The Cut Off

While You Read:

As the early morning's sun rose overtop of the peaks of Kumogakure, Zokuro departed from his humble abode on the outskirts of the village. He along with his parents and siblings owned a modest compound of five homes all adjacent to each other within a three acre property. His parents, though formerly trained shinobi, now spent their days as farmers. And his eight siblings assisted them. Zokuro had been the only own to demonstrate signs of being a shinobi, and that glimmer of prowess was ultimately what moved the family into Kumogakure's walls. Zo himself after roughly two decades of serving in Kumogakure's forces rarely had the time to tend the fields, typically only on the weekends and late in the evenings. However as he set out from his own home he'd wave to his siblings who were working their shift.

Departing from the homestead, he'd cross the series of bridges that would lead him from the plateau he lived upon to cross over onto the mountain which bore the village's central infrastructure. It had always been a wonder to Zokuro, that civilization was able to flatten a mountain and build a sophisticated village nation atop of it. And so as he crossed over the bridge, he couldn't help but look down upon the multitude of clouds which resided below him. As a native to the Land of Lightning, he was no stranger to heights and never had a fear of them. But still, he couldn't help but wonder how long the plummet might be should one stumble and fall over the railing. Perhaps it was just human nature to think on some hypotheticals; intrusive thoughts even.

Nevertheless once crossing into the village center, he'd withdraw a cigarette from the left pocket of his white haori which had been draped over his high - collared, midnight black compression shirt. Neither article of clothing bore any embroidery, insignias, or logos. However suspended from his neck and draped over his chest was a silver chain-link necklace equipped with a pendant that bore a sword pointing downward and a lightning bolt intersecting it in zig zag fashion. His pants were loose yet tapered at the ankle, but were as black as his shirt. The contrast between the pants and his shirt came from a sash across his waistline, matching the whiteness of the haori. Finally his boots were also, of course, black.

Retrieving a lighter from his right pocket, he'd ignite its flame to light his cigarette before returning his lighter to its resting place. He'd take the first drag of his cigarette, sharply inhaling air afterwards before concluding this motion with an exhale of cloudy gray smoke. It'd trail behind him, blowing in the slight breeze which Kumogakure's weather offered today. And Zokuro would continue to smoke his cigarette. He'd walk past buildings all too familiar to him: the Warmonger's Arena, Ichigo's Institute of Medicine, and some administrative buildings just past the central courtyard of the mountain. Looking upon the grand staircase in front of him leading up to the Raikage Building, Zokuro would finish his cigarette. He'd ash it one final time, before disposing of its butt in a nearby wastebasket. Then he'd stuff his hands into his haori's pockets and begin to ascend the stairwell. As he did so, his mind unwrapped multiple ways in how the upcoming appointment would go, but truthfully he was just spectating. The current Raikage, Ichigo Sato, was one which Zokuro had never met personally. He had been familiar with his predecessor, Noboru and the few that preceded him as well, but there had never been an opportunity for Zo to meet the current Lord of Lightning. Just how might his demeanor be, in comparison to those before him?

Reaching the peak of the stairway and subsequently the doors leading into the large blue building, Zo would tilt his head to its left to crack his neck before straightening it once more. Now that the crick of his old age was out, he'd grab ahold of the handle to the front door and swing it open in a controlled manner. Proceeding inside, Zokuro was greeted with the familiar face of the Raikage's assistant. He never spoke with her enough to know her name, but he'd offer her a cordial smile as he neared her desk. Once within half a meter of it, his expression would return to its typical stoic state as he'd inform the woman of his purpose.

"Good morning. Zokuro here, for my 9AM appointment with Lord Raikage."

WC = 754

Clouds gathered above Kumogakure, the morning sun subtly peeking over the mountains. It was still early day in Lightning Country, the peaceful quiet a sheer contrast to the village's brutal and warmongering image. At the peak stood Ichigo, the twelfth Raikage, staring outside the window and looking over his home and those residing within its walls. "Another beautiful day, blessed be Raijin". Taking in and admiring the view - as he does so often, the Drunken Storm eventually turned around and went over his schedule. Doing so, he noticed a couple of meetings, one of which would be starting quite soon.

Getting himself ready to receive visitors, Ichigo made sure his office appeared somewhat presentable, the blacksmith's son never the most organized. "There, that should do" he softly spoke under his breath, realizing it was probably foolish not to let somebody else handle miscellaneous tasks such as cleaning, but that wasn't how he was raised. "After all, there is more than one way to get your hands dirty". That being said, the Raikage informed his assistant to send anyone through, if of course they had an appointment. With not much else left to do, he simply put on the white cloak and placed his Kage hat next to him on the desk.

