-+Sorry for the delay for this chapter, I've been really lazy this week, especially after work. I will still be delivering 1 or 2 chapters a week for now until I can stockpile them up and work from that. This chapter is coming out 10 days late so another chapter will be posted a day later.
Chapter 5 - Union!?
'In these past 3 years I've been learning a lot more about this new world of mine. I do now remember much from my past life at least not now, maybe in the future but who knows and do I want to remember?'
"Father can i go with you today"
Step step step
"You want to come to the raikage tower? Remember it's now a playground" Ay said while walking towards the front door of our large circular house on the top of a mountain.
'Ive more than enough confirmed that im in the naruto world in the arguably the second most powerful nation in the Naruto Verse Kumogakure'
I was picked up by the scruff of my shirt like a cat and hoisted up on my fathers neck
"Hold on tight son" Ay grins
…
"AHHHHHHHHH…. WHY DID YOU JUMP YOU CRAZY OLD MAN"
"Shortcut" Ay said while grinning from ear to ear
He braces his powerful legs and pushes himself to the one of the mountains in the middle with a huge circular building
With my cheeks flapping out of control in the wind my thoughts deviate a bit while hanging on for dear life. An absolute massive happy grin appears on my face.
'I could have never in my wildest of dreams thought that I would come to this world not as a visitor watching from phone as a vouyer but as a permanent citizen of this wonderful and mysterious world.'
Arriving at the Main tower in record speed it would have taken 20 mins at average ninja speeds but we got here in 8 minutes. There is 12 super tall mountains that would put mount Tai to shame that surround an enormously huge tower that envelops it, if it can be called THAT. A peculiar looking tower that looks like a water tower sits at the top of the mountain presumably the Kage tower.
'This tower can be easily be taller than the twin towers its about 3,000 feet tall or half a mile.' I think in my mind
"Father is this where you do your duties as a kage"
"Yes indeed you see that silver tower at the very top of the mountain? That's where I work" he says in a proud and gruff tone
"Woahhh that's awesome" I exclaimed
"Come my son, since it's your first time coming here in a while you where a baby the first time around" Ay says
"Good Morning Raikage-sama" Says a beautiful dark skinned woman with gorgeous red hair and radiant golden eyes
"Good Morning Karui, this is my son Antares, Get to know him he will be your boss on day" Ay says with a smirk
'An anomaly, she's not supposed to be born till years later a little after the 3rd shinobi world war, why is she an older teenager' Antares thought in alarm
"Awww the little prince your so cute" she squeals and squats to pick me up and bury my head in her still developing chest
" oy don't be squeezing my son like that you're gonna strangle him" Ay said with a amused face
" oh shit my apologies Anteres-sama" she said while loosening the hold a bit.
Going back to business mode she tell the Raikage
"Raikage-sama today early in the morning I got word that Fujimi-Sama wants to meet you for a proposal"
Step step step Ay starts to walk towards the elevator while Karui follows him a few steps back.
" interesting I wonder what that old coot wants with me today, Daimyo's brother really wants to meet me so early in the morning this must be about that…."
"That?…." Karui said with a glance towards Antares looking around in her arms
"Yes and I will secure some benefits for the cloud so it's equally beneficial" Ay said while crossing his massive arms over one another
"Don't you think he's a bit young for this?" Karui states
"Sometimes starting so young is beneficial, just like I did. I couldn't do this with my hot headed son Unruly Ay since at the time there wasn't suitable candidates for him" Ay stated
"I see"
"Dad, what are you talking about?" I said curiously while tilting his head to the side and I heard a faint Kawai
"We are going to meet with the brother of the daimyo for a proposal we have been wanting to set up. They are the ruling family of Kaminari no Kuni and we of Kumo are the military force behind the powerful financial backing of the daimyo and his vassals." Karui says to Antares
As they step out of the elevator into the office, Father as if muscle memory goes and sits on the cushioned red chair at the feet of the desk. From the chair if you slightly turn at the window you can clearly see the beautiful scenery of Kumogakure and its people walking about.
Getting comfortable on a chair next to my father, I see Karui move towards a side door.
"I will prepare some tea" Karui states
Soon after you can hear the slight hum of the elevator as you hear multiple people stepping on the tiled floor.
Father's eyes rested on Fujimi for a moment longer than necessary.
Not tense. Not relaxed either.
"…You seem well, it's been quite a while Lord Fujimi."
It wasn't really a question.
Fujimi smiled faintly.
"Well enough to travel. Well enough to work also drop the Lord Ay we are old buddies."
A small pause.
"Well enough for me im glad you and your family are well"
Something unspoken passed between them. Heavy…. Old.
Karui coming back into the room noticed it too. Her posture straightened slightly and gave a short bow to Fujimi and he looked at her for a moment.
