Private [Private] Discussions and Dinner

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi sat down at the long Uchiha clan table, it had been laid out in the manner of a formal dinner and had been prepared by those working within the clan to make sure that it gave the full representation of the Uchiha Clan inside of Konoha, but more importantly, it gave them a private setting in which to be able to talk openly about this and make sure that the conversation was not overheard by anyone, the food would be served once everyone had arrived and would be a taste, sample if you wish of the foods from the famous chefs that established restaurants all over the village.

Sitting down at the table, he wore the simple outfit of a Leaf Shinobi, the only difference would be that around his shoulders he wore the robes of the Hokage, showing his status inside of the office, but deciding to instead have this conversation behind closed doors meaning that it was just him inside of the room, with three seats set up opposite for all those that had arrived at the gates, this would be an evening of delight and flavor while still maintaining the subtle undertone of diplomacy that needed mending.

As he waited for the guests to arrive, he allowed himself to close his eyes for a few moments just relaxing in the moment, the house was in its full hospitality mode, banners of the clan wavering, the symbol of Leaf around the room, and the doors sliding open onto the patio outside, revealing the pond and cherry tree which was in blossom with the wife of the house being inside the village, this was as tranquil as life got and now the 4th Hokage just hoped that this evening would go as smoothly as the rest of it.

[Topic Entered]
[Kitsune, Rei, Umashi Invited]

 

[Seijin]

Normally not one above stealing the show, Umashi decided to be on his best behavior and to tone things down meeting. In fact, he was so used to being the "big fish" in these sort of situations that the more subdued approach of simple being in the room struck him as an oddity that he had to truly give some thought about. Of course, this wasn't his first time respected leaders, but this would be the first time that he'd have to do so since his retirement and that alone was situation that proved to be more scary than calming. Recognizing that this meeting would be among more than one Uchiha, Umashi's approach to his wardrobe was one of the fashionable inclined. Reserved and yet still honoring the old ways, he sported a simple yet elegant black kimono with the famed Uchiha clan symbol on its back. Not content to just wear the clan fan of the host, he also had the insignia of each village on the front. With Konoha above his right breast and Kumo above the left, the statement was clear, his roots were in the Leaf, but the equal leveling of Cloud showed that it deserved as much respect as the former. How either would take the peculiar choice was anyone's guess, but Umashi felt a sense of pride in what he had managed to accomplish. Not wanting to show up too much before Kitsune and Rei, he made sure to leave his temporary residence at such a time that he would only be a few paces ahead of the Raikage and Sennin.

 

[Shinrya Kitsune]

Kitsune, ever attuned to the nuances of diplomacy and the importance of first impressions, had come prepared. She carried with her a meticulously curated selection of teas and alcohols, each one a testament to the rich heritage and flavors of the Lightning Country. These were not just any beverages; they were handpicked from her own province, Raimei no Seika, a region renowned for its exquisite produce. Each bottle and tin told a story, a narrative of the land, the people, and the traditions that had shaped them.

Her attire was a reflection of her stature and the gravity of the occasion. She wore a sleek black and white suit, its sharp lines and tailored fit exuding an air of authority and elegance. As she entered Takeshi's residence, she paused at the threshold, bending down gracefully to remove her shoes. This gesture, simple yet significant, was a mark of respect for the customs of the host village.

She stepped inside, her footsteps soft against the polished wooden floor. She could sense the presence of Takeshi and Umashi, their energies distinct and familiar. She imagined Rei, her trusted companion, would be close behind, their synchronized arrival a testament to their shared purpose.

Upon reaching the table where Takeshi and Umashi awaited, Kitsune gently placed her gift next to Takeshi, the bottles and tins arranged with meticulous care. "A gift. For our gracious host," she declared, her voice warm and sincere, her smile genuine. The gesture was symbolic, a bridge of goodwill between their nations.

With the formalities out of the way, the stage was indeed set. The ambiance in the room was charged with anticipation. Kitsune knew the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders. The discussions that would ensue were not just about mending fences; they were about forging a future. A future where the two villages coexisted in harmony, where the specter of war was replaced by the promise of peace. For Kitsune understood all too well that the price of conflict was far too high, and the dividends of peace, invaluable.

