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Citation: Hana is an heir-trained jonin with a bloodline that didn't commit mass treason, who's sister is Mizukage. We've seen them try to convince Hazou enough that it's likely they'll at least never say no to taking Hana back with moderate negotiations. Plus considering the state of Mist, another jonin in the mizu's clan certainly can't hurt her perception of strength.

Edit: oh, and sister love and all that mushy junk
 
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I am very concerned about subjecting The Ami to a long, boring, insultingly pedantic lecture on things she already knows and understands. She is an astoundingly successful social-spec jounin. Her error was in regarding Hazou as being enlightened enough to operate on a higher level than he was and she immediately recalibrated when that proved not to be the case. Open communication doesn't resolve anything when there is no miscommunication or misunderstanding left to resolve.


She and Hazou exchange mail I believe
So Hazou probably knows even if we don't

Literally treason. It didn't have to be- heck, the two of them could have had open visas to visit each other whenever they wanted, but the thread decided that that would be a bad thing.

However, we know that the primary diplomat to Leaf is a Kurosawa, and still haven't made the time to meet with them to see if there are any diplomatic packages being carried.


Probably not on the table in the near future. Stealing a jounin from Mist this way would politically be too big a deal, and would probably sink the alliance immediately. Plus, I think Ren was trying to get Hana to re-join the Kurosawa? @faflec help me out here plx.

She already rejoined in exchange for a liaison position.
 
Probably not on the table in the near future. Stealing a jounin from Mist this way would politically be too big a deal, and would probably sink the alliance immediately. Plus, I think Ren was trying to get Hana to re-join the Kurosawa? @faflec help me out here plx.

Here:
My legal status with the clan is a bit hazy right now, but I'm sure I could convince Ren to reinstate me.

But that was more than half a year ago. So who knows.


We asked Asuma, back when we talked with him about the Yasuji deal.

edit: I don't think we actually send a letter, but maybe it is really off-screen.
 
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Open communication doesn't resolve anything when there is no miscommunication or misunderstanding left to resolve.
Are you suggesting that not only has Ami realized and accepted that she rocketed her foot into her mouth at speeds that would astound The Sage, but she accepts that the resulting anger from Hazou was not only something a 10 year old could see coming but was entirely deserved for her impatience as well as casual and pointless cruelty towards nominally liked family?
 
I'd like to eventually reunite her with Hazou on a more permanent basis, but I'm going to need some kind of reassurance that she won't go breaking Mari again at the drop of a hat.
Oh, clearly we need to just move to the 'ol reliable, right?

I actually think we should fix this AND increase relations with Mist by giving Hana a summoning scroll (that we found).

Here is my calculus there:

1) There is a certain threshold of #SummoningScrolls above which everyone else will just decide to take a chance on kicking Leaf's shit in.
2)Mist relations could use some improving.
3)Above almost all individuals save maybe Ami, Hana has probably the most vested interest in Leaf remaining very safe and prosperous— we live there.
4) A happy Hana allows for more wiggle room for Ren than not. On paper, Ren is The Boss(TM) and can order Hana to do anything. In practice, people and loyalties don't work like that. More grease for the wheels is always, always good on the leadership side, especially if its freely given by a third party.
5) This contributes to a variety of factors that benefit Operation Keep Hazou Out Of My Fucking Hair.
6) It allows for some quick trade + communication that supersedes ANBU Prime delivery speeds. Pretty important for allied parties.
 
We would have to find more though.

Bonus points for working with Ami on this in a way that makes us both look good.
It could work, yes. I'm just dreading the consequences of such an intensely warped and reckless individual being in the possession of a summoning scroll.
 
Do we have any idea what's been happening to Hana this whole time!?
For next voting stage: [X] Interlude: Kurosawa Hana
She and Hazou exchange mail I believe
So Hazou probably knows even if we don't
She's probably upset that she doesn't get to see her son growing up. I am sympathetic towards her plight, but she has absolutely created this situation for herself out of nothing but spite, and then proceeded to double-down on that being the right decision, so I can't muster the motivation to prioritize fixing it. She could be an incredible asset for us, but she's gone and made herself a liability instead.

I'd like to eventually reunite her with Hazou on a more permanent basis, but I'm going to need some kind of reassurance that she won't go breaking Mari again at the drop of a hat.

It's probably because of my situation with my own biological relatives, but I actually have very little sympathy for Hana. I can understand how this all came about, of course. Maybe she and Mari didn't have the best working relationship back in Mist (maybe they were even like the Hag and the Goketsu). Hana's feeling overprotective of her son because her husband's dead, her sister was forced to abandon her for her life choices (voluntary or not, that's got to hurt), Hana has the issue of not seeing her son as the young man he is but as the child who needed padding and learned to walk late in life (because Iron Nerve). Hana has missed Hazou's maturing and refuses to see it, because that would mean acknowledging that things can never really go back to the way they were. And maybe Hana doesn't like how her son as changed. He's happily living in a foreign country, eating their food and wearing their clothes, and protecting/uplifting the enemy people.

