[Invasion] The Eve of War

[Niro]

Tatsuo's violet eyes swept over the plethora of reports scattered over the desk of his office within the Jousai headquarters as the setting sun cast the last of its rays through the bay window allowing him to see out to the streets far below. Reports had been coming in from all over Rock and Wind as the war continued on. Each and every day since he had returned had been consumed with digesting reports and assisting in battle strategies as skirmishes popped up here and there throughout the recently conquered lands.

The end of Phase One came quicker than Tatsuo realized. Once the battlesites holding back their progress were dealt with the might of Rocks armies came crashing through on its march towards Wind Countries capital and Sunagakure no Sato. The minor countries formerly governed and "protected" by Wind obediently fell under Rocks control as the governing bodies did little to nothing against the transition from Wind to Rock. The current governors were removed and granted generous severance packages in exchange for their paper thin resistance. Those who were more resistant fell victim to "heart attacks," violent falls from high places, and other fatal accidents. New governors with obvious ties to Rock took their place and began to enact Rock Country's policies of taxes and conscription while trying their best to navigate local traditions without crushing them under heel.

Tatsuo wasn't sure from there as it was out of his wheelhouse. He had returned to Iwagakure no Sato after the success of Phase One as supply lines and other routes were carved out across the desert in preparation for a final assault. One of the first things he had done upon returning home was meet with Aisu, Naohiro, a candidate for the still-vacant seat of Mizukage. The pair had reaffirmed the two nations commitment to one another by exchange access to guard resources on both sides. The immediate plan of sieging Sunagakure no Sato until they surrendered was interrupted by the abrupt declaration by Konohagakure no Sato. Rather than march to defend Suna from falling, they instead would be sieging Iwa at the source. The decision had some logic behind it, cut off the snakes head, but Suna would still fall as the declaration had allowed more than enough time to call on Kirigakure no Sato, through Naohiro, for aid in both theaters.

The biggest surprise was the third declaration by Crescent considering the events between the two nations. Tatsuo had been convinced they were now a compromised asset but the eagerness to still fight Konoha in response to the declaration and aggression was definitely something he would have to discuss with the Daimyo at a later date. Maybe they would be worth a formal alliance after all.

A loud thud signaled the doors to the main hall closing and everyone who wanted to respond to his invitation had. Tatsuo had sent out an invitation for all of those involved in the Iwa defense and Suna offense to join him tonight to finalize any battle plans and voice concerns before they went into battle. Not one to keep his guests waiting too long, Tatsuo slid the heavy chair back and stood from it. The Tsuchikage stretched his arms high above his head and exhaled a deep sigh before exiting the office on the 2nd floor and making his way down the spiral staircase to the main hall below.

The hall itself was spacious and well lit; torches lined the walls and a chandelier hung high above the long table and benches at the center of it. A feast had been prepared and laid out on the table for all to take part in as he reached the final step and cleared his throat.

"I'm glad you all could come."

[Kanade]

Kanade sat at the table in her best dress, the hard wood of the benches did nothing to help put her at ease. She was wound as tight as a violin's string, and every noise was accompanied by her eyes following it for a while which, in turn, made her look fidgety. Her golden open back dress clung tight to her shinobi-trained figure, the sheer lace of the collar, shoulders, sleeves, and midriff showed off her dark skin which contrasted well to the smooth fabric. She turned her head once more to glance at one of the guests talking, the stiff collar rubbing against the soft skin of her neck. Her hair, which she usually had down, was up in an intricate box braided bun, the magmatic properties lent it an extra layer of contrast as her head snapped to the side again and frowned at someone fidgeting, much like she was.

The imposter syndrome was hitting extra hard today, as she sat at a table with some of the biggest names of Iwagakure. With Tatsuo, it always felt like she was talking with a friend, more than talking with her Kage. Of course she always minded her P's and Q's, but really it was more conversational than formal. Natsumi too, from working in the hospital with her, performing the mission with her, and learning from her the ways of Jikukan, was more an acquaintance than a superior in her mind.

