There was an uneasy climate in Uzushiogakure. On this day, few were seen out and about, even fewer than normal. The winds were restless and indecisive, the trees surrounding the village blustered about in chaos, leaves dancing in the wind. The air surrounding the village was brisk and refreshing, yet something bleak stirred within.
The outskirts of the village were mostly boarded up, broken down, scorched or toppled buildings abandoned by their former owners. Most of the citizens flocked toward the center of the village after the First Shinobi World War, it had been the location of much combat. The areas outside of the village, including every single one of the surrounding villages suffered a similar or worse fate. The stragglers all flocked to the inner domain of Uzushio, as the younger son of the Sage, Tajirama Senju, offered protection to all who asked for it. He was a powerful and respected man of peace and order. He was kind and compassionate, and ultimately it was that which led to his death.
After falling in battle to his elder brother in Konoha toward the end of the First Shinobi World War, the unlikely savior of Uzushiogakure was Suzaku Yatagarasu, who provided sanctuary for the innermost portions of Uzushiogakure. He did this among some of the heaviest conflict of the First Shinobi World War, and no matter how long or how tumultuous the conflict was, Suzaku and the Shinobi rallied behind him protected the remaining people of Uzushio and the survivors of the Land of Ash.
It was this man, twenty years later, who now sat facing North at the edge of a large oval-shaped room, with a round table in front of him. Placed around the table were five vacant chairs, directly across the table from this man was the only entrance to the room, aside two windows, one on the East and West corners of the room. The room was on the second story of a large central building in Uzushio, the Kage's Manor. Outside of the window to the east, connected to the main manor was a beautiful garden with many rare species of plants and flowers. The eastern window was left open for this reason, as a very pleasant, uplifting aroma wafted through the room due to it.
Suzaku Yatagarasu leaned back in his chair, endowed with a burgundy-colored kimono with a white trim, his Kage hat placed upon the table in front of him. His hair, white with streaks of blonde, hung down past his shoulders and rested upon his back, with a few strands hanging from his face and the sides of his head. Wrinkles layered his forehead, cheeks sunken, mouth closed and an appearance littered with age. And with his age, came the appearance of wisdom. He seemed almost like a statue, however his eyes were lit with a burning fire that seemed to pierce through silence. He was staring at the door, who will be the first of them to arrive?
The Kage of the six great nations were set to meet in Uzushiogakure on this day, it was all to simply finalize the agreements already made between the 6 nations. The Chuunin exams were to be held in Uzushiogakure this year, and all Kage were invited to attend. Suzaku was not the one to choose his village as the location, however he did not oppose the event. He found it ironic that the villages who brought destruction only two decades ago were now willingly invited in to join them for a friendly form of competition.. which was truly just training for another war.
"Uzukage-sama. You requested my presence?" Kaido Kaguya entered through the door, immediately meeting Suzaku's gaze and bowing to him upon entry as he elegantly made his way over to his Kage's side. He was young, tall and slender, his muscle concealed by his loose clothing. His hair was long and silvery white, tied in a ponytail. His face was nonchalant and relaxed with a slight frown, eyes fixated on his village's leader.
"Kaido.. as you know the Kage are on their way to finalize the details of the Chuunin exam. I want you to prepare all three of your Genin. They will represent Uzushiogakure on our behalf. I have the utmost confidence in you and your squad." The Uzukage was straight to the point, and didn't bother dancing around the details. He respected Kaido's skill and patience, he had the makings of a good role model for younger Shinobi. "These exams mean more than the young ones know... this spectacle means a lot for us as a country, whether I formally acknowledge so or not. I expect greatness." He explained with a firm tone, his eyes locked on one of his most talented Jounin.
Kaido met Suzaku's strong gaze with a serious, yet calm look of understanding and confidence. "Yes, Suzaku-sama. I will not fail you, may you put the weight of Uzushiogakure's name on my shoulders, and my squad shall support its image." Kaido closed his eyes and bowed. Suzaku waved his hand, dismissing Kaido. He turned to leave the large oval room, before being stopped at the exit.
"Oh, by the way.. Kaido... give my best wishes to Jin." Suzaku said with a smile before waving him off. Kaido closed the door, continuing down the hallways towards the stairs.
"Old bastard..." muttered the small boy, standing on the opposite side of the door as the Uzukage's meeting room. Jin leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed. He kicked off the wall and quickly paced up to Kaido's side. "..he knew I was there. Can't put anything past Old Man Suzaku..." he hissed, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he and his sensei descended to the ground floor. His face was scrunched up, eyes narrowed in defiance, complimented by his wild, unkempt black hair. He wore a red and black robe and walked with his chin up and eyes forward.
"Did you expect less of our Uzukage?" retorted the Kaguya, looking down toward his Uchiha cohort as they exited the building and headed through Suzaku's garden. Jin growled in response before allowing the muscles in his face to relax, which Kaido dismissed. They walked in silence together for a short while, each contemplating the circumstances ahead of them.
Eventually they came to a broken down stone temple, the common meeting spot for Kaido's squad. There were many carvings on the remains of the temple, though most of it destroyed by the war, some images included the sun, several arcs which seemed to be part of large circular shapes inscribed on the temple's walls, symbols of the elements and vague images of certain animals. It was here that Jin and Kaido awaited their two teammates, Muyo and Mayu.
