Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 87
"Navigating"
[Convergence of Shadows: Feature 2]
The sound of footsteps reaches my ears, and I check for familiar chakra signatures. None come back to me, so I sit at attention and wait for the new group to arrive. The members of Sand are alert as well. Hina uses her Byakugan briefly, and turns it off with a serious look on her face. She turns to us and nods while pointing towards her eye. The information from earlier is now confirmed. We'll leave the details to the old man.
Mifune has a short conversation with them before leaving, presumably to get more tea. They're not the group we expected to show up next, but that much isn't a problem. It's the Hidden Mist, shrouded in mystery ever since the age of terror and slaughter came to an end close to a decade ago. Or at least that's what the reports say. One older man, a nervous looking younger man, and a very stunning woman, clearly of a youthful age. Just as the reports said. The Mizukage has a short conversation with the older man next to her, and he indicates his assent to some question. The three of them then jump to the second level where we are, and approach with care. We stand to meet them.
I long suspected that photographs and descriptions and the like could never properly describe the woman in front of me, and it turns out I was correct, as I usually am. Her red hair has a bit more brown in it than mine does, but it's still very beautiful. And long, it seems. Some of it is tied up with a blue band at the top of her head, but the rest still goes all the way down her back and to her ankles. Her bangs are styled so that they sweep over her right eye, leaving her left visible. A bright green, filled with genuine kindness. Almost unexpected for someone who grew up in the Blood Mist era, but nothing I could complain about. A long blue dress with a gold belt around the middle, revealing her shoulders and the top part of the mesh armour she's wearing underneath. At the bottom, her boots are white and have low heels, like I saw Sakura wearing the other day.
The older man has his blue hair shaped like a mountain peak. I suppose that's a Mist style, since Kisame's hair is shaped in a similar manner. His visible eye is blue, and he wears a grey, pinstriped shirt, maybe a bodysuit, beneath his green robes with white trim. The Mist headband is in its usual place. There are two talismans hanging from his ears, both saying "hear" in an archaic form on both sides of each. I wonder what they're for. Maybe they're connected with the eye he's hiding. As for the younger one, his hair is a lighter blue and cut very short, close to his head. He has glasses over his dark eyes, with square rims – middle of the road in quality, from what I can tell – that connect to ear protectors with a camouflage pattern, the same as his pants have. His shirt is in the same pinstriped grey as his partner, with a blue holster overlaying it to carry his special sword. His headband is attached to the middle of it.
"Lord Hokage. Or rather, God of Shinobi...it's an honour to stand before you, and I am quite glad to see you here today," the Mizukage says. "If you would allow me to introduce myself to you properly. My name is Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage of the Village Hidden in Mist."
"A pleasure meeting you, Lady Mizukage. I have heard of your village's advancements as of late, and I am also glad to see you here. Though you know of me by now, I would also like to introduce myself properly. I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of the Village Hidden in Leaves. Hopefully not for too much longer," he says with a chuckle. "Too many people are reminding me of retirement these days."
"Thank you for your praise of our village, Lord Hokage. It's good to know that our efforts are being recognized. There is a lot to say, and..."
The man puts a gentle hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. Mei reluctantly nods back, and that train of thought seems to have been terminated.
"Forgive me, Lord Hokage. What I meant to say was that we have been through much, and time may not allow us to explore all of the present issues we are dealing with in this age. The Mist will extend its hand as often as we can, such as in matters like these. I believe the safety of the shinobi world will require strength and effort from all of us, together."
"Hm. Well said."
"Even so." She gathers herself and nods. "We can always do more when asked. Lord Hokage, we of the Mist will hear any petition that you have of us, whether there are guarantees attached or otherwise. This world is one where we cannot blindly trust each other, but measures of faith are fair to give out. I hope that it isn't too presumptuous of me."
"Not at all, Lady Mizukage. If there is anything we need of you, we will be happy to initiate communication at the promised time. A joint venture or two is more than within our capacity."
She smiles, her face brightening. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. It's very heartening to hear."
"Of course, of course."
"And if I may, I would like to introduce my most trusted guards as well. My experienced and wise advisor, Ao. He has been a veteran of many a war, and holds a great deal of combat skill and experience besides." The mystery man with the eye patch, which we now know conceals a Byakugan underneath. Probably taken from the last war, where chaos ruled every battlefield.
"Greetings to you, Hokage."
