Nothing is good especially at heart
Ch. 2 : Genso no Kuni fourth era
"Flash back or creepy voice"
"Yelling"
Plain italics=music
I'm re-posting my chapters so that this story doesn't sound like a mess. I'm almost done with chapters 5 and 6 so look forward to those.
The Prophet
This religion started during the second era right after the prophet's untimely death. The prophet was a man who started Kiri's second great empire and was appointed as emperor in a moot. He later got out of this position after successfully making a treaty with modern-day Kaminari no Kuni (lightning country).
Since a child to his death-bed he could see the future and was known to have the ability's to use magic. He banned popular religions of Nerevar and the Fallen Star of Vivec. He pronounced the one true god of the prophet who is seen in three aspects of Life, Death, and the human emotions. The world's most important man might as well be the Prophet whose words mean the truth today.
Written in 1342 3rd Era by Caius Ganja
Naruto
"Naruto this has been your third exam our village needs many swords and spears at hand to go on missions and quests for money. But you have failed four of the six exams. You have a gift few people have and we… can't send you into the world where there's the chance of you dying on your first mission" spoke a man with a light brown beard on his face.
"Really now Minato passed and his head is as hollow as a walnut. I know how to read and write. What did I miss" spoke Naruto with a bit of present anger in his voice.
"I will admit you have the right to know how you did on this exam. You did fantastically well on the swimming and horse riding exam so well in fact that you maybe half horse yourself. Alas on the archery and spear exam you did very poorly if you ever want to take part in a jousting tilt later in the future I'd recommend you not to unless you want your spear to smash a spectators brain. The academic exam you did poorly too yes you can read and count who can't but most of the people here got most of the answers right. You have the rare ability to use chakra but you can barely use it even at an academy level. On the prowess exam you failed barely. On the stealth and extra credit exam you passed which everyone this year passed too" spoke the Master of academics.
"I guess that's why it's also called the extra credit one".
"What's that Naruto do you see me laughing? I'm not too old but if you ever want to become a knight you should try to gain some manners".
"Look the boy's done great we could over look his score on the prowess exam along with the academic one too he barely passed those. He is right about, that half the people who passed can't even read or write. Let alone count to twenty without looking at their toes" spoke Mizuki.
"Mizuki you may have wisdom about something's but most of the time your minds blank about most everything. Naruto is too young to go out into the world even armed with a dagger. When you're not ready who will they blame for sending a boy to squire and serve his country… to end up a rotting corpse? They will blame me! And now I can't even tell you how many boys and some girls your age ended up with their blood on the enemy's sword" spoke Iruka with a sympathetic voice.
Will they really blame you for sending me out to die or cheer for you Iruka sensei? It wasn't uncommon knowledge that Naruto was hated it was really more common fact. Also if he failed this exam he would have to go to the guilds begging for work.
This was his future going out in the world so one day singers could write poems and sing tale's of him leading legion's into battle. Naruto tried to speak but what could he say that they were right about all of that? Or that they were wrong and fight for his honor?
Instead he walked out of the exam room with no destination in mind but to get away from them. People walked away from him maybe they were antagonized by his boiled leather armor and icy stare.
Either way it suited Naruto. Naruto had blond hair and violet eyes with a bit of blue surrounding his pupils. Although his eyes were violet his hair wasn't too uncommon in Hi no Kuni (Fire country) yet it didn't mean it wouldn't bring the uncommon stares from people of all ages.
His parents were unknown which brought on the usually behind the back whispers. People don't usually give two shits about orphans, but the fact he every now and then robbed, pranked, and was said to give icy stares from time to time (which Kiba said was odd) made the whispers grow more and more. In the orphanage people used to say his mother was a whore who left him on the door steps because his father raped her. While others would laugh and whisper not quite quietly about him getting drunk every night and being a spoiled street rat.
These tales and rumors came from nowhere and often spread like a wildfire. Yet weren't brought to Naruto's face that often, that or people just kept to themselves and each other.
Yet these days the Naruto Uzamaki empire was starting to look much better in his view. If what people say is true it is the fourth era and the first summer after a damn long winter. It was over a hundred years since the last era which he didn't really care for. People every now and then would acknowledge him by giving him a nod or smile. But these sorts of things were rare; only six people would go out of their way to help him. It was these types of memories that brought him thinking of his parents.
