This post has the following content warnings:
The Worst Genin Team, take 2
Next Post »
+ Show First Post
Total: 3408
Posts Per Page:
Permalink

Good. (And Sayuri does her best to provide a calm, approving presence.)

Permalink

And Chihiro's Konoha friends aren't exactly the calmest (though Tobi is keeping Naruto from shouting or fidgeting at inappropriate moments), but approving -

They're really approving.

"You've settled in well here," Tobi says to Chihiro during a quiet moment in the early bit, before the ceremony proper. 

Permalink

She smooths the front of her kimono and tucks her hands back into her sleeves.

"Yes. I like it."

Permalink

"I'm glad."

"You seem - more yourself, I guess?"

Permalink

"Getting away from- the context of Konoha helped. I have room to grow here. And reasons to do so."

Permalink

"I can imagine."

Permalink

"It's good to see you again, though."

Permalink

"Same. We've missed you."

Permalink

Smile.

"So how have you been?"

Permalink

Updates! They've been village-bound a lot, since Tobi's profile as a target skyrocketed, and she's been getting pulled into her own share of politics... But she's been using the time to train like mad, and she's really getting ahead in her seal-work, and her grandfather is a mad genius...

 

Permalink

Elaise has been quietly grumbling about seals lately. Maybe Tobi could compare notes with her.

Permalink

Sounds fun.

Permalink

"I won't keep you from preparing... But let's talk more after the wedding, okay? We'll be here a little while, they're using it as an excuse for more diplomatic meetings. And - "

"I'll be in a lot of those meetings. If I do well, Hokage-sama said he might assign me to the ambassadorial staff here."

Permalink

"He's serious about investing in this alliance."

Permalink

"He's focusing pretty strongly on building good relationships with everyone, best they'll allow, and - Kiri and Suna and some of the very minor villages are the only ones playing along right now, and Kiri's the strongest of those by a big margin. He says he doesn't want to provoke Kumo and Iwa, though, so - he's doing a lot of kinda showy ceremonial stuff? Less mutual contracts or real military sharing, which might spook them into their own alliance - but if Kiri and us look friendly but not geared towards allying to conquer everyone, it apparently moves into more... Show diplomacy? Which is weird."

"But if anyone is going to be a threat to Konoha right now - it's probably Kumo, and they've been picking at our edges and testing us for a while. Sarutobi apparently - was. Uh. More subtle. In response to that."

"Hearing about all these Warring States legends hadn't really gotten me to internalize how completely unsubtle they are. Kumo tried to raid us, and Hokage-sama - apparently doesn't think 'send the raiders' heads back and refuse to play nice or apologize' counts as provocation. So Kumo's pissed but not attacking or allying with Iwa which I - think we more or less wanted? And which investing in nice shows with the Kiri alliance helps with, since Kumo - "

Frowm, hum, then: "I think this is being presented and seen as a mutual defense and opportunism but not mutual offense alliance? Which - yeah, that's the best summary I guess. And mutual offense alliances are normally formed a lot more sneakily."

"So - Kumo is thinking, they're also often enemies with Kiri, if they launch an offense on Konoha, Kiri will jump on their unprotected flank, and vice versa if they attack Kiri, but they're not thinking they're at risk of both Konoha and Kiri invading them, and Iwa is basically completely unbothered by a Kiri alliance except what it means in increasing our supply routes, because the best Kiri can easily do in a full war is block Iwa's ports, which will drag Tetsu into the fight on Iwa's side, and that's gone in Iwa's favor the last few wars. And apparently Senju Tobirama has a reputation as extremely vicious on the defense but uninclined to offensive operations, and the Tsuchikage knows him from before he died... And the Tsuchikage's also defensively oriented..."

She makes a face.

"...Large scale foreign relationships are hard."

Permalink

"Yeah. Sayuri seems to like it, though. For some reason. I just listen and let her decide what it means and which parts are important."

Permalink

She laughs. "Not the worst strategy."

Permalink

"It seems to work."

Permalink

"Good."

Soft smile. "I'll let you go, though. Don't want to make you late."

Permalink

"See you after."

And she's off.

Permalink

Her soon-to-be-wife is waiting.

Permalink

Amazing.

(It's good they practiced this. Sayuri's too busy staring at her new wife to do anything other than follow the motions.)

Permalink

It is indeed a little distracting. Somehow it all feels more real.

Total: 3408
Posts Per Page: