Open Stewards of the Sands: Shadows and Alliances

[Chikamatsu Shin]

Shin let out a slow sigh. It had been a few days since the attack on the surface, and the village was finally beginning to settle. He had come to realize just how much had changed since Suna had resubmerged into the sandy depths. It was only a matter of time before another threat arose, but this time, he was determined to ensure the village was prepared on all fronts.

The great shinobi clans of Sunagakure had rarely met formally. Since assuming leadership of the Chikamatsu Clan all those years ago, he had never been called to a council of the village's leaders, leaving him with the uneasy sense that each clan was left to fend for itself. Now, with the merchant class removed from power thanks to Lord Michino, a void had begun to form in the village’s balance, and tension simmered among comrades.

Sitting at his desk, the Angel of Sunagakure summoned several scrolls of parchment with chakra and began to weave messages in chakra-infused ink, carefully crafting each note:

Spoiler: Letter of Summons

Summons of the 12th Kazekage​

To the Esteemed Clan Head,

By the authority of the 12th Kazekage, Chikamatsu Shin, you are called to assemble at the Primus Tower.

The unity of Sunagakure rests upon the wisdom, experience, and guidance of its clans. As the guardians of your people and stewards of our shared legacy, your counsel is indispensable. This gathering shall serve to deliberate upon matters that bear upon the security, governance, and prosperity of our village, and to consider the evolving responsibilities of our clans in the age before us.

The bonds between our clans form the pillars of Sunagakure. It is through your insight, foresight, and the strength of your lineages that we endure, even in the most trying of times. As such, this council is convened not in command, but in mutual respect, recognizing that the decisions we reach together shape the path of all who dwell in our sands.

Your presence at this council is expected. Together, we shall deliberate with the clarity and gravity befitting the entrusted stewards of Sunagakure.

– Chikamatsu Shin, 12th Kazekage of Sunagakure

A soft smile curved his lips. He was no longer merely the Overseer, and in truth, the Chikamatsu Clan currently lacked a singular leader. Yet as Kazekage, he could not represent the needs of his people alone—but he knew who could.

With a snap of his fingers, nine ANBU appeared in an instant.

"Deliver these letters to their respective Clan Heads. I am calling all of the Noble Clans and the Lesser Clans to a council today. Ensure that each receives this notice. Summon the Sunaku, Toraono, Takahashi, Chikamatsu, Tsuchigumo, Hokkyoku, Renmei, Yamashiro, and Kyouketsu clans."

He paused, considering the smaller, unofficial families—the Miroku and the Uzumoreru—whose presence had yet to be formally recognized. Until they chose to step into the light, he hesitated to call them officially.

Snapping his fingers again, he sent the ANBU on their way. Then, forming a series of hand seals, he summoned a handful of small birds. They would seek out the leaders of the unofficial clans, inviting them to the tower to join the council. The birds chirped in acknowledgement before streaming out the windows, wings catching the artificial sunlight.

Rising, he adjusted the folds of his robes, the weight of the Kazekage mantle settling across his shoulders like a second skin.

The corridors of Primus Tower stretched before him, high arched ceilings echoing with the faint whispers of chakra that lingered in the stone walls. Carmot fueled lanterns suspended from wrought iron chains cast pools of golden light, illuminating murals that chronicled the village’s history: the rise of the clans, the great shinobi battles, the fall of the Ancients, the ebb and flow of sand and blood. Each step he took resonated against the polished floors, a steady rhythm that marked the passing of time and the imminence of the council.

The clans… each a pillar of the village. Their heads will come, carrying the weight of generations on their shoulders. I must ensure that this space reflects the gravity of what we are about to do.

At the end of the hall, double doors of dark wood inlaid with bronze and gold awaited him. He pressed a palm against the carved sigil of the Kazekage. The doors parted silently, revealing the conference room beyond.

The chamber was vast, its vaulted ceilings arched like the wings of a sand eagle in flight. Tall windows lined the walls, letting in the warm, shifting light of the late afternoon's synthetic sun, which danced across the polished stone floor. Around a long, rectangular table, chairs of carved oak and reinforced steel waited, each place marked with the emblem of a clan. At the head of the table for Shin to mediate the conversation was a raised dais framed with golden sandstone which provided a clear vantage point over the entire room.

Shin stepped fully into the room, letting his eyes sweep over the space. Servants had arranged the table with care, and guards stood along the periphery, their presence unobtrusive yet unyielding. He allowed himself a slow breath, feeling the room’s quiet authority settle into him.

"Let's ensure there are various teas, drinks, and snacks on the table as the Clans arrive please. I want to ensure that everyone feels welcome. There should be no bias between the Noble Houses and the Lesser Houses either, if a representative feels as such then we have failed our job as host."

As Shin finished speaking the servants of the tower all nodded and agreed with a single, crisp affirmation.

Lord 12th would move to the dais and take his seat, waiting for their arrivals.

 

[Sand Event]

The ANBU moved like shadows through Sunagakure's depths, delivering the Kazekage's summons with practiced efficiency. Within hours, the clan heads began their journeys toward Primus Tower—some with eager anticipation, others with wary calculation.

The pale woman materialized from the shadows near the tower entrance as if she had always been there, her purple robes barely disturbing the air. Tsuchigumo Amaya moved with the eerie silence of her clan's namesake, silver-gray hair pulled back in its customary tight bun. Deep-set eyes swept the conference room, cataloging every detail—exits, guard positions, sight lines—before she took her seat at the table marked with her clan's spider sigil.

She offered a respectful bow toward the Kazekage on his dais before settling into her chair. Her fingers traced the edge of her teacup with deliberate slowness. "Lord Kazekage," she whispered, yet her voice carried with unnerving clarity. "You honor us by summoning all nine clans to a single table. How... unprecedented."

The Windmarked arrived with considerably less subtlety. Sand still clung to Hokkyoku Kaze's weathered traveling clothes as he strode through the doors, wind-pattern tattoos visible on his bronzed arms. His clouded eye swept the room with the same efficiency as his good one, and he let out a short, barking laugh when he saw both the Kazekage waiting and Amaya already seated.

"Lord Shin," he said with a respectful nod, though his informality remained evident as he dropped into his chair without ceremony and immediately reached for the tea service. "I'll admit, I'm curious. When was the last time the Noble Houses sat in council with us Lesser Clans? Can't say I remember one."

He took a long drink, sun-bleached hair falling forward as he leaned back in his chair with casual disregard for the formal setting, though his eyes remained sharp and assessing.

The next arrival brought a stark contrast to Kaze's rough edges. Renmei Mizuki entered with the fluid grace of water itself, her flowing blue and white robes rippling as she moved. The Waterbearer's dark skin seemed to glow softly in the carmot lamplight, and her calm brown eyes took in the scene with measured assessment. The small vial of spring water around her neck caught the light as she offered a deep, respectful bow to the Kazekage before acknowledging the others present.

"Lord Kazekage, thank you for this summons," she said with genuine warmth before taking her seat. Her gaze swept to Kaze with gentle reproach. "Perhaps we should await Lord Shin's words before drawing conclusions, Windmarked. He has proven himself different from his predecessors. This summons may signal genuine change."

Kaze snorted but had the grace to look slightly abashed under the Kazekage's watchful presence. "Fair enough, Mizuki-san. I'll reserve my judgment... for now."

Before the moment could settle, the doors opened again with dramatic flair. Yamashiro Takeru entered like a living flame, his wild red hair seeming to defy gravity itself. The Flamebearer's amber eyes burned with intensity as he swept into the room, crimson robes billowing behind him. Small wisps of actual flame danced along his fingertips—whether from jutsu or pure emotion was unclear.

He dropped to one knee before the dais in a theatrical bow. "Lord Kazekage! Finally—a leader who recognizes that the old hierarchies must burn away!" His voice filled the chamber with natural amplification. "This is exactly what I've been preaching—renewal, reformation, the breaking of chains that have bound us for too long!"

Amaya's pale eyes fixed on him with the intensity of a spider studying a particularly energetic fly. "You speak of breaking chains, Flamebearer, yet here we sit in the Tower of Primus, surrounded by the very symbols of the old order. Perhaps temper your enthusiasm until we hear what Lord Shin has planned."

