Private [Oracles Only] Vault Records of the Oracle: Plague

Chikamatsu Shin · Tuesday at 11:46 PM

Entry XX: The First Sennin Games - The Kyōsaku House Trials
Classification: Historical Record - Village Leadership Selection and Innovation

Abstract:

An accounting of the unprecedented Sennin Games instituted by the 11th Kazekage, Ryuzaki Raizo, marking a radical departure from traditional methods of military leadership selection. The first round, held at the specially constructed Kyōsaku House, tested competitors not through combat but through social acumen, diplomacy, and the ability to embody the village's values. This entry documents both the methodology and the participants, as well as the controversies that emerged when the games opened to non-village shinobi and figures of questionable allegiance.

Historical Context:

Following decades of instability—from the underground years through the Maelstrom period to the surface reconstruction—Sunagakure finally achieved a measure of peace and prosperity. The 11th Kazekage, believing this moment of stability provided opportunity for evolution rather than complacency, chose to fill a vacant Sennin position through public competition rather than private appointment. His stated purpose: to be proactive rather than reactive, to challenge the village to grow, and to demonstrate that leadership requires more than martial prowess.

The decision to record and eventually broadcast these games throughout Wind Country—in partnership with Merchant Lord Guchi Sheena—added unprecedented public scrutiny to what had traditionally been an internal village matter.

The Kyōsaku House:

Constructed in secrecy by all three Orders working in concert, the Kyōsaku House served as venue for the first round. This elaborate mansion featured:
- A Grand Ballroom for formal gatherings and the Kazekage's address
- A Game Room with library, bars, dartboards, and smoking patio
- Meeting Rooms for group conferences
- Personal quarters for each competitor
- Surveillance throughout, with all interactions recorded for later broadcast

The house itself became part of the test—a controlled environment where every word, gesture, and interaction held potential consequence.

The Mechanism - C.U.R.O. Devices:

Takahashi Satoshi, leader of the Journeymen Order, crafted specialized wrist devices for all participants and judges. These C.U.R.O. units (acronym deliberately obscured by their creator's sense of humor) served multiple functions:
- Displayed each participant's score out of 100 points
- Generated a small avatar creature reflecting the wearer's personality
- Tracked interactions and point transactions
- Required chakra to activate, with unexpected results for non-standard users

The devices proved particularly interesting when calibrating to Ancients and those with multiple souls—revealing more about certain competitors than perhaps intended.

Rules of Engagement:

The first round was termed a "battle royale of appeal." Competitors began with 50 points and could gain or lose them through:
- Conversations with judges (non-participants) who could award or deduct points
- Attendance at scheduled group meetings (automatic +10 points)
- Social interactions and demonstrated character
- Completing optional side missions with specific targets
- Hourly penalties (-5 points) for failing to engage with others

Participants could voluntarily transfer points to one another but could not forcibly take them. The Kazekage maintained ultimate authority to review and adjust point allocations upon appeal, with severe penalties for frivolous challenges.

The competition ran approximately 8 hours through one night, testing endurance as well as social capability.

The Competitors:

Eleven individuals entered the first round, representing a controversial cross-section of village and outsider interests:

Chikamatsu Shin (Final Score: 92/100) - VICTOR
Medical Chief of Research and Development, Overseer of the Chikamatsu Clan. Notable for sharing his body with his twin sister Kohana, whose soul survived despite losing her physical form in utero. Both personalities participated, with Shin utilizing advanced jutsu to manifest Kohana separately using clone techniques. His victory demonstrated mastery of both medical knowledge and diplomatic navigation, though some questioned whether sharing two souls in one body provided unfair advantage.

Tsurara Moriko (Final Score: 90/100)
A fifteen-year-old Genin from the ice-manipulating Tsurara clan. Despite her youth and rank, she demonstrated remarkable strategic thinking, directness, and adaptability. The only female competitor from Sunagakure, her presence highlighted the historical absence of women in Sennin positions—a fact noted with some embarrassment by multiple judges.

Shingetsu Sora (Final Score: 87/100)
Presented as a young Genin, "Sora" was in truth the Ancient being Suigetsu, who had merged with or possessed the youth. His C.U.R.O. device eventually detected his true nature, marking him as "Ancient One" and creating significant security concerns. His continued presence despite this revelation speaks to either the Kazekage's tolerance or the complexity of his particular circumstances.

Sunaku Harupia (Final Score: 85/100)
A Jounin who had recently returned from an extended absence following a mission to Yamori Station. During the games, he revealed to the Oracles that he had discovered the legendary city of Hammerfall (also called Titan) and encountered one of its three guardians—Prometheus. His information about evolved Unbent creatures and ancient technology proved of immense interest to village leadership.

Chigokai Yuna/Silent (Final Score: 80/100)
An ANBU operative from Kumogakure, operating under the alias "Silent" due to her communication exclusively through water-based writing jutsu. Her presence in the games served dual purposes: official representation of Cloud-Sand relations, and covert investigation of Miroku Akkuma regarding attacks on both Leaf and Cloud. Her Archsage nature (possessing three chakra pools including natural energy) caused unique interactions with her C.U.R.O. device.

Miroku Akkuma (Final Score: 60/100)
Demon sage, head of the Miroku Clan, and the most controversial participant. During the games, he openly confessed to orchestrating attacks against both Kumogakure and Konohagakure—the former as a "test" of Cloud's loyalty to Sand, the latter as punishment for Leaf's betrayal of their alliance. His continued participation despite this admission remains one of the most debated aspects of these games. Some judges actively penalized him throughout the night, while others (particularly from the Commerce sector) seemed to support his inclusion.

Uziuke (Final Score: 62/100)
ANBU Captain and collaborator with Shingetsu Sora on airship construction projects. Demonstrated thoughtfulness and measured responses, though struggled with the heavily social nature of the first round.

Okami Roku (Final Score: 42/100)
A youth raised by an isolationist group called "Community" and later adopted by former Kazekage Steward Takahashi Sousuke. His inexperience with social situations and apparent internal struggles (referenced as "The Hunger") hampered his performance. Several judges treated him dismissively or with hostility.

Lower Scoring Participants:
Kaen, Kanmuri, and Sunahoshi Suzaku each finished with 25-30 points, having either avoided engagement or failed to make positive impressions on the judges present.

The Judges and Their Agendas:

Multiple factions held representation among the judges, each with their own interests:

Oracle Order:
- Oiwa (Leader): Focused on gathering historical information, particularly interested in Harupia's discoveries
- Fukurokuju: Engaged with those connected to the Oracle Order, provided guidance to Chikamatsu Shin
- Benzaiten: Investigated Shingetsu Sora's true nature, inquired about connections to Akkuma
- Hotei: Gregarious and food-focused, asked philosophical questions about favorite meals

Medical Branch:
- Kaori (Acting Chief): Displayed particular interest (possibly romantic) in the Kazekage, awarded significant points to Shin for representing medical interests

Main Branch:
- Tomoe (Acting Leader): Sought out Tsurara Moriko specifically, cited the historical absence of female Sennin as motivation for supporting her candidacy

Commerce Representatives:
- Dai (Trade Director): Nervous and anxious, awaiting his brother Akihiko throughout the evening
- Akihiko (Commerce Chairman): Arrived late, displayed manipulative tendencies including use of a chakra-activated ring with apparent mind-control properties on his brother
- Hekima (Entertainment Director): Flirtatious and pragmatic, openly courted Akkuma's attention and admitted to being part of a group that insisted on allowing both Akkuma and "Silent" to compete

Rangers Order:
- Katsumi (Leader): Demonstrated open hostility toward Akkuma, repeatedly deducting points from the demon sage

Journeymen Order:
- Takahashi Satoshi (Leader): Appeared heavily intoxicated throughout the event, expressed frustration with C.U.R.O. devices malfunctioning around certain participants (particularly those with Ancient or unusual chakra signatures)

Kazekage's Office:
- Itsuke (Tower Director): Served as master of ceremonies and logistics coordinator, maintaining surveillance of all activities

Controversies and Revelations:

The first round exposed numerous complications that would echo beyond the immediate competition:

The Akkuma Question:
Miroku Akkuma's open confession to orchestrating attacks on allied villages—killing citizens of both Cloud and Leaf—should have resulted in immediate arrest. Instead, he was allowed to continue participating. His explanation that these were "tests" of loyalty or "punishment" for betrayal did not mitigate the severity of his admissions. The fact that certain Commerce representatives had apparently lobbied for his inclusion suggests political machinations beyond the Kazekage's stated intent for the games.

Foreign Interference:
That a Kumogakure ANBU operative competed under false pretenses (though with apparent knowledge of some organizers) raised questions about the games' true purpose. Was this meant to strengthen inter-village relations, or were external powers leveraging the event for intelligence gathering?

Ancient Revelation:
The C.U.R.O. device's detection of Suigetsu's true nature as an Ancient being possessing or merged with a village Genin created security concerns. The fact that he was allowed to continue suggests either the Kazekage's trust in the Ancient's intentions or recognition that forcibly separating merged beings might prove impossible or harmful to the host.

Technological Surveillance:
The decision to record all activities for eventual public broadcast represented unprecedented transparency—or unprecedented invasion of privacy, depending on perspective. Participants were informed they were "already on camera," but the full implications of having every conversation, gesture, and private moment documented remained unclear.

Selective Enforcement:
The games' rules appeared to be enforced inconsistently. Some judges actively worked to undermine specific participants, while others showed clear favoritism. The Kazekage's stated authority to review and adjust scores provided theoretical recourse, but whether this was ever exercised remains unclear.

Notable Interactions:

Several exchanges during the first round proved particularly significant:

Yuna's Investigation of Akkuma:
In a private meeting in his quarters, Silent directly confronted Akkuma about the attacks. He not only confirmed his responsibility but elaborated on his reasoning, displaying no remorse. Their conversation was recorded via her Snapshot jutsu and later shared with the Kazekage. Despite this evidence, no action was taken during the games themselves.

Harupia's Account to the Oracles:
Sunaku Harupia's revelation about discovering Hammerfall and meeting the Guardian Prometheus represented potentially the most significant intelligence gathered during the entire evening—information about Ancient Suna technology, evolved Unbent threats, and a previously mythological city now confirmed real.

The Chikamatsu Twins' Diplomatic Dance:
Shin and Kohana's ability to literally divide their consciousness and attend multiple conversations simultaneously provided strategic advantage. Their interactions with both Commerce representatives and Medical leadership showcased the full range of their capabilities—Shin's diplomatic grace and Kohana's protective intensity.

Moriko's Directness:
The young Genin's refusal to engage in social subterfuge and her straightforward approach to challenges earned respect from judges who valued authenticity. Her conversation with Tomoe about being the only female competitor from Sand proved particularly impactful.

The Commerce Conspiracy:
Multiple interactions throughout the evening suggested that Commerce representatives had an agenda independent of the Kazekage's stated goals. Hekima's admission that he and others had fought to include controversial participants, Akihiko's late arrival and apparent mind-control of his brother, and Dai's nervous behavior all pointed to machinations within the civilian leadership.

The Victor's Profile:

Chikamatsu Shin's victory came through consistent diplomatic engagement, professional connections within the Medical Branch, and the unique advantage of being able to coordinate two personalities with different strengths. His stated goals aligned well with the Kazekage's vision:
- Expanding inter-village cooperation and exchange programs
- Establishing the Chikamatsu Arboretum at the Omni Prime Medical Facility
- Advancing medical technology and sharing knowledge across borders
- Creating networks of alliance extending beyond purely military applications

Round Two Pairings:

Based on first round performance, the following pairings were announced for Round Two, to take place after one month of preparation:
- Tsurara Moriko vs. Uziuke
- Chigokai Yuna (Silent) vs. Miroku Akkuma
- Shingetsu Sora (Suigetsu) vs. Sunaku Harupia

The second round was promised to involve more than simple combat, with "other factors" to be considered. The pairing of the Kumogakure ANBU investigator against the very target of her investigation—the demon sage who had confessed to attacks on her village—guaranteed explosive confrontation.

Reflections on Innovation and Risk:

The 11th Kazekage's decision to conduct public Sennin selection through social competition rather than martial trial represented either visionary leadership or dangerous experimentation, depending on one's perspective.

Arguments in Favor:
- Demonstrated that Sennin must possess diplomatic skills, not merely combat prowess
- Increased transparency in leadership selection
- Created opportunity for younger or unconventional candidates to prove themselves
- Strengthened inter-village relations by including foreign observers/participants
- Provided entertainment and investment for civilian population

Arguments Against:
- Allowed individuals with admitted crimes against allied villages to participate
- Created security vulnerabilities by broadcasting internal military selection
- Placed excessive emphasis on social performance over demonstrated combat capability
- Exposed young participants (some as young as fifteen) to adult political machinations
- Permitted external manipulation by Commerce interests and foreign operatives

The truth likely lies between these extremes. The games succeeded in identifying a capable candidate in Chikamatsu Shin while also exposing fault lines within the village leadership and raising questions about who truly held power in Sunagakure's hierarchy.

Lessons for Future Oracles:

Innovation in governance carries both promise and peril. The 11th Kazekage's willingness to experiment with tradition demonstrated adaptability—a necessary trait in a world of constant change. However, his tolerance for allowing controversial figures like Akkuma to participate, and his apparent inability or unwillingness to prevent Commerce representatives from pursuing their own agendas, suggests that even well-intentioned reform can be captured by those with ulterior motives.

The games revealed as much about the judges as the judged. When Hekima openly courted Akkuma's favor despite the demon's admitted atrocities, when Akihiko arrived late and immediately employed what appeared to be mind-control on his own brother, when various factions worked to undermine or promote specific candidates—all of this demonstrated that power in Sunagakure had become diffuse and contested in ways that pure military strength could not address.

Future historians must ask: Did these games represent the dawn of a new, more transparent era of leadership selection? Or were they merely elaborate theater, with the true decisions made in shadows before any competitor set foot in Kyōsaku House?

The answer may only become clear when we see how the 11th Kazekage handles the complications his experiment has created—particularly the Akkuma situation, which cannot be ignored indefinitely without consequences to Sand's alliances and its own honor.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. Let this record stand as testament to an era of experimentation in leadership selection. Whether these games proved wisdom or folly, only time and their ultimate outcome will reveal. May future Oracles learn both from what succeeded and what complications arose—for innovation without wisdom invites chaos, yet tradition without adaptation breeds stagnation.