The Jonin sat at the table and nervously looked around, noting the level of presence in the room. She had only felt it once before, but that was in a neutral setting, Pebble, to be exact, and she needn't worry about her rank and manners there, as she had been the cook in the 'here today, gone tomorrow' restaurant. She had helped the Kage with his preparations for the second Suna invasion, and had personally trapped a venom spirit which had killed three Jounin patrols while he was in the first Wind Country Invasion.

Originally, he had asked her to be a part of the secondary invasion, but then Konoha had decided to invade Iwagakure concurrently to the invasion, or near enough, so she pleaded with Shinjiro to be here. She had more to fight for here, a family just starting and a people to defend. True, the Enkouten still did not like her much, they tolerated her and let her have a brand band, but some of them still gave her dark looks, some still pulled their children behind them when she smiled and walked past. In spite of this, Iwagakure was more a home than anywhere she had lived since she had left Lightning Country and the Kyoukan shrine. She wanted her daughter to have a fighting chance at being a normal Enkouten, and being accepted as one. Her daughter, Akiyo, was at home, Cherisa was taking care of her for the moment. Fighting to defend Iwagakure, to defend her, would hopefully solidify her daughter's place within the village so that no one would question her right to be there.

Her reverie was interrupted by Tatsuo entering and clearing his throat. He couldn't have startled her more if he had snuck up behind her and poked her with a stick. Sitting to attention, her back perfectly, rigidly, straight she smiled at his words. Perhaps he would enlighten them all as to why he had summoned them all there. For now, Kanade remained silent, watchful, and tense. Feeling out of place and woefully under-ranked.

[Izanagi]

In contrast to Kanade, the man sitting next to her emanated unrestrained waves of confidence. He wore a fine silk haori, emerald green and adorned with gold serpent patterns. His vibrant green eyes, almost unnaturally bright, surveyed the group. Some reeked of fear, heartbeats pattering nervously in their chests. Others, many that he knew personally maintained conviction and confidence. He wondered how many would die in the coming weeks, none of the Kirigakure shinobi certainly but a few of the Iwagakure Jounin seemed to be nearing their end. He had a knack for discerning any hint of weakness and knowing who lacked combat experience or the skill to survive. Few shinobi had fought as many Jounin and Bannin as he had and lived to tell about it. Of course, he was aware of his own limitations, there were several others stronger than him in this world and he was no fool to throw his life away foolishly. Whatever happened on the battlefield he would survive, of that he was certain. And so to would Kanade for she was under his protection.

“Breathe Kanade, it’s only dinner” he said smirking. If he saw his cousin, he would gesture for the man to sit next to him, and should his gaze meet Kotaru’s he would grin, sizing the man up. Of all the shinobi he wanted to test himself against Akari Kotaru was top of the list. The two were far too similar and his primal instincts demanded he know for certain which was superior. If only he could determine a way to provoke the man into an altercation. But now was not the time or place.

Truthfully, Shinjiro cared little for war or conquest. The other shinobi nations simply existed. As long as Kirigakure remained strong and wealthy, what the others did were not of his concern. Now more than ever his gaze had been fixed firmly within his village. Many called on him to take on the mantle of Mizukage, and while he certainly possessed the strength, unchallenged for title as the strongest shinobi of Kirigakure, he had no desire to take the mantle without a fight. It simply went against what Kirigakure stood for, it would have felt empty and undeserving. He would forever regret not challenging Fuhen and avenging the former Mizukage when he had the chance. Instead, he bided his time, increasing the strength of his Seven Swordsmen and the Karagata family while ensuring none would dare attack Kirigakure during its time without a Kage.