 

[Toraono Michino]

The streets of Konoha sprawled out before the Sennin as she lagged behind the rest of the group on purpose. It was her first time out of the Lightning country, and she wasn’t going to let the chance of getting to explore another culture slip by. The natives all spoke a language that was unfamiliar on her ears but wasn’t too hard to pick apart. She was able to get the “gist” of most conversations she was overhearing; and a lot of it was already about Kitsune’s car. The arrival of the Raikage could not be understated, but it seemed that her own presence in the village was akin to that of a shadow - something that was already there and just as overlooked. It wasn’t unusual to Rei to be so easily forgotten as her entire personality and, even recently body, had been forged into that direction; but it was somewhat jarring after being so used to respect. No one here even did so much as give her a second look. Not even the wondering shinobi guards seemed to pay her any mind.

“Huh,” she said simply as she stood in the middle of a market square absorbing the sights and sounds. Someone did try to steal from her though. A dirty teenage urchin that oh-so-casually bumped into her, said something in Fuego, she supposed in anger, and then they stalked off. Rei had felt their hand slip into her pocket to grab the little sack of yen she had brought for personal spending. What her thief didn’t notice was the speed in which the Sennin's own hand cut the bottom of the pouch with a fingernail, cupped her hand, and back most of the yen before the cut sewed itself back together. She shoved the yen back into her pocket, loose now, but whatever; kid looked like they could do to eat something nice.

The Cloud Sennin wandered around for a bit more before casually making her way towards the Uchiha Clan Grounds after asking for some directions. That got some attention as she noted at least 3 shinobi tailing her soon after. Stepping up the stairs to the entrance, Rei withdrew her left hand and snapped her fingers. The casual business suit shifted and molded suddenly, her chakra altering the fabric and color of the clothing until it turned into a silvery kimono with her clan’s Ouroboros Dragon symbol lined out in emerald colored stitching on the back. Her shoes became wooden geta sandals, but they stayed on as long as it took her to finish climbing the steps and walk into the entrance. She removed the wood clogs where others had taken off their feet attire, recognizing the old standards and customs of the samurai lords from her own country. She stepped up onto the supple wooden floors, surprised at their comforting bend as opposed to the normal rigidity of wood from the mountains. She took note to see if working in a trade agreement into the peace treaty would be applicable; she really wanted her new house's flooring made with this wood. Calls would have to be made.

Rei stepped into the room with the leaders and a one, Umashi. She gave the accustomed bow, though she had to admit it felt awkward as hell to bow to men, before taking her seat next to Kitsune.

Time for diplomacy.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi accepted the gift from Kitsune with a slight tilt of his head as he allowed himself to place it gently on the side and take it in as the gift that it was meant to be, he extended his hands around to the cushions that were placed gently around the table. As he took his seat, the seat opposite him was for Kistune to maintain the conversation with pleasantry he made sure she was also sat at the highest seat of the table, the others could sit as they wanted, for this meal he made sure to keep things open, and thus had not invited any of the higher-ups of Leaf, after all the more people here, the more the conversation would be derailed and distracted.

"Please let us have a seat, It's good to see you all, and your travels to the village are most welcome during this time."

Takeshi waited for the others to sit down, as a meal would be presented, It was a taste of everything Konoha had to offer, and most of it was sourced from the finest restaurants around as well. He allowed himself to sit there, letting the guests self-serve the meal first, deciding to keep this a bit more casual than the standard silver service, all he wanted this to feel open and the travel would have taken its toll he didn't want to make them sit over a stuffy meal and feel they needed to be overly posh but still putting the best foot forward.

"Please help yourselves, wine is just at the attention of the serving staff, the rest if help yourselves to the tastes the village has to offer, I know that I am being a bit impolite by jumping into the heavy part of this conversation, but you came a long way, so please feel free to ask any questions, I do hope that by the end of this meeting, our two villages can once more be on friendly terms with each other since the incident that you experience with my predecessor?"

He let the words hang in the air waiting to see how open both sides would be during this conversation.

