Talking with some clan heads,
Mingling,
A collab between Gerontis and Alice
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Summary :
Kiyomi meeting up with some clan heads during the feast, talking and interacting with them.
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Kiyomi tapped with her right foot at a shadow, of a nearby table. She wanted to go and seek out some people, but a man with dark brown hair approached her. He had two scars at his right cheek and had a rather stern look.
''Your majesty?'' The man made a bow and Kiyomi wondered for a moment who he was.
''If I might be so bold, I wish to ask you something.'' Kiyomi smiled as she nodded.
''Please, ask away.'' Still trying to figure out who this man was, from what clan or country, her eyes widened as she heard his question.
''I was wondering if you were truly raised and educated by Hiron Hon, your majesty, if you would please forgive me being so bold to ask. But I was wondering when I could meet the adoptive daughter of my nephew. Yet, here I'm talking to an empress''
Kiyomi was puzzled by the question, but then understood it a moment later. This man was nobody else than the head of the Sarutobi clan! An ally of the Hon's, but more importantly, this was somebody who she should get support from.
''Y-Yes, I were. Thank you very, Lord-'' ''Please, your majesty. I wouldn't like to be called lord, but rather just Ling Sarutobi. After all, I'm your humble and most loyal servant.'' The man flashed a warm smile as he then told her something with a rather friendly tone.
''I must say that the rumours don't do you any good, your majesty.'' The man began and his words confused Kiyomi slightly. For a moment, she wasn't sure what he meant with that. '
'May I then ask what you had expected of me, Ling-san?'' Kiyomi asked, still puzzled.
''You see, I'm acquainted with Hiron. A good person and I can understand he could educate and raise a fine kunoichi under his care. But I must apologize, I had never imagine that he would be able to raise somebody who can be both inspiring with deeds as with words, your majesty.'' The man made another short bow towards Kiyomi. She felt slowly growing warm.
''I must say that I hadn't expected the Sarutobi clan head to be so bold.'' Kiyomi smile grew. She liked this man.
''Would you like to visit me tomorrow, Ling Sarutobi?'' But quickly Kiyomi added something. She had to think of the lessons and instructions of Meisa.
''Cause I would like to know about... well, a relative of sort of mine.'' Kiyomi said, though she had a hunch that Ling wouldn't mind her losing her game for a moment.
Her words made the man nod and then salute towards her, a grin being displayed on his face.
''Your majesty, I'll be yours to command whenever you wish for a sturdy shinobi and supporter. The Sarutobi clan is proud to see a person raised by Hiron as the one who will lead us.'' With that the two went separate ways. Though it still surprised her, she was curious. Hiron was half a Sarutobi and though Kiyomi had never really anything to do with them, she was glad that somehow Hiron's connection with her made that clan support her. Growing a bit more confident, Kiyomi spoke with a few other guests. She however kept herself not standing too long, talking to somebody. There were a lot of people and she knew that she had to make sure she had to divide her attention, next to make sure she wouldn't be caught talking to some people.
All the while, she would make sure that she kept reminding herself of the lessons and instructions.
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Picking up the cake, she carefully went back towards the three that were standing around a small high table. When she approached the group, who consisted out of a 'broad' man, a taller and slimmer man with a stern look and a woman with long blond hair, she smiled as she heard already the reaction.
''Your majesty!'' The man looked serious as Kiyomi shook her head.
''Please, Lord Akimichi-san. Accept it as I've heard you were rumored to be one of the finest tasters of cake. I hope that this cake shows how much I'm grateful to be in the presence of such a honorable men and women as you three.'' Kiyomi made a short lady-like bow, something she had practiced for this feast. The man's cheeks gained a reddish tint as he looked around. A man with a rather serious expression started to smile, his hands at his back, while a woman with long blond hair shook her head. But she also had a smile on her lips. The leader of the Akimichi made a deep bow towards Kiyomi, holding up a small cake in his hands.
''Your majesty, please accept then my service as I'll let you know how much I have enjoyed from this cake. But let me already tell you that your manners and actions are what would me feel proud to be called your servant.'' The man said. Kiyomi smiled. She spoke a bit with the Nara and Yamanaka heads. Asking questions, they started to get into a light weighted discussion regarding the old bond between the three clans. Eventually Kiyomi listened to the Nara head, who had started to tell her a story. One where the woman often had to correct him on some 'small' details.
''And there we were. All chuunin ranked and outnumbered. There were like a whole horde of bandits, your majesty. Ready to charge at us, probably trying to overwhelm us with their advantage of sheer numbers.'' The man paused as he grinned. The Yamanaka woman sighed as she then chimed in.
''There were like eight of them, your majesty.'' ''Shhhh, I was going to tell her this.'' The Nara head replied back. The Akimichi head was too busy with taking bites of the small cake, like if he had forgotten where he was. But Kiyomi was actually enjoying herself. It were conversations like these that she didn't mind to have. It was interesting to meet and talk with some people, without needing to watch herself because they were so evidently against her or trying to find an opening.
