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

written; filtered [video blacked out]

[rightfootforward]

Do you think it's wise to organize something like this where the Malnosso can see?

written; filtered [not blacked out]

[ura_no_ura]

I have my reasons.

written; filtered [video blacked out]

[rightfootforward]

I can meet with you elsewhere to discuss this, but not here. I think it would be in everyone's interests to at least keep some of us in the shadows.

written; filtered [not blacked out]

[ura_no_ura]

Understood. I'm available in the early afternoon. Where would you like to meet?

written; filtered [video blacked out]

[rightfootforward]

Pick somewhere in the village and I'll find you - 2pm.

written; filtered [not blacked out]

[ura_no_ura]

Welcome Center. See you then.

action -> 2pm Welcome Center

[rightfootforward]

[She doesn't respond, choosing instead to just show up at the appointed time - three minutes late. Better to let him go in first, see if he was being followed and then show up, than be early for once and get caught. So, once she sees him enter the building and is certain no one else is watching, she goes in after him - armed, of course, with her gun tucked against the small of her back and hidden underneath her blue suit blazer.]

These reasons you spoke of earlier - can you explain them?

Re: action -> 2pm Welcome Center

[ura_no_ura]

[ Except her three minutes late is really twenty-three minutes late, because Kakashi's late. As usual.

He turns when he's spoken to, gaze traveling over the woman in a quick, appraising once-over, before he meets her gaze steadily, closing the distance between them.

Clearly, she's the woman who contacted him and wanted to meet privately. ]

We shouldn't talk inside.

[ After all, there might be some sort of surveillance. ]

Let's take a walk.

[ He nods towards the door. ]

Re: action -> 2pm Welcome Center

[rightfootforward]

[When he approaches, her hand almost goes for the gun, but she waits, knowing she's a quick enough draw to at least get it to his stomach before he lunges at her. It isn't until he talks that she relaxes a little, nods, then leaves out the door she just came through. This guy isn't in any hurry and despite his title and his introduction, she still doesn't trust him. She turns right after leaving, keeping an eye on him and waiting for him to step through, too.]

Re: action -> 2pm Welcome Center

[ura_no_ura]

[ This woman is overly cautious, but Kakashi can understand why. He'd noticed the slight hand-tic, but hadn't reacted, opting to keep his posture relaxed, hands moving to slide into the pockets of his vest as he steps out of the building and begins to walk. Once they're far away enough from the building, he begins to talk. ]

It's my understanding that New Feathers can't access posts from the secret network before their arrival.

[ Explained as he walks, eye on the road in front of them, and not on her. ]

I had to borrow one of my comrade's to read previous posts. Considering that what we are proposing would involve the cooperation of many parties, in the event that a New Feather with the kind of skill set we are looking for in our initial call to action happens to arrive, it would be easier for others to link them to the post, or for them to come upon it by their own means of investigation, than if it were posted on the secret network.

[ He pauses for just a moment, before glancing at her from the side of his vision. ]

Besides. It'll only be a matter of time before the Malnosso realize that we're carrying out huge training operations and maneuvers. I think it's better to let them think all we're doing is putting together an innocent little self-defense club than a threat they should take seriously, hmm?

action -> 2pm Welcome Center

[rightfootforward]

Any organization worth their salt would find any organized defensive training manoeuvres within their enclosure a threat.

[Peggy keeps an eye on his posture, knowing it has to be some sort of farce. Anyone willing to put in this much work to organize a village-wide defence force had to be good at what he did and as relaxed as he seemed now, his stance would change when a threat came.]

The other enclosures already see us as antagonists while the Malnosso themselves are using us like a private army. You aren't worried that by doing this so publicly, it'll give them more reason to use us and send our fellows into more battles?

[ura_no_ura]

What I'm more concerned about is that they're going to continue sending us into battle either way. And from what I've heard, plenty of civilians and noncombatants have been sent to fight before, without any sort of training or the ability to defend themselves.

