Ayame- Iris- Fem Harry Potter
Shiriusu- Sirius – to-san/father
Ryu – Dragon – Draco- itoko/cousin
Miya – Beauty – Narcissa – oba/aunt
Asebi – Andromeda- oba/aunt
Takeo – Ted – oji/uncle
Maiko - Nymphadora– itoko/cousin
Chapter 36- Dinner at the Kuro's
Shisui and Itachi were leading their parents along the path they had managed to create in the thicket between Uchiha land and Kuro land. It had only been a week since Shiri had bought the place but Reo had made it a training exercise to make a path that would be easy for anyone to traverse but hidden enough that it wouldn't be found easily. They'd actually had fun running back and forth trampling down the undergrowth following the path of the person before them. At the beginning it had been an effective tracking lesson to track the signs of those who had passed before but it had become a race as the path became easier to see.
Fugaku had kept an ear to the ground for Kuro developments and knew they still hadn't chose an architect, let alone a builder, so he wondered how they were planning to host all 6 Uchihas and 8 Kuros in the little tents he had seen when he'd happened to need to cross nearby, no he wasn't spying and he didn't go 10 minutes out of his way to happen to need to head cross his new neighbours land, he'd just happened to need to head that way, he promised.
Itachi and Shisui had promised they wouldn't inform their parents of the secrets of the Kuro tents so that Shiri could enjoy the looks upon their faces. In fact, Shiri had been setting up some cameras to 'forever immortalise Fugaku's face' upon realising how much bigger the tents were inside. Shiri regretted that he hadn't managed to capture Hiruzen with his mouth open in disbelief, he wasn't taking the chance on Fugaku.
Miya and Asebi had been re-arranging one of the Spare tents they had. Removing all of the furniture that was in it and setting up a large dining room table, 2 of the Potter elves had been awoke a few days before, both kitchen-elves that had trained in Japanese cuisine before they had gone into status and had spent most of the day whipping up a feast, happy to have so much work to do straight away.
Shiri and Takeo had been setting up what had been the two bedrooms into display rooms, one showing off some of their scrolls and books that the Uchiha might have an interest in that were not considered secrets. Thee second Reo had helped with ass they displayed some of the rare and more interesting weapons available within their combined armouries. Including the goblin made blades that were now considered to belong to each of the children. Even if Ryu couldn't use his rapier yet as it did not have the enchantments that the Master-smith had provided for Ayame, he still made sure it took pride of place along side Ayame's Katana style blade and Maiko's black twin blades.
The family were all waiting within the main room when Itachi led his family inside. The two boys quickly darted out of shot before the cameras started flashing. Shiri would be forever disappointed that Fugaku's reaction to the shock of the inside of the tent was only a widening of the eyes. Itsuki gave Shiri the reaction he was looking for though, he couldn't have looked more gob-smacked if he'd been slapped with a wet fish,
"How...But this is…." Turning he ducked back out of the tent door and stuck his head back in a couple of times before he re-entered the tent. "This is impossible!"
Shiriusu was rolling on the floor in laughter, the rest of the group had seated themselves by the time Itsuki came back inside.
"It's possible through use of our Clan techniques, Itsuki-san. This is part of what would be available to the Uchiha clan under the betrothal contract." Asebi as the next oldest Kuro answered Itsuki's exclamation, and added a hint for Fugaku, seeing as Shiri was only now settling into wheezing chuckles and incapable of answering. Fugaku getting the hint, it was about a subtle as a brick to the face, nodded his understanding to Asebi. Shiri finally managed to collect himself and make his way over to the table where drinks were being served by Miya and Maiko.
"Shall we get the business side out of the way first? Then we can enjoy our dinner without the elephant in the room. We've got some things set up to show you so you can understand exactly what we're offering for our side of the contract. You're all welcome to have a look, or stay here if you want?"
