Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 28, 2007 19:07:37 GMT -5
The Hokage's office, though presenting a hundred new tasks to be completed, had never felt more like home. She had never worked harder in her entire life than she had in the past two days. Ever since coming home from Hidden Sand, life was hectic for the leaders of Konoha. There was the prisoner to tend to, some meeting or another to attend, and mission upon mission to be assigned. That was not to mention, of course, the number of petitioners that had come to see her during her absence. One such person was the reason she was in her office now, sitting perfectly straight at her desk, leafing through reports as she waited for the guest to arrive. She had taken to wearing the formal robes of her office all the time, and the portraits of the previous nine Hokage on the wall behind her made it seem as though she spoke with all the authority of her predecessors behind her. She could only pray she wouldn't let them down. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in," she called, her eyes still on the papers. She knew who it was, after all - Hirata Daisuke, one of the assistants, come with the latest petitioner. Tsutomegi Utsuro, Miyoko had called him. Miyoko had told her a number of other things as well. One thing was certain, though, this meeting would be interesting. "That's all for now, Hirata," she told the Chuunin in a calm, musical voice. "You may go now." It was only after he bowed and left that Kaori raised her eyes from her papers to look at the young man now left alone in her office. "Come in, Tsutomegi-kun," she instructed warmly, "and have a seat. Miyoko tells me you have a request to make."
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 28, 2007 19:41:04 GMT -5
It was an entirely unusual feeling, that one's heart was pounding so hard you could worry about it leaping from your chest. This was precisely how Utsuro was feeling as Daisuke-sama lead him to the Hokage's office, and the overwhelming feelings of dread and paranoia only swelled within him from there. He seemed incredibly grateful when instructed to sit, as he was begining to wonder how much longer his legs would be able to hold him upright. The single glimpse he had taken of the Hokage herself had been enough to leave him awestruck, so impressive was her aura. And yet, with each word she spoke, he could not help but begin to calm. "Miyoko tells me you have a request to make." Swallowing hard, the young man fought to find even his commonplace scrap of a voice. "...y...yes..Hokage-dono..That is correct.." If his gaze had possessed any sort of sharpness to it, certainly there would be a hole in the floor by now. For perhaps the first time in his young life, he did not wait to be prompted for the request itself. Someone such as the Hokage should not have her precious time wasted. "..It..." another hard, nervous swallow, his mouth feeling like the deserts around Suna. "..It is my request...to be permitted entry..to the Konoha Academy.."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 28, 2007 20:09:38 GMT -5
"Oh?" Kaori asked. She did not make it sound particularly surprised, nor threatening. Miyoko had told her of the boy's request earlier, of course, and the poor child seemed so nervous Kaori thought he might faint at any moment. Sensing no need to aggravate his condition, she kept her voice gentle as she continued. "It is not often that outsiders come seeking citizenship and entry to the academy," she explained, "nor is it unheard of. Why is it you wish to join us?"
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 28, 2007 20:25:01 GMT -5
Drawing a deep breath and gathering together his tiny alotment of courage, he explained his situation. "...Because...my village was destroyed, every living thing killed.....The only reason I was spared....was because..." Cheeks reddening from embarassment, he continued. " I fell into the river while fishing....and was swept downstream..." The story continued to flow like the aforementioned river.
"...I have been travelling for the past....8 years now...I tried to enroll in other Academies.....fit into other villages...but before long they all made accusations and threw me out....Konoha is my last hope.."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 29, 2007 17:52:11 GMT -5
Kaori leaned back in her chair, folding her hands neatly on her desk as she took all of this in. It was a moment before she spoke. "Look me in the eye when you speak," she told him at last. "It's me you're talking to, not my floor. Now, then." She paused to fill two glasses of water from the cooler beneath her desk, handing one to her guest and taking a sip from the other before continuing. When she spoke, her voice had become more serious, losing some of its warmth as it changed. "I want you to tell me your story. Start from the very beginning, leave nothing out -" the way she said that implied that she would know if he did, whether or not she actually would "- and don't stop until you reach this very moment."
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 29, 2007 18:38:49 GMT -5
Look her....in...the...eyes?!Utsuro froze, complexion paling visibly. Surely someone as lowly as him did not deserve to look upon the Hokage...but...she had told him to...no...that tone...it was a command.
Slowly, as if mountains rested upon his gaze, dull grey eyes rose to meet hers, and for a moment it appeared as if he really might faint right there in his seat. A spark of resolve flickered briefly inside them, and he nodded in acknowledgement to her request.
"..I come from Tengakure, the Village Hidden in the Heavens...only the highest ranking shinobi know of its existence, and we had thought the location was secret...I was almost 7 at the time...my father was a little cross with how clumsy I am..the spring thaw had arrived, so I went to the river and tried to catch his favorite fish for him....I slipped on the rocks and fell into the river, where the current took me down to the base of the mountain." Pausing to take a sip of the offered water, the normally almost-lifeless eyes began to look pained.