Much to her regret, Kiyomi said after the story was finished that she had to talk to some other guests. Politely asking if the three would like to visit her tomorrow, they surprised her. The Nara clan smiled as he explained why.
''We don't see a real need, your majesty. Seeing your actions in the past and your... speech, it is clear that many will support you. Besides, I don't think that too much politics for our clans would be something we three would personally enjoy.''
The answer made Kiyomi smile as she said that she was glad to have subjects who were content with being like that. Promising to the Akimichi head that they would later however discuss about cake and where she had gained her recipe, Kiyomi walked around. She found out that people did not really easily spot her. Even though her appearance and status would be easily to make her stand out, the lessons of Meisa showed their effect. After each conversation, she managed to walk around and stay on the background.
But then she noticed a man approaching her. His eyes told her enough of who this was.
''Your majesty, I wish to compliment you with that fine speech. I am still even impressed that you're not only a fine kunoichi, but also seems to be a capable leader.'' The Hyuuga made a bow, but Kiyomi didn't feel flattered by his words. He had spoken them with a rather neutral tone. She smiled and thanked him as she should. But she knew better. The man reacted cause like almost everybody, he had probably noticed that some of her speech was directed towards people like the Nimatsu clan. Which the man disliked. Kiyomi was well aware of why and how, something she didn't need Meisa for to understand that the man would even have helped her if she had demanded the heads of the current Nimatsu. Somewhere it made her feel bad, as she wanted to see and talk to Kensuke.
'
'If you would forgive your humble servant, your majesty, but would you accept me tomorrow to visit you? I can understand if you were busy or rather be dealing with something else than politics, as I can understand that they can be tiresome for some.'' The man said, smiling towards Kiyomi. She wanted to narrow her eyes and give back a mean comment, as she understood that the man said that she wasn't really suited for politics, as it was tiresome for some after all. Only masked in a nice phrase and words. Smiling, she nodded. '
'I would be most certainly be happy, Lord Hyuuga. Though I must inform you that politics don't tire me. I would be interested to even suggest a more personal conversation. Your clan has some manners and traditions that have intrigued me. I would love to hear where such manners and traditions have come from as they have formed a most noble clan that is known today as the Hyuuga.''
The answer seemed to surprise the Hyuuga, who hadn't likely been able to see her answer in such a manner. For a moment, the man opened his mouth a bit, but not a word left him. Making a deep bow, he held his head lowered while he spoke back.
''Your majesty, you would do me almost no greater honor with such a request. I wouldn't dare to dream to say no to that.'' He told her
. Yes, of course you wouldn't. You would likely wish that I would then let you suck up my boot and then kick down your rivals for you. Miserable bastard. Kiyomi's thought were well hidden as she smiled and said that she was looking forward to speak soon with the man. Their conversation stayed short and Kiyomi felt a bit angry that she couldn't say what she thought of people who thought she was so blind and naive. But her time would come, she was sure of it.
While Kiyomi hoped that she could get some peace or be able to breath a few moments without needing to watch what she would say, she noticed somebody approaching her from the left. A young man, accompanied by a somewhat older man. Turning around, she could see the crest of the Senju. ''Your majesty.'' The young man said, but his bow wasn't that deep as formally should be. As such, Kiyomi didn't reply back nor nodded to acknowledge his greet back. It stayed silent for a moment.
''Might I compliment you on your fine speech, your majesty?'' The young man asked, on which Kiyomi nodded.
''Yes, you may.'' For a moment the young man seemed to think about something and then made a deeper bow.
''I must then compliment you on the behalf of the Senju clan. We're glad to see that Konohagakure has thrived under the care and leadership of the Fire Union. We hope that might continue under yours as well, your majesty.''
Smiling a bit, Kiyomi made a smaller bow back as she received his compliment.
''You can rest assure Lord Senju, that I'll continue to strive to keep not only Konohagakure, but the whole nation prospering as it did under the Fire Union.'' Her words made the young man node. '
'I'm pleased to hear so, your majesty. If you however don't mind, I would like to send one of my advisors tomorrow to pay you a visit. With the other clan heads and such.''
''It would be much appreciated, Lord Senju, though I was hoping for you to come and join in the talking. Never the less, I'm willing to receive anybody who you deem worthy to send.''
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Taking a seat, Kiyomi was feeling a bit tired. But she had managed to talk with most of the guests. Throwing a glance around, she had spoken with most of the clan leaders. Those who she needed to speak and those who had came to her. There were a few who she had been short too, making it clear that it wasn't her that was on thin ice, but they. The feast had made one thing clear and that was that what many first assumed was wrong. Her claim on royalty wasn't strong, but Kiyomi didn't ever consider that to be a problem. Meisa had taken care of the loopholes and knowing how to use any disadvantage against those who would oppose them. Zakito and Hisoka's reputation of backing her up would only reinforce the public opinion and then her own reputation would be enough to persuade the 'commoners'. While she enjoyed her brief moment of rest, Kiyomi knew she had to talk to a few more clan heads. But while she thought of who more were to follow, she wondered where her guests from the Lightning Country were.
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