[center][b][i]The preparation,

Takeru's next move.[/i]

[i]Katsumi Fūryoku debut.[/i]

A collab between Lillydove and Gerontis[/center][/b]

[center][b]Summary :[/b]

After that Takeru had earlier sent Nariko to do a mission in the Snow country and after hearing Kirigakure enforced their will on the Wolf Country, the Fifth Raikage thus decided to speed his plan.[/center]

[hider=Briefing and planning.]

Sitting behind his desk, Takeru had several profiles in front of him. After reading some of them, he stored them away as he thought about what he was going to do. Considering that the political power was going to shift if he would do nothing, Takeru knew he had to do something. Else Kumogakure would grow stagnant again. Something he wanted to avoid, unlike what the previous Raikage had done. At least, the last two. After pondering for several minutes, he called for a messenger. The ANBU messenger appeared in his room, not asking question or what so ever. Only dropping on his knee and bowing his masked head. [b]''I need Katsumi of the Fūryoku clan to be present. Say it is urgent.''[/b] Takeru instructed. The messenger rose and before he would go, he made a bow in the direction of the Raikage. With the messenger gone, the masked kage sighed as he leaned a bit forward on the table. Again, he was pondering on something.

Katsumi was standing on the roof of her clans manor when the messenger arrived and met her, delivering his message calmly before leaving. Wasting no time, she began the short travel time it took to reach the Raikages office and was soon at his office, knocking before entering silently. Dropping to one knee and bowing her head in respect as she waited for him to speak.

Silently he watched how the ANBU walked into his office. It seemed it was just Takeru and Katsumi for now. [b]''Glad you were able to come at such a fast speed.''[/b] Takeru began. [b]''You may rise.''[/b] He continued, making a gesture with his right hand. The masked kage kept however watching how Katsumi reacted as it would be important to decide if she would either get the important mission he had in mind or one that would keep her closer under his attention. [b]''I have several questions to ask you. I surely think you don't mind, do you?''[/b] Takeru asked, having a rather friendly and polite tone. As if they were nothing but friends, that were about to chatter about something not too serious.

Saying nothing at his first statement, she nodded silently showing she heard it and rose when he gave her permission to but still bowed her head. She had just recently entered the ANBU and was just as apprehensive about talking with superiors. [b]"No, Lord Raikage, I do not mind,"[/b] Katsumi stated in her usual calm voice. Despite his casual and friendly tone, she did not think it wise to use the same tone with him, he was after all the most important person in Kumogakure.

[b]''Good. My first question would be what your opinion was about the Fourth Raikage? I saw him as a benevolent person, but due his pacifistic ways Kumogakure's growth still stayed stagnant.''[/b] Takeru said, still using the previous tone. He was well aware that even now Jinyaru Sanosuke had a good reputation, but Takeru had a goal with both asking the question as well stating what his opinion was on the previous Raikage.

 Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly at his first question, one that required her to recite her opinion and not say the wrong thing. [b]"The Fourth Raikage was a kind person but I thought him to be soft for such a position as the Raikage, kindness cannot be allowed to have other nations view us as weak,"[/b] Katsumi replied carefully, her eyes still narrowed as he kept with the same friendly tone as before. It was beginning to make her even more apprehensive than she already was.

Her answer caused Takeru to become silent. With the mask preventing her to see what his facial expression was or how he looked, it seemed he was thinking again. But in fact, he was glad with her answer. For a moment he had thought she would praise the Fourth Raikage. Not that it would be anything bad, but she seemed to be more realistic than some other people. [b]''May I ask if you have any dislike for any other country? I personally dislike and view the Earth Country as an inferior one. Mostly due their defeat at our hands during the Great war years ago.''[/b] Takeru said, this time his tone being less friendly.

She could not help it as her eyes narrowed some more at yet another question directed towards her opinions. And this time, his tone was beginning to lessen its friendly nature and be more of what she expected it to be like. [b]"I do not have any opinions of any other country except our own, if the Earth Country is getting out of line, I have no doubt that our own supeior power will make them remember their place soon enough,"[/b] Katsumi replied calmly. She rarely showed any notice of any other country as her duty was to her own country.

