The Ragdoll and the Wraith's Shadow

The Hospital of the Sunagakure was a seriously well kept building. Remembering back to the husk of a structure that was in the Kumogakure, the Raikage wondered whether Ichigo had been able to reinvigorate their old hospital into a modern center of medicine. Both Kaito and Ryuzaki would be able to appreciate such a building in the future, considering the stress their bodies faced when practicing their specialties. If their hospital came close to anywhere near half the quality of the Sunagakure’s Hospital, Kaito would count himself and his fellow Kumogakurians lucky.

Once inside, and hopefully stalked by his living shadow Ryuuzaki, he would approach the front desk, greeting whoever he met with a polite “Hello”, before continuing in his usual monotone “I am Noboru Kaito, the 11th Raikage of the Kumogakure, and I have an appointment with Lord Kenshin Uzumaki. Could you check if he is ready for my visit?”

The visit had Kaito excited, in a way. Kenshin was the ticket for a powerful Kumogakure, if the rumors were to be believed, and he had caused the Kumogakure to rise in power, in a macabre way. He wondered how the visit would go.

A black line which would lead the Raikage to a morgue, where he would finally meet the mad butcher Kenshin. A line of thought so ironic he might think himself mad for having heard it out loud, yet it made sense in the context of the world and rumors, which is how Kaito knew he was not sleeping, or under a genjutsu -- the later of which his Hiyu DNA would've picked up on. He appreciated this Sunagakure lass addressing him by his honorifics, something he was still getting used to -- for a man to go from a cook to the head of a military organization in the span of a couple of years is astounding to him -- yet he felt awkward to hear her address Kenshin so informally, as if he were an old friend or a lover. A man of Kenshin's station should have respect attached to the name whenever spoken, but especially when speaking to others. Then again, maybe it was just Sunagakure Culture. After all, even the Lady Kazekage asked to be called Lord Kazekage, so what did Kaito know about the Wind Country's customs.

He thanked her with a couple words, nodding his head but avoiding bowing towards her, before moving out and following the black line that led through the disinfected hallway of the Hospital down to the cold morgue in the basement. Properly lit, even for a morgue, the metallic walls gleamed faintly, the refrigeration units reflecting the lights above, while a few sturdy metallic beds occupied the floors. At the end of it, a thin man in silver hairs hunched over a desk, likely writing something. Kaito walked into the morgue, allowing his steps to be heard, while removing the gauntlets of his armor so his hands could be seen. "Greetings, Lord Kenshin." He would stop in the middle of the morgue, affording Kenshin some distance if he wished to keep it. "I am Noboru Kaito, the Eleventh Raikage of the Kumogakure."

He felt again that sense of excitement he had once felt at the gates of the Kumogakure after resuming his military career. While he had not observed Kenshin in combat as he had observed Kutari Uchiha, a name he only learned months after meeting the man, he had learned Kenshin's name when he read about the lunacy that hunted the ranks of Kumogakurian ninja while deployed across the world. "A man such as yourself might've made a great Raikage, yet you were content in hunting our ninja and taunting our Kage. A man who discharges power with such wild abandon -- a perfect candidate to lead the Lightning Country. You caused me many sleepless nights… back when I was a green horn. It is a pleasure to meet you face to face."

Kaito might not ever get used to the sense of culture of Sunagakure, but he would certainly try. Kenshin delicately avoided confirming that he slaughtered Kumogakure soldiers by the handfuls, but commented on how being a Kage did not agree with him. The redhead could certainly sympathize with the feeling, yet knew that he yearned for this kind of political power, a means of asserting himself against those who doubted or belittled him. Moreover, in holding the reins of power, he ensured no foreign power or traitorous weasel could sell out the Lightning Country from under its people.

Kaito was about to start when Kenshin's mocking grin widened, asking about The Wraith, his old friend. Kaito's tattooed eyebrows wrinkled up as he pondered. Wraith… would that be Kutari Uchiha? Nobunaga Hiyu? Yayu Hayate? Who knew, aside from Kenshin and this Wraith. "I don't know anyone who goes by that moniker, or at least they never shared that with me."

He would move on. "Word in the underground is, one can always find a good deal on an organ in the Sunagakure. It just so happens, I'm always looking for a bargain." His experience as a cook and restaurant manager came up for a second. "Do you do discounts on bulk sales?"