Takeru rose and threw himself into his chair with careless energy, his grin undaunted. "Skepticism from you, Amaya-san? I'm shocked." He turned his gaze back to the Kazekage with barely contained excitement. "But she's right—we're eager to hear your vision, Lord Shin."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as the final Lesser Clan head arrived. Kyouketsu Shigure moved with the measured grace of a funeral procession, his gaunt frame draped in dark robes reinforced with bone plates. The bone-white tattoos marking his bald skull caught the light as he surveyed the gathering with colorless gray eyes.

He offered a slow, precise bow to the Kazekage before taking his seat with mechanical precision. After a long, uncomfortable silence, he finally spoke. "Lord Kazekage," his voice was dry as ancient parchment, "an interesting assembly. Five Lesser Clans, summoned alongside the Noble Houses. One must wonder—are we here as equals, or as witnesses?"

"That question seems premature, Ossuary Warden," Mizuki said diplomatically, though her eyes remained on the Kazekage. "Lord Shin will clarify our purpose here."

Shigure's lips curved into something that might have been a smile on a less skeletal face. "Indeed. Though I note the Toraono, Takahashi, Sunaku, and our host's own Chikamatsu representatives have yet to arrive." He folded his hands on the table. "We Lesser Clans maintain critical infrastructure—water, defenses, spiritual guidance, the care of the dead—yet our voices have rarely reached the Noble Houses' ears. If you truly wish to change this, Lord Kazekage..."

He let the statement hang in the air, his colorless eyes fixed on Shin with unsettling intensity.

The five Lesser Clan heads sat together, an unconscious unity forming among them even as they awaited the Kazekage's response. They were guardians of the shadows, the deserts, the water, the flame, and the bones—essential to Sunagakure's survival, yet always secondary to the great Noble Houses.

Now they waited, wondering if this council would finally give them a voice... or simply remind them of their place.

 

[Chikamatsu Kohana]

The ANBU appeared without warning, which was their whole thing, really, but it still made my hand fly to Caliburnus's pommel on instinct.

I'd been in the training grounds, working through Byakko styled sword forms that didn't quite feel right in this synthetic body. Everything was slightly off—the weight distribution, the reach, the way my muscles responded to commands that used to flow through shared consciousness. Now I had to think about each movement individually, and it was fucking exhausting.

The masked operative knelt with mechanical precision, holding out a scroll marked with the Kazekage's seal.

"Chikamatsu Kohana. You are summoned to Primus Tower to represent your clan at a council of the Noble and Lesser Houses. Lord Twelfth requests your presence immediately."

I stared at the scroll like it might bite me.

"You're joking."

The ANBU's mask revealed nothing. "Lord Kazekage does not joke about clan councils."

"No, I mean—" I snatched the scroll and broke the seal, scanning the elegant chakra-infused script. My name was right there, clear as day. Not Maho. Not Seikatsu. Not even Seishinko with her spirit-touched wisdom. Me.

"He wants me to represent the Chikamatsu?"

"Those are your orders."

My jaw clenched. This had to be some kind of mistake. I was Shin's wrath, his sword, his fury made manifest. The one he called when diplomacy failed and someone needed to be eliminated quietly. I wasn't a representative. I wasn't someone you sat at a table with nobles and expected civilized conversation from.

"Tell him—" I stopped myself. What was I going to say? That I couldn't do it? That he'd made a mistake choosing me? That I was too angry, too raw, too newly severed from his mind to sit in a room full of clan heads and pretend I knew what the hell I was doing?

The ANBU waited with infinite patience.

I looked down at myself... training clothes stained with sweat and sand, my blonde hair falling out of its bun in messy strands. I looked like I'd been fighting, which I had been. Just against myself instead of an actual opponent.

"Fine. Give me twenty minutes."

The ANBU vanished without another word, leaving me alone with the scroll and the sudden, overwhelming realization that Shin had chosen me for something other than violence.

That shouldn't have felt as significant as it did.

---

Twenty minutes later, I stood outside the conference room doors wearing my replica Byakko armor, our sensei's armor, the silver plates catching the carmot lamplight in the corridor. If Shin was in his armor I knew we would be wearing identical forms of protection, but I assumed since he was calling a meeting as the Kazekage he would be dressed as such. I'd pulled my hair back into its proper bun, tied with the blue ribbon that matched the tabard flowing over my white dress. The armor felt heavier than usual, or maybe that was just the weight of what I was about to do.

Represent the clan. Sit at a table with the other houses. Speak with authority I wasn't sure I possessed.

The voices inside were already audible, multiple clan heads, their tones ranging from cautious to excited to outright skeptical. I caught fragments of conversation through the heavy doors. Something about the Lesser Clans finally being heard. Something about unprecedented change.

My hand found Caliburnus's pommel, that familiar anchor when everything else felt like it was spinning out of control.

He chose me, I thought again, and the confusion of it made my chest tight. Not Maho with her tactical brilliance. Not Seikatsu with his priestly authority. Not Seishinko with her connection to the spirits. Me.

The woman who'd spent the last week screaming at him about being discarded. The fury he'd supposedly thrown away. The shadow who didn't know how to exist without him in my head.

And yet here I was, summoned to his side. Not to fight. Not to kill. To speak for our clan.

I took a breath, feeling the seals on my synthetic skin pulse with agitation that mirrored my own uncertainty. Then I pushed the doors open.

The conference room was exactly as imposing as I'd expected—vaulted ceilings, tall windows letting in synthetic sunlight, a massive table surrounded by chairs marked with clan emblems. Five heads were already seated, representing the Lesser Clans. Their conversations died as I entered, all eyes turning toward me.

And there, on the raised dais at the head of the table, sat Shin. The Kazekage. My twin brother who I'd shared a mind with for thirty-one years and now couldn't read at all.

His blue eyes met my crimson ones, and for just a moment, I saw something flicker in his expression. Surprise? Relief? Hope?

I couldn't tell. That was the worst part, I couldn't fucking tell anymore.

I moved toward the table with deliberate steps, my armor making soft sounds against the polished floor. The Chikamatsu seat waited, marked with our clan's sigil of the Yurei Orchid. I should say something. Acknowledge the Kazekage formally. Show respect in front of the other houses.

Instead, I stood beside the chair and looked directly at Shin, my voice coming out sharper than I intended.

"You called for a Chikamatsu representative."

A pause, and then I added with barely concealed confusion:

"Why me?"

The question hung in the air, raw and honest in a way that probably wasn't appropriate for formal clan councils. But I needed to hear him say it. Needed to understand why the man who'd severed our bond and thrown me into this body would choose me—me, his fury, his sword—to sit at a table of diplomacy.

The Lesser Clan heads watched with varying degrees of interest. The pale woman with silver-gray hair—Tsuchigumo, if I remembered correctly—studied me with the intensity of a spider examining prey. The windmarked man looked openly curious. The woman in blue and white robes offered what might have been an encouraging smile.

But I only had eyes for Shin, waiting for an answer I wasn't sure I'd understand even if he gave it.

 

[Kyuji]

It had been an eternity since I had been attacked in the Red Light District by assailants and hospitalized within my own clan's portion of the Toraono Clan estate. I had not seen the outside world in so long and these walls and ceilings every day were starting to make me lose my sanity along with the presence of a shadowy figure out of the corner of my eyes everywhere that I went. Everyone within our home said that I was seeing things and that it was due to my body and mind recovering from the injuries and trauma that I sustained eons ago, but it didn't feel like something common from my knowledge in the medical field. A hallucination possibly, but reoccurring daily seemed illogical. Maybe, I was tired.
It wouldn't matter as my attention would snap to a note left on my desk from Lady Yanshi informing me that a meeting between all the clan leaders was being issued by the Kazekage and she designated me as the representative of the Byakko Clan. This made sense as I was the image of the Byakko Clan in the public's eyes for my heroics cleaning the Red Light District of all its scum back in the day to beating the legendary sandworm known as Barynx to winning the World Martial Arts Tournament in Tea Country for our country; the head of the clan was technically Lady Yanshi officially, but Lord Toraono Kuro allowed us to run our part of the clan as we saw fit. I would sit down and read the note thoroughly of the details notating that Lord Sousuke was not sending this message out but a Chikamatsu Shin. Surely, this was not the same Chikamatsu Shin whom I trained and had under me in the medical branch before as he was wet behind the ears when I last saw him many moons ago. A possibility, but I was skeptical.

