Private First Day Back Huh?

[Uchiha Takeshi]

One week had passed, a whole week and the whole village had gone through changes would be the best way of saying it. He knew full well that the situation would be complicated, and people would have questions, but here he was as agreed one week after letting his former mentor and former Hokage back into the village, he could use the man's advise right now, Umashi had always been better at politics than he would be, but he had tried to learn, sitting back in the chair that was now once his, the office back to its simple and basic form he heard the knocking on the door.

"Enter"

"I brought the tea as you requested"

"Great thank you, just put it down on the desk for now please, and just allow our guest entry no need to shut the door, but please once he enters just shut the door for me."

"Of course"

With that the lady stepped into the room placing the tray with the teapot and two cups on the desk, the steam gently pouring from the spout as it was freshly brewed. He gently folded the scroll that had come to him at the gates with Nao and placed it into a draw, moving away paperwork of the changes in Sennin positions that had come about out of sight, leaving the general student listings, other information that he considered of low threat for anyone to see. With the draws shut he was ready for his guest, leaning back in the chair he waited and wondered how this conversation would go down.

[Topic Entered]

 

[Seijin]

Joining Takeshi, it wasn't lost on Umashi that the Godaime Hokage didn't join them. Figuring that the party was simply for the two of them, Umashi went along with the arrangement and made his way to the Hokage's office. Dressed in his own unassuming garments, he wore the robes befitting of a dignitary. With a lack of notable insignia or symbols, Umashi's statement of dress was without statement in so much as he looked the part of a person of high status but didn't overly flaunt what he had. Being back in Konoha, he expected the keen eyed to recognize him without him saying a word, but for most, he had been gone for so long away from the public eye in the Fire Country at large. Appreciative of the time that he'd been allowed to explore and visit old friends and old places from his memory, Umashi finally stood before the administrative staff that scheduled things for the Hokage. Speaking up, he greeted the staff and stated his purpose. "I've an appointment to meet with the 4th!" Recognizing that they could never been too careful, Umashi was all to happy to stand to the side as the appointment list was checked before he was invited up.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi looked up from the desk as he heard the familiar voice from the doorway, watching as the woman at the desk whispered a few words he didn't catch the exchange between the two of them but as the woman escorted him into the office, Takeshi allowed a small smile to creep across his lips. The Hokage office was something that he could not get used to again, but that was something that would come with time, he was sure of it, after all, time settles most things down. As he offered the chair opposite him to Umashi he seemed to have to get things off quickly and directly rather than waiting around.

"Have a set Umashi, we have both become far too old to stand our lives. Did you want a cup of tea, freshly brewed, cannot say I am a fan, but it has been growing on me more and more these past few years?"

Takeshi lifted the tea mug up pouring two green teas freshly picked that morning for this meeting, he did like to still show that all that diplomacy had not gone unnoticed when we wanted to, as he placed the mug back down he took his cup in one hand and leaned back in the chair, almost frowning to himself he decided the best approach was the direct one, lay the cards out and give Umashi the information he knew.

"Uchiha Asuka has been removed from her position as Hokage, the Sennin have appointed me back to the position of Hokage. It's a shock and things are moving quickly around here, a tea with a familiar face seems to help mellow my nerves out this afternoon. With the attack that took place, a full reshuffle of Sennin, it's almost funny but I could use your advice right now Umashi."

He left the statement to linger in the air between them.

 

[Seijin]

Finally being allowed to have the audience with Takeshi, Umashi looked around and noticed that all in all, much hadn't changed about the the office of the Hokage. Well, nothing that he could majorly figure. Whatever changes had happened over the years seemed to be only what was necessary or stylistically personal. Far more than he had expected had stayed the same and that could probably be chalked up to the fact that only two other individuals had actually held the title in as much time as he and Yomi had been gone and the fact that said individuals both hailed from the same clan apparently. Thanking the woman that had escorted him to the office, he quickly turned and gave a curt bow towards Takeshi before entering the room. Motioning to indicate that he would indeed like a cup of tea. "You don't know what you're missing!" Internally however, Umashi was more than pleased to have the entirety of the brew all to himself if he would have been offered as much.

Thanking Takeshi for the tea, he at last was able to sit and rest as he listened to the latest update. With the cup of tea in hand, he couldn't stop his eyebrows from noticeably raising at the mention of the how the 4th Hokage had ended up back on the saddle. "Removed...?" Closing his eyes and shaking his head, Umashi exhaled audibly as he took the chance to blow over his tea. Which he wouldn't have flat out come out and said it, he would have been lying if he had said that he hadn't kept his eyes and ears open for any sign of a coup. When returning home, it was only natural that things would have changed but Umashi had learned his lesson about assuming the best without understanding that sometimes the worst of things came to be.

