[Graded]Lookin' for a Cure

[Valkier]

Fukusha, Kinomichi was once again sent on a mission to take over a country, either through diplomacy or force. It didn't matter how he did it, just that it be done. This country was specifically important due to the local resources it contained; weren't they all like that? Every land that had been desired by Earth Country had been to alleviate their dependence on another country to the east. Miracle Country contained amazing medical herbs and its panacea was the only known one in the entire continent. It would be an amazing boon to their medical research to control the herbs and land; push them past Sunagakure even. While Tatsuo was busy waging war in the outer territories of Wind Country, he had received orders to deliver terms to the Miracle Country Daimyo. The recent acquisitions to the north and the willingness to wage war on a Great Nation, let alone a minor country, would hopefully be enough to convince the people to join peacefully. The scrolls holding the official terms sent by the the Earth Daimyo were secured inside his robe as he travelled through the outer regions of Earth Country he had helped to acquire. Well, besides the detour around Owl Country. The accursed land would be their next target. First, he would have to find someone well versed in Tenkujutsu before trying to fight and subjugate the Owl King.

His detour had taken the form of a sail boat that had left from the coast just north of Owl Country. They hadn't ventured far out enough into the endless ocean to be beset with any of the unfortunate weather and currents plaguing it. The wood of the bow came to a gentle crash on the beach of Miracle Country where Michi was quick to disembark. The ship was just as quick to return to the sea a safe distance away from the shore while they waited for the Bannin to come back from his mission. With a grunt to clear his throat, Michi began to hike his way up the beach and towards the forest. He had heard this place had borders patrols so hopefully he'd find someone to take him to a person of authority sooner than later.

[Kanade]

The forest trees spoke to one another of the person who was within their lands, almost like they knew of the Kirin within the man that walked beneath their bending boughs. The swaying intensified, if one was to look carefully wherever he tread, and the large owls were thankfully roosting amidst the larger than life redwoods that signaled the vast untamed (or rumored untamed) wilderness that was the Owl's country.

The trees spoke to the bushes, who spoke to the grasses, who spoke to the waves, and therefore it was that the spirits of Miracle Country knew of the journey of the one who shared Kirin blood before the wood of his prow ever touched the beach of the country. The people, however, were unawares. The border patrol was lazily performing its duties in a hollowed out rock which had been used as a sort of make-shift bunker but had lovingly been converted into a guard house, when they spotted the bandaged man kick off from his boat and come walking up their shore. No one was supposed to be using this port, nor was there a drydock or even a bouyant dock around for miles.

So it was that the duty fell to poor Tchikane, as he was roused from sleep and the other guard ran towards the city, to tell of the visitor that had washed ashore in the boat that had been meant for more inlet travel than anything, judging by the depth and width of the boat.

"Ah, greetings stranger. I am not surprised to see one of your kind here. Since the tales of the shinobi world are stirring more and more towards war we thought that we might be seeing an emissary of one of the villages sooner or later." He clasped his hands in front of him and bowed a bit in a sign of respect. There was only one way that a shinobi would show their face to someone of the guard and that was if they were: A) not alone at all, or B) they were powerful enough to wipe out a small village on their own. The guards were more of glorified runners, with his comrade already high-tailing it towards the main encampment to warn of the person, unannounced, on their shore, it was up tot Tchikane to question this person, and trust little of what was said.

The suspicion lingered around his mouth and below his eyes, though his smile and his demeanour were bright, the cloud of doubt shrouded both in a less-than-hospitable way. The coastal winds blew the tall grasses as his comrade sprinted for the outpost. Hopefully he would return to find Tchikane in one piece, but then again, there was a reason that Shinobi were feared. They were never truly alone. Death rode close to them, which is why they were trusted little, especially in a country so steeped in samurai culture.

