"We accept the new title of Ryukage as the leader of Shadow and will send notice to Konoha of our acceptance of an alliance" said the eldest of the council, a graying man named Tsume Tora.
"Excellent" Kuroiryu said from his place at the head of the council table.
"We expect alliance requests to start coming in as soon as the other hidden villages learn of our change in leadership."
"Send an alliance agreement to Lady Tsunade of Konoha. She already wanted an alliance with us. An exchange of shinobi at the chuunin exam and trade agreements, that whole deal."
"Right away."
"Let me know when we start getting requests from other villages. Also get me a list of villages that have done wrong by us in the past and what they did. I don't want alliances with untrustworthy villages."
"Right away."
Kuroiryu smiled as he stood and left the room. He wore the new jacket of the Ryukage, which was white with dragon shadows of every color on it. He no longer hid his true appearance. He walked around with his dragon horns and feral features. He wanted his people to know who he was.
Not everyone was pleased with him leading the village, namely those that had supported Da-ku. They'd learn quickly enough.
Kuroiryu was idling away some time when one of the chunnin gate guards appeared in front of him.
"Unknown high level shinobi at the main gate to see you, Ryukage-sama" the chunnin said.
Kuroiryu nodded and the shinobi left. He himself stood and pulled on his robe of office. In a burst of smoke, he disappeared.
A man stood at the gate trying to intimidate the guards with his silence and killing intent. He wore black cloak with red clouds on it. He looked like a man being eaten by a large plant.
Five man-sized dragons came to sit in a half circle around the plant man. Their eyes never left the man nor did they move after they sat down. They didn't move when Kuroiryu appeared behind them looking as intimidating as the cloaked man's killing intent.
"You wished to see me?" Kuroiryu asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"You are Kuroiryu, the Black dragon, correct?" the man said.
"I'm only known as Black Dragon among the ANBU of Konoha" Kuroiryu said.
"Then you would be willing to come with me?" the man said.
"I see no reason to."
"The protection of you village."
Kuroiryu stood over to fallen body of Zetsu. The plant man had revealed his name when they faced each other in the field a couple miles outside of Shadow. No one lived when they threatened his home, though.
Two dragons stood on either side of the badly beaten ninja. "Take me home" Kuroiryu said before the blissful darkness of sleep claimed him. The two dragons caught him before he hit the ground and took him back the to Dragon's house.