"What sort of possibilities?"

"You've impressed Kirigakure. The Mizukage and one of her closest advisors now both have a favorable impression of you - they were concerned Konoha would not protect you sufficiently from retaliation from Danzo."

"We're at peace with them right now, but the situation is tenuous in every way, and there's a high risk for breakdown of relationships, now or in the near future. Your sensei's evaluation was that you are not the ideal candidate for a full ambassador, but that you would serve well as part of a diplomatic staff, and from what I have seen, I concur. I believe your presence in a diplomatic party would improve their efficacy, and that Kirigakure will, for a time at least, be more hesitant to risk your life than the lives of other Konoha shinobi."

"There are a few drawbacks. One is that it would be a long term mission. You would be often away from your team in Konoha, and you would be operating in a nonstandard chain of command in a field you are not experienced in."

A pause, then: "And your loyalty would need to stay firmly to Konoha. If relationships broke down, you would likely be expelled from the Land of Water, if not executed. You would be behind lines in a foreign country, with no guarantee of backup and with an awareness that your actions are more likely to be the difference between war and peace than most. Your relationships with Kiri shinobi you know might be strained by that - and if you are perceived as too close to Kiri shinobi, it could damage your position."

He pauses for a few moments, before: "And I am not confident that Sayuri-san could not further turn your loyalty to herself over Konoha, given time and exposure."

"I do believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, from Konoha's perspective, else I wouldn't suggest it. But I don't know everything that has happened since my death yet, and I don't truly know your capabilities. You will have seen elements of the picture that I haven't."

"That isn't the only possibility, but I want to hear your thoughts before discussing any others."

"I found my undercover assignment... stressful. I do not wish to repeat the experience."

He nods. "Fair enough."

"Another notable possibility is that you become Kirigakure's - traditionally, this would be through a political marriage. It seems those have fallen out of vogue as a tool of international diplomacy on the mainland, but the Land of Water still practices them. And, given that it was a common practice in my time, I have some confidence that Kirigakure will believe I am taking it seriously."

"You would not have questioned loyalties. You would no longer be a shinobi of Konoha, though Kiri might choose to accept you as one of their shinobi. We would expect you to be a sympathetic voice to us, but it wouldn't be a mission, simply a common result in this situation. It would be a more or less permanent tie, and you would remain Kiri's even if war broke out - I would expect you then to be an advocate for peaceful resolution, and a reminder to Kiri's shinobi that they can have friends in Konoha. Those are, perhaps importantly, functions you would perform quietly. Kiri's shinobi are unlikely to forget where you came from, nor that you have loved ones here, and Kiri intensely values personal bonds like that."

"Traditionally, you would actually be neutral in any conflict between Kiri and Konoha, as part of the contract - there's a possibility you'd be called on to participate in negotiations as a witness, if nothing else, which I suspect would at least provide a moderating influence, but you would be very unlikely to have to act against Konoha."

"You're a good candidate for that even beyond Kiri's existing impression of you. You possess no bloodline. Your sensei's sensei was the Yondaime Hokage." Pause. "And - this is currently classified, but I would unclassify it if Konoha moves forward with this course of action - your teammate, Uchiha Tobirama, is my granddaughter."

"I would approach Mizukage-dono about an arrangement with Asano Sayuri, who is the daughter and apprentice of Mizukage-dono's advisor. You would both, therefore, be in positions close to leadership - but at enough of a remove that it is socially appropriate as an initial move in an alliance."

"Further, I believe there is a high chance that Sayuri-san or one of her friends will be Mizukage some day, and there is a similarly high chance that a member of your teaching line will be Hokage, which would lead to a stronger alliance in time."

A pause, then: "I believe this would benefit Konoha the most out of all options I have considered so far. Konoha currently has no alliances with the other great villages, and what alliances we still have with the minor villages have begun to rot away. A political marriage would be a stable basis for a new alliance, and one that carries no actual inherent obligations."

...Chihiro's brain overloads around the point where he says "political marriage" and every time it's about to come back, he hits her with something else.

That might actually be a very slight smile on his lips.

"And you can, of course, stay a Konoha shinobi, and be a chuunin member of Team Kakashi."

"You don't have to decide now, one way or another, and any opportunities won't close immediately."

"I will have to think."

He nods. "You are free to discuss this with your sensei and team, as well - Kakashi-san is aware of what I have told you."

Nod.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Do you have other questions?"

"Not at this time."

He nods.

He performs another medical check, informs her she's still under protective guard until they've finished clearing house, in case Danzo tries to retaliate, and introduces her to the guard taking over for him. (She can leave the room once she's cleared medically, but only with her guards.)

And then he gathers his papers and leaves with them, leaving Chihiro to her thoughts.

Meanwhile, in the other room, Elaise is cuddling her girlfriend.

Shinrei's been very, very stressed, and Sayuri still isn't awake for more than thirty minutes at a time, and she... Hadn't really missed the high stakes international politics part of being Mizukage.

At least the two Senju Hokage are way more tolerable than Sarutobi, and at least Sarutobi is still comatose -

She'd negotiated Kiri's side of the end of the Second Great War as Yagura. Sarutobi very, very much did not make a good impression on her.

So. Yeah.

Cuddling her girlfriend, and not crying. 

"Wanna talk about any of it?"

"I think so."

Glance at the wall. 

"Well. The non-classified stuff."

"So, their outfits?" Elaise teases.

She snorts, then laughs, a little helplessly. "Wonderfully old fashioned. Maybe they can set a new trend."

"Either that or they'll be locked up until Konoha can dig a tailor out."

Giggle. "I think they should embrace it."

"Of course you would." Kiss. "You're almost as old."

"Apparently I've been neglecting your history lessons."

"You've been busy."

Kiss. "No excuse for letting my teaching lapse."

"You'll have to make it up to me, then."