Regardless, I would begin my trot to the Primus Tower where I believe I met Sousuke before which did not take me long to arrive to. I would present the letter as evidence to the guards as I entered and they would point me in the general direction of the room, but I asked them to allow me to walk by myself as I needed this time to gather my thoughts for this meeting. It had been a long time since I had left the Byakko Clan estate and the world around me looked vastly different than it did the last time that I was out in the world. A lot seemed to have changed and I was going to need to be brought up to speed on a lot of things when this meeting was over by my clan and friends.

As I arrived to the room, I noticed the emblem showing the Byakko symbol on it and took my seat in the room. It appeared that the lesser clans had arrived already and were dressed formally for the occasion; I was not formally dressed at all as I never was one for that style of clothing. There was also a blonde woman who looked very similar to my illegimate daughter, Rin, but surely that was just a coincidence. However, the armor that she wore that was similar to my own caught me off guard. I would look at the man sitting on the dais at the front of the room with my green vixen eyes piercing into his soul (or trying to) and simply say: "Byakko Kyuji representing the Byakko Clan for Lady Yanshi."

---

• MFT: 583 Words
• I am back!

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Toraono Kuro sat in an ancient chamber looking at family murals that had aged gracefully, and through his consistent chakra infusions, he had made sure these ancient stories were as eternal as his bloodline. It seemed odd that he had placed himself in seclusion to seal his abilities away from the rest of the world. His dark energies had become too potent, and without distinct control, just being in Kuro’s presence was once all that was necessary for anyone nearby to be influenced by demonic energies, and then need either a seal or bloodline training to withstand it. Kuro had placed himself under a deep meditative hypnosis and recentered, then reconstructed his own body towards a bestial yet humanoid perfection. His cycle of breathing had slowed to where many believed he was simply a statue if they dared wander the lower levels of the Toraono Dojo. Remnant chakra from terrible battles would forever linger within these hallowed halls and walls. Every now and then Kuro would emerge to run a food stall in the Sunan street markets to feel the sun on his body and keep an eye on Sunagakure.

Today was a good day as he released the seal on his chamber and slowly emerged from his seclusion to find out about a clan meeting being called by the current Kazekage. Kuro had not seen a summons letter in quite some time… in fact the last time he received one it had been from Takahashi Sousuke.

Memories returned in a wistful surge to a body that was now far removed from anything truly human. Were the times so different now? Noting the Byakko family had dispatched a representative Kuro chose to follow them and ensure that he kept himself aware of the current situation within Sunagakure. Muscles forged into runic threads of immortal physical presence flexed to remind Kuro that he still existed.

WC: 314 (More to come as the RP continues)

 

[Toraono Ryota]

Work. Never. Ended. With. That. Man. He left his noodles at the table as he was summoned to work. "Ysuh.." He simply said as an acknowledgment as he left with the other ANBU to scatter the letters as the noodle murderer requested. From behind his mask, he looked rather bored, not that other people could ever find that out. As quick as he came, as quick he was gone too. He was one of the first to return after delivering.

He glared at the man as he took his spot in the corner of the room again. "Did the job... Noodle monster..." That man already knew who he was anyway, so he did little to hide his annoyance with this man. How to conceal himself later by the use of chakra. Active Camo [M] His clothing slowly blended with the background, and every noise he made was muffled and even drawn out. Now he could perhaps take a nap if it ever got too boring.

[topic entered, Anbu operative mode]

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

The reunion with his family has been…a bit chaotic. More so from the extended part, his cousins and other members of the clan. Some he had not seen for many years…some he as seen for the first time, families forming with children, some just about to start at the academy, some gracing our world in this time of crisis. It was a lively moment as he returned… the whole incident at the top side and the rumors spawned from it didn’t help.

Still, the meeting with his parents was a lot more…subdued… much more so compared to when they reunited after the Cabal incident… of course, eh knew they had to be worried, but they also knew how the life of a Shinobi was. They knew they couldn’t stop him trying to do what was right, even far away from home…but they were glad to see him alive. His parents were at good health, though their age was starting to show more and more… especially when compared to himself. He did look more weary and aged, but whatever mix of sand magic and blood ran through his veins made him at least appear more youthful.

They did have a brief chat about how things went as he was gone, though they were interrupted with the summons from Shin. The Kazekage truly was not wasting any time. And as they read the letter and his mother and father looked at him, he couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. The topic that came back like a boomerang…tho at this point, he felt ready to catch it.

Same time would have passed and the Sunaku clan delegation would also arrive. As per usual, the head of the clan and his wife, Shigeo and Kohana, attended together. The hair on his head and face was ashen but still very much full, his form a bit touched by time but still sturdy as any fighter. Her, with long hair adored with various ornaments representing flowers and various animals of the desert, and For the first time in a long time, their son Harupia was attending with them. He had enough time to clean up and heal a bit after his meeting with shin, now back to his clean shaven short hair, wearing fresh robes complimenting his parents.

Whenever he attended any functions with his parents in the past, people were often commenting how he looked like his mother. Elegant, witty, flowing from one conversation to another like a true gentleman, but more so interested in catching up with other people than in discussing village matters. Yet right now, he seemed to be taking much closer to his father. His face still smiling with a determined resolve to it. His posture was straight and forward, but not in a forced way. For once, it seemed like he was fully intent on being here.

They would enter not long after Kuro, the familiar sight of the giant tiger man providing a bit of familiar comfort. Once inside, he did let his father speak for now, the man’s gruff tone announcing “Shigeo Sunaku, head of the Sunaku Clan, joined by my bride and better Half, Kohana, and heir to the title Harupia” with all 3 of them bowing to Shin. Harupia would add, “Glad to see you recovered Shin-san. Not wasting any time, are you?”

 

[Sand Event]

“You ready, Dad?” a sweet voice called out. It was met with a kind, but neutral,
“Yes, just a moment more. Your leg and arm fine?”
“Of course! Work like a dream - but that’s to be expected.”

A simple giggle. Takahashi Sousuke looked into the mirror before him. Streaks of white had grown deeply into his dark blue beard. Wrinkles of his age finally showed creasing around his eyes though the pupils within were sharp as ever. Hair swept back, he had grown it out now to fall just slightly past his shoulders. Okibi enjoyed the look and kept hiding the scissors, so he just kept to it. A kindness rested in his features, despite the hawkish gaze, and they reflected back towards his daughter waiting behind him. Hair a light color of pink and cut into something short, the Wildchild was clothed in a proper business suit, insisting she wear something important for such a momentous event. In light of everything that had happened, it would seem proper for them both to don clothing equating to the importance; and as usual the pink-eyed girl deviated from the norm. Even in her own age, showing far harder than it did in Sousuke, she retained a sense of playfulness; with the attention of a curious wolf.

Sousuke stood up from his small vanity within his room. He was dressed in Takahashi formal attire, which meant a tunic bearing the colors of his house. His arms reached out and raised over his head the famous breastplate of the Takahashi house; indestructible and the first use of their clan’s sake metal used in Suna’s foundations. Okibi was already at his side to help buckle the belts in, and assure a good fit despite his small protests.

Ever since her daughter had been moved to Konohagakure, and Tama seemingly vanished, her mood slowly lifted. From the depths of depression, Okibi climbed out and found purpose again in life by taking care of Sousuke; and in doing so, was quickly becoming the heir to his house. There were few people he could hand over the massive title that continued to rest on his shoulders, but Okibi and her son were two of them. Otami, potentially as well, if she ever decided to return home completely. Their bond over the last year within the tunnels had strengthened, and the two were rarely seen apart from each other. Which, worked out, as the previous Steward was not a young man anymore and some of Suna had become dangerous in the recent years.

Satisified with their clothing choices, and finally fully dressed, the pair exited the Takahashi residence and slowly made their way through Sunagakure, feeling the soft rumble beneath their feet as the train also moved along the tunnels. Normally it would have stopped by now to unload wastes and restock on certain supplies they could not find beneath the dunes; but the attack had left them shell-shocked. Proud as he was of his steel and the engineering feat that was their home, Sousuke knew they couldn’t push the engine for much longer. This meeting of every clan was a testament of how serious things had become with the Twins.

And to think, he figured they would have burned out after the coup.

