Uncle Gao's BBQ Part III [Open, Konoha]

Wrapped in a dust-caked cloak and carrying a moderately-sized pack, Asami looked to be the consummate stranger in a strange land. The headband slung around her neck declared to all her foreign loyalties and her meandering pace told of one unfamiliar with her surroundings. So then, perhaps it was a rare bit of kismet on her part that she happened upon the one familiar building in the village, Uncle Gao's Barbeque.

The comically large sign, the sturdy wooden door, and the irresistible smell of cooking meat; yes, everything seemed the same as it had once been. Allowing a happy couple leave before slipping into the establishment herself, Asami found herself hit by a wave of nostalgia. It felt like just the other day that she and Hayate had come to Gao's together after the first round of chuunin exams, both as victors. Looking back, it was the day everything changed; she hadn't known it then, but it was the day Hayate and her drifted apart—the exam finals were only the last nail in the coffin of their friendship.

"Party of one, miss?" The soft voice of a slender hostess drew the wanderer out of her own head and back into reality.

"Yes, please"

"Very good, right this way."

Unfortunately, it seemed fate had a cruel sense of humor because the booth the hostess led her to was the same one Asami once shared with Hayate. Looking out onto the streets, the young girl would be able to see and be seen by all who passed by. It was a bittersweet moment and, though the wanderer wanted to sit elsewhere, she also didn't want to be that customer. So, she sat.

"Anything to get you started, miss?" the slim waitress asked pulling out a pad of paper.

"Spring rolls and green tea, please"

"Spring rolls," the waitress scrunched up her nose as she scribbled out the order. "And green tea, got it."

"Thank you."

And, with that, Asami was alone once more.

---
TWC: 332

Returning from one of his many training sessions Minato was wandering around the streets of Konohagakure no Sato. The Village Hidden in the Leaves as some might still refer to the once oh so powerful place in the Land of Fire. Unfortunately it seemed as those times were far in the past as Konoha was now a vassal state of Kirigakure. At this moment the young Uchiha had taken peace with that fact since it might as well act as a wake up call for many of them. Confronted with their lack of power, resolve, determination such an event would hopefully force the people of Konoha to rise and grow stronger. At least it was like that for Minato. In search for power there wasn't a single day where the young boy wasn't at the Training Grounds honing his skills trying to improve. And today was no exception, but today's training session was cut short as he had the sudden urge to explore his village some more.

Strolling through the streets looking for something or someone to catch his eye, Minato was halted as he came upon an interesting looking establishment going by the name of Uncle Gao's Barbeque. Being it the first time coming across this establishment he figured it wouldn't hurt to check it out, and so he entered. Greeting the staff he made his way in, looking around if he would see a familiar face, which wasn't the case. Instead of someone he knew the young boy would spot a rather small looking girl, dressed in what seemed to be a dust-caked cloak. Staring out onto the streets it was almost as if she was lost in her own thougths, recalling a pleasant or unpleasant memory of her past. Besides lost she looked a bit lonely as well, causing Minato to go over and strike up a conversation with the girl. "Mind if I join you?" Before the girl could answer one of the waitresses came over with what looked to be the girl's order, asking Minato if he had decided on his order as well. "I'll have what she's having" he said with a smile. "Oh, on second thought I'd prefer something cold, thank you." Not sure how to continue this sudden encounter he was hoping the girl wouldn't just brush him off. 

(WC: 387)

Lost within her own head it took a voice from without to pull Asami from her melancholic reminisces. Moving her gaze from the busy streets to find the source of the voice, she, for a reason she couldn't put her finger on, half expected it to be Hayate. Well, no, that wasn't quite right; she hoped it was Hayate. Her hopes were, however, dashed by the relatively tall black-haired boy who'd approached her. Though entirely unjustified and bordering on nonsensical, she felt a sudden twinge resentment spark in her stomach—how dare older boy not be Hayate?

"Y—"

"Here you are, Miss," the waitress from before interjected, preventing Asami from sending the boy on his way.

"Thanks."

