Class Reunion (Suzaku)

Change. It was a curious thing really. From as far back as she could remember, Hokage Rock was one of the few landmarks in Konoha that remained the same throughout the years. The familiar stone faces of the Hokage had been watching over the village ever since she was small child. Recently however, even this unchanging monument would yield to the passage of time, ushering in a new era. A new stone sculpture would join the ranks of the great Hokage on the mountain, except in Tatsuta's case, it was a face she knew all too well.

Perhaps if not for his existence, Tatsuta would have been hailed as the undisputed "best" of their generation. Both were extraordinarily talented. And by sheer coincidence, both possessed abilities that mirrored the legendary rivalry of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. Yes, this man was an Uchiha, a rarity in this day and age. But probably less so than one who possessed the coveted Wood Style that made the First Hokage so famous. This time however, it was the one who possessed the Sharingan who held the seat of Hokage. A reversal of history! Fate worked in mysterious ways indeed.

And yet despite all the miraculous coincidences, one thing sets this pair apart from their renowned ancestors. They were never rivals. Or at least not directly. If you asked Himenomori Tatsuta about how she viewed Uchiha Suzaku, you would get a very impartial and almost cold response that he was just an old classmate who was a cut above the rest. Once upon a time they may have shared a conversation or two when they were younger. Classes in the Academy were hardly what you would call large and so nearly everyone had the chance to speak to everyone else. As they were both at the top of the class, they would obviously be put in different genin teams as well after graduation as teams were balanced according to the members' abilities.

There weren't many opportunities to meet after that as they both pursued different paths as ninjas. Suzaku sped through promotions at an amazing pace, becoming the first to reach the rank of jounin. He then went on to serve in the ANBU for a few years, further limiting his contact with the rest of the class. Tatsuta who decided to focus more on medical ninjutsu was promoted to jounin a bit later though still faster than most. But by that time she was already making a name for herself among medical-nin with her accomplishments in the field of surgery.

Tatsuta wasn't present at the time when Suzaku was nominated for the position. It was one of those rare occasions where she had important business away from the village. The news of his appointment was surprising but not unexpected. He was a famous enough ninja and he was someone whom she acknowledged a long time ago to have the talent and skill to reach great heights. The main reason for her surprise was that she thought the elders would select someone with more experience.

Perhaps it was that tinge of doubt that led to the situation that she was in today. A new bottle of sake in hand, Tatsuta eventually found herself standing outside the door of the Hokage's office. It was a congratulatory gift. It wasn't everyday that an old classmate became the Hokage. She might never see it happen again in her lifetime. But that was really just another excuse. She hadn't seen Suzaku in ages so she was curious what kind of Hokage would be leading the village from now on before getting any official orders. With that thought in mind, she knocked at the door. Meeting someone on her own terms was very like her actually.

Suzaku sighed as he looked over the mountain of paperwork that he had on his desk. He smirked gently in a bit of misanthropy, remembering how he had found amusement in the stacks of paperwork, just like the ninja couriers who delivered them had. He sure regretted it now. There was so much he had to go through. Missions that the outlying areas and villages wanted them to do for them. Reports from missions already completed that needed analyzing and reviewing. And also those applying for promotion to either special forces or ANBU. It was a lot of work. It was almost like the village was sarcastically welcoming him to his new duties. He knew that the position of Hokage was going to be a tough job with a lot of work, and he wouldn't complain about that. He just didn't think the duties would be so...trivial.

He was interrupted by a knock on the door, and looked at it abruptly, blinking. He supposed it would be a great interruption to the imminent workload. He smiled and looked up to the door. "Come in." He stacked the papers neatly next to him on the desk, and smiled as he folded his hands with his fingers interlaced. There was some fragrant incense burning from the Uchiha manors, a little gift to himself for finally realizing his lifelong dream. He also had a cup of tea slightly steaming next to him. He sipped it as he waited for his newest guest to come in, sighing in a little content. He shouldn't let himself start having doubts. It was his dream after all.