Again he found her answer good enough. [b]''Well spoken.''[/b] He said. Leaning backwards, he seemed to open a drawer. Grabbing something out of it, Takeru placed an envolope on the desk. [b]''I am need of somebody who is loyal to the Cloud as I want to make Kumogakure grow in power. That means we need to expand our influence and our current goal is the Snow Country. Already they aren't hostile to us and we could peacefully vassalize them. However, I need somebody to lead a group of ANBU that will guard the gift to the daimyo of the Snow country as well the diplomat who will make sure that the agreements will happen.''[/b] Takeru explained to her. 

With a simple curt nod, she waited for him to ask another question but instead he pulled out a folder and placed it on the desk. Her eyes were drawn to it but shot back to him as he went on to explain what he was looking for, a guard of sorts and to look after important pawns to be used to lure the Snow Country to have Kumogakure in their good graces. [b]"Do we know who or what might be attempting to stop your desires?"[/b] Katsumi asked with a slightly more interested tone than before.

[b]''Not really. The trouble however is that I might need to ensure that the Snow Country won't later turn against us. That means we have to have them believe that they can trust us, in order to create a loyal vassal out of them.''[/b] Takeru said. His voice was now serious, having lost all the polite and friendly tones. [b]''I believe that there might be some small groups that could turn against us with the fact of the Snow Country being vassalized by us. For that reason, I will need you to ensure that every troublemaker is put to silence. Without of course making it possible for anybody to use it against us.''[/b] Takeru instructed her. Though he personally wouldn't like to hear that there would be civilian casualties due some unrest, he knew it was needed to ensure that Kumogakure wouldn't see a decrease in its power.

Nodding as he continued on with his request and instructions, she was beginning to grasp the gravity of this mission. His tone had also lost its previous nature and she found herself growing less cautious. [b]"Those who wish to thwart your desires will be silenced as you desire, Lord Raikage, to be clear on what you ask of me. You wish for me to lead a group of ANBU to the Snow Country safe guarding the gift and the diplomat while silencing those who stand in the way, yes?"[/b] she asked. Shifting her weight onto another foot and looking at the ground.

Takeru nodded slowly. [b]''Yes, that is what your mission will be. There will be an ANBU that is specialized in communication so you can inform on the progress of the mission. Though there are some subjects that will require my attention, I will try to reply as quickly as I can when you would need more rescources. I seriously doubt the need for that, but in any case I better want to be prepared than to lose time with preparation.''[/b] He told her. Leaning on his desk, Takeru folded his hands together as he spoke with an even more serious tone. [b]''With that said, I will need you to lead and moving with the mission within two days.''[/b]

Katsumi nodded in understanding, knowing that the Raikage was placing a lot of trust in her and she was determined not to dissappoint him. [b]"Of course, Lord Raikage, I will not dissapoint you,"[/b] Katsumi said seriously, her eyes hard and focused as she looked up. [b]"When will the team of ANBU be ready to leave? And when will the diplomat and gift be ready to depart as well?"[/b] she asked.

[b]''I already had dispatched an order to form and prepare the team of ANBU. It will be around four teams, meaning that you will be in total of seventeen ANBU. Hopefully they will be ready within some hourse. I am not sure when the diplomat will be ready, but the gift is already ready and packed. It is a box that contains some decorated weapons, made by our finest smiths.''[/b] Takeru informed her as he seemed to search something in a drawer of his desk. He took out several papers with a pencil. Setting up the paperwork he would begin with, Takeru said something else. [b]''Once you're done, I might need to ask you another favour. But I wish you good luck on the mission and am looking forward to hear something from you.''[/b] Takeru told her as he nodded towards her. At the same time, the door of the office was opened. But nobody was there, making it look like Takeru had opened the door with just a nod.

Nodding yet again as he answered her questions, deciding that she would pay a visit to this diplomat so that he would be ready at first light tomorrow along with the teams of ANBU she would be leading. [b]"I am yours to command as you see fit, Lord Raikage, do with me as you please,"[/b] Katsumi said in full respect of him. Already her mind was beginning to form a plan of action for the mission and she let out a soft sigh before taking a step back. She turned to leave and walked silently out the door that was already openned for her, thinking strange that no one had actually openned it or esle she would have heard them.

[/hider]