Unknowingly giving Asami time to swallow back her initial reaction to the boy's intrusion, the waitress proceeded to place the fresh spring rolls and green tea in front of the wanderer. She then took the boy's order and disappeared back into the kitchen as if she could not flee the strange situation she'd walked into fast enough. The disaster the waitress foresaw, however, would not come to pass; the younger girl, feeling guilty for her gut reaction, had reconsidered.

"And sure, take a seat, I guess," Asami smiled, accentuating the red scar that ran from her right cheek back to her abbreviated earlobe. "So..."

Conversation, especially with boys, had never been the Kirigakure native's strong suit. Once she got to know a person the words came easily, but up until that point it was like drawing water from a rock. It was, she often reflected before falling to sleep, one of the points she needed to work on if she ever hoped to progress in the village hierarchy. After all, who wanted a leader who tripped over her words or froze up when approached by a stranger?

---
TWC: 641

It looked like the girl was completely fazed by the sudden appearance of Minato. Being lost in her own thoughts she probably wasn’t expecting someone to come over and talk to her. The young boy hoped he didn’t scare her too much when he pulled her away from whatever state of mind she was in. Before the girl could finish what she was about to say one of the waitresses from before returned with the girl’s order. Still a bit confused by the current situation she would then allow Minato to take a seat which he would greatly thank her for. “Thank you, were you expecting someone?”

Earlier when the two of them locked eyes there was a certain look on her face. It was almost as if Minato reminded her of someone. Maybe he looked like a person close to her or she was just hoping he was someone else. Or maybe he was just overthinking things again and the girl was only surprised that someone addressed her. Either way he wasn’t planning on bothering her as he would assure her. “My apologies for the sudden intrusion, I’ll be on my way if I interrupted your business.”

Walking up to a stranger and start a conversation out of the blue wasn’t really his cup of tea, but he had decided for himself that he would be more open to others even if it would make him look awkward. What good would he be in battle if he wasn’t able to have a normal conversation with someone? So there he was, sitting in the presence of a girl he had never seen before. Greeting her was one thing, keeping the conversation going another. Looking over he noticed that the girl was probably feeling a bit awkward as well so he figured he should be the one to take the lead.

“You’re not from around these parts are you?” Now that Minato had taken a closer look he knew she wasn’t someone from the village, he was sure of it. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

(WC: 345, TWC: 732)

"No, no, nothing like that," Asami responded to the boy's first question. "You just weren't...well, it doesn't matter."

How does one put the intricacies of the heart into words? Asami certainly didn't know nor did she believe the answer would come to her anytime soon. Decidedly flustered, she busied her mouth with a sip of scalding hot tea that, predictably, scorched the roof of her mouth. Wincing ever so slightly, Asami took a breath, put the tea down, and tried to assuage the pain with a few quick sips of water. The mix of pain and embarrassment culminated in a red-faced Asami who was now regretting having invited the boy to sit with her. So much for first impressions—they had never been her thing anyway.

"Sorry, I mean," she hesitated and unconsciously pushed a few errant locks of hair behind her ear. "Please stay, I'm being rude."

Words were clearly still failing the girl and it made her face flush an even deeper shade of red. This time she resorted shoving half a spring roll in her mouth. Strangely, the crunch of rice paper, bean sprouts, and lettuce lent her some comfort. Ai, Asami's mother, had always made this dish on Fridays. And, though these particular ones lacked her father's signature fish sauce, they were, nonetheless, a gentle reminder of what once was and what may still be—just the right remedy for the girl's building anxiety.

"No," she finally responded to the boy's latest question after having swallowed the spring roll. "I'm just visiting for a little while from Kirigakure. Last time I was here I didn't have much time to look around the village and I figured it was worth coming back to see the famed Konohagakure in all its springtime glory."

