Change of Scenery (p, io)

After Maku proposed his offer, Royalty began to speak. Kyson would listen to his words as he spoke. His delivery didn’t come out in the best way. Hearing speak with anger and emotion, Kyson would cut him off the moment he heard him say “If you think..”


"Roy! Enough!" Kyson cut him off with a serious tone in his voice. He knew exactly where this was headed. But there was no need for that now. Kyson would sigh as he became a bit more relaxed. Being nervous isn't going to get them anywhere. It was time for him to speak up as if he has done this before. 


"I know what your gonna say. And I know your angry.. but letting this anger get the best of you isn't the best idea right now. There are innocent people under us, any conflict at this point will only get them killed.. So settle down." Kyson would say to Royalty. Now he would put his attention back on Maku. As he sat up straight on stopped the shaking. It was time to speak to him like a man,


"Alright, I hear your offer. The only thing I could think of for letting the people go is money. But judging on how you do things. I doubt your doing all of this for money. The way you described things, your looking to gain control and power. Taking over village after village... swiftly and at the utmost consistency... Kazekage disappears, and who does he leave the job to. Some adolescent kid who just turned jounin. Crazy, right? Out of all of the others in village. He said I was the only one who could do it." Kyson would chuckle a bit. As he began to feel more relaxed. He would only pause for a quick second before he began to speak again.


"The people of the village mean everything to me. I came to this village after escaping Kumo. Everyone here doubted me, why would the Kazekage let a born and raised Kumo shinobi in this village. Everyone gave me that look of distrust and anger. But I never let it get to me. So I worked my ass off more than anyone to earn their trust. Training day after day, doing mission after mission. It was only a matter of time before they started believing in me. Who knows, maybe that's what Lord Kazekage saw in me.. Now, you said these people weren't going to be in the same state they were in back in Kumo. But who know's when the man in charge of the village will come here and turn it that way. But even though, that's still a maybe. But if we start anything now, then it would be guaranteed that people will lose their lives in the process. I know you made your offer. But is there anything that you specifically want out of this, for letting the people leave this village and go free? And if not, then I have no choice but to let it take control." Kyson would say to Maku. This was the first time in his position, where he spoke with the utmost confidence. No shaking, no nervousness. He had finally spoken to him not as a kid, but as a leader.

Maku listened to each in turn. It was clear that the council of Suna as he would remember this group were not on the same page. You had polar opposites, you had degrees of strength and weakness. Different levels of hot headedness and opinion. It was an interesting dynamic and it seemed obvious truth was being told rather than political bullshit.

At the start of Royalty's comment Maku cracked his neck to the left. Purely on habit than anything else. It wasn't so much that he minded the call out, it was more than the lack of substance would be the true question. Could he back it up? Was he willing to spill the blood of every civilian in the village in exchange, especially when that scenario involved letting the man live to see the consequences. Yet the next words kept him from any of this.

As for the Akari, because yes Maku knew the akari bloodline well enough, the man seemed more willing to submit due to power. The lone female seemed willing to submit due to survival. Royalty seemed to value honor and the death of his people. Kyson, well he felt Kyson was straddling, and finding himself.

"I appreciate the struggle you've been through lord Kazekage." He would say. While the last part was ironic, it wasn't said with malice or condescension. Still how it was received would depend on how each man saw the one at the desk. As for Royalty, he didn't make any further acknowledgements of his presence. "I'll be honest, and you are right to ask my lady." He would say with a nod to Snow. "Your "people" really don't mean much to me. What I want, is the military power, economics, roads, supplies, etc.".

He would sit up a little, a more formal seat than the relaxed one he had held. "Mmk how about this. I don't care about your people. I just don't." He would say very matter of factly. All this going around and around to save people was getting boring. "However, the people in this room, I find I do care about them. You most like have more that I would care about as well. Your alliance with Konoha is known, so I'll make a final proposal."

