[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

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ShinobiTruth
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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:48 pm

A single messenger ran along the rooftops of Sunagakure, a desperate and urgent grimace etched into his features like stone. Upon his flak vest, he bore a sigil commonly used by the Council to sign decrees or seal documents made to be delivered under their orders. The man's task was grim, much like the expression he wore. He had one responsibility: to retrieve Henrin Kiyori and bring her to the Council. The village's very safety depended on how fast his feet could carry him.

Many of the villagers would look up, catching only a fleeting glimpse of his passing form, the stirring wind a sign of his presence rather than the mere sight of him. Countless desert birds flew up into the sky into a panic as he traveled with such speed that it seemed like a sonic boom might follow in his wake. The fringes of his garments and uniform flailed wildly in the wind behind him, and his eyes remained focused on his target, the Scribes of Sand Grand Library. If there was anywhere the woman he was looking for was guaranteed to be, it would be there.

Entry into the Grand Library from the upper floors would be both improper and difficult. The messenger had no choice but to approach from the front door. Dropping down to the street below, he did not even consider dropping his speed, instead using his impressive coordination and flexibility to move through the crowd of people full speed, his movements kicking up massive amounts of sand and dust behind him. If there was anyone standing at the front of the Grand Library, they'd have sight of him for about three seconds before he zoomed past them. Knowing exactly where to go (the council had given him precise instructions and details of the layout of the Library), he jumped off of several bookcases before diving straight through the open door to Kiyori's office before leaping forward onto one knee five feet away from her desk. "Kiyori-sama! I bring an urgent summons from the Council! You must come at once!" he called, obnoxiously loud and every bit as serious as she probably expected him, before adding more quietly "It's a matter of Village safety."

The library was in utter chaos from the ferocious entry of the messenger, wind currents combining with the slight movements caused by his vaulting off of the various cabinets and bookshelves to reach her office. The streets outside were in a state of temporary disarray, as what amounted to a small sandstorm had been kicked up by Speedy Gonzalez here who now knelt before her desk, and the whirlwind of loose papers and documents that now flew around the main lobby of the library like a small tornado was only slightly less bad and would probably amount to two full days of work reorganizing said loose documents. So much could happen in five seconds, huh?

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 9:16 am

Today was set to be just another day at the office for Kiyori, her time spent recording new findings of the scribes within her photographic mind and adding them to their place within the library, be it the general archives on the ground floor or the classified sections within her own office. However, the sudden commotion on the ground floor immediately got Kiyori's attention, and as she stood from her desk to check on it the young shinobi burst into her office, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The young Henrin Archivist crossed her arms and narrowed her gaze at the messenger, displeasure clear in her expression and tone. "For your sake, I hope whatever message you have for me is of the utmost importance, or it'll be you cleaning the mess you've just made of my library."

The young shinobi's message was indeed of the utmost importance; a meeting with the entire Sunagakure council, in regards to the security of the village? Her arms unfolded and she let out an annoyed sigh, realizing that the boy's message was indeed important enough to warrant his destructive entrance. As she stepped out of her office and looked down at the disheveled ground floor, her eyes caught Kyoko at her desk. "Kyoko! This is a matter that can't wait. I apologize but... get the scribes started on cleanup." Kyoko looked up to Kiyori with a disappointed look of her own, but let out a small sigh and nodded in understanding. "Alright. Can you wait until we're out of here before taking off at mach two again? Let's hit the rooftops first." Kiyori would lead the messenger back into her office towards the large window that sat behind her desk, undoing the latch and pushing the window open more like a swinging door than a window.

Once opened, she would step out on to the ledge and walk along the curved dome that was the top of the library towards the top, a place she frequented when she had a moment of quiet to herself. From up there, you could see the whole village; the only building taller than the Library was the administration building itself, which could clearly be seen from the top. "Heh... Race ya." Kiyori gave the boy a quick wink while her anklets began to glow with power. A moment later Kiyori was gone, a poof of dust left where she stood as she was already clearing the rooftops at breakneck speed. She'd make her way to the administration building with expedience, slowing her speeds only when she got to the last rooftop before the administration building, at which point she'd drop down to the streets and allow the messenger to lead her wherever she was expected to go.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:01 am

Silently nodding and following Kiyori's instructions, the messenger stepped out onto the roof of the library, finding sure footing on the well-constructed awning. The sun had just risen over the great walls surrounding the village, and the dust from the storm he'd kicked up outside was still rising up. His eyes followed Kiyori without fail, his line of sight only broken when Kiyori started moving in earnest, her speed legendary amongst the shinobi of the village. Moving as fast as he could, the messenger did not stop or slow down even once. Despite that, it took a solid thirty seconds for him to catch up to Kiyori after she'd stopped. When he hit the ground, he didn't stop. "This way, Kiyori-sama," he directed, heading straight into the administration building. The great doors swung open as Kiyori and the messenger got close...

And inside was nothing but darkness.
GenjutsuShow
*[Genjutsu • Dive to the Heart]
S-Ranked Overlay Genjutsu
Prerequisite(s): 50 Genjutsu, 50 Control, 50 Instinct.
A Genjutsu specifically constructed for the purpose of judging Henrin Kiyori's worth as a candidate for Kazekage. This genjutsu is specifically designed to target Henrin Kiyori's chakra signature and cannot affect any other target. Should she step within the active chakra field that is deployed around the administration building, this genjutsu is activated. The doors of the administration building will swing open and an irresistible gust of wind will push Kiyori from behind into the darkness. The doors will close and she will be trapped within the infinite nothing until she answers the questions posed to her inside the darkness. Unlike other overlay genjutsu, this technique is not designed to cause mental damage to the target and will solely cause a small amount of fatigue.

A powerful gust of wind pushed against the woman's back, launcher her into the void, the doors behind her slamming shut as soon as she passed the threshold. It was shadow, umbra of the deepest pits of oblivion. Kiyori would nary see her hand before her eyes. After a brief moment of silence, a soft haunting music filled the space, both earthly yet somehow otherwise at once. A single beam of light shone down upon a massive stone wall. Its etchings and designs were beyond intricate and beyond ancient. To the left side of the wall, an equally ancient beast of unspeakable might and ferocity was depicted, much akin to a mix of a rhinoceros with a mouth full of blade-like teeth and impaling spikes upon its head. Its feet were clawed and splayed, much like a large reptile, massive talons sundering the very earth beneath it. It looked very much like one of the ferocious creatures found in Hoshi no Kuni. To the right side of the wall, a massive stone giant, equal in size to the beast, was etched into the stone, bearing a shield bearing the symbol of the sun, its outer frays speckled with what appeared to be studs. It was of fine make, but at first glance, appeared unremarkable.

"Henrin Kiyori. A Scribe of the Sand. Lover of Peace. Blessed by the Sun's Light. Before you lies a question. Your freedom lies beyond the answer to that question."
The stone wall began to quake, the left side quickly cracking and crumbling away. The beast previously of imagination was given the breath of reality, reptilian eyes focusing sharply on the etched stone figure on the other side of the wall. It opened its mouth in a blood-curdling howl, the very air seeming to bend and distort around it, so powerful was its scream. Without even her own sixth sense, Kiyori would be certain of one thing: nothing, no Kage, no Village, no Genma, no power found in this reality would ever stop this frightful creature.

"An unstoppable force..."
The right side of the wall also began to quake and dissolve into dust and sand, the opaque stone taking on sudden form and color. The shield in its hand was ablaze with the light of the sun itself, the outer frays of the shield clusters of planets and asteroids, shining with the light of the galaxy itself. The shield-bearer's eyes glowed with the light of Eternity, and its body comprised of the stars of Infinity. A greater display of celestial power could not be found in all of existence.

"...Or an immovable object."
The two entities momentarily froze. Then, with a flicker of light, they clashed, an explosion of blinding light slowly radiating out and engulfing Kiyori. As quickly as it had come, it faded, and the two creatures were once again naught more but etchings in ageless rock.

"Which is greater? This is your question. Where does your answer lie?"
Two doors opened in the wall, light shining from them. One stood beneath the Beast of Unstoppable Force, the other beneath the Shield of Unmoving Will. The time for questions was over. What would Kiyori choose?
Last edited by ShinobiTruth on Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:37 am

As Kiyori prepared for another routine walk through the Administration building to the council's chambers, a sudden overwhelming sense of danger overcame her. She froze in place as the doors to the administration building opened, revealing the void within, and a moment later the burst of wind forced her beyond the threshold into darkness. It was always pure darkness... and it never got any easier to deal with, her breath shortening as the void engulfed her. Her tattoos emblazened in reaction to the darkness, trying in vain to chase the darkness back. But this void was tangible, and it fought back, reducing her aura of light to naught but a speck in the darkness.

It was then, while fear gripped her heart, that the voice resounded through the abyss. The display before her, the two creatures that represented absolute forces of opposite natures, was breathtaking and awe inspiring... and the test before her became clear. This was all some test it seemed, no doubt in relation to her being called by the council. Whatever this was, it was unlike any meeting she had ever had... but with a deep breath she steeled herself against her fears, shielded her eyes from the bright light as the creatures clashed, and thought carefully on the question posed before her

"The concept of absolutes is not something i take pleasure in dealing with. That said... I believe one who is resolute in their convictions, determined to see their ideals through to their end, is capable of overcoming even an impossible obstacle. The Immovable Object, stalwart in it's stance, is greater than all." With a nod and a deep breath, Kiyori would cross the threshold underneath the giant bearing its radiant shield.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:45 am

Kiyori-sama!"

