We Definitely Haven't Met Before [p, nk, Jason]

Kozai was tired. To put it simply, the past couple of years had been like a lifetime to him. It had all started with that silly training trip with Near. Sure, he had managed to put some shards into the old leader's chest, but in the end... what good had it done him? It had led him down the road of power. Power which he could not be trusted to use well. He hadn't even been able to stop Maku from destroying Iwa. In that case, what was he?
"Everything, and nothing", Kozai murmured, remembering what he had always used to say. Was that even true anymore?
It was then that Kozai heard it.
...
A new hokage?
...
Well... how interesting. He supposed that there were a few things left in life to keep him going. At any rate, he should go see this new kage... if administration had changed, then he needed to get information on it... also, he probably needed to renew permission to stay in the village.
Kozai stood up from the bench he had been sitting on and meandered toward the Kage palace. Naturally, he got there in better time than most would have, considering just how superior his physiology was compared to your average citizen.
"Kozai Yuki here, to see the Hokage."
He spoke to the secretary, in a serious and staid tone. He didn't want to waste time here.
" You'll remember me from the gate incident a couple of weeks ago."
Hopefully, the new hokage would have information on that. Otherwise, he'd be pretty incompetent...

Jason had been sitting at his desk all morning going over the last details he needed about a certain decision he was making. He had been up for hours going over everything making sure it was perfect. In the back of his mind he couldn't help thinking that he wasn't strong enough to protect his village. He wasn't strong enough to force all of those missing-nin out of Konoha. Especially not if they teamed up. He wondered about this, about how he could become stronger to protect everyone.

He came back out of his mind as he picked up a new aura with his Haki. Someone had come to visit him, and it wasn't a Konoha ninja. He could tell that much. Jason had spent enough time with the ninja in his village to be able to differentiate between them and those not belonging to the village. His secretary would relay Jason a message that Kozai Yuki from the gate incident was here to see him. Jason remembered the report about him. He had done nothing hostile to Jason's villagers as of yet and the report had no imminently threatening information on him. Jason would let the secretary know to let Kozai in. 

As Jason was waiting for Kozai to enter, he donned the hat that was sitting on his desk. The symbol of his status as Hokage. Jason's fox Nami was curled up in her usual corner atop a cabinet near the door to the office. A large wave of discontent rolled into Jason through his link with the fox. She seemed to not like the idea of Jason meeting with a missing-nin on his own, even if he didn't seem to have any hostile intent. Jason cracked a smile at Nami's concern for him as he sent reassuring thoughts back to her.

As Kozai entered the office, his Coriolis Revelation picked up on every detail in the office, even ones that weren't noticeable by human eyes. The fox thing in the corner... what was it with people and foxes in this village? He briefly considered using his power on this one like he had with Kuro's, but didn't. He knew very well how to respect a kage in his natural habitat... after all, he had been one himself.
"So... you're the new hokage. You know my name from the gate situation some time ago."
Kozai would also note at this point the bow and arrows that the kage had. An archer...? Kozai hadn't seen too many of those. However, he knew how difficult those were to dodge... at long range. It was good, he supposed, that he was a close range combatant. These thoughts would drift across his mind in a more contemplative manner, the gears of his mind beginning to turn like they had before. It was a good feeling, mostly.
"May I have the honor of knowing your name?"

Jason sat calmly as he watched Kozai enter into the office. His senses were on high alert and his Haki was being used to predict any unwarranted attacks and the like from the missing-nin in front of him. The power of this one rivaled his own. He mentally cursed himself for not having ANBU or Jounin present for this. Using the communications squad, Jason would send for a few ANBU to make their way to the office and keep themselves hidden unless needed.


"May I have the honor of knowing your name?"


A spreadsheet of information ran through Jason's mind. Kozai Yuki, an ice release user. Former leader of Iwagakure. S Rank Missing Ninja. Involved in the 'Gate Incident' a while back. No hostile actions reported. Chakra and fighting strength rivaling that of Jason himself, perhaps even greater. Jason's would have a calm and kind, yet still calculating, look on his face as he spoke. "Jason Senju, Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Speak Kozai Yuki, former leader of Iwagakure, and tell me why you have come to see me." His words were short and to the point. He did not want to have this take any longer than necessary. It was dangerous meeting alone with a high ranked missing-nin like this.

Of course, using Coriolis Revelation, Kozai had already noticed the ANBU the moment they even got close to the office. So, it seemed that this hokage was raising the level of security. Had he done something wrong? No... perhaps it was because he had forgotten to cloak his chakra signature. This kage, therefore, must have been at the very least concerned by his power level. As satisfying as it was, Kozai hadn't been trusted by anyone in a very long time. The last person who Kozai could have called friend was...
dead.
Despite the fact that he had attempted to cast aside sentimentality, Kozai missed Agito. He needed a new home... new friends... overall, just a new life in general.
However, those thoughts were interrupted by the fact that the hokage had stated his name. Jason Senju.
Jason... Senju???
SENJU???
Amazing... Kozai had actually found a living Senju clan member who wasn't some jerk kid trying to attack Iwa on his own. Well... time to do some careful treading... but first, he had to get his business done.
"The previous authorities in Konoha had previously given me permission to stay here. However, since you have gained authority over this village, I would like to renew the legitimacy of my being in Konoha. If it so pleases you, I would like to take refuge here for the time being."
Of course, Jason would already have knowledge that Kozai had previously made this request at the gates... but how would he respond?

