sunshineverse | Extended Stay [ Konoha

Where: Konoha
When: Early October, but he'll be here all month
Notes: Hotohori is stuck in Konoha for a month on diplomatic business with the Daimyo of Fire. Being in Konoha isn't such a trouble...

It was somewhat less than his ideal month, to be stuck in complex negotiations with the Daimyo of Fire over noodle trade. Ordinarily this was a thing that one of his ambassadors would take care of. He knew this, and so did the Daimyo of Fire. It was an intentional slight on the part of the Fire Daimyo to insist on a personal audience, particularly for so long.

He was far from unused to that sort of disrespect from other daimyo, however, and the Land of Noodles did rely quite heavily on its dealings with the five great nations. And...in exchange, he would at least have an excuse to visit Konoha once more. It was absolutely not worth the month putting up with their frustrating and rude daimyo, but that was nothing against Konoha itself. It was entirely against the man in the ridiculous robes.

Ah, but he kept those emotions to himself. It would be inappropriate and highly offensive to the good village that had allowed him to stay within it for the duration of the negotiations to appear ungrateful for their hospitality, or to express disapproval of their daimyo.

So he smiled happily as he walked, engaged citizens he passed in idle conversation, and gestured animatedly up at the faces on the cliffside once he found a shinobi to speak to. "Is there a way that I can go up and see those up close? They were made with a form of earth jutsu, weren't they?" At least, that's what he'd learned when studying history books about Konoha. How accurate that was when it was history written by outsiders was questionable.

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He gave a pleased smile at the young lady's manners and gave a small, appropriate bow in response. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. You may call me by 'Hotohori', if it pleases you." If it didn't, however, he would make no effort to give her an alternate method of address.

"I put my day in your hands with full faith."

"I will do my best to ensure you enjoy it, Hotohori-san," Ami promised. She would use a higher title if he corrected her, but a pseudonym left her with the impression that he was doing his best to escape overt formalities for the moment. She could respect that. She readjusted her grip on her lunch, and took a few steps down the road.

"If you'll follow me...?"

She wouldn't be wrong about her impression, and he would do nothing to correct her on the method of address. If he wanted to hear people rattle off an endless list of titles, he'd speak to his counselors.

He gave a small nod once she started ahead and followed her a step behind. "I have no doubt that you will be successful."

She kept to the more well-traveled roads, rather than ducking in back alleys and side streets, the way she normally might have. Never mind making him uncomfortable or suspicious of her; none of the various pedestrians and shinobi milling around the village would look kindly on an adult man following a young girl into out-of-the-way areas like that. It wouldn't take long at all to clear that initial misunderstanding, but better to avoid it over all.

She promised him an enjoyable day, after all.

She paused in front of a multi-storied tea-house and glanced back to make sure he was still following.

Well, as a daimyo, the confusion probably would be cleared quickly...but he was quite well familiar with ensuring a good public image. Certain persons needn't have more things to attempt to use against him and his nation, after all, phantom or not.

Beside that, well-traveled roads were designed to look nicer to visitors than the out of the way roads, weren't they? So it didn't even occur to him to wonder whether she was intentionally using those roads or not. But then, he was simply happy to follow where she would lead for the moment, anyway.

He followed only a few steps behind her, and came to a stop when she did, hands still gathered at his waist, patient smile on his expression. He spoke only once she glanced back toward him. "Is this a stop?"

"It's... an option." Ami fiddled with her sleeves. "They allow rooftop seating here. I wasn't sure if you had eaten or not. If you would rather not bother, we can go straight to one of the inns with free observation points."

She wasn't used to talking very much with strangers—not even clients—so she hoped she didn't sound as if she was weeding him to spend money. He could definitely afford to, if her analysis was correct, but it would be rude to presume. She was raised better than that.

He was rather free with his money, when it came to little things, so such a thing wasn't likely to offend him even if he suspected it. A teashop seemed like a good observation point, however, and more interesting than simply standing on a roof might be.

He gave a small nod and a smile. "Having tea on the rooftop sounds like a good choice. I'm sure if they offer it, it's a good view."

Extended Stay [ Konoha - Open ]

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