Every now and then he would imagine what his father looked like. He always thought he was knight the type of men in shining steel metal plates on horses fighting monsters and saving ladies fair, just like the songs, and night tales. But when it came to his dads face, he couldn't think of what it looked like.
His mom was a different story he couldn't even put a single thought on what she looked like. When he was young he would wish that she would take him away from the orphanage. Stuff like that was child's play though it never happened and never would.
But imagining things in constant train of thought never got him anywhere. Especially now when he just failed to become a squire which is an honorable path Iruka usually said but not the only one.
I can always join a guild? Naruto Uzamaki guild leader of the artisan's which would very well be better than being a peasant. No that too was lost and gone; you could only be able join one after proving that you had talent in that specific guild. While guilds sound like nice ways of making some quick coins. They usually took a long time to finish training to be part of the guild.
Naruto made his way past the crowds of parents congratulating their own children who passed the shinobi exams, into the crowds of merchants, soldiers, and civilians of all types. The merchants standing behind the stalls looked at Naruto with as much malice as they could muster. Well most of them really some were either too busy to pay attention to a failure or didn't care.
Naruto made his way home to his one room apartment which had single a closet and a retched stench from a bucket full of piss. This was also a common odor throughout Konoha unless you lived in the much richer districts. But it made no matter home was home even in a village full of assholes like Iruka.
As soon as Naruto laid down on his hay stuffed bed did he notices a presence which was an odd sixth sense he grew up with. He quickly turned his head right behind him and caught Mizuki standing on his balcony with a smile plastered on his face. Just outside of his murky glass window.
"I find it fascinating how you noticed me when I've only been in this place for I don't know three minutes" spoke Mizuki who crouched on Naruto's balconies wooden fence.
"What are you doing here" asked Naruto while opening up his wooden door to his balcony.
"I've got something to tell you if you want in?"
After hearing Mizuki's plan Naruto wasn't so sure about this or even trusting the man. Learning a jutsu in one night would have been most impossible for maybe every magician or shinobi alike. Yet Naruto mastered the Kawarimi no jutsu (substitution) in half a day or he thought he did. Well it made no matter it was his for the taking and maybe he could show a jutsu or conjured animal to Iruka. That would put him in his place for good.
"So where the hell is this scroll located again?" asked an Uzamaki while Mizuki made a reflex move to slapping his forehead.
….. ….. …..
Konoha wasn't quite a diverse city and the country it gave troops to wasn't so much a diverse place either. But hearing in the far distance men yelling in several different languages which all translated into one that would have meant the same thing "Kill the Fucking brat".
He had been training for what had to have been hours the thing about the scroll was it was written in so many ancient languages that after awhile the normal hand sighs that usually told illiterate chakra users how to perform a technique, turned into unpronounceable words, to some sort of pictographs of birds, people, and rocks.
Now it wasn't to say most of the scroll wasn't useful since it helped unlock a few jutsu's that weren't in the blond's brain data base before hand. Yet the scroll was so unorganized it was like reading a book that was covered in dust, in the dark, and written by a blind man.
Which now that he thought about it that was exactly the situation he was in, the scroll was just old. The yells started to grow louder but the many men after him had to be several miles away since the hills of the south eastern forest of Konoha reflected sound.
"Mizuki. Mizuki. Mizuki. Mizuki!" yelled Naruto slightly annoyed.
"Naruto calm down your going to wake up Kappa's with that voice".
"…Iruka… h-how did you find me Mizuki never said anything about you being here?" asked Naruto with clear shock on his face.
"Why did you steal the scroll Naruto… don't you see that those people out there want your head on a pike. Plus you look like you just got trampled by a herd of bulls" said Iruka who's brown eyes spelled out shock while his voice sounded like he was trying to keep a calm composure.
"Iruka look you think I haven't figured that out. I have mastered one of the jutsu's Mizuki told me to master. I looked at a few more and well that pile of logs and broken furniture was once a log cabin. Not really a nice one at that" said Naruto.
Naruto's body wasn't in the best shape of his life for instance the many splinters and scratch marks barely compared to his arms. Which were at the point where his blood that at one point came out of his nails, were just crimson marks and stains against his boiled leather sleeves and rusty chain mail armor.
"So if it isn't an old friend and a fucking stupid brat" said a voice that seemed to have come from behind Iruka.
"Naruto we'll talk later. Mizuki I'm not in that gay of a mood right now, just come out and we'll talk like mature grownups…Kaa-".