As he waited for the visitor to arrive, Ichigo prepared a couple of files to reference during their meeting. It would be the first interaction between the two of them, but that didn't mean he couldn't get everything set. That being said, it appeared his 9 a.m. appointment had arrived, the guest's chakra signature alerting the Raikage the second it entered the twenty meter mark. Assuming his assistant did as she was told, the man would make his way to the chambers before setting foot inside the Drunken Storm's office. "Enter". With his imposing figure of six feet eight inches and boasting three hundred pounds of pure muscle, Ichigo would stand up to formally greet one of Kumogakure's finest. "Zokuro, welcome to my humble abode!" the black swordsman spoke up enthusiastically, guiding the Sarutobi to one of the chairs.

(WC: 350)

Upon checking in for his appointment, the receptionist would respond in turn.

"Yes, he is expecting you. His office is just to the rear at the end of the hallway."

Zokuro graciously would nod to the woman, and without a further word would turn away from her desk. From there he maneuvered just around the desk, making his way towards the corridor which the receptionist informed him of. It had not been his first time in the Raikage's office due to the work he did for Lord Twelfth's predecessors, however it had been quite some time. And so the general layout was different, with decorations and paintings which highlighted things the present Raikage valued. Zo's keen eyes would pick up on these little things, in an attempt to get to understand his leader's interests more, as he waltzed down the long hallway. Finally upon reaching its end, Zokuro would conduct his usual ritual prior to meeting esteemed figures of high regard. He'd swiftly yet softly brush down his clothing, freeing itself of any minor wrinkles it might bear. Then he'd raise his hands to his head, returning any of his loose braids to his ponytail. Finally, he'd make sure the lapel of his haori was properly laid. Looking presentable was Zokuro's way of trying to make a good first impression, especially given that the Sarutobi constantly gave off a minor scent of smoke which could be offputting to some. Though it was a testament to his close affinity with Ash Release...that and cigarettes were his biggest vice.

Once he stood upon the threshold of the closed door, he'd straighten his otherwise slightly slouched posture. And almost instantly, the booming voice of the Raikage fell upon the Gorilla's ears. With the command to enter, Zokuro would grab ahold of the illustrious handle and push the door open. In the same motion he would enter the room, where his eyes landed on the remarkable frame of the massive Raikage. He boasted a towering figure, with a clearly battle worn aura about him and his blackened attire. His hair contrasted Zokuro's own, being neat yet characteristically spiky and black. And although his demeanor was inviting, his natural demeanor was imposing. This quick assessment from Zokuro came from just a glance of the man, who the Sarutobi in turn greeted with a cordial smile and a formal head bow to offer his respects Lord Twelfth. 

"Thank you, Lord Raikage, for having me in your home away from home" Zokuro would begin, standing straight but simultaneously relaxed. His approach was calm and composed, indicative that he had been in the presence of a Raikage before, but still paying his respects towards the present's accomplishments, status, and power. The comment regarding the Raikage's office being his second home was a recognition of the immense amount of work the kage faced. When offered a seat, Zokuro would of course accept by walking through the room towards the chair the swordsman motioned to. And of course, he'd sit only when the Raikage sat, as another symbol of mutual respect.

And when he would, Zoku continued the dialogue in a light manner so that the Raikage could dictate when he was ready to address Zo's purpose for the appointment. "It's hard to believe this is the first our paths have crossed." He'd offer a hint of a grin, adding a twang of light humor to the situation. And indeed it was true, as both men had been dedicated Kumogakure shinobi for a number of years. 

WC = 586. TWC = 1340

Sitting back down, as did Zokuro soon after, Ichigo grabbed a bottle of sake and placed two glasses in the middle of the table. "Perhaps a bit early, but well begun is half done" he jokingly said while simultaneously pouring both of them a drink. After all, the Raikage didn't exactly earn his nickname of Drunken Storm simply drinking water. Taking a sip of Lightning Country's finest liquor, the black swordsman made himself comfortable, feeling rather relaxed and refreshed to officially start their meeting. They had quite a lot to discuss, and surely the Sarutobi wanted to touch on a couple of topics as well.

Placing his glass down, the blacksmith's son engaged in a bit of small talk. "Indeed, it appears our schedules never aligned" the Kage replied in turn. Of course, it didn't help that a lot of years were spent taking over the family's blacksmith shop as his father suffered from severe health issues. However, after gaining the necessary medical knowledge, Ichigo was able to treat the symptoms and eventually return to his shinobi duties. Safe to say, the journey to become Raikage had been quite the eventful one. "I know it sounds cliché, but the hat and cloak come with quite the responsibilities."

That being said, and now that the ice was broken, they could move on to the more formal side of their meeting. "Looking at your files, you have quite the track record, Zokuro" the black swordsman voiced. The Sarutobi had been serving Kumogakure well, proving his loyalty to the village on more than one occasion. "How would you feel about receiving extra responsibility?". It was a simple question, hardly requiring additional explanation but Ichigo would give his visitor a moment to mull things over, even more so considering the Raikage understood it somewhat came out of the blue. Nevertheless, getting straight to the point might as well have been one of his other habits.

