sunshineverse | Taking the first steps towards greatness

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Taking the first steps towards greatness

Who: Adela Milani (

abileunaspada) & OPEN
Where: Uzushiogakure Area
When: August 14th - 28th
Why: After recent conversation with the Godaime Hokage of Konoha, Adela has been sent on an observation mission in Uzushio with a mutual friend and ally who may help her have some insight on what she intends to get into, but for the most part it's a vacation away from her leave and an excuse to expose her to more of the political world.

This actually wasn't so bad.

When Obito had basically sent her on a two week observation mission, at first she didn't take well to it. Really, it was just... Observing for two weeks, observing politics, and all from a different village? But, when she learned that it meant potentially spending time with Kushina (and after some thinking realized just how valuable the experience could be), her protests were minimized and she went on the solo mission without qualm.

At some points she was in the kage's office observing missions, other times she was exploring the town and trying some of the local delicacies. Still, it wasn't uncommon to find her by the oceans to relax -- she found that it made her the most relaxed, to look towards the endless sea.

She'd heard that there was at least one other Konoha nin in the area, but she'd had yet to see them. Well, it was probably someone she didn't know anyway.

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"Uh, yeah, lunch sounds good," She nodded as she continued sorting out the papers, a sigh leaving her at the second part of the statement, "It's probably better if we go together. I don't wanna get lost on my first day here."

Seriously, that'd be kind of embarrassing... Okay really embarrassing. Getting lost in an allied village...

"You'll either hit the wall or the ocean before you wander outside of the village, so at least there's that, and the roads are in rows until you get to the docks. You can see it from the roof here or up by the lighthouse, so I can show you some time if you want. But don't you worry, you'll know the village like the back of your hand before you go back. And if you still get turned around, just ask someone. By tonight, you'll find a lot of people will be less likely to give you vague directions."

And by "less likely", she meant it wouldn't happen again. If they saw she trusted whoever happened to be visiting, they would grow warmer toward the visitor.

Huh? Adela just blinked, frowning at Kushina before she shook her head, "No one was vague. I mean, I got questioned about why I was here but once my travel papers were cleared no one had an issue with me."

After a beat she decided to continue, absently sorting the papers into proper piles so that they could be more neatly dealt with later while she spoke, "I'd actually be kinda surprised if I did run into trouble once my identity was verified. I mean, Konohagkure and Uzushiogakure are supposed to be close allies because of the Uzumaki and the Senju clans, right? Even if I'm not part of either clan, the bond between those two effects our villages as well."

"I'm glad to hear that. Usually visiting couriers get turned around in the village for hours. I get why they do it, but sometimes I wish they wouldn't."

She sighed, but paused to tap a finger on one of the sorted piles.

"You're right, you shouldn't. And that's where the original alliance came from. But the Uzumaki and the other clans and people were scattered all around the world when the village was attacked. Some of the younger villagers and shinobi were born and raised in other countries or hidden villages before they came here with their families or on their own. Right now, Konoha and Uzushio are allies again because of me and the ties I've held with each Hokage since rebuilding the village. First my husband, now my husband's student. So far, what shinobi Konoha has sent have all been treated with respect, whether on a mission, taking time to relax, or staying long-term to help me out."

"Well, that means they know our allegiance is solid - it's not going to break at the first convenience or war. We're going to be allies probably until the end of time, or until something actually causes tension between our two nations. Even the civilians can sense it, in both of our villages."

In spite of herself Adela couldn't help but smile. It was a warm feeling, knowing that it was such a solid alliance. One that couldn't be denied, and one that would withstand the test of time -- had already withstood the test of time. Just like her and Kushina...

Even if she wasn't Konoha born, she felt like she belonged regardless. That was why she wanted to protect it so badly... Why she wanted to be Hokage.

"I really hope so. If things continue the way they are and my eventual successor carries my will for how the village will continue, I think the alliance between us will continue to hold strong for many years to come. You two will have to meet some time while you're here, if you haven't already."

Kushina returned the smile as she went back to shifting papers where they needed to be.

"Ah? You're already training up a successor too?" Adela just blinked, surprised at the words from Kushina as she worked. True, it was a little hard to keep up the conversation and work at the same time, but they were still managing at least - and it was still nice to talk to Kushina like this regardless.

"I dunno if I've met them or not, the only people I've met from Uzushiogakure were in the chuunin exams. I was an informant in the first part of the exam."

