[Uchiha Izusa]

In the lone schoolroom

---

Much had happened in such a short time that was enough to make anyone's head spin.

Drama at the first clan get-together in a while, an uptick in his own training brought on by perceived shortcomings, and most shocking of all to him— some sort of breakdown in the chain of command in the structure of Root.

Of course there was still hierarchy as some captains were still active and issuing orders, but even he at the bottom of the ladder could tell that something had changed. Late-night meetups canceled without notice, a slowing of actual orders... on one hand it allowed him to focus more on his teaching, but on the other? It was deeply worrying.

There were plenty of things that he liked and surprises were not counted among that list. For now, all he could do was his duty. Fulfill his scant commands as best he could and place his trust in his superiors to restore order.

To that end he was spending some of his free time today helping to clean up around Konoha's academy. A school full of ninja schoolchildren had no shortage of messes incurred in its day-to-day operations. Dummy shuriken scattered about, training equipment left out exposed to the elements, chewing gum. The stuff was near everywhere.

Once he had swept up outside on the training grounds he found himself back in his own classroom, quietly picking up while his mind raced about the goings-on of late. Yoshinobu, especially. The man was a problem for more reasons than one. When he had the time he needed to speak with Daredemo one-on-one. To see how the boy felt...

...and decide what was to be done about his father, if anything. Though the child's words were still burned into his brain. 'None of you have ever stood in his way have you?' was like a dagger drawn across his mind. "No we haven't."

Frustration as he pondered it all. If only he had been more present, less focused on his nightly work. But while it was too late to right that wrong... there was still time to make up for it. To be there for the younger members of his extended family. Izusa was not the ideal role model at least in his estimation. But he could and would protect them.

---

[Reiashi Gure]

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Reiashi was ever the workaholic, even if he refused to admit it. So despite having already had several interviews with concerned parents; talking with the various trouble children of Konohagakure's academy, and countless hours spent balancing the various behind the scene work of the academy- the white haired Uzumaki had decided to add house cleaning to his list of chores today. So, with his hair held back in a messy bun and a yellow apron around his torso, Reiashi had spent the last hour sweeping the academy grounds with a borderline obsessive efficiency.
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The thoughts that occupied Reiashi during these times to outsider would seem chaotic and nonsensical, with his mind jumping into three seemingly unrelated subjects in less than a second simply due to the young adoptive Gure having noticed a strange pattern in the dust he was currently sweeping. Yet to Reiashi's own mind, the jump from dust to rabbits to cuddling was as logical as could be. As a matter of fact, the high level of energy his mind contained to speed through connections others would take at least a few seconds to make was what allowed him to be the busy sport he always was. Balancing two jobs, constantly taking the roll of peacemaker in countless arguments, not to mention both combat and diplomatic missions would overwhelm and burn out most shinobi. Thankfully, his unbelievable energy- even by Uzumaki standards- allowed him the ability to not only work his hardest at each job, but rewarded him for juggling each task, allowing each to dangle in the air as he gave the individual task the care it needed before he had to switch to another.
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Of course, the shinobi was still human, and the times he got to truly relax were few and far between. These times were almost exclusively when he was alone, although a number of friends he could count on his fingers were among those he trusted enough to see him outside of the upstanding yet goofy shinobi he always presented has. Even fewer had the pleasure of knowing the various incidents of his mind that, though faded, choose to occasionally rise to the forefront and plague his life. Reiashi was experienced in almost every aspect of shinobi life; balancing the inconsistent down time with being able to abandon everything should a mission show, or now where he was so busy that both missions and downtime were rare. The stress of political missions and the threat of combat assignments, loss of long ones and scars that could heal and fade but never leave him. As such, it was rather easy for the chuunin to notice the signs of stress even in far more experienced and controlled shinobi.
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So when the silver eyed Gure entered the classroom Izusa oversaw, not only was he surprised to see the Uchiha still present; but also looking as exhausted as he had ever seen him. There would be a moments pause before Reiashi took on his trademark gentle smile and entered the room. "You look exhausted. Don't tell me one of the kids I had to speak to earlier was one of yours."

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[Uchiha Izusa]

A kind man replies

---

Fortunately he wouldn't have to dwell on his thoughts for too long, as he was soon joined by the Head Instructor of the Academy. "Ah, Reiashi-kacho." He said once he was addressed, pausing his cleaning to bow his head respectfully.