All of that I could forgive. It might take a few years and a mountain of serious conversations, but I could forgive Hana for it. Save for how Hana treated Mari. What she did to Mari was inexcusable. I can understand the frustrations, slights, and the repressed rage that spawned such actions, but I cannot condone it. Personally, were I Hazou, I would've cut Hana out of my life. But I am not Hazou.

Still, like @Eisenhelm pointed out: we can ask her about some of the more pressing dangers to the Iron Nerve, like how a pregnancy should be handled, and how a baby with the Iron Nerve needs to be cared for. It won't come up for another few in-game ears, but when it does, Hazou can bond with his mother over that.

Literally treason. It didn't have to be- heck, the two of them could have had open visas to visit each other whenever they wanted, but the thread decided that that would be a bad thing.

However, we know that the primary diplomat to Leaf is a Kurosawa, and still haven't made the time to meet with them to see if there are any diplomatic packages being carried.
We asked Asuma, back when we talked with him about the Yasuji deal.

I also suspect that Hazou has absolutely zero personal affection for the Kurosawa clan, beyond whatever it might mean to his mother. From his perspective, they turned his mother out for loving a man they didn't care for, subjected his mother and himself to a life of poverty where Hazou turned to crime to make ends meet, and they circled him like vultures once his father died, trying to find a way to coerce/force him into their clan.

Hell, I could very well see the Kurosawa leveraging Hazou's relationship with Mist's Yakuza to get rid of him. He was, after all, a mere genin. Worth the loss if it means that Ren could sweep in to comfort her sister, remind her that she has a loving familial support network, and gradually bring Hana (a jonin) back into the clan. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But Hazou's seen how dirty Clan politics can get in Leaf (Minami and the Hyuuga), so I can imagine he'd at least have his suspicions about what the Kurosawa might've been able to get away with in Mist.

I actually think we should fix this AND increase relations with Mist by giving Hana a summoning scroll (that we found).
I can, logically, see all of your points as well-made and see the inherent merit within them (especially the part about working with Ami). The idea with giving Ren a power boost like that leaves a sour taste in my mouth... but I'd probably vote for the plan with only minor grumbling.
 
Literally treason. It didn't have to be- heck, the two of them could have had open visas to visit each other whenever they wanted, but the thread decided that that would be a bad thing.

However, we know that the primary diplomat to Leaf is a Kurosawa, and still haven't made the time to meet with them to see if there are any diplomatic packages being carried.
I'm pretty sure this is the 'ANBU read your letter three times over and have a crypto guy go over it before it leaves the city gates' sort of mail, which isn't treason as long as Hazou sticks to doing what he's supposed to be doing with it (which he has every reason to keep doing).
So Hazou isn't going to have bio mom join the Gouketsu ever then?
The alternate way for this situation to occur is if Mari works through enough of her issues to stand up to Hana, at which point Hana could do her 'blah blah you're awful' and Mari could shrug it off and the two of them could maintain passive-aggressive harmony-ish. Point is, we don't want Hana to break Mari, but if we can't stop Hana from taking a swing we can make sure Mari's strong enough to take it.
 
Research the area where the afterlife portal was
Quick note: The portal was a bit north of Todoroki Shrine on O'uza Island. That's about 700 miles from Leaf, which is 5-ish days of ninja running if you don't want to arrive exhausted. Hazō has obligations in Leaf, notably including Harumitsu's training, meaning that he can't afford to take two weeks off without a very good reason. He's more familiar with the map than the players have any reason to be, so we're simply going to treat it as though this part of the plan wasn't there.
 
Quick note: The portal was a bit north of Todoroki Shrine on O'uza Island. That's about 700 miles from Leaf, which is 5-ish days of ninja running if you don't want to arrive exhausted. Hazō has obligations in Leaf, notably including Harumitsu's training, meaning that he can't afford to take two weeks off without a very good reason. He's more familiar with the map than the players have any reason to be, so we're simply going to treat it as though this part of the plan wasn't there.
Congratulations @faflec on your plan winning! :p
 
Quick note: The portal was a bit north of Todoroki Shrine on O'uza Island. That's about 700 miles from Leaf, which is 5-ish days of ninja running if you don't want to arrive exhausted. Hazō has obligations in Leaf, notably including Harumitsu's training, meaning that he can't afford to take two weeks off without a very good reason. He's more familiar with the map than the players have any reason to be, so we're simply going to treat it as though this part of the plan wasn't there.
So do you all think Kagome would be comfortable with going there without Hazou --provided that he has sufficient protection? On one hand it makes me feel a little uncomfortable, since that's a little close to some of the stuff Kagome's old village* forced him to do (my mind goes to the one interlude where Kagome found an enemy's lair through the remnants of food left in feces). On the other hand, it's interesting research and it needs to be done. Perhaps if we make the protection detail strictly OG Uplift (Akane, Noburi, and maybe Keiko), then maybe that would reframe it from "forced research" to "family outing?" (especially if we stress the "this is voluntary, we can find another way" aspect of it).

