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Great Lakes & Expectations chp 39
🕑 Added 2020-02-12 15:40:44 +0000 UTCThey were summoned to dinner at six, Kakashi tailing Regina in her kimono.
‘He switches modes so easily.’ She was a bit envious. He’d just stood up, put the book away, and suddenly behaved like a cold-faced professional- complete with different posture and attitude. It was almost bizarre. ‘I had to take two hours to get myself ready, and I’m still not sure I’m going to look as princessy as I should. I’m glad I had those etiquette lessons, but I’m terrified that I’m going to suddenly forget them.’
She shouldn’t have worried, though. The bows to exact degrees and the way to seat herself was evidently ingrained into her muscles- she breezed through the protocol on autopilot, which was good because her brain was screaming. She took her seat, still feeling a bit nervous, but at least cautiously optimistic.
The room had about twenty or so other people in it- not including Kakashi, who had not been allotted a place at the dining table.
She looked around the room discreetly. The other shinobi in the room were at the corners and windows.
‘They’re guarding? When are they going to feed Kakashi, and can we trade places?’ She looked down at her plate without moving her face. It was definitely sashimi, sashimi, some sushi, chirimen, and shishamo. ‘I don’t think I can eat this. It’s a ‘greatest hits’ of my food nemeses. And he’s kind of a bummer, but I don’t think he should be going hungry. Rude.’
Kakashi was right behind her, though. She wished she had shinobi reflexes. Or that someone had bothered to teach her how to henge.
The Daimyo came in last, basically after her, which probably meant she was considered higher on the totem pole than most of the other people in the room. Or they were just being polite because she was a guest.
‘I regret that I never asked anyone where exactly I would rank in the nobility, prestige-wise.’ She internally grimaced. ‘That knowledge would have been useful. I have a really good idea, but outside confirmation would be helpful.’
Luckily, since most people were introducing themselves to her, it was easier. How low they bowed indicated their relative rank as compared to her, and she could respond accordingly. It would have been a colossal failure if she’d met them in Konoha first.
They began to eat, and Regina was very conscious of the fact that several people were definitely watching her. It was intense and uncomfortable.
“Ohashijouzu.” The Daimyo’s cousin, Sugihara Ryosuke, said.
She smiled. “Oh, not at all. Thank you for being so kind.”
‘Back to this inane bullshit again, I see. They’re just chopsticks. Well… not much to do about it.’
“Your Japanese is so good.” One of the courtiers said. She clocked his face as Yamada...Yuuki.
‘Oh no.’
“Thank you very much, but I am not good at Japanese.” She tried to remain calm, even though this was definitely a pet peeve. She could feel her blood pressure rising a bit.
“How long have you studied Japanese?” The Daimyo asked, getting in on it.
“Not very long.” She bowed with a smile. “Only for a few years before arriving in the Elemental Nations.”
“Very good. You must have studied hard. It is very difficult, isn’t it?” Sugihara asked.
She kept smiling. ‘I think I’d prefer the fish at this point. I don’t enjoy talking about myself in general, definitely not about the same boring shit over and over again. I hate this.’
“It is difficult.” She agreed mindlessly, trying to think about things that didn’t make her frustrated and annoyed.
‘Puppies. Statistical analysis. Books. Petrichor. Taking naps. Color-coded tabs.’
It was working, until the Daimyo’s wife, Lady Shijimi, butted in: “What is it like in your home country? Is it very different to the Land of Fire?”
‘That’s at least a less annoying question than when they assume that all of Japan is actually homogenous. Using the Land of Fire is more relevant and honest.’
“It’s different.” She smiled at the woman she knew to be her benefactor. Without her insistence on sending a tutor, Regina would be dead in the water here. “However, you would be surprised about how many things are the same.”
‘The nosy grandmas. The farming communities. The tedium of social engagements. The elevation of sports over academia. The relative tastelessness of local cuisine. Truly, the Land of Fire is the Midwest of Asia.’
“Do you have schools?” Sugihara asked.
Regina wanted to glare at him, but evidently Lady Shijimi beat her to it. “Don’t be ridiculous. Rejina-hime has an extensive education, beyond what is available in our country.” Shijimi enunciated, before giving Regina a winning smile. “I was told that you are a fluent speaker of English.”
