Dearly Beloved,

It is with every regret that I pen this for your eyes. Your reading this can mean but one thing: that I have left you. I cannot adequately say, my wonderful wife, my strong sons, my brave daughter, how my heart has loved you with its every beat. May my spirit be with you always. Please accept the personal letters which I have left for each of you as tokens of my everlasting devotion.

In the matter of my belongings, I leave the family's parcel of land by the Naka River (described in the deed enclosed) to be divided evenly between the sons and daughter of my natural issue, with the hope that they will share and enjoy it with their step-mother for the rest of her years, or until such a time as one of their own families grows large enough to require the use of it. I trust all of you to do the right thing without legal intervention, and leave no will for any such mechanism.

My unspecified personal belongings I leave to my wife, that she may remember me fondly.

To my sons, I leave my wardrobe to be divided or liquidated as they see fit. I leave them also the family's portion of the Clan's deer, and the contents of my home desk.

To my daughter I leave her mother's wardrobe and personal effects. I leave my personal letters and my calligraphy set. I leave my shinobi tool-belt, and task her with returning my standard flak jacket and forehead protector to the medical corps leaders.

To my brother, Shikatatsu, I leave my jade shogi set, that he may always remember the thoughts and words we have shared.

To Nando, the shopkeeper, I leave my cooking recipes, to be found in my home desk, as thanks for his care and kindness in my illness. My family's days would have been dark indeed without your special curries to cheer them. May the spice that you have brought into our lives be returned one thousand fold.

My office at the hospital I leave to whosoever is named my successor a lead vascular surgeon. This is to include my notes, records, research, and models.

My office desk and all of its contents I leave to Dr. Chi Rippa, the greatest Shinobi it has ever been my pleasure to know. Our clans have had little occasion to interact, but I leave you what little I can in hope that you will accept this offering from a regretful spirit.

I leave to the Nara Clan, pursuant to Konoha law and tradition, my storefront in town with all of its furnishings and trappings. My family has outgrown the need for my humble business, and I plant it as a seed for the future of the clan which I have loved so much in life.

If I have omitted or slighted anyone, I apologize deeply, and attest that it was not my intention. Though my possessions have not stretched adequately to thank you for the roles you have played, my spirit holds no such limit, and looks kindly on you.

I will that my medical and legal fees be paid from the remainder of the profits of my business, and that the Village of Konoha keep my insurance, pension, and veteran's benefits to build a small garden in town to be enjoyed by all.

May it be said that, though I did not die a warrior's death, my path was always one of immediacy. May it be said that, in looking forward, I always held in my vision the image of a brighter and more prosperous Konoha.

With All of my Love,

Dr. Nara Shikanaoe

Shinako was exhausted, but had long since stopped crying. Her father had left his affairs mostly in order, and in the hands of competent lawyers, but out of a personal need for closure, she had been involved every step of the way, going to far as to write all of the thank-you letters for the funeral offerings, as well as the letters informing all of her father's inheritors of his final will.

It was this duty that had brought her to the hospital. The medical corps had not yet named a successor for her father, but her cousin, Nara Shikasugu was to be expected. After tidying and organizing, there was but one task remaining, and that was to successfully pass on the contents of her father's desk to Dr. Chi Rippa.

Unlike everyone else mentioned in her father's will and personal letters, Shinako had not met the young doctor. She had dressed for the occasion, in a fine black kimono made of silk, to signify her mourning. The desk had been sealed in a rather large scroll by Shikanaoe himself before his death, and Shinako had written promptly to Dr. Chi Rippa, introducing herself as the daughter of the Lead Vascular Surgeon and informing him of his inheritance.

Reading over some of her father's personal letters, Shinako waited patiently for the Doctor to arrive. The office was brighter and more open than she remembered, with sunlight pouring through the second-floor bay windows.

873/873

Rippa had been having another simple day of training within the sword saints compound on the day the hospital had notified him of the death of one of the more renowned surgeons in the hospital. He had escorted the man more then once to emergency situations and guarded him. To think such a renowned surgeon would simply pass of natural causes was almost odd. Still he wasn't exactly close enough to go pay his condolences. He would attend the funeral but he wasn't going to spend to much time around the family. In their time of mourning they didn't need public figures trying to make social appearances even if it was an honest one. Politicians might not understand that but he did. His position drew attention from the village and if they caught wind of him around the house they would pester that poor family until something snapped. He didn't care to see a court battle popping up at such a tender time for them so he would keep his distance until it was time to pay his respects. He of course intended to send his condolences to them privately at a later time. However his decision to keep his distance didn't appear to be shared by the passed on old man.