*if we ever find out what village Kagome is from (and it wasn't erased via sealing failure) then I want to blow it up. I want to help Kagome come up with the Biggest Boom Seal and raze it to the ground so that Kagome can do his Happy Dance on the ashes.
 
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I am very concerned about subjecting The Ami to a long, boring, insultingly pedantic lecture on things she already knows and understands.

Have you read the winning plan? Where's the long, boring and insultingly pedantic lecture?

She is an astoundingly successful social-spec jounin. Her error was in regarding Hazou as being enlightened enough to operate on a higher level than he was and she immediately recalibrated when that proved not to be the case.

No, she didn't. What she did was fuck up, then double down on it and challenge a Clan Head's authority publicly in their own home, and then throw a childish tantrum about how much of an idiot he is for not acting the way she expected. Have you actually read the chapter from her perspective where Mari punishes her? Does that internal narration really sound to you like she's dispassionately recalibrated and moved on?

Open communication doesn't resolve anything when there is no miscommunication or misunderstanding left to resolve.

If there's one thing this whole mess has demonstrated, is that Ami's model of Hazou is far from accurate. The reason we're talking to her is to make it clear we'd like to reconcile and move on. I think it's far from certain from her perspective, that this is what we want right now.

It's probably because of my situation with my own biological relatives, but I actually have very little sympathy for Hana. I can understand how this all came about, of course. Maybe she and Mari didn't have the best working relationship back in Mist (maybe they were even like the Hag and the Goketsu). Hana's feeling overprotective of her son because her husband's dead, her sister was forced to abandon her for her life choices (voluntary or not, that's got to hurt), Hana has the issue of not seeing her son as the young man he is but as the child who needed padding and learned to walk late in life (because Iron Nerve). Hana has missed Hazou's maturing and refuses to see it, because that would mean acknowledging that things can never really go back to the way they were. And maybe Hana doesn't like how her son as changed. He's happily living in a foreign country, eating their food and wearing their clothes, and protecting/uplifting the enemy people.

All of that I could forgive. It might take a few years and a mountain of serious conversations, but I could forgive Hana for it. Save for how Hana treated Mari. What she did to Mari was inexcusable. I can understand the frustrations, slights, and the repressed rage that spawned such actions, but I cannot condone it. Personally, were I Hazou, I would've cut Hana out of my life. But I am not Hazou.

Still, like @Eisenhelm pointed out: we can ask her about some of the more pressing dangers to the Iron Nerve, like how a pregnancy should be handled, and how a baby with the Iron Nerve needs to be cared for. It won't come up for another few in-game ears, but when it does, Hazou can bond with his mother over that.

With respect, I think you may be projecting your own experiences a bit too much on this situation. All the factors you mention do matter, but they're overshadowed by a massive elephant: That Mari nearly killed Hazou by picking him for the Hidden Swamp mission. And while he ultimately didn't die, they were separated for a long time, most of which Hana spent believing he *had* died. Hana is absolutely correct that this is Mari's fault, and has all the reason in the world to hate her for it. I think it's really easy to forget just how terrible of a chain of events this was in Hana's life from our perspective. I really, really don't blame her for hating Mari.

What I do blame her for, is ultimately valuing that hatred higher than being able to permanently reunite with Hazou. I do also think she ended up blaming Mari for essentially all the changes in her relationship with Hazou, even those which were simply a result of him growing up, as you say. But I don't think that's the main issue here. Hana probably won't have that much trouble accepting the changes in and out of themselves. It's accepting *Mari* that's going to be the major showstopper.
 
Are you suggesting that not only has Ami realized and accepted that she rocketed her foot into her mouth at speeds that would astound The Sage, but she accepts that the resulting anger from Hazou was not only something a 10 year old could see coming but was entirely deserved for her impatience as well as casual and pointless cruelty towards nominally liked family?

The Ami expected The Hazou to have that reaction on one level, and analyze it on another, thus facilitating efficient pursuit of their common goals. She was not expecting him to be ruled by his first-level emotional response because she expected more of him.

We are dealing with a sociopathic faie who was ecstatic at the idea that she had finally found somebody who understood her perspective in Hazou. The issue isn't that she doesn't understand what she did, it's that she incorrectly assumed that Hazou was mature enough to accommodate his provoked responses into their dance instead of reacting to it at face value.