The boy didn't need to know about her search for her parents or her pursuit of certain criminal elements. For all her quirks and awkwardness with strangers, Asami knew some information was on a need-to-know basis. And, well, this blacked-haired boy simply didn't need to know

---
TWC: 990

Minato would notice how the girl's face started to turn red when she was trying to find the right words to say without sounding rude. One moment she took a sip of her tea and the next she decided to devour one of those spring rolls. Whereas the tea had caused her to burn her lips the spring roll seemed to have more of a soothing effect as it looked like she started to calm down. "I see you're enjoying your meal" the young boy would tease her while her face slowly returned to its usual color. He couldn't help but find it amusing to witness how nervous and clumsy the girl was getting. "Don't worry, you're doing just fine."

Not even a second had passed after he said those words or the waitress had arrived with his order as well. Pleased by how everything looked he made sure to thank the lady for her efforts. "Thank you, it looks amazing." Grateful that he was able to have such a meal he decided to dig in while listening to what kind of answer the blushing girl would give to his earlier question.

Enjoying his meal while at the same time paying close attention to what she was saying he almost choked on his food when she mentioned she was from Kirigakure. Taking a sip from his water to get everything down his throat he would give himself some punches to the chest to recover. Not only was he sharing a table with someone from the village that invaded his, he was also appreciating her company. While the event took place when he was still at the Academy and the girl might not have been present when everything happened he decided to keep his guard up and to find out what the reason of her visit would be. "Ah, Kirigakure you say? You're the first person from Kiri I've come into contact with." It would be the first time he would directly have a conversation with someone from Kirigakure, not counting the Hyuuga girl who was originally from Konoha and who taught him the Water element before she had to leave Konoha to join Kirigakure. No matter how hard he was trying to find anything suspicious about the girl sitting in front of him he wasn't able to look at her as a dangerous threat. Besides a bit awkward she seemed to be a decent person. "I hope you're enjoying your stay so far" he would say with a gentle smile. 

It seemed like the girl had visited Konoha before and it had left quite an impression since it made her come back once more. Minato couldn't help but chuckle when he heard her talk about the famed Konohagakure and its glory. "Apologies, while I do appreciate the kind words I'm afraid there is not much glory left." It was almost as if no one knew what direction the village needed to take now that Kirigakure had left. Sure there was a new Hokage and something had started to move in Konoha but would it really be enough to go back to its glory days? Only time would tell. "But don't worry, we will come back. We always do."

Curious about how she was really feeling about Konoha he would inquire about those thoughts. "Tell me, having been here before, what do you really think now that you're back?"

(WC: 568, TWC: 1300)

Suppressing a light laugh with her free hand, the wanderer marveled at the boy's reaction to the revelation of her home village. It was not quite the response she'd expected nor the one she'd received in the past. Sure, the intimation of surprise was normal, but the kindly demeanor that followed was anything but normal. During her first trip to Konohagakure, her presence was met with both cloaked and naked hostility. And, to an extent, she understood such hostility; the invasion of Konohagakure was still fresh in the minds of both villages. Yet, at the same time, it all felt oh-so-very unfair. After all, she—Asami—had never taken up arms against Konohagakure save for in the arena—she wasn't a monster and still she was treated as one, if not worse.  

"Yeah, I'm enjoying it so far," she countered the boy's smile with a gentle smile of her own as her face returned to its normal ivory color. "Though, I've only been here less than a day."

No longer using food and drink as a conversational crutch, she nibbled at another spring roll instead of stuffing her mouth with it. A bit of spring roll here, a sip of water there, and a listless glance out the window. The boy's comment about his home, however, brought her full attention back to him. It was strange, Asami couldn't recall ever having met someone who thought so lowly of their own home. Perhaps it had something to do with being raised in Kirigakure's golden age, but the idea was decidedly foreign to the wanderer—pride in one's village through thick and thin was a cornerstone of Kirigakure's philosophy.

"I think you might be selling your village short," her brow furrowed. "I've never seen so much greenery anywhere else, you don't live under a permanently overcast sky, and..."

Asami's voice dropped to an airy whisper as if she were concerned someone might be listening.  

"...despite what some people might say it still looks like the cultural capital of the shinobi world to me," her voice then returned to normal. "Beyond that, I can't honestly say I know enough about your village to give you my 'real thoughts'."