"If I was in such a talking mood I would have laid a chair out so we could sup some tea" Iruka coughed out blood to that.
Naruto looked in complete shock at Iruka, Mizuki most likely lied to him about this but it never quite occurred to him that he was in the sort of mood to kill them. Iruka fell to one knee giving Naruto a clear view at the arrow stuck in his left shoulder blade.
Mizuki pulled the string of the bow back towards his right shoulder and sighed "Naruto give me the scroll we can work together and destroy this village. Or you can soon experience your teacher's pain?"
"Naruto don't listen to him he's a traitor whom is manipulating you for his own selfish reasons."
"Naruto I know how you feel the pain you have experienced… do you want to know why people hate you? Despise you? Besides well thieving, pranking, and whatever the hell you do with your spare time" said Mizuki with a few chuckles.
"Mizuki don't! You're going to be killed no matter what happens or how much I protest it'll be your head! Think about wha… agh" Iruka's pleas died down as soon as Mizuki jumped down from the tree he was on somehow gracefully and kicked him in ass with his boot.
Naruto winced and backed away three steps from Mizuki whose fingers were like iron to the pulled string. While all of this drama was going on Naruto reached into his kunai holster slowly on his left leg, and pulled on a dull iron kunai, holding the blade steadily so as to not pull it out just yet.
"Mizuki you can go on, but at least while doing so don't aim that arrow at both Iruka and I. We can all work this out in an orderly fashion. I know I can steal you another scroll that isn't of such importance!"
Mizuki sighed again and slowly let the string go back to normal "Fine but the last parts not going to work for me… It was almost fourteen years ago the Kyuubi attacked Konoha during a harvest sometime moon in Octobis. The thirty fourth Hokage was killed in battle sealing the beast. I don't know how he did it exactly but in the end… he sealed the demon inside of you. While priests of the ten divines say that the demon's arrival was a blessing. It was all just lies everything, from them, to the history books that demon killed my parents. Iruka's parents, hell the beast killed thousands of people. I guess that doesn't matter so much to you, you are the Kyuubi and by tonight people will sing songs in mead halls about your death" with that said Mizuki pulled the bow string and was about fire when he suddenly lost his balance and fired into the air.
Naruto ran away from the two hedge knights fighting each other with knives and daggers. Was he a demon? He never really thought he was one or even acted like one. These thoughts plagued his mind for minutes until he was experiencing the worst headache he had ever experienced in his life. He almost thought back to the times in the orphanage but quickly did not.
I should go back it would be my life if I go too far. Was he stupid? Or just damn mad? It was true if the village found out that he scampered away with the scroll without helping anyone it would be his head. If I knew Mizuki was lying why the hell did I just steal the Forbidden Scroll of sealing hours ago?
Naruto pushed some chakra to his legs and propelled onto a tree branch and started going back. It was an odd notion to say he didn't steal anything. When he was young he would often leave the orphanage by climbing an oak tree by the roof top. From there he would climb down and explore Konoha. Pick pocketing wasn't easy but was soon second nature to him.
It may have been the thrill of taking something from someone that obviously wasn't his but unlike most kids or people he was good at it. So was taking the scroll from the Hokage's tower. It was located below the Hokage monument and the keep it pretty much was, was made out of limestone.
It didn't take a blind man to know he was horrible at performing jutsu's hell it he could only perform four to five out of the forty they taught at the academy. After jumping for ten minutes Naruto stopped on a tree branch not far from where Iruka and Mizuki were.
"Naruto is a good person".
"Oh, so you said he wasn't a fit soldier who couldn't even reach the marginal line for combat. The military would soon love to get their hands on him. All to the disappointment of the council" said Mizuki who was panting, while vigorously bashing small sword in his left hand against Iruka's small sword.
Iruka was a skilled fighter but the wound he acquired earlier was wearing him down. Mizuki had two dual short steel swords in both hands and a long wound from his knee up to his bottom ribs. Iruka was in a worse shape though the arrow that now was out of his back was leaking a small stream of blood, while dealing with what had to have been a volley of small slash wounds around his chest. Iruka was barely holding his Xiphos (A short two sided sword) in his right hand.
The landscape around them was torn up too. A chestnut tree was toppled over but seemed to have been crushed into splinters on part of the tree's side. Where the log cabin once stood was now a smoky charred piece of rubble along with a few trees behind it.
"You don't even give a single shit about Naruto. I failed him along with Rikudou's support because I cared about him like a brother. Even though were not related. The Hokage would have let him retake it again or just passed him!"
