Politics...What Else? (Tsunade/Sakura/Shizune)

[Ketsueki Sora]

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The streets of the shinobi city were crowded that day as the representative of the Ketsueki clan made her way through the streets. In ways, she was thankful for this, as it made her less noticeable to the average rubber-necker. But no amount of crowding, busy people could hide her notable height, alabaster locks, and devillishly crimson eyes. Oh, and there was the small matter of her aura--that of a predator surrounded by a smorgasbord of delicacies, all waiting for the moment when she would strike.

She shook her head, knocking the hunger out of her thoughts. Now was hardly the time or place for such things. It was days like this that Sora wished she was more...agreeable...towards other people. She lacked the social abilities to even respond to the occasional "good day" or "excuse me" she might receive from a passer-by. It was seldom this happened anyway. No matter where she was, the kunoichi always succeeded in repelling people.

Glancing about the busy sidewalks and street stalls, Sora tried to lable the sensation of "home." She'd never felt it before, always hated everywhere she went by someone or another. Never welcome. Never wanted. She sniffed the air as the gentle aroma of ramen wafted over to meet her. So warm...how could something be so warm while people were so cold? Ah well.

When she reached the headquarters of the hokage, she addressed her appointment to the centry shinobi, and (not without a few confused or somewhat dirty looks) was directed to a plain door in an empty hallway. As her escort breathed down her neck, she apprehensively turned the nob of the door and entered the office of the fifth hokage.

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[Tsunade]

Tsunade's face contorted in slight anger at the flustering Jounin standing before her... did she really have to lecture these people like this? An audible, annoyed sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back in her chair, her back to the man, thinking. Once more, she wanted to knock this man through the window... But no, that wouldn't do, not at all. She knew she should save her fist in case there was a much larger problem to take care of.

"Get it finished, then, and as soon as you possibly can! Pick out the damned squad and send them already! And while you're out there, send for Sakura. Tell her I need to speak with her." Tsunade, as always, knew of her next appointment before it came... It was just the way things had to be run here. She'd been notified ahead of time that the representative of the almost-rogue Ketsueki clan was coming today, and she had simply been loaded to all hell with annoying things to throw her way.

The Jounin stood there as if he were a bump on a log as the doorknob turned behind him. "Get going!" she hollered in her most commanding tone, and with a short bow, the Jounin formed a single seal and left. Now she just hoped Shizune wasn't going to give her any paperwork today... surely she would break the stamp along with the desk if that were the case... Accompanied by a chair flying out a window.

Tsunade's facial expression, now composed, perked up slightly to see the woman. It wasn't because of the woman herself, however... So they'd sent Sakura as the escort. Good, good, it meant Tsunade didn't have to search for her. Well, that was definitely a good thing. Tsunade nodded to Sakura, and the girl nodded back; they had their own ways of communicating without sound.

"Ketsueki... Sora, if I remember correctly?" Tsunade addressed, her demeanour much the opposite of what it had been only moments ago. Tsunade could easily change from a pissed off face to a political visage in a matter of seconds; it was just an innate skill she had, one that she had gained over the past few years as Hokage as well as before she was even a political figure in the Hi no Kuni. She didn't want to seem lax, so she decided she might as well welcome the girl to Konoha and get right down to business. "Welcome to Konohagakure. As you probably already know... I am the Godaime Hokage and former Legendary Sannin Tsunade. Now... What is it that brings you here, Sora?"

[Shizune]

Shizune knew that she was late in the meeting between the representative of the Ketsueki Clan and Tsunade. She was doing her research like she normally did before Tsunade meet anyone that was of any value and not a member of the village. In some ways she felt like this was a hug headache from time to time, but there was no way that she was going to allow Tsunade to know that. She let out sigh and looked down to Tonton for a second and placed a smile on her face. She bent down and petted the pig slightly behind the left ear. "Come on Tonton, Lady Tsunade is waiting and you know how she gets when someone is late." Tonton gave a snort to Shizune agreeing with her on that subject.