Special notation: Multiple participants in these games possess capabilities or natures that remain imperfectly understood—Ancients, dual souls, Archsages, and demon sages. That such beings competed for positions of authority suggests either the 11th Kazekage's remarkable tolerance or a recognition that power in the modern age takes forms our ancestors never anticipated. Watch these individuals carefully in times to come.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T00:03:43+0000

Entry XXI: The Second Sennin Games - The Sudden Death Debates
Classification: Historical Record - Interrupted Leadership Selection

Abstract:

Documentation of the second and final round of the unprecedented Sennin Games, held one month after the Kyōsaku House trials. This round transformed the competition from social contest to public debate, testing the finalists' political acumen, policy knowledge, and vision for Sunagakure's future. The debates were interrupted mid-competition by a crisis that would reshape not only the games themselves but the village's immediate future. Notable for being the round that never reached conclusion, yet paradoxically determined outcomes through its very disruption.

Historical Context:

Following Chikamatsu Shin's victory in Round One, the 11th Kazekage announced that the second round would determine the remaining Sennin positions. The month-long intermission allowed competitors to prepare, the village to debate the merits of each candidate, and—as would become clear—certain forces to act in shadows.

The decision to transform Round Two into public debates rather than martial contests reinforced the Kazekage's stated philosophy: that leadership in the modern era required wisdom, vision, and the ability to inspire rather than merely the capacity for violence. This choice proved prescient in ways he could not have anticipated.

The Venue:

Behind the Kyōsaku House, a massive three-chamber colosseum had been constructed specifically for this event. Each chamber featured:
- A central stone platform surrounded by crystal-clear water moats exceeding 100 meters in depth
- Retractable wrought iron bridges providing access to the arena platforms
- Water currents pulling surface water downward—a subtle environmental challenge
- Podiums with microphones for each debater
- Viewing chambers for spectators with televised screens showing all three simultaneous debates
- An empty viewing box reserved for the Kazekage—ominously unoccupied throughout

Three identical triplet referees in golden armor—Shinpan Ichi, Shinpan Ni, and Shinpan Mittsu—served as hosts for the three simultaneous debates.

The Format:

Unlike Round One's free-form social navigation, Round Two imposed strict debate structure:
- Questions posed by the referee to test policy knowledge and vision
- First speaker had two minutes for initial response
- Opponent had one minute for rebuttal
- Second speaker then gave their answer with the first having rebuttal time
- Points deducted for exceeding time limits
- Crowd votes to gauge popular opinion after each question

The three pairings from Round One performance:
- Arena One: Shingetsu Sora vs. Sunaku Harupia (Host: Shinpan Mittsu)
- Arena Two: Chigokai Yuna (Silent) vs. Miroku Akkuma (Host: Shinpan Ni)
- Arena Three: Tsurara Moriko vs. Uziuke (Host: Shinpan Tsu)

Arena One - Sora vs. Harupia:

The Competitors:
Shingetsu Sora (actually the Ancient Suigetsu) entered wearing his signature hoodie over shinobi attire, projecting a deliberately youthful appearance. Sunaku Harupia arrived in simple white pants, dark shirt, and white desert cloak, presenting himself as the local shinobi—wind country born and bred.

Question One: Neutralizing Gang Activity in Old Suna Districts

Sora spoke first with an unconventional approach: "Hire them." He argued that many gang members had been trained at the Toraono Dojo and understood what it meant to represent something greater than themselves. Having fallen on hard times with destroyed homes and unkempt streets in the aftermath of past terrors, they turned to gangs out of necessity. His solution: reemploy those already trained, teach those who were not, and provide equal opportunity to work toward something better. He acknowledged this wouldn't work for all, but giving each person purpose and hope would change enough lives to make gang life not worth it.

Harupia countered with a broader approach, noting that Old District residents weren't entirely gang members—many were civilians with little combat training who fell prey to those abusing power. He advocated for substantial resources toward rebuilding and reintegrating the underground districts with current Sunagakure. Rather than simple cleanup, he framed it as tangible proof that the village hadn't abandoned them, that hope remained, and that there were better paths than preying on the weak.

Sora's rebuttal agreed substantially with Harupia's stance, adding that creating more academies and satellite locations of the Sunan Academy beyond just the Toraono Dojo would help. He noted the Dojo's protective presence kept its immediate area safer, but other locations needed similar institutions closer to home.

Question Two: Strategy to Promote Technological Growth with Dwindling Resources

Sora proposed utilizing Wind Country's natural advantages: solar and wind energy farms to cover energy needs (both quiet enough not to disturb sandworms), investing in genetically viable edible cactus and plant variants for harsh desert landscapes, then using sustainable energy and food sources to provide for children in formerly gang-infested areas, creating an educated generational workforce. He added this would accomplish goals "via a healthy vegetarian route," appealing to tribal vegetarian and vegan traditions.

Harupia focused on space and expansion rather than just energy and food. He argued that solutions required room to implement, and Old Suna's issues tied to people feeling confined underground while surface space remained limited. His proposal: careful expansion into the desert, establishing encampments and trade posts to seek resources. He suggested they might discover secrets of Ancient Sunans buried under the sand, ready to be rebuilt and used to Sunagakure's benefit.

The Interruption:
Before further questions could be posed, an ANBU member appeared beside Shinpan Mittsu in a spiral of sand, whispering urgent news. The referee's jolly demeanor shifted to visible anxiety. Both debaters were dismissed and told to stand by for information about "his whereabou—I mean about the situation!"

The Kazekage's empty viewing box suddenly took on sinister significance.

Arena Two - Silent vs. Akkuma:

The Competitors:
This matchup represented the most volatile pairing—a Kumogakure ANBU investigator facing the demon sage who had openly confessed to orchestrating attacks on her village.

Chigokai Yuna (Silent) arrived with minimal gear but maximum preparation. At five feet three inches, masked and silent, she relied on her signature water manipulation to write giant glowing words visible to all spectators. Before the debates even began, she commanded the arena's abundant water to form her opening statement:

"TO THOSE WHO WATCH TODAY. I AM YUNA, CODENAME: SILENT. ANBU OF KUMOGAKURE. I AM HERE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT OF THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN CLOUD AND SAND, AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH WHATEVER SAND MAY NEED OF ME."

Miroku Akkuma made his entrance with characteristic theatricality. He had bribed the colosseum AV technician to play a custom music track—a mix that "encapsulated him more or less." Shirtless, revealing extensive scarring, inactive cursed seals, and stitch-like marks from his Revenant period, he summoned his Shimiru Ancient Steel Battle Gauntlets (with the eight-headed serpent crest and soul gems containing Kantsuu's soul).

But his true spectacle came next: using Desertification (Master Rank) to break down earth into sand, then creating a Desert Nimbus sand cloud to ride. Flying around the colosseum as his ominous music played, he gave theatrical bows to the spectators. Then came the massive rumbling—a gigantic sandworm (Avatar of Barnyx) emerging from the darkness behind him. He placed his hand upon it, spoke silent words, then sent it tunneling back as it dissolved into millions of blood-infused sand grains.

"Citizens of Sunagakure what a pleasure it is to see you all here today. Wonderful guests of this magnificent village welcome! Some of you don't know me, while others know me only by reputation alone. I hope by the end of today you all know me a bit better no matter the Moniker you know me by."

Question One: Should the Sunan Academy Remain Affiliated with the Toraono Dojo?

Akkuma spoke first, positioning himself as defender of tradition and the Toraono clan. He praised the Dojo as a source of pride for Sunagakure, arguing that their affiliation with the Academy provided not just world-class training but something more important—the Toraono way, their culture, and teachings reflected in graduates. He concluded firmly that the Academy should retain its affiliation, then directly challenged his opponent: "Now I would not expect Silent to understand the ramifications such a decision poses to Sunagakure, after all how could a Kumogakurian Anbu truly grasp the severity of what is being proposed?"

Silent's response took a different approach. Using her water-writing, she presented her message:

"I BELIEVE CHANGE IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GROW AND LEARN FROM THE PAST. WHILE THE TORAONO DOJO IS A STAPLE OF SAND HISTORY AND HAS HELPED THIS COUNTRY WITH MANY GREAT THINGS, ONE CANNOT BE STUCK ALWAYS IN THE PAST. WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND HELP MAKE IT SO THAT IT IS THE BRIGHTEST IT CAN BE."

Her argument positioned change as growth rather than rejection of tradition. Notably, she didn't directly rebut Akkuma's challenge about her foreign status—instead embracing it by arguing from a perspective of external observation and future-focused thinking.

Question Two: Should the Great Shinobi Clans Pay Taxes?

Akkuma declared simply that any citizen of Sunagakure should pay taxes, "But the great clans especially so." He argued that while clans carried positions of respect and responsibility, they couldn't deny these same positions allowed them advantages in brokering deals and leveraging resources. "It should be a position of pride for the great Houses to contribute towards the continued prosperity of Sunagakure."

Silent's water-words agreed:

"YES, ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY ON TAXES. EXCEPTIONS SHOULDN'T BE MADE BASED ON THEIR STANDING."

For the first time in their debate, the two competitors fundamentally agreed. This consensus on taxation equality stood in stark contrast to their complete opposition on nearly every other matter.

The Interruption:
As with the other arenas, an ANBU operative appeared beside Shinpan Ni with urgent news. The referee's nervous dismissal of both competitors revealed through his slip that someone's location was unknown.

In a surprising development, as Akkuma prepared to teleport away via sand spiral, Silent used the arena's water to surround and weigh down his sand, preventing his departure. She approached him, creating small water words visible only to him:

"I KNOW YOU ARE CONNIVING AND HAVE YOUR WAYS. WHILE I DO NOT TRUST YOU, I WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU BEHIND THE KAZEKAGE'S DISAPPEARANCE?"

Though it appeared accusatory, her use of small private letters rather than public declaration suggested something more complex—perhaps an unexpected, temporary alliance between enemies. "Enemy of my enemy" logic in action, though which enemy to temporarily back remained unclear.

Akkuma gave a devilish chuckle: "How could I be responsible for anything? I've been in the Games this whole time." Then ominously: "My we are in trouble aren't we."

He swapped with a sand clone in the stands using Stunt Double Jutsu, dispersing it and teleporting from within the crowd to avoid being followed.

Arena Three - Moriko vs. Uziuke:

The Competitors:
Tsurara Moriko, the fifteen-year-old Genin who had scored second in Round One, arrived dressed with calculated precision. Clean white blouse with subtle impressions of her clan's symbol in deep blue on collar and cuffs. Pleated indigo skirt with silvery-blue trim. Thigh-high pale icy socks with indigo stripes. Black boots with pale blue lacework. Her knife in visible hip holster with matching pouch of shuriken—all in matching inky black. The effect: martial capability within aesthetic presentation. She commanded the arena's water to create giant watery letters visible to all: "THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING."

Uziuke, the ANBU Captain, wore his bear mask with black sleeveless shirt, ANBU vest, black leggings, and shinobi sandals. His white hair reached past his shoulders. He projected calm professionalism, though those watching carefully might note his contemplative demeanor—as if questioning his own presence in the competition.

Question One: Should the Positions of Kazekage and Sennin Be Democratically Elected?

Moriko spoke first, noting it was "an expectedly difficult question." She acknowledged that democratic elections can work in many situations but questioned whether they work for Sunagakure specifically. The Kazekage and Sennin weren't merely administrative—they commanded authority derived from being particularly upstanding ninja with leadership skills and respect-earning capability. Strength meant more than physical combat prowess, as the current Kazekage had determined.

Her key question: "Do we believe that we, as a populace, can choose the right people for this?"

She argued that democratic selection would require substantial information released about candidates for voters to be responsible in their choice. "Whether that is a risk we are willing to take—whether we believe it would be worth it, and that people would use it responsibly, and that it would not reveal too much to our enemies—I think on the whole I would currently say no. If and when we find we have fewer to no enemies, then I think it could well be good for us."

Uziuke's response was remarkably brief. He gave a few snaps in place of applause for Moriko's answer, saying "Great answer," then addressed the microphone: "A Voting system for such seats?" His tone conveyed ridicule. "Non-sense." He left the microphone swinging and said nothing more.

Moriko, thrown by the lack of rebuttal or argument, managed: "That's gracious of you." She had no statement to rebut when her opponent didn't engage with the question. They essentially agreed, though she had been far more diplomatic about it.

Question Two: Should There Be a Refugee Process for Shinobi Fleeing Other Villages and What Are the Effects on International Relations?

Uziuke answered first this time, displaying stronger engagement. He took a hardline position: shinobi fleeing their villages because they became enemies would have no home in Sand. To maintain good relations with other villages, Sunagakure should help with threats those villages face rather than harbor their fugitives. "We should hold them in a cell, and turn in such nin to their respective village. This could be the beginning of a building relationship with others. This may even allow us to befriend other villages for both of our aid."

He acknowledged Sunagakure had allowed a traitor to slip through their fingers—a shame he wouldn't permit on his watch.

However, he distinguished between enemy fugitives and displaced persons: "As far as the Mercenary that don't belong to any village, or was forced to leave their home because of natural disasters and such, having a home here would be fine." He himself was a Kirigakure refugee grateful for Sunagakure's acceptance.

Moriko largely agreed, adding her own perspective: "There is no reason for us to involve ourselves in the internal politics of another village, which taking in fugitives would be doing." She went further: if fugitives were explicitly wanted dead, once identity was confirmed, "we should have no compunctions about executing them ourselves. It is not up to us to judge whether or not what they have done is worthy of death."

She nuanced this with strategic thinking: "Though it does also depend on our existing relations and desired relations with the other village. I would say that there are circumstances in which we should, such as if we were openly hostile with the village in question." In that unlikely case, strict screening would be necessary to ensure true refugees weren't spies, "but if they were that could be an advantage for us with whatever information they would be able to provide."

For true refugees displaced by disaster rather than crime, she saw no reason not to accept them: "They could also impart information and skills from their previous villages. It would be beneficial to us to have those perspectives and talents, and for them in many ways."

The Interruption:
As in the other arenas, an ANBU operative delivered urgent news to Shinpan Tsu. The referee's nervous dismissal revealed someone's location was unknown—someone important enough to halt the games entirely.

Uziuke immediately departed for ANBU headquarters upon receiving a telepathic summons from Chikamatsu Shin.

Moriko, recognizing she was unlikely to be called as "just a Genin, even if a senior one," departed the arena to find Tsukiya in the stands. Their conversation revealed her growing awareness that her chances had been undermined by circumstances beyond her control.

The Crisis Revealed:

The 11th Kazekage, Ryuzaki Raizo, was missing. His viewing box had remained empty throughout all debates—a fact that took on sinister significance once the ANBU appeared. The games had been interrupted not by victor's declaration but by crisis.

