Chapter 8: 8
Hiruzen nods. "You raise a valid point Kushina, I will personally ask Jiraiya not to dupe our poor Shinobis again, but knowing him, it's better to train the forces."
—
At a quarter past one, Kushina comes out of the tower not before informing Hiruzen that she would be busy this afternoon for office outfit shopping.
As she comes out of the tower, she is enveloped in a hug by Mikoto. She was dressed in a lovely elegant knee-length skirt and a half-sleeve top.
"Wow, Kushina, I can't believe you invited me for shopping, I believed you would definitely invite me, but I was thinking you would at least take a week or two more", sighing at her antics. "Yeah, yeah, you got me all figured out, dattebane. Come, let's eat first. I am starving."
They join a nearby eatery with Kushina ordering a meal. At the same time, Mikoto picks some snacks, "So what prompted the change in opinion about the new outfit. Finally found someone cute in the office for you to tease, ah Kushina," she snorts at this.
"It's nothing like that. These Shinobi clothes are too common. I feel like a common Shinobi in the office.
"You know I never bothered having a personal dress code as Kunoichi after becoming a jounin. Now that I am deputy Hokage, I feel that I should have something unique defining me at the office" Mikoto nods and hums a tune out.
Soon the ladies finish eating and pay the bill. Mikoto catches her wrist, guiding her towards the commercial sector. Soon they pass the market area "Mikoto, where are we going? I think we left all the shops behind."
Mikoto shushes her "Hush you. You are an elite now. We can't have you wear every day easily available outfits for you now. Given your newfound fame, there would be duplicates of them at every dress shop in Konoha within a week."
Kushina nods and realizing the implication, " You are brilliant, Mikoto, so where are we going?"
"We are going to my tailor or specifically Uchiha-clan tailors. You know we have a separate area in the Village. We have our little market, a small command centre. It's like living in a different village inside Konoha.
"At first, elders saw this as a sign of distrust towards Uchihas. But after Yondaimes's intervention and newfound charter giving more power to the clan, they were more than happy. "
Kushina places her hands on Mikoto's shoulders, " I'm sorry your clan had to go through this because I failed in my duty as Jinchūriki."
Shaking her head, Mikoto replies, " It's not your fault, never would have been. I am just glad things worked eventually. Even the elders are happy all away from the Village. To them, it's now a status symbol 'Uchihas are elite of elites, We don't ever mix up with common people, so we have our area'."
Soon they reach clan gates where guards from military police greet and bow to both ladies. Mikoto quickly guided her to the Market area then to a medium-sized shop.
There were several mannequins placed around with different kinds of dresses. Soon a black-haired lady joins them. She seemed in her early fifties
"Mikoto, so glad to see you, I have your outfit ready -" she gasps a bit, seeing Kushina bowing to her. "It's finally good to see you, Kushina sama. I am Akemi Uchiha, the resident tailor and clothing specialist of the Uchiha clan. When Mikoto told me she would bring a friend over, she didn't tell me it was you. So what would you like?"
Before Kushina could reply, Mikoto interjects, "Kushina here is a bit of a dummy when it comes to fashion. What she would like is a complete wardrobe change. By complete, I mean complete ranging from casual shinobi clothes, workout clothes, home clothes and of course her outfit for the official post as deputy Hokage."
As Kushina is about to speak up to stop her from adding to the list, Mikoto continues, "of course, she would also need complimentary underwear too."
Kushina was exasperated. "Mikoto, we only came here for the official dress. I didn't come here to become a dress-up doll for you."
A giggling Mikoto replies, "oh hush you. I have you now under my claws. You are not leaving until I am satisfied", she ends with a friendly mock.
Soon they head over inside, where Kushina removes her Jounin vest. Akemi takes her measurements while commenting on her figure as her measurements are completed.
Mikoto holds her hand. "Akemi-san, We will leave you with getting required outfits and designs here while I give Kushina a tour of the women's section."
The pair soon reach out in a different section of the shop consisting of women's innerwear. Some mannequins were displaying some sheer nightwear with some over the top lingeries.
Kushina was quickly shuffled into a change room. As Mikoto browsed through different selves, soon Mikoto joined with a bunch of bundles in her arms. The bundle consisted of various types of underwear that she usually saw in magazines only.
"What, Kushina, strip fast and try them on? I have chosen them according to your size. Come on, give the lady a show."
Kushina looks pointedly at Mikoto and smirks at her. "Are you seriously suggesting I strip and do a show for you? We aren't teenagers anymore, Mikoto. I am married, and you too are married. I don't think it's good for us and role play like we did in our teen years."
Mikoto sighs. "You are too serious, Kushina. You need to relax. I was staying here to give my opinion. You know, it is said how you dress directly affects your confidence. It's doubly true for well-fitted underwear. So don't be a prude and start testing. It's nothing I haven't seen before."
Kushina sighs, She quickly pulls off the blue jumper top and mesh armour in a go. Her shinobi pants soon followed. As she is standing in her modest blue underwear in front of her best friend, she gets flashbacks of similar scenes from the past when they used to role-play.