[center][b][i]A goal,
But the same war.

Dragon Lotus meeting of the mentors.[/i][/b]

A collab between Nim and Gerontis.

[b]Summary :[/b]
After receiving a report from Tora, Zakito instructs her to make a shadow clone as the mentors are called for meeting.
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[hider=A new goal]
Sitting at the top of the long stone table, Zakito noticed how several people came walking into the old and somewhat dusty looking spacious room. Silently each person took a seat. Nobody was making any sound that wasn't needed. No words spoken. Other than the movements of people breathing, walking and taking there place, there was a strange silence. Eyeing each person that came into the room, the remaining Dragon remained quiet as well. Just four more had to join the meeting.

Upon arriving at the location of the meeting, Tora looked around a bit. She had seen this place before, but not with so many people around. She slowly walked inside, not looking at anyone more than she needed, nor did she wish to keep up the fake personality now that she was in such a place. She also knew that Tora's personality would be extremely unfitting, seeing Zakito asking for such a meeting meant that something big was going on. She went and sat in the table, 3 chairs to the left of Zakito, knowing her place will never be next to him.

Right after Tora moved in the room, Chase entered the room. Like her, it was the first time he had seen the old room be filled with so many people. He examined it quickly and guessed it was around a number of thirty or so around. Taking a place more at the end of the table, he crossed his arms and leaned back in the stone chair. For a moment he wanted to sigh as the stone chairs weren't that comfortable as the chair of the Raikage. 

[b]''I am glad that you all were able to attend so quickly.''[/b] Zakito began, his friendly and polite tone however absent. Placing his hands on the table, he glanced around. The men and women, both young and old would see the rather serious and grim expression being displayed over the face of the man. [b]''Today is going to be a new day for the organization. Not only due the several troubles that have arisen, but also because the final changes are in place.''[/b] Zakito said, taking a second to pause. [b]''The goal of our organization has always been fixed on balance. To keep a balance that would prevent the rise of another terrible world war. Of course, to also prevent our old enemy to achieve their goal as their ways have always contradict our objective.''[/b] Taking another moment of silence, Zakito folded his hands together as he would say something that would surprise and shock, mostly the elderly people at the table.

[center][b]''Today, we aren't going to fight for Balance. We will forsake it for a better and more just goal.''[/b][/center]

Listening carefully, Tora was somewhat surprised when Zakito announced they will be forsaking the goal of balance. What goal would possibily be better than it? She wondered in her own thoughts, but also kept an eye on Chase. The moment she spotted him, she wondered if he had any idea about her. Deciding that could wait, She straightened herself in her seat and looked at Zakito once more.

Surprised, Chase also frowned. He was also wondering what would come next. But some of the more older mentors started to mutter and some even to demand to know what Zakito was plotting. Simply raising his right hand, they would feel a very cold breeze. A clear warning. [b]''We will forsake the Balance as a goal to strive for. Our enemy has changed after the major defeat at the last events. Even more than us they had to deal with loss of members due death or deserting their ranks. However, I believe that they have managed to coop better with how the world has changed.''[/b] Zakito told them, which caused many of those who weren't happy with his previous words to become silent. One of the mentors stood up and frowned at the Hon. [b]''And how is it that you have such information then?''[/b] 

The question was met with a mere bland look from the Hon. [b]''Simple. From the past month I have received reports from both you as some of my own agents that our enemy has focused once more on Bijuu. They have had some good sucess in capturing even heavily guarded jinchuriki and extracting their beasts. But there is also the problem that we have no clear idea on who is leading them. They have adapted better and faster than we have.''[/b]

Standing up now, Tora looked at the Hon for a moment before looking at the other mentor [b]"As of now, I have become aware that many places have a huge risk of being exposed to either us or the enemy. Even in Kirigakure, the fact I am capable of keeping myself hidden from the eyes of our former member, Rika Suzu, means that there is a very high chance that operatives from the enemy work there without anyone knowing. I also have a feeling some of the former members of the Dragon Lotus, after being exposed by Rika, might have been interrogated by the enemy. While they did not possess any recent information due to the fact I have not made any contact with them, they did possess some information about us, which is a threat on its own."[/b] She said, but the voice speaking was not the voice of Tora. It was the voice of Ino Namikaze.

