A Formal Apology (Private)

The sun spreads its setting embers over Sunagkaure, churning and turning the sky into a brackish violet, Raleth Sarutobi steps out the front door of his home, dressed in a startling attire, one not before seen on the immense jounin. His burnt-white, ashen hair is pulled back and tied by a regal band, his beard is trimmed and groomed, giving him a Sarutobi's visage. His shoulders and arms are contained in a black quarter sleeve, in which he's layered under a sand-brown jounin flax jacket, his scarred forearms are exposed to the elements. He's fashioned his sungakure headband around his neck, the emblem glints in the fading sunlight. He wears black straight-legged pants and matching ninja sandals, he looks like an intimidating ninja from Wind Country. 

He breaths in the hot and dusty air, he walks at a leisurely pace towards the center of the village, to the spiraling tower scraping the sky above Wind Country. Evening lights spark up as night begins to spread over the horizon, the residents prepare to end the day.

After some time, Raleth stops in front of the entrance to the spire, the office of the Kazekage, Kenshin Uzumaki. A mixture of emotions wells up inside the aged Sarutobi, his shame and pride war with each other. He has no idea how his kage feels about the destruction of the grove, and he doesn't know if Kenshin has been made aware of Raleth's efforts to repair the damage; as such, he fears the worst. He would feel nervous, but the pride he feels from  the garden he planted in the grove, something that helped him grow, keeps him calm.

As he waits outside the spire, a familiar presence reveals itself in the corners of the white-ash-haired shinobi's mind. He turns as the metered steps of an Uchiha echo throughout the evening, the sight of Zaine calms Raleth. He's glad his friend has come to aid him in this endeavor. He exchanges a hello, and will follow his friend's lead into the spire once they are both invited inside.

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Day had passed and the villagers of Sunagakure funneled into their homes from shops and restaurants alike- the sun setting over the village as Zaine made his way towards the Spire after completing his mission to assist his old teacher in the restoration of the Grove. He was dressed in a long sleeve white shirt that bore the Uchiha crest but this was eclipsed by his Chuunin flak jacket that rested on his shoulders and draped down just over the waist of his straight legged black pants. His unkempt dark brown hair rustled in the gentle wind that was native to the country so aptly named after it- his hands rested laced behind his head as he walked at a fair pace towards the Spire to meet with Raleth Sarutobi, his old sensei whom he owed much to and agreed to accompany tonight for a task as special as it was necessary. The two shinobi having just restored the Grove were both very proud and satisfied with their efforts but the fact of the matter couldnt be ignored- the Grove had nothing inherently wrong with it to begin with and was destroyed by the rash and brazen efforts of Raleth. 

Zaine sighed as he finally approached the base of the Spire and got eyes on the ashen haired shinobi that stood before him. Two things about this event were very strange and he couldnt help but to feel the weight of the situation as he pondered them; first Raleth was not only on time for their agreed meeting but he was earlier than Zaine which was far out of character and second was the attire his old friend chose to wear. He was dressed for lack of a better description as a.. shinobi for once- his appearance demanding the respect of one who claims the title, Jounin of Sunagakure. This was a nice surprise and upon approaching Raleth, stopping 2 meters away from him he would speak "I guess you're taking this apology situation pretty serious huh?" Looking him up and down and then focusing his vision on the structure towering above them he would continue "Probably better you came in a more presentable outfit. I dont think anyone who lives in a building this over the top would expect anything less." He would smile softly, hoping that his comfort in speaking of the residence of the Kazekage would alleviate some of the tension and guilt his old friend seemed to hold within. He would nod his head at the direction of the building, signaling that it was time to make their way inside so that Raleth could give his formal apology to the leader of their great village, and the woman he had turned his fang to without reason. 

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"Probably better you came in a more presentable outfit. I dont think anyone who lives in a building this over the top would expect anything less."