She stood back up and pushed her hair out of her face and picked up a stalk of paperwork from her desk. The stalk was not every big, but enough that she knew Tsunade was going to complain and she would quickly have to place her back in place. She walked out of the room and saw the Jounin that was just with Tsunade appeared with a small discomfort look on his face. She rolled her eyes slightly and walked towards Tsunade's office. She was about the only person that was not scared of Tsuande from time to time.

Before she opened the door she heard Tsunade speaking to the clan member. "Seems like they started without us Tonton," Shizune said looking down to the pig with a half heart smile on her face. She reached out with her left hand and opened the door allowing the pig in first. She looked in and saw Tsunade in her chair, and Sakura standing beside the person. She blinked slightly, a bit taken back by the appearance but she quickly recovered before anyone besides Tsunade would notice and shut the door behind her. She knew better than to scold Tsunade in front of someone, so she would wait until Sora left to comment.

She walked over to the desk and placed the pile of paper to the side of Tsunade that was it was out of view and she had a clear view of Sora. She reached down and picked up Tonton, feeding her a treat from her pocket. "Sorry, we was late Lady Tsunade. I had to chase down Tonton." It was sorta the truth, the academy children was chasing Tonton and she had to go rescue her before hand. She looked to Sora and smiled slightly. "Hello Sora-chan."

[Ketsueki Sora]

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Three kunoichi stood in the room around her. The first of most notable station and power, as any idiot shinobi could tell without the heightened chakra senses of a Ketsueki, was the hokage who sat before her. Tsunade, one of the legendary sannin. As a ninja, Sora was very excited in meeting her, for she admired fighting skill above most everything else. But that was beside the task at hand, which was something she neither enjoyed nor excelled at. Diplomacy.

The first of the other two kunoichi was her escort, a girl with cherry blossom hair, a high brow, and a firm set of turquoise eyes, no more than a year or two younger than her. Judging from the way she so easily communicated with the hokage, as they had had little need for spoken conversation, she knew her well. And anyone who was on such terms with a kage was not to be underestimated.

Finally a stressed and somewhat flustered-looking woman was the third ninja in the room, apart from Sora. She carried a pig with her, which Sora did not find so comical as she did confusing: she wasn't used to people who cared enough for animals that they would dress and feed them like people. Perhaps people from Fire Country were truly different than Kiri...she made a mental note not to take them for granted. And if that hadn't puzzled her, what followed afterwards did. The woman had addressed her as Sora-chan. Now Sora wasn't one to be stingy on honorifics, so she didn't mind the use of her first name. What she found so confusing was the use of "chan"...a name meaning cute and girly. Never once could she remember being called so. Well, to be generous, she was excluding her older brother and some select members of her family. Still...it was almost warming to be called such a thing by no less than a complete stranger. "H-hello..." she whispered somewhat unnaturally.

As it was now clearly Sora's turn to talk, she wasted no time in returning the courtesy given to her. She could at least do this properly. "Yes, ma'am, I am Ketsueki Sora. It is a pleasure to finally meet the renowned hokage herself." She gave a bow for respect's sake.

Well, here it goes, she thought. After this, there was no turning back. They were either accepted or rejected. Peacefully or violently. But she had to try. For the sake of her clan, for the sake of her brother. "I come from Kirigakure with the scattered remnants of my clan to seek refuge within your borders. As holders of the kekkei genkai, we were sought out and hunted in our homeland. Down to our final numbers, we fled from the country that refuses us any more protection and wish to discover a new life...a new beginning in Konoha.

"I was a Chuunin under the ranks of Kiri until late, and my mother, the reigning head of the family, has chosen me as the messenger while she tends to the clan. She also says that any services you require of our clan can be delivered through me." As she finished, Sora did not waver. She knew the meaning of each word only too well. It was her mother's way of finally disposing of her, the useless piece of the family. Very well. She had accepted this fate long ago. It did not matter anymore.

