Seijuro found he really liked having a relationship. It was as if it was something he could've had in another life, but due to how he used to view the world—and everyone in it as pawns—no one had ever felt worthy enough to stand beside him like that.

But now, things were different. Sure, she was weaker than him, but she was still a Jounin. She didn't have her Mangekyō Sharingan yet, but she could get stronger, which was good.

The Mangekyō Sharingan would give her enough of a buff to jump to Kage-level, which, for him, was perfect.

Hm. Plus, she was one of the few people who could see past his illusions. She could see him. The real him. And frankly, that's all he ever wanted.

Well, lucky for him, this time there wasn't a random bitch-ass childhood friend with glasses in the way...

That sounded personal. Why did that sound so personal? As if it came from deep within his soul? Why would he hate a random guy with glasses?

Oh well. Maybe he was just overreacting. Either way, he got his prize—and he would hold onto it.

So maybe the couple cuddled for a while longer. And maybe, just maybe, he almost used that rubber he was given. Thanks to his self-control, though, he held back. It was like he was training himself: get the 4 and 5-Tail chakra first, then you can worry about Punani.

And once that was done, he'd only have the 2, 8, and 9-Tails left. Since Kushina was his bestie, getting chakra from her would be easy—he could literally just ask her.

Anyway. Enough about how he almost fucked Mikoto... thank the Lord for his willpower. He was now standing in front of the elders.

Oh well, he could handle it.

This was politics—and Seijuro was very adept in that field.

Seijuro stood straight, hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. Mikoto had warned him: some of the elders still clung to the Warring States era like it was yesterday. These were men who had fought during the Senju-Uchiha treaty days.

So basically, old men still living in their own delusions.

Cool.

One of the elders—face like dry bark, hair tied in a topknot that hadn't changed since Madara was a thing—narrowed his gaze.

"What are your intentions with Mikoto?"

Seijuro didn't flinch.

"I wish to be with her. That's all."

He wished to marry her, and be happy with her.

Another elder leaned forward, hands clasped. "Do you view the Uchiha Clan favorably?"

"The Uchiha clan is quite reputable. They're in charge of Konoha's police force. I think the Uchiha are good... if not, I probably wouldn't be interested in Mikoto."

He waited a beat.

"But... I also think there are blind spots. Especially regarding the Sharingan."

A few of the elders stiffened. One scowled. Another leaned back like he was preparing to lecture a child.

"Explain," barked the elder to his right.

Seijuro gave a faint, almost apologetic smile. "The Sharingan has perfect memory. Every detail, every movement, every breath—it's all stored perfectly when the eyes are active. That's impressive."

He looked around slowly. "But also dangerous."

Murmurs stirred.

He continued, voice calm.

"If every time the Sharingan is active, it's during battle... death... pain... then what are you storing? What kind of mental blueprint are you engraving into your clan's psyche?"

One elder's lips twitched upward—just slightly. Another looked genuinely curious now.

"This leads to grumpy people with war PTSD, and every time they activate their Sharingan, all the bad memories come flooding back. This isn't good for the psyche."

"I had Mikoto use her Sharingan during happy moments. And ever since then, she's been doing fine. The Uchiha clan isn't a clan of hatred. They love more than others—which is why their hate is also a lot more potent," he said calmly.

The idea lingered in the room like incense smoke.

The clan was proud of its power. But it was a power that came with blood. What he said... made sense.

Another elder, more political in nature, folded his arms. "And if conflict were to arise between the Uchiha and the Leaf—where would your loyalty lie?"

Now that was the game, wasn't it?

Seijuro tilted his head thoughtfully. "If it came to that, my loyalty would lie in finding a solution before it ever reached conflict."

A safe answer.

But then—

"I would help the clan strengthen its position within the village. Gain trust. Not by force—but by strategy."

One elder scoffed. "Strategy? Konoha would never allow us a greater voice."

"Maybe," Seijuro said. "But they can't silence you if you're integrated."

Silence.

He continued. "For example... the Police Force. Why not open it to members of other clans? Or even civilians?"

"Blasphemy," someone hissed.

"We created the Police," another growled. "Why share it?"

That was a lie... but he let them believe it.

"Because you've been typecast," Seijuro said, calm but firm. "To civilians, the word 'Uchiha' doesn't mean strength. It means police. Enforcement. Fear."

A few faces darkened.

He didn't stop.

"Let other clans in. The Nara. The Aburame. If you're feeling frisky, maybe even a few Hyūga. That way, it's not just 'Uchiha' in the public's mind when something goes wrong."

He raised a finger.

"And more importantly—if the Leaf tries to dismantle or restrict the Police Force in the future, it wouldn't just be an Uchiha matter. It becomes a cross-clan issue. The village wouldn't risk alienating multiple noble houses. You become harder to target."

That shut them up.

Some were skeptical. Others intrigued. All were listening.

"Besides," he added with a shrug, "perception shapes policy. If the people see the Uchiha as part of their protection, rather than above it, that changes everything."

The elders weren't about to bow or clap. But the way one of them tapped the table thoughtfully, or how another gave him a begrudging nod?

That was enough.

He'd planted the seeds.

He didn't need them to bloom today.

Just... before it was too late.

Then, he took out a scroll.

The elders looked at it.

He handed it over. They opened it.

Their eyes widened as they read the contents.

"I sincerely hope the Uchiha accept my gift."

...

Oh yeah, he was accepted.

And as to what his gift was?

Nothing too brash. Maybe just a technique that stimulated the optic nerves—basically, something to help someone awaken the Sharingan.

Though currently, it was still in its beta phase. The science was there.

And also... some notes on the shit Danzo had been doing.

Because why the fuck not?

A/N

Explanation (one-time):

Why is Seijuro telling and showing the Uchiha all of this?

Seijuro is making a calculated move to prove his allegiance while also planting ideological seeds that strengthen the Uchiha's position within the village—without violence. By giving them a power-boosting technique and classified information (e.g., Danzo's dirty work), he presents himself as a genuine ally, someone who sees their worth and offers them leverage.

This does two things:

Wins their trust, by showing respect to their legacy and offering tangible value to their clan.

Builds a safety net for himself, because having the Uchiha as political allies means he has backup in case his own enemies (Danzo, Root, etc.) try to move against him.

Also yes, probably do same thing with Hyuga but different strategy