Chapter Text
Yukino was picking flowers with the Wise Consort Konan when she received the news that she was to be married off.
She didn’t react much, merely handing the beautiful hydrangea she held to the consort before brushing the dirt off her hands and asking, “What does His Majesty mean by this? Why does he suddenly want me to marry someone in the Fire Nation?”
Yahiko glanced at his wife, and seeing Konan shake her head as a signal, he knew this matter wouldn’t be easy to handle. Swallowing hard, he carefully chose his words to persuade his younger sister.
“To be honest, Nagato didn’t want to marry you off so far away either. But right now, across the entire Rain Nation, you’re the most suitable candidate for this marriage.”
Konan shot her husband a glare. His words were practically a spark that could ignite Yukino’s temper. If Yukino realized she was being forced into this marriage, the Rain Nation’s royal palace might just be the brightest spot in the city tonight—lit up in flames.
The Wise Consort handed the flower basket to Yahiko before gently patting the back of Yukino’s hand, explaining the situation calmly.
“It all stems from the peace treaty between the Fire Nation and the Rain Nation. After negotiations, to secure the Rain Nation’s allegiance and to show the Fire Nation’s respect for us, Emperor Fugaku proposed a marriage alliance with Rain King Nagato to strengthen the bond between our two nations. Unfortunately, the Uchiha royal family has no princesses to offer, so the Rain Nation must send someone instead. When Emperor Fugaku heard this, he immediately agreed and betrothed you to Lord Shisui, the Jade Prince.”
Yukino let out a cold laugh, her gaze fixed on the harmonious couple before her—so perfectly in sync that she didn’t even bother to blink.
“Then let the Rain Nation send someone else. I think the noble ladies of our kingdom are far more beautiful, their radiant charm perfectly suited for a prince of the Fire Nation.”
Yahiko’s voice dropped to a mosquito-like murmur. “But wouldn’t that be like deceiving the Fire Nation?”
They’re offering a genuine prince of royal blood, yet if the Rain Nation were to randomly elevate someone and send them over, it would look disgraceful no matter how you spin it.
“So, the Fire Nation’s prince wants to marry a princess of the Rain Nation?” Yukino countered. “That’s difficult. Mizuki is only one year old—how could she possibly marry?”
Konan looked at her as if she’d found a kindred spirit.
“Yukino, you see the problem. In the entire Rain Nation, no one else but you can take on this role.”
The Snow Maiden nodded, then added mischievously, “Then let’s call off the engagement!”
Yahiko’s heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly interjected, “The relationship between our two nations isn’t a game—you can’t just cancel it like that! We were put in a tough spot. During the grand banquet, with so many people watching, our envoys couldn’t afford to humiliate the Fire Nation.”
Yukino burst into laughter. “So you all agreed to marry me off?”
She still remembered how, just last month, Yahiko had returned to the Rain Nation after his diplomatic mission to the Fire Nation. Who else but her dear brother would dare agree to this marriage on her behalf?
Seeing her husband exposed, Konan let out a dry laugh, trying to smooth things over.
“Yukino, you’re so clever—you must know the Fire Nation is vast, with abundant resources. Cooperating with them will bring great benefits to our nation. This marriage cannot be canceled. If you don’t agree, I’ll have no choice but to send Yahiko over there instead.”
The little snowflake casually patted the back of the noble Wise Consort’s hand.
“I understand…”
Seeing the bright smile on her sister-in-law’s face, Yukino added, “But if we send Yahiko over, the Fire Nation might declare war on us instead of cooperating.”
Yahiko didn’t care whether he’d be the one sent off. He just wanted to confirm whether Yukino would burn down the royal palace tonight in a fit of rage.
“So, Yukino, you’re accepting this marriage, right? I’ll go inform Nagato to make preparations.”
“I’ll travel to the Fire Nation for a year. After one year, you all must allow me to break off the engagement. If not, you can marry someone else off yourselves.”
