Unlike most kage offices, the Amegakure tower does not stand out among the many buildings that make up the Hidden Rain Village. Making sure that one has the right address is usually part of the routine of going to meet with the kage or collect a mission. Inside is a nice lobby with a fountain of koi, and a receptionist. If the kage is willing to see you, you'll be led to an elevator with a hand crank that can be used to ascend to the top floor much quicker.
Kage Towers These threads are a permanent fixture and pinned for the use of anyone. When you enter a kage tower thread check to see if an interaction is currently going on, and if there isn't then you should post a new interaction. Sometimes a kage may not be available, so please give an assistant a chance to speak with your character before they approach the kage.
This was such a bad idea. A big, dumb, stupid no good at all idea. He was just a genin! And yet there he was, standing awkwardly outside of the Kage Tower trying to act like he belonged anywhere near the place. He fiddled with the headband that hung loosely around his neck, finger tracing the shape of the engraving on the metal plate. This mark...it meant something, right? It meant that he was worthy of some form of recognition, even if he was still at the bottom of the totem pole. He was at least on the pole. Yeah...What was the worst thing that could happen? She would just tell him to buzz off and his first impression with the most powerful and influential person over his entire life course would think he's a dumbass loser and his reputation might get ruined beyond repair.[break][break]
...Yup. This was DEFINITELY the worst idea he had ever had in his life. And yet something compelled him to push forward, entering into the lobby of the tower despite his best judgement. He couldn't even hear his own footsteps through the thumping of his heart in his ears. He had to do this. He had to do something. Being surrounded by so much talent, so much potential. People with ancient techniques passed down through generations, people born with incredible power flowing through their veins... How was he supposed to compete with that? The only thing he inherited from his family was a tendency toward dishonesty and trust issues. But Master Osore...she was like him. She didn't have any sort of special powers granted to her. She wasn't even groomed to be in a position of power. She used her raw skill and talents to get where she was, and no matter what his father said about her Daichi couldn't help but admire that.[break][break]
That was the image he kept in the front of his mind as he stepped closer to the receptionist. His usual air of arrogance was gone, instead replaced by the face of an anxious boy doing everything in his power not to back down. He had already come this far, and he wasn't about to be a coward. "E-excuse me. Is the Kazekage in? I uh...I don't have an appointment or anything. I just...I wanted to ask her about some things? It's fine if she's busy! I just uh...Y-yeah. Ok."Oh this was already going wonderfully, wasn't it?
The office laid waste to a large foyer with a surprising amount of bustle, with around ten assistants moving to and fro the space - the only separation between them and the Kage's office. So, for any one of them that Daichi would pin down, the rest of them hadn't spared a thought for the boy. The one who he had stared back at him through thick rimmed glasses and wispy pieces of red hair, raspy and grumbly as preambling gurgles rose from their throat before Daichi had even spoken. The request heard; deliberated and they responded.
"The Kazekage is out at the moment-" One of the assistants spoke up, a general complaint handling that she would have done with anybody without an appointment. For all intents and purposes, a Genin was not going to be seen by the Kazekage if any of them had anything to say about it. To hold an air of suspension or disbelief, Shinko had not been there and then she was, having returned from whence she had been. If Daichi had not noticed it, he certainly might have with the very sudden flicker of the assistant's eyes, a slight change in light from her taller-than-his figure, or a general impending sense of doom.
"Why does a Genin think to command the attention of a Kage?" a woman crowed behind Daichi. Taller than him - not quite purring in his ear mind but enough to feel the heat of her breath on the skin of his neck. Certainly while Daichi had formerly an arrogant air turned into a freakish puddle of nerves, the Kage's more pragmatic attitude cut through the tension in the air with an agonising substance. A true terror, despite her calm and unimposing physique.
Shinko stepped past the boy and to her office: its place, opening the door up and stepping through, only stopping by the door to turn with a hand on the handle for him to walk through. "Come in." and the door would shut behind the two of them by her hand when he did step through. Shinko didn't offer him a seat and unless he chose to take position there (in which she would take no complaint) he would be awkwardly standing there in the space between her desk and the door, with her not quite directly in the way - but one large step out of the way and facing the wall.