Sousuke and Okibi made it to the tower and found themselves looking around the table at everyone that had seated themselves. Two powerful and old members of the Toraono had already beaten them there. Along with all of the Lesser Clans. Sousuke nodded to each one separately, acknowledging them now as he ever had - with dignity. The Takahashi were always of innovation and creation, and well knew the importance played by these so called “lesser” clans. Without them, he would not have been able to provide the service for the village in the way they stayed moving now. Moving to take a seat next to Kuro, Sousuke first stopped to give a deep bow to Harupia,
“Thank you, for your tireless efforts above. We have been able to do much because of your efforts.”

Okibi pulled the chair out for her father, and Sousuke hesitated only slightly knowing she was more likely to cause a scene if he asked her to stop. He was old, but didn’t need everyone to know how, old; an assortment of facts his daughter was more than happy to remind him of. She stood behind Sousuke, the metal of her left hand’s prophetic shining gently in the light. They both waited now for the news the 12th had prepared for them, and the reason for drawing all of the clans together for the first time in ages.

 

[Toraono Michino]

The remaining Toraono entered all at the same time, nearly shoulder to shoulder, and with the same look of vex across their face. Of the remnants to drag in last, in the front, was the newest of the bunch: the avatar of Suzaku. He stood a tall six foot-eight, with long flowing blond hair streaked with violent crimson. The man stood dressed in a knightly fashin: a golden breastplate and silver chainmail over tanned leather dyed to be shades of the desert. At his hip was a weapon of choice despite the meeting being friendly; a flail with a lengthened chain. Nearing the table, he stood behind his seat and placed a fist to his chest,
“T-Toroano Tentetsu, representing the Suzaku…” he said with a shaken voice. Not but what felt like mere hours ago, he had been a mercenary hired to destroy the very village he was now announcing his allegiance to. After the scorching memories of a large bird embraced by fire dug their way into his very flesh, Ten felt incredibly…different. Rejuvinated. There was a power and energy at his very fingertips that held vitality outmatching the same held as a child. His family, every last member he could contact, also felt the waves of change in their sudden new patriarch. Children born with dark hair turned blond, golden flames healing their sick and wounded. Even his grandfather, bed ridden for the last two years, had been reported tending to his garden without an ounce of pain. He wanted to thank the gods for this blessing that had given more than the Twin’s yen ever could…but a single look at the Hyou coming up in the last and a fury took him. Something he had no reason for. Michino may have been willing to strike him down, but his anger had been justified; his vengeance, honorable. Yet the very sight of the man’s purple irises sent a boil to his gut he had never held for any man.

The second to find her seat, and tower over all, was an eight-foot tall woman named Toraono Ishiya with massive goat horns curling over her long dreadlocks. Dressed as desert swordsman, she wore a simple white robe with long slits up either leg to offer full freedom. The neck of the robe was a deep v-shape, showing off her ample form without any shame as the tall woman announced in a deep tone,
“Toraono Ishiya, representing the Oushi-Ouja in place of the Ox King. Old man finally couldn’t get out of his chair!” A quick fake smile flashed before the look of annoyance returned at the sight of the Lesser Clan houses seated at their same table.
“You have enough room for these children too?”

She began to seat herself next to Kuro before seeing which the avatar of Hyou was heading; then immediately beelined her way to sit beside him. Her face changed from vex, to excitement as the representative of the panther god kept his feature of annoyance. Ishiya was, simply put, Chiyoko’s self-proclaimed “love rival.” No less than six trials of ritual combat for his hand had been held since he announced his releationship with the Uzumoreru well over a decade ago, and of those six, the Oushi-Ouja’s new leader had been the cause of four. She flopped into the chair, the wood threatening to give way with a deep moan as Ishi leaned in closer to Michino, shifting herself down until she was almost at height with him; any further would be really uncomfortable.

Despite how uncomfortable Michino already was.

He was dressed in unusually normal garments. A large black long-sleeved shirt, tucked into simple pants that each were loose-fitting enough to wonder his true size. Over his face a pair of golden shades, and above them a cloth band to hold aloft a large orb of curly hair. Aside from the unusual shades that did little to hide his violent purple eyes, a large golden chain hung around his neck; and as usual, not a single bit of footwear. Hyou’s chosen announced himself softly, but with command still echoing,
“Toraono Michino, representing the Hyou.” He then took his seat without flare and leaned back as Ishiya all but pounced the chair next to him. The swordsman ignored his fellow blade practitioner, knowing full well she would back up the moment his fiancée arrived…however she had planned to do that. For him this was little more than formality, having known already ahead of schedule the entire event’s location but not the reason. He had provided the security, and a quick glance saw ANBU spattered here and there. Good, there just as disciplined as Toushin had promised. The glare from Tentetsu didn't go unmissed, but it do go ignored. The lord of death knew exactly why the newfound lord of resurrection detested him...even if they didn't. He had no time to start a quarrel here, nor the want; that was entirely his lover's job.

 

[Chiyo]

Chiyoko’s arrival announced itself before she ever crossed the threshold, the crisp, unhurried cadence of high heels striking stone echoing down the corridor toward the grand conference room. When the doors finally swung open beneath her hands, she stepped through with practiced confidence, wearing a bright, polished smile that never quite reached the calculating gleam of her golden eyes.

She moved forward at an easy pace, her gaze sweeping the room with quiet assessment. A respectful nod was offered to Takahashi-san and his daughter as she passed, her eyes lingering just a heartbeat longer, twinkling faintly at their presence. The others gathered were familiar enough - faces she recognized even if she hadn’t spoken to them directly - but it had always been her father who navigated the politics of nobles and councils. Stepping out of the shadows, in an official capacity no less, was uncharted territory. The thought sent a subtle thrill through her, sharpened by the knowledge that every move she made here would be watched, weighed, and remembered.

Her gaze finally reached Michino and, in that instant, any lingering trace of detachment vanished.

Ishiya sat beside him.

The much larger woman looked entirely too comfortable at her future husband’s side, her presence an affront that sparked a sharp, visceral flare of jealousy in Chiyoko’s compact frame. It burned hot and fast, though none of it touched her expression. Her posture remained flawless, her smile pleasant and untroubled, but something behind it hardened as she closed the remaining distance. Slipping neatly behind Michino, she rested a hand on his shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze; intimate, proprietary, and unmistakably deliberate.

“Uzumoreru Chiyoko,” she announced smoothly, her voice warm and perfectly measured, “representing the Uzumoreru.” She inclined her head in a respectful bow. “Lord Kazekage, I am honored to have been invited here today.”
As she straightened, her attention shifted back to the woman occupying her seat.

“Ah, Ishiya-san,” Chiyo continued quietly, the sweetness in her tone sharpening just enough to be felt. “It is so good to see you well.” Her glowing irises caught the overhead light, reflecting it like embers stirred to flame. “It seems, however, that you may have mistaken your place.”

She flicked her gaze meaningfully toward the sigil etched into the table nearby: two snakes entwined in an eternal infinity. The implication was unmistakable. Stepping back half a pace, she left the space open; inviting Ishiya either to correct her error… or to test just how bold she felt today.

If the amazonian woman made the sensible choice and relocated to the seat meant for her, Chiyo would merely smile and claim her own place without further comment. Her hand would trail from Michino’s shoulder down his arm, fingers lacing with his in a familiar, intimate gesture before she turned her attention back to their host, an unmistakable amusement now dancing in her eyes.

 

[Chikamatsu Shin]

As the representatives began to arrive, Shin observed each entrance with careful attention, his blue eyes tracking every detail, every gesture, every unspoken tension that filled the conference room. The weight of what he was attempting... the idea to bring together the Noble and Lesser Clans as equals for the first time in living memory, well tbat sat on his shoulders like the Kazekage's mantle itself, but bore weight greater than he had ever experienced before.

He took a settling breath to calm his nerves. This would be the first time he would face many of those coming since the events which started this era of chaos and confusion, since he was a tool of destruction and near perfect genocide, since he killed so many innocent lives due to the actions of the Baron Twins' puppet, Chikamatsu Wei...

When Tsuchigumo Amaya materialized from the shadows near the entrance, her purple robes barely disturbing the air, Shin offered a slight bow from his seated position on the dais, his blue eyes meeting hers with genuine respect. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lady Tsuchigumo Amaya, Matriarch of the Tsuchigumo Clan and Keeper of Shadows. Your presence honors this council, Lady Amaya, as does your wisdom in these uncertain times." Her words about the unprecedented nature of this gathering were not lost on him, and he filed them away, knowing they would need to be addressed properly at some point sooner rather than later.

