The Start of Something Great! [Requesting Ayumu]

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo was immediately intimidated by the sheer size of the Torre Celeste, it was an engineering feat that without seeing it with his very eyes he would've never believed it's existence. He was wearing a thick black jacket over a plain white shirt, keeping his hair out of his face was a blue headband proudly displaying the symbol of Konoha for all to see. He had hoped to meet the Raikage today, hopefully this would be quick. His short meeting with Saito truly convinced him that he should guide him, but there was the small issue of them inhabiting separate villages. But perhaps the Raikage would be as gracious as the Hokage in letting Tatsuo stay in Kumogakure to train under the now Cloud Shinobi, Kaji.

He made his way over to a desk in which he assumed belonged to one of the Raikage's many assistants. Having no one there, he placed his hand on a small bell, hoping that someone would come to greet him. In the meantime he went over to a nearby bench and sat against the wall. He was unarmed, other than his headband there wasn't anything that would identify him as a shinobi. No kunai, shuriken, or the other gadgets and gizmos shinobi carry around were on his person today. Even his favored blade was kept at home in an attempt to keep this as smooth as possible.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Busily writing a letter to some diplomat, he had forgotten which in all honesty, Ayumu welcomed the interruption that came as his secretary's voice sounded from the intercom on his desk. Apparently, a shinobi of Leaf had come and was looking to meet with him. Whether this was a new arrival or one of the few that were currently visiting the village, Ayumu was unsure. Having one come to Ayumu's office was uncommon, but they were allies and Ayumu had no reason to turn them away. He sent word back to the secretary to send Tatsuo up. The woman who Tatsuo had approached heard the reply in her headset and nodded before returning her attention to Tatsuo.

"He will see you now. Take the elevator, the button for the proper floor of the Raikage's office is labeled."

A brief elevator ride would see Tatsuo arriving in a small lobby, open double doors across from the elevator flanked by two masked ANBU. Expecting Tatsuo, one of them motioned silently for him to enter the office. Within, Ayumu awaited the Leaf Chuunin at his desk. Looking up as Tatsuo entered, Ayumu set down the pen he had bee using and interlocked his fingers, resting his hands on his desk. Now that Tatsuo had arrived, Ayumu recognized him. This was the twerp that had arrived with Kaji, the same one who had been rude to Yuii upon their first meeting, but also strangely insightful about the relationship that would eventually form between her and Kaji. That had been their only interaction up until this point, so Ayumu couldn't help but look a little sour once the recognition set in. He quickly overrode the look with a much more neutral expression accompanied by a friendly smile.

"Ah, if it isn't one of our guests from Konoha... what brings you here today?"

 

[Tatsuo]

Ayumu had every reason to think poorly of Tatsuo, the boy he was nearly three years ago was undeniably a brat. But since then Tatsuo had not only grown physically, but mentally as well. His gait was more confident and the smile on his face was friendly but less cheeky than before. He noticed the sour look on Ayumu's face and he was taken back to that day where he first introduced himself. His face turned red and rubbed the back of his neck as he made his way over to one of the chairs next to Ayumu's desk. "Good morning, sir." he said trying to open on a good foot before taking a deep breath.

"I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was one of the children who traveled with Kaji." His face continued to turn cherry red. "I doubt it matters now, but I apologize for my earlier behavior. I was a dumb kid, I probably still am, just less dumb." he said trying to ease the tension with a joke. Tapping a few fingers on his knee he thought whether to come right out with it, despite the facade that the Raikage put on so masterfully he knew he already had started off on the wrong foot. With a gulp, then taking a deep breath. "There is a student in Kumogakure. Samsara, Saito. In honor of our alliance I was wondering if he could travel with me back to Leaf. I have no idea if you've heard but I plan to depart here soon, however I have grown very close with him and would like to teach him." Tatsuo stopped briefly, looking to Ayumu. The ball was in his court now, there was nothing else Tatsuo could say without rambling, and if he learned anything from Kaji it was that sometimes it's better to say nothing.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu had allowed his expression to betray his thoughts, he realized. Observing Tatsuo's body language, it was clear he had suddenly become a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't necessarily that he expected Tatsuo to be the same person he was three years prior. In fact, he had heard about the boy from time to time since he had arrived and what he heard was mostly good. Seeing the boy's face had simply triggered the memory of their last meeting which had briefly showed on Ayumu's face. It was immediately clear that Tatsuo was terribly embarrassed by their last encounter. He even went so far as to apologize, despite the amount of time that had passed since then. Ayumu chuckled at the joke, nodding his head.

