Briefly resting.

[abileunaspada]

Where: Konohagakure, at the banks of Naka River in Training Ground D.

When: May 14th

Who: Adela Milani (abileunaspada) & OPEN

Notes: Training just isn't happening, so instead Adela's just dipping her feet in the river and getting lost in thought over life in general. There's been so much happening, and although she's been keeping a low profile, how much longer can that last?

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The river water was still cold, even with spring shifting more and more into summer-like temperatures. The sweaty kunoichi just sighed as she looked to the sky, using her towel to wipe off her forehead and setting her shoes beside her before she let her feet rest in the river. That'd help her cool off, but she didn't feel right. It was weird, that training wasn't really clearing her head, but...

There were too many rumors floating about between shinobi for her to ignore anymore. Sasuke was in hospital for a while or outright not around, and she didn't know why (though she was partially sure it was mission related, there was likely a lot more to it than that). There had been kidnapping attempts in the village -- thankfully, those were thwarted but it still happened. Again. And the whispers of increasing defenses for Konoha, and political unrest in other regions... Maybe there really was war on the way.

Adela just sighed, her eyes on the sky. A war. She was probably lucky to have a moment to breathe like this, even if she was in Konoha. Her thoughts were interrupted when she picked up on someone approaching - even if she couldn't tell how she knew at the moment. That was when she sat up, looking around and calling out (though at that point not bothering to get to her feet just yet), "Someone there?"

Comments

[abileunaspada]

Wait what? She stared hard at him, stunned at his laughter and his relaxed pose and just knowing that she was missing something, "Wait, why?"

[thebestuchiha]

"Because if you're on good terms with the Mizukage, well, half of the Mizukage, I'm not going to let you slack about and let it fade." He turned his head, grinning at her. "Got it?"

[abileunaspada]

"He's what!?" Her jaw dropped, and she stared - apparently someone hadn't been kept in the loop regarding Kirigakure intelligence, at least not entirely. Sure, she had been aware of the unrest in the region, but to think a new Mizukage had been named... What happened to the old one? And why did Kisame step up to the plate? And who was up there with him??

[thebestuchiha]

"He's not the one of the group that I was pestering about Sephiroth for by the way. But hey, this works out pretty well, don't you think?" He didn't once glance away. This was priceless.

[abileunaspada]

"He's not?" Again she showed her surprise - probably a bad thing, considering that she hadn't told Obito about her little 'arrangement' with Kisame. Still, the point was valid and she needed to know, finding herself more and more invested in the conversation with every word, "Then... Who? Someone I should know about...?"

[thebestuchiha]

"I understand that before she mostly vanished off the radar she was often seen in war with him when he gained his reputation. That's all I know of the connection really, give or take a few bits a few years ago when Sasuke was a new Chunin. Shishito Nanako is her name. Kisame mentioned it. I'm not even sure on the civilian side, but there's a rumor a shinobi stepped up over there and I'm mostly just hunting for any solid information on if that part is true or not."

[abileunaspada]

"Nanako..."

Another frown tugged at her lips and she looked down, thinking it over. The name was definitely familiar, Shishito Nanako... Oh, Nanako...

Her stomach dropped when the memories came back. She was someone close to Sephiroth, and close to her too - the woman was like a second mother, coddling her and always making her feel better whenever she'd been really upset as a child. Nanako, who was likely one of the first to hear about her being alive once more...

"... I see. It might not be so easy to use me as a political link, Hokage-Sama - I don't know Nanako-san's opinion of me anymore, but I can't assume it's anything positive at this point."

[thebestuchiha]

He regarded her for a moment in thought. "Work through Sephiroth then. You're important to Kiri because that's where your blood is from and Yagura never let me forget it. I need to be sure that's not going to become an issue now. I don't think Kisame'll be any issue, he's a good guy, but I don't know Shishito at all, and for all I know she's got all the clout."

[abileunaspada]

"... I'll try."

What was she agreeing to? Damn it, it was a mission by that point, but talking to Sephiroth... It felt like it was premature. Nanako as well was another fear that had her nerves working up again - it seemed like things were just going to keep spiralling into being busy and, potentially, getting a lot worse in terms of missions, politics, and potentially blood shed.