The outskirts of the village were mostly boarded up, broken down, scorched or toppled buildings abandoned by their former owners. Most of the citizens flocked toward the center of the village after the First Shinobi World War, it had been the location of much combat. The areas outside of the village, including every single one of the surrounding villages suffered a similar or worse fate. The stragglers all flocked to the inner domain of Uzushio, as the younger son of the Sage, Tajirama Senju, offered protection to all who asked for it. He was a powerful and respected man of peace and order. He was kind and compassionate, and ultimately it was that which led to his death.
After falling in battle to his elder brother in Konoha toward the end of the First Shinobi World War, the unlikely savior of Uzushiogakure was Suzaku Yatagarasu, who provided sanctuary for the innermost portions of Uzushiogakure. He did this among some of the heaviest conflict of the First Shinobi World War, and no matter how long or how tumultuous the conflict was, Suzaku and the Shinobi rallied behind him protected the remaining people of Uzushio and the survivors of the Land of Ash.
It was this man, twenty years later, who now sat facing North at the edge of a large oval-shaped room, with a round table in front of him. Placed around the table were five vacant chairs, directly across the table from this man was the only entrance to the room, aside two windows, one on the East and West corners of the room. The room was on the second story of a large central building in Uzushio, the Kage's Manor. Outside of the window to the east, connected to the main manor was a beautiful garden with many rare species of plants and flowers. The eastern window was left open for this reason, as a very pleasant, uplifting aroma wafted through the room due to it.
Suzaku Yatagarasu leaned back in his chair, endowed with a burgundy-colored kimono with a white trim, his Kage hat placed upon the table in front of him. His hair, white with streaks of blonde, hung down past his shoulders and rested upon his back, with a few strands hanging from his face and the sides of his head. Wrinkles layered his forehead, cheeks sunken, mouth closed and an appearance littered with age. And with his age, came the appearance of wisdom. He seemed almost like a statue, however his eyes were lit with a burning fire that seemed to pierce through silence. He was staring at the door, who will be the first of them to arrive?
The Kage of the six great nations were set to meet in Uzushiogakure on this day, it was all to simply finalize the agreements already made between the 6 nations. The Chuunin exams were to be held in Uzushiogakure this year, and all Kage were invited to attend. Suzaku was not the one to choose his village as the location, however he did not oppose the event. He found it ironic that the villages who brought destruction only two decades ago were now willingly invited in to join them for a friendly form of competition.. which was truly just training for another war.
"Uzukage-sama. You requested my presence?" Kaido Kaguya entered through the door, immediately meeting Suzaku's gaze and bowing to him upon entry as he elegantly made his way over to his Kage's side. He was young, tall and slender, his muscle concealed by his loose clothing. His hair was long and silvery white, tied in a ponytail. His face was nonchalant and relaxed with a slight frown, eyes fixated on his village's leader.
"Kaido.. as you know the Kage are on their way to finalize the details of the Chuunin exam. I want you to prepare all three of your Genin. They will represent Uzushiogakure on our behalf. I have the utmost confidence in you and your squad." The Uzukage was straight to the point, and didn't bother dancing around the details. He respected Kaido's skill and patience, he had the makings of a good role model for younger Shinobi. "These exams mean more than the young ones know... this spectacle means a lot for us as a country, whether I formally acknowledge so or not. I expect greatness." He explained with a firm tone, his eyes locked on one of his most talented Jounin.
Kaido met Suzaku's strong gaze with a serious, yet calm look of understanding and confidence. "Yes, Suzaku-sama. I will not fail you, may you put the weight of Uzushiogakure's name on my shoulders, and my squad shall support its image." Kaido closed his eyes and bowed. Suzaku waved his hand, dismissing Kaido. He turned to leave the large oval room, before being stopped at the exit.
"Oh, by the way.. Kaido... give my best wishes to Jin." Suzaku said with a smile before waving him off. Kaido closed the door, continuing down the hallways towards the stairs.
"Old bastard..." muttered the small boy, standing on the opposite side of the door as the Uzukage's meeting room. Jin leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed. He kicked off the wall and quickly paced up to Kaido's side. "..he knew I was there. Can't put anything past Old Man Suzaku..." he hissed, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he and his sensei descended to the ground floor. His face was scrunched up, eyes narrowed in defiance, complimented by his wild, unkempt black hair. He wore a red and black robe and walked with his chin up and eyes forward.
"Did you expect less of our Uzukage?" retorted the Kaguya, looking down toward his Uchiha cohort as they exited the building and headed through Suzaku's garden. Jin growled in response before allowing the muscles in his face to relax, which Kaido dismissed. They walked in silence together for a short while, each contemplating the circumstances ahead of them.
Eventually they came to a broken down stone temple, the common meeting spot for Kaido's squad. There were many carvings on the remains of the temple, though most of it destroyed by the war, some images included the sun, several arcs which seemed to be part of large circular shapes inscribed on the temple's walls, symbols of the elements and vague images of certain animals. It was here that Jin and Kaido awaited their two teammates, Muyo and Mayu.