The Windmarked's arrival brought a different energy entirely, and Shin's expression softened slightly to a half smile at Hokkyoku Kaze's straightforward nature. He nodded respectfully as the weathered man took his seat with casual disregard for formality. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Hokkyoku Kaze, Patriarch of the Hokkyoku Clan and Windmarked of the Dunes. Your candor is as refreshing as the desert winds you command, Lord Kaze."

Renmei Mizuki's graceful entrance earned a warm nod, his posture relaxing slightly at her diplomatic presence. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lady Renmei Mizuki, Matriarch of the Renmei Clan and Waterbearer of Sunagakure. Your steady hand has sustained our people through drought and storm alike, Lady Mizuki. We are grateful for your attendance."

When Yamashiro Takeru entered like a living flame, the faintest flicker of amusement crossed Shin's features, though he maintained his composed demeanor as best he could. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Yamashiro Takeru, Patriarch of the Yamashiro Clan and Flamebearer of Revolution. Your passion serves as a reminder that change, while necessary, must be tempered with purpose. Welcome, Lord Takeru."

Kyouketsu Shigure's arrival brought a noticeable drop in temperature, and Shin's expression became more measured as he acknowledged the gaunt figure. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Kyouketsu Shigure, Patriarch of the Kyouketsu Clan and Ossuary Warden. The honored dead speak through you, Lord Shigure, and in this council, so too shall the Lesser Clans find their voice elevated to equal standing with the Noble Houses." He paused deliberately, letting that declaration settle over the room before continuing. "To all of the Lesser Clans assembled here today, you ask if you are here as equals or witnesses. Let me be crystal clear: you are here as Lords and Ladies of Sunagakure no Sato, you are here as equals to all who attend. The infrastructure you maintain, the spiritual guidance you provide, the defenses you uphold... these are not secondary contributions to our great village, no. They are the very foundation upon which Sunagakure stands. This council exists because I believe that the old hierarchies have failed us, and it is time we forge a new path together, buikt of collaboration and respect."

The moment the doors opened and Kohana stepped through in her Byakko inspired armor instead of her Chikamatsu robes, something shifted in Shin's carefully maintained composure. For just a heartbeat, the Kazekage's mask slipped. His blue eyes widened slightly, and an emotion too complex to name flashed across his features. He rose from his seat on the dais, the movement fluid despite the persistent golden cracks that still webbed across his exposed skin, glowing faintly beneath the carmot lamplight. When she asked "Why me?" the rawness of the question hung in the air between them, and he descended from the dais, each step measured and deliberate, until he stood before the Chikamatsu seat, before his sister. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Chikamatsu Kohana, Heir to the Chikamatsu Clan and Blade of the Yurei Orchid." He paused, and something in his expression softened. Not weakness, but something more vulnerable, more true. "You ask why you, Kohana. The answer is simpler than you might think, yet more profound than perhaps even I can fully articulate." His hand moved, not toward any weapon, but toward his chest, over his heart. "For three decades, we shared not just blood, but consciousness itself. You know every decision I have ever made, every burden I have carried through the years, every doubt I have harbored. You understand what it means to lead the Chikamatsu Clan as the Overseer because you have lived it alongside me. Not as an observer, but as my other half."

The golden cracks along his jaw pulsed faintly as emotion threatened his carefully maintained control. "I did not choose Maho, brilliant as she is, because tactics alone cannot speak for our people's hearts. I did not choose Seikatsu, wise as he is, because spiritual authority must be tempered with lived experience. I did not choose Seishinko, connected as she is, because the spirits whisper of what was and what may be... but you, Kohana, you know what is." He took a breath, and when he spoke again, his voice dropped slightly, as ifholding back somber tears, yet he still tried to remain professional. "I chose you because, sure, you are my fury, but you are also my conscience. My courage when doubt creeps in. My truth when politics demand I speak with words which tear at my heart. You are not simply a shadow I have cast aside, sister. You are truly the other half of my soul, and the Chikamatsu Clan deserves to be represented by someone who understands both the weight of leadership and the cost of the choices we must make."

He straightened, his Kazekage's authority reasserting itself, though the emotion still lingered in his eyes. "That is why you, Chikamatsu Kohana. Because in this room of clan heads and representatives, you alone can speak not just for the Chikamatsu, but as a Chikamatsu who has borne the burden of this village's fate alongside its Kazekage. You have earned this seat through thirty-one years of service, even if you did not realize you were serving. And I..." His voice caught, just for a moment. "I am honored that you would answer my summons, despite everything."

He turned back to return from his dais, his eyes wet with tears he did not let escape. Taking a second to calm himself again he turned around.

The moment Byakko Kyuji announced herself, the professional composure Shin had so carefully tried to bring back shattered completely. His eyes widened, the pooled tear that he did not let be finally dropped down his cracked skin as his blue irises brightened with recognition and something that looked remarkably similar to that of a child seeing their hero for the first time. "Sensei...?" The word escaped before he could stop it, stripped of all formality, his hand rising unconsciously toward his chest where beneath his robes, the lessons she taught him were written into his very being. He caught himself, awareness of the assembled clans flooding back, and he straightened, though the emotion remained, glowing in those blue eyes like carmot flame.

"The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lady Byakko Kyuji, representative of the Byakko Clan in place of Lady Yanshi, Champion of the World Martial Arts Tournament, and Honorable Sensei to the Twelfth Kazekage." But even as he spoke the formal words, his voice trembled slightly—joy and pride and a desperate need for approval all tangled together. "Lady Kyuji... it has been far too long since last we met. Last we met I was but a child, still learning to walk the path you illuminated. The armor we wear into battle—" He gestured toward Kohana, his sister who also trained under Lady Byakko, toward the Byakko armor she wore also wore. "—is fashioned in the image of yours, Sensei, because we wanted to carry your example with us into every fight. Every life we have saved, every technique we have mastered, every moment we have stood as a shield for this village... it all traces back to the foundation you built within us."

The golden cracks along his skin pulsed brighter as his speexh reverted back to how he spoke when he was a we. The illumination responded to the intensity of his emotion, his hands clenching at his sides as if physically restraining himself from breaking protocol entirely and darting towards her. "I... I must ask, though perhaps it is inappropriate in this setting..." His voice dropped, becoming almost diminutive, qstudent seeking validation from a master. "Are you proud, Sensei? Of what we have become? Of what we have accomplished? We have tried, tried so hard, to honor the teachings you gave us. To be worthy of the legacy you helped create. Please... tell me we have not failed you." The vulnerability in that question was stark and raw, the Kazekage's mask completely abandoned in the face of seeing his teacher again after so many years as he dropped into a deep bow awaiting her answer, unmoving until he received it.

Shin quickly straightened as Toraono Kuro entered, then offered a deep bow of respect that acknowledged both the ancient warrior's age and his legendary status. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Toraono Kuro, Pillar of the Toraono Clan and Eternal Guardian of Sunagakure. Your presence alone strengthens this council, Lord Kuro. Welcome."

Shin's expression shifted to one of genuine warmth and relief as the Sunaku delegation arrived, and he rose slightly in his seat, gesturing toward them with respect. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Sunaku Shigeo, Patriarch of the Sunaku Clan and Master of the Desert Sands; Lady Sunaku Kohana, Matriarch and Heart of the Dunes; and Lord Sunaku Harupia, Heir to the Sunaku legacy, Shield of the Surface, and dare I say the rumors?." Shin grinned at the previous mentions of Harupia being a Sunahoshi descendant during the attack on the surface. When Harupia spoke directly to him about not wasting time, Shin's smile became more strained, not from displeasure, but from exhaustion, the golden cracks along his exposed skin pulsing faintly as a reminder of the cost he had paid.

"Time is a luxury we no longer possess, Harupia-san. The chakra burns..." He glanced down at his hands, where the golden fissures glowed persistently. "...are a constant reminder of how close we came to annihilation. But more pressingly, we have perhaps six days remaining before the plans we discussed must be set into motion. Every moment we delay is a moment the Baron Twins use to fortify their position." His blue eyes met Harupia's with intensity. "Your efforts on the surface bought us time to gather here today. I intend to ensure we use it wisely."