And she was certainly at ease in the well lit office of scattered books and stacks of paper, or the dual staircase behind her desk that led up to areas unknown to the boy. "Your questions?"
The genin couldn't think straight, the lone thought of what the hell were you thinking continuously looping in his mind and overruling any attempts at rational consideration. Just the swarm of assistants was enough to intimidate the boy, so how was he supposed to handle being face to face with the Kazekage of all people? He froze up as the red haired aide met his gaze, swallowing heavily as he awaited some form of scolding. Surely the Kage didn't have time to deal with every lowly shinobi that game to her doorstep. So what made him any different?[break][break]
The answer he got initially actually brought Daichi a bit of relief, lips curling into a faint smile as his shoulders relaxed. He was just about to open his mouth to speak, quickly assuring the assistant that it was perfectly fine before they even had a chance to finish speaking. And then, there she was. He felt it in the air before anything else, the look in the other's eyes only confirming the chill that travelled down his spine. And yet he never felt her arrival. Instead it was as if she was always there, and only now had she decided to reveal herself to him.[break][break]
His fingers twitched as he felt the breath of her words, their meaning immediately sending off sirens in his anxious heart. This was a mistake. This was an insult to the Kage. He should've spoken with Anotsu. Had him come and make the request in his stead. But it was too late now. He was here, and if she didn't know his face before she most certainly did now. The words got caught in his throat for a moment before he managed to sputter out a response, his voice cracking a bit as he struggled to vocalize a coherent thought. "I-I don't intend to command anything! I was- I'm not-"[break][break]
By the time he started speaking she was already making her way toward the door, leaving him behind. Just as he started to take a half step back, she would say the very last thing he expected to hear. Come in. If not for his complete and utter fear of disappointing his Kage he would've frozen in place. But instead he quickly bowed his head in thanks to the assistant who was helping him previously before hurriedly making his way to follow after the silver haired shinobi. This was it. He actually had a chance at...something. He had no idea what that something was but...it was there. Distant, but there.[break][break]
The moment he stepped into the room he would stand at attention, posture even stiffer than before as he watched her in silence. He wouldn't dare take a seat or make himself comfortable without permission, no siree. Daichi didn't even have it in him to take a moment to examine the fascinating room he found himself in. Though his eyes did linger on the vast collection of books, his inner nerd almost convincing him to step closer to get a better look at what she had.[break][break]
But no! None of that. She got straight to business, and thus so would he. He took a moment to clear his throat before squaring his shoulders in an attempt to look as professional and respectful as possible. "M-ma'am. I-I know that t-this is...I-I'm just a genin, and I understand that you are very busy. I'll try to be brief, but..." His voice wavered for a moment, an unexpected wave of emotion starting to come over him. He felt something unexpected start to build in his chest as he spoke, pounding on his heart to try and escape through his words. But he couldn't let it show, not now of all times and places.[break][break]
"M-ma'am. I've read all about you, ma'am. What you did for the village when I was just a little boy, and all the things you've done since. You...You became the village's first Kazekage! All on your own! Y-you're the only Kage with no record of having any sort of special bloodline techniques or surgical modification or whatever it is they've done to do the things they can do. You're just...You. A normal person who is...so strong and cool and... A-and that's..." He cut himself off, sucking in a deep breath to keep everything else pushed down where it belonged. "...I want to know how to be like you. I-I don't expect you to teach me or anything, but...I'm just trying to figure out how someone like me can become something special when I'm so...not."
Other Kage - or Jonin shinobi might have laughed Daichi out of the room. Others might have had an insightful word - though to come to the Kage for express admiration was not something that Shinko was used to. She stood there, hands by her sides untimid and eyes trained on Daichi. She listened intently - and a part of her wanted to interrupt because she felt she already knew where it was going but let the boy finish first. Then a gulp of silence to show she had been listening.
Shinko would step to the side, open the door again - and stared through it and watching the buzz of energy fly past the door. They weren't even paying attention to Shinko: for they had been taught to do their thing unless they were called upon. "All of those people in my employ are there because they are the best to do so." From that doorway, the more open and buzzing lights of electricity were common. "They all have their place here as long as it is useful for them to be so." and the door would shut again.
