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

(I know the dance of the typos. Oh how I know it.)

[complicatedliar]

[It's definitely a different sort of magic from his own, but he can sense the disruption, the attack, particularly because he's expecting it. He's only had his hold on reality completely disrupted once in the recent past, and even then he had felt the lingering wrongness of it.

And right now, he's not going to fight it. He'd rather have the full experience so he can better discern how to combat this sort of illusion in the future. The best way to learn how to break something is to understand it first.

Calm and collected, Loki looks up at the approaching meteor.]

Interesting.

[He considers how this entire scenario feels.] Is this something only I can see, or anyone in our immediate area?

(I FORGOT TO WRITE YOU SOMETHING BACK, LOOK I FAIL. lmfao. yeah ;A; sorry about before)

[ura_no_ura]

[ Loki's not nearly as affected by this entire attack as an average person would be, though Kakashi certainly expected that. After all, he did introduce himself as a warrior god who controls illusions.

The vibrations of the earth grow violent, making it difficult for one to keep his balance, as the meteor approaches closer, everything in its path burning up, flames licking out the oxygen right from the air. Before it can get too close, though, Kakashi ends the illusion. If he let the genjutsu run its course, Loki would end up experiencing incomparable pain from either being burned alive or crushed by a meteor, and that's not particularly something Kakashi intends to have the other experience.

The world shifts back to what it should be. ]

In order for genjutsu to work, only the target is affected. But, a powerful genjutsu user [like himself, for example] is capable of targeting multiple people.

(OH NOES)

[complicatedliar]

[So that means this is a technique internal to the mind, rather than external to be perceived by the senses. He's normally safe from telepathic assaults, but he knows better than to count on that here. It seems he has another reason to work on shoring up his mental defenses.

Though he can't help but grimly wonder if he's permanently put a chink in his own armor by letting the Tesseract have a hold on him for an extended period of time.]

An interesting technique, then.

How many people at once?

(sobbing forever into the great beyond)

[ura_no_ura]

That depends on the skill of the user. The most powerful genjutsu user from my world has the power to cast a genjutsu upon the entire world.

[ Of course, Madara's power is amplified by quite a number of factors, but it doesn't change the fact that he's capable of putting an entire world under the spell of an illusion. ]

[complicatedliar]

I take it that person isn't here. [Though with the way power is limited in this place, he doubts they would be able to do quite that much. Still, he hopes they never show up.]

The illusions I create are entirely external. The number of people they reach is dependent upon where I place them and how large I choose to make them.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Interesting.

Kakashi's never heard of illusions that are external to the target. In his world, such a thing isn't possible. ]

How do you control them if they're external to you? Can you sense them?

[complicatedliar]

[Loki holds his hand palm up, fingers open. A globe of golden light forms over it, then twists and changes into a running horse, then a tree with shivering emerald leaves, then a whirling solar system in miniature.]

You see these things because I have bent the light to act as if these exist. So of course I know it is there; my magic creates it at every instant and my will gives it form.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi can't help but find what Loki chose to show him quite beautiful. A shame that when he tends to use genjutsu, his illusions tend to be far more destructive. Never like what Loki is showing him now. ]

Interesting. Do you have the power to control the other senses as well?

[complicatedliar]

Mmm. Do not think of it as controlling the senses. It is a matter of controlling what is there to be perceived by those senses.

And yes. The physical senses perceive simple things like frequencies of various sorts of radiation, pressure, and certain chemicals. It is a simple matter to twist those things.

[He smiles.] Though simple and easy are always two very different things.

[ura_no_ura]

So, hypothetically, if a man believes one of your illusions is killing him, he might actually die from the pain of the wounds he feels he is suffering.

[ That's not all too different from genjutsu. ]

[complicatedliar]

Theoretically.

[That might not even be a lie, come to think of it. He supposes it's possible, if they didn't manage to shatter the illusion with their flailing. And theoretically, it could be possible if he put that much effort into a spell, weaving together light and sound and kinetic force into something wholly believable and unbreakable.

Why bother, though? It's so much more pragmatic to just distract his opponent for five seconds with a bit of pretty light so he can insert a knife into one of their vital organs and give it a twist.

He's not going to point out these fine details, however.]

[ura_no_ura]

I see.

