Midori awoke early that morning. In truth, her sleep had been restless. Today was the day, the dreams and goals she had worked towards for years upon years has led to this day, and after a yawn and a stretch, she found herself smiling in a wide, cheery grin. The happy Midori rolled out of bed, standing up with a spring in her step, before moving over to her bedside cabinet, taking her arm off the shelf, and attaching it to herself in its rightful place. Rolling the wooden limb to ensure it was properly in touch with her nerves, before flexing her fingers for the same intent. While at her cabinet, the puppet maniac checked the time, nodding to herself. She had plenty of time, likely unable to sleep properly from excitement. That didn’t matter.

After getting dressed, now in her usual beige attire that was more practical and comfortable than formal or smart, Midori went to begin getting ready. A quick wash and a light breakfast later, she smiled. Perhaps it would have been wise to prepare a speech, but, well. No. That wasn’t how Midori wanted to do things. She wasn’t going to kid herself, the village has been in a bad position. The last thing it needed was someone simply reading from a piece of parchment. Still, it wouldn’t do good to be late, and gulping down a quick drink of water, the girl got to running, her destination the administration building to get ready officially.

A quick run to the administration building later, she walked in through the doors, gasping slightly. Phew. She really had to work on her stamina. Allowing herself a moment to catch her breath, earning odd looks from the people in the building, Midori proceeded to walk up to the receptionist, nodding slightly, which simply earned more odd looks. “Ningyou, Midori. I am here for the Kazekage inauguration, at least, for the meeting beforehand?” At this, the receptionist flicked through some papers, shrugging for a moment, before holding out a piece of paper, requesting for a signature. Midori replied by signing with her puppet arm in the most elaborate, over the top, and hard to copy method possible, involving several loops where her hand literally rotated.

Upon being rather unenthusiastically gestured to the stairs, Midori nodded, and walked along, heading up the tower of a building to the conference room, steeling her nerves as she ascended. For once her footsteps felt heavy, the growing anxiety adding weight to her movements. This was what she had dreamed of, what had helped her move forward, yet now she felt a heaviness in her heart as she realised in a culmination the work ahead of her. The dangers she would put her life in, and the fact that any mistake she made now meant problems for the village – more than they already had.

Now stood before the door to the conference room, the Ningyou gulped once, before knocking on the door. Silence as the sound reverberated through the hallways for a moment, followed swiftly by someone instructing her to enter, a monotonous voice that seemed void of any emotion. Not wanting to leave those within waiting, Midori stepped forth, opening the door and stepping inside.

Along the sandstone walls, lined up, were photographs of the longer reigning Kazekage, hanging in metallic frames that seemed to emphasise their status. Down the middle of the room was a long, oaken table that stretched outwards and along, various people who showed their age in their expression seated, all eyes turned to face the incoming Midori. At the far end of the table, opposite the door, a man that seemed to hold with him the highest esteem, an aura of respect and authority that softened Midori’s nerves and brought back the feeling of anxiety to her throat. His dress with incredibly formal, and at both of his sides were two guards – both heavily armed, with the scars and attire that suggested a history of their profession.

The door closed behind her while one of the various attendants, likely bodyguards for the important individuals present, gestured Midori to a seat on the opposite side of the table to the man that, if she had to guess, was the Daimyo of Kaze no Kuni. As she took her place, the room seemed silent, vast. Were it not for the physical presence of those present, Midori could have sworn that she were alone. Finally, one of the council, a woman who had an expression so harsh that one could imagine it was carved with a chisel, stood from her seat, coughing to ensure all attention was fixated on herself.

“Miss. Ningyou. I apologise that you were given the information regarding this formality at such short notice. In regards to your new position, you are to give your speech in a few hours outside, however before that, we have some paperwork we need you to fill out. Another of the formalities. On the first sheet, you are to list your family, and your next of kin, as well as who to contact should you meet an untimely death. The second sheet documents your name, and all the details about yourself, including your blood type, and what method of burial you will prefer. The third sheet is simply a signature required, stating you understand the risks of the work.” Her voice was monotonous, and as the papers were placed in front of Midori with a quill and ink, Midori felt the disinterest in the eyes and breaths of those around.

