Jailhouse Rock

With the glance Ryu sat back a little in his seat. All I said was the handcuffs thing wasn’t something I was into. Women are scary.


She agreed that Salzem could be asked for money and that was fine, but then he got an idea. He could summon Kevin ask him for the money and request he not talk to Ashi at all. Then she could meet him later after he traveled to Konoha.

“Can I summon Kevin to get the money? I can summon someone from almost anywhere in the world and quite a lot of them. But I promise to only bring Kevin.” 


If Ashi agreed he would make the seal of confrontation. Even in handcuffs that would be a simple task, after that he would place his palm upon the table and a black summoning array would spread from his hand and hopefully Kevin would be there as well.


If that was not acceptable, then he would only ask that she send someone to get Salzem. “Nope, seems fair.” He would say as Ashi asked if he had any questions.

Ashi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She doubted the boy would notice, he seemed to miss a lot. However, the idea that he could summon a large number of people concerned her more than it should have. She had faced down death countless times, was she going soft?

"No," she stated plainly. "Have him come here under his own power and enter the village like anyone else would."

Leaning back in her chair slightly the Hokage rapped sharply on the door behind her. It cracked open nearly instantly. It was comforting to know help lay just beyond the door, but that was not why Ashi called one of the attendants.

"Fetch the one who brought Mr. Reinhard in, please."

Nodding once the attendant went on his way leaving the two shinobi alone once more.

"So," she pulled her chair back up to the table. "Salzem should be here shortly and we can get this all sorted out. I will leave it to you to explain your situation."

A short while of silence passed before Ashi spoke again.

"I am curious though, why did you come to Konohagakure in the first place?"

She asked the question as if to imply that, surely, Ryu had not come to the village with the intention of burning down the gates. Perhaps she was trying too hard to search for innocence where there was none though? She certainly couldn't say either way.

Well that was a little disappointing. Ryu would think as he was told he couldn’t summon Kevin. “Okay, I won’t summon him then.” I wonder if I can summon someone else. Probably not, I shouldn’t even ask.

As Ashi rapped on the door and it opened Ryu would try to move his body to see who was behind the door. It was no one he knew personally, but he’d seen the person around. So, he waved the best he could with handcuffs on. Whether the guy saw or not was up in the air. He may have just ignored the boy or missed the action completely.

“Salzem is a good guy.” The boy would respond as Ashi stated he would be there shortly. I wonder how asking him for money will go. Probably, not as good as I’d hope, but not as bad as I’d expect.
As the two sat in silence, the kid would just look around, move his fingers against each other, pick his nose when he assumed the kage wasn’t looking, you know normal I’m bored stuff. But then the lady finally broke the silence.

“Why did I come to Konoha? I just came to see if you’d betrayed us. Your ninja were allowed to leave pretty easily after our kage had gotten swallowed up.” He would pause. 

“At this point though I don’t think you are working with Kumo." If they were this conversation likely would not be happening and Ryu would have summoned a team into the prison long ago or just left.

Salzem was still overseeing the reconstruction of the wall, more of his of volition than anything else. He felt responsible somewhat, the walls being burned so viciously, and now he was doing his best to make up for it. He helped bring supplies to the workers when they needed it, sometimes helped get materials in the right places for them to complete their job, it was nothing difficult in any sense of the word, but it was somehow fulfilling to know he was doing something right. As he was handing one of the workers some wood, the attendant the Hokage had sent appeared before him, telling him that he was to come with them. Confused, not knowing what this was all about, Salzem followed the attendant down into the depths of the Konoha's jail...

On some level, he had an idea what this was about. Either Ryu was stirring up trouble and he was being asked to deal with it.... or he was going to be thrown in a cell himself for not doing his duty and letting the guy who burned down the walls live. He wouldn't blame the latter and he honestly expected it, constantly looking over his shoulder for the person being sent to do it. Oh well. At least he wouldn't have to act paranoid anymore.

Salzem, however, was lead not toward a cell, but deeper into the prison, to the interrogation room. Oh... great... he forgot that they might want to do this... The attendant opened the door, allowing Salzem to enter and he saw... Ryu sitting there in cuffs with the Hokage Ashi Inazuka sitting there apparently on her worst day. The lycan was silent and didn't say a word, not even to ask why he was here. He'd turned enough nobs with the leader of the village to suspect that one more might lead to him losing something important (as dramatic as that may be). He simply let out a breath through his nose, glancing at Ryu, then at the Hokage, his eyes asking a question at both.

"Ah, Salzem," Ashi's tone sharpened to a point as she spoke the boy's name in the vain hope of piercing those who heard it. "Your timing is impeccable. I was just talking with Ryu here and well..."

She steepled her fingers carefully and leaned back in her chair. The woman had never really dealt with monetary difficulties, but now that she came upon them it felt awkward. Why was that? Why did the idea of talking about money make her stomach turn and heart beat quicken? She wasn't too sure. It was, nonetheless, unsettling.

"...Well, perhaps it would be better if he explained his situation."

Yes, this was probably the proper path. Not only would she be relieved of explaining the situation in its entirety, but she could check Ryu's understanding of what he had gotten himself into. She honestly doubted the boy fully grasped what he had been asked.

[Meh]

The boy would do his best to wave as Salzem entered the room. He would keep quiet as Ashi would verbally note his presence and only speak once the lady gave the okay in saying that he should be the one to explain the situation.

“So, I blew up the gates. To see if Konoha had betrayed Suna. I don’t think you did as if you had I probably wouldn’t be talking. I still find it weird though that nobody mentioned that before that bastard Kyson decided to force most of us into slavery to those pricks in Kumo, that Koroshi was swallowed up by the sky. I mean I’m no expert in the field of space and time ninjutsu, but I don’t think that is normal. Oh, wait… I am an expert… It’s not normal.” He would say to before pausing a second.