Tatsuo entered, the great Tsuchikage who had slain the 17th Hokage. That was another man Shinjiro would like to test his skill against. If he were to decide to become Mizukage he would need to earn Tatsuo’s respect and be treated as an equal. While Shinjiro was well known throughout the world for being a champion of multiple tournaments, Tatsuo struck him as the kind of man to respect only one’s success on the battlefield. Perhaps if Shinjiro killed one of Konoha’s Bannin in defense of Iwagakure he would earn the right to challenge Tatsuo himself. Proving one’s strength after all was the only form of diplomacy that Shinjiro himself respected. ‘Aizawa Yoru, he’s the one I want to kill the most’ he considered, fantasizing about ripping him limb from limb. One of the only two living men he had lost to in the last decade. The other, he also hoped to fight again, but not to the death. Of anyone Konoha might send, that man was the one he least wanted to have to confront on the battlefield.

[Jinan B]

This was familiar.

More so to the rest of them, he was sure. After all, Kinsue had failed to participate in the Great War, something that marked him out from the vast majority of shinobi in any village. In Iwagakure - where a string of conquests and skirmishes had followed on from the war - and Kirigakure - recently having fended off the Heart Empire - he may well be able to compete for the least battle experience among shinobi of his calibre.

Yet the last time he held this anticipation within him, the events that followed had broken him more than he could ever have imagined. Soul Country hadn’t just been a failure to him; the events there continued to haunt him even to this day. The defence of Iwagakure would be different. He needed to make sure it was different. An air of stoic determination had settled over him since he had arrived in the village - he had no desire for anyone to see into his mind now - and it remained as he made his way into the meeting place.

He had maintained a transformation as he weaved through the village streets towards the Jousei headquarters, before dropping it as he entered the private chambers the Tsuchikage had prepared. Beneath the guide of a nondescript local Chuunin, he would be resplendent in his full noble finery - haori, tassels, kraken, and all. When he stood on the battlefield it would be behind a mask of the Division, but in this company, there was no need to obscure his identity. Especially not when he expected to remain in Iwa once the fighting was done. So long as he impressed Tatsuo enough that he didn’t change his mind on that particular arrangement.

The Karagata would heed the beckoning of the most familiar face at the table, and take a seat on the other side of Kanade from his cousin. ”Shinjiro-san, Kanade-san,” he said, raising an eyebrow for a moment at the apparent familiarity between the two. He said nothing more; this was hardly the time to ask personal questions. If the two of them knew each other he would simply have to learn about why later. Perhaps his cousin could tell him about the mysterious powerhouse.

As it was before, most of the people here seemed far superior to him. The Tsuchikage; the greatest Jinchuriki of the modern age; the enigma of strength that was Kanade, and no doubt more great names and faces would filter in before proceedings began. Kinsue, for his part, was content to wait. He wasn’t a decision-maker here, and he knew it. All he needed was to tighten the relationship between the two great villages and hone his own power in the process.

[Kao]

Akari Kotaru hated these formal meetings. He'd debated on skipping it, but it would have looked bad if the Tsuchikage's right hand was absent from such an important event. The man stood next to the heavy doors with his back against the wall, rolling a shuriken between the spaces of his left hand. Unlike some of the others who wore their finest clothes and robes, the Iwagakure bannin was dressed in a simple form-fitting long sleeved back shirt and loose dark grey pants. He didn't need finery to identify himself and his status. His blackened fingers, horns peeking above his hair, and the lethal energy that rippled from him in silent waves was more than enough to let everyone present know exactly who he was, even if they had never met.

The man was satisfied with the turnout. He spoke to no one, barely offering a nod to anyone who might be bold enough to speak to him. His cool, almost bored expression heated when he and Shinjiro made eye contact. Kotaru levied a withering look to the jinchuuriki, only looking away when someone crossed between them to take their seat at the table. The only words he spoke were to his protégé, Youji, when he instructed the man to mingle if he wished. As the group waited on the Tsuchikage, Kotaru stared at nothing and contemplated what they were all about to engage in.

