Shifting Waters

[Ace Trainer]

These chambers had been converted into a library some time ago. The council had been effectively defunct, and there had already been a fair amount of shelving for books in the room. So the circle table had been removed, the empty walls had been further lined with more shelves and filled with books and archives, and smaller independent tables had been brought it. It’d be a fair number of years at this point, so many of the simpler workers in the Mizukage’s tower were surprised when orders came down to have the previous set up returned. They’d elected to leave the shelving and books and simply replace the table, the enlongated oval set back into the center of the room.

The table was certainly big enough for 20 if not 30 people, but it was instead surrounded by merely 6 chairs. Small cups and kettles of tea individually situated in front of each chair as if none of the people sitting at the table would be willing to share, appropriate foresight by the staff. It was late in the day, and with dusk quickly approaching the already normally dark sky in Kirigakure was even darker. Little light could penetrate the mist surrounding the village, so the view from the large window that made up the back wall of the room was really just mist, the tops of larger buildings, and occasionally a bright enough light to penetrate through. Otherwise, there was little to see.

The room was dimly lit, causing Kawazaiwa, Ichase to give a frustrated grunt as he hobbled into the room. Wearing a robe, and walking with a cane, it was hard to believe Ichase’s position as the head of the Kawazaiwa family hadn’t come under attack yet. However, despite his hunched over posture, Ichase was still a behemoth of a man and could easily be 6’7” if not more if he were to stand upright. ”Fix this room.”, his deep voice demanded to the assistant the accompanied him a few steps back. Slowly the assistant would circle the room, turning on light and lighting candles to make it easier to see for the old man. The sound of Ichase’s shuffling feet would continue as he circle the room, sitting at the furthest of the table so that he could see the door as it entered. ”Massive table. For massive egos.”, he grumbled under his breath. It was clear he was not looking forward to this meeting.

Sitting now, his massive frame diminished slightly. Ichase had a bald head, waxed to perfect with the except of small tufts of which hair on either side of his crown just above his ears. His eyes, thin and baggy from his age, were shadowed by two massive white eyebrows that seemed like practical caterpillars on his face. This was further exemplified by the long beard that hung from his face, wrapped in cord to keep it in a single unit as it curled on his lap where he sat.

”You’ve got me here early, don’t you? Where are the rest of them.”, he demanded from his assistant.

Like Ichase, all the heads of families had been called to this room. Well, called was likely not the right word to use. Informally encouraged to meet, and they all knew that meeting meant here. The Daimyo of Water Country, a overconfident boy that desperately needed to be put in place, was not happy with the state of affairs in Kirigakure (who among them was?) and had issued a directive to the Heads of the great families within Kirigakure.

Name 5 council members to act while you sort out what is happening with your Mizukage, or I will place a council myself.

Ichase had no desire to answer to a council placed by that arrogant child, and he was confident the others felt the same. Which meant they would need to meet. So a time had been coordinated, and now he waited. Ichase knew already who he would name, he had no doubt about it. So he anticipated his participation would be brief, he’d name his electee and leave. Easy enough.

[Izanagi]

As Ichase grumbled complaints at his assistant, another man entered the room. Clad in a black kimono, the figure moved with utmost silence, yet his gait was bold and deliberate, making no effort to hide himself. Candlelight glinted off of streaks of silver against the man’s jet-black hair, tied back and falling past his shoulders. And yet, long unruly strands framed his face, past his ears. His kimono parted to display a powerful chest, adorned with the sprawling tattoo of a vicious Kraken across his left side. For a man 68 years of age, Karagata Izune carried himself as well as someone 30 years his junior. Menacing blue eyes locked onto the large man sat at the table. Wordlessly Izune sat opposite to him, boldly placing the entrance at his back. He did not fear any of the others, for to be in a room with him was to be at his mercy and he dared anyone to threaten him from behind. It would make it all the easier to cull any opposition.

But truly it was Ichase whose days were numbered. The Kawazaiwa had something Izune coveted, and it was just a matter of time before they were his. Pouring himself a cup of tea, Izune contemplated the logistics of killing Ichase. It would be far too crude to do it here and now. Not before he met the other heads of the houses arrived and he had heard each of their nominations at least. After all, Izune had only recently risen to the position of leader of his family. His predecessor had lacked his ambition and understanding of his goals and thus had experienced an unfortunate accident. Such was the way of the fearsome Karagata family. Sipping his tea, the notorious assassin waited patiently for the others to arrive.