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[Tsunade]

A slight growl escaped her lips as Shizune came and placed a load of paperwork on her desk... Lovely. The absolute last thing she wanted, more paperwork. The phrase 'hell freaking no' was definitely in her arsenal today... Especially with all of the stupid people and events that had happened. Listening to Sora's speech, however, calmed her nerves a little... Well, at least there was one smart person that had walked into this office today. Of course, Tsunade didn't count Sakura or Shizune into that mix... Nor Tonton, either.

"I see," Tsunade said. Those were the only words she uttered as Sora finished her short monologue. Basically, Tsunade perceived it as this: rogues from Kiri, from the times that Kiri was a dark, bloodline-hating village, and these people had escaped. Sora was their liason, or rather, their contract shinobi... Much like the Hoshigakure man, Kogitsune. She saw no reason to turn the Ketsueki down; the more alliances, the better. However... Tsunade had recently heard that a new Mizukage had risen, the Godaime Mizukage... So perhaps that could also come in handy. Forming an alliance with such a person would help both Konohagakure and perhaps allow Tsunade to negotiate helping the Ketsueki.

"So in other words... You are here to offer yourself as a liason, a messenger if you will, in order to form an alliance of sorts with Konohagakure no Sato," Tsunade said, her chin resting on her folded hands. Her eyes closed as she thought, and she considered... Yes, it would prove useful. No matter the case, however, they were a rogue group... Current members could not be registered as shinobi of Konoha, not unless they had not completed the Academy. However... Those that had been in Kiri's Academy at that point might be able to finish their abilities here... As well as any future members. It was a tough decision, meant to be handled by a tough leader. Well, Tsunade was tough all right...

"I myself see nothing wrong with anything that you have mentioned. However... There are a few minor complications - very minor, I must say, at least the way I can tell - that are to accompany it," she stated simply, standing up from her chair and walking out to lean against the front of it casually, arms crossed over her voluptuous torso. "For one, a Chuunin like yourself cannot necessarily be considered a Konoha shinobi... Not unless you were to either one, go under a completely different name, or two, re-take everything that you have undergone... Including the Academy and the Chuunin exams. That goes for any other shinobi in the Ketsueki clan who have graduated from the Academy in Kirigakure; they would have to re-take everything they learned. However, those who have yet to graduate as well as any future members could be considered shinobi of Konoha." It was a simple and easily comprehensible fact, and one that would hopefully be understood rather easily.

"I hope that will not be a trouble for anyone?" She asked, but finished her statement before the girl could answer. "Nonetheless, if that is not a major effect, then I see no reason to turn down the offer. This is Haruno Sakura, my pupil. She will be your escort and basically act as a guardian should such a situation arise. Should you have any problems and I am not present, feel free to ask her, or my assistant, Shizune." Tsunade gestured to the dark-haired woman behind her.

"Dismissed."

[Shizune]

OOC: Elfie I would like to apologize for the lack of posting on my part. My muse for all my characters seemed to be down the drain at the moment, but somehow at 9:16 am I got some o.O I think it was mostly because my brother is home for a bit.

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Shizune knew that Tsunade was not please about her being in more paperwork fo rher to deal with. The look on the older female face said it all, and the fact that Shizune knew Tsunade all to well to not pick up on the face. She sighed slightly to her self has she petted Tonton's head for a second. She looked down to the paperwork on the desk that she placed there. It was time for Shizune to place Tsunade in her place with a look. She narrowed her eyes and made a grin at Tsunade has in telling her "Just do it." It was a look that Shizune was famous for showing Tsunade and knew that once the two younger girls was out of the room she would get scolded for. It was a serious matter to them, but then again she knew how to control Tsunade and her own temper.

She looked over to Sora has she started to explain the actions in Kirigakure and of the clan. Kirigakura was known for its rough ninja, and she and Tsuande traveled there a few times. She tilted her head slightly trying to imagine life like that for the clan. Her mind calm up empty for the most part, she was never the one to imagine things, after everything that she had gone through with Tsunade it was best not to for the long run. Losing her uncle was hard on her, but know she had Tsunade that she saw has a older sister more so than a ex-soon to be aunt any day of the week.