"Ha, ha, ha, ha… you crack me up the boy is a demon who killed our parents along with many others! He's up on that tree listening. It makes me think what would happen if I killed the him right where he's standing! Would the great Kyuubi come out of him and destroy Konoha or not? Let find out the old fashioned way" as Mizuki finished a burst of wind propelled the chunin in front of Naruto.
As if the world slowed down around Naruto he pulled his hand out of his kunai holster and with a single thrust to his wrist he propelled his dull iron kunai at Mizuki. Naruto side stepped to the left to avoid the chunin's impact from where he was at.
"Cruak" Naruto turned his head in complete shock to find Mizuki by a tree with a kunai stuck right in his left eye.
Mizuki grabbed the knife weakly with both hands and pulled it out along with his eye out resulting in a steady stream of blood. Mizuki screamed and cussed while trying so desperately to get up. His head must have been cut somehow on descent because a long stream of blood started to fall down to his mouth right from his forehead.
"Naruto you should man up…. that was… only a small wound compared to what I'm going to do with you" spoke Mizuki while getting out a couple of knives.
"Fuck you! You are a lying piece of shit you know that Mizuki, a lying piece of shit! I can easily defeat you along with Iruka sensei" a flash of anger erupted in him making the headache seem like nothing.
"Chishi no Sasu no jutsu (1)" a flash of blue chakra surrounded Mizuki but then was expelled in less than a second.
Mizuki appeared instantly in front of Naruto and started stabbing him at near undetectable speeds. Naruto tried to defend himself by thrusting his left arm out. But after a stab wound to his chest he fell over only to have his butt break his fall before Mizuki could have finished him off. Iruka came out of the bushes and threw his sword at Mizuki. Which Mizuki easily avoided.
"Hmm… I forgot about you" Mizuki quickly threw his left dagger at Iruka which easily penetrated Iruka's chest armour.
"Chikara Yosha no jutsu (2)" After saying the words a blue blast of energy pushed Mizuki off his feet and into the trees.
…. … ….. . . …
Naruto opened his eyes to the bursting brightness of a sunny day. He looked around and found out he was in the Kage's Keep in the infirmary room for veterans and soldiers. The yellow gray limestone walls didn't really do much to bring up a happy mood. He told his body to move but found that useless.
For some reason he felt more relaxed sleeping on the hospitals feather bed than getting up. He looked to his left where they usually keep night stands in here and found a shinobi metal headband that had the leaf insignia. The headband was surrounded by a long thick strand of blue linen sewn onto it.
While if you wanted, it was possible to get the metal band melted down on a piece of armor but something about it seemed tell the blond to keep the way it was. It looked old since some of the blue dye was fading away, but besides that it felt oddly special. He grabbed it with his left hand after leaning over on the far side of the hospital bed. It seemed that many of Mizuki's strikes landed on his left arm and hand. He smiled while putting it on his forehead.
The hospital quarters for each patient were separated by only a thin layer of wool and linen. It wasn't until a nurse spotted him and ran that he knew he was deep trouble. Just lie that you didn't see through Mizuki and by the Ten Divines let Jiji feel some sympathy for me.
After an hour passed of seeing doctors and nurses pass by his wool quarters Jiji finally arrived. He had as stern look on his face but in his eyes he looked like something was stolen from him. Fuck it!
"Hmm… I'm getting too old. I made special preparations so that we are the only ones in this part of the hall. Anyways a few out of the two hundred men I sent out looking for both you and Mizuki. Found you last night unconscious with a barely alive Iruka. One of the doctors who checked up on you said he thinks you lost too much chakra along with blood along with Iruka. Well last night was… well complicated I think you deserve to be a shinobi. Let me not forget Iruka said he wanted me to give you that headband and I see you've put it on already" said the Kage as he sat down on a wooden chair by the far end of the right wool sheet.
He put his right hand inside of his antique red Kage robes and pulled out some tobacco leaves from the Southern Moon Kingdoms far east of Mizu no Kuni. He began to stuff the leaves inside of his pipe when Naruto couldn't take it anymore "Why did you lie to me? It would have brought me some peace of mind when I was inside of the orphanage. Or better yet it would have been what gave me warmth on the streets during the winter".
After lighting his pipe and taking a whiff of smoke Sarutobi said "Naruto I've never lied to you. Only I've held some secrets from you. That was pretty much the only one, I'm sorry I know you have had it hard in the past. But there is no need to cause a ruckus especially in here".