Fugaku being better prepared for his hosts bluntness this time just indicated for Shiri to lead on. All the Uchiha males went as the ladies stayed to gossip at the table. Opening one of the doors that Fugaku had been ignoring the possibility of Shiri lead them down a hall way and opened one door as he passed without saying anything before opening a second. Grandly gesturing with his arm into the room Shiri announced,
"This is some of the books and scrolls we own, it's only a small selection but these are some examples that Itachi mentioned you might be most interested in. We have a lot more written work available, loads of storage scrolls filled with just books and I really want to build a library to house them all, it's going to be its own separate building! Anyway, have a look in here and then there's the other door I opened that's got some of our private armoury set up for you to see. Same as here it's only a small selection but it does give an example."
Itachi headed straight into the book room to see what Shiri had found for his suggestions; police work and explosions. Though no Uchiha would admit it out loud they all had a fascination with fire and explosions. Why do you think the Great Fireball Technique was considered a rite of passage?
Looking through the titles Itachi saw '101 ways to cause explosions with common household items', 'The Art of Crime Scene Investigation', and 'Into the Mind of a Serial Killer' among others, his interest was already peaked and he could tell his father was interested by the quiet hum he gave as he read a couple of the titles.
"Shiriusu-san?"
"Shiri, Itachi, call me Shiri, how many times do I have to tell you? It makes me feel old."
"Shiri?" Itachi tried again
"Yes, Itachi?" This time Itachi received one of Shiri's blinding smiles.
"Would it be possible to borrow a couple of these books now?"
"Course you can, I was thinking about putting most of these into the public library I'm planning. They're readily available titles back home. Most of the truly secret stuff is in another language or part of Ayame's Uzumaki inheritance. There's a couple of technique scrolls Ayame was happy for you to look at over there, I'm sure she'd let you borrow them if you asked."
Bowing to Shiri, Itachi thanked him before picking up one of the books his father had hummed over and the Crime Scene book, before moving over to where the scrolls had been spread out. One was basic steps for an Uzumaki style of taijutsu the other was the technique for making a water clone. He knew the Uchiha did not have access to many water techniques as they were a fire-based clan.
Fugaku looked over the titles Shiri had arranged for them and found himself impressed, when the dark-haired lord had stated his intention to place these books in a public library, Fugaku wondered what kind of books they thought needed to be kept from the public. He certainly wouldn't allow civilians to learn what makes up a crime scene, it would make his job harder! Following his son over to the scrolls he was shocked when Itachi handed him one of the books that had really caught his interest. Giving his son a silent nod of gratitude and a small smile, Fugaku was shocked at the smile he received from his stoic son in return. Though he was seeing the smile more often now, Fugaku was still surprised him when Itachi smiled at him.
"Does Ayame-hime have many more water technique scrolls, Shiriusu-dono?"
"Why will no-one call me Shiri!" Shiri wailed to the ceiling of the tent, that Fugaku was surprised to notice still looked tent like. Reo pushed Shiri out of the way and approached Fugaku,
"I've catalogued all of Ayame's Uzumaki inheritance, her grandfather was a hoarder, he collected every scroll he ever came across. There are scrolls for every elemental type, scrolls for chakra training, scrolls for taijutsu, scrolls for kenjutsu and obviously, Fuinjutsu. Some of the scrolls I've catalogued make me believe Hitoshi had sticky fingers as well as pack-rat tendencies. She's got a scroll with the Kiri signature mist calling technique and I know that wouldn't have fallen into Hitoshi's hands easily."
"That's a very interesting range of scrolls, there are really that many?"
"Hai, and the rest of the families Ayame has an inheritance from where the same, hoarders. There's enough furniture to outfit every house Shiri intends to build stored away for Ayame to decide what to do with when she's old enough."
Reo stayed in step with Fugaku as he moved on to the armoury room. Instantly drawn to the beautiful blue katana style blade Fugaku walked over for a closer look.
"Ah, that's Ayame's personal blade. It's been bound to her blood and line so only her children and their descendants will be able to wield it fully."
