I own not either Naruto nor One Piece though I wish I do...Oh well have fun reading the story while I mope in the corner!
My warning is still in effect.
Snake Sisters
Chapter 10: Of Wounded Puppy jutsu and alleged politics
Lobby, Council Chambers, Hokage Tower, three days later
It was just unacceptable... despite being a man he lived with surprisingly hygienic standards, thus that was not an issue. No it was far worse than that. That apartment would be cramped for two people let alone four. And while she couldn't say she was entirely surprised but despite her efforts there was surprising resistance from real estate agencies towards any idea of letting her family stay in so much as an apartment without some form of compensation, regardless if Naruto lived with them or not. Yet what really rankled her was that whenever Naruto's name came up said agents suddenly lost interest!
The nerve!
Yet unfortunately, or fortunately if she played her cards right, this was more of a civil matter than one that concerned the Hokage who Naruto had some leeway with, however debatable that was. Short of an emergency she wasn't likely to be involved in anything further than finalizing the documents regarding this if at all. At any rate, however, by going over the agencies' heads her family would either have a roof over their heads or at least she would be more knowledgeable of this... stigma was concerning Naruto since he hadn't been any help himself.
"The council may see you now." There were a total of three councils in Konoha: The Konoha Council, ultimately advisors to the Hokage and nothing more. The Grand Council, a calling of heads of state, heads of notable families and essentially leaders amongst the civilian populace in during times of discretion such as the village being on the precipice of a war or other equally delicate matters, and the Civil Council. Whereas the other two handle the day to day actions of shinobi more so than the Civil Council, they were the ones who handled the domestic life of Konoha short of the Hokage attending to it herself; if there was one way to go above the agencies' and odd bank's issue with housing then it was them.
"Ah yes, Miss Boa. As we understand it you're having issues getting a residence within Konoha?" The council as it stood was of six people ranging from young men and women to middle aged at worse. Most of which however were male, leaving only two women to make up their number. It was a small room they were in, all things considered, with no windows and at best two doors, one being the main entrance whilst the other lead elsewhere. They all sat behind a long table adorned with a floor length table cloth and face the primary door into the room. Before them sat a small table in the company of a lone chair, a low wall and a handful of pews sat just behind that with only a single path to divide the section.
"Yes," she answered simply after she took her seat before them. She looked to them as if to ensure she saw what she saw and forced down a grin of spotting a few of her admirers in the group before her.
"I actually took the liberty to look into your case before our meeting here," one said as he pulled up a folder hidden from underneath his end of the table and promptly opened it. "You're from the Spring country, correct?"
"Not originally," she admitted, her hand ducking beneath the table to uneasily grasp at her dress whereas the rest of her was calm. "My sisters and I were originally from an island far to the south. We were on a cruise to the Elemental Nations when we were abducted... and..." she sniffed, turned and cupped her face as her head canted forth in shame, "forced into slavery!" She grinned a tad evilly beneath her hands as it had the desired effect of garnering gasps all around, even a few outraged cries from her admirers. "For years we toiled under master after master, enduring hardship and wanton lust till we were freed from our latest owner, Doto of the late Land of Snow."
Sniff!
"We came to Konoha on the promise of a better life, and while the Hokage was kind enough to offer us a hotel..." Sniff! "We can't find a job that doesn't remind us of our recent life where the only luxury we had were the manacles on our wrists! And our time at the hotel is running out... and... and..." She pitched forward and cried harder. "We'll end up on the streets before we know it! And the outside world is so scary! I can't help but fear for my sisters and myself since no one is offering to help in the least!" As she went into 'hysterics' she parted a finger enough to see the council had huddled together, heads hung low and the folder being used as a makeshift barrier. She couldn't help but grin a little once more when they simultaneously nodded in agreement. She jutted her finger back in place before they returned their attention to her.
"Miss Boa." With an actor's slowness she stood straighter in her chair and turned to them, her face as distraught as she willed it with masterfully hidden glee. "I believe we may have two solutions to your problem." Sitting up straight the apparent leader of the group. "The Uchiha district has long since been empty save for the occasional squatter or two patrols catch on a monthly basis. Yet ultimately it's the last descendant of the clan who has a say in the matter; if you speak to him then I'm sure he'll be generous—"
"E-excuse me," Hancock interrupted, her lip trembling as she dabbed at her eyes with her hand. "I appreciate the effort b-but..." Sniff! "But he scares me!"
Only one actually looked incredulous, insulted even, by her tearful remark yet before he could open his mouth to counter a cohort of his clamped her hand around his mouth. "We understand!" she laughed. "But frankly that's the easier of the two..."
"O-oh?" Hancock dabbed another tear away.
"Ha-ha... yes..." Though she tried to smile yet it was heavily marred by a grimace to such a degree she turned to the others for help.
"Really there's a complication with the second option that's been in effect since the third war, instated by the Third Hokage himself as a law..." The councilman scratched his cheekas he looked away in embarrassment. "On a side note government funds are still being used today towards its maintenance out of respect of a fallen ally of Konoha, also a law instated by the late Third Hokage."
"Oh?"
It was another member of the council to speak up. "The complication is that you must be a legitimate member of the Uzumaki clan to inhabit it. Since the homeland of the clan was destroyed, it's survivors scattered, it seemed like a good idea at the time for the Uzumaki to have a rally point if you will with friends and family. To help limit attempts on them it's basically forbidden for non-members of the clan to reside there for an extended period of time like say two or three days at the utter most..." He looked expectantly towards another who cleared his throat in return before assuming the role.
"Fortunately there is one who happens to still be in the village yet he's..." He paused for a moment. "Not... very deserving of it." He looked to a member closest to the end of the table who nodded in return, armed herself with red folder, got up and made her way to a puzzled Hancock.
"By that you mean..." She accepted the folder and looked inside to find adoption papers held within.
"Well... uh..." one started to say only to struggle.
"... He's crass!"
"Yes! And... he's loud!"
"A demented prankster!"
"Violent to boot!"
"Correct! And... and... he's dimwitted!"
"True! So true! Wouldn't know a vowel from an adjective even if he was mauled by one!"
"Anyway!" a councilwoman spoke up. "It shouldn't be too difficult to dupe him into signing that! Then you can live in luxury without him being any the wiser!"
"I see..." she almost said too quietly... She closed the folder and stood up. She bowed politely towards the council and left without a second glance, effectively hiding away the slight scowl on her face as the members packed up their belongings and left.
"Hey wait a minute..."
"Yes?" Everyone turned to the councilman as he intently stared at his reopened folder. "... It seems she has a keen interest to live with the boy..."
Silence...
"MOVE-MOVE-MOVE!" All scrambled for the door, trambling over chair and each other alike in their haste.
(End Flashback!)
It took her a moment to remind herself she had entered the hallway and even then it took half a minute for her to realize she was staring at the framed adoption papers bearing the official stamp of the Hokage plus a notary's seal to cement the fact. Smirking, she made for the foyer. Again she stopped to glance at another frame, a photo this time of the Civil Council cringing for the most part, a couple lunging at the camera. What dignity they had had been lost thanks to one dressed in a chicken suit that was colored pink, a couple were clowns, one of whom was made bald as the other sported a mohawk, one of the male members had been turned into a geisha, another a magical girl and lastly the remaining member's hair was made spiky like a jet blue sea urchin whilst her skin was peppered in a polka dot fashion.
"Good times," she sighed to herself just before resuming her trek to Naruto...