[Niro]

Even as the man came up to him and began to spout false pleasantries, Kinomichi's eyes scanned the tree line for anyone hidden with weapons. The man continued on and bowed his head ever so slightly but Michi's piercing green, goat-like eyes kept trained to the trees. He could see someone running away but no one coming towards them. Not yet, anyway. Once he was certain none were to ambush them while he talked Michi turned his attention to Tchikane. He stared deep into the natives eyes for what felt like forever yet was only a moment before opening his mouth to speak.

"Something is coming that will make the war you speak of seem like child's play. Who is in charge around here? I need to speak with them." Michi's expressed although the monotone to his voice made his warning seem much less intense than it had been intended to be. His vision snapped once more to the tree line, sure to be on guard against any funny tactics these people may attempt if they were feeling particularly threatened by his visit alone.

[Kanade]

“I won’t take up too much of your time then, if what you say is true.” The man bowed his head once more, and tried to take up a little more time at least, his friend was fast, and probably would outdistance this ninja in any case. Surely the stories were fabrications as to whether they could move mountains, run as fast as the wind, and catch lightning in their hands, “Please, first we have a book that everyone puts either a name, given or pseudonym into when they land here.” The man called Michi would walk over to their outpost and would take out a book that had not seen use in many years. It was an old custom, but still valuable for both getting information about who was visiting, and not only that but also buying time for his companion who was, hopefully, almost to the village by now.

“When you’re done with your name, you’ll find the village to be that way, about 4 clicks, give or take, in a straight line, just make sure that you follow the tallest tree, there.” Michi pointed out a tree that was a good twenty feet taller than the rest of the trees that stood out from this vantage point like a sore thumb, “And you’re sure to make it to the place where you’ll find the woman in charge.”

[Niro]

Michi was here first as a diplomat so he nodded at the request by the man. He was able to easily find the book and just as easily inscribe him name and affiliation in it.

'Fukusha, Kinomichi - Iwagakure no Sato, Diplomat'

Satisfied with what it read, Michi would play the quill back in its place before once more following the man's directions and heading where he had pointed towards while keeping the tree in mind. It didn't take the Bannin very long to cover the couple kilometers between where he had landed and where he had been directed to go. Along the way, locals would give him a fearful glance and then scurry away just a little bit quicker. He could understand their fear of him; shinobi had been the reason these people had to leave their original lands in the first place. When one lady fell and her fruit had spilled, the goat-eyed Bannin had stopped to help her only to find the woman nearly holding back tears when he returned the gathered fruit. This may not be as smooth as he and his superiors had hoped.

Continuing his trek to the largest tree around, Michi finally came to its base and looked up. He was supposed to look for some woman who was in charge around here? Last he knew, the people of Mercy followed the traditions of Miracle when it came to leading. Michi looked around for whoever that might be but for now he was unsure of just exactly who he should speak to.

[Kanade]

The diplomat would look over the man’s writing and nod, “A diplomat then.” He would say and his posture would ease considerably, “You’ll find a road that is past the savannahs, the town is located in the trees there, not too far off. You’ll likely be able to hear it and see it before you get there."

When people saw the goat-eyed bannin they kept their distance and muttered things like that he must be cursed or something. Mothers drew their children closer to them in a protective way before letting them go but giving him squint-eyed glances as he continued through the town.

Before long people were moving out of his path before he was even there, the rumors of him spreading throughout the town were getting more and more widely spread, and people noted Michi’s gunbai and kunai. Though these were people who were already in their open-doored houses, peering from around windows.

A lone woman was walking toward him, her hands held open, palm out to him with the fingers pointed down in a placating gesture. She was dressed in lavish greens and yellows, and her hair was tidy, so much so that it looked like each strand had been placed there deliberately.

