Upon taking hold of the box containing the headsets, Akkuma’s undead creation faded into dust just like everything would eventually. How fitting. Akkuma’s abilities were impressive indeed, and he was clever enough to cover his tracks. Migoya's cold dead gaze looked with a small measure of respect at the ash drifted off into the wind. Silence would greet the great Sennin as he finished his gift of information to the Yamikage, a heavy moment where it was clear that Migoya was digesting all of the information he had been given, categorising it into minute pieces and storing it away in the vast cavern of his mind. You could take the blood from a Nara, but not the way their mind worked it seemed.
Raizo has gone missing… Shin has taken over…
Lady Asuka is missing…
Akkuma in charge of International Affairs…
Kumogakure sending in ANBU to spy on Suna…
Missions to the other villages…
Migoya’s mind whirred, and he knew first and foremost that Akkuma would know this. Akkuma was sharp, as was expected of one of the Ancients… or at least one of their bloodline. Oh yes, Migoya knew more than he let on about the ancients, and he knew Akkuma was the same - always knowing more than he showed. He let out a sigh, more to let Akkuma know he was still there than anything. He was unsure if Akkuma was unaccustomed to those he worked ‘with’ speaking to him as an equal rather than as a subordinate. In any event, Migoya was in charge of his and his clans destiny, and his voice always spoke with both authority and an edge of threat.
“Thank you Akkuma-san. Congratulations on your efforts, and the acknowledgement of your peers in your abilities. It is deserved. Suna seems capable in acknowledging those that would suit positions well. Your information is appreciated, and provides much needed clarity. Indeed as you can see such Chaos provides much opportunity for change, where it is needed of course.”Oh, Migoya liked this one… he understood the game and played it exceptionally well. A valuable ally indeed.
“I was recently in Suna to witness your… Sennin games, and met with Shin-sama. An interesting individual - one more akin to our own interests and understanding of the importance of alternate methods of… development. One possessed by another more… aggressive spirit. He was capable of reading a document written in Runic Terran, a language which I believe now is only permitted to be known by a select few… Oracles, another shinobi informed me. A fortunate situation to have someone well versed in ancient knowledge as your leader“.The fact that Migoya knew Runic Terran, and had just let Akkuma know that he knew it, spoke volumes as to the trust Migoya was now placing on the Sennin. He continued.
“ I trust you had nothing to do with the previous Kazekage’s… disappearance. I would hate for such a situation to tarnish your already… glowing reputation.”
A slight hint of humour would attach itself to Migoya’s words, yet it was a cold humour, as if providing a drop of water to a dying man. Whatever power had melded with Migoya tried desperately to remove any and all hints of the man’s previous sarcastic nature, replacing it with cold efficiency. It didn’t work most of the time.
“In any event, I will accept your invitation with several provisions - not that such should diminish our established trusted relationship. I simply want something in return from Sunagakure, and her new Kazekage.” Migoya was a mercenary first and foremost. He would play the cards he had, hoping for a return in the investment that he had risked much in joining. Kiko, Yong, himself… all had been tarnished by Akkuma’s machinations, even if the ancient devil’s viewpoint was similar to their own.
“One. A formal recognition, in writing, of the existence, legal authority, and autonomy of Yamigakure as an independent and acknowledged mercenary shinobi village, capable of accepting and transacting shinobi contracts of all types, without discrimination. In so doing, removing any formal ties and acknowledgement of Tsukigakure as the presiding shinobi village in the jurisdiction of Moon Country. This shall be sent to all significant shinobi villages and feudal lords, with an invitation to join with Sunagakure in this acknowledgement. You could blame religious zealotry or the like… I’m sure you are creative enough to establish an effective reason”.
He waited for the weight of his own offer to linger in the devil’s mind before continuing.
“and”,
“Two. Any Myakashi or citizens of Yamigakure, unless proven guilty of a crime against Sunagakure, is not to be viewed as a missing nin, held without due reason or attacked by any shinobi of Sunagakure. You can claim you have them on your books for the benefit of other villages… but it shall not be enforced. We will be provided with diplomatic passports befitting our status as trusted friends.”
Unfettered access to Suna by a foreign force. Could that be possible?
