Bembicini Bemusement

Diana looked at the report again as she walked through an area of the Housing Zone she was less familiar with. The report was extremely simple, about a week or two ago the Chunnin known as Tadara Kamizuru had returned from his travels after his nearly two year (one year? she really needed to check these more closely.) sabbatical. It was such a simple report, yet for Diana it felt...off. She had met the lead surgeon of the hospital once, though it took using Volens a few times to recall the right memory to properly recall their meeting and compare the signature to what the sensory center had in addition to looking up his shinobi profile. By most accounts he was a little strange, but overall a very, very skilled doctor. In fact, the only reason she had been given the report was due to him having been absent from the village during the Gap Year and as such may have had information regarding how other fared with the plague.

She had debated visiting him at the hospital, but knowing her own studies into the field of surgery she had decided to wait until he wasn't holding a person's life in his hands for all of their sakes. Problem was that even with her two forms of sensory she was not having an easy time locating him, though she at least had his home address, or at least whatever he had put it down as when becoming a shinobi.

Coming up to the house Tadara supposedly lived in, she'd give the place a knock on the door and patiently waited for him to answer.

---

Chakra Battery - 185/185 CP
Negative Sensory - Nue; N/A
Sensing Technique; -0,5 CP
184.5/185 CP

There would be a moment of silence before movement within. If she was watching however there would be a bee. Nestled into a corner of the roof above the door. It sat there motionless in the cold yet there was the slightest chakra signature from it. It sat there frozen to where it stood. Yet still alive and watching her. It never moved but Tadara was already aware through it who was at his door. His dull eyes shifted to look at the door before the knock. If she were here for what he had done it would not have been so pleasant. However if she were not than he had negotiable standing. The signs leading into the village had indicated if he came forward a less severe punishment would be considered. However he did not seek to receive any real punishment. He would need to discover her purpose here. Still from what he could see she was tired. A great deal of stress came with running a village...with all the new pieces she brought into play he was certain her mental exhaustion had likely peaked. She was too smart to manipulate like the others....Smart enough that he could consider negotiating to begin with instead of simply leaving out the back.

Still the movement she heard had been the clear decision to address the situation rather than avoid it. Besides if he ran and she knew it...anything she hadn't suspected would have at least a thirty percent increase in chances she would. As it was it was already at forty percent. It had been twenty percent before she showed up at his door. Seventy percent of a chance at being discovered was not good odds. So he had moved to the door and opened it. Still in slacks with a button up white shirt tucked in and black dress socks. However his shoes were in a shoe stand for one pair by the door. However his apartment was not one one would expect from a doctor. From what she would immediately be able to see the hallway leading in was barren. No stains on the carpet or pictures on the wall. Not a single thing other than his shoes in the shoe stand indicated in that entry way anyone lived in this single story apartment. Still his dull empty eyes stared at her with no expression. Speaking in a monotone voice.

"The Tsuchikage at my door....what a surprise. Please come in and share your purpose for being here."

He did not sound surprised. Nor did his face show it. Instead he was the picture of calm and collected. Those empty eyes seeming to study her as they looked through her though. As if they could see everything and already knew so much. Her ability to read minds however was known to him (as it had been used in sight of others and his S rank in and her renown indicated he could. ) well enough that he believed it to be touch based. So he would bow his head before closing the door behind her if she entered. Respectful but no such thing like a hand shake. Others believed him to be a germaphobe since no one had ever actually seen him shake a hand to begin with. He usually ignored proper respectful methods. Still he would lead her into the apartment. Once more it was empty except for a few minor things. In one corner of studio apartment was a single bed roll, one blanket and one pillow. Currently neatly folded in a corner.

In another corner was a single bookshelf with hand written notes categorized by date and alphabetical. Colored tag marks stuck out from each notebook at the same level without any writing on them. Each color a different meaning only he knew. The kitchen was empty save for one sack of rice. One rice cooker and a pair of chopsticks. A single glass set next to the sink for tap water. The closet had no door and simply had identical slacks, white shirts and lab coats with the iwa headband stitched into the pocket. Seven of them hanging from hangers so he could change into the same outfit every day one pair for each day. No art on the walls. No marks on the carpet. A single lamp in the corner by the bookshelf along with the overhead light from the kitchen shedding light in the apartment. Empty eyes would look to Diana again as he would fold his hands in front of himself and stop in the spotless kitchen. No fridge or dishwasher. A minimalist. The light above did little to humanize him as he waited for an answer.

