Kage Test Round One

[Gara]

A very elaborate, and embellished, scroll had been sent to Shirahama Sueatsu requesting his presence at the hall of Sunagakure’s council. It was a summons signed by every member of the council. When he arrived he would find two completely identical doors that led into the hall. However, each door was guarded by a single Genin. The girls were identical twins of the Hizashi clan, and were dressed completely identical. When they spoke their words were completely synced, and sounded as though it was a single voice. ”Welcome lord Bannin. Our grandfather has tasked us with a riddle for you, which you must answer before proceeding.” Both girls bowed deeply before smiling mischievously.

”Behind each of us is a door. Pass through one and you shall pass our test. Pass through the other and you shall fail. We must tell you, however, one us has been marked with a fuuin of truthful words, while the other has been marked with a fuuin of deceitful lies. You may ask only one question of one of us before choosing your door.” The girls began giggling after they finished their lines.

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu was surprised to see the Genin there. He had more expected something else but he quietly listened to them speaking. It seemed that he was being tested but he was unclear as to the reasoning behind it. There was an immediate thought that there might be something affecting his mind right now... but he decided to play along with this. After all, tests were meant to be forged through and not bypassed.

As the two girls spoke, he had a vibe that was just a small bit... unnerving. It didn't truly bother him but the double voices that sounded nearly identical but just different enough to create a bizarre stereo effect had him just a bit off for a moment. A riddle seemed to be what they wanted him to solve and riddles were never his forte... but he would give it a try. 'One of them forges lies and one of them always speaks truth.' He would think to himself as he was tapping his foot against the ground some. What little he knew about most riddles is that their answers can sometimes be found within the riddle itself.

For a minute or so, he would stand there thinking. Several ideas would pass through his head quickly as she was trying to find one that just seemed to fit for this moment. Eventually though, one of them stuck within his head. If there was one thing he knew how to do... it was to exploit a weakness he perceived and there was a flaw in this riddle that he caught. He would gesture to the Genin on his left and with a warm and comforting smile, he would speak. "Would you kindly tell me what door your companion would suggest I go through?" He would ask and patiently await the answer to the question.

[TyDie]

The two twins would look to each other for a brief moment as Sueatsu asked his question to the girl on the left, then their gaze fell back to Sueatsu. The child spoke on her own this time, the stereo double-speak silenced as the question was asked only of her. "She would say that this door is the door you should proceed through, Lord Bannin." The girl pointed to the door she stood in front of as she spoke, then the two looked to each other again and smirked. His question was asked, now how would the Bannin use this information to proceed?

[FluffyGinja]

"Thank you." Sueatsu said in passing as he quietly went to go towards the other door that the Genin did not point towards. If he had been correct, the moment he would pass through the door, everything would be just fine. If this was some sort of test, it was rather surprising to see it so suddenly. He had just been coming here to deal with a summons that he assumed was for something like an important mission but he was starting to get the feeling that there was far more to this than he had first anticipated.

[TyDie]

The genin looked at each other and giggled, thinking that they had successfully fooled the bannin as they had been instructed to by Kaifu, the Hizashi council member. However, to their surprise, the Bannin Sueatsu went through the correct door. They tilted their heads in confusion, how had he figured it out so quickly? Surely his mind worked at a much faster pace than the average shinobi, his problem solving skills were incredible. They bowed in understanding before skipping away down the hall, their task completed.

On the other side of the door, a shinobi was ready and waiting for Sueatsu to walk through the incorrect door, so much so that his back was turned to the correct door. When it opened, he jumped slightly in shock before composing himself. "Well done Sueatsu sir. I am instructed to bring you to the council chambers upon your successful solving of the riddle. Right this way." The young chuunin would bow before the monk before turning to walk towards the council, following the same hallway as always until they stood in front of the Council chambers. "Right through there sir. And good luck."

Once Sueatsu entered, the doors would be shut behind him by the chuunin, and a moment later they would be locked. Clearly Sueatsu was not allowed to leave until a verdict had been reached, for better or for worse. This was a sight that Sueatsu was no doubt used to seeing; the council, in their entirety, spread out before him in their separate chairs. Their tables forming a semi circle with three people on either side of a 7th chair in the middle, the chair reserved for the Kazekage... which was currently empty. In the middle of this chamber was a large circular rug, and above that was a crude device using mirrors that reflected the sunlight from outside, illuminating the center of the room.

"Bannin Sueatsu. Please, step into the light." Akihito, the Council member in charge of directing the activities of the Bannin of Sunagakure, gestured for Sueatsu to walk into the center of the room. Once he had done so, Kaifu would be the next to speak. "You did well to solve that riddle so quickly. While not especially difficult, we expected it to take longer. In fact, when you made your selection so quickly, we were sure you were wrong." The young man chuckled to himself before allowing Abe to speak next. "Rest assured however, Kaifu's test was by far the easiest. Before we continue, do you have any questions? Your purpose being here, perhaps?"

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu listened to members of the Council speak before he took a moment to look at them all. Each member of the Council had such a unique aura to them... one in particular always stuck out to him and made him question it but he would never speak on it. Not yet at least. "Thank you for your praise, Hizashi-sama," he would say with a polite bow of his head. "However, If I may, Shinzo-sama, I can gather why I am here somewhat quickly. If this were a simple mission or duty that was required of me, I'd be speaking with Mikado-sama. What I can infer from this is that you have all gathered me here to fill that seat right there." He gestured to the seat that the Kazkage would sit at, its vacancy a visceral reminder of the current circumstance. "You did also partially give this away by saying this was a test... and as of this point, I've not been tested by the Council aside from what is normally expected." He stated, bowing his head to each of the members of the Council before he stood there, bathed in the sunlight of the room.