Oh, clearly we need to just move to the 'ol reliable, right?

I actually think we should fix this AND increase relations with Mist by giving Hana a summoning scroll (that we found).

Here is my calculus there:

1) There is a certain threshold of #SummoningScrolls above which everyone else will just decide to take a chance on kicking Leaf's shit in.
2)Mist relations could use some improving.
3)Above almost all individuals save maybe Ami, Hana has probably the most vested interest in Leaf remaining very safe and prosperous— we live there.
4) A happy Hana allows for more wiggle room for Ren than not. On paper, Ren is The Boss(TM) and can order Hana to do anything. In practice, people and loyalties don't work like that. More grease for the wheels is always, always good on the leadership side, especially if its freely given by a third party.
5) This contributes to a variety of factors that benefit Operation Keep Hazou Out Of My Fucking Hair.
6) It allows for some quick trade + communication that supersedes ANBU Prime delivery speeds. Pretty important for allied parties.

The Oyabun rose from behind his desk. "I do apologise for that unsightly display. It is too often the case that men who rise too rapidly in station grow conceited, and come to believe that they are capable of deceiving the Chivalrous Organisation without consequences.​
"Please, allow me to help you cleanse your palate. Has the taste of the chocolate grown on you yet?"​
"Thank you, sir," Noburi replied before Hazō could come up with an answer that was both honest and polite. "It's not as strong as the kind we're used to back in Leaf, but still enjoyable in its own way."​
The Oyabun chuckled as he placed another box of chocolate on the table between the sofas and beckoned them to sit down.​
"Leaf is known for importing the best of everything," he said, "even by the most unusual routes. What will it be known for exporting, I wonder, and to whom?"​
He took a chocolate and broke it in two parts with his fingertips, then three, before eating it.​
"Tell me, do you bring the Hokage's response to my request?"​
"Yes, sir. He said he'll be sending a messenger to you himself, and would appreciate it if any further discussion on the subject took place with him directly."​
"How delightful," the Oyabun said with what seemed to be heartfelt appreciation.​
He noted the team's puzzled looks.​
"I only considered it an outside chance that the Hokage would already have the answer to my question, and now I regret ever underestimating him."​
"What makes you think he already has the answer?" Hazō asked warily.​
"There would be no need for a separate messenger if his answer were merely 'Yes, I will investigate' or 'No, I cannot do this for you'," the Oyabun said as if it was the height of obviousness. "A more interesting question would be why the Hokage has chosen to remove you from dealing with this matter, but it would be discourteous to speculate. Instead, if you would hand me back the Goda scroll so that we may move on?"​
Oyabun: Deception ? + ? = ?​
Hazō: Alertness 30 - 6 = 24​
Noburi: Alertness 30 - 3 = 27​
Keiko spends 1 FP to invoke "Brittle Ice Queen".​
Keiko: Alertness 31 + 4 + 6 = 41​
Keiko spends 1 FP to reroll.​
Keiko: Alertness 31 + 4 + 12 = 47​
Hazō began to reach for his pack.​
"I apologise," Keiko said with the immediacy of a snapping trap, "but we are no longer in possession of that item, having of course passed it on to the Hokage. If you wish, we can request its return when we next report to him."​
"No need," the Oyabun smiled. "On reflection, it was an unnecessary request. Allow me to waste no more of your time. You wish to learn of the fourth event?"​
"Yes, sir," Hazō said. "We'd also be interested in any dossiers you can provide us with on the top remaining teams."​
The Oyabun's hands came together in a semicircle.​
"The Mizukage's Office has rented Nari Manor and its grounds from the 11th to the 13th of this month. Master Sumashi, head of the family and a good friend of the Chivalrous Organisation, claims that he was fairly compensated, but given no right of refusal. Considering that the reservation was made a few months in advance…"​
Hazō nodded.​
"That is all I can offer you on that front, I fear. If any special equipment has been ordered for the event, it has not come to my attention, and no information has been made available to the public the way it was for the third.​
"As to dossiers. Certain sources refer to ten teams as being particularly worthy of note. The first of these is, of course, Team Gōketsu, and while I imagine I could tell you some very interesting things about yourselves, that is not our purpose today. The third has likewise been announced, and I imagine you know far more about them than I. For the rest, I do not have access to exact point totals, of course—one would have to infiltrate the proctors' headquarters for that kind of information—but I can make reasonable inferences as to their identities.​
"For obvious reasons, there are four I cannot name. However, I can provide you with basic materials on teams Kongō, Chinen, Gensō and Mugiwara, all of which have recently come to my attention through their extraordinary performance in the last event."​
He drew a slim scroll from a sleeve and passed it to Hazō.​
"Thank you, sir. We will be sure to repay your kindness."​
"I do not doubt it," the Oyabun said. "On a related note of mutual benefit, there is one more team which might benefit from your detailed attention."​
"Which one is that?"​
"They are known, in defiance of all good taste, as Team Bloodrage."​
Team Bloodrage? Why would the Oyabun think for a moment that they'd be interested in Team Bloodrage?​
No, the Oyabun said nothing without a good reason. (Which was in itself alarming, given that a lot of the time Hazō couldn't figure out what that reason was.)​
"Team Bloodrage have been eliminated," Keiko observed. "Their further activities should be of no relevance to the Chūnin Exam. Do you expect them to violate the non-interference rules?"​
