Recent Posts

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.

SPOILER: Click to show

all weapons equipped

Heihachi would listen to the Kusakage's words intently. With various blinks in between her words, it was clear that he was taking what he could in, and memorizing it. Benkei took shorthand notes not too far away on her clipboard. For the entirety of their meeting, he would continue to look in to her eyes. A magnificent crystalline, with small instances of sage. It was remarkable. The weight of her look showed something that he could admire, easily. However, her words were something that he couldn't bear to take without a grain of salt. She was being honest, which was something that any leader could expect to hear from another leader. However, what was honestly if not pertaining to its relevance? He grew uneasy listening to her. The idea of Kumogakure being a 'struggling home,' and Kusagakure being their better- the phrasing of the sentence would only make him relay to the history of his endeavors. Constant instances of combat, murder, espionage all done for the sake of his flourishing village, it was sickening to hear that it had all been for naught. The men that he had done them for were now gone, and the men that did the same for him would never be acknowledged. He felt remorse for all of the soldiers that lost their lives in combat, and for all of the soldiers that still did, because now their village was deemed an inadequate substance. Their persistence and power for decades had advanced to being nothing more than 'struggling.'

As the Kusakage continued to speak, he would hear more syntax that made him even more troubled with his situation. She was in a position of power- so much so that she was looking down on him. She had resources. He did not have resources. She had ninja, money and a kept home. He had a fraction of all three. As she finished her last words, he could no longer sustain his eye contact with her. His head swiveling to his right in order to view what he could out of the window. It would take mere moments for the clouds to shift, and to open up on a view of the village from this height. While they party had not ascended very high, the lower portion of the village, including where the gate once stood, was visible. He could see them clearly- the working bodies of his dedicated men, women and children. Lifting, cutting, nailing-- teaching, doing, being. It was his obligation to ensured that they could do so consistently... and safely. He would not falter where his predecessors had. Danger was not to pass these gates, and he would not allow any other village to look down on him.

As she finished her proposition, he would continue to stare out of the window, speaking clearly enough for anyone in the room to hear, however.

"Kusakage, your recommendation is well received. While you are correct that your assistance is far more beneficial than not- I believe you have the wrong grasp on what it is that Kumogakure needs right now.

"We have suffered from immense monetary damages, and apprehensible damages in the form of our gate, and a quadrant of our village. Repairs have begun and we will be completed in a short period of time. What we need the most- is revenue," His face would crease into a frown as he would begin to think of all of the possibilities that surrounded the village. They had been fortunate to not receive too many visitors during this time, the few that would traverse their gates being the typical merchants that would sell to the villagers. "Word has not escaped to the public, or to our government that we were attacked. I would like to keep it that way. We have capable shinobi, that upon request can be used on missions to assist our revenue."

He would finally turn his head from the window, his eyes shifting back to hers, before shifting once more to the ninja who had sat beside her. He was unsure of his rank, role or capabilities, but it was evident that he was a man that had skill- accompanying his Kage to a foreign land.

"That needs to be expedited. I feel that your village can assist us with that," Lifting his middle finger to his temple, he would curve the few strands of hair that had fallen in front of his face behind his ear, revealing his flamboyant golden earring. "I propose that our villages engage in shared business for the time being. Kusagakure will be open to Kumogakure clientèle, as will Kumogakure be open to Kusagakure clientèle. With both of our villages representing a client, I'm sure mission requests for both of our villages will increase as well."

His arms had crossed by then as he leaned against the window. He was eager to hear her response, ensuring his gaze upon her as he expected an immediate answer. It was an option that would truly benefit both villages, and the idea of being at the mercy of a foreign village who had nothing to gain from assisting Kumogakure made him sick. Eiichiro had begun this alliance with good intentions, but even he couldn't foresee the pain that the village would endure in this time of crisis. The Kusakage was an obviously smart woman, who he sure got what she wanted. For the sake of their alliance, and for Eiichiro's hard work, he hoped that she accepted his proposition.

SPOILER: Click to show

all weapons equipped
all armor equipped.

By the time that Tenshi had arrived into the library, Heihachi had already begun to do a little bit of side work. Organizing some papers, and placing a few awry scrolls back into their places- he would wait for him to take a seat to actually signify that he was paying attention to him. His back was lean, and visible through the mesh knitting of his top. He was thin. The body of a man that looked as though he would be easily overwhelmed by any sort of hand to hand combatant- and yet here he stood, in a position in which he commanded an entire village. Finally turning to face his guest, he would leave one scroll undone, holding it within his grasp. It was a rather small scroll, the size of a bottle of water, which he would toss at the bandaged ninja leisurely before making his way towards the ottoman adjacent to the young man.