Her dark black eyes traveled over to Tsuande has she spoke about what was going to become of Sora's family. She could not help herself but to smile at the fact that even tho they was all exile ninja in a way Tsunade welcomed them to Konoha with a few condition. That was to be expected for the most part because they didn't know exactly what the clan was able to do in the long run. Shizune did like to learn, so maybe if Sora would let her and willing to tell her about the clan exactly. It did sent chills up her spine slightly when thinking about it. They had so many clans in Konoha with unique abilities that to made her wonder how long the clans has been around.

Her attention drew back to Sora and smiled when Tsunade was done talking. She knew that Tsuande would suggest to get in contract with either her or Sakura. When Sakura was not around it was Shizune that handle most of the things that Sakura did for Tsunade. It was nothing that she minded of course. "If you can not find Sakura at any point Sora, please don't hesitate to come seek me out. I am usually about the village doing minor things for Tsunade-sama." Tonton gave a happy oink at Sora for a second and looked back up to Shizune wondering if she was going to get more food from the Jounin.

[Ketsueki Sora]

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The Ketsueki representative listened gravely to the hokage's words. So...rogues or deserters, whatever you wanted to call them, would be accepted to Konoha. Relief washed into her. Her brother's legacy might live on. She might have a chance at redeeming her people after all. At the very least, they now had a home where they did not need to worry every night about their throats getting slit. If Sora were a lighter individual, she would have smiled.

But she was not. And, as always, there was a greater "catch" than expected. She could not be a true shinobi anymore. Memories of her childhood dreams surfaced within Sora. She had wanted to work on her jutsu, to prove to her family that what she did was not useless. She had wanted all the time to be recognized as something that was not a failure. She wanted someone to tell her that "different" wasn't necessarily bad. But now, she could make no such contribution, for the lacked she training of an average Konoha nin.

No, if her family was to be redeemed, their liason could not be seen as some loner nukenin who worked in a precarious relationship with the hokage. That was, of course, their current situation, but she didn't want it to always have to be. If the Ketsueki wanted to be accepted and change their ways, they had to take their first steps. She then remembered her very first nindo, one she had developed so many years ago: follow your passion no matter what the obstacle. Never had she realized how much that truly meant to her.

She nodded in acceptance of the hokage's final words but was slightly startled with the dismissal. She realized Tsunade was a busy woman and all, but it was probably best to bring this up now rather than later when it would be more of a burden. In turn, she showed her gratitude for Shizune's kind gestures with a polite acknowledgement and awkward smile. It looked much more like a terrifying grimace, but Sora had really been practicing lately and saw this to be her best one yet.

Sora spoke, "Thank you very much, Hokage-sama, for your kindness and understanding for my family's position. But before I leave today, I have one last thing to add, as a sort of message from the entire clan..."

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and said, "...after listening to you describe the steps needed to become a Konoha shinobi, I would like to undertake this process, even if it means beginning again from the academy...if that sits well with you. Please take it as an act of dedication from the Ketsueki to the village." She would not have her and Seto's dreams shattered just yet.

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[Tsunade]

Shock and surprise became the reigning emotion across Tsunade's face at the Ketsueki girl's words. She would seriously re-take the entire Academy as well as the Chuunin exams in order to become a member of Konoha completely? That was a shocking turn of events, surely, and Tsunade didn't doubt the dedication behind those words. She'd learned to read people well, and it was exactly the reason she was Hokage. You didn't dare lie outright to Tsunade's face, at least not in that way... Because she could kill you with a single strike. All it took was a fist, and your life could be forfeit.

Tsunade saw the shock on Sakura's face as well, but Tsunade's demeanour didn't change with the new development. Was she really going to go through with this? For a moment, Tsunade looked to Shizune, who was probably as shocked as the rest of them. Still seated in her chair comfortably, Tsunade closed her eyes, pondering. She didn't see a problem with it, not at all... If Sora was willing to go through with it all, then she'd allow it. Of course, it would mean that they would have to do something about the girl's Chuunin status... Perhaps Tsunade could bring Anko out and have her as well as a few others perform an 'unofficial' Chuunin Exams in order to bump the girl up to her former status, but as a Konoha-nin? Thoughts were running left, right, and center through the blonde's mind. Finally, she opened her eyes.

