Getting Up to Date

It was true indeed that Akari had no one waiting for an audience. As a matter of fact, she had just finished her last appointment for awhile and she was now beginning to get right down to the paperwork she needed to take care of. A shadow clone of herself was handling another stack. The clone having it's own, smaller chair, to the side. Both Akari's worked diligently and efficiently at their stacks as they handled petty requests from the civilians of the village. Construction was quite obviously going on in the village and it was readily apparent that the walls would soon be expanded to increase the size of the city as a whole. A liquor cabinet stood in the corner, filled with expensive wines and other such spirits. Akari herself didn't partake except in situations where it was socially acceptable. Or when something happened where she really needed a drink.

The sight Kanna would walk in to would be two Akari's working on paperwork and both looking up at her curiously. Usually people at least knocked, but she wouldn't be a bitch about it or anything. The moment she got a good look at Kanna however she would blink twice. She was, well frankly, stunning. Akari was mildly uncomfortable with how pretty she actually was. Even feeling quite a bit insecure herself about it. She herself wore her usual attire of red shirt, black skirt, and black thigh high socks with black bows in her hair to keep it from being just a straight mop in front of her face. Kanna wore simply a black long sleeve with matching pants. Yet she effortlessly made the Uchiha feel insecure, how was that even fair?

Sighing internally she would close her eyes and take a breath, steeling herself for another meeting. Before she realized just who this woman was. Kanna Tohsaka? "Kanna? You've returned then? Welcome home. Would you care for a drink? My name is Akari Uchiha, and it's a pleasure to meet you." She would say, trying to play the part of the welcoming host in her office. She wouldn't bother introducing herself by her title, such a thing was obvious to anyone who saw her behind the desk working, or anyone who'd heard any of the rumours around about a teenage Hokage. Putting emphasis on such a thing was a cry for attention an acceptance, something Akari cared little for. She would do her job, she didn't care who saw or knew she did it.

Akari would smile at her briefly and stand, moving toward the liquor cabinet. "Please, Akari, I understand I am the Hokage, but we aren't in a time of war, and I don't see the need for everyone to refer to me by title when in not such a time." She would say as she moved to the cabinet. "Apologies aren't necessary Kanna, you've done nothing wrong. Now, what can I get you?" She'd ask, getting two glasses down and nod her head toward the cabinet with a small smile. She would pour two glasses, and pass one to Kanna.

"I did indeed only recently rise to the title, but I'm working hard to be worthy of it. Once Masuyo retired, her replacement, Tattsu, started a war campaign that claimed multiple countries. In doing so she also attempted to deceive Kirigakure during the still ongoing Chuunin Exams and sent a galleon loaded down with tons of explosives to Ota. With the presumed intent to blow it up, with every countries genin in range of the blast. During this time an attack was led on Konoha and our money, and valuable exclusive jutsu were stolen from us. The attackers took advantage of Tattsu leaving the village unguarded. Then Haku Masanori, after this assault, led a coup attempt and successfully took over the village. Tattsu was captured in Kirigakure and executed on the spot. Haku proceeded to release the countries the Yondaime had captured through war and recalled our forces. Leaving us only ourselves. Then he seemed to disappear, either falling into being a recluse or simply leaving the village with no one the wiser. With no one filling the position, the village in desperate need of leadership, I stepped in to try to fill the gap and turn the village to a brighter future." She would say, giving Kanna the complete rundown of what had occurred while she was gone so far as Akari knew.

"With that, what happened on the mission? You've been gone for a long time." She would say, concern on her features. If anything had happened Akari would want to know and if Kanna needed anything the village would back her up with anything reasonable. Or if this was just her return she'd have earned some time off if she wanted it. Akari would listen to whatever the woman said, idly considering how stunning she really was up close. What was wrong with her to be thinking this way? She never felt insecure, but now, all of a sudden, she didn't feel good enough? 'What the hell?' She would think as she considered those thoughts.

Akari would not in acceptance "Please, have a seat." She'd say as she pulled down a bottle form the cabinet and poured two glasses of Gin. She'd move back over to the desk and set one down gently in front of Kanna before taking her own seat once more. Her clone had continued to diligently do paperwork the entire time and didn't stop for this either. She would take a sip of her drink as Kanna recounted her mission. She would stay quiet during the recounting, letting the stunning woman's words be the only noise in the room with the exception of the pen scratching upon the surface of documents that the clone was working on. "I am indeed aware of your position, and I will further state that you shouldn't blame yourself Kanna. You couldn't have known what was happening, Tattsu failed us all, and by not contacting you she failed you too in that way." She would say, as she held her drink, sitting it on the table, but keeping it in her hands all the same.