 

[Seijin]

Expecting nothing less than her best, Umashi was pleasantly surprised when Kitsune showed up. Having come to know enough about the woman, it was quite clear that she was putting her best foot forward as well as a few other things in order to make an eyebrow raising statement. With Takeshi sparing little expense, all took their unspoken but relatively assigned seats and began to partake of the delights that came before the brass tacks. As Umashi often noted, politics on an empty stomach usually led to some random farmer finding out that their property lines had been changed on a hangry whim. Utterly delighted to see some of his favorites, Umashi opted to get Rei involved in the conversation by motioning towards her and . "Please, please, Rei-sama, dig in! I hope that you're finding my old stomping grounds to be accommodating. You'll have to try some of this dish here, you've never had brisket like this." Nodding in agreement with himself, he pointed to flat piece of bread and then to a bowl of deep amber sauce. "So you take some of the brisket, wrap it in the tortilla there and then dip it in that sauce called birria. Mmm-mmm!" Umashi couldn't resist closing his eyes and shaking his head in appreciation of a fine meal. "You'll find it hard to resist! If you're here long enough, we'll have to go visit one of their local shops. They're a ranching people from the southern border region with the Iron Country and they make the most intricate high crown, wide brimmed hats and leather boots. I assure you, they may be gruff on the outside, but they're some of the most hospitable folks that you'll ever meet. " Happy with a sense of pride with all that the Fire Country had to offer, he was always willing to champion the common person in meetings between the upper echelon of society.

 

[Shinrya Kitsune]

With a graceful nod, Kitsune heeded Takeshi's invitation, settling into her designated seat across from him. The table was set with an array of dishes, the tantalizing aroma wafting through the room. As Umashi and Rei took their respective places, Kitsune's gaze was drawn to the various meats on offer. She began ladling generous portions onto her plate, her actions deliberate and unhurried.

While her youthful appearance belied her chronological age, there was an aspect of Kitsune's unaging nature that was less concealed: her voracious appetite. The energy that her body now required to maintain itself demanded a high caloric intake, necessitating frequent and hearty meals. Not that she'd shrivel up and look her actual chronological age, she'd just feel a drastic drop in power, while her body remained biologically in her twenties. However, before she could indulge in the veritable feast of meat she'd piled onto her plate, she addressed Takeshi's earlier query.

"That is indeed the hope, and part of why I came in person instead of sending an envoy," she began, her tone measured and sincere. Her gaze then shifted to Umashi, a hint of intrigue in her eyes. "The other reason? A letter from a certain former Hokage, who now serves in my ANBU branch, albeit currently on a leave of absence."

The enigma that was Umashi had been a source of both intrigue and frustration for Kitsune. Deciphering his intentions and aspirations had been akin to navigating a maze. Yet, amidst the uncertainties, one fact remained irrefutable: Umashi's unwavering loyalty. During his tenure in Cloud, not once had he betrayed Leaf's secrets. Similarly, during his return to Leaf, he had (Kitsune assumed) maintained the sanctity of Cloud's intel. His integrity was further underscored by his invaluable assistance during a perilous time when religious zealots had declared a holy war against all shinobi, with Kumogakure, and indeed Lightning Country as a whole, as their primary initial target.

Turning her attention back to Umashi, Kitsune's voice softened, a mix of nostalgia and genuine concern. "So it's been a hot minute since we last spoke," she remarked, her words carrying the weight of shared history. "How've you been since the fall of the Shogunate, Umashi?" Her question was layered, referencing not just the political upheaval but also Umashi's audacious ruse of posing as the Shogun's offspring — a ploy to mislead the zealots and safeguard their covert operations. She awaited his response, hoping to hear that the man who had risked so much was faring well.

 

[Toraono Michino]

Rei all but flopped into her seat, somewhat unceremoniously, but she figured someone needed to be at least kind of angsty; everyone was acting way too friendly. Not that this wasn’t what she had hoped, nay, dreamed of since the very day Umashi’s letter arrived. Four highly powered death machines all simply eating together in a setting that presided beyond their titles. In this moment Umashi was just a kindly man of wisdom, Takeshi an older brother figure, Kitsune the friend who projected an aura of nobility no matter what…and her. The sickly child who was told she would never be a shinobi. Sitting at a table with three of the greatest shinobi of their generation.

This was everything she had hoped for; and it bored her to tears.

Rei tried to ignore it. The deja vu in the gnawing sensation that was growing in the back of her mind. Had been growing, ever since her transformation. Her hand reached out to grab a fork and begin digging in, seeing that her red-headed companion had no problem showing off the strongest vice of never aging past twenty-something. As her hand hovered over the table, the building stress causeed the sealto slip and the fork’s handle vanished within her palm; eaten away by her voracious chakra. The prongs fell into the slice of brisket she had aimed for. A look of annoyance crossed the engineer's face before she grabbed the fork head between two fingers and served the slice of brisket unto her plate anyways. She placed the fork head back down on her napkin as if nothing had happened, just trying to play it off casually.

