From The Heart (Open)

The village was just about on its last breathe, a plan of action was more than necessary. A meeting was called for any shinobi that wished to attend. A lot was going to be discussed and what was to be expected. Letters were sent to every shinobi in the village and Kyson would have a talk with each of them. It be overwhelming to speak to every shinobi at once. So he plans to speak to eight at a time. In the Raikage's office, there would be eight chairs facing towards the main Raikage desk. Kyson would be behind the Raikage desk looking out the window as he stared down the village the weather was fine but the sky was dull. With a slight grim atmosphere that covered the village, it made the village look even more empty than it already was. 

Shrimp stepped into the room as he was holding some paper work. He's been Kyson's assistant for a while now, he certainly changed since the first time he met Kyson. He wasn't the same shy kid that was afraid to speak. He matured a bit since he's been working under Kyson, it made the young Hozuki crack a smirk almost. "Everything is set up just the way you wanted it." Shrimp said. Kyson was still staring out the window as he continued to gaze the village. "You've been a big help, you've been with me ever since I moved back." Shrimp would smile as he heard the rare praise from Kyson. "It was an honor." He said as he left the room to finish up whatever needed to be done. 

As door shut behind him, Kyson would turn around and take a seat as he waited for the first set of shinobi to come and speak with him. It was going to be a long day since he planned on speaking to ever shinobi. But it was necessary to hear their thoughts on the matter.

A surprising morning started to stir. After just boiling the water for her morning tea, a knock was heard on her wooden door. Then following that was a letter being slipped under her door frame. Hato was curious and wondered if it was a mission of some sort. She rushed over to the letter with only her bath robe on and, without haste, opened the envelope with her claws. She opened the letter entailed inside as she wandered back over to the kitchen to grab her tea. A look of interest entered her face as soon as she saw the contents. It was Kyson asking for able shinobi to meet in the raikage chambers for meeting about the on coming attack that was threatened against the village. Hato saw the opportunity and quickly placed down her tea without taking a sip and changing into suitable clothes. 

When first of hearing about the attack from rumors around the village from the citizens that always claim the end of the world is coming, Hato first thought it was a bunch of bull. However, it turned out to be true. There was an actual threat from someone of high power, able to take down outposts by himself. After finding out it was true, she was ecstatic. Hato has always been needing to study the high and mighty. What would make them fall hard. 

Hato was now heading down the office, her heeling clicking against the hard tiled floor. She walks passed his scrawny person holding a bunch of paper work. She watched him go off before deciding to enter the office room. Upon opening the door, she spots the handsome leader looking out a window. Hato smiles, "Well it's nice seeing you again, Kyson." She refers the first time they met at the cafe a long way back. Man how time flies sometimes. Heads over the chair closes to Kyson and places it out before taking a seat. "Let's hope you didn't lose your sense of humor over all this paper work." She teases before comforably crossing her legs in the chair.

When you receive a letter of invitation from your former kage for a day and now deputy kage, well you attend. Jiro had already brewed his morning coffee and was getting ready to head out and check out the mission board, however this letter had quickly changed his mind on what he would be doing that day. Placing his bandana over his head covering the upper portion of his face and putting on his leather trench coat he would open the doors and head out onto the streets of Kumo.

Although, he looked like a whack job in a cheap hero costume the people still greeted him with respect saying their hello’s and good mornings. To which he would reply with the same automatically without much thought. He waved to his neighbors as anyone would, everyone had to maintain appearances to seem normal. The trip to the building this meeting was held in wouldn’t be long it was mere minutes at best. The letter arrived suddenly for such a short meet up time, had to be urgent.

Walking in the Uchiha would take note of Kyson and he would offer a greeting. “Morning boss.” He would say before sitting down next to Kyson on the opposite side of the lady. “Greetings to you as well.” He would say to Hato not wanting to be dismissive of her presence in the room. Jiro’s eyes moved about the room trying to garner any details of what the meeting would involve. The room wasn’t big enough for everyone to attend as the letter stated and only eight chairs were in the room. Perhaps, this was a volunteer thing disguised as an invitation.  All the while Jiro was looking for clues he was also noting the only doorway was from where he entered and the windows lined on the walls, there were only a few letting light in.

Jiro would wait patiently for others to file in before speaking further unless he was directly spoken to or some action required his intention. He realized asking what was happening would be fruitless it was easier to explain something once to a group than twice to an individual, and then again to a group. Better he know nothing for right now and irritate Kyson.  