"...It took me four days to climb back up the mountain, even using the hidden trails. At first I had thought they didn't care about me, by not sending anyone to assist me....But then I saw smoke, and began to think it was a test, that they were waiting for me at the top..but when I arrived.." Raising bandaged fingers to wipe at his eyes, he pressed on. " Barely anything remained. The buildings were smoldering, some still burning, and everyone.....everyone was dead.....D..do you...have any idea...how it feels...to have to bury your entire family?"
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 29, 2007 18:50:16 GMT -5
"Not my entire family," Kaori admitted, genuine sympathy in her voice, "but I am not without my own losses." Reaching for a framed picture on her desk, she turned it so her visitor could see. It was a photograph of five people - one with black hair, the rest with blonde - who bore a startling resemblance to one another. Two were women; the rest, men. One of the women was a younger-looking version of Kaori herself. "That," she told him, "is a photograph of my most immediate family - my parents and my brothers. It was taken not long before Konoha went to war. During the final two days of the war, three of the people you see in that photograph - and many, many more, including the Ninth Hokage - were killed, and Konoha nearly destroyed. Three days later, I took up the mantle of the Hokage, and with it the responsibility for everyone and everything in this village. So you see, I am no stranger to sadness, or to difficult times - though, admittedly, my circumstances were much different from yours." She paused to gather her thoughts and return the picture to its proper place. "Now, then, please continue."
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 29, 2007 19:09:45 GMT -5
A soft, sad smile crossed his lips. "I am sorry for your losses, Hokage-dono..." At least she understood. Nodding in response again, he continued as bidded.
" I remember crying for some time...and for several weeks afterwards I did nothing, hoping that whatever..whoever...had taken my family from me would come back and finish the job. After that point, I came to the decision that behaving as thusly was only dishonoring their memory." Shifting slightly in his seat, his eyes wavered from hers for a moment before he continued.
"I gathered together everything I could salvage...everything that had a memory of happier times attached to it..and I left. The only way my family would be able to rest in peace was if I brought honor back to the Clan......There was a map I found.." Producing it from one of many pockets, he unfurled the aged parchment for her inspection. " All the shinobi villages are marked on it...I assumed it was used for mission dispatching..I used it to find my way. I wanted to train, to become better, to become a great shinobi that would make my family proud. And so I began to search." Sighing quietly, he frowned a little.
"Things did not go well, though. I would arrive in the village, and time would begin to pass. Sometimes I would make it long enough to enroll in the Academy there...but then.." Utsuro fell quiet, and his eyes drifted to the floor.
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 29, 2007 19:21:40 GMT -5
"And then?" Kaori prompted softly after a moment, waiting patiently for the story to continue.
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 29, 2007 19:31:02 GMT -5
"...I black out...the frequency varies...less likely when things are calm, more likely when things are stressful or intense...but one constant remains..." Lifting his eyes back to hers so as not to disobey, the next statement was made with stone-cold certainty.
"I black out...and then people hate me. Every village I have been to, I am no longer welcome there....Bad things happen, apparently." He paused a moment in thought. "It has already happened once here, as I am certain Miyoko-sama has informed you..."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 29, 2007 19:36:22 GMT -5
"Indeed she has," Kaori confirmed wryly. "To tell you the truth, Tsutomegi-kun, these spells of yours concern me - and not just because of the possible consequences of any actions you may take when they strike you."
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 29, 2007 19:47:00 GMT -5
"They are...not exactly something I am fond of either, Hokage-dono..." He was slightly curious, however, as to what precisely she meant. This was the furthest he had ever discussed the topic with another.
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 29, 2007 19:54:31 GMT -5
In response to the young man's confused look, Kaori continued. "I don't know just how much you were told during your stay here," she explained, "but I am not just a shinobi, if anyone can be called just a shinobi. I am also a Medical Ninja - a doctor and shinobi in one, if you will. Based on Miyoko's retelling of the most recent incident, and your own recollection of previous episodes, I can see that there are several possible reasons for these spells of yours."
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Jun 29, 2007 20:00:40 GMT -5
"Ah...I see..." Utsuro knew why the blackouts were happening. But he could not tell her that. The secrets of his clan's strength were not to be divulged to outsiders. " That is...impressive, Hokage-dono, to be able to both fight and mend wounds as well....but I assure you, I am neither ill, nor injured."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Jun 29, 2007 20:16:57 GMT -5
"I have heard that line from many of my patients, Tsutomegi-kun," she told him firmly. "Some were fine. One had cancer, another could have collapsed with a heart attack at any second, and so on and so forth. I'll be the one deciding if you're healthy or not. Utagawa!" "Yes?" a brown-haired shinobi called, entering the office from the balcony. "I have an errand for you," Kaori ordered, scribbling a note on a slip of paper. The Chuunin read the paper when she handed it to him, nodded, and stuck it in his pocket. "And do try to hurry," she finished. "I have far too much to do today to sit around waiting." "Yes, Hokage-sama," Utagawa-kun said with a bow. "Excuse me." And just like that, he was gone. "Now, then." Kaori paused, stacking some reports neatly on her desk before speaking again. "Now that that's out of the way, we can continue. Tell me, Tsutomegi-kun. Are there any medical conditions that run in your family, as far as you know?"
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