"Mmhm! And it sounds like you have met her since that was her team. It's my niece, Karin."

She reached across the desk for one of the picture frames and turned it on an angle so Adela could see. It was a picture of Karin with her team, similarly posed to one of Naruto's from about three years earlier, also on her desk. She pointed out her niece on the right of the shot to indicate.

"I really want her to be the one who takes over the village from me, but she needs to make jounin first. I've made sure she knows it too. And just because she's family, I won't just slide her through. I think there's some lessons she could stand to learn from being on a squad that I can't teach her myself."

She shifted a few papers heading for Adela's piles closer to her and found some old letters from Nagato. Those got moved back into the foreign correspondence pile, even if they were a bit more on the casual side for conversation.

"Oh, her. Yeah, I remember her coming in. How'd she do in the exams? Did she promote?" Ah, she was getting closer to done thanks to that. She seemed like a nice and smart girl, and really Adela had wanted to see her succeed... Still, it wouldn't be surprising if she didn't the first time. Neither did Adela.

True, the girl was older than her, but honestly Adela didn't care how old the other girl was. She could do it -- especially if she had Kushina-san believing in her.

"Her team didn't finish the second round," she said with a heavy sigh. "And Karin came out of it with a broken arm. From the report I got, she needs to learn to work with her teammates and not try to shoulder everything herself. So I have a plan for them to get the bell test once she's back to fighting form. If it works and they get some more missions done, they'll all be ready for the next round of exams."

"... I was too injured in the second round to continue the first time too. She'll get there if she keeps trying."

Adela wasn't even going to ask about what the 'bell test' was -- It sounded weird, whatever it was. Still, Adela just ended up nodding and putting the last of the sorted paperwork into the then-neat pile for Kushina, and she smiled a little when she did, "I'll treat to lunch when you're done, Kushina-San. We can talk more there."

"I know she will. She can be about as stubborn as me sometimes."

She had absolute faith that Karin would get there in the end, whether in the next test or years down the road. With the piles finally sorted and no more spare papers floating around from the last few weeks, she set the stacks where they belonged.

"No you won't, you're my guest in the village so I'll treat you. It's your first day here anyway."

She sat down and dug around in one of her desk drawers. She withdrew four decent-sized smooth stones and put one on top of each pile of papers.

"It's almost lunch time here anyway, so why don't we get out of here a little early? Do me a favor and close the office door, okay?"

Adela just blinked, making to get ready so that she could close the door behind them as she asked, "Are you sure? You don't have to do that just to be nice, Kushina-san."

Really, it was Kushina who was doing her a favour by letting Adela shadow her...

"Trust me, I'm doing it because I want to. You'll have plenty more chances to treat me if you still want to later."

Once she was satisfied that the papers were secure, she got up and opened one of the large windows behind her desk. A gentle sea breeze blew in, catching the corners of some papers, but the rocks stayed, unmoving.

"C'mon, shut the door, we're heading out this way. It's faster and you can tell me what you want on the way."

She perched on the sill, preparing to leap out to the nearest building as if it were something she did everyday. As a matter of fact, it was indeed.

The window? Adela couldn't help sighing as she closed the door, frowning a bit at Kushina but coming along behind her anyway. It wasn't like she could refute the village's leader/her own mother-type figure, at least not over something like this.

"I guess I'm in the mood for beef or pork, if it's not too pricey. Otherwise we can just snack on some takoyaki or something."

"There's a place just across the village that has some good meat dishes. C'mon."

She jumped over to the next roof over, just one level below her window on the third floor. She waited for Adela to join her before forming a few quick hand seals to carefully blow the window shut behind them. Then down she jumped to street level and led the way down one of the roads

Jeez, of course Kushina would do this. Still, Adela couldn't help but smile as she just followed after her, careful to not use too much chakra on the roofs in town so that she wouldn't cause damage to them. It was nice to smell the ocean breeze, the salt in the air making her crave it a bit more oddly enough.

It was technically her village, she would do whatever she wanted. Almost. She rejoined Adela on the rooftops fairly quickly when the streets started to get more crowded. Mostly to avoid anyone who would want to stop her for one reason or another. She was setting this time aside for Adela, no one else.

It was also faster, much less foot traffic than the roads below. And they were soon at a little restaurant with living quarters for the proprietor and their family above. Kushina requested a table in a quiet corner which would allow them to talk with some privacy from any other patrons.

