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Post by Danjo on Dec 20, 2013 0:52:55 GMT -5
The Jonin Council 
It had been three days since the Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune had been reported as MIA, and the halls of the jonin council were rife with tension.
There were constant arguments about what should be done, all the available squads had been dispatched to search for any trace of Kazekage Matamune.
Three days had passed and it was reported from all squads that not a single shred of evidence had been found. The council assumed foul play, but what scared them the most was the possibility of military action against the village. It would seem to be the perfect set up for an ambush on the village the Kazekage missing very little to no active squads in the village. If this was indeed the first step in the chain of events that would lead to war the council knew there would be nothing they could do currently to stop it.
It was ordered that to fill the gap of leadership a Kazekage Kōho be appointed, to not only provide the council with a single voice of direction and reason but to quell the spreading fear of the masses within the village.
The Shinobi chosen was announced with a unanimous vote of confidence from the entirety of the council, it would be Seishen Danjo.
Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho Seishen Danjo stood defiantly before the council understanding their wishes yet expressing that he believed to so quickly change leadership would be a slander to the great Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune. He spoke to them courageously urging them to continue the search for Matamune.
Despite his concerns the only common ground that could be found was that should Matamune not be found in a weeks time Danjo would except his position as Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho.
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Post by Danjo on Dec 20, 2013 11:49:53 GMT -5
The end of the first week since Matamune's disappearance
The early morning desert light cast a half shadow over the edge of the village, teaching through metaphor even without words. Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho Danjo stood inside the Kazekage's office he had not left the office in days, instead he had slept on several occasions on the long couch set on the opposite side of the room, when he did sleep at all. Walking out of the office onto the large balcony, where so many kazekage had stood before, his eye's gently gazing at the city before him. A uneasiness spread through his body as the chill of the just glowing morning light softly rested on his face.
A blur of motion and a masked man appeared behind him, kneeling down on one knee he did not speak at first as though waiting to be acknowledged.
Yes, Danjo spoke with his gaze still pointing the opposite direction of the masked man hovering across the sweeping roads of Sunagakure.
Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho, i have received your request. My squad is upon the task, we will leave with your order.
Does the council know of the task of i have given you? Danjo asked as he turned towards the still kneeling masked man.
No they are not aware Kazekage Kōho-sama, the masked man spoke quietly as he was motioned to rise by Danjo's gentle hand on his shoulder.
Good, good, thank you Iga. Your team understands the sensitive nature of this mission i would not wish to have our intentions be discovered by the council until i address them this afternoon.
Kazekage Kōho-sama the masked man said with a bow and then disappeared in a blur.
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Later that afternoon, the council room...
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The council had settled for the few moments as Danjo had entered the room, but it was straight to business this day.
Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho Danjo, one of the jonin spoke, it has been a week as we had discussed in the first days of Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune's disappearance this is when you must except the council wishes. Take up this mantle for the safety and health of this village, the village is ablaze with the fears of its people. We must return order, we must give them hope if we continue without a kazekage any longer there will be madness in the streets.
The words buzzed through the council as all their voices agreed in unison, there was nothing that could be done. Danjo had given his word and his word he would keep.
Very well then Danjo spoke, I will do as we discussed. I accept my mantle as the Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho, and will fulfill all of its duties and responsibilities, this i swear.
With smiles and nods of agreement the council each one by one congratulated Danjo on his elevation in rank and his acceptance of this great responsibility.
As my first act before this council i wish to continue the search for the Missing Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune.
The gentle smiles turned stoic on the council as one of the jonin spoke, we do not disagree with you Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho Danjo. Yet it must be acknowledged that we are still in a state of unrest we need our shinobi here protecting the village.
This is something i understand, Danjo spoke. Which is why i have already made the preparations for one of our elite Anbu tracking squads, to continue the search while our other shinobi return here.
Another jonin spoke, i believe this is a proper compromise but may i ask how long do you plan to have this squad search for Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune?
Danjo paused for a moment as though taken back in shock, he stared daggers toward the jonin, eyes intense and cold.
As long as it takes to find something, Danjo spoke addressing the jonin. We can not so quickly give up on the search for our Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune, this would not only be an insult to his dedication but also an offense to his memory. I will not stand by idly without knowledge of what has happened to him, even if. Danjo paused for a moment trying to hold back the sorrow that filled him in the thought, then he spoke again.
Even if the worst had happened if our great Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune was assassinated, i still wish to know. I still wish to pay homage to his memory, i still wish to give him the proper respects. If this council does not agree then our village is in more trouble then it already was.
He spoke his words like venom at those in the council whom had uttered the words of forgetting Matamune, his gaze fiery and without remorse for the sufferings of the fools.
After a few moments one of the council members spoke again, looking towards the council.
He is right, we can not give up. The words spreading from mouth to mouth as all came into agreement with jonins response.
The squad you chose will continue the search, the jonin spoke.