In a jarring instant, she'd find herself back outside the administration building. The woman, for a split moment, had come to a complete stop as the genjutsu had overtaken her. The world of darkness had existed for only a split moment in her mind, though it had felt so chillingly real.

"Kiyori-sama? The Council awaits you inside."

The messenger had stopped when he had noticed Kiyori falter. The confusion and worry on his face was clear. He'd not known of what had transpired. Right now, one thing was absolutely certain: this was the start of her consideration for the title of Kazekage. The Council awaited inside to pass judgment.

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 12:02 pm

Kiyori suddenly shook her head as the light of reality came rushing back, a sudden gasp of shock eacaping her lungs as the administration building once more appeared before her eyes. The messenger sent to retrieve her looked at her quizzically, and she waved her hand to him as if to say she was okay. "No worries... just didn't sleep very well last night, that's all. Let's go." as the messenger turned his back to her and began leading her inside, her smile turned serious.

This is becoming bothersome... genjutsu? In all my years I've never experienced such a powerful, overwhelming illusion. What does the council have in mind that they would subject me to such testing... At this point, Kiyori wanted answers and nothing more... and those answers awaited her inside the building. She would follow the messenger as he lead her further into this web.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:02 pm

Kiyori would be led through the walls of the administration building, walls she was likely all too familiar with at this point. Considering her recent experience, however, she might be seeing them in a different light. No doubt, the shock caused by the genjutsu, despite how little of an effect it had on her otherwise, would make Kiyori reconsider her view on what rest inside this building... and more importantly, who resided within its aged structure.

One thing Kiyori might immediately notice was that it was incredibly quiet, even for the administration building. There seemed to be fewer workers in the building than usual, running on a bare-minimum skeleton crew. This was not normal. What was the purpose of this staffing shortage? There was no special holiday or festival ongoing. Were people sick? Was there another emergency that required their manpower elsewhere? Many questions might arise and linger in the candidate's mind before she arrived at the doors of the Council Chamber. It's doors, normally kept open, were closed. Curious.

"They await you inside, Kiyori-sama," the messenger bowed as soon as they arrived. Then, with a flicker of movement, he was gone.

Should Kiyori push them open, she'd find the Council, the entire Council, assembled. There were normally only fully summoned when discussing vital village matters, such as emergencies or...

"Good morning, Kiyori-san."

At the head of the table, in a chair normally vacant, sat Shirahama Sueatsu, the Eleventh Kazekage, in his full formal outfit... and in front of him on the desk was a large plate what appeared to be pork belly curry with spicy peppers and rice...

Huh. Way to cut the tension there.

Taking a big bite of his curry, Sueatsu felt so comfortable with Kiyori that he forgot his manners, a goofy smile on his face as he took his breakfast. "Thank you so much for coming on such short notice," he said through a large mouthful of food.

The doors would close behind her once she stepped in past its threshold. "Indeed. We have much to discuss with you, Henrin Kiyori," spoke Akihito, sitting to Sueatsu's right. He motioned to an empty chair at the end of the table, opposite of Sueatsu. "Please, take a seat."

Starting from Kiyori's right, there was Mio, Jamba, Naoto, Akihito, Sueatsu, Abe, Kaifu, Manza, and Yoshiko sitting to her right. It was evident from the sparkle in Sueatsu's eyes what this was. This was urgent, but it was no emergency. The Council was here to ascertain whether Henrin Kiyori was worthy of the title of Kazekage. And her exam started now.

"To begin, I'd like to commend you for being readily willing to delegate work to others in a time of greater need," Abe started. "That takes a great sense of responsibility and confidence in those you have trained and work under you. Though it horrified him to do so, we threatened him with being Naoto's assistant for an entire day if he did not deliver the message in the most disruptive way possible. There are two things I would like to ask about, however. Once you stepped outside, you likely would have seen the discord his actions would have sown in the marketplace, yet you arrived here quickly. Was there a reason you decided not to check if any serious damage had been wrought outside the Library? Also, I'd like to discuss your answer to the question you answered outside. I know you gave an answer inside the illusion, but I'd like to ask if you'd be willing to elaborate on the answer you chose further?"

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:56 pm

Kiyori weaved her way through the halls behind her messenger, though the eerie quiet that filled the halls of the administration building filled her with a small bit of anxiety. This was quite unusual, and Kiyori prided herself on staying in the know in relation to matters involving the movements of the administration. So how had this, which involved her directly, completely escaped her notice? It was disconcerting to say the least, and for one such as her who prided herself on her knowledge, flying blind wasn't a feeling she enjoyed.

Eventually she was lead to the council's chambers, and the presence of the entire council alongside Kazekage Sueatsu himself filled her with an Immediate realization... this matter was of the highest importance and severity. Kiyori dropped to a respectful bow immediately before the council. "Lord Kazekage Sueatsu-sama. I thank you for your summons. And you all as well, our esteemed council..." the woman was overwhelmed frankly, the sudden weight of the meeting finding itself squarely on her shoulders, practically forcing her to the seat presented to her.

It was Abe who delivered the first assessment, and she waited for the councilman to finish before she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Indeed Abe-san. I have the utmost faith in my comrade and friend Dasu, Kyoko to take charge in my stead when the time calls for it. It is actually for that exact reason that I didn't pass more than a cursory glance at the chaos left in your messenger's wake; Kyoko has it handled. You see, Kyoko is a medical ninja. If anyone were hurt, Kyoko would provide far more useful assistance than I would. My orders were clear, and I trust my comrades and subordinates to handle things in my absence, while I answer the call to attention presented to me. I... trust the woman with my life, sir."

It wasn't a topic she commonly discussed, but Kyoko had more than earned the young Henrin's respect over the years. Kiyori was more than pleased with her ally's growth over the years, and was eager to continue their relationship for decades to come. The second question of Abe's was next, and Kiyori's mind moved with supernatural swiftness to concoct a response to his desire for elaboration. "Let me be clear: I do not condone force. Only as a last resort, when all other options are ruled out, should force be used, and only then if the situation can only reach resolution through force. It simply isn't in my nature to overcome obstacles in that way... instead, I prefer to stand strong against confrontation. I seek to de escalate arguments before they arise, i seek to control the flame before it spreads into a wildfire. This is my philosophy, and that is what lead to my decision... If I am asked to choose between charging something head on, or resolving myself to stand against others, I will always seek to weather the storm as opposed to becoming the storm."

It was no secret that Kiyori hated violence. She was a diplomat at heart, one who preferred the strength of her voice over the power of her fist. If there was a means of peaceful resolution, everyone who knew her knew full well that she would find it. She sat strong in her seat, now resolved against the force of the council before her as she awaited more of their words.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:13 pm

Abe nodded at her explanations, seeming mostly satisfied. "Thoughtful considerations indeed, Kiyori. It is a further testament to the confidence you have in your subordinates to operate independently of your orders according to your wishes. The level of trust implied in those working under you is indeed exemplary. Your answer to the riddle is understandable as well. We know you to be one to seek peace above all things, and you would rather endure harsh conditions than impose those upon others for the sake of the goals you pursue. However, while it is indeed a good answer, Sueatsu-sama wanted to add a point for you to consider."

His cheeks stuffed full of rice and curry, he took a chug from some iced green tea with ginseng and honey, a refreshing beverage recently invented by Mio, Sueatsu gulped and sighed in contentment as he elaborated. "Kiyori-san, what would you define as an 'unstoppable force?'" he asked, allowing the kunoichi to respond before further explaining. "Considering the question is in the form of two conflicting contradictions, it can indeed often be interpreted as a choice of moral dilemma or personal preference. It seems that one cannot exist in the same world where the other is present... but is that really the case? Your answer was fine, by all means, but I will admit that mine would differ. When presented with the same quandary... the conclusion that I reached is that they are one and the same. By virtue of the fact that an unstoppable force's movement cannot be changed or altered in any way, in a sense, it becomes an immovable object. And considering that the same immovable object would halt any movement relative to its own would, thus, also make it an unstoppable force."

"The reason I have explained this to you is that often times we are given what are absolute choices when, in reality, we are presented with what is known as a 'false dilemma.' Our natural assumptions often force us to conclude that one of two things can exist in the world we live in, and we choose based on our preferences. However, should we cast aside the limited notion that only one such thing can exist, we open ourselves to other possibilities, those that can create futures otherwise barred from the close minded," he summarized...

...Before adding: "This is the reasoning of a leader... of a Kazekage. But I am confident, given the opportunity, you will quickly learn to acclimate."

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:26 pm

Kiyori tilted her head slightly as Sueatsu expounded upon the proposed situation, but would answer the question when asked. "It seems obvious enough, Lord Kazekage; it's a force that cannot be stopped. No matter what obstacle is placed before it, the force will continue on without hesitation." she would then fall silent once more, soaking all of Sueatsu's words into her mind like a dehydrated sponge submerged in water. She nodded in understanding of his reasoning, and eventually conceded to his logic. "As always, the mind of our leader sees things that others simply do not. Your logic is undeniable, Kazekage-sama."

