Evening had fallen over the expansive village hidden in the stones. Mountains and buildings alike cast long shadows in the orange glow of the setting sun, illuminating the village in a heavenly twilight beneath a blue, purple, and orange late afternoon sky. Takao's boots padded against the dirt labyrinth like pathways that snaked through the village, slowly working his way to the Iwakage's mansion. He had sent a bird - the same falcon that soared effortlessly overhead - to deliver a missive of forewarning regarding his arrival. Despite his once rather esteemed position as the Hokage, however brief of a stint it might have been, one would be within a right mindset to assume he would be dressed to reflect such. However instead, he was dressed considerably more... modest. It seemed as though he was more fit for battle than he was a formal meeting, but he'd dressed in such attire specifically for the journey to the village, much more reminiscent of his days before delving into the hand-dirtying world of politics. A black coat hued a faint blue fell over his shoulders and was tailored nicely to his torso. Beneath the coat was an undershirt of simple construction, nothing that would suggest it to provide any more protection than the cloth it was made from. His black trousers bore a strong resemblance to the lower garments worn by Konohagakure Jōnin, though the uniform was broken by the pant legs being tucked into his combat boots.

His cold grey gaze fell to the ground, and traced over his left leg. If one were to look at him, it wouldn't be apparent that he carried with him such a debilitating injury. He had become quite skilled in the art of deception as of late, and masking the pain that radiated from the healed wound in waves was only part of said art. He lifted his gaze and settled it back onto the building he had sought out. By some miracle or stroke of luck, he had managed to travel from Konohagakure in the Fire Country to Iwagakure, in the Earth country. His journey was uncontested and uneventful, which was everything he had been hoping for, and not at all what he had been expecting. It had taken him longer than he had originally anticipated, mostly because he gave himself and his ability to endure the pain a little too much credit, but he had arrived none the less. A brief recollection of the exchange he had with the gate guards brought a small, amused smile to his face. The looks they gave him upon realizing who he was exactly were, for a lack of better wording, entertaining. Not in a belittling way, but he found the situation to be humourous. It was likely that they placed a good deal of the blame for the Summit's happenings on his shoulders, he believed, and they wouldn't be entirely wrong. It was true that it was his decision to call upon the leaders of the great nations for a meeting that placed them all in one location to be attacked, but it was also his belief that if such a leader were to fall under such circumstances, perhaps they weren't fit to lead after all. He looked back down to his leg and chuckled at the irony. 

"If I'm lucky, he'll still be in." Takao's voice escaped in a low, guttural tone, spoken with the intention to only be heard by his ears. A slow breath filled his lungs and he resumed his leisurely pace, clearly exhibiting no express desire to arrive at his sought after destination as soon as possible. Gloved hands found their way to his pant's pockets and before long, he was standing in front of the doors to the building. It was the tallest in the village, easily spotted even from a distance, though finding his way there with the roadways of a foreign place proved to be a challenge. Another long inhale flooded his lungs with oxygen and he stepped forward, gently pushing one of the doors open. He stepped inside and let his eyes wander.

"Alright, Tsuchikage. Let's make a deal."

- -

Word Count: [691]
Total Word Count: [691]

Takao would find his time at the gate was uncomfortable but really without hassle. Still they scanned his identification papers on the computer multiple times before accepting the documents were legit. After all they couldn't believe that such an individual that had made accusation against their country and led to the still mysterious death of a former tsuchikage would be wandering alone and by all appearances unarmed. Still before they allowed him to leave they sent an email to the main office. They had failed to notice to old fashioned message delivery system flying overhead some time ago. Who looked for birds anymore? Still they were bundled up tight as snow littered the village. It was cold up in the mountains and snow already littered the roof tops. Smoke billowing out of chimneys in every home. What was interesting was the fact that no homeless were out in the street. Unlike the Iwa of old in its ruined state this Iwa had cheerful people hard at work or shopping for something or another. Everyone seemed to have purpose and there was no room for the lazy. There were no thugs threatening anyone and yet the shinobi presence seemed to be on the move in heavy patrols. Snow slowly falling and refilling boot prints in their wake.

Still as he made his way closer and closer to the administration building he might notice the flaw with his delivery system. The upper most floor reserved for the Kage was a freaking bunker. Not a single window on it and reinforced chakra stone and steel around it. The chimney billowed there as well but probably was designed to prevent intruders as well. There wasn't a single way for a bird to get in. Or a shinobi for that matter. Perhaps this Kage was paranoid or simply prepared for the enemies he had made. Either way the administration building was more of a fortress. Still his attention might be broken by the group of students exiting the building. A couple of guys and a girl wearing school uniforms with a pin on their chest marked with the symbols DHU. They glanced at Takao in his thin outfit with surprise before sharing a quiet laugh and trudging off in the snow towards another part of town. Leaving his path clear to the administration building. The guard at the door glanced at him as he approached but did little to nothing to even hint he might bar his path. Instead he simply waited out of the way.