Under normal circumstances Izusa didn't much enjoy formality when others referred to him, but he always did his best to mind his manners when addressing others. It helped with his cover. "It's the bags, isn't it?" Izusa replied to the young man, a small smile of his own gracing his lips as he pointed a joking finger underneath one of his eyes.

In truth, his duties rarely allowed for much rest. When he wasn't teaching here during the day, he was normally busy skulking around at night. "I've been meaning to catch up on some sleep." Try as he might, it rarely came easy to him these days. As for the comment about a kid being spoken to he pursed his lips. "Kaneda again?" He thought to himself. The child was known for his outbursts but like with all of his students Izusa did his best to give him guidance. "I hope they weren't one of mine... was it a boy throwing practice kunai in the halls?" If Reiashi had spoken with him he wasn't the one who sent him there. Maybe he'd been causing some ruckus outside of class?

Or perhaps it'd been another student altogether? Either way his tired smile remained as he set aside his broom and threw some crumpled papers in a trash bin near his desk. "To tell the truth, I didn't expect anyone else to still be here." He said, nodding to the Head Instructor's apron. "I take it you're burning the candle at both ends as well?" The academy was big and after any given day there was plenty of need for cleaning. Seeing Reiashi take up some of that burden was a heartening sight for a boss. He paused, then looked the man over. "How have you been?" Izusa asked.

Quite some time had passed since they'd had a proper one-on-one conversation. And anything to help take his mind off of other matters was a welcome distraction. While he waited for the man's response, he would go about tidying up the mess of papers atop his desk. Homework, evaluations, tests— all marked in his signature messy handwriting.

---

[Reiashi Gure]

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Reiashi would return the bow to Izusa, having long since acknowledged that pretending one did not deserve respect not only spoke poorly of his self esteem- but other's judgement as well. Analytical as ever; Reiashi was taking in any detail he could of the Uchiha academy instructor. The bags are indeed present, yet the depth to which they sat hinted that they were a far more constant source than this new thought eating at him. The weight on his shoulders are a far greater indicator of his stress, a break from his usual controlled demeanor. The smile is small, but the muscles are not pulling with great force. Practiced, poised, precise. So that was what Reiashi looked like when he did it. The chuunin had to wonder how much the ease of which he caught it was the fact that he himself has also deployed the same tactic Izusa was using, and how much of it was mistakenly believing he was some grand actor.
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Rising again, the duo would maintain eye contact for a short while, continuing their discussion of the common Academy incidents. As the dark haired mirror seemed to think on the subject, Reiashi continued to study him. His lips purse almost subconsciously, he's thinking through this days incidents- I should speak to Daredemo about that again. Although... perhaps that was not necessary. "With how many I get, I must admit it can be difficult to recall each inciting incident. But to answer your question; I do not recall any such reports among those brought to me." With that the subject would move slowly to the two shinobi being present far after when they were supposed to leave, although Reiashi did not intend to let the subject fully die. Simply be placed on the shelf for a short while.
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"I prefer to think of it as ensuring the best quality I can give for the academy." Reiashi would state in response to the idea of burning himself out. Yet with how long it had been since he talked to someone about something that wasn't related directly to his job, it was hard to say he didn't wish for a break. "Although, perhaps you're not entirely incorrect." The young man would scratch the back of his head nervously, aware of how often he too ignored rest for the sake of putting what he believed he owed into his work. As the conversation flowed to him, Reiashi was not entirely sure what to answer. "In all honesty I am as busy as I've ever been... and despite that I don't really have any to say. I have managed a balance between the Orphanage, her and the barrier Corps- but that balance has meant that everything has become bit repetitive." With a small pause, Reiashi would see the other shinobi begin to tidy up, which the Chuunin chose to as his chance to start sweeping while he spoke. "Although... admittedly it's left little room for anything else."

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[Uchiha Izusa]

Children write and sing

---

Lies, avoidance, omittance... at this point, such things were second nature to him.

How long had it been since he'd told someone the whole truth? At least since his recruitment into Root... but maybe even further back than that. Under his father's critical eye neither him nor his siblings were ever truly themselves.