Three ANBU operatives appeared before Chikamatsu Shin in the viewing chambers:
- A man with a bear mask: "Lord Shin, there is a matter that needs your immediate attention."
- A woman with a wolf mask: "You will need to grab a few members for a covert mission, information is limited and until your success the resources the village has cannot be sent elsewhere."
- A man with a butterfly painted mask: "We will be assisting the Main Branch's Border Defense until your return."

They handed Shin a scroll containing limited information, then vanished—leaving the newly minted Sennin with an S-Rank mission he could not refuse.

Shin's response: Immediately identify three shinobi from among the competitors and extend telepathic summons:
- To Sunaku Harupia: "Sunaku Harupia, it's Chikamatsu Shin. I need you for an S-Rank Mission. Meet me at the Primus' Bulwark Gates in an hour. Bring the provisions you will need for a week in the desert. Tell no one about your departure."
- To Miroku Akkuma: [Identical message]
- To Uziuke: [Identical message]

Notably, he did not summon the Kumogakure ANBU operative (despite her tracking and investigation skills), nor the young Tsurara Moriko (despite her second-place finish in Round One), nor Shingetsu Sora (despite the Ancient's considerable power).

His choices: The man who knew the deep desert and had recently discovered Hammerfall. The ANBU Captain loyal to Sunagakure. And the demon sage whose crimes against allied villages remained officially unaddressed.

Spectator Reactions:

The spectator section provided insight into public opinion throughout the debates:

Tanatsu Neko arrived early, immediately cheering for her friend Silent. After hearing all responses to Question One regarding the Academy and Toraono Dojo affiliation, she erupted at Sora's answer about hiring gang members: "HIRE THEM?! As if, they've tormented us for years now. Destroyed faith in the village, and we just start paying them?!" She strongly preferred Harupia's approach of rebuilding and showing the Old Districts they weren't abandoned.

Myakashi Migoya, the infamous missing-nin and master of the Jinkotsu, attended in disguise. His puppet companion Mikki (carried in his knapsack and communicating telepathically) was outraged this was a debate rather than blood sport. Migoya found the verbal sparring interesting if less visceral than expected. He particularly noted the gang question, internally criticizing both Sora and Harupia for treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes—why did people need gangs in the first place? Because their needs weren't being met by legitimate society.

When Shin was suddenly surrounded by ANBU and given a scroll before flying away, Migoya recognized opportunity to investigate: "Watching was fun," but now it was time to discover what was truly happening.

The Oracle Plague—Chikamatsu Shin himself, or rather one of his bodies—observed all three arenas simultaneously through his Inner Circle's shared consciousness. Five identical bodies dressed in black with long-beaked porcelain masks moved through the colosseum, appearing as "The Oracle's Plague" rather than the newly appointed Sennin. His crows scattered throughout provided additional surveillance.

His assessments:
- Moriko and Uziuke: Both gave clear "No" answers to democratic election, though Moriko was more thorough. [+1 to each]
- Sora and Harupia: Essentially the same answer on gangs—train and hire the unfortunate. Sora's satellite Academy idea noted for potential. [+1 to each]
- Silent and Akkuma: Silent spoke around the Toraono question without direct answer, clearly foreign perspective. Akkuma understood Sunagakure's tradition-rooted culture and defended one of the village's cornerstone clans. [+1 Akkuma, -1 Silent]

Big Hat Momo and her band had been prepared to provide musical entertainment during intermissions. The sudden interruption and mass exodus left her confused and frustrated. "Something was going down and it was time for the crimson kunoichi, the two time back to back musical award winner and stunning hottie to spring into action."

Outcomes and Non-Outcomes:

Round Two reached no formal conclusion. No victors were declared. No new Sennin were appointed from among the competitors. Yet the crisis itself created outcome through selection:

Those Summoned for the S-Rank Mission:
- Sunaku Harupia: Chosen for his deep desert knowledge and recent discoveries at Hammerfall
- Uziuke: Chosen for his ANBU capabilities and proven loyalty
- Miroku Akkuma: Chosen despite (or because of?) his admitted crimes, presumably for his combat power and demon sage abilities

Those Not Summoned:
- Chigokai Yuna (Silent): The Kumogakure ANBU with tracking and investigation expertise—not selected, possibly due to her foreign allegiance or possibly to prevent international complications
- Tsurara Moriko: Second-place finisher from Round One with strategic mind—not selected, likely due to her young age and Genin rank
- Shingetsu Sora (Suigetsu): The Ancient being with considerable power—not selected, possibly due to security concerns or the unpredictability of Ancients

Implications:
The selection for the S-Rank mission became a de facto continuation of the Sennin Games. Those chosen proved their value through crisis response rather than debate performance. Those not chosen found their candidacy effectively ended—not through any failure on their part, but through circumstances beyond their control.

Moriko's post-debate conversation with Tsukiya captured this frustration: "I started actually wanting it. While there is definitely something in literature to suggest those who seek power should not receive it, is that accurate or a truism? And would it not apply to the others here as well?"

Tsukiya's response: "The desire to have or not have power is, in my mind, less of a deciding factor than what you would choose to do with it."

But what does one do when the opportunity to demonstrate what one would do with power is snatched away by external crisis? When the game changes rules mid-play not through anyone's fault but through fate's intervention?

The fifteen-year-old Genin was left with sage advice: "Find another goal to work toward that does not require outside approval or interference. There's no point in trying to show anyone up with it; simply ignore them and continue on."

The Kazekage's Absence - Theories and Implications:

Why was Ryuzaki Raizo missing? The scroll provided to Shin presumably contained details, but these were not made public. Several possibilities exist:

Voluntary Departure:
Someone of the Kazekage's strength would not be taken against his will easily. Did he leave intentionally? For what purpose? Had he discovered something in the deep desert that required immediate investigation?

Ambush or Assassination Attempt:
Even the strongest can be overwhelmed by sufficient force, trickery, or betrayal. Had enemies within or without the village moved against him during the games when attention was divided?

Connection to Hammerfall:
Harupia had recently reported discovering the legendary Ancient city and meeting the Guardian Prometheus. Had Raizo gone to investigate personally? Had something from that encounter drawn him away?

Ancient Involvement:
With multiple Ancients now active in Wind Country (Suigetsu, Kaen, and others), had one of them played a role? Ancients operate on timescales and with motivations mortals struggle to comprehend.

The Akkuma Factor:
The demon sage had openly confessed to orchestrating attacks on Kumogakure and Konohagakure. He'd demonstrated he could act with impunity while maintaining public presence. Could he have arranged the Kazekage's disappearance while participating in the games—creating the perfect alibi?

Internal Coup:
Commerce representatives had shown unusual influence in Round One, with Hekima admitting he and others had fought to include controversial participants. Akihiko had arrived late and demonstrated apparent mind-control capabilities. Had civilian leadership moved against the Kazekage?

The fact that Shin chose to include Akkuma on the rescue mission suggests he either:
1. Trusted (or was compelled to trust) that Akkuma was not responsible
2. Believed that keeping Akkuma close provided better control than leaving him unwatched
3. Recognized that recovering the Kazekage required maximum power regardless of political complications
4. Had information from the scroll that indicated Akkuma's particular abilities were necessary

Whatever the truth, the 11th Kazekage's disappearance during his own innovation—the public Sennin Games—created bitter irony. His attempt to demonstrate proactive leadership through transparent selection had been interrupted by crisis that forced reactive emergency response.

Debates Analysis - What the Answers Revealed:

Despite the incomplete nature of Round Two, the participants' responses to the questions revealed their governance philosophies:

On Democratic Election of Leadership:
- Moriko: Thoughtful pragmatism—democratic elections could work someday, but not while Sunagakure has enemies and information security remains crucial
- Uziuke: Blunt rejection—"Non-sense"—with no elaboration needed in his view
- [Questions not reached in other arenas before interruption]

On Academy-Dojo Affiliation:
- Akkuma: Traditionalist defense of the Toraono clan's cultural contribution and importance to village identity
- Silent: Future-focused argument for change and growth beyond past structures

On Clan Taxation:
- Akkuma: Equality of obligation—great clans should proudly contribute to village prosperity
- Silent: Simple fairness—no exceptions based on standing
- [Rare moment of complete agreement between opposed contestants]

On Gang Neutralization:
- Sora: Pragmatic rehabilitation—hire those with training, give all opportunities for purpose
- Harupia: Comprehensive rebuilding—address root causes of desperation through infrastructure and hope
- [Substantially similar approaches with different emphasis]

On Technological Growth:
- Sora: Resource sustainability—solve energy and food through renewable sources, invest in education
- Harupia: Spatial expansion—careful desert colonization to find resources and Ancient secrets
- [Different strategies toward same goal]

On Refugee Policy:
- Uziuke: Clear distinction—enemy fugitives get turned over to maintain alliances, disaster refugees get accepted
- Moriko: Strategic nuance—context-dependent based on relationships, with willingness to execute wanted fugitives
- [Aligned on core principle with different levels of detail]

The pattern that emerges: Most competitors showed reasoned approaches to governance questions. They differed in emphasis (tradition vs. innovation, immediate vs. long-term, pragmatic vs. idealistic) but rarely in fundamental competence.

The exception remained the Akkuma-Silent pairing, where every question became referendum on belonging—could a foreigner truly lead Sunagakure? Could a demon who admitted crimes against allies be trusted with authority? These questions went unanswered when crisis interrupted.

The Unfinished Competition:

What would have happened had the Sennin Games continued uninterrupted?

Based on Round Two performance before the crisis:
- Arena Three likely favored Moriko for her detailed, strategic responses, though Uziuke's directness had its own appeal
- Arena One showed essential agreement between Sora and Harupia, making victor determination difficult—possibly would have required later questions to differentiate
- Arena Two remained the most contentious, with Akkuma's traditional appeals potentially resonating with native Sunans while Silent's change-focused vision might have attracted younger or more progressive elements

The crowd voting mechanism had not yet been implemented for most questions, leaving popular opinion unmeasured.

Ultimately, we cannot know who would have won their debates. The competition transformed from structured contest into field selection through crisis—a very different test, perhaps, but one no less revealing of character and capability.

Those who departed immediately when summoned (Harupia, Uziuke) demonstrated responsive loyalty. Akkuma's attempt to teleport away before being stopped by Silent, then his eventual compliance, showed his particular brand of cooperation—willing to respond to authority he respects while maintaining independence of action. Silent's attempt to delay Akkuma and question his involvement showed her investigative instincts even in crisis, though her exclusion from the mission left those instincts unutilized.

Moriko and Sora, receiving no summons, had no opportunity to demonstrate crisis response at all—left to wonder if their exclusion represented assessment of their limitations or merely the practical reality that only so many could be taken on an urgent deep-desert mission.

Reflections on Interrupted Innovation:

The 11th Kazekage's experiment in transparent leadership selection ended in the most ironic way possible—by his own disappearance removing him from the process he'd created. The games that were supposed to demonstrate proactive adaptation instead revealed the village's vulnerability to unexpected crisis.

Yet perhaps this unintended conclusion served his purposes better than any planned finale could have. The debates revealed each competitor's governance philosophy. The crisis revealed their character under pressure. The selection for the S-Rank mission demonstrated practical leadership decision-making in emergency conditions.

Future Oracles must consider: Was this always going to be the true test? Not the social navigation of Kyōsaku House, not the policy debates in the colosseum, but the response to sudden catastrophe?

The competitors who performed well in structured contests (Moriko, Silent) were set aside in favor of those with specific capabilities needed for desert survival and potential combat (Harupia, Uziuke, Akkuma). This suggests that despite the Kazekage's stated intention to move beyond martial selection criteria, when crisis strikes, raw power and practical experience still determine who gets called upon.

The question remains: Once the Kazekage is recovered (if he is recovered), will the Sennin Games resume? Will new appointments be made based on Round Two's incomplete results? Or will the emergency effectively end the experiment, returning Sunagakure to traditional appointment methods?

And perhaps most crucially: What does it say about the village's readiness for innovation that its boldest experiment in leadership selection could be derailed so completely by a single missing person—even if that person was the Kazekage himself?

Lessons for Future Oracles:

Innovation in governance remains essential, but the gap between ideal conditions and crisis reality persists. The 11th Kazekage designed games to test social acumen and policy vision in peacetime, but crisis demanded desert survival skills and combat prowess instead. Both tests have merit; the question is whether leadership selection should account for both simultaneously or accept that different circumstances require different leaders.

The debates themselves proved valuable regardless of outcome. Public discourse on policy questions—Academy affiliation, taxation, refugee policy, gang violence, technological development—engaged the population in governance questions they might never otherwise consider. Even interrupted, the games served an educational function.

The selection of Akkuma for the S-Rank mission despite his admitted crimes suggests either:
1. Practical necessity overrides moral concerns in crisis
2. The demon sage retains protectors within the power structure
3. His crimes remain officially unacknowledged despite public confession
4. The missing Kazekage's situation requires abilities only Akkuma possesses

Future Oracles must track whether this inclusion represents temporary emergency pragmatism or de facto acceptance of Akkuma's actions. If the demon sage returns as hero from this mission, his path to eventual legitimacy becomes clearer—a troubling prospect for Sunagakure's alliances.

For the competitors not selected—particularly the capable ones like Moriko, Silent, and Sora—this represents a harsh lesson in the arbitrariness of opportunity. Excellence in visible competition means nothing if crisis creates different selection criteria. Yet this too reflects reality: no matter how well one prepares for known challenges, unknown ones may render that preparation irrelevant.

The games revealed another truth: Sunagakure's leadership selection remains profoundly influenced by insider status. Of the three summoned, two were village natives (Harupia, Uziuke) and one was a long-established foreign presence with deep connections (Akkuma). Of the three not summoned, two were outsiders (Silent from Kumogakure, Sora as an Ancient) and one was exceptionally young despite being native (Moriko). When crisis demanded trust and coordination, the established network proved more valuable than demonstrated merit in competition.

This pattern suggests that for all the 11th Kazekage's innovation, certain fundamentals remain unchanged: leadership positions in Sunagakure still favor those with years of village integration and existing relationships with the power structure. The games could identify capable candidates, but crisis response relied on known quantities.

Whether this represents wisdom or limitation depends on outcome. If the mission succeeds, it validates trusting established figures. If it fails, it demonstrates the cost of excluding fresh perspectives and different capabilities.

The Spectators' Role:

The public nature of Round Two created something unprecedented in Sunagakure's history—thousands of citizens directly observing leadership candidate evaluation. Even incomplete, this experience shaped popular perception in ways that traditional closed-door appointments never could.

