The meeting room sat within the deep forest. Like so many of the buildings within the Domou compound, this building itself was another work of art, with many columns and soft rounded lines for the sliding doors that drew in the eyes and held the conscious there. Gardens and trees showed in many areas, with the sun's rays angled at varying length to distort the shadows into the designs of the mystery that grew and grew the longer one stood in front of it.
Inside, the meeting room was no different. It truly was a place of communication, a place which the design invited the mind to wander, explore, and settle, a place where every line of architecture needed interpretation. Art was as much a part of what it was to be in the amalgamation as was the warrior and stern training they all underwent.
Mikito and many others considered art to be a conscious link to the mysteries of Chakra, Nature Energy, and so the sculptures and portraits that line every hall and staircase were more than mere replicas. These were all artistic interpretations of the great people, animals, and things of beauty they represented, saying in form alone what the depicted individuals might speak in words or express with their intent.
The Council room dominated a central portion of the complex. The Council itself was in session, its doors closed, its proceedings hidden from the eyes and ears of all but nine people. Nine of them comprised the Council at the moment, a diverse and seasoned group who had gravitated to the position of leader from both ends of the Elemental Nations.
The final one, who was a guest of the Council this afternoon, was Yuko.
The seats of the current nine Council members formed a circle facing outward to where the woman stood, relating the events of the past few days.
The room was circular, supported by massive pillars spaced between broad windows open to the tree-scape and the sunlight. In their world, the balance of life within chakra was the pathway to understanding and peace. Yuko studied the faces of her listeners as she spoke, each of them familiar to her. All were leaders unlike herself, among them Daishiro and Chie, Saki, seniors in rank among those seated.
She stood apart in the circle that formed a speaker's platform for those who addressed the Council, her short, lean form and clear voice commanding the attention of those gathered, her eyes fixing them each in turn, constantly searching for a reaction to her words. They watched her carefully, young and restless Sanosuke, young and beautiful Saki, slender Chie, stone faced Daishiro, regal and beautiful Katsumi, and all the others, each different and unique in appearance, each with something vital to offer as a leader.
Yuko brought her eyes back to Daishiro and Chie, the ones she was addressing, the ones most respected and powerful of those who sat in the room.
"My conclusion..." She trailed off quietly, her story completed. "Is that Hisao knows the Uzumaki will be attacked."
There was a stirring, a shifting of bodies and limbs. Glances were exchanged and murmurs of disbelief quickly voiced.
"Hisao won't join us...Despite knowing that?" Daishiro asked, leaning forward. He was a strong, lean man with hair in a high ponytail and penetrating eyes.
"Are you sure?" Katsumi asked, not bothering to hide her disbelief at the suggestion.
"I didn't think Hisao would refuse our offer." Sanosuke commented.
"It seems like he is. I wonder what he has in his deck..." Saki trailed off.
Daishiro shifted slightly in his seat, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed, he turned toward Yuko thoughtfully.
"You're certain." Katsumi remarked.
"I am." Yuko said.
"It falls into our parlay, however..." Daishiro observed in his thoughtful voice.
The others began to mutter anew among themselves. Yuko said nothing, waiting them out. They had believed the Uzumaki would join them. They were almost certain they would. Yuko had no idea why they wouldn't.
Chie leaned back, resting her arm on her knee. "I do not understand..."
"Konohagakure is what Hisao is focused on." Daishiro said with a small snort.
Chie firmed her lips, nodding.
"Perhaps Mito is more than just an ambassador for Hashirama." Saki suggested with a nod.
"That sounds about right." Sanosuke agreed.
"The Uzumaki didn't do what we were thinking they would do. There's a union between them and Konoha. Mito succeeded once, she should be able to do it again." Saki added.
Chie nodded at Saki. "A union between Konohagakure and Uzushiogakure?"
"Mito Uzumaki and Hashirama Senju more so." Katsumi clarified.
"It's strictly for diplomacy." Saki snorted.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that diplomacy thing." Sanosuke commented.
The others murmured their approval, showing the confidence they felt in the deductions. Still Yuko said nothing.
"We will let them do as they please." Saki advised. One hand lifted in dismissal.
Yuko remained standing before the Council. She held her breath, knowing what was coming.
