A Requested Audience (P)

It was late in the afternoon, and the youngest Hogokage in history was doing paperwork at his desk as the light of the late sun poured through the large window behind him. The paperwork was monotonous, but it did in fact have to be done and he didn’t much feel like making clones do it at this time. It made a good thing to take his mind off of things when he needed it. He had been dreading a few things of late, the first one the list being Hikari Namikaze’s reaction to what occurred at the Kage Summit. He had already lost one of his closest friends in Kenshin due to the actions that he had taken at the meeting of leaders. In many cases, he was considered a coward and a miscreant. Except in the eyes of the man charged with upholding law and order within his home neither of those terms fit him. For a miscreant is one who does not uphold the law, While a coward would sit back and allow others to do the deed they need to do. Or simply let nothing happen at all when action needed to be taken. Kotetsu, in the end, was born in Konoha, and was taken from there by his parents when they illegally left the village. Fleeing the field of battle in the process. The law was clear on that matter in Valen’s eyes, and he handled the situation as it was required to be handled. For none of the other kages, would’ve known of Kotetsu’s dimension. Which the teen had told Valen of on their way to Iron Country. The pin he gave him to access said plain of existence sat within his desk now as a matter of fact. So he dealt with the situation as he felt he needed to. For he knew Kotetsu could teleport, the teen had practically admitted to that when he mentioned his own dimension. For how else could one obtain access to it? Walk? Being a teleporter himself, Valen knew of the speed in which one could do such actions. It required a quick and sure assault to handle, something which he didn’t know if the other Kage could deal with. 

In the end though, it was what they thought of him that shaped how they would treat him and those from his village. Even if he felt they were misguided in their thoughts, too set in the ways in which each of them were forced to acclimate to their given climates. He had to keep such things in mind. Such, diplomacy, would be needed. If his village were to survive the ever turbulent storms that lay within the future. Such thoughts however, of course brought him to considering Kotetsu as his no longer living friend. His student, for a time. For Valen would admit all he had done was act as an obstacle for the boy to surpass. Something which he had yet to succeed in when Valen had cut him down. The arm he had lost being the very one the dying teen had built for him with his skill in shaping metal. It was something Valen felt the teen could take back. For it was fitting for him to no longer use it the artificial appendage. These thoughts, were the very ones that he strode to keep at bay during his paperwork. For the reaction of the woman he loved, Hikari, to what occurred frightened him to no end. She was currently in Konoha, escorting their only participating genin to and from the Leaf for the Chunin Examinations. Tests of battle prowess and wisdom that would decide on whether or not one became a chunin of their respective villages. As they had yet to return, he assumed Masashi was doing well thus far. 

These thoughts, and more such as, led them into the late afternoon. Other thoughts included having made Kenshin Uzumaki a Missing Ninja of Hoshigakure, registering him in the bingo book for all of the villages to know and recognize, including a detailed description of him, and the ANBU mask he had taken with him, as well as general information he knew of. Such as Kenshin’s Miasma, and talents in the medical field. As the day wore on, the evening sun began to show orange through the window, the fiery orb beginning the final approach in it’s downward descent toward the horizon. It would be time for his meeting soon. A newly appointed genin, Yuuma, requested some of his time to ask him some questions after the exam he had proctored. Only one other passed through that exam in his class. The others needing more backbone before the Hogokage were to personally validate their promotion. Given the time, Valen would put away his paperwork for the day, organizing the stacks properly into orderly piles on his desk before standing and turning toward the window, chair pushed back in as he looked out toward the village, hands clasped behind his back. The teen would be here any minute by his count. 

WC: 846

The day had been long, and not without its series of complications. From a lunch rush that wouldn't end to guarding the gate and being yelled at by teacher Uzuki. Though, from the first moment, he had been aware that his day with the fiery-haired woman was going to be a chore. Luckily, he had walked away from it with knowledge of the workings of Hoshi, or at least how one stood by the front gate and made sure people had proper documentation. As Yuuma would walk to his last destination for the night, the day's memories came back to settle over him. He found himself thinking on the words of Mira, the young academy student, and of Kaibo, the kitchen's shift manager. Both shinobi, but both having very different goals. One, to see his village continue to be a better place, and the other haunted by memories that then gave him a unique skill set with which to pursue his passion. Yuuma had been told that the young often have aspirations beyond their means. A childlike wonder, in some cases. But this place seemed different. The people here possessed a unique power to see their will done. Now it all came down to this.

