An afternoon in Kumogakure
Taking her offer of a free lunch, Rei and Tai followed Suzu ho. Along the way, Rei brought up a subject he was curious about
"Tai, what exactly is going on with your family?" (Rei)
"!" (Tai)
"I also recall you bringing up a related subject the last ti we sparred with Tango-Sensei. Right before we went on the mission to find Yugito-sama" (Suzu)
"..." (Tai)
"I'm only asking because I know how important your greenhouse is to you. When I heard you no longer had it, sothing must've happened" (Rei)
Tai looked downwards with a lancholy expression. His usual chipper deanor was nowhere to be found. Ever since the mission involving Team Mabui, his new attitude hasn't missed the attention of his peers
But the subject appeared to be very touchy, as he was hesitant to respond
"If you don't want talk about it, you don't have to" (Suzu)
"I was just curious" {As long as it doesn't impact your ability to support , I don't really care} (Rei)
"Mmmm, haaaaa...no, I'll talk about it. No problem was ever solved by running from it" (Tai)
"Wise words...to live by" (Suzu)
"My family has begun what we call...the selection. The process in which the next clan heir of the Yotsuki Clan is chosen, it's a very big deal not just for us, but for the village" (Tai)
"Because of your clan's...job?" (Rei)
"Yup" (Tai)
Tai's clan, the Yotsuki, is one that has served Kumogakure since before it's founding. Tasked with its border security, the clan possesses heavy influence in governnt affairs
A change in leadership would naturally be the cause for a major stir within the village, let alone the family itself
"Your father is the current clan head...and you're trying to take his place?" (Rei)
"That's what's expected of , but whether I want to or not is another matter entirely" (Tai)
"You don't want-ah! We're here" (Suzu)
Before they realized, the trio had already entered a small, isolated slum within the village. In front of them, a small culdesac-like area with a single rundown house
Entering the house, they were surprised to find the inside was in better condition than outside. This was the first ti Suzu had brought soone into her house, and considering Rei and Tai were seeing an entirely new side of the enigmatic girl's life, the whole trio was nervous
A small dinner table and kitchen, a living area with a Butsudan1Buddhist altar/morial shrine on the wall, there wasn't much to look at once they entered
{The walls and flooring...while the wood isn't as bad as outside, it still seems ready to fall apart} (Rei)
"Have a seat. I just have to heat so of this up" (Suzu)
"Need so help?" (Rei)
"It's fine. Most of the food the village sends
is preassembled. Usually, I just have heat it up after adding so spices and whatnot" (Suzu)
"Okay. In the anti, let's get back to what you were talking about Tai" (Rei)
"Right, now where was I..." (Tai)
"Taking your father's place...how does that work exactly? You made sound like a competition between your family, do you have so siblings you never told us about or sothing?" (Rei)
"No, no, no...along with the clan head's children, elders of the family may also put forth their children in the selection" (Tai)
SIZZLE!
{Well...at least the gas works safely} (Rei)
Suzu was at work in the kitchen
"aning...you'll be going up against your cousins" (Suzu)
"Yeah...and all of them are older and more experienced than " (Tai)
"Whoa, slow down. There's still sothing I don't get" (Rei)
"What?" (Tai)
"How EXACTLY does one beco the heir. You say your cousins are competition but, do you have to fight them or sothing?" (Rei)
"No...that wouldn't be fair to those with different ages and less experience. We have a ti period to rack up a certain amount of achievents which are then tallied after a set ti period" (Tai)
"What kind of achievents?" (Suzu)
"The kind that mostly benefit Kumogakure, rather than the clan. Honorable, virtuous contributions to our ho" (Tai)
"I see...kind of broad though" (Rei)
"Why do you think I'm in such a bind about it? I don't know how I'm going to win" (Tai)
Suzu finished cooking and brought food to the table. Plates with salmon, including different types of sauces and spices on each of them
"I only had salmon to cook, but I was able to improvise a bit. I know how much you like miso, Tai, so I made miso salmon for you" (Suzu)
"Oh! T-Thanks Suzu" (Tai)
"I didn't have any teriyaki, sorry Rei. You'll have to make due with this garlic salmon" (Suzu)
"Hey, I'm getting free lunch. The last thing I'm gonna do is complain, especially when it looks and slls this good. Much appreciated Suzu" (Rei)
"Mm" (Suzu)
Lightly blushing at the complints, she sat down at the small table with them. Not that hungry herself, all Suzu ate was so fresh stir fry vegetables
"How much ti do you have?" (Rei)
"Sigh...I was inford of it months ago but the selection officially started yesterday, it's a three year process" (Tai)
[Yesterday...that timing is...]