As Takao entered the building he would be introduced to the controlled heating within like a wave of warm air. Inside people moved back and forth between different offices. Talking on phones...meeting with merchants over in one room and signing documents or shinobi picking up missions in another. It was incredibly busy with one large desk towards the back in the main room. The carpet in front of the door would end abruptly on stone floor as it was obviously placed to absorb any moisture on someone from the snow. One person would look at him with a confused look as they thought they heard him say something before continuing on to deliver a file to one of the offices. If Takao were to move across the lobby to the desk the girl would look up and blink before looking down at the email before her. Next to her on the desk was a falcon drying out and warming up which she seemed to be giving ample room too. "One second sir let me just phone up and..." About that time the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Standing within was a man of average height and weight. His dark hair hanging to his shoulders and about his face but somehow it looked to be styled that way. His beard was shaved in forks on his chin and all of this seemed to frame a set of golden eyes that slid to watch Takao the moment the doors opened. He was wearing a pair of dress shoes with black slacks just barely over the rim of the heel and a tucked in silver dress shirt with a white vest with dark green shoulders buttoned over it. A black tie was tucked under the vest and tight to his neck and for safety reasons buttoned down along the front of his shirt. The man in the elevator smiled to Takao then and stepped to the side only to indicate room for another. A silky voice came out that sounded like he was confidently aware of his influence on people and yet warm and peaceful. Someone used to talking to others. "Please. Join me if you would."

790

"Hm." A low rumble of a hum escaped from his throat. Security seemed tight in some areas, yet totally lacking in others. It took them a good while to both check and confirm his identity, though he wasn't entirely sure if they were intentionally giving him a hard time, yet his bird had gone entirely unnoticed. It was a rather old-fashioned way of communication in terms of speed, but just as reliable - if not more so than computers. Especially now, where not many people seemed to keep their eyes in the air.

He raised an eyebrow at the group of apparent students that passed him and laughed, though he didn't think much of it. While his attire wasn't specifically made with the sole purpose of warmth in mind, it was a far shot from being unacceptable for the cold environment; especially not when compared to a school uniform. The warmth of the Administration Building was in stark contrast to the cold outdoors of the Earth Country, yet neither were particularly foreign to him. He had spent a good deal of time in The Land of Iron, a land renowned for its frigid climate, and even the colder temperatures of a late Tsuchi no Kuni autumn paled in comparison. The warmth of the building was welcomed with metaphorically opened arms regardless, and the change of temperature prompted him to unzip the front of his jacket.

"Seems like he's paranoid about something." The thoughts never escaped his head, and instead mulled around as he glanced about the main lobby. He made small comparisons to Konohagakure's own administrative building, though he couldn't imagine the current Hokage to express an obsession with security to match the Tsuchikage's. His gaze continued to wander, drawing more similarities between the location that was foreign to him and how he knew his home to be. During Takao's own brief reign, he had never been so obsessively adamant with making sure his own office was secure; his interests had been the village as a whole. The mountain provided a labyrinth of protection during times of distress, so fortifying one particular location to great lengths seemed nonsensical to him. But he couldn't fault the Tsuchikage for his actions either. Takao believed that all human life was equal, both what he perceived to be good and evil, yet some held specific usefulness over others. Protecting the most powerful shinobi in the village was a good way of ensuring the village's safety as a whole, and their glorious leader was likely to have his own justifications. Takao wasn't one to judge at first glance, only analyze and study. His own opinions would factor in when more information was available. "Guess I can't blame him. There's plenty to be anxious about."

Upon approaching the desk, Takao was met with another odd look. By now he'd become accustomed to it, figuring it was more vexation based on his decision to call the summit that lead to their inexperienced leader's premature demise. He'd long since learned not to pay much mind to what opinions the ignorant and uninformed held toward him, for he would be bothered incessantly by them if he did. With the look disregarded, he didn't seem to need to speak before she was reading a message and reaching for the phone. Before she managed to do so, her attention was caught by the opening of an elevator. Takao's gaze followed the woman's, and he met the gaze of the man who stood beyond the sliding doors. A quick glance showed him to be dressed in rather odd attire for the setting, yet well dressed none the less. He stole a sidelong glance as the receptionist before walking toward the elevator with swift, evenly spaced steps, making it rather difficult - nigh impossible - to tell that he was doing so with a bad leg. The rubber soles of his boots padded lightly across the stone floor, and stopped to incline his head slightly to the man before entering the elevator and standing beside Akira. The man he stood beside was a bit taller, perhaps an inch or two. They carried difference expressions and demeanor as well. The one he stood beside seemed calm and confident, accustomed to speaking with others. Takao on the other hand gave off a different vibe; he was considerably more closed off and seemed unapproachable. Exactly was he intended for himself to be seen as.

"You've my gratitude for seeing me on such short notice, Tsuchikage-sama."

- -

( OOC // Quick note; I'm under the assumption that the falcon you mentioned in your post is Takao's. In my previous post I mentioned that it was flying around outside, so he'd still be out there. its its not then ignore this pls. )

Word Count: [746]
Total Word Count: [1437]

Akira watched the man from the elevator with golden eyes seeming to notate everything in the room. He could tell the person who was supposedly a retired Hokage held himself with the kind of stance someone with such influence may have adopted. Confident yet somehow not honest entirely. As if there were layers to his very standing pose that spoke a warning against challenging him. Or was there something more? He couldn't place a finger on it but something was off about the man. Truth was he had never met him before which likely played heavily in his favor right now though no one but him knew it. It was entirely too likely that the man that had been Kage during his own rise in the ranks in Konoha may have more of a chance of noticing similarities had it not been for the fact that they had never actually met. A small smile played across his lips at that little fact. This man probably didn't even know the name Tsuyo. He had little to worry about on the matter. Although, if the individual was here for something such an influential character likely still held some pull. He might be able to be of some use. That was all thoughts for later however. For now he needed to discover what this visit was about. It edged at his curiosity.