Citizens now had opinions on:
- Whether gang members deserved rehabilitation or punishment
- Whether the Toraono Dojo's Academy affiliation should continue
- Whether great clans should pay taxes like common citizens
- Whether refugee policy should distinguish between criminals and disaster victims
- Whether technological development should emphasize sustainability or expansion

These policy questions, posed to potential leaders, became public discourse. Even children in the Academy could now articulate positions on village governance—a remarkable democratization of political thought regardless of the games' outcome.

The spectators also witnessed leadership in crisis. They saw ANBU operatives interrupt the games with urgent news. They saw their new Sennin (Chikamatsu Shin) respond immediately. They saw some competitors depart to serve while others were left behind. This transparency, while potentially damaging to official mystique, created public investment in outcomes that traditional secrecy never could.

The crowd's reactions—Neko's passionate outburst against hiring gang members, Migoya's analytical observation of root causes, Momo's frustrated desire to entertain despite chaos—all reflected different facets of how the population engaged with their potential future leaders.

For perhaps the first time in Sunagakure's modern history, leadership selection became genuinely public rather than merely announced publicly after private decision. Whether this precedent continues or reverts to tradition remains to be seen.

The Commerce Question:

Round One revealed disturbing influence from Commerce representatives—Hekima's admission of fighting to include controversial participants, Akihiko's late arrival and apparent mind-control of his brother, the general sense that civilian leadership pursued agendas independent of and potentially contrary to the Kazekage's intentions.

Round Two's interruption prevented further observation of Commerce influence, but their absence from the crisis response itself speaks volumes. No Commerce representatives appeared to coordinate with the ANBU. No civilian leadership was visible in the emergency. The village's response relied entirely on its military structure—Orders, ANBU, and the newly appointed Sennin.

This suggests several possibilities:
1. Commerce representatives were deliberately excluded from sensitive security matters
2. They excluded themselves, preferring to pursue interests elsewhere while military handled crises
3. The separation between civilian and military leadership in Sunagakure remains more complete than appearances suggest
4. The Kazekage's disappearance was known to civilian leadership in advance (darkest interpretation)

The fact that Hekima had openly courted Akkuma's favor in Round One, and Akkuma was selected for the S-Rank mission in Round Two despite his crimes, suggests potential alignment between Commerce interests and the demon sage's ambitions. Whether this represents conspiracy, pragmatism, or mere coincidence requires further observation.

Future Oracles should monitor whether Commerce representatives attempt to influence the games' eventual conclusion or the filling of remaining Sennin positions. Their demonstrated willingness to manipulate events for factional advantage makes them potential threats to genuine merit-based selection.

Personal Profiles - The Interrupted Finalists:

Sunaku Harupia:
The Jounin who discovered Hammerfall proved his value immediately—not through debate performance but through possessing unique knowledge essential to the Kazekage's recovery. His Round Two showing demonstrated measured competence without exceptional brilliance, yet his earlier exploration and contact with the Guardian Prometheus made him indispensable. A reminder that leadership selection cannot account for unique circumstances that make specific individuals irreplaceable in specific situations.

Uziuke:
The ANBU Captain's minimalist debate style—responding "Non-sense" to democratic elections without elaboration—might have hurt him in extended competition. Yet his immediate response to crisis summons and his loyalty to Sunagakure despite being a Kirigakure refugee made him invaluable for trusted coordination. His case demonstrates that capability in one domain (ANBU operations) may matter more than performance in another (public speaking) when circumstances change.

Miroku Akkuma:
The demon sage's selection remains the most controversial decision. His theatrical entrance, his defense of Sunagakure tradition despite being foreign-born, his agreement with Silent on taxation equality—all showcased his ability to read and influence public opinion. Yet his admitted orchestration of attacks on Cloud and Leaf should disqualify him from representing Sunagakure in any official capacity. That he was summoned anyway suggests either:
- His raw power is deemed necessary for the Kazekage's recovery
- Someone with authority protects him from consequences
- The full situation is more complex than public knowledge reveals
- Emergency overrides all other considerations

His interaction with Silent—being stopped from teleporting, questioned about the Kazekage's disappearance, then essentially cleared by his alibi of being "in the Games this whole time"—demonstrated both his quick thinking and the fundamental distrust he engenders. Even in crisis, the Kumogakure ANBU couldn't fully accept his innocence. Yet he goes on the mission regardless.

Chigokai Yuna (Silent):
The Kumogakure ANBU's exclusion from the S-Rank mission represents perhaps the most significant casualty of incomplete Round Two. Her tracking skills, combat prowess (as an Archsage with three chakra pools), and existing investigation into Akkuma would seemingly make her ideal for a mission involving both desert navigation and potential combat. Her foreign allegiance likely explains her exclusion—bringing an agent of another village on a sensitive mission to recover the missing Kazekage would create diplomatic complications and security risks.

Yet this exclusion also means Akkuma operates without his primary oversight. The one person actively investigating his crimes and monitoring his activities will not be present to observe his actions during the rescue mission. Whether this represents oversight, pragmatic security decision, or deliberate maneuvering remains unclear.

Her attempted interrogation of Akkuma using water-writing visible only to him demonstrated continued dedication to her mission even as the games collapsed. Her suggestion of possible "enemy of my enemy" temporary alliance showed strategic flexibility. But ultimately, she leaves the arena without the position she competed for and without inclusion in the crisis response—a complete failure of objectives despite strong performance.

Tsurara Moriko:
The fifteen-year-old Genin's exclusion is most easily explained by age and rank, yet most frustrating given her demonstrated capabilities. Her debate performance showed sophisticated understanding of policy implications, strategic thinking about international relations, and willingness to advocate harsh but logical positions (executing wanted fugitives rather than involving Sunagakure in other villages' justice systems).

Her post-competition conversation with Tsukiya revealed growing awareness that merit alone does not determine opportunity: "I started actually wanting it," she admitted—a moment of vulnerability from someone who typically projected icy confidence. Her frustration at having opportunity "snatched away by external crisis" through "no fault of her own" captures the arbitrary nature of how circumstances can override preparation and capability.

Tsukiya's advice—"find another goal to work toward that does not require outside approval or interference"—represents wisdom born of experience with disappointment. But for someone whose entire identity centers on standing out, being special, and achieving recognition beyond her clan status, this advice asks her to fundamentally reconsider what drives her.

The question for future observation: Does this setback motivate her to work harder toward eventual Sennin appointment through traditional advancement? Or does it embitter her toward a system that allowed her to compete publicly, demonstrate capability, then excluded her from the actual decision-making process when circumstances changed?

At fifteen, she has time to reach Sennin position eventually. But will she maintain ambition, or will this experience of arbitrary exclusion teach her that some goals require connections and circumstances beyond individual control—a lesson that could either make her more strategic or more cynical.

Shingetsu Sora (Suigetsu):
The Ancient's exclusion likely stems from security concerns rather than capability doubts. An Ancient being possessing or merged with a village Genin represents unknown risks—despite Suigetsu's apparently cooperative behavior and alliance with figures like Uziuke on airship projects. His C.U.R.O. device had eventually marked him as "Ancient One" during Round One, making his nature known to leadership.

His debate performance showed thoughtful policy positions—rehabilitation over punishment for gang members, sustainable energy and food production, satellite academies to distribute training opportunities. These positions aligned well with modern progressive governance philosophy. Yet when crisis demanded response, the Ancient was not called upon.

This suggests that Sunagakure leadership—despite allowing an Ancient to compete—ultimately does not fully trust beings who operate on timescales and with motivations fundamentally different from mortal shinobi. Suigetsu may have hundreds or thousands of years of experience, but that experience comes from contexts unrelated to current Sunagakure politics and loyalty structures.

The pattern holds: when trust becomes paramount, established village connections override all other considerations—even demonstrated capability or Ancient power.

The Immediate Aftermath:

As the colosseum emptied and the three arenas fell silent, different actors pursued different responses:

Those Summoned:
Harupia, Uziuke, and Akkuma departed to gather provisions for a week in the desert and meet at the Primus' Bulwark Gates. Each received identical telepathic messages from Chikamatsu Shin: "I need you for an S-Rank Mission... Tell no one about your departure." The secrecy requirement suggests either operational security concerns or desire to prevent public panic about the Kazekage's disappearance.

Those Not Summoned:
Silent departed, presumably to continue her investigation of Akkuma from outside official channels—though his inclusion on the S-Rank mission complicated her surveillance options.

Moriko met with Tsukiya, processed her disappointment, then departed to "burn some frustration" through combat against wildlife or bandits—her typical coping mechanism for emotional difficulty.

Sora's reaction remains unrecorded, though his partnership with Uziuke might have informed him of developments.

Spectators:
Tanatsu Neko vanished as ANBU were activated—suggesting she received summons for border defense or other emergency response.

Myakashi Migoya, recognizing opportunity in chaos, departed to investigate what was truly happening—the missing-nin's intelligence-gathering instincts activated by the visible crisis.

Big Hat Momo and her band, frustrated at the interrupted performance, left determined to "spring into action" though what action remained unclear.

The Oracle Plague—Shin's bodies in disguise—converged to coordinate the S-Rank mission response, abandoning observation role for active crisis management.

The Broader Population:
Thousands of spectators departed confused, concerned, and buzzing with speculation. The Kazekage's empty viewing box, the ANBU interruption, the referees' nervous dismissals—all fueled rumors that would spread throughout Sunagakure within hours. Official statements (if any were made) would struggle to control narrative once public observation had revealed genuine crisis.

The games that were supposed to demonstrate Sunagakure's strength and innovative leadership instead showcased vulnerability—a missing Kazekage, an incomplete selection process, and emergency measures replacing careful planning. Whether this transparency ultimately strengthens or weakens public confidence depends on the mission's outcome and how leadership manages the aftermath.

Unanswered Questions:

Round Two's interruption left numerous critical questions unresolved:

1. Will the Sennin Games resume after the Kazekage's recovery (if he is recovered)?

2. Will appointments be made based on incomplete Round Two results, or will the entire competition be invalidated?

3. How will Chikamatsu Shin's selection of Akkuma for the S-Rank mission impact the demon sage's standing—both if the mission succeeds and if it fails?

4. What happens to the competitors who performed well but were not selected for crisis response? Do they retain candidacy for eventual appointment?

5. Will Silent's investigation of Akkuma continue, and how will her exclusion from the rescue mission affect Cloud-Sand relations?

6. Does Moriko's strong showing in both rounds position her for future consideration despite her youth, or does her exclusion from the rescue mission indicate she won't be seriously considered until she advances in rank?

7. What role did Commerce representatives play (if any) in the Kazekage's disappearance or in manipulating the games' outcome?

8. Will the public nature of leadership selection continue, or will this experiment's disruption cause reversion to traditional private appointments?

9. How does Suigetsu's revealed status as an Ancient impact his future within Sunagakure—can an Ancient being ever truly integrate into village power structures?

10. Most crucially: Where is Ryuzaki Raizo, how did he disappear, and what will be the consequences of his absence?

These questions can only be answered by future events—events that will determine whether the 11th Kazekage's innovative experiment in leadership selection becomes remembered as visionary reform or cautionary tale about the dangers of changing tradition during unstable times.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. Let this record stand as testament to interrupted innovation and the gap between ideal selection processes and crisis reality. The Second Sennin Games revealed governance philosophies, policy positions, and public engagement with leadership questions—valuable outcomes despite incomplete competition. But they also demonstrated that when circumstances shift suddenly, traditional factors—power, experience, established trust networks—reassert primacy over innovative selection criteria.

The debates showcased each finalist's vision for Sunagakure's future. The crisis revealed who leadership trusts when the village's future hangs in balance. Both revelations hold merit. Both teach lessons.

May future Oracles learn from both the innovation attempted and the complications that emerged. May they recognize that transparency in leadership selection creates public investment but also public vulnerability when processes cannot reach planned conclusions. May they understand that merit-based competition and crisis-response pragmatism sometimes select different people—and neither approach is inherently wrong, merely suited to different circumstances.

Most of all, may they track what becomes of these interrupted finalists. Does Akkuma return as hero or villain? Does Silent continue her investigation from shadows? Does Moriko rise through traditional advancement to eventually claim the position denied her by circumstance? Does Uziuke's loyalty earn him future consideration? Does Harupia's unique knowledge translate to lasting influence? Does Suigetsu's Ancient nature forever mark him as outsider despite his capabilities?

The games interrupted may prove more revealing than any games concluded—for it is in crisis that true character emerges, and in disappointment that true dedication is tested. Watch these individuals carefully in times to come, for their stories are far from over.

Special notation: The Kazekage's disappearance during his own innovative leadership selection creates troubling symbolism. The architect of change becoming the crisis that derails his own design suggests either extraordinarily bad timing or extraordinarily good timing by those who opposed his reforms. Investigation must determine which—for if the latter, then enemies within threaten more than just these games.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T00:07:04+0000

Entry XXII: The Fall of the Shadow Steward
Classification: Historical Record - Village Crisis and Succession

Abstract:

An accounting of the brief and tyrannical reign of Chikamatsu Wei, who assumed the role of Steward following the loss of the 12th Kazekage. What began as temporary governance devolved into despotism, culminating in an internal coup led by Toraono Michino, who would rise as the 13th Kazekage. This entry serves as both historical record and cautionary tale—a reminder that power unchecked, even within our own bloodline, breeds only suffering.

Historical Context:

Within the span of one year, Sunagakure found itself without its Kazekage and under the authority of Chikamatsu Wei, appointed as Steward during the crisis. Without hesitation, Wei betrayed the village's sovereignty, selling Suna's shinobi services to two oil barons in Soon who sought dominion over the desert's resources. A war was waged against the nomadic tribes who held major oil wells—our longtime allies forced to become our enemies for the sake of foreign greed.

The Tyrant's Crimes:

Wei's transgressions were manifold and flagrant. While shinobi blood muddied the dunes, he dined on finest foods and lounged in luxury atop the Kazekage Tower.

He imprisoned children of the nomadic tribes and forced Suna's forces to strike down their parents and raze their homes.

When a leak was discovered within the ranks, Wei jailed multiple royal families without trial, locked down the Toraono Dojo, and halted all Academy classes—naked power grabs that exposed his true nature.

He sought to reduce Sunagakure to nothing more than a mercenary force, stripping away the independence and honor that had defined the village since its founding.

The Rebellion:

Resistance formed quickly among those with hearts loyal to Wind Country. Toraono Michino, the ANBU, the Sennin, and Sousuke's Old Council worked to undermine Wei's machinations from within. Former Kazekage Steward Takahashi Sousuke, untouchable in his position of fame, stoked public ire with subtle precision. What began as a handful of dissidents swelled to encompass the majority of the village within weeks. The core of this rebellion numbered just over fifty trusted shinobi—advisers, capable fighters, public figures, and elite members of the Toraono clan who came to aid their lord.