The chamber held much esteem to him. It was rare he came here, even rarer he was approached by the entirety of the Council so this truly was a moment that he desired. "I do have one question though. When may I begin? I'm eager to see what difficulties lie before me in this moment. The people of Sunagakure need a Kazekage..." He let that last part linger as it held a sour note to him. Hito had been one of the greatest Kazekage's in history... but something had happened that Sueatsu still did not know about and it bothered him greatly. His eyes glanced from Council member to Council member once more, his eyes briefly locking themselves on the same Council member that had such a unique aura before moving onward.

[TyDie]

Abe was quick to nod his head solemnly in relation to Sueatsu's observation of the Kage's seat at the council's table. "Indeed, the seat is empty... and it is high time that we fill it. Few are the shinobi in this village that will ever compare to Hito. Despite our... differences." Abe let the word hang in the air a moment. It was no secret amongst higher ranked shinobi that Hito and the council had been at odds numerous times, each seeing differently on a subject. Indeed, there were many times where the council argued among themselves, but Hito's progressive outlook had been the spark of more than one intense debate session.

"He was still a great leader. One of the best our village has ever seen. He was responsible for recapturing Shishire, and for establishing our great library. His shoes will be hard to fill Sueatsu... But we have called you hear because we believe you to be the best choice." "Until you give us a reason not to, of course." Naoto spoke up for the first time with his gripe, frowning as always towards no one in particular. Abe recognized the man's glare and merely shook his head in annoyance before moving on.

"Since you seem to doubt him Naoto, why don't you present your test next?" Naoto's permanent frown was directed towards Abe for a moment, a stink eye accompanying it this time, before he sighed and nodded his head. "Very well... Bring them in!" From a dark corner of the council chambers, a large door would be opened, and a group of four sunagakure shinobi would forcibly march three other people into the room. Their arms and legs were shackled by chains, and brown burlap sacks were tied on their heads. They were corraled into the room in front of Sueatsu before being put on their knees in front of him, the bags being taken off.

The one to his left was a child by most accounts, no more than 17 years old. He had brown shaggy hair and dirt stained his face, his brown eyes softened and red, no doubt a result of crying. The one in the middle was a woman in her 20s by the looks of things, her eyes cold and harsh, curly red hair cascading down her back. And to his right, a man who appeared by all accounts to not even be from their fair village. Neither of them wore any form of identifying gear or symbols, but being that Sueatsu had been to Konoha rather recently he would no doubt remember the telltale traits of the Senju Clan; the man had brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin... granted these things were normal and not necessarily mutations, but it was difficult to be sure...

"These three prisoners before you have committed crimes against Sunagakure, of varying degree. The young child to your left is a civilian of our village, caught stealing money and food from local restaurants. The amount that he took was great enough that he was imprisoned for his crimes, and he is a repeat offender, having been caught over half a dozen times committing the same crime. The woman in the middle is a nukenin, chuunin in rank, who attempted to teach our sacred Kugutsu style to a foreigner from the land of Iron. And the man to your right is a B rank nukenin, a criminal of our ally, Konohagakure. His crimes are unclear, but the fact that he was a Konoha shinobi who defected is inarguable."

Naoto pointed a bony finger at the young Bannin, a glare in his eyes as he explained Sueatsu's test. "You will pass judgement on them. And we will take into account your decisions... for better or for worse. Oh, and they have been put under the effects of fuuinjutsu to prevent speech. The most you may get from them is a gesture... and who knows whether a simple hand wave is a lie or truth..." The man chuckled to himself a few times before coughing at the end of it, clearly the cough causing some pain in his lungs.

[FluffyGinja]

"Thank you, Naoto-sama." Sueatsu said very simply. His eyes lingered on him for a few more moments. There was this odd feeling on the back of his mind. He did not trust this man... he was not sure why but he had his doubts. Regardless, onto the test... Three prisoners. All of them with muddled auras and varying degrees of crime and expressions. There was something about the way they were presented that bothered him but he would not speak on the issue about fuuin barring their speech. He understood why it was there, even if it was a personal problem with him.

He'd start with the child. This seemed to be the most innocent of them all, albeit... still guilty. He would get into position so that he was level with the young male and he would look him in his eyes. Red as a setting sun from all the tears he had likely shed. "You regret it, don't you? Doing what you did? Something tells me you hardly understood the implications for what actions you were taking. You might have even been doing it for a reason. Maybe to survive... maybe to feed another... I do not know." There was a softness to his voice that Sueatsu was not entirely known for. He empathized with the young male. "Whatever you reasoning is, these are crimes you have committed... However, imprisonment is not what you deserve in my eyes. In fact, I'd argue there is a way to have you understand what you've done and pay back those you have wronged, while potentially allowing you to earn both money and food." Sueatsu stated as he stood up and peered over at Naoto. "My judgement is that this boy, while guilty, does not deserve imprisonment and can be taught a lesson while providing him with skills and means to eventually earn what he had previously stolen. He can be sent to those he stole from and work for them, under supervision so that nothing wrong happens on either end." Sueatsu declared, staring Naoto dead in his eyes with an unwavering vision... as if he was staring through him.

[TyDie]

Naoto watched the bannin's interaction with the first criminal very closely, like a vulture watching a struggling animal die of heat exhaustion... waiting to take it's fill. Meanwhile, the child himself looked up at Sueatsu and nodded solemnly as he asked if he regretted it. One look at the kid's stomach would explain why he did what he did; he was clearly malnourished. He hung his head in defeat as his stomach growled, and he awaited Sueatsu's sentencing as the bannin went on to explain what he felt the boy deserved.

Needless to say, Naoto was disappointed by the bannin's judgement, though the boy was clearly much happier with this than the idea of serving more time in the Pit. Mio rose to her feet however, a big smile on her face as she gave a light round of applause. "Ooh my, splendid idea Sueatsu! An inventive method of punishment that gives the young boy a chance to turn around, while also making it up to those he took from. Absolutely fantastic!" Naoto glared at Mio, and the old chipper woman simply grinned at him before sitting back down.

