[color=gold][center][h2][b]Land of the Rising Sun, Kyokujitsugakure - Formerly the Land of Fire[/b][/h2][/center][/color]

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Despite her status, Ayameko, Shodai Sankage, was out in the wheat fields with her people, far outside the walls of 'her' city. The warm sun beat down on her, and despite her age, she moved as quickly as those over half her age. Ayameko's broad strokes with the scythe she had chosen were clinical - to be expected of someone who had spent all of her life in the medical field. The cuts were clean, uniform, and disturbingly prefect. The village's children assisted by pulling the cut wheat together and binding it before it would be moved to be turned into whatever the village needed.

It was quite ironic that the young girl from the Land of Rivers was now leading an entire nation, working in a field in a land that was not her birthplace. It had been an issue with some of the Elders at first, before they were ousted by the people when Ayameko called for elections. The people were more than eager to have their say on who spoke for them. Before they had been appointed by the person selected to lead the village, ironically selected by the council itself. The insular nation of the system had been all to easy for her to dismantle with simple words.

It was due to Ayameko that their territory had grown. The Land of Rivers, once her home, had joined the Land of Fire, Land of Tea, and Land of Iron to create an entirely new nation. She had been discussing with the other smaller nations around about joining with them to form an even stronger nation. The talks were going well, most realizing the potential prosperity many of these smaller lands could be a significant part. Ayameko stressed the ability for each of them to bring something unique to the table and a system that allowed them to maintain much of their autonomy on many matters.

The midday sun signaled it was time for her to be done for the day. There was still more wheat to harvest, but Ayameko's duties were more than just harvesting wheat. She would expect the typical admonishment from Shiō.

---

Back in the village, Ayameko quickly changed into clean clothes and headed into her office and, as expected, Shiō was waiting for her with a look that told her that she was not happy the Sankage had spent the entire morning harvesting crops.

"Ayameko," Shiō began, "We've discussed this at length. You are leading a nation and you cannot be out in the fields harvesting crops. You have other demands on your time."

Ayameko dismissed the complaint with a wave, "I would be more concerned if you were less competent. We both know that the village doesn't require my constant supervision."

Shiō sighed in response, shaking her head, "At any rate, we should begin preparations for you to head out to the Land of Waterfalls for continued negotiations. Given the progress we've made with our own internal affairs, I believe we have a much more convincing case."

Ayameko nodded in agreement. The village leader of the Land of Waterfalls had been one of her more challenging negotiations. Ayameko could tell he was impressed, but concerned about losing their identity as a people despite Ayameko's assurance that would not be the case. She also knew that part of it was the game, and another part was a show for his people to show that he could 'resist' the pressures of the larger nation. He was a reasonable man and Ayameko was confident, with time, he would join their nation.