Chasing a Dream [Requesting Main Branch Sennin|Ayumu]

[Shimatsu Shigeru]

Shigeru was beginning to get serious for real. He cared about this village and despite his recent experience on his mission, Shigeru wanted to do whatever he could to make the village prosper. He awoke early; there was a familiar pain in his abdomen. There was a strange mark where Kubashi had impaled him with his weird jutsu, and Shigeru still didn’t feel quite normal. He could feel his fire roiling inside of him, threatening to burst out of him. However, he wouldn’t let that stop him from completing his dreams. He had met several children now that had high dreams, and he sought to make those dreams come true. No, he didn’t wish to topple the hierarchy, but creating a safe path for them to travel would be the key to raising the village. Shigeru had dreams of his own, and no crazy old man would stand in his way.

Shigeru put on his best looking suit and made out for Torre Celeste. The building stood as a monolith in the village. It was the center of all that gave life to the village, and Shigeru so desperately wished that he was a larger part of it. He knew that completing missions brought in revenue for the village, and that in and of itself was a large part; however, standing in front of this massive structure, Shigeru could not help but wish that somewhere inside of its belly there was a position for him. That is what Shigeru had come to do; he wanted to bring himself into the administrative fold. Stepping boldly over the threshold, Shigeru embraced his future, whatever it may hold.

He walked up to the front desk and stated, “I wish to have a meeting with the Main Branch Sennin. I believe his name is Kogami Ayumu, and I know that he is a busy man. If you would tell him that a one, Shimatsu Shigeru is here to have a brief meeting with him, I would be much obliged. Tell him I will wait as long as need be, I do not wish to inconvenience him.” There, his words were out and it was done. All that was left was to wait. His body roiled with fire, but his mind was set in determination; He would accomplish something this day. He had to.

[MFT]

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

The secretary at the front desk looked up as Shigeru approached, smiling invitingly as she was practiced in doing. She nodded as Shigeru stated his purpose and then reached for a button on the headset she was wearing to open a line to the Sennin's office. "Kogami-sama," she said, pausing for a response. "There is a Shimatsu Shigeru here who would like a moment of your time. Yes. Okay," she said, speaking to the man on the other side of the line of communication before pressing the button again and lowering her hand to the desk before her once more. "He'll see you now. Please, head on up to his office. The signs will show you the way," she said to Shigeru, beckoning towards the elevator and stairwell off to the side of the lobby, either of which would lead Shigeru up. A directory between the two listed the location of the Sennin's office within the Legation.

Upon Shigeru arrival in the Sennin's office he would find the doors already open to a room filled with natural light from the bay windows behind the Sennin's desk. The desk itself was a large one made from fine mahogany and was covered with papers scattered across it. Behind the desk, Ayumu sat in a comfortable looking leather rolling office chair writing upon one of the many pages before him, the pen in his hand pausing as he heard Shigeru enter. Ayumu looked up to see the face of the one who was calling on him today. These meetings weren't uncommon and he was used to shinobi in his branch coming to him with different agendas. When he could, he tried to stop what he was doing for such meetings. "Shimatsu Shigeru, I take it? What can I do for you?" Ayumu asked, leaning back in his chair and interlocking his hands which rested upon the desk before him.

 

[Shimatsu Shigeru]

Shigeru was almost surprised when he was given immediate access to his Sennin’s office. He would have thought that someone with such power and responsibility would have no time to waste on an unscheduled office visit. However, Shigeru was not one to look a gift Sennin in the face, and he breathed a sigh of relief that the hardest part was over. Getting to the office was the hardest part, after that, all he had to do was tell this man his dream for the village. Shouldn’t that be easy? Shigeru had no nerves, and the walk only soothed him of any unrest he may have felt. In fact, he had never walked these hallways, and Shigeru could only marvel at just how many great shinobi had walked these very steps in the past. The trip, though, was short lived, and soon Shigeru was standing in front of an open door. ‘Here goes nothing. I wonder what this man will be like.’

Stepping through the door, Shigeru instantly noticed the atmosphere of the room; it felt almost comfortable in such a high priority place. This usually meant that either the occupant did not respect his position, or that the occupant had a more accepting view of the hierarchy. However, once Shigeru saw the man sitting in the leather chair, he knew this man meant business. He was large, though not building-sized; he was definitely outclassing Shigeru. Even with this, though, Shigeru did not feel threatened by him. Then the man spoke, his voice carrying an air of authority. Shigeru did his best to shore up all the nerve he had, and he gave the man a deep bow. “Hello Kogami Aymu. Though we may not formally know each other, I have heard tales of your exploits. You have done much for this village. Recently, I took a sabbatical in order to expand my knowledge. As such, I took a break from actively accepting missions and helping the village as a whole. I have not been off the scene for long, but I have been gone long enough to have lost my touch. That is why I have come today. I am yours, Kogami Ayumu, to do with what you see fit. I want to see this village prosper. It is my dream that this village rise high above where it has ever been.” The words came out steadily but full of passion. He was showing this man his true dream. Like only few knew.<i></i>