Once they were seated, Adela ended up ordering a black tea off the menu to start with before glancing up at Kushina, tilting her head a bit. It was kind of nice to have a private booth like this, but at the same time she wondered why the privacy.

Maybe Kushina would tell her in a bit.

"So you've been busy doing a lot of restoration work with the village? What's that like, if you don't mind me asking Kushina-san?"

Kushina ordered green tea with sugar. She'd explain the booth choice later.

"It's really more rebuilding than restoration, that's most of what I've doing the last five years. Everything you see out in the village wasn't here back then. It was just shrubs, grass, rocks, some really ruined buildings, and some trees. Even the roads to the travel seal and some other villages had to be smoothed out. It really took up a lot of time and energy, which is why you wouldn't have seen much of me in Konoha until about a year and a half, two years ago. But even though it meant I didn't see much of my family, it's definitely been worth all the effort. Now I mostly have to make sure everything keeps up and running when I'm not away looking for any Uzumaki that might be left and can get permission to leave their adopted country or when I go back home for however long."

"Ah, I see. You really are doing a lot for this place... I guess it's gotta be hard, going back and forth all the time," She rested her hand in her chin then, looking over Kushina as she thought over it some more, "I just hope nothing like that happens again. It's scary to get displaced like that, especially if you have no where to go... It'd be better if no one would ever feel what that's like again."

Her smile turned a bit nostalgic, even a little sad. When she spoke again, her voice was a little softer to prevent it from carrying across the room. Another reason for a more private dining location had been so she could speak candidly and not risk any rumors spread that she had regrets or wanted to leave.

"It is sometimes. That's why I try and make it back to Konoha almost every month and Minato comes out here sometimes. If I didn't, I'd probably be miserable, not getting to see everyone. I know the work I'm doing is important, but that doesn't mean I don't miss my family and friends. I may have been born in Uzushio, but Konoha's my h-- Ah, thank you."

The waiter returned with their tea and to take their orders. Kushina put in an order for some Gyudon and waited for Adela to put in hers and the waiter to leave before continuing. Sort of.

"I wasn't here where the village was destroyed. I could hardly believe it when Sandaime told me and I shook him for every detail he could give. He didn't know who had survived, who had escaped though. Everyone and almost everything was gone by the time Konoha could send a team. Even if I didn't live there anymore, a part of my heart was still connected."

She stopped, realizing she had been rambling and took a sip of her tea.

"Sorry, you didn't ask to hear about my memories. I got a little carried away in them. Heheh... But I guess it's because of those memories and that I found more Uzumaki in the world than I originally thought that I decided to try and revive our village. I'd do anything to keep them from being scattered everywhere again. While this may not be my home, I've seen all the hard work everyone's put in to making this village their own--not just my own. I would gladly lay down my life for this village as much as I would for Konoha."

Adela could only nod, taking occasional sips of her own tea as she just listened. Just hearing about it like this... She frowned at the table, though it wasn't really anything nasty or displeased -- only thoughtful.

"You really are amazing, Kushina-San. Not a lot of people would keep going like how you did."

A faint blush colored her cheeks and she reached up to rub the back of her head.

"You really think so? I guess I can understand what you mean though. I just had some luck in the people I've met and inspired me. I never would have gone looking for more Uzumaki if I hadn't been sent to Amegakure for trade negotiations. I never would have rebuilt Uzushio without the support of Minato and everyone I found."

"Don't sell yourself short, you still initiated the rebuilding of the village and your clan. It'd be impossible to do alone, and it's hard to be a good leader even with the right support sometimes. I still think you're pretty amazing, Kushina-San."

In fact, Adela was finding herself a little jealous then - though it was tempered with how she was looking at herself as well. Just what had she done for her own village? What good was she when she just failed mission after mission? Even with her new ambitions to give back and become the leader Konoha deserved, could she really do it?

But... This wasn't the time for doubt, she reminded herself. She was there to learn from Kushina. She needed to start somewhere.

Taking the first steps towards greatness

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Agh, sorry for the long replies on this one. My brain isn't letting me think of good things for it.

Haha don't worry about it, Kushina's just being super ramble-y. <3

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sob... she wouldn't shut up i'm sorry

Don't worry about it, Adela was kind of asking for it lmao

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