Standing before the Kage's building, Yuuma would look upwards at the structure. It was not terribly imposing, as one might expect a leader to do their business in. Not some manner of castle or sanctuary. Just another building. Ever since learning the man that had passed him in the Academy was not just some random chuunin or Jounin, but the leader of the Shinobi, Yuuma had felt sick to his stomach. He was thankful, at the moment, that the Kage had allowed him to seek him out after the exams, instead of after class. He had run his statements in his head over and over, wondering if it was even worth approaching the man about. Or was this all in vain? The leader of the village had already shown Yuuma a few things about himself: The leader was a man of fear, using his powers against students in order to cause duress, and shrouding them in the feeling of overwhelming power. He was no shepherd. Yuuma was not certain what sort of leader acted in such a way...but perhaps they knew best. The man, Valen, would not be the leader for no reason. Or at least Yuuma hoped as much.

Before entering the building, Yuuma would stoop down to the ground, picking up a few rocks to tumble between his fingers for a moment before stashing a few of them away in his pocket. Just in case. Pushing open the doors, the youth would navigate the building with the assistance of the clerics therein. Eventually, he would find the door leading to the Kage. Taking a moment to collect himself, he stood in front of the door and reached into his sanctuary. "No matter what sort of leader this man might be, he is powerful. He has gone to great lengths to acquire his power, and even should he have opinions that differ to ours, we would do well to absorb what we can about this place. From here, we will grow." He told himself. It was a simple goal. One he could achieve if he just said what he needed to, and didn't go above himself. The man had made a show of his power, and in Yuuma's mind, it was not for the sake of being impressive, even if that was his own reaction. With a sturdy two-tap knock on the door, Yuuma would wait for a reply before pushing open the doors to walk inside.

Entering the room, Yuuma would find the person he had come to meet more formally, and keep his eyes on them. He would have rather taken the chance to soak in the room of someone who sits on top of a city, but his peripherals would have to suffice for the time being. Moving to stand in the center of the room, Yuuma would bow to the person sitting behind the desk. "Hogokage." He said in greeting. "Thank you for taking the time to see me. I know you must be very busy." He said before standing up straight. Naturally, he assumed the Kage had many more important things to attend than he, so Yuuma would not delay once the Kage had acknowledged him. "I have come today seeking guidance." He answered plainly. "I do not pretend to know what you do and do not know, but I will spare you my story. You have graciously accepted me into your village, given me a home, taught me the ways of the Shinobi, even given me live. These are not debts that I can repay in my lifetime, but I cannot help myself but try. I wish to grow stronger."

He said, giving just enough pause for Valen to speak up if he wanted to, but unless Valen had a response ready, Yuuma would continue. "I do not seek fame or fortune. I do not want to lord land, or be admired by people. I simply wish to be able to protect the people that have given me so much. And this is why I have come to you. I could..feel the difference in us. Even though I may be your age or older, the gap between what you and I can do is like a canyon. So I came to ask you, directly, Hogokage." He said, pushing his upper half forward into a deep bow. "Please teach me how to become strong," Yuuma said, continuing to remain bowed to the man until addressed. 

WC - 946

[For those reading this, Yuuma and I have agreed that we can use each other's dialogue in our posts ^^]

Still standing erect and looking out toward the village would hear the knock on his office door. It would seem the genin had come. His office was a decent size, ten meters by 10 meters, and he was at the back of it, looking outward toward the village. The person behind the door couldn’t be very powerful chakra wise. As he couldn’t sense them even with his sensory. However he had heard the approach with his sensitive hearing. “Come in.” He would say, allowing his appointment to enter the room. He wouldn’t turn around, instead clasping his hands behind his back as he allowed the teen to move up to his desk. “Hogokage” The young man would say in greeting before continuing on. "Thank you for taking the time to see me. I know you must be very busy." He would say, to which Valen would finally turn his head slightly to look toward the teen. Showing him to he had his attention and that he wasn’t merely ignoring him. He still didn’t deign to speak however, wanting the genin to get all of his thoughts out before Valen gave his own on the matter. For Valen understood how difficult it might be a newly appointed genin to face their kage so shortly after their exam. Especially considering it was the kage in question that officiated over said exam without introducing themselves as the leader. The ashen haired Akari didn’t want to shatter any resolve the genin may have required to speak to him by interrupting his thought process. 

