I was wide awake and dressed when I received my clone's mories. I couldn’t sleep a wink, not while the village was turned up on its head. In their mories I did find a thread of hope and another reason to be afraid and sleepless.
i.
For whatever conspired reason Lady Suikazan has thought up, i was the ssenger the Caste Clans coalition sent to the jaws of the main clans. It was a hope that the Caste Clans had chosen, quite correctly, to enter dialogue rather than outrightly prepare for a day-long civil uprising.
But I feared what arrangents they made while i begged to speak with the Main clans. She’d be within Junko Hoshigaki’s host at the mont and while I trusted that Junko wouldn’t want to stand in my way, I worried about other possible ways she could take advantage of these events.
I’d wrestled with paranoid and valid fears all night and day, I shook my head free of the complicated web of political consequences that awaited after today— Kirigakure would never be the sa again. Whether for better or for worse, whatever happened today would set the foundation for everything that’s yet to co.
It’s already a ss.
Pacing my breath I had a final look at myself in the mirror, stared into my own purple-pink irises and into the soul of the Kage I was becoming. The one I had beco.
“You’re a stranger.” I whispered, eyes locked on the dead gaze of my reflection. I numbed my feelings to the cost and nodded at myself. “Welco then, you might be here a while.”
I tore away from my self-consoling, haori waving behind as I marched down the stairs and out the mansion, waving away breakfast and its unusually unappetizing scent. The sky was absent today, nothing more than a layer of fog brightly illuminated by unreachable sunlight.
The ANBU like were sleepless, working tirelessly on ensuring internal cohesion and to prevent the streets from flooding with more blood than it can soak. They flitted around like shadows and flightful birds, not one bothering to greet as I marched towards the Central District, a sign of diligent work.
My mind drifted as I walked through the silent fog, the streets abandoned and scarce of civilians. Jiraiya’s little intrusion last night was, at present, the least of my worries in terms of security— the man was an effective spy and a Kage level shinobi, not to ntion, I’d taken all personal body guards off my effects prior to everything turning upside down.
However, what intrigued my anxiety filled mind wasn’t Jiraiya slipping through non-existent defences but the wisdom he ca looking for.
He’s going to beco Hokage.
At least I hope so. Everything I’d ntioned about the burden of leadership was true and unbiased, even though I wanted a sensible person at the head of Konoha right now. If Jiraiya truly took my words to heart then....
Perhaps foreign relations won’t be so difficult moving forward.
It would be a much needed developnt as despite my unending promises to Junko to deliver the Masked Uchiha Kirigakure’s justice, Reina and her team hadn’t reported anything useful in tracking the elusive Uchiha. Not even around Agakure’s surroundings.
With each report I received the more it seed there was nowhere with a hint of Obito. It made sense that it’d be difficult to find a man capable of portalling wherever he wishes, but there at least had to be so sightings, a trail of clues or crumbs of public appearances or violent incidents that would lead Reina and her team right onto him.
Yet there wasn’t so much as a pindrop where he was concerned. From her many, uneventful progress reports I could tell Reina was getting frustrated as Junko was with the lack of results. It foreboding how completely he’s avoided us— whatever he was plotting in the dark couldn’t be good.
Konoha’s resources and ti would help a ton.
I silently prayed for Jiraiya to beco Hokage as I approached the Hoshigaki clan compound. The four guards stationed outside imdiately straightened up from their board ga, saluting and bowing in a confused and embarrassed jumble.
Rolling my eyes I inspected the outside with my eyes and expanded my senses further in even as I asked. “Where are they?”
“Lady Junko and Elite Jounin i?” I nodded, I couldn’t sense either familiar chakra signature within the clan compound. The guard shared a confirming look with his fellow as he answered. “I heard sothing about the Funato, they might be there now.”
“No, not there.” one shook his head. “The Funato and Hozuki are eting in a neutral zone, my friend told Lord Yuki would be their host.”
Hidaki Yuki.
I humd at his involvent, it was fitting for how limited and diminished the Yuki had found themselves this year. Playing neutral was a wise and appropriate move, the Yuki themselves had no subject caste clans but passively benefitted from their oppression where their status as a Main clan allowed them to.
“Thank you.” I said before bursting into a sprint.
If Hidaki, Lord Funato, Lady gumi and now i and Junko were all gathered in the sa place then…
It’s happening.
The final dialogue for what Kirigakure’s future would look like had begun.
My heart skipped a beat as I neared the compound. “What will it cost?”
***
“Silence!” Hidaki yelled over the banter just as I strolled in unannounced yet right at ho. He sent glares at the ever troubleso Funato-Hozuki duo before settling on with a reverent gaze. “Lord Fourth…”
They held their eting of fates out in the courtyard, for what sunlight escaped the mist to darkly illuminate their faces. But also, of course, to ensure they were efficiently protected with paths for escape.