“That is true.” Regina nodded. “And French.”
“Delightful!” Lady Shijimi looked over the table, as if cowing them into submission. “See? Wonderfully educated, and a true benefit to the Land of Fire.”
‘Oh thank god, we can stop talking about this, maybe.’ Regina was about to swear undying loyalty to this bossy woman with lavender eyeshadow and fuschia lipstick- a fearless and thoroughly un-Japanese color combo.
“But you are not from the British Empire.” The Daimyo said, looking back to Regina. “Is that true?”
“Yes.” Regina could see where this was going. “I am from one of their former colonies, rather recently liberated.”
‘In this time, anyway. I think. Nobody’s had the decency to give me a calendar.’
“Interesting.” Lady Shijimi looked like she was doing some calculations. “The Americas, then?”
Regina nearly went into shock.
‘She’s savvy.’
“Yes, that would be correct.” Regina confirmed. “Though I studied in Paris.”
‘And for a short time, in Osaka, which… does not exist, I guess.’
Lady Shijimi’s eyes sharply ran up and down Regina’s form. “Very interesting.”
“What did you study in Parisu?”
Regina turned back to the Daimyo. “At first, ballet- but then government policy, french, philosophy at the Sorbonne for two years.”
‘Made my transfer a pain in the ass, though. Mom hated every part of that.’
From the looks on some faces, she thought that the party didn’t process most of that. But she didn’t really care to explain herself anymore. She smiled.
“Interesting indeed.” Lady Shijimi smiled pleasantly, then turned back to the table. “Lady Murasaki, how is the northern part of the land?”
‘Ma’am are you saving me again? I love you.’
Lady Murasaki grimaced but somehow managed to look pretty doing it. “Regrettably, the cold is going around early this year. Several of my people have said that the sickness is spreading, but it doesn’t seem to be any worse than usual.”
“I’m glad that you were able to come.” Lady Shijimi replied.
The conversation shifted to unseasonable weather and tentative plans for sakura-viewing parties, and Regina focused on suffering through her fancy and expensive food.
She ate all of her sashimi without grimacing, and then moved on to the chirimen.
‘Game plan is to drink the miso in between the chirimen and the shishamo, because I don’t mind it. Gotta wash the taste down. Tsukemono last, so I’m not tasting this all night. Hope, but don’t expect, dessert.’
Regina went about her plan with precision and manners, keeping just enough track of the conversation to make sure that she wasn’t missing anything.
Diplomatic kerfuffles between nobility, the regular gossip, and then speculation about the situation in Mist.
Something caught her attention, and she looked up.
“-rumors that the Mizukage is starting to register his ninja with kekkei genkai.”
Chills went up and down her spine.
Regina put down her fish.
“What for?” Lady Murasaki asked. “Aren’t all shinobi registered in their villages? One can’t let them wander around loose.”
‘Seems like a weirdly patronizing and dangerous thing to say, with them guarding you all around this room and all.’ Regina realized her jaw was suddenly tight, and let it go. Starting to grind her teeth wasn’t going to help anything.
“No one knows- but they lost all of their swordsmen in the past year or so. I heard two of them went rogue.” Someone said. “Imagine it. Those animals are just wild, roaming around. I heard that Momochi Zabuza’s been seen even in Fire Country.”
‘Well, that was with me. That hardly counts.’ Regina took a sip of her tea. Ick, it was bitter and way oversteeped. God, when would someone give her anything she considered good?
‘Life is thickly sown with thorns. I know no other remedy than to pass rapidly over them.’
Boring and fishy food was probably not what Voltaire had meant, but Regina was willing to pretend it was.
‘Also, am I completely out of it, or did they call shinobi animals? I’m not sure it’s better, even if they meant only Mist shinobi. Momo is my buddy, what the shit do they know?’
“Well, it’s probably better to keep track of them anyway. Making them register makes sense.”
‘Except it also doesn’t.’ Regina suddenly felt ill. ‘Usually, differentiating and registering people with genetic differences or social groups is a precursor to genocide.’