A small smile rises in the corner of the Sarutobi's laugh, a silent chuckle echoes inside of Raleth, he appreciates the humor of his friend. Had he a moment more to enjoy it, he might have felt a bit better. But, the sudden opening of the front door, the whismical expression on the ashen haired, porcelain shinobi Mizuki made such a moment fleeting, and more reminded the immense jounin of his past mistake. He scans the eyes of the curious woman, a certain thing seems to be absent from her gaze. Was it the color of her eyes? No, something more. An intensity was missing, one Raleth thought he had seen before. His heart sinks in his chest, a feeling of alienation comes over him as he walks past the ashen-haired shinobi, giving a stone faced and silent greeting.

Perhaps I was wrong...

Chakra surges and whirls around Raleth, a strange sensation makes the aged Sarutobi uneasy, he stumbles and braces himself on a nearby wall; confused as to what just happened, surprised to find himself in a new room. As he scans the area, spotting a red-haired memory, a phantasm from his past.

!?

For a moment, Raleth's heart skips, he forgets where he is. The sounds of steel clash around his perception, blood and fire gunk his nose, a rose-tinted voice screams in his face.

Raleth inhales through his nose and exhales, calming his racing heart, like one about to steel themselves for murder. He comes back to the present once he recognizes the symbol carved into the door in front of him, the symbol Wind Country. As the red-haired anbu captain continues her paperwork, the aged Saurtobi deduces that Mizuki had transported him and Zaine to the office of the Kazekage, via means of an unknown jutsu. 

The ashen-haired Mizuki walks forward, opening the door for the Uchiha and the Sarutobi, announcing their arrival.

“Come on little lambs.”

As the tall silhouette of the kazekage is revealed, a familiar presence is felt. One of a figure of similar height and build to a plus one Mizuki brought, who seemed to enjoy the effects of the sleeping monkey. As Raleth walks in with Zaine, the memories of that night dawn on the Sarutobi, and a mixture of confusion and comradery well up inside. The biggest question that rings in the immense jounin's mind, was did he know what happened at the grove prior to the party!? Keeping his face as stone,but pushing such thoughts aside, the ashe-haired shinobi sits when asked to by his Kazekage, Kenshin Uzumaki.

As Mizuki takes her place next to the Kazekage, Raleth glances at his old student, Zaine: thanking him for the help he's given.

"Lord Kazekage, Miss Ohta," thrums the bass voice of Raleth Sarutobi, "I cannot express my regret enough, what transpired at the grove was more than reprehensible, it was shameful. Not only did I attack my fellow shinobi, and put a valued shinobi like Mizuki in danger, I destroyed a part of the village. In all senses, I have failed at my duty as a jounin of Sunagakure."

The mud torn divot, the destruction that Raleth brought to the grove, flashes behind the Sarutobi's eyes, the field sown by his wrath aches his heart. Yet, in this moment, the sun finally sets over the village hidden in the sand. In the view from the spire's window, behind and in sight of the kazekage's desk, the garden planted in the grove begins to glow. The soft moonlight shimmers over the surface of stone-dragon, waterfall lake, the many minnows under the water glimmer and shine: creating sprites of iridescent globes. This light reflects the petals of the flowers scattered around a hand-crafted perimeter, sunset-colors are painted over the water. Wind-swept soil and sand-sculpted stone serve as platforms and pathwats for small sprites of light, the sparkflies harmonize with the mirage minnows. A beautiful symphony light promenade over the spine of the stone dragon, following the flow of water and leaping over the lake: hovering above its surface and waltzing in pairs. Raleth Sarutobi does not call attention to this, prefering his actions to speak louder than his words. He stands, and kneels before his kazekage: placing his fist to the ground. He speaks, like one with the intention to defend the land he stands on.

Garden:

Garden:

"I ask for forgivness, from both you Lord Kazekage, and you Mizuki Ohta."