Yukino didn’t want to drag this out. As a lady of the Rain Nation, it was natural for her to make sacrifices for her country. But the Snow Maiden refused to let her life be sold off so cheaply.
She would compromise for now, spending a year as a glorified hostage in the Fire Nation for the Rain Nation’s benefit. But after that year, she would disappear.
Yahiko’s face crumpled like he’d just eaten a chili pepper, but seeing Yukino’s intense stare, he quickly waved his hands.
“Of course, we wouldn’t keep you there forever!”
Yukino nodded, smiling cheerfully. “Then go report the news. I’ll agree to go to the Fire Nation for this alliance.”
Yahiko hurriedly pulled the Wise Consort behind a cluster of flowers to strategize. He handed the flower basket back to his wife, whispering to Konan.
“After a year, she won’t fake her death and run off, will she?”
Konan sighed helplessly.
“That would be the best-case scenario. If she poisons the Jade Prince instead, I’d feel terrible for him.”
Yahiko gently tucked a strand of Konan’s hair behind her ear. Seeing Yukino now sitting down to trim flowers, he added, “I hope the Jade Prince can handle her.”
Konan playfully pushed Yahiko away, urging him to report to Nagato. She smiled softly.
“That’s quite a lofty dream you have.”
Because to tame Yukino, that person would have to mean something to her. Otherwise, with her unpredictable and wild nature, she’d find a way to escape this unwanted marriage without jeopardizing the relationship between the two nations.
And she would definitely succeed.
In a fleeting moment of emotion, Konan silently prayed for the faraway prince of the Fire Nation.
She felt a pang of guilt for sending the Rain Nation’s ticking time bomb to the Fire Nation, potentially causing trouble for an innocent soul. But if someone asked Konan to go back and persuade Yukino otherwise—well, she’d rather live with the guilt just this once.
---
Meanwhile, Shisui, the second victim of this shocking marriage alliance, sat drinking to steady his nerves after the bombshell of his forced betrothal.
“No need to pour more for me,” he said.
Divine Prince Obito, Shisui’s uncle, was present but not participating. His wife, Divine Princess Nohara Rin, was six months pregnant, and if Shisui weren’t his nephew, Obito would have bolted long ago.
Sasuke, sitting beside him, usually wore a cold and stoic expression, but now his face softened with an almost saintly compassion.
“Shisui, drink less. Think of it more lightly—getting married isn’t that big of a deal, is it?”
Shisui grabbed his cup and let out a bitter smirk.
“Then why, when Uncle Fugaku announced the betrothal, didn’t you step up to take this marriage? Instead, you faked a relapse of your old injury and fled the palace to ‘recuperate’?”
Sasuke shrugged, admitting without hesitation, “Because I still want to enjoy my bachelor life. If I got married out of the blue, I wouldn’t be able to charge into battle with Naruto as freely anymore.”
Itachi kicked his younger brother lightly before sitting down properly and pouring Shisui another cup of wine.
“You see, Shisui, a political marriage is the simplest way to ensure a peace treaty between two nations. Right now, in the royal family, you’re the only one still unmarried. Sasuke may not have a wife now, but before he was granted his title, he already had a late wife, didn’t he? Surely the Fire Nation wouldn’t let the Snow Lady become a secondary consort.”
Sasuke nodded vigorously, as if pounding garlic. If Itachi ever found out that Sasuke had secretly bought the identity of a deceased noblewoman from the borderlands奔 to pose as his late wife, the one drowning his sorrows in wine tonight would definitely be him.
Praising his own cleverness, Sasuke clapped in self-congratulation.
Naruto, fully aware of Sasuke’s scheme, wouldn’t betray his sworn brother. Instead, he raised his cup to clink with the Jade Prince Shisui.
“Anyway, the royal decree has already been issued. You can’t exactly run to His Majesty now, crying and begging to cancel the engagement.”
Obito scoffed. As the eldest at the drinking gathering, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the lack of backbone his nephews were displaying.