He was sitting down and toasting in his room a single cup of tea to the old man when a set of foot steps seemed to echo down the hall. At the current time of day he had most of his men out doing patrols or training. So his sky blue eyes shifted to the door and his hand reached for one of the swords mounted nearby. He didn't sense any malice from the approaching person but they were in a hurry. Still he had grown cautious and paranoid. If they did come bursting through that door he would throw up a defense rapidly and go for his blade without a seconds hesitation. He could go through the back wall with little issue and open up some space between himself and his opponent if he needed to. Still the foot steps approached and slowed before a shadow appeared in front of his paper door and a hand rose. There was a knock before an envelope was slid under the door and the messenger was on the way. It appeared he had been delivered a message. Quietly he rose from his spot and set his tea on a counter. The moisture leaving a wet mark there that would likely stain as he collected the letter and opened it. Pulling out the missive and scanning over it before sighing. It appeared he had been left the contents of the surgeons desk, likely since he would be consulted on his replacement and it needed to be organized. Still the mans daughter was going to be handling the turn over. At his office no less. Interesting.

Still he would wash himself and change from his robes into a dark suit. Black slacks over shined boots and a belt that held them up. A dark button up tucked into them as he made sure the buttons and tie lined up before he put on his dress coat over it all and buttoned it. Brushing his snow white hair back before opting to not bring his weapons to the hospital. If he needed to fight he had ninjutsu. Though one could hope none were cruel enough to attack a hospital. Instead he finished his tea and ignored the stain before exiting his door and locking it behind himself. Taking the long walk across the courtyard and out of the sword saints compound through the big, heavy oak double doors. He would cut across the market towards the hospital casually and take his pace as a normal person. Only collecting a bottle of water on the way to consume and stay hydrated before he was off again.

He would approach the hospital through the staff entrance to avoid being called upon to heal every little scratch in the waiting room. He could heal anything short of a lost limb but he was running a few minutes late as it was. Still he took the stairs up as he used his badge to get in through each door before coming across a cleared out office. Within was a young lady in a black kimono standing in the sunlight in the empty room. His eye brow would rise before he would raise his right hand in a loose fist to his mouth and cover a blatant cough to get her attention. Waiting until she turned to see him there. Rippa was a tall man with snow white hair, pale skin and sky blue eyes but his shoulders were very broad and he appeared to be a very capable individual. He would smile a warm smile that reflected in his blue eyes and spoke in a calm voice that seemed to warm the room. He was a practiced doctor.

"Good evening miss. I assume you are the one i am to meet here? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Chi Rippa."

861

The view from the hospital, while nothing spectacular, had a way of catching Shinako lost in her own thoughts. She had spent many hours here as a child. After finishing her homework, she would stand on a chair, or kneel on a desk and watch the people of Konoha pass by. For every person she didn't know she created an exciting or scandalous story. The people that she did know were assigned covert and daring operations that they performed all over the village. The streets seemed much emptier now, but her mind still wandered.

The disturbance of her waking dream was startling, though not rude. She clutched one of her father's letters almost instinctively to her chest as she turned and tracked the sound of a slight, deliberate cough. Shinako had never seen a picture of the man, but her suspicion that this might be the person whom she awaited was confirmed when he introduced himself. Dr. Chi Rippa.

Shinako instinctively clicked her traditional geta together and offered a deep, reverent bow. The doctor was known, if not by face, by reputation throughout the village as a talented and nearly peerless Sanin. Seeing his kind demeanor, Shinako put on a sunny smile herself.

"Of course. It is quite the pleasure to meet you, Doctor. I am Nara Shinako, surviving daughter of your colleague, Nara Shikanaoe. I have arranged this meeting to confer my father's warmest regards, both in life and in death."

Shinako's tone was formal, and she bowed again, presenting the scroll that her father had left behind. It possessed red and gold trimming, and was about the size of a man's forearm. Written on the outside of the seal was the doctor's full name.

Something in the young woman was almost hesitant to hand the sealed instrument over. In fact, though she didn't consciously dwell on it in the company of such an esteemed shinobi, Shinako had often felt that week as though she had been giving away little bits and pieces of her father. The feeling was bitter, and sweet, and nearly surreal. She had seen so much grief and admiration over the loss of a man who she had treasured above all others. These gifts were small windows, revealing the way that many others around the village had seen her father.

Her tone took on a plaintive quality, despite her having every intention of remaining stoic and professional in front of such a renowned champion of the village.

"Forgive me for taking up so much of your time with this diversion, but...did you know my father? Much of his professional life as a doctor and a shinobi has remained a secret to me, even to this day."

The kunoichi's eyes flashed with wonder as she ended her bow. Her full height was considerable, especially in her formal shoes, and looking into Dr. Chi's kindly blue eyes she almost forgot her rank and station. Realizing this, she bowed her head slightly again, indicating that if she had offended she was regretful of that fact. Shinako rarely spoke with high ninja, and had very little idea of what their schedules looked like.