"I have come today seeking guidance." He answered plainly. "I do not pretend to know what you do and do not know, but I will spare you my story. You have graciously accepted me into your village, given me a home, taught me the ways of the Shinobi, even given me live. These are not debts that I can repay in my lifetime, but I cannot help myself but try. I wish to grow stronger." Valen would continue to stare, unblinkingly at the young man as he spoke. He understood the views Yuuma spoke of, for they were views he ones felt as well. Considering that he himself had been traveling with a merchant caravan when he was first left in the village of Hoshigakure. They had taken him in, and the Hogokage at the time, Denkiteki Hayato had trained taught him snake summoning, showing him welcome as one of their own shinobi. "I do not seek fame or fortune. I do not want to lord land, or be admired by people. I simply wish to be able to protect the people that have given me so much. And this is why I have come to you. I could..feel the difference in us. Even though I may be your age or older, the gap between what you and I can do is like a canyon. So I came to ask you, directly, Hogokage." Valen would recognize this request before it came. As sure as sunrise the genin would bow "Please teach me how to become strong." There it was, the question Valen was expecting was indeed the one on Yuuma’s mind. 

The Hogokage would inhale deeply, taking a deep breath once the question was asked. “If nothing else you have determination. You’re chakra has next to no power it. I was only able to pick it up when you got halfway across the room. You don’t seem very physically powerful, I’m unsure as to how fast you could move, or how durable you might be or how long you can force yourself to go before you finally blackout from exhaustion. In short, you’re weak. This is to be expected though, you’re a genin, and a fresh one at that. This is not me trying to insult you. It’s me telling you how much work you have ahead of you if you do decide to keep to this request. You should however, most definitely be aware of what you’d be signing up for before choosing this. You should also be aware of what I’ve had to do recently that might make someone not wish to be my student.” He would say, his force easily carrying toward the genin despite his back being turned.

The taller of the two would turn then however, fully toward the bowing shorter one in fact. “The only student I’ve had previously I killed not long ago. He ended up being a citizen from another shinobi village. One registered as having been missing due to his shinobi parents quitting the field of battle and taking him away from there. I cut him down like he was merely a stalk of grain before the scythe. Not because I held him ill will. But because doing so potentially avoided a war that would kill thousands. Is that the kind of teacher you would want? I can give you a few training sessions, teach you lower ranked stuff and set you on a path for self improvement. But to actually become a student to me is not something many would desire. I wouldn’t go easy on you, I’d beat you bloody, you’ll feel abused, you’ll think I’m just flashing my power of you for fun. Showing you the chasm between us intimately and frequently. However my style of training other’s is to throw them into the fire. To force you to improve or face serious pain or injury. You could easily die if I misjudge you even a little. If you wanted this, I would tear you down to the very foundations. You would have to force yourself up to want to make yourself stronger out of necessity more than anything else. It would be hard, and borderline cruel. However, if you want that, I’ll give it to you Yuuma.” He would say, not taking his eyes off of the teenager before him, the sun setting slowly behind him. “I will not however allow you to change your mind once you choose. One way or the other, once you make a decision, you won’t be able to go back on it.” He would say, telling the genin that he wouldn’t get to change his mind after this. Many decisions in the shinobi world were final ones after all. “Again, if all you’re wanting is someone to show you the basic techniques and let you be on your merry way. I’ll do that, it can be done in a single morning or two and then you can develop your own style yourself. Hell, I could take us to a training field and do that now. It would probably be the safer option Yuuma.” He would say, futher telling the teen that he would want to consider his options carefully. “What’s it going to be?” He would ask, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. 

WC: 1140
TWC: 1986

Yuuma absorbed everything the man said in its entirety. Not being able to see the man made it more difficult to read his body language, but even just his words were enough to stir feeling in the genin. Feels that, for the moment, need to remain stoned, cold, unhindered to his thoughts as he poured over the Kage's response. Even once the Kage had finished speaking, Yuuma would take his time to allow his mind to go over everything again, slowly rising back to a standing position to put his eyes on the other man. If he had expected a certain response, it might have been hard to discern past the mono-toned expression he offered. Behind the Kage, Yuuma would catch the sight of the city beyond. It was a great view, but only a distraction as he refocused on the Kage, allowing the silence to grow between them before he was certain- absolutely certain- of his response.

