video | 003

[ura_no_ura]

[Video]

[ When the video first goes on, the screen is covered by a glove-covered hand, but after a slight shaky moment as it's set down on some sort of ledge, the hand retreats, revealing Kakashi standing outside. A few trees, still droopy with melting snow, can be seen in the background. Those familiar with the terrain might recognize it to be near Flame Building. ]

Hello, Luceti.

[ Kakashi dips his head in greeting, since he's addressing all of Luceti. ]

My name is Hatake Kakashi. Some of you may be familiar with me. For those of you who aren't, I'm a shinobi from a village called Konohagakure -- or Konoha for short -- in a country called "Fire Country." I am also the Commander of the Third Division, which is primarily a short-to-mid-range combat division, of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Many of you may be acquainted with or might recognize my comrades, amongst whom include Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, and Rock Lee. [ The names Kakashi lists aren't at random, but selected based on his observations of how recognizable those names would be. ]

The reason why I reach out to all of you today is simple. While things in Luceti currently are peaceful, and it appears we have nothing to worry about, the ever-present threat of the Malnosso and the Third Party remains. Kidnappings still occur, with seemingly no conceivable way to stop or fight them. Should there be an attack on the enclosure, at present, there is no organized force that can fight in concert to protect the enclosure and ensure the safety of civilians who might not be able to fight back. While some of us may be used to working together due to missions and drafts, as far as I am aware, no formal training or maneuvers are ever held to ensure all parties working together are using the best tactics and strategy. And from what I know, there are no formal safety measures in place to protect civilians or evacuate them to safer ground should a fight break out, as it did a few months ago.

On behalf of Konohagakure and Fire Country, by order of Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage-sama, I would like to formally extend an invitation to anyone who has military training, unique or magical powers, or immense skill in battle strategy, espionage and intelligence-gathering, field medicine, hacking, or other specialized skills to join us in forming an alliance. This alliance would not only give those of us from different worlds a chance to meet and discuss our shared interests in protecting Luceti's inhabitants, but would also give us the opportunity to learn and adapt how to fight with and against those with different training or powers. By conducting shared training sessions, maneuvers, disaster simulations, and taking missions together, we can share resources and power, as well as develop strategy.

As for who's in charge... seeing as we're all from different worlds, it would make much more sense for us to establish a council of leaders from different worlds. We invite leaders from other worlds who might have similar shared interests to contact us, and open a line of dialogue.

We look forward to hearing from you all.

[ Speech finished, Kakashi bows to the camera again, then reaches out and turns off the feed. ]


[Action | Flame Building | Afternoon ]

[ Yup, that sure is Kakashi walking vertically up the side of a wall. Just strolling along like it's no big deal. ]


[ Text | Filtered 100% to fellow ninja, written in extremely formal language ]

By order of Yondaime Hokage-sama, the Konohagakure Jounin Exams will soon be held for all qualified Chuunin. If you are interested in participating, a sign-up form has been placed on the door of Yondaime-sama's place of residence. Direct any questions you might have to Hatake Kakashi.

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Shikamaru ]

Shikamaru, I've nominated you for jounin promotion to Yondaime. Though we've decided to hold jounin exams, I've requested a special exception for you. However, if you would like to take the exams in the interest of fairness, you are still welcome to do so. - Kakashi

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Naruto ]

Naruto, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for jounin promotion. However, because you are still genin, it will be necessary for you to take the exam. - Kakashi

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Sakura ]

Sakura, I've nominated you for jounin promotion. Usually, this means immediate promotion, but because your peers don't have anyone to nominate them, we've decided to hold exams this year. Let me know if you would like to compete in them. - Kakashi

KONOHA JOUNIN EXAMS	LUCETI ALLIANCE DISCUSSION		ACTION
Kushina & Lee Kushina & Kakashi Kushina & Ino Kushina & Minato Temari Sakura Sasuke Lee Neji Naruto Ino Mikoto Shikamaru	Aang Adela Billy Bones Deadpool Eleytheria Elizabeth Gai Ginia Ikki Iroh Jean Johanna Karla Kirk	Law Loki Luke Masaomi Minato Peggy Riku Rogue Saleh Saori Steve Teddy Thor Vegeta Yuffie	Erwin Lea Sasame Trunks

((ooc: Since this is a call for discussion, feel free to thread-jack and hold your own conversations throughout the post. Kakashi will try his best to answer all comments. Also, feel free to comment on this post even it's super late. As long as we're within the 3 month bracket, we're cool!))

Comments

February 18th - 1/2

[endgames]

[Shikamaru gets back to the village on the eighteenth, but holds off looking up anything in the journals until after he's had a long nap. A simple patrol turned into something more of a survival mission, and Shikamaru wants to be at full brain power before he discusses anything. They'd talked about a lot of this before he left, so he knew what he'd be coming back to.

Or at least most of it. What he wasn't expecting was the nomination to jounin. It's a ball out of left field, and the dinner he'd made before he sat down with his journal goes cold while he deliberates over it.