"Indeed, an adequate sentence." Manza spoke for the first time, leaning forward against his hands while covering his mouth in thought. "However, I have little interest in matters involving petty thievery. I'm much more concerned with that scum there." Manzo motioned with his head towards the woman in the middle, who looked up to Sueatsu with a mixture of anger and disdain. "Continue with your judgements, Bannin.

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu almost wished he could display how he felt about displeasing Naoto. He far preferred other members of the council but regardless, he quietly took a step towards the described traitor. There were a litany of thoughts that swirled in his mind as he was looking at this woman of curly red hair and youth. He took a soft breath as he knew what he was going to say would not go over well with everyone here but he wasn't going to compromise his character for what he thought they wanted to hear. "I understand you more than you probably think I do. Maybe... It depends on why you did what you did." He paused before moving looking her dead in her eyes. He had an expression of true sympathy and... pity in a way.

"I studied with the Shizuran Monks of this great desert. There isn't a lot known about them. They aren't secretive, just hard to find... but they never turned anyone down. They allowed everyone, from any walk of life, any land, any past... They allowed them. I learned alongside people who would initially be my enemies from battle lines past drawn but I learned to treat like brothers and sisters. It is because of this that my view of the world is not what most villages would entirely call normal. I'm going to be frank... If it were possible for me to be loyal to my village and teach common folk of chakra, I would. It would enrich the lives of people everywhere. It could make difficult tasks easy, villages could prosper and life could potentially flourish in harsh environments." He stated as he was staring at her. "I don't presume you did this cause you honestly wanted to teach someone. Whatever your motives are, they were your own."

There was another pause as he was trying to figure out how to proceed with his thoughts. "That being said, the reason that we do not teach chakra to everyone is because it is dangerous. Chakra may be able to light a fire... but it can summarily crumble a mountain at the exact same time. I've seen it happen. I've made it happen. This is less of a glorification of myself and more of a fact, but I understand when common folk fear shinobi and fear chakra. You tried not only to teach someone chakra but also something that is sacred to our village. This is a two-fold issue. My judgement is this. You are a danger. You belong within the Pit. In the middle of it. As ironic as it sounds, maybe you can spend your days down there designing puppets for future shinobi to utilize." There was yet another pause in his voice.

"If I could trust you, in any capacity, you could potentially be a valuable asset. I say this with all the truthfulness I can provide. You are different mind than most and can potentially do things some do not wish... but I can not trust you and I doubt you even wish to be a shinobi of the village." He finished, looking towards Naoto before peering at the rest of the council members. He doubted that all of them would appreciate his view on the subject but that would not matter. They asked for his judgement and he gave it.

[TyDie]

Manza didn't seem too pleased by the bannin's judgement, and the woman seemed even less pleased, shooting a glare at the man that could melt ice with it's rage. "Were it up to me, she'd never see the light of day again. Max security for all missing ninja, that's my belief. Still...""It is not up to you, is it?" Naoto finished Manza's sentence for him, and the two eyeballed each other for a moment before Manza turned to the side, looking at nothing in particular.

"Excuse me." It would appear it was Jamba's turn to speak up, the young councilmember standing before clearing his throat. "I do believe you have one more left to pass judgement on, Sueatsu-san. And this one is of particular interest, being a rogue from another country and all I don't envy your position right now. But it must be done... So please, continue sir bannin. The young man respectfully bowed before taking his seat again, allowing Sueatsu to pass his final judgement on the Konoha rogue. The Konoha nukenin looked up to Sueatsu with a look of cold indifference, betraying very little in his gaze. This would undoubtedly be the most difficult for Sueatsu to handle.

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu would politely bow back at Jamba before turning to face the former Konoha shinobi. There was maybe a minute that passed by before Sueatsu even approached the man. When he would, he would step in front of the man with quiet and soft steps and stare him in his eyes. This was the one that was going to give him the most trouble. An enemy of their ally. It almost seemed... wrong to keep them here within Sunagakure's walls. He would quietly inhale and exhale a few times as he was thinking about just what to say. "You... truly baffle me. Half of me respects you, a former ally of mine... and half of me pity's you and despises you. I know not your crimes other than you having left Konohagakure and I wish I did." He stated as he took a moment to turn his back, walk away a few steps before repeating the process right back up to this shinobi.

"If I were to be honest, I know not what to do with you. This situation is delicate. By all accounts, you've done nothing wrong to Sunagakure as far as I know. However, you are a nukenin... and this in of itself is an offense to the shinobi world." He stated blankly as he was rubbing his chin some. He was clearly thinking on the matter before he took a deep breath. "If this were Kirigakure, Iwagakure... potentially even Kumogakure, you would not be standing here alive right now. You'd be slaughtered. Viciously. Your body would have been used to learn about what you possess. Your clan would be researched and replicated. After all, Mokuton is one of Konohgakure's most iconic and upfront clans. They are what most shinobi could think of what they hear of the village." He paused his speech as he looked up at the light that was streaming into the very room they occupied. It was bright, shimmering rays of true beauty that reminded him of just why he was here.

"Thankfully... you are here." He smiled a small bit as he looked around him. "Do you know of Yuumagure? The religion of our village? Regardless, there is a tenant in it that resonates with me. Those who are surrounded in Her Light are blessed. Therefore, in my eyes, trees are blessed things. They absorb Her Light and give such beauty." He paused his rambling as he went back to the task at hand. "I can not convert you back to your village. That is strife that I know not of, but I would if I could. However, what you are here for is my judgement. Not my thoughts and wishes." His face grew more serious very suddenly as he stared at the Nukenin.

"My judgement is this. I wish to have this person transferred back to Konohagakure, escorted by members from both of our villages, where he can stand there on trial for what he has done... It is not our place to decide the fate of an allied Nukenin and I would imagine it would cause more strife if we did. He can be in minimum or medium security, depending on his threat level for the time being until we can have this arranged with Konohagakure." He said with a finality to his voice, feeling this was the option that would give compromise and cause the least amount of strife.