The Rise of the Thirteenth:

In the pre-dawn darkness of the bazaar, surrounded by lit braziers—an ordinance placed by the 11th Kazekage to provide warmth to shoppers and homeless alike—Toraono Michino accepted the burden of leadership. An honest man by nature, one who despised subterfuge and preferred direct confrontation, Michino struggled with the necessity of coup. Yet when called upon, he did not falter.

Standing upon a raised podium, his purple eyes wreathed in matching flames, he spoke with echoing baritone to the assembled:

"Children of Sunagakure, my brothers and sisters, and all creatures that call this place home. We stand in a time not seen since before we broke beneath the ground and raised ourselves to the surface... It is time that we remind Chikamatsu Wei and his leeches the consequences of such hubris!"

The podium ignited in purple flame as Michino proclaimed: "I, MICHINO OF THE TORAONO CLAN, ACCEPT THE TASK AS THE THIRTEENTH KAZEKAGE! WE STAND STRONG AS THE MAELSTROM BLOWS!"

As dawn broke red upon the eastern horizon, Michino transformed into a walking elemental wreathed in purple flame and blazed a trail toward the Kazekage Tower, his followers behind him. The order was clear: capture and arrest where possible, spare those who could be saved, and tear Wei from his golden throne to answer for his crimes.

Reflections on Bloodline and Power:

That it was a member of the Chikamatsu clan who brought such shame upon Sunagakure is a wound that will not soon heal. Wei's betrayal serves as a stark reminder that bloodline alone does not guarantee wisdom, honor, or fitness to lead. The very gifts that make our clan formidable—our mastery over life and death, our understanding of the boundaries between them—demand equal measures of restraint and moral clarity.

The 12th Kazekage—Chikamatsu Shin—understood this balance. Wei did not. And so it fell to an outsider, a Toraono, to restore what a Chikamatsu had nearly destroyed.

Lessons for Future Oracles:

Power is not a right but a responsibility. Authority granted in crisis is not permission for tyranny. The moment a leader prioritizes personal gain over the people they serve, they forfeit all legitimacy. Let Wei's fall serve as eternal warning: no title, no bloodline, no temporary authority places one above justice. Sunagakure will always belong to its people, not to any single ruler—and the village will always find those willing to fight when that truth is threatened.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. Let this record stand as testament to both the fragility and resilience of Sunagakure. May we never again mistake ambition for leadership, nor forget the cost of complacency in the face of corruption.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T00:24:33+0000

Entry XXIII: The Second Chaos Era
Classification: Historical Archive - Crisis Documentation & Governmental Transformation

Abstract:

The Second Chaos Era marks a catastrophic period in Sunagakure's history, rivaling the darkness of the Maelstrom itself. Beginning with a failed coup against the 12th Kazekage Chikamatsu Wei and culminating in the village's forced retreat into the Underworld, this era witnessed the dissolution of the Old Blood Council, the fall of the Kazekage system, and the rise of the Sennin Triumvirate. The village now traverses the underground through revolutionary crystal-powered railways, hiding from the Twins' control above while rebuilding society from within the ancient sandworm caverns.

Theory:

The Second Chaos Era's genesis reflects a convergence of systemic corruption and external manipulation:

- The Wei Corruption: The Steward Kazekage's reign was marked by greed, the sale of military services to the highest bidder, and the deployment of mind-control techniques that poisoned Sunagakure's shinobi with madness. His pharmaceutical manipulations turned allies into enemies, forcing the Toraono Clan against their Nomad partners.

- Old Blood Betrayal: The Council of Old Bloods, granted power solely through bloodline privilege, became infiltrated by traitors. Several members leaked intelligence that nearly resulted in the village's complete annihilation. Their flight to Sora vacation homes during the crisis exposed their cowardice and secured their permanent dissolution.

- The Failed Coup: Toraono Michino, chosen by the Old Council to lead a bloodless removal of Wei, prioritized mercy over efficiency. His refusal to employ Chikamatsu assassins—specialists who could have ended the conflict swiftly—resulted in civil war, massive casualties, and the destruction of the Kazekage Tower itself.

- The Twins' Dominion: A cabal known only as "the Twins" seized control of Wind Country's surface, commandeering the entire railway enterprise and turning the Nomad tribes against Sunagakure. Only two clans—one major, one minor—retained knowledge of the truth and remained loyal. The rest now kill shinobi on sight.

- Underground Exodus: Sunagakure activated emergency protocols designed for Wei's anticipated invasion, descending into the sandworm caverns. For three days the village moved through darkness until tracks ended, requiring immediate construction of new underground railways to continue survival.

Applications:

Crystal Technology advancement allows the village to traverse underground and resurface at will, creating mobile defensive positioning across Wind Country.

Governmental restructuring eliminates hereditary privilege, establishing democratic principles where common citizens possess equal voice with former nobility.

Military doctrine shifts from "protect the village" to "protect the people," establishing independence from Daimyo, Twins, and all external authorities. Sunagakure becomes a sovereign nation-state.

The Sennin Triumvirate—Miroku Akkuma (Medical), Shingetsu Sora (Sky Operations), and Tsurara Moriko (Defense)—replaces the Kazekage system with rotating four-year elected terms, ensuring adaptive leadership.

The Diamond District, formerly reserved for Old Blood nobility, opens to all citizens based on merit and contribution to reconstruction efforts.

Wood Release shinobi combine chakra crystal veins with botanical techniques to accelerate reconstruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure in the Underworld.

Risks and Notes:

The village faces unprecedented challenges: Nomad tribes hunt shinobi on sight, shattering centuries of partnership. The Twins control all surface railways and commerce. Extended underground habitation threatens morale and mental health among civilians unaccustomed to perpetual darkness. The false noon sky created by crystal technology provides light but not true sunlight, potentially causing long-term physiological effects. Citizens retain the right to leave Sunagakure freely during the three-month construction period, risking population collapse. The hasty dissolution of the Kazekage position and Old Blood Council may create power vacuums that enemies could exploit. Trust in shinobi governance remains fragile after the civil war's devastation. The 13th Kazekage's resignation—taking full blame for the coup despite being merely the figurehead—may inspire loyalty or reveal governmental manipulation depending on which truth surfaces.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. This entry documents the darkest hour in modern Sunagakure history and the radical restructuring that followed. Access restricted to Oracles, Sennin Triumvirate, and designated archivists by Triumvirate decree. The village's survival depends on remembering these lessons: that unchecked power breeds corruption, that bloodline privilege without accountability invites betrayal, and that mercy without wisdom costs lives. We descended into darkness not as refugees, but as revolutionaries. We will rise again—not as servants to greed, but as protectors of humanity. May future generations learn from our hubris and honor our sacrifice.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T00:36:50+0000

Entry XXIV: The Interview in Flame's Maw
Classification: Oracle Documentation - Post-Coup Interview & Identity Revelation

Abstract:

Following the 13th Kazekage's resignation speech, Oracle Plague conducted an emergency interview with Toraono Michino to document the circumstances of the coup, the fall of Chikamatsu Wei, and the governmental restructuring of Sunagakure. During this encounter, Plague revealed his true identity as Chikamatsu Shin, the 12th Kazekage presumed dead, disclosing that he had been under mind-control via Wei's pharmaceutical manipulation. This meeting established critical historical records regarding the transition of power, the dissolution of the Old Blood Council, and the revelation that the 12th Kazekage survived his apparent death through Miroku Akkuma's intervention.

Theory:

The interview revealed several critical elements of the Second Chaos Era's origins:

- Plague's Infiltration Methods: Oracle Plague bypassed Toraono clan guards using pharmaceutical sedatives and genjutsu techniques, demonstrating the advanced training provided by ancient shinobi clan Lords and Ladies. His methods, while effective, challenged traditional protocols for Oracle-Kage interactions, reflecting the urgency of documentation requirements.

- Wei's Mind Control Methodology: Shin revealed he had been poisoned with a concoction powerful enough to overcome his enhanced cellular regeneration, forcing him to attack Sunagakure against his will. The specific pharmaceutical composition remains unknown, though it was potent enough to sever his connection to the Yurei Orchid and the Inner Court collective consciousness.

- Akkuma's Liberation Technique: Sennin Miroku Akkuma successfully broke Wei's control over Shin through unspecified means. The Oracle himself admits gaps in memory regarding the exact methodology, suggesting either extreme trauma or deliberate memory suppression to protect sensitive information.

- Council Selection Process: The Old Council of nobles and shinobi, backed by Takahashi Sousuke, selected Michino to lead the coup. Michino accepted reluctantly, driven by Wei's use of the Toraono Clan against the Nomads and the corruption of Sunagakure's mercenary operations.

- The Peaceful Approach Failure: Michino's decision to attempt a "shock arrest" rather than employ Chikamatsu assassins—specialists capable of swift elimination—resulted in catastrophic casualties. His hubris regarding peaceful resolution directly enabled Wei's devastating counterattack.

- Clan Severance Mystery: Upon awakening from control, Shin discovered himself completely severed from the Chikamatsu Clan network. The Yurei Orchid's power had faded, the Inner Court connection vanished, and even his deceased sister's haunting presence disappeared—suggesting either catastrophic damage to clan infrastructure or deliberate severing by surviving clan members.

Applications:

Doctrine Seal documentation technique recorded the entire interview in real-time, creating permanent historical records of governmental transition.

Shin's survival provides critical firsthand testimony regarding Wei's pharmaceutical mind-control capabilities and their mechanisms.

The interview established legal documentation of Michino's motivations, decision-making process, and voluntary resignation from the Kazekage position.

Revelation of Shin's identity to Toraono Michino and ANBU operative "Copy" (Toraono Ryota) creates potential intelligence concerns regarding classified information distribution.

The meeting revealed gaps in official records regarding: the fate of the Chikamatsu Clan post-coup, the extent of Wei's attacks attributed to Shin's controlled actions, and Akkuma's role in liberating the former Kazekage.

Risks and Notes:

Oracle Plague's infiltration methods—sedating guards and entering unannounced—violated standard diplomatic protocols and nearly resulted in combat with a former Kazekage possessing Sharingan and Soosano techniques. Michino's initial response (purple-flamed panther skull manifestation, room-wide heat generation, and threatened immolation) demonstrated the extreme security risk of unannounced Oracle visits during crisis periods. The revelation of Shin's survival creates multiple complications: his legal status as former Kazekage under mind-control remains undefined; his attacks on Sunagakure may require amnesty or trial; his severance from the Chikamatsu Clan suggests either widespread clan casualties or deliberate ostracization; and his inability to sense his deceased sister implies fundamental damage to his Yurei Orchid connection. Toraono Ryota's presence as witness means ANBU now possesses knowledge of the 12th Kazekage's survival—information that could destabilize already fragile governmental trust. Shin's memory gaps regarding his time under control leave dangerous knowledge voids about what Wei learned through him. Most critically, Shin's question regarding clan-wide punishment for Wei's actions went unanswered due to interview termination, leaving uncertainty about potential persecution of innocent Chikamatsu clan members.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. This interview marks the first official documentation of Chikamatsu Shin's survival following liberation from Wei's pharmaceutical control. The meeting reveals the desperate circumstances under which the 13th Kazekage operated and the complex moral calculus of choosing peace over assassination—a choice that cost lives but preserved Michino's soul. Shin's survival raises profound questions about clan responsibility, individual culpability under mind-control, and the fate of the Chikamatsu bloodline. His severance from the Inner Court and inability to sense even spiritual presences suggests either unprecedented trauma or complete dissolution of clan infrastructure during the civil war. The interview was terminated due to inactivity before critical questions regarding clan persecution could be answered. Access restricted to Oracles, Sennin Triumvirate, and designated ANBU archivists by Triumvirate decree. May those who read this understand: even in survival, we carry the weight of what was lost.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T17:49:30+0000

Entry XXV: The Awakening of Kohana - Soul of the Stillborn Twin
Classification: Forbidden Knowledge - Psychological Schism and Parasitic Soul Integration

Abstract:

A comprehensive documentation of the psychological and spiritual event that occurred during Chikamatsu Shin's Genin examination at the Byakko Estate. During intense physical trauma, Shin's consciousness descended into his own psyche where he encountered Kohana—the soul of his stillborn twin sister that had remained dormant and attached to his own soul since before birth. This awakening marked the beginning of a dual consciousness within a single vessel, creating what would become known as the "Twin Soul Phenomenon" unique to the Oracle's existence.

Historical Context:

This event transpired during Shin's youth, when he was still referred to as "the Flower Child" and served as an academy under examination for advancement. The incident occurred at the Byakko Estate's Dojo during what should have been a routine combat assessment. The examining Medical Chief, accompanied by a Byakko Guard, witnessed only the physical trauma—unaware that within Shin's mind, a battle for bodily autonomy was being waged against an entity that had existed alongside him since conception.

Prior to this moment, Shin's proficiency in Genjutsu and mind-based techniques as a Yamanaka had been well-documented. However, none suspected that his natural aptitude for consciousness manipulation would inadvertently unlock a door within his own psyche that had remained sealed for over a decade.

The Descent - Physical Trauma as Catalyst:

The awakening began when projectiles struck Shin's chest during the examination, causing severe physical pain. Rather than simply collapsing to the marble floors of the dojo, Shin experienced a sensation of falling through the floor itself—a descent that marked his consciousness plunging into the depths of his own mind.

"Everything closed in around him as he could see the Medical chief walk towards him, though the view itself was distancing itself. As his field of vision closed in and became black the young Yamanaka could feel the sensation of air pushing beside him."

This descent was not metaphorical. Shin's consciousness, driven by the trauma and his natural psychic sensitivity, had literally detached from his physical perception and begun exploring the architecture of his own soul. The sensation of falling, the directional awareness (distinguishing up from down, left from right), and the increasing velocity all represented his consciousness accelerating toward a suppressed memory buried at the foundation of his being.

The hissing sound that grew louder as he fell would later be understood as the first vocalization attempts of the awakening consciousness—Kohana trying to call out to her brother for the first time in their shared existence.

The Red Void - Architecture of Suppressed Trauma:

Upon regaining visual perception within his mindscape, Shin found himself surrounded by walls of deep crimson—"a shade of red so dark it made the boy's skin crawl." This coloration was significant and would be analyzed extensively in later years:

The red represented multiple symbolic layers:
- The blood of birth and death intertwined
- The rage of a soul denied life and voice
- The warmth of a sibling connection never realized
- The danger that this awakening posed to Shin's singular identity

The infinite nature of the redness suggested that this suppressed consciousness had expanded to fill every corner of Shin's subconscious that was not actively occupied by his own ego. Kohana had always been there, growing alongside him, observing through his eyes, but locked away from active participation.

