- This is Ryo Nara, who helped me get out of a hopeless situation and return home," Pakura introduced me, a little embarrassed, "and this is my mother, Shayuri, and grandfather, Ichiro.
- Pleasure to meet you," I bowed.
- Ho-oh-oh, little Pakura finally brought a boy home," Grandpa said snidely, "will I be seeing my great-grandchildren soon?
- And he's so handsome! - The girl's mother nodded thoughtfully, looking me over from head to toe. - I approve!
- Y-you! - Pakura exclaimed, her face turning pink.
I grinned, as Pakura seemed to have two trolls living at home. It's no wonder she's known as a very quiet person - you get so much practice at home that you don't care about much else. But I won't be bored for the next day or two.
***
Sighing, Orochimaru rubbed his forehead and nodded to the Ryo Nara clone that had reported back. The situation had changed again, and all of the things that had been prepared at the Council last night could simply be discarded and forgotten as unsuitable for the situation.
Sannin was not at all thrilled when his Master had torn him away from his research and forced him to accept the role of head of the embassy in Sunagakure no Sato without asking his opinion - although one of the experiments had just entered its final stages and it was not desirable to be away for long - arguing that it was necessary to raise his reputation before his imminent retirement.
Orochimaru was tempted to tell Hiruzen that the next Hokage had already been decided and it wasn't him, despite Sarutobi and Co.'s hopes, but Orochimaru courageously kept silent, not wanting to cause any more trouble.
A week's absence had to be compensated for by his colleague's favorite way of using kage bunshins, although the snake sannin himself always preferred to personally participate in the work, despite all the advantages available, at most, using them as assistants.
All this going around and around, negotiating with each elder separately and the entire Council led by the Kazekage, trying to come to an agreement that suited both sides, gave Orochimaru quite a hard time, internally.
This was also because most of the embassy would have done just as well - Suna was in no position to insist on anything, especially when they were already being given excellent terms for a military alliance. That time could have been much more usefully spent.
The fact that Orochimaru would have to rush back to Suna only a few days after his return did not make Orochimaru's mood any better, and his companions suffered as the sannin's sharp tongue found something to latch onto while remaining within the bounds of propriety.
The news of the Fourth Kazekage's defection, the real root cause of all this, was only a little more cheerful, and he hoped that this time it would be a day, or two at the most.
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