Kiyori didn't miss what Sueatsu had said though, and while she had considered the possibility, her humility had blinded her to the purpose of this meeting... until now. "So it's true... the rumors circulating the village. I'm... being considered." she couldn't even bring herself to finish the sentence properly, to say that she was a candidate for becoming the next Kazekage. Hito-sama would be proud...
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:52 pm

Abe looked to the Kazekage and nodded in approval. "Humility is key. They who think they know everything can learn nothing. But those who acknowledge they know nothing can learn something. I can say with certainty that Kiyori is thoughtful, Sueatsu-sama."

To this, Sueatsu simply nodded in agreement.

Kaifu now rose and called out to the door. "Bring the next test!"

In would walk a clerical worker with a small multi-colored cube in hand. Kiyori would recognize it as a three-dimensional color puzzle of some sort, each side containing nine squares and the entire cube having up to six colors. "Kiyori-san, your next test is this: while solving the puzzle in your hands, I will give you a crime scene scenario. You must solve the crime based on the clues I give you while simultaneously solving the puzzle in your hand. You must actively work on both puzzles at once, and you must solve them both within sixty seconds from when I begin speaking. Are you ready?"

Kaifu would wait until Kiyori gave the go-ahead before beginning. "You are investigating a murder. There are five suspects in the case: Masano, Odama, Sonma, Jonmo, and Onoda. On a calendar at the crime scene, the numbers 6, 10, 11, 3, and 10 are written in blood, a final message from the victim. Who is the victim's murderer, and why?"

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:29 pm

Kiyori was a little proud of herself, hearing that Abe had recognized her as humble. It was a bit of a catch 22, humility: to call yourself humble would make you a liar, for you would no longer be humble. You had to be called humble by someone else for it to be true. Kaifu calling forth the next test was slightly jarring, but Kiyori took a deep breath as a tranquil calm washed over her. The next test was a test of logic and analysis it seemed; Kiyori's strength lay in these sorts of situations, the benefits of her family and her incredible mind. The cube seemed simple enough and, if allowed, she would take the cube in hand and look all six sides over, builing a three dimensional map of the cube in her mind by memorizing the color of each individual tile.

That was the easy part, the cube was no more than 20 twists from solved. The riddle proved slightly more challenging, as there was little information to go off of. A series of numbers on a calender, and five suspects? It seemed impossible... but she refused to believe that she was given an impossible task. Once instructed to start, Kiyori would take a deep breath as her eyes narrowed, her brain working overtime on two problems at once. "Numbers, suspects, colors, twist this, turn that, numbers, calender..."

15 seconds had passed, and suddenly the numbers clicked into place while her hands shifted the cube at breakneck speeds. "The numbers on the calender are indicative of the months of the year. They can't be the weekdays as there are more than 7 days in a week, so it must be months. By using the numbers to produce months and taking the first letter of each month, one can form the name of the killer: Jonmo."

As she spoke the name of the killer, she practically slammed a completed cube down on the table... it had been no more than thirty seconds.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:01 pm

Sueatsu gave a tiny golf clap as he finished shoveling another several chopsticks full of curry, pork, and rice into his mouth. Naoto sighed at the sight but no one else paid him any mind. Kaifu nodded. "As expected, your Henrin heritage and your time spent working with the Scribes have sharpened your mental acuity to a fine point. That one took ten seconds longer than you did to solve it, and he didn't have to do the puzzle either," Kaifu commented humorously, taking the smallest playful jab at the Kazekage.

With cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk, Sueatsu shameless nodded his head, joyfully acknowledging his shortcoming, mumbling through a mouthful of food something that more or less meant "I'm not good with puzzles."

Kaifu's test was short and to the point. "I believe Kiyori has demonstrated her fleetness of wit and powerful deduction skills. I am satisfied, Kazekage-sama," she stated, nodding towards their leader nearly unable to stifle a small chuckle at the rather silly expression of joy he had on his face from the curry.

Naoto stood and called towards the door. "Bring them in!"

Five fully armed shinobi walked into the room, surrounding three people bound together by chains, all wearing the garb of prisoners of Sunagakure's penal system. "You are thoughtful, and you are quick-witted. Now, let's test how decisive you are, shall we? How strong does your conviction to uphold this village's justice stand?" he asked, his self-righteous words likely only slightly less gear-grindingly irritating than the undertones of derision one could always detect in his voice. "Before you stand three criminals. They have been bound by a fuuinjutsu so that they may only tell the truth. If you ask them questions about their cases, the fuuinjutsu will... compel them to tell you what they know. Their fates are now in your hands. You must converse with them and give your judgment of each one to the council."

The Council Chamber was silent. Even Sueatsu's face changed, his expression more serious as he swallowed his food. The first prisoner was a boy, with shaggy dark brown hair, of no more than thirteen years. His face stared down at the ground, and he trembled visibly. He was skinny, but he didn't appear malnourished, and there was a wound on his head that appeared to have been recently tended to with gauze and bandages.

The second prisoner was older, a woman in her mid-twenties. Her hair was jet-black, and unlike the boy, she bore the presence of a shinobi merely by how she stood. Her expression was hard, fierce, fair skin and crackling blue eyes staring at each and every one of the Council Members, particularly Sueatsu. There was no malice in her posture, only indignance.

The third prisoner was remarkably old, and remarkably large. Standing 6'5", the man could not have been any younger than sixty years of age, and he was naught more than a wall of muscles. His eyes were wise yet tired. It was evident merely by the arrangement of the guards surrounding them that most of the guards were here for him. His composure was the calmest of the three, a grim knowledge in the depths of his gaze.

Kiyori was allowed to choose how she would approach this. Whom would she speak to first?

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:32 pm

Kiyori beamed with happiness as Kaifu stated her pleasure and satisfaction with Kiyori's lightning fast mind. The gifts of her Family were strong in her, and that talent was only furthered enpowered by her own refined wit. It had always served her well over the years... but morality and judgement were another topic entirely, and that was what the crochety Naoto wished to test. The prisoners were brought before her by the shinobi guards, and immediately a sense of dread crossed her body, her face turning to a grimmace as the lives of these three individuals were placed in her hands. They had all done wrong by village law... but wrong was never black and white. What shades of gray was she facing?

"You. The older man. We'll start with you." Kiyori would rise from her seat and approach the man, eyeing him up and down to get a sense of who he was. Body language, scars, all were taken into her mind. "Names, in this context, aren't important. What I want to know is simple; what is your crime, and what were your motives?" Kiyori would stand before the older, burly man, an air of authority unseen by most emanating from her as her stance hardened, her arms crossed behind her back as she awaited the man's response.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:06 pm

The old man looked down at Kiyori, his body covered in scars, and at first Kiyori couldn't be sure why, but the man chuckled, a gentle sparkle in his eye. It wasn't an insulting laugh of any sort; he genuinely saw humor in something, even if it was in how terrible his own situation was. "Young lady, I know you're sentencing me, but that stance you've taken right there don't look very comfy. If I'd wanted to escape, these fellers right here woulda had t' kill me 'stead of bringin' me all th' way here."

Sueatsu couldn't help but smile a bit at the old man. It would be immediately clear to him and Kiyori that this man was not a native of Sunagakure no Sato. The Kazekage's instincts told him he was an unfortunate victim of circumstance. The old man looked around, clearly searching for something. "If you're wantin' mah story, it's gonna take a bit o' your time, if that's okay. Can I bother you for that chair yonder?" he asked.

The guards looked to Sueatsu, who nodded. Several of the most powerful people in this village were in the same room. If this man tried anything, he was a dead man. One of the guards took a breath and walked over to retrieve the chair, bringing it to the old man, who thanked him and sat down taking a deep breath. "That's th' stuff," he sighed, only adding to the jolly grizzled grandpa look. "Alright. Here's my story, young lady. As you can probably tell by my vernacular and my dulcet tones, I ain't really from around here. 'Fact is, I'm a long-time deserter of your buddies over at th' Leaf. When I was growin' up as a wee thing, my pappy always insisted I was gonna be a shinobi. I didn't like the shinobi life one bit, even as a kid, but you gotta listen to your parents, right? Forced me to go through the academy, got himself assigned as my squad leader as a genin and chuunin, my pappy did. Every day felt like prison. Doin' things I didn't wanna do. I didn't hate the village or nothin'... I just hated the violence. The lyin'. The killin'. I ain't never had no heart for it, even now, and certainly not as a boy or a young man. I got tired of seein' people be nasty to each other. It felt like sharp glass in my ears all th' time, hearin' people screamin' and dyin'... and that I was doin' it to 'em. I tried to leave all peaceable-like, but my pappy, dense as a doorknob tried to stop me, and we had an... altercation. I didn't kill 'im or nothin', but he ain't gimme no choice but to bang him up good."

His eyes dropped at mention of that event, clearly not happy that things happened how they did. "So I left. I took these fancy pills a friend o' mine helped me make, let me make my chakra signature all quiet-like and discombobulated, make me appear like common-folk. I eventually lost their trail and settled in a village just on the border of the Fire Country, ironically enough. I've taken one of those pills every mornin' and I lived a good, long life. Got me a beautiful country girl, who thought marryin' me was a good idea. We had ourselves a lil' pack of kids, and now I got grandbabies. It's a simple life, and it's hard sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Then one day, one of your rowdy boys, one of your nukenin, comes strollin' into my town. I ain't sure how he got past the Leaf's guards near the border, but he slipped past 'em and kidnapped one of my grandbabies. Thought he could slip back over the border after leavin' a ransom note, tryin' to use my town and my family for money for his schemes. My family begged me to stay, but I just couldn't. I took another pill I'd learned to make to remove the limiters on my chakra, and I chased that bastard down, an' I gave him hell. He ain't dead, but he hurt my granddaughter. Gave her a nasty ole' cut on her side. If your boys hadn't shown up... I won't lie, I woulda done him in for hurtin' my family. They found me, and the rest is history."

