sunshineverse | [Closed] Oops again?

"Hm. And... Not possibly a spy for the suspect who matches Orochimaru's description?" There. He couldn't contain it any more. This time, Shisui was looking Obito square in the eye, watching for any hint of recognition. Any sort of familiarity.

Edited 2014-07-12 09:20 (UTC)

Obito couldn't give that assurance, and his lips quirked humorlessly. "There might be two people in your village who think I am dead but can you assure them I am not?" His tone was pitched a touch higher, formally intoned. "No, there... is no clear assurance."

He didn't think so. "Hm." The look on his face made it pretty obvious he had doubts about his source which, obviously, had to be none other than the one person who had been scouting the area for years.

Shisui stood there clenching his fist by his side, still trying to figure out how to ask nicely--

"What's on your mind Shisui? It's obviously not just this."

It takes him a good two minutes to get over the hesitation and formulate words loud enough to convey his thoughts-- which, admittedly, were all over the place right now.

"Let me go to Oto--" He bit his lip. Perhaps the account would be different. Perhaps not. "Either in place of-- of..." He grit his teeth, voice catching in his throat before he could speak again. Whatever he said next was almost a squeak. "--Itachi. Or with him, but without his knowing." Perhaps something was off if Shisui was requesting to be a fresh pair of eyes and ears and perception in general... over Itachi.

"He's not being sent that direction anymore, actually. It's too risky for him now." It was a simple, soft statement. "That particular long term assignment ended."

"That's not good enough!" Whoops, didn't mean to raise his voice there. Fists clenched again, Shisui has to check himself.

Somehow he was convinced-- as was evidenced in the way he hissed: "She's our link to Orochimaru, I know it."

He was watching him though, intent. "No, she isn't. I'm sorry Shisui, but if it's Orochimaru she serves, she's useless to us. You'd do better to find someone else from Rice for that."

"What. Has she got you hooked too?!" His eyes flash red for a moment that goes unchecked, before he closes them-- screws them shut. When they open again, they're black once more.

"Sorry." Somehow-- he wasn't going to stop there. For now, however, he was just going to bow, and wait to be dismissed. Or something.

"Sit." He waved Shisui down as he clearly got the wrong message. "I've known Ashiko for years now. We've corresponded by writing for a long time, and do you know her favorite thing to talk about? Her Master, her precious Donna-sama, the man who can do no wrong in the world because he is her reason for existing. She would never speak a word against him Shisui. She'd be useless if Orochimaru is that man, because even torture wouldn't rip secrets out of someone who is devoted like that."

He had half a mind to refuse the order to sit, but ended up awkwardly seating himself in the nearest chair anyway.

But she was different. She was different with Itachi, and Shisui could only grip the knees of his pants with every passing word that fell from the Hokage's mouth. She was different with Itac-- Was he seriously considering using his best friend like that? But... it would put Itachi's mind at ease, wouldn't it? If he could lift some of that guilt off Itachi's shoulders, if he could just help him stop beating himself up about what he'd failed to do--

But Orochimaru had always had an interest in Itachi.

...But would he put him through that again?! What kind of friend was he... What if he could just go out there and finish her off? No, that-- that would only provoke the enemy and put Konoha in danger.

What if he could use kotoamatsukami from a distance? It would be so subtle that no one would know. And if Orochimaru did catch wind, he couldn't undo the genjutsu by himself. --

But Shisui doesn't speak a word, silent as ever although visibly distressed by the decision. Just waiting for a dismissal. For now.

Obito was watching him though. "You're thinking. Think aloud." And there was the weight of authority that made it clear how serious he was taking this.

He only clutched his pants leg harder, sitting there for a good long minute before he was pretty certain there wasn't a frog in his throat. "She's different with Itachi..." And just as the words fell from his lips, he almost crumbled. He felt as though he were betraying his friend. But... If he could lift that guilt off Itachi's shoulders.

If only he could just do something...

"Maybe she isn't the key. Not by herself. Orochimaru's always been interested in Itachi." What the hell was he even saying?! "And I could-- I could use kotoamatsukami from a distance. It'll be subtle, and even if he does find out, he won't be able to undo it unless he kills me first. Or her. But she's dispensable."

It left a bad taste in his mouth, and a knot in his stomach.

"He wouldn't kill her." It was a simple, blunt statement, utter certainty. "He taught her to swim." He shook his head and met Shisui's gaze levelly. "And you, Shisui, would hate yourself. Find another target. Find someone who might actually work in your favor, but leave Itachi out of it. I'm not going to throw any of my shinobi to Orochimaru as a treat."

He bit back more that he wished to say, dearly wanted to reveal, but reigned it in. It was none of Shisui's concern, it was Itachi's. "Use your abilities for things that won't make our shinobi feel unsafe at home, okay?"

"I know he won't." Which is why he'd been given permission to do what he saw fit. "Itachi doesn't even have to be there."

