#sweltide

...

Uzumaki aren't considered entirely weird by outsiders, but there are things that set them apart from the rest. By some very visible margins.

Like them being confused by lack of women's rights. Squinting at other’s lack of gender and sexuality spectrum.

These might actually be counted as the lighter margins here since they can be rationally explained. Uzushio is thriving, there is no need for more children and even if there was...adoption was highly encouraged.

One of the things Uzumaki and their umbrella clans become most famous for is...aggressive marriage arranging. Managing to marry into nearly every known family on the entire continent.

Some may yet resist, but Uzumaki have long memories and even longer archives. They can and will wait you out.

...

"You heard the intermarriage idea?" Kaname asks after swallowing a bite.

"Ah yes," Kaito grins. "not a bad idea that, being recognized for our aggressive marriage arrangements."

"Those Uzumaki," Kaname starts making voices "with their marriages, crazy seals and brash attitude towards gender roles; bane of the Elemental Nations!" his father huffs a laugh.

"Wouldn't that be nice."

...

It is far too late by the time Kaito understands who he is to become. When his family, his wife and four children, are named Uzumaki by the party doing the introduction.

His future crystallizes in his mind. Cold dread spikes down his spine. How is he supposed to do this? Is he supposed to do this? Make a clan?

It is then that He hears one of his sons gasp and catches his wide eyes with his own, something familiar passing between them.

He is not alone.

Things just got more complicated.

...

"Somehow we need to fix all of their stupid issues 'cause that plant thing will probably prey on everyone and everything." Shinri said with a hand wave "We'll what? Be therapists for the ninja world? Honestly..."

"Or we could just intermarry them to non-existence." Jun slurred through his fifth drink. "I mean if we raise every Uzu nin with some sort of common sense and problem solving then just marry into every possible over-powered ninja family- well that's would solve it wouldn't it?"

There was some silence.

"So individual therapy?" Shinri picked his train of thought again.

Jun's words stayed with everyone though.

...

"I understand." Kaito says. He truly does. One cannot live on love in this world, in any world really, and he has little to offer in forms of stability.

"I did not mean to cause this," he catches Yasuha's eyes so she would know he's serious. " but you will forget me and a more deserving man will show."

Hopefully someone who will treat her right. Kaito doesn't believe in much, but this is one thing he will pray for.

Once she nods he turns to Ashura, Otsutsuki Ashura, who is looking at them with a contemplative frown. "I'm sorry to have caused you undue trouble," Kaito bows slightly but doesn't lower his gaze. "I have no problem leaving if that is what you wish."

Ashura just looks at him for a moment, he can tell that the man is still measuring him up. It’s a stare that seems to gaze into his soul.

...

Kaito frowns into his tea. "It's terribly convenient isn't it?"

"Hm?" Kaname hums

...

"I don't trust in infallibility of a man- well alien hybrid - who couldn't tell his eldest son was influenced by a foreign element of his mother's and punished him. Or worse, he noticed and did not help him."

Kaito snorts. "All these aliens will be coming after us, we do not have time for their petty squabbles." he looked at the others. " Though I would not be surprised that a lot of things were orchestrated by that thing…"

"Maybe even Uzu's own destruction." Wayu says. "Given things we've discovered on seals it is possible that Original Uzumaki learned the same and were killed for it because they did not know to guard against the creature."

There is a moment of grim silence.

...

"It's all very nice to think about," Wayu says. "that we can change the society like this, but..."