She placed her hands together in a sign of peace and bowed low before Michi, “I hear that you are a visitor from the land across the sea.” She tilted her head up, her yellow eyes alight in the growing gold of the sunset, “We of the land of mercy grant you safe passage, and with it we wish you well.” She made a sweeping gesture that was meant to allow him to walk beside her, “I wish to know why you are here, and you may wish to know that there will be a law passing tomorrow, in which you are able to plead a case. We welcome you while the lights of the forest bring us peace and tranquility, and hope that you enjoy your stay however long or brief it may be.”

She started walking slowly, and would lead, eventually to a hut where she stopped, outside of it. There was no light inside the hut, nor was there any noise or signs of life. It was a tidy home though, well taken care of and had the signs of being unkept on a semi-weekly basis.

[Niro]

Thankfully the Bannin didn't have to wait too long. A woman soon approached him as if he was a bomb ready to go off at a moments notice and couldn't help but let a small smile come over his visage. Just like everyone else, it seemed. Michi nodded his head in thanks at the greeting of safe passage and fell into step besides the woman as she led them elsewhere.

"I'm sure those in charge have kept an eye on the movements of the nations after the last war. Both Rocks advances and Hearts. Before long, others will begin to mobilize as well. We're particularly wary of the nation of proclaimed 'Freedom' to the south which we know of your...bad blood with following the War. Mercy will eventually become one of their targets; no way they can allow you to remain your own sovereign state without being a laughingstock on the international stage. They will come for this land and its people once again.

The Daimyo and Tsuchikage of Rock Country would prefer this did not come to pass and have tasked me with a proposal for Mercy to join under their banner as a vassal nation. This land would be granted the protection of Rock Country's armies and shinobi in exchange for taxes and access to resources. Additionally, we know the people of this land are not fighters by their nature and they would be spared the usual conscription even those in Rock Country proper are held to. Rather, we would allow volunteers to join as they wished and instead ask for doctors to train our medics both here and elsewhere. Your leaders, government, economy, and overall way of life would remain the same too." The Fukusha explained as they finally came upon an uninhabited hut. His eyes scanned over the structure and found nothing outwardly strange with it. It looked to be some sort of guest lodging if anything.

"Tomorrow you say? Hm."

[Kanade]

The emissary nodded along with what he was saying and as he started to expound she produced a pen and paper from on her person and started to take notes on what he was saying, murmuring some of the words that he told her. She chewed the back end of the pen in her mouth and her forehead wrinkled in trepidation, along with either confusion or concern.

“I will put this on the docket for tomorrow as well, seeing as it is so urgent.” She held up her hand to stop any complaints, real or imagined, “We cannot vote on it tonight as the morning vote has already been cast, and it wouldn’t be fair to those who have their families to take care of and would like to have a vote. I must tell you that it is purely democratic. There isn’t anything such as a Daimyo or anything that can make a decision for the people.” She bowed her head in apology toward her guest, “We also ask that you leave your weapons at home, especially if you wish to be heard during the open debate session. It is not a warning or a demand, but merely a suggestion that you leave them at home, as your words will carry more clout if it doesn’t look like you’re ready to do battle at any time.”

She motioned around to the small hut, it was spartan, but should have been comforting she hoped, “As for your lodgings you do not have to pay us for them, and as a foreign diplomat your food and other needs will be taken care of by the common-wealth. Please keep a receipt of who you buy goods from and for how much and we will make sure to take it out of that fund. You may wish to tour the forest tonight as the bioluminescence should be spectacular, or if you’re unfond of plants and wish to meditate there is a temple to the direct east of here about half a click away which is more suited to solitude. If you enter, please pay your respects to the guardian spirits encased in stone at either side of the entrance, and please do not talk out of respect for others there.”

“Do you require anything further for this night?” She tilted her head, her eyes scanning him one last time. Not quickly at all, but taking in the entirety of the man in front of her, the goat eyes, the giant fan, the kunai, the way that he dressed, his mannerisms, everything.

