By marrying the elder's daughter, Fugaku would secure more backing within the clan, ensuring his leadership was stable. And if she really was as pretty as Mikoto said, he wouldn't be too unhappy with the arrangement either.
But Xin couldn't help but wonder, "Is he gonna have two sons? Maybe one of them will be named Itachi, and the other... Sasuke?"
He grinned at the thought. It would be kind of poetic, considering the future he knew. However, the name "Shizuka" brought something else to mind-Sarutobi Hiruzen's old teammate, Uchiha Kagami. The names were eerily similar.
"So, should I go?" Xin asked, unsure. He hadn't attended the funeral of the previous Uchiha clan leader, and he wasn't exactly thrilled about getting involved in Uchiha politics now either.
Seeing his hesitation, Mikoto's voice softened. "It's okay if you don't want to go. I understand. But my mom really hopes you'll be there. If you skip this, though, I'm worried the Hokage might take notice."
Xin sighed. He had worked so hard to avoid being drawn into the Uchiha's messes, and now this wedding was threatening to pull him back in. Attending could cause the higher-ups to start watching him again, but...
"Just going to the wedding shouldn't cause too much trouble," he reasoned. "Alright, I'll go."
Even if he wanted to avoid the Uchiha clan, there were some ties he couldn't just cut off. Especially not with Mikoto and her mother around. As much as he tried to distance himself, there was always a connection to the clan through them.
Besides, attending a wedding was different from attending a funeral. The two had completely different connotations. Attending the old clan leader's funeral would have raised eyebrows, but showing up to Fugaku's wedding? That wouldn't make anyone suspicious.
"Let's take a nap first," Xin suggested with a mischievous grin, wrapping his arms around her again.
Unfortunately for Xin, that plan wasn't going to work. Mikoto had things to prepare for the evening, and on top of that, she was one of the bridesmaids. Her mother had insisted she participate, and Mikoto couldn't refuse.
And to make matters worse, Kushina had just shown up too. The idea of sneaking in a nap with Mikoto was officially dead.
Around the same time, wedding invitations were being delivered to nearly everyone in Konoha's upper echelon. Even the Third Hokage and the Elders had received them. Danzo too, though Xin seriously doubted Danzo would attend.
Hiruzen, on the other hand, had to make an appearance. Despite the underlying tension with the Uchiha, appearances had to be maintained. The Uchiha didn't exactly welcome half- hearted congratulations, but the Hokage had to at least show some goodwill to maintain peace.
At least for now, the Uchiha hadn't been pushed to the outskirts of the village. Their clan grounds were still located in one of Konoha's busier districts.