When Takahashi Sousuke and Okibi entered, Shin rose fully from his seat on the dais, descending to ground level as the legendary Steward arrived. This was a man who had held Sunagakure together through impossible odds, who engineered their very survival by creating the underground mobile village, and respect demanded Shin meet him as an equal, not from a position of elevated authority. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Takahashi Sousuke, former Steward of Sunagakure, Master Engineer, Journeyman, and Architect of our Survival; accompanied by Lady Okibi, Heir to the Takahashi legacy and the Wildchild of Innovation." He bowed deeply, a gesture that carried genuine gratitude. "Lord Sousuke, words fail to capture the debt this village owes you. The foundations beneath our feet, the walls that shield us, the very mechanism that allows us to move through the desert depths, they all bear your mark. You have saved us more times than history will likely record. Thank you."

When the remaining Toraono representatives entered, Shin observed the tension between Tentetsu and Michino with careful attention, making note of the undercurrents but choosing not to address them directly. Instead, he acknowledged each representative in turn. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Toraono Tentetsu, Avatar of Suzaku and Phoenix of Resurrection." He paused as Ishiya made her dramatic entrance. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lady Toraono Ishiya, representative of the Oushi-Ouja and Blade of the Ox King." And finally, his gaze settled on Michino. The man who was and could still have been Kazekage, who chose to walk away from power, who helped save Shin from Wei's control. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lord Toraono Michino, Avatar of Hyou, the Thirteenth Kazekage, and Liberator of Sunagakure." There was weight in that title—"Thirteenth Kazekage"—an acknowledgment that even though Michino stepped down, his actions earned him that designation in perpetuity. "Lord Michino, your presence here means more than perhaps you realize. You freed me from chains I did not know I wore, and in doing so, gave this village a chance to reclaim its future. For that, you will always have my gratitude, and my respect."

Though Shin had spoken with Michino since the tragedies, he wanted to ensure that the entirety of the Nobility of Sunagakure no Sato understood the weight of Michino's actions and how they drastically altered the state that their world was in.

As Chiyoko entered and navigated the brief moment with Ishiya, Shin watched with barely concealed amusement, but when she turned her attention to him and offered her formal greeting, his expression became serious, purposeful. He rose once more from the dais, descending to stand before the assembled council, knowing this moment required his full attention, his complete authority. "The Office of the Twelfth Kazekage recognizes Lady Uzumoreru Chiyoko—" He paused deliberately, letting the weight of what came next settle over the room. "—Matriarch of the Uzumoreru Clan, which by my decree as the Twelfth Kazekage, I hereby officially recognize as a Clan of Lesser Nobility within Sunagakure no Sato."

The declaration rang through the chamber, and Shin continued without hesitation. "For too long, the Uzumoreru have operated in the shadows, their contributions unacknowledged, their lineage unrecognized. No more. Lady Chiyoko has proven herself not only as a leader of her people, but as a guardian of this village's security." He turned, addressing the full council now, though his words still centered on Chiyo. "It is therefore with both honor and strategic necessity that I announce Lady Uzumoreru Chiyoko as the newly appointed Sennin of Homeland Security, a position I have personally selected to address the greatest threat we currently face."

His blue eyes scanned the assembled leaders, gauging their reactions. "The Baron Twins did not simply hire mercenaries to attack us. They infiltrated our village through Chikamatsu Wei, turning my very own Noble House against us. We cannot allow such vulnerabilities to persist. Lady Chiyoko's network, her expertise in intelligence gathering, and her unwavering loyalty to Sunagakure make her uniquely qualified to root out any remaining spies, to identify threats before they can strike, and to ensure that never again will we be caught unaware by enemies within our own walls." He turned back to Chiyoko, offering her a respectful nod that carried genuine appreciation. "Welcome to the council, Sennin Chiyoko. Your clan's elevation to Lesser Nobility is long overdue, and your appointment to this critical position is both an honor you have earned and a necessity our village desperately needs."

Shin returned to the dais, but remained standing as he surveyed the assembled council, four Noble Clans, five Lesser Clans, and now one newly elevated clan. Representatives of every major power structure in Sunagakure, gathered in one room for the first time in living memory. The golden cracks along his skin pulsed with a steady, almost hypnotic rhythm, a reminder of the cost of leadership, of the price paid to stand here today.

"Honored representatives, clan heads, and guardians of Sunagakure... I have called you here today because we stand at a crossroads. The old hierarchies, the old divisions between Noble and Lesser, the old habit of each clan fending for itself... these traditions have not served us well. They left us vulnerable to manipulation, fractured in the face of external threats, and unable to coordinate our considerable strengths." He paused, letting that sink in. "The merchant class that once held power has been removed. The Daimyo system that governed our relationship with Wind Country has collapsed. We travel beneath the sands, hidden from the world, while the Baron Twins consolidate their forces and plan our destruction. Everything has changed... and we must change with it, or we will perish."

His voice carried conviction, purpose, and an undercurrent of desperate hope. "That is why I have summoned you here. Not to dictate terms. Not to impose my will. But to forge a new covenant between the clans of Sunagakure, one built on mutual respect, shared purpose, and the understanding that we are stronger together than we could ever be apart." He gestured to the table, to the seats bearing each clan's sigil. "I have ensured that there is no bias between Noble Houses and Lesser Houses in this chamber. You sit as equals because you are equals. The Tsuchigumo guard our shadows while the Takahashi build our foundations. The Hokkyoku defend our borders while the Toraono anchor our strength. The Renmei provide life-giving water while the Sunaku command the very desert itself. Every clan here—from the mightiest Noble House to the smallest Lesser Clan—plays an essential role in our survival."

His blue eyes swept across each representative in turn. "So I ask you now: will you join me in building something new? Will you set aside old grievances and outdated hierarchies to stand united against the threats we face? Will you help me transform Sunagakure from a collection of isolated clans into a true unified village?" The question hung in the air, heavy with implication and possibility. "I cannot do this alone. No Kazekage can. But together... together we might just survive what is coming."

He finally sat, the weight of his words settling over the council like desert sand after a storm. "The floor is now open. Speak freely, voice your concerns, share your wisdom. This council exists to hear you—all of you—and to forge our path forward as one people, one village, one Sunagakure."

 

[Sand Event]

Tsuchigumo Amaya

The Shadowkeeper sat motionless as the Kazekage's formal acknowledgments washed over the assembled council, her pale fingers still tracing the rim of her untouched teacup with mechanical precision. Each word, each gesture, each flicker of emotion across Lord Shin's face—she catalogued them all with the methodical patience of a spider memorizing every strand of her web.

When he declared them equals to the Noble Houses, her deep-set eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. The words were sincere, but sincerity alone did not reshape centuries of hierarchy.

"..." The pause stretched, deliberate and measured, as Amaya finally lifted her teacup and took the smallest sip. Her whisper carried with that same unnerving clarity when she finally spoke. "The Tsuchigumo Clan hears your words, Lord Kazekage, and finds them... acceptable. You speak of unity. Of shared purpose. Of setting aside old hierarchies."

She leaned forward slightly, and small shadows seemed to deepen around her purple robes. "These are dangerous words in a village built upon tradition. They invite chaos... or evolution. The question is not whether we can change, but whether we can survive the transformation."

Her gaze swept across the assembled representatives before returning to Shin with calculating intensity. "The Tsuchigumo maintain the barrier network that shields this village from detection. We weave the defenses that keep your enemies outside our walls. We watch the shadows so others may walk in light. This infrastructure... we have maintained it faithfully for generations, asking little in return save recognition of our purpose."

"If you wish the Lesser Clans to stand as equals, then we must also bear equal responsibility for this village's survival. The Tsuchigumo Clan will support your new covenant... provided it recognizes that patience and preparation triumph over haste. We will not rush into unity simply because it sounds noble. We will weave it carefully, strand by strand, until the web is strong enough to hold."

She settled back, her presence somehow both more prominent and more subtle. "You ask us to set aside old grievances. Very well. But know that we remember everything, Lord Kazekage. Every slight, every dismissal, every moment the Noble Houses treated us as servants rather than guardians." Her whisper dropped to barely audible, yet somehow grew more present. "We will work with them now... because you have given us reason to believe change is possible. But if this council proves to be merely theater—if the old hierarchies reassert themselves once the immediate crisis passes—the Tsuchigumo will remember that too."

Her pale eyes found Sunaku Shigeo briefly, acknowledging their alliance, before sliding toward Hokkyoku Kaze and Toraono Michino with the faintest suggestion of old irritation. "Some seated here understand the value of careful planning. Others prefer... bolder approaches. If we are to forge true unity, both philosophies must find balance. The web must be strong enough to hold, yet flexible enough to adapt."