Every time he thought about recent developments his blood boiled. Kotaru hadn't planned on still being in the village. His sights had been fully on the Sunagakure assault and his role in it, and he was prepared to be stationed in northern Wind Country until the day of the invasion. That had changed when Konoha declared war. Every day since, his every action and thought had been laced with rage. Kotaru had never particularly liked Konoha but had never directed toward them the loathing usually reserved for Sunagakure. The impending attack had altered his plans enough that not only was the Akari now firmly stationed in Iwa, ready to defend it, but he also wanted nothing more than to unleash himself on all who dared attack his home. He was in the middle of a particularly fiery fantasy when Tatsuo finally arrived, and he peeled himself away from the wall to stand at his brother's side.

[Trusted Grader]

It never crossed Amaya's mind that Tatsuo would call upon her again to finish what they started, which made her glad as she finally felt useful, not that taking care of children didn't bring joy to her life. Ran had also been called to arm and agreed to make sure that they win, he fled last time but still managed to harm the tower, which made him hope that he would gain some respect. The former thug lived off of respect, so when the duo entered the halls of Jousai they were quick to stay composed.

Amaya rode on her gigantic polar bear, a new companion Ran had purchased for her as he felt bad for letting Wana die, especially since he had raised the beast for the latter half of its life. Amaya slid down the bear, petted it then continued down the hall, Ou walked to a corner before he sat down, Ran followed Amaya and was dressed in a black suit, a style that normally was reserved for funerals for he didn't have any formal clothes.

Amaya on the other hand was dressed in a beautiful light blue dress, decorated with hanging glass that lightly reflected the light in the room. Should've thought about that before I put it on. Her hair had been tied in a nice bun that let some of her locs hang loose. She looked around the room and somehow felt at home, recognizing some of the great faces, except for Kinsue, Shinjiro, and Kanade, she had only ever seen the great Jinchiruuki once in Pebble, the other two got a a bit longer glance as she passed their table.

Kotaru didn't need any introduction, she bowed and moved to the side to let the great Bannin pass her, Ran did the same and followed Amaya to their seat. She Shoshiki eyed Yuiji and wondered if she had ever seen him before, she smiled and continued until she reached her spot. I can't believe all of this is happening, I went into a coma and missed the Great War, then assisted the Tsuchikage in the first phase, and now I am sent to destroy Sunagakure's defenses. Amaya looked down at her plate as she went deep into thought.

She was shocked when she heard that Konoha had chosen to invade Iwagakure instead of protecting Suna, which forced the Tsuchikage to alter his strategy, she could tell that Kotaru was not taking the idea that he had to stay behind and not continue the assault well, Would explain his facial expression. Her train of thoughts stopped once the Tsuchikage began to speak.

[Mre-face]

A fish out of water, that would be the most appropriate way of describing his current situation, a foreign country and injuries that he had to adapt to. Iwagakure was an ally and he had a meet a few but he had never been there, seen or met the people to a more significant extend. All he knew was that they were hardy people and he didn't know what they would think of him. A mutilated seven swordsmen member. Was he going to be a bad example for the seven swordsmen of the mist?

In some ways he wanted it to be more similar to his home which was Kirigakure. The caste system gave him a certainty on what to expect from different groups and what they would think of him. Here he simply had to guess which he didn't expect would bother him so. When he woke up one day of his short rehab journey he didn't at all expect being called upon. Especially after what he perceived as a astronomical failure against Kozan. His left arm and right leg taken from him rendering a cripple if it weren't for his dearest friend Yuuto and Naohiro's Iijutsu. Reconstructing Chiane's prosthetic into something Mondai could use for himself. It was hard to get used to but what was harder was the shame every morning when he had to strap on his arm and leg just to function normally.

His mind wandered with a feint anxiety but instead, he focused on the feast that was prepared before the coming invasion of Iwagakure. Mondai's brain was too concerned about seemingly every single thing. From the coming battles to the foreign country and it's residents the last thing on his mind was food.

Mondai arrived in gear. Completely black tight fitting clothes, and a cloak to cover most of his silhouette. Not dressing up for the occasion as he was way past formalities at this point, nor did he think that pretending to be noble and high class would serve him well in any way. His entire life he was shunned for it no matter how much he tried to clean up his speech, or what merit he had there was a certain stench that followed him. Being a aristocrat wasn't his thing and felt inauthentic and as a result. Almost as if people could somehow see through him if he even tried.