To that end, he'd found nothing amiss and thus he was just as sure that concerning the 5th Hokage, whatever had happened, was as was implied, that due to some reason, she was publicly considered AWOL and the political powers within Konoha were simply doing their best to manage. "I'll be honest, it was more than alarming that she disappeared so quickly after we met but we both know that the life of a Kage is one wrought with strife." Letting the sentence hang in the air, he opened his eyes again and against conventional wisdom, looked Takeshi directly in the eyes. "How can I help? I've been out of the loop for some time but Konoha's continued protection is always in my heart." A true, if open ended statement. Only time could tell what he'd ultimately get himself into.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi watched the man taking the tea, he pondered for a few moments at the words, and took one of the empty cups from the table and poured the tea into it, honestly, he considered himself a whiskey man but some things were better left for the evening, and not in the middle of a meeting. As he leaned back in his chair and looked at the liquid, swirling it in the cup he would let it cool before trying any, and to break the conversation would be something that wouldn't go well with the question of Asuka's replacement, he knew tough questions would be asked and was prepared for them.

"Removed indeed, a word that makes us think of a plot, but in fact, the truth is much worse, she vanished, duties abandoned and the village left on its own, with her went another Sennin as well leaving no leadership, no direction and after an attack frankly mass confusion."

He leaned back pondering how to work the next part out, after all it was a strange situation but the truth told in these matters was better than a lie that had been simply swept under the rug and put out of the way, this was what he had come to understand.

"With that, I was voted into replace as Hokage, I have changed Sennin around, since the attack we have uncovered that it was from a Missing Shinobi and not from Sand at all, so the words sent to sand by my predecessor need to be addressed, and with Cloud not having any information decided to break the treaty, so all in all its been.....well let's say interesting in a nutshell and a lot of work is required around the village."

Deciding that his tea had enough time to cool he decided to take a sip of it, as he drank the taste he had to admit wasn't the worst, it would take some getting used to but he was willing to at least give it a shot and not completely throw it out the window.

"While alarming, we both know that the village has to be sorted, we have been attacked, everyone vanished, we need to sort things out, and we need people to be in positions where they can assist. Frankly, it's a bit of a shit show and I am praying that I can help Leaf through this, after all a village undivided is a village broken, which at the moment my old teacher Konoha is."

He gave a moment as he looked Umashi in the eyes, he hated being in a situation where a while ago he had allowed such a change but now he would have to ask the impossible of Umashi.

"I know when I took over, I allowed you to leave, never questioned where you went, never considered what you had been up to. I am not about to ask either as I do not want to know that was the deal, you know I wouldn't ask this normally however given our situation, would you consider returning to full Shinobi status inside of Leaf, even if its academy teaching, or would you have terms to this?"

 

[Seijin]

It was often Umashi's belief that the people that talked the fastest, tended to be the ones most likely to try and fool their listeners. Takeshi wasn't talking particularly fast, but the words that he used and the general way in which he seemed to, in Umashi's estimation, gloss over certain details that Umashi wasn't up to speed on, instantly caused Umashi's pulse to quicken. It was one thing to assume that he knew about the former Hokage going missing. Umashi had actually been somewhat present for that event. From a position of comfort as a guest, he hadn't had to lift a finger to do anything concerning any investigations or the like. In fact, Konoha seemed to be on top of the situation from what he could surmise. On the outside and looking in, the older man had simply followed all the new protocols that had been enacted by the village security and here he was, sitting before the 4th and now, current, Hokage. "With that, I was voted into replace as Hokage, I have changed Sennin around, since the attack we have uncovered that it was from a Missing Shinobi and not from Sand at all, so the words sent to sand by my predecessor need to be addressed, and with Cloud not having any information decided to break the treaty, so all in all its been.....well let's say interesting in a nutshell and a lot of work is required around the village."

Holding up a hand, Umashi urged the man to pause, but he was too slow at the draw and instead, Takeshi followed up with words that ultimately caused Umashi to lower his hand and to form a complete hold on his tea. "While alarming, we both know that the village has to be sorted, we have been attacked, everyone vanished, we need to sort things out, and we need people to be in positions where they can assist. Frankly, it's a bit of a shit show and I am praying that I can help Leaf through this, after all a village undivided is a village broken, which at the moment my old teacher Konoha is." Umashi was no genius and fortunately, it didn't take one to figure out where Takeshi was going. The elder man would have groaned audibly if he'd had the time but like a skilled master of chess, Takeshi slid his piece across the board with keen knowing and finesse. "I know when I took over, I allowed you to leave, never questioned where you went, never considered what you had been up to. I am not about to ask either as I do not want to know that was the deal, you know I wouldn't ask this normally however given our situation, would you consider returning to full Shinobi status inside of Leaf, even if its academy teaching, or would you have terms to this?"

