[Kouga Kanoh]

Always by boat with these folks. It wasn't that Kanoh disliked sea travel, more so that she just wasn't used to it. The trip didn't sit well in her stomach despite her genuine excitement to see more of the western parts of the shinobi realms. It wasn't her first time in Mizu no Kuni, having traveled before with the daimyo of Nohara no Kuni, but it was her first time meeting the new reigning ruler, Toru.

She couldn't get off the Suiryu Ryodan ship fast enough when they docked in northern Mizu no Kuni and she made her way quickly to the solace of solid earth; off the dock and into the frying pan.

At first she was a bit lost, not sure where she was expected to go, but eventually she was joined by a pair of Kusagakure shinobi and when the trio formed they caught the attention of the posted guard. They approached and inquired for information which the woman readily gave, indicating her identity and business to which the guard nodded, clearly expecting the visit.

In truth, she didn't know what to expect. She'd been given little more than an address and the guards seemed more than willing to point her in a direction and let her be on her way. But she didn't mind. On the contrary, she welcomed the modicum of freedom though she was certain her every move was being watched by both friend and foe alike.

Luckily, Kagura no Mura was a coastal city and they didn't need to venture and grand trek to find their destination. With the help of a few friendly locals, the trio of Kusa shinobi found their way to the tavern Toru had given them the address for and, if allowed, entered to see what awaited them in the Land of Water.

[Kusa Shinobi will be Jounin NPCs until replaced by PCs]

--- words | Kaguya Toru

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Kouga Kanoh

Once in the tavern, they would be seen and escorted to a back room...

Toru had traveled easily, in comparison to the Nohara no Kuni party. He arrived with two bodyguards though he had allowed them to simply stand outside until the arrival. So, when they did arrive Toru sat up a little bit.

The room was well lit, the nicest one in the entire tavern. There was a table in the middle and Toru had set aside his weapons entirely a display of peace. But, also a reminder that though they were not here to fight, it was always an option if things went awry. Once the woman stepped into the room properly that is when Toru stood. He was in his full garb as the Mizukage and Daimyo, despite his higher station he gave the woman a bow regardless. He hoped his stature and age did not put her off the meeting or at least distract him from the meeting - as these details often did.

"Welcome to Mizu no Kuni, I hope your travels were safe and peaceful." The young man uttered, as if he had practiced the words many times over - and he had, on his way here. He cleared his throat and motioned for Kanoh to sit across from him at the table, though he himself wandered to a corner where there was a pot of tea that he had been heating up.

"May I offer you tea to begin our discussions?" A gesture of friendship in a manner of speaking, as he glanced over his shoulder to see if the woman wanted tea or not...

"Or your guards?" Perhaps the guards wanted tea? It was never out of question, uncommon, but he would offer nonetheless.

OWL

[Kouga Kanoh]

Compared to the young Mizukage’s full regalia, Kanoh looked… a tad underdressed. She’d sported the ceremonial cover of any ruler, though hers naturally paled in splendor to that of a Kage’s, let alone a Daimyo’s, but she’d decided to leave the robes at home. The idea of bringing a full set of formal attire with her across the sea was less than appealing. Now here, before the regal young man, she felt like a fish out of water, ironically enough.

That brief conflict that stirred up her thoughts would never break her expression though, ever warm and welcoming. She matched the depth of Toru’s bow, though the symbolism of his gesture was lost on her. "Lord Hachidaime.” she greeted him, rising back out of the bow as Toru did. Her tone was thoughtful and respectful but there were some rough edges that lurked beneath the polished surface. An astute observer, assuming they didn’t already know her background, could pick up her warrior background from just the cadence of her voice. But, despite her fresh appointment, years of traveling with her home’s Daimyo had served her vocabulary well and she was not entirely lost.

She made her way to the table and set her cover to the side of it before taking a seat as was suggested. The shinobi guards remained by the door. "I’ve had the fortune of many trips by sea before so it wasn’t an entirely awful journey-” she cut herself off to answer the young man’s offer for tea. "Yes, thank you.”

At the offer to the guards, Kanoh looked back at the pair. They knew her well enough to know they were fully welcome to partake; even sit down if they wanted to, but one simply waved a hand in rejection. Kanoh turned back. "That’s a ‘no’ from them, they’re being very serious about all this.” A mocking tone and a soft chuckle, half genuine and half to indicate her meaning.

Kanoh and Toru were both world leaders, though the breadth of their powers varied greatly. But at the end of the day, Kanoh was not a politician by trade. So, in moments like these, she offered only her true and honest self. It was up to the Mizukage to decide whether that was an insult or a welcome change of pace.

--- words | Kaguya Toru

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Kouga Kanoh

For Toru the gruffness of her tone was lost, perhaps it was due to the fact that he himself was not the most polished. Trained in the art, but young and coming from a bad place in life, his speech was only that - trained, and the lack of formality would seep into a few gestures... Such as his offering tea to the guards.

At their rejection of the tea, the teen nodded his head and turned to fix the beverage in its heavy pot, some of the water pouring over the edge as he brewed a beautiful flower inside. Not that it was visible, it was hidden by the dark of the pot itself. Toru could smell how intense it was, it was nice.