This was similar to conversations that she'd had before.
"There is no special trick, gimmick or training technique. I simply do what I specialise in the best and that is not something that requires blood. That seat could be easily occupied by anyone of a clan background if they were better. They are not." It would have been a lie if Shinko knew this Genin by name - she did not. She did not know everybody in the village, but she did see things for their value. Daichi was not one on her radar and would continue to not be after he'd left the office. She did not want Daichi under the impression that she had freely earned the position of Kazekage: no, she had clawed for everything she had. So yes, perhaps there was a unique sense of application which she did that made her stand out - but little else.
But, those words were not cryptic: and she waited for any other questions he might have had. It would not fall far from the tree of logic to suggest that she wasn't the most extroverted person. She didn't offer Daichi any tutelage and simply answered his question.
His heart continued to thump heavily against his chest as the silence lingered between them. He could already feel it. She was disappointed, wasn’t she? Ashamed that such a whiny little brat managed to become a shinobi only to come bother her in her office. This was a mistake. A huge, huge mistake. That thought continued to loop through his mind with each passing second, the anxiety only managing to build every time he thought it couldn’t get any worse. And then, she went for the door.[break][break]
Daichi was ready to hang his head in defeat, to simply leave the office empty handed as she dismissed him without a word. But those fears were alleviated when she started speaking, instead using her assistants as an example. He immediately perked up, eyes wide as he sought to absorb every piece of knowledge and wisdom that she had to share. His head bobbed quickly in understanding, a faint hint of excitement entering into his eyes. She was actually entertaining him and his silly requests! Even if this was all he got, this would surely make this trip worth it.[break][break]
Head bobbed quickly in understanding, allowing a moment of silence to pass after she finished just to make sure she was truly done speaking. Then he would pipe up again, those bubbling emotions starting to reach the surface. Energy, eagerness, excitement. Like a boy meeting his hero in person for the first time and not wanting to let this opportunity go to wast. ”Yeah! Y-yeah, I understand that, ma’am. It’s not about whether you’re from a clan or not, it’s all about the individual. A-and I really do appreciate that, really. And I’ve been working really hard on my specialty too! See I’ve been working on this special dust-”[break][break]
He cut himself off, biting down on his bottom lip as he felt himself starting to trail off into a rant. One that he definitely shouldn’t be boring the Kazekage with. Instead he cleared his throat, hands coming together in front of himself as he started to fidget. ”A-anyway...I’m not here looking for cheats or shortcuts. I mean those would’ve been super great and all but...I know there’s no shortcuts for people like me. Like...us? Can I say us?” Could he really bundle himself up with the Kazekage like that? It felt kinda wrong to do so.[break][break]
”I just...I need a little guidance. Just a little. Like uh..I-I know you can’t just teach me any super secret techniques or anything. But like...You can do so much cool stuff. I don’t know if you could like...Share a little bit of your wisdom? Maybe like...a book or something? P-please?” Were his words even making sense anymore with all the anxious stammering? Were these even complete sentences? It was hard for him to tell at this point.
Shinko's only tell of emotion was that of micro transitions of her facial features not in limbo or to show a freeze of emotion, and a blink when he spoke of a dust release. But quite simply, although she was interested to know it was a unique application, she didn't care to know or regard it as anything important on his behalf. "It sounds like you're asking for a shortcut without asking for shortcut." Her statement was clear. But, it was one that she could abide by. He was nervous, but as far as she saw it this was exposure to a condition he wasn't used to, and for that she would offer him no reprieve or relief. Stress was what made a shinobi - if you couldn't cope, you didn't deserve to be one.
Shinko's answer was to mull, she walked past Daichi - looking throughout the office. She did eventually pluck a book from one on her shelf, to that end she returned and offered it to Daichi. The book was plain beige, with an inkblot on the front and an unassuming name, which she would pluck. "This will be helpful." Shinko understood that if there was anything to be read from its plot, it would be one that would reveal itself to Daichi. Of course, he would have his own interpretation. That was fine.