[Niro]

Michi took the woman's words in and made a mental note to be sure to leave his usual equipment here in the abode. Even if things turned sour, he was sure he'd be able to retrieve them with ease. He bowed lightly to the woman as she offered him some attractions for the evening but Michi was here for one thing and one thing only. For all he knew, the forest might not last through the week. There was no need to tour it and become fond of its beauty. The temple did interest him but mediating was something he could do within the hut and not expose himself to any sorts of spies or trackers wary of him.

"I shall be fine here. Thank you." Michi let her know before offering a shallow bow and retreating into the hut. The first thing he did was hang up his gunbai and other equipment where they wouldn't bother him before assuming a crossed-legged position on the floor. There, Michi began his own meditation and continued until the sun had long dipped under the horizon. The Fukusha went once the orders and offers from Rock Country and Tatsuo once more before finally tucking into bed.

Assimilate them through peace. Or force.

He was really hoping it wouldn't be force.

---

Michi's eyes opened to the faintest ray of sunlight coming through the hut's windows in what seemed like a moment. The man crawled from the bed before cleaning up his face and general appearance in the utilities provided in the abode. By the time he was done, Michi had begun to hear what seemed like a crowd heading in a singular direction. Unsure if he was to follow them or someone would come to collect him, he opened the door to the hut and just watched as people strolled on by.

[Kanade]

The day broke on the small village as the emissary walked down to the guest cottage. She was wearing the formal garb that she wore every time that there was a meeting to discuss the affairs of the world. This harbinger of what could be their doom didn't help to lighten the heavy steps that she took to what the people were calling the goat eyed stranger.

She walked past the first of the crowd and saw as he emerged from the hut. Now that he had no weapons people didn't actively stare or avoid him like a flock of birds looking at a hawk, they passed him by with the gentle curiosity that a turtle gives to a toad.

Dipping in a low curtsey, her eyes lowered so that she could only see his lower half and her head dipped, the emissary, Kali, greeted the man.

"Hello, it is almost time for the hearing, the gathering you see parading past your door is the first of many crowds. Since you are to be speaking, the orator has decided that you should take a seat by him, along with the other speakers. As the guest of honor, your plea will be heard last, as it is the most grave, most important, and most impactful issue."

She offered him a docket, a short list of what would be on the itinerary for today.

-goatherds and boundaries,
-fence around the vegetable community garden
-overpopulation of deer
-harvesting the herbs of the forest
-trial of Hosashi versus Kimimaro.
-impending war and alliance by guest speaker.

"As a member of the gathering you will be expected to raise your hand in either the affirmative or the negative on each of these issues, or if they are multiple parts, you will be asked to raise your hand for the decision you deem best." The emissary looked at the man appraising him, he hadn't changed since last night. Pursing her lips in either exasperation or nervousness, she continued nodding to him, "we are a fully democratic community, and that means that even those passing through are expected to make the best decisions for the village. Your vote may be scrutinized by the whole of the assembled, even more so as you are a guest."

[Niro]

Michi was silent as she spoke of how the day would go and took the itinerary from her when she offered it. His goat-like eyes scanned over the paper as she continued on and figured the topics of discussion before his own would be quick. Hopefully. A lingering doubt in the back of his mind was the people actually forming a successful 1/3rd bloc. In the case they wouldn't with his own topic...well, Michi had taken the night to meditate for a reason.

"That's fine. Let's go." Michi reply was curt and to the point. He followed close behind Kali as they made their way to the forum where the day's topics were to be discussed.

[Kanade]

Kali led the way and the folk that were on their way couldn’t help but stare. He was, after all, a stranger in this land, and this was likely the best entertainment they were going to get for a while. It seemed like a relatively peaceful little town. The swords that were near their houses were blunt or rusted. The shields were used for cradles, the spears were used to keep the tarps up. The axes looked as though they had been used for wood.

They were ill-prepared for war, all things considered.