Always some kind of act, always pretending, never at ease. Once, he'd been able to discuss his true feelings with Sagara and his mother if nobody else. But even those days were now long gone. "That's a relief." Izusa said with a weak smile to the Head Instructor's response to his question. Notoshi Kaneda was a good kid, just a bit rough around the edges. Maybe one of their talks had stuck after all? "Of course. If I'm swamped, I'm sure it's even worse for you."

A small laugh followed after as he continued to tidy up his desk. 'Ensuring the best quality' sounded a lot more pleasant than simply being a workaholic. But even now he could feel Reiashi's astute gaze on him. They were around the same age and had known each other for quite some time... so he was almost certain the young man could tell that Izusa was struggling with something. Hiding something. But despite that and their friendship of some years...

...he was forbidden from sharing. Though that didn't mean that they couldn't talk about things in a roundabout sort of way. "Finding a balance and maintaining it are things easier said than done." Izusa responded, tucking the stack of papers away in a thick folder before returning to his broom. "Between my duties here and my obligations to my family... well, I know what you mean about repetition." Another smile graced his lips but his eyes were still tired.

Something that they both had in common, it seemed. "How long has it been since you've had any downtime?" He asked the young man, taking the broomstick and hand as he joined him in sweeping the opposite end of the room. 

---

[Reiashi Gure]

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It was amazing what small details could be revealed in simple conversations. The slight pauses; choice of words; even body language as nothing was said, all of it could tell you so much about a person. Reiashi had learned to pick on these facts in short glimpses, working them in among other activities. As he paused to move the dustpan over, sweeping a rather large pile of various bits of dirt and other trash, Reiashi managed to get an informed glimpse at Izusa. His gaze is distant, looking beyond his surroundings. He's thinking on something within the past. The white haired Uzumaki would almost immediately resume sweeping, utilizing his mind's rapid movement to his advantage, minimizing the gaps between actions.
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Reiashi would chuckle ever so slightly at the Uchiha's commentary. It certainly was not an inaccurate statement to say the least. It was strange for Reiashi, having been heavily invested in the academy even when he was still in it, he could remember times where he offered Izusa assistance. The false Gure could even recall times he pointed less experienced students to Izusa specifically for a tutor closer to their age. Yet despite that, he couldn't recall much of their time together after the academy. Although perhaps that was not that abnormal. How often do I see Yuna, or Akari and the others? An occasional mission or hunting exercise and I'll have one afternoon to talk with most of them. Given how much I and Izusa mirror each other, we must have even less time to catch up. 'Leaves room for little else' indeed.
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Perhaps he was overthinking, letting that worry wort of a subconscious tell him things that weren't there. It was entirely possible that the young man's rampant perfectionism was beginning to finally seep into the world around him, and by extension those he surrounded himself with. Yet Reiashi had played this game far too long to not see when someone was setting up for a bit of verbal translation. Family was an interesting note to choose for the opening, one Reiashi was intimately familiar with as an Uzumaki."I imagine so. I'm lucky the Gure do not cling to family gathering as much as the Uzumaki do, or I'd have even less time." He could remember the intense fight he had gotten into when he had changed his name from Uzumaki Torashi to Gure Reiashi. Such a strange thing to fight over in Reiashi's mind, to argue if it was wrong to pay respect to the man who had helped raise him long before his parent's death. Still, he hadn't really given his family a point to argue one, given the red tattoo that dominated a majority of his left arm. But his reply added little Isuza did not already know. It simply allowed the conversation to flow onward, acknowledging that Izusa were now talking around the subject.
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As the slightly younger Uchiha joined his old friend in sweeping, the silver eyed shinobi would begin to move a slightly increased pace as to not have Izusa take up his slack. "Whenever it was it was a long time ago... I think... it was back when Kazui first became a chuunin. Or perhaps it was when Miroru did." Everything blurred together so much at this point.

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[Uchiha Izusa]

Study, read, and learn

---

Just as the Gure's mind turned to days past, so too did his own. Memories of their time together at Konoha's academy drifted in and out of his head. Even back then Reiashi had seemed a natural leader... so it was no wonder he'd risen.

Izusa on the other hand had always been the quiet sort. Kind enough, but lacking the magnetism that came so effortlessly to someone like Reiashi. He recalled even being inspired to join his makeshift student club back in their day. "Funny." He thought as he tended to his sweeping. "I'd nearly forgotten about that." It felt like a lifetime ago.

