"..but I'd rather ask something more personal to you, if you don't mind it.” Suika bodly stated. With a nod of his head, the elder motioned for the girl to speak her mind. “Why did you dedicate your whole life fighting for Kumogakure? What has it done for you?” The question was not entirely unexpected. As he had touched upon the subject of her exam, the Genin's face had revealed some of her emotions on the matter. That said, it was not a simple question however. Natsu removed his glasses and grabbed a piece of cloth. Slowly and deliberately, he cleaned of specks of dust which clouded the lenses. Only after he was satisfied and had donned the glasses once more, did he respond. "To explain my loyalty is to reveal some of my past to you. I expect you treat this with show of confidence with a sense of responsibility." With those words, the blonde would look his younger counterpart in the eye, his look serious.
"My father was a man of mediocre talent, both in his career as a Shinobi and as a politician. However, he did have ambition. Thus, he expected me to raise the family Do to higher echelons of society." One would wonder why he'd name his child so unfortunately then. "To this end, I received instruction from respected tutors and was not able to experience youth as most others. However, before I could fulfill this ambition of his - he died." Natsu explained calmly. "With the encouragement of my mother, I then focussed my attention to the life of a Shinobi. I graduated from the Academy and was promoted to Chunin not too long after. Given my scholary background, I was sent on a multi-year undercover mission at the academies in Raiden no Me - our Capital. I won't lie. I quickly grew upset with this assignment. While it was an easy life there - I had not become a Shinobi to become a student again. I requested for a reallocation to Kumogakure. In the end, I spend five years undercover. When I returned to the Village, I hardly knew any of my fellow Shinobi and lacked combat experience compared to peers who had been given different missions during those five years. Given that I still had that drive and ambition to prove my worth to my late father - I was rather distraught. How would I make the name Do great if I had accomplished nothing in all that time?"
"The answer to that question came in the form of my Sennin, Takaki Masao. He had been recalled from retirement to lead the Main Branch during a time of weakened leadership. The fist time I met him was at the very start of his tenure. He had gathered all available Shinobi from the branch together to introduce himself and to announce the new division leaders. He had the entire room in shock by some of his decisions - which included appointing me to Spymaster." Natsu paused, reflecting on that fond memory. "I will admit I was as surprised as my colleagues. And very nervous. As much as I had wanted to prove myself - was I up to the challenge? I lacked the necessary experiences after all. This sentiment was shared by several of my peers and superiors, mind you. But Takaki Masao did not care one bit about their complaints. So I found myself at my new desk - placed just a few feet away from his own. Normally, it would have been the one for his Hand - Mochizuki Tama. She was not exactly an office-type person however." At this, a slight chuckle escaped his lips.
"I learned on the job, and I learned fast. I had to, after all. Expectations were high and the stakes even more so. After all, the first rumors of the Kingslayers had started to surface around that time. I cleaned up and expanded upon Kumogakure's Spy Network. I went on missions all over Lightning Country and even beyond - when I was Cloud's delegate for a diplomatic mission to Kirigakure - before it's destruction. And I met Shima Haruka. A woman I came to love." Natsu confessed. A sadness had crept into his voice when he spoke her name. "Not much later - Masao was imprisoned, leaving me to lead the Branch. I did what I could until he returned. And when the Hayata-Yamauichi Treaty was to be signed, I was there too. However, Masao gave his life hunting down the traitor Enishi. I had been the only one he permitted to follow him during his last efforts. And I failed saving him." It was a bitter confession. All those years of contemplation and reflection. Yet it still hurt as much as ever.
"I was appointed his successor. In the end, I held the office for a month - maybe two. Then I succumbed to a disease, placing me in a coma. When I awoke, Kumogakure had changed tremendously. Shima Haruka, the woman I mentioned before, was Ninth Raikage Shima Haruka. The one who was discovered to have betrayed and conspired against her predecessor - Hayata Shin. She had been executed by the time I woke up. Yet when the tenth Raikage Akira Saito explained what had transpired to me and that he had been the one to cast judgement upon Haruka, I did not strike in anger. Instead, I offered him my services as my new Kage. And I would have performed to the limits of my capacity had I remained healthy." Natsu grimaced. His disease was the only thing asides from Masao and Haruka's death to have harmed him so. "I've told you all this to show just how much I value loyalty to Kumogakure and her Kage. And now the crux of the story - where does this loyalty come from?"
"It is the love Kumogakure has given me in return. The respect she has bestowed upon me, the faith with which she has supported me. She raised me from mediocrity to the position of Sennin - no matter how brief my tenure. She has shown me the extent of my capabilities. She has rewarded me with experiences others could only dream of. She has done all this in the shape of her Villagers. From the common folk whom have relied on me to protect them from foreign threats and Kingslayers. To colleagues looking to me for orders and guidance during times of peril and times of comfort. From my Sennin and Kage who have ordered me to do the impossible and who were beside me when I conquered those insurmountable odds. From my Sennin and father in all but blood, Takaki Masao, who helped me grow into the man I have become. To Shima Haruka, who gave me her love despite my shortcomings."
"My loyalty comes from the all of the bonds I have created in the Village. Acquintances and friends. Division members and strike teams. Mentors and peers. Family and lovers. True loyalty is a thing which cannot be faked and cannot be bought. It comes from within. To find it however, you must reach out to those around you." Natsu concluded. Any sorrow belonging to old times gone by was replaced by passion. The words might have been cliche but even after all those violent years, they were what Natsu stood for. However, the passionate story telling seemed to take it's toll as the former Spymaster started coughing. Wiping some of the spittle from his mouth with a handkerchief, he noticed it had tinted red. Such had started happening more frequently as of late. He looked up at Suika, hoping she had not noticed this detail or otherwise would not panic about it. "I'm sorry Suika-san. It appears we'll have to cut this session short. Please don't hesitate to compile your questions and deliver them to me. I'll arrange a follow-up as swiftly as I can."
He'd provide the girl with all needed details on how to contact him for the next session before making his way to the home. He'd report in to the Aesculapium tomorrow perhaps. He didn't enjoy doctors and clinics - but he'd have no choice to turn to them if things turned worse. He still had a role to play after all
[Word Count: 1,330 | Total Word Count: 4,000 / 1,500 | Post: 5 / 5]
[Tutor complete!]
