Ch345. Meeting the leader of Takigakure

Rei and Tsunade finished their luxurious lunch, feeding each other in a silent, comfortable, and warm atmosphere, concluding their date for the day.

They didn't come all the way to Takigakure to eat lunch together. That would be silly considering they had entire villages under their command. Naturally, they had their own agenda in coming to Takigakure and now that they had their fun, it was time for business.

"Do be a dear and tell your leader we are ready for the meeting." Tsunade turned towards the waitress and calmly spoke, startling the girl who just realized her cover was busted.

"I... okay." The waitress nodded with a small grimace before turning towards the door and hastily walking out. Since she was found out, there was no need to deny it.

Seeing the woman leave the booth, Tsunade, still sitting on Rei's lap, expectantly looked at him, "Do we leave him waiting for us some more?" She asked with a sultry smile, leaning closer to him. "After all, these booths are so spacious for a reason."

Rei just smirked and various seals suddenly burst from underneath him, covering the entire room and preventing anyone from looking or entering inside.

"Well, I am sure an hour of waiting won't kill him." Rei said, his hands around Tsunade's waist pulling her body closer to him before Tsunade's lips landed on his in a passionate struggle.

Needless to say, he was glad that he brought the device for the automatic deployment of his advanced silencing and barrier seals with him. They were definitely going to see some use right about now.

...

The young Shibuki, the new leader of Takigakure, looked at the two people in front of him with a twitching eyebrow, biting into his inner cheek to stop himself from being... cheeky.

It was two hours ago when Taki kunoichi informed him that Nadetsu Juusen is finally ready to meet with him. So... he made sure to order some snacks to be prepared and waited. And waited. And waited some more...

His frustration was building up by the second and when an entire hour passed, he decided to send someone to check on the blasted woman. Contrary to his expectations, that did not help at all as they apparently could not enter the booth. HIS own ninjas were unable to enter a room in HIS village.

The security concerns this caused... Shibuki really didn't want to think about it.

Unfortunately, now that he had the woman in front of him... entire two hours after she informed him she was ready for the visit... Shibuki knew he could not be impolite to her. She was the president of one of the largest international trading companies in the world. Even the Kages of the major five hidden villages and Daimyos would mind their manners in front of her!

That didn't make the situation any less annoying for Shibuki though. Nor did the fact that Shibuki could plainly see what exactly was the reason for her two hours delay. The amused man to whom she was clinging to as she sat on his lap while almost glowing was a clear indication!

Shibuki was jeal... ahem, he was angry at being made to wait for such a reason!

Unknown to Shibuki, Tsunade made sure she was presentable but also that her clothes gave small hints any ninja worth his salt could pick that revealed what she was doing with Rei while he waited. After all, unnerving and frustrating her opponent always worked in her favor no matter the method.

This usually could not be used against civilians who were not observant enough but Shibuki was a ninja. And Tsunade knew from experience that it is those small 'hidden' details that can be the most maddening as there is no way for him to complain about it even if he wanted to.

After all, how should he bring up the topic of her being late due to having sex? In 'polite company' such topics were taboo. Any reservation Shibuki could have had, any complaint at all, had to be begrudgingly put to the side the second he realized the reason for her delay.

If he did not ignore it, he would come off as crude and uncultured, plus it could sour future relations. It was one of those damned if do and damned if don't kinds of situations and from the stiff expression on Shibuki's face, the young man clearly realized he simply had to suck it up and pretend he was not just made a fool.

"Welcome to Takigakure, Miss Juusen, and..." Shibuki greeted them with stiff politeness, pausing his gaze at Rei in a questioning manner.

"Yotsuba Rei." Rei introduced himself, not worrying about being recognized through his name. Takigakure didn't possess a good enough information gathering department to get his name from Kirigakure's records.

Shibuki nodded in acknowledgment before returning his eyes back at Tsunade, "What do I owe such a..." His lips twitched in annoyance. Yes, Nadetsu Juusen could possibly bring a lot of benefits to his village but damn if the woman was not infuriating! "pleasant visit?"

Tsunade's lips stretched into a wide but polite smile at that, "Don't worry, Lord Takikage. I am not here to bother you with company business. This visit is more of a personal matter, you see." She cheerfully said, almost eye-smiling at Shibuki whose grip on his armrest tightened.