“The lady hokage has given me the opportunity to avoid death and jail time by allowing me to buy my freedom for a bunch of money. Twenty phousand (twenty thousand), I think she said. In addition, I must have the leader of our group come to Konoha to talk his name is Kevin.” There would be another pause in case Salzem had questions at this point. If none he would continue with why Salzem was likely there.


“I realize I should be dead right now for burning down your gates, but I would rather go after Kumo now. To do that I need to borrow some money Sal and you are the only person around I could ask.” Ryu would ask looking at his friend with a smile. He would understand completely if the were-wolf would not let Ryu borrow the money.

"Your glibness and lack of appreciation are disgusting." Salzem said flatly to the guy that sat there at the table. Salzem stared down at him, cold, his arms crossed tightly. "I thought you were a better man, a smarter man than what you're displaying right now." Ryu had asked him for 20,000 ryo to set him free and, if he wasn't so angry at this kid, he might've slapped down his wallet and bought his freedom without a second thought. Now, though, Salzem did think twice. And a third, and a fourth. He should be dead and only lived at Salzem's discredit and his generosity. The least Ryu could do is think and realize that... However, the lycan thought a fifth time as well and that time was realizing his purse was too light for that kind of bail. He simply didn't have enough and he doubted Ryu had any if he was going to ask for some without any attempt at persuasion. No need to say PLEASE or remind them of their friendship... If anything, the kid deserved a quick strike across his dumb face right now. He gritted his teeth and let out a deep breath, waving away all that excess information. He didn't need to know why Ryu was here... In the grand scheme of things, that was the Hokage's business. The bail was the matter at hand.

"I don't have that kind of money." He said, turning towards Ashi with a shrug. "I can pay most of it, about three fourths of it but I don't have any more. I have a few friends that might be willing to donate to his freedom though, my lady Hokage. I'd just need a little time... Or, If that's not acceptable, I'll work in your debt.... All Ryo I accumulate from missions from now on will go directly to you, my lady until the debt is paid. Either way, is there some way we can negotiate Ryu's freedom...? There must be something I can do to make up for the gap."

Ashi listened soundless to both Salzem and Ryu. And, contrary to her stony expression, she pitied the boy sitting across from her. It was clear that the boy lacked any understanding of his actions, perhaps calling him a child made more sense? Even Salzem seemed to key in on such a fact and Ashi was almost proud of the chuunin until he did finally decide that he would bail the child out. The Hokage's estimation of the man would have gone up had he rejected the request for money, but, as it stood, she could not force her own shinobi into debt.

"No, there is nothing you can do," Ashi's face softened like her mother's used to when scolding her. "I won't have my shinobi working off someone else's debt. Let's set his bail at 10,000. The chi—"

She stopped herself from saying child.

"The boy had 4,000 ryo taken from him upon jailing, so his outstanding debt to Konoha is 6,000. Does that sound fair?"

She left the question open to both Ryu and Salzem. It was rare that Ashi relented, so hopefully, they'd jump at the partial reprieve. Yes, even the anbu turned Hokage had a heart.

Gribness, what’s gribness? Aprecia wha? Okay, there are a lot of big words getting thrown around rye meow an I no ida wat dey meen. From the tone, they weren’t good words though as Salzem continued calling the boy a better and smarter man. “Sal, I can’t even read.” He would say as if that would help him realize just how dumb the kid was. I mean there was evidence everywhere around that the boy was a bit touched. From how he learned jutsu, the fact that his favorite type of book was picture, and that well he had not learned to read. So, someone thinking he was intelligent was different.

“But I get what you are saying. Was there a better way than burning the gates to get what I wanted? Maybe.” He would say looking at his friend, maybe now former friend. “I should have used my head and asked, before assuming you leaf people betrayed us. Then we might not be in this mess.”


As Salzem agreed to pay off some of his debt, Ryu would look at Salzem and then look away. Clearly the decision was a tough one for the man. “I will pay you back, this is my mess.” He would say looking back at Salzem the first sign of remorse in his voice for what he had done. “And thank you, Ashi for giving me a chance.”



“Sound fine to me.” The boy would say after a long pause.

"Apparently you don't know when not blow up the damn wall, Ryu." Salzem hissed in response, still enraged with his friend. "Don't try to be cheeky anymore, kid. I'm not having it. You made me mad and that's not something I forgive lightly..." Lady hokage stepped in, mentioning that she would reduce the price to a mere 10,000 and with four taken from Ryu upon his captivity, that left 6000 for Salzem to pay off. Despite how angry he was at the little durp, he was gratified to hear that the village leader was taking pity on him... and his wallet. He smiled at Ashi, pulling out his little wallet packed with cash, setting down the 6000 ryo before her on the table. The bail was paid.

"Thank you, my lady Hokage..." He stated, bowing his head in appreciation. "Thank you for your generosity. With your permission, I'd like to escort Ryu back to the gates... I still have a few things to say to him..."

Should she be so gracious and let him have this, Salzem would grab the kid by his shoulder tightly, a bit uncomfortably perhaps if he was feeling sensitive that day before gently pulling him out of his chair and sending him back up the chamber from whence they came. The moment they were out into the sunlight again Salzem would speak, having been silent throughout their ascent.

"Ryu.... Kid... you have no idea how lucky you are..." He would sigh, raising one hand up to his temple and rubbing it in an effort to relieve this headache he had given him. "Look... I'm mad as hell at you right now... You damaged our village, potentially could've hurt dozens of people... but you're still my friend... Don't do anything like that again if you want to stay my friend." It was about this time the two got to the gates, leaving them where they were at the start of this fiasco.

"Hey, Ryu. Be safe, would you...?" Salzem asked. Was the best he could do without saying goodbye.