By the time Daremo exited the home shared with his family, including his mother, the morning sun had just started to heat up the earth. Dressed in a two-tone brown kisode, black hakama with a matching obi, and wooden geta, his shoulder-length hair was pulled back and secured in a low hanging ponytail by a pair of black-tipped senbons. Asides from the pair of visible senbons, he held no other visible weapon own his body, yet, it would be foolish to believe the man was any less dangerous. Though, he highly doubted he needed any weapons at all, considering the place he was heading this morning.

Entering the market district, citrine eyes looked about at the crowd of people who littered the section of the village. There was a somber atmosphere around many of the faces which he passed. The feeling being expressed by a lot of the populace, and for good reason. It had only been two days since the Raikage untimely death in the hospital. While no official statement had been released on the subject, it was leaked that the Kage had been sick for some time, and it is believe that what eventually caused his death. Of course, there were rumors circulating of his death not being that simple. Theories spreading his death was caused by the action of other villages in fear of the man’s might, but, none of those theories had any facts behind them, merely speculation at best.

Now though, with the loss of their leader, many of Kumogakure no Sato and in Kaminari no Kuni was at a loss of what to do. Who would be the next one to take up the Raikage’s mantle? Would they command the presence that Hastur did? Would they be the firm and motherly ruler of such as Lin? Or will they be as one of the predecessors before the aforementioned ones? Will they actually hold onto the Raikage position, and bring advancement to the village? What will change when they get elected? Who is in the running for the said position? Will other countries take advantage of their weakened state? Such were the questions on many people minds after the loss of the Raikage. Behind the somber attitude, there was uncertainty and fear for the future that awaits many in Kaminari no Kuni, Daremo could see it. Indeed, the country was in a troubling time without a military leader to guide them, and it would be interesting to see who the Daimyo and the council will elect to be the next leader.

Dismissing the troubling thoughts for now as he came to a stop the entry of a dojo. Citrine eyes looked towards the door of the establishment, spotting the Raiu clan symbol. Looking about, he could appreciate the near tranquil quality that seems to elude from the surrounding place, as he took in the surroundings. He was here to meet up with a certain hermit. A hermit who he befriended some time ago. The one who had to pull him, and by proxy, his family, into a war against Hastur. Now that the man had died, he came here to speak with Raiu Mizuki. To see how things were going, and to discuss the world happening. For there was much to talk about considering what all had happened. Thus with that in mind, he had sent out a letter to the Raiu clan, asking to speak to Mizuki within her Dojo, about the world at large. As he stood outside of the dojo, he just hoped, the woman had received and accepted the proposal.

---

604

---

The three pillars of the Raiu dojo had not forsaken their position nor lost their sovereignty despite the turmoil Kumogakure had experienced. The black kanji deftly drawn upon old parchment surrounded the kamidana even today, quietly keeping watch over the dust-covered ground as if the long-term absence of sensei and students did not discredit its power. The way the dojo in its entirety maintained a sense of quiet discipline within the surrounding chaos left no doubt to whom exactly it belonged to as it exhumed the same solemn confidence in the middle of a raging storm as its current owner - Raiu Mizuki.

Swirls of incense rose from the kamidana, the earthing scent of sandalwood inspiring people within the building to aspire to new levels of mastery within their art. The sticks which created the curling smoke had been lit by a young woman, who sat in front of the kamidana in meditation. Unlike what this area would expect, she wore no keigo gi. No outfit that hinted at a readiness to teach. Instead, she wore silken blue hanfu with orchids as decoration, bearing a cream coloured skirt under it. Kneeled before the kamidana with eyes closed, she slowly regulated her breath as she meditated upon which path she'd have to take within the near future.

Her source had it on good terms the Raikage was dealt a lethal blow, but the conclusion of that remained a source of gossip and hopes. Some claimed the man dead, others whispered about ruse. Even then, Kumogakure was not out of danger yet. Jashinists still rampaged, taking down what they could in unbridled acts of violence. The shinobi were in chaos, hardly distinguishing friend from foe due to the interference of the resistance and the political manipulations of its leaders. But those felt like trivialities at this point. A matter of cleaning up the aftermath; the consequences of such a vast choice as opposing a Village from within. What mostly mattered to the woman in question was what to do after that - once peace and harmony returned.

Years of diplomacy had eventually wrecked the Village she had wanted to see rise above others in martial skill and enlightenment. While she might well be one of the most politically influential shinobi since long in the history of Kumogakure, using words rather than force to influence outside forces, she found the weight of redundancy press hard upon her shoulders as such units hardly fit within the brutal, war-like mindset of shinobi. Retiring from that position seemed like a logical conclusion, if anything, but that would also leave her with precious little to make herself useful to Kumogakure.

