The Ōta Estate - [Open]

[Gotō Daiji]

Style: Traditional
Owner: The Ōta Clan
Location: Maple Town
Floor Area: 7,000 sq. ft​

The official housing for one of Konohagakure's newest clans, the Ōta. The structure is a modest and traditional homestead. Unlike most clans, the Ōta aren't wealthy, and don't claim to be from any sort of nobility. Instead their family (in its present form) was established over many decades of hard work and perseverance. The actual entirety of the Estate grounds covers an area of seven thousand square feet. Five thousand for the main house and all of its rooms, and two thousand for the guest house.

A central garden separates the larger main grounds from the guest ones. Several birdbaths rest here, drawing in a multitude of different avians every day. A small koi pond can be found in the exact center of the garden, surrounded by colorful shrubbery on all but one side. Next to the pond sits a moderately sized momiji tree. Nailed to the broad trunk of the tree is a beautifully handcrafted kamidana. Offerings are left here as frequently as someone remembers. Incense can commonly be found burning on the altar and it is cleaned every day without fail. Most of the family aren't particularly religious but they honor the traditions of their ancestors and pay their respects from time-to-time. Ōta Arata prays here most often. Yasu visits occasionally. Newly planted sakura trees pepper the garden, seeming to want to stretch higher than their infantile branches allow them. The vibrant petals adorning them add a beautiful and soft touch of pink to the estate grounds. A single bench rests opposite of the koi pond, giving visitors or members of the family a place to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the calming outdoors. This is a favorite place of Ōta Suzu, who will often bring a mat outside and pluck away at her shamisen amongst the serenity of the garden.

Oftentimes one can find an overweight black cat scurrying around the estate grounds. Saya, the only girl of the four Ōta children, rescued him as a stray and has taken to calling him "Toto" due to his love of fish. He is very skittish of strangers and a natural troublemaker. If he isn't swatting at the koi in the garden he is knocking over dishes or clawing up furniture.

Unlike a lot of other clans, the Ōta don't employ a waiting staff or any type of servants. Not just for monetary reasons, either. Their humble beginnings have had a profound effect on the way they view the world. It's hard to not see those who can't clean their own home or feed themselves as indolent. Chores are split up amongst all members of the household. Most of the cooking is done by Suzu and Saya, with the occasional help from some of the boys.

While the guest house is comprised only of a couple of rooms, the main grounds consists of a myriad of fusama that mostly all connect to one another. A few areas of the estate have solid walls where privacy is necessary. One of note is near the very back of the estate. Officially it is used to conduct clan business...unofficially it is a secure meeting place for Ōta Arata and his often shady associates. Unbeknownst to anyone except members of the clan, there is a hidden passageway underneath the entirety of the estate that runs about half a kilometer away from the house. It isn't traveled often at all instead being there for use only in case of an emergency.

Open to all, just knock or don't! Solos will be done here from time-to-time.

 

[Gotō Daiji]

Great.

Not only was he seated at a table amongst his father's associates (his absolute favorite place to be...), he'd been late getting there. Up until a few minutes ago, he'd been out seeing the sights of the village with Saya. Somebody saw it fit to dispatch Kyō, the youngest of the Ōta siblings, to come find him and relay that his presence was expected at this sit-down. Of course Yasu had been told of the meeting beforehand but he figured it was like the rest and wasn't that important. Him being there hadn't affected things in the past, so why would it now? Well...

...he was wrong.

Having missed a great portion of the proceedings he now did the only thing he could. Sat there silently while attempting to put on his best "listening face" to at least give the impression he was trying to be a part of things. Alas, it seemed that things were winding down and there wasn't all that much left to discuss. Throughout the entirety of this all he could literally feel his father's disappointment hanging heavy in the air. It was damn-near palpable, and he was sure he wasn't the only one present who took note of it. But of course he wouldn't address that here. Not in front of everybody. In this game, showing weakness was just about the most dangerous thing someone could do. Even if his second eldest son didn't desire to take part in the family business, Arata at least had to make it seem that way. As far as anyone else knew, the Ōta clan was a cohesive family fully dedicated to their dealings. The Clan Head put forth a great deal of effort to ensure others perceived them this way. Even if it wasn't fully true...

Ten minutes. That was all Yasu had to endure as he'd completely missed the previous forty-five. "Gentlemen." The stern, familiar sound of his father's voice filled the room as he held the door open for his associates. Mutterings could be heard all the way out into the hallway...and Yasu was almost certain he'd heard the word "Yakuza" being mentioned. It was a funny thing. Despite his supposed future as right-hand to his elder brother Tōsō, the young man knew shockingly little about the family business. Probably because he'd missed so many meetings over the years. Here and there he would catch conversations between his brother and father, and thus was able to surmise a few things for himself. What started out as legitimate business dealings had transformed into something...different. Ōta Arata had grand ambitions for his small clan. If he had it his way, they would own more land. More luxuries. Have more power. Be more. A hand gripped Yasu's shoulder firmly as his elder brother walked past, exiting the room soon after. That left only him and his father. It didn't even have to be said. His lateness was not appreciated. He was in for an earful.

Yet...for a while the two sat in silence. Yasu turned his gaze towards his father, 'seated' on his knees atop a zabuton at the head of the traditional-styled table. He found the same coal-colored irises staring back at him. Still there was quiet. It was almost deafening. Maddening. The walls of the room were thick so even though the rest of their family were out and about the estate, they could not hear them. In here they were truly alone. One-on-one time with his father was something Yasu hadn't experienced too much of over the years. "...you've been busy." What finally broke the silence in the air was a statement that drew a slightly bewildered expression from the young man. Of course he had been busy...but he did a pretty damn good job of hiding it. "I hear your first assignment with the ANBU went well." Yasu's eyes widened. He 'heard'? How?! The family knew that he was in the Corps. In fact it was his father's idea that he join in the first place. But his missions were extremely confidential. He never discussed them with anyone. Not even Tōsō... "How-" Before he could even get a second word out his father interjected. "Connections." The older man's hand reached out to grasp a tea cup on the table in front of him. He raised it to his lips but stopped short. His eyes shut. "Those men who just left are no ordinary businessmen, Yasu." The clink of the teacup coming to rest on the table punctuated his sentence. He spoke the truth. Arata had been busy for the past few months growing his network of allies and information. He had been doing this long before he ever announced that the clan would be relocating to Konoha.

Perhaps if Yasu ever attended one of these meetings, he would've been better informed...