BLKND Q4 Mujin

[The Dude]

Yotsuki Manor loomed in the night sky. It had been built at one of the highest peaks in the entire village and was fabled to have the most beautiful view penetrating even the veil of clouds. It was here that the newest Raikage was destined to end up this evening. He had received a scroll inviting him to a dinner in his honor to welcome him as a new leader. But the true intentions were not so simplistic.

It wasn't raining, but lightning forked across the sky constantly lighting up the village in flashes. The large doors of the manor stood dark in the spasms of light. Before the doors stood a shinobi with his arms folded behind his back. He wore an expensive suit with a bow tie and shiny boots, but apart from this flash appearance he didn't really do much at all. Just stood before the doors peering ahead through the open air waiting.

[BLKND]

無人

Each step up this god-forsaken staircase seemed to take Heihachi down three more. He had seen his destination from what felt like miles away, and yet only now had he gained even a decent foothold on how far away he was. The final stretch. During the process of making his way up the mountain, he had tied his hair into one of his less professional buns. Having left his kimono at home, he would regret it, having not properly considered the idea that he would be staying any longer than half an hour. Then again, it would take him about that long just to give his feet a rest. It would be almost comical, as he would reach the step that would plateau him to the abode in which he had been invited for a polite dinner. The Yotsuki Manor- it had a certain ring to it. Of course, he was familiar with it himself. With his mother being well versed in all of the secrets of the village- her specialty just happened to be those on the wealthier side of things. Taking a break to truly observe the place, it was no wonder she was so fascinated with this family.

Then again, that would also imply that they knew him as well. Even before his new appointment as Raikage, he would always be 'little Heihachi' in the eyes of half of the village. He had been born and raised behind these walls, and his father was among the most respected during his efforts in the war, having fought alongside the Nidaime Raikage- Atlas, albeit considerably older. However, that was then, this is now. There was no woman to hold his hand, or any man to introduce him to strangers. He was a man of his own means, and the leader of this village. Taking one final look down, he would see the beautiful clouds that would erupt from the heavens to form the second floor that the Yotsuki were fortunate enough to gaze upon. They didn't know what they were missing.

This city, it was so beautiful at night... if one were fortunate enough to know it was there.

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GET IT. IT'S A QUEST FOR MUJIN... KNOW IT WAS THERE!? HAHA.

[The Dude]

"Honorable Raikage-sama, my lord Yotsuki has been expecting you for some time. Please come in and follow me, but don't touch anything if you would be so kind." The man at the doors seemed to have sprung to life at last. He turned about and with some considerable force pushed the doors swinging in before leading the kage inside.

As they walked through the massive building the neat little man would mention the occasional tid-bit of information about the house as he had become accustomed to doing with visitors. "The doors were made of solid stone and arranged to only swing inwards The initial designs swung out onto the steps but this proved a mistake because powerful winds and storms we get up here in the mountains literally wrenched the doors free from their frames and sent them tumbling down the mountain side." His facts continued and he rambled on apathetic whether the kage was actually listening or not.

[BLKND]

無人

Heihachi would follow the man through the massive double doors, marking their mass with what little interior decorating knowledge he had accrued. While this unknown man walked fairly fast, Heihachi would be much less inclined to follow him with the same emphasis. Instead, he would walk leisurely through the home, his hands slowly sliding into his pockets out of sheer boredum. He wanted to get out of here as soon as he possibly could- and with this man going on about this house was as extravagent as it was, he couldn't take it much longer.

"Oh... interesting." He would say, focusing on various other features of the abode.

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Let's get this shit started.

[The Dude]

Old man Yotsuki sat on a high stool hunched over a high polished massive desk that nearly encircled him. Of course the fine wood and polish could not be seen for all the papers, scrolls, folders, binders, and books that blanketed its entire surface. He sat back in his stool and let out a very tired and stressed sigh. He had been busy making up for mistakes in the past and taking steps to reduce the likelihood of them occurring again. He was skeptical his heart could suffer another pain like it had during Kumogakure's recent crisis.

There was a knock on the door, and shadowed red eyes glared across at the door way. For a moment he left them outside and instead reached into a drawer in his desk retrieving a bottle and and two glasses pouring alcohol into both. As he poured he called in a gritty but well mannered voice, "The door is open if the two of you would like to come in."

The doors were pushed slowly inwards and the man escorting the Raikage stepped into the study before stepping aside to let him into the study as well. He bowed his head and announced to the floor for all it's curiosity, "May I present, Lord Yotsuki. Lord Yotsuki, this is the new Raikage--" He didn't manage to get any further for he was interrupted by the gritty voice.

