Amplification. [Open]

[Muu Yanagi]

ZZZ….

Muu had actually fallen asleep as the clicking of heels had been approaching and was now awoken with all the ensuing chaos of yelling. Blinking his tired eyes and rising to a sitting position with his legs crossed he lazily looked over the crowd and spotted the recent source of the yelling. A kid with a head band around his forehead and a hood. Not much sense of style in Muu’s option but that didn’t really matter. The tired genin was propped up by his arms, leaning back as he looked about, recognizing a boy from before, one that went on some sort of expedition and never invited Muu. He was with some other guy Muu didn’t know but it didn’t matter.

Looking up again, he saw her. The sexy leader of the village. She was attractive, with her flowing golden hair and all. Another was up there with her but he looked lost and confused and maybe a little scared now so he didn’t matter. Muu half wished he was up there with her. Next to a pretty women and in the spot light.. yeah he’d like that kinda. Then he had a strange thought about a macaroni and strawberry jam sandwich and his stomach growled. Damn he should have brighten some cash for a treat or some food.

The word ’Enlightenment’ Played I his mind and made him consider the actual conversation again. The words spoken form the hood man were fuzzy, being heard as he was waking up, but he could vaguely recall them… some of them. Something about our primary focus needing to be intelligence and innovation… He thought he’d heard a womens voice say something about a major village or maybe that was a dream. Never the less the green haired boy shouted in a groggy voice while rubbing sleep form his perpetually tired eyes.

”Screw all of that. If we are to be near a Major Village in status we need one simple thing. Leverage. And what leverage does a major village have that makes them so feared and respected? Come on think about it… Power. So what power are you gonna have us seek pretty blonde women?”

Muu then stole a glance up to the Kusakage, more intelligence then he’d ever revealed to anyone else in the glint of his eyes before his lazy demeanor took over and he leaned over the roof of the little cart he sat upon and tried to haggle with the vendor for some snacks.

---

[Apple]

"And what if you were to have this power to yourself Kusakage?"

And one brave voice- one among the crowd which had gathered here which seemed much more intent on questioning the blonde who stood above on the balcony. As he uttered such words that didn’t directly oppose her but nonetheless questioned her stance at the moment, it was only expected for other members in the crowd to hush somewhat underneath the tension that was slowly beginning to creep in once he’d finished speaking. What would she reply with? A creature hungry for both power and recognition it was sure that she would want to be at the top of the pyramid, the one behind every move that the village made and that was no lie or understatement. But would she keep this craving hidden from those who she worked for? To some extent perhaps. Listening as the boy would continue to speak, she watched from her elevated position, soft blue eyes looking downwards at him, the ANBU to either side of the balcony keeping watch of the other male for the time being, the Kusakage would listen to what he had to say- His comments much more.. bold than the ones that had previously been shouted. Perhaps this would be a start to more similar comments? She couldn’t be sure, but she knew exactly how to reply to his qualms.

But peace?- She’d lacked such thoughts of peace ever being possible since that day all those years ago. Things hadn’t been the same since the first shinobi war, things hadn’t been the same since he had died, and such talk about peace could make her laugh. It was impossible. Of course, she thought it believable if they were to rise up and become the most powerful nation out of the entire group, but to gain even that sense of peace, fighting was inevitable. To bring about peace, inevitably war and destruction would have to take place, and that’s what made her sick of it all. ”Peace can never be attained perfectly.” a pause, as she chose to gather her next words carefully to try and bring ahead her own viewpoint of the subject. ”There will always be death. There will always be problems- Peace isn’t a plausible concept in our shinobi world, it never has been.” it was almost unsettling how strong she felt towards the subject itself but no-one could blame her given her involvement in the first shinobi war and her dabbling in the second. War was second nature to her.

”I don’t promise you a Utopia.



I promise you safety.”