WC: 378

Sitting on the throne once more, he wasn't expecting to be here again so soon. He enjoyed his job as a STORM captain, laying low and not being bothered while he got his own work done. Things were much simpler then. As he sat and waited for the first bunch to arrive. He noticed the door beginning to open, it was either his assistant or the first of the bunch. As the door fully opened, he saw a quite familiar face he hasn't seen in a while. They had a little sparring session last time they met, but didn't really see each other much after. But it was good to see a familiar face once again. As she gave her introduction, Kyson would give a simple response. "Likewise." He'd say with a slight smirk. He was a little exhausted from all this work, but he tried his best not to show it. "Lets hope not." He would say with a chuckle. 

After Hato, another shinobi would enter the Raikage chambers. He wasn't much familiar with this one nor the third shinobi that entered the room. But that didn't matter, he was expecting a little more people to arrive. But he'll get things started anyway and whoever arrives after can just fill in. "Morning, and also good morning to everyone else... Well, I guess 3 is just fine for now." He would say as he was ready to begin. 

"As you know, our Rain Village outpost has been destroyed. All shinobi there are K.I.A except for one survivor. It was a big lost for us.. and the suspect is a missing ninja who is specifically targeting the main villages, starting with us. We've been really low on shinobi as of late, so that is why I wish to speak with all of the shinobi of the village. I'm not sure if its one shinobi or a group of them that plans on attacking us. But either way, we must prepare for the worst. The village is in a state of emergency as of now." He would explain to the three shinobi before him. But before he went on, he wanted to see what was on their heads between all of this. 

"But before we move forward and I explain my thoughts or plans on the matter. I want to hear what you guys think or what role you would want to play in the upcoming battle. I won't force you 3 to fight. A shinobi that is scared to fight will have no use for me on the battlefield. So it would be better if you find something else to do if you don't plan on getting your hands dirty." He didn't want to send his shinobi to their deaths. With the amount we have at the moment, it wouldn't be wise ti just blindly throw them into battle if they aren't ready. He waited to hear their responses on the matter. He was curious to see what was going through their heads as their lives would soon be on the line.

The meeting was about to begin. Since Hato was the first one to arrive to the meeting, the other shinobi followed. One of which was Sugi, a fellow genin. The other was the shinobi from the training field with black hair and a strange fabric around his face with holes cut into it so that the man could see. After a quick scan of his chakra using Mind's Eye of Kaguya, she noticed that the man had meager chakra levels. It was about the same as Sugi's. Hato wasn't foolish enough to base strength of a shinobi based of chakra however.

Kyson began shortly after Sugi entered the room. He explained the situation he was give. There was an outpost in the Rain Village, a Kumokagure territory, that was destroyed, leaving all but one to survive. What was astonishing was the fact that it was done by one man. A single shinobi could cause so much damage? Must be a S rank of sorts. This could either turn out great for me or terrible. Let's see how the dice roll. 

Kyson continued by saying the reason behind the meeting in the first place, to put our heads together and think of a plan. Hato was disappointed that the 4 minds behind these plans was 2 genin, a chunin and a substitute Raikage. The blonde succubus also couldn't help but notice that important figures were missing. Mainly the leader of the village and Max. This was going to be a challenge. For closure, Kyson added that they wouldn't be forced to fight in this battle, which made Hato scoff a little. Kumokagure, the grande empire, was basically pleading with shinobi to fight with them.

Hato took in a deep breath, symbolizing deep thought and turned the chair to the table and put her elbows on the table, nesting her chin in her palms. "There is a lot to be determined in this," she started after a moment of his informing introduction. "I've noticed one thing however, they wanted us to know about them. Without a doubt a person of that power could kill everyone at that station. However, one did survive and long enough to make it back to the village. This shinobi wanted us to focus our efforts in raising our defenses and going into panic mode. This could mean there is a bigger plot to this attack." Hato continued. "Further more, why would this beast of man choose to go after us? As far as the rest of a nations know is that we an conquering empire with the shinobi to show for it. This could mean this is a foolish shinobi with luck on his side or that there is a spy among the village. Information cannot be shared so lightly from further point." Like stated before, there was still left unanswered. "Is there any more information about this missing ninja? Jutsu? Fighting style?"  


WC: 486
TWC: 835

One of the villages outposts destroyed, only one man survived. Well not survived the man was clearly meant to establish a sense of fear and dread within the ranks of the main Kumo village. Kyson said the village was low on ninja, which was hard to believe both Kumo’s shinobi and half of Suna’s resided here. Perhaps things were not looking good for the former empire run by Maku. Speaking of whom was no longer the Raikage and someone else had taken over and even that person was not in this meeting. Did the raikage not wish to join a discussion on who would be defending his village… Odd.