"I couldn't hazard a guess as to their plans and motivations," the Oyabun replied smoothly. "But if, in observing or interacting with them, you should learn anything of interest…"​
"I see," Hazō said, trying to think of anything noteworthy that Team Bloodrage had done other than being bad at strategy games and claiming they'd never heard of someone named Jashin, and coming up blank. "We'll keep it in mind.​
"The other thing we wanted to talk about was communication," he remembered. "Obviously, we'd like to continue this relationship after the exams are over and we're back in Leaf. Do you have any thoughts on how best to do that?"​
The Oyabun relaxed his hands as he leaned back against the sofa.​
"It is not a trivial feat. Conventional messengers are slow and unreliable in a variety of ways, and of course this is not something we would entrust to Mist shinobi. The means by which you communicate with the Hokage—is it limited by distance? Or could any summoner replicate it in order to contact you securely?"​
"Any summoner?" Hazō asked incredulously.​
"Is that not how you check in with him, at least while in Mist?"​
Hazō had no idea what to say, or how much the Oyabun actually knew. He decided to go with the safest option. "What makes you say that?"​
"It is obvious from inference that all summons hail from the same place, and that summoners must possess the ability to travel there personally. On the assumption that summoners are able to encounter each other while there, it would make for an ideal secure communication route. And nobody who could plausibly have been yourselves has approached the diplomatic guest quarters since last night.​
"Would it suffice for us to employ the services of a summoner to deliver messages to you via the other world, or are there other conditions that must be fulfilled?"​
Hazō considered it briefly. It could work, if the summoner was from a clan with territory bordering either the Toads or the Pangolins (did Leaf have any other summons?) so they could send a runner with a message on a reasonable timescale. Oh, but that clan would have to be friendly as well, or at least neutral and open to bribes…​
"It depends on the summoner," Hazō said thoughtfully. "You'd need—"​
"The means of communication you propose is not viable."​
Keiko's tone was unimpeachably neutral, but also a near-perfect match for Voice Ninety-Seven: I Am Carrying On As Normal Because We're In Public, But You Are In So Much Trouble When We Get Home, Young Man. Hazō suppressed a shiver.​
"Hey, what about the Chivalrous Organisation in Leaf?" Noburi asked quickly. "You guys must have your own channels for dealing with underworld business."​
The Oyabun shook his head regretfully. "Would that such an option were open to us. I take it the Hokage has not briefed you on the state of the Akasugi Organisation and its influence in the Fire Country."​
"I'm afraid not."​
The Oyabun lounged back slightly.​
"Once upon a time, in what we of Water might call happier days, the entire Fire underworld was held in the unyielding grasp of a singular individual who wielded it almost as an extension of Leaf's clandestine activities. The Akasugi operated solely on his sufferance, and in the full awareness that, should they fail to perform to his specifications, they would be cast down and he would choose a more useful organisation to raise up in their stead. He had learned well the lessons of the Earth Country, you see. Some might even speculate that he contributed to maintaining its tragic status quo, though no such insinuation will ever pass my lips.​
"Unfortunately, all things must end. The singular individual perished in an unfortunate accident, and the Akasugi Organisation exploited the advantageous position in which he'd placed them to trigger a process of explosive expansion. The Third Hokage, may his spirit be one with the Will of Fire forever, chose not to curb them as much as he could have, for reasons I'm certain the Fifth could explain better than I. And we of Water, who had until that point enjoyed uncontested control over certain spheres of influence, found ourselves engaged in a bitter struggle for what my complacent predecessors considered 'rightfully ours'. The impact of that struggle rippled through the other maritime powers and provoked a shadow war no less complex and vicious than the shinobi world wars you are familiar with. The aftermath redrew many boundaries, paving the way for the ascendancy of the Nettō Association, breaking the pirate lords' stranglehold over southern Tea, and having many other effects which are entirely irrelevant to you, save that it left us and the Akasugi as implacable rivals in an ironic parallel to our countries' respective villages."​
"And you will have an enormous advantage over them if you can get the Hokage on your side," Hazō reasoned.​
The Oyabun smiled. "All things in good time. I am not an ambitious man.​
"As to communication channels, perhaps that is something for me to discuss with the Hokage. The master of the world's greatest intelligence network would certainly find it effortless to call upon the services of the underworld should he so desire.​
"Now, while your company continues to bring me unalloyed pleasure, I fear I must attend to my other associates, including those whom you might not wish to note your presence here. You need not fear, of course—I would never betray the secrets of a partner in good standing."​
He stood up, and walked smoothly over to a wooden cabinet set into a bookshelf, pulling open a door and studying the cabinet's unseen contents. Finally, he pulled out a bottle.​
Keiko gave a barely perceptible twitch as the Oyabun presented it to the team.​
"The Hokage's birthday is imminent, is it not? Please offer this to him with my compliments. Perhaps as Mist-born shinobi you can even instruct him in the history behind the brand."​
"Thank you, sir," Hazō said with a genuine smile on his face as he reached out to accept the bottle of Kurohige's Revenge.​