[ Then Loki's illusions must be quite formidable, and a very dangerous weapon. He's glad that the god is on their side, as he may prove to be a truly indispensable ally. ]

[complicatedliar]

Good. [He likes making an impression.]

Other than magics, my realm of greatest expertise is in the construction of strategy. In battle or diplomacy.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi nods. ]

Good strategists are hard to come by. Your help will be of true value to our cause.

[ Not only working together to protect the residents of the enclosure, but perhaps finding a way to actually fight against the Malnosso, as well. ]

[complicatedliar]

Indeed. That is my interest in battle and war. [His smile goes sharp and thin.] Anyone can make a man bleed, and many can kill. Bringing about true defeat is far more difficult.

If you are looking for strategists, I hope you have spoken with Iroh as well. [He actually...really likes Iroh. He's not even sure why, but the man interacts with him on a level few do.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi nods. ]

I've spoken with General Iroh over the network, but I haven't had the opportunity to meet him in person yet. I also count Nara Shikamaru as another strategist, and myself. And of course, the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato-sama.

[complicatedliar]

Iroh and I get along quite well. Do try not to hold that against him. [He has little doubt Kakashi either has or will speak with Steve, and others who still seek to isolate him and prevent him from finding allies.] But I have rather looked forward to working with him, should the need arise.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi looks genuinely confused for a moment. ]

Why would I hold it against him that you two get along?

[ Isn't it a good thing that they do? ]

[complicatedliar]

Guilt by association. [Loki grins.] Let us just say I am well aware how some in this place--who will be interested in your alliance if they're not complete fools--will speak of me. If you haven't heard all the lovely stories yet, I shan't spoil their fun.

[ura_no_ura]

[ No, Kakashi hasn't heard a single bad thing about Loki yet, and his expression indicates that he's maybe just a touch incredulous, if not perhaps, a little concerned. ]

Are you saying you have enemies here in Luceti?

[complicatedliar]

[Dryly:] I have an entire coterie of people waiting breathlessly for the day I look at someone the wrong way so they can get their righteous jollies playing hero. It's tiresome.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Ah. He's starting to get it now. Kakashi raises an eyebrow slightly. ]

Is that so.

[ Sort of deadpan.

If there is an "entire coterie" of people waiting for Loki to do something wrong, then that means the god most likely has done something worthy of such watchfulness, no different than the way Kakashi treated Pain and Konan when they were still in the Luceti enclosure. Of course, being locked in an enclosure makes being choosy with alliances a little more difficult, especially when certain skills are needed for a particular cause.

And in this case, it most certainly is true that they all share a common enemy. ]

Is there anything else you'd like to tell me.

[ Flatly. ]

[complicatedliar]

[Loki laughs. He's finding this entire business very amusing, actually.

But this is his chance to put his own spin on things, which is always useful. He knows what the likes of Steve will end up telling Kakashi, and that knowledge is useful as well.]

I truly care not if those who wish to lovingly tend their grudges spin tails of what they consider to be my misdeeds or make suppositions as to my character and goals. I am already dead, Kakashi, and I perished in battle whilst saving the lives of my brother and his mortal lover. And now I am here, back with my lady and with those few I would call family, who have been truer to me than those who once drove me to madness with their lies and abuse.

I have no concerns left.

[This may be the most useful part of perpetuating the story that he is dead. It renders so much that opponents in Luceti would use against him as moot. It's delightful.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Loki might be dead back in his world, but he's alive here, and what he does here is Kakashi's only concern. Kakashi's not even sure if he survived the war, himself. For all he knows, he might very well be in a similar position as Loki or any of the others here who should be dead, yet have managed to escape death in this realm.

The only thing that matters to Kakashi at the end of the day is this: ]

If you have no concerns, then why did you volunteer to join an alliance?

[ After all, one doesn't pledge to join an alliance without reason. ]

[complicatedliar]

[...this is a Kakashi I feel as if you have missed my point don't make me spell this out it's just embarrassing look.]

I have no concerns in regards to those people who wish to bank the flames of old enmities. [He flicks his fingers.] Let them cherish their grudges if it brings them pleasure.

But you did hear the bit where I mentioned I have a lover and family here, yes? I hope I didn't mumble.

I also have this strange little dislike of being at the mercy of people who think me a charming sewing project. Such as the rogue Malnosso. And having tried death once, I'm really not all that eager to do it again.