Takeshi allowed himself to sit in the seat as he listened to the eruption of voices, his eyes never wavering from Umashi in that split second, he knew this would come the questions and the doubts would be clear for all his hard work Takeshi had been a sinner. Even he knew that this was the truth, but he had to step up partially for his own want, but also to make the village grow in his time as Hokage, it would take work, and lots of it but determination was not something the Uchiha was lacking. He had the drive and the steel inside to get the tasks done the main question was he would need to answer his sins right now.
Takeshi let each of his other Sennin’s speak, they had there say it was fair that each one of them had a judgement call to make and Takeshi knew that this would always be the case. Anything that changed in life people would not like it, that much was human nature and the ANBU Sennin had come to accept that during his time. As he sat there he listened to each work, took in each of the words that had been spoken by the group and tried to formulate his reply. Once the room fell silent the Uchiha stood up as he allowed a smile to come to his lips. Breaking the eye contact from Umashi, Takeshi allowed himself to look around before he spoke. He would address the issues second, but first he would put the wall up for them to smash down or help build with him. He decided to leave that up to the three Sennin that sat around him. They would be key in the future either for bettering it or destroying it that much was yet to be seen.
“Hyuuga Yukio, student to teacher, nothing to captain, lonely to loved. He was one that I spent time with, one that I helped create, that we helped create, that we worked to make happen is that not a different story one that is away from failure and into the true goal of Konaha, to give people a chance to better themselves?”
“Izumi, mute turned to speaker, kind turned to caring, boy turned to man. Since coming to leaf, unsure of what the world offered Izumi found his place inside of this country, taught to speak, taught the place and the culture and found a home. Another person who we have all influenced for the betterment of the village.”
“Haku Yuki, came to leaf without a home, found a home and a place inside of a Branch. Now a teacher and a leader inside of the Branch, given the chance to become something more than a monster with a family and home. Another story of triumph inside of Leaf.”
“Maru, yes Mikasa, I find this man to be a story of success inside of the village, as much of a pain as he is. Maru has found a place inside of a Branch, he has found people who can put their trust in him and make him understand what it means to be part of a family and not an individual cast aside. He doesn’t show it the best but he has found a place inside of Leaf, welcoming to all no matter what mistakes we make.
“Ziren, started off thinking that he was cursed, randomly going places to seek answers about what his bloodline does, unsure of what he belongs to or what he really is. Taught to control his bloodline, understands what is expected of him though sometimes he may not show his passion for the village his core burns with that will. Another example of success inside of Konaha that we have all achieved. Though he is still learning to control it the base has been planted and it is the beginning.”
“Tarantsu Manzo someone who had no-one to lead, no one to answer to and no-one to listen to. That changed during my time inside of the Branch, he took the chance to grow and show his true colours inside of the branch. He has stepped up to show himself as a leader as a man that can put the effort in to teach people, coming out of his shell and becoming an inspiration for others”
“Sugihira Juko, from the student tournament the man has shown devotion and drive which is something beyond the normal. He has found a place inside a Branch, inside of a team and shown personal drive and a zeal to see himself succeed, this is something that we could all take inspiration from a will of fire that we say that everyone in the village should have he lives day in and day out with it.”
“All of the above I feel as stories of success while I could go to label more I will not, the point is here. We talk about the failings all the time but look at what we as a group have achieved during this time, I say we have done more good than could possibly be imagined as a team, and that team work has come this far, even with myself being asked to step up to Hokage, each of you still have that influence, still have that passion and touch that can change people in Konaha. Each of you need to ask yourself, what has really changed, you still touch the core of this village and I stand here, not as the monster that I am made out to be. But as a Man, one that is stepping up to take the roll of Hokage, I need each of you as my pillars to carry this load with me”
Takeshi allowed himself to pause for a few moments as he considered his words, he considered what he had said and what he had asked of each of them. This should not have come as a surprise, but now he had said his part he needed to address the questions that had been given to him. He needed to stand tall and define his future as he waited for a few seconds for the question that had been asked to sink in. Takeshi allowed himself to stand there as he looked once more into each of there eyes, there was no tricks no masks to hide behind this was a group having a conversation that had been needed for a while. Takeshi turned his attention first to Tamashii, the man that he had spent a drink with and had enjoyed the conversations with. The hard questions needed to be answered first it would seem and now he was willing to do so.
