[Graded] [Closed] A season to reflect, a season to celebrate

[Varian]

Celebrations flowed through the village hidden in the mist, paper lanterns lit the various streets and people went about with exotic food and all manner of drink. The Water Daimyo's third cousin half removed had gotten married, as such festivities were being forced upon everyone such was the way of things when nobility was involved. Many people were absorbed in the merriment, a foul rumour did pass through the wind however that the Mizukage had declined the Daimyo's personal invitation to the wedding.

As of late Kai had been seen less and less amongst the village, it only became more noticeable with each passing day. This was not to be one of those days, a chuunin exam had been held recently within the village and the Mizukage still followed the formality of addressing those who had taken the next step into a larger world. The summons would arrive early in the morning for those to whom it concerned, it was a stylish affair with the scroll being embossed in gold and written in fine hand.

Despite it's arrival time the meet was not set until later in the afternoon allowing for time to be spent enjoying the festival, this would be the first time anyone outside his inner circle had seen the Mizukage in a couple of months. Only a handful on Shinobi were to be invited to this event, three Jounin and eight Chuunin in total a much lower turn out than previous years.

Kai himself was currently preparing himself for a seemingly monumental task, he had to lecture the future generation about the importance of the village and hide his own weakness. As if on cue Kai clutched where his Anchor rested as an aching slipped through, a small crack had appeared in the steel ball that contained his essence and he could feel a part of himself leaking away with each passing day. He had seen a medical expert on this matter and none of them could explain what had caused this seemingly out of nowhere damage to the Core that held his being together, Kai of course then had that expert disposed of in an 'unfortunate accident' so as not to alert others to his ailment. The doctor's funeral was of course very moving, it held a substantial turn out as Kai himself performed the service.

Kai looked at his right hand in the sole beam of sunlight that illuminated his room, seamlessly his own hand became a flowing tendril of water writhing and twisting in shape before returning to his hand once more. Kai had to chuckle at the irony of his predicament. The same thing that he considered a testament to his strength was eventually going to be the death of him, he wondered which would go first his body or his mind did it even matter? Kai donned the formal garb of his position, he left for the days business while the morning greeted Kiri.

[Valkier]

Morning in the lantern-strewn streets of Kirigakure had passed in a blur for Aisu Naohiro.  The young man had risen early, like many of his peers, in the hope of enjoying the exuberant celebrations that accompanied a noble's wedding—even one so distantly relevant that made no real difference to life in the hidden village.  For most people, including himself, it was mostly just an excuse to enjoy a day off from the usual rigors of training.  To dress up, see old friends, and let loose a little.  The messenger who arrived with the morning at the door of his family home put an immediate dent into that plan, however.  The summons were short and direct, for all the gilded scrollwork and ornate lettering, and Naohiro's hope that the message was just an assignment for a later day was dashed upon reading it; he, and a number of others, were expected to attend the Mizukage himself that same afternoon.  

On one hand the news was great, to the point that some may have celebrated for it alone; it'd been a month or so now since his victory on the exam field, and though the time had flown by thanks to his whirlwind introduction to his now-fiancée, Megumi, he'd been eagerly anticipating the next step in his progress to chuunin.  On the other, it was admittedly a little frustrating to lose the day—the only day he'd allowed himself in some time—stuck inside another formal meeting or, worse, anxiously awaiting it.  The summons could also be for something entirely unrelated, which served to only increase his apprehension.

Still, the morning remained his to do as he will, even with that looming cloud in the back of his mind that couldn't be ignored despite his attempts to enjoy the festivities.  By the time the summons had arrived he'd already been dressed and ready with his hair sleek, carefully combed and pinned, and wearing an exquisite sky-blue and silver yukata with the Clan sigil delicately emblazoned across the back.  He’d gone out into the streets of the village and joined in as best he could, enjoying shows, food, and friends, but never quite able to fully be drawn in by the atmosphere.  And before he knew it, the sun was high and the hour had come to answer the summons.  