"Don't come back until you are ready." A statement of vague interpretation, whether that meant toward the end of the book - until a greater rank, until he was a "Kage" level shinobi? Plenty of meaning to be left, but at least enough to buy her some time from the boy. "Become useful to me and you'll be here more often." She would say. She would not offer reprise or a method of feeling to alleviate the boy's concerns or inadequacy - he was a Shinobi and a warrior dog and would be treated like one unless he proved himself otherwise.
She would go and sit down at her desk, crossing one leg over the other - and hit a switch to her left and out of Daichi's sight. The door would open a few seconds later. "Bring me the travel files for anybody travelling to the Hidden Sound." As she had intended on doing before Daichi's return - a few minutes from her day was nothing.
"Right away, Kazekage-sama." The assistant said, leaving the door open. A way out for him.
Her initial interpretation of his words was met with a fresh wave of panic, his hands rising up in front of him as he quickly shook his head. He wanted to speak, to defend himself and try to clarify further. To reassure her that he was just looking for some direction or some fo the study material that helped her get where she was today. But it was too late. The words were caught in his throat as she moved past him, eyes following after her as he waited for her to pass judgement on him. It seemed like she was getting a book, which was strange since it sounded like she didn’t want to help him. So…[break][break]
His eyes widened a bit as a book was selected and handed to him, a sparkle of hope flashing in his features. Lips peeled back into a smile of excitement and relief, tears starting to bud in his eyes as for a brief moment his fears were put aside. Maybe she did understand after all. Maybe she was just trying to test his mettle and see if he was worthy of her aid! But all of that was washed away when he looked down at what had been offered to him. ”Is this...A novel?”[break][break]
He was expecting some study material. Something he could read to learn how to more efficiently train himself into something like her. But instead it was a...Story. And an unfamiliar one at that. The joy washed from his features, instead being replaced with a complex expression of confusion with a tiny little glimpse of pain. Though the rollercoaster of emotion was not over, as the Kage had yet more to day.[break][break]
”Don’t come back until you are ready. Become useful to me and you’ll be here more often.”[break][break]
Daichi sucked in a sharp breath at that, quickly holding the book tightly to his chest as he stared at her for a moment. Those words...There were so many layers to them. They served as a warning not to bother her so freely in the future. And yet at the same time served as an invitation to return one day when he was ready to face her. Not as a cowering boy hoping to squeeze out a drop of wisdom, but as a man ready to serve his Kage. He wasn’t born useful, with any sort of privilege or potential that made him worthy of her attention, but had to become useful.[break][break]
Or perhaps that was simply his attempts at receiving some sort of positive message from a woman who wanted to be rid of a pestering child. Whatever the case, the genin would stand straight once more. Shoulders squared, lips pressed into a taught line and eyes doing their best to reflect seriousness despite the buzzing energy and emotions running through in in the moment. ”Y-yes ma’am! I promise I won’t let you down! I’ll-” Oh. Oh she was ringing a buzzer and...Oh there’s another person here now.[break][break]
...Was that it? Were they done here? The boy stood awkwardly for a few moments, glancing around as he stood unsure of what he was supposed to do next. Would it be rude for him to leave without being dismissed? Wait, travel files on the Hidden Sound? Maybe she was trying to give him a hint. Yes! The Hidden Sound! He was to be dispatched there with his platoon soon. This must have been her way of telling him that this trip would be his chance to prove himself. That she would be watching those who were participating in the mission![break][break]
”T-thank you for your time, ma’am! I won’t let you down!” Daichi bowed deeply to his Kage, holding it for a few moments before spinning on his heels and power walking out of the building. The moment he was out the door he would stare down at the book in his hands, the anticipation building with each step. He knew what he would be reading during this trip, that was for sure.[break][break]
Unlike most kage offices, the Amegakure tower does not stand out among the many buildings that make up the Hidden Rain Village. Making sure that one has the right address is usually part of the routine of going to meet with the kage or collect a mission. Inside is a nice lobby with a fountain of koi, and a receptionist. If the kage is willing to see you, you'll be led to an elevator with a hand crank that can be used to ascend to the top floor much quicker.
Kage Towers These threads are a permanent fixture and pinned for the use of anyone. When you enter a kage tower thread check to see if an interaction is currently going on, and if there isn't then you should post a new interaction. Sometimes a kage may not be available, so please give an assistant a chance to speak with your character before they approach the kage.