"Wha… what happened to Mizuki?"
"Hmm… I knew I was going to have to explain this to you one way or another. He's dead not by an axe mans blade but by that jutsu you used. This also goes into other pressing matters like what type of jutsu's you learned and making you a shinobi".
"I… I learned the Chikara Yosha and the Kage bunshin but the third one I couldn't perform so I gave up on that one. I want to say I didn't mean to kill Mizuki Jiji I just wanted to protect Iruka sensei".
"You have done something that you wouldn't have done in three to four years. Maybe even fewer. A first kill is normal not the easiest but every shinobi has at some point done it. Mizuki would have been killed either way if you helped or not. He leaked a classified secret that was forbidden to the death if whispered by anyone besides us and a few others. Now let's leave this conversation in the dark, we still need to talk about your career" Jiji smiled and so did Naruto.
The feeling of taking something from someone else or doing something your told not to do, usually gave Naruto a thrill. It didn't matter what he stole or did, in the end as long as he had a laugh and other had one too what was the harm. Naruto didn't want to admit that it felt good killing someone. The memory of Mizuki's neck being crushed by a branch filled his mind with glee. Though currently thinking about the unmoral deed he committed made Naruto feel sick in his stomach.
The place where the Kyuubi now resided made Naruto's already deteriorating self of esteem vanish in a second.
"Well I wanted to be a shinobi… Mizuki said something about you not wanting to give me a choice in what to do for a living".
"Mizuki was a traitor. Believing a traitors word is insanity. If you want to join the local guard guild that is your choice. Yet I have opened a slot for you to pass and become a shinobi squire. Yet this will be the only time you will have this decision. I may want you to choose what you want but the council or the King will flock to force you unto their wants and needs" Jiji blew a long stream of flowing nicotine as he finished.
"Jiji I've always wanted to become a shinobi. Ever since I was a boy in the orphanage I dreamed of making a name for myself. I... didn't want to grow up working in the mills or mines. Though I just wanted to know if I truly have some free will and I'm not just some demon out for the lynch. When do I report in for my new sensei?"
"Three days from now. Naruto how about when are done here we can go and get some ramen at that stand you like. I think doctors have other patients to work on right" finished Sarutobi with a vigorous nod from Naruto.
Koseki
"Do all whores here suck like new-born babies" spoke a light brown-skinned man with black hair down to his shoulders as a beautiful naked woman continuously sucked his cock.
This wasn't something he usually did but it was either this or settling down. And one thing he knew was he couldn't go through another damn wedding. Old memories are usually best left in his father used to say although he was the very man who actually did dwell on old stuff. Koseki could remember the times when his own older brother would remind him of that. That their father was a failure who lost half of their family's lands.
The whore stopped sucking and looked up with her light brown eyes and said in a sultry voice "Most of us do must be new to Iwa. Where are you from?"
"I'm not exactly from around here if that's what you're talking about".
After fifteen minutes of experiencing one of the best blow jobs in the world Koseki came in the young wench's mouth. He sighed he wasn't supposed to be here but then again it was hard to remember the last time he fucked someone. The almond eyed whore began to take more of her clothes off but he needed to end this "Look I need to go this was nice but uh I'm not exactly supposed to be here if you get where I'm coming from".
"Go, leave two gold coins to the owner downstairs and you can go" spoke the gorgeous wench with a smile.
Damn bitch! Does she think I'm made of money? After giving her a quick smile and going down the hall way Koseki noticed that the sun was much lower down in the sky than it should have been. Koseki soon yelled "Boys! It's time to get a fucking move on".
"Koseki m'lord what are you doing I was just getting started with Yakussa" spoke Lundy (Koseki's page) with worry.
"Get Malco, Zakku, and Dvur and I want you to tell them to round-up our men! We need to stop playing around and get to the Tsuchikage's tower at once! We've been fucking around for two hours. We should have been to the Tsuchikage's tower by now."
After putting on his breeches Koseki quickly changes into his wool clothes which were under his leather/chain mail armour which had the colors of green upon brown which signified his family's sigil. The brown oak surrounded by two green fields with the words building life were known to only those up North near his families manor. House Glandium was once a well-known clan far North West of Iwa near the Restless Sea. The house once had land that stretched to the sea but when house Toge and the more new house Randolph took their father's land the Earth Shogun appointed both house's to become daimyo.