...The room was silent at the end of the story, and Mio pulled out a handkerchief to loudly blow her nose to disguise her sobbing at the man's touching story. Something as fundamental as their alliance with Konoha was now being brought into question. One of the guards explained to Kiyori that he didn't resist arrest in any way, only asking that they escort him back to the border so people from his village could get his granddaughter to safety. He complied with every instruction given to him without question. In all other contexts, he might have been a hero, considering it was a Sunagakure nukenin who he had apprehended. What would Kiyori do?

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:48 pm

At first Kiyori maintained her composure despite the older man's urge for her to relax, pivoting slightly as he took the seat she had sat in moments ago. And yet, as his story came to light and she learned that he was a Konoha nukenin who was forced to fight when he only wanted peace... it struck a cord with her. She softened her demeanor slowly, her arms relaxing to her side and her authoritarian air calming until she was simply another human being, no different than him. Finally when he finished, her back was turned to the council... for a moment, she even forgot they were there.

"I misjudged you sir. Your appearance lead me to believe you were violent, and yet in the end you and I are no different. I too abhor violence... In a perfect world, you wouldn't have all those scars. However... I cannot put stress on our alliance with Konoha after working so hard to strengthen it to where it is now. We cannot harbor you, and we cannot release you... We have to give you back to Konoha." Kiyori spoke with a clear sadness to her tone, wishing like hell that he had been from any other village than Konoha... even Suna. After a momentary pause, Kiyori would speak up again, her eyes falling on the old, grissled man's face.

"That said, My name carries weight in Konoha. I know the current Hokage on a personal level, his family are as close to me as my own. I am going to suggest that your punishment... be a mind wipe by the Yamanaka. Erase all knowledge of Konoha and the shinobi arts from your mind, and you won't be a threat to them anymore... you can return to your life. I can't promise that they will agree, but Hokage Takeo-sama is a man of reason and compassion... I believe in my heart that he would not sleep soundly at night, knowing he was keeping an old, battered man from his grandchildren."

Finally she turned to face Sueatsu and the council once more, a determined smile on her face. "This is my judgement. He is to be returned to Konoha with my recommendation of punishment." with her verdict given, she turned to face the older man once more, a warm smile flashed at him. "My hopes are with you... May I have your name?" whether a name was given wasn't of true concern, but after hearing his story, she wanted a name to put to the man's face... He would serve as one of her many sources of inspiration; a man who just wanted a peaceful, family life.

Once the man was taken away, the woman would be next, and once again Kiyori would ask the same question: " You're next ma'am. Your crimes and motives, please." Just because she had softened her demeanor towards the older man didn't change that she was still dealing with criminals. They were already guilty parties, there was no reason to treat them as innocents.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:19 pm

The old man's shoulders slumped in relief. It seems that Kiyori's words had gotten to him. "Th' name's Heichi, young lady. I thank you fer your compassion," he replied, his voice cracking just slightly. Even the prospect of having a large portion of his memory wiped seemed a mercy for this world-weary old man, and his eyes watered at the prospect of living freely for the rest of his days.

The second woman was much more fierce in her countenance. She also seemed staunchly determined to prove her innocence. "My only crime is being a patriot, Kiyori-sama," she boldly proclaimed. "I killed a coward who ran from their crimes and a traitor who would have let the coward run free."

Despite the vile disgust in her tone, the fuuinjutsu did not activate. In her heart at least, she was telling the truth. "My partner and I were homebound when we encountered a nukenin as we were ready to cross the border," she further explained. "The ex-pat was guilty of stealing schematics for Kugutsu prosthetics. Regardless of his motives, the man was a criminal, and he aggressively evaded arrest. We drove him back into the Wind Country and cut him off from trying to hide in the midst of a nearby sandstorm. When we caught him, he confessed to his crimes, claiming it was to help less fortunate villages in other countries by helping amputees return to work, helping their villages. As he had already attacked us while fleeing, I had reason to suspect he would both lie to us and try to kill us if we moved to detain him. It was safer to execute him and bring the stolen parts and documents back to the village. My partner, however, fell for his stories and tried to convince me to let him go, promising to turn herself into the authorities when we returned. When I refused, the man attempted to run. My partner attempted to halt my pursuit of the villain and aided a heretic. I had no choice... but to execute her along with the criminal. I fulfilled my duty to this village and protected our secrets."

Naoto seemed to smile. His lawful-neutral mind demanded the fiercest of justice. Sueatsu's eyes, on the contrary, glowered with wrath. What the woman had done to the nuke-nin was unpunishable, and most would argue that she was within her rights to execute the belligerent shinobi, but the swift execution also denied the deceased partner due process, and now two graves existed where there might have been none. Would Law or Justice rule? That was for Kiyori to decide.

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:42 pm

The girl's stalwart demeanor betrayed her sense of patriotism, and her story, while harsh, bore all the nitty gritty details that Kiyori needed to know. Kiyori let out a long sigh as the woman's story ended... while with Heichi she had felt compassion and peace, this woman's demeanor and story told her only one thing; that her loyalties to the village drove her to do what she felt was necessary to protect village secrets... she was loyal to an absolute fault. "I've heard enough. I won't pretend to understand the situation that presented itself to you, but I know in my heart of hearts that you could have found another way to solve this dilemma without spilling blood. Certainly, it wouldn't have been hard to let the nukenin go and track him down later; you knew what he intended to do. Finding a bunch of minor country civilians with prosthetic puppet limbs would've been easy, and you could've captured the criminal from there. Hindsight is always 20/20..."

Truth be told, Kiyori was angry. She was angry that this woman felt that murdering her own teammate, her comrade in arms, was the best course of action given her circumstances. "It is our duty as shinobi to protect our secrets, that much is true. We put our lives on the line to make sure that in the end, our village comes first. This criminal you ran into deserved to be punished for his treason, of that I agree with you on. But your partner did not deserve to die, no matter what you think of her. She only did what she felt was right." Kiyori let out a sigh as she faced the woman, crossing her arms and narrowing her brow at the so called patriot.

"I don't want to judge you. I hate that I have to. I wish like hell I could throw you in prison for what you've done. You may have followed the letter of our laws but you most certainly did not adhere to the spirit of it. I cannot rightfully imprison you, but I will ensure that you are never put in a situation where you are in charge like that again. You are to be demoted to Genin, until you can prove yourself worthy of a higher title once more. And I sincerely pray that you consider the pain you've caused to your partner, and to all of us, by taking her life so carelessly. We are all comrades. We all feel this loss. Don't you ever forget that her blood is on your hands, do you hear me!?" The fury in Kiyori's eyes was clear as day, she now stood inches from the criminal woman's face as she practically barked at her with rage.

After staring at her for what felt like an eternity, she turned her back to the woman and walked back to the chair in the center of the room. "I've passed down my judgement, now get her out of my sight." She'd wait until the woman was taken away from the chambers before finally letting her shoulders relax, a deep sigh bringing her back to some level of calm once more. She turned her attention to the young boy finally, the last in line for judgement, and approached him with a kinder demeanor. "I apologize for your head wound child... I do hope we can ensure it heals properly. Now then, I want you to start with your name first... then tell me why your here. What did you do?"

She didn't let her guard completely down; despite being a kid, the young boy was still here for judgement. He had done something wrong, and until she knew what that was, she couldn't afford to be too soft on him.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 9:39 pm

The woman's face transitioned from stoic resolve to confusion at first. To be blunt, she'd not even remotely considered the notion of a peaceful resolution. Had she had the authority to do so, she likely would have ripped every single prosthetic off of whoever might have received it and not batted an eyelash. That confusion soon progressed as she recognized the rage in Kiyori's eyes, her tough demeanor quickly crumbling under the Henrin's wrath. It eventually reached the point that as Kiyori finished her scathing rebuke, the woman could no longer meet her eye to eye, and she trembled slightly. Even the old man nodded and gave his two cents. "Got a good head on her shoulders, this 'un," he commented to the guard as he sniffed, lightly elbowing him.

The guard's face lit up in pain.

The woman quickly being roughly escorted out of the room, only the child was left. Though Kiyori's tone was soft, shock and fear overtook him his lips sealed... at least until the seal began to glow and sizzle. The child cried out at the searing pain burning his flesh, falling to his knees, and the lone guard standing next to him grit his teeth, only complicit in this arrangement because of the very nature of this situation. Eventually, he could no longer tolerate the moral affront before him and pleaded to the powers that be. "Sueatsu-sama, if I may speak for the boy!"

Naoto stood, face red with anger. "If the child has the gall to commit the crime, then he better have the spine to speak it!" he barked.

The guard opened his mouth to speak, outraged at his callousness. "Naoto-sama, he is a child, he-"

"Enough!"

Sueatsu's normal calm, tender voice resounded through the room with a ferocity and sharpness that everyone, even the old man Heichi, knew to immediately respect. Forget glowing: Sueatsu's eyes were practically ablaze with fury. "Abe-san, please release the boy from the fuuin."

