108 Impossible Marriage

During the excellent meal prepared by Pakura, I noticed a small detail that many overlooked in the series as I let my mind wander a bit.

Ino could never have been with Sasuke.

I mean, she is the direct heir of the Yamanaka clan, and Sasuke belongs to the Uchiha clan, so even if the Uchiha Massacre didn't happen, I doubt the Yamanaka clan would accept allowing Ino to leave the clan and join the Uchiha through marriage, taking with her their blood and secret techniques.

As for Sasuke joining the Yamanaka clan, it's even more impossible with how possessive they are about controlling where their blood, which gives the Sharingan, goes.

Can you imagine someone combining the mental arts of the Yamanaka clan with the illusions of the Sharingan?

Actually, that would be a bit scary.

Moreover, I suspect the reason Sakura eventually had the chance was not just because of her almost blind dedication but because she came from a civilian background, and her daughter (whatever her name is) wouldn't be as entangled in political issues being born to a civilian.

Although it's ironic that, in the end, the couple only had one daughter. One would think it's because Sasuke is traveling or something, but I always believed he also had trouble in the bedroom or with Sakura's insistence; it's impossible that they had only one child, especially under the need to revive a clan.

Their situation can't be compared to Naruto and Hinata in the original timeline; that's another can of worms I don't want to think about. Toneri died a long time ago, and if Naruto continues to be as dense and superficial... he deserves to remain a perpetually single dog.

No, wait, I think in the movie, he already had quite a fan following, so I guess in some way, the Namikaze lineage will endure. Because he doesn't have enough Uzumaki genetics to pass on to his descendants, confirmed.

Although... I'm realizing that Hinata didn't seem to pay much attention to Naruto. I mean, she treats him with courtesy, but that's due to her good manners, and I haven't seen her turn red or smoke being near him.

Is it because Naruto didn't save her that day?

... Meh, I couldn't care less.

I just hope Hinata ends up with someone who truly deserves her this time; she's too good for someone like Naruto. I'm sure that after sitting in the Hokage's office and seeing the documents, truly understanding what the position entails, he immediately regretted his dream. It's even possible that he didn't dedicate to Hinata the time she deserved!

I conduct my experiments, travels, and teachings while being with Ameyuri, Pakura, and Anko at the same time, and they'll never say I don't make sure to have my time with each of them, making them feel appreciated and loved.

I also try to have more special moments, like brainstorming new recipes using apples with Pakura, helping synthesize new poisons with Anko, or having some sparring matches against Ameyuri to gain more combat experience.

—"Enel?"

Oops, I was daydreaming again.

—Sorry, I was distracted —I apologized politely to Pakura— What were you saying?

—Now that Rasa has died at the hands of Orochimaru, I was wondering how we will face Sunagakure in the future —she raised the topic.

Tsunade grimaced when she heard the name of her former teammate (now the cause of her ex-master's death), but continued to eat in silence. She's been quite calm for a few days; I guess it's because she essentially deserted in front of everyone silently.

Rasa was the reason she essentially ignored that village since the last gold purchase, and now that he's out of the equation, I suppose we have to consider how we can interact with them in the future.

—Do you have any ideas in mind? —I know Pakura wouldn't ask if she didn't already have an opinion on the matter— You and Maki are originally from there, so I guess you understand the situation better than us.

—I would like to support one of Rasa's children to take his place.

Okay, that was definitely unexpected.

—And would you do that because...?

I know Gaara will become the next Kazekage after the events of the Chunin Exam, where Naruto's dangerous talk-no-jutsu made him change his attitude.

That should definitely be classified as a forbidden technique!

But I don't see how it would benefit us to support the Kage of a foreign village.

Even stranger, Pakura offering to support the children of her most hated enemy. Although I'm aware that she can separate enmities, so I doubt she has a bad impression of the kids.

In fact, I remember during the Chunin Exam, seeing her talking to a shy Temari (more like when someone meets their idol) at a stand selling roasted chestnuts. That means...

—I think Temari could be a good option, and by supporting her to get the position of Kazekage, we could ally ourselves with Sunagakure. Perhaps not on as deep a level as we are now with Kumogakure, but at least we could be friendly and easily acquire some rare metals found only in the desert along with intelligence.

The friendship of the Kazekage, a supply of metals for the laboratory, and intelligence—it's tempting. I lie, intelligence can be manipulated, so that part isn't as attractive, but the rest a bit.

—Couldn't we ask Sasorigane and his clan to gather these rare metals? —I asked Pakura— And what do we do if Kumogakure and Sunagakure end up facing each other?

I'm pretty sure the scorpion clan knows the desert well enough to retrieve what we need from it; it would practically be free at the cost of having to wait just a little longer.

Why didn't we use them during the exam? Simple, we were sweeping through, and using them would only be pointless bragging.

—Although I admit that the scorpion clan could bring the same rare metals, they could only extract them raw, and we would have to refine them ourselves, something very annoying and unnecessary when getting the collaboration of Sunagakure —Pakura responded logically, to which I nodded in agreement— Also, you know that the possibility of those two villages facing each other is almost impossible because they are separated at the two extremes of the world map. Between them is the Land of Rivers, the vast Land of Fire, and the Land of Hot Water. They have many more numbers to fight against Konoha, Kirigakure, and even Iwagakure.

—I think Sister Pakura is right —Anko supported as she cut the food— Currently, we have a hostile relationship with Konoha, at least until the new Hokage takes power and expresses their stance towards us.

—The old man from Iwagakure is still fuming since you seduced his granddaughter —Ameyuri added with laughter as she joined the conversation— I can only say that the girl has good taste.

I didn't do it!!! I feel incriminated and flattered at the same time...

—We also have to consider that Kirigakure holds some resentment towards me for my desertion and the three swords I have in my hands —Amayuri added, her gaze alternating between the chocolate cookies, cheesecake, or vanilla pudding, struggling to decide which dessert to take— So strategically speaking, we could become the link for an alliance between Seimeigakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure.

Oh dear, I see where we're going.

—Wait, does that mean the villages could coordinate in secret and launch pincer attacks on any of the other three great villages? —Nemu suggested while wiping Fu's stained cheek with a napkin.

The table fell silent; of course, they would. No one here is stupid, and what Nemu just proposed would send shivers down any strategist's spine.

The reason? Simple, there's no conflict of interests.

What Sunagakure and Kumogakure desire the most are fertile lands, while Seimeigakure doesn't need them, and instead, we're more interested in research resources that wouldn't be a problem for them to give us. Due to the opposing disposition of these two villages, they can clearly draw a line in the middle to receive a satisfactory portion of cultivable land and resource-rich lands in the event of a successful conquest. And the larger the ally's land portion, the more types of rare resources we can easily obtain through them.

Although... that's not enough gain in my opinion to decide to go through with it.

We would have to do a lot for very little in return. Let's take it step by step first.

—Let's talk more about the Sunagakure matter later; for now, let's finish the meal before it gets cold —I told everyone, who nodded in agreement— Pakura has worked hard, and I would hate to spoil her effort.

Pakura, who was sitting next to me, smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek with those soft lips of hers, looking at me with gratitude for the consideration.

Suddenly, everything tastes better; it's funny what love can do.

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For some reason, I'm sure someone thought something strange when they read today's title and mistook it for something different.

Relax, it's not what you think xD