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Rippa would pause and blink in surprise at the formality of the scene before him. He spent his days with gruff swordsmen and women and had grown accustomed to cursing and fighting. Not the kind of fighting one expected from fighters but instead a strive to grow stronger together. The conversations and drinking they did was less than proper for most nights but they were good people. To view such traditional clothing and behavior was almost new to him and yet he was familiar with the mannerisms he was expected to respond with. His own heels would slide together and his hands would slip to his sides. His head bowing only slightly less than her own as he was the superior. A matter of honor and station to be recognized with such an occassion. He recognized her greeting which was proper but didn't place her above her station. Still as soon as they were done with bowing he straightened as she spoke. He would pause as she introduced herself as a greiving daughter even with a smile on her face to match his own. He felt a ping of regret for her and her pain. Pity even. However she was already bowing again and passing over a scroll.

Rippa would pause and reach out to accept the large scroll in both hands before looking it over. It was certainly intracite for a desk scroll. He wondered though just how much work he was holding in his hands. He would turn it and consider opening it to confirm the contents and his suspicions of how much work was ahead of him but he wouldn't do so in front of her. Or anyone else in case there was something else hidden within. They were ninja after all so hiding messages was something fairly common in their world. Still as he looked back he noticed her looking into his eyes and was almost startled as she spoke. It was a fair question but he wasn't sure his answer was something she was looking for. Even as she bowed as if realizing he was looking at her now he sighed. He hated being treated overly formally. Still he spoke with only a hint of impatience as he turned the scroll over again.

"Please, enough with the bowing. We are speaking privately and here I am simply another doctor. If you continue on like this you might even develop back problems."

He smiled at the last little joke before he would turn from her and move to the window. Looking out through the clear glass he could feel the warmth of the sun playing across his face as if it were much closer. With day came light and with light came life. A fitting thing to see when thinking of those who passed. He left his back to her which might seem unwise given his position however somehow his guard seemed up. As if even from behind an assault was going to fail. As if he could not be attacked so easily. He placed the scroll down on the window sill and placed one hand in his coat pocket and one hand above his head on the top of the window frame to balance himself as he leaned. Looking out over the bustling village. He spoke again but this time he did so with a softer tone.

"For myself it was different. He never involved his personal life into his professional. I am sure you stayed here while he worked sometimes but when it came to field work with myself he was reserved. I suppose he found it easier working with myself though since I have a background in medical before I was a practicing shinobi. I wonder though...whats within this scroll...after I go through the documents would you like it back? I imagine it holds treasured memories for you."

1511

Doctor Chi's offer was incredibly generous. Shinako hadn't come here expecting to gain the very thing she had been tasked with giving away. In truth, the idea of looking through her father's medical notes and work-product had never even occurred to her. Yes, she had studied and played in this very room as a girl while her father had written medical and mission reports. She remembered medical scrubs and flak-jackets alike.

However, her hesitation at the offer made sense on a deeper level. Even in those times when Shinako would frolic underfoot, it was always as if she was waiting for some invisible wall to come down. In her nascent consciousness, those hours had felt like days of torture and neglect, waiting for the most beloved man in her life to shoot one passing glance in her direction; waiting for a smile; just waiting. Her younger self had eventually learned that the moment of reunion would eventually come. She had learned to accept the separation. It was odd now that such closeness to her father's work would be offered to her so easily.

In a moment of weakness, Shinako almost accepted the Doctor's offer.

"I cannot say that it does, Doctor. Regretfully, I must leave the desk in your care."

While she had not necessarily made her decision out of a sense of fear, Shinako could not help but think back to the horrified moments in which she had learned of her step-mother's grizzly work as a shinobi. There was something in the prospect of learning the same types of things about her father that was almost paralyzingly to her. However, setting that aside, she came to her conclusion as a matter of respect. Nara Shikanaoe had always taken such care to shield his children from his work, revealing the realities of life to them gradually, as they were more ready to understand.

"Though, I must admit that your offer shows far more kindness than I expected."

Shinako almost bowed again. Her last statement, while intended as a phrase of gratitude, tended to betray her implicit biases about both doctors and shinobi. She was afraid that Doctor Chi might think she was insulting him personally. The young woman stuttered almost frantically over her next words, before regaining her composure. A rosy blush shone through her cheeks.

"That is...I-I mean to say...thank you. I have rarely experienced such kindness from Shinobi in general. I do not mean to offend."

Shinako's head bowed, and her stare settled on the space just beneath her honored guest's feet. The strength inherent in his comfort was not lost on her, and something about it was deeply unnerving. She laced her fingers together at her waist almost subconsciously, the dark red tips fingernails standing in stark contrast to her white knuckles as she tried to get a hold of herself and bring the conversation back to a comfortable place. The sign of the snake.

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"I cannot say that it does, Doctor. Regretfully, I must leave the desk in your care."