A moment of silence would lapse between the two, Akari found it to be a comfortable one but such things aren't always perceived similarly. Akari would therefore break the silence before long, asking another question of the ANBU. "You've been gone a long time, you've more than earned a break. If you wish it, it's yours." She would say, offering time off to the woman who's been away from home for so long. "If you're interested in training however, I have a task that I personally need assistance with, and an ANBU would be just the one to do it. You see, while I do hold the position of Hokage, I do not yet have the personal power that such a rank implies. I need someone to put me through my paces. To help me train and gain in strength so that I can be fully deserving of the position. I'm not telling you to be my sensei, such a thing would be..improper. What I'm asking for is a training partner, training alone is a bad idea in most situations because no one can correct bad habits. So I'm reticent to do so." She would say, pausing to take a drink from a glass. "I also have two shinobi who might do wonders under your tutelage if you're willing to accept them as well, I'd still pay you as an ANBU, of course, but you'd temporarily be reassigned to Jounin duty and remain mostly at home while you helped the next generation grow in strength. I hope to step up and help you in that as well when I've gained the prowess to be of use in such a regard." She would say.

The obvious discomfort upon her features at admitting that she wasn't strong enough to be Hokage, even if she was smart enough for the position, was telling. Akari wanted to do right by her people. Already within a month of getting the position she'd expanded the village tremendously, and was already working on trying to get life in general to be better for both the shinobi and the people in the village. The crime rate had sky rocketed what with all the construction going on. However Akari doubted that would last for all that long, once everything was settled she could let the police forces handle that.

Her response would warrant a pleased nod from the Uchiha and she would open up a drawer on her desk and withdraw a couple of files. Setting them upon the desk as she answered. "I personally specialize in Kenjutsu, genjutsu involving the sharingan, and non-elemental ninjutsu." She would say as she opened the files of Tsukiyo and Tengoku Shinku. It had basic information on them, their personalities, strengths, weaknesses. Tsukiyo was a genjutsu specialist who also dabbled in Fuinjutsu and used fire ninjutsu as well. She was confident, and a bit too prideful in her capabilities. Tengoku was quiet, awkward, but well meaning, if not particularly confident. They would be a handful to train Akari was certain,  the brother was a kenjutsu user and tracker of notable skill. They took almost every mission together, and separating them had been an idea that had occurred to the teen kage. However she had decided that it would hinder Tengoku too much. Having the proper teacher would probably help more.

"Here are the files on those two genin, a brother and sister pair." She would say before continuing. "My own personal style revolves around misdirection and making my movements harder to focus on while increasing my own grace and fluidity. However I'm interested in learning as much as I can about Kenjutsu and anything I can learn in regards to ninjutsu and potentially fuinjutsu farther down the line." She would say, taking another sip. "I am glad to know that you know some of the jutsu's lost secret techniques. Can I get you to write them down so we have the scrolls once more?" She'd ask, intent herself upon learning as many as she could so that if this happened again it wouldn't require others to help repair the damage that losing such techniques caused the village in confidence and renown. Should Kanna say yes she would pull a blank scroll from another drawer and pass it over to the ANBU. "I want you to know that I appreciate all of this, more than you can realize Lady Kanna." She would say, addressing the woman with great respect. "Is there anything I can do for you?" She would ask, wondering what she could do to facilitate the woman's return.

Akari would let the woman study the files for a while. Letting her take her time to get used to the idea of training them. Tsukiyo had become a Chunin, and Tengoku was close, if not ready for the promotion already. But the guidance and tutelage of one more experienced would be welcome at any rank. Pretty much regardless. So she didn't see any issue in giving them a sensei despite their ranks. When she told Akari about her own personal style the Uchiha would smile at the idea of learning more Kenjutsu forms and hopefully progressing as a sword mistress. The promise of aid in learning Fuinjutsu later on was most welcome as well.

Akari was just about to answer the ANBU's question of if there was anything else she could do when a cordial knock on her door brought pause to her. She twitched an eye at the interruption, but in the end, this hadn't been a planned meeting. So it wasn't like the majority of her staff knew she was closed in a conversation. The door opened and a shinobi who to her recollection was currently on shift at the aviary came inside. His head was bowed and a scroll was held in his hands. Akari's eyebrow rose in curiosity before she spoke. "Please, come hand it here and be on your way, and thank you." She would say, prompting the man to nod and bring the scroll over before leaving quietly. Akari looked up to Kanna a moment. "I apologize for the interruption, one second." She said before looking at the scroll and seeing the sigil of a stag upon it. The girls eyes widened in surprise. "Already?" She would say before unfurling the scroll and running chakra through the seal inside.