Sato was the first to respond she asked why one person would target the most powerful of the villages. From what Jiro gathered it was an individual as Kyson said suspect and not suspects. After Sato was finished, he would respond to one of her questions. “Perhaps, it is because Kumo has the most land and shinobi that the person challenges us. It is a test for themselves.” Jiro would say before getting to his own questions.

“Is this really the act of one? Madness draws in the riff raff from everywhere. You would know this Kyson, but a hyena’s kill invites vultures. Birds that will feast off the scraps.” What he was saying is maybe someone should scout for their numbers it was unlikely one-man vs a village.

Another question that lingered on his mind was why was Kyson formulating the plan for Kumo’s defense was the raikage not interested in defending his village? “My next question is a bit rude but since Kyson has taken this meeting and is making the plan for the defense, can we assume that you are the Raikage and that the previous has passed or fled?” It was a natural question if the raikage was around he would be at this meeting, based on the content it would be war soon. What village leader stayed out of a war council meeting. Then again genin at a war council meeting was odd. Maybe this was just the way of the village.

“If I am being honest, I would rather not fight, I am not a capable shinobi. I am sure half the people here could see that. I would be more suited to evacuating civilians. If, however I am told to fight, I won’t have a problem with following orders.” He would say thinking of all the homes he had over the years never being able to stay in once place. First it was Maku that took his home and now some nameless ninja wished to take the place he was just starting to get used to the idea made him sick, sad even. It would be the second time in a year he didn’t fight for his home, but that was becoming the norm for him. If he was forced to find another hidden village would he be booted from there too? All these questions started a chain of events within his DNA.

The normal color of his eyes shifting to a bright crimson with a single tomoe within. The man’s face never shifted, but something in his body clearly had. Jiro would jump slightly as he began to see chakra swirl around people it was completely different than sensing chakra, he could see it. Oh, crap I must have said something bad most of these people are preparing to hit me with some type of jutsu.


WC: 583
TWC: 961

Sugimoto sat in his chair silently listening to the others as the meeting progressed, listening to deputy kage Kyson talk about the rain village outpost attack and how the missing ninja let one sole survivor bring word of the attack. This meant that who ever was planing this attack was confiate enough in their own capabilities that he could bring a whole hidden village to its knees, and by the look of it, this unknow ninja was succeeding. Then what surprised Sugimoto most was that Kyson said he would not force anyone to fight, the way he said this was as if Kyson has already accepted defeat! He was a genin at a war council where the highest ranking was asking his subordinates for suggestions and letting them opt out of protecting their homeland?! There must truly be no leader for Kumo to rally behind.

While Sugimoto sat there disgusted by the state his ancient homeland was, Hato would interject herself into the conversation. She asked about what did we know about the missing ninja, were they a group, was he alone and what was this ninjas power like? To Sugimoto perspective Kumo was not prepared for any war and has already turned belly up. 

The trench coat shinobi would chime in next, asking Kyson directly about the Raikage and his clearly felt absence. Sugimoto already expected that Kumo was leaderless and was interested to see if Kyson would confirm this. Hato and Jiro both discussed not wanting to fight but both being willing to, but what were they fighting for? Kumo was only a village by land alone. There was no Kumo identity, nothing that made someone proud to be from Kumo.

Once the trench coat ninja finished his points he would have a weird reaction, something spooked him and he would act weird. Sugimoto was tired of this and saw no progress coming from this meeting. So he would let the other to deal with the trench coats outburst before he let his own mind be known.

Once things were settled Sugimoto would talk to those who sat around him. “So what I am hearing from this meeting so far is, we do not know how strong this Ninja is, we do not know how big this ninja’s forces are, and we have no plan in place and have yet to start anything to prepare for the upcoming attack.” Sugimoto would look around the room at those present, he wanted to let the magnitude of the situation hang in the air. “I am just a Gennin so I have no authority but If you wanted my suggestions here they are. We need a leader someone who we can rally around and look to leadership. This may come of rude but Kyson this should have been you. I can tell you do not want the position but if you wont lead who will?" Sugimoto would let Kyson respond.

After this Sugimoto would slide back his chair and stand up. “Until someone who I believe in takes up the mantle of leadership, I am going to stand down from this fight. I have the kids at the orphanage to protect and I will make it my goal to get them out of this safely. I will wish you all luck, but Kumo needs to realise that because of its own weakness and inaction lead to this fight.” With that Sugimoto would nod to the others and head out of the Kages office.          