Check . . . Umashi could dance around the issue, he could offer a rebuttal . . . He most definitely was going to offer a rebuttal. Considering how much time had transpired since Takeshi had graciously allowed him and his family to leave, the proverbial pot had to truly be hitting the fan for Umashi's card to be pulled. Having learned over the years that taking the time to pause and settle his emotions before responding, Umashi took a deep breath in, and then exhaled, before taking a sip of his now much cooler tea. Letting the taste of it linger on his palate, he used the tea as a momentary distraction to remind him of his options. He could say no, he probably should say no, he definitely wanted to say no, but as so many enemies of his had taken vantage of, he was most certainly a sucker for familial ties, and Konoha was nothing if but full of family. Having walked the streets, tasted the food, experienced the sights and escaped in their aura, Konoha was a home that he could hardly ever escape from. Like a wayward son who always kept his eye on the horizon, Umashi knew that Konoha would always have his heart.

Taking another arduous breath, Umashi found that his gaze had drifted on to the tea before him. Lost in its color, he leaned up in his seat and finally dragged his thoughts away from the ramblings of his heart. "You'll have to forgive me if I ask what you're hiding." Not quite the opening salvo that Umashi had wanted it to be but that was it, he couldn't take it back. "Talk of attacks, abandonment of duties, Missing-nin, Sunagakure, Kumogakure . . . If I didn't know any better, I'd venture to believe that it would be much more fruitful to ask who of Konoha's allies are left because it would seem that everyone and everything, including the very chairs that we sit in, is at your throats." Catching himself, for the most splitting of moments, Umashi almost slipped up and said, "our throats". Had he actually said it then it would a betrayal concerning his heart and his mind. "There are many things that I value, key among them is family. I don't turn my back on family, but there comes a point when even I must sever ties for the sake of protecting family, from family."

Maru . . . every single time it always came back to Maru. "So I ask honestly, are the war drums readying their dirge for Konoha? Surely you know that me coming back to Konoha in such a fashion, no matter how obvious the moral reason, would in and of itself be an act of treason and give justifiable cause to Kumogakure for retribution. Even more so, I've grown a family there, laid down roots even. If it is a universally petty squabble that can be fixed by making nice and agreeing to disagree then I'll help you to do it, but if there is something more sinister amiss then I will tell you now, unless provoked or having heard of heinous crimes, I will not turn my blade on those that have not wronged me." Pausing, Umashi once again took to the tea in his cup. Surprisingly, his throat seemed parched, but he was sure that that was just a physical response to an emotional problem. "It would be unthinkable for me to repay kindness with malice. I would love to help, but before sullying my good reputation the world over and before I erase decades of good will, I must have a much more concrete reason as to why. Why me and why now?" He hadn't said yes, and he hadn't said no, but by most estimations, the lack of an answer was in fact, an answer.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi leaned back in his chair the cup placed back on the desk as he listened to Umashi speaking, it seemed the man had a sharp intellect as always, somethings never changed, even with old age and this was one of them, as he pondered the best way to answer the question about what he was hiding. He could almost laugh at that fact, after all, he wasn't hiding anything just the fact that he had plans for the future, and things he said would change even though he knew that much. He would always try diplomacy before the war it was the way he had been taught and the way he respected doing things.

"Hiding, nothing I actually plan on fixing the situation with Sunagakure pretty quickly after all they did nothing wrong and we still have no issue or fight with them. That is pretty much a given, however, that being said with Kumogakure, I wish things had been different but alas their Raikage made that pretty clear on that front, and with everything that had happened all at once, I didn't have time to be diplomatic and allow them in, however sending a letter like that claiming to hold some lordship over other lands, is pretty amusing to me considering their attitude to others. Always considered them don't play well with other villages, and they have proven that. That being said, the only thing I have hidden, is just how strong we have become since everything happened"

He pondered the next part of the question after all war was always so messy and frankly pointless even Umashi must see that, well even Takeshi did at the very least, he had no reason to go to war, no why did Umashi always consider him the fighter, it was actually the opposite, he fought when he had to and really didn't enjoy it at all, after all, something about it was so well just troublesome, but he knew that some situations required it while others didn't it was just as simple as that, nothing to it.