'Translation, I am not here to make a deal that would benefit your village. I wasted your whole day for the kicks and giggles. Tehe~.' Shibuki thought as his left eye started to twitch more.

"Is that so?" Shibuki hummed, discreetly taking a deep breath to center himself. "Since you are visiting me, I assume this 'personal matter' has to do something to do with either the village or me. Am I correct?"

"Yes." Tsunade simply nodded, keeping her polite smile on her face.

'Yes what!?' Shibuki mentally grumbled. 'Would it kill her to simply tell me what she friggin wants with me!? How am I supposed to inquire about her business here if she doesn't throw me a verbal bone!?' He inwardly raged while outwardly his expression was the perfect picture of politeness, only the twitching of his fingers betraying his mental state.

'Heh, young people. So easily provoked.' Tsunade thought. She only wanted to test Shibuki since he was not the same person who led Takigakure a decade ago when she was here the last time. She wanted to get some measure on how he would react to the reason for her visit before she brought the issue up. 'Well, at least he tries to hide his own impulsiveness. Let's see the extent of his self-restraint. Will it survive his ego?'

"If you don't mind me asking... aren't you a tad bit too young to lead an entire village?" Tsunade 'curiously' asked as if she had a vested interest in the answer while intently observing Shibuki's reaction.

Hearing the question, Shibuki blinked and opened his mouth to answer only to close it a second later, utterly speechless. How was he supposed to answer that?

Rei, who observed from the sidelines, almost felt pity for the young man who was being verbally roasted by his wife. There was a reason why Tsunade was chosen as Konan's replacement in the Biri-Biri company. She was simply too vicious when she wanted to be.

In the end, Shibuki decided to just mentally shrug and humbly say, "I was chosen after my father's demise. Young or not, I can only do my best, Miss Juusen."

Rei slightly smiled at that, 'That was a good answer and an even better reaction. Neither overbearing and offended nor submissive and bootlicking. He is playing his disinterest in the benefits Tsunade could bring to Takigakure quite nicely.'

Tsunade's eyes slightly widened, 'Ho~, a humble young man, isn't he?' She noted, pleased. 'Good. That will probably make it much easier for me. I would loathe having to slaughter the entire village just because their new leader is a young arrogant moron with a massive ego. I can work with this.'

Nodding, Tsunade chuckled, "That's admirable. Forgive my straightforwardness but I just had to make sure you are worth my time." She calmly said and Rei almost did a spit-take when he heard that sentence.

THAT was something one should never say in these kinds of negotiations.

Did Tsunade care though? Not at all. Just because Shibuki was an 'admirable' young man didn't mean she would stop irritating him and probing the limits of his patience through her words. Especially since it was so much fun!

Shibuki tried to reply with a reassuring smile but it came out somewhat wry and stiff. He really didn't trust himself to give a verbal reply. He was the leader of Takigakure and what Tsunade said could be taken as, 'I had to make sure Takigakure is worth my time with someone as young as you in the lead.'

'Troublesome woman.' Shibuki inwardly groaned. The words were polite but the meaning could possibly start wars. Just imagine if she told this to Raikage or Tsuchikage with a bit different wording. They would fly instantly off their rocket.

"Anyway..." Tsunade continued, completely ignoring Shibuki's sudden awkwardness, "I am here on behalf of my dear friend. I believe Takigakure and her made a deal decade ago and I am here to finalize it." She reached into her purse and took out a card while Shibuki was furrowing his brows, trying to remember if something like that really happened.

He was drawing blanks. As the leader of Takigakure, he had to get familiar with all the long and short-term deals the village had but he had no idea what Tsunade was talking about.

Tsunade simply reached forward and put the card onto Shibuki's table, waiting for him to take it.

Seeing that, Shibuki decided to humor her. He didn't think she was here to scam Takigakure. For that, the woman in front of him had too good of a reputation. At best, this could be some misunderstanding and at worst there really will be some kind of deal.

Taking the card, Shibuki pulled it to himself and flipped it upside down to read its contents before his horrified gaze snapped back towards Tsunade with breathless urgency, only to see her softly smiling at him and looking at him in the same way a cat looks at mice in her trap.

Shibuki's pupils dilated and his hand shook as he gulped down his discomfort and looked back at the card sporting three simple words, still having a hard time believing this was really happening.

These three words... even now they brought a fearful shudder to every ninja who experienced the biggest crisis of Takigakure in recent history.

The card stated... 'Yozora was here.'