"Ishitsuru Heihachi." He paused in silence and stared right into the young man's eyes as if to explore the depths of his soul before continuing. "Yes of course, I have been expecting you for quite some time Heihachi. They say you are to be charged with restoring the village to the peaceful quaint community it once was. We have much to discuss and as haughty as this may sound, my time is worth more than yours." There was an uncomfortable silence filled only by the snap of his fingers that sent the servant scuttling out of the room to return moments later with chairs. "Take a seat, sir. May I offer you something to drink?"

[BLKND]

無人

He had grown tired of this man already. His lips continued to speak, but the relevance of his words faded almost instantly as they were produced. He had been grateful as the man pushed the doors to either side to reveal a room in which he had never been. While having been present in the house before, there were plenty of rooms left unexplored to the eager eyes of the child. This was one of those mysteries- revealed. Before him would be a man that he was familiar with only in reputation. While they might have shared a meal together, or may have been introduced years ago, there was obviously no connection between the two. The eyes of a wanting man looked at him, and spoke with a tone that Heihachi could tell had been the tone that followed him throughout his lifetime. He held authority well, and he wouldn't let it go for the remainder of his life. So as Heihachi and the man would walk through the door to lay their eyes upon the old Yotsuki, it would become very clear, very quickly, that this was not going to be the interaction that he had assumed he would be dealing with.

The snarky 'snap' of the man's fingers would leave the two of them alone. Offering a beverage, Heihachi knew that it was an offer that would be an element of prolonging his stay. Despite what the man said to him, despite its possible truth, Heihachi was incredibly busy. Whatever this meeting was- he wanted it expedited.

"I'm fine, thank you." He would say, holding up his hand politely as he began heading towards one of the seats that the man had directed him to take.

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[The Dude]

Yotsuki waited politely for the young kage to take a seat while he poured both glasses despite the young boy's refusal. "Fair enough. I suppose a boy your age shouldn't be drinking anyway," he said. His hands trembled slightly as he poured the glasses before setting the bottle back down. Raising the first glass he tossed back the drink and gave a short shudder before setting the glass back down and looking across the table at the raikage.

"Well, then we're both busy men so I'll cut to the chase. I don't want you to rebuild the village as the quaint peaceful community it once was. I want us to rebuild it together, but not as a quaint village. Instead I would prefer Kumogakure be rebuilt in such a way that all would think twice before attacking us again." He lifted the second glass sipping it gingerly before continuing, "And that those responsible for our most recent tragedy, tremble in fear and pray we never find them."

He leaned forward now over the desk lifting scrolls and papers about looking for something particular but continued, "You are obviously the new kage, and I do not mean to question your judgements or how you lead our people in anyway. That is why I am being honest and upfront about my intentions here today. I want to turn you into a symbol for your people and a threat to your enemies."

He seemed to find what he was looking for withdrawing a picture of his daughter who passed away during the attack on the village. "This cannot happen again..." a single tear nearly formed but he blinked and wiped it away before looking across at Heihachi once more with glassy eyes. He outstretched his hand offering the picture to the raikage for inspection. "Beautiful wasn't she? You understand don't you? I... I just can't stand another loss to my house, let alone my village."

[BLKND]

無人

The musk of the room was indicative of an upset man. It was evident that liquor had kept him company, and within a matter of days, he would be relapsing back into the untamed, emotional man that he had no doubt become upon the news concerning his daughter. He pitied the man. Of course, there was something to be said about loss. Heihachi bore no children, so the idea of losing a child was foreign to him. He did however have a number of nieces and nephews, that he considered incredibly dear- even as far as considering them his own children. He cared for them, he spoiled them with gifts and useless speeches about life. As he looked into the face of this grizzly character, he witnessed an idea as to what loss really was. Heihachi's eyes would glance from his face, to his fingertips as he would take the picture within his grasp. There was something that he longed for, this old man, and he wanted Heihachi to make it right for him. It brought him back to the days of being an ANBU. So many needs that the village presented him- and so little ways to allow them such need.

A light sigh would burst from his lips as Heihachi would take in the sight of a woman. He had known her. Her name escaped him at the moment, but she was an evident, vibrant soul whose smile, mannerisms and voice would all echo within his memory. The same memories of this old man would make him enjoy the memory of this woman. If she was there, at the gate, then her fate had been sealed. His only question would be if she died fighting, or if she was an innocent bystander. He didn't know- he didn't care. She was an acquaintance, and a resident of Kumogakure, his village. The words of the old man would ring with the gravity of Heihachi's situation.

"I remember her..." Heihachi would whisper solemnly as he took the picture from the old man. "... and I understand. What would you have me do? I would appreciate any help you could offer..."

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