(WC: 321, TWC: 671)

As the Raikage opened the bottle of sake its aroma ensued throughout the air with invigorating fashion. The scent was crisp and light, akin to the mountain air characteristic of the Land of Lightning. And as Ichigo filled the glasses upon the wooden table, the pale yet vaguely silver sake flowed like a waterfall. The sake gave off  a sheen, which seemed to attest to the quality of its origin, foreshadowing the the sweetness in its taste. Zokuro, with a semi smile upon his face, reached his hand forward to retrieve his respective glass and would raise it in turn. "To Kumogakure," he'd toast, before pursing his lips against the rim of the glass. The taste of the sake was delicate, with combined notes of honey and smokiness that were oddly reminiscent of lightning itself. Its quality was so pure that there was hardly any bite. Of course, the Raikage would only drink the finest, locally brewed sake. It was affirmation of his resources and his taste, both of which exhibited superiority.

Zoku would place his glass down upon the coaster which sat on his side of the table, then rest his hands in a folded manner before him. He sat with his back straight against the rest of his chair, and firmly paid attention to Ichigo as he agreed about the peculiarity of the two never meeting. But that was a product of the lifestyle of hard working men. And the Raikage highlighted it, suggesting that his role as the village's leader came with immense expectations and burdens. Two things which Zokuro was no stranger to. "Indeed, my liege" the Gorilla would respond, "Heavy is the head which wears the hat. Though your efforts are as recognized as they are fruitful. I must say, you've had quite the success."

Zokuro did not mean this in a flattering manner, but instead he wanted to offer his approval, for what it was worth, of how Ichigo handled the position. He seemed much more driven, dedicated, and strategic than some of his predecessors which Zokuro previously served. The subject would quickly shift over to Zokuro being the focus, as the Twelfth commended Zokuro's decorated service history. Zo would take a quick swing from his glass, bearing the cup still in his dominant hand as he leaned back slightly in his chair. His hand rested on the table, while his left raised to prop his chin up.

"I was informed that much of my records, specifically those from the last decade or so, had been lost during some regime changes. But it is comforting to hear that what remains is still telling of my commitment to our great nation."

He'd pause, as he felt a degree of both excitement and relief ensue him. It was nice to know the issues he had faced recently were so quickly recognized and addressed by his kage. "And so of course, I would happily accept any layer of responsibility you might entrust in me."

WC = 497. TWC = 1837

It pleased him to hear that Zokuro was more than open to the idea of attaining more and new responsibilities, the Sarutobi's response making clear that his growth and journey hadn't stagnated yet. Of course, should the man haven't been as willing or outright deny Ichigo's offer, then the purpose of their meeting would have taken a different turn. "Very well" the Raikage replied in turn, filling their glasses with sake once more before emptying his own in one go. Now that the two of them had come to an agreement and the matter had been confirmed it was time to continue their discussion.

Doing so, Ichigo would speak up. "As you know, Kumogakure has always been known for its military might". Most people were aware that combat was one of the things coming to mind first when thinking about the village, that and alcohol of course. Thunderous Might, Lightning's Resilience, there was a reason they chose it as their motto. Raw might and the spirit of the mountains, two of the main ingredients which allowed them to get where they were right now. "I plan to build our strength even further". And in order to do that, the Drunken Storm came up with a couple of ways to achieve his goal.

Proceeding and continuing the flow of their conversation, Ichigo began to share his plans. "First, we have our Summit". He would briefly describe and explain how they would be responsible for anything inside and outside the village, basically being Kumogakure's own Special Forces. "Next, is the Military Sea Force", or the Navy as some liked to call it. They were the ones patrolling any of the waters surrounding Lightning Country, effectively controlling travel by sea while also allowing their shinobi to travel to neighboring territories. Out of the different groups he was about to name, those two could be seen as the most combative powers.

Nevertheless, that wouldn't be all. "There's also the Red Cloak Brigade". He would mention how they would act as Kumogakure's enforcers located in Volcano Country, the place Ichigo assimilated after eliminating most of their forces. Those who'd join their ranks would be responsible for handling and dealing with matters taking place there, as well as overseeing the prison known as Kumontanamo Bay. "And lastly, we have our Five Elders", a small group which consisted of advisors, people who weren't exactly known for their combative prowess but rather their knowledge. The main task of said individuals would be to protect the village's values, making sure the Raikage kept on the right track.

Now that Ichigo had described and explained each of the factions individually, it would give Zokuro a rough idea on what he could expect. "Each and every single one of them possesses great responsibility and importance in their own way". Although some would focus more on military strength than the other, they were all equal in terms of being extremely vital to the village's future. The four keys of ensuring Kumogakure's growth, if you will. With everything said and done, a choice needed to be made. "Do you have a preference? Take your time, there is plenty of sake left" the Drunken Storm voiced jokingly, filling their cups with liquor once more.

(WC: 540, TWC: 1211)