At the same time, the diplomat-grown-hermit had found solace and respite in the lifestyle of the yamabushi, seeking enlightenment where possible while wishing to share that insight with others. Being a sensei didn't sound all that bad but the woman had never been one for squads or dojos - not even when her father was still around. She had always been a solitary being who kept her relations with others mostly to a strict professional level. And sitting here, in the dojo her father had entrusted her, did not change the nature of her personality in the slightest. But it did invoke nostalgic memories.

Her meditation would drift to a conscious state when she felt the prick of life step within the radius of her hermitic senses, whispering the arrival of a familiar individual who had recently sent a letter to her - Daremo. Aside from musing how oddly familiar she had become with picking up the presences of others, she did not let him wait for too long outside, inviting him in with a clear-voiced, "The door is open, Daremo. You are welcome to come inside."

---

634

"Either none of them realize what a blessing it would be to be taught by you, or you are an extremely picky sensei.”

With those words, Daremo would greet her and unlock a giggle from the woman. She didn't believe it was either of the two options, merely that her long-term absence had done the dojo no good as there had been no one around to run it in her stead. And now that the Village was in turmoil, peaceful training was not at order as many fended off the remainders of chaos. The resistance, if anything, was far from finished. The people needed them even now to give a semblance of hope and order within these dark times.

Those same thoughts were confirmed by Daremo in turn, who informed her of the Raikage's death. What had been gossips to her seemed to be reality to him. While she wanted to object these were only rumours and that victory was not yet confirmed, she stayed her tongue as something about his words hinted that the man knew more than he let on. Could his ANBU training have played a role? Possibly, as somewhere in the depth of her mind Mizuki would not be too surprised if Daremo had even be the cause of the man's death. But such suspicions would amount to nothing. If Hastur had truly died, it didn't even matter to Mizuki who had killed him. The 'dark god' had been slain, the future of Kumogakure could only improve from there on out.

"Indeed. The death of Hastur has created a power vacuum. Kumogakure is more vulnerable than ever now. Old clans will push their champions forward in an attempt to seize the opportunity. Rise to power. The Hinode, the Tsukino, the Kaminari, my own clan, just to name a few. While I doubt they'll risk walking into Hastur's footsteps, the inner strife as their champions seek to claim the seat will demand additional attention from the shattered leadership we now hold.

Your words state truth, too. Hastur's ambitions have destroyed more than just Kumogakure. We have a lot of amends to make. First and for all to Sunagakure for taking in the three Destroyers. They were given a place within Kumogakure's troops rather than having been executed as the S-rank criminals they are. We also owe Sunagakure for trampling upon the ruins during the Siege of Inabayama. As if taking in those criminals was not sufficient a slap in their face, returning to the desert to further break down what little remained standing is not going to be forgiven easily.

But where these grievances will provide little retaliation on a militaristic level, the same can't be said when looking at the other Villages. The old feud between Kirigakure and Kumogakure left untreated by Raikage Sanosuke has yet to be addressed. My mentor Lin wanted it closed but she disappeared before she could push her vision forward. Whereas I may have been lucky that my status as diplomat did not drive Ayakashi to kill me on sight when I met her, it does not mean the situation remains unresolved. Such old feuds are politically reasons enough for Kirigakure to waltz in and lay waste to what little remains of our Village in the name of vengeance or justice.

Neither should we forget Konoha. They have kidnapped our members during the Siege. Why, I do not know. I can only assume it is merely to make a point about how they currently feel about us. But with the Dragon of Konoha at the wheels, a man we both opposed during the Siege of Inabayama, there is a possibility he will channel his burning rage towards Kumogakure as well. After all, few would oppose that thought after the meddling of Jashinists during the Chuunin Exams - Hastur having targeted the weaker link like that could well be a strategy that will bite us in the back.

The only Village I do not see as an immediate threat is Iwagakure. Their forces have been sensitively absent during the Siege of Inabayama and I have several connections with members of their forces. With what Hastur did during the Kage Summit, they have reasons to lash out to us, but it'd be a sore reason to seek war for a blown up mountain. So if push come to shove we might be capable of pressing towards a neutral stance with them. It might not be much but one head-hunter less that seeks Kumogakure's destruction is one sorrow less to worry about."

Having shared her point of view on the matter, Mizuki would fall quiet to let the words sink in. Speaking them out loud had only opened her mind to the sorry predicament her Village had fallen into. Part of that her own mistake, either as Herald or as one of the resistance leaders, part of that by the madness of an idiot. The only difference between the hermit and the dark god being that she had come to insight and now sought to rectify her mistake. The other... Well, it is said that 'dead men tell no tales'.