Studying political history was always a bummer- and that one came up over and over again. Also, colonization. It was hard to dismiss as a possibility.
Especially when a very unstable, resource and money-poor Water Country was probably looking for scapegoats.
There was a pit in her stomach, and it probably wasn’t the fish.
She managed to keep it together throughout dinner, bowed politely, and hoped to hell no one noticed she hadn’t finished her food.
‘I can’t stop thinking about this, but I can’t afford to stop interacting like a person right now.’
Surveying the table, other ladies hadn’t finished their portions, either. So at least it wasn’t too rude.
‘Have to wait, at least until I’m in private. I want paper and a pen. And Sarutobi-sensei or Danzou-shishou to ask questions.’
Regina felt like she was in a trance walking back to the guest house, letting Kakashi take the lead. She got into the house and just sat down.
‘I don’t… shit.’ Her brain was too full of things. ‘I need a plan. I need more information. That is bad bad bad.’
‘It’s not your country.’ She reminded herself. ‘It’s not technically your responsibility, and you have no authority over the Hidden Mist village.’
Kakashi said something, but she couldn’t currently process it. Her brain discarded it instantly without even processing it.
‘What can I control? Konoha’s response, probably. Mist is an outlier- no allies, very isolationist. First, we can’t let those kinds of dehumanizing language get into public discourse and gain traction.’
‘Too late, judging by that conversation in there.’
‘Have to stop it, then.’
Something moved in front of her face, and Regina pushed it out of the way.
‘Social pressure works in Japan. Would have to come from the top. I don’t have a ton of rapport with the Daimyo- but that meeting went well today, and Lady Shijimi is obviously somewhat invested in me. It might work. Maybe. But if we fix that issue, we still need to figure out refugee and asylee policy- is there any?’
“Rejina.” the voice was stern. Regina looked up- and Kakashi was way up in her personal space. She blinked.
‘Oh no. Was hyperfocusing again. Checked out too early- I should have waited until he was reading or something.’
“Are you ok.” He seemed to be checking her pupils. “I didn’t see any poison in your food- is it an allergic reaction? Is that why you don’t eat fish?”
“No, no, no.” She waved her hands. “I’m sorry, Kakashi-san. There was nothing wrong with the food. It’s just me. I was thinking.”
“You look pale.” He observed. “Clammy hands, too.”
“They’re always like that.” She dismissed his assessment. “Always cold. I’m sorry for worrying you. I was just worried about something.”
“That thing in Mist, then?” He prodded.
“You’re relentless.” She said, but then she remembered something. “You should eat. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize that they wouldn’t feed you as well. You might have enjoyed it more than me, anyway.”
He grunted, and then stood. “I’ll get something- I think Asuma-san can watch you while I’m gone.”
‘Oh no. The dude who yelled at me?’ She tried not to look sad, because that was needlessly whiny. Kakashi hadn’t eaten, and complaining about a competent replacement for a small amount of time was unreasonable. “I assume I’m supposed to pay for that, right?” She rifled through her sleeves for her coin pouch and offered it up. “Sorry again.”
He looked down at her.
“I mean, it’s polite, yeah.” He took the pouch. “I don’t need all of this, though.”
“Please don’t make me do math right now.” She said seriously, “I’m going to be using all my brainpower on something else.”
He blinked. “You’re odd, Rejina-san. I’ll be back soon.” With that, he ambled out the door- she heard a noise, and some light talking.
A few seconds later, Sarutobi Asuma walked into the room.
“Good evening, Sarutobi-san.” She bowed as much as was appropriate. “My apologies, and thank you for taking care of me.”
“Good evening, Rejina-hime.” He bowed back, and sat down on a zabuton. He didn’t seem too pressed about it.
She walked on her knees over to her bag, where she’d stored her notebook and banana pen case from Jiraiya. Then Regina set them out on the table, and got to work.
At some point, Kakashi had returned, which she only really noted when she realized she was uncomfortable in her kimono and wanted to shrug out of it, before realizing that she was definitely not alone.
He was reading, though, and her bag of money was on the table about two feet away from her.
‘He could have been being stealthy, but he didn’t have to be. I doubt I’d have noticed almost anything when I was focusing that hard.’ She lifted up her kimono enough to clear the step into the living quarters so she could change.