He arrived at the Mizukage’s tower to find a small crowd arrayed outside the door, clearly waiting.  Ten people in all, a number of whom he recognised; he knew several of the chuunin in passing, and knew that one or two of the older men were respected jounin, but he wasn’t personally acquainted with any.  One of the younger boys was anxiously reading a scroll that looked identical to his own, and so Naohiro joined took up a position beside the group and idle double-checked his hair.  A few of the younger chuunin were chatting in hushed voices, but he and the rest stood silent, patiently awaiting the reason for their little assembly.

[Varian]

The group was gathered in the courtyard of sorts that held the entrance to the Mizukage's tower, a low wall surrounded this yard and the doors themselves were a rather fancy affair. A large set of steps made their way up to a pair of stone Sea Serpent statues, from the mouth of each statue water trickled down into a font below. The doors sat nestled between these two great guardians, along the exterior of the tower royal blue banners draped down brandishing the Kirigakure insignia proudly to all. On a day like today the Mizukage's residence was visible even from the ground level, it was on clearer days that Kirigakure's symbol of strength shone as each of the many windows reflected the sun outwards while the building loomed dauntingly over the rest of the village.

The doors were thrust open as an attendant emerged from the tower, he bowed to all of the members present showing his status to be lower than the Shinobi of Kirigakure. He would have spoken aloud were it not for his mouth being sown shut, a sign that he likely knew things that could never be told. Instead the attendant gestured for the gathering to enter the tower, within they found a rather lavish lobby awaiting them.

The Mizukage stood on a raised platform only a couple inches off the ground that had likely been placed there that very morning, it was a subtle display to show he was above them all not that there would be any doubt amongst the young shinobi present. Kai glanced over each of the freshly appointed Chuunin, taking a measure of each of them in a slow fashion leaving a long silence as the group began to fall into some semblance of a formation in front of him.

"I would like to first congratulate the latest chuunin graduates, you are a credit to the strength of our village." The words came out almost hollow sounding, it was a formality for Kai and a tedious one at that. They were the future of the village but likely a future that did not include Kai so it was of little consequence to him, with mortality facing him so blatantly he couldn't help but feel little point in much of what he had achieved just how would his legacy be remembered? He thought back on his predecessors and the founder himself and spoke out much for himself as for the others.

"I am sure many of you recall the tale of our great founder, from the filth of Konohagakure he rose up and made this land his own. How he purged any trace of the hidden leaf from this village when he slaughtered the clan members. Then in a defining moment for our great village he took his own life, he saw that even if he lived we would continue to be shackled by the origins of the village. THAT is what Kirigakure's strength is, the village always comes first and if you keep that in mind throughout your service you may very well be in my place in the future." The Kage stepped down from his platform and moved off to retreat to his office, there he would await each individual member and discuss their future in the village in depth.

In the mean time one of the Jounin that had entered with the group took the stage he began calling forth names and handing a Kirigakure flak jacket to each of them as they came forward, the recipient of this would then be guided by the other Jounin up to the Mizukage's office for what perhaps seemed like a lifetime before returning with them and allowing them to leave. The final name to be called was of course - by all cosmic laws on cruelty and sod - Naohiro's, the Jounin would escort him up to the office a singular door looking rather simple compared to the rest of the tower serving as function rather than comfort. The Jounin would rasply knock the back his hand against the door, there was silence from within for a moment before Kai spoke.

"Enter." Just like that Naohiro was granted a one to one audience with the Mizukage, the office was fairly spartan just like the door. Behind the Mizukage a window gave a fantastic view of the village on a day such as this, however if the mists had been thicker it would have likely obscured anything else.

