 

Sarah continued, addressing Kaidō directly, "According to a legend I once read, the Senju and Uzumaki clans inherited the Sage Body of the Sage of Six Paths, while the Uchiha inherited the Sage Eye. Granted, the bloodline has degenerated over a thousand years, and with it, some abilities have waned—but imagine this: if the young of our three clans intermarry, their offspring could inherit the combined talents of all three. They would be inherently more powerful and brimming with untapped potential." 

A thoughtful murmur ran through the room. "That would be a tremendous benefit for all three clans," Mito acknowledged. 

Sarah's eyes sparkled with the ambition of her vision. "Exactly! This is also a prime opportunity to effectively merge the strengths of our tribes. With Ethan's space-time gate contract in play, I believe that using marriage as a binding force could eventually allow all three clans to become his contractors. This method is far easier than gradually influencing people once one becomes Hokage. Even if we maintain the traditional form and framework of each clan on the surface, the bond forged by intermarriage would create a deep, underlying unity." 

Mito's expression turned serious as he addressed Sarah directly. "The idea of combining our clans to produce more capable children—those who inherit the best traits from all three—sounds promising. You must have some solid basis for this, right?" 

Though Mito sensed that Sarah might have a deeper purpose behind her suggestion, he didn't press for further explanation. Sometimes, certain secrets were best left unspoken. 

If what Sarah proposed was indeed true, then Mito was prepared to consider it. After all, if successful, it would truly be a win-win situation for everyone involved.

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