Tatsuta's first reaction upon entering the Hokage's office was that it looked as homely as ever. The numerous documents on the shelves and the stacks of paperwork on the desk reminded her exactly of her own house. Of course this was hardly the first time she had been here. But the smell of incense was something new, as well as the young face seated behind the table. The overall impression was something fresh and nostalgic at the same time.

Though he was seated, she could tell Suzaku had grown much taller compared to the last time she saw him up close years ago. But other than his height, he really didn't look too different from his younger self. For one, his fashion sense of favoring red and black was clearly unchanged. As for his personality... what was he like again? She couldn't paint a clear picture, but she was certain he wasn't someone she disliked.

"Greetings, Hokage." She paused for a second. "It's been a while."

"Just a small token to congratulate you on getting your new post." She continued, showing him the bottle of sake before placing it on his desk.

"Already busy with work I see. My apologies for dropping by unannounced."

He looked up at the moment Tatsuta finally opened the door into his office. Of course, finally usually implies that it was taking a long time, or at the very least that the one using it had little patience, but in all honesty it was because he was very attentive, and he was still soaking in details from the moment she knocked to the moment she opened the door. He smiled up to her with his black eyes, as he was friendly to almost everyone when he had the opportunity, his teeth white and clean.

His onyx eyes were the slightest shade darker than his pupils, still setting them apart from his irises, though Tatsuta wouldn't be able to tell unless she got a much closer look...which he had no objections to. His black hair was a little long, and straight, sharing more traits with Sarada and Itachi rather than Sasuke or Madara. He rose up, his black jacket shifting with him as he moved around the desk to greet his old friend. His boots clacked on the floor, as they had a bit of metal capped onto the tips and his heels, having good use in combat for kicks.

"Tatsuta-chan! It has been a while!" He approached her, realizing that was pretty much his fault, and he smiled apologetically. "I realize that's more or less my fault...so I apologize. Either way, it's great to see you again!"

"And please, Hokage's so formal. You can still call me Suzaku."

He eyed the sake bottle she had with her, watching her place it on the desk. Wow. Such a long time and she brings me sake? I guess she isn't really too held up about the whole distance thing...

"Really, you're too kind, Tatsuta-chan. Thank you very much. And yeah. I knew being Hokage was a lot of work, but I never expected to have to go through a lot of paperwork like this. Not that I'm complaining. And don't worry about it. For an old friend like you, you can drop by any time, Tatsuta-chan."

He smiled brightly in thanks.

Tatsuta was taken aback for a moment. Was he always this friendly? For a while there, she was even expecting to get hugged... which would have been pretty uncomfortable. But it was the logical follow-up to such a warm and cordial reception. Fortunately though that grim expectation did not come to pass. For starters, she wasn't aware of having developed a close enough relationship for such an interaction. Thus she concluded that he really was just this accommodating to people, though she could hardly remember it.

"Right, Suzaku. I can't say I'm too comfortable about addressing the Hokage informally, old friend or not. But if that's your wish."

"I wasn't sure if you were a drinker. The sake was just suggested by some of our other friends. You should be getting a few more visits later."

One would think that being assigned to the ANBU would harden most people, but in a way it was a relief to see him in high spirits. As for his willingness to pause work to entertain guests, well, she'll hold off criticizing him for that now since she was the one who prompted the visit in the first place.

"I see they're leaving the work all up to you. I was actually expecting to see an adviser or two here with you, but I guess they have more faith in you than I thought. You've come a long way."

"On second thought, I probably shouldn't be saying things that make us seem old. After all, we're far from it."

There can't have been many Kage who got the position at such a young age. The responsibilities that came with it aside, he must have been quite glad and honored.

He had to chuckle at Tatsuta's behavior. Was she always this uptight? He remembered that she was a little...polite, but perhaps he had hoped she had been a bit warmer with maturity. Those hopes were beginning to become dashed. Maybe they hadn't been good friends...or maybe Suzaku simply thought they were. And perhaps it was just idle hope that she would be as warm to him as he was to her. Despite all of that Suzaku smiled genuinely.

"It's alright, Tatsuta. I'm not ordering you to or anything; call me Hokage if you want. I just don't want you to feel like you have to, alright?"