As Kali led him to the gathering, the crowd opened up and she motioned toward the fifteen chairs, reserved for the council and the speakers, with 6 speakers on the left side, four of the chairs already filled, she ushered him into his seat and then took her place among the other nine chairs. A man stood up, in finer garb than the rest of the people, but not by much. It seemed there was an equal distribution of wealth too.

He talked about pleasantries, introduced the speakers one by one, and then each one plead their case.

The first was a goatherd that had a flock that was too boxed in, apparently his goats were starting to starve to death, and he wanted to let them roam a different part of the country-side, so that the fields that they were in could recover, and his goats would be fat and ready to milk come the fall and kid season.

The second was whether or not anyone wanted to help with making a rabbit-proof fence around the community garden, and whether or not they should build it with materials from the village, or whether they should make those who actually used it pay for the materials.

The third, a man that had a sharpened knife at his side and a bow that was unstrung, and slung across his back in a holster for it, a quiver at his side came up. He said that the hunters had noticed that the deer were destroying the trees and a lot of the vegetation and he wanted to know whether the hunters should take care of it or if anyone wanted to volunteer for the work or the third choice was whether the village would go on a purge of the deer to a manageable number and keep the meat in their stores over winter.

The fourth was a yes or no vote, whether to harvest the herbs from the forest this year. Apparently it was a stock question, as Kali was the one that presented this one with a member of the community, a short wisened woman that couldn’t speak above a mumble.

Fifth was a trial, in which Kimimaro had stolen three chickens, and was caught red-handed eating one of them, the last one, for dinner with his family. He plead that he was starving and that the stipend that he got from the village wasn’t enough to feed him and his three children, since the stipend was handed out to the adults of the village and not for every head counted in the household.

Each time the people would go up, plead their case, and then there would be a vote where the members of the council would take a quick tally, apparently used to this, and then sit back down to announce the speaker, and each time they looked to Michi to see what he would vote.

Finally it was Michi’s turn to plead his case.

[Niro]

Nope. Still wasn't enough to prevent the stares. Michi was used to them since he could remember in Iwagakure no Sato. To be met with them even here was annoying but he kept his face blank as he moved through the town with Kali. Nothing about what he saw reassured him the people here could fend off a wolf pack attack, let alone an invading force. Once they arrived at the Forum, Kinomichi's eyes found the chairs in the center quickly.

He'd have quite the prime spot if needed.

Michi gave a slight bow in thanks to both of them. Kali for walking him here and the man in the ornate garb for introducing him. He then took his seat as the others before him began to plead their own cases.

Michi listened as the goad herder plead his case. He could see the reasons to allow it but was worried it'd infringe on land allocated for other uses. However, land could be more easily repurposed than an entire herd replaced. He voted in the affirmative to allow the flock to be moved elsewhere.

The second issue was easy for him to vote on. It was a community garden. Everyone benefitted from it so everyone could pitch in a little bit. Michi voted appropriately when the option was given.

The deer issue was one that could quickly become a bigger issue but the village was being separated too thin for everyone to go out deer hunting and be productive with the other tasks brought him. Michi voted to let the hunters take care of it.

If the stock was low, Michi voted yes for the herbs to be harvested. If they were half or more, he would vote no.

As adults and those with responsibility, it was the man's responsibility to make sure food was properly split to feed his family. If unfortunately he had to go without this time for his children to eat, so be it. Michi had seen it plenty both in other countries and even the countryside of Rock. Michi sided with those who preferred some form of punishment for Kimimaro.

Finally, it was his turn to speak. Michi got up and looked around the Forum as he formulated his thoughts.

"I will be blunt and not waste your time, people of Mercy.

War is coming to the continent once again. Already battles have broken out in Wind Country. The people who ran you away from Miracle will surely be back. They can't allow you to remain your own sovereign state without being a laughingstock on the international stage. They will come for this land and its people once again.

We, the people of Rock Country and Iwagakure no Sato, wish for you to join with us.

