Hattori was quiet in his consideration, did not let it slip that he had been thinking, dwelling on this...well to say it was an issue would be inaccurate. But it was certainly something he had been thinking about for quite some time. Tojo-kai did not involve itself in diplomacy or trade, but even then Hattori was a stickler for tradition and in many ways he'd wished his Father had done this for him, would have made his life easier, somewhat.

Seeking out his daughter, the quiet Asahi, it did not take long to find her. Her coat akin to silken tapestry, blazing with the orange light of dawn- bright and full of promise. She looked so much like her mother, features soft and beautiful, lacked the harsh lines of the Hattori lineage.

"Are you well?"He asked in place of greeting.

The bamboo had been steadily growing thicker in the sparser spaces as the population of bamboo rats had started to decline. Asahi had a large part in that fact. She was about to crouch to start stalking a particularly bold one when her father came into view, and the way his gaze landed on her she could tell she was the object of his search.

Her breath fluttered in her chest in a sudden burst of panic, not really knowing why and glanced away for a quick escape. It was too late though and would have been extremely disrespectful to run away from the Kaicho. She pulled in a breath then dipped her head to her father.

Oh! He was checking on her! Yes! She nodded and brought her paws in to sit properly. Straightening her shoulders to be the picture of good health.

Speech // thought // Nihongo

Hattori took her silence in stride, by this point he was rather used to it and frankly; he was always more tolerant of those who did not speak enough, as opposed to those who spoke too much. He did not think it was some sort of reaction to her mother's departure, she had always been quiet, but communicative in the ways that counted. Or at least enough in this situation.

"I need you to do something for me. We will be having a family dinner soon, and I intend to invite my older children and their grandchildren, if they so wish to attend. You may bring along one of your brothers or sisters if it makes you more comfortable." Not just because she could not speak, as he'd put together invitations of sorts, but for safety purposes too.

He frowned slightly in thought, he knew where most of his children had settled. Kuroki and his children in Hemlock, Ikigai and her kin in Elysium, but as for Takeshi, Kitsune and Kiyohime, he was unsure. They could be anywhere, or nowhere to be found in Boreas at least. But he thought it was worth investigating, so this request was twofold.

"Are you comfortable with leaving Tojo for some time?"

Asahi's brow subtly creased in consternation. Trying to understand exactly what her father was insinuating and asking of her. He was inviting his older children, her half siblings, to a large family meal... and wanted her to attend? The one sibling she was closest with was Jiro, would he be up to this kind of task, to help her? Leaving Tojo for some time?

She had to admit, as she ducked her nose down and her wide golden eyes searched his moonlit silvers, she wondered if he was trying to pull his version of a joke on her. Her white tail curled tightly around her toes, and she looked away, her gaze dancing down a path. She certainly was not comfortable leaving Tojo for a while, but perhaps... with Jiro she could...?

"Jiro?" She half whispered, just loud enough for his ears to catch her, intending to ask if her brother would be available for such an excursion. What exactly was he asking of her? She glanced up at the Kaicho, not very good at hiding the cautious fear of the unknown in her eyes. Why would he need the quietest of his children out in the world? Wouldn't he rather use one of the more noble, outspoken ones? Kaizen?

"What... is the task?" She asked, pushing each word out as if each syllable was mud through a fine sieve.

Speech // thought // Nihongo

If she wished to take Jiro, Hattori had no qualms about that. The boy had a sense of street smarts that hadn't been taught to him, just came naturally and took full advantage of that fact. Out of all of his children, Jiro was the most travelled, he was a wise enough choice.

"You shall be my messenger, deliver the invitations in my stead. I do not know the whereabouts of all of your older siblings, find them if you can and if you cannot, try to learn where they may have gone."

He could certainly see how wary she was of this, and he understood to an extent, but it was because she was quiet and always thought before she spoke, that he believed she would serve his needs well in this regard. This would have been a duty Kiriko would have excelled at, smooth words and a gentle demeanour that disarmed even someone was aloof and as prickly as himself. But she was gone and even if she wanted to, Hattori would not have her back.

"If you wish to gather herbs and seeds for the garden on your way, I have no quarrel with that. Jiro can help with that."

Golden orbs met silver towering over her. He seemed amenable to allowing Jiro to escort her. The task was simple, though daunting. Find and invite her siblings to a family reunion gathering. She looked to his paws to quickly run through the potential necessities she would need for such a journey. She should speak with Keito to inquire about how long it might take her to travel. Boreas and Auster was large, and though the task was simple, it was a massive undertaking.

She swallowed before she looked back up to her father, the Kaicho, and gave him an affirmative nod. She would take this quest.

"I have several questions. How long until this meeting? Where shall I tell them to meet? When shall we be expected back? Where do we start?" She asked, her voice still whisper soft but with a steady determined tone weaving through it. How fast or hard should she press herself and Jiro on this task?

Speech // thought // Nihongo

Hattori let the girl air her questions, his pale brows furrowing as he took them into consideration. Though she was quiet, her mind was undeniably sharp, he was a man of few words, but it pleased him to know she could push for more-if she felt like she needed too.

"You may leave whenever you are ready and have them come here at the summer solstice." Though in all technicality it would be Autumn in Auster, but the time of year remained the same. "Look for and speak to those you can, but if you feel they have gone abroad then there is no need to follow them." Which was to say he didn't expect her to go globe-trotting to look for her wayward siblings.

Her golden eyes watched her father contemplate her questions seriously. She was grateful he wasn't brushing off her prudent practicality.

The Summer Solstice! That wasn't very far away. She needed to get her paws moving then, she hoped Jiro would be amendable to this adventure! He didn't answer her last question though.

"Thank you, Oto-san. Where should I go looking first?" She asked simply, Auster was wide and broad, should she start at the Hallows? She had heard secondhand about some of the packs but she wasn't the most studiest of his children. Wasn't there a sibling up north-ish? But where? She'll have to take a map and familiarize where all the packs are.

Speech // thought // Nihongo