Still Akira stood out of the way as Takao stepped almost hurriedly into the elevator while still appearing to take his own pace. The air in the room was heavier then usual Akira noted with a sweeping gaze. He noticed this most of all when eyes that had been watching Takao looked away as they noticed that gaze watching them just a moment too late. People in his building did not question him anymore since his activities had always benefited the village as far as they knew. He had taken great care to give off that appearance. A satisfied work force was a good work force. Still that they were on the verge of questioning why he was even meeting with this man interested him. Some of them had been working here for years. They had worked for more then a couple of previous Tsuchikage. A personal attachment maybe? It hardly mattered so long as they were more loyal to him then the previous ones then they would allow him to do as he pleased without much supervision. Still he watched them with a smile as the doors closed and he pressed the steel button to the top floor. His gaze turning to Takao as he observed him breifly. In a single word he would classify the man as antisocial. Everything about him suggested he did not care for interaction. Even still he spoke formally and had come to see him after all. This was interesting. Still Akira responded as the elevator began to shift. His silky words sliding off his silver tongue.

"But of course. Not every day you are given the opportunity to host such an individual. Please though, as we are away from the lobby let us drop the Title. Less I should refer to you as Hokage-Sama?"

He grinned sheepishly and yet somehow that expression seemed like a mask. Hiding a calculating gaze. Still the elevator only moved for a couple of moments before it dinged and the doors split apart. The upper floor was by far a different scene from the lobby. No windows to be seen and yet there was a waiting area with a fireplace flickering with life and two couches and a large, occupied, chair. In the chair was a very large man with a mask over his face reading a book with clawed hands. Next to him slept a very large bear. Snoozing calmly off away from the fire but close enough to enjoy some heat. Across from them was another desk. This time a woman in military uniform sat behind it with a burn mark down her cheek. A shield with a sword tucked behind it hung on the wall behind her with the clan symbol for Kanetsu on the shield itself. A lava user. Both of them wer obviously body guards. Even in the fortress he had high level security. Still he indicated a hallway passed the desk and proceeded along.

"I assume you would like privacy yes? My office is this way. Don't mind those two...they may appear cranky but they are good at what they do and mean you no harm."

758/1548

A small smirk crossed his face as he listened to Akira speak. He recognized the silver tongue right away; it wasn't a trait uncommon for political figures in present times. There was once a point where villages would simply threaten with war whenever there were decisions to be made, but as time past and ages advanced, a more delicate approach became necessary. Takao's extensive experience in the political game allowed him to recognize an influential political leader when he saw one, and a silver tongue immediately put him on edge. His threshold of trust was becoming more limited with each spoken word. "To do so would perhaps be a slight to the current Hokage." said Takao, briefly meeting Akira's gaze as the elevator began to rise.

"It'd be an injustice to my predecessors as well. I had only adopted that title out of necessity at the time." His coherently spoken words carried a monotonous tone, per the usual for him. It wouldn't be an easy task to read him based solely from pitch, though what he said did carry some undertones of honesty. By the time his response had concluded, the elevator doors rang out and opened with a quiet hiss. The sight that behold him as the doors slid apart was much more befitting of the fortress description. Artificial lightning illuminated the floor in place of natural light, which didn't propose a particularly welcoming environment, but given the purpose. The presence of a burning fireplace was perhaps the most comforting element of the room. His dull gaze lingered on the dancing flames for a bit longer than they should've, unintentionally exhibiting a bit of his primal fondness for the element. A pyromaniac through and through, or something akin to one. When he pulled his gaze away, he took notice of what remained in his surroundings. Two people, both unique in experience and undoubtedly similarly diverse in skill sets, each minding their own business. Their presence was noted and made him rather uneasy, though he didn't show it in the slightest. "Kanetsu..." A slow breath filled his lungs as his eyes glanced over the clan's emblem. A brief stint of inactivity had given him plenty of time to brush up on his knowledge of clans. "Lava user." His eyes then shifted to the bear, and the man whom he assumed to be in some relation to. "Animal user. Possible Inuzuka influences." He placed quick mental labels on the two's unexpected yet justifiable appearance.
He briefly mused over the similarities to the bodyguards specifically assigned to him during the time of the summit. He knew neither of them particularly well at the time, and given the events that had transpired that night, a relationship with them was never fated to be formed. The musing elicited a huffed exhale through his nostrils before being discarded. The raven-haired teen followed Akira as he was lead down a hallway passed the desk, presumably in the direction of the latter's office.

"Their presence is understandable given the circumstances." He said, providing a minor hint to his knowing of the apparent infamy he held in the village. "But privacy would be appreciated." Yet ultimately unnecessary, he thought. "What would you prefer me to call you, if not Tsuchikage?" Takao inquired, settling a sidelong gaze onto Akira. The two seemed to be in similar standing when it came to their preference for titles. Takao absolutely loathed the interactions he'd received following his inauguration into his short lived position as Hokage. The titles and unearned respect garnered his ire effortlessly and without fail, as if everything he had achieved up until that point was trumped by being in the right place at the right time. Or wrong time. He hadn't quite decided which fit the situation better.

