Chapter 262: The Three Konoha Ninjas Leave the Room

Keito finally lowered his head for a moment, took a breath, and then spoke in a heavy yet calm voice:

"Yes... I will indeed marry Karina to Reiji."

"But regarding your proposal, Tsunade, that is no longer my right."

"If Karina agrees... and Reiji also wants it... then I will accept you as a second wife."

Keito's voice was clear, but behind those words lay an awareness of a complicated future.

Tsunade simply nodded once, saying nothing more.

And in that room, silence fell again.

But not out of doubt.

Rather, because they all realized—one step had been taken.

The path ahead had now changed direction.

And none of them could return to how things were before.

...

...

...

After a moment of heavy silence, Keito slowly raised one hand.

Keito's movement appeared calm, almost like a silent signal that had been agreed upon beforehand.

From behind the half-open wooden door, an Anbu stepped in immediately.

The long black cloak of the man swept across the wooden floor, and the owl mask covering his face reflected the faint glow of the room's lantern, creating strange shadows on the surrounding walls.

"Take Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru to the village inn," Keito said flatly, without once diverting his gaze from the table.

"Understood." The Anbu's voice was low and calm, almost like a whisper, before the man slightly bowed his head in respect.

His gaze then shifted to the three Konoha ninjas sitting on the right side of the room.

Tsunade let out a short sigh, then stood while adjusting the folds of her robe.

"Then, we will take our leave," Tsunade said briefly, bowing her head politely.

Tsunade's voice sounded steady, but there was a lingering tension that had not fully disappeared from her eyes.

Jiraiya stood up next, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his robe, giving a slight nod that felt more formal than usual.

Orochimaru also rose with a gentle and silent movement, his head slightly bowed.

Orochimaru's smile was faint, but his eyes remained sharp, as if assessing the atmosphere down to every corner of shadow in the room.

The three Konoha ninjas stepped quietly, following the Anbu, their footsteps nearly inaudible, as if they all understood that the next conversation was only for those who remained.

The door slowly closed again, leaving behind silence and a tense atmosphere among the cold walls of the room.

The room fell silent once more.

Only the sound of the crackling fire from the heater in the corner could be faintly heard.

Keito's usually stoic face now appeared weary.

The fine lines at the corners of Keito's eyes became more pronounced as he bowed his head, resting both elbows on the low table, then rubbed his face with one hand.

The burden of this meeting—with the candidates of the three legendary Sannin from Konoha—was not a light one.

The demands of diplomacy, hidden threats, and the pressure to maintain the dignity of the Uzushio Village clouded Keito's thoughts.

He glanced at the high-ranking members of the Uzumaki clan who were still sitting in silence.

Their gazes intertwined, holding many questions that none wished to voice in that room.

"For now, that will be enough," Keito finally said.

"We will continue this discussion tomorrow morning."

The elders slowly rose.

Some bowed in respect, while others silently stared at Keito before walking toward the door.

Their steps were calm yet heavy, as if still bearing the weight of concerns for the village's future, which was hanging by a thread.

As soon as the sliding wooden door closed, Keito let out a long sigh.

For a moment, he sat in silence, absorbing the sudden loneliness that enveloped the meeting room.

But the silence did not last long.

The sound of the sliding door was heard again—the wood scraping along its track—accompanied by the soft scent of cherry blossoms carried by the wind.

Kasumi stood in the doorway.

________________________

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