“Naturally such measures are to be established to protect myself and my kin. Tsukigakure cares little for any outside of its borders, so it should not pose any significant issue that we cannot remedy. Sunagakure itself has nothing to fear from my clan or village as it has done nothing to warrant such. I would also be pleased to offer you and the Kazekage the opportunity to come to Yamigakure itself, so you can see with your own eyes that I am simply not ‘making things up’."
A significant step. Yamigakure was true to its namesake, hidden amidst the shadows on the side of the mountains in Moon Country. A hidden village to be certain, haunted by spirits and powered by the undead. Akkuma and probably Shin would find it… homely. And more importantly, an acknowledgement of Yamigakure as a village proper would fly in the face of Konoha and Kumo, causing tensions to increase further. A powerbase of shinobi that could be called on my the smaller countries for aid… true mercenary power.
Migoya’s creation due to Konoha’s child-killing and abandonment of its most talented shinobi… acknowledged. He would love to see Takashi’s arrogant, smug face when he saw that.
“Understood. If my clan come across any other Kirigakurians, we will pass on the offer, though most, as you know, are content either staying in their homeland, or have gone underground. In my recent trip there I found no trace of life in Kirigakure itself - only the icy curse that pervades it all. Yamigakure has some few refugees from there, and I will inform them of Suna's offer. With regards to your new position, I have sent Mikki to Iwagakure covertly to ascertain their current status, though I doubt they would act against their puppet master Konohagakure in any event, unless doing so was in their interests. Sand and Stone sounds rather touching does it not? Tsuchigakure is as obstinate and irrelevant as always, preferring to stay on their knees to make-believe Gods than embrace any sort of destiny on the world stage. Kurosawa bends to whomever has the most money for that is their God. Snow, Demon, Iron, Waterfall, Grass… all small players that could easily be utilised as allies by Sunagakure as a display of power, should you provide them with suitable reasons. I know that Snow has a particular dislike for Konoha… In any event, the alliance of smaller countries with that of Wind is a possible and… grand opportunity for Sunagakure. I will continue to provide updates to aid you, as is fitting in our mutually beneficial relationship.”.
Indeed, the Myakashi could and would stir things up in the smaller countries to get them to request aid from Suna, or indeed Yamigakure. All part of the bigger picture.
A moment of silence then came as Migoya pondered what to do with the more… personal information. Kiko… both a pride of the Myakashi, but also a wilful servant of destruction. She was a rabid dog, set to task she was a vicious and effective assassin, but sometimes… just sometimes… Migoya hated the fact that he had created such a perfect weapon. He loved her as a father and wished for her safety as he had wished for her grandfathers, her uncles, and now her actual father, but at the end of the day she lived for battle and blood. What the villages failed to realise is that pronouncing her ‘villain’ only encouraged her more.
“Kiko. Yes. She is a willful creation, but there is beauty in that. I will inform her of her current status, though I think she would rather enjoy it. To prevent possible incidents I will encourage her to remain outside of the villages for the interim, unless there is reason to use her. Perhaps to hunt down this 'Silence' for slander...”
Perhaps with a certain diplomatic convoy headed to Migoya’s most hated rival. He had promised never to act against Sunan shinobi, nor would he harm a Turaono out of respect, but if he could slide an agent into that entourage… no. It was not the time.
“Lady Asuka. You might know of our… difficult background. Simply put, if I see her, I will kill her and banish her soul to the infinite void. She, under orders from Takeshi, conducted the killing of children for simply speaking out against the Hokage, hardly warranting a death sentence. As a result, my own clan was implicated and banished from Konoha and branded ‘missing’. I know now if you had anything to do with her disappearance, our relationship could benefit from you.. I dont know… providing me with her head…”.
Migoya was not a good man, but he was fair. Few times had Migoya taken the life of a shinobi, particularly a Leaf shinobi, but it was clear that Aksuka held a special place in his cold, dead heart. There was naturally more to the situation than the Myakashi would let on, but for now he had provided Akkuma with a measure of information to do with and digest, much like the feast Akkuma had provided him.
Yes. Both would feast well on the information shared between them, for the more they ate the hungrier they got.
'If they already call me a villain, what will they call me when I succeed?'
Akkuma would feel the smile down the headset.
“They will call you Master.”
[MFT]