All four corners of the compound walls seed to be cloistered with their shinobi, Hozuki and Funato just barely at each others throats yet too busy watching so that their leaders weren’t assassinated or blown up. For all their bark and bite, the two old goons opposed at the square table wouldn’t resort to that.
Hidaki presided at the table’s top end, his brows knitted in an ever deep furrow. On its end side was Junko Hoshigaki, her hand wrapped around i’s and her head tilted over her shoulder. She acknowledged with a asuring look, her darting eye led to i’s.
“Yagura…-sama.”
My throat tightened up and I swallowed as I strolled to the table. “Interesting…were the Karatachi not invited?”
Lord Funato looked well pissed enough by whatever jest, jeers and slurs Lady gumi had hurled his way. I walked behind his chair and indulged an amused smile as his neck hairs rose on their ends.
Lady gumi was never one to shy away from pressure. She didn’t hide her displeasure, her lips didn’t bend in their usual accommodating smile as she provided, “This doesn’t concern the Karatachi.” She narrowed her eyes on . “Unless we are conclude that the Kaguya are your clan’s—”
“Lady Hozuki!” Hidaki hissed sharply as I stared unfazed at her unspoken accusations.
I completed my orbit around the modest arrangent and looked between i and Hidaki. “I will spectate.”
Hidaki stiffened, fingers snapping at servants. “Yes sir, we’ll prepare a seat imdiately.”
“And for i Terumi as well, I assu she’s here as a representative?” I said, my gaze skirting briefly at Junko who seed to reaffirm her grip on i’s hand.
“Not in any functional capacity, she is nothing more than Lady Suikazan’s strong arm.” Lord Funato spat distastefully glaring at Junko and i. “The only ones invited to this are myself and Lady gumi here.”
I shrugged as Hidaki’s servants arranged a raised chair and so food platters for . I took my seat and said. “Well, that’s not the case anymore, things evolve.”
“Indeed, Lord Fourth.” Hidaki said, his eyes closely following the servants as they placed an extra seat at the table for i. I felt her steal glances at , and caught a couple too before Hidaki clapped his hands. “Please, let’s return to form and continue where we left off.”
Almost as soon as she’d sat down i rose again from her seat, the long scroll in her hands winding out as she cleared her throat. “I know what you all think of , of the Caste clans.” she began, her eyes cast around the table, lingering on Lord Funato whose scowl was his entire wrinkled face.
“Your belief of superiority and our…enforced inferiority has long enabled the toxic dynamics that have led to this…honourable gathering. My voice is that of the Caste clans, those that have aligned under the Suikazan banner, the Poison Mist, the Kozui, the Innui and others you are well familiar with.”
Her eyes found their steel as she took a deep breath. “With this voice I deliver an ultimatum, our last resort on this final day of discourse.” Lady gumi snorted derisively but didn’t say anything. i ignored her, “But first, our demands.”
Junko took a particular shine to this part, her lips splitting open in a barely contained grin she made sure Lady gumi and Lord Funato knew was because of them. “Yes, please, lets hear what the caste clans wish to seize for themselves.”
i sighed. “We aren’t seizing anything, it doesn’t have to co to that.”
“No, it doesn’t because if it does, it won’t end well for any single mudblood.” Lord Funato said with a self satisfied certainty, his hands clutching his cane as if he was already holding himself back from whacking i over the head with it for daring to even speak here and on such matters.
The atmosphere only grew more tense with my silent spectating. My brows were deeply furrowed as my thoughts whirled at all what i’s ultimatum could be. All effective options ugly enough to be called an ultimatum were…quite ugly.
I disallowed myself from intervening because of my own law but if this starts to look like the first day of a civil war then…
I might have to take back my words and the lives lost might have been for nothing. I kept my gnashed teeth hidden and squeezed the handles of my chair as I leaned forward, eager to listen.
“We demand an abolition of caste based restrictions.” i said, her voice loud and carrying through the courtyard with a necessary confidence. “The archaic tradition of keeping special ranks and titles exclusive to Main clan mbers is a greater part of what keeps our military traditions weak and our culture weaker. It must end.”
Starting off simple. I thought with a released breath. i and I had once spoken of this very issue, caste clan mbers being cut off from promotions unless it's a special case and entire clans being banned from advancing past Chuunin and thus never gaining access to the truly strengthening Jounin and Elite Jounin jutsu and skills. I’d love to see that gone.
“The abolition of indentured roles, enslaved generations of caste families servicing the Main clans must be granted their freedom, they’ve more than earned it.” i said, not backing away from Lord Funato’s fuming glare. “We demand fair mission distribution and pay equity, we demand fair land redistribution and we demand council representation.”
