A typical afternoon in the Raikage office was conspiring. The sun hung high in the air to its optimum height and was soon going to dip down. Rays of light was coming through the window as Sanosuke was writing through papers after papers that he had to get done if he wanted to find time to go out tonight. Gin had, against his finances wishes, got tickets to a premier movie showing towards Tanaka Village; which was a small thriving cinematic driven village where most of the dominant 5 star movies had their premier showings there. Even though he didn't want to spend money originally on the movie, he wouldn't think it was such a bad idea. So he was able to forgive the troublesome woman this time for going into his account for frivolous reasoning. But in the meantime he would have to finish all this work to have time tonight. Stretching his back, Sanosuke compared the large stack of papers on his left which was what he had been doing all day to the much smaller pile to his right of things that he had left to do. Just a little bit more and he'd be done. His chair reclined backwards as he was left staring at the ceiling. A small break was needed every once in a while. If he worked too hard, then he'd probably get a migraine for the rest of the night. Of course Gin would make his life a living hell should that be the case and do everything in her power to upset the migraine further.

A loud tapping could be heard from the window as Sanosuke had let his eyes close to allow himself a short moment to meditate and focus on finishing the task before him. His concentration was broken from the loud tapping and he moaned while getting up from the chair he was on. Stretching his back, the Raikage robes shifted down to his elbows as he let his body crack and stretch out any tiredness he was experiencing. Walking towards the window, Sanosuke saw the source of the tapping was nothing more than a carrier pigeon. When he opened the contents of the letter, he noticed that it was written by his student Kaekio. But upon closer examination, Sanosuke couldn't make sense of this. His supposedly prized student, a role model to most Kumo kunoichi her age, and a candidate for being his successor would make such a stupid decision. She abandons her post, without informing him in person, of escorting a kiri shinobi to the border without clearance? And she believed that a letter was all that she needed.

True Sanosuke and Kaekio had a relationship that floated along an older brother and a little sister when the two were around each other. But Kaekio lately had been acting out and showing him very little respect despite his title. There were lines that shouldn't be crossed; especially despite their relationship with each other, Sanosuke was still very much her boss. To think Kaekio would deliberately disrespect like this was an outrage. A tick mark pulsed on his forehead as he tried his best to calm down. She would need to be taught a lesson. Sanosuke resolved to march down to Kiri himself to drag the love sick idiot back to her village where she'll be punished so nothing like this will happen. But first he would need advice from someone with more tracking ability than he at the moment, and Sanosuke knew just the person too.

With a simple hand seal of his left hand, Sanosuke let out a small electromagnetic pulse that would ripple throughout the entire village. The pulse would be felt only by one original. A little spark wouldn't hurt anybody, Sanosuke justified himself. Besides this individual was his hidden blade in case his back is against the wall, the one man he would trust his life with, and the one man in his village that held the most hatred for him.

It didn't take long for Han to arrive into the office. He knew that he would be there bellow him by the time he took 3 deep breaths. Each time the young Raikage would inhale, he would imagine himself breathing in pleasant and calming thoughts. Thoughts that would make crave out a smile in the face of the Raikage. Each time the young Raikage would exhale, he would try his best to breathing out the toxins in his mindset like anger and close-mindedness. This was a very difficult situation indeed. Kaekio did leave her post without telling. And from this letter it doesn't sound convincing. He would need counsel in order to go about the right move in this course of action. Hence why he would summon Han. At his third breathing coming out, Sanosuke opened his eyes and turned himself around to see that Han was bowed bellow him in a crouch position. The only thing that would be seen of his still on going anger is a scowl of annoyance, and burrowed eyebrows into their crevices. And with 3 counts, the sannin was here. His timing was getting better and better. Sanosuke would have even thought that the man had studied in Konoha libraries and did some experimenting with jutsu used in the 3rd Great Shinobi War on the Konohagakure no Sato front.

When Han spoke out his question in an attempt to understand the urgency in method of communication with him. He had owed him that much. Sanosuke grunted and cleared his throat before sitting down in his chair. Looking into the mask of his sannin, Sanosuke looked into the eye holes of his mask to get a good look into his eye despite the mask. "Remove your mask in my presence Han. I would rather like to see the face of my comrades." Sanosuke remarked as he kept his blue eyes on the man as he would take off his mask at his command. Once he was done he would let him know the contents in the letter. "This letter was just received moments ago and was sent by kumo kunoichi Kaekio Ryuzoji." Sanosuke introduced the letter as he tapped the desk to give the man permission to grab the letter and read it for himself. The letter was short, sweet, to the point and most of all had disrespect written all over it.

"I don't have to inform you of all people that even IF someone was taking it easy to the border of Kirigakure, a caravan the carried pregnant women could get to the ferry that marks the border of Kumo and Kiri within a week." Sanosuke informed the man looking not so pleased, and very much annoyed by his student's abrupt behavior. She will have to be dealt with, there is only so much disrespect to his seat that he could take before he would have to punish her not as a friend but as a leader to their home. From when he got this letter, it had been 2 weeks already and Kaekio has not returned from her trip. "I've summoned you to ask of your opinion of this. You know full well of the negotiations we are attempting to solidify relations between us and Kiri. We cannot let Kiri have this much power over negotiations."

"At the moment, Kaekio Ryuzoji is labeled temporarily as a deserter who much be brought back to the village alive. We must assume that she ran into Kiri as sanctuary. Thoughts?" Sanosuke concluded his briefing. For some reason, something was holding him back from labeling the kunoichi as a full out traitor where she can be brought back to him dead or a live. That would be assuming the worst case scenario as she would try to leave her village in the hopes of joining with Kiri forces. Sanosuke could only pray that Kaekio wasn't that stupid. Because then, she would have forced his hand.