Throwing two gold coins on the bar table near the owner of the brothel along with his men's grumpy looks of doing so too, they made their way towards a nearby stable. After his page helped him into his horse along with his men doing so too, they quickly made their way to the far end of Iwa. Iwa was actually a great and beautiful city. Like Kumo the city was highly elevated in a mountain range but this one was called the Snowy caps. This mountain range ran from some sort of new country run by bandits all the way to Black sea which was north of Iwa. The mountains which got their name snowy capped could be seen quite nicely from this distance.
Because Iwa was surround by hills and mountains that alone served as a defense against enemies. Yet since parts of the village were built into hills and on one of the mountains it gave parts of the village an extra defense. The walls were eighty feet high and were thick enough to protect its foundation from cannon fire. Along with a second wall that was only forty feet high giving it an extra defense along with keeping the richer houses safer. A thing that wasn't fair to the poor part of the village but that was just life.
One river flowed around the village giving it a moat and due to it being built on hills floods were never a concern. While another river ran through its East side bringing in trade from people wanting to venture from Takigakure no Sato (Waterfall village) and Kusagakure no Sato (Grass village) which was possible by many high twenty foot tall forty foot wide retractable iron gates.
The village was green with trees and flowers and had the scent of earth and trees. The roads were wide enough to fit his own long garrison of fifteen horsed men. The homes were strong too there had to have been less than a hundred buildings that were made of wood in all of Iwa. Something that the Tsuchikage loved to boast about since there hadn't been a great fire in the history of the village.
His men rounded up and came to a keep that was known as the earth sanctuary which was where the Tsuchikage's tower was located.
"Stop where you are! And state your name for you can't come in here today. Unless you guys need to speak to the commander of the guard's because of an emergency" spoke a guard behind an iron gate which was between two stone watch towers.
"My name is Koseki of house Glandium I'm a commander of thirtieth squadron of the sixth legion….. The Tsuchikage wanted me to come for a meeting".
"Oh yes, Sir Koseki I remember you, yes the Tsuchikage has been expecting you for awhile, Lamia open the gates!"
The gates opened with a creak and the guard in his brown on black dyed iron armor (Tsuchi no Kuni colors) walked through the court yard with two other guards.
As soon as his men got through they quickly got off of their horse's while many guards began to flock over to tend to them. Malco a light cream skinned man said "Why, this place is so desolate isn't it supposed to be packed with people and peasants wanting missions and favors?"
"Should but the Tsuchikage is in a meeting with the Shogun, you were supposed to at that meeting m'lord three quarters of an hour ago. I was told you should bring only two companions with you inside the meeting room. Other than that leave the rest of your men in the lobby" spoke the guard who had a deep Sargvonic accent.
"Malco and Lundy come with me. While Dvur go and bring the others and our horses to an inn here's five golden bears, send a boy once you find a place, to show us where it's at".
"Look Koseki you sure about this?" asked Dvur who was a little nervous.
"Yes, just go I'm tardy enough" and with that he left a Dvur to go and play a game of lords.
…. …. …. …. .. .
"So your commanders late, is this the faith you show me now Kencho. I always wondered why my father's, father appointed you as a Kage if you can't even fix a few problems" spoke the Shogun in black and brown dyed armor (3).
The Shogun was only twenty one years old but if rumor was true the young leader wanted war. The thing was Iwa's military force was much weaker than it had been thirteen years ago. While the other great shinobi countries had ninety to one hundred thousand troops Iwa was struggling to pull out sixty to seventy thousand troops.
For a twenty one year old he had an odd aura about him. He was like a man you could trust to an extent but he also had an aura like a man you shouldn't mess with.
"Look Shogun-sama I'm sorry you shouldn't put your anger out towards the Tsuchikage" replied Koseki.
"Hmm I remember you; my father once said that your brother killed the Hokage's younger brother. And you, he said you took the Northern Shotaku keep during the Third Great War. I guess your apology will be accepted this time, but the next time well there shouldn't be a need for a next time. If you get my drift? I'm planning on making some changes for instance loyalty should be kept at the highest extent. While non loyalty shall be handled by a short drop and a sudden stop" spoke the Shogun whose brown green eyes pointed ominously towards Koseki almost as if he thought he had the ability to kill with just a look.