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu observed Shigeru as the boy did the same, taking note of what he could based on appearances alone. He seemed very determined to be there and have this conversation with Ayumu. The bow was respectful, though Ayumu never truly felt the need for such formality. Soon, Shigeru began to state his purpose. He began by saying that he had heard much of Ayumu's exploits. Ayumu chuckled slightly, hoping he'd heard only the good tales, if such things existed. As many shinobi often did, Shigeru had just finished taking a break from active duty. The live of a shinobi was rough both physically and mentally. Others might disagree, but Ayumu felt it was better for the shinobi of the village to relax now and then rather than be worn ragged and eventually lose their edge.

Getting to the point of the matter quickly, Shigeru asked to be made use of. He spoke passionately and displayed a deep loyalty and love for the village. He came, as many who visited Ayumu, seeking purpose and direction it seemed. What that meant for a Main Branch shinobi was what division they would take part in and hone their skills in. Ayumu of course knew which divisions had more or less candidates, but more importantly was to find which one suited the individual more. "I see. It's good to see someone with such vigor aiming so high. I'm proud to have one such as yourself in the branch. Now, as for what to do with you," Ayumu said, pausing as he began to think. He stood from his chair and walked around the side of his desk, dragging a finger across the top until he stopped and took a seat on the side of it.

"What kind of mission type would you say that you excel in? Espionage? Escorting? Assassination? Is there anything in particular you feel most comfortable doing?" Ayumu asked, trying to determine where Shigeru might fit in best. When it came to finding a division, the individual's skill set was probably the most useful thing to know in order to help place them. After all, what they were good at would make an excellent choice for employment, naturally. It wasn't the only factor, but it was important to know.

 

[Shimatsu Shigeru]

Even as Shigeru talked, he studied the mannerisms of the man in front of him. Ayumu seemed more relaxed and laid-back than Shigeru would have ever thought someone with such a position could be. In fact, the man chuckled at one point; this almost knocked Shigeru off his feet. Was this man really a normal guy? Shigeru felt almost comfortable being in the presence of someone with such power. This only assured Shigeru that he had made the right choice re-devoting himself to the Main Branch. With a leader like this the whole village can prosper. Now, Shigeru just had to secure a position next to this great man.

Then something happened Shigeru truly wasn’t ready for; Ayumu gave him a compliment. No one had ever singled Shigeru out for praise before. ‘He likes my vigor? I have to be doing something right then.’ The praise, though small, literally warmed Shigeru past his normalcy. He was already a real warm person, but now Shigeru was literally glowing. “Thank you for your praise Kogami-sama, but I would give all this and more to see our village prosper.”

Ayumu then began questioning Shigeru about his skills in mission. Though these things sometimes didn’t directly affect the village, Shigeru understood how these skillsets could be used to find a place within the village a person belonged. Thinking for a moment, Shigeru had to play back all the missions he had ever done, and there were a lot of them. Though the last one was definitely a low note, Shigeru had mostly good memories of his escapades. “I have done a good mix of all kinds of missions. Escort and Assassination missions has made the bulk of these, though. I have always had a particular aversion to stealth, but I can do it when need be. In the end, I feel my personality suits me to escorting, and my skillset, being as flashy as it is, suits me to both protecting people and to assassinations that do not have to be covert. Overall, I have taken on missions that I felt suited the needs of Kumogakure no Sato and our Country most of all.”

After giving that short spiel, Shigeru would briefly pause, listening to whatever Ayumu would say, then add one final comment to his plans; it was something he didn’t even know that he was going to say. “Along with missions and help, Kogami-sama, I have noticed that we do not have many prominent Jounin among the ranks of the Main Branch. I feel as if it is time to break from my tenure as a Chuunin and become a Jounin. I believe that becoming a Jounin will help the village out astronomically. Though I understand if you feel I'm not ready.” Jounin! Shigeru was barely back functioning as a Chuunin! However, he knew that he had to move forward, and this was the real way to make the village prosper.​

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu nodded as Shigeru went over the experience he had with missions. It sounded like he had experienced an even spread of mission types, enough to get a grasp on what he connected most with. That was not stealth, according to him. Although he saw himself as capable of it, it was perhaps not something he felt was his particular strongsuit. In a village of shinobi, one would think stealth would be king. This was not always the case, however. There were a wide variety of different types of shinobi. Some fit the classic archtype of a shinobi, the hidden blade in the shadows. Surprisingly, they could perhaps be considered in the minority. Many shinobi relied on large, flashy Ninjutsu that were anything but subtle. That said, Ayumu had a better grasp on what kind of shinobi Shigeru was now. The Merces Letifer was likely not for him if he had an aversion to stealth, as their primary goal was usually to go unseen. The intelligence service was perhaps even less suitable. He mentioned no love of teaching, so the academy branch was likely not for him either. That left a few divisions as possibilities.