She wasn’t expecting Kusagakure to be turned around quickly and turned in to the land of dreams, that was clear enough. But what she did want was a village where its inhabitants didn’t have to be terrified each night wondering if their house was the one that would be attacked that tonight, a village where it was carefully suspended in the shinobi world, making move after move to secure both its own security and its power- Sure enough she was keen on making new alliances with other villages to try and hold the concept of peace that was within the shinobi world at the moment, but what was this? A decoy? A way of promoting her own village through the eyes of others? Moving her arms somewhat and placing one on either hip, she’d look on at the boy who had previously challenged her, preparing to speak once more. ”I’d seen the results of bad leadership during the first shinobi war, and I’d lost everything from it. I don’t want time to repeat itself. We bring our village to the forefront of the world stage and mobilize our shinobi not for war- Bur for protection. My fellow village leaders may not be so intent on keeping the balance that we’re currently hung in, and when they choose to mobilize- We’ll be ready for them.” her words stern, it was bathed in sincerity. She’d seen first hand the carnage that came from the choices of others- Kusagakure’s leadership in the first shinobi war had been increasingly shady and problematic, and as an intelligent woman she promised first hand to prevent such tragic incidents from happening to her home town again- For other people to feel the way she felt. Perhaps in some ways she wanted them to drown in bloodshed just so she felt justified for the wild emotions which had been thrown on to her, but- a softer side of her neutralized it.

But what was this?- Another voice emerged from the crowd, one that belonged to that of a green-haired boy. Which power exactly? There were several kinds. The first that instantly came to mind when the word was uttered was Bijuu, but having first hand seen the destruction that one of them caused to the people involved in its capturing and the mysteries that lurked beneath the surface of such a topic which had resulted in the orange-haired beings who had interrogated her so before her reign as Kusakage had begun, she didn’t want to delve deeper in to that subject. ”We grow.” at the current time, the beginning of a new leadership, that was enough leverage for her to work with, and it proved as base for other things to come. ”We grow stronger- physically and mentally. The true leverage in a village is its people- And if that village is full of weaklings, then what use is a bijuu or a weapon of power when we have no shinobi capable enough to wield it? Develop yourself and perhaps then we can strive to be better than the other villages.” a pause, as she shifted her blonde hair somewhat, sticking her hand in the sea of it and whooshing it a little, causing blonde waves to cascade across her shoulders before she drew her had back, still gazing at the green-haired genin. ”I want to see you all grow, as people and shinobi.”

"I'm willing to place my all in to this village.
But without your help my efforts are worth nothing."

These words were said after slamming her hands down dramatically on to the ledge of the balcony as she looked down. Were the people gathered here today willing to build themselves up geared for the new rule of Kusagakure? It was clear that she didn't aim for war- But becoming ready for the bumpy road ahead was better than staying ignorant to the actions of others.

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[aramlyis]