Takao cleared his throat. "...I suppose it was actually rather rude of me to ask that of you before introducing myself properly." He said, words still carrying that same monotone. If a deal were to be made, Takao expected for certain pleasantries to be settled. "My name is Takao Kimura, rank of Jōnin." His name and title were spoken with an odd nuance of... pride? No, perhaps dignity was a more accurate description. It was a title he had earned on his lonesome as a result of his achievements, not something handed to him as a result of drawing the long straw when it came to squad assignments and landing on his predecessor's team.

- -

Word Count: [743]
Total Word Count: [2180]

"Hmm."

It was the response that Akira gave for the moment. As they progressed they found themselves within arch way that curved into a single hallway leading to a pair of double doors. Reinforced chakra wood from the look of them. Imported from Konoha no doubt. The walls around the doors were obviously local though. No other place in the world melded chakra reinforced stone so well. The front of the office was like a bunker. One way in. Still Akira stopped at the door and spoke once more as he focused a minute amount of chakra into his palm. His words soft but still direct and factual as he didn't care to beat around the bush if he didn't need to. After all Takao seemed like a rather direct person.

"They are actually always here when I am. I am sure you noticed but I have made a number of preparations in defense against what enemies I have made in my position. As for what to call me in private you may refer to me as either Akira or Dr. Kazako. Your choice Mr. Kimura, Jounin of the leaf. Ah here we are."

The door seemed to open now with a click as his chakra finally touched the spot it needed to. Whether it would only open to his chakra or if it was just a trick with any chakra signature was unclear. Still the security was certainly paranoid. Still the doors would swing open to reveal the room within. No windows lined the room but instead it was a big oval office made entirely of chakra reinforced stone. Framed portraits of the previous Tsuchikage lined the walls in thick frames along the wall the door was on. On one side was a fire place with a fire flickering with life from some rather fresh logs within and a stack of logs next to it in a box. The chimney may have been considered a weak point if not for the razor wire line through out it. Anyone trying to sneak down it would be cut to shreds. A lion skin rug marked the floor in front of it with two red leather chairs, one on either side each with a small table to their right. On the back wall was shelves with a stone desk in the center and one big chair behind it with two little chairs in front of it. A single glass of scotch sat on the desk under the pressure and a cigar butt rested on the other end in an ash tray. On the wall opposite the fireplace was a chilled liquor cabinet. Dozens of different alcohols lined inside and dripped with condensation along the windows. A single box of cigars rested on the prep counter next to the glasses set there. It was actually fairly warm in there. Between the cabinet and the desk was a coat hanger with a coat and two daggers tucked into it. Something about the coat though was off. It was a suit overcoat but it seemed to almost reflect the light. It was dry though since it had been out of the snow for some time. Obviously Akira had already been in his office when Takao had arrived.

As Takao would enter assuming he did the doors would swing closed after a few seconds. Akira himself made his way to the cabinet and collected himself a fresh drink since his one on the table had been left too long. With a glance to Takao Akira would indicate one of the chairs by the fire with a raised hand. He would speak up then with a smile. "The room is sound proof Mr. Kimura. Short of sensory jutsu no one can hear us now. Though do try and keep any chakra use minimal. The guards are sensitive to it. Please..relax and place your coat on the hanger and join me by the fire...something to drink perhaps? A smoke even?" He would chuckle and turn back to preparing the drinks. He himself was having another scotch and he would make whatever Takao wanted be it club soda or tequila...whatever the man asked for he had. He would hold both drinks in his right hand and grab either a cigar for himself or two cigars if Takao asked for one. He would then walk over and settle into one of the red chairs himself and hand what was for Takao to him. Lighting his own cigar with a match before puffing on it and sitting back in the comfortable chair. His golden gaze watching the man.

"So we have introductions out of the way and privacy. If we could though I want to skip some of the pleasant small talk. What brings you to my village?"

802/2350

Takao cast an idly wandering glance around the office; one that couldn't be interpreted as suspicious behaviour, but rather just the normal human reaction of taking in one's surroundings upon being introduced to them. Walls reinforced with chakra, imported lumber, immaculate construction, red leather, expensive looking drinks and rolled bundles of fermented tobacco... It was all laughably piteous to him. Not only did he come off as impossibly prepared and equally paranoid, but perhaps a taste of conceited as well. What a unique mixture, although he could be reading him entirely wrong all the same. Takao was a much more modest person, after all, who lived within his means by choice. Extravagant things very rarely interested him. Either Takao had walked into a trap, or... well, he hoped he wasn't locked in such a small room anyway. While Takao and his fire had a rather intimate relationship with one another, it didn't play with others too nicely; especially when confined to compact environments.

His dull gaze fell to the drink and cigar as they were offered to him. He raised his right hand with his palm facing Akira and gave his head a slight shake. "Thank you, but I'll have to decline. I don't drink," He said, his gaze shifting away from the cigar. He'd tried them in the past and despised them. They weren't like cigarettes, the smoke didn't flow into his lungs and give him the same high that he received from his techniques. It just sat like a bad taste in his mouth; much too shallow a flavour for him. "and I'm not a fan of cigars." A small smile crossed his face as he politely declined the offer.