Daishiro nodded his head just barely. "You have more to say on this subject?"
"With your permission..." Yuko trailed off, gaze steady. "I suggest the Uzumaki relocate."
Saki's eyes widened slightly. "Do you think they'd really consider it?"
"Maybe. I don't know what Hisao thinks at times." Sanosuke said.
"Do you know what you're saying?" Katsumi asked quickly.
Yuko nodded. "Uzumaki. Their cells have extremely high concentrations of chakra and life force...It is possible they will parlay."
There was a shocked silence this time. Yuko was suggesting the impossible, that Hisao would form an alliance with them, and there'd be an offspring with a gargantuan life force as well as gargantuan chakra.
It was Daishiro who gave voice to the Council's thoughts. "You want the Uzumaki to relocate here? It's their descendants branching from here that you're focusing on?"
Yuko didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"The Uzumaki are powerful and influential." Saki said.
"You both want this to happen..." Chie's eyes narrowed.
Yuko took a deep breath. "I request that we send a message. If we get an agreement, we can get the preparations underway."
"I don't know about that one. If Mito and Hashirama are to get married, it may be out of our range." Sanosuke looked at Yuko carefully.
Again, there was silence as the members of the Council exchanged glances, communicating without words. Eyes shifted back to Yuko.
"You want Uzumaki to be here. In the amalgamation?" Katsumi asked.
"This can fall into our parlay still." Yuko pressed ahead recklessly.
"I have no doubt of it." Saki added.
Daishiro held up one hand, bringing the debate to a close. "We will send a message with an offer. That's all we can do."
Chie nodded somberly, shifting her gaze onto Yuko. "Himari, Shin, and Souji told us about the battle. We heard it from you as well."
"I snapped a monster's jaws before it could snap its jaws on us..." Yuko trailed off quietly. "I did by activating my Mangekyo Sharingan."
The silence that followed was palpable. Glances were exchanged.
"Activating your Mangekyo Sharingan?" Chie repeated, leaning forward.
Sanosuke cleared his throat with a grunt, not bothering to hide his disbelief at the suggestion. "I thought Madara, Arata, and Izuna were the only ones. I know Souji, Himari, and Shin told us...I didn't believe it at first."
"They're not the only ones it seems. There's some validity to what they were saying." Katsumi finished.
Daishiro shifted only slightly in his seat, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed Yuko.
"Mangekyo."
"I used Susano'o." Yuko said.
"It's a good thing, since it lines up with what the others said." Daishiro observed in his thoughtful voice.
The others began to mutter anew among themselves. Yuko said nothing. They had believed there to be only three with the Mangekyo. They had believed there would only ever be three. Himari, Shin, and Souji were being validated at this very moment. She was being validated.
Yuko could feel herself shift and turn slightly, having trouble maintaining her silence.
Chie leaned back. "I still do not understand how one could have activated the Mangekyo and we'd never know."
"Don't overlook anyone in this compound, Chie. You know that by now." Daishiro said with a small snort.
"Perhaps she will be able to show us her Mangekyo." Saki suggested with a nod to Yuko.
"Yes. She should be able to use it again." Sanosuke agreed.
"Since I succeeded once, I should be able to do it again." Yuko said.
Chie nodded at Yuko. "You sound confident?"
"I am."
"It's strictly for battle." Daishiro snorted.
"We will test your resolve." Chie advised.
Yuko stopped shifting when she heard that, and remained standing before the Council. Yuko held her breath, knowing what was coming.
Daishiro nodded at her. "You're surprised?"
Yuko trailed off, gaze steady. "The others suggested I be made a leader."
Katsumi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes they did."
"They vouched for you to be a leader." Chie affirmed.
"Do you know what you're saying, Chie?" Katsumi asked quickly.
It was Daishiro who gave voice to the Council's thoughts. "Himari, Shin, and Souji believe in you."
Yuko didn't hesitate. "They have every reason to."
"She proved herself." Saki said.
"Is that the way it is..." Chie's eyes narrowed.
Saki took a deep breath. "I request that when the time comes, that she be tested. If she passes the test, she will have the rank of captain."
"She could be a captain." Chie looked at Yuko carefully.