[Valkier]

Naohiro turned to face the attendant who emerged from the tower doors, noting the sealed mouth and carefully avoiding any outward reaction.  It seemed like an extreme measure to ensure silence, but it did send a strong message.  He inclined his head as the attendant bowed, then followed the rest of the group inside.  Within the tower he didn’t pause to acknowledge the powerful structure or the rich decoration; it was the Mizukage himself, Kyou Kai, that seized his attention.  He’d been present when the man was inaugurated, of course, but only as one of many faces within a vast crowd.  Since then he’d caught only glimpses of the man, who rumour had it was growing more and more recluse with his time.  But this was different.  Now the kage stood awaiting Naohiro—and the others around him, admittedly—to address them directly.  It was an honour, and as the man began speaking the young Aisu felt a small rush of pride.  Even the audible insincerity of the compliment couldn’t take that acknowledgement away.  

Standing in orderly formation among the other young shinobi, Naohiro nodded along as Kai continued.  While he was already intimately familiar with the notion of devotion to the village, the story made him feel proud, coming as it did from the Mizukage personally.  And just as quickly as he’d began, Kai took his leave of the stage and departed; evidently the man wasn’t much for smalltalk.  Soon the order of business that followed became obvious, as one by one the young ninja around him were called up onto the stage.  Naohiro watched with building envy as one, two, three, and more of his peers donned the characteristic grey village flak jacket, growing a little nervous each time his name wasn’t called.  

Soon enough, though, it was his turn.  The concerns melted away in a moment of unbridled joy as he accepted an identical jacket, and he smiled widely.  He’d dreamed about this day—progressing beyond the ranks of rookie ninja, and specifically about donning one of these jackets at long last—for so long that he could scarcely believe it was now happening.  He gripped the padded jacket tightly, and while being whisked up the stairs to Kai’s office, took the chance to slip it on over the top of his yukata.  Before he knew it, he was standing inside the door to Kai’s office, a little overwhelmed by the speed of the ceremony downstairs after the whole morning anxiously waiting for it.  His eyes skimmed over the ornately decorated room just for a moment before he fixed his gaze onto Kai.  Then he bowed deeply.  Formally, and properly.  

”Aisu Naohiro, reporting, Sir.” He spoke quickly while bent double, and waited.  Knowing that he deserved to be here didn’t stop a renewed anxiety taking hold of him, for a moment causing his voice to rise in pitch.  He swallowed, hoping that it didn’t make him seem unprepared—or worse, unprofessional.  

[Varian]

Kai had taken the opportunity to look through the latest mission reports while meeting the latest batch of chuunin, a stern expression had rested upon his face a sign of someone who took their job very seriously. "Ah yes, Aisu Naohiro. You do your clan a great honour this day, the jacket certainly suits you." Seemingly not even glancing up from his work the Mizukage greeted the latest arrival, he moved the report from the current report in his hand to the finished pile to his left. "Take a seat, I have almost concluded my work if you are willing to wait." He spoke amongst the rustling of papers, although he had framed it as a request there would be no doubt that choice was not something Naohiro had in this room.

A long silence was drawn out over the next few minutes only to be broken occasionally by Kai moving papers around, he set down the last report and looked up at the young Shinobi. "I happened to catch a brief glimpse of you exam while on my way to a rather important meeting, you handled yourself well in such a high pressure situation. I wonder how well that would translate out there." The Mizukage placed both his hand together locking his fingers between each other and placing his hands on the desk he leaned forward slightly. The ancient oak of the desk creaked quietly under the new pressure placed atop it, Kai brought his eyes to level with Naohiro's own he took a moment as if he was looking for the right words.

"Tell me honestly young Aisu, what do you think of Kirigakure?" He studied the Naohiro for any visible response to the question posed as well as paying attention to his answer, he wanted to begin forming a image of what made this young man tick. Having knowledge over a thing would eventually grant control over it, Kai prided himself on his ability to manipulate and scheme he had done away with the council through these skills they were an unnecessary relic that stood in the way of his ideal Kirigakure.