But, she had said she'd do it. She had to at least try. Still, she couldn't look at Obito anymore then, knowing that she'd have to set aside some time to contact Sephiroth about what was going on... Probably later that day. What else could she do? It wasn't like she could say no...

[thebestuchiha]

He watched her for a long moment, then hummed. "I was considering sending you to Suna to chew on some politics there with the new administration there too, though I decided not right before the exam, so don't look so glum, it'll work out."

[abileunaspada]

"Whenever you need me to go, Hokage-Sama," The words were murmured, and in spite of his words she couldn't stop herself from 'looking glum' at the time. Nanako was a big unknown factor, and she didn't know how the woman took her being alive after all this time - the lack of contact at all was a worrying sign without all of the politics bullshit, now that she thought about it.

Perhaps Nanako just didn't want to complicate her life further, but Adela had the sinking feeling that it just wasn't that simple.

[thebestuchiha]

He reached over, ruffling up her hair and leaning in to look at her. "Hey. Hey. Adela. How goes the one-eyed training?"

[abileunaspada]

She swatted at his hand, making an annoyed sound before shaking her head, "It hasn't. Not specifically. I haven't been able to get in contact with anyone over it."

[thebestuchiha]

"Time to get to it then." He pushed to his feet without any preamble. "Time to spar and see what I can't work on with you. I have a little time."

[abileunaspada]

"To spar? Right now?" Obito was just all kinds of catching her off-guard today, wasn't he? Still, she was on her feet - barefooted, she didn't want to put on her shoes while her feet were still wet. She had a feeling that Obito wasn't going to take no for an answer though, even if she didn't particularly think a spar was a good idea then though.

[thebestuchiha]

"Yeah, nothing heavy, just a little quick hand to hand so I can see where your weaknesses are now, yeah? I can pass on some tutoring instructions from there and that." He shook his head and brushed the grass off himself. "Sound good?"

[abileunaspada]

"... Sure," No, she wasn't sure, but it wasn't like there was much else she could say. She wasn't sure about fighting the Hokage then, or if she could do her best against him at the time - not with all that had previously been on her mind, and not with the problems that had been brought up to her after.

[thebestuchiha]

"Don't look so worried. This isn't going to be a big knock down match." He gestured toward himself. "Show me what you got."

[abileunaspada]

She took a breath, trying to re-focus her mind onto what was in front of her rather than on the tasks she was then assigned to or the rumors of war on the horizen. Even the kidnapping attempt had to be cleared from her thoughts as she looked to Obito, releasing her breath before going in to strike.

Hand to hand taijutsu wasn't her strongest suit, but it would at least be a good start to identify her blind-spots.

[thebestuchiha]

He moved around her, slow enough to give her a chance to get at him as he blocked and deflected, keeping to her pace and making sure to tap into her openings and alert her to the distance of her misses. In all, it was fairly gentle, on his side, and he kept his focus on her the whole time, watching her for signs she might try to go through being tired.

[abileunaspada]

It was simple to tell that Obito was going easy on her, but regardless she was still going as hard as she could. Even so, her distraction with her thoughts only made it worse, and she couldn't help feeling completely on edge as they continued their combat. Still, the fact that she was so thoroughly outclassed in her taijutsu was driving her nuts, and she couldn't help letting that frustration show as she tried harder to get better hits in and to dodge his blows more efficiently.

[thebestuchiha]

He didn't comment on that, not at first, but when she started to show more frustration than anything, he held his hands up in a stop gesture. "Alright that's probably enough for now. You're not as bad off as you made it sound either."

[abileunaspada]

She grunted as she stopped her dash, stumbling back with the recoil of stopping herself before shaking it off, "I'm still not where I was when it comes to perception. I've still gotta do better."

[thebestuchiha]

"That's the story of a shinobi Adela... but don't forget to notice your triumphs too, okay? You'd lose heart if you never noticed your own improvement." He shook his head slightly.

"Gonna be alright now?"

[abileunaspada]

"... What do you mean all right?" She frowned at him, skeptical over the choice of wording as she crossed her arms.