[ThatGuy]

Hana walked into the old council chambers and let out a small smile. What a shitshow! With no Mizukage, the families were forced to clear the workers out of the dirty old library and reclaim it for the council. They could have at least gotten rid of the books, but leave it to the other families to leave a job half-finished. A Muramasa would have renovated the whole damn room, but what more could you expect from the other nobles and their soft hands? At least the table was properly crafted, there was no denying that. But more importantly, it was big enough that she didn’t have to be too close to any of the geezers sitting at the top of their families. Taking her seat, she poured herself some tea before speaking to the other two.

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

With an obviously fake smile on her lips, Hana took a drink of her tea. The old woman looked much younger than her counterparts, and her family’s pact with the Night Mother did wonders for her. That did not make her immune to the tides of time, however, as streaks of white plagued her long red hair. Sure, she could dye it and try to keep up appearances, but what was the point? Who was she trying to impress? Certainly not any of the idiots called here today. With a wry smile, she sat and waited for the other two family heads to arrive. Fashionably late, as they say.

[Valkier]

Hirohito Junko watched each of her counterparts travel through the city towards the Mizukage's tower. She passed Kawazaiwa Ichase hobbling his way over a bridge just an hour past, listened to Karagata Izune as he took breakfast, and handed Muramasa Hana her haori as she prepared for the day. Not personally, of course—perhaps the one trait she did not share with the other heads was their foolishness—but the hands and eyes and ears that did may as well have been hers. She owned the lot of them, in one way or another. Most did not even know it, making her network of spies second to none in Kirigakure. It paid to be well informed, and that was what she was all about. Now, more than ever.

It was with her own two eyes that she saw three of the house heads arrive before eventually deigning to join them in the library-cum-council chamber. She held herself appropriately aloof as she rounded the great table, meeting no eyes and showing no acknowledgements until she was suitably seated at the head of the table. The head of it from her perspective, anyway. An absent wave of one hand brought one of her aides in behind her to act as notary, who set up a second tiny table—lower down and out of sight by some nearby shelves—and a stack of rich parchment to record the meeting about to happen.

Finally, taking a deep breath and ignoring her own little kettle, she straightened her back and looked at her counterparts from the other great houses. She did not expect any acknowledgement from them; they undoubtedly thought her too young and inexperienced, too ignorant or rash to be of much worth, despite the fact she stood as their equals at only a fraction of their ages. Their clouded eyes and slow minds likely wouldn't comprehend the half of her amibitions even if she'd laid them out honestly. And she tried very hard to never be so honest. Not for the first time she considered just how laughably easy it would've been to poison all the teapots—a good number of the staff that worked in the tower belonged to her, too, even from before Kasai's disappearance—but such a move would not be wise. Or productive. They all wanted to control Kirigakure, without a doubt, but the first of them to act would surely be the first to fall in what was coming...

[Jinan B]

Shiimu, Otome carried himself with the air of someone with better places to be. Bone rattled against bone as the charm bracelets he wore shifted with his movement. Certainly, he was uniquely blessed among those who had been gathered here, the notion of why they had to meet a waste for one such as him. The damned child who would call himself Daimyo thought that he could give the true lords of Water Country orders, and it seemed the family heads had decided to humour his ridiculous tantrum.

For his part, the middle-aged man would be among the last to arrive – the last of the true noble families of Kirigakure, at least. His old mentor Takahaki had always insisted on the virtue of punctuality, for all the good it had done him. The news of Rock Country’s new laws against slavery had struck a final blow against his already ailing health, and now Otome led the village’s greatest family into the future. No doubt those gathered here would see his tardiness as a sign of disrespect. Something that, he supposed, was ultimately true. He had better things to do than bow down to the Daimyo’s demands, expanding the reach of the new deals made in the provinces chief among them.