[TyDie]

Naoto was clearly bored with Sueatsu's ramblings, and his idle thoughts regarding the situation of this Konoha shinobi. Naoto wanted the judgement, the man's methods of getting to that judgement were not of his concern. However Jamba seemed quite interested in Sueatsu's thoughts, as well as his judgement. "I couldn't agree more. This man is a criminal, of there there is no doubt. However, his punishment is not for us to decide; it's best for everyone to let Konoha deal with their problems, while we deal with ours." Naoto grumbled something under his breath before motioning for the shinobi to force the criminals to their feet and back out the door they came in through.

"Very well, your answers have been documented. We will take them into account, but obviously you won't know whether they were right or not until later. Hmph." "You know as well as I do that there are no right or wrong answers here Naoto. Do not fill his head with lies that could interfere with the legitimacy of these trials." Once more Naoto grumbled and huffed, crossing his arms in annoyance as his trial was finished.

"I suppose I'll go next then. Sueatsu." Akihito addressed the young bannin while leaning forward, thinking carefully of how to word his trial. It was simple in concept, but the practice would be the difficult part. After all... Sueatsu knew little of the Genma, even as a bannin. "No doubt you remember our recent impromptu meeting with the Soul Genma host, Setsuya, Inka. Well, a few days ago, the decision was made to extract the beast from him. Inka is dead, and Shishire is once more in containment while we search for a new host."

Akihito looked straight at Kaifu as he mentioned Inka being dead. It was no secret that Akihito had opposed Inka's sealing from the get go, just as he opposed almost all sealings. Kaifu merely avoided his gaze, watching Sueatsu carefully for his reactions. "My trial is thus; What do you intend to do about the genma of our village Sueatsu? The genma have always been the ultimate catch 22, incredibly valuable assets that come with potentially fatal costs, both to the hosts and to those the host interacts with. I've made no attempts to hide my contempt for the beasts, despite being the assigned sealer of Sunagakure, and so I ask... What would you do, if you had the power to decide what happens with the genma?"

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu disregarded Naoto's statements almost entirely, not even giving them any attention as he looked over towards Akihito. He had a feeling this question was going to rear it's ugly head eventually. He was lacking in this area. That being said, he knew what he could know of the Genma. What little interactions he had, what rumors and what minor reading he had done on past interactions with the spirits. He would stand there, peering from council member to council member as he was thinking over what he would actually do. Genma are indeed valuable assets. "I'm going to be brief at first and explain myself as after I say it. I do not think there is anything we can do." He stated frankly before pausing and going to explain himself.

"You said it yourself. They are the ultimate catch twenty-two. They provide immense utility while simultaneously providing fatal risk. Shishire is... complicated, to say the least. Every host thus far has let Shishire go to their head or fallen prey to its machinations." He pauses. This was one of his longest ones yet. He was ruminating over the possibilties that were laid before him. He needed to make a decision on this one. But neither option was pleasant.

When he was about to speak once more, he took a deep breath and looked at Akihito. "If it were my decision, I'd utilize Shishire even in myself if need be. He is too valuable an asset to be outweighed by his unfortuantely monumental risk... and the same goes for Heaven... They are both such insurmountable power in the right hands, with the right motivation, with the right care... but I do agree with in a way, Akihito-sama. They frighten me, if I'm to be honest. Their power can dwarf that of... anything. However that is why I think they must be utilized." He paused to take a breath before continuing.

"Each time, we learn more about them... even if we think we know everything, it clearly shows we do not. Inka was an incredible host. He was brash, rude, and... unique is the way I can put it best, but he knew what he was doing. But even he eventually fell prey to it. Creation's former host was incredible as well, from what I recall. I never met them, but this is besides the point. I feel we can't give up this power, no matter the peace of mind and safety it could provide. We must strive forward to better understanding of these Genma and the interactions with their host and hopefully to a point of finding hosts who can tame such beasts more effectively."

[TyDie]

Akihito listened carefully to each word the bannin monk put forth in response to his query, and while he hated what he heard... deep down he knew it was as Sueatsu said. After all, this was why he still served as sealer; for the greater good of the village's future, a few lives would have to fall prey to this profane darkness. "That is an adequate response, Bannin Sueatsu. And commendable that you would be willing to offer your own body to the beast if need be, for not many would be so willing to harbor such a malevolent being within them. Actually I would like you to expand upon that very idea..."

Akihito looked to his council, who knew full well that Akihito had only intended to ask the one question initially, but all save for Yoshiko, who was near unconscious, and Naoto who simply didn't care, the rest seemed interested in where he was going with this line of thought. "You claim that if necessary, you would be willing to house Shishire or Janasisu within yourself for the good of the village... but I ask you, why? Would you truly be willing to make such a sacrifice for the benefit of the village, or would you do so knowing that their power could bolster your own? Power is a very seductive concept Sueatsu; many are ready and willing to give almost anything for the chance to attain such a great power as the genma, and in combination with your own talents as a bannin... it could be a match made in heaven."

"Or a recipe for utter disaster." Manza spoke up, clearly the most intrigued by this line of thought. It was not just a question about the genma, it was a question about motivation; Power was a motivator for almost everyone, but it was also ruinous if misused... and it was very, very often misused. They had adequate reason to fear what might happen if a Kazekage was driven by the desire to attain power for personal use instead of village benefits... so what was Sueatsu's motivation for wanting to do this?

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu knew all too well the allure of power. In ways it drove him and it ways, it scared him. He took a deep breath as he looked towards Akihito. "I do not deny that... the power they could provide me had crossed my mind. That being said, I understand the worries there. I recognize my flaws there. My failings and why I don't know if I would be the best choice. If it were a necessity for the village and I could control it, I would. Without a single shred of a doubt, I would take one of these beasts into me." He thumped a close fist against his chest once.

"Far greater shinobi than I have sacrificed far more than I have or may ever just to keep this village safe and to provide themselves to the benefit of all. While such strength combined with what I have earned could be a match made in heaven, there are those that are far more qualified I feel... and far easier to keep track of. I suppose you want a clear cut answer, so let me say this. While the power is tempting, the betterment of the village is what motivates me. I will always seek to make Sunagakure a safer place so that when I finally depart from this life of mine, I can look back with a smile and see what I've done for the generations to come after me." He stated with conviction in his voice as he looked towards them all.

