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

[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.

[dangodragon]

"Did you never get lessons on how to not get in the way of the people trying to save you?" Maybe that was a special lesson for heirs. Itachi had, through the years, had several very intense training sessions dedicated to teaching him how to work with people when injured or drugged.

At least Kushina was amused. "It's more realistic than using a bag of rice. We'll just have to be careful not to hurt her."

[abileunaspada]

"Why would I need a lesson in that?" No, really, she didn't get it. The concept just seemed so foreign to her that it boggled her that the topic would even be brought up. If they needed someone to be the person Itachi was supposed to guard that was fine, but him saying that she needed to learn how was what really threw her off.

[ghostpepper]

"I gotta say, that's a new one for me. I only had that lesson once in the field when--"

She cut herself off there, realizing where her mouth was going. No need to tell them about Kumo's foiled kidnapping. She changed topics faster than Minato could move between seals.

"When we get started, I'll try to hold back, but you're going to have to come at me with the intent to kill. Understand, Itachi?"

[dangodragon]

Really? Itachi would have to ask Hinata if she'd ever had lessons like that. "I guess you didn't learn a dozen ways to destroy your own eyes either?" Itachi's tone was completely dry and impossible to tell if he were joking or not, but he quickly transferred his attention to Kushina as she hopped subjects. He wasn't joking about the eyes.

He gave her the smallest of smiles. "I would never insult you with anything less, Kushina-san." Itachi glanced at Adela. "Stay close, but not close enough to get in the way. You protect yourself from blows at all costs, even if it means letting me take one." And that probably went counter to a lot of instincts and training. "Ready?"

[abileunaspada]

Knowing the Uchiha clan, that one shouldn't have surprised her. She didn't let herself get distracted by the statement for long though, instead blinking at Itachi before sighing and getting into combat position, "Right."

She couldn't believe she was doing this, but apparently he really wanted to try this. It'd just be like a normal spar, two on one against Kushina right...?

[ghostpepper]

Two on one. Riiiiiiiiight. It began with one hand seal.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Giant clouds of smoke obscured her, clearing in seconds with several fast-moving objects zipping out of sight. When all was clear, three Kushinas had moved to surround them. If Itachi had his Sharingan activated, she had no doubt he'd have noticed three others leave to obscure themselves somewhere in the nearby trees.

"Let's see how you do outnumbered," the Kushina directly in front of him said. "After all, you can't expect your opponents to fight fair."

And while she talked, she pulled out a kunai, as did the one behind them to her left. The Kushina behind them to her right was quickly forming hand seals for a special technique Obito had taught her in exchange for some water-based ninjutsu. The Uchiha special...

"Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique!"

[dangodragon]

Itachi was going to hang whoever showed Kushina how to do that. Still, under the cover of the smoke around Kushina, Itachi had moved his hands through seals already, so a thick wall of earth to protect both himself and Adela was only a flicker of fingers away. Itachi sent his own two water clones darting around the earth, one going for Kushina, and one in theory going in search of one of her clones. In true Uchiha and Itachi style, they were carrying enough exploding tags to blow a small crater in the ground, which should dispel any clones they were near.

Kushina could look out for herself.

[abileunaspada]

Aah - She jumped back at the initial attack, startled from the shadow clones and the explosive fire and earth moving around. It didn't take long for her to get into gear though, looking out for Itachi and trying to stick close. She knew she was supposed to be protected but she seriously doubted that meant staying out of the way.

She'd need to watch for the next attack, and be ready to counter. If she could trap Kushina's real body, that'd end it fast enough, but where was it...

[ghostpepper]

Would you really hang the Hokage, Itachi? Would you? But another time.

Kushina allowed herself a split second to express silent approval at his earth walls. Very clever, but would it be good enough? One water clone engaged one of her shadow clones. Another was coming for her until her other clone came back to snare it with a water whip.

This left the real Kushina to run up and on top of the wall. There may be some protection, but he had to be mindful of anyone who'd use their protection against them. One hand seal was all it took...

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

And for the third time that week, a great torrent of water poured from her mouth.