The Wanderlust Tavern located in the Red Lights was once a welcoming place, even in the squalor of the district. Once the village rose to the surface, it remained in the Ruins. The shine would fade and the appearance would match the decadence and depravity that would grow to fill it. It wasn't the only unscrupulous location in the Red Lights, but for this night, for this instance, it would be the home of something heinous; a plot of murder.
The individual, someone either lucky or unlucky, would enter the tavern and immediately head toward the bar. The occupancy was sparse and rugged looking, the barkeep would match the patrons in appearance.
"What'ya want?"
"A flagon of the grimiest you got... and I am also interested in investment opportunities."
It would be apparent to the barkeep that the person was talking in a way that most likely wasn't their normal speaking voice, but that wasn't too odd of an occurrence down here. He would begin pouring alcohol for the figure, before pausing for a moment.
"Oh, and how much are you looking to offer?"
"A King's Ransom."
"I see."
The barkeep would slam the mug upon the bartop and would motion to a door off to the side of the bar.
"Management will see'ya."
The figure would take the mug and head to the door. The barkeep would press a button underneath the tabletop as the door before the figure would release a locking sound. Upon opening the door, the figure would be greeted with another bar space, but unlike the one they entered originally, this one would be full of people. Some of the individuals looked as if they would belong in the Ruins while others looked more pristine as if they had ventured from above ground. At the far end of the room was a stage, and upon the stage would be a figure wearing a mask. A mask would be offered to the individual who had just entered, and they would take a seat.
"It seems the room is rather full tonight, so let's not waste any time. The longer these meetings last the more likely we are to catch the eye of a pilfering ANBU, am I right?"
The man on stage would motion to one of the masked figures in the crowd. Was he doing this because the figure had run-ins with the ANBU? Was it because the figure was an ANBU?
"Either way, we came here for one reason... well that's wrong, we are all here for many different reasons but hold one similar goal... one similar outcome; the death of that foreigner, Ryuzaki Raizo!"
The crowd would erupt in cheers and jeers as alcohol would splash, chairs would creek, and tables would scoot from place to place. This was a rowdy group.
"We have been forced to deal with this farce long enough. Some of you hoped that the Takahashi would come to their senses, some believed the Sunahoshi heir would return, others of ya felt like someone else would stand up and do the right thing... but this hoping and wishing got us nowhere! Got us nothing!"
The crowd would once more go into a frenzy.
"And now, if not an insult enough to keep wearing the Kazekage hat and robes... this outsider is now hosting some games to determine village leadership? He is making a mockery of this once proud village! He is making a mockery of those of you in this room who have dedicated your lives to the shinobi corps! He is making a mockery of our history! But why shouldn't he? This isn't his home! We aren't his people!"
The crowd would be reaching a fever pitch of excitement.
"His people are those who sat in the Daimyo's backyard while we got held hostage by bombs (The Cabal Event), a prison break, or by walking monsters (the Sovereign) who continually waltzed into this village without worries or issues. Now we don't blame him for this do we?"
The crowd would respond in a similar chorus of cheers and jeers.
"NO! He didn't send these misfortunes our way, but he and his family sat on their hands and did nothing... and now, when the 10th Kazekage was out, he saunters through our gates and snatches up the mantle of Kazekage? This child, who had proven nothing, was able to convince Takahashi Sousuke to give him the title, and now Sousuke has 'retired'... if you can't smell the bloody writing on the wall, you are a damn fool! This is a coup, this is our rights slowly getting snuffed out while this insurgence from Sora, from the home of the Daimyo does what they've been planning all along; destroy this village and leave us dead in the sands. Where the previous plan was more direct and violent... this is a slow and political death. Weaken us to the point a strong gust could push us over! And now we got outsiders and threats coming from other villages? Wake up! WAKE UP! The time is coming... so what do we do?"
"KILL THE KAZEKAGE!" the crowd would yell in unison.
