"She'll see you now."
Not long ago, the click of the door leading into the office of the single most powerful person in the village would have left the girl second guessing her every move and word. She had visited this particular office so few times that memories of her first arrival couldn't help but play like an old, broken recording at the edge of her consciousness. She remembered how she'd felt so small in this big, impressive tower, but she'd gathered strength to make her bold request for citizenship from those who stood beside her. So far removed was she from that reality now that it was almost difficult to believe that had really happened in this lifetime of hers, just about a decade ago.
Greeting Kitsune with a deep bow of respect upon entering the office, she'd would follow by quietly taking a seat across from the Raikage at her instruction. Taking in Kitsune's appearance, she was surprised - wasn't this Kogami-sama's mother-in-law? Even Rei, who had to be at least fifteen years younger than Lord Tenth, was creeping up on looking older than the red-haired woman before her. Whether it was ninja-magic or the comforts afforded by working in the medical field she was unsure, but already it appeared her assumptions about this Eleventh Raikage were being challenged. Yet she was confident in the proposal she had prepared, and so when Kitsune asked for her reason for their appointment, Rei began - calm, cool and collected.
"Raikage-sama, thank you for meeting with me. I understand the demands on your time are high, so I don't intend to waste it and, with permission, will get right to the point."
Absent was the once flowery nature of her diplomatic approach. Instead, assuming Kitsune approved, Rei would hand over her dossier along with the folder of documents she'd prepared for the Raikage's perusal. Among them would be a timeline of Kaibutsu activity in lightning country, an assessment of the Kaibutsu's threat level and abilities, and a map recording their travel patterns.
"It's been nine years since the Kaibutsu attacked our gates. While our division has made strides in discovering more about their nature and how to combat them more effectively, we have continually hit one wall after another in our attempts to locate their new stronghold or leaders." The Chuunin paused to allow the Raikage more time to examine the documentation of these exploits. Upon their conception as a response to King Maji's attack on the village, the division had enjoyed great favor from within the village. However, as time passed the belief grew that slaying Maji had been enough, that the kaibutsu were no longer a threat and the division outdated. Financial support had dwindled, and the number of new recruits had reached record lows as graduating academy students were now too young to remember the gate incident. Yet their favor remained high within the larger Lightning Country, where disappearances and kaibutsu attacks were still common. The information they had been able to compile out there pointed to one thing:
"They have recovered, and they are growing. It won't be long before Kumo is faced with a greater threat than before. The assault nine years ago had been the blind aggression of a single kaibutsu. This time, they will be organized." As she spoke, she would gauge the Raikage's reaction. So silent had their new leadership been on the activities of her division that Rei was uncertain where Kitsune fell on the spectrum of belief regarding the threat the kaibutsu posed. Praying she did not fall on deaf ears, she got into the meat of her reason for being here: the proposal.
"As you can see, all of our dead ends within the last year lie in Wind Country - beyond our jurisdiction, and in the opposite of their usual activity closer to Marsh Country, where the supposed River Court Kingdom is alleged to reside. There's not been any evidence to support a migration of their kind, but their increased activity in the southwest leads us to believe that these parasites are gathering strength from the foreign creatures of Wind Country. Our knowledge of their bestiary is limited, of course, as is much of our information on Sunagakure's activity." This was of course referencing the sand storm that had kept the Hidden Sand village underground and isolated for three decades. Having just ended within Rei's lifetime, Suna had yet to reestablish relations with the other shinobi villages, leaving much of Wind Country a mystery except to those who dared traverse the unforgiving desert.
"There are, however, rumors along the border of a division known as 'Rangers'. They're spoken of more as folklore than a real entity, but their history is lengthy and the purpose, at least at one time, was to deal with monsters of various kinds. We believe, if rumors hold true, their expertise may be the key to snuffing out this particular enemy."
"I'm requesting an extended travel leave to Sunagakure with the purpose of establishing a more open hunting border and exchange of information regarding the Kaibutsu, and to inquire about the existence of Sunagakurian 'Rangers' that might be able to aide us in gathering information. Now, the reason I needed to bring this request to you specifically and not just the passport office, Raikage-sama, is because upon confirming the existence and function of these 'Rangers', we would like to immediately begin negotiations of official cooperation and correspondence between our divisions. A small alliance of sorts, if you will, assuming my investigation turns out the following criteria. The Master of the Hunt has approved my proposal on the condition that you would find it acceptable, Raikage-sama." Lastly and finally, she would hand over a final document, complete with the Master of the Hunt's seal:
Conditions of a Kumo-Suna Hunting Entente said:
Upon confirmation of…
- The existence and active function of a monster hunting division or its equivalent in Sunagakure no Sato;
- Wherein such an organization can provide documentation on a non-human, intelligent threat along the border of Wind and Lightning countries;
- Wherein such an organization proves itself willing and capable of cooperation with a foreign entity:
It is proposed that…
- A Hunting Entente is established between the two villages, Kumogakure no Sato and Sunagakure no Sato;
- Wherein members of the organizations within their respective villages will be given rights to track their targets 100km into the borders of the other's country until the mission is taken over by or joined by a member or team of the local village's organization;
- Wherein information as it pertains to the abilities, whereabouts and plans of the kaibutsu, hanyou and symbiotes is shared freely across divisions except that which is deemed classifiable by the village Kage for purposes of the security of the proprietary village;
- Wherein aide may be called upon by either village division to the other for specific missions, emergencies or attacks, and expect that aide will be given;
- Wherein any act of aggression, misinformation, or litigation perpetuated by any member of either village division against the other is grounds for termination of the entente;
- Wherein this agreement may be terminated either by the Kazekage or Raikage at any time, with advanced notice and reasoning:
In order to…
- Promote the safety of shinobi villagers and non-shinobi civilians within Wind and Lightning Countries;
- Mutually benefit from the investigative research on intelligent non-human enemies in varying environments to increase rates of mission success;
- and expedite the end of the common threat of intelligent non-human enemies.
Once more, she would respectfully pause to allow Kitsune the opportunity to consider the document and ask any questions. It was a lot, yes, but enough time had been wasted. Anticipating at least one of the Kage's concerns, after a moment of silence she would add this:
"I understand my ranking as a Chuunin doesn't hold much weight in foreign diplomacy, but seeing as the Master of the Hunt is currently on a leave of absence, I trust that my ranking as a Godslayer, second only to his position as head of our division, that I might be sufficient to make this sort of division-level agreement."
In truth, the ailing health of the Master of the Hunt had long left many suspected his inevitable retirement. She suspected one of the Tría would take his place if that were to happen; given her own disinterest in climbing ranks as well as Kumo's skepticism of foreigners in places of leadership, she doubted she would ever see herself make Jounin, much less division head. This was fine with her, as if all went well with this meeting and then the alliance itself, she had other plans in mind for her own future - of course, those plans were much too bold and presumptuous to raise with the Raikage today. A triumphal return from this mission, she hoped, would give her the bargaining power necessary to see her future requests to fruition.
She had said her piece, and would again answer any questions or concerns the Raikage might have. She could only see this as a positive thing - a small step toward a possible greater alliance between the two villages if all went well. Word had spread that Sunagakure was slowly coming out of the isolation the sandstorm had forced them into, and Rei anticipated the Raikage would be keenly aware of the advantages something like this could afford her and her village.