“Why am I cut for this position, because I have the drive to improve things, the drive to take where Umashi left the torch and continue to walk with it in the darkness, to take it and continue to let the will of fire burn and be that example that people want Tamashii. I failed, would I be human if I didn’t? We all stumble we all fall, what makes us who ware are is how we stand up tall from that and step forward, each step will be hard but that is what makes us worth it. When a man with everything lost, everything gone would you turn them away, or did we not stand ourselves above that an offer that hand of redemption, that is what makes Konaha the special place it is now.”
Takeshi paused as he answered the first part of Tamashii’s question it seemed that there was more to go yet though as the man would bring Maki into this, as well as the fact that he wanted to grill the Sennin, though Takeshi didn’t mind it was these conversations that had originally made the chat interesting with Tamashii and something that he enjoyed as he smiled he allowed himself to place his hands behind his back as he answered the questions.
“Maki, you mean the man that came without a home, found a home, found love and found a place inside a Village. The person that has not betrayed us and has only stepped from strength to strength, who has trained younger members inside the Academy, and as we speak is fighting as a representative for this village and showing his passion for Leaf. Yes, I believe that he was the perfect selection for Captain and has shown that since taking on that role. But let me ask you a question back Tamashii. You have been the voice of reason, the stability in the office of the Hokage the sign of reason and the truth that people might not want to hear but is necessary. Now I ask you to be that same pillar for me Tamashii, be the truth that may be bleak, but the one that is willing to say it. Be my advisor and I ask for your help to build the future of Konaha.”
Takeshi understood that he had answered the questions that Tamashii had asked, next on the list it would seem to be Yomi, though always a rocky place they had a lot achieved together in the past and he hoped that this would be on the future that they could progress together, that was something that he hoped to address with his answers that he was going to give Yomi as he allowed his attention to come to her as he smiled her words cut but the truth would even he knew that much before he replied to the answers.
“Believe me that drive is still alive inside of me, that fire burns deep and this opportunity I will grab with every fibre of my being, no matter the pain, the stumbles I will stand strong and take everything in my stride as Hokage. I have the faith put into me and with that comes the will and drive to move forward. I want this for myself, I want this for the village and I want this for the future Yomi. That is the truth from the bottom of my heart, even if you believe there is a monster inside pulling strings.”
Takeshi allowed himself to think about the rest of the answers that were given, it seemed that he had a lot to give back and had a lot to answer to, it seemed that he was expected to say that everything was above board, but inside Takeshi had a whirlwind of emotions right now, keeping them all in check he had learned recently from the tasks Umashi had set him, that negotiations if you will should never be done with emotion even he knew that much, and that was now coming into practise right now. He allowed a small smile to come to his lips.
“I have been demoted, promoted and suspended you are correct, I have not been perfect, and my branch still has much to learn but that is always the case of the branch. We work in the shadows and that is where I step from now, I strip all the armour and the masks Yomi and stand here as Takeshi. The investigation of Umashi was never completed by the ANBU branch, a blemish that we want to move away from, and something that the Branch must work to redeem themselves in. Though even you must see that everyone was sleep depraved, working at their hardest, and we learned form that mistake, we have sought redemption and worked to improve our appearance inside of the village I can accept that one and can only apologize it was not addressed sooner Yomi."
Takeshi thought on the next two parts, it seemed that she wanted the last two nails to drive home and each one of them did, it was true that Takeshi had the calm appearance but on the inside his desire to prove himself burned within him as he looked towards them in those few seconds.
“Yomi, sometimes the interactions I have had has been rough, however you have not stated any of the good, the lessons, the exams, the tasks, tutoring anything that I have done which have not ended in disaster. I agree while this situation does not look good and the few mistakes can haunt a man, I want to move past them. I want to move for a better future within the village, I want to prove that we are better than that, that I am better than that and I will do so even when I am Hokage. Kumo relationship may have been damaged slightly I can accept that fact, but at the same time I believe that moving forward from that situation we have also built relationships, the one with Sand to be an example of that. We take one step back but inside this village we always take two steps forward. I can only ask that you see the good that I have done as well as the wrong, I have learned form my mistakes and have been found ready to take Hokage, so I want you to do the same, find me ready and work with me. I know we have had a rocky start here, but your head with relationships and your ability to see the potential is a key part of the play and another pillar that I wish to have firm behind me when I step up. I am stepping from the shadows and into the light, I ask that you see me for who I am and not the monster that I have become.”
