Wind carried beautiful, green leaves into Itsuki's view as he exited his home. The day had just started, yet sadly he had nothing planned. On any other day, Itsuki could be found reading or training in his backyard; however, today was different. He was tired of training, which was something ever so rare, and decided he'd rather go and visit his beloved cousin Sousetsu. The two had bonded after the ties that bound them together as family both passed away; both of their fathers died. Itsuki never knew how his own father had died; although some say it was fighting on the battle field in a mission to protect the village. The idea that his father died while helping the village calmed him in his earlier years, which was what ultimately drove Itsuki into becoming a Shinobi.

He tightened his headband around his shoulder, making sure it wouldn't fall down when he began moving. The sun was glaring down upon the village hidden in the leaves, it was a beautiful day. Itsuki had hoped his cousin wasn't busy, but then again he was the Hokage. Itsuki was beyond proud of the achievements his clan were known for, such as the founding of Konoha and the first Hokage; now Sousetsu was among one of the Senju named Hokage. Itsuki hoped he would eventually achieve that same goal in his life time. He adored his cousin, having visited his office frequently. He knew the path like the back of his hand, walking from his own house to his office was something he could do in his sleep.

He smiled as he passed a merchant woman he saw almost everyday, giving her a respectful nod as he continued down the main street leading toward the office of the Hokage. He hummed a slight tune, looking around at stores opening and children running toward the academy to learn for the day; this was what he loved. The flow of the village calmed him, and that was why he vowed to protect the village hidden in the leaves no matter what. He moved out of the way as a child sprinted past him, looking to be late to his classes. He remembered thinking he was late on his first day at the Academy, yet he had been hours early; looking back, he chuckles at his actions.

Itsuki sighed happily as he looked around the village, acknowledging those who did just that in the first place. He enjoyed Konohagakure, the idea that he would hopefully represent the village as a high ranked shinobi in his future made him strive for greatness. All of his goals revolved around making sure the village he enjoyed stayed safe, but it also revolved around his path to achieve greatness just as his father had done.

The breeze picked up as he got to the entrance to the building his cousin was in, going through the needed security measures to make sure he wasn't bringing in anything he shouldn't. The people there knew Itsuki, they had seen him multiple times when visiting his cousin; this was nothing new. He knew the procedures, having thanked those who assisted him and moved toward the room he knew held his cousin. He knocked on the door, waiting for a response before walking in. A smile spread across his face, stopping to slightly bow at the Hokage before moving closer into the room. "Why, how are you this fine morning Sousetsu?" It had always felt odd calling him Hokage, yet when times called for it he used the tremendous title; however, this didn't seem like the time considering it was just a social visit.

WC: 617, using this for training

Sheets of paper fluttered from the small breeze that seeped through the open window pane. The day shone bright and the birds could be heard singing the songs of wildlife that nature had to offer from the surrounding areas of the hidden leaf village. The pen scribbled across the page as his signature finished off yet another stack of paper. With a curling wrist to cease any further stiffening, he looked to his assistant who was proof-reading the rules, regulations and overall conditions of what the papers letters contained. Of course, he was recently filling out forms regarding the revival of the Konaha Military Police Force. Various background checks and missions statements were to be approved by his hand alone.

He took a moment to himself with a small sigh before turning to look outside the window behind him. He watched as the people continued with their mundane activities, unbeknownst that they possessed the Hokage's gaze for that brief moment. A small smile would soon emerge before another stack of parchments gave off a thud as it now rested on the table top in front of him, returning him to his duties with a transfixed gaze upon them. He did not complain, he would not. He never had since his time here for he knew the responsibilities that were bestowed upon him. His hand made its way to his chin, rubbing it as he inspected the depth of the paper stack. He glanced at the clock that resided above the door which was the entrance to find that it was time for a quick lunch break. He nodded to his assistant who in turn, nodded back before giving off a smile of her own and gathering her belongings for her break.

Sousetsu stayed however, caressing his wrist and curling it once more before a few shakes were given to help its recovery. He opened the drawer that lay dormant under the desk to his right and withdrew a small bag filled with food. Opening the contents, he retrieved a simple sandwich. Taking the first bite he felt a small sense of relief. He stood with his sandwich in hand and took a better look at the sun-kissed village that he grew to love. Smiling down and satisfying his hunger as he recalled memories from certain shops and landmarks.

The local library where he begun to quench his thirst for knowledge about the ninja life and the jutsu it contained. His attention then moved to the local park where he had told stories of his travels to the public upon his return when he was Sannin. The ninja academy, the very first steps he took to becoming Hokage. All these memories were now someone else's reality, reliving his moments and possibly attempting to better him for the title. A small chuckle escaped him as he seen the ninja out for a recess of their own. A knock on the door caused his ears to peak. He turned and walked around his desk standing in the center of the room before he gave his reply.

"You may enter." he sternly spoke. To his surprise it was his cousin, a fellow Senju by the name of Itsuki. He bore a wide smile that stretched across his face, one that Sousetsu had to return with a small grin of his own. The young Senju bowed before him in which Sousetsu returned the gesture also with a nod of his own.

"Why, how are you this fine morning Sousetsu?"