While it was miniscule, she had picked up the chakra from the bee, but given how small it was it was regarded about as high as an idle thought given she had properly picked up Tadara properly now with her chakra sensory, though her other sensory was...well it was hard to pick up any negative emotions from the Kamizuru. Everyone had emotions, even those with alexithymia; the problem she had found was the same issue she had faced when going through the memories of others, that of perception and intensity. Tadara...she couldn't read his emotions yet through parahuman means, but she had metahuman an euhuman means that she could rely on.

"Thank you Tadara."

Walking inside, she would immediately take note not of the lack of items within his house, but of the lack of any indication he had any additional items inside the house to begin with. There were no scuff marks, no divot dents in the grounds showing that furniture used to be there, no indication that he had been getting his items moved into the Kamizuru Clan District. It was almost like looking at a front used by shinobi who were pretending to live here, if not for the rice & rice cooker. Even by her standards it was eerie, and only added to her theory that Tadara didn't balance his logical and emotional needs very well, or even that way for him to stay balanced were much different then the average shinobi; after all he did take the sabbatical. She was curious as to the books, but wouldn't pry for now, she had no reason to suspect anything and saw it as a little form of expression Tadara's abode held.

"I have a few reasons for being here, some of them revolving around your trip. Sabbatical or not, you are one of the few Iwagakure shinobi that was outside of the village during the Gap Year outbreak. As such I would like to parse your memories of your time, preferably through mind reading as that's quick and painless...but a verbal report will suffice as well." She didn't bother to hide which she would prefer with her tone. Despite her voice being monotone, it wasn't truly emotionless anymore and she knew it. Those miniscule hints of which she would prefer him to chose were likely clear as day to someone as Tadara, though whether he would pick up on it was something she wasn't sure of given his lack of understanding her emotions last meeting.

"There is also the matter of your Chunin Rank. While I cannot find the document that states you were promoted and I would like to know when it happened and by who, You are entitled to learn of of the village exclusives if you wish to, something I hope will satisfy that collector's itch you expressed two years ago." She'd pause, letting Tadara have the floor to respond to the first two reasons. She still had a few more, but one (or in this case, two) thing at a time.

---

Chakra Battery - 184.5/185 CP
Negative Sensory - Nue; N/A
Sensing Technique; -0.5 CP
184/185 CP

Tadara did not lean or shift his weight at all. His blinks were timed instead of reflexive. Those empty eyes watched her quietly as she spoke. She seemed interested in his time outside of the village. With reason for the request. His dark eyes would study her as he carefully kept from shifting his hands into his pockets. Fear of such a touch would indicate a need for it. Instead he would move to the kitchen. Quietly pouring her a cup of tap water. His mind considering exit strategies if needed. He would not stay and fight but he would make a hell of an attempt at escape if need be. However for now he would not run or reveal too much. Not without something to be gained behind it. Still he would set the cup down on the edge of the counter for her quietly as she finished speaking. Having continued on about his rank despite no record of the promotion. Ahh there was a reason for doubt there. He supposed this was what children felt like when they were caught in a lie. What did their parents know and what good would a lie over the truth do?

The glass of water of course was what the average person considered polite. Granted he expected her to deny it. Someone of her station likely wouldn't want tap water. Still it was the most commonly offered beverage in any given household. Its purpose was to buy second from him having to deny or offer her a touch. He wasn't certain about the limitations of her mind reading, but he was sure it would not do good things for him. Still Tadara would fold his hands in front of him in plain view. This was a comfortable stance and non threatening...however his hands were already in a good position for hand seals if he needed them now. Instead he would nod as if in acceptance to her reasoning. She wanted to know what her shinobi were up to. Still he would ask in a nonchalant tone.

"I see. You must be cautious at this moment. I saw signs about involvement in some matters in Suna with Chen on the way in from the gate. I assume this is the reason for the personal visit instead of a report request."

It was time to take a new tactic. Chen had served a purpose having granted him chunnin. It would give him access to a technique of his choice which suited his goals. Still those cold eyes would continue to study her. If she took the glass he would simply watch a moment until he had her full intention. If she denied it he would retrieve it once more and take a measured drink from it. Buying more seconds to calculate the most fortunate route for him. Setting it down once more and folding his hands before him again. Perhaps to show he had not poisoned the drink he offered. His expression was blank still and his heart rate monitored. His motions practiced. Still he would continue if she confirmed this.