It was a statement which suprised him after a moment of hesitation. After all he had been close to his father and eager to hold on to anything that might remind him of the man. His own father had passed not too long ago all things considered of a clan based blood disease, or rather at the time he had believed that. An enemy of his had actually been progressing the disease at a much more accelerated pace to the point where treatment was impossible. He had been much like the girl before him now and mostly based on ceremony and politics. His family was known for their work as doctors as well as hers had been though so a part of him understood. Healing others always came before family. He had even been sent into seclusion for his medical studies to become a doctor prior to him advancing his shinobi career. His clan branch held their position as medical masters above all else. It had rise the Angel branch of the clan above the others politically and financially so much so they even had their own wing in the hospital. Likely a couple of his clan members were on the board and he had been expected to be there as well. His decision to become a sword saint had taken the entire clan back. Still he was snapped back from his thoughts as she spoke again.

"Though, I must admit that your offer shows far more kindness than I expected."

His white eyebrows would rise as a small smile would appear on his face as if amused. Had she expected him to be a harsh man? If so he supposed he could understand. He was a sannin and a sword saint so likely she had expected a grizzled warrior covered in scars. Someone with little more than grunts and demands for her. He almost chuckled at the mental image of him standing a foot taller and shoulders as broad as a fridge and a battle axe coated in furs. Still she continued to speak now with a bit of a stutter this time."That is...I-I mean to say...thank you. I have rarely experienced such kindness from Shinobi in general. I do not mean to offend." He would smile softly then with a tinge of sadness in his eyes as she bowed her head. This whole experience must of been rough on her. She was likely as much a victim of the sadness surrounding her fathers death as anyone and yet she was the one to hand out his belongings. Likely she was exhausted both emotionally and physically. Quietly he would step forward as he pocketed the scroll. Slipping it inside of his coat pocket before resting a warm hand on her shoulder. His voice soft as he spoke quietly.

"I imagine this is hard for you. When my father passed I could do little else but shut down. You show more strength than many can manage. It proves your potential both as a shinobi and as a person. Take as much time as you need under my authority in the village as sannin. Grieve however you wish and when you come back remember those feelings. Let yourself be the kind shinobi you want to see in others. For now I must be on my way. Something is brewing in Kiri and I am going to be expected there. If you will excuse me now. I bid you farewell."

Rippa would smile and pat her on her shoulder before bowing his own head respectfully and backing away before turning away and heading out the door. He had preperations to make and people to order about. Sadly he would have to leave his squad to do other things but all the better for them to have room to grow. For now he had work to do and sorting the desk would wait.

Exit thread
2181
2150/2150 Endurance A to A-2

Watching the scroll disappear from sight was a relief. Shinako was not generally a person who subscribed to the mantra 'out of sight, out of mind,' but there was a definite sense of comfort in knowing that her father's will had been faithfully executed. The burden was no longer hers to carry. She almost heaved a sigh of relief, but then the doctor's hand was resting gently on her shoulder, and the release of her pent-up tension seemed unnecessary. His touch practically radiated comfort, and when he spoke it was as though he was reading her mind.

"I imagine this is hard for you. When my father passed I could do little else but shut down. You show more strength than many can manage."

The disclosure of personal information was unexpected, but only added to Shinako's growing esteem of the Shinobi before her. It wasn't simply his complimentary view of what she was doing, but his own humanity, exposed in anecdote that triggered a slight welling of tears in her eyes. She felt like he truly understood.

"It proves your potential both as a shinobi and as a person. Take as much time as you need under my authority in the village as sannin. Grieve however you wish and when you come back remember those feelings."

Shinako nodded at this, and almost bowed again, before Rippa's hand on her shoulder reminded her of the informal nature of this conversation. As Konoha was a military village, this was not simply a platitude. If she were to put in for leave with a Sannin as a reference, it would almost certainly be granted. However, deep down she knew that she would not be asking for any time off. Both personally and professionally, she could not afford to rest.

"Let yourself be the kind shinobi you want to see in others. For now I must be on my way. Something is brewing in Kiri and I am going to be expected there. If you will excuse me now. I bid you farewell."

The man gave another reaffirming pat on Shinako's shoulder, and she returned his bow, slightly confused about his abrupt departure for a few moments. Then she remembered that for her, a Chuunin, to have received even this much of his time was a great honor.

"Thank you, Doctor Chi."

Her thanks were offered to his back, even as he rounded the corner. He could scarcely have been expected to have heard them, though she felt compelled to put her gratitude out into the air. Still, she was left with the question of what was happening in Kirigakure. If she remembered correctly, the Hidden Mist Village was allied in a defense pact with the Hidden Leaf. The information obviously could not have been classified, as the doctor had disclosed it, so she made a mental note to inquire with her superiors.

Shinako gave one last glance out of the window of her father's office, knowing that it would probably be the last time. She smiled softly, enjoying it as much as she possibly could.

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