"Greetings, sir. I see you might have a war trophy underneath there," Hiruzen says subtly.
"I might, sir. The Third Great War was a chaotic time for all parties involved," Ao responds.
"Indeed. No one should hold a grudge for things that took place in the past, even during that time. It would be unproductive for the most part. Whatever treasure you've obtained, you have nothing to fear from us in particular. I cannot say the same for others if they become aware, however."
"I will keep that in mind, Lord Hokage. Thank you for the advice," he says with a bow. A glance over to Hina afterwards doesn't give him much to read.
"And this is Chojuro, our village's most talented swordsman," Mei continues. Chojuro tries, and fails, to keep his composure at her praise. He really has it bad for her, not that I could blame him. "He's a little nervous since this is his first time being so far outside of the village...but don't let that fool you. He's quite good at what he does."
"T-thank you, Lady Mizukage. Lord Hokage...a-an honour to meet you, sir."
"And a pleasure to meet you, my boy. One of the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen, yes?"
"S-sir. Yes, I am." That nervous smile of his reveals some of his sharp teeth. One of the characteristics of that group, a mysterious thing. But then, my elegant sister has her own beast-like features while in her human form.
"Your blade's unique shape gave it away. You should not have to display the formidable skill that Lady Mizukage told us of, but I am sure that you'll be ready if the time does come. Be at ease otherwise, young man."
"I-I'll try, sir. Thank you," Chojuro says with a relieved smile.
"Well done. And in turn, I will introduce you all to my chosen guard for this meeting," Hiruzen says. "Here, we have the future leader of the Hyuuga Clan, as chosen by her father, who is the current head. Hinata Hyuuga."
"Pleased to make your acquaintances." Hina gives our counterparts a polite bow. "It is my hope, as is Lord Hokage's, that this meeting commence and finish peacefully. And as the Hyuuga Clan's representative, I also echo Lord Hokage's earlier sentiments to you of the Mist."
"We are relieved to hear that," Mei says. Ao shakes his head in the background, muttering something about weakness and posture. He should be grateful instead that we haven't been given permission to hunt him down like a dog for that eye. "Thank you, Lady Hyuuga."
"You are quite welcome, Lady Mizukage. And so you know, your kindness is very well appreciated by all of us."
"I'm very glad," Mei says with another smile. She really is precious.
"And I am sure you know of my other selection by now. Our village's favoured daughter, known in all the lands as the Scarlet Viper of infamy, and the great destroyer of man and beast alike. Lilith Kobayashi."
I step forward and curtsy for our counterparts. "Salutations to you of the Hidden Mist. In the name of the Hidden Leaf, and with the blessing of my Hokage, I hail you, Lady Mizukage."
"Thank you kindly. So this is my reflection I have heard so much about," Mei says. "It might be unwise for some, but I will admit to a bit of envy on my part. You must have broken many a heart, Lady Kobayashi."
"It must be so. Though I have my doubts I could compete with someone of your radiance, Lady Mizukage. Even if our tastes landed in similar spheres, so to speak."
"An intriguing thing to say," she replies, amused. "Perhaps one day we can explore that meaning together, under more peaceful skies. For now, I will say that I greatly appreciate your presence here, for many differing reasons. But chief among them is that I suspect the rest of the Five Kage will not want to provoke the wrath of one such as you."
"It's our hope that those suspicions come to pass, Lady Mizukage. Rest assured, along with my Hokage, you will certainly be safe beneath my gaze." I step forward and kiss her hand gently.
"How dashing. Ao, you didn't mention this part in our morning briefing," Mei says, smiling brightly. "We've been caught completely off guard, you know."
"Unbelievable...kids these days," he grumbles. Chojuro seems stuck in his own web of confusion.
"Lord Hokage, if you might grant me a few extra moments of your time after the summit concludes...perhaps we could discuss various things regarding our villages' relations," Mei says.
"Mm. A sound idea...we will give it careful consideration, and return to you with an answer later," Hiruzen replies.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage. We will eagerly await your response."
"Milady, I believe we had things to discuss as a group, before the others arrived," Ao says. "So it would be best to hail the Sand before time runs short."
"Yes, of course. We will start that right away. Lord Hokage, Lady Hyuuga, Lady Kobayashi...thank you for taking the time to talk with us, and giving us your greetings. Please take care, and I pray that this summit ends well for all of us." She bows before giving us a warm smile. "Until the next."