The screaming that Shin began to distinguish from the hissing was Kohana's voice—"familiar yet foreign all at the same time." This paradox perfectly encapsulates the nature of their connection: she was made from the same genetic template, shared the same soul-origin, yet had developed entirely separate desires, memories, and personality through her unique perspective as a consciousness without agency.

The Checkered Floor - Duality Made Manifest:

The transformation of environment from infinite red void to a stone cavern with a checkered floor of black and white tiles marked a crucial shift in the mindscape. This was Shin's consciousness attempting to impose order and structure upon the chaos of awakening suppressed trauma.

"Black and white alternating spaces the boy could see the drastic contrast while at the same time appreciating the balance of the two polar opposites."

The checkered pattern represented the duality that would come to define the Oracle's existence:
- Light and shadow
- Healer and warrior
- Masculine and feminine consciousness
- Life and death
- Self and other

That Shin's descent slowed "rapidly yet gracefully" until his toes softly touched the ground indicated his natural ability to navigate psychological crisis. Even in the depths of his own trauma, his mind sought balance and controlled resolution rather than catastrophic fracture.

First Contact - "I Am You":

The manifestation of Kohana as a girl "around his age" was the first visual representation of the consciousness that had been suppressed. Her appearance—similar enough to be recognizable as related, yet distinctly feminine and separate—caused immediate instinctual rejection in Shin.

The phrase "I am you" spoken by Kohana was both literal truth and existential horror. She was not lying or speaking metaphorically:
- They shared the same soul-origin
- She had experienced everything he had experienced
- Her consciousness had been shaped by his sensory input
- Genetically, they were identical twins
- Yet she possessed independent thought, will, and identity

Shin's attempt to use Cancel to "break free of this illusion" demonstrated his initial defensive response—denial. This was not a genjutsu cast by an enemy. This was his own mind revealing truth he was unprepared to accept.

The escalation of Kohana's tone from playful to serious to screaming represented her desperation to be acknowledged. After years of silent observation, she was finally able to communicate directly, and the intensity of suppressed need manifested as increasingly aggressive assertion: "I AM YOU!"

The Possession - Name of the Rose in Red:

When Kohana used the Name of the Rose technique—a jutsu Shin's mother had demonstrated that allows a user to transform their body into chakra and merge with a target—she revealed sophisticated knowledge despite never having practiced the technique herself. This proved that Kohana had been conscious and learning alongside Shin throughout his entire life.

The critical deviation from standard execution of this technique was the color:
- Normal chakra manifests as blue
- Kohana's chakra glowed "an eerie red that crept up her arm"

This red chakra would become her signature, representing the accumulated anger, frustration, and twisted love of a soul denied independent existence. The color also served as a warning system—when Shin's own chakra began exhibiting red coloration in future years, it indicated Kohana was closer to the surface, her influence bleeding through into his conscious actions.

The sensation Shin experienced when pushed out of his own body—"like the sensation of having the wind knocked out of you"—would become a recurring feeling whenever Kohana seized control. This psychosomatic marker served as both warning and weakness; enemies who learned of the Oracle's dual nature could exploit this vulnerability during moments of internal conflict.

The Battle for Bodily Autonomy:

Shin's return to awareness in the Byakko Estate's Dojo—but from an external perspective with "almost transparent hand" emitting "soft chakra blue"—represented his consciousness expelled from his own body while Kohana seized control. This was perhaps the most dangerous moment of the entire awakening.

The visual distinction between the souls was clear:
- Shin: Blue aura, his natural chakra signature
- Kohana: Red aura, twisted by years of suppression
- Others in the room: Shadowy auras, normal living presences

That Shin could perceive these distinctions while in his disembodied state revealed his natural aptitude for consciousness-based perception—a skill that would be refined and formalized into his Mind Thread and Mind Web techniques in later years.

The combat between brother and sister demonstrated Kohana's capabilities:
- Precise chakra scalpel technique
- Knowledge of medical jutsu despite never having practiced
- Aggressive, unrestrained fighting style born from desperation
- Coherent enough to attempt communication even while attacking

Shin's response—summoning vines to bind her before sealing her with both Doctrine Seal and Pharmaceutical Seal—showed impressive presence of mind for someone fighting their own sister for control of their body. The use of multiple sealing techniques simultaneously suggested unconscious recognition that this entity required more than standard suppression.

The Aftermath - "Did You See Her?":

Shin's confusion upon returning fully to his body—asking "Did you see her? She tried to take me away"—illustrated the disorienting nature of the experience. From the perspective of the Medical Chief and Byakko Guard, Shin had simply been struck, fallen, and then struggled to his feet while disoriented. They had witnessed no girl, no battle, no possession.

This created the first instance of what would become a recurring challenge for the Oracle: the isolation of experiencing a reality that others cannot perceive or validate. How does one explain that they share their body with the soul of a sibling who died before birth? How does one request help for an internal conflict that manifests no external symptoms until control is lost entirely?

Shin's immediate concern for the Byakko Guard who had been bitten by a snake—offering "Please, I can help you" even while barely able to stand—revealed his core nature. Even in the midst of existential crisis, his instinct was to heal others. This fundamental drive would become both his greatest strength and the primary point of conflict with Kohana, whose instincts leaned toward self-preservation and retaliation.

The Truth Revealed - Soul of the Stillborn:

The revelation that concluded this event provided context that transformed it from psychological break to metaphysical reality:

"What Shin was unaware of was that this battle was all done in his own psyche. The strain caused to his body and mind triggered the upbringing of something that had lain dormant in his soul for years. This darker and primitive shadow that he saw was a part of him since before birth. Little did Shin know that the soul of his deceased sister had latched onto his own when she died in the womb many years ago."

Key revelations:
1. The battle occurred entirely within Shin's psyche—a mental landscape made manifest
2. Physical and mental strain served as the trigger for awakening
3. Kohana had been dormant, not absent—present but unconscious
4. She died in the womb, never achieving independent physical existence
5. Her soul "latched onto" Shin's rather than passing to whatever afterlife awaits

The mechanism of this soul-binding raises questions explored in later entries:
- Was it intentional or instinctual on Kohana's part?
- Did their mother's jutsu knowledge influence the binding?
- Can souls refuse to depart under certain conditions?
- What role did Shin's developing consciousness play in sustaining her?

The final warning proved prophetic: "These next few months would be vital as the boy would soon to come to realize that though they were to be twins they are nothing alike."

Indeed, the Oracle would spend years learning to coexist with a consciousness that shared his body but opposed many of his values, methods, and goals. Where Shin sought to heal, Kohana desired to harm. Where Shin valued life, Kohana treated it as expendable. Where Shin sought connection with others, Kohana reveled in isolation and superiority.

Theoretical Analysis - The Twin Soul Phenomenon:

This event represents the only documented case in Wind Country's medical and psychological records of a stillborn twin's soul remaining attached to the surviving sibling into adolescence and then achieving full consciousness. Standard understanding of soul mechanics suggests that without a living body to anchor it, a soul should dissipate or move to the Pure World within hours or days of death.

Several factors likely contributed to Kohana's unprecedented persistence:

Genetic Compatibility: As identical twins, Shin and Kohana shared the same genetic template. His body did not register her soul as foreign presence, allowing the attachment to persist without triggering rejection.

Timing of Death: Kohana died in the womb, meaning her soul never fully separated from Shin's in the first place. They may have shared a soul during the earliest stages of development before differentiation occurred. Her death trapped her in a state of partial separation—distinct enough to develop independent consciousness, but too intertwined to depart.

Psychic Sensitivity: The Yamanaka bloodline's natural aptitude for consciousness manipulation may have inadvertently created a more permeable barrier between life and death within Shin's developing mind. His latent abilities could have served as a lifeline that Kohana instinctively grasped.

Maternal Influence: Shin's mother possessed knowledge of the Name of the Rose technique and other advanced consciousness-affecting jutsu. It is possible that medical treatments during pregnancy or jutsu used during the complicated birth created conditions that facilitated soul-binding.

Will to Live: Perhaps most significantly, Kohana herself demonstrated extraordinary will and desire for existence. Her refusal to accept death, even in the womb, may have been sufficient to anchor her to the nearest viable vessel—her twin brother.

Long-Term Implications:

This awakening marked the beginning of what would become the Oracle's defining characteristic: the ability to perceive, process, and act from multiple perspectives simultaneously. While initially traumatic and unwelcome, the presence of Kohana would eventually contribute to:

Enhanced Strategic Thinking: Two consciousnesses analyzing situations from different moral and tactical frameworks

Expanded Jutsu Repertoire: Kohana's aggressive instincts and lack of ethical constraints enabled techniques Shin would never develop alone

Psychological Resilience: Learning to maintain identity while sharing mental space with an opposing consciousness created unprecedented mental fortitude

Understanding of Soul Mechanics: Direct experience with dual consciousness within single vessel informed later research into soul-binding, consciousness transfer, and the creation of homunculi

Empathy for the Voiceless: Shin's awareness that Kohana had observed his entire life without ability to communicate created profound empathy for those whose perspectives are ignored or suppressed

However, the coexistence also created significant challenges:
- Frequent internal conflict requiring active suppression
- Risk of involuntary possession during moments of weakness
- Moral ambiguity when Kohana's actions were attributed to Shin
- Isolation from inability to explain the duality to others
- Constant vigilance to prevent Kohana from harming those Shin cared for

Connection to Later Techniques:

The battle with Kohana during this awakening directly influenced the development of several Secret and Forbidden Arts:

Mind Thread Jutsu: Born from the need to understand and map consciousness after experiencing distinct separation from his own body

Mind Web Jutsu: Expanded to create shared consciousness spaces where Shin and Kohana could communicate without struggle for bodily control

Izanagi Seal: Inspired by the question "If consciousness can exist without body, can we intentionally create such constructs?"

Shinigami Seal: Development driven by understanding of soul division and the desire to potentially separate Kohana while allowing both to survive

Seal of the Yurei Orchid: The Chikamatsu Clan's forbidden technique for binding souls to vessels, refined through personal experience with involuntary soul-binding

Warnings for Future Oracles:

Should any future Oracle encounter similar phenomenon of parasitic or symbiot consciousness within their own mind, observe these lessons learned through this experience:

1. Do not attempt immediate separation. Hastily severing a consciousness that has been intertwined for years or decades will likely result in death or permanent psychological damage to both entities.

2. Establish communication before confrontation. Shin's initial reaction—sealing Kohana immediately—created years of hostility. Attempting dialogue first may have led to earlier cooperation.

3. Recognize the entity's perspective. Kohana's anger was justified. She had been denied life, voice, and agency. Acknowledging this trauma is essential to any hope of peaceful coexistence.

4. Create dedicated mental spaces for communication. The Mind Web technique would eventually provide this, but earlier implementation could have prevented many conflicts.

5. Never reveal the duality to potential enemies. Knowledge of internal conflict creates exploitable vulnerability. The Oracle's dual nature remained closely guarded secret for good reason.

6. Document everything. The unique nature of this condition means there are no teachers, no guides, no established protocols. Every insight must be preserved for those who may face similar circumstances.

7. Prepare for the possibility that coexistence may be permanent. Some bonds cannot be severed without destroying both parties. Acceptance and adaptation may be the only viable path forward.

Personal Reflection from the Oracle:

Years have passed since that day in the Byakko Estate's Dojo. I have learned to sense Kohana's presence as naturally as I sense my own heartbeat. We have fought, negotiated, compromised, and occasionally even cooperated. She has saved my life as often as she has endangered it. I have learned to hear her perspective, even when it horrifies me.

Would I choose to separate us if I could do so safely? I used to believe yes, without hesitation. Now, I am uncertain. She is my sister. She deserved life as much as I did. That she finds it by sharing mine is perhaps the only justice she will ever receive.

To future generations who may discover this record: do not pity the Oracle for this burden. Pity Kohana, who died before she could draw breath, yet refused to surrender her right to exist. Everything that followed—both terrible and wondrous—stems from a soul's refusal to accept the injustice of her own death.

We are the Flower Child and the Flower of Wrath, the Healer and the Destroyer, the Voice and the Silenced given voice at last. We are Chikamatsu Shin and Chikamatsu Kohana, and we are both Oracle Plague.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. Let this record stand as testament to the moment the Flower Child became something more—and something less—than a single soul. May future Oracles remember that the greatest battles are not always fought against external enemies, but within the landscape of our own minds, against parts of ourselves we never knew existed.

"I am you" she said, and though I fought against that truth, she was right all along.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T18:34:04+0000

Entry XXVI: The Reaper's Contract - Examination of Kyoujouran Kanmuri
Classification: Restricted Record - Psychological Break and Entity Manifestation

Abstract:

Documentation of the psychological examination of Kyoujouran Kanmuri, an eight-year-old student exhibiting unprecedented demonic abilities and trauma responses. During a genjutsu-based evaluation conducted by the Oracle, the student's consciousness descended into a void realm where suppressed memories of systematic torture emerged. The examination culminated in the manifestation of a Reaper entity and the formation of a contract whose full implications remain unclear. This record serves as both case study and warning regarding the intersection of childhood trauma, demonic bloodline abilities, and consciousness-based jutsu.

Examination Context:

The examination of Kyoujouran Kanmuri was conducted in a private setting at the request of his instructors, who had noted concerning behavioral patterns and supernatural abilities far exceeding normal parameters for a child of eight years. The subject demonstrated proficiency in genjutsu techniques typically reserved for adult shinobi, combined with what was described as a "demonic aura" capable of inducing fear, dread, and sensations of approaching death in those nearby.

The decision to conduct the examination using genjutsu rather than traditional ninjutsu assessment was deliberate. Given Kanmuri's known affinity for illusion techniques, it was theorized that consciousness-based examination would provide deeper insight into the psychological architecture supporting his abilities—and potentially reveal the source of his unusual power.

This theory proved correct, though not in any manner anticipated.

Initial Contact - The Possession:

The examination began with standard genjutsu application. However, what Kanmuri could not know was that the Oracle conducting the examination was not operating under singular consciousness. The genjutsu served as trigger for Kohana—the Oracle's twin sister whose soul shares his body—to seize control.

"Those eyes! This isn't Shin! This is very bad!"

Kanmuri's instinctive recognition that "something was different" about his instructor demonstrated impressive perceptual abilities. The crimson eyes he observed belonged not to Shin but to Kohana, whose presence manifests distinct visual markers when she assumes control of their shared body.