Finally the time came for small talk to end, and the purpose of his travels to show whether or not they would bear its fruits. He had mulled over how to approach the proposition for... well, for what had felt like months now. Whether it had been a day... a week, or even months indeed, he wasn't sure. Not only had he gone over precisely what he intended to say, but he had also considered rebuttals and other propositions. It wasn't a common occurrence for shinobi of some respectable amounts of esteem to put themselves in a position of willfully being indebted to another, and to pass up such an opportunity... Surely it would be the mark of a fool. So he weighed what the Tsuchikage might've wanted in return. Money... It wasn't out of the question, but he doubted that would be an adequate way to use him as a resource. Grunt work seemed the most likely. A healed leg in exchange for dropping a few bodies and making a few heads roll. He wouldn't have too much of a problem with that. Swearing loyalty was the option that he was most wary of. Takao would sooner lose the leg in its entirety than pledge his loyalty to another village.

Takao cleared his thoughts and settled his gaze back onto Akira as he seated himself in the red leather chair. His hands were folded on his lap, in a leisurely comfortably and nonthreatening manner.

"I'll get straight to the point then." Takao said as he leaned his weight onto his knees. "On a mission less than a year ago, my enemy attacked unexpectedly and collapsed a cave on top of me. My left leg was badly damaged. Comminuted radius fractures with segmental bone loss. The Hidden Leaf's medical professionals were able to put it in... operable order, but prolonged usage is nigh impossible." He spoke clearly and concisely in his typical monotone, his gaze unwavering. "Your reputation in the medical field is rumoured to be unparalleled. So I couldn't think of a better person to ask. Of course, I wouldn't be expecting you to do this without adequate... remittance."

The raven haired teen didn't doubt the man's ability. If there were anybody that could put his leg back to how it once were, it would be the Tsuchikage, but that wasn't what had been worrying him.

"So... If you're interested, name your price."

- -

Word Count:			[686]
Total Word Count:			[2866]

The decline of both drink and water brought a sly smile to Akira's lips as he let his eyes look over his shoulder with mischief in them. Oh it wasn't polite to bring up a guests past but such things could hardly be forgotten. He wondered though if he too recalled all the details. Such a thing was in the past by a significant amount of time. Yet with how involved Takao was with the whole situation that fact that a poison from Iwa likely still held heavily in his mind. A detail many had forgotten or never knew. Could the man perhaps be evading food or drink in case of retribution? An odd ideal but Akira himself could admit he would take precautions as well. Still it would be incredibly ill mannered to jest about it. Much as he wanted to tease the man the individual was far to influential for him to anger with ease. Not influential enough that Akira would task himself with monitoring every word that came out of his mouth but enough that he wouldn't bother with something he knew wouldn't end well. Either way he would nod and settle back into his own chair. His words warm and gentle. As silky as before.

"Of course. If you would like some water or something at any point simply inform me. I seek to accommodate my guests needs. Within reason of course."

Still the individual across from him was seated in a non threatening manner. Akira himself crossed and ankle over his knee and leaned back. He puffed on his cigar as the smoke trailed upwards and golden eyes watched Takao through the thin haze. His drink was lifted to his lips to cool the throat before Takao began to speak. His sipped it before lowering it to rest in his hand on the arm of the chair as he made eye contact to show he was listening. So Takao had traveled here with such an injury. On one hand he felt that was both brave and foolish. The reputation the man had in these parts made him a target to some. A raised eyebrow seemed to reveal these thoughts. Yet on the other hand he could somewhat understand and respect the personal power of the individual to walk into the village with confidence and prepared to take on anything even with the injury. Move through any obstacle between you and being whole again. Something he could relate too. After all he himself had lost both eyes, an arm and a leg before though no one knew it. Since he was whole again it hardly mattered.

Still when he mentioned naming his price...Akira watched him for a moment. Cigar between his lips as he breathed smoke in and out. More air then smoke to be honest but he was hardly paying attention to such small comforts. Here in front of him was an opportunity. However what he truly wanted was risky to ask for out of the blue. Still a sly smile filled his lips before he pulled the cigar out of his mouth and tapped off some ashes into an ash tray. He set his drink down on the table next to him and leaned to the side to lean on his free hand with his elbow resting on the arm of the chair. He seemed to be studying the man across from him. Such a fascinating preposition. He would need to tread carefully for the time being. If he was to get what he really wanted he would need to earn some trust first. For the moment he would leave the price out of the meeting as best he could. He didn't want to test the poor mans patience however so he spoke up in return after only a moment of silence.

"I would be happy to help you, after all Konoha is an ally in these new days. A price can be discussed after you have recovered. After all I trust you to be a man of your word. Men with such pride usually are. Though I imagine it took some effort to get passed that pride wand hide such a wound all the way here. There is a bit of a disclosure you should be aware of though...I can heal you...regardless of the injury if your leg is intact I can fix it. However to do so I will have to break away anything the other medics have done and heal it from there once the bones and tissue are aligned properly. I can do it easily however it will require some rehabilitation. If you wish to remain here for it we can house you and whether you feel you need it or not a guard will be placed with you. If you wish to return immediately to the border afterwards I suggest making your own arrangements."