Feeling naturally distant and having no desire to sit by the others, Mondai found the nearest wall in a more hidden area of the great hall, leaning against it with uncomfortable looking grump crossed arms looking around for any familiar faces, but of those familiar he did see made him feel as if joining them would make things worse. Only glancing at Shinjiro and Kinsue once. The two of them were dressed for the occasion as Mondai avoided being seen directly as best as he could, as he knew that he wouldn't likely be spared humiliation. Besides him sat his cousin Kinsue and a rather random Enkouten girl that Shinjiro seemed rather fond of.

Seeing Mondai think when the last time he had even spoken to a women for romance or even vain pleasure? Even Mondai wasn't quite sure. The days melded into one and it didn't help that whenever he did go out he drowned himself in drink.

As Mondai waited awkwardly as a tall pale woman walked in with a rather ornate dress, reflecting light of the glass decorations made her shine more in the dimly lit area. The massive polar bear was also quite a surprise, since in Kirigakure they would likely force pets to sit outside for such a fancy event but not in Iwagakure. Following her was a tough looking beside her was a rather tough looking blond man around his age.

Then came the Tsuchikage himself. The bloody demon of the Akari, a bone chilling name and his presence lived up to his reputation. Even from such a far distance. Him clearing his throat to make his presence know cleared more than just his throat. As the entire room seemed to garner his attention with a present silence. Mondai felt a rather strong emotional response to just seeing the man. It was as if his breathing got slightly heavier and lighter at the same time and he just got that little bit more hotter and sweatier than he normally was.

The man's Prescence was near paralyzing, it was like staring into the eyes of a beast.

Yet there was one thing even dominated that, it was Kozan's words as Mondai laid defeated on the ground. "Your choice if you live or die. But good shinobi die on the battlefield." No matter how much he put it away it always crept back. Each time the words war or battlefield was uttered that sentence ringed through his head. Was this why he was here? Was this some kind of cruel twist of fate to make that very thing happen? Was it Mondai's time to be a good shinobi and die on the battlefield?

[ThatGuy]

Abari was absolutely miserable. He did his best to pick a spot in the hall that would separate him from the rest, but it was not long after he sat down that strangers started to fill the chairs nearby. He had signed up to prove his worth as a shinobi, not socialize! If he was lucky, no one would try to talk to him, and he’d be able to leave as soon as possible. Abari was not good at parties, and this was essentially just one big fancy party. Much like any other party, he didn’t know anyone. Not really. There were a couple of familiar faces, but none of them brought him comfort. With a sigh, the red-haired swordsmen reassured himself that it would all be worth it in the end.

Despite many opportunities during his career, Abari had never participated in a major battle. Not even during the Great War. All he ever did was train and study, as well as accept the occasional mission. He’d been so focused on trying to improve himself so he could prove himself to his village that he forgot to do the actual proving part. No one knew who the hell Abari was, which he honestly preferred. But that was not good for the Itotsuki name. The heir of the family could not be some no-name shinobi. So the upcoming invasion of Sunagakure was too good of a chance to pass up. Sure, there was a chance that he could die unceremoniously on the battlefield, but that was a constant risk in his line of business. Plus, that would just prove that he was never worthy of the title in the first place. So the way Abari saw things, there was nothing to lose. All he had to do was make it through this damn meeting.

Clearly uncomfortable and squiriming in his seat, Abari desperately looked around and waited for something to start. When the Tsuchikage arrived, he gave a slight bow, hoping to give the man the proper respect. Upon realizing he was one of the only people to do so and that the table prevented him from bowing properly, he quickly snapped back up. Red in the face, he found a good blank spot on the floor to stare at while he listened to the man.

