HGBW: Ch. 109

"Mikoto."

Setsuna turned his head to look at his daughter, his deep black eyes exuding an unquestionable authority.

"I am willing to accompany you and wait for you to grow up."

Mikoto's face turned red. She remained silent for a few seconds, but it seemed as though she had thought of something. She lowered her head slightly, appearing obedient.

"..."

Hizashi stared blankly at the scene before him, feeling a storm surge in his heart.

Was his disciple really that attractive?

Previously, when Tsunade had boldly declared that she wanted to change her surname to Hyūga, he could still understand.

After all, when Tsunade was "all alone with no family," Tanaka had generously offered half of his wealth, mobilized 100 clan members, and fully supported her.

But this time?

Setsuna was actually offering his daughter.

If Tanaka were of marriageable age, then a union between the Hyūga and Uchiha clans wouldn't be surprising.

But right now, his disciple was only 8 years old.

In other words, Mikoto was essentially dedicating the most beautiful eight years of her life to accompanying and waiting for a young boy to grow up.

How shocking was that?

"Look, Mikoto also fully agrees with this arrangement. Now, all that's left is for you to nod your head!"

Setsuna revealed a satisfied smile.

"Setsuna-sama, forgive my bluntness. With Mikoto's qualities, she surely isn't lacking in suitors within the Uchiha clan."

"Besides, bloodline clans rarely marry outside their own, even if the other party is also a bloodline ninja."

Tanaka tapped his fingers on the table, showing no sign of being swayed by the Uchiha girl presented before him.

He was not at the age where his decisions were driven by hormones. Moreover, from what he had learned from Tsunade, Setsuna's reputation was not exactly stellar.

Even with the talent and strength he had displayed so far, he wasn't worth such an extreme offer.

At the end of the day, he was a Hyūga, not an Uchiha.

"You're not wrong."

"Some time ago, Fugaku personally visited me to propose marriage to Mikoto, but I rejected him."

Setsuna's tone carried a hint of arrogance.

It was true that he was eager to offer Mikoto to Tanaka, but that didn't mean Mikoto lacked other suitors.

Setting aside her beauty and personality, the mere fact that she possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan made her highly sought after within the Uchiha clan.

After all, there weren't many Uchihas who could awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and even fewer female Uchihas who had done so. On top of that, Mikoto was the daughter of an elder.

She was undoubtedly the number one "rich and beautiful" woman in the Uchiha clan.

"Oh?"

Tanaka's eyes flickered with surprise.

After all, in the original story, Fugaku and Mikoto ended up together, eventually giving birth to Itachi.

"I know you have many doubts. Why am I arranging a marriage between you and Mikoto? Why did I reject Fugaku?"

"The reason is actually very simple."

Setsuna naturally noticed the suspicion in Tanaka's eyes.

But rather than feeling displeased, he actually found it reassuring.

If Tanaka had immediately accepted Mikoto without hesitation, he would have had to reconsider this marriage arrangement.

"I'm all ears."

Tanaka looked at Setsuna with great interest.

"Because my life... is running out."

As soon as Setsuna said this, Mikoto's face turned slightly pale.

"What?"

Hizashi was visibly shocked upon hearing this.

A second-in-command of the Uchiha clan, still in his prime—how could his life be running out?

"I assume you've all heard of the grudge between me and the Second Hokage."

"Back then, I incited the clan members to cause trouble, but the Second Hokage discovered it and ordered the ANBU to imprison me."

"Later, during the First Great Ninja War, Konoha suffered heavy casualties. In an effort to ease tensions between the village and the Uchiha clan and to replenish combat forces, Hiruzen, after becoming the Third Hokage, decided to release me from prison and pardon my crimes. But what you might not know is that since my release, I have carried out eight S-rank missions."

"As for A-rank and B-rank missions, those are countless."

Setsuna clenched his fists, his expression as cold as frost.

"Defect? That would bring disaster upon the village."

"Refuse to carry out missions? That would bring disaster upon the clan."

"To Konoha, an Uchiha Setsuna who dies in action is the best kind of Uchiha Setsuna. To the clan, an elder who dies on the battlefield is the best kind of elder."

"So, dying in battle is my only fate."

He spoke each word with a hint of indignation in his tone.

At that moment, Setsuna understood Madara's feelings.

After dedicating his life to the clan, he turned around to find himself utterly alone.

But unlike Madara, who chose to leave after being betrayed and abandoned, he had a reason to stay—his daughter.

Though filled with resentment, he still chose to burn himself out to illuminate the Uchiha clan. He willingly became the "sacrificial piece" to restore trust between the Uchiha and Konoha.

"Konoha won't let me die in vain. The flames of the Second Great Ninja War will inevitably reignite. When that time comes, it will be the day I perish." He let out a long, heavy breath.

Tanaka remained silent, listening intently.

If they had been confused before about why Setsuna was so radical, now they understood.

They finally grasped why he disregarded age and generational gaps, why he was willing to break the clan's tradition of never marrying outside their bloodline just to send Mikoto to him.

It was all about emotions.

And it made sense.

Being forced to burn himself out to benefit others, even if those "others" were his own clan, would still stir resentment.

Most importantly, if Fugaku could send his father-in-law to his death for the sake of the clan today, then what was stopping him from doing the same to his wife tomorrow?

How could Setsuna ever feel at ease with that?

"So that's how it is."

Hizashi, standing to the side, also showed a look of realization.

Konoha wouldn't tolerate Setsuna.

And the Uchiha clan wanted this elder to sacrifice himself. No wonder he rejected Fugaku's marriage proposal and instead chose to send his daughter to Tanaka.

For the sake of making the Uchiha clan great again, Setsuna, as an elder, willingly became the sacrifice.

But who was he?

He was a man ruthless enough to kill his own disciples and closest friends just to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

How could he not hold any resentment?

If he had no choice, then for his daughter's sake, Fugaku might have been the best option.

But the problem was—he did have a choice.

One was a clan leader who accepted his fate as a sacrifice.

The other was a son-in-law who was content to watch him die.

Given Setsuna's personality and temper, as long as he had a choice, he would never consider Fugaku.

"Death doesn't scare me. Back when I rebelled against the Second Hokage, I had already accepted the possibility of death."

"The only thing I can't let go of is Mikoto."

Setsuna let out a deep sigh, his once arrogant face now carrying a trace of sadness and reluctance.

"When I started the coup back then, I had already harmed her once. Even though she wasn't punished, her position within the clan suffered greatly because of it."

"I cannot harm her a second time."

Even someone as ruthless as Setsuna, who could kill his closest allies for power, still had a father's love for his daughter.