The other mentor sat down and after Ino had spoken, Chase cleared his throat as he rose up. [b]''I want to ask, why hasn't there been nothing done about Rika? She is a clear threat to us. Wouldn't it be better to erase her now?''[/b] Though he was suspecting that there would be something personally driving him, it was more an objective curiousity that made him to ask the question. Listening to both mentors that had spoken, Zakito answered them. He first threw a look at Ino. [b]''I will then let you deal with those past members. See what is needed to be done with them.''[/b] Zakito coldly said before he turned his attention to Chase. [b]''Rika has been a thorne in the side, but right now she pose little threat unlike what may seem. Our system on how we operate has changed. The most locations that Rika has been or knew off have been adapted and secured.''[/b] He paused, looking once more around. [b]''But like I said, I have my own sources and your reports. With the enemy acting in such a way that they have been able to launch several risky operations at the same time and over a huge area makes me believe that they are regaining strength in numbers. Something we haven't done in some time.''[/b]

A woman stood up as she pointed to herself. [b]''Dragon, I have to admit that the branch under my leadership hasn't recruited anybody in the past years, but wasn't it that we would need strong and capable shinobi and people among our ranks? Are you implying that we should take and recruit an army of brats to do our bidding?''[/b] Some of the other mentors nodded or muttered that they agreed. Zakito shook his head slowly. [b]''No. I am not implying such a thing. But it is growing slowly in that direction. I believe that we won't gain any ground or advantage over our old enemy if we just try to tighten our security and change our ways of operating and leading. We need to recruit more loyal people. Those who will stay and who we believe have a good reason or bond to stay loyal to the Order. That is why I for example have sent two young recruits to the Sea Country. To prove my point already. Or haven't I?''[/b] Zakito asked while he looked at an old man. The old man leaned on a cane and had a rather grumpy look on his face. But silently he nodded.

[b]"I agree with Dragon. As long as we can recruit people who are loyal to the group, then we need to care less about their abilities. I am not saying that we can recruit six year olds, but anyone who will prove that they are willing to do anything for the group can be trained and become a better shinobi. While I may not be the best of examples, I have recruited a year ago someone who is. This agent, who I constantly look over, have proven to me time and time again of what loyalty means to her, and she helped me greatly, and even as of now, we are working on a new system to gather more knowledge within Kirigakure, with a minimum amount of people, but people who will be loyal. If they are loyal, then we can be certain they will do anything in their power to help up."[/b] Ino said and sat down in her chair once more [b]"Not to mention, even if the other group has an army, but they are not truly loyal to them, then the army might as well be made of a single man."[/b] She added with the old, cold tone that she haven't used in a long time.

Chase remained quiet the entire time. He understood that the organization, both the Dragon Lotus as the enemy had adapted to the changing world. With having been Raikage for some time he understood that it would be needed to adapt if the enemy would also change. Else they would be too stuck while the enemy progressed. However, he wasn't sure what the new goal was. All he had heard was that the order had taken some changes. Rising up, Chase decided to ask it. [b]''But what is the new goal then?''[/b] He politely asked.

[b]''The new objective, the main objective, is to keep the peace. Though that seems simple, I have appointed old members and trustworthy members, which you all are, as mentors. The Dragon Lotus isn't like before a single unified group. It is now divided among branches with each having a mentor as leader. Each one of you is needed to lead their group in order to make sure that our enemy won't gain any ground to see their wrong doings from being completed. Until we aren't sure what their new goal is, we will try to make sure at first that they won't succeed in it if its similiar to their old objective.''[/b] Zakito responded. He leaned a bit back in his seat. [b]''Are there any questions?''[/b] Most mentors seemed to think about what had been told. A few seemed to be unsure about it, but the most seemed to be content and understanding the new objective.

[b]"Peace, huh? That is a very nice objective, but tensions are already rising all around. How will prevent a war without exposing ourselves to all? Because some people, like the current Kazekage, would most likely jump on the first chance at creating a war."[/b] Ino said and kept her gaze down to the table for a few moments before looking at Chase [b]"We already lost a few strong members in the past, and not everyone is in a high position in their village."[/b] She added, moving her gaze to Zakito while speaking.

It became silent and Chase threw a frown in Ino's direction. Crossing his arms, the man had a rather displeasing look in Ino's direction. It took him a while before he realized who she was. But when it dawned on him that Ino had changed her appearance, he kept his mouth closed instead of making a remark about her. [b]''There are some rising tensions and I suspect that we won't be instantly able to prevent any conflict. However, sometimes there is a need of a conflict in order to make a better peace.''[/b] Zakito said. A mentor rose up from his seat. [b]''Though I disagree, I want to react on her.''[/b] The rather young looking mentor had a frown as well on his face. [b]''How come it that you know of the Kazekage while you're branch is in Kirigakure? You just said that you don't have that much connections yet, but then mention a leader countries away?''[/b]

[b]"Do you not know who the Raikage is? Or the Mizukage? It is important to keep on an eye on the leaders of the world, as they can easily make a rather large change in the status of the world. And knowing who the leaders of the world are is not that difficult, at least for general information. Information on this Kazekage, however, I collected before I became the mentor of the Kirigakure branch. I have knowledge on many people all around the world. It might not be completely correct by now, but seeing the Kazekage has remained the same for over a year now, I doubt his personality somewhat changed. He is quite focused on some things, dont you think?"[/b] Ino said and leaned backwards on her chair.

