sunshineverse | Really Konoha, really?

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Really Konoha, really?

Where: Konoha, outside the gates in one of the forests.
When: September 4th
Notes: Sephiroth is just as put out by the rumors as several other people an decides he needs to talk to Ami face to face. Closed to Ami and the rest of team Shisui.

He'd been doing this for two days now, and knew that the next would be the end of his border patrols for this term, so he couldn't do a walk by loop back to this seal after that, and he rather wanted this whole matter aired. A father. Hmph. If there was one thing it was impossible to be, it was the father of anyone, let alone someone literally half his age.

Still, the last thing he'd expected was for the circuit to be successful, it was sort of a wishful thinking move, honestly. But... he had to be mis-seeing this because he was fairly sure that this was a group of what appeared to be genin picking berries. Under supervision. Stumped, he waited for the punchline to the joke, but none seemed to be forthcoming.

Shaking his head over yet another blinding example of how soft Konoha was, he circled around and planted himself in the direction Ami seemed to be headed and waited, inclining his head when she came through the trees to him finally. "So. Father?"

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There was an upside to having teammates, Ami was sure. There had to be. Logically speaking, there was no way that the system could persist in the modern day if there weren't tangible benefits aside from 'socialization' and strength in numbers. For the moment, though, all Ami could see was that Masanori was a jerk, the other one was a bit too quiet, and she was going on more missions than before.

She didn't mind D-Ranks, not really; growing up in the Shopping District, she had seen plenty of genin scurrying around with lost items or pets or fetching groceries. that was just the way it was, in Konoha. She was actually a little thankful, getting this one; they were still close enough to the village that they could split up to cover more ground and he didn't have to waste her breath with worthless chatter.

When she stepped into the clearing and caught sight of Sephiroth, however, her eyes widened and her dour expression seemed to lighten—up until he opened her mouth. Then her countenance turned positively thunderous. "Auntie sent in a very angry letter to them, for that." Ami hadn't minded the other part—her supposed prowess—but her paternity was not something that deserved to be questioned. Her parents had loved each other.

Edited 2014-09-09 17:47 (UTC)

"I suspect she did. I can't even fathom how they believe that would be the case in any way considering you're not even less than half my age." He shook his head, sighing as he padded over, peering at the basket of berries she'd collected curiously before turning to pick a few to add to her pile to keep his hands busy. "Thought he rest was complimentary for you."

"I think they might just be stupid," Ami said, turning thoughtful. "I mean, they even spoke I'll of the Yondaime's marriage, and everybody knows what a monster his wife can become when angry." The property damage was legendary among civilians. "I didn't mind the other part," she admitted, examining each berry he contributed carefully. She knew he was competent, but it was still her responsibility to double-check. She was responsible for her own basket, after all.

He took no exception to the way she was reacting to his contributions, aware that it would reflect poorly on her if she didn't. He was unbothered by it. "I thought you might not. Someone showed me the paper. It seemed they had something of a death wish considering the figures targeted in your village. Many have reputations."

He paused, noting he seemed to have run out of things to pick and straightened. "Your sensei seems to be diligent. I can still sense him nearby. I do hope he doesn't think I'm here to steal you away to be my apprentice."

"I suppose they thought that the most notable targets would garner the most attention to them," Ami assessed, adding a few more handfuls of berries. She examined another, then passed it over; it was perilously ripe already. Practically rotten. "Like shooting a flaming arrow at a powder keg."

The mention of Shisui made her blink and pause. She still hadn't learned how to sense others, but she trusted Sephiroth's skills and her own teacher's protective impulses. "I don't think so," she mulled. "We've addressed that concern already." It had been surprising, how distraught he had seemed over the thought of her finding a new instructor. "Besides, I can't defect. It's a waste of my time, during this point in my career."

Ah, yes, there was that special Ami-brand of reassurance.

He made a small noise of confirmation. "If that were truly a consideration I would be the one leaving my country, not you, and currently, there's not real profit in it for me to do so."

He looked sideways at her, then shook his head. "Have you had any time to enjoy the fearsome part of the rumors? I have no doubt it will have people looking at you more closely."

Ami bit her lip, hiding a smile. "It...isn't unpleasant. Those who know better are the only ones I particularly wouldn't like being feared or considered by, so if nothing else it has given me a taste of the benefits of reaching a goal I was aiming for anyways." Plus a little reputation-padding was good for the bruises still lingering on her ego from the kidnapping.