"Until the next, Lady Mizukage," Hiruzen says. She nods and follows Ao to meet with Gaara and the others, Chojuro following faithfully behind them.
"A lovely child. The kindness in her heart must belie her strength, genuine as it is," he says as the Mist group leaves.
"I felt the same," Hina says. "Very polite, and did what she could to balance that with her authority as a Kage. What did you think, Lili? Figure aside, of course."
"Are you going to needle me like this the entire time?"
"Perhaps. Miss Tamaki did give me encouragement, after all."
"I'll deal with her when I get back. In my mind...I believe that this only makes sense for her. She took over the Hidden Mist after Yagura's demise, and must have had to deal with anger, and hatred, and all kinds of persecution. That on top of the village's various straits. So much pain and stress to deal with...I can tell that the warmth and kindness she showed us was genuine, from top to bottom. I have to wonder why she's not with child already."
"That's a leap," Hina says.
"I don't think so. It's too bad I can't flirt with her properly, as to find out what she's really into. Mature women hit a lot of my buttons."
"Incorrigible."
"Yes. Oyaji, I think we should definitely talk with her later, about various things. The incident with Utakata is surely on her mind, as the Byakugan man had to keep her from saying too much at once. No matter what the mood at the end of this session, it represents a solid opportunity."
"I agree with Lili, Lord Hokage. Extending a hand in good faith will be helpful to all sides."
He nods. "Then it's decided. We can ask Mifune for use of a room once the summit is concluded."
"It will also give us a chance to further admire the Mizukage's beauty without interruption," I say quietly. "A win for both of us."
He nods carefully. "Mm."
"Lili. How many pressure points would you like sealed at the end of today?" Hina asks. "I'll allow you to specify a number, as an act of benevolence."
"Behave, Hina."
"That's my line. Stop corrupting Lord Hokage. If you cause an incident on this trip, I will never hear the end of it."
"I'm not corrupting anyone," I argue. "The old man likes what he likes, and so do I."
"Oh, you don't have to worry. I'm not above sealing him, too. If anyone asks, it was for his own safety." Hina glares darkly at us. "I am Lord Hokage's chosen bodyguard, after all..."
Hina is very frightening when she wants to be.
The three groups are in their own spaces for the next while, with Mifune checking in and offering to refresh our tea, in addition to his other acts of hospitality. I briefly introduce Yuna and Temari to each other, which seems to help the tension between them. And allows the rest of us to relax, since a cat fight is no longer imminent. Potentially very hot, but better for all of us in the end.
Shortly upon my return from the washroom, I note a massive chakra signature following behind Mifune, along with two others of lesser potency. But that's fair, considering who this is.
"Looks like menace number one is arriving," I say to Hina and Hiruzen.
"Yes," she says. Her Byakugan is active, and her body is slightly tensed.
"Will you be okay?" I ask.
"I will be. Especially with both of you nearby. Lord Hokage, if you feel that it is inappropriate...I think you should revoke the permissions you gave to me, even without warning."
"Duly noted, Hinata. I will pay close attention to the mood on your behalf."
"Thank you, sir." She shuts off her Byakugan and lets out a breath. "Alright. It's time."
"Are we ready, Lord Hokage?" I ask him.
"We should be ready, yes. Let's begin."
The trio from Hidden Cloud enters the meeting room, stopping to talk with Mifune and handing off their winter cloaks. It's enough time to do our visual checks, and see exactly what we're dealing with.
First, the most obvious character. The Fourth Raikage, A. Dark skinned, standing about two meters tall from my estimation – close to a foot over me – and with a large, muscular build that can be seen through the opened white robes he wears. His white hair is combed back, forming spikes behind his head, and he has a neat split moustache with goatee. The rest of his outfit makes him look like more of a strongman, or one of those fellows that does wrestling shows. Black pants that are roughly cut off at the shins, white guards beneath it, and a golden belt with a boar's head carved into it. There are heavy gold braces around his arms as well, three on each. The grandiosity does not sit at odds with his professional aura, nor does it diminish his standing – he looks every bit as serious as I've heard he was.