The Daimyo and Tsuchikage would prefer Mercy not be slaughtered by such savages. I have been tasked with a proposal for Mercy. A proposal to join under the banner of Rock Country as a vassal nation. This land would be granted the protection of Rock Country's armies and shinobi in exchange for taxes and access to resources.

Additionally, we know the people of this land are not fighters by their nature and they would be spared the usual conscription even those in Rock Country proper are held to. Rather, we would allow volunteers to join as they wished and instead ask for doctors to train our medics both here and elsewhere. Your people will remain in control of the nation proper, the current government will continue to exist, and the economy will receive the benefits of being connected to such a powerful nation such as Rock.

That is all." Michi waited a moment before once more taking his seat as his words simmered in the minds of everyone there.

[Kanade]

As Michi was speaking, there was a man that was vigorously scribbling down each and every word that he said, word for word. He was taking down the terms, in no uncertain terms, to be denied or accepted by the parties should a signature be required.


There was a murmur throughout the gathering as people started to consider the ramifications of it. There were a couple of raised voices, but in the din of the discussion throughout the main forum made it nigh impossible to figure out what one person was saying and what the other was. There apparently was some contention on both sides of the issue and finally the ambassador, Kali, stood and put a hand up, “You all have a mind to the issue at hand I can see, and I wish to settle this with a plain yes or no. Those of you that wish to omit from the vote, please consider that your choice will be complacently with the majority.” She leveled a look at a couple of kids that gripped to their parents’ clothes, “A vote like this should be made by everyone gathered here, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.”


“All opposed to joining with Iwagakure no Sato and Rock as a nation, foregoing the protections given to us and leaving us to our own ways to fend for ourselves should we be attacked?” She looked out over the crowd and there were a couple of hesitant faces. There were a scant few hands that raised in the opposition. Most of them were stronger, more capable men and women who looked to be in their prime. They had defiance and mistrust in their eyes, and they leveled it all at Michi.


“Those in favor of joining with Iwagakure no Sato and Rock as a vassal state, sharing our knowledge with them, and asking for their protection from attacking states?” There was a large number of hands that went up this time. They were the hands of the old, the malnourished, the sick, and the parents of children. The children raised their hands meekly in support of their parents.


“Those abstaining from voting?” She asked, just to get the tally correct. A majority of hands raised, they didn’t want to cast away their votes either way, or didn’t care. There was a blind lady in front that raised her hand at this, she was old and bent and had to lean on her grandaughter, it seemed, to even make it. Her grandaughter raised her hand as well.


“The vote has been cast, the majority is abstaining, giving the vote to those in favor of joining with Iwagakure no Sato as a Vassal state with all aforementioned benefits and taxes.” There was a hush over the crowd as Kali took her seat before the proceedings ended with the sounds of three gongs that were arranged around the amphitheater, struck in time three times for luck. Those gathered milled out and Kali strode over to Michi.


“There is only the signing of the terms,” She explained, reaching out a hand for his, “to be done now in accordance with our laws and by-laws. Your signature, along with those who were speaking here will be taken down. Do you have paperwork as well that you wish to have us sign?” She looked at him, her eyes saddened. She had abstained from voting but it looked as if it had not gone the way that she had wished it to. She looked like she regretted the terms, at the very least. Her eyes held no animosity toward him, just a resignation and softness that she had showed him since he had shown up in her village.

[Niro]

Michi waited with bated breath as Kali went about putting an order to the vote. His eyes watched as hands rose and fell and could physically feel the weight lifted off of his shoulders when he realized the people had voted in favor. Thankfully, he wouldn't have to burn them to cinders today. He turned to Kali and listened as she went on about having to sign paperwork. That was fine.

The Bannin rummaged through his robe top for a moment before producing a scroll with an official seal of Rock Country. He gave it to Kali before clearing his throat.

"In there is all of the paperwork you should need. Once completed, I'll be off." Michi explained as he prepared to sign whatever Kali needed of him before leaving this place for Iwagakure once more.