"So, while my offer stands there as a possibility, it is one I do not seek actively. I would rather mold a younger mind into understanding the benefits they possess and how it can be better utilized properly and not be corrupted by such overwhelming forces of nature."

[TyDie]

Akihito's stern face softened only slightly as he listened to Sueatsu's words, his ability to determine lies from truth quite keen as a result of constant dealings with genma hosts, especially Shishire. It was clear that Sueatsu was genuine, at least in Akihito's mind it was. "Very well. I rest my case and pass on to the next." Akihito stated very plainly before taking a seat once more, looking to the council to see who would go next. He was tempted to have Manza nudge Yoshiko awake so that she could go next, since the woman was practically dead to the world despite being told to get a good night's sleep for once last night.

However, Manza took it upon himself to go next, as he was clearly more intrigued now than he had been before. "I'll go next... I'm very interested to see how you will handle what I have in mind young Bannin. What I ask of you could be seen as treason if stated in some other context, in some other situation. Here, however, one may speak freely without any fear of consequence. We as the council will not try you for anything uttered in this chamber on this day, and with this in mind I ask you to think for a moment not as a shinobi of Sunagakure... But as an enemy."

The entire council leaned forward in interest now, none of them had any idea what Manza had planned. Even Yoshiko sort of shook her head to wake up slightly, her half open, glazed over eyes staring at Manza for a moment in curiosity before looking towards Sueatsu. "You know our defenses as well as anyone young Bannin, and as a result you would be the f to point out any flaws in them. I ask you to do so now; if you wished to wage an attack against our village, how would you go about it? For the sake of argument you may consider alliances with currently known Nukenin of merit, and you can also assume that none of the defenses had changed since you began planning this assault. And most importantly... do not spare us any details. Tell us who or what you would target first, and how you would intend on killing them. The goal of this invasion isssss..." He paused in thought for only a moment, looking to his fellow council members with a devious grin before turning back to Sueatsu.

"Assassinating Hito himself; The Kazekage."

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu should expect any and all questions at this point but he this was something he had not exactly wanted nor thought would be brought up. Attacking Sunagakure. Assassinating a figure that was in such a central location within the village and potentially breaking through its defenses? He needed time to think on it. He would take several minutes to stand there. His face was blank, save for the fact that his eyes were closed as he seemed to be deep within thought. Whether or not this was a valid thought process was going to determine whether or not he'd say it.

Eventually though, Sueatsu spoke up. "No defense is flawless, not even Sunagakure's. I'd first start with trying to ally myself with several Nukenin. A few come to mind. Kenji, Yaku, Enma, Nehan. These are people that we fear, even if not openly, for good reason. With Sunagakure's defenses unchanged, the best approach is by air. We'd make sure the Kazekage was in the building as well, keeping a tab on a schedule and making sure to strike when they vulnerable. We fly over the sensor's range, preferably invisible and from there, we can allow those with better hand to hand skill to drop down inside, using various Ninjutsu to land without a worry, preferably silently. The moment that we cross the sensor barrier and those within Sunagakure start to react, we have the specialist in Ninjutsu to either force the physical barriers to slow down or stop entirely." He stated, taking a pause as he took a breath inward.

"If I had these four Nukenin with me, I'd have Enma wreaking havoc with a mass Genjutsu that can cause panic. This would split to focus of shinobi within Sunagakure, allowing for a far easier time. Ideally, I'd arrange it so we land on top of the Kazekage building as well to widen his Genjutsu field. Nehan, Yaku and myself would infiltrate from above, allowing Kenji access with his sight to see down below and bombard the area to cause more discord as well as remove the barriers with high powered Ninjutsu as they come up. If they come up, I should say. Hito is one thing. A master of Ninjutsu. Which is why Nehan, Yaku and myself would attack him within a moments notice. Yaku has sufficient Ninjutsu prowess and his hand to hand is nothing to sneeze at. Nehan and myself specialize in it and can properly destroy his attempts at making signs and potentially channeling chakra at all if we are quick enough. Shinobi will likely be slated to guard the Kazekage but they can be handled relatively quickly with large scale Ninjutsu from Yaku or Kenji, accompanied by something from either Nehan or myself that affects the environment." He finally stopped for a moment before he brought up a side note.

"This is also assuming all goes as we plan it to. So, these are my problems with our defenses. We have nothing to guard from Genjutsu, an art that is debilitating on its own but could be brutally awful here. While we can see for miles, if our enemies are fast enough or clever enough, we will not see them coming at all. If one is to hunt a Kage, to kill a Kage, one must be swift and decisive. There is no fighting through the gate, no battling hundreds of shinobi... There is ruthless efficiency. There is brutal tactics. There is using every trick within the book to make sure that they don't have time to respond and if they do, they can't respond with any sort of meaningful effect." He takes a moment to think before he says one last thing. "That being said... Any plan to assassinate someone like a Kage would be very difficult to properly do, seeing as you are unlikely to come out alive. However, the deed would be done."

[TyDie]

Manza's eyes were transfixed on the young bannin monk as he went through, in great detail, a hypothetical attack against the very village they stood in. And truth be told, even he hadn't expected such an elaborate response to his mock invasion, he was rather stunned to hear how much thought Sueatsu put into it. However, he was one to take away the nugget of gold from the pile of dirt, and would absolutely use the information put forth to develop new, stronger defenses meant to protect them from the likes of the Nukenin Sueatsu proposed alliances with.

"Indeed. It seems we have both noticed many of our villages weaknesses, I have long considered a defense against the genjutsu arts of those such as Enma the Crow. If I am not the only one who has noticed these weaknesses, it's very possible that our enemies will to... The holes will be patched." Manza gave a nod in agreement with Sueatsu's assessment before taking his seat, clearly not the least bit phased about the content of his mock attack or the implications one could draw from them. It was clear that Sueatsu had considered this at least once before, that or his mind worked at a speed equal to that of Hito himself.