"You were a kage before.", Mizuki began, remembering the revelation of his true name - Nanashi, former Tsuchikage. Hinting she'd be invoking his own memories as a man who had stood in a top position such as Hastur. "Based on your experience, other than finding someone to fill up the seat of power, what would you expect to see done in a situation such as this?"

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935
Total: 1'569

Daremo's insights as a former kage were quite different from what she had expected. In many ways, it looked like he was tightening the hold over his domain. Leaders stepping up, diverting attention from the matter at hand towards the goals. Information on lock down, and where possible already planning for counter-espionage just to remain a step ahead. Strategy on a whole different level, a field of vision quite different from the diplomat who was mostly send out to foster relations and represent her Village. It was unfortunate that Mizuki, other than being a diplomat, had little power or influence.

Sure, she had been in a squad once, which broke down as her mission send her away from Kumogakure. In comparison, she had never lead a squad since she had rarely been home. Her presence in Kumogakure had been restricted to her genin years, then her home-coming after a long-term mission across the globe that granted her special jounin rank, and now, to lead the resistance against Hastur. In all other times, she had been away from Kumogakure and mostly performing it on a solitary base with the exception of an ally, caravan or bodyguard once in a random while.

Mizuki held no power within her clan either. Partially as she was rarely around to make her presence known, partially because her family had never bothered building up much influence. They had been the owners of the Raiu dojo, which granted them a lot of prestige, but that was about it. Political clout might allow Mizuki to sway a few things in favour of the greater scheme of things, but even her words were to be considered by the clan leaders before a final decision was made. Earned respect, while a merit to have, held little actual power in the old, traditional clan of the Raiu.

The divisions of Kumogakure did not have her name in their registry either. ANBU activity hardly matched the kunoichi's duties to pull all attention to herself, while the speculated 'Immortals' of Hastur had been given too little attention in general. And even if they had, the question remained if their position within the Village were the sort of tasks that enriched a diplomat's. The best Mizuki had to offer on terms of leadership was the accrued experience of various wars - the destruction of Sunagakure, the Siege of Inabayama and the civil war; each and every of those milestones having taught lessons no book or class would grant her. In truth, she was a thrice-fold war veteran. Fighting greater scale battles such as these were more of a 'comfort' zone to the hermit than shinobi missions at this point - a poor form or bragging rights, if anything.

But none of those could truly answer Daremo's question. Where did she, after all of this, stand in the hierarchy of things? The hermit was only acknowledged as a special jounin within the shinobi ranks even though her battle prowess had allowed her to remain standing against a well-trained jounin such as the Dragon. Twice, even. And though a diplomat would be a cherished treasure for the new Raikage, the problem was that Kumogakure currently had none. Without a leader, there was nothing to represent for a diplomat. Not to mention that the diplomat-grown-hermit felt little desire to maintain a position which had caused the destruction of so much.

"I... do not know.", she began. "Without a leader, a diplomat has nothing to represent. It is not possible to foster relationships and seek out alliances at this point. None can be convinced by a Village in turmoil such as ours.

I also seek to step down from that position. Stay a hermit, settle down home after all the years of travelling, and share what I know with the future. I believe there is, at this point in time, little else to do than restoring the wounds of Kumogakure to the best of my talents. Lin was a teacher and iryo-nin once; I might make her proud yet with my decision to walk in her footsteps."

The hermit smiled faintly at those words. She had tried her hand at diplomacy, hoping to roll out the notion of peace and improved relations across the world so that Kumogakure's economy and presence would flourish. And though she ultimately failed, she knew Lin would have been proud for believing in a peaceful and open-minded approach. Not all were dreams and wishes though. The iryo-nin with her white panther had not parted without sharing the basics of medicine and herbalism. Mizuki was, thanks to the discipline required for the Raiu's Storm Release, unparalleled in chakra control. This had allowed her to pick up iryo-jutsu fast. Much faster than her actual knowledge about the Healing Arts, causing her to be a less favoured option for hospital work or more delicate restorative tasks.

"What are your plans? Do you aim to return to move with your family and return to your former home? Or do you have plans for a future within Kumogakure?"

---

855
Total: 2'424

"Your words are most kind.", she thanked Daremo for his welcoming. Coming home again was something she needed, after four years of wandering. The smell of the jacaranda blossoms outside, the sensation of being home, the sound of the familiar streets, the sound of the Land's thunder and soothing rain. She had not known how much she had missed all these little things until she had set foot again in Kumogakure. And now that she was here, she held little desire of moving away. Home... was where she belonged.