After taking a seat around the great wide circular council table in the council room Koseki could spot around thirty other people with their two other companions by their sides. He sighed most of the eyes were on him being a man who hated too much attention he tried his best to ignore it. A man who was called Ecru also high Admiral of Tsuchi no Kuni (Earth country) stood up and hollered "Yes, Yes, what a damn fine speech my great leader. But what you're saying is that we as a country need more troops. That's a damned fine suggestion but drafting these daimyo's peasant men along with these lord's peasant men won't help out our financial problems. Our country one is the biggest producers of agricultural products. Taking forty thousand peasant boys who are all probably so green that they fuck bushes and giving them weapons won't win us a war but slow us down when Octobis comes!"
"Maybe we could take fifteen thousand of them and train them for six months and blockade trade against Kaze no Kuni (Wind country)" said a fat merchant lord who was probably a lord South of Iwa.
"How we are separated from them by four bordering countries. One of which is full of traitors and the other is filled with savages" spoke Aestus a lord of house Amas by Rippling Bay a town and hold of north eastern Tsuchi no Kuni (North of Iwa by the Black Sea).
"Look we shall all talk about this in a week two hours from sun rise. This place has been closed for four hours and we have been only talking for one. Everyone out now!" yelled the Tsuchikage whose head was red with anger.
Koseki immediately got up along with everyone the Shogun had pure annoyance and anger written very clearly on his face. The man seemed to radiate it giving his light skin color a dark pink. Before he could actually leave the place "Wait not you Koseki, leave your men outside."
As everyone cleared from the council room the Tsuchikage sighed the sun seemed to barely warm the small Kage up. This made the Kage seem barely any younger too. With a deep sigh he got up and stared outside. It was a large stone window that's only protection from the outside world was its wooden shutters.
"Damn if only that could have gone any better. It wasn't your fault he was in a bad mood it's just the man is young with a crown on his head. It seems people blame me for losing the Third Great War but it wasn't even my fault. My doing. War was unavoidable seventeen years ago, Kaze no Kuni conquered land that was ours in the far West a hundred years ago. After that territory fell to Kaze no Kuni, a country a fourth the size of the territory that was conquered broke off. That territory is a country called Jacmen by the people."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It would mean barley in their native tongue, those bandits conquered that land. I meant a horse man tribe, they usually stay near the steppes of Kuma no Kuni (bear country), Ishi no Kuni (stone country), and Tori no Kuni( bird country, which is the last country between the Earth and Wind country borders). I want you to go there and negotiate a treaty with them. Have them fight for us they have twenty five thousand strong and a Calvary of that size would be undefeatable in the field" said the Tsuchikage with a smile.
"Why? Why are you doing this? You want me to lead a vanguard to negotiate with thieves and killers."
"Yes, and I know you will have no choice but to accept my offer. Do you really see what I'm doing I plan on making you a General. But if you want to go back North whore around, and get drunk I'm fine with that too. I at least plan on bringing Iwa back to its early days. But now I'm realizing that ship has left port long ago. I want to bring this country into a golden age before I die" the Tsuchikage looked more old than he looked much earlier him being an exceptionally short man made him look older and weaker (An uncommon mistake for most enemies and people).
"I'll need to think about it but am I really the right man for this job?"
"Maybe… maybe not but I know what you did for your country in the last war out of all the troops to come home you were the most loyal, smart, and patriotic. You won six out of seven battles not much can beat those odds. I'm not a good old man hell I've wanted to kill that damn young Shogun a couple times. Yet even more often I've thought of the complete opposite… that I'm the monster. People assume that but that's just the type of bullshit the countries down South tell their children at night about. Mhh… go to your hotel room your probably tired of an old, old man blabbering".
As Koseki got up and made his way to the door he turned around and said "Not all of your people think that. You were a good leader during the war. Fuck the Shogun and Minato. Better yet fuck anyone who thinks that about you."
As Koseki left he couldn't help but think the old Kage had a smile on his face.
Chishi no satu-(Sting of Death) A dangerous jutsu that allows the user to move his muscles to speeds that are faster than normal. A C-B rank jutsu because the user is moving so fast for a short period of time friction can do more harm to the user than normal. This along with not seeing where your aiming causes accuracy problems.
Chikara Yosha-(Unrelenting force) A very powerful force/shockwave produced by the users voice allows the user to push anything aside that is in front of the them. This alone can push a person or thing from twenty to one hundred meters if mastered. Since it does very little damage to the user it is listed as a B-A rank jutsu.
The Shoguns armor- I'll put up a link for it a little later.