Not wishing to delay things, and deciding to simply get the “pleasantries” out of the way, she began writing down the details of her family, and herself. After a few minutes of writing, her puppet joints silently moving with her grip as she signed, and finished, setting the quill in the pot of ink, and allowing one of the attendants to take the paperwork away. The formal part out of the way and done with, Midori waited in silence once more for the next instruction. She didn’t wish to be a puppet of politics, but at this current moment of time, formalities were important. In fact, she doubted she’d ever again get the joys of avoiding formalities. She had just signed her life, her old life, away.

The silence was broken as another of the council spoke, a man that seemed to be the oldest of the elderly in the room, his hair practically gone, and his nose crooked, perhaps from a past life of fighting. “Thank you kindly. If you would please exit this room, to the right is an empty office. Within you will find your outfit to wear. You are to wear it, a formality again, although you can wear your normal attire beneath if you so choose, whichever you find to be your preference. The robes are to be worn in such a manner as that the green fold is facing forwards, and I should hope you can work out the direction in which the hat is to be worn.” He spoke, his words like venom, a bitterness behind them of one who had done this too many times. The tone of one who had stopped caring.

Midori stood, nodding slowly. Before moving however, she took a glance around, speaking softly. “Is there anything else you wish to tell me before I get dressed? I do not wish to delay things, however if there is any further business you need me to address, or wish to inform me of, then, please tell me. Otherwise, it is just to the right, yes?” The elderly man seemed frustrated at the delay, not wishing to humour the Kage to be as he simply waved a hand. “Yes, yes, the first door on the right. If you’ve forgotten already then I loathe to think you will even know how to put on the robes, let alone lead a village.”

The biting remark aside, Midori saw no point in attempting to make a retort, instead bowing her head as she stepped away, walking off towards the door. Her left hand touched the metallic door handle before she glanced behind her, hearing the sound of one preparing to speak. She didn’t catch who, only that it was a more… Soft, voice. One that seemed less cruel in nature. “When you are changed, please return to this room, so that we can go with you to the place where your speech is to be held.”

Nodding in understanding, Midori took that as her cue, leaving the room to go get changed as instructed. Without hesitating she stepped into the room on the right, and as she was told, there on a desk was the Kage attire. However, something she wished she was told in advance, was the state of the room she was given to change in. It was run down, with only a single candle as the source of light. The walls seemed to be collapsing in their design, faded sandstone leaving slight rubble at the corners and edges of the wall. The desk itself had dust in several areas, and the room was far smaller than she had thought. Still, there was no use in complaining about it, or putting it off. Going over to the robes first, Midori began putting them on, slipping them over her head before slipping her arms through the sleeves.

They were too large, clearly designed for someone bigger than herself – designed for someone else entirely. The robes still held the creases from the last time they were worn, and if Midori had to guess, the village council felt there was no need to create a new one. The majority of her paperwork emphasised the case of her death. The council expected her to just be another failure among many. She shook her head, reaching for the hat now, and placing it over her hair, which she allowed to hang loose now, stuffing the hairband into her pocket. A mixture of dread and pride swelled in her chest as she adorned the attire in the dark of the room. Allowing herself a brief moment to pause, and to breath, Midori then walked out of the room once more, holding her robes up to ensure they did not fault her step, before knocking, and re-entering the room.

As she returned, the members of the council began to stand, none interested in talking or even welcoming back the Kage to be. This was just another formal business moment to them, too many past failures in recent history leading to a lack of enthusiasm from all within the room. Midori couldn’t fault them for that, although she herself hoped to prove them wrong. And so, Midori left, walking as if the robe was a long dress she had to hold, sleeves covering her hands from length, followed by the escort of the council, the Daimyo, and the shinobi and samurai guards.

Still, she couldn’t help but smile somewhat. She was about to become the Kazekage.

1843

[EXIT]

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