Lost Child

Max would make his way to the gates of Hoshi, finding himself standing before the village once more. A lot had changed since the last time he was approaching these gates, but hopefully this will go smoothly. He wanted to see Akihana more than anything else, as her medical knowledge would prove useful in returning Max to his full capability. 

A blonde child, approaching the gates of Hoshi. His one arm was missing and the spot covered in bloody bandages, and his other arm was a sickly grey color that seemed in pretty bad shape to normal folk. His blue cloak would be wrapped around his waist, and he would be wearing baggy black pants. Around his neck hung a head band, the sign of his being a shinobi of the village of Kumogakure no Sato. 


Max would await at the gates, wondering if this was going to be an easy process. 


---Waiting to be let in---

A tan skinned teenager would be at the gates, black armor, red cloak, hair as white as snow. His gray eyes would be on the blonde child who could be no older than twelve. The Hogokage had come to the gates to surprise the guards. The knowledge that their leader could appear at any time in a flash of light tended to keep men from slacking. It also had the effect of earning their trust. As they knew their leader thought of them, cared for them. Even if he would not tolerate a half assed job. The sun was high in the sky, showcasing it to be about one in the afternoon, and the heat of the day was beating down upon them. To see a child, braving the desert was unusual, especially a foreign one. As the child came closer he would make out the headband around his neck. The symbol of Kumogakure no Sato embossed upon the shining metal, gleaming in the light as the injured boy approached. Valen’s eyes would be drawn to the vacant space where there normally would be an arm, he would find a blood soaked bandage instead. A shinobi passing through who was ambushed and injured? But why in Haven? Multiple possibilities ran through Valen’s head, none of them good. 

Stepping forward to only stand a meter or so away from the newcomer his gray eyes would meet the lads azure-grey, and he would look around carefully, watching for any sudden ambushes. A single shinobi from another nation arriving at another one was rare. While the boys other arm looked a sickly gray, Valen himself had fought with a single arm before, and knew that depending on the skill of the shinobi it often did not matter. As such his hands would not be far from the hilt of Seraphim. “Afternoon Kumogakure Shinobi. I am Valen Akari, Hogokage of Hoshigakure. I must ask your reasons for your visit. To my knowledge your ‘revered’ leader did not take kindly to me or my village at the last Summit.” He would say, his voice neutral, but his eyes wary. 

WC: 347

The teen approaching the young chuunin seemed wary, and understandably so. He was a foreign shinobi, and while Max knew that they weren’t hated enemies, they were technically no longer allies. It would seem as if the man’s grey eyes were assessing Max, notably his missing limb. It of course was a shock to most to see a limbless boy standing before them in bloody bandages.
 
“Greetings, Valen Akari. I am Maximillian Yamaguchi, and I come in peace. The Raikage at the summit...” Max would recall the words of Nobunaga, the twins claiming the title for themselves before making the trip. “I don’t want to talk about our supposed Raikage.” His tone would be low, no joy or happiness clear in his voice when speaking on such matters. Max would shift his gaze over to his missing limb, noting that it was holding up well despite the blood. If it weren’t for the bandages, he would likely have died of blood loss after the attack.
 
“I am here on personal business, not under direct orders of Kumogakure, though I have express permission to be here so you need not worry about harboring a fugitive.” He would speak clearly on this matter, though a cough would escape right after, the deserts a harsh land filled with unrelenting sand.
 
“I need to talk with my mother. She resides here in Hoshigakure… but before I do so I should get to a hospital. I was attacked near Sunagakure.” Max wouldn’t expect Valen to question him on why he was there, as it was land that belonged to Kumo. “She probably could patch me up, but I don’t want her to worry more than she needs to. Plus, it wouldn’t be proper to greet her looking like this.” He would almost force out a laugh, but fail and briefly manage a shallow smile.
 
Max would watch as the man looked around, wary of an ambush from the world conquering Kumo, but it was to no avail. Max had come alone, which honestly looking back now was a foolish idea. Of course, would anybody have been able to aid in that assault? Unlikely, and then he would have their death on his conscience….
 
“I come alone, though my words likely give you no relief. I am a foreign shinobi after all. I will answer any questions you have at the hospital, if that is okay with you. I at least need to get it looked at and the sooner the better. I would have patched it up myself, but I find it difficult to do seals with only a single hand. Should you wish, you can escort me there yourself and ask me whatever you would like." Max has nothing to hide from this man, though obviously key village intelligence wouldn’t be given. He had already made the mistake of mentioning their Raikage issue without thinking, but it likely wouldn’t prove too big an issue.
 
wc:490

It would seem that the boy spoke truly. There didn’t appear to be any form of impending attack or danger to his village or people upon first glance. No attacking army or strike force coming to assault their gates or place them under siege. As such, Valen would relax a tad, although still be on guard for a surprise assault, as anyone at the gates should be. He would carefully take in the blonde haired shinobi. His mind would frantically piece through everything he said, filing away the ‘supposed’ Raikage for later. It would appear there was turmoil in the land of lightning. Was the fool at the Summit a mere usurper? Did he come to summit as the kage of the village and insult the very concept of a kage summit by not truly being the one to hold the rank? Time would tell, and if it was true then eventually the one known of Komori Hozuki would pay for his crimes. For now though, it mattered little. The one armed blonde child however, mattered quite a bit. “I don’t suppose you have written documentation giving your kage’s consent? It matters very little what an outsider says their kage states without a sealed scroll after all. Regardless, I won’t turn away an injured party. Was the one who assaulted you dealt with and do you have any information on them?” He would ask, eyebrow raised in curiosity. Any new names he could inform his shinobi to watch out for was always relevant information. “Don’t worry about the letter if you don’t have one by the way. I can just as easily contact the kage via messenger bird." He would say afterward, to assuage any sudden fears of being denied entry.

“Who would I address such correspondence to? Also, don’t move, I won’t hurt you. I’ll take you to the hospital.” Valen would say, the last part an afterthought as he calmly reached forward and placed a hand in the middle of Maximilian's chest. He didn’t want to touch the bloodied stump for fear of causing unneeded agony to him and the other arm wasn’t looking good either. Should the Kumogakure shinobi allow Valen to do as such he would immediately teleport them to the hospital where Max will be able to get the treatment he needs. 

[Exit]

WC: 375
TWC: 722

Claims: All toward Light of Aetherius putting me at 5611/6000

Approved.

Max would frown realizing as the man spoke that he didn't actually have any written scroll proving his words to be truthful. At least he wasn't turning the boy away, as Max might not survive the trip back in his current condition. 


"Make the letter out to Kyson..." It was then that Max realized that he didn't know the man's last name. He might have heard it before, but it truly eluded him at this very moment. "Just Kyson. He's the guy that handles all of the paperwork for the Raikage while they are busy doing other duties." The image of Maku just lounging about with a drink in his hand was all he could imagine. What exactly did the Raikage do to be so busy as to have a person dedicated to handling paperwork? Of course, paperwork was awful... hmm.

Max wouldn't move as the Hogokage placed his hand on the boy and teleported them to the hospital.

---exit---

WC: 159
TWC: 801

WC splits between Max and Napa (400 each)

Max claims:
- 400/2000 wc towards memorizing Valen Akari's Chakra Signature
- 400 wc towards repairing Dread Knight (400/4000)
4 ap 

Napa claims:
- 400/2000 wc towards memorizing Valen Akari's Chakra Signature
- 400 wc towards Chakra Scalpel (bringing it up to 1563/4000)
2 stats

Approved.