CHAPTER 7
Destiny is Born
The council chamber was again filled. This time there was a great deal more security than last. The council members spoke amongst themselves as the entrance door creaked open slowly. Ittou strode in and stood facing the council on the far side of the hall. The room was filled with an awkward silence. One of the council members began nervously.
"On behalf of the council- I thank you for giving us the time to deliberate this issue. We hope that we can come to an agreeable decision with.."
Ittou coughed and looked to the floor. He spoke quietly and calmly.
"It is true that the last time I came here I was very rude, maybe if circumstances were different I would even apologize, but I remind you that my conditions are still the same. I am not interested in any compromise. I wish to know the name of the one who…"
This time it was the council members who interrupted Ittougigei. One of them stood up from his chair.
"You WILL NOT enter this sacred chamber and make demands like some terrorist or spoiled brat! You did not earn your rank by disrespect and insubordination!! Now come to your senses and hear what this council has to say!"
Ittou looked surprised for a moment, then chuckled softly before he spoke.
"It only took one day for this council to develop a backbone? I am quite impressed." he said sarcastically, trying not to loose his temper. "I DARE not take up all of this council's VALUABLE time, so let us cut to the chase and leave these pleasantries behind us? "
"Indeed." The councilman said as he took his seat again. "You have requested that this council give up any information regarding the conditions that have lead up to your brother's death. While it pains us deeply to deny you this right- it is in this village's best interest to appoint a new Hokage before we send any more of our village's elite into battle. Our numbers have been cut as it is- we have no desire to sacrifice ourselves to the first organized attack by our enemies. We have decided that you will be appointed as this villages defense coordinator until the 5th is chosen. Do you understand these orders?"
The councilman said this with a sort of blind aggression. He sounded firm, but nervous at the same time. For a few brief moments- no one spoke. All parties took a few seconds to process what was just said.
Ittou stepped forward and kept his eyes staring at the floor.
"Could any member of this village defend the man who killed the 3rd Hokage?" He asked quizzically.
The council members sighed. One of the women spoke.
"Of course not."
Ittou began again slowly.
"Why is that councilwoman?"
She replied, "Because that man betrayed this village and has gone against the ways of the leaf. He is a villain of the worst caliber and no one among us could, in good conscious, help him for what he has done."
Ittou turned and walked towards the door.
"That man is to you…" he paused for a moment then turned back and stared the lead councilman in his eyes. "What this village is to me."
He turned to walk out the door when a robed Anbu quickly grabbed his shoulder. The ninja pulled back his facemask and revealed a young, sturdy face.
"I beg you sir, do not do this. I have been a friend of your father's for many years and I do not wish to see you dishonor him so!"
Ittou turned at first with a seething rage. His hand shot out faster than lightning and grasped the man's wrist. He began to squeeze tightly. The man winced in pain. Then slowly, a calm returned to Ittou's eyes. He let the man's wrist fall to his side limply.
"Then I would ask you to be his friend still. The old man is getting quite careless. Just today I noticed that his chimneys haven't been cleaned in ages." he said solemnly. He patted the man on the shoulder and turned to the council again.
"When I was a boy- I went by the name Gekkou Isan. I was to be my father's legacy. When I became a ninja- I shattered his hopes for continuing the clan's traditions. But yet when my father witnessed my skill with a blade- he named me Ittougigei, "sword arts." That title has stayed with me- but I cherished my clan's name. Gekkou. I was proud to bear it." Ittou said nostalgically. He reached slowly to his neck and gently untied his leaf village head protector. He looked at the symbol painfully for a moment before he let it drop to the floor. "But now my identity is gone. The Gekkou name dies HERE, in this village. From this day onward- I am not part of your rank. If any come for me- I will kill them."
The council was in an uproar! The lead councilman stood and motioned for the 4 Anbu in the room to pounce upon him. In an instant, the 4 cloaked ninja were tightly restraining Ittou. They then quickly dashed away from him as he erupted into a cloud of ash. The room fell silent as the Anbu stared at the word etched into the wall slightly above the council member's heads. FAREWELL.
