Impervious
Wild Card
Walking to the Hokage tower I couldn't help but feel nothing good would come out of this encounter. The ANBU escorting me had said nothing the entire time, and as we entire the building he seems to be leading me to some sort of conference room. We enter the room and I see a decent amount of people, and from there looks and positions they appear to be the entire Konoha council with a few extra ANBU in the room.
" Is this the man?" The man I recognize as Danzo ask one of the ANBU.
" Yes Danzo-sama. He is the one that I saw at the canyon." The Tiger ANBU replies in a very swift manner. Everyone is very silent and their eyes are almost looking through me. It almost reminds me how eerie the Mist council was back in my days as Mizukage.
" My name is Danzo Shimura, and to my knowledge you were at the event of the deaths of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru. Correct?" Danzo asks and I nod.
" That is correct." I reply while keeping firm eye contact with Danzo.
" I've also looked through the shinobi records, and you are not listed as a Konoha shinobi yet you wear the headband, so care to explain yourself?" Danzo continues almost casually.
" That is true. I am not a Konoha shinobi, and the reason I do bear this is I had a deal worked out with the third. I would proctor the exams in exchange for compensation." I reply without looking at anyone besides Danzo.
" I see…and I assume there is no record of this deal." Danzo deadpans and I nod.
" Why were you there at the canyon?" An elderly lady next to Danzo asks me as she stands up.
" I was summoned via a scroll from a sand shinobi I have mentored, and he just so happened to be on guard there, so I decided to assist them." I honestly reply. No point in lying if it's not worth it and you're surrounded by top class shinobi.
" And who was this?" The older man on the other side of Danzo asks.
" You may know him as Gaara of the Sand." I reply and I get a few double and I continue, " And if you don't believe me you can ask him yourself."
For a moment a few whispers go amongst the council until Danzo clears his throat and says, " Alright. I will take your word, but I do need to know who you are and your affiliation. You're obviously a skilled shinobi with some sort of intentions."
I take in a deep breath to relax my body and to plan out what I'm about to say for a moment. I then state, " My name is Yushin Jourou. I came to Konoha originally to train my apprentice and earn some money through the deal I made with Hiruzen I talked about earlier."
" ….Very well." Danzo says quietly as he now seems to be eying me more intently and the council is taking notice of this and starts more whispers.
" Lord Danzo, do you know this man?" The elderly lady asks him and Danzo just continues to study me.
After a small pause of silence, Danzo says, " If I remember my history right, the Jourou clan is from Water country that held a very peculiar kekkei genkai, one that simulates immortality." And Danzo pauses to let it sink in. It appears Danzo is more knowledgeable than I first assumed, but someone who is power hungry could have easy stumbled upon that bit of information since my abilities are unusual.
" So, are you saying this man is immortal?" A man with long black hair blurts out that bears a huge scar across his face.
" No, but I think Yushin-sama can explain the rest, if you may." Danzo says placing me in the center of attention. Danzo seems to know almost too much of my heritage and me.
" It is true what Danzo said about my kekkei genkai and I am from water country, formerly of the hidden Mist. If you do know you're history of Hidden Mist then you may know the Shodai Mizukage's name was Yushin Jourou, of the Jourou clan. I am that very person here today thanks to my kekkei genkai." I announce and it seems either people are in disbelief, awe, or in shock of my brash statement.
" That's what I thought, but there was one snag in you're story. Yushin Jourou was said to have been killed facing the Shodai Raikage long ago. Care to explain?" Danzo says in a much more interested voice than before.
" Simple, I didn't die. I fled the scene having people assume I was obliterated by the Raikage's last jutsu. The reasons for that we're mainly due to a failing society at the time in the Hidden Mist and it would have been my only chance to escape without foul, or face persecution from my own people. I refuse to go into details." I explain and Most of the people seem to be taking the load of information in slowly.
" I'll take your word for it, since you look very similar to the pictures we have of the Shodai Mizukage and the ANBU analyzed your skilled when killing Orochimaru." Danzo states and the whole council room then goes up almost into one instantaneous debate of chaos. I hear many things going on from the council members as they eye me with suspicion, awe, and confusion.
After about 5 minutes the chaos dies down and Danzo prepares to speak again, ' Alright, so now the real dilemma at hand. With you being who you are Yushin at this time with no Hokage in the Hidden Leaf, we must figure out what your fate is here. This is no open for suggestions."
I hear quite a few people talk at once before the three elders calm the crowd and first Danzo speaks up by saying, " I vote for Yushin Jourou to leave the village for now to avoid further confusion with the status of Hokage." And Danzo receives a nod from the two elderly people next to him.
A blond haired man with a pony tail is next to speak up and says, " I say we consider Yushin Jourou free choice to be a shinobi of Konoha, and possibility of Hokage due to our weakened state." And that seems to get mixed feelings across the board. I'm not one to shy away from power, but I have no intention of being Hokage.
" If I may speak." I ask the council, and they get quiet for me to announce my next statement, so I say, " I have no intention of being Hokage or a Konoha shinobi. I would like to leave the village on my own merits with no consequence with a favor." And I get a few eyebrow raises from some of the clan heads and Danzo himself.
" What is it you seek?" Danzo asks me and all eyes yet again are staring intently upon me.
" I wish for my two apprentices to become Konoha shinobi and integrate into your system as loyal shinobi that I know they are so they are." I announce.
" For what reasons?" The elderly man next to Danzo asks.
" One, for safety as my travels can be dangerous. And the other would be beneficial for both of us as you are in the need of extra hands and my students need more training. A fair trade I presume?" I reason with them and they all seem to be mulling it over.
" We will vote, but we need to know their names." The old lady next to Danzo says.
" Their names are Tsuma Jourou and Kimimaro Kaguya." I reply and it seems it's time for voting amongst the council.
" Homaru, take count of the votes. For those in favor raise your hands to accept in Yushin Jourou's students into the Hidden Leaf." Danzo states and the hands begin to rise all over the place. It seems me having the title of Shodai Mizukage has enticed a lot of members to add my students to their roster, as I only see about 3 hands not raised. It looks like my students will be in.
After one last glance across the room Danzo declares, " It's settled. We will accept in Yushin Jourou's students as Leaf shinobi as he makes his departure within the next three days." And I nod to the last part. I have to get Zakaru along with his task as soon as possible so three days is perfect.
" Meeting adjourned." Homaru the elderly man states and we all begin to file out of the meeting room, and I make sure to get out quickly as possible before anybody can ask me any questions. I've been under the spotlight enough for one day.
I body flicker to outside the building and I begin to walk back to the motel to tell Tsuma and Kimimaro the news. I know I should of maybe warned them of this, but I was planning something similar to having them settle in a village from the start, to give them a fresh go at things.
Tsuma will probably be angry so I'll have to make something up like I didn't have authority or something over the decision, but I well know I could have vouched for Hokage and maybe been a major contender, but who knows what could have happened? I got over most my lust for power long ago and all I have left is regrets, loose ends, and guilt that I try to amend for. Sometimes it sucks to be old and reflect upon your life.
On the other end of the spectrum, Kimimaro shouldn't be too worried about my decision as he is more understanding and probably wants a fresh start more than Tsuma, especially after being with Orochimaru. I just hope this whole decision doesn't come crashing back down on me as I have more important issues to attend to in the near future.