The last of my 'visits' to see how the girls are behaving with the arranged marriage's proposals was not Himeko.
I actually asked Hirotada if he could spare me some time off from his duties as heir to assist me with the current situation. He had grown wisely and had taken steps to make his rise to lordship the turning point for the Caged Bird issue having taken a few lessons from Lady Mito to develop good enough counters to what the Elders had on the Branch family.
It wasn't meant to outright remove it, but put a limiter on the outward control owned by the elders. So, when the takeover happened and he ordered the end of the practice, any traitorous bastard that tried to activate the seals to kill half the clan away out of spite would only end up noticed and killed before real damage could be done. Ruthless, but reasonably effective in preventing a massacre of a greater kind.
Still, as we sat down, the conversation didn't go immediately towards Himeko as I decided to check on how Hirotada was doing with his life. Beyond the clan's mess, he had been working with his father to slowly shift the clan in a more medical-related business- the Byakugan offered great insight that many doctors could really need in handling intense operations that could result in dismemberment or death.
The Hyuuga doctors, mostly from the Branch family, were essential in bolstering the chances of survival for those subjected to fatal accidents or missions gone wrong. It was a process met with some oppositions, but the good-work had gotten the Hyuuga Clan new titles in regard to their contribution to medicine.
It was reason of pride for Hirotada and helped in setting him up for the good mood I needed him to be at.
"I am glad to hear that but... I have to ask-"
"Himeko?" He interjected, knowing full well I had gone around this topic for a full hour now. He couldn't fully blame me as he gave me a rather unusual perspective for what happened with his sister. "She has gotten 'wiser' in her own way."
The mere word could mean so many things, but people would think of that only if they forgot who Himeko was. The main point was that Himeko had started to actually go through 'harsh housewife training' to understand and become one of the most faithful, devoted, and efficient housewives in the entire village. Some were fairly standard stuff like how to handle house chores, but others were taken to a very deranged degree.
Such as her taking a fixation on knowing how to fold clothes perfectly. Himeko would go door to door for each Hyuuga family and ask the women there to help her with that art, at the price of being the one doing their job. She literally did three days-worth of clothes-folding and cleaning for the clan for free and without a single complaint.
That was dedication... of the scary kind.
"She will not try to kill the others," Hirotada assured without hesitation, which really wasn't much considering that didn't cover for 'harming' anyone. "Still, she will be very competitive. And feisty. Lady Mito gave her a book on sex positions."
I felt blood draining from my face at that last revelation. "W-Why did she do that?"
"Truth be told, I don't know," My old friend admitted, shaking his head with a sad smile on his face. "But I am sure you will handle her. You and your other wives."
"...Reira told you."
"She asked if I would feel upset if that was how things were to go," Hirotada confirmed. "I mean, I can't blame her, but I find this to be the best outcome possible. That and also because my sister would be able to retain some sanity in due time with other girls keeping watch of her antics."
"So, I became the only solution to your sister's obsession. You know, despite being her obsession."
"There's not much I can do without causing a mess either way," The young man remarked. "But I know you will pull through this too. Like usual, with insane odds stacked against you."
"...I am starting to hate that. Being the odd-defier."
"Tough luck," Hirotada retorted mirthfully. "You should have known that would have come back to haunt your ass."
...Dangit, he is right.
The rest of the visit went through smoothly as we went back to talk about the village in general. There were rumors that Hashirama had been considering the creation of a Village Council from some pushes by Tobirama, but that the idea had been set aside many times for a reason or another. I wasn't exactly sure how to handle that one, but I was sure that it wasn't going to get as fucky as it did in Canon. Not with Hiruzen and I around to block any attempts of the civilians from gaining too much power.
As much as I was a child of democracy at heart, that had no meaning within a world where there was still a massive difference between Chakra-users and not. As I left to get back home, I felt like I had gone through all the preliminary steps needed to plan out some moves for this 'harem', but I was quite unaware that two elements had yet to make their interest on the matter known.
And one of them was more concerned than the other about it.
"Kiara is what?"
"Planning a marriage with us stuck together," Calli said again, her voice mirroring the same awkwardness and unease she had back when she delivered the news the first time around.
It was just the two of us in my room and I had been busy writing a few things down on what I could do next as I planned to go back to 'partial service' in the Ninja Corps. Hashirama had sent me a letter with the intent of hiring me as part of the Hokage administration in an advisory positions toward diplomatic endeavors due to my experience, but that job also gave me lots of free time I could invest somehow.
I had plans to put more resources in civilian-centered resources and keep an hold on the economy for the years to come- while also setting up steps to eventually break things up in various businesses to hand to well-deserving people that wouldn't fuck them up in the distant future.
So, when Calli, now wearing a gorgeous black kimono, reverse-summoned into my room and brought up quite the crazy news in regard to Kiara.
Kiara knew that I had received the proposals, and our recent meeting after a solid month of missed talks felt a bit too tame compared to what I had expected. She was happy, yes, but the phoenix bore a degree of secrecy through these interactions that further expanded when the arranged marriages came to her attention.
The fact she had been plotting for this big plan actually left me baffled and rather nervous to what it implied. Especially in Calli's way as she was meant to tag along for this wild ride. And when I asked her opinion on the matter, the answer was just as confusing as one would imagine.
"I don't hate it, and I find you a... nice guy- but let's be rational here."
"Too rushed?" I guessed and she nodded.
"Y-Yeah like, I would want some time to get that sort of thoughts gone through and- I don't want you to take it as an insult, but right now I see you more as a close friend."
"It's not an insult and thank you for the honesty."
"Then there's... that," The pinkette argued, blushing a bit. "Do you know how difficult it is to find someone that can actually listen without pushing me left and right? Even sensei does that and... I don't like it. Which is why I kind of don't... dislike the idea of going for it."
"You want to date?"
"Let's start with hangouts," She replied nervously. "Please."
I smiled. "Sure. You can seat if you want. No reason to stand for that long."
"Aren't you... busy?"
"Just finishing writing a letter. Nothing big, just a response to a job offer," I answered calmly. "How about you tell me more about the kimono? Kiara's idea or-"
"Kiara asked for a change from my usual stuff. I found she was fair with the request and I liked this one," Calli interrupted, smiling a bit. "You like?"
"It looks good on you."
Her smile widened a bit more. "So... how was the Land of Iron?"
"Similar to the other countries but also quite different. Lots of reliance on Samurai and less bandits as many youths are given better work businesses without issues tied to war."
"Hm, what about that 'goddess' thing you released."
"The Genryu- I would say it's less of me planning this and more of my actions being used to let that happen. Which is good news since the Reibi was absorbing all the power and getting close to become the second coming of the Juubi."
Calli nodded and we spent the remainder of the day talking about how life has been for the two of us. This new development was going to take more time to handle, but I could at least rely on the levelheaded shinigami-in-training to be of help when needed.
After all, the peace that was currently in my social circle could easily break soon as the planned date was just around the corner...