In a small puff of smoke, a sword appeared, hilt in Akari's waiting hand. The blade that came out was exquisite. The metal of the blade was as black as midnight with a starry appearance on it. Fuinjutsu script ran along the blade, proving that the weapon was enchanted as she'd requested. Holes in the blade ensured that the weapon would make the distinct whistling sound she'd requested so that it could trigger certain genjutsu. The guard was in the shape of three tomoe interconnecting, a calling card of the Uchiha Clan. The red wrapping on the hilt matching the shade of red she wore. Upon the pommel, on the base, was the same emblem on the scroll. That of the Stag Emporium, etched permanently into the piece so that all who inspected it knew where it was crafted. It was everything she could have expected. The Uchiha set the scroll aside and held the sword on both hands, one holding the hilt, the other carefully holding the blade. "I hadn't expect him to finish this commission so quickly. This, Lady Kanna, is my new weapon. Would you like to try it?" She would ask, offering the blade to her. The office was more than big enough for one to do a kata or two in so long as they were the only one practicing. "In regards to needing anything else from you beyond you're normal duties? I'll probably use you as an advisor. I'm not naive enough to think I'm some perfect little girl leader. I'll need the advice of more experienced individuals if I'm going to make the right decisions." She would say, using careful language in the explanation.

She wanted advice, but the decisions would be hers to make in the end. Also, it'd be her taking the blame for those actions as well. None would speak for her, and none would stand in her place upon the chopping block if things didn't work out.

The smile upon the woman's face at the offer would cause Akari's own smile to widen a bit. No Kenjutsu practitioner could say no to such an invitation. As the woman took the blade and held it, she commented that it felt good and began to whirl through a few kata's. Was this her personal style that she had mentioned? Akari's red and black eyes, her sharingan coming active when Kanna began to move, would be able to track the movements, but Akari doubted she could have reacted herself if Kanna had been close range. It proved that she herself had a long way to go before she could consider herself worthy of her title in terms of strength. However that was exactly why she'd enlisted Kanna's help in that regard to begin with. The woman's form was beautiful and Akari enjoyed watching the small demonstration before the ANBU finished. Deactivating her eyes now that the demonstration was done, Akari would smile at the woman's words. "Thank you, I ordered from a Sunagakure weapons crafter by the name of Okane Tomi. I feel the cost was more than worth it. That was well executed by the way, I enjoyed watching it. Was that a bit of your personal style?" She would ask. Taking the offered hilt into her hand once more and returning it to the sheathe it had arrived in.

It was simple curiosity that drove the question. It had consisted of a simple, swift, dash and half turn cut. Akari wouldn't have even been able to see it if not for her Sharingan and she was quite curious as to if she would be learning it herself in the future. Kanna's agreement to advise for Akari brought a small weight off her shoulders. She wanted very much to have the thoughts of those she could trust around. Advisers were integral to the running of a village, especially when things went south. Oft times, having a separate opinion on a situation made it easier to see other angles that one might miss. Akari intended to have two such advisers, Kanna would be one. The second would be found in time. "I'm glad to know I can count on your advice in the future. Unless you need me for anything, I'll bit you a good day, and more importantly, a welcome home."

A confirmation of the styles name would bring a pensive expression to Akari's face as she considered the name of the style before deciding it fit nicely. A swift assault intended to bring about a quick victory. Of course, that's more or less what all combat styles were intended to do. The name did tell Akari that the style was basically an unrelenting assault upon targets that in effect, attempted to wear them down and remove their capability of being a threat. Whether that was lethal or not was, as always, up to the user of the style.

Kanna would bid her farewell and Akari would stand and walk her to the door, opening it to let her out. "Thank you for coming Kanna, I look forward to working with you." She would say in farewell of her own before gently closing the door behind the woman and moving back to her desk to continue her paperwork. She still had plenty to do, but luckily the clone had continued throughout the conversation and so some progress had continued to be made. The coming weeks began to look promising and she was starting to realize that she was excited to begin training with Kanna and trying to make herself as strong as possible for the sake of her village.

It wasn't fair that the woman was so pretty though. Freaking gene lottery.

Exit