A relatively new arrival stumbled upon a scene that was -by and large- a rarity. An open forum discussion with the leader of their country. And with a few murmured words here and there, Kaku found himself moving past the more vertically enhanced members of society to gain himself a good position to listen in from. It seemed he had missed the first bit, but it didn't take long for him to catch onto the train of thought that was driving this congregation.
It appeared that the way in which things were run was open to public criticism and constructive modification. Of course, Kaku did hope that those without the appropriate background to this event kept their breathing-holes for that purpose only, and didn't attempt to question what they didn't actually need to know about. That particular thought appeared to come from all the fragments of his personality, so it was universally agreed that anyone articulating with less then a functioning brain cell should have their throat slit with a dull spoon.
Still, he had a few bones to pick with her. And while he didn't want to get caught up in a large philosophical debate in the middle of wherever this was.
In the centre-stage of his minds eye, the Farseer said something. She had probably shared the general location, but that was overrun by the Warboss shouting something mundane and everyone lost concentration.
This prompted a long staring session at the green skinned benevolent giant before he gestured at Kaku's avatar on the mental plane. Which was a old hat, something that either floated around or used a pair of long spindly threads as it's means of locomotion.
Evidently the gesture was meant to verbalise that it was their progenitor's lack of attention that had caused the momentary fit- something of an extravagant yawn was the case others might argue. Those of a similar size to the plant based life-form perhaps, those smaller in stature considered it to be something of a far more malicious nature. A gesture that involved the repressed desire for blood, guts, and booty. You did need to have that particular trait if you wanted to get anywhere with this profession.
Yawning to himself, Kaku waved a imaginary thread at the Farseer- who might have taken on the role of internal critic in his mental wonderland.
The look of sheer fury on her face might have been a leading hint that the female was annoyed. Expelling her fury on the visage of Kaku she raged against the suspended hat before taking a few steps back to survey the damage. Seeing as both mental fragment and avatar were made out of the same material -imagination- no adverse affects seemed to have been made present for either party.
Some brief conversation later, and a agreement had been reached. A temporary truce of sorts. A rather inevitable conclusion- all things considered.
Still it appeared that her doing some curb stomping of her own was his cue to make an injection of his own. That one thing she had started off with, that beginning premise didn't sit well with him. Well, it didn't sit well with the parts of him that had ambition on their mind. Personally, he didn't mind that particular promise.
But, to mentally represent the mental switch-over that was about to occur, the hat positioned itself above the Primach, and fixated itself on his cranial region.
In a more materialistic plane, a boy known as Kaku spoke up- his voice unconsciously lower then normal and had taken on a cadence.
"I beg off you, do not promise us safety."
It was perhaps an odd way to start off, but Kaku had been known to be odd.
"If you wish to see us grow, if you wish our help to be capable;"
Slight pause for a certain degree of dramatics.
"Do not coddle us."
Kaku did not feel the need to be to heavy on the melodrama, but he felt that this was one aspect that he could most certainly relate to the blonde Kage standing above them. She had -after all- just slammed her palms down on the banister that shrouded her location. It was a gamble, but maybe a similar gesture would help get the point across. Point in case, his slight pause.
"Allow me a rhetorical question if you would: without the various life-threatening events that have occurred throughout your life, would you be standing there right now?"
He tapped his cheek with a finger before amending his statement, a apologetic glint in his blue orbs. "Scratch that- would you be capable of leading us without those occasions?"
Kaku did not doubt that without those crucial life experiences, she would not. Perhaps she did? Kaku most certainly hoped not. But then again, people had different positions in life. Still assuming that she agreed with his short litany insofar, he would continue apace.
"Please do not deny us the experiences that would allow us to arise to a level in which we can competently assist you and the village.
Give us the tools to survive and learn from those occasions, do not shelter us from them."

What now?

[Apple]

Once she’d answered, a kind of silence seemed to subdue the crowd from questioning things further, and to say the least she was quite content at that. Not that she didn’t like being questioned of her actions, but she found that the meeting had gone on long enough. However- With a few more minutes to speak, she’d stay silent, her eyes gazing over the people in the crowd alike some predator, taking in the details of each person who had participated- From the elders who stood at the front intent on hearing her clearly, to the younger generation who seemed spanned all across the field, inquisitive as usual. And then- From a voice that broke through the silence of the crowd her eyes would be guided, moving towards a boy who was amazingly average looking. At least, from her eyes she couldn’t imagine him being a trouble maker, yet as his voice resounded, she couldn’t help but think that he spoke with words much older than the usual vocabulary than boys of his assumed age spoke with. As she watched on as he spoke, she, respectively, stayed silent and took in each little word that he had to offer her so that she could formulate a response. He requested that she not coddle them? Maliciousness once more covered her being as her thoughts became angrier, whilst also managing to keep up a neutral expression as she looked at him. What was he- 13? He would have merely been a toddler at the time where she had been cut down so violently from her own family. And here he was, spurning and disagreeing with her desire to keep the village safe from any potential relapses of the first shinobi war? At the age he’d been he’d have been protected that was for sure, whilst she’d been out on the plains protecting the village. How dare he reject the prospect of safety for each and every person in Kusgakure.

But he was just a child, after all.
He didn’t understand.

”Should I allow you said experiences..

..you wouldn’t be able speak my name, let alone protect a village.”