Takeshi finished his talk with Yomi before turning his attention to Mikasa, the newest of the Sennin but also possibly one of the straight headed people that he had spoken to, her tone of voice set the page and as he stood there prepared himself for the answer that he would give he listened to the words of Mikasa he knew full well that the doubt could be seen and it was clear that the ANBU still had a lot of expanding to do, Takeshi allowed himself to breath in as he closed his eyes before opening them once more and addressing the questions that where coming his way. He knew full well that Mikasa was a direct person as such these answers would be just that.
“I believe that the branch will be given to good hands, I am not solely part of the ANBU branch, I will be Hokage and I will be part of each of the Branches, as such I want to experience missions for each of the branches, go out with each of you and see the full work of the Branch. I believe that there is room to improve, when I leave the ANBU Branch I already have a Captain aligned to do inter branch work and am making sure that the branches work together in the future. This is the key to the success of this village and I believe that with your help we can open that door and continue to drive things forward.”
Takeshi listened to the rest of it, he listened to each question that was given and wanted to directly answer them without giving to much away, he wanted to make sure that they each got the answer from his heart. Without putting up the barriers, he needed to be open with the Sennin, he needed to have no shadows or secrets from them this was the change he would be making when he stepped up into the role of Hokage.
“As I said I believe with the new Sennin the branch will fall into the line of what is expected, as I mentioned before I believe that Ziren and Maru are still success stories, though they may still need work they will achieve great things if we put our trust in them, like people have put there trust into each of us during our time inside of the village. As for what part of allowing the village to grow needs to be done, I want to have the academy allocated with a few teachers, each branch will have teachers that will run the lessons, we need to set a standard across the board and I believe we do that with the new generation, after all they will one day surpass all of us sat in this room, and when that time comes I will be ready to welcome it with open arms."
“As for the way the branch has dealt with trouble makers in the past, that will be changing we can improve and we will improve, but that is all of us, the day we stop looking to improve is the day the will of fire is extinguished from within us. Mikasa as I said I asked each of the others to stand as a pillar and help me, I ask the same of you. Help to expand the branch relationships, help to drive the dreams of the younger generation and help me to keep me on the path that is true to the cause.”
Takeshi allowed himself to stand there, answering the questions for now that had come his way he looked at each of those that had asked him a question before bowing his head slightly, it was his last time to speak while he had answered a lot he felt that one question should go out to each of them and that question would be one from inside, as he allowed his hand to come out the ANBU Mask that he wore appeared in his hand, as Takeshi allowed himself to stare each of them in the eye, the mask coming from his hands to the floor as it shattered into pieces, he spoke.
“I ask each of you, each of the great Sennin of Leaf, stand by me, be the pillar and the back strength to support me during my transition. Help me to stand with the will of fire and continue to progress this village forward, not backwards. I rely on each of you like Umashi has done in the past, I request that you help me, no shadows or secrets an open interaction with each of us. I request your help, request your support and request that together we build Konaha a better future one that will grow on the foundation that Umashi has put down. If you have any more questions please ask now, I have been open with you all as is expected.”
Rolling. The tiny squeaks of a chair seemed to be amidst the halls. Rolling. The air of judgement seemed to be apparent that these things would all be led into a culminating point of resolution. The Man known as Yumoto Tamashii had been, through a series of events been considered dead. Even to those who were the ANBU they all needed to leave the man alone for a while. As he recovered from a near fatal mistake. Umashi, the man that he'd hated helped him, even though Tamashii's hatred for him boiled through, he wanted nothing more than to help him in the air of his decisions. It would seem that the Broker of Konoha would not go down so easily. He was a shell of himself, as in his body was still recovering from the brunt of the self destruction he'd gone through. Like out of your local General Hospital episode... Tama would be pushed through the halls to this place where Umashi had told him to be. 
Looking to Mikasa as she spoke just as he entered, Tama would find himself marginally annoyed with the situation already. This was turning out to be a subject that he didnt want to be apart of internally being that he'd worked with Umashi for so long he'd simply grown accustomed to the idea. Tama found the thoughts racing through his mind causing his spine to shiver at notions of anyone being ready to run the nation. While Umashi wasnt perfect, he was better than the current crop to come, it was better that Tamashii had worked with Umashi with all of the dealings in the village. From spreading of wealth to all communities to partitioning that he deal with construction with a mind for what the village needed and not personal desires. He'd sat down with that man for years, and still to this day the dark skinned male, the full breed of his half, always seemed to surprise him with his clever yet, coy tact.