The Passing of a Torch [Noboru]

It was a peculiar sight, to be sure. Not only to view the room from this unfamiliar angle, but to see each entrant and how they behaved. Ryuzaki, confused as to where to stand while they entered, awkwardly decided to stand between the chairs; Ichigo nodded amicably while sitting at the back, and finally, Gin awkwardly found his way to his seat. Something about the Akimichi worried Kaito, perhaps the audible gulping sound that came from the man. He could comprehend it; after all, to be summoned to the Raikage Chambers out of the blue wouldn’t necessarily make someone feel at ease, yet, he would need to know that his ninja had clear enough conscience to be summoned to the Kage office without worrying. Then again, Kaito’s conscience had its fair share of sunken worries, dark moments of his life which from time to time bubbled questioning to the surface of the lakes of his mind, yet, had he not risen to the rank of Raikage in spite of it all? No, dark moments and questioning of one’s own motives and actions was likely healthy.

Speech given, he gaged the room for reaction; Ryuzaki appeared to be psyched, even though he stood between chairs instead of having taken a seat. He reminded the redhead of himself, even if socially inept, his comments put Kaito at ease that he was ready. Conversely, should he feel a little more worried? After all, he would be competing against the strongest genin the world had to offer. No matter. Worries paid no bills, only action. Maximum effort seemed appropriate; Kaito smiled. The Akimichi sweated profusely, his stomach rumbling. It was true after all that Akimichi were built differently; how long ago had he eaten last? “Yes, there will be food. As a matter of fact, that reminds me, I need to contact our catering services, if we’re taking you, we might have to rethink our food supplies. Are you okay?” He was now sweating a lot; Kaito worriedly turned around, and cracked open the window next to the immovable Kiseragi, trying to get some air to circulate into the room.

Ichigo congratulated him as Kaito set himself back onto the chair, exclaiming how Kaito must surprise him at every other meeting. “That’s how it goes, Ichigo. I needed a good surprise to break the ice, actually. We’ve come across a… peculiar item, in our journey. Or rather, two items.” He snapped his index finger against his thumb, and a scroll appeared in his right hand. “Two pearly Byakugans, the precious dojutsu of the Hyuuga. Now, I could take one for myself, considering my right eye is busted, but I decided not to heal my wound so as to learn a lesson, and I guess putting one of these eyes in this slot would go against me learning a lesson. So, instead, I’m giving them away to our ninja, in an effort to increase our village’s strengths. One of them is mine, one is from my shadow.” A lie, obviously, but one that rolled so easily from the liar’s lips, it might as well have been the thousandth onion a line cook cut. “He doesn’t want it, so I’m giving it to you, Ichigo.” Truly, the eyeball belonged to Zento. However, he did not want it, instead, wanting it to go to someone else who might want it. Perhaps he was morally against the act of transplanting someone else’s body parts onto his body. He did not pry, instead knowing only it was his will that it go to someone who could make use of it. “I suppose you can already do transplants?”

He looked at the two lads; Gin gave him weak vibes, also a crude reminder of a young Kaito, albeit the redhead compensated his weakness with bravado that got him relentlessly bullied by others. A blessing. Gin though, was honest about his uncertainty, and that would be bad, especially in Hoshi. “Gin, you need to get a hold of yourself. Are you indisposed?” He looked at Ryuzaki; the man who reminded the redhead of himself the most. As a Nara, he was also not endowed with natural gifts, instead belonging to a clan who kept their secret techniques under tight leash. Their strength too came from hard work. “Ryuzaki. I will… lease you, this other eye.” He looked at the scroll, curiously. “Now, this bad boy would net me around… one hundred and fifty thousand Ryo, I wager. I’ll sell it to you at fifty thousand, and you don’t need to pay me immediately, you can pay me in installments throughout your career at your leisure. However, the discount comes with strings attached; I will expect that you earn this discount with your performance in the exams. Do you accept it?” If Ryuzaki accepted it, he would turn to Ichigo. “Can you transplant it now? Or do you need to visit the hospital?” If alcohol was needed to disinfect, a cabinet to the right side of the room would have enough sake for all.

Gins mind was overloading with thoughts and feelings, more so now that the Raikage had turned his attention to him. Responding with a slight nod into his well-being, the young Akimichi palmed his stomach slowly rising out of his seat as the rest of the group began conversations pertaining to another matter. “May I be excused?” he muttered to the Kage, upon receiving permission he would utter his final statement on the matter of the Chuunin Exams, “I’ll be ready.” Before heading out of the room, quickly out of the building and to a nearby restaurant.  

A single breath, and Kaito vanished from his chair and over the desk, catching Ryuzaki the moment his knees failed him. “Easy there, champ.” He lowered his limp body onto the couch where he was allowed to nap the rest of the day away. With Gin gone, excused by the Raikage with a curt nod of worry and permission, and the napping Ryuzaki now napping, only Ichigo, Kiseragi and Kaito stayed in the room. “Now then”, he started, adjusting the armor against his torso, “with this trip, I will need to be gone to escort the genin and represent the Kumogakure in this tournament. The village is in a dire state, but I’m afraid we can’t turn our back on the world and scorn it. We need to have at the very least neutral relations with our neighbours, and if possible, alliances.” He spoke to Ichigo, mostly, as he understood Kiseragi wouldn’t be turning or pretend to pay attention. As ANBU, pretending to be a shadow was part of the job description, he supposed, and he would be listening intently anyway. “While I am away, I am charging Kiseragi Onomori with the title of Deputy Kage. The lord has since left for his household, but he will be informed by our ANBU friend when we’re done here. This will be a temporary position, as I am sure lord Kiseragi has more to do than keep the charge he left onto me, but I can’t leave no one at the helm while I’m gone, lest we risk another dip in the village’s stability.”

“However, I have something I must ask of you, Ichigo. A small sacrifice for the village, maybe a big sacrifice for yourself.” As he spoke, he moved to the cabinet from whence Kutari drew two rock glasses and a bottle of fine whiskey. “You see, we need an overhaul to the healthcare system of the Kumogakure. It pains me to say it, but there has been no word on improvement on Lord Maximillian’s health. Without any one else I can look to, I can only ask you, as a friend, and command you, as a Kage, to take up the mantle and improve our systems.” As he spoke, he uncorked the whiskey bottle, and poured the golden elixir onto each rock glass, filling it a quarter of the way, then putting the bottle down and offering Ichigo a glass. “I would like to promote you to a position of power, where you can have the most impact, but I have become wary of rising in the ranks too fast. With that in mind, I am putting you in charge of the reconstruction and improvement of Kumogakure’s hospital, as well as making you a member of the board, in an effort to reconcile the medical arts with the ninja arts. To give you authority, I am also promoting you to the rank of Chunnin. As with all my gifts, I am giving you something with expectations attached; I will expect to see progress in your ninja career, I want you to earn this role. I will remain your friend, but I will also keep a close eye on your career. Would you accept these charges?”