He settled down in the seat next to Izune, positioned opposite Hana, and poured himself a cup of tea. Now it was only the ‘Holy’ Shukuto that they waited for. Once she was here, he could name his nomination and get back to real work. A desire to get this over and down with was hopefully one thing they could all agree on.

[Ace Trainer]

The clock would tick on, and as it struck on the hour when they were supposed to meet, the doors would gently open as if carried by wind, and through it the Eternal Mother would walk through. As always, she was flanked on each side by a young woman who carried part of his long dress. Her perfect posture and long stride hidden by her dress made her seem as if she was floating over the ground. She would approach the last open seat and fall into it gentle, a soft sigh coming from her lips as she did. The veil hanging over he face was practically invisible, doing nothing to hide the Eternal Mother’s features behind it, her lips most apparent, painted a bright pink. The Shukutō family was still settling in, but the prospect of gorgeous women that were self-determined and self-sufficient had been something many of the men in Kirigakure were more than happy to welcome, and the refugees of the Holy City of Towers were more welcomed into the village than the Heads of the Family would have let one believe.

For a moment, silence would linger between them all. Letting the moment settle between them all, while they would all want this to be over quickly, it would almost certainly get tense. One of the families today was going to have to support another family on their nomination. There was 5 seats and 6 families now. Tensions would almost certainly rise.

Finally, Ichase would ‘cough’, clearing his throat to speak. ’Well let’s get to it then. On behalf of both the Kawazaiwa Family and the Kaguya clan, I nominate Kaguya, Yukiro to the title of council member. The Kaguya clan stands as one of the greatest testaments of Kirigakure’s strength. Yukiro has sat to support the Kaguya clan’s mission, ensuring the clan remains robust and alive despite the….complications they face. The contribution the clan is able to make to Kirigakure is a direct result of his efforts in support of the clan leader. He is a beacon of what Kirigakure stands for.”, of course what Ichase was talking about was the heavy-handed tactics Yukiro was willing to utilize to ensure that new babies were brought into the Kaguya clan. While he presented it as if Yukiro was out conducting diplomacy, in reality he personally ventured out into Water Country and ‘collected’ children that were afflicted with the disease only the Kaguya could cure, sometimes through coercion, sometimes through force. But, to Ichase’s point, if that did not represent the Kirigakure way to it’s core, what did?

The Eternal Mother would watch, her striking blue eyes piercing through the veil. ”A man.”, she said snidely, ”Unsurprising. I propose Shukutō, Sa. She is a daughter of the cloth, and one of my most talented diplomats. Something this council will almost certainly need.”, that is all she would offer. The tone in her voice revealed a level of disgust, it seemed while her family was settling in, the Holy Mother herself had gotten comfortable enough that the politeness she’d conveyed when they last convened had vanished in lieu of a condescending patronization.

Who else would come forward?

[Jinan B]

How performative this “Holy Mother” was, Otome thought. Practically scoffing as the woman made her entrance, flanked by proof of her unwarranted sense of self-importance. He was grateful that the seat left for her was Izune's other side rather than nearer to him.

Almost as offensive was the nerve of Ichase and the Shukutō to name their nominations first. They must have been aware that theirs were the most likely of the bunch to fail, he thought. As if rushing their declarations would have any bearing on it. As far as the actual nominees went, he found he could not fault the Kawazaiwa for his choice. Powerful shinobi were needed on the council after all, lest they see a repeat of Kai’s attack against the strength of the families when a new Kage was seated. The man could not help but glimpse at Izune, however. A statement was being made here, and he wanted to see the Karagata’s response to it.

The second nomination - Shukutō Sa - was altogether more distasteful, and Otome let out a disgruntled ”Hmph!” As if he would allow a daughter of her cloth to serve in such an esteemed position. And a diplomat? Was that all that could be said about the candidate? Had she no record to speak of? Forcing the families to reform a council was far from the only mistake the boy Daimyo had made.

He forced himself to breathe before he could vocalise his mental outburst and realised he had probably attracted the attention of the other heads. Still not entirely calm, he decided now was as good a time as any to make his own nomination.”Very well; then on behalf of the Shiimu I nominate Jouchaku, Jiro. He served as a beacon of our strength for many decades, and advanced Kirigakure’s interests countless times over the years. His role in conquering Tea’s Kenihiku village during the war is only one example. With his power tempered by his wisdom, he will serve this new council admirably.”