“I bet he’ll end up running to Fugaku later to thank him for finding him a wife.”
Shisui didn’t bother arguing with the most wife-obsessed man in the Uchiha royal family. Who didn’t know that Divine Prince Obito put his wife on a pedestal, loving her more than life itself? Obito wouldn’t understand sorrow—when he’d heard he was betrothed to Rin, he had danced wildly and thrown a grand feast to celebrate with them all.
From Obito’s perspective, Shisui’s worries were absurd. Marriage was such a joyous occasion—why was he acting like he’d been swindled?
Obito conveniently forgot one crucial detail: he was happy because his betrothed was Nohara Rin. If it had been anyone else, the Divine Prince would likely have turned the royal court upside down.
It’s always easy to talk when you’re on the outside looking in.
“To be honest, I don’t really want to cancel the engagement,” Shisui admitted. “I’m just a bit shocked that Uncle decided to betroth me right after we returned from the battlefield!”
The Fire-Wave War had just ended, followed by three grueling years of the Fire-Wind Conflict. For over eight years, Shisui had lived on the borderlands. Alongside Sasuke, Naruto, and Marshal Kakashi, he had defended the Fire Nation’s frontiers with all his might, never once fearing he might fall to an enemy’s blade. After the Fire-Wind Conflict ended in a truce, leading to peace and stability at the borders, they were summoned back to the capital to report.
He hadn’t even been back in the capital for a full year before his uncle hurriedly bet - betrothed him. Perhaps it was because Uncle feared that if something happened to Shisui one day, there’d be no one to carry on his lineage. That’s likely why he dragged the Rain Nation into this, leaving Shisui with no way to refuse.
The Jade Prince understood that marriage was dictated by matchmakers and parental decisions—especially since his parents, Prince Kagami and Lady Naori, had entrusted him entirely to Uncle Fugaku’s care.
His father Kagami and mother Naori were currently at their fief, probably having forgotten they even had a son like him in the capital.
The reason Shisui didn’t live with his parents and instead resided in the royal capital had its own complicated history.
Years ago, the late Emperor had intended for Shisui’s father, Kagami, to be the crown prince, not Uncle Fugaku. Kagami was the son of Emperor Izuna the Great, unlike Hikaku, who was Izuna’s cousin. After Izuna’s death, Hikaku took the throne as regent and later became Emperor. Feeling guilty for taking the throne meant for Kagami, Emperor Hikaku adopted Kagami as his son and planned to name him crown prince. But Kagami had no desire to ascend the throne and instead devoted himself to supporting Uncle Fugaku, the eldest prince, in his bid for the crown.
In the end, the late Emperor had no choice but to name Fugaku as the heir and pass the throne to him, unable to persuade Kagami otherwise.
However, those around the late Emperor continued to undermine Fugaku, both openly and in secret, hoping to place Prince Kagami on the throne to continue Emperor Izuna’s legacy.
To support Fugaku, Kagami resolutely took his wife and child to live in their fief, allowing Emperor Fugaku to inherit the throne without interference.
Once Crown Prince Itachi was old enough to understand the world, Kagami sent Shisui to the palace to study alongside him.
In plain terms, Shisui became a hostage left behind by his father to ensure Fugaku’s trust.
Because of this, Emperor Fugaku treated him exceptionally well, as a form of assurance to Kagami after everything. Shisui lived in luxury, respected by many, but he was never allowed to return to his parents’ fief with Prince Kagami.
Though still young, and with his father still alive, Shisui had been granted a princely title and a residence in the capital shortly after reaching adulthood—a precedent unheard of in the Fire Nation. Yet no one objected to this decision. Beyond the Emperor’s affection and guilt toward him, Shisui’s contributions to the Fire Nation were undeniable.
Two years ago, Shisui had naturally become the youngest prince in the Fire Nation’s history—until Uchiha Sasuke surpassed him and claimed that title.