Destiny is Born
The council chamber was again filled. This time there was a great deal more security than last. The council members spoke amongst themselves as the entrance door creaked open slowly. Ittou strode in and stood facing the council on the far side of the hall. The room was filled with an awkward silence. One of the council members began nervously.
"On behalf of the council- I thank you for giving us the time to deliberate this issue. We hope that we can come to an agreeable decision with.."
Ittou coughed and looked to the floor. He spoke quietly and calmly.
"It is true that the last time I came here I was very rude, maybe if circumstances were different I would even apologize, but I remind you that my conditions are still the same. I am not interested in any compromise. I wish to know the name of the one who…"
This time it was the council members who interrupted Ittougigei. One of them stood up from his chair.
"You WILL NOT enter this sacred chamber and make demands like some terrorist or spoiled brat! You did not earn your rank by disrespect and insubordination!! Now come to your senses and hear what this council has to say!"
Ittou looked surprised for a moment, then chuckled softly before he spoke.
"It only took one day for this council to develop a backbone? I am quite impressed." he said sarcastically, trying not to loose his temper. "I DARE not take up all of this council's VALUABLE time, so let us cut to the chase and leave these pleasantries behind us? "
"Indeed." The councilman said as he took his seat again. "You have requested that this council give up any information regarding the conditions that have lead up to your brother's death. While it pains us deeply to deny you this right- it is in this village's best interest to appoint a new Hokage before we send any more of our village's elite into battle. Our numbers have been cut as it is- we have no desire to sacrifice ourselves to the first organized attack by our enemies. We have decided that you will be appointed as this villages defense coordinator until the 5th is chosen. Do you understand these orders?"
The councilman said this with a sort of blind aggression. He sounded firm, but nervous at the same time. For a few brief moments- no one spoke. All parties took a few seconds to process what was just said.
Ittou stepped forward and kept his eyes staring at the floor.
"Could any member of this village defend the man who killed the 3rd Hokage?" He asked quizzically.
The council members sighed. One of the women spoke.
"Of course not."
Ittou began again slowly.
"Why is that councilwoman?"
She replied, "Because that man betrayed this village and has gone against the ways of the leaf. He is a villain of the worst caliber and no one among us could, in good conscious, help him for what he has done."
Ittou turned and walked towards the door.
"That man is to you…" he paused for a moment then turned back and stared the lead councilman in his eyes. "What this village is to me."
He turned to walk out the door when a robed Anbu quickly grabbed his shoulder. The ninja pulled back his facemask and revealed a young, sturdy face.
"I beg you sir, do not do this. I have been a friend of your father's for many years and I do not wish to see you dishonor him so!"
Ittou turned at first with a seething rage. His hand shot out faster than lightning and grasped the man's wrist. He began to squeeze tightly. The man winced in pain. Then slowly, a calm returned to Ittou's eyes. He let the man's wrist fall to his side limply.
"Then I would ask you to be his friend still. The old man is getting quite careless. Just today I noticed that his chimneys haven't been cleaned in ages." he said solemnly. He patted the man on the shoulder and turned to the council again.
"When I was a boy- I went by the name Gekkou Isan. I was to be my father's legacy. When I became a ninja- I shattered his hopes for continuing the clan's traditions. But yet when my father witnessed my skill with a blade- he named me Ittougigei, "sword arts." That title has stayed with me- but I cherished my clan's name. Gekkou. I was proud to bear it." Ittou said nostalgically. He reached slowly to his neck and gently untied his leaf village head protector. He looked at the symbol painfully for a moment before he let it drop to the floor. "But now my identity is gone. The Gekkou name dies HERE, in this village. From this day onward- I am not part of your rank. If any come for me- I will kill them."
The council was in an uproar! The lead councilman stood and motioned for the 4 Anbu in the room to pounce upon him. In an instant, the 4 cloaked ninja were tightly restraining Ittou. They then quickly dashed away from him as he erupted into a cloud of ash. The room fell silent as the Anbu stared at the word etched into the wall slightly above the council member's heads. FAREWELL.