He seems pretty inclined towards long-distance summon-trade run through him.


It could work, yes. I'm just dreading the consequences of such an intensely warped and reckless individual being in the possession of a summoning scroll.

By jounin standards, she's pretty sane.


It's probably because of my situation with my own biological relatives, but I actually have very little sympathy for Hana. I can understand how this all came about, of course. Maybe she and Mari didn't have the best working relationship back in Mist (maybe they were even like the Hag and the Goketsu). Hana's feeling overprotective of her son because her husband's dead, her sister was forced to abandon her for her life choices (voluntary or not, that's got to hurt), Hana has the issue of not seeing her son as the young man he is but as the child who needed padding and learned to walk late in life (because Iron Nerve). Hana has missed Hazou's maturing and refuses to see it, because that would mean acknowledging that things can never really go back to the way they were. And maybe Hana doesn't like how her son as changed. He's happily living in a foreign country, eating their food and wearing their clothes, and protecting/uplifting the enemy people.

All of that I could forgive. It might take a few years and a mountain of serious conversations, but I could forgive Hana for it. Save for how Hana treated Mari. What she did to Mari was inexcusable. I can understand the frustrations, slights, and the repressed rage that spawned such actions, but I cannot condone it. Personally, were I Hazou, I would've cut Hana out of my life. But I am not Hazou.

Still, like @Eisenhelm pointed out: we can ask her about some of the more pressing dangers to the Iron Nerve, like how a pregnancy should be handled, and how a baby with the Iron Nerve needs to be cared for. It won't come up for another few in-game ears, but when it does, Hazou can bond with his mother over that.




I also suspect that Hazou has absolutely zero personal affection for the Kurosawa clan, beyond whatever it might mean to his mother. From his perspective, they turned his mother out for loving a man they didn't care for, subjected his mother and himself to a life of poverty where Hazou turned to crime to make ends meet, and they circled him like vultures once his father died, trying to find a way to coerce/force him into their clan.

Hell, I could very well see the Kurosawa leveraging Hazou's relationship with Mist's Yakuza to get rid of him. He was, after all, a mere genin. Worth the loss if it means that Ren could sweep in to comfort her sister, remind her that she has a loving familial support network, and gradually bring Hana (a jonin) back into the clan. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But Hazou's seen how dirty Clan politics can get in Leaf (Minami and the Hyuuga), so I can imagine he'd at least have his suspicions about what the Kurosawa might've been able to get away with in Mist.


I can, logically, see all of your points as well-made and see the inherent merit within them (especially the part about working with Ami). The idea with giving Ren a power boost like that leaves a sour taste in my mouth... but I'd probably vote for the plan with only minor grumbling.

Before she started to grow after adopting the trio, which she only did because Keiko wouldn't leave them, Mari was a ruthlessly selfish sociopath who routinely killed any binding connections she had to any other human being. She voluntarily betrayed her home and stole Hana's only family from her, casually leaving her believing that he was dead, for her own selfish ends. She stole one of the last developmental years with him and substituted herself for his mother. She did all of this using training specifically designed to manipulate emotions and loyalties, including how to fake regret so thoroughly that even she couldn't tell the difference until she killed that part of herself the moment the mission no longer needed it. She may have sincerely regretted it and wanted to grow to be more, but the reason that Hana's statements crippled her is that absolutely nothing she said was untrue.

"You are a trained liar and betrayer hedonist turned traitor who stole the only person alive I love, a child, left me believing that he was dead, got dozens of innocent children killed, substituted yourself for me in his heart for your own selfish ends, and have now explicitly claimed the title of his mother in the ruling clan of an ancient enemy nation by virtue of his purloined virtue and genius." This is not at all an unreasonable position for her to have because it is by Mari's own admission true.
 
