Rippa had settled into his office earlier that morning than usual. He had a couple of scheduled appointments today on the shinobi side of business but his own personal business was currently taking precedence. A recent invention had garnered some attention and he was deciding if he would become the main investor. His branch of the clan had garnered a lot of wealth over the generations. Each member diving into the medical field allowing for lavish life styles and comfort around every corner. Some may have questioned why he would gamble that accrued wealth on an investment in new technology but in the end arguments would falter. He was head of the clan so it was his right to distribute wealth as he saw fit. Beyond that he had increased the clans standing by not only being its first shinobi but also raising to the rank of Hokage of all things. Their clan was now famous and their medical professionals were now on call to some of the wealthiest personal physician positions available. Just for a family here and there. He wished some of them would help out in his free clinic he could never seem to get around to anymore. Still he was aware most of them had gained their position because some wealthy individual wished for influence with him.

As such he had become rather disconnected from his clan beyond the professional levels. Still they had stopped halting his advances on something new called a rail road that worked with something called a coal train. He had seen how much it could pull and if it proved functional over long distances, it would revolutionize the trade industry. Entire wagon trains worth delivered overnight by one machine. With half the crew. Their investment would simply place the tracks the trains ran along. Rippa saw the value of it and was already laying down plans to test the tracks around the villages in the land of fire. Moving troops practices would come later. For now he was signing away a large fortune without bothering to doubt himself. His pen scribbling it away before the attendant across from him watched him put a seal on it. Collecting it and shifting out of the room like a blur of light with the expensive missive. Rippa would watch him leave and note the speed of his assistant. He had chosen the fastest person in the building for this.

His next meeting would be coming soon but for now he sat back. His red robes somewhat matching with his white hat with red lettering for Hokage across the top. He had chosen to wear it over his shoulder length silver hair for now though his eyebrows and white stubble gave it away. He was sitting in a red leather chair behind an oakwood desk. Behind him on the wall were his famous weapons crossed over each other. Sheathed as they were the twin repeating crossbow katana behind him bore the names Adam and Eve. The ammo belt drooping underneath them with eight bolts. Even now the two weapons were loaded. Always loaded. His wooden sandals tapped against the floor as he tapped his foot and rubbed his chin. Eyeing the pictures hanging around the room of each previous Hokage with sky blue eyes. Most warriors in their own way. He was too but he knew he could do more than that for the village. He could keep Konoha into the wealthy powerhouse it was today. A future for their young. Perhaps that was why he had considered Roo....no that thought would have to be revisited later.

Rippa had an honored guest today it would seem as his first shinobi meeting. Whether it was about shinobi duties or diplomatic talk was yet to be determined. He had been informed this was a young man from a prominent clan which had influence over the daimyo's ear. He doubted the individual would attempt to lord himself over him but he welcomed the idea of someone trying. The young man knocked and a moment later the door opened by his assistants hand. Rippa turned the page on a mission report as he glanced up. His blue eyes piercing the boy. As if they could pick out a tiny hair out of place. He had the eyes of a man that could kill from a great distance. Still his smile was warm as he nodded his head back. His right hand indicating the seat across from him at the desk. He would wait until the young man approached before he continued. Regardless of the choice to sit or stand Rippa would seem to somehow tower over the room. His presence making somehow always appear much taller than the young man regardless of how he approached. Still Rippa would speak calmly with some mirth in his voice.

"While tradition and ancestry is to be remembered and admired, here before me these things mean little. I am Dr. Chi Rippa. Head of the Chi clans Tenshi branch. However here I am simply Chi Rippa to you. Beyond these walls I am all that but in here we remain simply two individuals. Relax on the formality. Your father isn't here nor is the daimyo."

875

Rippa would listen as the boy would agree to take a seat and thank him even. Removing his sword but holding onto it. Comfort but not a dropped guard. A common trait among weapon specialists. Their strength was in their blade. Or some measure of it. It wasn't surprising for him to see. He himself had some difficulty being far from his own weapons. Even though he had first trained for combat in the arts of ninjutsu well before he touched a sword. He even had some skill in taijutsu these days. However even now his weapons were loaded and within arms reach. Still he felt calm with this youth holding the weapon. No ill intent filling the room. If anything there was an air of uneasy respect. Neither sure of what to expect of the other. However Rippa could tell as his blue eyes met the eyes of the boy that he had something he was building up towards. Something he wanted to say and he wasn't going to spend much more time on formalities. Not really a beat around the bush kind of individual was Rippa's read on him. Still Rippa would settle back in his chair and listen quietly as the boy spoke.

“I must be honest, Rippa. I do not know much about you save for rumors told to me by those who I have asked. Likewise, I am willing to bet you don't really know much about me either, aside from who my father is. I did not grow up in Konohagakure no sato, nor have I been here long enough to matter. In fact I have only been here for a week, but I was trained from birth by the best to, one day, hold your position. I have no delusions in thinking that perhaps that day is now, but I cannot deny that it is polarizing to be speaking to you… to have my life's purpose dangled right in front of me. Despite all that I've said, I'm not usually one for words. My skill as a shinobi has usually done the job for me. I was instructed to learn all that I could from this meeting, but I do not believe that I would be able to accomplish that simply by speaking to you. If you would allow me, Rippa… I do not know how much of your time I am allowed to occupy, but for the remainder of our meeting I wish to go head to head with you in sparring. I have my sword, you have yours.”

He supposed the stories about himself were either limited or expanded upon highly by those who didn't know anything about him. Most of his time training had been abroad and he had been spending most of his commander assignments in foreign countries. It wasn't surprising that the boy hadn't known much about him. Nor was he wrong about Rippa not knowing a great deal about the boy either. Still this was the second individual this week who claimed to have been raised from birth to take the seat of Hokage. One political and the other a warrior. A lot of pressure to put on your kids. He seemed rather intelligent though. Explaining his want to learn from this meeting to get closer to his goal. Still at the mention of a spar Rippa would lean forward and place his hands together before resting his lips against his index fingers. The tips of those two fingers touching while the rest of his fingers intertwined. It was an interesting proposal. He of course didn't seem under the illusion of victory being within his grasp.

Still Rippa would take a moment as the boy finished in silence. The idea of actual sword against sword at this point was not really necessary. He would finally rise from his seat and glance at his twin swords before turning and moving to the fireplace. Collecting two wooden bouken in the shape of katana from the rack above it. His old training weapons crafted by sousetsu himself from his mokuton chakra. He would collect one in each hand and give each of them a spin before slashing once each. Still evenly weighed and without corruption or cracks in the wood. His strength could no doubt snap it like a toothpick these days but it was just a reminder for him to restrain himself. Still he would turn and toss the one in his left hand to the boy. Speaking as he did. "There is no need for us to cross our own steel right now. Blades crying out against each other is something to be reserved for actual battle. I have no desire to draw blood from you. However these are the training weapons I used to learn the sword. If you wish to test your limits and the distance between us we can head to the roof top. My office is no place for a spar."