open~

[ghostpepper]

Who: Kushina and whoever
When: Arriving March 1st, late morning, until leaving March 9th, mid-afternoon
Where: In and around Konoha, between the village gates and the travel seal if you really want, ...seriously, just everywhere when she's not spending quality time with her family
Notes: Just come say hi 8| Aforementioned quality time with family will be most mornings from March 2-9, and all nights. But family teammates are always welcome to dinner. >3>


No matter how many times she came back to Konoha, she always made a point to walk around different parts of the village. It felt necessary to reacquaint herself with the streets and various landmarks after spending so long away from home. And meeting up with friends is a must too. On a couple afternoons she even takes some time in one of the training areas by the river. No reason not to keep sharp, even if she's technically on vacation.

Whether you're looking for her or not, that bright red hair of hers isn't hard to miss.

Comments

[ghostpepper]

"Hey!" Kushina called after her, reaching out to grab her by the shoulder. "Wait a second, where are you going?"

She caught sight of Itachi and gave him a little wave with her free hand. Odd that his greeting hadn't been returned by Adela though... My my, so brusque today.

"Adela-chan, what's going on?"

[dangodragon]

If Kushina was going to see what was wrong with Adela, then Itachi should probably move out of ear shot. Or, since he had technically been here first, he could stay without looking like he was eavesdropping. If this couldn't possibly involve Sasuke, then Itachi would have respected Adela's privacy, but if Sasuke could even be remotely involved, Itachi could be unscrupulous.

Itachi sat back down in the shade of his tree. He could rest a few more minutes.

[abileunaspada]

"Nothing. I just..." Damn it, why couldn't she think of anything that wasn't telling the truth? She didn't want to tell Kushina that she wasn't uncomfortable around Itachi because he'd seen her screw up... That he'd seen how unprepared their team was for that recent mission. She didn't want them to see the scar on her arm from the experience, or that she was still a staving off a fever from it.

More than anything, she wanted to run. Even with Sasuke and Obito both having talked to her, she still felt ashamed of herself over what happened.

"..."

[ghostpepper]

She surveyed Adela for a good minute. Definitely hiding something, and... Oh who is she kidding, she's gonna poke and prod. Having heard pretty much nothing of Mission Fustercluck, the behavior is way odd.

"You just...? If something happened between you and Itachi, you're gonna have to face it eventually. Trust me, if you do it sooner rather than later, it'll suck a lot less."

[dangodragon]

Itachi had found people's ears tended to be specially attuned to their own names, and that was all he caught from Kushina's words. That made him curious and maybe a little nervous.

Maybe Adela turning away had nothing to do with Sasuke at all...

[abileunaspada]

Adela still had no idea of just how to explain it to them. That she didn't want to be near Itachi because, in spite of her conversation with Sasuke, she still felt like crap over the mission and its results.

"... A lot happened and there isn't a damn thing either of us can do about it now. I just wanna be left alone for a while."

[ghostpepper]

Yeah, no. You're not getting left alone. Guess it's your lucky day, Adela.

"Actually... There is something you can do about it now."

In one swift movement, she had Adela's upper arm in a vice-like grip and proceeded to drag her over to where Itachi was standing.

"Itachi! Adela here has something she wants to talk to you about!"

[dangodragon]

Now that surprised Itachi. Evidently it had been something he'd done that had made Adela try to run. Itachi slowly walked forward, feeling a little sorry for Adela and more curious than anything.

"It's nice to see you again, Uzumaki-san." Itachi gave the woman a bow and glanced at Adela. "You as well, Adela-san." He decided that he would politely ignore the fact that Adela had been dragged here against her will.

[abileunaspada]

"K-Kushina-San!" The protest was squeaked out as she was grabbed, almost stumbling behind the elder before she was brought up in front of Itachi. Oh god damn it... She should have just gotten out of there and not have said anything! Eventually she sighed, allowing herself to relax as much as she could as she bowed her head.

"... Sorry, Itachi... For what happened. Last time."

'Last time' being the mission, because even after talking to Sasuke there were still some things she couldn't shake - things she kept telling herself that she should have done better.

[ghostpepper]

There were approximately zero cares given on Kushina's part, but to be on the safe side and make sure Adela didn't bolt halfway through, she kept her hold on her arm.

But there was definitely something to the story she was missing. Maybe she'd get it, maybe she wouldn't. Still, she kept quiet to let the kids talk.

[dangodragon]

Itachi had no idea what she meant by "last time." Last time they had spoken? He hadn't had a chance to speak to her since she'd given Sasuke the chocolate, so before Valentine's day.

He honestly couldn't think of anything Adela needed to apologize for, and he knew it showed on his face.

"Adela-san...there's nothing you've done to me that deserves an apology." That sounded nicely diplomatic, didn't it?

[abileunaspada]

"So everyone keeps telling me," It was a grumble as she moved to rub at her then-scarred arm, shaking her head before sighing again, "You got yourself hurt trying to bail us out, though. I'd think that's something worth apologizing for. I wouldn't say it if I didn't think it was needed."

[ghostpepper]

Still keeping quiet because whoa wait what the hell even happened?