[Valkier]

Aisu Naohiro stood tall and proud as he strode into the chamber. His stort stay in Iwagakure had grown longer as the war preparations had grown and members of his own village had begun to arrive, and by now he'd become familiar to the various staff and followers of the Tsuchikage, passing them with a faint nod instead of any challenge to his identity or presence. Indeed, it was Naohiro's portals that had facilitated the sudden arrival of those of Kirigakure's finest already present. And even though Naohiro's own particular talents had ultimately not been called upon for the upcoming engagements, his presence and involvement had nonetheless been expected. Should anything unexpected arise, of course, he too was ready and willing to take his place on the field as well.

For now, though, he did not wear his combat attire. Instead he wore brilliant white, a crisp haori with golden trim and soft blue hakama. The clothes were hardly the most lavish in the room—they were clean and simple rather than gaudy—but a careful eye would notice them pristine and new. A more subtle, humble show of wealth. Once inside he made a point of greeting everyone in turn, formally or cordially as their relationship and station demanded. A smile for Tatsuo and his wife, a bow for Amaya, Kanade, and the same with a clap on the shoulder for Shinjiro—how and when he'd arrived was still a mystery, for it was not an arrangement of Nao's own, though having such a bastion of Kirigakure's strength on hand could only add legitimacy to his own actions thus far—and a passing nod to the Tsuchikage's dour-faced brother and his gaunt, dark-haired accomplace. There he hesitated for a moment, feeling a wave of familiarity and doubt, before moving on. He shook Mondai's hand, making some passing small talk enquiring about how well he was taking to his new limbs, and the same for Abari, but this time with a lighthearted joke about being careful to not get himself too tangled in his chair. With Kinsue his eyes simply met with a brief, knowing glance.

Instead of taking a seat beside his friends and colleagues, Naohiro continued to move through the room and mingle, making sure to get the opportunity to greet everyone and speak to all at least once. One day soon, such connections might end up being crucial. But while sipping wine and talking to someone politically important nearby, Kinsue and Abari alone of all the guests might pick up on a subtle undertext to Nao's words and movements. A jump in a syllable, a momentary change in cadence, a flicker of the wrist while cradling a wineglass. Hidden amongst the imperceptible motions and sounds that would be missed by most people was the language of the Hunters, the secret tongue known only to those he'd trained.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" his silent question was directed to both, but was more a show of mental support than a real query; he knew and trusted the capabilities of both well enough to actually wonder about. But sometimes it helped to have someone in the wings, watching and backing you.

While meeting and exchanging words with everyone, Naohiro offered each of the likely combatants a small Fuuinjutsu seal, quickly traced in a position of their choosing. When he got to Natsumi he grinned, knowing that it had been her, personally, who had first taught him the same technique all those years ago in Soul Country. The ability for all of the combatants to contact one another, regardless of distance, had been invaluable at that time, and he suspect it would again on the morrow. But this time it was Naohiro standing back and co-ordinating, not taking to the field beside Kinomichi, Mondai, and Nishiki. As much as he'd like to, and see first hand how far they'd all come.

Fuuin offered to all:Show

Augment Fuuinjutsu • Group Link
B-Rank Augment Fuuinjutsu
By performing the necessary hand seals, the user will can touch a number of targets up to their [Chakra Pool] on their ear and the lips, this creates an audio link between themselves and up to [Chakra Pool] targets they personally place this seal combination on. While hearing is always active, channeling chakra into the seal allows affected targets to speak, their words being stored and transmitted to the other seals. The act of speaking charges negligent chakra.

[Kao]

Komiya Shizuo had been one of the guests to arrive. His punctuality was purposeful. The jounin wanted to see everyone as they came in, noting if they came alone or with others, what they wore, what their demeanors were as they came to this dinner. The Kirigakure shinobi particularly interested him. Shizuo was pleased and relieved that the Iwa-Kiri alliance wasn't for show, that they'd have backup for this. Most of them came in alone. But not Shinjiro. To the jounin's shock and interest the bannin arrived with Kanade, a rising star in Iwagakure that he hadn't seen in the months since sealing a young jinchuuriki. And the two looked cozy. He had no real proof but Shizuo immediately decided the two of them were together, and the assumption sent Shizuo's mind into a frenzy. If his friends were there he would have immediately turned to gossip and garner information. But instead Shizuo made a mental note of the pair, knowing what he'd do the minute the dinner was over.