With a nod, he walked over to the child and, his fingers aglow with chakra, drawing over the markings on the boy's chest until the flashed and disappeared. The boy's cries ceased, breathing heavily amidst what was clearly sobbing. Before the proceedings continued, Sueatsu turned to Naoto. "Naoto, procedures be damned, the next time you don't have the decency to spare a civilian child from being bound by the Truth Compulsion technique, I will throw you out that window and ruin more than just your one leg. Do you understand me?" he hissed, the Kazekage's fury boring straight into his eyes.

Naoto may have been a veteran member of the council, but he withered under the unforgiving flames of Sueatsu's rage. "Yes, Sue-

"Lord."

"Lord Sueatsu-sama," he stammered.

His eyes glowered for a moment longer, pushing his food away. This turn of events had quelled his appetite. He turned to the guard and nodded.

The guard, now much more willing to follow his duty, continued. "This child's name is Hoshi Rizue. He is an orphan, and the orphanage he was housed by has struggled. Against the wishes of his caretakers, he has spent most of his time living on the street, having to resort to petty theft to subsist. In his words, he wanted the other children in his orphanage to have more money to feed and clothe them. We investigated his case... and somehow, he's always evaded capture by genin teams sent out to capture him. We've never charged the orphanage, as Abe-san has heard of the situation and has waived payment for the missions. We haven't had manpower to send a chuunin to take on the mission, and we thought it good training for the genin to have to work with the disenfranchised. Things have continued this way for several months... until..."

The guard looked down at the boy. "The boy made friends with a stray pup, one he's been feeding with what meager earnings he's made, it seems. An aspiring genin of the Kouseki clan was assigned to capture him and finally succeeded. He was... less than gentle in his approach, hence the boy's wounds. The pup moved to defend Rizue, and it bit the genin on the ankle. The genin kicked the dog with such force that he shattered the spine and ribs. The dog died a very quick but painful death in front of Rizue... and Rizue broke free of the crystal jutsu trapping him. He snapped a crystal from the genin's own jutsu and stabbed it through his temple, killing him instantly."

The shock of the case ran through the room. Even Sueatsu seemed astonished. "...I've heard of such ludicrous strength even from those without chakra, but never in one so young," he sighed, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation.

Abe shook his head. "This failure is mine, Kazekage-sama," he admitted. "Had I searched harder for available chuunin-"

"Belay that talk, Abe-san. We both know you do all you can to balance compassion and necessity," Sueatsu admonished. "No one could have foreseen this."

The guard suddenly got quiet. "...The Kouseki are demanding jurisdiction over his case... They want blood for blood."
Last edited by ShinobiTruth on Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:05 am, edited 2 times in total.

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:14 pm

Kiyori took a step back from the young boy as the seal took hold of him and pain wracked his body, only leaping to action as the boy began to fall that she might ease him down and keep him from hurting himself from the fall. The back and forth between the guard, Sueatsu and Naoto was heard, but her attention was strictly on the young child before her... She wished she could ease his pain. Eventually the boy was released from his fuuin however, and his pain subsided... she would leave the boy where he lay crying, sparing only one last look at him with pure sorrow in her eyes before looking to the guard that explained the situation.

She had hoped that perhaps the boy's story would be a little less forgivable, that she might be able to harden herself so that she could deliver judgement on this poor boy... But if anything, the story only dug deeper into her emotions. Tears began to well in her own eyes as the horrible truth came to light, her hand rising to cover her mouth as she fought back sobs with deep breaths. Such a tragedy... and she was to give judgement on this situation? She was to either hand this poor young orphan to the Kouseki for execution, or go against their wishes and risk retribution from them? How was anyone to make this decision?

It wasn't long before she could bear it no longer. "No." Kiyori spoke only a single word as she looked to the guard, dropping her hand from her face as tears began to fall down her cheeks. "I'll not sentence a child to death when the fault does not rest on his shoulders. This fault is on us; the system has failed this child, and still he fought tooth and nail to do all he could to survive. He didn't want this! He didn't deserve this! HE HAD NO CHOICE!!" She turned her back on the council as a few sobs escaped her, her hand rising to her face as she wiped her tears and tried desperately to regain composure.

After a few more moments she raised her head and turned back to the council, tears still streaming. "I'd sooner let them take my life than this child's. Rizue..." Kiyori approached the boy on the ground and sat next to him, a hand stroking through his dirty hair lovingly. "This village has failed you. We don't deserve you. I want you to know that... none of this reflects on you, child. It is us who should be judged... Please find it in yourself to forgive us." She'd try to hug the boy, a few more sobs escaping her lungs before finally she rose with a deep breath, wiped away the last of her tears, and faced the council.

"Juvenile detention. Psyche evaluations. Financial assistance for him and his orphanage, to ensure that this tragedy never repeats itself. And as for the Kouseki clan... I will work something out with them. I will make them understand. I'll do all that I can to ensure they remain our allies... But I will never allow them to kill a child that doesn't deserve it. This whole situation is a horrible, terrible, tragic accident... Please don't allow any more blood to be shed." She steadied herself once more, a solemn frown plastered on her face as she turned to go back to her chair. She didn't sit however, she simply leaned forward and rest her hands on the arm rests, looking down to the ground in silent agony as the weight of the world rest on her shoulders.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:47 pm

The boy sobbed uncontrollably into Kiyori's embrace as the room fell still after her passionate defense of his sake. Naoto's face was white at hearing the full details of the case. In his haste to clog the wheels of bureaucracy and find a case to force this candidate to meet his unreasonable standards, it was apparent that he'd not bothered to determine the full details of each case, at least not the boy's case. He jumped at the notion that the Kouseki wanted the boy executed and was about to revel in the joy he'd feel of seeing a snot-nosed brat get justice. Instead, the weight of his many years was fully evident, sliding down into his seat in a cold sweat. For the first time probably ever, the normally snide, contemptable old coot was crestfallen, completely and utterly defeated.

The rest of the table was similarly solemn, Mio still blowing her nose from the last two stories. She had to pull out her reserve handkerchief for the third. Sueatsu looked to Naoto. "Are her judgements decisive enough for you, Naoto?" he asked quietly, a sharp tone still very much present in his low hiss and taking a very grim satisfaction that the stunt Naoto'd tried to pull on Sueatsu himself had so horrifically backfired on Kiyori.

Naoto arose from his stupor as he briskly shook his head. "Yes, Kazekage-sama, most certainly. You may take the boy away, guard," he ordered, his eyes laser-focused on the papers in front of him.

The guard gingerly slipped his arm around the boy's shoulder, gently leading him away, but before he left, the Kazekage had one more thing to say. "Soldier."

The man turned and saluted, still keeping one hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Make sure the boy gets to spread his friend's ashes before you process him."

The soldier nodded before leading the boy out and closing the door.

Akihito, controlled as ever, rose next. His sharp intuition told him that it was best to continue with the rest of the exam. "As tragic as the boy's tale is, there is still another matter even more concerning we must attend to: that of the Soul Genma and its host, Izanami Sakaki. The young girl has just passed her chuunin exam, and I spoke at length with her handler... She seeks a level of independence that, while the rest of this council has agreed to, I frankly remain resistant to it."

Akihito looked down at Kiyori. "Many of us at this table are already thinking it, but I will go out and say it. I'm getting old, Kiyori. I cannot count the number of mentorees and hosts, members of our village, I have watched burn on funeral pyres due to the conniving, wretched machinations of that foul beast. Certainly, we've also had difficulties with the Creation Genma, but nothing on the same scale of danger as the Soul Genma. I will not be on this council forever. I will return to being a citizen at some point, and as a citizen, I am concerned that this pursuit of independence by the host, one of the youngest chuunin on record, by the way, is a trap being set by that thing that our survival necessitates we use. You all know of my profound hatred of that creature and what... whom it has taken from us. What either creature might do to us if given the chance."

Staring Kiyori dead in the eye, Akihito asked his question: "What increased measures will you put in place to make sure that the Creation Genma and the Soul Genma are kept under tight lock and key? What measures will you take to best ensure that the possibility of losing another jinchuuriki to the deceptions that these ancient spirits weave in the hearts of man are as slim as possible?"

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:43 am

Kiyori took a few more minutes to steady herself while the situation with Rizuo resolved, taking deep, steady breaths to regain what little composure she had left. It was, admittedly, a bit of a help to see the cold Naoto slump in his chair, clearly knowing full well that this situation was hardly appropriate, even for a test. However, Sueatsu was the one who pushed Naoto to agree that Kiyori was decisive in her judgements, and thus he agreed that she was still a ripe candidate for the title of Kazekage. That was enough that she was able to turn and take her seat again, hands folded in front of her face in the form of the Tiger Seal while she rested her chin upon her thumbs. It was a simple quirk of hers, one that she did usually when deep in thought or emotionally spent.

"Rizuo, we will meet again. I promise you that. Please, don't lose hope, friend. I apologize council just... give me a short moment." The boy and the other prisoners were all taken away, and once more Kiyori was left before the council, still completely spent from that last test... And yet she was expected to continue, Akihito jumping straight into the next matter of business. By the Light... I guess there's no rest for us today, huh? She asked the rhetorical question in her mind while she listened to Akihito's speech, talking on the nature of the village's jinchuuriki and the constant failure as a result of the deceptive machinations of Shishire no Shigenma, the Phantom Beast of Souls... The bastard that killed her sister.