"War, no drums are banging, no armies are marching Umashi, I would have figured you at least knew me better than that, the reason I asked your return was to teach and advise on policy and diplomacy, after all as soon as we give up on diplomacy we are just beasts, wild and untamable, I still have hope for the villages to keep working together, that would be my dream, but to achieve that we do need to work as a group and I plan to do that, I am not here to hold laurels over anyone, or even demand combat, I will just protect Konoha and her interest."

As he pondered the wording of his last part, he knew the truth was he didn't want a fight but would not hurry away if it protected Leaf, after all with these missings they had been allowed to grow, and blossom into something that needed to be changed. As he listened to Umashi he allowed a small shrug to escape his shoulders.

"Your will, your decision, I ask you to return to assist in rebuilding the village we both love that has been....well hurt by the actions of a predecessor, why you, isn't that simple, you trained the next Hokage to step up, your diplomacy generally assisted the village and for better or worse, I could use someone who can give advise to the next generation, give wisdom in the form of words, and break bread with anyone in the faint hope of peace. I need a peacekeeper, someone who understands what war is like, has seen it in its most brutal form and knows that it is not something we rush to. I ask you now because Leaf needs people now, we need to grow and move with the times, develop in the future not look in the past. And because Umashi you have an insight into the way the world works only a Kage has. Simply put, why not you and why not. But the decision is yours and I will not hold it against you if you want to keep the deal we made going."

 

[Seijin]

Hearing Takeshi out, Umashi relaxed as he got the overall impression that Takeshi was trying to pursue peace at enough cost . . . maybe all depending upon the time of day. Snorting a bit as Takeshi mentioned Kumogakure not playing nice with others, Umashi had admit that in many respects, that summation was pretty correct. "Not to pillow talk concerning my current employer but . . . you'll find the Raikage to be a tenacious scarlet sorceress in her own right. She's a royal type so she's usually warmed up after a good curtsey." Umashi had been working on his bedside manner but the irony wasn't lost on him that two of the biggest political powers in the East were controlled by strong willed Uchiha. Perhaps it was his burden to bear to always have to adjust the reins on the red eyed beast but today wasn't the day for digging up old conspiracy theories on who truly ran the world at large. As Takeshi said, protecting Konoha was key, and for Umashi, it just so happened to be that he also now had the goal of protecting Kumo.

Pulled in multiple directions, he tried to remember where and when he'd officially signed up for the lost cause of protecting the whole of humanity. Of course he hadn't, but considering all of the loyalty ties that he had placed upon himself, he'd soon find himself a hopeless martyr for one too many causes than to find himself able to retire in peace. "I could use someone who can give advise to the next generation, give wisdom in the form of words, and break bread with anyone in the faint hope of peace. I need a peacekeeper, someone who understands what war is like, has seen it in its most brutal form and knows that it is not something we rush to." Takeshi was right in that regard, war was brutal and it had been so long since many in the current generation had seen true war that they'd probably be frozen in fear at the mere sight of the aftermath of true carnage. Whatever fantasies were told later, there was no mistaking the truth of Takeshi's words about avoiding war.

That said, Takeshi still brought the question back to Umashi. "But the decision is yours and I will not hold it against you if you want to keep the deal we made going." Umashi could take all the time in the world and yet the question would still be there, staring at him. He needed to make a decision and stick with it. Moving to rub at the back of his neck, the tension headache that he felt coming on was everybit a clear indication of how torn he felt, but he'd made a vow to serve, and until his dying breathe, that was the whole of his obligation. Looking to the side, he sighed and shook his head before smirking at some old memory that he recalled. "With respect to Kumo. I'll ask if they're willing to let me stay. They could say yes, they could say no. Based on their answer, we'll go from there." A true fool's errand even by hopeful standards but looking back to Takeshi, that was about the best that Umashi could do. It was strange enough that Umashi was allowed to so freely go to Kumo in the first place and it would be stranger still for him to be allowed to come back. Plus, if relations were as frosty as they seemed, then the only way out of Kumo alive, was step back into a life that he'd turned his back on long ago. Pontificating on it would only delay the inevitable and whether he stayed or went, it wasn't fair to anyone to continue to delay with asking the important question.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi found himself enjoying the back and forth, it seemed like it had been a while since this had been done, after all, Umashi had been gone too long in his mind, though opportunities always opened up and even he knew and understood this, as he listened to the last words and nodded, it seemed fair enough that he at least ask permission, though maybe between the two of them they could come to an understanding, after all, Umashi had become what could be considered a go-between in regards to the villages, an actual diplomate, unlike the gutter rats they had sent earlier.

