An Invitation amidst the darkness (Hogokage)

"Cordially invite me." The Kage's voice was completed with curiosity, his finger tapping the parchment with the broken seal on his mahogany desk. "To another Kage summit." A new village was built over the remains of Funkagaure and the volcano's shadow that burned the world all those years ago. The village whose second and final Kage had tied by Ayato's hand. The last S-rank missing-nin, Stein.

"You could always go for the festivities," Shina replied, smiling, but her blue eyes were not. "Then come back and tell everyone about how you met your queen of love at the ball."

"Heh, if I wanted a quip, I would have asked for Toneri instead of you." The Kage cut right to the chase. "Tell me you have something," The Kage sounded hopeful, this time, more than curious. Watchmen whispered to one another, friend to a friend, children to their parents, and the news somehow always ended as a report in the Uzumaki desk, which she was always quick to present to her Kage, but not today. 

"The symbol wrapped around the Ketsu symbol is more ancient than that. This group doesn’t associate with the half-bloods, but the style of the wax seal, and the way it’s done, could be associated with an older name."

"And the mention of my father."
"Not germane. You might want to keep the mystic about your past Lord Hogokage, and Akihana did her best to shield you from it when you were coming up the ranks as a Genin, but.." She said with a pause, nothing before the word but mattered. "Every kid that can hold a kunai from here to Bean Jam country knew who Hibari Hyuuga was. Don't be surprised that someone put the two together and figured you were his offspring. You look like him, after all, lately more than ever."

That wasn't the tone one would typically hold to address a Kage. But Shina Uzumaki was still the Hyuuga's former partner when they were both in Nova Corps and, before that, his superior officer. "She has the truth of it," Ayato supposed; he was far from the most promising prospect of his generation. Everyone had assumed he was another wide-eyed lad in the motley while the Ragdoll, the Magical Girl, and the Dark Lord of Light wore the crowns. People with far more superior ninja skills than picking decent epithets for themselves. 

"We are going. I mean to find out more about Ketsuekigakure and the people that represent it. And I count at least two villages that have to answer for previous transgressions. And Hoshigakure will always get its due." Formal again, he placed the writing supplies (a quill and two scrolls) on the table. The fact that he had not handed it to the Uzumaki may have been both due to Shina's poor calligraphy skills and the fact that he didn’t trust what she may fill the paper with.

"That oddly sounds like a declaration of war." She said with a grim tone.

Ayato nodded, “Call it what you will.”  He said, the scratch of the quill on the parchment filling the room. As a boy, he had nightmares about that noise, but knowing this letter would help save everyone and fulfill his destiny, the sound soothed him - until it suddenly stopped. He sat up and dropped the quill back into the jar of ink. Rolled and sealed with delicate purple wax to protect the document from being read by unwanted eyes and authenticated with a Hoshi stamp.
 
 Ayato shifted his gaze to the bearer of the messenger, and he wasn't the only one. Maneki's eyes were locked on the bat that was sleeping upside down, seemingly growing larger by the minute against the light of the lantern. The Nineko was drooling and had almost used his Float to reach the ceiling and pouch on the messenger, only for his Kage to notice it and strictly tell him "No." 

Ayato gently tapped the bat on its small furred head, small black eyes opening. Handing the letter away, he watched the messenger take flight and disappear in the Horizon. Ayato's familiar cat let out a tiny meow in disappointment.

"Tell them I require Akabayashi and Morio of the Nova Corps." He said to Shina, "And Hikari Namikaze."

Once opened by the receiving party, the letter's contents would read.


"Dear Chikage, Remika Nagi,


I appreciate the kind invitation and congratulate you on forming your village, Ketsuekigakure no Sato. I'm delighted to attend both the ball and the summit. It is rare for the men and women that occupy our station to find time to indulge themselves, much less to meet every interested party. This is an excellent opportunity to bring everyone to the table, see where all the significant villages stand in the current landscape, and leave any past unpleasantries behind. Finally, I look forward to enjoying the festivities. I hear great things about the steak in Volcano Country, and the Hoshi ninja escorting me will be delighted. Even if I am not much of a meat eater myself.


Regards, 
Ayato Hyuuga the Seventh Hogokage."

WC: 850