Otome had mulled several nights over the decision, but Jiro had proven the best choice available. Allowing a civilian to serve the Shiimu in the old council had always been a mistake in the old man’s eyes. Bringing in a hardened Jounin was far more fitting for the Shiimu, who boasted the largest shinobi population among the principal families. And one who battled in the conquest of the old Tea Country – the source of many prime opportunities for their family’s business. Well, that was even more fitting, wasn’t it?

[ThatGuy]

Hana had a wry smile as the previous candidates were nominated. Of course, Ichase would choose a Kaguya after the fiasco with Li. She was pleased to see a woman of the cloth nominated, however. But would the Holy Mother’s influence be enough to secure her nominee’s position in the council? The families were vindictive, and Hana certainly was not going to give up her nominee’s spot. She let out a tsk as Jiro was nominated. Another clan member. The man was undeniably worthy, but she considered their nominations to be a slight to the main families. The clans were a powerful tool to have, but if you gave them too much freedom, it would only be a matter of time before they sought to replace you.

“I nominate Muramasa, Sōgen. The council could use a member who lets their work speak for itself. No one here can say that he is not loyal to the village. The man stands firm in his decisions and will serve the council well.”

While he was worthy of the position, Hana had mainly nominated him to be a thorn in the side of the other families. He could not be bribed, and he did not back down without a fight. Any posturing would be ineffective against Sōgen, the only way to sway him would be to make a sound enough argument to change his mind. A man such as him always owned up to his mistakes, making blackmail useless. There was always the risk of assassins, but who in their right mind would not have accounted for such cloak-and-dagger operations? Taking another sip of her tea, Hana awaited further nominations.

[Valkier]

Junko kept her face carefully impassive as the so-called "Holy Mother" wafted into to the room like an unpleasant smell, all billowing silk and false sighs. It rankled her to have this painted whore stand before them and openly consider herself their equal, but, once again, the other family heads didn't openly object to her presence. The Shukutō had bought their way to the table, as it were, bringing wealth, people, and promises to Kirigakure during the great war, but the simple truth was that they were a potential tool to be used, and no one was quite ready to discard them just yet. The time may soon come that this new house could be the spark—or the scapegoat—for many an ambition when it came to the delicate power balance in Kirigakure. A wildcard house. The woman also happened to be an excellent distraction for the simple-minded old men around the table—she could swear the desk rose by an inch on Izune's side—giving her a momentary chance to examine her fellows and listen as each made their nominations.

Interesting. A Kaguya was a bold move for the Kawazaiwa, with the memory of Aimi still fresh in many minds, and now this recent unrest with one of their youth and the Karagata. And another Clan member elevated to high position. They should be careful about that, though it was difficult to deny the strength of the decision. And if the Kawazaiwa needed to show anything now, it was strength. The Holy Mother's nomination was about what she expected—probably another sweet-talking, cherry-lipped nobody who did most of her negotiation betweem two sheets—since that's about all the new house had to offer. Personally, she'd been eager to see if they would try and elevate the Shuryo into the spotlight as a statement. Perhaps that was too risky for them, too much of a taunt at power.

For the Shiimu, a Jouchaku. Junko recognised Jiro's name, a rising star among in the village thanks to his contributions in the war. A proven and capable shinobi, and the Shiimu had always been keen to make full use of those. And from Hana came Sōgen, a safe if unimaginative choice. Sōgen had been one of those who'd tried to secure himself an interim council seat, alongside her, when the power vacuum had first begun to draw the houses in. A laconic and powerful man, she suspected he was smarter than he let on, and would bear some careful watching.

And suddenly it was down to her and Izune to speak. She knew the Karagata would be straightforward, and would probably name one of his own direct family; he was ever eager to spread his power further and further. Which left her with a choice: Should she play their game and make a statement by promoting a Hirohito, or perhaps call upon the fearsome reputation of the Fushinkou or the Aisu to represent them? A Fushinkou would cause a stir, certainly—they were famously difficult to read and work with—but the Aisu were too proud by half to do what needed to be done. And there was risk in elevating them too far. But a Hirohito seemed so... transparent. Or, was there opportunity for something more, here? Her eyes flickered around the faces in the room, reading expressions but settling on none. Too soon, she thought. Let people make their proposals and get to bickering, and then perhaps we'll see what beauty can be found in the dissonance.