She paused, gingerly took a sip of her tea, and continued.

"Last time I was here I participated in the first inter-village chuunin exams and most of my time was spent competing or preparing to compete, so I didn't get much time to really know the village. I hope this time will be different, however," she omitted the fact that she had actually 'won' the exams she participated in—once again, a need-to-know basis. Plus, Asami was not one to boast to strangers. "Now, I am a bit curious, why don't you think Konohagakure has much glory left?"

She already had a decent idea of how the boy might respond, but she still asked nonetheless. Curiosity, her mother always used to tell her, was both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. Waiting for a response, she resumed nibbling at the last of her spring rolls.

---
TWC: 1509

Relieved to hear she was enjoying her stay he took another sip of his cold water before he would finish the remaining spring rolls. “I’m glad to hear that, if you need anything feel free to ask me or someone else from the village, we’ll make sure to help you out.” He would say with a genuine smile, showing he held no grudges against her being from Kirigakure. The view most people had about her village was one of monsters who came and conquered, but to Minato it didn’t look like she would fit such criteria. On the other hand he was almost certain that she had been blamed for her village’s actions in the past, regardless of what kind of person she was. “It mustn’t have been easy being treated differently for something you didn’t do.”

The young boy was feeling guilty for his cold way of reacting when he first found out about her place of origin. For all he knew the girl didn’t agree to what her leaders decided so why should he act like if she was one of them who invaded and killed his fellow Konohagakure shinobi? “Apologies if I sounded rude before, I don’t blame you for what happened to my village. You are most welcome here as anyone else.”
 
They had been talking for quite some time now but they hadn’t shared names yet. If the girl wanted to remain mysterious she was free to do so, but as a gesture of goodwill he decided to formally introduce himself. “Also, feel free to call me Minato.”
 
Once again the girl proved she had more than a decent personality when she started to talk highly of Konohagakure. Or maybe she was just good at making feel other people good about themselves. Either way he was glad to hear such kind words. “You’re too kind, but even I can acknowledge the beauty of Konahagakure no Sato.” Maybe he had been too hard when he first said there wasn’t much glory left, maybe he was too frustrated to think clearly. His village was one of a kind indeed, but it wasn’t its beauty that was frustrating him, it were its people who did. “You’re right, I might have been overreacting a bit. I’m proud to call myself a shinobi of Konoha.”
 
He would then listen to the girl when she was telling about how she had been spending her time the last time she had been in Konoha. From what she was saying it seemed like she participated in the joined chuunin exams. Even though she didn’t look the part she was a shinobi after all. “You must have some high rank if you’re here all by yourself?” He would gently ask hoping she was not offended by his question. “I’m only a Genin myself but I’ll make sure the village can count on me.”
 
This time it was the girl who would ask him a question. About the reason why he thought his village had lost its glory he would need to choose his words carefully. The source of his dissatisfaction could be found in how his village reacted after being invaded, or rather on how it didn’t react. Minato found the lack of resolve disturbing. “We were invaded and we had our weaknesses exposed. But where I thought we would learn from our mistakes I was gravely mistaken.” Once their invaders had left it seemed like everything went back to normal, to how it was before. “I fear that without changes we won’t be able to move forward. But what will happen the day someone decides to attack us again?”
 
It could be that his thoughts were wrong, but he also believed that his caution was justified. All he was hoping for was that they would be prepared so next time someone would be thinking about attacking they would think twice before acting against Konoha. “But then again, maybe I’m wrong and we have nothing to worry about.”
 
Assuming the girl wasn’t just visiting Konohagakure for its beauty he figured there had to be another reason for why she was here on her own. “I think it’s safe to say you’re here on official business? Let me know if there is anything I can help with.”
 
(WC: 712, TWC: 2012)

"It's ok," she interjected softly. "I'm quite used to being treated differently."