"I know that the ninja who allowed you to partake in this mission has been reprimanded. I would do the same to you, but I take it that you understand the magnitude of your decision," He would say, pulling the ottoman even closer towards Tenshi. "Genin don't go on missions of that rank, especially alone, because they are weak alone..."

He would spit the words out as bluntly as what seemed humanly possible. The light which shone from his window was weak- but still present. It did little to illuminate the room, and yet somehow made his eyes glow. His stare was unnerving, and his grip against the cushion beneath him was indicative of his frustration. His eyes were weak, that was certain, and yet his stare was vibrant. He drew something from these interactions, something that he never really got a change to experience before becoming Raikage. Few people were aware of his existence before a week ago. In fact, many still didn't even know what he looked like. The idea of a thin, blonde kage seemed redundant given who it was that Heihachi was replacing. Yet, it wasn't his hair, or his frame which made him Raikage. It was interactions such as these.

His eyes would draw themselves away from Tenshi, and to his right, above one of the many bookshelves which surrounded them. If Tenshi would follow, he would see a small image, surrounded by a small red frame. Within it would be an image of the kage, his arm over the shoulder of the kage before him. They appeared to be laughing together. The image was something that not many got a chance to see before a week. The Sandaime had many friends, true, but none of them knew him like Heihachi did.

".. then again- so are Chuunin, so are Jounin, and so is a Kage," He would say, his voice trailing off upon viewing the image; it would only be after looking back at his subordinate did his voice sound as harsh as it had been before. "Which is why I need you alive. Because I don't want to be weak, and I don't want anyone in my village weak."

He would finish abruptly before standing up, pushing the ottoman away from him with the back of his knees. Within an instant he would be on the other side of the room, not forgetting the work that had to be done during this brief meeting.

"So tell me why you did it, Tenshi?" He would say casually, perhaps surprising the genin that he actually knew his name.

SPOILER: Click to show

all weapons equipped
all armor equipped

He would be greeted by none, and expected by many. It was a situation of pure discomfort, he was sure of it. With the images of flailing genin circulating the office, papers tucked into their arms, and worried expressions of their faces, it was clear that there was a lot of pressure to be had working for a man like Heihachi. Confidence did not seem to live in this place. With these adolescents doing their best to make their leader proud, it was a consideration that few had put in to action these days. However, as they all hurried to complete their busy work, they seemed to pay him no mind. He sat there, behind a gargantuan wooden desk that was clearly outdated, and pulled from some sort of storage closet. It was nice, but far from modern. The wood had been chipped in various places by sloppy moving crews, and the papers that had begun to pile up on his desk was an obvious indication as to the state that the village was attempting to grow from. Village assignments, requests, approvals, renovations, constructions- the list went on, and was racking the brain of the twisted haired blonde. His hand pressed against his temple as he would massage himself into comfort. He had grown tired of this position, the stress had grown so unbearable. Here he was, however, working almost nonstop since his appointment. His assistant, a large, blue haired woman would stand over him, assisting him in the signing of a document that she had recently placed in front of him. He sat there in a casual mesh t-shirt. It was typical ninja attire, but far from what was considered appropriate for someone of his position. Perhaps in battle, but not a day at the office. He could care less. His job had pulled him through so many loops at is, protocol was simply a formality.

It would be his assistant, Atsuko, who would notice Tenshi first. His battered and bruised frame being a distracting feature in this high paced place of business. He was a slow mover, and seemed to beckon for people to notice it. The few chuunin in the office would scoff at him, as if they somehow knew why it was that he would be coming here, to the Raikage's office in such a disheveled manner. It would take only a moment for the Raikage himself to look up from the document and lay his eyes on the crutched human being. A blank look would meet Tenshi. It wasn't surprise, or astonishment, just a stare. Atsuko would say something inaudible before walking off, yelling the name of one of the genin who was placing a file into one of the many shelves placed around the room. Heihachi would stand, not too much taller than his genin subordinate, but clearly older. Leisurely making his way from around the massive wooden desk, he would leave his rickety wooden chair and close the distance between the two.

"You look like shit, kid." He would say loudly enough for Tenshi to hear him over the sounds of the office.

He had heard what happened, the bare details at least. The medics who had taken Tenshi to the hospital having explained what they could get out of him. He had also been informed by the mission approval staff. The only person who he hadn't spoken to, in fact, was the man in which he now was facing. It was clear that he couldn't traverse a very long distance, but Heihachi didn't want to have this conversation in front of Tenshi's fellow genin.

"Let's step in to my chambers." Heihachi would say mildly, motioning towards a massive library on the other side of the office.

