It is easy to tell the Akimichi main household was coming. As hidden as the village was by a forest of trees and bushy LEAFS, such a large string of wagons is visible to the naked eye, probably even more so far from a good vantage point in the several stories high trees.
If they were travelling ninja-style in a small group, this might not have been true. However, this time they weren't travelling as shinobi but as noblemen. It's somewhat ironic, really, that many of Choji's future clients and probably many of Choza's past clients would, in a formal setting, be expected to bow and use highly formal addresses. They were, after all, lords.
It's easy to forget as they are ninjas who fight in wars and deal with all (probably not ALL but close to) the troubles of a shinobi born from nothing.
This time though, their station was clear. Ninja clans may not be daimyo of a country, but they are high up. They have lands that they oversee, businesses, and they look after not just their clan members but their patrons under their protection. The Akimichi is probably more so than other clans, too, as they are a noble clan. That name wasn't just randomly given out. The Akimichi, Abarame, Hyuga, and Uchiha (though many classify the Uchiha as a founding clan along with the Senju) all, even to this day, had not only the most political pull, but greatest resources.
They were each instrumental in the building of Konoha. Their resources are what paid not just for the village to be built but buying the very land from the Daimyo of the land of fire so it could become its own territory, a country on its own for all intents and purposes.
Surprisingly the Senju hadn't even paid 5% of the cost it took to buy the land. No that was the four noble clans which are what earned them their name. It isn't said in the history books the EXACT reason the Senju really didn't contribute to the transaction. Still, from what I can grasp, even if Hashirama was an excellent leader and shinobi, he also was a terrible gambler. The only reason the clan didn't wholly collapse was because of Tobirama, who, as clan head after his brother's death, had to clean up the economic mess that was the village and Senju clan. After that, the Hokage could no longer make arbitrary decisions when it came to money.
Anyway, the takeaway is that even if they don't look it, the noble clans are powerful and wealthy.
I can make out about nine or so wagons on a line, guards flanking them, mostly Akimichi guards but Naara and Yamanaka as well. Probably not even an assigned mission. The wagons are pulled by an ox each and are filled with containers. I see Natsumi, who looks tired, resting in the front wagon. It makes sense as a civilian that she wouldn't have the endurance of a hardened shinobi. Not that they would have encountered much trouble on their trip. You'd have to be brave but more stupid to try and rob not only a shinobi but a shinobi with more guards than probably the fire daimyo.
Choji is walking beside the wagon where his mother is sitting, his father at his side, but he looks tired. I'm standing next to Yataka at the moment, Yataka, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Shikamaru Nara. My eyes flicker to Ino and Shikamaru. Ion is giving a suspicious look, and I am keeping close to her father's side, using the man as a buffer between us. It hurts a little, but I know she doesn't remember our time together. Shikamaru, on the other hand, regards me lazily, looking half asleep and leaning against Shikaku. He doesn't keep a distance from me but doesn't move to start a conversation either. I want to start one, but I am too worried I might say the wrong thing. Choji seems to spot me and smiles a little. I smile back. It's nice to see my friend.
I look at Choza next to him. It's less nice to see him.
"Hey, guys! I didn't know you'd be here!" Choji says, rushing away from the wagons past the guards at the gate, Izumo and Kotetsu, actually, who keep giving me looks and are right in front of us. In my opinion, there are way too many people staring at me.
"I barely knew either…." I say, trying to hide a slightly bitter tone. I hadn't known that the Yamanaka and Nara clan heads and heirs would be here when Yataka asked me to come with him to greet the returning family. I should have though so it was my mistake.
"It's troublesome, but Touchan insisted." Shikamaru simply says with a shrug as Ino I can see rolls her eyes as she always does when the Nara says the coined shadow clan catchphrase.
"Anyway… how did the trip go?" I ask nicely, smiling in a way that feels natural. I see, out of the corner of my eye, Natsumi beginning to direct what looks like a group of genin (probably on a d-ranked mission) about which bags to carry first, and the three clan heads subtly walking to the side to talk. Mostly pleasantries, I think… but probably updates too. Yataka seems to take the middle ground between Natsumi and Choza, not quite part of the conversation between clan heads but not so far that he can't possibly overhear a thing or two.
"It was great. We went to so many places! We got free food, and everyone was super nice, even if they all insisted on calling me Choji-sama." Choji says, and I smile. Maybe some mild over-admiration might help boost his confidence.
"Did you go to the capital? I hear there's amazing fashion there!" Ino asks, eagerly digging for information and taking charge of the conversation.
"We went there for two days to look at a few restaurants we own. We didn't stay long, though, since we had a lot of places to visit. We visited a potato farm that grows the potatoes for my chips!" Choji says, digging my into his backpack and producing a clear plastic bag. "They have a special home recipe too that's even better! You guys want some?" Choji asks shyly.
"Sure," I say, grabbing one and boy, does it taste good a flavour explosion! I try to taste what's different between them and the chips that Choji has shared with me in the past. (I've been lacking in junk food with his absence)
Level up Taste Identification Proficiency X1
Taste Identification Proficiency Level 14
The ability to identify substances and ingredients based on their taste. It can be used to identify poisons as well. Increases skill per level by 0.2%. Current ability tasting increase 2.8%
"Why not." Shikamaru says, munching on his own chip, but Ino just stands there, her brow tightening as though having an internal argument on the matter.
"No thanks." Ino finally decided to say. I cocked my head to the side, looking at Choji's slightly disheartened eyes at the rejection. Food was a form of affection for the Akimichi clan, after all.
"Troublesome… you aren't seriously going on a diet, are you, Ino? You know that's not healthy." Shikamaru said, his voice bored, but it edged more towards concern.