[/right]
She simply wanted to stress the point that if he was so reckless as to wish for the same experiences that she’d been through regarding the wars and battles that she’d fought in, then he wouldn’t be capable of even looking after the village that he wished to protect. On several occasions she’d been brought to the brink of death and to such a degree that she had wished death on herself to escape. Perhaps she was intent on suffocating the village with her kindness, but she didn’t want the village to be plunged in to another war. The first time, it had been rife with corruption and problems and it hadn’t the strength nor the ability to protect itself successfully against the oppressors and because of the lack of drive from the leader to protect its people, the village had crumbled. Death came in dozens and each family had lost at least one member to the bloodbath that the village had embraced. Even now the blonde was capable of remembering certain parts from the war that she wished that she could forget, and if he, the boy below her expected her to throw the village in to dangerous situations for the sake of experience, then he’d be sorely disappointed. ”We focus on our development first before even thinking about that.” a pause. ”I won’t allow the village to succumb to the same horrors that had taken over it in the past. To explain it in a simpler way..” she’d pause, thinking for a moment or two as to how to explain what she meant a little bit easier. ”..We’d been thrown in to the deep end with little ability to swim. I want to make sure that our village is prepared for such endeavours before taking part.” It was understandable enough. He requested that they be given experiences to strengthen them, and that could be brought along easily without the need for war. It was hard for her to speak to him without explaining that he hadn’t been old enough to fight at that point and thus hadn’t experienced it to its fullest and thus had no right to judge nor to wish such things- As far as she knew he could have lost no family members unlike several other families. But- Regardless, she was done.

”Are there any more questions or can I conclude this meeting?”

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[aramlyis]

Sheesh, someone could pull off the death glare. It was amusing that their leader would also fall to the beat of history. But that might just be the way things were. It was of course proverbially said that the past generations were tougher then their grandchildren, this saying was being proven in explicate glory right in front of him.
Did she believe that hero's were born? There are two schools of history regarding these large figures who have exerted massive amounts of influence on it. The Great Man Theory of History and the Great Times Theory of History. Kaku sat on the fence between them -which was his natural state in most things philosophical- a great man changed the world around him to provide him with opportunities. One should not rely on circumstance to provide them with strength. Modify, predict, observe and above all; comprehend the scenario's that you could generate with enough political, physical, mental or spiritual strength.
Of course, difference in opinion could mean everything. What he said probably wouldn't translate as he meant it to her point of view. Their frames of experience were just to disjointed.
Still, it was easy to whittle away the fat and meat of the argument and surmount it in three easy words: Nature verses Nurture. It was quite obvious which side Kaku sat on. People were products of their environment just as environments were products of their inhabitants (albeit humans had the greatest degree of influence by far).
He did listen, he most certainly did listen. But he did note that she didn't deny his statement about her leadership. Well, as long as she allowed some cases like her own to slip through the net, they'd be alright Kaku mused.
Not everyone was born equal, that was correct.
Then again she had just said that he was no where near her level of strength when he was her age. He honestly didn't know how to take that, there were a few possibilities in how it could be interpreted as well. Either she had memorised the profiles of every single Genin, Chunin and Jonin in the village, and could say without a doubt that he lacked her personal vitality. Or, by some horror, he knew his record personally. That would be....scary to say the least. Still he had said to give them the tools to help them survive those occasions, to pretend they wouldn't come knocking at their door was foolish. Her metaphor seemed to be something about swimming in the deep end. Shrugging to himself, Kaku considered if he had something to say to her.
No, he decided he didn't.
The human mind was remarkably set in it's ways, and took extenuating circumstances to remove it from that rut.
Not having any miracle powder on him at the moment, Kaku took a few seconds to stretch out any kinks that he might have gotten from standing still. Well, there was obviously nothing to be gained by standing around, jabbering like a mockingjay.
Inclining his head to the leader of their country, he spun on his heel in a simple, easy motion before striding through the crowd. His clothing choices quickly blending him in with the urban population.
Turning his thoughts inwards, he debated his actions. Were they rash, would he be perceived as an uncouth lout, spouting words of hormonally charged...something. Brashness? The was certainly the light the Kage's words had painted him as.
While he made it a point not to be overtly affected by the opinions of others, he did like to try and change his behaviours so as to better mingle with the masses. He had obviously fouled up that goal, so he could only question himself as to why he had spoken up. He should have known it would only have resulted in trouble.
Groaning to himself, Kaku's only consolation was that -if he was lucky- they would forget his appearance, it wasn't like he stood out or anything.
[Exit]

[Kildred]

It was almost enough to make him sick. Did no one have any trust in their leader? All he heard from these people were questions about her integrity and alternate solutions. Had they ever been in a war? He hadn't experienced it directly, but he remembered being shuffled around with his parents when he was young. He remembered the stories and warnings his father gave him. This village, this land is where he called home, and Blanche was the leader. The one who would direct the people working under her to ensure the stability of the village.