"It's fine. I was young once," Ayumu said, stopping as he caught what had just come out of his mouth. He groaned. "Ugh. I sound like an old man. Anyway, you weren't that bad, in hindsight. Don't sweat it," Ayumu said, showing his soft side as usual. He wasn't one to hold grudges over trivial matters. From there Tatsuo wasted little time getting to the heart of the reason he had come. This part was even more surprising than the apology. Apparently, Tatsuo had met a student whom he had taken a shining to and was interested in taking him back to Leaf to train him. Obviously this wasn't unheard of. Tatsuo himself had spent the past few years living in Kumogakure, learning there, doing missions there. The alliance afforded both villages the opportunity to give their shinobi such experiences. Kaji had taken his experience to the extreme... but Tatsuo's experience was more typical.

"I see. And this Saito is interested in going?" Ayumu asked, waiting for the affirmative before continuing. "Well... that would be a unique situation. We've not had a student exchanged yet," Ayumu noted, pondering the idea. It had been something he had considered before, but not taken any action on. The alliance between the two villages had been going well, and something like this would probably only help to further improve relations... hopefully. Ayumu was silent for a short while as he considered the proposition.

"His guardians.... if er... he has any, will have to sign off on this as well, of course, but barring anything that comes up later I am inclined to say... sure, why not?" Ayumu said, finally coming to a decision. He would have to look in to a few things and was reserving the right to change his mind if he came across any reason to, but in theory it sounded like a fine idea. There would have to be stipulations, of course. A set time frame for the student's return, for certain. That much couldn't be left open ended.

 

[Tatsuo]

Relief flooded Tatsuo immediately as Ayumu let off a short laugh. His past behavior was something he had tried to make amends for, but in all honesty, he had forgotten that the Raikage was even present. But a shinobi had to pay attention to minor details and Ayumu's quick grimace was all he needed to have the memories rush back to him. God I was stupid back then. He thought to himself, before nodding along as Ayumu gave a similar response to Yuii's. "The shinobi of Kumogakure are definitely forgiving people, I appreciate that." he said in response. Other than the occasional bad apple, he was treated well here and would always have fond memories of the experiences he obtained in Kumogakure. Which would shape his ninja way for years to come.

"Young, once?" he said with a cheeky grin, "You don't look very old to me, Lord Raikage. But flattery aside, yes Saito is interested. I crashed into him one day and patched him all up. He reminds me of myself when I was when younger. I feel like I can keep him out of trouble and focused on his growth as a shinobi since I understand where he's coming from. I would hate for his passion for adventure to get stomped out in an attempt to increase his usefulness as a shinobi. However I do understand the limits of it all and I will be sure to make sure he doesn't lose a hair on his head while he's under my protection. I've grown stronger in my time here and I believe it is about time I take on a student or two." he said with a firm nod, thinking of the training Saito had already received under Tatsuo's guidance. "He seems to have an affinity to shadow. Apparently his father shared this same trait, so I believe he may have some connection to the Nara. I'm sure you've heard of the shadow benders of the Fire Country. Personally I know little about Shadow ninjutsu, but I share an affinity to an unusual element so I find it fitting to help him."

When Ayumu mentioned Saito's guardians, Tatsuo grimaced, going as far to biting his bottom lip in thought. "I'm afraid he is an orphan, much like myself. He isn't sure if his parent's are alive or not. Thus the decision is entirely up to you, Mr, I mean Lord Raikage." Tatsuo visibly cringed, he had never been one for honorifics but even he understood the weight of the situation and the last thing he would like to do is insult him with a lack of house training. "I apologize, I'm not used to talking to so important figures." he said offering a toothy smile as he rubbed the back of his neck.