That last bit, however-- He winced. It was a bitter sort of reaction. They'd come nowhere since they'd 'talked' last time. Not really. "Yeah sure. That's what I'm good for, aren't I." It wasn't even a question.

Shisui stood, resigned. For now. He bowed again, because that was the polite thing to do.

"Don't give me that Shisui." He dropped his gaze down to his desk and then closed his eyes. "Just... don't. I'm not giving you permission to go to Oto on a hunt for Orochimaru when we can't even find Oto. I'm not going to let you endanger yourself that way." He lifted his head, lips in a line and expression flat.

He was tired and he was sick of his shinobi doubting his every move, especially the ones who should know better. "So just. No, never mind I doubt you're listening anymore. You're ready to leave the second I stop talking."

Edited 2014-07-12 11:16 (UTC)

"We can try." For fuck's sake. "What's the worst that can come of any mission?" The same damned thing. Either be taken alive or dead. Taken alive was far worse than dying during a mission, though.

"I don't want Itachi to live the rest of his days wallowing in guilt, and he's a better shinobi than I am, so take your pick. Maybe I'll hate myself for it, but that's my problem, not Itachi's."

"Maybe I don't care whose problem it is Shisui!" He raised his voice a notch, taking in a deep breath, a bit shaky. "Have you even considered the fact that I get the problems of the situation? That up until not so long ago I was under this impression that maybe certain things weren't related? You know why? Because it was unimportant so no one said anything!" He pushed to his feet, hands on his desk as he practically shouted the last part.

He took a quavering breath and leaned forward, watching Shisui and striving to keep from humiliating himself by crying. All the stress in the world didn't forgive that when he was in his office most especially. "It was just a niggling little irrelevant detail that happened to overlap from person to person but no one mentioned it because it was harmless. Well, it might not be and who knows because I don't remember everything I've ever said to her, or what other people have, or what they add up to. I know that for most people knowing random details like say, a favorite color is useless but what if she is a spy, mm? Suddenly useful information if someone is taking the long road!"

He straightened up, throwing his hands in the air and dropping back into his chair, pressing his palms against his eyes as he finally lowered his voice. "But no, clearly any information I've received in turn is less important to you than doing things right this second and not taking into account what would be the most useful tactic. Going in after her is not it. Rushing things is not it. Doing things on your own is not it. And most especially talking about lying to someone invested in it is not it. So don't look at me like I'm somehow making this into some kind of insult to you when it isn't. About. That."

He glared at him through a sheen of tears he'd managed to keep from falling and then tipped his head back and took a deep, rough breath. His voice came out toneless in the way that only happened when someone was exhausted. "So stop ignoring that I have information on the matter you don't. She's useless. Pick another target. And don't start a fucking war while you're doing it. We're already edging too close to one as is."

And he was watching him in silence, watching the theatrics and expecting the waterworks any time soon. He was almost disappointed they didn't come.

"I'm not asking you to send me over there right this instant, Obito; I'm only asking that you let me in. Let me pick up where Itachi left off. If this mysterious little hidden village in the middle of nowhere keeps gaining support from neighboring nations, there will be war whether I butt in or not. And if she isn't going to be our target, then fine. We'll find a new one. We might as well figure out a pre-emptive solution before he strikes a deal with one of the more prominent shinobi villages. I'm surprised the Chuunin exams went the way they did at all. Because frankly, I was expecting something to happen with the influx of foreign shinobi. But--" He raised in hands here, as if signalling defeat.

"Who am I to suggest anything, hm? I am not Uzumaki or Namikaze. I am not one of the younger Uchiha. I am that kid you avoided for no apparent reason and somehow now expect me to grant you a hundred percent trust just because you hold the title of Hokage. I'm sorry but that doesn't work that way. To believe someone who has always dismissed me in the past when they say they aren't doing what they're doing to insult me is, believe it or not, quite difficult. You've always brushed me off, but-- at least this time you have given me a valid reason. And I accept that. Rushing into things isn't the way to go, yes, that I accept. This is the first time I have been given a reason. This is the first time. Thank you for that."

He grit his teeth though. He could see the tears about to fall. "Obito. Don't you fucking cry; you know what that does to me-- we'll both end up yelling at each other so--" His voice softened then. "So just stop. I'm not dumb that I'd go out and start a war; I won't do it unless you give me permission to. So stop repeating it in every possible way that you'd even consider me stupid enough to do such a thing-- Maybe you didn't mean that, but guess what, that's just how it was made to look like, unfortunately." Here. He's offering you the box of tissues. Gosh. "But you just elaborated on things so there's no need to clarify. I get it. Just. Don't cry or I'll punch you in the face." Maybe the photograph hanging on the wall instead of Obito's actual face.

