For the Birds (Uziuke - Messenger Bird NPCs)

[Raizo]

He would appear before the gates, his feet slightly off the ground as if hanging for a split second in suspension before tapping down to the earth once more. From this, a slight displacement of air would send the dust and sand parting away from him. He would look around and he would let out a sigh.

"Seems I beat him here... no fun, did he let me win because I am the Kazekage or was I just that much quicker... what a pain!"

His complaints would be witnessed by the gate guards but would have no context to his sudden frustration. Looking around, he would notice the puzzled gazes, would realign his posture, cough into his hand, and then proceed as if nothing had happened.

Wait a minute... is the Kazekage just going to pretend that we didn't hear him just now?!

This thought would be shared by several of the guards.

"So, good evening, guardsmen. Sorry to intrude upon your watch."

HE IS!!!!!



"I was waiting for..."

Pausing for a moment he would reflect on the best thing to say. He was waiting for Uziuke but wasn't Uziuke in his ANBU garb? If so, he didn't want to run the risk of ruining the ANBU persona of his friend or exposing his identity. He was still learning about the ANBU ranking, but he felt strongly that there was a high degree of secrecy to it all that wouldn't have worked well with him just stating the name of Uzi.

"... Rose Petal. I believe it is ANBU operative Rose Petal that I am supposed to be meeting here."

Sure, that sounded like not a very nonsensical thing to say.

"Please, one of you fetch me two messenger birds..."

Birds shouldn't be trusted... they are dumb animals

"... so that Rose Petal may take care of an urgent matter for me."

One of the guardsmen would bow and begin to carry out the request of the Kazekage.

Now he would wait for Uzi, while holding tightly his three notes, two of which would be sent. Still, his mind weighed which two he would choose.

MFT - 324 @Uziuke

 

[Uziuke]

Uzi finished his last bit of a watermelon flavored dango as he approached the gates of sand. He noticed that Raizo was already there. 'Maybe I got a little sidetracked while out at that bath bakery.' The shop has gotten quite use to the op, as he was often offered snacks for his life risking services as a soldier for the village. He did his best not to go overbored, but sometimes his sweet tooth for the best of him. 'Maybe next time I'll have them whip up a batch for the kids at the Academy.' The thought crossed the white haired man's mind as he approached the gates with his ANBU attire on. A simple best over a long sleeve black shirt. Black pants, and an ANBU mask that was half work over his face. With only half of his face revealed, he revealed a hearty smile as he approached Raizo. A few operatives saluted him when they noticed his presence.

'Hmm, you're quite the quick the one. Maybe next time I'll bring you a something from the bakery. I've already had my fair share." He pat the belly of his vest, his excuse for being late.

With his mind back on the matters of the village, Uzi's smile turned into a more serious expression as he looked beyond the dunes, wondering if the other villages were ready to take care of the more important matters. He hoped they would all come to an agreement, but things didn't always turn out the way everyone wanted. But still, one could always hope for the best. "You know, tensions have never been so high between the villages. I can't remember the last time something so tragic has happened." Even while he was a mercenary, he couldn't recall any brushes with village to village aggression. He never had a job where he would have to attack a village, or it's nin, from another village. Maybe this was some new age jizz? Either way, it was best to deal with it quickly.

He looked back to Raizo, "You sure you're ready to carry this thing out?" At this point he knew there was no going back. "Regardless, I'm ready to back any decision that is made." Those would be his last words spoken. Sort of one of those, 'Are you sure?' pop ups after you answered yes 100 times already.

[ Topic Entered ]

 

[Raizo]

Am I sure...

"Silly question, Rose Petal! Of course, I am... I mean from just the singular moment; should I send a response? Am I prepared for what may come of it? Now that is a better question. I personally am, but I can't just think of myself, I have to think of the village. That said, this village would be in jeopardy if I acted passively to such a threatening ultimatum. Someone who already views us as beneath them enough to cower that their mere beckoning doesn't care about this village or what comes of it."

His disposition towards Konoha, specifically the Hokage, Asuka, was sour at the best. While there were a lot of unknowns to this foreign village and those doing malicious deeds under the banner of Suna, it was still the better option to respond. If nothing else, it allowed them to attempt to reposition the landscape that the Hokage tried to establish.

"I mean, I did write one letter that just said 'eat shit, stay out of the sand' in the biggest writing I could muster on a sheet of paper... so if nothing else, this actual note will hopefully land with a bit gentler touch."

He would hold out two letters as the gate guards would bring forth two birds.

"As Yukina said; this one is for Konohagakure no Sato..."

He would place the letter in the hand of Uziuke and stare at the bird with a raised eyebrow, still unsure if the creature had the mental capability of completing such a task. He would wait for Uziuke to send off the letter before handing over the next one, hoping to keep the birds, which he viewed as dumb animals, from getting confused and mixing up the letters in transit.