Next to him are the guards he's chosen. The taller man with shaggy white hair that covers his left eye is Darui, sometimes known as the Black Lightning for his ability to use the same. Rumours abound that it's an ability he inherited directly from the Third Raikage, A's father. That man was also known as A, which might confuse some, but makes perfect sense to me. Though shorter than his boss, Darui is a tall man himself, built with lean muscle that can be seen through the black sleeveless shirt he wears, with a high collar like Sasuke favours. His pants and sandals are the same colour, and those are contrasted with the white bandages around his wrists and the one-strap white jacket that serves as part of the Cloud's standard uniform. On his back is a sword that looks to be a cleaving type, and has a hinge for folding. The most curious things are the tattoos on each of his shoulders, one for 'water' on his right that I caught earlier, and 'lightning' as I can see now. Which is an advertisement of not only his two primary elements, but also of his bloodline limit, Storm Release. With all of that said, he doesn't look like he's interested in causing trouble. Some would call that suspicious, but it looks like he's just very laid back in general. That might be good for dealing with their group.
Especially since the other one looks to be eyeing things a little too closely. This one is called C from the reports, a sensor type, medic, and genjutsu specialist. I flicker my sensing on deliberately, and get a ping back. He looks at me briefly before returning his attention to Mifune, confirming my suspicions easily enough. He has fair skin contrasting with his partners, and short, spiky blonde hair that is parted at the front while going down to the back of his neck. His protector is visible on his forehead, unlike Darui's which I haven't seen yet. He wears the same type of clothing, black sleeveless shirt and pants, with the white Cloud jacket over top. He's added black arm guards and white shin guards similar to the Raikage's. His role is apparent from the way his build stands out next to the Raikage and Darui, though I won't make assumptions about his physical ability.
After finishing his discussion with Mifune, the Raikage takes note of us and signals his party to follow. They jump to the second level where we are, and the other groups watch carefully as they approach us.
"I was impressed to hear that you would be making the trip up, Sarutobi. Seems you're still able to move about in your old age," A says.
"It seems so. Even now, there are several exciting events to attend. It only makes sense that I stay in shape to meet with my peers," Hiruzen replies, smiling. "In any case, it has been a long while since we've last been able to speak. You seem quite well, Raikage."
"I would be more relaxed without the foolishness of other nations weighing on my mind. Your presence is welcomed, better you than some other spineless fool representing Leaf at the table."
"Hm. Indeed."
"I assume you know of my associates from whatever reports you've scrounged up. Darui and C."
"Yo," Darui says with a wave.
"Lord Raikage is right to say that we'll have use of your knowledge at the upcoming meeting," C says. "We only ask that you not make things more difficult than they need to be. Though that might be asking too much of you, considering this assembly."
"Little much, C," Darui says.
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"C does have a point," A says. "Bringing a Hyuuga along is a bold choice, Hokage. I have to wonder what you meant by it."
"I see. Well," Hiruzen begins, "Lady Hyuuga here is one of the finest shinobi in our village, an accomplished woman from one of the Leaf's strongest and most prestigious clans. A rich history follows her. That said, I did have the idea that I would bring her for reasons beyond my security at this meeting."
"Is your intention to bring grievance for the Hyuuga Affair?" C asks. "In case you've forgotten, that incident was settled-"
"C, leave it."
"Of course. Apologies, my lord."
"It's alright," A says. He folds his arms and focuses on Hina. "I'm sure that you have something to say, so you might as well say it now. There's still some time before the meeting starts...wouldn't do to make a little girl cry if I have time to spare."
Arrogant, the lot of them. It would be very simple to put these stupid dogs in their place, but I agreed to leave things to the old man. He nods to Hina, and she nods back before stepping forward to meet the Raikage. She looks up at him, folding her hands in front of her waist.
"Lord Raikage," she says before giving him a bow. "Thank you for making time for me today. I very much appreciate it."
"Hmph. And what is it you have to say to me, Hyuuga?"
"If you would allow me to introduce myself. I am the eldest daughter of the Hyuuga Clan head, Hiashi Hyuuga. My name is Hinata Hyuuga. If you might recall, I was the subject of the Hyuuga Affair. The child who was the target of an alleged kidnapping."
"Yes. Your father struck down one of our highest ranked officials on a diplomatic visit. Fortunately for you, he found a way to survive the punishment meant for him."
"He did, yes. To give you assurances, I have not come to demand apology or extract compensation for any suffering caused by the incident. Every price has been paid, and the situation dealt with accordingly. All sides got what they wanted, in the end."
"At least you understand that much."