"I only drink socially. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate a good bottle of sake." He paused gently, staring down at the desk. "I have to admit I've been keeping tabs on you. Not having you followed or anything, but...you've got the Mokuton after all. I thought it would be a good idea to be at least loosely up to date on you, right?" He leveled his onyx gaze onto her. "I know our ancestors were at each other's throats, but...I don't want that to ever happen again. So...I would like to be closer friends with you. If that's alright."

He let that settle in for a moment with a friendly smile, before moving on.

"Ah, but yes. I guess it was a kind of teasing welcoming gift. I think I am supposed to have an adviser or two, but I haven't had any time to hire any. ...and I thought I might be able to power through the workload on my own, but obviously that isn't working too well."

"And yeah. We're the same age, after all. At least...you certainly look young," he said in a bit of a joke, hoping she at least found it humorous as he offered a slight smile.

Tatsuta cracked a small smile at his comment about how to address him. "I was joking. You were being so casual that I almost thought you weren't taking this very seriously. I have a vague recollection of you mentioning a long time ago about having a dream you were serious about. I guess you're just pleased about being one more step closer to your goal."

Tatsuta was surprised to hear that he had been keeping tabs on her. It wasn't unusual. Her abilities and her research would be considered incredible prizes by many. But when he mentioned it was because he wanted to be up to date on her, Tatsuta couldn't help but comment.

"I don't mind being friends, but you really need not go through all that trouble. I submit a report of my research findings at the end of every month. They're for the benefit of the village after all and who better to decide how to make the best use of them than the Hokage."

"However lets draw a line as regards to being too friendly. We're old classmates, but I wouldn't want anyone to think I was currying excessive favor with the Hokage. I'm quite particular about attaining my achievements on my own merits. If you've really been keeping tabs on me, then you would know that Mokuton is an afterthought compared to what I'm really famous for."

It seemed that while he was enthusiastic being the Hokage, he had not yet gotten a good grasp on the workload involved, which was why he decided to try tackling things on his own for now. Tatsuta respected that kind of attitude. Asking for help was not bad, but only when have exhausted your efforts.

"Flattering people now are we? I suppose it's better to practice your smooth talking with an old acquaintance than a foreign delegate. Exams are coming up soon again aren't they? I'm sure at least one or two villages have expressed wanting to have them joint again with us this year."

She smiled. Appearances weren't really a big deal to her, but what girl wouldn't be even a little happy at being complimented on her youthfulness. Though she decided to deflect the conversation to business so as not to dwell on the topic.

Suzaku blinked, his mouth slightly open, before closing it with a small smile. Here he had been, thinking she were uptight, when he hadn't even gotten that it was a joke. Had all of these years of training made him uptight instead? He felt a little embarrassed. Maybe if he hadn't been acting cool he would have noticed.

He sighed with a small chuckle. "I suppose I owe you an apology. I guess the workload has been a...little more overwhelming than I originally thought. Geez, I look dumb now. But I'm taking it seriously, I assure you. The only thing is I don't want to be too strict, you know? I mean if I'm changing who I am to do the job right, then I might look corrupt." He looked out over the village through the windows. "Generations of subterfuge, and I'm the one who wants to be honest. Go figure."

He noticed her slight apprehension when he mentioned keeping tabs on her, but thankfully it wasn't overt. Of course most of the time, starting a conversation with any other woman leading with, "I've been watching you", usually turned out with a slip of paper telling you to stay away from them.

"Ah...then I'm sorry for jumping the gun, Tatsuta. But as I said before, I don't want there to be a rift between us. It's just careful preparation, I'm sure you understand."

"And I assure you that's not what I meant to propose. I'm aware of your Mokuton as well as your medical prowess. Certainly an interesting route you've chosen." His onyx eyes took on a gleam of slyness. "I'm sure any of the previous Hokage would have kept you on a tight leash, considering your talents. As we all know, Orochimaru's work is still being uncovered to this very day. And I don't recall ever hearing about him being truly and definitively deceased." He steadied his gaze on her. "Even if he isn't, there are reports. Otogakure is still there. So be careful."

