[Yutakako Takara]

A Stone Trip ► Guards Gambit ◄

In the Tsuchikage's opinion, Ishigakure had essentially been an outpost of her country. The two as allies were like siblings in a sense, but Kouen had felt that similarity meant they needed absorption. Removing a clearly weaker competitor in an incredibly similar market. The lands of earth and stone, were quite similar in resources and there was a shared doton nature in their shinobi. It seemed pointless to Takara and their resistance made it clear. Now the Elite Jounin who'd restored their alliance with Kouen's head still suffered the raw relation. There likely could never be the same level of trust between the two villages or nations. Though Takara was rather confident in her good name and restoring the light to herself and in-turn her village. This though couldn't be done blindly, so one of the places she'd attempt to frequent would be the land of stone. Meeting with the Lord of Ishigakure was typically a pleasant affair in Takara's mind. Things rarely were as awkward, as when she first made her dealings. Though their leader and their every villagers opinion of her weren't the same. She wouldn't dare enter their lands and watch without her bodyguards. In a typical fashion to both be prepared for any chance combat, as well as to take the safest route possible, the Yutakako had prepared a clay dragon and two large clay eagles to be her ride and her escorts. Despite those shinobi with her being her bodyguards, she'd purposely travel separately. It meant she could control the starting flow of the battle, as well as if discerned necessary force them to fail. Despite being the Tsuchikage, she'd internally value the lives of her people over her own. She didn't want to risk the rule of her beloved village, she had faith there'd be a good replacement if necessary, but definitely wouldn't needlessly risk herself. Instead Takara had given up on herself to a degree, she had atoning to do for her sins. If she could properly in her mind do so at the cost of her life, then it was something the elite jounin was more than prepared to do. "It'll be a decently long flight, I don't plan to pit stop either. So are you both ready?" The Tsuchikage would ask her bodyguards, as she stood with them atop the village's HQ. Her clay dragon lying before her and her clay birds standing to either side. The birds would lower themselves and extend a wing to the ground to be easily mounted when their riders got close. This was her bodyguards last chance to remember a needed extra bit or bob, as well as to relieve any sort of natural business. NOTES // WORDS // ETC // BOINK OF GS

[Tantetsu Morihito]

✪ Yamatate Captain ✪

Morihito would wake up early to make sure he was completely packed for the trip. He was to protect the Kage at all costs. Of course they would not tell the kage that. It was not his first time going on a trip like this especially as a barrier specialist. He would get his uniform prepped and wear it to the meeting with the kage. He would grab his bag and look in the mirror. ”Mitsu I have to go for a protection gig, please try not to destroy anything or get in any more trouble. I will be back sometime later in the week.” He would then head to the headquarters to meet up with the kage. He would go to the bathroom then walk into her office. He would walk in a towering man and would bow respectfully ”Good morning madam. Long time no see. Hopefully this trip will be uneventful.” He would eventually climb up on the clay bird and sit cross legged with his bad on his shoulders. He would look back towards the kage and ask ”so what is the itinerary for this trip? I am ready when you are to depart.” He would sit as comfortably as he could and get ready for a long trip.

✪ Yamatate Captain ✪

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

[Yutakako Takara]

A Stone Trip ► Guards Gambit ◄

"Good morning, can't be risking our lives everyday now can we?" Takara would reply with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, as she'd give a slight cheeky smile for all of a second. Her expression immediately mellowing back, as she had the time to be amused. "These are times of peace after all." She'd add to explain the truth of their 'safety', but obviously they were all military. The missions that took place outside of war were often just as dangerous. Sometimes even more dangerous threats lie hidden in the cover of civilians. The Yutakako though hadn't joked about the lack of needing a bodyguard, because the so and so peace wasn't true. It wasn't because she couldn't be putting herself in danger more often. The fact of the matter was that Takara was a follower of the light's guidance, so to her it combat was moral right. A necessity to hold up virtue, she'd love to atone for her sins in jolly cooperation. To fight side by side with those deemed lesser by many. Those pinned against the odds just needing a little aid. Granted in her faith, she'd also likely lose binds with all things shinobi. However life wasn't that simple and there were too many people whose lives depended on her. Depended on her wisdom and choices to best lead the nation. To avoid further rebellion among it's peers. She had to tame ambition and pride. Focus on the rock to which they all stood. Once it was in the right place then she could move on. "Same as last time we visited Ishigakure. We'll meet with their lord, he'll treat us to whatever he deems fit. We'll act like it's the best treatment ever, then we'll ask to survey his land as a favor. If allowed we'll check up on key points in the stone country and assure everything is at peace within their land. If we aren't allowed, we'll know something is a foot and have to prepare accordingly." There wasn't likely an if not scenario for 'them' to play out, if their ally had choose to betray them, then there'd be little room for an easy escape. Granted Ishigakure and it's shinobi knew full well the wrath that Iwagakure would uphold if they acted so treacherously. NOTES // WORDS // ETC // BOINK OF GS

[Tantetsu Morihito]

✪ Yamatate Captain ✪

Morihito would listen to the kage intently as she described the plan. ”So we will meet with the Lord. Ah what is their name again I can’t think of it? But it should hopefully be a productive trip. I am mostly here for defense which is my specialty and I have a few lieutenants watching the city so we should be good to go. How long of a flight are we looking at? Are we flying straight into the village?” He would wait for her and if she wanted to continue the conversation he would be happy to. But when they are done he would say ”Are you ready madam? Let’s get this going. Are you sure flying is the best way to get there? You know the ground is a perfectly good way to travel?” He seemed obviously nervous about the trip or at least the mode of transportation. He always prefers to be on the ground where he feels the iron and steel in the earth. In the sky or on a boat he feels nothing and is more nervous.

They would fly for a while and morihito would say ”I think I see the village on the horizon. Want me to land first? I will land first and see what is going on for you to land.” If the kage agrees he would go ahead to check it out.
.

✪ Yamatate Captain ✪

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

[Yutakako Takara]

"Zō Katsuhiko, he's the head of the Zō clan. They're the one with the elephants." Takara would pause and look over her guard to see his reaction. "You've seen elephant before right?" Perhaps Morihito would have forgotten the massive beasts or mixed them with another animal. It wasn't very important information to know, but Ishigakure had a long relation with Iwagakure. Even if Kouen had sullied much of that long earned trust, but maybe it was this lack of acknowledgement that lead to her people besieging their ally.

"Yes, we'll be flying all the way to the village. Wind currents and current weather in mind, I think it'll be a pretty short flight. A couple hours maybe." Takara wasn't exactly being true to her moniker, as she'd be fairly confident it was more so around three hours. However once the flight started it was hard to hear over the roaring wind, so there'd be very little to then make use of that time. "There's very few shinobi capable of hitting us in the sky and we'll have all the more time to react. I am confident it is the best route."

One more word of assurance, Takara would saddle up and fly off. As expected it was a bit quiet besides the wind and sound of high altitude travel. Morihito would call out when he saw the village, he'd claim to land first though these mounts were under her control. She'd not embarrass the man though on this journey and her dragon would slow, as it'd expand it's wings and gently head towards the destination. Meanwhile Morihito's clay bird would fold in it's wings and pick up pace, as it'd quickly swoop in to circle up on the landing spot first. There'd be a good show of people gathering up below preparing for their arrival.