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The front doors to the Spire would swing open revealing a welcome and familiar face in Mizuki Ohta, she would jest by poking at his description of the Spire which he honestly was not expecting but found pretty funny. "Its a compliment if you really think about it." He would say with his right hand on the back of his head as a look of slight embarrassment overcame his face. Walking in behind both her and his mentor they would pass by a red haired woman that Mizuki seemed to ignore completely- he would turn to her and bow before continuing on to the office of the Kazekage "Pleased to meet you, i'm Zaine Uchiha, the pleasure is mine." He would take a moment to hear a response if it came and would return to Raleth's side, following the lead of the intimidating but small shinobi in front of them. He tried to hide it but all Zaine truly felt at this moment was excitement at the prospect of finally meeting the Kazekage, the leader of the village he called home, he whos power was spoken about amongst villagers but there were so many stories that he couldnt tell what was true and what wasnt. He had nothing to feel fear for, having not been present at the time of the Grove's "remodeling" and he had aided in the reconstruction- these two factors alone solidified his idea that the Kazekage would keep focus off of him and on his mentor which might give him the chance to scope him out. "I wonder what he looks like. Or is he a he? Could be a woman. If she is, I doubt she's half as intimidating as Mizuki." He smirked as he thought to himself, coming to a stop as they approached the doors of the Kazekage- it was time to meet the head shinobi in the country of wind. 


Mizuki wouldnt pass up an opportunity to tease the two shinobi as they reached the point of entering the office of their village leader, referring to them as "lambs" before shooting him a playful wink- this gesture served to remind him of their time on a recent mission and he smiled back at her just before the doors would open. Behind the doors sat a man at a desk, a man that he had seen before in a very intimate setting- the words escaped his mouth before he could even catch them "God damnit Zaine.." he looked down at the floor as he sighed and looked back up quickly covering his mouth. "What I meant to..umm I meant.. only. Lord Kazekage." He would bow placing both hands together and taking a seat once told to by Kenshin. This of all the scenarios was the ONE he hadnt thought of- the notion that the Kazekage could have been someone he had met and more over challenged in a drunken frenzy at dinner was almost too embarrassing to deal with.He would look at Mizuki giving her a face that resonated the feelings of "you couldnt have warned me?"  and from here on out he would sit patiently and let Raleth and the others speak, hoping that his actions at dinner along with his previous display would not warrant a harsh response. 


Thankfully Raleth would take the lead and begin to apologize in traditional fashion to both Mizuki and Kenshin and rightfully so, seeing as how he could have injured her and that he ruined a personal construct of the Kazekage. The words of his mentor eased his nerves just enough to where he could regain his composure and now that he was focused on the apology being given, he could take in the man before him-this time with full respect. 

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“Remember the last person who attacked me? Kyoya was it? Both of his severed hands were displayed at the entrance for weeks… I would settle for one.”


That is not a suitable enough punishment for my transgressions...


This thought echoed in the aged Sarutobi's mind as he heard Miss Ohta's words, a part of Raleth drags him down to the depths of hate as he closes his eyes, waiting for the Kazekage's response. What followed was somethijg that brought the white-ash-haired shinobi's head up in disbelief. A sudden sound of snickering, the look of a smile cracking a façade of anger, the joke between Kenshin and Mizuki reveals itself. Confusion pulls the immense jounin from his self-loathing, it takes moments for him to realize the situation he's found himself in. At his Kazekage's mention, Raleth rises from his feet, the words of Kenshin Uzumaki soothes a pain that the Sarutobi had felt since his outburst in the grove. When the Uzumaki mentions his observations of Raleth's work, pride rises in his chest: causing him to stand taller and have his head held higher. His stature becomes one of a Sunagkaure Jounin, one whose strength can level mountains, and one with the will to cause the ground of his country's enemies to quake. Passionate words spring forth from Raleth, his heart and soul shines through his voice as he speaks to both Kenshin and Mizuki.


"I will become the Shield of Sunagakure, the Wall of Wind Country. None shall break our defenses, our people will only know peace. The Village Hidden in the Sand will be an unmarred gem, of this I will make sure. This is my promise to you, Lord Kazekage. This is my promise to you, Miss Ohta."


Fire blazes behind Raleth's eyes, his determination is as strong as a mountainside. He bows as the Kazekage and his Second replies, and gives Zaine a weighted look.


Thank you for coming here with me.


As the meeting concludes, Zaine and Raleth are lead out of the Kazekage's office. In passing, the aged Sarutobi spots the Uzumaki Anbu Captain, the woman with red hair whose name he does not know. His look lingers for a moment. Strange feelings well up inside, sadness and pain dim the fire in his eyes. His eyes glaze over, he smells roses and blood. He turns away, following Miss Ohta out of the spire. As she transports the two shinobi to the entrance, Raleth speaks.