[ Kakashi can tell just how careful the woman is being, and makes sure not to do anything that might alarm her. She hasn't even given him her name yet.

He can understand why. ]

If we allow the Malnosso to operate under the assumption that all we are doing is trying to ensure the safety of Luceti's residents, I highly doubt that they will consider us to be a truly dangerous threat... The alternative is for them to find out through other means without any explanation, which would probably have far more disastrous consequences.

[rightfootforward]

[She still didn't like it - teach a man to shoot in self-defence and eventually he'd have to shoot to kill. Self-defence, as noble as the idea was, would only serve as a cover for a short time. The faster the non-combatants became combatants, the sooner they'd be sent to war. She still remembered the little boy sent out onto the field and how he hadn't come back and what a wreck Steve and Bucky had been after.

But she also knew that keeping the children and civilians behind as tent-runners and targets wouldn't do either. Peggy sucked a quiet breath in as she weighed what Kakashi said against her own experiences, not liking any of the options.]

Intelligence gathering and spying - it's what I did at home. Send me those you think could be suited for training in it and I'll do my best, but keep their names and my name out of your roster. It'll do nothing to help the cause if the Malnosso or the Third Party realize that we have our own infiltration unit.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Intelligence gathering and spying.

One of the most basic skills any ninja learns, but not everyone can master it quite as well as others. Kakashi knows the importance of good operatives, though, and can only assume this woman must have quite a bit of skill in the field if she's capable of training others. ]

Mm, any roster that might be kept won't be anywhere publicly available. Either way, I don't believe you ever told me your name.

[rightfootforward]

I'd prefer is a roster was kept only in our minds, but if it must be written down I hope it will be secured.

My designation is Agent 13, and that is what I expect to have written down. You know what I look like so you can send people to me - just have them set up a meeting with Agent 13 at a certain location and I'll be there.

As for you, personally, the name is Carter. Agent Carter.

[ura_no_ura]

Understood, Agent Carter-san.

[ Yes, he's going to add that honorific on every single time he talks to her. It's the polite thing to do, after all. ]

Don't worry -- you can trust that the security of our roster is of utmost importance.

[rightfootforward]

[...She would insist on just Agent Carter, but something tells her this is his culture and that won't be so easy to change. Instead, she nods and folds her hands behind her back.]

How many are signed up to head the different sections of your alliance?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Carter-san would actually be far easier, but Kakashi's not going to drop the "Agent" for as long as she wants him to call her that. ]

We aren't actually at that point yet. Right now, we're just in the process of reaching out to interested parties and determining how they might best fit.

[rightfootforward]

[Which means everyone who was talking so freely on that post were the ones to keep an eye on, good to know.]

I trust you'll be doing background checks on those you accept into positions of power?

[ura_no_ura]

Well, to be honest, I was thinking we could all have a conversation about how we structure leadership on the locked community a few weeks from now, once we've gathered as many people as possible through our initial call-to-action. It might be more fair that way.

[rightfootforward]

Perhaps.

[She looks forward and then frowns.]

Just be careful of who you choose - not everyone who responded to your call can be trusted.

[ura_no_ura]

So I've been told.

[ By quite a few people, actually. ]

Is there someone in particular you have in mind?

[rightfootforward]

I'm sure you've been warned already about him. His goals are in line with ours for now, but he thrives on power and thirsts after the acquisition of it.

[It should go without saying who she is talking about, considering how Steve answered and one of Steve's first actions was usually to warn people about Loki.]

If the opportunity arose to further his own personal aims, I wouldn't put it past him to turn the entire Alliance in.

[ura_no_ura]

[ It doesn't take long for Kakashi to put two and two together. ]

You're talking about Loki.

[ A pause. ]

Are you from his world?

[rightfootforward]

[Good, she picked up on what she was saying.]

Not exactly. He and his brother are from a different planet from Earth, my home. I'm from over 70 years before his people and ours make contact.