The jounin took the time to greet those present and introduce himself, realizing he had never met most of them, not even the Iwagakure shinobi. He started simply, offering his name and rank, only mentioning to a select few that he was the head of the Tenkujutsu Research Institute. When he met Naohiro his bow was a little deeper than before, shoulders slightly stiff. "Pleasure to finally meet you," he greeted, his voice lilting slightly, "especially knowing what all you've done for this alliance." When the Aisu offered a familiar fuuinjutsu Shizuo smiled. "Ah, thank you. I can help you place these on everyone here, if you like. Can't have Kirigakure shinobi doing all the work."

Just as the Tsuchikage joined them, Shizuo made his way to a nervous looking redhead from Kiri and sat beside him, offering both a smile and gesturing to the fuuinjutsu now adorning his neck. Shinjiro, Kanade, and Kinsue were nearby, so he inclined his head to each of them. His eyes lingered on Kanade and Shinjiro, and despite trying to keep his expression neutral Shizuo found that he had to pullhis lips together in a tight line to stop a knowing smile from blooming. As much as he wanted to ask, he didn't know Kanade anywhere near well enough to pry, especially not in this setting. He hoped the Tsuchikage didn't give a long-winded speech before they could eat.

Thankfully he didn't, instead keeping the greeting simple. Shizuo responded by taking a nearby glass and raising it toward his kage, then taking a sip. He was pleased to find exquisitely expensive wine. "They brought out the good wine, lucky us," he mused to no one in particular as he gulped down half the glass. The man then motioned to the group to drink, hoping the Kiri natives weren't all work and no play.

Jutsu OfferedShow

Group Link
B-Ranked Augment Fuuinjutsu
By performing the necessary hand seals, the user will can touch a number of targets up to their [Chakra Pool] on their ear and the lips, this creates an audio link between themselves and up to [Chakra Pool] targets they personally place this seal combination on. While hearing is always active, channeling chakra into the seal allows affected targets to speak, their words being stored and transmitted to the other seals. The act of speaking charges negligent chakra.

[WrightJustice]

Nishiki had grown in both age-wise and skill-wise since truly participating in such a large scale seeming war, in particular honing past fears and turning them into great strengths as he held himself firm and with great grandeur as he stepped into the great hall wearing his grandest of gold lined black kimonos with the lining forming into a flowery pattern and the Tsukino insignia in particular standing out on the back.

He took it all in as he watched everyone taking their place, in particular noticing the truly grand chandelier but paused for a good moment once he reached the table; his happily dancing mini elementals froze in shock around his head as he looked down at the stiff looking benches.
The bannin seemed to truly ponder the benches for a good moment before composing himself and finding a good place to sit, whereupon he immediately caved in on his so called manners and sat in his somewhat uncouth manner with his feet up on the bench and his knees up to his chest with his head, crowned with his lusciously long pink hair and foxy ears, could easily rest atop and his nine pristine tails fanned out behind him and curled in around his body.

The Tsukino glanced around the room once again, shining his foxy smile in a truly polite manner (despite his uncouth sitting position) once he was seated, taking in all the faces along the table or anyone hiding in the corners as he mostly stuck to listening and awaiting for the matters at hand and of course the feast. Though he graciously accepted Nao's greeting and the fuuin that came along with it as he was certain they would all do with the communication once out in battle.

Once everyone was settled the elementals ceased their happy dancing once again and settled close to their host's body, seemingly being some form of extension of Yoshimitsu and the body transformations provided by him much the same as the black rods could be glimpsed under his long flowing sleeves piercing through his wrists though they seemed to hold a personality closer to Nishiki's older child self.
With the settlement Nishiki turned to face the great Tsuchikage to hear what the man would say.