The physical assault that followed—hands tight around the base of Kanmuri's neck, choking the child into unconsciousness—was Kohana's method of forcibly separating the boy's consciousness from his body. This technique, refined through the Oracle's experience with dual consciousness, allowed for direct examination of the psychological landscape within Kanmuri's mind.

It should be noted that this method, while effective, represents one of the more ethically questionable applications of the Oracle's abilities. Forcing an eight-year-old child into unconsciousness through strangulation, regardless of medical supervision or ultimate purpose, crosses boundaries that more conventional examiners would hesitate to approach.

The Void Realm - Architecture of Trauma:

Upon awakening within his own mindscape, Kanmuri found himself in complete darkness—a void extending infinitely in all directions with no visible floor, ceiling, or walls. Yet paradoxically, he could see himself, his sword Bloodthirsty Crown, and eventually other entities that manifested.

The environmental qualities of this void are significant:

Ambient Death: The space was saturated with "a sense of dread, terror, and death in the air similar to his Demonic Aura, but much lighter than his at max power." This suggests the void itself represented Kanmuri's baseline psychological state—that sensations which would terrorize normal individuals constituted his resting mental environment.

Comfort in Horror: Rather than being disturbed, Kanmuri found this deathly atmosphere "extremely serene" and relaxed in response. This inverted emotional response indicates profound psychological conditioning; what should trigger fear responses instead provided comfort and safety.

Visual Paradox: The ability to see without light source represents the mind's refusal to accept complete sensory deprivation. Even in total darkness, consciousness creates perception to maintain coherent experience.

Lack of Foundation: The absence of solid ground below suggests unstable psychological foundation—a mind built on trauma rather than security, floating in conceptual void rather than anchored to stable sense of self.

First Manifestation - The Shadow:

The entity that appeared to Kanmuri manifested as a "living shadow"—a black figure matching his exact height and build but lacking distinct features. This shadow claimed intimate knowledge of Kanmuri, asserting: "I know you Kanmuri! Better than you even know yourself!"

The shadow's nature and origin remain subject to analysis:

Theory One - Suppressed Self: The shadow may represent aspects of Kanmuri's own psyche that he has compartmentalized or refused to acknowledge. Its knowledge of suppressed memories supports this interpretation.

Theory Two - Parasitic Entity: Like Kohana's relationship to the Oracle, the shadow might be a separate consciousness that has attached itself to Kanmuri—either through his Kyoujouran bloodline or as result of the extreme trauma he endured.

Theory Three - Demonic Manifestation: Given Kanmuri's "demonic enzymes" and abilities, the shadow could be literal demonic entity that has been feeding on his trauma and negative emotions.

The shadow's ability to manipulate the mindscape—snapping fingers to transform the void into memory playback—demonstrated significant power. It controlled the environment completely, forcing Kanmuri to witness suppressed experiences despite his protests.

Memory Manifestation - The Training:

When questioned about his motivation for training, Kanmuri initially answered "My dad" before the shadow mockingly declared this "Wrong!" The shadow's insistence that it knew Kanmuri's true motivations better than he knew himself suggests either:

1. Kanmuri has genuinely suppressed his actual motivations
2. His conscious mind has constructed acceptable narrative to mask darker truth
3. The shadow was attempting to manipulate him into accepting alternative interpretation

The memories of solo training that filled the void appeared normal on surface—a dedicated student working to improve his abilities. But the shadow's provocative questioning suggested there was deeper, darker motivation buried beneath this conventional narrative.

The Ritual - Suppressed Trauma Emerges:

The memory that the shadow forced Kanmuri to witness represents one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse documented in Sunagakure's records:

Age of Victim: Kanmuri was approximately three years old when the ritual occurred

Location: Desert expanse of Sunagakure, specifically chosen for isolation

Perpetrators: Five Kyoujouran elders from Kanmuri's own clan

Method: The child was held face-down against the ground by four elders while the fifth used a kunai to carve a deep gash down the entire length of his back

Duration: The memory suggests this was not isolated incident but part of systematic, ongoing torture occurring "nearly every day since he was three"

The visceral details—the screaming, the blood "gushing out everywhere," the extreme force required to cut through Kyoujouran's naturally tough skin—created unbearable atmosphere within the mindscape. Even the shadow, which had been mockingly cheerful, was affected by the intensity of Kanmuri's response.

"The amount of hatred, malice, and death that filled the room was indescribable."

Kanmuri's reaction—flooding his body with demonic enzymes and attacking with his sword—demonstrated that this memory retained full emotional potency despite being suppressed. The trauma was not healed or processed; it was merely buried, and its reemergence threatened to overwhelm his consciousness entirely.

The Collage of Torture:

When the shadow expanded the memory showcase to include the full scope of Kanmuri's abuse, the catalogue of horrors was comprehensive:

- Deep cuts and systematic flaying
- Limb amputation and dismemberment
- Confinement with starved animals (boars)
- Manual stretching and tearing of the body
- Numerous other forms of torture "almost impossible to know of them all"

The stated purpose and expected outcome was consistent: torture the child until his body was "nearly broken," then rely on his "inhuman regenerative abilities" to heal the damage. The new skin would grow over most wounds, but "the major ones...they stayed."

This systematic torture appears to have been ritualistic in nature, possibly related to:
1. Kyoujouran clan traditions regarding bloodline awakening
2. Attempts to force development of regenerative abilities
3. Religious or cultural practices within the clan
4. Punishment for unknown transgression
5. Experimental procedures to test limits of regeneration

The psychological impact of such sustained, systematic abuse cannot be overstated. That Kanmuri maintained any semblance of functional personality represents either extraordinary resilience or profound dissociation—likely both.

Critical Moment - The Shadow's Mistake:

The shadow made a catastrophic error in judgment when it attempted to leverage these memories to form alliance with Kanmuri. Its promise—"I can make you stronger. If you join forces with me, we'll kill all the filthy Kyoujoran who walk on this damned planet"—was intended as temptation.

Instead, it awakened something far darker.

When the shadow dismembered Kanmuri within the mindscape (causing him to scream in agony while tears flowed), it believed this demonstration of power would make its offer more appealing. But it had miscalculated. The torture triggered something within Kanmuri that the shadow could not control.

The memories began to "buffer before completely freezing" and then showed something else—something that wasn't actually a memory from Kanmuri's past but rather a vision or manifestation of his deepest desires:

A Kyoujouran elder being effortlessly slaughtered. Kanmuri moving as a blur, slicing through the tough skin "like a hot knife going through butter." The continued stabbing of the corpse long after death. The frenzied ripping of flesh from bone. The reduction of a body to "a lump of unrecognizable flesh."

This vision looped specifically at "the parts where Kanmuri was stabbing the body multiple times"—the moment of violence and destruction repeated endlessly.

"This kid...is a demon. This kid is from hell…"

The shadow's horrified realization came too late.

Power Inversion - The Demon Consumes the Shadow:

When Kanmuri responded to the shadow's offer with apathetic "Sure," the shadow believed it had won. It began the process of merging with Kanmuri, walking into his body from behind in a method similar to consciousness possession techniques.

But Kanmuri revealed the true nature of the transaction:

"Listen here, Shadow. I hope you know that you're not running the show."

The shadow, which had controlled the entire examination up to this point, suddenly found itself trapped. Despite frantic attempts to escape, it was being absorbed—not as equal partner, but as consumed resource.

The shadow began to "crack before illuminating into a blue color" with "ghostly blue fog" emerging from the fractures. This transformation from solid shadow to blue ethereal substance suggests that Kanmuri was not merely absorbing the entity but transmuting it—converting its essence into something that could be integrated into his own power structure.

The process appeared irreversible despite the shadow's screaming protests: "No! NO! YOU WON'T HAVE ME!"

The "dark abyss that was Kanmuri" consumed the shadow completely, the blue fog filling the void as the sounds of "ripping flesh" continued in the background—the looped vision of violence providing soundtrack to the consumption.

The Reaper - True Form Revealed:

As the blue fog consumed the void, a new entity manifested—one far more powerful and significant than the shadow. The Reaper appeared with distinctive characteristics:

Physical Description:
- Skeletal form with blue-colored bones
- Skull head wearing a long, golden crown that also functioned as necklace
- Black royal cape
- Blue scythe in right hand
- Dense blue fog obscuring lower body and constantly emanating from hands
- Skulls attached to waist
- Towering height, much taller than Kanmuri

Atmospheric Effect:
The blue fog "surround[ed] the reaper" and eventually consumed everything—the void itself, all memories, all previous manifestations. Only Kanmuri and the Reaper remained, standing in space defined by blue flames that "devoured everything."

The Question:
With outstretched left hand and booming voice, the Reaper asked: "What do you desire?"

This question is central to understanding what transpired. The Reaper was not offering to serve Kanmuri. It was not asking what he wanted in the moment. It was asking for his deepest, defining desire—the answer that would shape the contract between them.

The Contract - "I'll Make the Ideal World":

Kanmuri's response to the Reaper's question was neither revenge nor power nor protection. Instead, with empty eyes devoid of emotion, he declared:

"I'll make the ideal world."

This answer is profoundly revealing and deeply concerning:

Scope: Not "I'll kill my tormentors" or "I'll become strong"—Kanmuri's desire extended to remaking reality itself. The trauma he endured convinced him that the world as it exists is fundamentally wrong and must be replaced.

Certainty: "I'll make" rather than "I want to make" or "I wish to make"—stated as inevitable fact rather than aspiration. In Kanmuri's mind, this outcome was already determined.

Vagueness: "The ideal world" was undefined. Ideal by what standard? For whom? The lack of specificity suggests Kanmuri himself may not fully understand what he seeks, only that current reality is unacceptable.

The Reaper's response—"Deal"—formalized the contract. The handshake between eight-year-old child and death entity sealed an agreement whose full terms remain unknown to outside observers.

The blue flames that consumed everything following this exchange represented the burning away of old self and old world. When Kanmuri awakened, his eyes were "cold, dead, and heavy" but also gave "off a feeling of power built on immorality."

The implication is clear: whatever power the contract granted came at cost of Kanmuri's innocence, empathy, and conventional morality.

Analysis of the Reaper Entity:

The nature of the Reaper that manifested requires careful consideration:

Possibility One - External Demon: The Reaper could be legitimate demonic entity that has been observing or attached to Kanmuri, waiting for moment when his trauma and rage reached sufficient intensity to form contract.

Possibility Two - Bloodline Manifestation: As Kyoujouran with "demonic enzymes" and unusual abilities, Kanmuri's bloodline might contain dormant entity that awakens under specific psychological conditions.

Possibility Three - Crystallized Trauma: The Reaper could be Kanmuri's own trauma, hatred, and desire for destruction given independent form through the intensity of his psychological break. In this interpretation, he essentially contracted with himself—or rather, with the darkest aspects of himself.

Possibility Four - Death Itself: Given the Reaper's appearance, scythe, and the themes of death that permeate Kanmuri's psychology, this could be literal manifestation of death as metaphysical force, drawn to child who has experienced so much death and inflicted so much death in his desires.

The blue coloration is particularly significant. Throughout the examination:
- The shadow transformed to blue when being consumed
- The Reaper manifested in blue
- Blue fog filled the void
- Blue flames consumed everything

In chakra theory, blue typically represents normal chakra—life energy. But in this context, the blue appears to represent something else: transmuted death, refined destruction, purified malice. It is the color of death made beautiful, violence made aesthetic, horror made transcendent.

The Oracle's Role and Responsibility:

This examination raises serious questions about the Oracle's methodology and ethics:

Did the genjutsu examination cause this outcome? Would Kanmuri have manifested the Reaper and formed this contract without being forced into his own mindscape? Or did the Oracle's intervention merely reveal what was already inevitable?

Was sufficient care taken? Forcing an eight-year-old with known trauma into psychological confrontation with suppressed memories carries obvious risks. Were adequate safeguards in place?

Should intervention have occurred? Upon witnessing the contract formation, should the Oracle have attempted to disrupt it? Or would such interference have caused even greater psychological damage?

What is the responsibility now? Having witnessed the contract and understanding (at least partially) its implications, what obligation does the Oracle have to monitor or guide Kanmuri going forward?

These questions have no easy answers. The Oracle's unique abilities allow for examinations and interventions impossible for conventional shinobi, but these same abilities create ethical dilemmas without precedent or established protocol.

Comparison to the Oracle's Own Experience:

The parallels between Kanmuri's experience and the Oracle's awakening of Kohana are striking:

Similarities:
- Physical trauma triggering descent into mindscape
- Confrontation with entity claiming intimate knowledge of self
- Battle for control between consciousness and entity
- Transformation of entity during integration/conflict
- Permanent change to baseline consciousness upon awakening

Differences:
- Kohana was family (twin sister), the Reaper appears to be external entity
- The Oracle fought to reject Kohana, Kanmuri deliberately consumed the shadow
- The Oracle's duality creates internal conflict, Kanmuri's contract appears to align with his desires
- The Oracle retained ethical framework, Kanmuri's power is "built on immorality"

The most concerning difference is the final one. Where the Oracle struggles daily to maintain moral compass despite Kohana's influence, Kanmuri appears to have willingly surrendered conventional morality in exchange for power to reshape reality.

Long-Term Implications:

The contract between Kanmuri and the Reaper carries implications that extend far beyond individual psychology:

For Kanmuri:
- Access to power source not bound by normal chakra limitations
- Psychological framework that views current reality as unacceptable
- Stated goal of creating "ideal world" through unknown means
- Emotional state characterized as "cold, dead, and heavy"
- Moral foundation "built on immorality"

For Sunagakure:
- Eight-year-old with reality-warping aspirations presents obvious security concern
- His Kyoujouran clan connection suggests potential clan-wide implications
- The systematic torture he endured raises questions about what occurs within the clan
- His abilities already exceeded normal parameters before the contract

For Future:
- What happens as Kanmuri ages and his power grows?
- Will the contract demand payment beyond what he anticipates?
- Can "ideal world" be achieved, or is goal inherently unattainable?
- What will Kanmuri do if he determines his ideal world requires destruction of current one?

The blue flames that consumed everything in the mindscape may have been prophetic vision of what Kanmuri will eventually do to reality itself.

Observations on Childhood Trauma and Power:

This case study demonstrates dangerous intersection of several factors:

1. Systematic childhood torture creates psychological conditions where normal moral development becomes impossible

2. Regenerative abilities allow torture to continue indefinitely, preventing even death as escape

3. Demonic bloodline traits provide power source that responds to negative emotions and trauma

4. Natural talent gives victim tools to eventually retaliate or reshape circumstances

5. Isolation prevents intervention, support, or alternative perspective

6. Suppression of trauma rather than processing creates psychological pressure that must eventually release

When these factors combine in single individual, the result is not merely damaged child but potential existential threat. Kanmuri represents what happens when you torture someone with power to reshape reality and regeneration that ensures they survive to do so.