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No, she didn't. What she did was fuck up, then double down on it and challenge a Clan Head's authority publicly in their own home, and then throw a childish tantrum about how much of an idiot he is for not acting the way she expected. Have you actually read the chapter from her perspective where Mari punishes her? Does that internal narration really sound to you like she's dispassionately recalibrated and moved on?

Not to mention Ami leveraged her hard power over Hazou in a similar way to how Orochimaru leverages his hard power over everybody. Hazou asked her to leave, because he recognized that he was too emotional to discuss this rationally, and Ami flat out refused, with the undercurrent of "you can't make me." While this hypocrisy is annoying, I think it's just emblematic of the underlying issue: Ami and Hazou have dissonant assumptions that need to be unveiled and aligned with each other.

If there's one thing this whole mess has demonstrated, is that Ami's model of Hazou is far from accurate. The reason we're talking to her is to make it clear we'd like to reconcile and move on. I think it's far from certain from her perspective, that this is what we want right now.

Basically this. Ami did damage control in seeking Akane's forgiveness (as Akane was the primary wounded party, and Hazou would be far more likely to forgive Ami if Akane had already done so). Whether this was just a calculated effort to get into Hazou's good graces or an action made of genuine recognition of wrongdoing, I'm not sure (although, based on Ami's warm commentary on Akane during the Cat's Cradle chapter, I'm willing to believe it was more the latter than the former).

Furthermore, Ami's also expressed her apology to Hazou in a social-jonin way (which Hazou picked up on! Woo, character growth ^.^). Meaning she at least recognizes that an apology is required of her. I think this discussion is required to reach a mutual base understanding, clear the air, and hash out a compromise on what kind of behavior is acceptable within their partnership. Honestly, I'm looking forward to Hazou going "You're family. We can joke and tease and dance this dance, but you'll have to show me the steps and there'll have to be certain lines, that way we don't bruise each other's toes and can focus on enjoying the dance."

With respect, I think you may be projecting your own experiences a bit too much on this situation. All the factors you mention do matter, but they're overshadowed by a massive elephant: That Mari nearly killed Hazou by picking him for the Hidden Swamp mission. And while he ultimately didn't die, they were separated for a long time, most of which Hana spent believing he *had* died. Hana is absolutely correct that this is Mari's fault, and has all the reason in the world to hate her for it. I think it's really easy to forget just how terrible of a chain of events this was in Hana's life from our perspective. I really, really don't blame her for hating Mari.

What I do blame her for, is ultimately valuing that hatred higher than being able to permanently reunite with Hazou. I do also think she ended up blaming Mari for essentially all the changes in her relationship with Hazou, even those which were simply a result of him growing up, as you say. But I don't think that's the main issue here. Hana probably won't have that much trouble accepting the changes in and out of themselves. It's accepting *Mari* that's going to be the major showstopper.

Of course I am, I'll readily admit that. Hazou, confused and lost and worried, went to Hana and said "I need you to put your grievances aside and help out someone whom I love, because I don't know how and I'm terrified right now." And then Hana went "lol, okay, I'm going to break her soul and do what you're asking in the loosest of interpretations." That's the part that's soured me on Hana. I don't blame her for hating Mari, I blame Hana for choosing to indulge in that hatred when her son needed her to be better.
 
Not to mention Ami leveraged her hard power over Hazou in a similar way to how Orochimaru leverages his hard power over everybody. Hazou asked her to leave, because he recognized that he was too emotional to discuss this rationally, and Ami flat out refused, with the undercurrent of "you can't make me." While this hypocrisy is annoying, I think it's just emblematic of the underlying issue: Ami and Hazou have dissonant assumptions that need to be unveiled and aligned with each other.



Basically this. Ami did damage control in seeking Akane's forgiveness (as Akane was the primary wounded party, and Hazou would be far more likely to forgive Ami if Akane had already done so). Whether this was just a calculated effort to get into Hazou's good graces or an action made of genuine recognition of wrongdoing, I'm not sure (although, based on Ami's warm commentary on Akane during the Cat's Cradle chapter, I'm willing to believe it was more the latter than the former).

Furthermore, Ami's also expressed her apology to Hazou in a social-jonin way (which Hazou picked up on! Woo, character growth ^.^). Meaning she at least recognizes that an apology is required of her. I think this discussion is required to reach a mutual base understanding, clear the air, and hash out a compromise on what kind of behavior is acceptable within their partnership. Honestly, I'm looking forward to Hazou going "You're family. We can joke and tease and dance this dance, but you'll have to show me the steps and there'll have to be certain lines, that way we don't bruise each other's toes and can focus on enjoying the dance."



Of course I am, I'll readily admit that. Hazou, confused and lost and worried, went to Hana and said "I need you to put your grievances aside and help out someone whom I love, because I don't know how and I'm terrified right now." And then Hana went "lol, okay, I'm going to break her soul and do what you're asking in the loosest of interpretations." That's the part that's soured me on Hana. I don't blame her for hating Mari, I blame Hana for choosing to indulge in that hatred when her son needed her to be better.