He sighed gently after such a long spiel. So much caution had to be exercised. Even in this day and age Orochimaru might still be a threat. He wondered if there was anyone who could put the bastard snake down. He was sure if his great uncle Itachi had actually found Orochimaru concerning enough he could put him down.

He chuckled gently again. "Sorry. Perhaps you'll think me a flirt because of it, but I'm just honest with everyone I meet. Perhaps...more so than necessary." She reminded him about the exams. "Right...I've sent everyone notices. I'm having particular trouble with the Mizukage." He crossed his arms, leaning back against the desk slightly. "He sounds scary. He's about as old as us, and was elected recently as well. I hear he's a fearsome cutthroat shinobi. I don't know if I should even let him send his Genin over here. ...then again we should improve our relations with Kirigakure."

So he was keeping tabs on her for her safety? That was certainly considerate and not something she would turn down. She would be lying if she said she didn't have any worries at all that her research could be used in ways she did not intend, or worse used against the village. It was for that reason that only a select few know the more intimate details of her progress on the subject matter and what was public knowledge was only the tip of the iceberg.

"Thank you for your concern. I would gladly accept any contribution you may have in terms of safety and security for as long as it doesn't interfere with my work."

"I suppose it's rather impossible to escape the apprehensions that questionable things may be happening in the background, due in part to our unpleasant history with scientific geniuses going rogue. All I have is my word and reputation that I do things by the book whenever possible. But then I practically wrote the book. I guess I'm just fortunate that I have a ready and willing subject to work with me in advancing my area of study. Namely myself."

Suzaku then admitted that organizing the exams wasn't going as smoothly as he would have liked. Looking back, when they took their exam as kids, most of the others had a hard time with it. She supposed the difficulty was increased a bit to account for the gifted ninja then. Her own team ended up relying on her for most of the tests and she did her best to lead them to success. Unfortunately once the individual rounds came along, there was not much she could do for them and she was the only one to pass. The other two did pass eventually in the following years.

"Newly appointed leaders always jump at the first chance at making a notable accomplishment. I expect he will be sending only the best to ensure the highest passing rate. The other villages should be doing the same, even if they sound more agreeable. You should have more faith in our own students. Well, yours at least. I haven't had the opportunity to supervise a team of my own yet."

"As for dangers in the actual exam itself, we haven't had anyone die on us yet in the last few years. Speaking on behalf of the medical-nin teams that will be on standby for the event, you can bet we'll be putting our utmost in to ensuring it stays that way."

He smiled gently. The events within the past ten minutes had certainly taken a turn for the better. He was a little worried she'd be unceremoniously informal with him. But at least this was lukewarm conversation, though he'd prefer a bit warmer.

"And I'd gladly contribute," he said with a smile. "Not to sound so impersonal, but you are a valuable asset. And I think you're capable enough to know what you want. So pick any Jounin or Chunin you want. I'm sure about three...maybe five would do. But when you do select them, I would like to know who."

"And...I suppose you should choose after the Chunin exams, unless you want the Jounin. They're yours to do with as you please, so if they disrupt your studies, then you can punish them as you see fit. ...within normal boundaries, of course."

He took a bit more thought about it. They only had so many trainees out of the academy right now. Had there been an early graduation?

"I suppose you have a point. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to do something very impressive soon. As for my students, I think they'll do well. I wish I could teach them more, but I honestly don't think I have the time right now." He looked at her. "Speaking of which...I've heard you wanted to teach. You can do that if you want. Again, you can pick any Genin of your choosing. Though I'd prefer that be of the people I mentioned in the first place."

"And it truly pleases me to hear that, Tatsuta. Thank you. I look forward to your expertise during the exams."

Tatsuta raised an eyebrow. Five ninja for guard duty was awfully generous. She was a jounin herself and that meant she was hardly a pushover. A standard four-man cell including herself would more than suffice, and only for trips outside Konoha. Within the village, special security was hardly necessary, unless he was implying of internal threats. Well, with a new Hokage coming into power, it wouldn't be far-fetched to think there were certain factions or individuals who weren't pleased.