“I brought back some yakitori for you, but it might be cold now.” He said from behind her. “Thought maybe you might need something. You didn’t eat that much at dinner.”
“Thank you.” She responded, before shutting the door and peeling off all her extra layers. Once she was scrubbed clean and in her pajamas, she came back out and found the bag with yakitori in it.
It was definitely cold, but she didn’t care. At least it tasted good.
“Kakashi-san, how would I best send a letter to Hokage-sama from here? I hadn’t anticipated sending anything so early.” She folded back down onto the floor in front of her work table and folded up her carefully drafted letter.
“I can get it sent from here-” he looked over. She inserted it into the thick privacy envelope and glued it shut. “How important is it?” Kakashi-san asked.
“Important, but not so time sensitive anyone needs to run it there tonight.” She handed it over carefully. “If he gets it tomorrow, that’s fine.”
“Understood, Rejina-san. I’ll get it sent- Sandaime-sama will receive it tomorrow.” He tucked his book away and disappeared, returning a few minutes later. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No, thank you so much. I’ll just work for a bit longer, before I need to go to bed.”
She went back to drafting a plan in English that might translate, and Kakashi settled closer by the table with his book.
Regina worked until her eyes ached- when she looked at the clock she saw that it was eleven.
‘Guess I’m done for tonight. I really have to go to bed.’
She shut the book and put her materials away in her bag, before packing it in for the night. Kakashi-san followed her back into the bedrooms, where futons had been laid out for them.
“Good night, Kakashi-san.” She yawned. “See you in the morning.”
“Good night.” the fusuma closed behind him, and she crawled under the thick covers.
She fell asleep almost immediately, and dreamed of nothing.
In the morning, she was awoken by the streams of early morning light and the sounds of someone rustling around.
She sat up and tried to remember just where the hell she was, because this was a) too early and b) definitely not her luxurious bedroom.
‘Oh yeah. I won’t see that bed for a month.’ She felt a little sad about that. ‘And I bet the breakfast options are real sad.’
She got out of the futon with regret, and went to brush her teeth before changing into real people clothes.
Kakashi was silently gathering his things, evidently having already used the bathroom.
She walked in past him, and shut the door.
Regina examined herself in the mirror- that little bit of stress spiraling and work she’d done had taken a bit of a toll on her complexion. She had a little bit of dark circles going on, and her skin looked a little dull.
‘Hope Kakashi doesn’t mind being stuck with me while I do skin care today.’ She grimaced, before brushing her teeth and brushing out her hair, making sure to use her day hair oil through the tips and up almost to her head. She braided all of her hair and pinned it up on the top of her head, so that it wouldn’t be in the way and getting sticky.
‘I should have worn my silk cap last night. I was too tired.’
So many regrets.
She changed into her travel clothes and washed her face, then pulled out a toner from her toiletry and skincare bag.
After she’d gone through her serums, she poked her head out of the bathroom to find a clock.
Kakashi-san was waiting by the door, looking bored.
“What time is it?” She asked, fearing the answer.
He blinked. “Seven.”
“Shit.” She cursed, and put the face masks into her bag. She could bring them with her in the carriage and do the rest later. They had less than an hour before they needed to leave, and she needed to eat. Regina checked the rest of the house, but she hadn’t even been here long enough to make a mess.
“Okay, let’s go then. Sorry, Kakashi-san.” She apologized, but she was at least ready to go now.
“Saaa, you shouldn’t stay up so late. You might run late for important things.” he eye-smiled at her.
“You would know, I suppose.” She said amiably, giving him a smile. “Do we have time for breakfast?”
They managed to get breakfast sets at a little cafe, and Kakashi-san put away three sets before she was even done with her first.
“Friend, you’re expensive to feed.” She observed. “Gai-san was right. Shinobi eat so much.”
“I’m a delicate flower and I eat only a reasonable amount.” He insisted lyingly. “Maybe you just eat too little.”
“Mhhmmm.” She took another sip of her coffee.
Regina checked the time on the clock behind him. ‘7:50. We should get going.’ She drained the rest of her drink and stood up to pay.