For Reference:

Hana dragged Mari out the front door of the house, across the snow-covered lawn, and into the ice-rimed koi pond. Hand still tight in Mari's hair, she shoved the other woman's head under the surface and held her there while she attacked said hair with a bar of harsh soap that she'd slipped into a pocket of her flak vest before leaving her quarters. She ignored Mari's struggles, yanking the other woman's head around to keep her off balance, deflecting the occasional flailing hand with a forearm or shoulder, and chakra-adhering her feet to the bottom of the thigh-deep pond to prevent a leg grab from being turned into a throw. Periodically she would turn in place, dragging Mari around the outside of the circle so as to leave her scrambling and unable to fight back.​
After nearly a minute she pulled a choking Mari up just long enough to let her splutter out the water and inhale, then shoved her down again and went back to scouring her hair. By now there was an audience: all three genin and the crazy explosives master. Hazō was busy, talking to the man with an intense, pleading tone that seemed to be bouncing off. Kagome was completely ignoring him, counting quietly to himself with his eyes fixed firmly on Hana and an expression on his face that promised doom.​
Fifty-three seconds; time for air again, and the hair was clean enough for now. She yanked Mari up and dragged her out of the pond, going to one knee as she shoved Mari face-down in the frozen mud at the edge. Kagome's head jerked, his mouth tightened, and his hand started to rise, pausing after only a few inches and then going back to his side. The look he gave her could have melted Kōzuna steel; she made sure not to react, but also to keep one eye on him in her peripheral vision.​
"It's all right, Kagome," Mari choked out. "Stand down. I deserve it."​
"Yes, you do, you little shit," Hana hissed, bending low so that the others wouldn't be able to catch her precise words She put one knee on Mari's neck and a hand on her forearm so that the smaller woman was completely immobilized. "You're a traitor, a manipulator, and the world would be better off without you, but—"​
"I know," Mari sobbed. "I know. I'm sorry. Everything I touch is destroyed. I wanted to help, I wanted to be better, but I'm—"​
"Be silent!" Hana hissed. "Have some self-respect. I am not going to let you add 'self-pitying skinwaste' to your extensive list of failings. Hazō wants you functional and he makes some good arguments, so I'm going to help him. Understand: I do not forgive you. I will never forgive you. There is nothing good about you, you lack all integrity and honor, and I sincerely hope that I get to spit on your grave. But! Hazō pointed out that you can be useful, and claims that you want to change. Fine. Prove it. Keep the Hyūga and the other clans out of power. Make life better for my son and his friends. Do not ever try to come between us. And for Sage's sake, clean yourself up! Wallowing in your own stench because you refuse to even get out of bed—what kind of ninja does that?"​
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry..." Mari sobbed.​
"Don't waste my time. I know perfectly well that this broken-bird act of yours is just an act. You disgust me and I want nothing to do with you, but I am not willing to let your fake tears drive a wedge any farther between me and Hazō. I will help you 'recover from your misery' and 'redeem yourself'. We both know you aren't actually going to change—you aren't capable of it. But, you can be useful to my son, so I will bend just enough to help you. I'll be coming here every day from now on. When I arrive you will be out of bed, bathed, fed, and exercising. You will act like a human being to the rest of your family. If I see any more of this poor-me act then first I'll bring you out here for another wash and afterwards I'll get creative. Understood?"​
"Yes! Yes, I'm sorry. I will, I promise, I—"​
"Stop whining," Hana said, standing up and stepping back. "Get on your feet. You want to be a better person? Act like it! Show me that you're sincere about wanting to change. And go wash that mud off!" She turned and strode away, not sparing so much as a glance at the young genin who watched her in shock or the older man who had tried to kill her twice in the last few minutes.​

In other words, Hazou convinced his mother of the plausibility that the traitorous sociopathic hedonist had become sincerely remorseful and in response the doubly institutionalized child-soldier of a totalitarian state told the evil witch who murdered children to steal the only light in her life how she could at least to herself live up to her desire to be better through the boot-camp drill sergeant style which amounted to the entirety of her lived experience while committing herself to her daily health and safety, thus saving Mari's life to such a degree that even Kagome considered it safe and effective.

Such a terrible human being. It is a good thing that she is not a resource available to the head of the most fragile clan in existence.

Let's not kid ourselves. If a modern parent discovered that their 14-year-old child's teacher had seduced them into fleeing to the Middle East to join ISIS, that there would be no justice from anybody, and it didn't end with blood on the walls at the first opportunity I wouldn't be willing to call them a parent at all. Hana's response was not only restrained, but only occurred because Mari in her desperate need for catharsis decided to acutely provoke it in her own home.​
 
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