Taking the meat as Umashi had suggested, Rei wrapped the tortilla around it and dunked it into the amber sauce before taking a bite. As her chakra was thankfully satisfied by the fork, she was able to experience the food in its completion. The explosion of flavor in her mouth was a life-changing. Her pupils dilated as her jaws masticated the food and swallowed.
“Incredible. The smoke flavors, I have never once thought of using those as a base for food…and the way the meat falls apart in your mouth it’s almost like a more sinful shawarma…”
She devoured the rest of the food on hand and quickly began to pick up more of the dishes that appealed to her sense of smell the most based on the flavor she had just experienced; all with her gimp fork.

“If only this entire mission was based on food…” the Sennin mumbled to herself behind her own Goku-sized plate of food, “…we’d be at your whim. Umashi you'll have to show me these shops. I pray they know how to make a decent beer. They'll have a hard competition with our rice based brews. Although, speaking of bargaining chips," she said, turning to Takeshi while builing another taco, "what in the world, is this supple wood you use for the floors? I would love to have my new house’s floors built with this.”

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi looked to the group that was around the table, helping himself to small portions of food as he allowed himself to look around each of them, taking the food and enjoying the meal that had been prepared by the village, they really had put their best foot forward in regards to at least try and mend the mess that they were all going to be getting involved in, after all, everyone around the table was trying to enjoy food and no doubt business would come up now and then, that was just to be expected but for now he would see how the conversation between Umashi and Kitsune went down.

"Indeed, I am sure this letter must have been very intriguing to bring you all this way to grace us with a visit from yourself?"

The question was honest and slightly probing into the reason, but it allowed him to get some information before he had to give some more up himself in return. As he continued to eat the feast that had been put out, he wanted to see what was going to be said and how this situation would transpire, only to be given a slight judder back to reality with a question that was direct to him.

"Ah it's from the trees around the village, sturdy and robust floors have been preserved for years, and seen many Uchiha cross them in that time, I have to admit they always seem to be gleaming and today really show them off."

 

[Seijin]

"The other reason? A letter from a certain former Hokage, who now serves in my ANBU branch, albeit currently on a leave of absence." Yikes! If Umashi could have blushed, he would have. To have had things put so bluntly by the Hokage was certainly one way to get the mans attention. Kitsune, much like her namesake, was always one that was hard to read. Was she intrigued or was she secretly fuming. Always wary of looking her directly in her eyes, Umashi made to mental note to look without looking, least he end up in a trance. "So it's been a hot minute since we last spoke," Nodding in agreement to no one in particular, Umashi was right in the middle of reaching for a crispy fried small potato with his chopsticks when Kitsune called him to attention. "How've you been since the fall of the Shogunate, Umashi?" Eh? The answer to that question was as simple as it was complicated. The truest part of what he had been doing was nothing in particular, and yet, his doing nothing was usually what needed to happen so that other far more major things wouldn't happen. Moving the small potato to his plate, he sat his chopsticks down shrugged his shoulders with a feigned befuddled look on his face. "You know me, always trying to achieve world peace the long way." True, he had heard rumblings of some knuckle heads trying to get another cult started up with the sole goal of taking over the world but there was no concrete evidence that the grass roots movement would make it off the ground much less across territorial borders. Keen to make some small talk while they were on a similar subject, Umashi grabbed his chopsticks once more and grabbed his small potato again. "What about my favorite little protégé of a boss, I hope that they're doing well." Without needing to name drop Miro, it would be clear that he was indeed talking about the ANBU Sennin. Mid bite, Umashi's face grew a big smile when Rei seemed to enjoy the food. “If only this entire mission was based on food…” Nodding in agreement, he covered his mouth and stated the same. "I know, I know, if only..." Taking time to swallow down his bite with a glass of water. Umashi continued to dig in for more as he waited for the other shoe to drop. A shoe that Takeshi didn't allow to stay suspended for long.