"Mizuki...I had no intention of harming you, please understand this…" his words seemed dulled by a heavy emotion, he looks as if he isn't in the present, "I'm unsure of why I reacted like I did, but know you can trust me when the time comes."


He would listen to her response and take her words to heart. As she leaves them, Raleth turns to Zaine, that deep and heavy pain subsides as he faces his old student.


"I guess your old sensei still needs to learn a few things. Thank you, Zaine, for aiding me in my endeavor. It's funny, though I am your teacher I feel I've learned more from you than you have from me." He brings his forearm up and waits for his old student to respond with his. The two dap their arms together, symbolizing a bond created by years of shared experiences: one that could never be broken.


"I guess it's time I stopped slacking off, eh?"


A true smile and hearty chuckle escapes the immense jounin, he stays for his friends response and bids him farewell, walking off in the night.


Though, the joy and relief he feels is fleeting as red-hair flows behind his eyes. A terrible pain aches in his chest, anger and guilt twist into something like wrath. A weight hangs on his shoulders, when he sleeps he will not rest.


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[[643/1723]]

Beads of sweat dripped down his face as the tension in the room climbed to levels he hadnt experienced in years- here he was sitting in the office of the Kazekage and new information was pouring out and shooting at him faster than he could gather it all. The man who had been at his dinner party so casually was one of the most powerful leaders in the shinobi world, he had heard so many rumors about the man that he could hardly believe he had already met him- how could he have not known? More over he couldnt even begin to dive into the enigma that was Mizuki Ohta, the woman who bit him, opened up to him about oh so much but neglected to mention that she was in a seat of power/influence to casually seat herself on the desk of this man without so much as a request. He couldnt figure out the dynamic and the longer the silence following Raleth's apology persisted, the more he was sure of one thing- they were possibly in bit of trouble after the events that transpired. 

The deafening silence was broken by Mizuki's statement that came across as a threat more than anything else and somewhere he knew that the event she recounted was not a falsification- she truly did mutilate a man and place his extremities for the entire village to see. He was aware of her barbaric nature to an extent but had to admit that this was a bit much even for her- the notion that he was being overly sensitive to the subject of gore and death wasnt an unheard of hypothesis but he still cemented in the fact that Mizuki had the capability to be quite sadistic. The pause she took after along with the Kazekage had the young Uchiha quite literally holding his breath before Ms. Ohta let out a bellowing laugh that revealed the truth of the situation- they were being taken for an all expense paid ride. He let out the an exhale of relief that felt larger than any wind jutsu he had ever mustered as he began to awkwardly laugh along with them- now listening to what Kenshin had to say about the situation and how he was all for subjecting them to further torture of this genre. He could hardly even bare the thought of if that had gone on for a moment longer and took this time to relish in the fact that plainly put, they were safe. Raleth would speak, letting it be known that he had lofty goals to protect the village of the wind country and Zaine felt admiration and pride in his teacher upon hearing these words. He would truly apologize to Mizuki, as expected and needed before he spoke to the young Uchiha and gave words of accolade and praise at how he had conducted himself in helping restore the grove- a task that didnt seem to warrant that much praise to Zaine, he was just doing what he felt was right but he would nod, keeping his silence as he felt he had said enough at this point.

He would look on as Raleth exited the office of the Kazekage and would stand up and bow to Kenshin and then turn to do the same to Mizuki before speaking, "Truly, thank you for sparing the time to allow us to speak with you Lord Kazekage. Much like Raleth I intend to become a resource for this village. I do have different aspirations however. I plan to become a blade that strikes down any that seek to harm those of this village and protect it better than I was able to protect my previous home.." His words carried sadness on them as he loved and cared for Sunagakure, but beat himself up constantly over not being able to do anything about the state of Konohagakure, the home of his father and his father before him. "If there is anything else you need from me today please let me know, if not I wont take up any more of your time." He was always well mannered and formal but never to this degree- but no matter what he tried he couldnt break out of it, he was far too tense and maybe this was for the better. 

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