"I do. My curiosity extended to seeing the man who, along with Lord Hokage, negotiated such a difficult situation. The world of shinobi is harsh, and not always fair to us. To gather strength, to secure one's borders...it is necessary to search for and obtain techniques of all kinds. It may be that some shinobi operate independently with this in mind, and take steps to boost the power and standing of their villages and nations. Even if it is...ill-advised."
A grunts, but keeps his attention on her.
"Is there a point to your monologue, Hyuuga?" C asks.
"Might I suggest you hold your tongue for an extra moment?" Hina says sharply. "Your interjections will serve to waste more of your lord's time than I could hope to, and for little to no gain."
"You-"
"C, back down." Darui's voice is the same volume, but firmer now. "We're not in any rush, and Lady Hyuuga made a polite request. Leave her to it, alright?"
"Fine."
"Sorry about that, Boss," he says to A. "You two go ahead, and don't worry about more interruptions."
"Thank you," Hina says. "To finish my thought, I have gained an understanding of the shape of this world. Of how we want things to work, and how they work in actuality. I have no grudge or hatred towards you, despite the many things that went back and forth, and the feelings that were hurt and bruised in the process. Coming here, and being able to speak like this...has given me a new understanding of where we are today, and what needs to be done going forward. But I don't intend to speak endlessly, or waste the opportunity that is in front of me. Lord Raikage, you have proven yourself to be a mighty leader, one who has guided his village to great strength and prosperity. You hold firmly the power of two tailed beasts, within highly skilled jinchuuriki that protect your village from harm. And you yourself are a formidable being among shinobi, having rivalled our own Fourth Hokage for many years, earning his praise."
"Heh. You sure know how to get on a man's good side," A says with a smirk.
"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Raikage. To get to my question, what wisdom would you have for me regarding the past we share by way of fate, and the future that lies ahead? I would be remiss to waste this sort of opportunity, if you would grant it to me."
"I think you're laying it on a little thick, if you ask me."
"..."
"You clearly know more than you're trying to let on," he continues. "What gains you respect among shinobi in this world is action and power. Clearly, the courage and conviction you've shown in this short meeting shows that you have both, in at least some capacity. Standing in front of me boldly, with that sort of look in your eyes...hmph. It's something that only your master and that fire-head next to him would display, among all of the shinobi that remain in this world."
Fire-head, huh. Colourful.
"The history of humans is that of war and struggle. You know that much. The hidden villages, including yours, crave the most powerful techniques to enhance their armies, obtain territory, and secure resources. In order to survive the struggle that defines your existence as a shinobi, you must eschew compromise, and gain conviction. Settle for nothing less than the highest prize, and settle with no one unless they end up beneath you as a result."
"A lesson I have heard more than once from my beloved sister. I see...it is an inescapable truth of this world."
"Your sister?"
"The woman of flame you mentioned before, sir."
A's gaze shifts to me. For a moment, I can see something in those eyes of his. Softened in a sort of understanding. Did we remind him of something? Something from the past, or maybe a reflection. It doesn't last too long, his face returning to its usual sternness before he gives Hina his attention again.
"So you form a pair with her, then. I suppose you could do worse."
"With how she gets on, I have to wonder about that sometimes..."
I pout. She's really getting into this bullying thing today. "Oi."
A chuckles at that, to what seems like everyone's surprise. "It was long ago by now, but I can understand what you might be going through."
"Things to think about, Lord Raikage?"
"Hm. Hard to say."
"Understood. That was all I had to ask of you, my lord. Thank you for granting me an audience during this most important time, and for providing me with wisdom. I intend to take all of it seriously."
"Good to hear. Sarutobi, you've raised these children well. You should be proud of them, especially in your age. Though it won't prevent your village from being crushed by ours in a potential conflict, their strength would help you survive long enough to negotiate a proper surrender. Let's hope the choices made today prevent that sort of outcome," A says.
"Your praise is appreciated, Lord Raikage. I have done my best to guide the youth towards greater heights. That said, I think you should be careful when it comes to predictions about conflict between us. The three of us alone represent a potent threat to any of the nations present," Hiruzen says. "What say you, Madam Kobayashi?"
"I believe that you are entirely correct, Lord Hokage," I say while staring at A. He grunts and stares back at me. "In this world, might controls all things. And I am one of the mightiest. Would the Hidden Cloud be fool enough to downplay the strength of one who felled a great beast? Would they dismiss it as a stroke of luck, rather than the power of a blessed angel? I would hope not, lest they and their ilk meet a tragic end."