"So what if I am lazy! It's none of your business!" Ino declares, and I can't believe she's already turning more into a fangirling. Wouldn't the summer have been a cooldown period for those sorts of things?
"Shikamaru-san's right. It's not healthy at our age." I matter-of-factly tell her, looking at Choji to gauge if it is ok to grab another chip. When his eyes sing of silent approval, I do so. "What is in here that's so good?" I ask Choji wanting if to change the subject.
I see a small alert pop up on the edge of my vision, but I dismiss it for now.
"Oh, they season the oil instead of the chip! And then bake them as well! They showed me how to!" Choji exclaims, and Ino looks very upset at me, but I'm fine with that.
"We should try to do it sometime!" I declare, and Choji's eyes sparkle.
"Definitely." Choji says approvingly as he faces Ino and Shikamaru. "You guys want to help?" He then asks.
"Cookings too troublesome, plus it's for girls to do…." Shikamaru begins to say, and my eyes narrow dangerously, and I send a pleased smile to Ino as she pounds Shikamaru's head after that particular sexist comment. "Ow! Hey!" Shikamaru whines.
"It is not just for girls!" Ino exclaims, now ignoring me, being highly offended by Shikamaru.
"You want to come, Ino-san?" I ask, and she instantly shakes her head. Reconnecting with everyone seems to be a more difficult task than I imagined.
"No way would I want to cook greasy chips! I'm a proper lady!" Ino says, and Shikamaru gives a pointed look, still rubbing his sore head but wisely doesn't speak up.
"Looks like it's just you and me, Choji." I tell the Akimichi heir, who looks a little better at my announcement. "Or should I call you Choji-sama?" I tease, and he flushes.
"No! Sayori-chan! Not you too!" Choji whines, and I laugh a little. It wouldn't be wrong to remind him every now and then of the fact that he is important in more than one way.
"Come on, Yataka-san had me help with dinner." I say, and Choji says his goodbyes to the other two-thirds of the Ino-Shika-Cho, who are headed home with their parents.
I now look at the alert. What did I do to get this?!
New title!
Aspiring Prodigy (increase in rate of leveling up all stats 10%, increase in speed in evening up all skills 15%)
That title is fantastic, but it doesn't fill me with hope. It fills me with dread.
POV Inoichi Yamanaka
"It's good to see you two." Choza greets us as we discreetly move away from everyone else.
"You know it's so troublesome when you go off like that." Shikaku draws, and I shake my head. He's been this way since we were children. Shikamaru seems to have inherited his disposition despite my desperate hope that Yoshino's disposition would rub off on the kid to some degree.
"How were things?" I ask, and Choza smiles, promising details later but first business. Always business.
"The Akimichi clan's tenants are doing well." Choza replies, and that is good because if the Akimichi clan is doing well, so are the Yamanaka and Naara clans. Though we have some individual charges, most of our profit comes later from the processing of the raw material of the Akimichi. The Naara as well, are in the same situation. "How have things been here?" Choza inquires, and I can only sigh.
"Fugaku has been making noise in the council again." I tell him tiredly. The Uchiha clan head has always been opinionated. Mostly stoic, but every now and then, he makes his opinion VERY known. Though not a bad thing, many of his ideas actually being quite reasonable they are surprisingly long-term gain rather than the short-term that many on the council prefer. The most recent one being a change to the shinobi retirement fund, to take a percentage of the shinobi's pay and have the village invest it in bringing more money to both the village and the retiree.
The problem? Clans usually handle that, and most shinobi won't live to the retirement point he proposes. Though the long term, the additional money could help those few surviving veterans and give extra money that can be reinvested into the village, but it is not popular.
Not to say all his ideas are good. Some are just unrealistic with the current government, like having all civilian children in school mirror the first year of the academy? There would be uproar even if it would help bridge the civilian shinobi gap and encourage more recruits. Or his insane (or rather his wife's, as everyone knows that she is often the source of many ideas) idea to actually redirect a quotient of missions to Suna to further ties and help our ally's economy. Danzo had been all over that one tearing the clan head to political shreds.
I quite approve of many of his ideas; however, they could disturb the careful peace, especially with such an aged leader being our only representation. They go against the SENJU implemented policies, and even if some are outdated, many cannot see that. (I probably wouldn't if Shikaku didn't explain them to me.)
This most recent retirement bill is unpopular; however, it is right on the edge of being passed. The rule between our clans, though, is when in doubt or without majority to go with the established system. Caution is a shinobi trait that saves lives. Shikaku is against the bill (too many of our best shinobi making up our TRUE military power are at this retirement age), but I am for it as if we use that money even for semi-retired veterans, we can lessen the number of retirees needing memories repressed instead of adequately working through trauma. So Shikaku's vote as jonin commander is a no (though the fact he smells even more drunk than usual tells me he hates that it has to be), but his vote as Nara clan head? That now depends on Choza. The vote was scheduled a few days ago, which would have had our three clans voting no, going with the established system. Still, it was delayed to tomorrow by Koharu, saying she needed to gather more data on the matter economically with Hamura.
I think of all this as Shikaku explains the vote and the odd change in time.
"We vote yes." Choza says, and I sigh, relieved, and even Shikaku looks relieved to have a reason to do what he wants instead of what he needs to do. It looks like the bill might be passed after all.
I look towards the kids huddled together. "That's the one, right?" I ask, looking at the small blond child. She's smaller than Ino, and her colouring is not quite Yamanaka, but I'm not sure what colour it is. I've heard far too much about the girl from sources that shouldn't really discuss children. ANBU, for one.
"Yep, the little prodigy my ojisan found." Choza says with a guilty look, his jaw tightening.
"It's not like you to throw THAT word around." Shikaku notes, and Choza shakes his head, his mane of red hair following with the motion.
"Trust me. I'm not." Choza says, his words filling the air between us.