He's honored and he's proud, almost as much as he is resigned.]

[Private - Voice]

[endgames]

...I'll take the exam, same as everyone else.

voice; private 100% forever

[ura_no_ura]

Want to play it fair, hmm?

voice; private

[endgames]

It's not like I've done anything special to be singled out.

Thank you for the nomination, all the same.

[ura_no_ura]

Hmm, I don't know, Shikamaru. I'd say you've done quite a lot.

[ Especially during the war. ]

[endgames]

I could do more.

[Should do more.]

So when's this test?

[ura_no_ura]

In a few months, most likely. We want to give everyone time to train.

[ As for doing more, Kakashi doesn't say anything about that. Pointless to, when he knows the feeling far too well. ]

[endgames]

Makes sense. Give me a head's up when you have an actual date, alright?

[Given he's always coming or going in this place.]

[ura_no_ura]

You got it.

[ A beat. ]

Anyway, we should probably also meet in person. I have a few things I need to discuss with you.

[endgames]

[Sigh.] Yeah, same here. Where you want me to go?

[ura_no_ura]

The roof.

[ They're in the same building, after all. ]

[endgames]

Fine.

[He shuts his journal, shoving it into a back pocket of his flak jacket. Once in the hall, he considers taking the elevator (his elevator) but passes it by in the end. He'll take the stairs, for once.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi eventually joins Shikamaru on the roof five minutes later. Late as always, but at least he has a bottle of shochu and two glasses. ]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru is leaning on the rooftop's stairwell exit, outside. He eyes the glasses Kakashi carries when he approaches with a raised brow, arms folded over his chest.]

What's the occasion?

[ura_no_ura]

No occasion. Just felt like having a drink, and it's better to not have to drink alone.

[ Kakashi closes the space between them and sets the bottle and glasses on the ledge, then unscrews the lid. ]

Besides, I don't think I've had a drink with you since I arrived.

[ Yeah, he's late on this, but when is he not? He pours a couple of fingers worth of shochu into both glasses. ]

[endgames]

[If this were a year ago, he'd be denied the chance. It says a few things - none of them good - that he's as comfortable with the idea of drinking as he is now. A year ago, you couldn't even get him to go into Seventh Heaven to use the bathroom.

Now, he just shrugs.]

If it makes you feel better, you can say I hadn't hit legal drinking age yet.

[ura_no_ura]

Mm, if you're old enough to kill, you're old enough to drink.

[ Kakashi says as he pushes the glass across to Shikamaru, setting it down before him as he picks up his own. ]

I never did understand that rule. [ The drinking one, he means. ] Never made a lot of sense to me.

[endgames]

The old man used to say the same thing.

[He takes the glass with a nod of thanks, watching it swish in the glass slightly from the motion. Truth be told, he's pretty sure that line gets blurred more often than not for shinobi. Legal is more of a formality, from what he's seen.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi nods, and picks up his own shochu, swishing the contents lightly before he clinks his glass against Shikamaru's and lifts it up to his lips for a sip, through the mask. ]

So, how did your mission go?

[endgames]

[...hold on one second. He may be caught staring to see if Kakashi can actually drink through the darn thing.]

-huh?

[ura_no_ura]

Your mission.

[ Enunciates very slowly. On purpose. There is a wet spot right around his mouth -- Kakashi actually drank right through the mask, which is not only breathable, but clearly allows liquid to pass. Ninja materials are the best. ]

[endgames]

[WHY WOULD YOU EVEN INVEST IN THAT-- Okay no fine. 8|]

Oh. It was... [He shrugs, takes a drink.] Messy. But it could've been worse.

[ura_no_ura]

Messy?

[ How so? Please elaborate.

Kakashi takes another sip through his mask. IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE, OKAY. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is to wear a mask all day and breathe through it. Can you imagine, seriously. ]

[endgames]

Stuff happened.

[A note of finality, a none of your business ring in the air before a steep pause. It's visible as he mentally adjusts; realizes he needs to offer more.

If it were anyone else, he'd leave it at that. He hasn't worked the situation out for himself yet, so what gives anyone else the right to be privy to it?

It's been a long time since he's been subject to a superior.]

...I failed. [Dull. His tone's muted with apology for his behavior.] Not this one, but the one before it. I wanted the opportunity to make up for it, but things got out of hand.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Failing a mission.

Kakashi hadn't expected that Shikamaru would take a mission failure so hard, especially when the boy -- no, the younger man, Shikamaru's no longer a boy, he's already twenty -- usually finds everything short of the clouds above troublesome. Very mendoukusai. He gives Shikamaru a sidelong glance. ]

It sounds like this mission was particularly important to you.

[ Kakashi thinks it must be more personal than professional; if it were a mission taken for strictly professional reasons, then surely, he and Minato would have been informed. Which means that Shikamaru went on this mission for himself, not just to pass time or keep his skills sharp, and actually cared about the outcome. ]