There was neither resentment nor bile in her voice; she was genuinely used to it all at this point. When she was younger it was because of her height, then it was because she failed her first genin exam in a village that prided itself on the skill of shinobi, and now, in Konohagakure, it was because she was from a conquering village. Nonetheless, it felt strangely comforting to have the boy seemingly understand the plight she endured for much of her life, refreshing even.

"Oh, Asami," she sputtered out when the boy offered his name. "Please, call me Asami."

Here she was trying her best to not be rude and she hadn't even introduced herself. So much for manners; if only her parents could see her now. Talking up random boys in a foreign village and not even offering her name. What was the world coming to?

"I'm afraid to disappoint you," she flashed a good-natured smile. "But I'm not that much further along than yourself, I'm only a chuunin."

The conversation soon returned to the state of Konohagakure. Asami was pleased to hear that the boy still had some pride in his village. After all, the village would surely fall again as Minato feared if no one had any hope for the future. Hope was, Asami found in her short life, the lifeblood of any strides forward. Without hope people, villages, and systems fell into a sorry state of disrepair. She'd seen what Tea country looked like without properly leadership on her way to Konohagakure and it was not a fate she would wish on anyone, lawless chaos bred destruction and decay.

"I wouldn't worry too much about another attack," Asami unconsciously allowing her own home-village pride to seep into her words. "Konohagakure is allied with the shinobi world's strongest nation in a generation, it would be a fool's errand."

Then came the question Asami had hoped would not come up: why was she here? Truthfully, it was a good question and a question she would have asked in Minato's position too. It was, however, a question she did not feel all that comfortable answering. Sure, there was nothing classified or secret about her trip that would prevent her from explaining her purpose. It was just, well, highly personal and something she did not feel all that comfortable with a complete stranger, affable though they may be. Plus, how could one explain a frenzied search for one's parents?

"Kind of, I'm here following up on an investigation I started in Tea Country," she elected to tell a half-truth and lie by omission. "There were a few criminal elements whose origin I traced to Konohagakure. And, now that I'm here, I'll be pursuing these leads and hopefully see justice done."

She paused and finished the last of her spring rolls.

"I recently spoke with one of your leaders, Yen. He gave me permission to carry out missions here in hopes of finding these criminals. That said, for today at least, I think I'll settle for finding a place to stay. You wouldn't happen to know any decent inns around, would you?"

Last time she was here Naoki took care of all the lodging arrangements. So, once again, the girl found herself out of her depth. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

---
TWC: 2073

"Asami it is then" he would smile at the girl after she had offered him her name. It was nice to see that the girl had started to loosen up a bit. Just as he expected the young girl turned out to be a Chuunin herself. "Don't sell yourself short, that's quite impressive."

Asami would then comfort the young Uchiha as she assured him that his fear of being attacked was unnecessary since no one would dare to take action against an ally of Kirigakure, renowned to be the world's strongest nation. He could understand her reasoning and truth could be found in her statement but would Konoha and Kirigakure really consider themselves as allies? One could only hope Kirigakure would come to their aid when called upon, but that was only if they would care enough to do so.

Minato would then listen as Asami began to explain the true purpose of her visit. It seemed that she was here to follow up on an investigation of certain criminal activity she had started in Tea Country which led her to her current location Konohagakure no Sato. Even though he had the feeling she was still withholding something he decided not to dig any deeper. She would probably have her reasons not to share too much information and it wasn't really any of his business as well. After all, the two of them had just met. During their conversation Asami would suddenly bring up the name of a Konoha shinobi she had met earlier, Yensung Aburame. "Ah, Yen. A bit of a strange fellow, but he means well."

The young girl would finish her story by asking Minato if he perhaps knew a place where she would be able to stay the night. Having lost track of time the Uchiha boy noticed it was almost getting dark outside. It was already getting pretty late and Uncle Gao's BBQ would probably close up soon so they might as well take their leave as well. "I know of a place or two as a matter of fact. No matter how beautiful it is outside, one could always do with a warm and comfortable place to rest after a long and exhausting trip, am I right?" 

"Follow me" he would say with a gentle smile as he was leading Asami to the nearest inn. 

(WC: 391, TWC: 2403)