Raiden himself smiled upon the village that day, basking it's residents in the warm glow of a clear day. The people that gathered today were effervescent, swirling and milling to greet their fellow man and share in the rumor that had spread like a bushfire in the night. An exchange of office. A peaceful exchange of power.
It was true.
It had been many years since the Grand Announcer had had the pleasure of presiding over a sanguine event such as this. Raikage had become synonymous with death and sacrifice in the past half century, a fact not lost on it's people. It would be a joy to see a peaceful change in Raikages for the first time in many decades. Already Kumogakure's people readied for a celebration beyond recount, waiting only for his word to officiate and confirm their reason jubilee. The festivities may just overshadow his speech by the evenings end.
The old man rose, straining to balance his weight on his ancient staff, and took his place at the pedestal placed on the highest step of the Torre Celeste. The soaring edifice and grand architecture made a fitting back drop to the day's news. He bore and bent beneath the heavy ceremonial robes of his station as Councillor, and for today, Announcer.
"Brothers and Sisters of Kumogakure. Rejoice, for today is an auspicious and historic occasion!" He boomed, voice cascading across the gathered crowd. A hush fell over the citizens of Kumogakure, as if coerced to silence by the very sound of councilmen's voice. Flags bearing Cloud's seal snapped in the breeze, echoing in the stillness, as the eyes and ears of every gathered shinobi and citizen turned attentively to him."It is my great pleasure to come before you all on this grand and fortuitous occasion." he continued, sweeping his arms wide as if the embrace the entirety of the village. "To announce and bear witness to the exchange of office between Akira Saito, student of Shinbatsu , four time-Sennin, ninth Raikage and hero of the demonic wars and Ayumu, son of the Kogami clan, Twice-Sennin of Kumogakure, a hero of the Bear/Marsh conflict."
The silence broke then as the gathered people broke into a roar of cheering and applause. He basked in the clamour of approval, as pleased to deliver the brilliant news as they were pleased to receive it. Could it have simply been the relief of not bearing the shame of another lost Raikage?
He rose his hands for silence again, and continued to speak over the crowd as they quieted to a murmur. "For too long have the Raikage of Kumogakure, our greatest of warriors and leaders, fallen or vanished into the ages. Brethren, we have been dangerously close to seeing the last peaceful exchange of leadership stretch beyond living memory." the old councilmen's voice lowered gravely, sorrow seeping from every word. He cast his eyes across the crowd, knowing that all but the youngest had lived through the upheaval the loss of a Raikage dealt. Years had passed since the last Raikage, Hayata Shin, had fallen and more still since the fall of Kagetsu Kiyo but their loss had reverberated though and touched the lives of all within Cloud. Few could recount the days of Aion the Dawnbringer or Child Kage Eimin and fewer still those from beyond the Tech Age.
"It is by that sentiment, that I express our gratitude to our ninth Raikage." He said, making a sweeping gesture to the present, retiring Raikage, to draw further attention to the collosal man. "We thank-you, Akira, son of Shinbatsu for once again devoting yourself to Kumogakure. We are in awe of the strength and wisdom you have exhibited throughout your rule. We are indebted to you for seeing through the poison of democracy and lament your resignation. It pleases us all to see a peaceful end to your reign, an event seen so little by our kind. May you continue to guide us, as ever, from wherever your exodus takes you. As Aion brought the dawn to our people, you have stood as a shield to protect Kumogakure, like the very mountain around us. Thus, let you be known now and into the ages, as Akira, Mountain of Kumogakure." Despite his age, the announcer bowed, and many of the people followed his example with a bow of their head. No Raikage could be said to have pleased everyone. Akira Saito would be both blessed and cursed with having no tragedy to overshadow his perceived misdeeds, but perhaps a happy ending would work in his favour. Time would tell what historians made of his time as Raikage.
Now, onto Kogami-sama. The elder smiled warily, amused to compare the past and future Raikage. Kogami, Ayumu was still young but all could tell there would be a great difference between the two. Would he be like Shin, a scholar and peaceful man, a diplomat like Kiyo, or ascend to godhood like Shinbatsu or Aion? Only time would reveal the path of the tenth Raikage. "Our new Kage had proven himself worthy oh our trust time and again. At a young and inexperienced age, Kogami-sama stepped into the position of Anbu-Sennin when none other could fill the role. Despite his youth, he maintained the strength of our fearsome Anbu until felled by injury. He rose again to the rank of Main Branch Sennin where he has shepherded our shinobi force."
Another pause, this one a calm before the breaking wave rising on the horizon. He waited only long enough that collectively the mass inched forward in anticipation.
"As it has been ordained by the Council , Akira Saito, and the god Raiden himself, I declare thee Ayumu, son of the Kogami clan, Tenth Raikage of Kumogakures' Tech age. Long may you rule." He struck his staff thrice upon the stone steps, the sounds evoking the will of the lightning god Raiden to call for his blessing. His proclamation was met with three planned explosions above the crowds head and a cascade of paper confetti which swirled and danced at the beckoning of two paper jutsu affiliated Anbu. The congregation erupted again into a thunder of cheer and festivity.
"We will hear now, words from our past and our future. I call upon Saito-dono and Kogami-dono, if it is your will to speak to the people?"