"Fine, thank you, Itsuki. What brings you here?" he began to walk towards him. Once he was close enough, he reached out his hand and ruffled his hair with another smile lingering on his face. "I hope this is a friendly visit, or do I have to scold you?" he giggled at his own small joke.

"I hope you are studying," he turned to walk behind his desk once more and take his rightful seat. "... and training to the best of your abilities. Don't over exert yourself, remember?" he spoke rhetorically as he placed his food in the middle of the desk and offered with a hand gesture.

Itsuki's relations to the Hokage had always been something the young Shinobi was proud of. The fact that someone within his own clan had achieved such greatness helped push him to do his best. The idea that he too could obtain the title of Hokage someday was what drove him to train, study, and do as much as he could to succeed. There wasn't a day that he didn't read a new section of Jutsu in the clan's scroll, or where he didn't practice his Taijutsu to the point of bleeding. He was determined to be the very best, and sometimes that also included losing.

He hadn't been on many missions, and on top of that he hadn't gotten word on joining a Shinobi Squad yet either. He was partially using the visit to ask Sousetsu about the squad system, but also genuinely wanting to have a decent conversation with his cousin. Itsuki was concerned about getting put on a squad, hoping to at least know some of the people on it. He was well aware that you weren't required to be friends with your squad members, but you were required to work together; he just hoped he could not only be their squad members, but also be their friends.

After entering and seeing Sousetsu smile in return, he felt better about the meeting. He loved seeing his cousin, yet at the same time he wasn't sure he wanted to annoy the Hokage while he was busy. When his cousin ruffled his hair into a mess, he sighed playfully and began fixing his hair. Sousetsu has become a father figure to the Genin Senju, having lost his own the same day the young boy was born. He was aware that no one could replace his father, but not having him around or having never met him left a hole in his own heart. The fact that Sousetsu was so kind to him and cherished the moments they spent together was enough to make Itsuki happy.

"No, no scolding this time around," he chuckled, "I hope I'm not interrupting your work, though, Sousetsu. " He eyed the male, truly hoping he hadn't barged in without being welcomed.

He followed the Hokage toward his desk, sitting down opposite of him and relaxing a bit. The office was very calm and peaceful, with a wonderful view. The sunbathed village was finally beginning it's rush of the day, each citizen starting their day in numerous ways. He enjoyed the diversity of the village, it being full of so much opportunity.

"Of course I've been studying, that's not even a something that needs to be said!" He scoffed at the Hokage, laughing slightly before bringing himself down to a quiet medium. "Training, on the other hand, has been a bit difficult." He sighed, adjusting his headband around his shoulder that had started to fall. "It's getting a bit boring training by myself, and not being assigned to a squad yet is a bit troublesome." He didn't want to throw all of this on top of the work load it appeared the Hokage already had, by the looks of the papers on his desk.

WC: 537
TWC: 1,154 using for training

"...I hope I'm not interrupting your work, though, Sousetsu."

"You seem to have a way with timing, Itsuki." he grinned as he caught him during his lunch. It was odd that so few people remained that still spoke his name. The title of Hokage demands such authority but family always seems to find its way around titles towards a personal level. Even his enemies dared not speak his name, revering towards the man with such authority that protects a village with his power alone. Some would not even refer to him as a Kage, reverting him to a beast with a strategic mind. What was more menacing in this world of ninja than a ferocious beast with an active mind?

A small smile escaped him as the young Senju before him seemed to scoff at his remark on his studies. If he was anything like Sousetsu, the books rarely collected dust. His training on the other hand, seemed to be lacking in its true potential. With no teacher to ease the way of knowledge into the young shinobi's mind, difficulty was sure to arise. Sousetsu nodded in reply, agreeing to his statement as he looked down to the food that lingered on the table. The suns rays continued to seep through the window pane, glistening off the wooden furniture and causing a bright aura of the stack of papers to his side.

"I am sorry to hear that, Itsuki. With the revival of the Police Force and other matters that need my intention, squads seemed to have escaped me..." his eyes began to shift to and fro the stack of papers. He gave another small smile to the young Senju before collecting the parchments that lay dormant on the side, passing through each page with the flick of two fingers. The sounds echoed throughout the room and the thin surfaces scraped off one another, until they he eventually stopped. Looking back to the Genin before him he gave off a slight chuckle before he grabbed his pen and began signing off on one peculiar piece of parchment.

It seemed like time was elongating the longer the pen scribbled in its cursive ways. Each line filled with adequate reasoning, personal information, and traits accustom to the picture it was given. The picture was, of course, Itsuki's ninja profile. His details filled the document all the while the birds and wildlife continued their songs of nature on the opposing side of the glass behind him. The echoes of voices from the village people in the markets, academies and streets alike, making their way slowly through the air towards the two. Sousetsu's ears peaked from time to time, while his eyes darted across the page with such precision that his hand barely had time to rest as his writing continued.

"There we go. How is this?" he gently eased the piece of paper towards Itsuki's side of the desk. On it, was a signature of approval from Sousetsu Senju, to Itsuki Senju, accepted into Squad One. Under direct leadership of the seventeenth Hokage.