Looking at Han, Sanosuke felt a pinge of sadness that he wouldn't dare show to his subordinate. Han, or should he say Binsu, was probably a good man that honestly wanted to serve his country. But he did break a rule and must have been punished in some sort of fashion. Perhaps he may have been too strong armed when dealing with this. But Sanosuke knew well that the man wouldn't think of betraying his country. Han wasn't the man to do so. Their relationship has been rather rigged on a personal level, but as his follower, Sanosuke couldn't think of a better person to come to for counsel about issues like theses. Even when he took of the mask, Sanosuke could see small tinges of disgust on the man's face when they made eye contact. Sanosuke knew that the man would probably hate him for as long as he lived, but as long as he served his village the young kage could sleep at night knowing his village is safe in case he should meet his own demise. Watching the man scan through the contents of the letter, Sanosuke looked back at him to continue his proposal of what should be done in response to Kaekio's betrayal. He looked calm, but however Sanosuke could tell Han was defintely disturbed by Sanosuke's blunt and frontal assault on the issue.

Sanosuke knew that he is quite the hothead who acts first out of emotion before thinking things through. Of course Han knowing the kind of person he is, would propose a plan for them to build upon together. Sanosuke listened to what the man had to say while planning how to respond to the issue at hand with a more clear head. The plan was thought through rather well given the amount of time he was given the information. Having a body guard has always been something Sanosuke hated, but then again this would be a scenario where having one is a must. So against his wishes, Sanosuke accepted the fact that he would need one. Someone that would cover his weakness of genjutsu would be needed. The mystic arts of genjutsu has always been one of his short comings as a shinobi, so finding someone that would assist in covering that one flaw of his would be appreciated. That was when the sannin suggested Kenji accompany him. A smirk graced his lips at the suggestion, Han was the right person indeed to come to for this issue. They are both master sages of their own right, and Kenji is a genjutsu master. Plus he'd be needed to assist in tracking Kaekio's trail.

Nodding his approval so far, Sanosuke heard the last part of Han's plan. A bargaining chip is something that they'll need over Kiri in case negotiations went wrong. Looking at the man with more critical eyes, Sanosuke listened to what the sannin had to say about this plan. He didn't like using shinobi that had nothing to do with Kaekio and her selfish actions, but at this point he had to do something to gain footing in this cold war between him and Ayakashi of Kirigakure. He would leave the planning of this phase to Han himself. "Contact Kenji at once to tell him to prepare for our trip to Kiri. I will leave you in charge of dealing with the Kiri shinobi that still are in the country. As of now I, Sanosuke Flynt Jyuudaime Raikage of the village hidden in the clouds, hereby places a warrant on all Kiri ninja that are still in the village. None must be fatally wounded or dismembered. Take discretion that no one witnesses you capturing them, we must not let the public know that we are rounding up Kiri shinobi. For now they shall remain in Anthos' Keep until I return." Sanosuke said after he took a deep breath in order for him to compose himself as more than just a man, but as the Raikage of Kumogakure no Sato. Each word he spoke from his lips carried weight of his decision, but also spoke about the strength he has to carry that weight to its end; whether it be sweet victory, bitter defeat, or a bitter victory. Either way, he will see this through to the end. Getting a folder from his desk, Sanosuke handed it to Han for him to look at. These were the Kiri shinobi that were still in Kumo, who have yet to cross the border out of the Thunder Country. It was a rather small list, due to the fact that only a few stragglers were left since the Chuunin Exams have been over for months and a majority of foreign shinobi had long left his village.

A thought occurred to him as well that caused him to suck his teeth in annoyance. "Before I leave, I will have a talk with Gin Kuroka about these dealings. I would rather her know about this from me, before Ayakashi has a chance to explain things herself. Under no circumstance is she to be restricted or followed." Sanosuke looked deep into the eyes of his subordinate. Gin was a definite wild card in this situation. Apart of his feelings he had for the woman, it would be in everyone's best interest to not hide things from her. Sanosuke knew this woman very well, in times of war she always protected two things: her kids, and her booze in that order. Besides her connection with him and her connection to Ayakashi, she would most likely not be able to make a concrete decision very quickly on who to side herself to. "I will promise her that while their, I will bring her children over with me to Kumo. That way in case negotiations fail and there is a war between Kiri and Kumo, Ayakashi won't have the chance to stoop so low in using the kids as a bargaining chip for Gin to fight against us." They had to be prepared for every outcome of this meeting. It was a very fine line between war and uneasy compromise. There was even a finer line between absolute chaos and advancement in politics should his even more hot headed of a lover be pushed the wrong way.

"You are dismissed!" Sanosuke ordered as he would sit back down in his chair and figure out what exactly he should say to Gin about this. One headache after another, the Raikage thought as he took off his hat and ran his fingers through his silver hair. Looks like going to the premier with Gin would have to be canceled for another movie night.Hopefully the silver haired ex Kazekage would understand why they won't be making it to a premier that she had her eyes on for a while. But his duties as Raikage came first and Gin would understand eventually why the sudden cancellation. It was a simple meeting if he overgeneralized his coming to Kiri. Find Kaekio, figure out why she left Kumo, then go from there. Under no way would he be bound to fight a war for a traitor to his village. The life of one traitor, despite them being someone who he cared about, was not worth the life of many.

[thread closed]

WC: 2573/1750 training for Shinkū Gekido