At this he would stand up, back up and push his chair in. "You will submit to me, the file of every shinobi in this village. I will then go through them, and select no more than 50% of your military force and they will join my army, to go where I see fit. To take my orders as I see fit. The rest can stay to defend and then follow the next part or come to me" He would pause for a moment, before walking around the desk and looking around the room. His pace the definition of leisurely stroll. "Your civilians, they will be free to go. They can stay here, and work. Providing taxes, crafts and trade able goods to Kumogakure within reason of course, if change isn't their thing. I won't kill them, or make spikes for their heads. Go to Konoha, or Hoshi I hear it's nice this time of year, and is a hot spot for those with no place to go. Whatever they want, again I don't care." He would move files, papers, and books aimlessly looking at the materials.

"This exodus can only include an agreed upon percentage per month. We can discuss later once I've read more, so as to make this venture worth it." He would mention with a shrug as if the idea had just occurred to him. "65% of your total funds will also come to me now. The rest kept within the village, so as to leave it financially autonomous. I'm being generous here. I could take more, I could take everything." He would say as he finished his venture around, ending it next to snow, having passed each of the other shinobi. He would lean back against the wall. "O and last thing." His lips would spread into the widest smile yet.

"I wasn't kidding when I wanted everyone to kneel. I'd like to see it now. You see, that might be the best part. Do this, and pretty much everyone lives. Your people work and then can go, your shinobi get a purpose and good treatment as I place a high value on my soldiers, and you really only loose some money and dignity. Not such a high price is it?" He would say still smiling. At this, he would give an encouraging nod as to get people moving in the right direction.

As Royalty was cut off, he felt a bit of inner turmoil. With the previous notion that everyone would be enslaved, he was prepared to give himself up as tribute to allow the civilians a better life. Inside of him he had a personal struggle. Not because he couldn't do much about the situation, but because his ideals were being tested. Roy had morphed into this person that would put himself up for the better of others. His selfless nature made him think rash and unwise.
 
Kyson would begin his counterargument to try to reason with the man. From the outside looking in, it seemed like it could work but even then, one would be unsure. His friend would explain the dire situation in a practical way. This put all the marbles on the table. If his rebuttal fell through, then the whole village might have to suffer. This is when it was Maku's turn.
 
The blonde man spoke his words in a soft but well-spoken manner. His lack of apathy seemed to sway his decision. After letting everyone know what his true desires were, Roy began to understand a bit more. When you give a mortal too much power, they get corrupt. People are never satisfied with a little, they always want more. Roy would chuckle on the inside. Why did this rush of suspense amuse him? It was almost like he was content with drama even though he'd rather not be a part of any of it. Once Maku had expressed his desire to see them kneel, Roy asked one thing.
 
"So, in turn for conformity and cooperation, nobody dies. Nobody gets treated like pets, or displayed as gory art galleries..." Royalty would think about the things he saw about Kumo. Those images alone were what made him ready to die before he could let it happen again. Taking a deep sigh, he continued shortly after the pause. "If you're a man of your word, fine." Royalty would look around the room, annoyed at the entire situation. Taking it upon himself to lead the example, he got on his left knee and looked towards his left at the wall. His right arm was resting over his right knee and he would mirror Maku's indifference. Royalty and Kyson had escaped from the grasps of Kumo once. This would mark the return to square one.

(Is it ok if you guys just skip me. My char is going to kneel before Maku and won't say anything so y'all can skip me. Studying for the ACt for the rest of the day)

The boy ended up stepping up and shutting down Roy’s outburst before it had got them all killed, preventing the girl from having to interfere when she did. Though this wouldn’t prevent her from going off to say the other things she would have to say though after the boy finished his monologue since it still called for it. Though, for the time being, let’s just go through the girl’s thought processes Kyson went on to perform his monologue.

The girl crossed her arms at some point near the start of his speech, semi-rolling her eyes at the part of Koroshi leaving him in charge. She could hear herself go off on a tangent in the depth of her conscious, her forehead creasing at the upsetting thoughts. Was it jealousy? Possibly. She couldn’t understand what Koroshi’s though processes were in deciding his successor, and how it had led to Kyson. Of all the people in the village, an outsider who comes from the very village asking for their surrender. It made absolute no sense, and she couldn’t figure out how she wasn’t good enough; considering their developments were close or on par, the only difference being Kira’s absence in the Jonin Exams. There were some outside forces that hadn’t allowed her to participate, but just as Maku had said earlier, A title is nothing without someone to back it up, and the Uzumaki was certain in her abilities to take out most Jonin. This wasn’t what was important right now however so let’s get back to it.