She checked out with the cashier, and when she turned around Kakashi was back by the door.
“Let’s go.” he eye-smiled. “You’re slow.”
She didn’t respond to that, but did elbow him when she got into the carriage.
“Sorry, I’m clumsy.” She offered as an explanation.
He obviously didn’t buy it.
Regina shrugged, and started the rest of her skin routine.
A few hours later, he was obviously annoyed. “Is all your skin stuff so smelly? You smell like Pakkun.”
“I don’t understand your statement, and I refuse to respond to it.” She said, but did shut the jar of skin cream. She didn’t use products with much scent, but maybe he was sensitive. “But I am finally done now.”
“I’m glad.” He opened the little porthole window, and went back to his book.
She went back to reading as well. By the time she got to Iron she’d actually have to have the thing finished.
And she had ten more books to read.
They arrived at the ryokan in the early evening, and separated only enough to take baths.
‘I’m starting to realize that this really should have been a team.’ She sank into the onsen waters and willed her body to relax. ‘This is too long for him not to be able to rest. Poor Boar-san was exhausted after four days out, and we were in Fire Country the whole time.’
He was back to reading his one copy of Icha Icha when she came back from the bath and got back to reading her own book.
They read in silence for hours, until the clock let her know that it was nine pm, and she went to bed.
They continued like that the next day- only she kept her skincare routine to the ryokan, where he hopefully wasn’t as trapped and bothered by the smell.
They arrived at the Wind Daimyo’s palace late the next evening, and quietly let themselves be herded to another diplomatic residence by exceptionally grumpy-looking Jounin. Regina marvelled at it.
‘I thought they were grouchy in Konoha. Turns out there’s a whole new level- and I don’t have to tell them to do anything. What a treat.’
Kakashi didn’t seem to be as enraptured by the surroundings. He had put his book away and was starting resolutely at the ground.
They set up for the night in the residence- but it was fairly clear that there was surveillance on the house. Wind was evidently not super thrilled about her being here, despite explicitly demanding it.
Kakashi ignored them entirely and pulled out his book- he was now reading it for the fourth time that she’d noted.
‘That explains his bad attitude, though.’ She commiserated. She was also not happy with the state of things. ‘He didn’t bring enough to do. Must have thought that we’d be running and he’d have something else to occupy his mind.’
Regina dug through her bags. Her books… he was not interested in, he’d made that very clear.
But there was her emergency parenting bag- which should have been left at home, but evidently wasn’t.
She walked over to him and held it out.
He looked up and blinked at her. He took the bag.
He squinted into it.
“....Coloring books?” He asked scathingly. “You’re giving a grown man coloring books.”
She shrugged. “You’re bored. We can’t buy Icha Icha here, either. I thought you might like to take a break.”
“But if you don’t want it, you can keep re-reading Makeout Paradise until you become a joyless husk.” She held out her hand to take it back.
He drew the bag closer to his chest.
“I might try it.” He said archly. “But only because there’s nothing else to do and you can’t run properly.”
“Not a shinobi.” She cut him off. “I gain nothing by pretending to be one. Except probably a very quick murder.”
“Fair.” He grouched, opening the bag and getting out the books and supplies. “Markers and colored pencils? Don’t you have ink?”
“No. Naruto gets it everywhere. I don’t keep paint or ink around anymore, and definitely not in my purse.” She flopped down onto her futon and opened her book. Surprisingly, she was almost through that book on Iron.
“Good call.” She heard the faint sound of a colored pencil scratching across paper. Regina was too stressed to grin, but it did make her a little happy.
The next morning, he seemed to be in a markedly better mood. He even helped tie her obi without grouching, which was good because she kept messing it up.
“It’s like you have no finger dexterity.” He teased, perfecting the box bow. “Do people where you come from not use their fingers?”
“Only like this.” She flipped him off, thrilled that he had no idea what the hell it meant. Otherwise, it would have been rude.
He squinted at it. “What kind of handsign is that? So sad.”
They went into the meeting in good moods, and he stood behind her as she walked into the room.
A surprisingly large amount of people were at the seats on the opposite side of the table. At least ten.
One of them was definitely the Kazekage.