When Ayumu finally agreed to Saito coming along he felt like jumping in the air and shouting, but he kept his excitement to a minimum. With a gracious smile plastered to his face he rose and gave a haphazard bow. "Thank you, Lord Raikage. I really do appreciate this and I promise you he will come back a better shinobi than when he left. I understand that he cannot stay out of the village forever and we wouldn't want an awkward limbo of timing. How does a year, and maybe a month or so for time spent travelling? I'll be sure to personally escort him back to Kumogakure. Is there anything else that needs to be outlined? I'd like to start preparing my leave as soon as possible, if he's to come with me I need to make sure he packs properly." He said with a smirk. Tatsuo tended to pack a bit heavy and Saito would surely learn that from him if anything.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu sighed as the confirmation came that Saito and even Tatsuo himself were without parents. It was all too common in the world of shinobi. Ayumu had been one of the lucky, perhaps few, whose entire immediately family yet lived even at his age. By now, his parents had retired and were in little danger. Now he and Kahako were parents and as a Raikage he had one of the largest targets possible on his back. He wasn't afraid of the danger by any means, but he loathed the idea of leaving Susumu without a father should the worst come to pass. Perhaps for this reason, he felt more sympathy than ever for those who were alone like Tatsuo and Saito. Regardless, as cruel a fate as Saito's may have been, it made him a good candidate for this opportunity. Parents might have been loathe to allow their child to live outside of the village for a year, but that would not be the case here. It was simply up to Saito himself and Ayumu. For that reason and others, Ayumu had been compelled to agree.

Tatsuo was extremely grateful, which Ayumu was glad to see. The boy was clearly very happy to have the chance to mentor Saito, which was wonderful to see. The cooperation of the young generation was what Ayumu was counting on to help the alliance flourish. A lot of the older generation would be resistant, so it would all come down to them. Tatsuo realized that there would need to be a limit on how long Saito could remain away. He proposed a limit of a year as well as a little extra for travel time. Truth be told, this had been very close to what Ayumu himself was going to decide.

"I was thinking about a year as well. I suppose a little extra wouldn't hurt. We'll work out the rest of the details later, however I will say one thing now. When Saito returns, I would like to see a student of Leaf return with him so that they may have a similar experience and so that we can continue to bolster this cooperation between our villages. I must say, I like the enthusiasm that you two are showing. It encourages me to see the next generation already getting along well. If kids like you two are the future of the village, the alliance we've formed will be in good hands," Ayumu said with a smile. Tatsuo had changed a lot since Ayumu had first met him, that much was clear. He liked what he was seeing.

"I will take care of the necessary arrangements, including an escort. We will allocate to him a stipend for living expenses. Of course, if Umashi is not amenable to the idea for some reason, he can return with the escort, though from what I know of Umashi he will be as happy as I am to foster further cooperation between our villages," Ayumu went on, explaining one more term for allowing Saito to go. He had to make arrangements for the off chance that Saito would be turned away, after all. It would also give him some peace of mind that the boy was travelling with a shinobi of Cloud.

"So, that said... if we're in agreement, I'm sure you have arrangements to make as well," Ayumu said, standing from his desk and offering a handshake to seal the deal. If Tatsuo was finished, they would part ways.

[Exit Topic]

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo was more than happy to allow a student to return back to Kumogakure after Saito's stint in Konoha. "I'll be sure to mention that to Umashi. I don't think he'd mind. He is all for fostering the alliance between our two villages." he said with a confident nod. It was growing harder and harder to not smile, "Oh, about the stipend." Tatsuo rubbed is chin in thought, he really hadn't even figured out where he would live. He had no home in the village, so he would have to find something when he got there. Rubbing his chin he thought, "Well.. you don't need to worry about housing, i'll deal with that. Just enough for him to have a little spending money, but i'll be sure to take him on missions. Also, if I believe he's ready would I be able to send a request for his promotion to Genin, much like Kaji did with me?" He furrowed his brows rubbing his chin, "Him staying an academy student for a year, especially at his level, my stunt his growth for years to come."

Saito had already begun to manifest three elements, while not unheard of, of someone his age it was certainly impressive. When he said we're in agreement, "Yes, lord Raikage quite a few things I need to take care of." he said standing and extending his hand, providing Ayumu with a firm shake. After he retracted his hands he bowed once more, "Thank you Lord Raikage." before heading out, to make the proper preparations needed. He would need to pack all of his stuff and ensure Saito packed enough as well. There would be a lot of work in the coming days.

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