"Sachiko was my sister, Akihito. Yes, I am fully aware of that creature that now resides in Sakaki, I've spoken with Souta myself a few separate times regarding the new Soul Host. And as for dealing with them, keeping them under a tight lock... I've long had a theory in relation to these creatures. First, the village has up and coming shinobi who have taken the power of ninjutsu to the next level, Hito-sama being one of them as i'm sure you all remember. His employment of the "Jikukan" ninjutsu style is what enabled him to be everywhere at once, warping space and bending time to his wishes. There is another, Saisuke Zao, who bears the same ability, and who coincidentally also happens to be a master of the sealing arts... in fact, by my understanding, it was he who sealed Sakaki was it not, Akihito?"

As always, Kiyori had a way of getting a hold of information within the village, whether or not she was involved with the topic or not. She felt it was part of her duties as the Archivist of the scribes to understand what went on in the village... Though the more secretive stuff was usually left to the Vault and Arata. "Now then... on the topic of keeping them under tight lock and key, I propose fuuinjutsu crafted by Zao-sama that monitor the host's emotional status. These fuuin will be connected to another fuuin that, should the host lose themselves and the genma take over completely, will activate. This secondary fuuin will perform two actions; First it will subdue the host with Tenkujutsu, rendering them weak so that the handlers may... do their jobs." She hated the phrasing, but it was preferable to stating the truth; murdering the lost host.

"The second action serves as a link between the genma within the host, and the container. Once the host is dealt with, the fuuin will activate and automatically transport the defeated genma back into it's container here in Suna... no matter where the host is in the outside world, the genma will be returned to Suna, all nice and packaged up, ready to be put in the next host at a moment's notice." While she was no sealer herself, nor was she skilled in the use of fuuinjutsu, she had Hito to thank for her wealth of understanding in regards to the ninpou arts, and her studies in relation to her little sister Sachiko for her understanding of Tenkujutsu; a style she had long considered learning herself. There was still one matter left in the air that Akihito wanted an answer for, and Kiyori scratched her head as her mind worked the problem...

"The second question you pose is... trickier. And considering my answer to your first involved one of the most powerful ninjutsu styles in the world, that should speak to the complexity of your question. The genma have always been a balance that is different for each and every host. Some can handle more of the genma's stress in shorter times, while others get overwhelmed shortly after the sealing..." She took a moment to pause and clasp her hands together, a short prayer for her sister who had lost herself to the Soul Genma naught but a few years ago. "Apologies. That was for Sachiko. Anyway, I wish there was another way but this is a problem that has arisen time and again for centuries. The host can't very well shut the spirit out completely, else they will get no where with it's power and eventually they will wither and die. The host can't give in fully, or the genma will husk them and they will die. And in all of our years, while we have sharpened our methods of searching for candidates for the sealing, I don't believe we will ever truly perfect the process. But if I had one piece of advice to offer to you, Akihito-sama? Please... remember that they're still children. They're still human. No matter what resides within their bodies, they are our people... Try not to villainize them, and remember that the fault truly lies on the beast within them. No one, not even I, can ever truly understand the stress our Jinchuuriki deal with on a daily basis, those beasts whispering in their ears every hour of every day."

It was a long answer to be sure, but Akihito's questions were never simple. Once her full answer had been given, she would fall silent and await her judgement.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:16 pm

Akihito shook his head. "You misunderstand, Kiyori. I do not villainize the hosts. I am exceedingly firm with them, yes, and I'll acknowledge that I have at times taken such firmness too far. But I have seen this process play out more times than I care to remember. Slowly, but certainly, the overconfidence, the arrogance, seeps in. For each host we lose, my morning prayers to her Light grow longer and longer. None of us in this room will ever truly know what it means to be a jinchuuriki, that is true. But I do know what it is to be human... and I know what it means to fight against an enemy for most of your life... There are very few in this village who can say the same. A jinchuuriki must be ready to fight every second of every day of their lives, and they must truly understand what that really means. The ones who haven't..."

He sighed, the silence in the air finishing his statement for him. "I am pleased to see that you've deeply considered manners to limit Shishire's destruction. I implore you to pursue the matter further should you succeed Sueatsu-sama," Akihito commended, a rare occurrence. He then turned to Sueatsu and stated, "Though we do not agree on all matters about how the Genma and their hosts should be handled, we do agree on the most important factors. I find her sense of caution sufficient, Sueatsu-sama."

Manza rose next, offering a sympathetic smile to the Henrin candidate. He could only imagine the whirlwind of thoughts rushing through her mind. "I typically ask this question of all candidates, but as our village defenses evolve, so do the potentials for gaps and vulnerabilities. I want to offer you assurances that you will suffer no reprisals for your answer to this next question, as clearly, outside of any other context, this would be grounds to charge for treason."

Shuffling his documents around, he laid out several seemingly important ones in front of himself on the large table. "Assuming you had the forces necessary, how would you wage war on Sunagakure no Sato, with the intent to kill Shirahama Sueatsu and subjugate the village as a branching point to take over the Wind Country?"

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Thu Oct 24, 2019 2:00 pm

Kiyori bowed with respect to the old gentlemen as he corrected her assumptions, then stated his satisfaction. "Believe me Akihito, I can never forget Sachiko. She will be my ever constant reminder to always be wary of the ancient rulers of humanity." Kiyori's attention was then brough to Manza, and his question sent a chill down her spine. He asked the unthinkable; He wanted her to plan treason? The subjugation of her people, even in a hypothetical sense, waa horrifying to consider. Still, after her judgements, she was numbed out enough that she could place herself in that mindset... the mind of a criminal. Her entire feel seemed to shift as the gears in her head began to turn.

"To do it alone would be impossible of course. I would need the help of other criminals of the world... and a village. First I would undo the work that I have done to strengthen our ties with Konoha. To do this, I would stage multiple high profile assassinations. Liaisons, emissaries, diplomats... even Daimyo. If killing Konoha ninja I would disguise myself as a Suna ninja, and vice versa. I would even ask others to perfom the deed, as my face is well known in both countries. Once the ties that bind were frayed, I would take the information to our mortal enemies: Kirigakure. I believe it would take little to convince them, no doubt they would smell the blood in the water and see all they had to gain from taking over Sunagakure. I recently had the pleasure of witnessing their strongest ninja in action at the Star Country Festival, so I can say with certainty that their bannin and Mizukage are among the greatest shinobi this world has seen. I doubt Iwagakure would pass up the opportunity either, the alliance of the rock and mist is growing all the time. Two villages versus one..."

She hated to admit it, but the power of Kiri's shinobi was undeniable... she had seen and experienced that power herself. "Now for the actual attack, I know full well our defenses are the pride and joy of Wind Country... but even the most defensible location has a weakness, and Sunagakure's is the very land itself. Even with all of our greenhouses and advances in terraforming, we lack the self sustainability to survive a blockade. We'll sit outside the walls for months, preventing all ins and outs until civil unrest kicks in and riots begin to break out. Eventually the reserves will dry up, the people will begin to wither, and the defenses will become harder and harder to maintain. When the day comes that they grow too weak, we'll make our move. I'm assuming the shinobi population would be kept the healthiest, so we'll assume only a 10% loss in forces of the course of a blockade between skirmishes and sickness. As for an entrance, I would attack from above and below, using my power over sand to counter our sandpit defenses and Iwa's doton users to chip away at our canyon defenses. We'd enter from above and below, rush the administration building and overwhelm the Kazekage with numbers. With the capitol claimed, dispatching Wind Country's daimyo would be a simple matter... and then there would be no leadership left in Wind Country."

The darkness in her tone resonated through the entire chamber... of course the way of the diplomat would be to forge and break ties. Isolate them from their allies and starve them out before delivering the final blow... a long plan, but hard to stop once started. She didn't even state she had finished with her plan... she simply sat in quiet rumination of her own plans, disgusted with herself for being able to conjure such a well thought out attack on her homeland.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:26 pm

Manza actually seemed quite impressed. He noted Kiyori’s disgust and would force her to endure it further. A leader had to consider the grim possibilities that others would find themselves too sensible to even approach. ”Sowing political discord, allegiances, and laying siege. All sound tactics. Now, based on the attack plan you just told me, what contingencies does the village, in your opinion, need to start establishing to protect us against a mid to long-term siege? That seems to be the very crux of your plan, and even without the political discord, Iwagakure and Kirigakure could split forces and hold the Leaf at bay while sieging us.”

Manza’s was the first to ask two questions. He might not be the last, so Kiyori would have to brace herself.

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:45 pm

Kiyori was a little more relaxed and comfortable with the idea of subverting her own offense against the village, and perked up slightly as the question was raised by Manza; how to survive a seige... "There are only two sensible options for surviving a seige; outlast or bypass. To outlast a seige, you merely have to ensure the absolute most preparation. Non perishables, dehydrated meats, seed and grain stockpiles that reach the skies. You have to outlast them until they give up or run dry themselves... a battle of total attrition."

Kiyori paused a moment, considerint discussions with Hito and Takeo in the past before continuing. "The other option is to bypass the blockade, and if you recall Former Kazekage Hito-sama had plans to create a transport system into and out nearby villages with leaf. I would suggest a similar system... that will allow teleportation directly into the village. Maybe not a constantly active pathway, that would allow one to use it as a means of attack against us. Instead, an emergency system to be used in the event that supplies are scarce, one that can be used to deliver supplies to us in the event of a blockade. Fuuinjutsu on our end would keep the pathway closed, and toggling the seal allows the system to be used."