Regina tried to remember the names of the other people in the room. Danzou-shishou hadn’t briefed her as much on people in the Land of Wind yet- but she did faintly recognize one or two faces.
This was probably their famed Council of Elders, with the Kazekage and the Wind Daimyo. The advisors she’d been primed to recognize weren’t there.
‘Oh no. I’m winging this more than I’d like.’
Her eye threatened to twitch, but she held it back. The shinobi in the room might have caught it anyway.
“Jiraiya Regina-hime of Konohagakure, daughter of Jiraiya of the Sannin.” The Wind Daimyo announced, bowing to her. She bowed back, very precisely.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, honorable Daimyo of the Land of Wind. I look forward to our talks together.”
His mouth quirked into what she surmised was a small smile.
“And Hatake Kakashi of the Sharingan, also of Konohagakure.” He said, but the tone was a little off. Something about it raised the hairs on her neck.
‘Oh no, what’s wrong with Kakashi now? I mean, I know he’s bullied lots of office Chuunin, but no one here, I think.’
Kakashi bowed very low, and stepped directly behind her as if he was using her as a visual obstruction. It was probably just her perception.
The Kazekage stepped forward. He looked older than his years would have suggested- he was only 35, and very stern. “Jiraiya-hime.” He bowed. He looked at Kakashi over her shoulder. “Hatake-san.”
“Kazekage, it is an honor to be able to speak with you.” Rejina bowed back, aware that she was now in a potential powder keg of a situation. No one had briefed her on why bringing Kakashi here might be an issue. Was that only because his assignment was so last minute?
Wait, the Fire Daimyo had alluded to his father and hers. Here, they left his off…
Regina didn’t know where that train of thought could lead. But she’d need to ask about it later, and proceed very carefully. Thankfully, Kakashi didn’t need to speak in this meeting at all.
The rest of the introductions went by fairly slowly, but uneventfully. Two of the older people had given Kakashi with unfriendly eyes, but things seemed to get back on track by the time they all sat down.
She had been right to assume this was the Suna Council of Elders, at least, though there was some tension between the Wind party- probably that the Daimyo had been increasingly employing Konoha shinobi instead of those from Sunagakure.
‘Not for long, I bet.’ She thought offhandedly, as she prepared files for all the attendees. It was good that she’d made extra copies. ‘I really made the price for Konoha missions go up to help with the overwork problem.’
“As previously stated in our communications, I have come to present proposals for trade not only between the Lands of Wind and Fire, but also with several other countries, including overseas.” She introduced, as she laid out fourteen sets on the table. A guard came from the Daimyo’s side and distributed them.
“The first page is an analysis of goods for export, as well as import needs and potential desires.” The Kazekage was staring at her. “I hope that this proposal is a working start for further good relations between our countries.”
The Daimyo was reading rather seriously, and a few elders began to flip through the papers.
She waited.
“Why can we not trade with Konoha directly?” One of the elders- Ebizou, to her memory- asked.
Regina bowed slightly. “Of course, we welcome trade with the Land of Wind. But the Land of Fire does not always need goods or services that the Land of Wind provides- a multilateral trade agreement ensures that our respective lands receive the income necessary to sustain themselves based on their production, and not the demand of only one country.”
“So your proposal contains the assumption that the Land of Wind is rich in specific minerals.” The Wind Daimyo mused. “Is it?”
“According to multiple analyses, yes.” Regina tried to not sound exasperated. He had had access to the same documents she’d used, if not more. It was his country, after all. She was working off of limited information.
“And you would not be asking for venom or poison samples, unlike our last unsuccessful talks.” The Daimyo stated, very clearly.
She nodded. “I am aware that those are considered particularly dear to your shinobi population for security. While I understand the query from Konohagakure personnel at that time and the importance of research for antidotes and other medical breakthroughs, I also understand that this is a fraught topic. I do not wish to ask for more than what you can reasonably extend.”
The Kazekage picked up the proposal for the first time, and started reading it.
“And what will we be given in exchange?” Another elder- and Regina couldn’t remember the name- asked.
“In exchange for finished goods, the Land of Wind would receive not only the current food and cloth imports from the Land of Fire, but also access to other goods it desires.” Regina explained.