[attr="class","exhausted"]A lion concerns itself not with the opinions of sheep..
[attr="class","rhythm"]
❝
So often, we run from consequences. Do as you please but do it without regret.
For what was the umpteenth time, I stepped into the lobby of the Kage Tower.
My feet carried me in a slow gait across the floor, the soft click of my sandals echoing just slightly as my eyes remained forward - I had seen every inch of her decor, a fortunate shinobi who had earned the glory of the title "Jounin". It was my usual habit to remain as quiet as possible, my hands pushed casually into my pockets as I ambled. I acknowledged any personnel that addressed with no more than a nod. No doubt, they had come to understand that I was less the social kind and more the business. As such, I stopped short of the receptionist's desk and placed the flat of my palm atop it - an attempt to garner the attention of the assistant on duty. "Uchiha Anotsu," I began with the usual attachment of a small smile to the words. "I'd like to speak with the KazeKage if she's available."
There I would wait, an infinite patience etched across my features. If nowhere else, the Tower of Amegakure deserved naught but the utmost respect.
[attr="class","APP3"]The unassuming warehouse entrance led to a lobby of industrial design. The open space was abuzz with whispered chatter as an entourage of seemingly random shinobi in casual dark attire lounged in the corner to his right and also around the gently trickling fountain of koi to the far left. An insightful man as Anotsu would recognize these loiterers as members of the Kazekage’s personal guard. The many assassination attempts against Shinko Osore were close guarded secrets only a jounin of his stature would have heard rumor of but this Kage’s predilection for working uninterrupted was common knowledge.
The young man behind the desk barely glanced up, Kaito Uchiha being far too engrossed in whatever missive he was currently deciphering to acknowledge his cousin with the typical pleasantries. Instead, the chunin simply jutted his head towards the sliding grate behind him with a disinterested, “Go on in. She’s expecting you.”
Anotsu would be familiar enough with the elevator by now to enter without instruction. Once aboard, the crank operated elevator would lurch slowly up to the penthouse where the Kazekage both lived and worked. There were no stairs in this building and the frequent rains kept the limestone slick on the outside. The lightbulb dangling from the roof of the elevator would cast an unsettling flicker on the various floors as they passed revealing several to be walled off just outside the grate.
The ding of a bell and the clatter of the door sliding off to the side on its own would signal him to step forward into the Kazekage’s office; a room designed primarily for function and secondarily for comfort. An aria played softly in the background, though no musicians or vocalist could be seen.
A mature woman with stark white hair stood with her back to him as she filed a report in one of many cabinets built into the wall behind her desk like the slabs in a morgue. She slid the door closed and turned to face him with a polite grin. “What can I do for you, — anotsu uchiha?”
Last Edit: Oct 16, 2021 19:07:58 GMT by Shinko Osore
[attr="class","exhausted"]A lion concerns itself not with the opinions of sheep..
[attr="class","rhythm"]
❝
So often, we run from consequences. Do as you please but do it without regret.
"Lady KazeKage," I said with a slight bow and nod. I placed my arm at the middle of my torso to accentuate the gesture, a sign of respect. As I stood to full height once more, I took few steps forward until a generous amount of space between us remained. "I've come with report of my Platoon." Doubtless, she had been informed of the entirety of the village's dealings at a whim. To hear it from my lips, however, would be to get a firsthand account of all that had transpired in the absence of her presence. "I've met with the Genins: Koma, Daichi, and Hoshiko. I've also met with Aiko, the Chuunin who oversees them. It appears that their personalities differ greatly. But the promise they've shown," I began with a slight furrow of my eyebrows, "is indicative that they're more than capable." It was true. I took no pleasure in boasting or offering false promises. This was confirmation.
"There have been no signs of Iwagakure's presence, nor do I have any intel to report. There have only been thieves within the village, murderers who will never see the light of day again. To that end," I began with a long pause after, "I'd like to bring up the idea of an extension of Amegakure's - your - will." The gears within had already begun to turn. Necessity was the mother of invention. I had already collected my thoughts long before entering the KazeKage's office. With this in mind, I continued without hesitation.