"Fujimi-Sama" Says Karui in a polite tone
'She does have it in her, who would have though'
I didn't understand it fully.
But I felt it.
This wasn't just a meeting.
"…It's been a while," Father said.
Fujimi let out a quiet breath through his nose.
"Yes… it has."
"This time a decision like this, especially involving our families and especially my kids' and their future I will heavily involve myself." Fujimi said while tilting his head slightly at Father
The air shifted.
Not everyone in this room knew the history between these two.
But it was there.
Buried under titles and time.
The night a Raikage fell.
The night a new one rose.
And the men who made sure it stayed that way looked at each other and smiled slightly.
Father's voice cut through it.
"…You backed me then."
Not a thank you. Not praise.
Just a fact.
Fujimi's eyes didn't waver.
"I backed Kumogakure."
A brief pause.
"You just happened to be the one standing at the front of it."
Karui's fingers tightened slightly at her side.
She knew. Or at least… enough.
The room fell quiet again.
Then Father leaned back slightly.
"…So."
His eyes flicked toward me for just a moment.
"…We're moving forward with it."
Not a question.
Fujimi's smile returned, slightly sharper this time.
"I was under the impression we already had."
There it was.
Not spoken outright.
But confirmed.
Something had already been decided and it involved me somehow.
Before this room. Before today.
Karui's eyes flicked between them.
So that's what they were discussing earlier…
The "proposal."
It wasn't new.
It was already in motion.
Fujimi stepped forward slightly.
"My daughter, Mabui." while pointing at his beautiful little daughter around my age
'She looks the same as in the future but a chibi version, she's cute' Thinks Antares while shifting his head to fully look at her.
She stepped forward calmly.
No hesitation… No confusion.
Like she had known.
Like she had always known.
"And my son, Darui."
"…Yo."
Silence.
Darui sighed.
"…Good morning, Raikage-sama."
"Hmph."
Father's gaze lingered on him briefly.
"You're the one seeking apprenticeship."
"…Yeah."
"We'll see if you're worth the time."
"…Troublesome…"
My attention shifted back to Mabui.
She hadn't moved. Hadn't reacted. Her eyes met mine again.
Steady.
Unshaken.
She knows. More than me. More than I should.
Fujimi's voice cut back in.
"As agreed, the first union will serve as the foundation."
My chest tightened.
Union…?
Father didn't hesitate.
"It benefits Kumo."
That was all that mattered.
Fujimi inclined his head slightly.
"And ensures Kumo's future stands above the rest."
Always that.
Always forward.
Always higher.
"…From this day forward," Fujimi said calmly,
"…our families will be joined."
Silence.
I didn't fully understand.
But I understood enough.
Something had already been decided. Long before I ever stepped into this room.
"Take a seat Fujimi-Dono."
Father's voice was calm, but final.
The kind that didn't need repeating.
Fujimi nodded once and moved toward the table without hesitation, his robes shifting quietly with each step. Mabui followed, silent as ever, while Darui dragged his feet just slightly behind.
I was set down beside Father, still trying to process everything that had just happened.
Karui stepped forward smoothly.
"I'll bring the tea."
No one objected.
As she moved toward the side of the room, Fujimi paused for a moment, his gaze shifting slightly behind him.
The two samurai hadn't moved since entering.
Still. Watchful.
"That will be all," Fujimi said calmly.
They didn't question it. Didn't hesitate.
Both men bowed slightly before turning toward the exit.
Fujimi added, almost as an afterthought,
"Try not to frighten anyone on your way out."
A brief pause.
"…or do. Hahaha." a short laugh scapes him while the 2 men walk outside.
The door slid shut behind them.
A small silence followed.
Not awkward.
Just lighter.
Karui returned, placing the tray down with practiced precision.
The soft clink of porcelain filled the space as she poured.
Steam curled gently into the air.
She placed a cup before Father.
Then one before Fujimi.
After that she handed everyone else one Mabui, Darui and myself.
"Thank you," Fujimi said, his tone polite but easy now.
Karui gave a small nod, bowed lightly and stepped back.
Father picked up his cup without even a word.
Fujimi followed, lifting his with one hand, his eyes briefly glancing at the surface before taking a slow sip.
"…Still as refined as ever," he said lightly.
Father scoffed quietly.
"Don't get used to it."
Fujimi smiled, just slightly.
Across the table, Mabui sat perfectly still.
Darui leaned back just enough to look bored.
And me…
I sat there, cup untouched.
Trying super hard to understand how everything had changed…
Without anyone asking me a single question, and presumably it involves me somehow!
AN: I want to give special thanks to a couple of yall handsome folks for supporting the story!
Vendetta240, Uchiha009, raio10 and alot more other that support the story! I appreciate you all, Love yall no homo!