"I don't have to force myself to talk with people I don't like as much," she went on, reaching into a bush to pluck out another berry. "Well. I have teammates now, but besides them I am largely left to my own devices."

"Pleasant and beneficial." It was a murmur, satisfied. Then again, he truly had no reason to fear for the girl's health from challengers given the reputation of her Sensei.

"Take care not to overuse it. Such things tend to be... less useful over time."

"For years, my pride has been what I could carve out with my own abilities." She shifted the basket on her arm. "I don't intend to simply coast along until the bubble bursts." It was why she had called it a goal to strive for. She fully intended to become as close to that rumored, monstrous might as she could.

"Or do you mean that monikers like 'Terror' cans become boring over time?"

He huffed a faint laugh and shook his head. "Neither. I mean that wielding a reputation often draws in those that wish to... use said reputation against you over time. It gathers enemies more quickly than those who are unseeen."

"Oh." She paused. "You mean people looking to bolster their own reputations by felling legends." The current administration had done that, hadn't they? Oh, certainly the poverty and revolution factored in—but the man who decimated Hanzo the Salamander was worshipped as a living god, now.

"I do. Defeating them tends to lift you up... but if you weren't where the reputation said to start it can pose a problem." He sighed. "I had the reverse issue. People didn't believe my reputation accurate and were interested in taking me out for my impudence."

"Impudent?" Ami hid a smile behind her high collar. "You? I can hardly imagine." At that age, he must have been exasperated with all that attention being heaped on him. Especially if he disliked having his skills called into question by people without any right, the way she did.

"Yes, quite. Then again, I did mention when I was your age we were of a similar size." His tone was incredibly dry. "Many had the impression I was a girl. It was humiliating and infuriating."

Ami was quiet for a moment, merely busying herself with her berry picking and turning something over in her mind. "I'm sure you passed for a very cute little girl," she finally said, in a faintly placating tone. It was a needling sort of joke, but that sort of sad stab at humor was as great an effort as she could muster for a mood-lightening joke at this point in her stunted social development.

He grimaced at a particular memory. "I had a girl try to helpfully castrate me once because I made a cute girl at that age. It's not the most assuring statement."

"That wasn't her decision to make." Ami frowned, tugging at the silver ribbon edging her dress—a metallic ribbon he likely recognized. "Did you cut off something important of hers, to help her understand that?"

He sighed softly nd shook his head. "I was rather young." He paused a moment, looking just a touch embarrassed. "I've avoided anything to do with seals since, and you likely noticed my... difficulty."

"I had wondered." There was a note of apology in her voice. "You seem perfectly capable with... Well, with everything besides that." A childhood trauma was as good an explanation as any, she supposed. "I didn't know there was a seal for castration." She wondered if she could learn it.

Just in case her teammates turned out to be unbearable.

"She was aiming to physically modify me... the seals were what kept me immobile." He leaned in, voice lowering. "And how she got me into a dress."

"...were you abducted by a deviant-woman?" She tilted her head to the side, trying to imagine a miniaturized Sephiroth in one of her own dresses. And the type of monstrously powerful person who could force him into that position.

"She wasn't much older than I was actually. It was before my tenth birthday and I wasn't used to the idea of nonlethal traps."

Shisui isn't keen on swooping down on their 'meeting'. Instead, perched on a vantage point, sharingan on, he records everything. And since he's also lip-reading, happens to learn quite a bit about his student. ...And the other person. He's known about their correspondence after he'd spoken to her about it, and hasn't brought it up since. So this? This was a long time coming.

Carry on, you two.

Not that he's in the least pleased about it.

When Ami finally moved off to rejoin her teammates, Sephiroth made his way closer to Shisui, waiting for him to emerge with patient interest. "She's developing well under your guidance."

He doesn't bother coming out of hiding, and there isn't any reply or acknowledgement. Instead, he merely flickers off to check on his students.

Who the hell is he to tell him how his student is doing.

He didn't try to followed, amusement touching his lips. Poor man. He'd learn eventually that ignoring him won't make him go away. He then turned and headed back to the seal to go to the next leg of his patrol.

He didn't expect him to go away.

But if he was looking to want to 'go away', Shisui could make him go away for good.

He just didn't have the time for gimmicks.

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