His hands slid into his pockets, a recent habit, and he would begin to walk towards the chambers, not bothering to slow his pace for the injured genin.

SPOILER: Click to show

all weapons equipped
all armor equipped

A saddened expression would cross the frame of the Raikage as the words from his newest guest would make their way into his ears. Her voice had faded slightly, and he could tell that she had begun to fall behind from her tone. For that reason, he would begin to slow down himself, turning to check on her status from the corner of his eye. The expression would fade quickly however, as he begun to remember his role. There was no time for sadness. Lifting his head up, and straightening his back, his posture would instantly correct itself as they continued to conquer this incline. He would take her comment at an arms pace. Of course, she had to have meant it. The idea that she would be remorseful for the loss of a known comrade, and the senseless loss of lives- while here to pay her respects, it was impossible.

It wouldn't be long for them to reach the destination that Heihachi had arranged for them all to meet. Here, etched into the side of this alabaster mountain, would rest a substantial nook, the label "Nouma" resting above it in a cloudy text that would appear to pop out at the reader. It was a deep red text that would really make the reader question what this place was, but all the more inclined to investigate the contents of the nook. A long, dark hallway would reveal two glass paned doors that had been defeated by the shadows of the mountain. However, from outside of the nook, small specks of light- akin to starlight- would float from within. It would be this light that would offer the only real explanation as to where this man had been leading this party. The hall itself had no lighting, and the cobblestone that would lead to the doors had been made into an array of small horse figures, which had always appealed to the young adults of Kumogakure. While visitors would often frequent this place after midnight, the atmosphere of even this drab hallway transforming into something much more vivacious, for now it was quite reserved. Benkai would come scuttling up the street in order to prevent any of the party from wandering off, while Heihachi would stand at the entrance of this caved hallway, his eyes instantly meeting the Kusakage.

"There is a wealth of intel to be desired surrounding that night." He would say gently, but obviously frustrated as to the contents of her question.

He would take another glance on her body. She was breathing awkwardly, and the pattern of her speech had altered. She was a beautiful woman. He didn't want her to believe him to be inconsiderate of the altitude of these mountains. It was rare that a visitor was unaccustomed to the power of these mountains, their might being an additional defense for this village. He would begin to walk slowly down the hall, in hopes of her matching his pace this time and that they would walk side by side.

"My objectives however do not currently revolve around revenge. The death of three men will not bring back the lives of the ninja that lost their lives- or my best friend." His eyes would beginning to be distracted by the image of the stone horses at his feet. "We have a long road to walk down until we are financially stable."

Heihachi's hand would remove itself from his pocket as they would reach the middle of the hallway- the doors growing visible larger the closer they got to them.

"With that being said- all of Kumogakure no Sato needs closure..."

SPOILER: Click to show

all weapons equipped
all armor equipped.

"This came for you today, Raikage-sama." Atsuko would say quickly- tossing a scroll onto Heihachi's desk in a whirlwind of speed.

Before he could retort, scolding her about her abrasiveness- she was off. Such a busy woman. Raising himself from his chair, he would brush away the new scroll to to take a look at a scroll that had been delivered by one of his ninja- a genius of his own right. It had been given very recently, and had been sitting on Heihachi's desk since then. Kusa was coming. Biting his lip, his teeth would catch the golden ring peeking from behind his mouth. He often played with his piercings whenever he grew anxious. Turning his head to one of the many people running around his office, he would push his chair away from his desk before heading closer towards the 'battlezone.' Slipping past the flurry of genin shuffling paperwork all around him, he would make his way to the window of his office. Looking out below him, he would see the same city that he had seen that fateful night. This light, however, would reveal something completely different. This showed the village that he knew as a child. This showed his home. Foreign ninja had attempted to take that away from him. Their identities, their true motives- all of which completely undisclosed. If he had been in another position, he would have done the same thing as Izumi. This was a difficult place to be, he didn't blame the chuunin.

Raising his hand to the pane of his window, he would feel the cold air that shook him awake once more. The sound of one of his genin squeaking behind him.

"Raikage-sama!" She would shout, instantly bowing to him in an almost frightened manner. "Our outposts confirm three figures making their way towards the front of the village. Intelligence believes it to be the Kusakage!" She would shout, her head staying further down than what seemed professional.

Heihachi would continue to look out at the city that he once knew. How much it had changed.

"Alert Benkei, tell her she is to accompany me to the gates. I want to meet this Kusakage myself." He would say more towards the floating presence of Atsuko, than the genin- who he would politely pat on the back as he headed out of the door. "Prepare my guest rooms." He would command as he passed her.

/exit to kumogakure gates

SPOILER: Click to show

all weapons equipped
all armor equipped.