"I believe I would like to go next... If that's alright with everyone." The young, respectful head of ambassadorial and mercantile affairs stood and bowed deeply once more, turning his attention first to the council for some form of permission granted. "You're a councilman, not a child Jamba. Start acting like it." Abe retorted, rolling his eyes at the boy overly-respectful nature. "Right, of course. My apologies Abe." Yet another eye roll followed by an annoyed sigh was all Abe gave in response, then Jamba continued with his trial.

"Right then... Shirahama, Sueatsu. It is no secret amongst the higher ranked shinobi that one of my ultimate goals is to strike fair deals with as many countries as possible, and make as few enemies as possible in the process. An unreachable task to some, to be sure... However, one of the biggest oppositions to this development of our culture is actually our very own people... No offense meant to any in this room, of course." Naoto scoffed at the boy's line of questioning... stupid youth, always wanting to bring about change without thinking about the long term implications of it.

"Our people fear change. They fear the outside world, many of them are content to stay isolated from all else in their little bubbles. While I do not aim to insult their preferred way of life, I find it to be lacking personally. There is so much we have to gain from lightening up on our isolationist ways and dealing with other countries. In this line of thought I have two questions Sueatsu: Do you think it is possible to curve public opinion in such a way that such prospects of outer country dealings aren't seen with such disdain and fear, and if so how would you go about it? Next, one of the greatest fears related to this growth is the loss of our culture, namely our proud religious beliefs in Yuumagure. What would you propose be done to preserve our way of life, as well as keep others from being smothered by the overbearing beliefs of our people?"

[FluffyGinja]

This was something far more up Sueatsu's alley. He was a worldly person, through and through and had given many a sleepless nights thought to what he would do if he were going to open up Sunagakure to other cultures and other countries. It hardly took him any time at all to properly come up with a response. One that he had practically written down several times before as if he were preparing for a speech on it. "Sunagakure is a difficult case. Our recorded history shows that when we first came about, an isolationist mindset was necessary due to the wars we had participated in. We were all originally nomads that settled down here... at this glorious oasis. A spot in this harsh desert that was truly ours. We wanted to protect it, grow it and forge it into something more."

He took a pause. "But even then... Our first Kazekage was a man who united the nomadic tribes at the time, brought the Naegi to us, and forged alliances. He was not one to shy away from the world from what I can gather, but embrace it. I may be reading into him an exceeding amount but that is how I see things. I'm no stranger to this, I think of not myself, but our village. Not our village, but the country and not our country but the world." He took one more pause to gather his thoughts and a breath before speaking once more. "Changing anyone's mind is difficult. You can't make them feel a way you want them to feel via force. You need understanding. The people of Sunagakure know of Konohagakure... but have never been there. They have no desire to because it is something that doesn't necessarily warrant their thoughts. What I feel is necessary to make the opinion of the public change is to show them what Konohagakure has to offer. Bring some of them here, let them interact with the public, maybe even have an... Alliance Festival." He stated as a piece of thought for everyone on the council.

"On the topic of culture, this is something that strikes me as... more of a personal matter. Culture doesn't just disappear. I am a monk of a goddess that most people have never heard of. She is not normal... because to me she is also the Sun to me. This is something that puts me different from the normal culture of Sunagakure. However, I embrace Yuumagure and its aspects. I believe in Her light as well. However, one of these is far more widespread. And one is nearly lost to time itself, held high by a handful of people. Culture never truly does disappear though. In this regard, I doubt we will lose our way of life here if we strive to make it understood that having other cultures does not diminish your own. That being said, what we have here is something that can smother easily. As evident in that, well... Most of Sunagakure's citizens embrace it without question. We need to promote understanding among other people of what we do here and why we believe in it. Promote questions and the belief of knowledge." There was a moment of pause as Sueatsu realized his ramblings were a bit off track before he quietly cleared his throat and continued.

"Sunagakure's people do need a way to be introduced to outside influences in an environment that displays their benefits while those that venture here need to experience what we have to offer them as a whole. We can never be sure that what we have here won't change, but we can make certain our roots are still there. After all, we started out as nomads... and here we are. No longer traveling and hardly interacting with the world around us. Other countries must see who we are and we must see who they are. This is the only way that Sunagakure will move forward instead of backwards." Sueatsu's oratory was finally finished and he took a moment to clear his throat once more as he looked to everyone on the council. "Hearts and minds aren't changed in a day... but we need to start if we ever desire to change anything." He added in at the end before he resigned himself to waiting.

[TyDie]

Sueatsu's passion and philosophy regarding this particular topic were clearly well thought out, there was no doubt that this was a line of questioning that sat heavily on the monk's mind. Not only Jamba, but the entire council (save for the nigh unconscious Yoshiko) sat and listened carefully to what he had to say. Even Naoto, who up until now was utterly uninterested, perked his ears up as Sueatsu's charisma filled the council chamber. When he was finally done, Jamba gave a deep respectful bow followed by a warm smile and quiet round of applause.

"Magnificently put Sueatsu-sama. I could not have said it better myself, you and I think on the same level, though your mind works much faster than mine to be sure. I can safely say that, if you do prove yourself worthy of the title of Kazekage, we will be able to enact great change throughout our fair village. Thank you for your assessment, Sueatsu-sama." One last bow, and Jamba would take a seat, ready and waiting for the next councilmember to put forth their trial. There were only three left: Mio, Yoshiko and Abe. However, all eyes fell on Yoshiko next, who had just let out a small, quiet snore.

Immediately Manza slammed a hand on the table a foot away from Yoshiko's head, prompting her to rise awake, startled and with a small trail of drool running down her face. "By the Light woman, get yourself together! Can you just for once get a decent nights sleep? Appoint an underling or something, you're going to die in a few years at this rate. Yoshiko's head slowly rotated, dazed and confused as she tried to get a grasp on her surroundings once again. When she finally did, she shook her head violently to wake up before staring to Sueatsu, then to the council. "I... Take it there will be a transcription of this meeting I can read later?"