Spoiler: Addressed to the Hokage, Uchiha Asuka

Uchiha Asuka, the Hokage,

I am writing in response to your most recent communication. First, let me make this point very clear; I am sorry to hear that tragedy has befallen your village and its people. Even though we are leaders of different villages, I can empathize with the burden of shouldering pain, and I wish that others did not have to feel such a weight upon their backs. In instances like this, I would have gladly pledged my assistance in helping your village in any way or means you deemed necessary. While Sunagakure has had a history of isolation, we are not without empathy and compassion, and would always aid those who called upon our help.

This is where things begin to deteriorate, however, and my tone will have to change. I can understand a need to seek blood for blood, a need for vengeance, but to communicate with us as if we were already the guilty party and demand, not ask, to allow you to do as you wish in our village--we may not be your enemy, but we clearly see we may have never been your friend. Waving any agreements between this village, and the loss of said agreements, as some heavy toll that we should come on bended knee to you to rectify as some whipped dog--you seem to be under the assumption that his village needs you. Sunagakure has stood tall before you took charge of your village and will last well after you are gone from your village, whether we do so with or without your magnanimous blessing is inconsequential.

I feel anguish for the loss of lives in your village, the damage you sustained, and the retribution you must claim, but to believe we, Sunagakure no Sato, had anything to do with a premeditated attack is sorely mistaken and well beyond offensive from a political stage. If you believe you can send a raiding party into our village to do as they like, you are also sorely mistaken. As stated previously, I would have been more welcome and open to your aid had you merely asked for it.

Instead, I am decreeing the following: Since Konohagakure no Sato has made it official that they are suspending any and all agreements with Sunagakure no Sato;(1) you are allowed to send no more than two shinobi from your village to Suna to conduct an investigation, and during their stay here they will be under constant Suna supervision. (2)They will check in with me, the Kazekage, periodically and upon entrance and departure from the village. (3)Lastly, Sunagakure no Sato will have no further agreements with Konohagakure no Sato until a formal conversation is conducted between myself and the Hokage.

Failure of the first two parts of my decree will result in your shinobi being removed from the village and escorted to the border of Wind Country immediately. Failure of the third part of my decree won't result in any further action, but also won't improve any standings between our two villages.

I wish we could have worked together in a more harmonious way, with an understanding that we have the best interest of each other's village in heart, but you've made it abundantly clear how you feel about our village.

-Heir of the Ryuzaki Clan
-11th Kazekage of Sunagkure no Sato
Ryuzaki Raizo

The note would be contained in a fine envelope and with a wax stamp of the symbol of Suna enclosing it.

 

[Uziuke]

Raizo's comment about what he wrote on one letter caught the attention of a few. Uzi gave a smirk at the thought of sending off such a write, but in the end, what mattered was a response being delivered. Uzi held out his arm away from his torso, one of the messenger birds glided over to his arm, planting a graceful land on his arm, his clothing keeping his skin from being too scarred. Raizo handed the letter over to the ANBU, who now put it in a sort of small back pack that came equipped with a bird collar. He carefully placed the note inside of the small pouch, tying it to the bird's back and the collar around it's neck. Once safely fasted, making sure it wouldn't slip out of the pouch, Uzi looked into the eyes of the bird. An aura of chakra emerged from his eyes. Only seconds later, and without a word, the bird flew off. Konohagakure was the village it was headed towards.

"I'm sure that one will end up in the correct place. I've never doubted the birds before, so this one will be no different." Uzi nodded, looking to the other bird. He knew it was only a matter of time before the villages would meet. Hopefully they could get this issue resolved.

 

[Raizo]

A fire would engulf the second letter as the hand holding it began to glow with a vibrance that looked as if a lightbulb had replaced it. As the note would flutter away into ashes, a big dumb smile would appear on Raizo's face.

"Oops, guess Kumogakure no Sato won't be getting a letter today. I'm sure it is fine, I really didn't put much thought into theirs and I feel like setting a first impression should require a bit more thought. I don't want my emotions centered at Konoha to impact the attention I should give another village."

He would wave off the guard holding the second bird.

"Besides, not like Kumo will suddenly come knocking on our door, right?"

He would be wrong, as some time after this point two shinobi hailing from the Land of Lightning would be at this very door...

"Rose Petal, should your alternate persona find some free time, please feel free to tell them to drop by my office for a chat and a drink!"

And with that, he would wave off to the ANBU and the gathered shinobi gatesmen.

OOC: Topic Left Unless Stopped

 

[Uziuke]

Uzi nodded. It seemed Kumo wouldn't be getting their letter today after all. He waved as Raizo walked away. "Yep, that's our Kage. You guys, back to your posts. I'll be staying for the rest of the day. You can act like I'm not here at all, I won't be interfering with anything unless need be." With that, he placed his hands in his pockets as he walked towards the top of the gates. The walkway was long for one that was walking at a slow pace. He figured he'd do a few laps before sitting down and watching the entrance. Nothing would pass through without him noticing. At least not for the rest of this day. Even though he wasn't scheduled to work today, he always took his duties seriously. It was better to be aware and not need it, than to be unaware and need it. Or whatever that old saying was. He was sure he it went something along those lines however.

'Yea, Sunagakure never gets old. I only grow to love this place more and more as each day passes.'

[ Topic Left ]