"I'd like your permission to put together an organization designed to spread out through the various territories with the objective being intelligence gathering, influence, and mutual benefit in the form of favors - political or circumstantial in nature. My intent is to follow in your footsteps: doing what's necessary to ensure that our grip on power remains at a precipice that none else can reach. You have the AnBu at your disposal. I'm not qualified to speak on their capabilities. This group is something deeper, something with greater reach and return. Your thoughts?"
Statuesque I stood, silent and privy to the possibility that my proposal could perish well before its true birth. And so I allowed her to absorb my words, a respectful gaze of neutrality indicating that I wouldn't argue if the matter was dismissed prematurely.
[attr="class","APP3"]Shinko listened with her full body, her eyes occasionally straying to his hands as he spoke but primarily focused on his face while the grin on her own became more genuine as her busy mind settled into the report on his team. She was pleased with what she heard but cocked her head to the side at the pause and simply waited expectantly.
An idea? Shinko pulled the chair out from under her desk and perched gracefully on the edge; her fingers steepled in front of her. It wasn’t everyday that a respected jounin brought forth something like this and she wanted to give him the attention he deserved, despite the intense workload gnawing at the back of her mind.
The Kazekage remained silent for a moment further as her mind processed his proposal. She liked the concept. She knew from personal experience how effective a spy could be in this political atmosphere. It was something she had wanted to implement for a long time but putting it into practice could be complex and time consuming. The members of such a group would have to be loyal beyond question. They would have to be willing to stomach doing unconscionable things while maintaining their sense of self. “Not everyone is cut from the same cloth as you and I. The members of such a group would need to be carefully vetted and the training for such missions would be… intense. Can I trust you to handle this for me or do you propose another head to this organization?”
[attr="class","exhausted"]A lion concerns itself not with the opinions of sheep..
[attr="class","rhythm"]
❝
So often, we run from consequences. Do as you please but do it without regret.
She was more than worthy of her position.
I had never doubted the fact, but it was her transparency that struck the chord of respect. Just as she had, I listened intently and allowed no interruption to force my gaze elsewhere. There was an objective beauty about Lord Kazekage Shinko. She was as much a viper as I, cunning but forthcoming to those she respected. Immediately, I answered her. "Your trust being placed in my hands will ensure that it's neither sullied or compromised, Lady KazeKage. I'll need to look to you for initial funding, but the rest will be done with my own secured resources. I've begun a draft of the vetting process for you, though it's addressed and formatted to leave no trace of it leading back to you. As far as anyone is concerned, there's simply a benefactor that would see Amegakure thrive."
I had left nothing to chance. To spearhead this gathering of likeminded individuals would be a pursuit I would fully invest in, my confidence even greater now that she had heard my proposal. "I am fit to lead the Kuro Nue." The "Black Chimera", a beast of different heads and yet a strength, flexibility, and adaptability unmatched. I had established the foundation, the birthplace of one of Amegakure's greatest powers. And not even Iwagakure would find its stones fit to stand against the waves of my resolve.
"That is all for my report and request, Lady Kazekage."
I waited to be dismissed, statuesque and attentive to both statement and command alike if she so chose to express them.
(tagged)⏤ Osore, Shinko (notes)⏤ The Kuro Nue Lives.
[attr="class","APP3"]Shinko moved around to the front of the desk. There was a sparkle in her violet eyes that betrayed her enthusiasm despite her business as usual tone, “I appreciate your thoroughness and your discretion. In exchange for this, I will ensure any funding this new venture requires will be available to you.”
The Kazekage was grateful to have such a capable and like-minded individual in her ranks. His ambitions rivaled her own at that age… A danger if not properly cultivated.
“Very well. Dismissed.”
There was a rustling of papers as she grabbed a stack off the desk and returned to her work. She would pause to look back up at him just as he was about to disembark on the elevator. “Anotsu~ It's not often a shinobi impresses me. Don't leave me disappointed.”
The young man behind the desk barely glanced up, Kaito Uchiha being far too engrossed in whatever missive he was currently deciphering to acknowledge his cousin with the typical pleasantries. Instead, the chunin simply jutted his head towards the sliding grate behind him with a disinterested, “Go on in. She’s expecting you.”