"Three will probably work out nicely. But I'm in no rush to pick out people. You should prioritize your manpower towards making the upcoming event a success. If you have been keeping tabs, then you would know I'm plenty strong. A couple more months of fending for myself is not a big deal."

She almost laughed when Suzaku mentioned her being allowed to give punishments.

"If any jounin or chuunin was that incompetent, then I would sooner question why they were even  promoted in the first place. I may be strict, but I'd like to think I'm quite gentle for the most part."

When the topic got to the part about allowing her to pick her students, that was when Tatsuta had to raise her hand to indicate him to stop.

"Suzaku, you're being too kind. And I was just talking about how I would rather not have the Hokage giving me too many favors because we were acquaintances. Genin are assigned to teachers based on the student's abilities. There's no need to circumvent that process by allowing me to choose. Including me in the list of available teachers will be enough. I will accept whomever the academy assigns with full faith that they did so while thinking of the students' best interests."

"Besides, don't you think it's more interesting that way? A true teacher-student relationship is one where both sides learn from each other. Studying up on my would-be students before even meeting them is unfair."

Suzaku looked at her with a slight smile. She kept misunderstanding him. Though perhaps he could be a bit more detailed. He drummed his fingers slightly as he thought about how to word his response. He nodded slightly as she spoke of the Chunin Exams again.

"I suppose you have a point. And it would be better to wait until after the Chunin Exams anyways." He paused for a moment, and then nodded. "Very well. I suppose you can go unprotected a bit longer."

He then frowned to her. "Again, this isn't a matter of me being kind to you. And it isn't really a favor. While you have a point, and it keeps it fair and interesting, did you not consider the possibility that I consider you skilled enough to be able to choose your own Genin?" He looked out over the village again. "And anyways, it's not like studying up on your students beforehand is prohibited. In fact I think it for the best. How can you best teach someone without knowing them already?" He returned his gaze to her. "I'll do as you request and just put you on the list. Just please stop assuming I'm trying to show overt favor to you."

Tatsuta smiled a bit. "You may not notice it, but you really are being rather kind. Then again, maybe I'm just more used to seeing people in authority being stiffer. In that case I apologize if I'm throwing you off. I suppose I can't really consider myself a good judge of character, especially of someone I had not seen in a long while."

She listened as Suzaku expressed his views on teaching students. He certainly had the experience to be able to know what he was talking about. He didn't say anything that she felt she had the right to refute. Her own desire to teach was just based on a feeling after all.

"I guess it's just sentiment on my part. My old teacher treated us fairly, even after I surpassed the rest of my team. I was hoping to do the same. Records can only tell me so much. Seeing them in action with my own eyes and allowing them to have the opportunity to show off their skills to me would, I believe, tell me more about them than grades on a piece of paper."

"I definitely agree about studying up on my students, but not as a factor of whether or not I'll choose to teach them. Talented or not, I'd like to give them a chance if they have the heart for it."

Suzaku smiled, sighing slightly. "No...no, you're right. I guess I am being a little too generous. But yes, I'll just put you through the system the regular way. Maybe being nice is just in my nature, I guess...if you remember me at all I'm pretty sure I spouted a bunch of the stuff about how I want to make up for my family's past sins. He looked down at the files and documents, bringing up the Chunin Exams again.

"You're right about the whole teacher thing. I'm just saying don't be afraid to do some digging if you want to. I've got a few files on Genin here somewhere if you want to take a peek, but I'd come back later once I actually get some more files. Just remember, you're almost like a third parent to these children." He looked up at her. "You're going to be teaching them as they mature, too. Maybe that goes without saying...but I just want you to keep it in mind."

"Getting back to the Chunin Exams, maybe this is a moot question...but should I send some kind of notice to the Land of Iron? I feel like our relations should be better as well...but they aren't exactly ninja, are they? ...maybe I could just invite some officials to spectate..."

He was thinking just as much as he was asking.

Tatsuta didn't hear anything that she didn't already know but she appreciated the thought. As for what followed next, she felt honored that Suzaku would ask her opinion on country relations. Admittedly it was not her strong point, but she was well-read enough to know a thing or two.