Kozai would request that his refuge be re-legitimized by the new Hokage. Jason had known that Kozai was granted refuge in the village previously but he was more than hesitant on renewing it. Jason would pause for a moment, noting that they were now surrounded by the ANBU he had sent for. Kenbushoku Haki was certainly a useful skill to have, being able to sense everyone's aura. Before speaking Jason would take a breath, still holding the calm, calculating demeanor he had donned earlier. 

"I am aware you were granted refuge in the village before. However the gate incident, though you have performed no hostile actions toward my ninja or the village, has put a bad taste in my mouth concerning missing-nin. Since you are the former leader of Iwagakure I tell you that out of respect before asking this. What is your reason for taking refuge in Konoha and your intentions while staying here? Your answer will decide whether or not I choose to renew your stay here."

They may have come off as harsh words, Jason was not sure. What he was sure of was that the message he was sending was clear: harm anyone in the village or the village itself and you will be dealt with swiftly. Jason had to look after his own. It would not do to have so many missing-nin running around his home unchecked. That was certain.

Now, this was an interesting question. Honestly, Kozai hadn't expected the hokage to back down and just let him in, but this... what a question. Of course, Kozai had little uncertainty as to his answer, but still... his brain took a whole half a second to process and come up with an answer. Damn, he was rusty as all hell. However, the sheer fact that this guy was a Senju made everything better. Kozai wasn't one to tempt people with power, but he would have to ask VERY soon about whether or not this guy knew about the possible power he could attain.
"A year ago, I would have told you that I was here for research. A month ago, I would have said that I was here to find a safe place to stay. But now... now, I suppose, I have a new motivation. After all... you are a Senju, so it would seem."
Kozai sat down on the chair that was pleasantly placed there in front of the desk. How long had it been since he had been inside a kage office? It had most likely been months, but to Kozai, it seemed like an eternity.
"An old, more experienced friend, once a Konoha ninja, once told me that the Senju clan had a potential for some kind of power... a power so strong that even kage feared it. I suppose now that I have found a Senju clan member, I seek information on this power and why my friend was so desperate to keep it from manifesting."
He remembered how shocked Echo had been when he had found out that Kozai had access to both bloodlines. How surprised he had been. He had also seemed to be... afraid. Had he fought someone with this strange power before?
"I'm sure you've heard of the Uchiha clan."
This would be a transition into the next topic.

A potential for some kind of power that even Kage feared. What was Kozai talking about? Jason had never even heard of such a power. Could it really exist? It was some kind of happy coincidence that Kozai had come in to his office today of all days talking about some strange power that Jason had the potential for. He had only just been thinking of how he could get stronger moments ago. Now Kozai certainly had Jason's attention. Lessening his hardened expression to one more of curiosity, Jason would speak again.

"What exactly is this 'power' you're talking about? I've never heard of Senju having the potential for a power like this."

Jason wanted to know more. No, he HAD to know more. If it were something he could obtain, something that would make him strong enough to protect his village, he needed to learn more about it. And what did it have to do with the Uchiha clan? "Of course I've heard of the Uchiha clan, but what do they have to do with this?" he added. He would then sit still, his hands now folded on the desk in front of him, and curiously listen to what the Yuki had to say.

Nami would perk an ear up at the conversation as she continued to lay in the corner. She would use her telepathy to keep an eye on Kozai's emotions and thoughts in case he was lying about anything. Kozai would have no clue Nami was doing such a thing unless he had some type of telepathic power himself. It was impossible through any other means to detect Nami's presence within your thoughts. Except of course for Jason who shared a unique bond with the fox.

For an instant, Kozai was filled with energy. Then, it was gone. Kozai sighed, thinking about all he had learned. His memory was almost flawless, to the point where he remembered everything that he had read in the Iwa archives. Even the name of the lowliest genin... but of course, he didn't have as much information as he would have liked in this case. Echo had barely told him anything... which, considering what the man had told him, sort of made sense. He knew how curious Kozai could get, and how Kozai would stop at nothing to attain knowledge, especially of things to do with bloodlines.
No, Kozai didn't have much to work with. But now... at least he had a Senju here to put him on the right path.
"That's the thing... I don't know what this power might be, or what it does. However, I do know how to get it. Someone with the Senju bloodline needs to have Uchiha eyes at their greatest power. Also, from what I've seen, it's implied that you need more than one set of Uchiha eyes."
What Kozai didn't say was that they would actually have to find and deprive an Uchiha of their eyes... well, sure, Kozai could heal them, but he would have to see what Jason thought about that first.
"Since you're a Senju, you're already a part of the way there..."

Jason didn't like the way this was going. By Kozai's explanation he didn't know exactly what the power was but he did know how to awaken it. The problem was that it required the sharingan. More than one set of sharingan eyes. Jason wanted power to protect his village, but not at the cost of harming another. Unless there was a way to attain this power without harming his villagers he would have to put the thought out of his mind for now. There was no harm in hearing if Kozai had a way for him to obtain the sharingan without hurting his village though.

"I need to get stronger. I need this power to protect my village. But if it comes at the cost of harming my villagers to obtain this power then I will have to stop you right there. Protecting Konoha is my priority above all else. So unless you have a way to obtain this power without harming my ninja, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

If Kozai was in fact adamant about unlocking this power and didn't care about harming the ninja of Konoha to do so then Jason could not stand to let him stay in the village. If that wasn't the case then perhaps they could come to some sort of arrangement. Jason hoped that the Yuki had an alternate way of getting this done but if not Jason was willing to kick out the missing-nin to protect Konoha. What would Kozai do next?