Marvel: Trading with Worlds

"Uchiha Mikoto is looking for you?"

Kain asked, wrapping an arm around Kushina's slender shoulders. After a moment of thought, he quickly pieced together Uchiha Mikoto's intentions.

It wasn't unusual for ninja wives to socialize. Even the daimyo of the Land of Fire had once asked Kain about such matters, though Kain had declined to entertain him when he was alone.

"If she does come to you, just handle it as usual. She's probably trying to use you to bridge the gap between me and the Uchiha clan. After all, Orochimaru doesn't have many people around him these days," Kain said with a slight chuckle.

Orochimaru's closest companions included Namikaze Minato's master and a member of the Senju clan, who's his apprentice was also from the Senju clan. 

This made it difficult for Uchiha Fugaku to form meaningful connections. As a result, Fugaku had no choice but to approach Kain, who could act as a negotiator on Orochimaru's behalf.

In Fugaku's eyes, Kain's relationship with Orochimaru seemed at least as strong as that of the Third Hokage and Mitokado Homura. 

Furthermore, Kain served as a kind of public relations minister. The two sides had already finalized their cooperation.

Additionally, Kushina, as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, was another connection worth fostering. Strengthening ties with Kain was a smart move for Fugaku, as it promised greater benefits for the Uchiha clan, provided Orochimaru fulfilled his end of the deal.

"Mikoto's a good person. We didn't even know you when we first became friends!" Kushina said through gritted teeth, clearly unhappy about Mikoto being dragged into political schemes.

 Her position, as well as the sensitive relationship between her and the Uchiha, made her uneasy about such maneuvering.

Kain winced slightly when Kushina pinched him, having learned exactly where to pinch for maximum effect. To defuse the situation, he changed the subject.

"I don't have any objections; it's all up to you, Kushina. By the way, I've purchased a piece of land in the southeastern corner of Konoha Village. I'm planning to build a home there. Do you have any suggestions?"

"My suggestion? You mean... I'll be living there?" Kushina's expression lit up with joy. Was he implying that she'd live there with him? As the mistress of the house?

"Of course. Where else would you live?" Kain replied, glancing at her. He added, "I'm planning to add some enchantments to the house so that no one, apart from highly skilled sensory ninjas, can disturb us."

"Of course! It's our home!" Kushina exclaimed.

Before Kain could finish speaking, Kushina leapt into his arms, squeezing him tightly. He couldn't help but enjoy the softness pressing against him, though he quickly shook his head to clear away any indulgent thoughts. 

A little relaxation was fine, but succumbing to temptation wasn't an option—even if the "tomato" was particularly tempting.

Kain entrusted the task of designing the new home to Kushina, knowing that women often had boundless enthusiasm for such projects.

 Kushina wasted no time. She sought advice from Mikoto and even visited Tsunade to share the exciting news about their new home.

However, Tsunade, feeling she had been subjected to too much "relationship bragging," promptly chased Kushina away.

After returning, Tsunade spent three days indulging herself, wandering between casinos and izakayas. 

However, on the fourth day, she sobered up and went to Konoha Hospital to address the backlog of work she had ignored.

But when faced with the mountain of documents waiting for her, Tsunade felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. 

Ultimately, she called on Yakushi Nonō and another assistant to help her manage the workload. Even with their assistance, it took three full days to clear everything up.

During this time, Konoha frequently held Jōnin meetings. Third Hokage often presented mixed updates—some worrisome, some positive. 

On one hand, he warned of Rock Shinobi increasing their numbers and frequently reported how many additional shinobi had been deployed.

This routine occurred so often that some began to discern Sarutobi Hiruzen's underlying motives.

Orochimaru, however, paid little attention to Sarutobi's political maneuvering. Uchiha Fugaku had already decided to align with Orochimaru's faction. 

To solidify this alliance, Fugaku often sent Mikoto to visit Kushina, and whenever he encountered Kain, he passed along messages.

The Uchiha clan had come to terms with the fact that their hopes of producing a Hokage were slim. Competing for the position would only waste their time and resources. 

Supporting Namikaze Minato also offered no tangible benefits, especially since the only connection between the Uchiha and Minato was Uchiha Obito, who had yet to make any promises on behalf of their clan.

Conversely, Orochimaru and Kain demonstrated genuine sincerity in their dealings. Orochimaru promised the Uchiha clan ten Anbu positions, fair Jōnin assessments, and access to other village departments previously closed to them. 

Additionally, Fugaku agreed to relinquish exclusive control over the Uchiha police force, allowing the selection process to open up to others in the village. 

This, coupled with the Uchiha's partnership with Kain's Chamber of Commerce, made Orochimaru's side the obvious choice.

Fugaku understood the drawbacks of the police force. While it had been under Uchiha control for over a decade, it no longer brought the prestige or power their clan needed. 

Opening the department to the wider village was a necessary, if difficult, step.

Meanwhile, Kushina and Mikoto grew closer as friends during this period, while Kain and Fugaku continued their negotiations.

After successfully securing the Uchiha clan's cooperation for Orochimaru, Kain turned his attention to other matters in the ninja world. 

Before departing, he warned Orochimaru about the deteriorating situation in Kirigakure, urging him to prepare.

….

patreon.com/Vks_sh