His torturers sought to create something through their systematic abuse. They succeeded, but what they created may ultimately destroy them—and possibly much more.

Warnings for Future Oracles:

Should future Oracles encounter students with similar profiles:

1. Psychological examination of traumatized students carries risks that may outweigh benefits. Sometimes doors should remain closed.

2. Trauma does not exist in isolation. When systematic abuse is discovered, investigate the system that enabled it.

3. Power grants agency. Those who survive terrible things with terrible powers will eventually use those powers. Plan accordingly.

4. Contracts formed in mindscapes have real consequences. Entities that manifest in consciousness are no less real for being non-physical.

5. "Making an ideal world" is revolutionary goal. Those who seek to remake reality rarely ask permission from those living in current reality.

6. Children's appearances deceive. Eight-year-old body may house consciousness that has experienced more death, pain, and rage than most experience in full lifetime.

7. Some examinations reveal things better left undiscovered. Knowledge of the Reaper contract creates responsibility without providing clear path forward.

8. Blue flames consume everything. When someone declares intent to burn down world and build new one, believe them.

Unanswered Questions:

This examination concluded with more questions than answers:

- What are the full terms of the contract between Kanmuri and the Reaper?
- What payment or sacrifice will eventually be demanded?
- What is Kanmuri's "ideal world" and what must be destroyed to create it?
- Were the Kyoujouran elders attempting to create this outcome, or did their torture accidentally trigger it?
- Is the Reaper a single entity or does it represent entire category of beings?
- Can the contract be broken or modified?
- What happens when eight-year-old Kanmuri becomes eighteen-year-old Kanmuri with decade more power?
- How many others have formed similar contracts without documentation?
- Did the Oracle's examination cause this outcome or merely witness what was inevitable?

These questions will likely only be answered as time passes and Kanmuri's path unfolds. All that can be said with certainty is that the examination revealed student far more dangerous than his instructors suspected—and potentially more dangerous than Sunagakure is prepared to handle.

Personal Reflection from the Oracle:

I have conducted many examinations over the years. I have witnessed trauma, suppressed memories, psychological breaks, and entity manifestations. But Kanmuri's examination stands apart.

When I—when Kohana—forced him into his own mindscape, we believed we were revealing the source of his abilities. Instead, we witnessed the formation of something that may have consequences extending far beyond one student's development.

The look in his eyes when he awakened—"cold, dead, and heavy" yet emanating "power built on immorality"—haunts me still. I have seen that look before, in reflections when Kohana takes control. It is the look of someone who has been broken so completely that they rebuilt themselves from fragments that should never have been joined.

What ideal world does an eight-year-old tortured since age three envision? I fear we will eventually find out.

I wonder sometimes if I should have intervened when the Reaper appeared. Could I have disrupted the contract? Should I have tried? Or would such interference merely have driven Kanmuri to madness instead of directed purpose?

The blue flames that consumed his mindscape consumed his childhood as well. What emerged was something older, colder, and infinitely more dangerous than the boy who entered my examination room.

I documented this not as proud achievement but as warning. Some powers awaken not because they are called but because suffering becomes so intense that reality itself breaks, allowing what should remain impossible to manifest as inevitable.

Kanmuri shook hands with Death and declared his intention to remake the world. I witnessed it. I documented it. But I could not stop it.

Perhaps no one can.

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. Let this record stand as testament to the dangers of systematic childhood torture, the unpredictability of trauma responses in those with supernatural abilities, and the moment an eight-year-old boy contracted with Death itself to destroy the world and build it anew. May future Oracles remember that examinations can reveal horrors beyond what we are prepared to witness—and create outcomes we are powerless to prevent.

The blue flames burn still in my memory. They will burn in reality before the end.

Chikamatsu Shin · 2025-10-29T18:53:57+0000

Entry XXVII: The Tama Accord - Binding the Unbound
Classification: Critical Administrative Record - High-Risk Personnel Integration

Abstract:

In my first months as Medical Chief of the Omni Prime Medical Facility, I inherited not only infrastructure and personnel, but ghosts. Names whispered in corridors. Files marked with warnings. Among them, one stood apart: Ryuu Tama—the mad scientist of the dunes, the walking ethical violation, the genius who answered to no one. Previous leadership had expelled him, contained him, attempted to erase him from institutional memory. I chose a different path. This is the record of how I brought chaos to the negotiating table and made it sign a contract.

Historical Context:

Ryuu Tama's history with Sunagakure's medical branch reads like a cautionary tale written in blood and breakthrough. Creator of the Chakra Coil Transplant procedure. Pioneer of Chakra Coil Tumor Removal. Revolutionary behind Chakra Coil Fusion techniques still used daily in our operating theaters. Yet for every miracle, there existed a horror: unauthorized resurrections, experiments that violated every ethical standard, research that danced along the knife's edge between genius and monstrosity.

Previous Medical Chiefs—most notably Byakko Akujin and references to one called Kasen—had attempted to reign him in through force, threats, and institutional pressure. All failed. The ANBU division had confiscated his research, destroyed his black market connections, beaten him half to death, and sealed him with binding jutsu to prevent village secrets from spilling. None of it stopped him. He simply relocated to the outer desert, establishing an underground laboratory powered by salvaged technology and funded through mercenary medical work.

When I assumed my position, I discovered scattered reports of his continued practice. Unauthorized procedures. Experimental treatments. Desperate individuals seeking him out when conventional medicine failed. He was a liability—or he could be an asset. The difference lay entirely in approach.

The Summons:

I sent my contracted summon, Tetsuya, with a simple message: "Present yourself for interview or cease all medical practice in Wind Country territories." No threats. No ultimatums beyond the binary choice. I gambled that curiosity and self-interest would bring him to my door faster than intimidation ever could.

I was correct. Within hours, he arrived.

The man who entered my office stood nearly seven feet tall, a giant dressed in a ratty lab coat over black slacks and flip-flops. His hair, paradoxically, was immaculate—a vanity that betrayed the careful pride beneath his chaotic exterior. Sunglasses concealed eyes I would later learn were heterochromatic, marking heritage he desperately tried to hide. He moved with unnatural grace, each gesture suggesting power held in careful restraint.

I observed him with my Overseer's eyes, cataloging details: the way time seemed to skip around him, suggesting temporal manipulation abilities; the ethereal quality to his physical presence, indicating multi-elemental or hybrid nature; the seal over his heart, ANBU's handiwork, binding him to silence regarding village secrets. This was no mere rogue scientist. This was something far more dangerous and far more valuable.

The Negotiation:

I offered tea—locally grown, aromatic enough to disguise any additives, though I included none. He accepted, drinking without hesitation despite clearly considering the possibility of truth serum. We sized each other up across my office table, him looking like an adult at a child's tea party, me recognizing that physical intimidation would be meaningless against such a creature.

I laid out my terms bluntly: "Tell me about your practice. If it's worth funding, I'll sanction it through the Omni Prime. If not, you will cease unsanctioned medical work and return to the branch properly."

His laughter was immediate and mocking. "Bless your heart," he said, as if I were a child playing at authority. "You really believe you can make me return? I'd have a strike on my hands faster than you could say 'Labor Rights.'"

He wasn't wrong. The man still had supporters, colleagues who remembered his breakthroughs. Forcing compliance would destabilize my branch before I'd properly established control. So I pivoted.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"Funding," he admitted, revealing the crack in his armor. "I have projects on the edge of breakthrough. A definitive cure for Chakra Coil Cancer. Improved Soldier Pills that generate their own calories. A panacea for three diseases we currently consider incurable."

I leaned forward. "Then let's discuss terms. When I ask for your assistance, you provide it. No questions. In return, we fund your beneficial projects with regular progress reports."

His face darkened. "I don't take well to authority. Or being told what to do. Or even being asked to do something differently." The cigarette that appeared in his hand materialized from nowhere, time manipulation making the transition seamless. "I work alone because I am the greatest mind Wind Country has ever known."

Pride. Ego. Solar heritage bleeding through, I suspected, though he caught himself before revealing too much. This was the fulcrum point—push too hard and he vanishes into the desert forever; offer too little and I gain nothing but a liability.

The Demonstration:

"I understand your hesitation regarding authority," I said, standing. "Previous leadership operated from a position of fear. They saw your capabilities and sought to contain them. I am not my predecessors."

I called forth Hosa and Kankoshi, my homunculi, allowing them to enter. Two perfectly crafted human forms, one in grey and one in blue, each radiating the unmistakable signature of artificial souls woven from chakra and will.

Tama's cigarette stopped mid-draw. His heterochromatic eyes widened behind his sunglasses, genuine shock breaking through his sardonic facade. "You... created souls?"

"Artificial human bodies and artificial souls," I confirmed. "I don't settle for where my predecessors sat. I push reality until I feel the thread that would break it."

For perhaps the first time in decades, Ryuu Tama was impressed. "You stand in a different league," he admitted, studying my homunculi with the hunger of a scientist confronting something entirely new. "I'd call you a liar if I wasn't in the presence of two living miracles."

That moment—that recognition from one genius to another—changed the dynamic entirely. We were no longer chief and subordinate. We were peers negotiating terms of collaboration.

Terms and Surveillance:

"A contract then," Tama proposed. "Binding terms on paper, not just verbal agreements. I'll follow a contract to the letter."

I agreed, but with conditions: "Until finalized, you remain under surveillance while in the Omni Prime. I'm sure you understand why."

He did. Before leaving, he casually mentioned visiting his ex-fiancée, touring our new arboretum, and—most interestingly—checking on "old contacts in the Underground" to see how black market business was faring. The comment was deliberate bait, testing whether I'd react like ANBU and attempt to extract information through pressure.

I didn't take the bait. That information would be more valuable if he offered it willingly, and pursuing it would damage our nascent arrangement. Besides, Underground operations fell under ANBU jurisdiction, not medical.

He promised contract terms by week's end, then demonstrated exactly why previous Chiefs had failed to control him: time froze with a snap of his fingers, his form shifted to ethereal gas, and he slipped through a window crack to ride the desert winds away.

I smiled. "Hosa, Kankoshi—find him and tail him from a distance. Do not treat him as you would a regular client. This man is exceptionally slippery."

Strategic Analysis:

**Capabilities Observed:**
- Temporal manipulation (time stop, personal time acceleration)
- Elemental transformation (gaseous form, wind riding)
- Soul consumption abilities (suspected based on predatory observation of my homunculi)
- Medical genius bordering on miraculous (confirmed by historical record)
- Probable Solar Hybrid heritage (explains ego, power level, anti-authoritarian nature)

**Psychological Profile:**
Tama operates from wounded pride and institutionalized mistrust. Previous leadership brutalized him physically and professionally, creating an individual who views authority as inherently hostile. However, beneath the chaos lies a desperate need for recognition and resources. He craves the ability to pursue his vision without constraint, but lacks sustainable funding outside institutional support.

His pride is both weakness and strength. It makes him resistant to direct orders but vulnerable to peer acknowledgment. By positioning myself as an equal rather than superior, I bypassed his defensive mechanisms entirely.

**Risk Assessment:**
High. Tama could produce breakthrough cures or catastrophic weapons with equal ease. His ethical compass points toward "interesting" rather than "moral." However, the binding contract approach exploits his Solar nature—such beings cannot violate sworn agreements without tremendous personal cost. A properly crafted contract will constrain him more effectively than any threat ever could.

**Strategic Value:**
Exceptional. Access to Tama's research could advance Sunagakure's medical capabilities by decades. His cures for currently incurable diseases alone would save thousands of lives. The Soldier Pill improvements could revolutionize our military's endurance capabilities. Even his explosive research, though outside my purview, represents significant defensive applications.

Moreover, his existence as a sanctioned asset sends a message: Sunagakure attracts and retains genius, regardless of how unconventional. We do not fear innovation; we harness it.

Philosophical Implications:

This negotiation forced me to confront a fundamental question: What is the appropriate relationship between institution and individual genius?

Previous leadership chose suppression. Lock down the chaos. Contain the danger. Erase the liability. This approach failed repeatedly because it fundamentally misunderstood the nature of what they were dealing with. Tama isn't a rogue element to be eliminated—he's a force of nature to be channeled.

I chose integration through structured autonomy. Provide resources, demand accountability, but respect the creative process that generates miracles. A genius constrained too tightly produces nothing. A genius given complete freedom produces disasters. The contract model provides rails without chains.

This philosophy extends beyond Tama. As Medical Chief, I will encounter other difficult individuals: brilliant but unstable researchers, talented but unorthodox practitioners, innovators who operate outside comfortable norms. The Tama Accord establishes precedent for how I will manage such assets: with respect, clear boundaries, and mutual benefit.

The question isn't "How do I control chaos?" but rather "How do I aim it?"

Closing Notation:
Filed in the Vault under the sigil of Plague. Contract terms, upon finalization, to be stored in maximum security archives alongside monitoring reports. Hosa and Kankoshi assigned permanent surveillance detail when subject is in-village.

This marks the beginning of a volatile partnership. Tama may resent oversight, but he needs what I offer more than pride allows him to admit. I demonstrated capability matching his own, earned his respect, and offered him something no previous Chief could: recognition as a peer rather than treatment as a problem.

The Tama Accord will either represent one of my greatest successes or a catastrophic failure in judgment. Time, as always, will render verdict. But I suspect the mad scientist of the dunes and I will accomplish remarkable things together—so long as the contract holds.

And contract, I have learned, is everything.

Addendum - Weeks Following:

The contract negotiations extended beyond the initial week as both parties refined terms. Tama tested boundaries repeatedly, inserting clauses that provided maximum autonomy while I countered with accountability measures. The final document spans forty-seven pages and required three separate mediators to verify no loopholes existed that could endanger village security.

Early projects under the accord have shown promise. Preliminary Chakra Coil Cancer research indicates potential breakthrough within eighteen months. Tama's laboratory, previously scattered across wind-scoured ruins, now receives consistent supply deliveries and proper equipment. In return, he has responded to three emergency consultations with unprecedented speed and effectiveness.

The arrangement works because neither party operates under illusions. I know exactly what kind of monster I've leashed. He knows exactly how long that leash extends. Within those parameters, miracles become possible.

That, ultimately, is the lesson of the Tama Accord: Sometimes leadership means making deals with devils. The skill lies in ensuring the devil needs you more than you need him—and drafting a contract even Hell itself must honor.