"These little games of his will be his final act in this horrid little play of his. The prize he has promised is new Sennins, the prize we will get; a new Kazekage. A legitimate Kazekage. A Kazekage who will make SUNA GREAT AGAIN!"
The crowd would erupt.
The ominous wind would blow stronger...
The individual, someone either lucky or unlucky, would enter the tavern and immediately head toward the bar. The occupancy was sparse and rugged looking, the barkeep would match the patrons in appearance.
"What'ya want?"
"A flagon of the grimiest you got... and I am also interested in investment opportunities."
It would be apparent to the barkeep that the person was talking in a way that most likely wasn't their normal speaking voice, but that wasn't too odd of an occurrence down here. He would begin pouring alcohol for the figure, before pausing for a moment.
"Oh, and how much are you looking to offer?"
"A King's Ransom."
"I see."
The barkeep would slam the mug upon the bartop and would motion to a door off to the side of the bar.
"Management will see'ya."
The figure would take the mug and head to the door. The barkeep would press a button underneath the tabletop as the door before the figure would release a locking sound. Upon opening the door, the figure would be greeted with another bar space, but unlike the one they entered originally, this one would be full of people. Some of the individuals looked as if they would belong in the Ruins while others looked more pristine as if they had ventured from above ground. At the far end of the room was a stage, and upon the stage would be a figure wearing a mask. A mask would be offered to the individual who had just entered, and they would take a seat.
"It seems the room is rather full tonight, so let's not waste any time. The longer these meetings last the more likely we are to catch the eye of a pilfering ANBU, am I right?"
The man on stage would motion to one of the masked figures in the crowd. Was he doing this because the figure had run-ins with the ANBU? Was it because the figure was an ANBU?
"Either way, we came here for one reason... well that's wrong, we are all here for many different reasons but hold one similar goal... one similar outcome; the death of that foreigner, Ryuzaki Raizo!"
The crowd would erupt in cheers and jeers as alcohol would splash, chairs would creek, and tables would scoot from place to place. This was a rowdy group.
"We have been forced to deal with this farce long enough. Some of you hoped that the Takahashi would come to their senses, some believed the Sunahoshi heir would return, others of ya felt like someone else would stand up and do the right thing... but this hoping and wishing got us nowhere! Got us nothing!"
The crowd would once more go into a frenzy.
"And now, if not an insult enough to keep wearing the Kazekage hat and robes... this outsider is now hosting some games to determine village leadership? He is making a mockery of this once proud village! He is making a mockery of those of you in this room who have dedicated your lives to the shinobi corps! He is making a mockery of our history! But why shouldn't he? This isn't his home! We aren't his people!"
The crowd would be reaching a fever pitch of excitement.
"His people are those who sat in the Daimyo's backyard while we got held hostage by bombs (The Cabal Event), a prison break, or by walking monsters (the Sovereign) who continually waltzed into this village without worries or issues. Now we don't blame him for this do we?"
The crowd would respond in a similar chorus of cheers and jeers.
"NO! He didn't send these misfortunes our way, but he and his family sat on their hands and did nothing... and now, when the 10th Kazekage was out, he saunters through our gates and snatches up the mantle of Kazekage? This child, who had proven nothing, was able to convince Takahashi Sousuke to give him the title, and now Sousuke has 'retired'... if you can't smell the bloody writing on the wall, you are a damn fool! This is a coup, this is our rights slowly getting snuffed out while this insurgence from Sora, from the home of the Daimyo does what they've been planning all along; destroy this village and leave us dead in the sands. Where the previous plan was more direct and violent... this is a slow and political death. Weaken us to the point a strong gust could push us over! And now we got outsiders and threats coming from other villages? Wake up! WAKE UP! The time is coming... so what do we do?"
"KILL THE KAZEKAGE!" the crowd would yell in unison.
"These little games of his will be his final act in this horrid little play of his. The prize he has promised is new Sennins, the prize we will get; a new Kazekage. A legitimate Kazekage. A Kazekage who will make SUNA GREAT AGAIN!"
The crowd would erupt.
The ominous wind would blow stronger...