"Baring your fangs at the first opportunity, viper brat? I can't say I hate your spirit. But if we should meet on the battlefield, you will see why I am the mightiest shinobi in this world, with a legend beyond that of your hero in the Fourth Hokage. You will learn to fear my fury."
"I suppose if it comes to that, we will see. I pray for good fortune today, so that I would not have to face your wrath before the promised time." I step forward and curtsy for him, before returning to Hiruzen's side. Hina bows and does the same a moment later.
"Guess we should hail the others before going over our notes," Darui says. "It was nice talking with you guys from Leaf. Sorry about all the tension, but...you know how it is these days."
Hiruzen nods. "Indeed. Then we will leave you all to your tasks. Lord Raikage, we will speak again during the meeting."
"Be sure to enjoy your tea, handmade by the samurai general himself," I say to them. "It's quite delicious."
"Cool. We'll give it a try," Darui says with a thumbs up.
"The Fence Sitter hasn't arrived yet. Probably still snapping his bones back into place," A mutters. "Darui, C. We'll have a friendly chat with the Mizukage and her ilk next."
"If you try to pull anything, we'll know," C says to me.
"I'm sure you will. You also won't be quick enough to do anything about it." I wave and give him a cruel smile. "Bye-bye~."
C growls before leaving, Darui shaking his head after him. He gives us an apologetic wave before following the Raikage to the other side of the room.
"Lively fellows." Hiruzen takes out his pipe, and I light it for him before he starts to smoke.
"That is one way to describe them," I say. "Hina...did you get everything you wanted?"
"Yes. There is a lot more I understand now...things that I can see now that I couldn't before. The Raikage is entirely correct. Shinobi need to be strong and decisive, because strength does control everything in this world. And so...I will become strong. As strong as I can possibly be."
She turns to me and smiles.
"And with that strength, I will help to put the world's struggles to rest. For all of us."
"Well said, Hina."
"I also noticed something. When I mentioned our relationship to him, his expression changed considerably. As fearsome of a man as he can be, and as much as he speaks of strength...he has also not discarded the feelings inside of him. Family is also of great importance."
"I could see it too. Perhaps that's why he has such a strict order for Killer Bee. They might be sworn siblings as well, unlikely as it would sound. They did achieve fame as a powerful team in the past," I say.
"It's even more reason to make a meaningful change. Uncle Hizashi gave his life out of love, to preserve a fragile peace. And we know of others who sacrificed much for our village, and the family they had left. Thinking about Hanabi, and Rose, and Mirai, just to name a few...I don't want them to suffer and be lost, or end up suffering from watching us disappear to protect them. I want to put an end to that cycle. We of the Leaf mourned and clenched our fists until they drew blood, holding ourselves back as we were punished for daring to protect ourselves. But if strength is what drives the world, then we'll use ours to put an end to the circle of darkness."
Hina leans over and kisses Hiruzen on the cheek.
"Lord Hokage, thank you. For this gift today, and for your faith in me."
"You're welcome, Hinata. You have always been a strong young woman, and it is truly wonderful to see you blossom. I know that Hizashi is looking towards you proudly, and thankful that his sacrifice has opened the way for you."
"I am thankful every day for what he did. Even if it took a while, he saved us. Father, Hanabi...and finally, me. Shall we rest again before another set of greetings, Lord Hokage?"
"Yes, of course. As youthful as I feel these days, I shouldn't stand around too much. I'm thankful to have such vibrant young women looking after me," he says as he sits down. "Even if some are more...aggressive than I am used to."
"It is said that there should be balance in all things," Hina points out while looking at me.
"Maybe I should ogle you next, then. That should keep me out of trouble," I say to her. "The yin to your yang, and the lewd to your chaste, is that it?"
"You said it, not me."
"Of course I did. One needs a little spice in their life, and I'm quite spicy. Speaking of that, I hope Kurotsuchi comes along soon. I liked dancing with her the last time."
"Mm. As long as you don't overdo it."
"Me? Perish the thought. I always treat pretty flowers with the most delicacy. Even you can attest to that."
"Aside from slaughtering enemies and paperwork, that is one of the few things you take seriously. So I can admit it, yes."
"You see? The Raikage was right, oyaji. You've raised yourself some good children."
He chuckles heartily at that. "Yes, indeed. You both are ladies to be proud of."