"The Tsuchigumo Clan pledges its barrier network, its surveillance capabilities, and its patient wisdom to this new covenant. We will spin the defensive web that protects your unified village, Lord Kazekage. But remember—a spider knows when prey approaches long before it arrives. And when the Baron Twins inevitably test your new unity, they will find the Tsuchigumo waiting in the shadows, as we always have been."

---

Hokkyoku Kaze

The Windmarked let out a short, barking laugh that echoed through the chamber, his clouded eye and his good one both fixed on the Kazekage with something that looked remarkably like approval. He'd already drained half his tea and now leaned back in his chair with casual disregard for ceremony.

"Well hell, Lord Shin, you don't half-ass anything, do you? Elevating a whole new clan to nobility, appointing a Sennin from the shadows, declaring us all equals in one breath—most Kazekage take years to make changes that small. You're doing it in one gods-damned meeting."

He set his cup down with a clink. "The Hokkyoku hear your words, Lord Kazekage, and I'll be straight with you like I always am—this scares the shit out of most of my clan. We're nomads. We move. We adapt. We survive by staying flexible and keeping our oaths sacred but our commitments minimal. You're asking us to root ourselves deeper into Sunagakure's structure." He jerked his thumb toward Amaya without looking at her. "That goes against every instinct we've honed over generations."

Kaze leaned forward, elbows on the table. "But here's the thing, Lord Shin—the desert doesn't lie, and neither do I. The Baron Twins aren't going away. They've got money, mercenaries, and apparently enough reach to turn your own Noble House against you. We can keep doing what we've always done—moving through the dunes, keeping to ourselves, hoping nobody notices us enough to come after us directly. Or..."

He straightened, and something shifted in his expression. "Or we can acknowledge that the old ways are getting us killed. That staying isolated just means we'll be picked off one by one when the Twins decide they want Wind Country's resources bad enough. You're right about one thing, Kazekage—we're stronger together than apart."

Kaze grabbed the teapot and refilled his own cup without waiting for servants. "So here's what the Hokkyoku offer: our knowledge of every trade route, water source, and hidden passage within five hundred miles. Our ability to move supplies and people through the desert when nobody else can. Our scouts, our navigators, our wind-readers who can tell you what's coming before it arrives. We'll be your eyes and ears in the dunes, Lord Kazekage. Your supply line when everything else fails."

His expression became more serious. "But we need something in return, and I'm not talking about fancy titles or seats at more councils. We need autonomy. The Hokkyoku don't do well with rigid command structures, and we won't give up our nomadic lifestyle just because you want us planted in one place. We'll coordinate, we'll cooperate, we'll even take orders when the situation demands it. But when there's no crisis? We move. That's non-negotiable."

The Windmarked's grin returned, sharp and genuine. "You want to know why I'm even considering this, Lord Shin? Because you actually did it. You got us all in one room. You acknowledged us by name and title instead of just sending ANBU with orders. That takes balls, kid." He raised his teacup in a casual salute. "So fuck yeah, the Hokkyoku are in. We'll support your new covenant or whatever the fuck. But let's talk practicalities—you mention six days until some plan needs to happen. If that involves the surface, you need desert expertise. What I need to know is: are you actually going to use us, or is this just talk?"

---

Renmei Mizuki

The Waterbearer had listened with the patience of deep rivers, her calm brown eyes tracking each speaker with gentle attention. When Kaze finished, Mizuki allowed a moment of silence to settle—not uncomfortable, but cleansing, like the pause between desert storms.

"Lord Kazekage, the Renmei Clan thanks you for your acknowledgment and for creating this unprecedented gathering. The Waterbearer's role has always been one of mediation—between scarcity and need, between conflict and resolution, between the rigid and the fluid."

Her fingers traced the edge of her teacup. "Lady Tsuchigumo speaks of patience and careful preparation. Lord Hokkyoku speaks of autonomy and practical necessity. Both perspectives hold truth, like two tributaries feeding the same river. The challenge before us is not to choose one philosophy over the other, but to allow them to flow together into something greater."

Mizuki's gaze moved to Shin, and something shifted—steel beneath the calm surface. "You ask if we will join you in building something new, Lord Kazekage. The Renmei answer is yes... but with understanding that water, while gentle, shapes even the hardest stone given time. This new covenant cannot be rushed into existence simply because circumstances demand it. True unity, like a deep well, must be excavated carefully, reinforced constantly, and protected fiercely."

She took a deliberate sip of tea. "The Renmei maintain Sunagakure's water supply—every drop that sustains life flows through systems my clan has purified, distributed, and safeguarded for generations. When military operations demand increased water rations, it is the Renmei who must balance that need against civilians, medical facilities, agricultural sustainability. When ritual purifications consume precious reserves—" Her gaze shifted briefly to Yamashiro Takeru. "—it is the Renmei who must explain to farmers why their irrigation quotas have been reduced."

"These are not complaints, Lord Kazekage, but illustrations. The Lesser Clans have always borne equal responsibility for this village's survival—we simply lacked equal voice in how that responsibility was managed. You now offer us that voice, and the Renmei will use it to ensure water is allocated with both compassion and pragmatism."

She straightened slightly. "The Renmei Clan pledges its complete support to this new covenant. We will provide transparent reporting on water reserves and sustainability projections to this council monthly. We will work with Lady Chiyo's Homeland Security to identify any unauthorized access to water systems. And we propose establishment of a Resource Coordination Committee—Tsuchigumo for defenses, Hokkyoku for supply lines, Takahashi for engineering, Renmei for water, Kyouketsu for specialized materials. This committee would meet weekly to ensure our infrastructure clans coordinate effectively."

Mizuki's expression softened as she addressed the room more broadly. "Lord Hokkyoku asks for autonomy, and this is reasonable. The Renmei likewise require authority over water distribution. But autonomy without communication leads to the very isolation Lord Shin warns against. We must find the middle path—where freedom and cooperation coexist."

Her gaze returned to Shin, and the steel showed more clearly. "However, Lord Kazekage, I must address a concern. Beautiful words have been spoken before by leaders who promised change and delivered only disappointment once immediate crises passed. Water remembers its path, Lord Shin. It does not force, it does not demand—it simply flows where it must. But never forget: water shaped the grandest of canyons."

"The Renmei will support your new covenant wholeheartedly, but we will also watch carefully to ensure the Noble Houses truly embrace this equality. If we find that our voices are heard only in crisis and ignored once stability returns, the Waterbearer will remember."

---

Yamashiro Takeru

The Flamebearer had been practically vibrating in his seat throughout the previous speeches, small flames dancing along his fingertips with increasing frequency. When Mizuki finished, Takeru could contain himself no longer.

He shot to his feet with enough force to make his chair scrape loudly. "THIS! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN PREACHING! Lord Kazekage, you've actually DONE IT!"

Small flames burst to life across his shoulders before he consciously dampened them. "The old hierarchies MUST burn away and die to make room for renewal! The Noble Houses have held power for so long they've forgotten what it means to serve Sunagakure rather than their own interests! And we—WE who maintain the spiritual health of this village—we've been treated as secondary voices in the very home we've devoted our lives to protecting!"

Takeru began pacing beside his seat, too energized to remain still. "Lady Tsuchigumo speaks of careful webs and patient preparation—this is wisdom, yes, but it's also the voice of someone who's been waiting centuries for permission to matter! Lord Hokkyoku demands autonomy while pledging cooperation—this is the spirit of the desert itself! Lady Renmei offers water and wisdom in equal measure—this is the essence of what makes our Lesser Clans vital rather than merely useful!"

He spun to face Shin directly, genuine gratitude shining through his theatrical passion. "You've given us more than a seat at the table, Lord Kazekage. You've acknowledged that the table itself was built wrong, that the entire structure of how Sunagakure makes decisions has been fundamentally flawed! The coup by the Baron Twins, the infiltration of your Noble House, the attack on the surface—these aren't just tactical failures! They're symptoms of a village that forgot its own fire!"

Takeru's amber eyes swept the room. "What Lord Shin proposes isn't just political restructuring—it's SPIRITUAL RENEWAL! The Yamashiro Clan doesn't just maintain ritual fires and perform ceremonies! We tend to the soul of this village, and I'm telling you—I'm telling ALL of you—that soul has been sick for too long! We've forgotten what it means to be one people with one purpose!"