823/3173

Sly smiles. That's all the say. Some form of underlying condescension graced each small twitch of the man's face, and they were certainly not going unnoticed. Yet Takao's expression hadn't changed from when he first walked through the doors of the office - complete and total deadpan. Dreary onyx coloured eyes watched Akira closely, and inclined his head politely at the offer.

"I'm quite alright, and I appreciate the hospitality." said Takao, his gaze not once wandering from the Tsuchikage. 

"Pride is irrelevant." He said, words carried with a blunt tone. "My purpose in life is to be a shinobi, of any capacity. I can't do that to the best of my ability with inadequate physical health. If I'm to progress from where I am now, I have to take risks. If I were to die..." He paused for a moment. Death wasn't something he readily accepted just yet, but a predictable end for the treacherous profession that he had chosen; or rather, the profession that had chosen him. "Then that would be the price I would have to pay. But I would much rather die than rot away by living with my purpose just out of reach." His voice never once wavered from his usual monotone, even following the pause.

"Publicly displaying weakness of any capacity in a world where people are more than willing to kill for nothing more than bragging rights is akin to a death sentence. This risk is only intensified when traveling alone to a country that I was once fooled into thinking had attempted to incite war with Konoha, and nearly warred with as a result. There was no pride to be transcended. It has always been a matter of necessity." Pupiless black eyes narrowed slightly at the sly smile Akira continued to wear. Quite the supercilious attitude he carried, and so openly too. It was certain to raise suspicion. "As for the methods, I don't have any qualms." Despite not being a professional, Takao couldn't imagine many scenarios where breaking a leg to heal a broken leg would be the logical course of action. But then again, he wasn't a supposed professional. Takao didn't put much more thought into that area of their conversation, as a much more important issue was waiting to be addressed.

"I don't have any interest in putting myself in your debt without knowing the price beforehand. If a deal is to be made, I request that the payment and stipulations be discussed in advance." His voice held a certain sternness; it was a clear indication of his unwavering stance on the matter. Surely he wouldn't put his life in the hands of another without knowing precisely what they would want in return. With the way the Tsuchikage had been so quick to cast the matter aside, his suspicion only rose. It was clear that he enjoyed living lavishly, if the expensive looking office, drinks and cigars, furniture, and the administration building as a whole were taken into consideration, so payment seemed unlikely to be one of the last things he was thinking about.

His mind wandered idly, though his face didn't show it. The Tsuchikage's angle didn't appear to be hard to figure out at first glance, but Takao wasn't foolish enough to risk believing what he had determined so earlier on. Whatever the man wanted, it was clear to Takao that it couldn't be asked for outright, and was better to leave whenever Takao's choices were limited. It was big.

"You disregarded the matter of payment a little too easily for somebody who seems to enjoy such a luxurious lifestyle, which is leading me to believe you're trying to trick me into being in your debt, or you're not wanting to outright ask for whatever it is you're interested in." Onyx eyes narrowed again as his words tested the waters.

"So, now I'm curious. What exactly is it that you want?"

Word Count:	[653]
Total Word Count:	[3519]

Akira paused as he listened to the man across from him. So the individual was a soldier at best. He had expected someone that had reached such levels before he had and at a younger age to be a person of a great deal of character. However as it appeared at the moment the thing that set this person apart was a lack of personal interest. Content with being whatever tool Konoha needed him to be in his eyes. He recalled some similar feelings in his own youth but those were gone now. Still he could enjoy some show of personal power on a quieter level. He had grown far to accustomed to someone blowing something up or bursting through a wall in a common spar. People in Iwa were very direct usually. Still that mask hadn't faltered since Takao arrived in his office. As if he hardly cared if the meeting went poorly for him. Or perhaps he was confident even alone with a Kage. He had been one himself after all. The tone however was aggravating. Speaking so plainly about Akira's intentions. It was as if he was fine with accusing the man of foul play. And here they had only just met.

Still a moment of silence fell as the glass on the table trembled slightly and the fire flickered as if being smothered. Akira was irritated and so his chakra flexed just a little out of his normal control. Just enough to shift the room ever so slightly. He was fine with the other knowing that his last couple of sentences had struck a nerve. Trick him? how naive. At the level they played there was no real tricking anyone into doing something of this caliber. Idiots didn't survive this long. Not without help anyway and if they had the help to survive than one didn't use another minions without being prepared for whatever comes of that. His golden gaze shifted with a raised eyebrow to match the other mans gaze. Something in that golden gaze reflected that if he lost his temper this office wasn't going to survive the fight. Along with that there was some level of confidence that should there be a fight Akira was the one coming out of that room intact. Still he chuckled and the chakra seemed to become suppressed once more. The moment of tension seemed gone from him. Still when he spoke he let his mirth fill his voice with a hint of dark undertone.

"What makes you think you have anything I want?"