Daremo, too, seemed to have opted for a life in Kumogakure despite his origins. In comparison to herself, not because he felt home but more of an unfortunate series of events which had left a bitter aftertaste. Their dear friend had not made it as the new Tsuchikage, seeing a man rise to station of which Mizuki held little info and who would not find a friend in Daremo, from the sound of it. She had been part of the raid on the okiya, but not on the kidnapping of their child. Where once she had believed Kumogakure's slums to be in need of more shinobi influence, she now considered it a relative acceptable place in comparison to what festered within the unruly lands of Iwagakure. The shinobi she had met, and believed to be part of its semblance of order, had long since vanished, been killed or turned coats in favour of other Villages. It left Mizuki to wonder what would become of Iwagakure now.

"I believe Kumogakure has room for a new okiya. With the inner turmoil, many people died or left the Village. Surely a few buildings within the trade district or the cultural district must have opened up for them to move to a new place. With you deciding to stay in Kumogakure, you could become their patron. Like samurai often do with their favourite places. Besides, should you not have known yet, I'm all for the cultivation of a refined culture and enlightenment so you certainly have my approval as diplomat."

What came next was more of a surprise. A sobering revelation, in fact. Daremo aimed for the spot of Raikage. The thought seeped into Mizuki's mind. A troublesome thought, for what little she knew about the man caused the young woman to have some concerns when it came to Nanashi-now-Daremo. The ANBU, his retaliation during the okiya raid, his demeanour during Konoha's Chuunin Exams, the long-term hiding of his true identity... To her, he was a puzzle of which many pieces were still missing. But at the same time, he might well be the only person she knew and adequately trusted not to grow insane on power - the man had already revealed his dark side, and how he was more than capable of returning to the semblance of a mere mortal man caring for his family. Something that could not be said of men like Hastur or Mitsuo.

"An ambitious plan but your opposition is strong. Every of Kumogakure's clans will push someone of their own forward, and while many generally receive outsiders with open arms, they will not be so giving when it comes to the hat. That being said, I know of few people that might hold sufficient presence, power or political clout to prove a strong opposition against the other Villages. It is now, within Kumogakure's inner turmoil, that you stand most chance to succeed."

Perhaps it was for the better if Daremo picked up the hat. Not only because it would allow Mizuki to keep an eye out (and beat him with a stick if he was being stupid), but simply because the clans would be in great conflict as every one of them would try their hardest to 'make things right' again. While their intent was noble, Hastur's presence left a deep wound within all of them. That wound needed time to heal, bewildered minds brought back to reason. Or so the kunoichi believed, her long-term absence offering precious little information on the recent development of Kumogakure's mindset.

Leaving her words for Daremo to think about it, Mizuki allowed a moment of silence to settle again before Daremo broke it with an unexpected request. The man who was as capable as a jounin searched to improve his skillset still, wanted her to teach him kenjutsu. Taking a measured breath and allowing her eyes to wander through the dojo, Mizuki didn't reply instantly. Was she taking on students? There was a lot left to do with Hastur gone... And the dojo was in need of some cleaning... But could she refuse a student when she had just declared to seek a new path for herself?

"Now that I'm back home, I guess I should start somewhere. I have yet to reopen the dojo as its rightful owner but I believe I can make an exception for a promising student such as yourself. How far exactly do you seek to go in the arts of the blade? Are you content with the basics, matter of not cutting your own limb off when swinging the katana? Or do you aim to become a student of this dojo in full? My father once prided himself to be a teacher in iaijutsu, kiaijutsu and kenjutsu seishin, paving the path to learning one of his personal styles. One of these is the Heaven Sword style which I wield, the other is the Willow Dance style which could be taught if my bratty sister ever returned home.

The Heaven Sword style relies on a single katana and embodies the power of raiton. It is characterised by broad, powerful blows which aim to break through defences much like lightning cleaving the trees. My father called it a duellist fighting style, as it was inspired upon his father's Executioner Arts and intended to overpower most of the samurai's katana styles.

The Willow Dance style, on the other hand, makes use of the katana and wakizashi and relies less on personal strength, but more on redirecting the strength of others. It flows as water, seemingly gentle in its approach to push opponents towards their demise. Weaving offence and defence together in a cadence of steel. It is as poetic and beautiful as it is deadly, but less fit for one on one duels since it is oriented towards crowd control."