"This seems fair and logical, and the Raikage, always send others to do the dirty work, I mean personally I was never a fan of this, I see the bonus for it, but to simply sign a messenger to deliver a pretty high and mighty letter isn't the best thing."

He sighed letting himself ponder the situation slightly more, as he rubbed his chin, it could be a situation to sort things out, however it could also be a situation to send a message, he had to pick one or the other, in both situations it seemed clear that he would get disapproval from one side or another, though with wounds still fresh he wanted to see them put right before they festered and became unrepairable.

"I tell you what, Kumo treaty, the main reason was simply lack of communication, if you stay inside the village, you can try and sort this mess out between the two villages, including giving weekly reports back to Kumo, I guess you can be an ambassador of sorts, hell it may even help our situation we are currently in. Think about it, and send a letter if you must, when you are ready feel free to call me, it's been a while since you have had ramen, and think it's my turn to buy?"

With that Takeshi gave the nod that Umashi would know, it was the same nod that he had been given, a nod that signaled that this was at an end for the day, Umashi had things to do and decisions to make and Takeshi wouldn't keep going after the same line, he wanted treaties with villages, and if this was a way to build relations back with Kumo so be it in his mind. He had enough of a headache with everything else that had happened.

 

[Seijin]

Smiling, Umashi truly did appreciate how Takeshi had understood the nuiance of the situation at hand. While it only seemed logical that Umashi would want to come home, the fact that they were dealing with political shinobi world powers was an important reminder. Tantamount to peaceful negotiations was remembering that a single false step could cost hundreds of thousands of lives with the sort of bordering altering battles that war could bring. "This seems fair and logical, and the Raikage, always send others to do the dirty work, I mean personally I was never a fan of this, I see the bonus for it, but to simply sign a messenger to deliver a pretty high and mighty letter isn't the best thing." Takeshi wasn't wrong, not by any estimation of the word, but even when one wholly in the right, they could undoubtedly be in the wrong. There was a reason that the Raikage usually didn't travel, just as much as there was a reason that there was that the Kazekage of old typically didn't and certainly the Tsuchikage wouldn't unless forced. For as much as the historical record could prove, the Mizukage of ages past were as brazen as they came, but none could match the impecable record that the current generation of Hokage could.

Taking a moment to finish the rest of his tea, Umashi leaned up as he moved to leave his seat. "You know, you and I, we, us, all the Hokage . . . we're a bit of an anomaly as far as our peers go." Letting just enough time pass as he was sure that he piqued Takeshi's interest. "Kami, myself, Yomi, you and even Asuka from what I'm to believe . . . we're all alive. In fact, we're so alive that there hasn't been a recorded Hokage death since the first Konoha nearly a millennia ago. Blame genetics, blame kinjutsu practices or blame just plain old conventional wisdom and head smarts, but we are a special sort that retire on our own terms and not at the end of an opponents blade. We disappear and busy ourselves elsewhere but we're never far off from home. " Laughing to himself, Umashi shook his head. "Now try and count the amount of living Kage of other great shinobi villages . . ." Giving a low whistle, Umashi shook his head and shrugged. The facts were simply the facts, the reason that the Raikage didn't leave the comfort of home was because the comforts of home made for a long life. Prepared to leave Takeshi to whatever sort of other work that he had, Umashi stood up and gave a dutiful bow before straightening back up. "You know what, you're right, I think that it is your turn to pay for the ramen this time."

OOC: Topic left unless stopped.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi pondered the last bit, about how unusual all of this was to have so many of the Hokage alive still, but he knew and accepted that sometimes being different was not always a bad thing, with this many of the Kage still alive it allowed them to have someone who understood, even knew the position that they were in and of course be able to advise on the best way to fix any issues that they may see. As he leaned against the back of the chair he nodded slightly knowing the words he spoke to be true.

"It allows us to have something that no one else can have, the opinion of others who have worn the robes, I call that a blessing in disguise, and I guess you are right, I think this is my time to pay, please let me know when you are ready to meet for the meal and I can make sure that we find the time to have a conversation regarding what we have discussed today Umashi. Until later, enjoy yourself back in the village, I am sure some things have changed, while other things will have stayed the same."

As he allowed Umashi to leave, he smiled in his chair, it seemed that his time as Kage so far had been nothing but interesting, so much was changing around the world and it seemed that Leaf was caught up in the change as well. He wondered what the future would hold.

[Topic Left]