Welcome readers to STORM, the story of the mysterious village on top of the cliff that overhangs the Hidden Leaf. No one from the low lands (Leaf, Sand, Mist, etc.) has ever heard of anyone living behind the constant blanket of raging thunder clouds (hence the name) that covers the cliff top. Now, for the first time ever, someone from the Hidden Storm has come to meet with the Hokage of their closest neighbor...
Huge thanks to my friends, who will base OCs in this story. Of course I, Panther, am the main character. Just so you know, this is a prequel story to the main story where my band of OCs go down to the Leaf Village.
- Panther
It was a perfect day for enjoying a view, especially the view that the Hokage got from his office window. There was not a cloud in the sky and the leaves for which the village was named were rustling gently in the breeze. The scene would have been perfect, if not for the great cliff in the distance, surrounded by a thick, dark blanket of a roaring thunderstorm. The Village Hidden in the Storm. Up until just three months ago, the village and its people had been unknown even in legend to the citizens of the Land of Fire and its neighbours. But here he was, waiting for the leader of the mysterious village.
He, or she, was coming down from the cliff top to negotiate a military alliance between the Storm and the Leaf. There had been whispers of a planned attack on the Leaf Village for many months and the Hokage wanted to be prepared. In exchange for their support, the Storm Village would be allowed to send their best genin to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams.
He was roused from his daydream by a knock at the door.
"Enter" he called. The door swung open revealing a tall dark haired man, about one quarter times the height of the Hokage. The Hokage bowed to him.
"I hope you had a safe trip. Please," he said, gesturing the man to a plush chair in front of the desk, "have a seat".
"I'm. Down. Here." An irritated voice exclaimed. Wondering where on earth it was coming from, the Hokage looked down to the floor. Standing in front of the tall man, just out of the Hokage's peripheral vision, was a tiny little woman. The look she gave him suggested that she had never been disrespected in such a manner and was very annoyed indeed.
"High Councilman Sarutobi. A pleasure I'm sure." The woman thrust out her hand, waiting with her arm outstretched. Unsure quite what to do, the Hokage held out his hand warily, which the woman clasped in hers and shook.
"I'm known as the Hokage actually."
"I see, of course. I am High Councilman Janni, of the Village of the Storm. May I have a seat?"
"Oh, yes. Please." As he sat behind his desk, the Hokage wondered how such a small person could be the strongest fighter in her village with people like her bodyguard as competition.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but our political system is not based on brute force. We leave that up to our warriors. Our best strategists and negotiators are put on the village council, I the most respected and experienced of them all. And yes" she added in response to the Hokage's expression, "I can read minds".
"Yes, now let's get down to business" he said, "If either of our villages are attacked, the other will send reinforcements to aid the defences."
"In exchange, we will prove our warrior's power at your exam competition that is coming up…"