Akira clicked his teeth before standing up from his seat before puffing on his cigar again. He moved over to his book shelf and moved a couple of books to the side. His right hand pushed in on the back panel there before it popped in and slid to the side revealing a safe. Quietly Akira placed himself between the safe and Takao before punching in a five digit code and hitting enter. The safe opened and Akira pulled out a larger file before closing the safe. As he turned back the panel shifted back into place. He moved back to the table before dropping the file with a thud in front of Takao letting a couple of files slide out. At a glance it would be easy to see it was some older files by at least a year on all the past and present Konoha shinobi. The two names that slid out with images were Ukiyo and Sousetsu. Back when he wasn't whom he was now.

"That is Konoha property. It was recovered by us some time ago but I didn't have anyone I felt would have Konoha's best interest to act as courier until now. That rightfully belongs to you. My price is repaying a favor. One name in there helped out Iwa and a couple other nations in a time of need. As for repaying him I want the price of healing you, his name removed from Konoha's wanted list. He left without committing any crime other then leaving so I doubt it should be an issue. I want you to either do it yourself or negotiate to have it done on my behalf. Your choice. The name you are looking for is Tsuyo."

723/3896

“Damn it...” Takao's jaw tensed. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, doing his best to keep his stoic expression from wavering in even the slightest. He inhaled a deep breath through his nostrils, taking in the scent of the cigar and the alcohol and the crackling fireplace. “Why's he sprouting up all of a sudden..?”


There was a shadow standing behind the chair, hovering over him. It had the shape of a man, yet no eyes, no nose, no mouth. No face. It was just a figure, who was leaning over the chair on Takao's left side, whispering the words into his ear. It was telling him to act now, to strike first and strike hard before they could bring forth his demise.

Of course, this figure was invisible to Akira; it was invisible to Takao as well. It was merely a hallucination -- the personified voice of his paranoid schizophrenia which stemmed from some typical traumatic childhood he'd rather not recall if given the choice. It spoke to him and continuously attempted to sway him in favour of destruction. Takao was thankful to have the angel on his other shoulder though, which he would call his personified voice of reason. It was in constant conflict with the destructiveness in his mind, combating his unnatural fears and anxieties that tried to sway his thoughts.


His eyes were set in Akira's direction; staring but not watching. He could tell the man was speaking, but the words just weren't reaching him just yet. Takao adopted an attentive facade while the voice continued to speak to him. Surely letting it out here would... detrimental to his purpose, if he were to put it as eloquently and gently as his vocabulary could muster.


It took an incredible amount of willpower to keep his face from moving. He wanted to scowl, to scrunch up his face and yell at the air. He wanted to tell it to be quiet, to give him silence and let him think, but talking back to that voice very rarely did him any good. Only actions did, and he couldn't act in the office.


“Oh, shut up, will you?” Takao began the mental argument with the imaginary shadowed figure that hovered behind his left ear.  “I'm not going to try to burn anybody today, so you can bugger off. The only thing you're tempting me to do is find the nearest sharp object to deafen myself with.” A few short seconds of similar followed his mental berating. He finally had some time to think, and to speak. As his onyx gaze settled back upon Akira, mere seconds later in reality despite how his mind had interpreted the exchange with his psyche to be an hour long, Takao finally spoke his response.

“The fact that you brought up payment would likely be the reason I would think I have something you want.” said Takao as he watched Akira closely. It seemed as though the teen's proclivity toward manipulating how people saw him was as strong as ever. In a world filled with deceit and lies, speaking so directly of ones intentions was so very rarely beneficial. He almost smiled. If Akira was content with thinking Takao was nothing more than a mindless soldier, well... all the better for Takao.

His onyx gaze fell to the file as it was dropped in front of him. Some files slid out, of Ukiyo and Sousetsu in particular, prompting Takao's glance to linger. It wouldn't come to the surprise of any shinobi that was well versed in politics... or really any shinobi in general that every village had files on the others. The stronger individuals in a village usually had the largest files, and rightfully so. But the proclamation that it was property of Konohagakure yet in the possession of Iwagakure, and the story of this “Tsuyo”, had piqued his interest.

“Hunting for defectors isn't very common nowadays.” Takao said as he reached out for the file and held it with his left hand while his right idly flipped through the pages, looking for the file on the man that Akira had mentioned. He was also searching for his own file, simply out of personal curiosity.

“Sounds like you have a good rapport with Tsuyo.” He said, his eyes briefly leaving the file to glance up at Akira. “My authority in Konoha has waned in the last few years. Even as the former Hokage, it's rather unlikely I'll be able to remove his name as simply as just... doing it. But I'm more than willing to negotiate with them on your behalf. I can't say I know much about him, though. If you don't mind me asking, what is it that he did for Iwagakure and these other villages? It might help his case a bit, or at the very least, I'll know what to leave out.”

Word Count:	[878]
Total Word Count:	[4397]

Akira watched as the young man before him shifted idly through the file. Sure it was common for certain individuals to have files on them in competing villages. After all people could eventually become a threat. If a battle began being informed often meant survival. Tactically having more information then your opponent was almost always beneficial. However this was more then that. It was outdated for sure but it had files on every Konoha shinobi from a little over a year ago in detail. From Kage down to genin. Information about their grades in the academy and mission reports. The file was thick and in the bottom of each profile was a stamp used by the Konoha Anbu offices. These were not just files on information that Iwa had gathered....these were Konoha's files on their own. Files that detailed enough about Konoha that it could of led to its fall if in the wrong hands. It was becoming apparent that at least Akira knew every personal weakness of each individual in that file from a year ago. Still the more Takao would look through it the clearer it would become that it was outdated. Ranks were wrong and some newer academy graduates were not even included. The file on Tsuyo though was labeled missing with a notation for ANBU only. A young hyuga with potent taijutsu and medical abilities that had proven efficient until he up and left mysteriously with a squad mate years ago. With that it became apparent that these files were not just Konoha files but even the restricted ones.