“What about these goods from overseas?” Another elder asked. “What can we receive from them?”
‘It’s on the list. I wrote you a list. Please, read the list.’
“As I wrote on the fourth page of your file, there are a number of goods I believe we can secure. However, until that meeting is completed in three weeks, I will not know for certain which technologies and goods we can trade with the British Empire.”
“What about weapons imports?” Yet another demanded. Regina was trying to connect the face to a name. J-something.
She blinked. ‘Why do I bother writing all of this out. If you don’t read it.’
Regrettably, they seemed to take her irritation as stupidity. “You don’t know.” One of the younger elders said, sounding annoyed. “They never do. Children.”
‘I’m 25 years old, you goblin. I can’t be that much younger than you.’
“Weapons imports and exports are addressed on the same page- page four.” She said with a smile, trying not to be curt.
“You don’t know?” The Jou one asked again.
‘What the absolute hell? I wrote that thing. By myself. I made copies. By myself. Who else do you see here? Kakashi is naught but my beautiful, weirdly gangly assistant and bodyguard.’
“I do know,” She searched her mind for this particular nonagenarian’s name, “Jouseki-sama. I was merely pointing out the written version, for your convenience. Weapons tend to be a sensitive area for shinobi and will not be traded as such- but steel will be traded, once the iron ore from places such as the Land of Wind has been extracted and smelted.”
She smiled, but in her mind she was telling this man to jump off a cliff and somehow into the mouth of a volcano.
“So, if we deprive ourselves of minerals, we can have them back at a cost?” The Wind Daimyo said dismissively. “This is the Land of Fire’s plan?”
“Ah, no.” She smiled again, but it was already feeling strained. “It would first not be a deprivation, as you would receive ryo for any iron ore that you choose to export to another country. There is no minimum amount of export that requires you to do so. You merely receive money for any excess iron ore you wish to sell to another country- and a country that has the capacity to create steel from that ore would make it available for you to buy.”
“And other countries? Can they also buy our steel?”
Regina felt her eye twitch involuntarily that time.
‘Jouseki-san, I’ll see you in hell.’
“If it has been made by another country, it would be their steel, unless you bought it. However, were the Land of Wind to create their own steel, you could sell that to other countries, yes.” Her smile was feeling more and more forced.
“Interesting.” The Wind Daimyo said, evidently thinking. “I would like to take today to review this, and meet with you again tomorrow.”
“Of course, Daimyo-sama.” Regina bowed in her seat. “I understand, and look forward to your insights.”
She did not, but it didn’t matter. Regina couldn’t very well tell him to get on or get lost.
“Thank you, Jiraiya-hime.” The Daimyo stood, and she followed suit. He bowed, she bowed. “I will summon you tomorrow to discuss this again.”
He left the room, but the Kazekage and the Council did not.
Regina seated herself again.
“Do you have any further questions I can answer for you at this time?” She asked, both trying to be polite and hoping to head off any questions that predicated her nonexistent ability to see the future.
The Kazekage looked up, slowly. “Your proposal does not include shinobi services.”
“It does not.” She agreed.
He seemed unimpressed. “Why.”
‘That’s both a difficult and horrendously easy question.’
She blinked slowly before answering. “It was my reasoning that shinobi services are provided by many countries, and most countries prefer to hire their own shinobi due to issues of trust and convenience.”
‘Except for yours, I guess.’
“Proposing to trade in shinobi services seemed a particularly fraught area, and could only be limited to the Elemental Nations regardless. Therefore, if it was needed, it would be considered as a separate agreement, preferably after this agreement is resolved.”
“And then will your country stop stealing the missions of my shinobi?” His tone was professional, but his body language was taut and… maybe angry.
‘Oh, no. That man is not happy.’ Regina registered it, but frankly her fear meter was pretty high at this point. He hadn’t picked up any weapons yet, so she was in the clear so far.
“It was never Konoha’s intention to deprive the shinobi of Sunagakure their livelihoods.” She replied, keeping an eye on the line of his jaw and his artery. If it clenched and his heart started beating fast, she was going to drop down to the floor and hope for the best.
“Not your intention, then.” He said bitterly.