Collective sighing ensued throughout the council with the exception of Mio, who laughed lightheartedly, and Jamba, who stared at Sueatsu in an attempt to not laugh. "Can you get on with it woman?" "Right, right... got it..." A few light slaps against her cheeks would wake her up more, jogging her memory of what she wished to ask about.

"Alright, so Sueatsu... Part of being in charge of most medical endeavors in Sunagakure means dealing with lots of red tape. Things like morality and affronts to nature, 'has medicine gone too far', and other such things come up frequently. The most obvious of these taboos is the infamous 'body modification' stigma. I'll not say one way or the other how I feel about this subject, I don't want my opinion to influence yours in any way. But that's exactly what i want from you; I want you to tell me where you draw the line in terms of artificial human advancement. With things like elemental bodies, body modifications and puppet prosthetics being available, how much is too much in your opinion?"

The topic of body modification, especially puppetry augmentations, was a hot topic to be sure. After all, naught but a month or two ago, two of Habimori, Manza's students escaped from the Pit largely in part due to their puppet augmentations. The council was very mixed in their opinions about this subject... how would Sueatsu fall in this topic of debate?

[FluffyGinja]

This was something else that Sueatsu had thought of quite a bit. He had never fully understood Sunagakure's disdain for body modifications. He knew the root of the problem was from a previous Kazekage but he just... did not understand the reasoning behind such an oppressive movement. "I will make this wholly clear... My opinion will not be liked that much." He stated right out of the gate, before he looked over the council and took a moment to breath in before speaking. "It seems that the issue with body modifications of any kind is an example of an overreaction." He stated plainly before speaking further.

"We are selective in what we allow in terms of these body modifications, but part of me questions why... We have such a stigma against them and yet, when they are required, why are we not equally outraged? Other villages do not villainize things that have caused them great strife. Why must we? I do understand the reasoning, I truly do... but my view is that I am not bothered by them. I don't see them as innately evil. Nothing in my eyes is. No form of chakra, no form of combat, nothing is innately meant to do evil. It is the intention of the person behind it. It is the action behind them that cause this view point. Look within our own village for examples. We have those with body parts that needed replacement... but they are not evil people now. Look at Konohagakure. I assure you, they have no qualms with body modifications from my views on them." He said as he took a pause for it.

"However, do I think there is a limit? Yes... It is when your ambitions start to become too much. Ambition is dangerous but useful. Would having something like a method for myself to fly greatly increase my efficiency? Yes, but I don't need one nor do I want one. It comes down to how much ambition one has and how they are directing it. If one solely seeks power, you are likely to find the roots of someone looking to sacrifice anything to gain it. If that power is funneled or channeled into something of a righteous cause, you may find someone more willing to do good with it, but in there lies its own issues of when righteous purpose becomes blanketed oppresion. I'm getting a little ahead of myself but my viewpoint is this... Body modifications are not evil... It is those that use them in pursuit of something wicked that gives them this stand and I feel the more we show off those who are much like ourselves with these modifications, the more we will show that this taboo is not so wrong." He stated before taking a breath and speaking something quickly. "As an aside... I do still mourn what has happened because of these body modifications, but I will never let someone make me fear something where there is nothing to be feared."

[TyDie]

While no one in the council room directly reacted to what Sueatsu put forth in reference to body modification, there was a definite shift in the air as Sueatsu's viewpoint became clear. Whether or not the majority of the council agreed, Yoshiko clearly did, as this was the most attentive she had been during the entire meeting. "Good... Someone who isn't inherently afraid of potential progress. I'm satisfied with that." Attentive or not, she was still a woman of few words apparently... That or she was still just that tired.

But in complete contrast to Yoshiko's lack of energy, Mio stood next, a bright chipper smile on her wrinkled face. "Oh boy, i'm next!" Her face lit up with excitement as she rose and bowed before Sueatsu, as most of the others had. "First, I'd like to ask a personal question... How are you doing Sueatsu? Are you having a nice day so far?" "Would you get a move on Mio? I don't have the patience for your antics today." The elderly, young spirited woman took a look at Naoto and stuck her tongue out, which caused Naoto to practically slam his head on the table.

"Fiiine. Since grumpy butt wants me to hurry up, i'll go ahead and cut to the chase. Sueatsu, my trial for you is a question, as many of the others have been before you. This question could either be very simple... or more difficult than any other question you have been asked thus far. Even more difficult than Naoto's elaborate test." She paused, letting the heaviness of her implications hang in the air as if fermenting into a fine wine. Once the gravity of her question had settled, she finally opened her mouth to speak again.

"Sueatsu... Do you even want to be Kazekage? Are there any others among your peers that you feel would be equally deserving of the title, if not moreso than yourself? And if you do want to be Kazekage, if you are sure that you want this prestigious role and overwhelming responsibility... why? What would you want to do with such authority, what changes do you feel you could bring about for the benefit of the village?" The question was complex in it's simplicity, a paradoxical inquiry that would make Sueatsu think very deeply. In all of these questions he had been asked, they had all been about what others thought. Yoshiko asked about body modifications, Naoto asked about judgements, Manza asked about defenses...

But Mio was the only one who asked about Sueatsu. What he thought, what he wanted... These were perhaps the most important questions of all.

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu was a bit put off by such a question. He stood there for a good long while. Minutes whittled passed as he seemed to be thinking for quite some time. It hadn't even crossed his mind. Did he really want to do this? Was there anything he could do with such a position? He seemed to have been thinking over this one the most from what the council members could tell. He didn't really stand still... He shuffled, he paced minorly and he seemed a little... troubled by these thoughts that were in his head. Eventually though, he knew he had to speak... and he only hoped what he could say would be something worth saying.