He forced himself to take a breath, his wild hair settling slightly. "The Yamashiro Clan pledges its complete support to this new covenant, Lord Kazekage. We offer our spiritual guidance, our sacred flames, our ability to inspire and unite people through ceremony and shared purpose. When you need morale restored, when you need ceremonies that bind clans together, when you need someone to remind this village what it means to be Sunagakure no Sato—you call on the Flamebearer!"

His expression became more serious, though no less intense. "But I must speak a difficult truth—some of you are already calculating how to maintain your power within this 'new' system. How to appear to embrace equality while preserving old advantages. This is exactly what Lady Renmei warned against. Vision without action is merely dreaming."

"We need regular joint training exercises between clan forces! The Tsuchigumo's barrier expertise combined with the Sunaku's sand manipulation! The Hokkyoku's navigation integrated with the Takahashi's engineering! The Renmei's water techniques supporting the Toraono's combat forces! THIS is what unity looks like in practice!"

He gripped the table's edge with both hands shaking in place. "The Yamashiro Clan formally requests permission to conduct a Unity Ceremony within the next three days—before whatever operation is planned. A ceremony where every clan contributes something sacred to a shared ritual flame. Let me show you what unified purpose looks like when consecrated by flame! Let the people of Sunagakure witness their leaders standing together as one village with one fire burning in all our hearts!"

"So yes, Lord Kazekage, the Yamashiro support your covenant absolutely! We pledge our flames, our ceremonies, our passionate belief that renewal is possible! But don't mistake support for patience. The Lesser Clans have been patient for centuries. If this council proves genuine, you'll have our unwavering loyalty. If it proves theater..." The flames flared briefly. "...then the Flamebearer will become the spark that ignites true revolution, whether the Noble Houses approve or not!"

---

Kyouketsu Shigure

The Ossuary Warden had sat in perfect stillness throughout the entire proceeding, his gaunt frame draped in dark robes reinforced with bone plates, colorless eyes tracking each speaker with the detached interest of someone cataloguing specimens. The bone-white tattoos marking his bald skull caught the carmot light as he finally stirred, the movement slow and deliberate as a funeral procession.

A long pause stretched before he spoke, uncomfortable and heavy as a coffin being lowered into earth.

"Lord Kazekage." His voice was dry as ancient parchment, deadpan delivery making it impossible to read emotion. "An interesting assembly. Five Lesser Clans, summoned alongside the Noble Houses. The Shadowkeeper questions whether we're equals or witnesses. The Windmarked demands practical autonomy. The Waterbearer warns of promises that evaporate like morning dew. The Flamebearer threatens revolution if disappointed."

Shigure's skeletal fingers folded on the table with mechanical precision. "All valid concerns. All passionate declarations. All very... alive." The faintest suggestion of dark humor touched his colorless lips. "The Kyouketsu, however, deal in certainties. And the only certainty in this world is death. Everyone in this room will die. Some sooner than others, and apparently it is depending on how the next six days unfold. The question isn't whether your bones will serve a purpose afterward. That's my job. The question is whether your lives serve a purpose now."

He let that sink in, his pale gray eyes moving across the assembled clan heads with unsettling intensity. "The Kyouketsu Clan serves two functions in Sunagakure. We are morticians who ensure the honored dead receive proper rites and their remains serve the village through bone-crafted weapons, armor, and defenses. We are also warriors who understand that accepting death makes us more effective in battle—no hesitation, no fear, only purpose."

Shigure's gaunt face remained expressionless. "For generations, the Noble Houses have needed our services while finding our existence... distasteful. They want their dead honored but don't want to think about what happens in the mortuary chambers. They want bone-reinforced armor for their elite warriors but don't want to acknowledge where those bones came from. This hypocrisy has allowed them to dismiss the Kyouketsu as necessary but unseemly—servants of death rather than guardians of legacy."

He paused, and when he continued, his dry delivery made the words hit harder. "Lord Kazekage offers us equal standing. Equal voice. Equal respect. The Kyouketsu accept, with pragmatic understanding of what this means. The Baron Twins' attack killed many. The coming confrontation will kill more. When bodies return from whatever operation you're planning in six days, my clan will process them. We will honor them. We will ensure their bones strengthen Sunagakure's defenses so their deaths serve purpose beyond simple tragedy."

"This is not cruelty. This is pragmatism. The desert teaches harsh lessons, and the harshest is that survival requires using every resource—including the dead. The Kyouketsu have perfected this art over centuries, asking only that our dual role be respected rather than merely tolerated."

His colorless eyes found Lady Chikamatsu Kohana. "The Kyouketsu maintain pragmatic alliance with the Chikamatsu. Medical expertise and mortuary services overlap more than most realize. We coordinate on battlefield recovery, ensuring the wounded reach medical facilities while the fallen reach us. This efficiency has saved lives and honored deaths. We offer to extend this coordination to Lady Chiyo's new Homeland Security apparatus—the Kyouketsu know every body that enters our chambers, every bone we process. If infiltrators die in Sunagakure, we will know. If assassins are killed, their remains will tell us much about who sent them."

Shigure's long fingers tapped the table once. "We also coordinate with the Toraono during siege warfare. Bone fortifications, skeletal frameworks for barrier jutsu, remains processed into weapons for prolonged conflict. These capabilities will prove valuable in coming battles. The Kyouketsu pledge these services to your covenant, Lord Kazekage, with one requirement—stop treating death as something shameful to hide. It is inevitable. It is natural. And in the Kyouketsu's hands, it is useful."

His gaze shifted to Renmei Mizuki, and something that might have been respect crossed his gaunt features. "The Waterbearer and I have... philosophical differences. She finds certain Kyouketsu practices disrespectful to water's sanctity. I find ritual purifications wasteful when water is scarce. But Lady Renmei speaks truth about needing balance between different approaches. Death and life. Water and bone. Both serve the village, even if their practitioners disagree on methods."

"Similarly, Lord Yamashiro and I clash over spiritual matters. The Flamebearer sees acceptance of death as spiritually dangerous, as if acknowledging mortality somehow invites it. The Kyouketsu see denial of death as the true danger—those who refuse to accept their mortality make poor decisions and die badly." His deadpan delivery made it impossible to tell if he was joking. "But his passion has value. Fire purifies. Bone endures. Both are needed."

Shigure straightened slightly in his chair. "The Kyouketsu Clan pledges its support to this covenant with clear-eyed pragmatism. We offer mortuary services, bone-crafted materials for village defense, our warriors' unique combat approach, and our knowledge of anatomy that proves valuable in both healing and harm. We will work with other clans despite philosophical differences, because survival requires cooperation."

A longer pause stretched, and his colorless eyes fixed on Shin with uncomfortable intensity. "But I must ask the question everyone else has danced around, Lord Kazekage. You bear golden cracks across your skin—marks of chakra burns, evidence of power used without proper preparation. You speak of plans that must be executed in six days. You've gathered every clan in Sunagakure to forge unity before whatever comes next."

"This suggests the coming conflict will be severe. Possibly catastrophic. The Kyouketsu need to know—how many bodies should we prepare to process? How many bones will we be crafting into weapons for the survivors? How many funeral rites will we be conducting in the aftermath?"

His skeletal features remained impassive. "I ask not to be morbid, but to be prepared. The Kyouketsu's value lies in our ability to honor death efficiently and transform loss into strength. But we need time, resources, and information. If you're asking the Lesser Clans to stand as equals with equal responsibility, then share the full scope of what we're facing. Don't shield us from harsh realities. We work with death every day—we can handle truth better than most."

His colorless eyes swept the entire council. "But understand this—the Kyouketsu do not traffic in comforting lies or political theater. We deal with reality in its most undeniable form. When this council ends and whatever operation begins, people will die. The Kyouketsu will be ready to ensure their deaths mean something. That their bones strengthen walls. That their legacy endures in the weapons wielded by those who survive them. That their sacrifice is honored through service rather than simply mourned."

A final pause, and then the ghost of dark humor returned to his voice. "Welcome to equality, Lord Kazekage. Now that the Lesser Clans have voice at your council, you get to hear uncomfortable truths from the Ossuary Warden. Consider it a feature of your new unified structure, not a flaw. Someone needs to ask the questions everyone else avoids. Someone needs to prepare for consequences others don't want to acknowledge. That's the Kyouketsu's purpose, and we're very good at it."

"You're welcome."