"I see... perhaps the Infantry, Ambassadorial, or Deathwatch divisions might be for you," Ayumu spoke in the pause that Shigeru provided, but he could tell that the boy had more that he wanted to say so he continued to listen. "Go on," he beckoned. It seemed Shigeru was observant. He noticed that the branch was lacking Jounin, the highest rank of the branch. Unfortunately, many were content to reach Chuunin and stay comfortable at that level. It allowed them to provide for their families, but required less of them. There was less danger, less work. It was understandable, but Ayumu and the village both needed those who were willing to put forth more effort and strive for more. It sounded like Shigeru was ready to do that. He desired to become a Jounin and felt that doing so would enable him to help the village further. It was not so simple, however.

"Shigeru, I am glad that you wish to be a Jounin. Many are content to reach Chuunin rank and rest on their laurels. That you are unwilling to do so says a lot about you. As you know there are some requirements for promotion to Jounin. As much as we need them, we can't place such responsibility on our shinobi without knowing they are ready. We would risk destroying promising young men and women before they had a chance to grow in to the position first," Ayumu explained. "I know that with the drive you have, it won't be long now. You're close. You just need to take on more missions. And when you are ready, I'll be happy to accept you as a Jounin," he concluded, giving the Chuunin a firm nod.

[OoC: In case you were wondering, the mission you're on right now (B-rank) will give you 2 points out of the 6 points you need to be Jounin since you started this character as a Chuunin. If you haven't already, you can click the link in my profile to see more about promition requirements.]

 

[Shimatsu Shigeru]

Shigeru could tell, with just his first sentence, that Ayumu had really listened to what he said. He was decisive in his judgment, though. He knew that from Shigeru’s own words, things of the more careful nature were a little out of the comfort zone for this young shinobi. However, he did not seem to be upset or appalled by such an admission from Shigeru, speaking volumes of not only the man’s care for his branch but also his patience to deal with hotheads who wish only to blow up everything in sight. Clearly they had picked a good man for the job, and Shigeru was more and more enjoying the presence of such a man. However, what he had said did puzzle Shigeru just a little, but that was for a totally different reason altogether.

Then the man responded in kind to Shigeru’s sentiments about the Jounin of the village. It was a thoughtful response that was not set on tearing Shigeru down but giving him hope for the future. Instead of being bummed, Shigeru was happy that Ayumu respected his choice to aim for Jounin, which only made Shigeru want it more. “Thank you for your kind words Ayumu-sama. I will do everything in my power to live up to those sentiments. However, I must admit. I do not know much about either the Deathwatch or the Infantry. I do not believe I was ever told that I could formally join either. Do these divisions have leaders that I could meet with? Or is there some way for me to take on a specific mission for these divisions so that I can garner more experience? I’m sorry if that is not possible, but I have to ask.” Shigeru knew he sounded a little stupid, but when he became a Chuunin so long ago, no one had formally explained any of this too him.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Fortunately, the Chuunin didn't seem like he was expecting to be made a Jounin right away. He seemed willing to put in the work required. Now that his intentions were made known, he returned to the topic of divisions. He asked of the Deathwatch and Infantry which Ayumu had mentioned moments ago. There was some confusion about joining them or even what they were. He asked of the leaders of the divisions or about taking missions. 'Note to self... the branch needs to explain divisions a bit better to members. Perhaps that's why so many people come to me looking for direction?' Ayumu thought, standing up from the desk and walking over to a nearby bookshelf. He retrieved a small pamphlet from it and walked over to Shigeru, handing it to him. "This will help fill you in a bit about the different divisions," he said, pointing to the section that described each division.

"To answer your questions... first, let's talk about the infantry. Believe it or not, you're already part of the infantry. By default, a Main Branch shinobi can be considered part of that division. The infantry handles a wide variety of missions and is therefore likely the most versatile of the divisions. It's quite important to the branch as it likely handles the most missions," Ayumu said, returning to his desk and sitting once more upon the corner of it. "The Death Watch on the other hand, cooperates with ANBU in guarding the gates of the village from intruders and preventing those shinobi who would become Missing-nin from escaping," Ayumu continued, recalling the time he himself spent guarding the gates as both part of ANBU and the Main Branch.

"Now, as for leaders, Hatako Koshiro heads up the infantry and his office is here in the Legation. You'd be welcome to meet with him, but as I said you're already a part of the infantry division if that's what suits you. On the other hand, Yuma Kirin heads up the Deathwatch as its captain. She has an office here, although she might be at the gates too. It just depends. If you have interest in joining her division, speak with her and she can make that happen. It's the same with the others, as well. Now that you have that, you may want to read up before you make any decisions," Ayumu explained, identifying the two division heads for Shigeru. To his knowledge, they were both in the Legation today if Shigeru wished to meet with either.

"That said, do you have any more questions?" Ayumu asked.