[Hatake Shinde]

Hatake Shinde was the young heiress to her clan, but one with little experience or nuance when it came to things such as diplomacy and Shinobi politics. In addition, she was for all intents and purposes; a bastard in a meritocracy based clan. While she had made considerable strides in her time as an official member of the clan, she felt that she needed to do more. Broaden her horizons and learn more of what there was to learn. So, it was an interesting prospect when she was told that she'd get a chance to meet with the Akimichi Clan today. Their head at that, as well as potentially make some good ties and impressions. Her father was less interested in those sorts of things and more mission based accomplishments. But she figured...Why not give it a try?

Dressed in a grey and blue Kimono, she'd been very elegantly and finely dressed for the occasion of visiting their clan compound and home. It was a lot different than visiting the Hyuuga clan compound of which seemed much more casual. It was kind of exciting. For she didn't know too much about the Akimichi as a whole, despite her research. Only that they were a Hijutsu Clan. One that didn't necessarily focus hugely on military pursuits, but instead on agriculture and medicine. That was something interesting. As the young girl made her way to their territory, one might wonder what she'd see. What she'd learn. And what ties might be made with such a meeting. Hopefully, regardless of the circumstances? It'd be a pleasurable experience.

[Akimichi Chono]

Today was one of those rare days where Chono had been freed from his duties as a member of the Shinobi Council and supposedly had no work waiting for him; unfortunately as the head of a noteworthy clan even his free days were filled with work. The morning had been filled with somewhat tedious meetings with a few important business partners of the Akimichi clan, mediating a few disagreements between members of the Akimichi clan and then overseeing some distant cousin signing onto the bovine contract of the Akimichi.

It was in the fading hours of the afternoon that Chono finally finished the majority of his responsibilities for the day, the tedious ones at least. In reality he still had one final duty of sorts to attend to and that was meeting with the heiress of the Hatake clan. From what he understood the girl was woefully unprepared for the life of clan politics. He did not know the girl well, but he had heard a bit about her from his wife Inori who in turn had heard some details from Inori's family within the Yamanaka. Inori had been a bit worried about the girl's future and had asked Chono to give her some a helping hand in understanding what her position as heiress would mean.

Chono moved through the dark wooden halls of the Akimichi estate, a large sprawling building that had been expanded greatly over the years becoming something akin to several homes merged together with multiple kitchens, dining halls, reception rooms, a plethora of bedrooms among other things. His son Choten had already taken one of these near separated homes for himself while he expected eventually his other children would likely take some of the others if they did not decide to move out. Part of him had hoped that Miho would have moved into one of these rather than move to live with Kazuto, but he understood the need for some children to leave the nest.

Arriving at one of the smaller reception rooms, Chono moved to sit cross-legged at the low table which had been placed into the room. He could have shared this early dinner with the young Shinde in one of the actual dining halls, but Chono had decided something a bit more relaxed might allow the young girl to feel a bit less intimidated. While it was more relaxed to an extent it definitely still showed the basic identity of the Akimichi that had been honed over the years. Everything in the room was incredibly well made, but nothing was extravagant or overly gaudy. Just like the Akimichi, they made no airs about superiority or greatness, but instead made it clear through their dedication and ability to meet whatever was required of them.

Whenever Shinde arrived at the estate she'd likely be met by one of the servants of the household, many of whom seemed to be on the older side or at times were missing limbs, eyes or bearing some other infirmity which likely made their life more difficult. They were under instructions to lead her through the maze like building to the room Chono waited for her within with tea and a multitude of small appetizers likely being delivered just before or after her arrival depending on how quickly the cooks could be informed of the young Hatake's arrival.

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[Hatake Shinde]

The Akimichi compound seemed to run incredibly smoothly. Orderly and refined. When she made her way to the compound, and was welcomed by some of the older servants of the household? She bowed her head respectfully, and didn't pay their wounds or disfigurements much mind. Everyone had a place in the world; and she was in fact happy to see that they had a place at home. With family. With stable work as opposed to broken people without purpose. Those were the saddest kinds of people to see; and as of recently, she sought to work to ensure her clan ran smoother under management. More intimately than the management of her father which seemed rather cold and professional. More focused on the village as a whole.

When entering into the room and seeing Chono; the head of the household, she made her way forward. She'd take step after step, her feet stepping along the floor, before she would bow her head low as she crouched down in the seiza form. Her hands were kept clasped together and low at her thighs. "Thank you for inviting me into your home Akimichi-Dono. And accepting me with your full hospitality. My name is Hatake Shinde, and it is an honor to make acquaintance." She spoke calmly and with a calm smile upon her face, before taking liberty to seat before him. Resting herself along a cushion, as she looked upon the table. To see the bounty of the food was a welcome sight. Her mouth watered at the various foods placed before her. Though she didn't eat yet. Not until he seemed ready to eat.

As the older and senior member here today, she sought to let him lead the discussion. Nor would she be so rude to broach the topic of business until he was ready himself.

[Akimichi Chono]

Chono glanced upwards upon hearing the door slide open when Shinde was ushered into the room he had decided to receive her in. The food had arrived shortly before she had with the rich aromas quickly filling the air and some of the dishes still sizzling softly having freshly come out of the ovens or off of pans. The young Hatake Heiress after entering directed a bow toward him and moved into the seiza sitting manner before offering him thanks for receiving her.

Chono waved a handed lazily as if dispersing some invisible smoke from before his face, his words shortly after making the meaning of the motion clear: "No need for such formality. It's good of you to know how to use it with others, but it's entirely unnecessary here." After speaking his hand redirected to make a sweeping gesture along the path of the table "By all means, helps yourself Shinde-Kun." It might have been a bit presumptuous to use the girl's given name rather than her family name, but even without his own dislike for formal conversation, it would still feel odd to address her the same as he addressed her father.

Having given her the go ahead to eat, Chono moved to indulge as well. Quickly a multitude of various morsels made their way onto a plate before him and his tea topped off. Between Chono filling his own plate and none of the staff remaining in the room likely made it obvious that they would be responsible for serving themselves for this meal, although a bell situated on the side of the table might have also made it apparent that the staff were not far away.

"How are you adjusting to your responsibilities?"

Chono's question might have been viewed as blunt in a more formal setting and perhaps even outside of it, but he was not typically one to waste time tiptoeing around a situation when he could avoid it. In his eyes it was easiest to go for the root of the problem if there was one and immediately see to remedying the situation. Unknown to the girl Chono did have one planned lesson to ensure she did indeed understand, but that particular lesson was planned to come later after the meal and only if she gave the impression she might be lacking the knowledge.

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