The mentor that had asked the question sat down, but he still had a frown in the direction of Ino. Chase saw this as confirming that it was indeed Ino. Finding it a bit strange that she was a mentor, he realized it was probably due his personal opinion about her. [b]''So how are we going to proceed now? If we only know that the enemy is gathering numbers and plotting and striking from the unknown, how will we aim to stop them?''[/b] The man questioned. Zakito took a moment before he spoke back. [b]''We will continue with focusing on trying to build each branch of the Dragon Lotus in becoming able to suffice their own needs. Our main objective may be peace, but I realize that not every branch can operate or have the same objective as another. Each of you is thus required to think more on your own to see what you need to do in your area in order to confine and fight back the enemy. Of course to also try to find out possible information on who is linked to them. Directly or indirectly.''[/b] Was his answer. This made Chase think as he realized that it would mean he would have to adapt likely his branch. His area was whole of Kumogakure. That was a considerable amount of people he would need to watch and check to make sure that the enemy wouldn't try to do anything. Not anymore at least.

Ino closed her eyes and thought a bit. Their current objective was to keep the peace, but at the same time they needed to recruit more agents. She wondered if it would be possible for her to do this without Rika noticing. She decided that after a year of not recruiting anyone she might give it a try, but she would need to look over who she will recruit very carefully. 

[b]''I have a question.''[/b] A woman that seemed to look in her fifties stood up. There were three scars visible on her face. [b]''What does our enemy likely know?''[/b] The question caused most of the mentors glance at their leader. [b]''That several of us are high ranked members of the organization.''[/b] Zakito simply answered. This seemed to displease the woman. [b]''And what will be done about that? I already am sleeping with one eye open, but I thought we would also value our own security?''[/b] She kind of threw the question in a rude manner towards Zakito. But he remained calm as he replied to her. [b]''Even while the enemy knows of some of us being part of the Dragon Lotus or even knowing what our role is, they haven't acted directly against us yet. This makes me believe that they know it is either too risky or that they want to eradicate some other factions and factors.''[/b] Chase thought about it. Then he realized something. [i]Rogue and enemy factors... I get it.[/i] Though he wanted to ask something, he had a hunch he already knew the answer to the question.

Nodding, she understood what Zakito was meaning. It would only make sense, take out any factors or factions that might suddenly turn on them or join their enemies [b]"As for now, I would make sure to keep an eye on more than just the enemy. Many regular villages and people consider the Dragon Lotus to be their enemy, the best example would be Rika Suzu."[/b] Ino said, still keeping her eyes closed and not looking at any of the other mentors. She felt like while this was something obvious, someone still needed to point it out to make sure it is taken more seriously by everyone.

Some mumbled that they agreed and it became clear that it was settled. [b]''Good. Then I suppose we are done for now. Please try to seek a way to bring me a report, but not in any kind of obvious way. Though our system of operating and leading have been adapted now, I am starting to become supicious that we are forgetting several things. I thank you for your time being present here.''[/b] That having said made most mentors stand up as they made a bow towards Zakito before they poofed away. Chase also stood up, bowed and poofed away.

Tora waited for all of the other mentors to poof away before approaching Zakito [b]"I have been unable to tell you this before, because of your request to have this meeting, but allow me to finish my report now. After also hearing you say that the enemy has made a move, I suspect what Rika is dealing with in secret might be involved with the enemy, but I will need to further investigate that. I also have a way of ensuring Rika will not trouble the Dragon Lotus for a long time, after finding a very curious bit of detail with the help of Origami. If I come across any other major details, I will inform you. Good Day, Zakito-sama.[/b] Ino said and gave him a bow as well before poofing away.

The man simply nodded. He thought about what Ino had told him, but it was clear that most people had forgotten about it. Rika wasn't a problem. She had dug her own grave with her betrayel and leaving the Dragon Lotus. Leaning back in the seat, Zakito thought about the more unknown leader of the enemy. For some reason he was conviced it was better at how it had been in the past. At least then the enemy had a face. Sighing, he also poofed away.
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