"Some signs suggested punishment would be less severe for those who came forward on their own. No doubt you want evidence of what happened there. Memories to hold Chen accountable. I would discuss that with you and perhaps offer you all the evidence you need. For amnesty and following orders....as well as a new improvement to what you are doing for Iwagakure. The only question is are you intellectual or emotional? How this goes is determined by those percentages."

"That is part of the reason, yes."

Diana would accept the glass of water and took a sip, her sensitive taste buds informing her that it was nothing more then that. Even though she had recently taken up a wealthier lifestyle in order to placate some of the other nobles, she still preferred the more modest things in life, something that was also reflected in how she only used the village's funds to pay for that instead of a normal paycheck given she had other revenue sources. Still, despite the water that idle nothingness that Tadara presented her just...she didn't like it and kept giving her a nagging feeling, that surface layer feeling like a mirror to her much younger self, someone who barely could emote and tried to think logically over emotionally.

Still, for someone who tried to value logic above all else, his pride and ego fascinated her as she noted the word choice; offer. The fact he would try to set the value of the information he held was...well it both impressed and annoyed her. She had never met someone who tried to put themselves above a kage, and the few missing-nin who could even pull that off were...well she didn't actually know right now, but they certainly weren't here. Had Chen enabled him to think this way, or had the system broken down that much in the background that he thought he could do this sort of thing? She didn't know, and to an extent she didn't want to know, but she knew she would need to root out this issue and make the status quo clear.

Putting the glass to the side, Diana spoke with the calmed voice she used when disciplining a disruptful worker when she lead Iwatomics Incorperated "Tadara, I would like to remind you that as a Chunin of Iwagakure, withholding this sort of information is considered an obstruction of justice; a B-rank Offense, and attempting to lie about what you know qualifies as falsification of information; an S-Rank offense." Her dojutsu would activate, the eyes looking reminiscent of the Ichibi, but she continued on as if she had done nothing. "How this goes isn't determined by my emotions or intellect, it is determined by you doing your job Tadara. Given what you have requested however, while I cannot promise amnesty by any means if you are involved I will give this a fair assessment as someone who did indeed come forward willingly. Enough blood has been spilt already as it is, and I would prefer not to lose any more shinobi."

She felt a little bad having pulled rank, but matters relating to Chen were a serious matter. The fact he had requested amnesty and 'following orders' (something that she really, really did not like the sound of), she would listen.

Tadara noted the change in demeanor. She wasn't one for playing games. Factoring in the likely result of any more delay tactics he would choose to come forth after all. However the threat of certain offenses against the ones he would be revealing held little sway over him. The crimes he had committed outweighed simply lying in the line of duty. However the punishment for either was likely the same. Empty eyes regarded hers a moment as he contemplated evacuating the room. Survival suggested he do so. There was a predator in front of him...but according to her words not one he need fear immediately attempting to kill him. He could do a great deal more without being hunted than if he ran now. There were a great deal of facts but humans were always an unknown variable. Still he was prepared to evade or counter the next attack if he sensed killing intent. A single bead of sweat would form on his brow. Tickling his skin as it shifted down his face. How odd he would think to himself. He felt something....instinct perhaps? It was telling him he was in danger and his body reacted to it with signs of being nervous. Useful but to be ignored for now.

Still despite the danger he would let out a small sigh. There was no way out of this gamble now. He had to simply trust he was of more use alive than dead. Even if she imprisoned him she would likely keep him working. A mind like his was to be utilized and she was a business woman. Running a company before a country. He had to trust that she would be an intellectual over someone emotional. However he hated the idea of trust. The world should be based on facts. Still he would hold out his left hand. Keeping his main hand free. Hyper aware of her as he analyzed her. Attempting to prepare for an attack as he spoke.

"Very well. What you are about to observe is the most detailed account of what happened with Chen in Suna. Along with some local work as well. However keep in mind all of this was under the orders of a Kage. As a chunnin I had little option but to obey."

A slight lie. Chen could have ignored his existence...but to only him Tadara had revealed his true capabilities. An assassin and a valuable right hand. All for the pursuit of knowledge. Having gained the rank of chunnin he now had possible access to one exclusive technique....however his capabilities were that of a jounin. The memories would flood into the ball. The assassination solo black ops missions Tadara had done for Chen. The organization of the systematic slaughter of the elderly under orders as the persona the owl...Every life taken... Every single detail down to the name, age and time of death as well as direct cause. All of it filed perfectly in his memories down to the minute detail. Even the experiments on death row inmates in Suna. As well as the wicked who had gathered to meet with Chen and joined him. Raijin...Sayuri...and their temporary captive from Kumo who had all attended a meeting there. Chen had allies....Still all of it was empty. Not a single emotion rang within any of it. Not once in Tadaras exploits had he felt anger or excitement during them. For him it was all just data. Not even a hint of guilt. If anything it was clear that Tadara was capable of being dangerous in combat...but more than that he was calculating and cold.