 

[Shinrya Kitsune]

Kitsune's eyes twinkled mischievously as she chuckled, the corners of her lips curling upwards. ”I wouldn’t say intriguing, as much as interesting.” She remarked, tilting her head slightly. The sealed envelope in her possession bore a certain weight in its mystery, but she wasn't about to disclose its contents so casually. Such matters were not meant for open discussions in such a setting. She envisioned a more private conversation between Umashi and herself to discuss the finer points. However, the present moment wasn't about cryptic letters or behind-the-scenes politics. It was a time to enjoy good company, hearty food, and foster mutual understanding.

The Lightning Country had been through its share of challenges. Despite having Bear and Marsh Countries as formidable allies, they were still licking their wounds from the aftershocks of the previous war. The landscape was dotted with signs of recent reconstruction. And amidst all this, there was a palpable unease in the air. The general populace was still grappling with the idea of the shinobi village having final say, the final call if you will, in governance. Whispers of dissent echoed in some corners, where people were resistant to this new order.

Kitsune's attention shifted momentarily to the tantalizing aroma emanating from the dish in front of her. She gracefully speared a few generous chunks of meat with her fork, savoring each bite as the flavors danced on her tongue. Her gaze then settled on Takeshi, her expression turning earnest. ”So. Restoring peace. Addressing the palpable tension. How do you feel about mending the rift between our villages, rejuvenating trade ties, and moving forward together? Personally, I’m all in favor.” Her words were direct, eschewing the roundabout nature of traditional diplomatic conversations. It was refreshing, like a brisk wind sweeping away the stifling heat of a summer's day.

[MFT; WC: 299]

 

[Toraono Michino]

A smile slipped over Rei’s face at the mention of Miro. It had been a long time since the two last clashed and the Sennin would be lying to say she didn’t miss it. It was hard finding a worthy rival to constantly sharpened herself with but their ANBU leader was a good mark. Her talent with Genjutsu far overwhelmed Rei’s comprehension of illusion techniques but the general couldn’t help but wonder now how her new powers would face against that witch.

Before Rei could even begin thinking of a reply for Takeshi, her Kage cut right through the fat and into the meat of their reasoning for being here. It was a bold move, one Rei wasn’t quite prepared for as she lightly choked on brisket while pounding her chest. Though it was a surprise there was a smile on the Ryuu’s face. It was just like Kitsune to casually get on point and make sure thing progressed at a steady pace. The Sennin swallowed her food and met eye-to-eye with the Hokage Uchiha at the table - a sign of respect or a test of mettle - as she carried on the Raikage’s approach,

“We, the Kumogakure Army in its entirety, want to sweep this entire incident under the rug. The shinobi who attacked our gates claiming their ill allegiances, the strain placed upon our nations by our ANBU Sennin’s last letter, Umashi’s last letter, Maki…all of it. We wish to take a strong first step forward as a brand new country and not just a representative of Lightning.
“Of course, we wouldn’t just ask you to forget everything that has been ill between our forces either. Much has happened in our history that would just be ridiculous for us to pretend none of it happened. So, with much deliberations, we would like to offer a few of our precious resources as a gift, and then open new routes for trade between our countries.” Reaching inside of her kimono, Rei produced a small book with a ton of hand-written notes detailing most of the materials their country had, their uses, and a handful of technological advancements that could be made using their sources Konoha could try out.
“Our main gift in this trip of goodwill is in copper, spun already into wires we use to carry greater currants of electricity. The way we spin the wire reduces the amount of wiring needed to get power across a vast city by doubling the potential power they can carry from generator to outlet. We have found greater abundance of electrical proficiency has allowed us to progress technologically in leaps and bounds, and wish to share it with others.”

Rei paused a moment to quench her thirst and let the Hokage reply. She reached out not to water though, but to the rice wine that was being kept warm on the table. She had prepared that little speech now for weeks, repeated in her head for hours between work, and now that it was said she couldn’t help but feel a stress rising; and that was the last thing anyone would want right now. Alcohol would hopefully take the edge of that stress off as to not ruin dinner with her voracious chakra eating the table.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi stopped eating as he listened to the conversation change to one of the matters at hand the treaty between the two villages, to be honest, it was more about breaking down the tension that they currently had between them. This was something that he could get behind straight away. After all a lot had happened and even he had to admit that some issues and rifts were simply caused by a lack of communication, rash decisions, and jumping to conclusions this would be causing the issues that people could state ended them in the situation they were currently in.

