WAP 49

The group was finally able to have their first strategy meeting that evening, once the household had been sequestered for the night. 

“Minister Tani does not seem overtly hostile.” Izuna was the first to make an assessment. “But he does not seem to be making a deal, either.” He sniffed and tilted his head back to expose his long, white neck to the room.

Aiko twitched internally, fighting down the impulse to tell him to take a more defensive posture. Izuna knew. He was being intentionally provocative to the Senju. Here I am, do you dare hit me?

“His motivations are unclear,”  Hashirama agreed, apparently uninterested in attacking Izuna at the moment. His thick brows pulled down in an expression that was shockingly reminiscent of both Tsunade and Yamato. “There must be a reason that he has invited us here, but so far he has not been open about any enmity or desire to ally with us.”

Mito hummed. “That is as expected.” Her mouth was covered with her sleeve as she spoke, which was Warring Era modesty for a lady of rank. “He is undecided. If we are more valuable than the Hyuuga, he will choose us and expose them for us to dispose of.”

“And the opposite, if he prefers them.” Madara snorted. A mean little smile played around the edges of his lips. He looked sharp and dangerous even clad in civilian-style finery. “It will be an unpleasant surprise for him. Is there a reason we should wait for him to bumble his way into a decision?” he asked.

Aiko hid a snort.

Chiaki stopped surveying the area for eavesdroppers for a moment to steal an incredulous glance back at Madara.

He was clearly serious.

“I think we ought to wait.” Hashirama looked alarmed. “More noble allies will help us, and besides, we want peace! We have to lead by example and give others a chance to choose us. Otherwise they will all fight.”

“I concur.” Mito said it so definitively, as if her judgment meant that it was so and the topic was closed. Aiko raised an eyebrow–

“Very well.” Madara sighed. He slumped down a little as if he wanted to put his elbows on the table and then refrained. “We will let him choose if he will be one of Izuna’s court allies or an example of what befalls our enemies.”

“I’m voting for the example, personally,” Aiko said blithely. She flashed the table a smile as everyone turned their attention to her. “You may remember the silkworm farm we passed on our way here, yes?”

“...I did not notice it,” Hashirama admitted. “What do you mean?”

“I went there today with a mob of angry villagers and smashed some of their equipment and freed local children who they have been kidnapping for labor,” Aiko admitted unrepentantly. Izuna’s face went through horror, grief, and then wry acceptance so quickly that she could have missed the initial reaction if she didn’t know Uchiha the way she did. “You may or may not know– silkworm farming is traditionally done by women, you need small fingers for delicate work.”

“Women’s work,” Mito agreed, “like diving for pearls and weaving. Do you imply that the Minister condoned this?” Her tone was mild. “Many would say it is his right to call upon his peasants for his needs.”

“Yes, there’s not really any concept of human rights yet,” Aiko agreed, and watched a room of baffled shinobi mouth the words ‘human rights’ with a clear question in their eyes. “But the parents’ rights are being undermined.” It was a stupid argument, but it worked. The others nodded. “In any case, I do not think anyone who kidnaps children from their parents to use as forced worm labor is a particularly appealing ally for us.” She kept her tone mild. “It’s a demerit to add to the fact that his conduct in court was unsatisfactory enough for him to be banished from the capital to such a country estate.”

“We don’t know why he was banished,” Hashirama said in the interest of fairness. “He may be competent. He has a reputation as a scholar.”

“He may simply lack in terms of social maneuvering, which is an acceptable fault for a tool that we might use,” Mito said. Her eyes were cold. “We do not require our allies to think, only to hear and obey.”

‘...She’s kind of a stone cold bitch,’ Aiko thought admiringly. ‘Why didn’t I know that?’

“I agree,” Izuna said. “I don’t require intelligence in my court. But I don’t like that he thinks he can play us.” He looked a lot like Sasuke in that moment, ready to deploy some very nasty technique. 

It was charming how Uchiha didn’t change, Aiko decided.

“We will continue to be excluded from meetings with Lord Tani, I assume,” Mito said. She didn’t seem as annoyed by it as Aiko was. “When you meet with him tomorrow, confirm if he knows about the profits and management of silk farming in his domain, but do not admit knowledge of the raid.” She cut a dismissive glance to Aiko. “Inadvisable as it was.”

Oh, okay, Aiko thought. She hated Mito. She remembered that now. She bared her teeth back at the other woman in a ghastly imitation of a smile. “I serve the Goddess’s will,” Aiko said back sweetly. “I can no more ignore the suffering of her children than I can allow disrespect to her house.”

Hashirama leaned in between them as subtly as he could, which was not very. “Understood, Mito-sama,” he placated. “Assuming that the priestess does not disagree with that tactic?”

Aiko leaned back. “I do not disagree,” she allowed. “I want to know how competent the man is, and if anyone will have told him.”

“Would it be acceptable to ask that everyone stay on the premises tomorrow?” Hashirama asked. He did not look directly at Aiko, but he didn’t have to, because everyone else did. Even Chiaki turned to see if she was going to tell him to jump somewhere unpleasant.

Aiko inclined her head. “Absent unforeseen circumstances, of course,” she agreed. “Is there anything of value I might use my time for?”

Izuna winced.

Hashirama blinked at her, apparently confused that she was irritated to be excluded from negotiations on the basis of her sex. “Perhaps there will be a tea party,” he suggested brightly.

She took a moment to imagine punching his face in, shattering his orbital socket and watching the stupidity bleed out when bone punctured his brain.

“I will stay.” Madara suggested. He was focused on her intently, dark eyes piercing.

That was oddly touching. Aiko made eye contact and then broke it, feeling oddly guilty for fantasizing about murdering his childhood friend. 

Izuna made a negative sound. “Absolutely not, we need you,” he said firmly. He gave Aiko an apologetic glance. “I believe the lady Senhime and her ladies in waiting will invite Mito-sama for a garden walk tomorrow. What do you think about investigating their residences?”

Hashirama grimaced, but didn’t argue.

“That sounds nice,” Aiko said, placated. “Although I doubt they will leave anything incriminating unattended.”

“Hyuuga are arrogant,” Izuna said, which was both accurate and hilariously given who was saying it. “You’ll possibly find a signed manifesto detailing their exact plans. And surely Mito-sama can contrive to suggest that all of the ladies must be present, and ensure that no one activates Byakuugan and sees you.”

Mito nodded. She was still covering most of her face with her stupid sleeve. Aiko strangled a violent impulse and took a deep breath. “Acceptable,” she said. “Chiaki-san, would you care to join me?”

The Uchiha woman blinked. “You should invite Kiroyama-san,” she demurred. “I am less subtle than she.”

“Great!” Hashirama clapped both hands and hauled his tiny wife up to her feet in the most undignified manhandling Aiko could possibly imagine. She was pretty sure she saw a death glare pointed at him. “That’s settled, then! And we will discuss our conclusions tomorrow, very exciting. Have a good night!” He waved his way out of the room, lightly pulled Mito out by her pale hand, and then shut the sliding door on any possible response.

Aiko and the Uchiha sat for a moment in silence. 

“Brother, I hate that guy,” Izuna said mournfully.

Aiko nodded her agreement. 

“Most irritating,” Chiaki agreed in a monotone. She crossed her arms. “Your taste in associates is appalling, Madara-sama.”

He sighed. “Yes, I am aware.” He looked utterly defeated by his own sentimental attachment that that ambulatory pile of garbage.

"This is why you can't be the Daimyo," Izumi said. He rolled his neck. "If that's all, goodnight."