"?" (Rei)
"That's quite a bit of ti" (Suzu)
"Achievents like the ones I've ntioned don't happen overnight. Any past achievents you've made prior to the start of this process aren't factored in as well" (Tai)
"To keep things fair. Well, at least you've got ti" (Rei)
"Uh-huh...honestly, I wouldn't mind if one of my cousins took the seat" (Tai)
"Oh?" (Suzu)
"I was under the impression they were your enemies. Considering these guys are the children of the elders who want to remove your dad from his position as clan head" (Rei)
"I said competition, not enemies. This whole thing started because of a difference in opinion. Many of our family died in the last war and my father, being the one who led our clan, must bear the responsibility. It's in any of the elder's right to apply for the job if they think their children can do it better" (Tai)
"That doesn't seem very fair" (Rei)
"True, but that's the price for carrying a position of power. Every loss is the leader's burden to bare" (Suzu)
Despite her rational words, Suzu was frowning. Being a victim of bad heritage herself, she disliked the idea of one paying the price for sothing that wasn't their fault to begin with
Tai's father, or anyone else, couldn't possible have protected EVERY single soldier they sent to war. Casualties were inevitable, definitely on the scale as the 3rd Shinobi World War
"Despite how it sounds, it's fair. They're not doing this out of spite, so simply believe it's ti for a change of policy" (Tai)
[Ugh...Politics always ruin everything]
"Only when it doesn't work" (Rei)
"Hm?" (Tai)
"Nothing. In short...you don't hate them?" (Rei)
"They're my cousins, of course not! To them, this is just a fun competition, that happens every ti a new leader is chosen. There's hardly ever been any bad feelings left over whenever my clan underwent this process" (Tai)
"Then why are you so freaked out?" (Rei)
"..." (Tai)
"...Tai?" (Rei)
"..." (Tai)
"Honor...right?" (Suzu)
"?!" (Tai)
"For your father I take it" (Suzu)
"You saw right through
Suzu" (Tai)
Suzu glanced at her family shrine
"Not really...honoring your parents is sothing I get..." (Suzu)
"..." (Rei)
Tai took off the white armband tied on his right arm, close to his shoulder, and placed it on the table
"Is that...?" (Rei)
"Yes..." (Tai)
"My clan's symbol" (Tai)
"..." (Suzu & Rei)
"My Father, and his father, and his father before him...up to four generations of my line have lead the Yotsuki Clan with pride and strength" (Tai)
"...You don't want to be the one who breaks that chain" (Rei)
"And your father is..." (Suzu)
"His only response was, 'I don't care if you participate or not'. I've never really been the pride of the clan after all" (Tai)
[That's odd, considering Tai's talent]
{Notitia's right} "You ca up with ninjutsu that's basically chemical warfare, at the age of 7" (Rei)
"My family's never been easy to please...guess that goes doubly for " (Tai)
{Maybe...but there's seems to be more to it than that} (Rei)
The group finally finished their al. Tai quickly volunteered to help Suzu with the dishes, because the kitchen was small, there was no room for Rei to help out
CREAK!
"?!" (Tai)
"It's fine, the pipes here are just old" (Suzu)
"..." (Rei)
After cleaning, the group sat down in the living area near the house shrine
"And that's the gist of it. The greenhouse where I make my oils was taken back to clan house when they ordered
to return" (Tai)
"That's why your fighting with Tango-sensei was so-" (Suzu)
"Yeah" (Tai)
"Hey guys, I think Tango-sensei saw this coming" (Rei)
"?" (Tai)
"What do you-?" (Suzu)
"Think about it, wasn't today's training session a bit off?" (Rei)
"Off like how? Everything seed normal to " (Tai)
"Now that you ntion it..." (Suzu)
"Hm?" (Tai)
"Today's session wasn't filled with his usual lectures and exercises. And while we've done it before, he told us to go all out for sparring this ti" (Suzu)
"..." (Rei)
Rei looked at the chakra training bracelets on his arms he received from Tango earlier today
"You keep looking at the bracelets...does that have sothing to do with what you're getting at?" (Tai)
"Sort of...like you said, this ordeal with your clan is sothing even the top brass of the village pay attention to. Top brass includes all Jonin as well" (Rei)
"So what...you think he gave
these bracelets for practicing, to prepare
for the selection?" (Tai)
"He did seem to already know what was off with you today" (Suzu)
"You got three years, now's the best ti to up your training" (Rei)
"..." (Tai)
"You up for it?" (Rei)
"Better now than later huh? Heh, fine...gotta start sowhere" (Tai)
"Good to hear, let's get to work" (Rei)
"Aren't you forgetting sothing?" (Suzu)
"Hm?" (Rei & Tai)
"Tango-sensei said we should find a daily activity to make proper use of these bracelets" (Suzu)
"Oh yeah, that's right...what should we do anyway?" (Tai)
"..." (Rei)
As the trio pondered, Rei opened his eyes and look at his surroundings before smiling
"Ya know, a thought just ca to
Suzu. Tai and I haven't payed you back for the delicious lunch" (Rei)
"I already said it wasn't necessary, you don't have to worry about it. We're a...team after all" (Suzu)
"True. But a al as good as that deserves proper compensation...wouldn't you agree Tai?" (Rei)
"Umm...yes?" {There he goes again...suddenly talking like an adult with that evil grin on his face. Reminds
of graduation and Sekiei...what the hell is planning this ti?} (Tai)
"I've found our activity" (Rei)
"What?" (Suzu)
Rei stood up and pointed upwards
"Huh? Eh?!" (Suzu)
"Wait...are you suggesting we-?!" (Tai)
"That's right. Suzu..." (Rei)
"..." (Suzu)
"We're gonna fix your house"
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