He listened to the words from both sides as he sat there, staying silent for a few moments and trying to weigh up the best response in this situation, after all, it seemed they had both come to this table and least to the meal with the intention of settling the situation and resolving the issues that had happened between the two nations. As he pondered the words taking in all of the situation first and understanding the position he was in now before deciding to respond to either of them. He wanted to play this safe and make sure he was not jumping the gun with his words.

"I agree actually, with you coming here, I feel that this can address the issue out the gates, there was a lack of communication, both sides really so I find that neither should be at fault. I do feel that we should be looking to resume the trade that we have had in the part, as well as the friendship, open gates to each other, and let travel resume. We are two villages, and facing a threat together is better than standing alone and apart in this situation. I feel that resuming as we were, we all can appreciate at this table that mistakes were made, but moving forward and putting the past behind us is crucial, I am sure that none of you here have any objections to this plan, and of course, if you have any specific that you want to exclude or anything you want to add I am open to that, however, the friendship between our two villages should be reforged."

He allowed his words and offer to hand in the air, deciding to see how the conversation would go and what direction this would take, as well as the reply. However, in the mind of the Hokage, another question did emerge from this situation.

"So what about Umashi?"

 

[Seijin]

"So what about Umashi?" As the question hung in the air, there was little for Umashi to do other than to sit and enjoy the meal. He'd let the two leaders talk and he'd get a free meal for the road. Whatever agreement they had in mind, while he had his preferences for things, ultimately he was willing to go along with the flow so long as they weren't at each other's throats. He'd fought long and hard for the peace on this side of the continent and he certainly wasn't trying to watch it die due to misunderstandings that could be solved with the sort of civil talk that he'd seen at work today. Helping himself to small dessert cake that had been set out, he followed it with a sip of a sweetened tea. Was it berry or citrus flavored? He couldn't quite put his finger on the taste but he knew a winning combination when he tasted one so he helped himself to another helping. Fortunately the cake was small, but seeing as how he wasn't in the hot seat for an answer, he'd observe things from the sidelines and see what other work they could come up with for him.

 

[Shinrya Kitsune]

Kitsune’s mismatched eyes, one natural purple and one artificial gold, locked with Takeshi's as she extended her hand, her grip firm and confident. The palpable connection between the two was sealed as their hands met. ”Nothing like forging alliances and making decisions that will shape the future of your nation over a hearty meal, am I right?” she remarked, her laughter filling the space between them with warmth. ”They often say the best way to a person's heart is through the stomach. Today just proves it.” Her words flowed, embellishing the delectable spread laid out before them. Given Kitsune's renowned palate and love for exquisite cuisine, her admiration for the dishes spoke volumes. The table's offerings resonated deeply with her; they reminded her of soul food, dishes that evoked deep emotions and fond memories. Some of these culinary delights could undoubtedly be classified as such.

However, amid the laughter and culinary appreciation, a looming question cast its shadow. The matter of Umashi. Kitsune had recently received word about him, and it presented a quandary. Umashi's message from Konoha indicated his desire to extend his stay. Although Kitsune was understandably wary of having one of her elite operatives remain in foreign territory, she recognized Umashi’s roots in the very same village. His reputation as a steadfast man of honor provided some reassurance. Prepared for such eventualities, she had a declaration, carefully penned and secured within her attire. This document would assign Umashi the title of “High Diplomat of Kumogakure.” While this would permit him to linger in Konoha, he would continue to remain loyal to Kumo, ensuring he didn’t divulge any critical intelligence he was privy to, especially in his role as an ANBU Captain.

”To be forthright,” Kitsune began, her tone earnest, ”Umashi's letter outlined his intention to stay in Konoha a bit longer. My initial instinct was reluctance, considering the sensitive insights he possesses about Kumo. But he's equally, if not more, informed about Konoha. And he's always maintained his silence, never once betraying that trust. Given that, I believe this arrangement can work.” She carefully extracted the sealed parchment, its weight symbolic of its significance. ”If he consents, I propose appointing him as the High Diplomat of Kumogakure to Konohagakure. This is with the aim of solidifying trade ties, building a productive partnership, and nurturing camaraderie between our villages. He will, however, return to Kumo once this mission concludes.” Her voice firm, she placed the folded declaration on the table, awaiting Takeshi's response.