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Post by Danjo on Dec 20, 2013 12:49:53 GMT -5
A few days later
Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho Danjo sat quietly after the update he had received from Iga's Anbu squad. There still had been no trace of Kazekage Matamune, the letter received was ill news to Danjo. Crushing his hope of finding the pieces that lead to the circumstances Danjo had barely eaten or slept. The deep shades of darkness surrounding his eyes, a gentle stroke of his hand as he rubbed his tired eyes.
Standing up from the chair of the Kazekage he slowly walked through the office looking over pictures of the Kage's before him. Little moments filled his mind of the interactions he had with the Rokudaime Kazekage and the Godaime Kazekage before him. The training he had undergone in their careful watch all the while guiding him with the gentle hand of age and experience.
It seemed like only yesterday that he was standing in this office before the Godaime Kazekage Gaara and receiving his rank of jonin. The conversation they had flashed before his eyes, fondly remembering his years as a chunin when he had been given the chance to join the Anbu. Godaime Kazekage Gaara had shown great faith in his abilities, and years later Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune would do the same.
His hand hovered over the picture of the Rokudaime Kazekage his many students nearby to him while he humbly smiled a cat'ish smile as his pipe dangled from his lips. That had been the day three years ago when Matamune had asked him to step back into the light if day, so to speak, and resign his Anbu mask. It had been a hard choice for Danjo feeling the tire of his years but never allowing them to be seen. Matamune had known though, he had always given respect to Danjo maybe more respect then Danjo felt he deserved from the Rokudaime Kazekage. The kazekage being much wiser then his years, cat years, they all used to joke. Matamune had been so young in his life only being in his late twenties but he held the experience and knowledge of a man three times his age.
Danjo's picked up the small picture by its frame carrying it to the desk, he set it down facing him as he returned to the seat.
A gentle knock on the door followed by the soft voice of the Kazekage's assistant.
You may enter, Danjo said while tidying himself up for a moment.
The assistant entered the room bowing as she stood before Danjo her form casting a small shadow over the desk she stood nearby to.
These are the messages from the forces sent to the borders Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho, she said as she set down the scrolls.
Thumbing through the messages it had seemed the forces sent to the borders, after the council had made sure the village was safe, had arrived a few days ago and were reporting nothing.
So it seems there is not an invasion attempt, Danjo spoke as he finished skimming through the letters.
That is good news, send letters back to the forces to sweep the areas from their points back towards the village. If we were to late and there was indeed an invasion those forces may already be hidden past our borders.
Yes Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho, the assistant said as she bowed then left swiftly.
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Post by Danjo on Dec 20, 2013 15:00:22 GMT -5
The end of the second week since Matamune's disappearance
Lie to the village? Danjo questioned as he stood before the jonin council, his stoic nature radiating outward and hiding his deep sorrow in the conversation.
Yes we must lie to the village, the jonin councilor spoke again addressing Danjo with a lack of remorse for the circumstances.
It has been two weeks since Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune has gone missing and the village is still weakening from the loss. We had thought that upon elevating you to Nanadaime Kazekage Kōho the village would find peace, but the truth is even that was not enough.
The village must be given an opportunity to move on from the circumstances, to start renewed under your reign as the Nanadaime Kazekage. If they are still grieving the loss of Kazekage Matamune then there will be continued signs that our village has weakened.
Yes i agree, another jonin councilor spoke, we must think of how our village will be viewed by not just our own country but by others as well. If we continue to be strained from the loss of Kazekage Matamune we will start to lose our contracts. We have already seen a noticeable decrease in the number of client requests.
Of course, the original jonin councilor spoke, I agree we cannot lose our funding but we also must realize that the Daimyo had already shared word with the Kazekage Matamune. It was said if we did not deal with the Bijūtsukai our funding would be significantly cut.
It already had affected us, Danjo spoke, if you remember our funding from the Daimyo had been shortened. It was the brilliant mind of Rokudaime Kazekage Matamune that allowed us to continue through it. It was his new budget that allowed us to continue with strength even though the Daimyo's favor was not with us.
That is true, a different jonin councilor spoke, you are all correct. The difference is, we cannot continue to be weakened. We are limping along even now, if any trouble should persist or new threat be found we will not have the strength or manpower to deal with it.
The jonin council all agreed and as the conversation persisted Danjo remained quiet stoically witnessing the reality of the game of shadows between the countries. Even now before him this council understood the reality of the world that surrounded them, only the strong survive. If Sunagakure wanted to continue being a super power as it had been in the past. Standing as one of the five great shinobi villages, sacrifices would have to be made. Even if it meant the forsaking of one of their own great shinobi, a man whom had sat at this very table where he stood now.
When will it be done? Danjo interrupted the continued argument of the council. His voice was quiet but directed, not wanting to argue any further about the matter. There was truth in their words, even if this act meant to keep them strong came at a price so great.
The preparations will only take a few days, the jonin councilor spoke. One of our best Anbu squads is in the process as we speak, the report of his death will arrive tomorrow morning.
I presume his memorial service will take place the next day, the councilor spoke to Danjo realizing the weight of the councils decision.
Let it be done then, Danjo said holding back the stirring emotion welling up inside him. With those words the meeting was over, light conversations between the councilors continued as Danjo took his leave.
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