Listening as she had promised, wait till he had finished before nodding. "I shall keep that in mind."

Shaking his hand, her Dojutsu properly activated as she'd draw out the memories from when he had left Iwagakure the for his 'sabbatical' to when he returned. Chen and an elite team of shinobi, God Pills, The Owl Persona, Raijin, Dr. Ananta Miura, Sayuri of all people, the Sword of Kusanagi, Death Eaters. Death, so much death. But what was eerie about all of it was Tadara's memories of himself. Ever since she had obtained Nue she had found that everyone had underlying emotions, even if they didn't understand them, and due to that she had become a lot more adept at being able to read the emotions she sensed through the memories. Tadara didn't have that, or if he did it was so buried she couldn't read it through memories alone. It was unnerving, but her mind slipped back to the Ice Princess as she finished her memory retrieval.

"...Troublesome. Of all the people connected to this it had to be her." Diana wanted to beat herself up for not following up on her old friend after seeing her during the Emporium attack, but Nue had taken precedence. It seemed now however it had been a mistake, but given she hadn't heard about Sayuri recently that wasn't necessarily a failure yet. Yet.

Letting go of Tadara's hand and pocketing the newly-created marble that formed in her other hand, she took a deep breath in and out as she tried to mirror his neutral expression, though she suspected Tadara would know to an extent what she was feeling. He may not be able to know his own emotions, but he had proven he could read others. God she hated her position sometimes. "There are no words to describe how I am feeling and I am certain you have an idea of it, but I am a Kage of my word despite those feelings."

She'd take another sip of the water as she focused herself. "As of now, your punishment is to eliminate the head of the Death Eaters, The Dragon King Raijin, and retrieve any artifacts he has. There is no specific date in which you need to complete this and there are other missions that take precedent such as the expanse of the Kishin Western Alliance, but that is your main goal; never forget that. Do that and you shall receive legal amnesty due to your unwilling involvement and unique circumstances."

"Any questions ANBU Tadara?"

---

Chakra Battery - 184/185 CP (Post 3/20)
Negative Sensory - Nue; N/A
Sensing Technique; -0.5 CP
Volems Memoria (active & upkeep); -15.3 CP
168.2/185 CP

He would watch her with black eyes. How she seemed to view these memories...any changes in how her eyes shifted...any seals or hand signs. Anything that he could use to ascertain the function of her ability. How it worked. It was all he was really interested in at the moment. If he could replicate it in some way he would find information gathering far simpler. Even national secrets would be but a touch away. In the right moment and in concept. However the only thing of note he could see was the formation of a crystal ball which she seemed to pocket. Evidence she could share perhaps? Would it act as some sort of memory viewing screen? His memories were not gone though he left room for the possibility of altered. Another thing he was working on investigating. However he wouldn't press. For now he was watching for signals of emotional response. He would need to move quickly if that became the case. However she would speak of emotions instead. How despite them she seemed bent on what her word meant as Kage. So the public opinion mattered to her in private? Who would know besides her? Honestly her reasoning was lost on him but he would accept it for now.

It was beneficial not to question it.

Still she would continue to list a priority mission with a secondary objective that was more time sensitive. He noted her continued drink of his beverage he had provided despite her having seen his true face. She knew how capable of a chemist he was now and how much he could do with a glass of water. Could she see the details of how he hadn't prepared anything so drastic? He hadn't chosen to jump the gun and at the moment it was proving beneficial. However she was daring. Confident in her ability perhaps. He could only guess at it without seeing more of the ability in action. He wondered if she could copy the crystal in her possession or if it was the only one. However to his regret she now had some possible form of evidence over him. Another side objective as added. However his expression never wavered. It was no time to respond to fear instinctively. instead he would take note of the move to ANBU from his previous black ops. If that was the case...he would take advantage of the situation.

