𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘉𝘌𝘋𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘋 𝘓𝘌𝘎𝘈𝘊𝘠 | ⁿᵃʳᵘᵗᵒ

Intercepted Information

INTERCEPTED INFORMATION

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Negotiation between civilians, especially wealthy civilians, was not difficult to do. Most who came to the Uchiha with a mission had lots of funds, willing to throw as much money at them as they asked to get the job done. The Uchiha and Senju were the most expensive clans to hire in the land of fire, known as the most dangerous and capable shinobi. That also meant the two were the only clans able to match one another's strength, so if someone hired the Uchiha for protection, the person with the intention to attack would usually hire the Senju.

Asami had negotiated with civilians many times. Wealthy people who wanted someone to oversee the transportation of their goods were the most common missions she was chosen for. There had only been one time when she was assigned a mission to protect someone, but that had been over a year ago. It was for a lord from a civilian village near the border of the Land of Fire and Land of Iron. It was a lengthy mission and lasted about a month—probably the longest she had ever been away from home.

Point was, she had negotiated and needed to act diplomatically with civilians, but not other clans. She had the feeling it would be different in this case, as the clans were on even ground. The Uchiha wanted things from the Fuma, and the Fuma wanted things from the Uchiha. It wasn't like a civilian mission where they would pay almost any price the Uchiha asked and the Uchiha had the upper hand. The Uchiha were much more powerful than the Fuma, but it didn't mean the alliance wasn't valuable or they didn't want their goods. As powerful as the Uchiha was, alliances were something they didn't turn their nose up at.

Izuna said negotiations with clans were practically the as negotiations with civilians, but she wasn't sure she agreed.

Asami packed up her things, consisting of a couple change of clothes and extra weapons. She was packing light as they would only be gone for less than a week.

The top half of her hair was pulled back into a braid, the rest of it loose down her back, the tips ending just before her waist. She wore a black yukata with the traditional Uchiha high neck, the ends of her long, face-framing bangs hidden inside of it. Her chokuto was attached to her hip, a holster of shinobi tools hanging on the opposite side.

Asami walked over to her dresser, a small vanity mirror on top of it. She picked up her brush and ran it through the bottom half of her hair, deciding a quick brush wouldn't hurt before she packed it up with her other things. She looked at her reflection as she untangled any knots that had formed from the morning.

Her long, thin face framed by long black side bangs carried its usual frown. She didn't think she was frowning, but now as she looked at herself with her features relaxed, she looked very emotionless besides the downward quirk of her mouth. It made her think back to when she had stared at herself in the reflection of her chokuto before the battle with the Senju those weeks ago. Her eyes weren't any better, small and framed by long, thick eyelashes, narrowed slightly as she took in her expression.

Asami wasn't one to stare at herself in the mirror and analyze her appearance. Most of her day was spent in the training fields with Izanami, practicing her ninjutsu, or dealing with some business for her older cousins. Her free time to just lounge around went from little to almost non-existent the moment Madara became clan head. Moments where she simply got to be in her own company were few and far between.

Finishing up, she put her brush in her pack before closing it and swinging it over her shoulder. She walked out of her room and shut the door behind her, turning to walk down the hallway. She passed the doorways to a few unused rooms, including what she knew used to be Kano's, then Wataru's room. The downward quirk of her mouth dipped lower at the thought of her cousins who she now outlived by six years. She continued on though, not wanting to fall into a state of melancholy today. Especially when she needed to be focused on the mission ahead.