That last part visibly didn’t sit well with any clan head present. Hidaki looked as surprised as the day I spared he and his clan, Lady gumi changed the look she gave i, in her eyes now were a threat to be curtailed and Lord Funato—
“Or else what!” He barked, kicking his seat back as he rose with his cane clacking loudly against the ground. “You demand this, you demand that. Who are you to demand anything of us? You think just because you’ve gotten Mizukage-sama to permit this radical nonsense that we’ll let you walk all over us?”
i’s lips parted to speak but Lord Funato had held his tongue long enough. “Your goons tried and failed to take my head, I am still standing generations after this village was founded, I am its oldest, wisest and longest reigning clan head of the Funato and I will see you dead where you stand before I ever let you corrupt my village!”
i stood undisturbed by Lord Funato’s cane wagging in her face, she raised a brow at him as if to ask if he was done before casting a look at the other clan heads. Lady gumi patiently waited for the drama to unfold, though the uncanny look of an animal studying its prey never left her eyes.
I cleared my throat and drew their attention briefly as I spoke. “I will continue to spectate but let us conduct ourselves in a manner befitting our stations and this eting.”
Lord Funato scoffed at i’s asured silence and hobbled back to his seat, muttering to himself and then barking at Lady gumi. “Why are you silent? Does this child’s insolence please you? Does any of this!”
Lady gumi snapped her bejeweled hand fan open, hiding a devious smile as Lord Funato returned to his seat opposite her. “Of course not, but this is the verdict of the Mizukage and just as you have foolishly taken advantage of it to launch attack after attack against my clan…I see no reason why anyone else shouldn’t make the best of a tough situation.”
He growled, dissatisfied at his hypocrisy being called out. Eager to move things along, Junko yelled, “Oh enough already, tell them what’s at stake, i. Tell them what will happen if they don’t get onboard.”
I was at the edge of my seat as well as i, still standing, declared. “Should any of our demands be denied then the caste clans will retaliate with complete and utter brutality.”
“Retaliate? Against what? We haven’t done anything to you?” Lady gumi questioned.
“Generations of suffering, indentured and war fodder youths say otherwise.” i hissed.
Lord Funato chuckled darkly. “Retaliate? Try to rember who you’re speaking to, who you’re daring to threaten. We Fuanto have been this village’s back bone for generations after generations.”
“Not the last one.” Lady gumi interjected, earning a an side eye from Lord Funato. She shrugged. “Two Mizukage’s says a lot more than one, even if it is the founder.”
Lord Funato ignored her. “Whatever form of retaliation you wish to inflict upon us will be repelled completely. You are weak.”
“And we are united.” i said without missing a beat. “Yes, retaliating in any form or kind has always been t with death or harsh punishnt, but we are united. We are dedicated to standing by each other, to protecting each other and perhaps we may be weak but you are alone.
“The caste clans have chosen as their voice to deliver this ultimatum and promise an end to the discrimination and slavery. Already, I believe there will be no objections from Lord Karatachi to these demands.”
In the absence of Uncle she looked over at for a response. “No, I believe my uncle will approve this change as I do.”
i nodded gratefully and looked to Hidaki, “And what of you, Lord Yuki? You may be an impartial host but your approval is still needed to enact these demands. Do you support or do you stand in the way?”
Hidaki looked caught off guard but after a mont of muttering he said firmly. “No, I will not offer support or objections, I forfeit my vote.”
Lord Funato snapped his head around at the humble man. “What! Are you thinking at all? It should never even co to sothing as delicate as a vote but—”
Junko kicked her chair back as she stood, proudly lifting a cup as if there were sothing to toast. “And I have already pledged my support to the caste clans, to i Terumi.” She grinned at Lady gumi’s furrowed face. “Of course, I’ll always support the underdog and this dog has much to give in return.”
I couldn’t miss the squeamish look on i’s face at Junko’s words. It was only present for a second before she put on her visage of strength once more. Taking a deep breath as she looked between Lady gumi and Lord Funato she said, “The decision lies with you two now and let assure you…it might be easy to subdue we caste clans with your collective might but if all the blood, sweat and tears that has been exploited is dedicated to ensuring the destruction of a single Main clan…then we will be as satisfied with ourselves as accomplishing all our demands.”
There it is. The true nature of the ultimatum. “What are you implying, i?” I said delicately.
She shook her head at and for the first ti since stepping into this eting I saw her smile again. It was bittersweet.
“I imply nothing, I am but a lowly ssenger. Whichever clan stands in the way will see its end by the caste sword and blood. We are ready to die for our freedom, are you prepared to die to keep us underfoot, Lord Funato?”
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