覚悟 - Kakugou - Determination

                                    

                                          


                          
"So how does it feel, playing bad cop?" Keirai jests, his voice ascending to a light lilt that is sure to dig underneath Inoichi's skin, "Inoichi-sama."
                          


                          
"It's tiring, but necessary," Inoichi props his forehead up with his fingers, rubbing some ointment into the surface of his temples, "I didn't expect my daughter to have grown so emotionally invested in her. She's too naive for her own good." He sighs heavily, leafing through the many psych evals he has acquired on you. 
                          


                          
"Shows signs of servility despite deep dissatisfaction with her current treatment," His eyes darts across the page, "Has resentment towards Konoha's High Council but is still unfailingly loyal to Konoha as a whole. Unable to refuse orders from authority figures," Inoichi taps on the offending line of the report, the sound echoing noisily in his study, "I'm not sure about sanctioning the use of Shisui's Mangekyo on her, even a dog will eventually bite when cornered. Is it really infallible?"
                          


                          
"The High Council unanimously agreed to it," Keirai says, "Sandaime approved it as soon as possible, knowing the impending dissension of the Uchiha Clan." Voice straining to deliver his words in an impartial way. "We can only hope."
                          


                          
"She even refused Danzo's offer with a calm 'I'll think about it'." Inoichi's taps on the paper gets increasingly louder with each line he reads, "Snake tongued Danzo! Devil's Whisper Danzo! Shimura Danzo, Konoha's very own bogeyman! Ah. Understands social hierarchy but has no respect for anyone other than the Hokage or her immediate superiors! That might explain why," He lets out another deep sigh as his shoulders slump into the seat, "We've raised a monster, truly."
                          


                          
"Don't let Danzo-san hear you or he'll conscript Ino-sama into ROOT," The corners of Keirai's eyes crinkles while he puffs out his chest, "That's why we were chosen to take her family in."
                          


                          
Inoichi clicks his tongue in irritation, "One of these days I'll get you for insubordination. Don't curse my daughter with inauspicious thoughts!"
                          


                          
Keirai chuckles lowly, then gestures for Inoichi to continue reading.
                          


                          
"Independent, handles money well, good cook, decent at homemaking..." His voice trails off, "Why are these traits listed in the report? It's not some submission for an Omiai!" Inoichi looks at him straight in his eyes.
                          


                          
Keirai subtly averts his gaze to the right, beads of sweat forming on his temples, "Haa. Hatsue-dono requested we put her as a candidate once she's of age, succession rights and all, with the sword. Some of the documents might've been mixed into it by accident."
                          


                          
"Hatsue. That woman hasn't been involved in her own daughter's growth since she was born, why now?" Inoichi narrows his eyes, running a free hand through his fringe, the hand that doesn't have ointment on them, "Iron's customs are so dated and archaic."
                          


                          
"Hatsue-dono has been compliant in whatever Konoha has in plan for her children despite how she personally feels. She followed our orders about raising her daughter to a T without a single complaint." Keirai says, his eyebrows furrowed in sympathy, "I'm sure you'd do the same for Ino." He smiles and waves his hand yet again in a gesture to continue, "There's still more."