[dangodragon]

Oh. The mission. Itachi wondered when people were going to stop apologizing to him for that.

I should apologize for bringing two A-class missing-nin to your fight. Itachi thought of countering, then sighed. "It's not needed. I brought my own fight into your mission, and things went haywire. We all made some kind of mistake, but avoiding people and apologizing fixes none of what happened."

Itachi flexed his hands. "No one died. No one was taken prisoner. All the injuries were ones that could be healed. Missions hardly ever go as planned, and sometimes they blow up in your face. When that happens, your duty and goal is to get everyone of your team out alive, and you all did that.

"If you use this as a incentive to get better, all the better, but no matter how good you are, things like this will happen. Jounin, ANBU, Hokage--they all make mistakes or are misinformed." Itachi didn't think coddling her would help anything. "If you ever expect to get beyond Chuunin, or even lead a squad, you're going to have to use these experiences instead of letting them drag you down. Acknowledge what went wrong and how you could have acted differently and use that to get stronger without wallowing in self pity or guilt." Itachi thought he had made his point and then some, probably. This was why he didn't want to teach. Speeches were not his thing.

[abileunaspada]

It was weird. Adela just blinked at Itachi, a little dumb-founded at the words. It... It was mostly what Obito had told her back in his office, but at the same time it wasn't. He and Sasuke hadn't told her that she was holding herself back.

After a few painfully long seconds she swallowed thickly, nodding and never letting her gaze leave him as she spoke, "Y-yeah. Guess it's stupid to keep thinking about it like this, isn't it."

Things would go wrong, things wouldn't go as planned, so she'd just have to take mistakes as they come, review them, and... Use them to get better. That's what she thought he was telling her. It wasn't saying not to blame herself, it was telling her to use her experience to improve.

Maybe, later, she'd realize that that was what she felt she needed to hear a long time ago.

[ghostpepper]

Oh damn. Two entirely different missions crossing paths? Definitely sounded like everything went to hell and back, but at least everyone involved had made it home safe. And it seemed Adela had heard something she had needed to hear from Itachi, so she finally released the chuunin's arm.

"I may not know the details, but he's right, y'know. I doubt you could find one high-ranking shinobi that hasn't had at least one mission go wrong."

She's seen her fair share, and she knew countless others who had missions take a turn for the worse. A couple of those missions had resulted in more names carved on the memorial, more bodies laid to rest in the village graveyard. Adela and whoever her teammates were had apparently been very lucky if death and capture had been a possible outcome. But no use steeping in those memories. Kushina quickly put an easy smile back on her face and put a hand on Adela's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Feeling any better now?"

[dangodragon]

"I wouldn't call it stupid, but it isn't helpful..." It was actually a fairly natural train of thought to fall prey too. A normal, compassionate response to injury and disaster. Sadly, compassion was usually a detriment to a ninja, not a benefit.

[abileunaspada]

"Either way... Yeah, I do, Kushina-San. Thanks, Itachi," She nodded, still rubbing at her previously injured arm but visibly more relaxed than she was before. Yeah... It felt like that was what she needed to hear more than anything else.

She wasn't going to apologize for not greeting him though, it didn't seem like it bothered him anyway.

[ghostpepper]

"Glad to hear it," she said. "Itachi, it was good to see you. Adela, I hope to catch you later at the forge before I leave again."

She waves to them both and turns to go. Itachi, if you want her for sparring, speak now or forever hold your peace.

[dangodragon]

Itachi gave Adela a slight bow in acknowledgement of the thanks. Asking Adela to spar obviously wasn't an option. She was injured, and trying to spar with Itachi with a handicap wouldn't do anything for her self-esteem.

So...as much as he hated to bother someone who no doubt had very important business.

"Kushina-san, would it be possible to steal a bit of your time?"

He would regret this.

[abileunaspada]

At the question Adela stopped, blinking at Itachi and falling silent completely. Maybe she should have left... Whatever Itachi wanted to say, it might've been private and only for Kushina to hear. As much as she kind of wanted to spend time with the elder woman, she'd back off for the moment.

[ghostpepper]

She paused to look at Itachi, looking a bit surprised, but smiled.

"Of course you can. What's up?"

[dangodragon]

"I was recently assigned as a body guard for a...very important Konoha dignitary, and I realized it's been years since I played bodyguard for anyone. I thought I should get some practice in." Considering he was very obviously alone, it was else very obvious he'd probably need more than himself to practice being a bodyguard.

Now Itachi let a corner of his mouth curve up a little. "And it seems too nice a coincidence to waste than Adela-san has come by as well as yourself, and it might be beneficial for Adela-san to have some practice in how to be the one needing the protecting, instead of the protector."

[abileunaspada]

... What.

"Practice in being protected?" She repeated the words, trying to see if she hadn't misheard Itachi. That just seemd... What? Who in the hell needed practice in being protected?

[ghostpepper]

Kushina pressed a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing, but some snorting escaped and her shaking shoulders would fool no one. Eventually, she pushed it all down.

"Since I'm guessing you want Adela to play the body you're supposed to guard, you want me to play some hostile ninja? Fine by me."

A grin remained on her face as she cracked her knuckles.