Life may be fleeting...
~ Chapter 7 ~
Six months following Mito Uzumaki's tragic "passing in her sleep"
~
In the manor's waiting area, an uninvited noble sits. His demeanor is patient, the man has one purpose- to meet with Sakuya. Sister of the groom and Oasis's so-called "Wellspring Maiden".
Though she agreed to speak with him without an appointment, the man knows he must wait until she has time. "It's been a few hours. Her errand was at the children's shelter, surely it won't be long now."
As if in a queue, the sound of a sliding stone door catches his ears. "That wasn't so bad." Standing up in greeting, his expression is affable.
"Good afternoon my lady, I'm grateful you agreed to speak without prior correspondence-" His words were cut off by the unexpected impact of the young woman's appearance.
Theoretically, he expected himself prepared, but seeing Sakuya in person, the noble is overwhelmed. "So it's true." He whispered quietly.
Up close and personal like this, "the Wellspring Maiden" is everything the rumors described and more. If anything he feels at least a little cheated on her behalf. That the numerous whispers didn't do her justice. Not even close.
' Was she hand-carved by divinity?' Everything about this girl... Nothing feels exaggerated, overdone, or without purpose, every aspect of Sakuya's form and physical features... it's inhumanly symmetrical.
"Won't you please sit down?" Asked the vision before him. The goddess in human form gestures politely to his seat. The sound of her melodic speaking voice hammering everything in all the more. His knees instinctively weaken, and the man wonders if his body is instinctively trying to bow.
' So this is what they mean by a "dewdrop" like voice.' thought the noble. Quickly positioning himself in his seat, the flustered man tries to recover his composure. "Uh, yes. Thank you so much for your time."
Clearing his throat, after exchanging pleasantries the man presents Sakuya with a small box. wrapped in a silk cloth, he urges her to accept.
"A gift for Yuukina and Reiji? How lovely. I'm sure they'll appreciate your kindness... But I have to inquire- Why are you entrusting this to me? I don't mind keeping it safe but my brother's wedding is nearly a month away."
"Uh, no Forgive me, Lady Sakuya. Perhaps I wasn't clear. Within this box is for you and your brothers alone. I'm here on behalf of a friend. A humble gift, hand-crafted pendants, one for each of you."
~
Settling out of his caravan for the night into the comfort of the campsite, the noble is in high spirits. Staring at the collection of three blood-red crystals wrapped carefully in a silk lining, Protected from his touch, "I think "he" will be most pleased." thought the noble.
'Why wouldn't he? Awkwardness aside surely any man would be thrilled with irrefutable proof that they are indeed father to three magnificent specimens of pure, unbridled power. '
'My master; Kyou Uzumaki is no exception... To think it's even possible, that all three, beneath their respective affinities, the foundational roots of the Wellspring siblings encompass both Yin and Yang chakra...
"Wellspring" indeed, all three are inhumanly potent. Even under such discreet conditions, this "inconsequential" detail was quickly picked up by my test... The girl in particular, her Yang Chakra... "Creation"... "Life energy", it's all overflowing from her very being.
Staring at the top of his tent, the minor noble enjoys an educated guess. 'It explains so very much about her abilities, and how "Oasis" came to thrive so quickly. Could it be fate or merely a "fluke" of genetics?
Going over what little he knows, the uninvited noble, speculates in silence. ' According to the rumors of Aika's incarceration, their mother is supposedly a Uchiha-Senju hybrid, if anyone's blood could birth such consistent miracles it'd be through a union between a woman like "her" and Lord Kyou. '
Regardless of guesswork or inference, the uninvited noble knows one thing for sure. ' Sad as this is for Mito's memory, there's no overlooking this truth. ' Neither Master Kyou nor Whirlpool can afford to ignore this.'
' Yang chakra... It was half the reason Mito was to wed Hashirama. To think all this time Uzushio had three sources already bound to us by blood... No wonder the rumors say Mito felt so threatened by their existence. Huh. It'd be funny if this whole situation weren't so sad.'
"How pathetic, that our princess could feel so threatened by mere children. I know she was young herself, but I expected better from Mito.'
'Damn her selfishness.' The noble thought morosely. He closed his eyes awaiting slumber. 'Tomorrow begins a long trek home.'
The lesser noble had no idea of the rare "win" his actions today were over Lords Shiro and Reiji.
For though the former White and Black Zetsu would be delighted to know their decade of continuous discreet attacks on Mito's public "image" has undoubtedly reached "mainstream" opinion, it never occurred to the brothers that an Uzumaki would so directly "check-in".
Certainly not in such a subtle, unassuming way as through the excuse of these three gifted, but ultimately harmless ivory pendants.