Kyson continued on, basically telling his story before asking for the same request he asked for before. It took all of the girl’s willpower not to roll her eyes once more due to the somewhat seriousness of the situation. The man had made it quite clear and she was surprised at the patience he’s had on the matter. Maku began his rebuttal, his voice still calm and smooth and calm, his wants and needs laid out for the four suna ninja who were in the room. The girl took it all in, realizing that Suna has now become nothing more than a Pawn for Kumo, a workforce to do as they said; and they had no choice but to abide. The Uzumaki was one to adapt, she had many time over the years that she travelled on her own, as well as when she came to Suna. As he spoke, she knew what she had to do, and the path that she had to take; but that would be discussed in more detail at a later time.

The Uzumaki was not surprised when he announced that her literally wanted them to kneel before him. Why? Well because what powerhouse of a man wouldn’t. It was a little tricky for the girl who was wearing the tight knit dress, but due to the slit, she was able to do it anyways. Her eyes locked on the man if he were to look at her. Eye contact was a sign of strength, so she couldn’t afford to look away.

As Kyson listened to Maku's request. It was clear he just wanted power and planning on hurting the people. Still not liking the situation.. I mean who would. But if the innocent people can take their families and leave to go where ever they want. Kyson could take that. Still ironic how his home came right back back to bring him right back in. It's as if Kumo said time to stop playing and come back home. He's right back where he started. Kyson would nod to the man's request about the village funds and the soldiers. Spoken as if he had the entire thing planned out from the start. Which wouldn't surprise the kid at at all.

"Everything will be arranged..." Kyson would say to Maku. At this point he just wanted to get this over with. All this pressure being force upon him so suddenly. But he was mainly glad that he was able to get some people out. 

As the man was done speaking, he had one last request. Having the four of them bow down to them. Hearing the words stated by Royalty. Kyson couldn't agree more. If it was for the people, then it has to be done. Kyson would get up from his seat and kneel. It seemed Suna was no more, just another part of Kumo.

"Then........it is done."  He would say with a grin, brought home with a quick clap.  He rubbed his hands together for a brief moment before walking.  He'd drop his hands and look at the girl.  Eyes meeting but for a second.  His true course was for Kyson however.

As he got close he bent down, so he could whisper to the would be Kazekage.  "Welcome back to Kumogakure."  He would say in a playful tone before patting the man on the back. Standing straight back up, he would walk towards the door.  "Please, don't get up on my behalf."  He would say with that still light hearted tone, oblivious to how offensive it might have been.  "I'll take the money now, the business, well I don't make those decisions this far into night and so long before dawn."

With that he would leave hopefully with Kyson in tow.  He would come across the ryo of Sunagakure.  Once his portion was gathered his hand would touch it, and it would seemingly vanish.  Into a place of his own desires so as it to be safe.  The coffers of kumo growing with each day.  An eventful, yet uneventful day.  There was still one last think he wanted, and it had as of yet revealed itself.

(Exit, claiming 65% of the ryo in the village (idk how much that is, mods help).  Also claiming Sunagakure is now assimilated into Kumo, removing its status as a joinable village.)

Akihana's Note: 95,543

Seeing as the damage had been done, Royalty had just been looking down at the ground. This was all too funny. Their plot just came right back to bite them in the ass. Roy would smirk. One day he'd hope to be responsible for change. If only right? As Maku would seemingly whisper to Kyson and retrieve his money, Royalty waited for him to leave. After Maku's departure, Royalty would get up and begin walking away. What a day for the former Village Hidden in the Sand..

{Exit}

A change of scenery with was indeed as Raizuko stared as Maku walked out of the door. Suna will no longer be the village that it previously was, this day will mark the changing point for history as the world knew it. Rising from his knee, Raizuko would walk out of the door. Just because he allowed Suna to be taken over didn't mean he liked it. As he walked out of the door towards his home, he would vow to release Suna from the grip Kumo currently held on it.

Exit