All this talk about utopias and needing to experience the life-threatening ways of war weighed on his mind. Were his fellow ninjas so simple-minded? Did they actually believe the arguments they put forth? A utopia couldn't exist because human nature demands it cannot. Experiencing events that are dangerous on purpose was foolishness, inviting death and injury. The past needs to be studied and prevented, not repeated to gain some nonsensical idea of experience.

Watching the boy as he left, he couldn't help but wonder about everyone else within the village. With a scoff, he looked ahead of himself and spoke a bit louder than he intended. "If he wants to be a part of a life-threatening event, let him leave and find one. Save us the trouble of having a fool in our midst." Shaking his head, he looked up and brought his attention back to his Kage.

[Muu Yanagi]

Her first words were to grow, and Muu instantly narrowed his eyes, briefly thinking she was insulting his height. He was mildly sensitive even and the pretty, finely figured, golden haired lady she was, was not about to call him out about it without his disapproval voiced. But she moved on to talk about the village and he let his growing smolder leave him as if it were never there, his crazy mind jumping to another thought soon into her speech, sparked by the word, Bijuu.

They had been mildly told about them as shinobi, but not in much detail at all. They are myths really. Legends for the most powerful shinobi to deal with and never something a genin would really be concerned with. But the thought of them was so powerful that it could captivate a mind. Even one such as Muu’s.

After listening to the mess for some kid he’d never seen around the village before, Muu gave another yawn and hopped off the vendors roof, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He’d seen and heard enough. He was looking forward to what this Golden haired lady had in store for them, but what he’d gathered was that it was up to everyone individually. She didn’t seem to have anything in store herself, at least, from what he could gather unless it was a secret meaning/ motive.

He heard another shout out about some fool but Muu was already making his way through the crowd to leave. While he liked her stance on village improvement, this all seemed like a motivational rally to sure the individuals. Muu was already doing his part in this plan and while he wouldn’t stop, he was hoping for more to come about. This hadn’t inspired much hope of that.

Maybe time would turn his option of her back into one of a more hands on leader with a plan, rather then a motivational speaker.

Exit

---

[Krethean]

It seemed that this meeting had reached its climax, and the Kusakage's last words seemed to make it final. Ujiyasu got what he wanted out of this though: to him, the people who speak up are the ones who will put more effort into the overall goal. Granted, the goal the entire village was working towards was a joint effort, so everyone would be pulling their weight, but the people who voiced their opinions and concerns would be the ones who would make more of an impact.

Ujiyasu also got to see the Kusakage as well, so that did give him some assurance that she wasn't some fabrication. That's always a plus in his mind.

With one more look at the crowd, then his leader, he turned to leave the gathering, ready to practise his skills, go on a trip through a forest, then have dinner and sleep. It was a simple life Ujiyasu led, but one that was satisfying to him. If he could help it, he would keep it that way as he worked to help the other villagers keep their simple lives as is.

[Apple]

[OOC: Thread now closed. All participants who haven't been active enough to post their exit have been auto-exited, if that makes any sense at all.]

As I spoke of my final request, it soon came to be that several village members began to leave the stand, some with polite, courteous bows before making their exit, and others simply leaving. I’d oversee as all as it happened, watching them leave one by one as I’d signaled the end of the meeting. Having finished my motive and having given people an image of their Kage to work alongside. Instead of being shrouded in darkness and mystery I wanted to be out in the open. Perhaps it was simply me and my attempt at PR to make myself more of an icon and a role model for children in academy. It was a start.

As everyone started to make their leave, I too would retire from this forum, and I’d walk back towards the door of the balcony, the ANBU on the outside shutting them as I passed through. Of course- The room that I’d entered wasn’t my office but instead an unused room of the atrium. Approaching the door, I soon made my way out of the winding corridors of the building, and out through the main doors, making my leave. Hopefully this small meeting would have increased my popularity within the village.

EXIT

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[Jae]

• Apple: 64 EXP!
  
  
• Kildred: 34 EXP!
  
  
• Krethean: 37 EXP!
  
  
• Muu Yanagi: 25 EXP!
  
  
• ∞: 10 EXP!
  
  
• Kenji: 10 EXP!
  
  
• Stephan: 18 EXP!