sunshineverse | [closed] The shareef don't like it

Where: Amegakure
When: September, BGS 9
Notes: After two years and a few odd months, Kushina is finally allowed in to Amegakure to meet with the village leader. ...After a fashion.

Kushina had tried to be patient. She really had. On the first day she and her squad had been turned away at the country border, she had been furious but turned back to return to Konoha. Her first mission since returning to active duty ending in failure had really done a number on her pride. When they finally returned to Konoha to relay their mission report to the Hokage, he told them to keep trying. When Kushina's teammates had left the room, he told her as the team's leader she shouldn't do anything rash. He didn't want anything bad happening to her. If not for the village's sake, then for little Naruto's. So the next morning, she led them back. Again, they were turned away. And again, they went back to file a mission report, then returned the the country border.

This tedious cycle continued for two years and three months. At any time, Kushina could have easily backed out and said she had to retire from active duty again to be a full-time mom. But that wasn't her. Instead, each failure made her more bound and determined to get in. (But not at the cost of starting another war! Of course not, Minato. That would be stupid.) So one day in September, she had had it. She told her teammates that instead of turning back, they'd camp out half a mile from the border and they would distract the border guards while she broke across the border and made a beeline for the village. What could possibly go wrong?

It worked up until she crossed the border. She had only made it a few yards in before she was apprehended. "GO!" she had yelled at her teammates as her hands were tied behind her back. They obeyed and fled, probably to regroup. Surely they wouldn't be so dumb as to return to the village. She didn't have much time to think about it as more of the border patrol appeared. She didn't bother trying to fight her way to freedom, despite it being her first instinct. As it was, she was already in the wrong and may have put her mission in jeopardy. Some of the border patrol formed her guard and escorted her away from the border. But they were heading away from the Fire Country's border. So that would mean they were likely bringing her to Amegakure. The place she had been attempting to get to in the first place. Any trace of excitement that she could possibly get a chance to complete her mission was instantly crushed when she remembered her predicament. Even if she did manage to pass on her message, when would she be able to go home? Would they let her go even after she explained her side?

Kushina wasn't sure how long her captors had taken to drag her to the village. It was hard to tell how many hours because of all the rain.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And what makes you a God? The Rinnegan?" The skepticism was out before she could stop herself. But it was really more curiosity as to how he could back up what he said. "I mean, sure it's a rare doujutsu, but really? Come on. There's gotta be more to it."

"No." It was a simple statement, and he shook his head once, not looking away from her. "Nothing so simple."

"Then how? What is it?" Out of sheer habit, her tone was one she used when she was trying to get wheedle information out of Naruto if she suspected him of some mischief. To accompany it, her hands went to her hips and her head tilted slightly as she looked up at Nagato.

The posture she took up made him frown at her, displeased. It immediately brought up a wall of stubbornness as well. "I have no need to explain myself to you."

Uuuuuuuugh. This was going nowhere. If he wanted his secrets, fine. She puffed up a little, sorely tempted to give her a piece of her mind. But she had a mission to complete and it was currently riding on how well she could manage her temper. Breathe in... Breathe out... Deflate... One of her arms came off her hip to drop at her side, her tone softened.

"Alright, fine. You don't have to tell me that. But will you at least tell me if you'll agree to trade talks?"

"Ame doesn't traffic with other countries any longer." It was a simple statement, imperious. "The borders have been closed for a reason after all."

Even if that reason was to protect them from destructive people who would trample his citizens. "Was that all?"

Apparently she hadn't cooled off as much as she thought. She had finally gotten into the village and even if she wasn't exactly angry, burning determination pushed words straight out of her head. Any diplomatic filter she may have had was gone. Now it was more like she was talking to anyone else or even family. ~~Sooooo many dattebannes...~~

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you have to let Ame stay that way, y'know! If you keep this village-- this country, even-- shut out from the world forever, how will anyone in the younger generations learn to make and keep peace? I swear on my life-- No! I swear on my son's life that we don't want to cause you or your village any harm, y'know! Is there anything I can do to make you believe me?"

His gaze slid up, fixing on her Hiatai-ate for a long moment before drifting back down to her face. "You're asking a great deal and making inferences that imply my people won't learn peace."

"Even if they can keep peace with the others in your lands, what happens if they meet someone from another country, y'know? Or another village? I'm not just talking about Konoha, but any of the other countries or villages. Both big and small. Why not show them you can put the past behind you and make new friends with the newer generations? Uh... Please?"

She looked up at him, holding eye contact as long as he'd let her. Even her eyes implored him to accept her words, as informal as they were coming out.

"Not all of my shinobi were born in Ame." It was carelessly said, practically shrugging it away as he held that eye contact, obviously not afraid to keep the heady stare.

"But wouldn't that make it even more important to bring them all on the same page? If they are already, that's great, y'know. ...But now I'm getting away from the point. All I want is for you to hear us out. That's all I've been trying to ask you for the last two years. I think you'll be surprised how much things have changed. If there's anything I can do to convince you, just tell me, ask me."

And then, she did something that surprised herself. She knelt down in front of him and bowed her head, her red hair still wet and clinging to the back of her flak vest. It wasn't something she did often or for just anyone. It was her way of showing respect and putting herself at the mercy of the man before her. It was also one of her last resorts.

It stilled him, and one too thin hand reached down, touching the top of her head very gently in a ghost of a touch. "Don't do that."

It was a murmur, but it felt wrong, in his chest, to see someone who felt like someone who should be... be here with him, though he knew that would never be so, to be on their knees. He pulled back quickly, stepping away. "Get up."

She looked up at the first command and slowly rose at the second. Had she imagined the touch to her head? She had said her piece and once again found herself at a loss for words. Maybe it was better that way, wait and see if he had anything to say.

He regarded her for a long moment, then moved away, slowly seating himself where he'd been when she entered the room. "Go. I'll speak to you again. I have things to consider now."

Speaking again sounded promising and it was hard to suppress a grateful smile. Even if it didn't appear on her lips for more than a moment, it was very visible in her eyes.

"Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you again."

She nodded her thanks and turned to leave. After a few steps she paused and turned, looking a bit sheepish.

"Uh... Where exactly am I going?" she asked.

Better to make sure that he wasn't going to just have her escorted out of the village or country.

He blinked, looking at her for a moment before he inclined his head slightly. "Food, then a room for the night. I'll speak to you in the morning before you return home. My path will escort you."

"Thanks," she said, not bothering to hide her grin this time. "I really appreciate it, y'know."

And as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if he were some family member and not a village leader, she raised her hand to wave as she turned again and walked out of the room.

Uncomfortable with the odd familiarity, he just huffed a breath and didn't answer at all, sending her off with the path so he could sit back and think. Clearly he had some things to consider.

[closed] The shareef don't like it

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