One of the elders sniffed. “Perhaps mere incompetence.” they suggested.
‘Hey, jerk, I don’t gotta be here. You can all eat me.’
“No.” Regina looked at the offending elder. They looked back. “It is the way of the economy. We have competing services, and Konoha’s were, until recently, underpriced. That has been rectified. Perhaps you will start to see the market shift in the coming weeks.”
“So you’ve raised mission pricing, then.” The Kazekage sighed. “To what?”
“S-rank missions now cost a minimum of 3,000,000 ryo, A-rank missions cost a minimum of 1,000,000 ryo, and B rank missions now cost a minimum of 500,000 ryo.” Regina listed them off.
“C rank and D rank missions?”
“Unchanged at this time.” Regina pursed her lips. “Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
“Yes. How do you think this will look to my people?” The Kazekage lifted his papers up to demonstrate. “That we have no industry, that our cultural heritage is worth nothing.”
“Is that what you see?” Regina asked, curious. “I see a land that is very proud, very rich in natural resources, and capable of incredible economic growth that does not require the elimination or over monetization of important cultural artifacts. Many countries are not so lucky.”
She shrugged. “And the industry- I assume you mean perhaps steel production, or glass- can be attained. It only requires the investment in equipment and training.”
“I see.” The Kazekage’s lips were a line. “Thank you for the explanation- though I believe we see the world a bit differently. Do you believe that this would strengthen the Land of Wind?”
‘I feel like you both know that you have no influence over whether the Daimyo does this, and that you are much harder to convince than he is.’
“Yes.” She answered. “While economic prosperity is not the answer to all problems, it would help to stabilize some of the issues that any land has- Wind among them. Crops falter, sometimes missions requests are low. But people have to be provided for, regardless of misfortune or outright disaster. Diversifying your economic output would decrease the likelihood that people are without adequate food, shelter, or healthcare.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“So why not trade these resources to this, this Empire, directly? You state that ‘finished goods’ are preferable. But they require energy, time, and training.”
“That’s true.” She agreed. “But the value added by taking a raw resource and making a finished good is exponentially more than the value it costs to undertake that process. If you look on the last page, I did draw out the diagram with examples.”
He flipped the booklet over and read the back. She heard more flipping of paper, but Regina didn’t look up.
She waited.
“....I think I see.” He folded his hands on the table. “So, I would like to confirm a few things before this meeting concludes.”
“Of course, Kazekage-sama.” She bowed.
“Jiraiya-hime, you say that using our natural resources, we should trade with mostly countries within the Elemental Nations, until we have finished goods. Then, those finished goods can be exported to other Elemental Nations, or overseas, for significantly greater profit. In return, we can *potentially* receive further technology and previously unknown assets and goods from overseas.” He paused.
“That is correct.” Regina said. At least he understood it. The Fire Daimyo seemed to roll over immediately once he got lost.
“And also that Konohagakure, our ally, has raised its mission pricing, which will likely bring more missions back to Sunagakure.”
“Also correct.” She confirmed.
He took a deep breath. “That is acceptable. I agree to your terms as stated.”
‘Well, that didn’t even involve things being thrown at me. Maybe today is… good?’
“Of course, you will still have to receive the approval of the Daimyo.” He said, very seriously. “Although I am sure that he is interested in the profit potential of this venture.”
“Thank you, Kazekage-sama.” She bowed. “I am grateful that this plan has received your illustrious approval.”
‘Even though it doesn’t mean this is going to happen, it’s definitely for the best if we’re getting along. I don’t want to live in a shinobi war.’
He stood, prompting the council to rise with him. She did the same.
They bowed, she bowed back. Then one by one, they left.
When they were all alone in the room, she turned back to Kakashi, who was still pretending to be as unobtrusive as possible.
“Wow, they really didn’t like you, did they?” She asked. “Can we go back to being spied on in peace?”
Comments
Omirao
Regina is changing the world one very organized presentation at a time
ElectricMaehem
I'd have to say Root agents. He's very good at delegating.
Tonnocal
Weird question but who writes Regina’s briefing books? Is this how Danzo is filling his time or are there Root agents trained in data analysis and report writing?
