White Shadow

The hero of a hundred songs walked forth, each step more fabulous than the last. Ayato did look like a lord today, he supposed, dressed in a black doublet emblazoned with the Hyuuga sigil on the breast pocket in colored thread. A raging fire on a golden field, an ancient sigil for an ancient clan. 

The Byakugan heir draped a cloak of beaten gold across his shoulders and clasped it at the neck with the Hoshi’s badge of office. A silver star. 

A white shadow was following the Kage. Jak of the Dosser Tribe in scaled armor the color of milk, his cloak as white as freshly fallen snow. 

“If I were them, I would fear a trap.” Jak said, “Why else invite them after what transpired in your Kage Summit.” Though he was not yet past forty years old, only a fringe of thin black hair remained on his head, circling behind his ears like the shadow of a crown. His black beard cropped, tied, and short across his square jaw. His eyes were open wounds beneath his heavy brows, green as moss on the castle wall. 

“It would be unfair for Kirigakure genin to miss the exams.” Ayato Hyuuga said. And if they don’t wish to compete, perhaps they can partake in the festivities. Listen to our fine singers.“

“That so?”Jack said disinterestedly.
“Where’s your love for music, Jak.”
 “If it was music you wished to hear, you should have gotten a singer to guard you.”

Ayato smiled at that. “That would be amusing. I would love to see them fending off the Mizukage with their harp if a fight had broken out.”

The two waited in the forest, under the blue sky of Sunagakure. While Toneri Hyuuga, a man that Ayato trusted with his life, a brother he had never shared mother’s milk with, was on his way to The Spire, delivering a letter inviting someone to join Ayato and his entourage on their trip back to his Hoshi.

Ayato saw Toneri approaching. This Hyuuga was fair, with a clean shaved face and thick straight hair so pale it seemed more gold than white. His tunic bore Ayato’s clan colors in reverse, a golden fireball on a red field. A nod to the fact that Toneri and his twin Natsuki were no trueborn Hyuuga.

Behind Toneri was Mizuki Ohta, with quite the brave outfit - the taijutsu expert realized as she got closer. Thankfully Zaine Uchiha was not shadowing her. The man had never done him any wrong, but Ayato could barely stomach Zaine Uchiha. Not that he necessarily felt about it. Zaine's horse-face would cause anyone indigestion.

The slender female locked her violet eyes on Ayato’s white ones as she expressed her gratitude for the invitation along with a pleasantly. As she finished her words, she would slide her arm and hook it to his as if it was natural action as any. She was giving him a sideways glance up to his face. Every movement of hers was a seduction. 

“I had understood during the meeting that you were fair of face and full of grace, but no one ever told me that you were a thief, Lord Kazekage.”  Of course, he wronged her; she was no thief of physical goods at least.

Ayato placed his free hand over his heart. “Don’t deny it. How do you explain this hole in my chest from where you stole my heart?”

“He is only teasing you, my lady,” noted Toneri Hyuuga. “My sweet brother never had heart.”

“The Hyuuga have had their black goats through history, and we have my half-brother here,” Ayato said with a sigh. “If I don’t have a heart, then what is beating so loud that it could be heard all the way North to Kumo.”

Jak grinned and looked at Toneri. “Genin should not speak out of turn when their Kage is talking. Did you miss the etiquette session, boy?”

“Kinsman, I am no longer a Genin. Ayat...Lord Hogokage made me a Chuunin recently.”
“Did I?” Ayato wondered, scratching his chin with his free hand. “Even more to the point, I could unmake you just as quickly.” 

Toneri bristled at that. “Genin or Chuunin, if there is to be an attack on the Hogokage, my place is with you.” Toneri had also protested earlier when Ayato told him he and Natsu were to remain in Suna.

“Your place is where I say it is. I have many shinobi as good as you, or better, but you have a pleasing manner and a glib tongue, and those will be of more use to me here than Hoshigakure. You will leave within the fortnight for Konoha. Buy all the Senju wood you can find and then return.”

“As you command,” He placed his hand on his sword-hilt. “On my honor as a Hyuuga, I won’t let you down. ” The Chuunin said and then took his leave. 

Ayato turned to look at Mizuki, still wrapped in his arm, and smiled. He might have acted like it, but he hadn't forgotten about her, yet the earlier exchange had helped him get his pulse back together.

“And now we shall go. I look forward to witnessing what kind of reward you have in mind for me.” A mark seal half a world away reacted to Ayato’s handseal command. The trio would manifest back to the Unseen University in a white flash.


[Exiting to Hoshigakure/Leader's chambers]

Approved