Still Akira returned to his seat and settled back into it. Leaning back and seeming to relax now. After all either it hadn't struck the man that these files were really Konoha property or he didn't view it as too much of a deal breaker. Calm and collected by all appearances. Surely a decent soldier if ever there was one. Keeping so passive even with cards and high stakes being laid out before him. Akira was sure Takao would be a fun person to play poker with. Still he wanted more information. Akira took in another drag of smoke from his cigar to cover the silence as he rapidly debated how much about himself he was willing to reveal to this man. After all information was power and if he was to hand power specifically against himself...he should certainly make an effort that it was limited. Still he blew out a smoke ring and spoke once more. His own voice was as calm and collected as before. Still mild amusement rang within it.

"We don't exactly keep files on missing nin helping us. I am sure you could see how that would be detrimental. If it wasn't for the fact that i personally feel missing nin or criminal is a mislabel for the individual in question you wouldn't be hearing about it now. However he has proven his worth. Tsuyo hyuga helped bring down the major crime families and organizations in Iwa, Helped eliminate a slave trade between Suna and Iwa and personally destroyed the drug syndicate here. He also was spotted helping Kirigakure during the bells war with a team we are yet to identify. That same team went after your serial killer, one ukiyo Senju. That battle in particular cost Tsuyo physically. I don't know his current location but someone who sacrificed their body for good ideals deserves to live in peace yes?"


Akira turned his head as his attention was shifted to his phone beeping as the secretary at his desk spoke up. Her voice carrying as a one way transmission via the page. "Tsuchikage-sama. Your four o'clock is here and refuses to be delayed. He is on his way up now." The page ended and Akira sighed before mumbling something about self important politicians and smiled to Takao before putting out his own cigar. He stood up and held out his hand to Takao before greeting him with a warm smile. "Regretfully our meeting must end for now. Take the files with you and think on it. If you decide its worth your time get with my secretary and we will arrange to fix that leg. It was a pleasure meeting you."

720/4616

3000/3000 Byakugan B-A rank

1616 split for Medical to SS

The more Takao sifted through the files, the more his suspicion began to spike. These weren't simple reconaissance reports and general intelligence files, they were personalized portfolios that held extensive information on the shinobi of Konohagakure. They were files that he, as the Hokage, had once read and studied over in his spare time. His prompt replacement hadn't left him with much time nor means to notice that the files had even gone missing. Accompanied by his wonted deadpan, his grey hued gaze cast a lingering glance back up at Akira. Perhaps it was the natural skeptic in him, playing true to the definition of paranoid, but he was certainly finding the notion that files with such sensitive information would not only be acquired, but made no mention of. A moment of musing over the thought had brought up the memories of the last time he'd jumped on the first signs of suspicion, and nearly lead his country to war as a result. While it was indeed suspicious, perhaps there might've been a legitimate reason behind their holding of the files.

"Ah. He's quite the benevolent defector then." said Takao as his eyes returned to the files. He briefly glanced over Sousetsu's entry and recalled the time when he'd been Hokage and the boy, who had been a few years his elder at the time, had been a genin. Takao had never found age to be a primary point of interest when denoting one's capabilities in combat. There were some that said to beware of an old man in a profession where young men die, but the raven haired teen had seen more than his fair share of powerful youths. In any case, he wasn't the sort to underestimate somebody-- especially not based on their age.

Akira seemed to speak fondly of the man's deeds, yet none of them held any particular interest to Takao. What the defector did for other villages held so little merit that it was almost deserving of a raise in bounty. To defect from ones home and instead spend their time aiding other villages... There certainly wasn't much about his deeds in Iwagakure and Kirigakure that warranted praise. At least not from Takao. But, he was willing to compromise. The teen closed the files with one hand and grasped the folder with a firm grip. He rose to stand as the Secretary began to speak, and watched as Akira held his hand out. "Gotta love the politics of the position." He muttered, a hint of sarcasm breaking through his usual monotone. Takao extended his own free hand and met Akira's for a firm shake, his deadpan not wavering despite the warm smile that had been offered.

"I'll speak with her by tomorrow with my decision. Thanks for your time, and again for returning the files." He said. A slight nod of his head was offered in accompaniment of his vocalized gratitude, and he turned to leave the office with a clear destination in sight: the elevator. He boarded and rode it down to the first floor, then promptly exited the building. As the doors open and the frigid mountain air hit his face, Takao glanced down at the files. He removed a single paper from the folder and glanced at it. It had a name, his own, and an image of him. A deep frown pulled at his cheeks before he exhaled a single burning ember onto the paper. It caught and burned away in his hands, turning to ash that was carried away by a breeze.

"Valignat wer edar."



Trained Speed, S-1 to S-3.
Trained Strength, A-3 to S.

Word Count:	[595]
Total Word Count:	[4992]

Thread closed.