"On behalf of the Hirohito, I nominate myself, Hirohito Junko." She said simply, her iron voice hard and clear. Because who better? And because there was benefit to keeping her cards close to her chest; she'd also considered nominating Hirohito Sayuri. Sayuri was a talent among their house: already a successful kunoichi, she was still young, pretty, and devious to a fault. She would do well if nominated, certainly, but she'd do even better if nobody knew about her. Whereas Junko was already in the spotlight, and thus could rarely act openly anyway. Besides, for the time being, any name served well enough, even just to put Karagata Izune on the back foot by being the sixth and last to speak for a council of five.

[Izanagi]

Izune watched the others, patient and confident as one by one they named their nominees. He was in no rush to secure a seat for his family. There was no need. For the Karagata they had nothing to prove, all knew of their reputation and he was ever eager to make examples of those who might test their mighty house. After all the Karagata were the wealthiest and the most powerful family, not enough to overpower a combination of families united against them, but enough to keep any individual house in check.

His eyes gleamed as Ichase chose a Kaguya to represent them. The weakest house by far, these glorified farmers relied on the Kaguya alone to protect them. They were at the clan’s mercy and it was clear who held the true power between them. And for that reason the Kawazaiwa meekly attempted to limit their potential, to keep their numbers under control by recruiting those of their affliction only from within Water country. Already Karagata men were scouring the world, securing others that the Kaguya would find suitable, a much greater offering than the Kawazaiwa would ever dare to provide. Yukiro was a man who might be amicable to such an ambition.

Next, a diplomatic offering by the Holy Mother. Unlikely to be well received by the others, they were here only as a formality in his mind. They had not yet earned their place. But still, perhaps they could be elevated into a powerful ally. No, such a woman would be ill suited to assist the Karagata, instead she was a threat and a potential tool for the Hirohito to exploit.

Izune was pleased by the choice of Jiro and Sōgen, both men of conviction and backbone, warriors in their own way who would ensure Kirigakure was respected. And then there was the Hirohito, whom Izune expected would be the most problematic. And certainly he was not wrong. He huffed in amusement as Junko had the gall to nominate herself. That was a woman who demanded to be in control and trusted no one but herself. But she was shrewd, much more so than Izune. And as predicted, the old assassin would indeed prioritize his own progeny. Ever focused on his legacy, he trusted only those who shared his blood. “I nominate my eldest son; Karagata Riku” he stated evenly. The man was a skilled Jounin, known for his level head and calm demeanor, a stark contrast for his more volatile younger brother Shinjiro. But most importantly Riku was exceptionally loyal and fearful of his father. He wouldn’t ever dream of betraying Izune or the Karagata family. He would act with Izune’s will and see to it that Kirigakure grew ever stronger. For to them the Karagata and Kirigakure were one and the same.

[ThatGuy]

“What a predicament we find ourselves in. Five spots on the council, but six nominations.”

She took another drink of her tea, letting her exceedingly obvious statement hang in the air. It was a problem they likely all realized going into this meeting. But who was going to back down? None of the five families would dare back down, but at the same time, who would dare openly speak against the Holy Mother? The last thing she wanted to do was sit around while the old men bickered about whose candidate was more worthy.

“I find it curious that a couple of clan members were nominated rather than someone from the main family. Do the Shiimu and Kawazaiwa often look to their lessers for guidance? A stark contrast to the Hirohito, who have elected to place their head directly into the council.” Hana chuckled, knowing that they wouldn’t suffer her barbs in silence. “But I suppose you are correct, they are very fine examples of what Kirigakure has to offer. Junko as well.”

Hana’s words held no sincerity. She simply sat in silence and waited to see their reaction. Either they would have something snarky to say in return, or they would ignore her and say their piece. She had deliberately not given a suggestion on whose nomination to throw out. They would no doubt end up challenging the Holy Mother's presence in the council, but Hana sure as hell was not going to be the one to suggest it.