Despite his noble status, the Emperor’s favor, and the Crown Prince’s respect, Shisui still found himself forced into this marriage—what a bitter irony.
“I don’t want to marry her, especially since I haven’t even seen what she looks like,” Shisui confessed.
Perhaps because he’d drunk too much, Shisui was starting to lose control of his emotions. He stared dreamily into his cup before smacking his lips.
“But oh well, I can’t defy the imperial decree. I’ll find out what she looks like on the wedding day, won’t I?”
Itachi shook his head and snatched the cup from Shisui’s hand to stop him from drinking more. Seeing Shisui already showing signs of drunken rambling, Obito joined Itachi, swiftly confiscating the entire wine jug from the Jade Prince.
Outnumbered, Shisui quickly lost both his cup and jug. He gave a dazed smile, then clumsily grabbed the sleeve of the nearest person—Sasuke.
“Tell me, why do we even have to get married?”
Sasuke hurriedly pulled his sleeve back before the Jade Prince could crumple his clothes.
“Because we’re part of the royal family.”
Itachi’s fingers paused for a moment. He glanced at Sasuke, then at Shisui, feeling a pang of gratitude for his own fortune. Indeed, as members of the royal family, even their marriages became tools to secure power.
Itachi considered himself lucky—his Crown Princess was someone he loved, unlike Shisui and Sasuke, who were both subject to the whims of arranged marriages.
Obito didn’t agree with Sasuke’s perspective.
“Do commoners not get married, then? It’s better to say that everyone has their fated ties to fulfill. Who knows—maybe Shisui’s future wife is his destined partner in this life.”
Naruto gave the Divine Prince a thumbs-up. Obito’s silver tongue never failed to impress. Years ago, Marshal Kakashi had told him how Obito had dominated the Earth-Wind battlefield with both his martial prowess and his sharp words—words that could darken the skies and turn the moon red, striking fear into enemies and awe into allies.
Seeing the young Wave-Wind City Lord support him, Obito grinned smugly and let out a huff.
Shisui laughed as well, letting go of Sasuke’s sleeve to grab Naruto’s hand as if clinging to a lifeline.
“Are she and I really fated? Naruto, cast a fortune for me!”
Naruto’s master was the Toad Sage, a renowned seer known across the Five Nations. But Shisui seemed to forget that Naruto was a terrible student—otherwise, why would he have joined the military to make a name for himself?
Naruto quickly counted on his fingers. Under Sasuke’s scornful gaze, the young Wave-Wind City Lord put on a wise air and declared, “This is a red thread painstakingly woven by the Moon God. Shisui, you’ll surely share joys and hardships with her, forever inseparable!”
Shisui burst into delighted laughter, dreamily repeating “forever inseparable” before collapsing onto the table, unconscious.
Sasuke nudged Naruto and whispered, “What if she turns out to be a shrewish, overbearing woman? Living with someone like that for a lifetime would be torture.”
Naruto waved off the concern.
“Have you forgotten that Shisui is the dream of countless young ladies in Leaf City? If she’s overbearing and capricious, she’d lose her husband in no time. Besides, she’s marrying into our nation—she’ll have to show some respect to His Majesty, won’t she?”
Itachi shot both of his younger companions a glare as they started spouting nonsense. Noticing the disappointed look on Divine Prince Obito’s face, he asked curiously, “Do you have any wise advice, Uncle?”
“No, I’m just disappointed in my three wife-obsessed nephews!”
With that, Obito stood up, instructing the three still-sober men to carry Shisui back to his chambers before he caught a cold, then leisurely strolled back to his own Divine Prince’s residence.
Naruto tugged at Sasuke’s sleeve and whispered, “The Divine Prince isn’t wife-obsessed—he just loves his wife, that’s all.”
Sasuke shook his head mockingly.
“The pot calling the kettle black!”
“Both of you, hurry up and take Shisui to his room! What are you whispering about now?”
Itachi, seeing his younger brother still acting so unreliable despite his age, sighed in exasperation.