The silverhead unveiled the Wraith as Kutari Uchiha, the Unnamed Conqueror in the records of the Kumogakure; Kaito would make sure to correct it once it was safe to let that information live on. “I did meet Kutari Uchiha, very recently too. Your friend is doing well, but he is currently working for Kumogakure, so I’m afraid I can’t share too much about him at the moment. I hope you understand.”

Before Kaito could continue, Kenshin’s expression soured, and he started on a tirade. Kaito tried keeping his expression as stoic as he could muster -- he nearly allowed himself to vent his frustration with a nasal huff, but he caught himself just in time to not insult the red eyed monstrosity as he vented the events as they transpired so long ago.

Kenshin explained how he had attacked Kumogakure due to how big of a target they were, especially considering how their strength had waned. More like complacency was allowed to set in, discipline was not enforced, the ranks became lax, and the rest… Well, the rest is history. He went on to speak about his friendship with Kutari -- and in Kaito’s mind, he connected the dots that Kenshin was the man that Kutari had been working with, and to whom he had reported after having been so shortly in the Kumogakure. The two of them drifted when Kutari decided to take hold of Kumogakure, and Kenshin took hold of Sunagakure; Kaito had to give him props for the work he had done, and he might’ve if Kenshin didn’t go on. He had to agree with Kenshin; the differing approaches had resulted in different societies, yet, while he couldn’t speak of Suna, he knew what happened with Kumo. “To be fair, Kutari’s views were already aligned with Kumo’s views. We just needed to be reminded of it. You seem to have really pulled this place together though, congratulations.”

The silver haired was kind enough to apologize for the long story, which Kaito appreciated and he nodded to Kenshin as he extended the apology. “It’s ok. I can understand why you felt there might be bad blood between us. I wasn’t aware that you and Kutari were working together, but I also can’t fault you for your crimes against the Lightning Country and the Kumogakure. As I see you, you were not the illness, just a symptom. The true cancer that plagued Kumogakure was, as you said, the fabled conquerors that disappeared without trace. They elevated the Kumogakure, but were not able to keep it there. That is why I can’t bring myself to hate you. As far as I can tell, you saved the Kumogakure from itself. So, thank you, Kenshin Uzumaki, for humbling us.” Kaito took a curt bow.

“That being said, that is exactly why I’m here. I want to bring power back onto the Kumogakure, and heard you had power for those who could afford it. And I wasn’t kidding about the discount, if you give any.”

Kenshin listened to the Raikage as he spoke, and the redhead might've even forgotten this was half of the duo that brought the world to heel at one point, contending with the seemingly unstoppable force that was the Kirigakure/Konohagakure army.

He listened and nodded along, showing his interest in Kaito's opinion, and even went as far as to opine that Kaito was what Kumo needed: a Kage who understood that the Kumogakure was the people rather than the Kage.  It was kind of weird to think of it as such, yet he knew exactly what Kensgin was talking about, and it was part of the reason why he had accepted the role in spite of what he perceived as a lack of preparation. He spoke of how Youka and Maku paved the way for weak Kage by having all the power and sharing none of it. "Certainly explains the heads you delivered", quipped Kaito, not amused but forlorn, understanding.

When he spoke of Kutari, Kaito remembered how he had sliced Jin's leg off and let him behind in the field of rot after Jin suggested he might be able to give medical assistance. Moreover, Kaito had been one of these people Kutari had deemed worthy of helping, as when he had brought him the kidney of the would-be conqueror Nobunaga. "Kutari had his moments, but I will never forget that he saved us as well", he said. "The Kumogakure was in a downward spiral, and Nobunaga Hiyu was the final nail in our coffin. Kutari was the axe that tore the coffin apart."

"As far as transplants go, I am sorry to say I do not know what I want yet: all I know is I will know when I see it. I would like to know if you have any valuable dojutsu; Sharingan or Byakugan, or anything else. I would like to take some Hiyu DNA back with me as well, if you have any. Any DNA that affords better chakra control will also do."

He would turn to his shadow. "Since you're here, you might as well help. What should we bring? You read that DNA book, c'mon, start earning your wage."