WC 583
TWC 1,166
Exit    

Claims
        5 stats
                     Five-Seal-Barrier 500 (2000/2000) link to other post with other wc
                     Telepathy Seal   500  (1500/4000) Link to other WC 
                     Fuinjutsu Breaking C rank 166 (905/2000) link 1 WC link 2 WC

After Kyson asked his question, he just wanted to know where his fellow shinobi stood on this matter. Another War was coming, but this wasn't new to Kumo. Only difference was the condition of the village was at its worse since Kyson was a genin. As Hato took the floor first, he would sit and listen to what she had to say. She was curious as to why the shinobi known as "Kenshin" would want to attack this village specifically. She suspected that there was a traitor within the village. But Kyson didn't see his attack being too out of the blue. During the time Kumo took over Suna, other territories were taken over as well. Kumo at the time conquered most of the land, but a feat such as that comes with drawbacks. Others will surely have their eye on you and will take the chance whenever one was open.
 
But before Kyson could explain the reason for Kumo being attacked first. Jiro would step in and explain it to her instead. Kyson would nod as he basically stated what Kyson was going to say. Jiro asked a question about who the person in power should be. It was true, a Kage who isn't there when his village needs them the most. Could they really call themselves a Kage. So, to answer the question about who the Raikage was, Kyson would simply answer. “Trust me, I wouldn’t be in this seat right now If I wasn’t planning on leading the village. Let alone, have an entire meeting with me in this seat. But this isn’t a meeting for just the three of you. I plan on meeting with every shinobi in the village today. I need to know what’s on the minds of my men for this upcoming battle.” Kyson would explain to the three. Jiro made it clear he would rather not fight but instead evacuate civilians doing the War.
 
“I’m glad your being honest, I rather you tell me straight forward than run into a senseless death. So, I’ll be counting on you to help evacuate civilians.” He would say in response to Jiro. Shortly, Sugimoto would give his thoughts on the situation. “The missing ninja name is Kenshin Uzumaki, ex-ANBU of Hoshigakure. He uses a voracious gas that destroys anything it touches, and he also has stolen many bloodlines from his victims. I’m not sure how strong this gas was, but it is a good method to take out many foes at once." He would say in response. He understood Sugimoto’s feelings towards the situation since there wasn’t an official Raikage.
 
“Look at me as your leader, but don’t get so fixed on titles. The only thing that matters at this moment is results. If there are no results being shown, then titles mean nothing.” Maku had taught him that when he and Kyson first met. He learned a lot being his bodyguard for those few years. It got him to where he was at now. But it was now time for Kyson to take that spot and take the lead once more.

Hato's position changed from her head resting in her hands to holding his hands together in front of her face and making a triangle out of the woven fingers. It was her thinking posture. 

Jiro replied to Hato's question about why they would attack the empire, “Perhaps, it is because Kumo has the most land and shinobi that the person challenges us. It is a test for themselves.” Hato nodded. "Either that or they have a death wish. We must be vigilant and wise." Jiro would continued the meeting by asking if Kyson was taking the position of kage and what happened to the last one. It was an interesting question, and one that Hato had herself. “Trust me, I wouldn’t be in this seat right now If I wasn’t planning on leading the village. Let alone, have an entire meeting with me in this seat..." The vampire could see the reason behind this, but this would be a huge first challenge as kage and she hoped, for her sake, that Kyson was capable. 

After this question was settled, Jiro would state his unwillingness to join in the fight and rather would help evacuate citizens. Shortly after, Sugi would also state his in ability to fight. However, Sugi reasons were being a genin, unknowing who the leader was and protecting his orphans. Hato could careless about the fact that they weren't loyal to the village and basically wanted the easy way out, that would make her a hypocrite. But there was only so many shinobi in the village and she needed the village to not be destroyed for things to work out. Kyson seemed to be fine with the two being honest in the meeting, saying that he'd rather not have senseless death. 

Finally, something about the missing ninja was given by Kyson. “The missing ninja name is Kenshin Uzumaki, ex-ANBU of Hoshigakure. He uses a voracious gas that destroys anything it touches, and he also has stolen many bloodlines from his victims. I’m not sure how strong this gas was, but it is a good method to take out many foes at once." Ex Anbu and the gas really got to her. Someone so powerful was terrifying but now they had something to go on. 

Hato would have her turn to speak again. "Any and all help is needed gentlemen. I'm meerly a medical ninja at a genin rank. I don't have any S rank jutsu to show off. However, I do realize that help is needed everywhere. Don't be frightened." That was her attempt of a rising speech. "Further more, If this gas is so power, I doubt an ambush would be of any use. I imagine long range jutsu. Hopefully this gas doesn't dissolve chakra." 

WC: 458
TWC: 1293