[WC: 415; MFT]

 

[Toraono Michino]

And there it was! Diplomacy. Lightning in a bottle. Ties that had been severed were rebound, tighter than before and with a stronger rope. A warm feeling shot through Rei and she couldn’t tell right off if it was the sake or the incredible act of having pulled two countries together to form a standing alliance. The rogue community would be shaking in their sandals once this info became public, and the Sennin couldn’t wait. Too long had the missing shinobi and feckless mercenaries pulled at the fabric of their shaky trade agreements looking to incite all out war; today was the day the shinobi villages truly fought back.

Pouring another cup and taking a deep swallow, the skinny woman nearly choked on her alcohol when the ANBU Captain’s name was dropped ever so casually. It was, after all, the entire reason they were here in the first place. If not for Umashi the duo could have simply stayed home and sent a diplomat instead - hell, even a formal letter honestly would have done the trick. However with the advent of their former comrade wishing to stay in Konoha, things became tricky. National secrets, a gauge in Kumo’s power, the number of shinobi organs they had, comparable to Konoha’s own grim collection…so much information could give the Leaf shinobi such a tilt in power.

“In addition,” Rei said, following up on Kitsune’s proposal, “I, personally, would like to speak about opening a diplomatic refuge in both of our countries. Not to just let this entire debacle stay so one-sided, we are willing to host any shinobi you wish to have stay in Kumogkaure for the same diplomatic order. The goal is to foster this alliance to move beyond a simple trade agreement. My dream is to see the Fire Country and the Lightning Country united against the scourge that attempts to turn our world to chaos and glass.
“Then, of course alongside that, I had this idea that might take a few years to complete but…it would keep some of these same problems of misinformation from ever coming up again. We believe that animal messengers are becoming more hit-and-miss lately with the interference from outside sources. In our country we have developed a way to communicate with each other over long distances with wireless devices. From Kumogakure to the edge of our country we can communicate with anyone. I propose setting up these diplomatic sites with the same technology on each side of our borders with a direct line to each other; so that should rogue shinobi play coy with our gates, we can send a notice much faster than birds can travel of our success or failure in capturing the ner'do'wells. Being sent through established diplomats, neither side wouldn’t have to worry about false information, just the facts as they are presented. We can then rotate the diplomats as well, and give certain members of our soldiers an expanded experience in how each other’s militates work, and in the end, perhaps a more cohesive unit should we need to fight together against something.”

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi allowed the conversation to continue over the meal, it seemed that everything was settling down and the terms had been met with ease and with little issue, this surprised him. It was of course welcome during these times though when villages found themselves in the unknown and of course the support that each village had for themselves, it seemed that Umashi's request had given ground for the two villages to put the past behind them, that and the level headead ability that came from teh Raikage that he understood and respected. As he nodded listening to the conversation that was taking place.

"Agree with the fact that Umashi will return, we never bound him to the village, but with the peace treaty and trade agreements being set up, it would be having someone who has knowledge of both villages working to help that goal, and I see no real reason why we should not allow Umahi to go were he wants at the end, I am sure he is a great asset to Cloud and his new life there was always part of the agreement I forged and honor to this date when I took on the mantle of Hokage, so I find that acceptable."

Listening to the last part from Rei, it seemed that she would be willing to take things once further. Shifting slightly he listened to the conversation that was making sense, as well as how the whole situation happened, it was clear that she was in the loop and of course, knew what had really caused this situation to take place. It was something that would need to be addressed and if both villages were helping each other in that goal, then so be it, he wouldn't mind taking up that cause and even helping when he could.

"Your assessment works and is accurate in this situation, it seems that we have both been on the receiving end of issues that have taken place with others who do not hold a village as their own home. They have played both and a heavier and stronger link between them would allow us to keep each other informed, and of course make things easier to keep everyone in the loop so I have no issue with that either, seems pretty sensible on that information. I would like to stretch a little bit and advise any more information regarding anyone of note should be sharted if we do find anything else out about that, keeping each other against what we are facing would be good even to the smallest details."