"Such an objective is sizable. Not impossible though. I will simply need the time and resources to prepare. As for your current objective. With expansion invites the opportunists of the criminal underworld. More ways to move drugs and other criminal activities. You have a working legal system in place currently but you come up with issues. First is when you arrest or execute existing outfits that distribute...lesser less educated individuals attempt to take their space. A power vacuum. Bad product moves into the already addicted populace and casualties sky rocket. A new outfit gains popularity as heir product improves before the cycle begins again. What you need is to control the release of these items. The second issue is that no matter how severe the punishment for the crime there are opportunists who take advantage of things like expansion. Eyes and ears in the underworld provides details on individuals. Allowing the ability to target those who hold no value moving forward or utilize those who can maintain a value."

"These are issues I can solve for you with a budget."

Still holding the orb, she could feel the memories that lingered within; their abhorrent information something she wanted to get rid of yet couldn't yet. Her mind went back to her first meeting with Tadara back in the Emporium, how he just seemed to focus on nothing but himself. And once again her thoughts proved right yet again as once she asked her question, he responded with a statement. She wasn't sure if he was trying to challenge her authority, or if he was arrogant, of if he just didn't know better.

For the briefest moment she felt the desire to strangle him so he could shut the ever living fuck up; to rush over to him and tell Tadara that he was on thin fucking ice as it was and that he managed to fuck up the simple act of answering her question wrong. How she wanted to absolutely deck him in the face and string him up for Sunagakure to have their way with him. How she wanted to take her sword and cut each and every fucking limb off joint by joint till he was 206 different little Tadara parts so he was easier to feed to Nue. I would be so easy, to just give in and be like the First Tsuchikage, to mark her place in history.

But Diana, even with her emotions flaring up inside, wanted to and had to be better then that, both because logically it would be bad for them all in the long run, and emotionally as she knew she would regret it down the line. She had to be better for them all to lead them to a brighter future. Instead of acting on her impulse, she'd let him speak his first three sentences as she took a deep breath and pushed those desires aside, then cut him off midway through his fourth.

"If you do not have any questions Chunin Tadara of the Kamizuru Clan, then our business for the time being has concluded. If you wish to discuss what happens after expansion, we can discuss that at a later date when both you and I have more time to do so." She'd stand up, pocket the orb, and start heading to the door. "Thank you again for giving me your time & water despite not giving you a proper notice that I would come, and may the Sage guide you in your new missions to success." She'd open the door and walked out, her mind on what she was to do with this new information.

{Exit}

---

Chakra Battery - 168.2/185 CP (Post 4/20)
Negative Sensory - Nue; N/A
Sensing Technique; -0.5 CP
Volems Memoria (upkeep); -0.3 CP
167.4/185 CP

Tadara would be interrupted in the middle of his presentation and he would pause. Cold eyes observing her silently as she spoke rather formally. Excusing herself from his home as he was let off with an improbable task and no real time limit. If his plans didn't need to be founded with an actual base of some sort he wouldn't have returned probably. Suna would have worked out better. But for now he was being observed but ignored it would seem. She wouldn't see those memories and not keep eyes on him. However that would prove difficult given his choice of exclusives. He already knew what he wanted and it would make sneaking around much easier. A camouflage technique that would make tracking him near impossible. Still work would need to progress slower now and with caution. He was a step closer to his goal but further all the same. Truthfully she was an observant woman which made dealing with her unpleasant. Always looking for things in her favor. Still he hadn't been attacked and appeared to have as much freedom as before. Though he doubted he would be allowed to travel any time soon. Either way it was all going according to plan.

With her no longer looming over him as a threat he decided he would need to move onto step three hundred and thirty two. Creating his own secret base. She held sway over most contractors in the village. So he needed to hire from the underworld she had no interest in. Eliminating them after was as simple as taking a mission to do so. The laws were clear and thus he would use them to his advantage whenever possible. He would pay them...they would build it for him....and then he would end everyone involved in the construction as the wanted criminals they were. The appointment to Anbu was also useful to him. He wondered just how much freedom she was allowing him. Or if she saw the value of keeping him on her leash now. Likely she had enemies she wanted eliminated eventually. As an Anbu he could move more freely mission wise without his record being available to just anyone. He could gather funding for his projects as needed without having to rely on others to accomplish missions for him. He had been careful to appear weak until now. Still he would move carefully. The light flickered as a be settled onto the light switch and flicked it off. Leaving Tadara standing in the dark before he moved about the room. Unfolding his bed pad and settling in as if there was a light source. In the morning he would start by opening his pharmacy shop. A good front.

Exit thread
5 x 15 = 75 exp