"These words I say with no disrespect, but there is very little you could do to me that has not already happened short of killing me." He said. His hands would fan out briefly before returning to his side. "I have no family. No home besides that of Hoshigakure. I have no upper schooling beyond what I need to do my work. But before my life in this city, my work was with my hands, out in the fields. Being tired, being hurt, these things don't scare me." He carried along, a hint of something showing through in his tone, but it might have been difficult to discern. "I do not know you very well, Hogokage. But in the short time I have, you have shown me kindness, and strength. I do not know the path you have walked in order to be here, but if you say your deeds are done with the thought of your people, then I believe you." He would nod.

His stance relaxed as he fell into the resolve of his words. "All I have to offer is my word. My word and my loyalty. Some of the very few things I keep close to my heart." He said, putting a hand over his chest to emphasize. "And all I ask is to be taught. To be shown how to get from where I am, to where I could be." He said, nodding once more. "If I know that you truly have the best intentions in mind for your student, then you would have my trust. Without question." These words were not spoken by someone who often wore their feelings on their shoulder. An introvert. Who speaks only when they find there is something worth speaking. Who speak because they wish to convey exactly what they think and feel, and nothing beyond or before.

"I wish for you to teach me, Hogokage."

As he spoke these final words and waited for a reply, the Kage's previous answer echoed in his head, and this time, the face value of its entirety was his focus. For just an instant, the image of Kira flashed in his mind. He recalled the words of the youth as they stood together in the cover of the training yards inner quarter. "I'm just someone who wants to carry out my leader's dream." These words bouncing off the front of Yuuma's mind as he observed Valen again. This man, Valen, was hard. Hard of heart, and of soul. He did not speak flowery words, nor did he attempt to inspire confidence, yet he has shown he has the strength to do what needs to be done to protect his people. To imagine a boy like Kira a few short years away of becoming something like the man who stood before him made him feel sadness for just a moment. A sadness that was quickly covered by resolve.

WC - 643
TWC - 1,589

Well, that was certainly easier than expected. Yuuma had expected something more than a warning. Perhaps a test or a trial before he would be judged worthy to learn from the person who sat at the very top of the tower, so to speak. But as Yuuma kept his head bowed and his gaze on the floor, the Kage spoke of not only accepting him, but also of the training that was imminent to begin. The difficulties he spoke of failed to seed doubt into the young man's mind, already well aware that achievement comes with work, and if he was going to learn from the best, he was going to have to train like the best. This meant pain. This meant sacrifice. But most of all, it meant the barrier that Yuuma had kept up for so long would finally have to come down. If he were truly serious, he was going to have to put his faith into the younger man to show him the right path. As Yuuma righted himself to standing up straight, his blue eyes would fall on Valen. "I only hope you do not lead me astray." He wanted to say out loud, but for now, the sentiment would be kept behind his typically stoic demeanor. "Yes, Master." Was all he replied with once Valen dismissed him.

Without further delay, Yuuma would turn on his feet and make his way from the room after he had retrieved the offered note, thankful that Valen had enough mind to recognize that Yuuma didn't have a full grasp on the layout of the city just yet. With the door shutting behind him, Yuuma would withdraw back into the sanctuary of his mind as his body was placed on auto pilot back to his home. Here, he sat in front of a mirror which cast his own reflection. "You have made your choice." He said to himself. "You have taken the very first steps to achieving your goal. It is, by far, the easiest step. Now you must prepare for the difficult journey ahead of you," the reflection in the mirror would sweep it's arms outward. "Remember the importance of this day, because you will reflect upon it often. When confronted with the decision to seize your destiny, you took it. Now you must face the consequences of that decision." Behind the image, Yuuma could see the many faces he had come to know thus far, and know that they, too, might have to be put aside in the pursuit of his goals.

"I know. And I am ready."

-Exit-
WC - 431
TWC - 2,020

Claims:
+10 Stats
Claiming Temporary Paralysis Technique - [1000/1000]
Claiming Chain Fist - [1000/1000]
Putting 20 WC towards Mark Seal - [020/500]

Approved.