Again, there was silence as the members of the Council exchanged glances, communicating without words. Eyes shifted back to Yuko.
"For Yuko to be a captain. In the amalgamation." Daishiro said.
"Her work speaks for itself." Saki pressed ahead recklessly.
"I have no doubt of that." Sanosuke added.
Daishiro held up one hand, bringing the debate to a close. "When the time comes, you will be tested."
Chie nodded somberly. "You will be tested by all of us."
Yuko nodded. She couldn't swallow, she couldn't blink. She could barely get the words out, realizing it was happening before her very eyes in this instant. She was going to be in a leadership position, no longer in the role of subordinate.
"I understand."
In the Hokage Building, Hashirama and Tobirama watched the perimeter flicker back to life. The guards were moving away across the entry and down the paths, clearly on the watch for everything. They cleared out the remaining sleet and snow as rain continued to pelt them.
"We have some of the Water damiyo forces on the run. Our attack worked." Tobirama breathed, scarcely able to believe their good fortune.
Hashirama said nothing, thinking that their recent victory had been entirely too close. It was ridiculous that they should be fighting to this extreme extent in any event. He was distracted suddenly by a shinobi from the communications center behind him.
"Sir, a message from the Subatsu."
The scroll opened further revealing a woman's face. It was a portrait. She stared out at them from the scroll as if she were so far above and beyond them as to be unapproachable.
"It's one of the captains." Tobirama whispered, just out of view.
Hashirama nodded, unrolling the scroll more. "At last..."
Tobirama moved to where he could see the woman that sent the message. Cloaked in her haori, kimono, and hakama, her gaze was steady and direct as it would have took in the their countenance.
"We're getting some results at last." Hashirama began smoothly.
You will not be so pleased when you hear what 1 have to say, Hokage.
Hashirama imagined her saying it flatly, cutting him short every time he tried to speak.
Your trade boycott ended before it could ever begin.
Tobirama fought down his shock, regained his composure, and smirked at Hashirama. "Really now? That would mean Disuke and Yosuke are alive."
The council is finally voting on the matter.
She continued, Tobirama could picture her outright ignoring him.
I take it you know the outcome already, then.
Hashirama felt a measure of uncertainty take hold. "The council she says?"
The portrait of the woman was leaned forward slightly, and Hashirama could see fire in her eyes.
I have had enough of pretense, Hokage. I am aware that your ambassadors are with you now, and that you have been commanded to reach a settlement by the Fire damiyo. What is it to be?
Hashirama felt a deep hole open in his waning confidence. "I know nothing about any ambassadors. She must be mistaken."
"Kiyoshi, Mito, and I would be your ambassadors." Tobirama said, tone curt.
Hashirama could see the flicker of surprise on the woman's face just slightly as he studied her portrait carefully.
Beware. Disuke and Yosuke have gone too far this time. You've gone too far.
Tobirama shook his head quickly, drawing himself up in a defensive posture. "We would never do anything that defies the will of the Fire damiyo. Perhaps she assumes too much."
Hashirama sat motionless, eyes fixed on the face in the scroll-as if he could see the truth she was trying to hide, as if she were made of glass.
"We shall see." He said softly. Hashirama drew a long breath and exhaled slowly, not caring much for how this woman made him feel.
"She's right." Tobirama said at his elbow. "With Disuke and Yosuke alive we can't make that move..."
Hashirama lifted one hand to cut him short. "It's too late now. The Water damiyo invasion is under way. We need Yosuke and Disuke back here."
Tobirama was silent for a moment. "Do you think this woman suspects an attack?"
Hashirama walked away, settling behind his desk. "I don't know, but I don't want to take any chances. We must move quickly to keep all communications going there until we're finished!"
"I understand." Tobirama said, nodding his head.
Hashirama studied the woman in the scroll carefully, for all intents and purposes it was her speaking, and she made it known as much. Sharp eyes and long hair, a haori, kimono, and hakama. He seen it before when he was allied with the Subatsu and fighting the Domou and Uchiha. What Shizuku was wearing, was the long, ankle length haori all captains, and those in leadership positions wore.
