Chapter 29: The Kamizuru's Terms
"Second Brother, share with us! What's happening?" Uchiha Natsume urged, seeing the amused smile on Uchiha Raizen's face.
"They're currently..." Uchiha Raizen relayed the heated debate he was eavesdropping on.
Hearing his account, his companions' faces broke into grins. The situation was unfolding better than they had hoped.
"Master, your tea has gone cold. Shall I pour you a fresh cup?" Haruka Ozawa asked softly.
"Haruka," Uchiha Raizen corrected gently, "I've told you, just call me Raizen. Or, if you must be formal, 'Lord Raizen' is fine."
"But... we are not yet formally married," Haruka insisted, her voice barely a whisper. "I am still just your attendant. It wouldn't be proper."
Seeing her stubborn adherence to propriety, Uchiha Raizen let it go. Once we return to the clan and formalize the marriage, this will resolve itself, he thought.
An hour passed swiftly, and Kamizuru Budō himself came to the pavilion to deliver their decision.
"Elder Raizen," he began, his posture formal. "We have reached a decision. The Kamizuru clan is willing to become an affiliated family of the Uchiha. However, we have two conditions. First, if we are called to war, you must guarantee that a core contingent of our clan is preserved to prevent our annihilation. Second, we require a stable, fertile territory to serve as our permanent family seat."
Uchiha Raizen nodded thoughtfully. "The first condition, I can grant you immediately. The second, however, I must relay to the clan leadership for their final approval."
"Of course. Then, honored guests, we would be pleased if you would stay as our guests while we await the clan's response," Budō said, his tone now genuinely hospitable. Uchiha Raizen's earlier arguments about survival had struck a deep chord. The promise of the Uchiha's protection was precisely what his struggling clan needed.
"We gratefully accept your hospitality, Patriarch Budō," Uchiha Raizen replied, standing and bowing slightly.
Once they were settled in the comfortable quarters arranged for them, Uchiha Raizen immediately sat down to write a report.
"Uchiha Natsume, you're the fastest. Deliver this to the clan," he said, handing the sealed scroll to his friend.
"Second Brother, hold on," Uchiha Natsume protested, pushing the scroll back. "Why should I run this errand? The Kamizuru have messenger insects specifically for this. Now that they're our allies, they should handle it. It's their duty." He had no desire to undertake a long, thankless courier mission.
"You're right," Uchiha Raizen conceded. "There's nothing sensitive in this report." He got up and found Kamizuru Budō, briefly explaining the need to send a message to the Uchiha patriarch. Budō readily agreed.
With that task delegated, Uchiha Raizen returned to his room to rest. He had used all his daily pickups, acquiring several useful insect-controlling techniques that didn't require actually raising bugs—a perfect fit for his system.
Finally, he had a moment of peace. Now, let's see what that Level 2 gift pack contains.
"System," he commanded internally, "open the Level Up Gift Pack."
[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired…]