Sigh, damn Kira

Maku listened to Echo speak, and agreed whole heartily.  He was not terribly knowledgeable of the inner workings of Konoha, but from what he did know, it would strike him as odd to take in someone like Kira.  While Maku believed her foolishness as truth, most others would see it as her hiding something.  "Very good sir, I will send her the message presently to return to Iwagakure to meet with you."  Maku grabbed one of the last remaining bowls that still had food and began eating slowly.  The meeting had ended up going pretty well considering how atrocious the events that led to it had been.  

"Is there anything else you would like me to handle for you sir?  I recently sent a letter to Amegakure to try and secure an alliance, running through the ledgers I discovered prior to our acquisition of the village they had been allies.  However my answer has not been answered.  It has left me wondering if something has happened in Amegakure.  Other than that though, if there is any thing you need I am sure Youka and I would happily perform."

Echo nods again in acceptance of the facts about Kiranomo, she'll have to be kept on watch...Kozai is a good person for that job..and he does deserve a promotion..Perhaps he can assign her as his Chuunin assistant?? He'll be keeping tabs on her either way, Asgard is no longer an option, his Brother's arrogance really does know no boundaries...
He'll be needing all the strength he can muster if he is to eventually do battle with Kami, he'll have to be clever about this...

Echo tsks about the Amegakure situation and in a very dignified manner, crosses his arms over his chest and falls backwards his legs still crossed as he simply stares up at the ceiling while laying backwards. "By the Rikudo's musty ass-crack! How hard is it to reply to a letter!? Yeah, yeah, send a runner...And make sure he knows to run screaming and calling for help if they turn out hostile or something is going down." Echo states grumbling to himself in annoyance.

"Will do, I will update you as soon as I know whats going on.  Should the village have been taken, I will handle it best I can, either making a new alliance or terminating hostiles per usual standing orders."  Maku had finished eating, and set his bowl back down.  He wasn't sure if there was much else to say or to do. 

"Is there any other projects you need me to be working on?"  Maku watched his leader awaiting any further instructions or orders.  He was ready to get back into the swing of things, doing activities for the nation and not just sitting on his ass in an office.

Echo hums as he rolls over to his left side his eyes closing before he rolls over to his back again and leans upwards "I do have some tasks for you, unfortunately they will require you to choose someone to watch over Yuki while you travel...There are some things we must prepare for..All of us must prepare for this.." He says his voice growing colder and his eyes narrowing the laziness vanishing from them being replaced by determination and conviction. "After we gather Youka, you will travel with me to several villages...We'll be looking for candidates for a specific method of battle...and espionage...and hopefully defense." He states tilting his gaze upwards "Maku, what is it you fear most in this world?" He asks before he continues "I fear death, not just my own...But everyones really...Yours...My Families..Youka's even Kiranomo's...I fear death, it's something I can't fight off...Not for others anyway.." He grimaces "Everyone will eventually die...I can't extend the longevity to everyone..If I could, I would." He states before his gaze flickers back to Maku..half expecting an answer.

"What do I fear most?  I fear being forgotten, and that my life held no meaning.  I understand all people die.  That does not frighten me, and it never has.  In fact, in my mind I have often thought of how I will die.  I seek a glorious death, one that is filled with meaning, and that impacts the ninja world like none before it.  However, don't think me suicidal.  I will fight with every fiber of my being to prevent such an act, however as an inevitability it is something I have given much thought to.  No, death does not scare me, but my name being lost to the pages of history, my entire existence left with no quantifiable meaning.  That keeps me up at night."  

Maku let his eyes glaze over for a moment while he thought on all this.  This was a subject he had not even shared with Youka.  Often he had thought of the subject, death after all was the constant companion of all shinobi.  Their mortality like a brother in arms, always shoulder to shoulder meeting the enemy.  However things were starting to be different, were as before Maku had no one to look out for and no one to protect he had now made friends.  "Before these were selfish thoughts.  Now though I see my life can have meaning in those I leave behind.  My comrades, people I have taught, anyone my life may have touched."  Chuckling, Maku looked at his employer, no his friend.  "Maybe one day I could even save you, I think that would be a worth while sacrifice."  While when Maku had first spoke, his words could be seen as selfish and naive, by the end, his tone, his inflection revealed that he had seen the truth.  He sought to make a difference in this world through any and all that he would meet.  He sought a glorious death not for himself, but as a way to protect those around him, giving them the years that may be cut short form his own life.

 "Lord Echo, death may be an inevitability, but for the ones we love, I think we can hold him at bay for at least a time."  He would say with a smile.  His youth would show a little here, Maku was still a boy after all.  However his experiences and companions in life had left him more emotionally matured than many.  It was clear, that he sought to make a difference in the world, and leave it in a better condition than the one he had entered it.  He radiated confidence, and purpose.

Echo chuckles slightly at this "Ah, you're pretty smart huh Maku?" He states with another chuckle before standing from his earlier position and rolling his shoulders and leaning down his left leg extending outwards as he crouches, he shifts to his right leg before standing up again and stretching. "Yosh." He states laziness once again creeping into his tone though his lips quirk upwards in a smirk a moment later. "I'll just have to get even more powerful, then I can protect everybody.." He states crossing his arms over his chest and turning away to walk towards the door "Maku, human beings are naturally selfish, but that's not a bad thing really...Human beings always want more, it's how we progress forward...It's why we innovate..Why we invent...Humanity's greatest sin is being content with what you have...Of course there are limits to this...However, wanting more and reaching for it when an opportunity comes is never a bad thing...Unless it endangers everything else you have." He states before pausing again and turning back a frown on his face "But to be honest, humanity is full of contradictions..I could probably go on for hours trying to sound cool but I'd just end up talking myself into an infinite loop...Point is, keep getting stronger, I'm gonna be staying in your village for a bit, gonna go rent an Inn, get yourself prepared Maku, we'll be leaving in a months time, I'm gonna need somebody watching how I work, you and Youka ironically are my best agents." he compliments offhandedly before attempting to walk out if there is nothing else he leaves to find a place to stay while he's in Yukigakure.

[Possible exit.]

Maku laughed a bit as Echo chuckled, pleased that the heavy had left the room for the moment, and he continued to listen to him speak of the coming days.  One months time, one month, not such a long time, and yet it was long enough.  Maku knew he could accomplish much in one month given the opportunity, and he would see it seized to its fullest.  Snapping off a bit of a salute, Maku answered, "No problem boss, I will see it done.  I also will see Youka alerted, and get him to arrive at the village.  As for your living arrangments."  Maku pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote down an address.  "This is the address of the best place in the village, I think it should serve you well."

Watching Echo leave, Maku leaned back and reached for some food.  Only to relize there was none left.  WIth a bit of a comical scowl, he snapped his fingers and two girls appeared behind him.  ANBU, his personal guards.  Anne and Charlotte.  "Could you two go get me something to eat, I have a feeling I will be spending a long time in this office, I have much work to do and only a month to do it in."  With that the two woman left the room, and Maku began clearing up his own mess.  He didn't mind the grunt work.  Once cleared, he unrolled his scrolls and mass of notes on all his research.  Beginning to read through it, Maku began to prepare.  One month, and then everything would change.


{Topic Closed}