It was progress. Progress he was expecting and looking for. Since the shinobi villages were founded, a lot of damiyo were considering the idea and even more shinobi considered the idea as well. While there was opposition, to be expected, there were more that wanted to go with the idea. The Water damiyo and his attack led many to consider the idea, even those who were obstinately opposed to it.
In the past this woman would've come here and laid waste to everything. That's why she put a portrait of herself into the scroll. She wanted Hashirama to study her face, to take it in, to hear her speak, and to try to see through her as if she were glass. Because, that's what he would've did had she showed up.
It gave him pause and made him take a deep breath, and let it out.
Now isn't the time for arrogance. He reminded himself.
This was just the progress he was expecting.
At last there could be cooperation.
At last. He thought. Results.
Twisting slowly in the chakra field, restrained by bolts of blue chakra, Yosuke and Disuke could only watch helplessly as Haji strode into the room. Wearing an expression that showed nothing, but one that Disuke did not trust, the lean man walked up right before the duo.
"Haji Subatsu." Yosuke said.
"Hello, my former comrade." Haji replied. "This is for the better. You've gone too far this time."
"I thought you were their leader here, Haji." Disuke replied, holding his voice as steady as possible.
"I assure you, this transfer was my idea." Haji insisted.
"We were just getting comfortable at the amalgamation." Yosuke remarked.
"The amalgamation?" Haji asked.
Disuke smirked. "Like you don't know. That's what everyone is calling your coalition you have going on here."
"That aside. I promise you that I will speak to have you immediately set free."
"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. I have work to do." Disuke noted a there wasn't even a slight crack in Haji's blank expression, maybe a slight twinge of...Anger?
"May I ask why Senju Shinobi are all the way out here in the West?"
After a moment's reflection, Disuke decided that he had little to lose here, and he wanted to continue to press Haji, that he might gauge the truth. "I've been tracking this place for information. It's a mission from Hashirama. Do you know Hashirama personally?"
"There are no Senju here that I'm aware of. Subatsu don't trust them."
Trust.
That's a good word Disuke thought.
"Well, who can blame you?" Came his disarming reply. "But I've got everything I need, I assure you."
Haji paused for a moment, then nodded, conceding the point.
"It's a great pity that our paths have crossed before, yet here we are." He said, his voice calm and detached. "Hashirama always spoke very highly of you. I'm glad he's still alive. I could use his help right now."
"Hashirama would never join you."
"Don't be so sure." Haji replied, an offsetting smile on his face, one of confidence and calm. "You forget that I was a commander of both the Subatsu and Senju...Right now you are a commander of the Senju."
"You believe that brings loyalty above his loyalty to Konoha and the Fire country?"
"He knows all about the corruption in the damiyo circles." Haji went on without missing a beat. "They all do, of course. Sasuke, Kurou, Kiyoshi, and Iemasa Aburame. But Hashirama would never have gone along with the status quo if he had known the truth as I have."
The pause was dramatic, demanding a prompt from Yosuke. "The truth?"
"The truth." Haji said confidently. "What if I told you that almost everything was now under the control of a lord of darkness?"
That hit Disuke and Yosuke as profoundly as any of the chakra bolts holding them ever could. "No! That's not possible."
His mind whirled, needing a denial. "Hashirama. We all would be aware of it. It couldn't just be you."
"The tides have clouded your vision." Haji calmly explained. "Hundreds if not thousands of damiyo, including the Fire damiyo are now under the influence of a lord of darkness."
"I don't believe you." Disuke said flatly.
He only wished he held that truth as solidly as he had just proclaimed.
"Hajime Hageshii and Tomoyuki Hageshii were once in league with this lord of darkness." Haji explained, and given the events of a decade before, it seemed a reasonable claim. "But they were betrayed. Hajime went to the Lightning country for help, he told them everything. The Council would not believe him. He tried many times to warn them, but they wouldn't listen. Once they sense the Dark Lord's presence and realize their error, it will be too late. You must join with the amalgamation as everyone is calling it. Yosuke and Disuke, together we will destroy this force of darkness."
It all seemed so reasonable, so logical, so attuned to Haji as Yosuke had experienced. But beneath the words and tone was a feeling Yosuke had that flew in the face of that logic.
"I will never join you, Haji!"
Haji gave a sigh, then turned to leave.
"You will be released. Never trespass here again."