Manza's final statement deserved a response as well, as Kiyori saw too much risk to consider that option. "No Manza, that would put Suna's enemies between the stone walls of our village and the forces of our ally; A terrible strategic position, the epitome of being between a rock and a hard place. I wouldn't trust even two villages forces to survive that." Kiyori was much more content to give this kind of assessment. She wasn't planning an attack anymore, she was planning a defense... much more her preferred style of tactical thought.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:13 pm

Manza nodded again. ”A fine assessment. Sueatsu-sama, I am sufficiently convinced that Kiyori is resourceful in her deliberations.”

Jamba was next on the docket. Giving a respectful bow to the rest of the council as it’s youngest member, he then turned to Kiyori and offered the same. ”Thank you very much for your patience in answering theses questions, Kiyori-san,” he began, ever the diplomat and businessman. ”I will do my best to be concise in the questions that I present.”

Turning to the financial reports in front of him, he continued . ”Due in no small part to your own efforts, Kiyori-san, many villagers, business owners, and even shinobi now have aspirations that reach further and further outside of the village. With Sunagakure having warmed to more intimate international relationships with our allies and fomenting new connections, such progress and the interchange of cultures are inevitable, as are some shifts in public ideals and principles. Change is good, and I am a firm believer in its positive power. However, this leads to the concern of gentrification, the homogenization of our cultural heritage and principles. The influx of wealth from our merchants’ international ventures, while most certainly a wonderful tool for gathering intel for our own purposes, has not been equally distributed back home. In certain areas of the village, the rate of inflating costs have not necessarily kept pace with rising incomes... and it unfortunately leads to terrible situations as the young boy Rizue is now in. As people become self-sufficient, it is more common for social safety nets to shrink as more people cater to the needs of the machine of business. Do not misunderstand: strong businesses are wonderful for Sunagakure. However, it is very easy for one to forget one’s true home when money becomes their refuge.”

Straightening the sleeves of his garment, he looked back towards Kiyori. ”My question to you is this: what incentives or policies would you implement to strengthen business investments into the wellbeing of the village without placing needless restrictions on business expansion abroad, thus compromising an important part of our information network? And what incentives can you offer that would contribute to the preservation of our culture as the influx of foreign ideas and money increases?”

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:08 pm

Kiyori gave a respectful bow both to Manza as the man was satisfied by her answere, and Jamba as the young merchant respected his peers. Truly, Jamba had always been a favorite of Kiyori's. A man who wasnt afraid of change, was polite to all he dealt with, and who valued more than just coin. His questions about the current economic state of the village interested her greatly, despite economics being one of her least knowledgeable subjects. "First, let me say that I do so enjoy the amount of respect that you show your peers Jamba. Don't ever toss that respect aside, it really speaks to your character as a councilmember." Once the pleasantries had been exchanged between them, Kiyori would take a moment to clear her throat before tackling the problems set forth by Jamba.

"I think the keyword for your first question is the word 'abroad', Jamba. There is a lot that we simply cannot produce here in the desert, services that can't be acquired and merchandise we can't get without importing. I urge our people to bring these things in, to create business based around the imports of other nations. However, while I know businesses hate the word... A tariff isn't a bad approach. But I would only be comfortable putting a tariff specifically on things that we can produce here, services that can be accessed here in our own back yard. I feel this would push our more successful merchants to consider keeping their business here at home, without cutting into the new markets they're accessing out there beyond our walls."

Kiyori took a small pause to let the topic settle before tackling the more sensitive topic; their culture. "I absolutely agree that with this kind of expansion, the melding of cultures is inevitable. I don't seek to tell people not to take what they believe is worth taking from other cultures, in fact I encourage it. Only through the mutual understanding and fusion of cultures can we all truly understand each other, and a mutual understanding is the foundation of all diplomacy. However, while i'm all for the melding of cultures, I agree that I too have fears regarding the loss of our heritage. My response? More holidays. Give our people reason to celebrate our culture year round, not just during our Golden Week but all the time! Perhaps even a day of each week dedicated to worship... Sunday. After all, it even has 'Sun' In the name! In this way, we could give our people more to remember as they spread through the lands, passing our proud culture to others and in turn taking from the cultures they come across."

She grinned happily at the thought of Yuumagure becoming even more widespread than it already was, and other who walked the path of Her Light absorbing from the culture of Sunagakure. She was pleased with her own answers, but would Jamba be?
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:22 am

Jamba thought deeply about Kiyori's answer. It was true that businesses would be averse to the notion of a tariff as soon as it was mentioned... but it would only be restricted to goods or services that could be offered in the village. That would force companies to compete within the village itself and would compel them to make a higher quality product without skyrocketing the price. "Certainly, a tariff on services and goods already readily available in the village seems fair. I particularly enjoy the notion of having more holidays, as well. Holidays are often times an opportunity for businesses to offer discounts to customers to drive up sales in a short window. And a day of the week reserved for spirituality would certainly help with the preservation of our cultural strengths. There's still one question that remains unanswered, however."

Jamba turned back to Kiyori. "Additional profits are oftentimes either pocketed or are invested back into the company itself. I know you touched on it a bit with holidays, but perhaps I failed to communicate what I was more concerned about, so I'll rephrase this part of my question. How would you convince companies to invest in the village's citizens? How would convince them, not compel them, to contribute a greater part of their earnings to the social safety nets that are lacking in the village? How might they help prevent another Rizue in your administration?" he asked.

This was new. Jamba, who previously was so strongly focused on the progression of business, seems to have been touched by the tragedy he just bore witness to as well. What happened with the boy clearly resonated with him, and much like a businessman, he sought Kiyori's input on the solution to the problem. Still, he was judging her responses. He had his own ideas. Would their thought processes mesh?

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:46 am

Kiyori nodded her head and hummed in thought, realizing that she had indeed missed the bit that Jamba mentioned about strengthening the social nets of the village. She certainly wanted to provide the best possible assistance to the less fortunate she could possibly provide, and the wealthy of the village could be convinced to do just that... with the right incentive. "Oh I think I have the perfect idea for that Jamba. You see, we tax these merchants and business for village related purposes, one of these of course being our own village contribution to these social safety nets. Obviously we only take a fraction of what they provide us in taxes and contribute it to these nets... But what if instead, we cut out the middle man?"

Kiyori suddenly felt like she was a merchant, peddling some new ware to a potential client or consumer. "Tax exemptions. We give them an alternative to paying us... by letting them pay these groups and organizations directly in donations. We'd still receive something from them of course, but it'd be considerably less than we receive in taxes now, and instead that money goes straight to these groups that need it most. Businesses save money, safety nets get their funding, and because we aren't fractioning it it'll be considerably more than we would be able to give them. Everybody wins." A smirk plastered on her face, Kiyori let the big reveal hang in the air while she awaited Jamba like a fisherman waits for the big bite.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:03 am

His face brightened at the prospect. "That is an excellent proposition, Kiyori-san. That would be one step in a more comprehensive plan, but I enjoy the fact that it rewards businesses for taking a direct, concerted effort in their fellow villagers outside of simply providing a service or good for profit. Sueatsu-sama, Kiyori-san has adequately shown her ability to show careful consideration for all of our village's interests."

Sitting down, Yoshiko rose next, quite awake, which was a surprise. She'd been mostly asleep during Sueatsu's exam, so one could only imagine how she was managing to stay awake this time around. "It seems that Naoto-san's test has been a source of inspiration for more than one of us," she commented wryly. "The kunoichi you judged, and the nature of the criminal she slew in the field, the one who had stolen components for making Kugutsu-based prosthetics. That man's misplaced generosity made me meditate more on the irony of the practice. There are plenty of less fortunate individuals who would do anything to have a functioning limb with which they could return to being productive members of their villages or society. Yet, here in our village, where we have the ability to give any child born with a deformity, or a shinobi suffering a life-changing injury a chance at returning to as normal a life as possible and, in the case of shinobi, increase the strength of our individual units... the notion brings ostracism by those of a more devout or traditional nature. Hypocrisy in any other shade is still hypocrisy, and its odor is just as foul."

Shaking her head, Yoshiko continued. "Yet I am well aware that forcing minds to change rarely works, if ever, and such staunch opinions, I feel, have hindered our ability to publicly gain favor for further advancements in our medical techniques and technology. It is clear that people must be inspired to see things through a different lens. How would you, Kiyori-san, propose we work to change the hearts and minds of the people in relation to furthering development on medical body modifications and improvements in medical research?"

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:46 am

As the test with Jamba was finished, Kiyori could feel herself growing more and more anxious as the time went on. One by one the council was falling in on their decisions and so far they looked to be supportive of her, but there was still that gut feeling... Yoshiko was the next to speak, and as the head medical professional of the village, she knew full well that she wanted to erase the stigmas associated with the advances in her field. Her morals were there of course, but they didn't pertain to her field of study... And Kiyori was in agreement with her, to a point.

"For what it's worth, despite my fervent religious belief, I agree with you Yoshiko. Our people are afraid of what a future with this sort of technology might hold, they're afraid of more like the Great Heretic, Habimori Manza. And they are right to fear that possibility... But the act of enhancing one's body, or even restoring it to it's former functionality through the use of these medical advances, is nothing to be afraid of in and of itself. The fear comes from what these people do, and the human condition is to focus on the negative more than the positive. We could have a squad of a dozen shinobi enhanced by these augmentations go out and save a village, but the public is only going to see those like the Great Heretic... We need to change that."