"Maybe all the recent problems haven't given me faith in anyone I haven't worked with extensively, have you considered that? It's not just you." He stared at the box, taking one and just smoothing it out in his fingers. "Especially not you. And don't say I never gave you reasons when I was a kid when you never tried to get any. You just let it go. That wasn't just my fault."

He looked back to him. "As for the war thing. How many people do you even think know it's as close as it is? Not that many. Not that many at all though I've been trying to make sure people are ready if it hits. The peace I helped build, and can we please remember that sensei wasn't the one going out on most of the political runs before he stepped down, is not as stable as people think it is, and you came in here telling me how it ought to be, and what I should let you do, at the expense of someone else. What exactly did you want me to think?"

He never raised his voice as he spoke, not once, and he finally closed his eyes on a soft sigh, pressing the tissue against his eyes and shaking his head. "Rice isn't our biggest concern in any case. It's mysterious, yes, but they're not doing anything. Our attention is needed elsewhere."

Edited 2014-07-12 19:47 (UTC)

"It'll never be your fault, will it?" When was it ever? Shisui probably needed to move on from there, but it said a lot when Obito didn't once acknowledge the fact that Shisui had tried first. There's only so many times you can take a door slamming in your face before you choose to be indifferent and stay out of a person's life for their convenience. Unfortunately, his nose was now being pulled through the key hole.

"With regards to what's going on beneath the peace?" Shisui sucks in a deep breath at that, then lets it out slowly, averting his gaze. "...Do you know how many people around you want you to fail?" He made a face. It was clear he was angry-- angry at the vultures waiting for their prey to fall so they could pick him apart even before he was properly on the floor. "I'm aware that stirring up fear would only work towards Konoha's detriment. And I don' want it to get there. But I just-- feel we need to widen our net. And what are you talking about with regards to 'at the expense of someone else'? All I'm offering you is myself, my skills-- because this is what I do." Perhaps it would be different now that he had a student to mentor. At this, Shisui brings a hand to his face, groaning behind it.

He didn't necessarily stop groaning, though. Increasingly angrier, cussing once or twice behind his hand. "In any case. Could you just. Send me somewhere." It had more to do with a not-so-positive psych evaluation that suggested Shisui stayed behind a little longer to sort himself out. The results were in the folder sitting on Obito's desk at the moment, and he finally brought his hand away from his face to stare daggers at it. "Give me something to do."

Not having something to do made Shisui lose it sometimes. Especially when he was cooped up being studied.

Much as he wanted to address the first comment, it wasn't the most important one, not just now, and he just gave a frustrated shake of his head because the whole point of his statement was not that he was sloughing blame but that Shisui himself wasn't blameless.

"Yes, Shisui, I know exactly how many people want me to fail. It's a smaller number than it used to be." He was studying him though, his restlessness, and he felt himself calm, really calm, not just be swamped with exhaustion. He folded up the damp tissue and set it down, composure recovered. "The first plan you offered me was basically dismissing Intel I had just handed you, it didn't exactly give me an opening to progress that part of the conversation in the manner you'd hoped for I think, and then you followed it up with a plan to use someone as bait."

He just stared at him for a moment, letting him take it in before he continued. "I can't send you out yet. Not when you're missing so much information. You're high enough rank..." He studied him for a moment more, then pulled over a paper and started to write. "We'll fix that first."

That he wasn't himself blameless might have been so, but it had always been 'but you too!', and never any acknowledgement that it had been the other way round as well. There was always a 'but' that followed, and that pissed him off.

But Shisui stopped to think back to everything Obito had said, and realized how somewhere they had gone and mistook the 'he' in the conversation for someone else. He sighed. "The only person I had suggested to use as bait was her." He eyed him then. Had he ever said anything about sending Itachi out there? No. It made sense then why Obito had brought up Itachi teaching Ashiko to swim when Shisui had been talking about Orochimaru killing him or Ashiko first to getaway from kotoamatsukami.

He huffed a sigh again. "Yeah I never ever said to use Itachi. And as for intel." He shrugged. "It's why I wanted to know who the source was, because if it..." Shisui waved a hand dismissively. He wasn't going to throw Itachi under the bus, really. "Nevermind."

The paper, however, had Shisui frowning. "...Fix what?"

Edited 2014-07-13 02:44 (UTC)

He noted that Shisui didn't know Ashiko after all with that last bit, glancing to him with his words before turning his gaze back to the paper and continuing to write. "Your lack of awareness on the severity of the intel situation."

Which was unfortunately terrible. He'd been keeping on top of all rumors coming in, making sure that they didn't add up to the horrifying picture they were. He didn't want people to panic, or start actively looking for fights. Konoha didn't need that. The information lacks inside the village had been too much in the face of misinformation coming in in droves though, otherwise he would have handled it all much more quietly.

He rolled his eyes at that. "What are you writing." He'd decided he wasn't coming forth with anything unless Obito specifically asked him of it in the future. And somehow, he was just a little nervous about what he was writing...

[Closed] Oops again?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)