 

[Seijin]

Having now stuffed his mouth with a pastry for dessert, Umashi held up one hand to signify that he had one additional thing to add. So far, he was in agreement with all of the things. He just needed to make sure that they didn't fall into the same trap that had plagued such agreements time and time again. Taking a swig of water to clear his throat, he his raised hand came down and rested on the table as he spoke up. "And if I also might add for the record, we'll be needing shared Bingo Books. It's rather cliché but it happens far too often that one lone malcontent turns the world upside down because the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing and instead of talking, they went to war. Once this agreement becomes common knowledge, every singular threat that both nations singularly have will become a combined threat due to the alliance being too new. All it will take is a trigger happy ANBU operative to ruin this wonder partnership." Looking to find another pastry, he nodded his head as if agreeing with himself. "As has been said, communication will be key. Any bad acting remnants of the Frost shinobi or the Tenouza should be considered persona non grata between both nations. Need I remind you all of the Fire-Star Island incident way back when?" Knowing all too well how quickly things could turn around, Umashi did his best to not be caught in the middle of a senseless conflict again. The Fire-Star Island incident had nearly thrust both nations into war decades before, and though most in this generation hardly remembered it, it was still a cautionary tale of the ages.

OOC: One of these days we're going to have to actually do some sort of fleshed out backstory for this obscure reference that I keep dragging along every chance I get !

Fire-Star Island incident reference #1 and Fire-Star Island incident reference #2

 

[Shinrya Kitsune]

The atmosphere in room was thick with the weight of decisions made. With the agreement finalized, Umashi's role as a diplomat was extended, much to Kitsune's satisfaction. Her eyes met Umashi's as he broached the topic of sharing Bingo books. "Oh, definitely," she affirmed. Yet, his allusion to the 'Fire-Star incident' left her puzzled, as it wasn't something she remembered clearly, prompting a request for clarity.

Turning her gaze to Rei, "We could use part of the western skyscraper of the Torre Empirea for hosting foreign dignitaries." she suggested, running a hand through her vibrant red mane, "If memory serves, we've got a few unused floors waiting for application.", which was true, there were unused floors. It was just more than a few. That was by design however, as it was always a good thing to have space for expansions later on.

As the weight of official matters began to lift, Kitsune's thoughts ventured towards lighter topics. Perhaps a delightful dessert to end the evening? Or maybe a nocturnal exploration of the village's hidden gems? Kitsune was open to suggestions, but one thing was for sure, she'd love to meet up with the medical sennin of Konohagakure. Maybe say hi to Keiji, assuming he was still sticking around Leaf, she wasn't sure.

"So, unrelated question. Keiji's still around in the city, right?" she asked, looking at Takeshi. The thought of surprising an old friend with her newfound status brought a mischievous twinkle to her eyes. "I haven't seen the guy for an eternity and a half. Could be fun to surprise him with the fact that 1: I'm still around, and 2: I'm the Raikage." she explained, with a mischievous chuckle.

OOC: That's what you get for bringing it up, Umashi.

 

[Toraono Michino]

Rei looked up with a mouth full of taco at Kitsune, simply nodding along at this point. The main points had been made, and the alliance sealed. Everything else was gravy on the mashed potates of diplomacy, so the Kumo Sennin decided to finally relax a little and enjoy the meal.

Though Umashi made a really good point about sharing their Bingo Books, Kitsune was on top of the agreement before she had a chance to swallow down her food. It seemed, as far as she could tell, everything was finally set in a motion she was happy for. The mention of the name Keiji triggered a neuron back in the scientist’s brain - an old aquaintance of the Raikage she had really only heard of. Reports on the man were…incredibly small. Yet as curious as Rei was to hear about this other legend while sitting among legends, she felt the tug of adventure in her gut. They were Konogakure, an entirely new shinobi village with all kinds of people and things to discover. For one, she needed to see if any of their common knowledge she could get her hands on had an answer for her chakra eating everything; and since she managed to get through dinner without embarrassing herslef or Kitsune, it seemed like the prime time to go work on fixing that.

Wiping her mouth, Rei was the first to stand up from the table and preform a full bow, though the action nearly caused a rancorous belch,
“Thank you for having us, Hokage-sama,” she returned to her standing form, “but I must cut my meal a little short now that the big work is out of the way. I have a need to gather knowledge and your home’s rustic charms have caught my eye. First thing’s first, I’m going to go find a proper beer,” she paused waiting for the locals to mention their favorites, “and then tomorrow I’ll be doing some research into this tattoo on my back and how to fix it so my chakra doesn’t keep eating things! Ciao~”

The Sennin walked away calmly from the table, her kimono returning its shape into business causal at the flick of a wrist.

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