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

[windandrain]

[As her finger touches his and she smiles, it's hard not to notice that his breath has stopped and his heart has begun racing. Generally, she'd take that as a sign of fear or worry, but she can't even begin to understand why. It never even occurs to her that something like his ability is even capable of hurting her. She's a god, a being so intrinsically tied to the element that he's calling on, and that's really as simple as that. She is lightning as much as she is flesh and blood, after all.

When he pulls back, her expression grows worried and she steps back, unlinking arms. One hand reaches for his shoulder and she shakes it.]

Kakashi? Kakashi, is something wrong?

[There's a bit of fear in her words, a worry that she's done something that hurt him.]

You put away your lightning. Did...you not want me to touch it? Or did I share too much with you?

[ura_no_ura]

[ It hadn't even occurred to him that Saori might not have been hurt by Raikiri; that being a goddess would somehow allow her to overcome even the very basic laws of nature itself. But then, a divine being transcends all natural laws, and Kakashi should have expected it.

Even with that knowledge, fear had shot up through his chest and panic rocked his body when she reached out.

He thought he was going to hurt her.

And yet.

Her hand slid through Raikiri like water.

He shakes his head, exhaling a slow, careful breath. ]

I wasn't expecting you wouldn't be hurt by Raikiri.

[ Said after a moment, though he still doesn't look at her just yet. ]

Everyone who's ever had a direct encounter with it has died.

[windandrain]

[She quirks her head to one side, a gentle smile slowly playing across her lips. Taking him off guard was rather not what she'd expected, but then, there were times that such simple truths did surprise mortals. The laws of nature were beneath the beings that called them into being, and to her that was as simple a truth as saying the sky was blue.]

Ah. Well. Kakashi, I...think that you may find that there are a lot of things you consider truth, fact, or evident that simply don't apply to me.

[She reaches for his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.]

Lightning will never harm me, and you'll find that many other things you thought were impossible are simply untrue. You'll never have to fear your...Raikiri...harming me. I promise you that.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi still finds it a little difficult to believe despite having just witnessed it. Despite knowing full well that the laws of nature don't apply to her. Her squeeze does help ease some of the tension that had accumulated in his shoulders, and he finally looks at her, sighing a little as he nods. ]

I guess that makes you the only one.

[ He can't help but wish Rin could have been just as lucky. ]

[windandrain]

[The implication is there, that someone he cared for had been hurt by this, and his reaction suddenly becomes a lot clearer. She steps closer, folding her arms around him.]

No, not the only one. But the only one here.

[She pulls back from the hug a moment later, and nods again.]

Were you able to feel my Anima? What...I understand you call Chakra?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Her "anima." That must have been what he felt when he sensed her chakra disrupting his own. He nods. ]

I wasn't expecting it.

[ But he did feel it just the same.

He wasn't expecting her to suddenly hug him, but hadn't exactly pushed her away or anything either, though his hug back hadn't been all that great. ]

[windandrain]

[Well he's clearly in shock, or just being Kakashi...]

No? Well, how did it make you feel, when it did touch you?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi hadn't exactly been focusing on the sensation of her chakra, far more concerned with everything else that had been occurring. But now that he thinks back... ]

Hmm, I suppose it was a bit tingly.

[windandrain]

Tingly? [She lets him go with a laugh.]

Did you feel stronger?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi's downright shaken.

Whether or not he feels stronger isn't something he can easily focus on when Rin's face had just flashed right before his eyes. He takes a breath, lets it out, then focuses, realizing that he does feel...stronger.

He nods after a moment. ]

A little.

[windandrain]

[She takes a step in front of him, pulling him into her arms again.]

Good. That means I can empower you on the battlefield. And...I'm sorry if I worried or upset you. And...I am sorry about your friend.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi lets her hug him, returning the hug a bit loosely. ]

I'm fine, don't worry.

[ He doesn't say it's okay, because it's not okay that Rin's dead, and it'll never be. ]

[windandrain]

If you're sure.

[She pulls away and falls back into step beside him.]

I won't pry more than that. But it's good to know I can do that for you.

[ura_no_ura]

Is it draining for you to do that?

[windandrain]

No, not at all. I suppose it might be, if I did it for hours at a time inside the barrier though.

[ura_no_ura]

Let's hope that'll never have to happen.

[windandrain]

I highly doubt it will. Another prolonged invasion of Luceti feels unlikely, to tell you the truth. But if it does, I'll do what I can for you.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi nods, and gives the hand Saori still has resting on his shoulder a squeeze. ]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[windandrain]

Of course. [She leans in and gives him another hug before letting go entirely.]

When do you think you'll need my help?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi had returned the hug a little more warmly, and then let her go. ]

Hmmm... with the alliance, it's hard to say. Whenever we manage to get organized enough to have a training session, I suppose. But, actually, there's another matter I wanted to talk about with you.

My village is holding something we call the jounin exams, which essentially is an exam for all current chuunin, or mid-level ninja, to be promoted to jounin, which is the most elite level of ninja. Right now, it looks like the exam will probably happen sometime in April or so. We are looking for a few people who might be willing to help us out either in participating in a simulated mission part of the exam, or in acting as an opponent for teams to fight against. Would this be something you might be able to help us with?

[windandrain]

Jounin-Exams?

[She mouths the word, and seems to be thinking it over.]

This would be for...Naruto, Lee, Shikamaru, and some of the younger members of your village? Not the elders like yourself, Kushina and her husband, yes?

[ura_no_ura]

Yes, this would be for them. We're already jounin. Kushina-san's husband is actually the Hokage of our village. He's our leader.

[windandrain]

I'm aware of that. Minato is an...amusing man. [Saori smiles and looks back towards the village.]

I'll happily do it. Though, I'd rather not fight them if I can help in another way. I'd rather not be used as or seen as an obstacle to overcome for friends of mine. But if that's what you need from me, then what would be expected of me? Would this be a fight to the death? Or an attempt to trap me or something of that nature?

[ura_no_ura]

Hmm, well, in general, we want to see how well they can lead teams. If a fight that ultimately traps you would be most effective in showing their ability to lead and use teamwork, then perhaps that may make most sense.

[windandrain]

Then would you want me to fight them as hard as I might an enemy? Or just treat this like a game, from my perspective?

[She sighs.] I suppose what I'm asking is should I be meaning to hurt them, and will they be trying to hurt me?