"I can think of a few who may want to be Kazekage more than I do. Frankly... I am having trouble figuring if this is something I want. Considering myself in such things has never been something that glossed over my mind. I want the betterment of the village and if myself being Kazekage is what it takes, I will do it. Those that I think are more worthy of the title? There are few... Most are content enough where they are or doing what they are currently doing. Some... just aren't ready yet." He paused a little bit, pursing his lips in thought for a moment more before speaking again.

"I am unsure of what I could do with such a role... Those who have come before me have done much more than I can hope to accomplish. I find that this weighs heavily on me... I find that I am truly afraid of such thoughts of inadequacy. My entire life, I've struggled and worked and bled to get to where I am, even to this day... and yet one among my peers still does better than myself. She has natural talent and persistent training where I have simply worked twice as hard." He rubbed the back of his head as if he was actually embarrassed to admit all this.

"Truth be told, what I want to do is better the village... but I want to better the world more. In that way, I want to open us up to more. I want to strengthen bonds, forge alliances, bring peace... and maybe even make Wind Country be willing to see the same. I'm not political figure though and I would not know the first thing about going about this. I just have my passion and my drive. In truth, Mio-sama, you presented me with a question that has stumped me and brought doubts to my mind. The why, the who and the what all give me many thoughts but nothing clear. Nothing concrete. I suppose, the best way I can say this is as concise as possible." He stated as he gave a sort of laugh at his own fumbling with words and thoughts.

"Yes, I want to be the Kazekage. There are those among my fellow shinobi who are better but are currently not ready. I want to better not just Sunagakure, but Wind Country as a whole by forging bonds with other countries and helping to speed us up to becoming a more modern village. These are what I strive for, even if I weren't Kazekage... but I feel that if I were, I could make these changes happen more expediently while giving people time to adjust and understand the change." He nodded his head once and smiled as best he could, albeit... his mind was starting to doubt himself a bit.

[TyDie]

The council listened intently to Sueatsu's personal thoughts and feelings regarding this meeting, and the prospect of what might happen if everything goes positively. While Naoto was put off by Sueatsu's uncertainties however, Mio was actually happy to hear them. "That's good Sueatsu... It's only natural to be uncertain, it's natural to have doubt. Especially when we're talking about you becoming the next leader of this great village, it's very normal to feel awkward or unsure when you'll basically be filling the same shoes filled by the giants of our great village. The Kazekage were not only the best shinobi to have ever graced our village, they also made the village what it is today. And to compare one's self to them... Well, you feel like an ant in comparison!"

Mio laughed at her own observations before finally taking a seat and giving a not to Abe, a sign that she was satisfied with Sueatsu's response. "Very well. Now, let us go through the seven who have spoken so far... Kaifu, do you find Sueatsu to be quick witted? Does he have the problem solving skills that you wish for in a leader?" The Hizashi councilmember nodded his head in agreement. "Naoto, do you find Sueatsu to be decisive? Are you comfortable in his ability to make the hard decisions for the best of our great village?"

Naoto took a long, stern look at the young monk, thinking very hard on the subject... Before reluctantly nodding yes. "Akihito, do you find Sueatsu to be cautious? In dealing with the great spirits of our country, do you believe Sueatsu has the careful mindset to approach these grand beings without fear of overstepping himself or falling to darkness?" Akihito nodded his head in agreement, his stern facial expression unchanging. "Manza. do you find Sueatsu to be resourceful? If push came to shove, do you trust this man to be capable of strategic analyzation of an enemy's defenses, and to act upon those analyzations?" Manza looked to the ceiling a moment in thought, his eyes reflecting the sun beating down through the open ceiling... Then he nodded in agreement.

"Jamba, do you find Sueatsu to be considerate? In a world such as ours, where alliances and trade agreements could be the birth or death of a nation, do you believe Sueatsu to be capable of managing these agreements and keeping our allies appeased?" Jamba wasted no time in nodding his head in agreement, smiling at Sueatsu as he did so. "Yoshiko, do you find Sueatsu to be moral? When those with chakra attempt to be gods and control the very nature of things such as life and death, do you believe Sueatsu to be capable of making the distinction between what is or is not going too far?" Yoshiko started awake as her name was mentioned, then after listening to what Abe had to say, gave a weak nod before once more setting her head on the desk.

"Mio... Do you find Sueatsu to be wanting? At the end of the day, the best leader is the one who actually *wants* to do the job. Do you believe that Sueatsu wants this, not for himself but for our people?" Once again, with no hesitation, Mio happily nodded in agreement. Abe looked to the council one last time, reading their body language and facial expressions for a moment before looking down to Sueatsu again. "It would seem that, thus far, you have successfully pleased all of the criteria the council has set forth in our search for the next Kazekage. As it must be a unanimous decision, it falls to me to cast the final vote... and make the final test."

Abe suddenly hopped over his desk and landed on the floor in front of Sueatsu, standing to equal the man's height. "Your mind has been thoroughly dissected... but if push comes to shove, a Kazekage needs the ability to back up his decisions and defend his people. With force, if necessary. I wish to test your will to fight. Come with me, all of you." Abe would then lead the way out the door and through the administration building...

[FluffyGinja]

Sueatsu calmly nodded his head as he listened to Mio, surprised to see that she was fine with his uncertainties. To himself, they were going to forever bother them. However, he would not say anything more on it. She had a point... it was something that was natural after all. However, it seemed that what was done was done. Abe was the last of them all. He expected yet another question but what he got was something entirely different. He watched as Abe went down the line of the council members. He seemed to be getting an assessment from them all.

When each one began to nod, he was understanding what this was. It was all of them seemingly agreeing together on whether or not he was what they wanted and it seemed to be favouring him. He noticed which of them were more for him, taking note of Naoto's reluctance. However, what came next was finally something that he had been waiting for. He had a feeling that there would be more... and this was what he had wanted from the start. With Abe standing in front of him, he gave a firm nod and began to follow behind him.

(To be continued.)