”Shizune! Go and find Anko and Iruka!” Tsunade ordered, her voice harsh and demanding as it was. Leaving the girl to go find the two she'd requested, Tsunade decided that maybe she shouldn't dismiss them quite yet. Perhaps there could be more to had of this conversation... They wanted a normal life, correct? Then perhaps... perhaps they'd be able to get something out of it. Yes, that sounded like the reasoning behind it. She could see it in the crimson shades of the nukenin's eyes; she was determined to go through with it.

”I see there's no stopping you, is there?” Tsunade stated, her voice back to a more speaking tone than anything. Feeling the heat of the pressure, Tsunade stood, sliding off her cloak to reveal her bare arms, and walked around her desk, to take a more comfortable sitting position on top of it. She ignored the stack of papers that was there to irritate the hell out of her... She'd get to it later. The situation at hand was more important. ”I've only seen such determination in a few people,” the woman remarked, crossing her arms over her rather large chest. ”And I can tell I shouldn't stand in your way. If you are willing to go through with all of everything that happens in the Academy, and you can... 'suffer', or 'live', or 'enjoy' it, whatever you consider it, then I will surely allow you. Mitarashi Anko is one of our Chuunin Exams proctors, and should you be willing and make it through the Academy, I will allow her along with a few others to perform an 'official' yet unofficial Chuunin Exams in order to return you to your former status.” Her statement had been made to the girl's consideration... Now hopefully it was the right choice in all of this, and hopefully Kirigakure no Sato wouldn't be on their asses over it, either...

”For safety reasons as well, however, you may or may not be required to change your name. That one I will attempt to work around for your sake, but should it come down to that, I trust you wouldn't mind?”

[Shizune]

Shizune listened closely to what Sora had to say, she had never really meet anyone like her before, well that if she didn't count Naruto in that number. Lets fast it for the most part Shizune really didn't because he only had a few goals for himself and some of them seemed rather far fetch for her liking. None the less she had to smile when Sora decided to under go the Academy and the Chuunin exams again. For some reason there was something abotu Sora that made Shizune believe in her for doing this, not many would choose to go down this route without a good argument before hand but Sora had given into Tsunade's demand easy enough.

She blinked when Tsunade yelled her name and she looked over to her and nodded slightly when she shouted abut bringing Iruka and Anko of all people to her office. She had no choice in the matter, she would do has she was told to because she really didn't want Tsunade even madder at her. Giving her the nice load of paper work already was one strike against her today and she didn't feel like another one so soon. "Yes, Hokage-same." She placed Tonton down next to Tsunade's desk. "Tonton stay here and watched Tsuande-sama for me." She scold the pig slightly before placing her middle and index finger together and disappearing to go find Anko and Iruka.

Anko was the first one that Shizune had found, she had been eating some dango at the dango shop when she was interrupted. She hated to be interrupted when she was eating her dango but Shizune had promised her if she headed over to see the Hokage right now that later she would treat her to all the dango she could eat. She would make Shizune regret promising her that in the long run.

She walked into the Tsunade's office carefree for the most part. Her hands behind her head with a goofy smile on her face for the most part. "Hokage-sama, Shizune-chan said you wanted to see me about something important, she promised me some dango if I come right here. I am going to make her regret those words when she full fills that promise to me." It was only then that she took a look around the room and saw Sakura and Sora and she blinked slightly. "Oi, did I interrupt something? Shizune said it was import...." she said has she looked over to Tsunade and caught sight of something.

Her dark lavender eyes fell on a plate of dango that was sitting on Tsunade's desk. Her left air and lips twitched slightly into a smirk. She careful started to walk closer to her desk without finding out if she was interrupting something. She really did have a one track mind when she saw something that she wanted. She want the dango and she didn't care if she would have to steal them from the Hokage herself. She was already thinking what the dango tasted like for the most part.