Fugaku could find nothing to say. A blade like that commission just for Ayame, a 6-year-old princess that may still change her mind about becoming a full shinobi. That was not something the Uchiha would ever dream of doing, it would be considered a waste of clan funds. Staying silent Fugaku turned his attention to the other weapons within the room. Many he had never seen the like of.
Keeping his thoughts to himself Fugaku returned to the dining room and settled next to his wife. As the rest of the menfolk returned Shiri broke into the quiet conversations that were taking place between different people.
"Now that you've seen an example of the things we can offer that you will understand and recognise, Asebi will explain more about the things we can offer that you won't recognise. She's better than me at explanations that don't ramble."
Asebi stood up from her seat and spoke as if she were giving a lecture;
"As we said last time the Kuro Clan have two Kekkei Genkai, Maiko has the more obvious example of one of our bloodlines, the ability to change her physical appearance. Maiko has inherited the full ability and can change every thing about her physical form, Ayame has a minor talent and can change her hair slightly, the length and whether its curly or straight."
The Uchiha nodded at this, it made sense from what they had seen and heard.
"The other Kekkei Genkai is an ability that was actually shared through our whole society, the ability to harness a second source of energy that we named magic. The closest comparison I could make would be if a person here was born with an inbuilt core of natural chakra, separate from their normal chakra system. All the children have the ability to use both magic and chakra and have begun training in both to no adverse effects."
Seeing the Uchiha again nod in understanding Asebi continued,
"Magic is almost limitless in its applications, and we have at least as many disciplines in magic as you do types of jutsu, some are even comparable, we have our own style of Fuinjutsu for example, and abilities to attack and defend. We also have the ability to create potions that can heal all sorts of ailments, even re-grow an entire limb. Wards that can be placed around areas to protect them, we intend to place an intent-based ward over the entire Kuro land that will incapacitate and alert one of us if someone who has ill-intentions attempts to cross our borders."
Now that last one certainly peaked Fugaku's interest, the implications of a ward like that as an addition to security were innumerable.
"We can also do things that seem impossible, like this tent. It really is this big on the inside and that small on the outside, and everything within the tent can stay in the tent when we collapse it and nothing will have moved inside the next time the tent is set up. We can change something into something else, Shiri can change into a large black dog-" which he promptly did and barked before happily chasing his own tail. "As I was saying change one thing into another, there's really not much we can't do. Reo has proven that our abilities do not match up to a shinobi's in combat situations but our defensive wards are unmatched here."
Asebi sat down and Shiri changed back to a person. Smiling at Itsuki's flabbergasted face he settled down in his seat.
"So now that you have a better idea of what we're offering let's have dinner so you can think it over some." Shiri clapped twice and dinner just appeared on the table. All the Uchiha's jumped and it was a hesitant Itachi that first reached to fill his plate, before the others followed his lead. Shisui couldn't help himself and blurted out,
"Is this food magic?"
Shiri barked a laugh before explaining it was real food that had been magically transported from the kitchen at the signal of his clap. Fugaku spent his meal in silence thinking on all the Kuro were offering and if he took his personal feelings out of it, how little they wanted in return and knew he could not turn this betrothal contract down. He was glad that Itachi had stated his agreement before now as he did not want to risk their new relationship when he asked Shiri to proceed with the contract at the end of the meal. It would be good for all his family, Fugaku mused as he watched his sister and wife engage in lively conversation with the Kuro ladies and how his son (even without actually saying more than a few words) was included in the conversations the youngest members of their group were having. He watched how no matter what was going on or what was happening Itachi's attention was drawn back to Ayame every time.
Mind made up Fugaku waited until the end of dinner before asking Shiri to write up the first draft of the betrothal contract. As they got home later than evening and just before he headed to his bed Itachi gave his father a smile and bowed with a quiet "Thank you Tou-san."
Fugaku knew he'd made the right choice.