"They have always been neutral with regards to affairs among the ninja villages and often that means not getting involved in any of our activities. But in the interest of improving relations, perhaps something along the lines of a friendly invitation rather than an official business kind of notice would be more appropriate."

"I don't believe they would turn us away. But I doubt they will send anyone higher than a middle-ranked official as a goodwill ambassador. After all, they have to maintain their neutral position, and people sent to events like this can lead others to make assumptions."

Tatsuta paused for a moment before continuing. "Politics is always so complicated. In a way, I'm glad to be in a position where skills and abilities are what matter most. I can't help but wish you luck with being the Hokage"

He listened to Tatsuta openly as she offered her thoughts on the matter. Wait, she wasn't offering them; he had technically asked for them... Ah, well.

"Again, seems you've got the right idea there. Letting them stay as neutral as they are comfortable with seems like the best idea." Suzaku liked to think that he would have thought of the solution if he had merely deliberated it a bit more, but he would give Tatsuta credit where it was due and avoid pride. "And yeah, they'll probably send someone just essential enough."

He sighed. "Maybe it's childish...but I really wish it wasn't so complicated sometimes. Can't we just invite people to have a good time?" He looked at her with a smile. "Thanks, Tatsuta. As for this," he gestured to the bottle of sake she brought him, "I can't possibly keep this to myself. You'll have a glass or two with me, won't you?" He grinned slightly. "Unless you're not very tolerant. We're both working, after all, but it takes a lot of steady drinking to get me intoxicated."

Tatsuta sighed. "Normally I would decline on the spot, but I risk you calling me too stiff. Tolerance is not an issue either but... are you expecting any more guests today? I'm not too keen on the idea of someone coming in here and seeing the Hokage drinking with a friend instead of working."

She was slowly adjusting her way of dealing with Suzaku after their interactions thus far. She wondered though if his friendliness and laxness was the kind of impression he really wanted to give off as the Hokage or if he was only doing so because she was an acquaintance.

"It isn't wrong for me to be concerned about the village leader's public image is it?" She smiled.

He chuckled gently as she deliberated drinking with him, and asked him if he was going to expect anyone else to come to visit. "Not really. You said other people were on the way but I think they would've been here by now. Besides, they need my permission to come in."

He took on a faint grin. "No, it's not wrong. But you don't have to drink with me. After all it's not like it means a big deal to me. But I'm a bit of a fan of...old customs, i guess you could say."

He opened the bottle and got some serving cups, giving her a slight look of amusement.

"I was actually referring to work-related appointments. I expect we won't be seeing our friends until the evening as some of them are still out on missions."

Admittedly Tatsuta wasn't planning on staying long enough to see the others. She would never hear the end of it of any of them showed up early and caught her having a drink with Suzaku. She briefly glanced at the clock.

"Fine, maybe just a bit. I made sure to free up my schedule today anyway so it's not as though I have any urgent matters to attend to."

He nodded, pouring them both small cups of the sake, and offering her one of the cups as he took hold of the other in his hand. Once she retrieved it, he would offer his own cup forward to clink on the other cup.

"Assignments are light for me right now. All I have to do is train Ayumu and that's not for another hour or so. The only other thing is the paperwork."

Assuming she was ready then, he would drink the sake with her. He smirked gently as it went down, and would take the cup from her since he assumed she didn't want any more. "Well, I won't make you stick around. I'm sure you want to get back to your research. But if you want a taste again, you know where to find me."

Tatsuta took the cup and returned the gesture, taking a sip afterward.

"Strange. I would have thought being new in office meant a lot of work that needed to be done. But I trust you know what you're talking about."

She took another sip to finish off the cup.

"Mm. I see our friends have good taste." She said as she returned the cup.

"I did mention I have my schedule for the day freed up. I should be the one showing consideration for you since you still have some paperwork to do. Anyway, it was nice seeing you again and I'm sure we'll meet again soon."

Bidding Suzaku farewell, she bowed slightly before exiting the office.