[Valkier]

“Thank you, sir!” Naohiro exalted in the praise and honour to his clan. Bowing as he was, he had no idea that the Mizukage had delivered the compliment without even looking up at him. With the order to sit, he straightened and wasted no time in walking to the nearest chair and sitting, back straight and attentive, to wait. The minutes passed slowly as he sat with his hands cupped in his lap, anxious but understanding of the Kage’s undoubtedly busy schedule. Knowing his place, he tried to keep his eyes away from the reports on the Kage’s desk and instead tried to ease his pulse a little by enjoying the view from the high office windows. On a clear day such as it today, the mists that gently swirled across the sight of the village gave off a peaceful, mysterious air.

Eventually finished what he was doing and Naohiro snapped back to attention as the Mizukage looked up at him and spoke.

“I am honoured, thank you sir,” he bowed his head again briefly, glowing with pride that the Mizukage himself had watched—and approved!—of his exam. He continued speaking without hesistation. ”Kirigakure is strength. I am proud to be a shinobi of Kirigakure, sir. It is my home, and I love it.” He paused for a second, considering; perhaps that last was a little… childish, but it was true. He did love the village, even with its often-harsh lifestyle. ”The Village has led me to this point, where I can finally begin to serve it properly. It is my life, sir.” For the son of a noble family, that was probably more true for him than for many others; The strength, pride, and history of Kirigakure had been defining his heritage for generations.

[Varian]

Kai took a moment to make a note of something not giving away if it was relevant to the conversation ongoing or not. "I too love this village, so tell me where do you see yourself serving our great village best?" The Mizukage took an interest in the goals of each member who had come into his office that day, he may not remember most of them in a few days time but perhaps some would stand out had been his hope.

So few of these young shinobi were sure as to their future or what to do with themselves in the present, it was disappointing the indecisiveness outside of combat amongst many of this year chuunin graduates possibly the last year of graduates that Kai would see. The exam of this chuunin had been more interesting than many of his fellow graduates, perhaps this young man had a clearer idea of his goals.

[Valkier]

Naohiro opened his mouth to reply by rote, then hesitated. To serve Kirigakure best was to exemplify strength in everything one did, of course, but that was the answer that was drilled into every child from the moment they could understand it. Sitting here before the Mizukage, seeing him take the occasional note and watching... Surely Kai was looking for something more than the same-old routine response he'd heard a thousand times before?

So... how would he strive to serve? Strength was a part of it, certainly, and maybe the largest part of it. But the village was not lacking in strong shinobi, and Naohiro was a scion of great ninja and a great clan. He was one who dared to hope for greatness, and surely that came with more weight than simple combat prowess. He looked into the Mizukage's eyes for a moment. Kai served not only by being great, but by being the absolute authority of the entire village. It's military frontman and figurehead. That was responsibility beyond simple strength. Power, still, but in an entirely different manner.

Naohiro's answer, when it came, was quiet but earnest.
"I want to lead." He spoke slowly, but then nodded and continued with a little more passion. "While I want to be the strongest I can be, of course, and serve as a beacon of strength to others, what I want to achieve and be remembered for is guiding my clan to greatness."

"The Aisu are already powerful, but I know they're capable of so much more. Our leader, Haruka, is revered among us — but we can't deny she is aging, and less active than she used to be. What's more, I worry that we're too complacent. I've glimpsed rifts in the clan caused by both lax discipline and harsh policies." He paused for a moment, thinking back to his encounters with Aisu Kuro, one of the clan's most renowned pariahs. Naohiro both hated and pitied the man, whose situation — rightfully or wrongfully — was a result of either bad policies or, worse, upholding them poorly. His thoughts then shifted to his father, who despite retirement still served as a politician within their ranks and strove to better them all. The memory furthered Naohiro's belief that this is what he wanted.

"And so... When the time comes, I want to be there, strong, ready, and capable to take Haruka's place. The day will come soon enough, and by serving my clan, who serve Kirigakure, I'll make my mark upon our village."

And until that time comes, he added mentally, I will be chasing strength. Like everyone else, maybe, but the strength I seek is not just my own, but that of my whole clan, and my whole village.

"If I may ask, Sir, what are the perks of my new rank? Am I free to choose my own missions?"