Well before many branching life choices and years of hard work. In truth... their paths had long since diverged. In spite of that he still considered the young man a good friend. One of the few. Which was why even here and now...

The instructor knew that Reiashi saw clear through his carefully constructed façade. "Hm..." He hummed in thought as the Gure spoke of family gatherings. "Well, if their gatherings are anything like my clan's, that might be for the best." A small laugh followed his reply. Izusa knew little of how the other village's clans operated at least internally.

He could really only hope that the rest of Konoha's shinobi families were nowhere near as dramatic and prone to in-fighting as his own. Not that the Uchiha held a monopoly on public theatre... but they were damn good at it. As he continued to sweep, he stayed mostly silent. Occasionally glancing over to Reiashi and almost chuckling at the young man's fervor. "Always putting one hundred and ten percent into everything..." The thought crossed his mind as he watched the Gure pick up his pace. It was an admirable quality as far as he was concerned and something he'd always respected about him. Though it did stir another line of thinking that had already been brewing in his head... "I'm not the only one wearing a mask." Something he'd known about Reiashi for some time. He hid the fact well— as well as even himself which was quite the feat. Having to keep up this act for so long was the only reason he recognized it.

An unspoken shared experience that both of them rarely acknowledged but knew to be true. Izusa caught himself soon enough and his astute gaze softened as the Gure spoke again. "That long huh?" The time between Miroru and Kazui becoming chūnin had to be quite a large gap. But the years blending together he could certainly sympathize with. "It sounds like you're overdue for a vacation." He replied, briefly glancing up from his broom with a smile.

Both of them were... but something told him that wasn't about to change. Too much work to do and too little time to do it all. "If you ever need a break, we could always play Go together like the old days." He continued, leaning against his broom for a moment as he smiled. It'd been too long since he'd faced his old friend and he couldn't help but wonder if he'd improved. Another thing was eating at him though... and so eventually he asked a follow-up question.

"Have you talked to Kazui-san recently at all? Or Miroru-chan for that matter?" As he did, his smile faded just a touch. The instructor knew of Reiashi and Kazui's closeness, but he wasn't sure how often they spoke. If he'd talked to either, he most likely knew of the unfortunate turn their meeting had taken. Which begged another question...

...how did Reiashi feel about it all? Izusa had always seen the young man as measured and even-headed, and he was curious if he came to the same conclusion as he had. So while he waited he would continue with his cleaning.

---

[Reiashi Gure]

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Reiashi's eyes would sharpen for the shortest of moments when Izusa spoke of the discomfort caused by his family gathering. So it was about that. The silver haired Gure could recall his time with Izusa back in the academy, and a few choice encounters as genin. The duo's encounters often bordered on tragically brief, but Reiashi always found them to be memorable. Be it both trying to help each other in the academy, spars and cross team missions as genin, or even games of Go they would often get up to back when the duo still had free time. Their interactions always had been made of equal parts politeness, intrigue, and later appreciation for the other. It was strange to think one could build so strong a friendship, disappear for ages, and then suddenly continue as if nothing happened. A large comfort in a world of unknowns and constant change.
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It also gave the steel eyed Uzumaki a fairly decent read on the coal eyed Uchiha. The man who was now an academy teacher was always the quiet sort, minding his own business far more often than not. As an adult, Reiashi was certain he wasn't the type to openly discuss his struggles. Still, forcing it was not going to help at all, so for now the two would continue their layered conversation. "The offer is tempting to say the least." The adoptive Gure would admit. "I am actually free this evening, once we're done here of course."
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With that offer silent, and no rush to answer, the conversation would flow back towards the Uchiha. His eyes aren't entirely focused, he's still preoccupied by what happened. Tension returns to his shoulders and arms, he leans against his broom as he sweeps a large pile to hide this fact. Although subtle, the corners of his mouth are pulling as pleasantly as they were earlier, almost as if he's holding the smile in place.[/i] In an attempt to somewhat relieve the tension, Reiashi would start his answer with a slight joke. "Kazui has been busy unfortunately, although Miroru did break into my office recently. That was a fun interaction." With that, came the hard part: easing into what Reiashi knew, without doing so harshly. "I'm afraid between my duties here and at the Gure Orphanage, I don't have much free time. Speaking of, I thought you'd want to know this: Daredemo will be remaining at my orphanage for the time being, until he's joined the Hatake officially."

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