Kiyori paused for a moment to consider how best to change that opinion, to bring people around to the idea that not everyone with body modifications is bad. The solution, or at least one possible solution, seemed simple enough. "You need a face. Someone who's body has undergone modification for one reason or another, preferably out of necessity. This person needs to become the figurehead of the movement, they need to live an exemplary life that shows everyone that people with these modifications aren't all bad. This person should be known throughout our public as a hero, who's used their modifications to the benefit of our village, not just themselves. You do that, you get this person to be the face of change, and I think eventually public opinion will begin to sway... Especially with the melding of cultures as Jamba mentioned. These things aren't villainized in the leaf village, and it's only a matter of time before our people see the good these modifications have done for their shinobi population. So yeah... I think it's inevitable that change will come, Yoshiko. If you want to speed up the process, find yourself a poster child for the movement."

Kiyori may not have had the scientific mind to understand the intricate processes required to create these modifications, but she sure as hell understood how to sway opinions as a diplomat. The answer she provided should cover at least some of Yoshiko's problems.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:44 pm

The rest of the council seemed satisfied with the answer, but Yoshiko remained standing. "Indeed, having a public face to rally around would certainly abate certain qualms and fears in regards to prosthesis and other like procedures for civilians and shinobi alike. However, merely saying that a public figure is needed is not enough. Is there a person in particular that you could recommend serve as the public figurehead for this new initiative?"

This was a secondary test of sorts for Kiyori. For as much time as she spent as an archivist, how well did she truly know the people of the village? Would she know them well enough to understand their needs to the fullest extent? Would she know them well enough to know who she could rely on, not simply within the walls of her library, but throughout the village in its entirety? This was Yoshiko's concern, and Kiyori was being put to task to have an adequate answer.

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:01 pm

Kiyori pondered the proposal set forth by Yoshiko, her question into Kiyori's acquaintance with the various shinobi of the village. Kiyori couldn't help a grin though, as she pointed to her temple with a small chuckle. "I've got thousands of shinobi files stored up here in my noggin Yoshiko. One of the many benefits of being the Archivist of the Scribes. I could toss you a couple dozen candidates, but there are two in particular that stick out in my mind... On the more personal level, there is the recently amputated Hizashi, Rika. She's a scribe, one I invited to the organization personally, who suffered at the hands of a trap in a temple while hunting down long lost artifacts for the Scribe's Library. While she initially opposed the idea of prosthesis i'm told she changed her mind, got a new arm, and used it to great effect to become a chuunin not long ago. Her future seems very hopeful, and she's a sweet girl that would no doubt garner a lot of respect. Her modifications are slight of course, but they're present. I think she would serve well."

"And then there's Hasegawa, Yuusuke. Much like Rika, Yuusuke was partner to one of the village's jinchuuriki, Setsuya, Inka. My understanding is that he's been through hell, and in his younger years he was a bit of a fire cracker. In addition he actually died on mission, and was resurrected via the powers of the Soul Genma. This all sounds bad on the surface, and if you read it on paper you'd likely toss the man aside... But my understanding is he's grown quite tranquil since those events transpired. He has two arms and a leg, all puppet prosthetics, and uses them to surprising effectiveness. He's been a strong asset to the village over the years, and would no doubt make for a perfect example of large-scale modification done right."

Kiyori had posed her two main candidates, and had her own opinion of which was the best choice. However, choices were important, and so in her mind that choice belonged with Yoshiko.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:10 pm

If the choice did belong to Yoshiko, it didn't look like she'd be making that choice today. Nodding, she turned to Sueatsu. "Those are both excellent choices. You find individuals to help win the hearts of the people instead of using coercion or brute force tactics. As expected of our key diplomat. Sueatsu-sama, I find Kiyori to be morally sound in her morality and reasoning."

At last, the cheerful old woman, Mio, who'd finally managed to clean herself up after the previous sobfest, stood. "May this day find you well, young Kiyori," the elderly councilwoman offered to the candidate. "My final test from the council comes with a simple question, but it requires a profound level of wisdom and knowledge of yourself and others around you."

Taking a sip of the tea in front of her, she looked to Kiyori. "A Kazekage must truly know his or her people, sometimes better than he or she even knows themselves. This extends to all facets of life and administration. This includes understanding when others are more fit to perform a certain duty than one's self. My question is simple, but its answer will not be so. Of the shinobi in this village, who do you believe to be a superior candidate for the position of Kazekage to yourself, and what reasons do you have to offer that would prove them to be a better candidate for the office than yourself?"

Both a simple and yet difficult question. Even for someone as humble as Kiyori, making a strong argument for someone else could very well disqualify her from the running that she was so eager to participate in. What would she do?

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by TyDie » Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:33 pm

Kiyori was happy that Yoshiko was pleased with her morality, finding that she was not bogged down by it and yet still wanted to adhere to it. Morality was not the enemy of progress, extremism was. With that, there was one last council member aside from Sueatsu himself that she was to speak to, the sweetest old lady to ever grace a council chair; Uchida, Mio. Her question seemed so simple on the surface, and yet at it's core it was profoundly complex. And yet Kiyori had no issues with the understanding that her praises of other shinobi may well take her out of the running; the leader of Sunagakure should be the best of the best of the best. If that wasn't Kiyori, she was happy to concede to another.

"I'll do you one better Mio... I'll give you two." Kiyori grinned at Mio as she made her bold claim, letting the claim hang above them a moment before she continued. "The first is an obvious choice I think; Saisuke, Zao. The man has displayed no shortage of skill and talent in the ninjutsu arts, and has formed pact after pact with spirit after spirit, becoming a master of Tenkujutsu so great that he rivals or even exceeds our own Akihito... No offense meant, sir." She scratched her head a moment, giggling as embarrassment washed over her. She wasn't used to putting one above another like this, but it was what was asked of her. "That said, obviously skill isn't the only factor one must consider in a leader. Zao has proven time and again to be a reliable squad leader to his teams, his wisdom and strength lending itself to success after success throughout his career. His understanding of spirits is greater than any other, which lends itself quite well to our jinchuuriki dilemmas, and his intellect has lead the village to make great strides in multiple fields. I think Zao-sama would be an excellent candidate for Kazekage... if he wanted it."

She wasn't sure the man did want such a responsibility, but the facts were clear; he'd be excellent for the task. Then there was the other, more controversial opinion of Kiyori's. "The other candidate I pose is a bit rough around the edges... But I would trust him to lead us through times of struggle, for he knows all too well the pain and grief of failure... Meiyo, Souta." She would let that name hover, judging Akihito specifically, as he likely knew the man quite well by this point. "In terms of ability, I would say the man's bodily strength rivals Sueatsu's own, and his current success in terms of the genma have lead me to understand something... Souta knows a good idea when he sees one, and he isn't afraid to follow through with it even if others don't agree with him. He has presented himself as a sensei to our most recent jinchuuriki, much to the dismay of the village, and yet so far this venture has lead to our newest soul host climbing at a faster rate than any other host without losing herself to the spirit within. He saw the chance and he took it, even though in the past he has had to bear the weight of that particular failure personally... by killing my sister."

She paused for a brief moment and took a deep breath, fighting back tears as she brought Sachiko up once again. "So why does that matter? Coming to grips with failure is perhaps the most important quality for a leader to have. Understanding your shortcomings and moving forward in spite of them, having the courage to try again despite the pain and grief of such a loss... I think that speaks louder than any words I have spoken today. I would be more than willing to follow Souta as Kazekage, and I believe he would be one of the greatest leaders we've ever known." Kiyori let out a small sigh as she finished singing the praises of these great men among the village's population, leaning back in her chair as she eyed Mio in expectancy.
Active Characters
Village of OriginCharacter Name & LinkRankColor
Sunagakure no SatoHenrin EmiGenin[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no SatoIbakuro AiyaChuunin[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no SatoKouseki TakumaGenin[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no SatoKazuki RyuChuunin[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoHiraku KenjiBannin S-Rank Missing Ninja[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
Iwagakure No SatoFukusha JinsaiJounin[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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[Kazekage Exam, Part 1] Mind of the Sun

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 4:28 pm

For a long moment, Mío said nothing, meditating on Kiyori’s responses. Then, turning to Sueatsu, came the most important words that she could utter:

”I find Kiyori to be humble, as a leader should be, Sueatsu-sama.”

The Kazekage finally stood. “The Council’s review has been completed. Based on the responses of each individual member, Kiyori has soundness of mind and spirit. In this capacity, she is fit for the office of Kazekage. Yet, when it comes down to it...”

Sueatsu stood. “...The most important quality in a Kazekage is conviction. You must have the conviction to stand and lead your people. You must have the conviction to lay your life down for your people. And, most importantly...”

Sueatsu’s powerful chakra glowered, the room shaking around him, the room quaking with his might. “You must be willing to fight for your people. The strength of this conviction can not be tested by word alone. We will meet at the Great Plateau under the full moon tonight. Take the time until then to prepare. We will cross fists... and only one of us will leave it as Kazekage.”

Forming a single-handed seal, Sueatsu vanished. His last words echoed through the room:

“Be ready. You will see no mercy from me.”

To Be Continued...

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