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"What you ask of me is not easy.", Mizuki replied as she raised her eyebrows. "As you stated, Kumogakure will be wary of strangers but there's not saying how they will perceive my presence. My suggestions to position you as the new Raikage will be heavily scrutinised, my credibility put into question. My loyalty to Kumogakure remains, at least to myself, undisputed but when it comes to political games they will hold me account for having heralded Hastur's arrival. My part in the resistance that took the same man down will be a reason to drive a rift in my allegiances. Even if they are not convinced of their own words, games of that level are a matter of winning the debate and less so about telling the truth."

And there was the case she'd have to be invited to the Council first. Her long-term absence could be a reason not to include her as it meant she had little sight on the internal affairs of Kumogakure. At the same time, the information she could bring in from other Villages were an equal reason to have her be offered a seat without hesitation. Having no sense for future sight despite the rumoured supernatural powers of the yamabushi, Mizuki would have to bide her time and see what the future brought forward. That being said, the question remained: was it a sage suggestion to have Daremo, a stranger to Kumogakure, be seated upon the throne?

She had seen firsthand how he had dealt with those touching his family or okiya. The seed of a prosperous relationship with the civilians of Kumogakure were there. A stark contrast to what Hastur had given the Village, and thus a card that could be used in his favour if others were willing to listen. But at the same time, Mizuki was unsure if he would treat the civilians in the same way he treated his family. Was his heart big enough to fight for an entire Village? At a similar level, it was clear he held insight on militaristic matters of a level that was expected from a kage. But here too, questions surfaced. Did Kumogakure really need yet another war? Was that the sort of knowledge Kumo expected from its Raikage at this point in its existence? What was Daremo's point of view on reconstruction? On reforming the Kumo-nin to get them out of their twisted war-mind and back into an acceptable shinobi-mind? There were still too many questions left unanswered.

"I'm sorry but I can't give you a proper answer at this point in time. Too many questions seek answers still unspoken. I believe you hold the potential to lead Kumogakure into a brighter future, yet I am also worried your vast ANBU knowledge and militaristic strategies may weigh down in your decisions and push Kumogakure back into years of war and turmoil. Kumogakure is torn in its loyalties and confused in its promised future. Its spirit is in need of restoration.

What I can give you, however, is advice. Do not only think of the knowledge you hold, but also about how you wish to apply that knowledge for the better of Kumogakure. How do you intend to reshape Kumogakure should you be given the hat? What is the path you envision? How can your knowledge, or lack thereof, benefit in the achievement of those goals?"

The questions were not meant to be answered right away. Rather, they were meant to put Daremo's thoughts into the right direction. He too had work to do if he intended to reach for the hat. Not just in word and thought, but also in spirit and action. He had to learn about and from Kumogakure, understand its spirit and heart were he to become the mind that directed it. And that required time. Time they might not have.

With both of them in need to get their minds cleared on the matter, Mizuki stowed away the discussion about the hat for now. The dojo was not meant to discuss such topics, and so she was more than glad to hear him declare what exactly he was looking for. The basics. With him wielding a sword-whip, learning the basics of kenjutsu shouldn't prove all too difficult. She'd raise to her feet and nod in understanding before she'd pick up a bokken from the racks positioned on the side. As proper tradition dictated, she'd lift it a little under her eyes with both hands and bow towards the kamidana as if to seek the blessings of the kami for the use of this wooden training weapon. Then, she'd turn to Daremo to hand him the bokken in a similar fashion, and bow slightly as he came to accept the blade. The Raiu would then do the whole ritual again as she picked up a bokken for herself.

"You should be more than capable of picking up the basics of kenjutsu considering your own weapon of choice. I'll skip the 'conquering the sword' tradition. A man of your skill does not need to prove he is capable of enduring the bearing of a blade. I'm certain you'll quality as is. So what is left for you to do is observe proper stances and attacks. Then it'll be your turn to execute them, and I'll correct you where that'd be necessary. I'm certain you'll catch on quickly, but it is possible we might need a couple of training sessions to get it all done."

Once she was sure Daremo got all of that, she'd begin. First, demonstration of how to properly position the blade, and draw it. She'd show him how to shift into the basic of stances to maintain a solid footing while providing ample possibility to step in for offence or step back for evasion. Her steps were measured but at a pace sufficiently relaxed so not to strain the eyes or concentration of her new student. Next came the first few strikes. A vertical slash intended to cleave a person in two or hew off an arm. An upward slash with the same purpose. And finally a somewhat tricky cut that sliced open the belly of its victim to have their guts spill out - an attack mostly intended to cut right under chest armour.

"Let's start with these before going on to the rest of the attacks and defensive techniques.", she'd sheathe her bokken at those words and observe Daremo's movement, meticulously explaining how he could improve and correct his stance and strikes where such was required.

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Total: 4'622

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[EXIT]

1001
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- 5'600 : stashed