The compound was unusually quiet, its silence broken only by the faint rustling of the wind through the cherry blossom trees. Hiroto Uzumaki sat in his study. The room was dimly lit, the faint glow of a solitary lantern casting flickering shadows on the walls lined with scrolls and relics of the clan's storied history.
He leaned back against the worn wood of his chair, his crimson hair tied neatly behind him, his sharp eyes scanning an open scroll. It wasn't the words on the parchment that weighed on him, though—it was the unspoken decision looming over the life of his like a storm cloud.
His daughter, Kushina, had been chosen. The clan elders had agreed to send her to Konoha, the next jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Hiroto's jaw clenched at the thought, his hands balling into fists.
"She's too young," he murmured to himself, his voice low and gruff, tinged with both anger and sorrow. "Too naive to understand what they're asking of her."
But beneath the surface of his protective instincts, another thought churned. His son, Ren. If Ren made the proclamation to go instead of his sister, perhaps clan head and He could change the decision. It was not that he loved Kushina more than Ren, But He trusted Ren more, enough that he was sure that Ren could handle becoming a jinjhuriki.
Ren had always been a mystery, even to him. A boy of unparalleled talent and chilling resolve, Ren had proven time and again that he wasn't just a prodigy—he was a force of nature that just need time to mature. Maybe he could not become the next Hashirama Senju, but he could become the next Tobirama Senju. But he was also unpredictable, his ambitions often veiled behind a calm, unreadable expression. And as a father, He trusted his son.
Hiroto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He won't let this happen," he muttered, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Not while he's here."
The memory of Ren's gaze flashed through his mind—the same piercing, calculating look he'd had as a child. Hiroto had seen it again during the clan meeting when the elders had first proposed sending Kushina away. Ren hadn't said a word then, but the tension in his posture, the way his eyes had narrowed ever so slightly—it had spoken volumes.
There was a knock at the door, pulling him from his thoughts. A young boy entered.
"Father." the boy said, his voice trembling slightly.
Ren stood in the dimly lit study, his crimson hair damp from the evening mist, eyes locked onto his father's. Hiroto's gaze was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and quiet desperation. The day had passed, and Hiroto didn't know Where Ren was till now. The celebration of Kushina's birthday remain unattended by this sudden conflict.
"You think I'll object," Ren began, his voice calm but tinged with an edge of sorrow. "But I won't."
Hiroto's brow furrowed, confusion flashing across his face. "You'd let her go? Your own sister—into a life of uncertainty, away from her family?"
Ren exhaled slowly, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. "Do you really believe keeping her here is any safer? Father, we're on borrowed time. A civil war is looming over us. After second ninja war, Konoha won but it remains in a weekend state. Now what do you think will happen when Konoha can't protect us from the villages that had always wanted over our legacy. Even with our defenses, I can see the cracks forming. If Kushina stays, she'll be caught in the storm. And when it comes…" He paused, his voice softening, "I don't think we'll be able to protect her."
Ren always tried to talk less. The precious amount that needed to be told but He continued today and came close his father looking straight into his eyes, "I also do not want to let Kushina go above anybody. If me going was the best decision, then I would haven't wasted a second before telling the clan head my decision today. I didn't need a day to think. And I don't care about being a clan head nor Uzumaki clan and Konoha's relation. But father, the best thing for Kushina is to stay in Konoha, at least temporarily. They can use her, may be put some self-sacrificing ideology in her head but they will not harm her. And lady Mito is still alive and well. I promise father, I will take Kushina back after this mess is over."
Hiroto was still and silent, his piercing gaze locked onto his son. A heavy powerlessness clawed at his heart, though he refused to let it show. Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling but firm.
"If any village dares to challenge us, let them come," Hiroto said, his tone rising like a battle cry. "Do you think the Uzumaki clan is powerful because of Konoha? No, son, you are mistaken. We are powerful because the blood of the Sage of Six Paths flows through us. We would crush them beneath our feet!"
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the wooden floor, and his hands slammed down on the desk. "When did my son become so fearful? I didn't raise you to be like that." His eyes burned with anger, but his voice wavered, betraying the ache in his heart.
Ren flinched slightly but held his father's gaze, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. He didn't speak, letting his father's words settle.
Hiroto's voice softened, though the fire in his tone remained. "But if you think this is the best way, then so be it. Kushina will go to Konoha—but only to study. Mark my words, we will bring her back. Even if your father has to challenge the Third Hokage himself." He took a step closer, his towering presence a mix of pride and pain. "Do not underestimate your father, Ren."
Ren's head dipped in a vigorous nod, his crimson hair falling into his eyes. A faint smile touched his lips, but his cheeks were damp with tears. He wiped them quickly, pretending not to notice the shimmer in his father's eyes. "I won't, Father," he said, his voice trembling but resolute