He brought over two cups for himself and the Kusagakure leader, but nothing for the guards. The pot was set in between the two of them, and once he settled once more he would pour for them both. To some degree it showed that there was nothing wrong with the tea, as he poured from the same pot.

Toru was seemingly, slow moving, everything was like meditation, something he had learned from being a jinchuuriki. Something he continued to learn from being a leader.

"I am certain you are aware that your predecessor and myself have met. Alas, he could not hold his end of the bargain. However, I do not wish any harm for your nation even if that is the case. Far from it... My nation is the smallest of the great ones, as such I understand the plight of those with less land and less resources."

Toru paused and took a short sip of the tea, silently. Slow moving, but he cut right to the point it seemed. There was no diplomatic beating around the bush as was almost entirely normal in such meetings.

"I only have one request of you today, but I wish to hear if you have any questions... or concerns."

OWL

[Kouga Kanoh]

Perhaps it was a failing of the Land of Fields overall, but at no point had Kanoh expected there could be something wrong with the tea. In fact, she didn't even clock the gesture of pouring from the same pot at the table. Her trip to the Land of Water, along with all of the diplomatic ventures she'd undertaken since taking the seat of Kusa Lord, were public knowledge. And, in all honesty, she didn't take Toru for the murder scheme type despite their chosen occupations.

She accepted the tea graciously, testing the side of the cup with her hand as she brought it close and finding it altogether too hot. She maintained composure as she set it down before her. "It smells lovely~." She didn't intend for that to be a rejection, she just had a cat's tongue, so to speak, and would need to let it cool down a bit more than most before diving in to the sea of flavor before her.

The fact that the leadership in Kirigakure held no ill will toward Kusa for Yamato's inability to convert on their agreement was simultaneously entirely expected and also a breath of fresh air. Because, while Kiri had ventured nothing in the deal made between themselves and the form Kusa leader and he'd stepped down after a tumultuous time in Nohara no Kuni's history that trumped foreign politics if even momentarily, the woman was glad to hear of anyone amicable to a political dialogue.

She'd sent letters to nearly all the shinobi realm's leaders with either an affirmation of intent or an offer for an in-person dialogue to ascertain just what 'intent' was appropriate. Not one letter held a shred of malice. Of course, Kanoh's letter to Iwagakure was chief on her mind as of late. She had offered peace from a long lasting cold war, a way forward toward diplomatic growth for the shinobi nations if they were willing to accept it. In truth, Kanoh would have preferred an outright declaration of war. Because the Lady Tsuchikage's silence spoke louder than any response could had to just what her 'intent' was.

So, when Toru cut straight to the point, Kanoh could only assume it was because he had been privy to one of the elusive 'lost copies' of the transmission Kanoh had sent Iwa. He was no doubt well aware of Kusa's plight. And that was leverage. But at the same time, it was a leverage Kanoh was happy to have pressed; she needed some measure of defense against the rising tide of stone that threatened to crash down on the humble Land of Fields.

She smiled, eager to see what direction the young lord took the conversation. Naturally, she was no pushover. But she would likely be more understanding than her predecessor. And, at the same time, not nearly as concerned with shiny new toys like the Kusanagi as he was.

"Hmm..." She feigned consideration of some prepared list of concerns, but she would need to hear the young man's terms before voicing any true complaints. It wasn't as if either of them expected her to accept what was on offer without dialogue or adjustment anyway. "If I have them, I will raise them. For now," She gestured gently to Toru from across the table, surrendering the floor, "please go ahead."

--- words | Kaguya Toru

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Kouga Kanoh

Toru took no real offense to Kanoh raising the tea, smelling it and lowering it. He understood that it was hot, he himself was not partaking in gulping it down but very careful sips of the heated liquid. Of course, his time on the street had made him overall less patient when it came to sustenance and it showed in small moments like this where he could not fight his own instinct to consume. Nonetheless, the teenager had come a long way from where he had only begun.

Kanoh waving for him to proceed, Toru nodded. There was a bit of silence, not a tense kind but rather as if he were gathering his thoughts to lay them out coherently to the Kusagakure leader. What he had to say carried some weight, but in his mind, it would be an easy thing to accept for Kanoh - after all, he knew well of the tension between Kusagakure and Iwagakure. Could he alleviate it now? Perhaps, only if Kanoh agreed to an all too easy set of terms.

"I have been in discussion with the leader of Iwagakure. I am well aware of the tensions between your two villages. But our attention is turning and with it, comes an opportunity for peace and freedom from those tensions for your village and nation." He would begin, hoping that these initial words would ring as a form of peace in Kanoh's mind.

"My sights have been set on Konohagakure for a while now, and their repeated transgressions cannot be ignored in our world. Their transgressions put you as their ally in danger. Which is why, I am asking you now that if I or Iwagakure make moves against them, we ask you to turn a blind eye to their plight, do not offer them help. Be a pacifist in the conflict. In doing so, you will be guaranteed your nations safety and resolution to any ill-will between Iwagakure and Kusagakure." He would pause to read Kanoh's initial reaction, facial expressions, any indications of what she thought of the proposition before continuing.

"I understand, that what I am asking if great. But your nation is small, and as the leader of the smallest nations, I wish for yours to thrive and join with the rest of the minor nations in alliance instead of being forced to be the odd one out. This is an opportunity for such a thing to be possible for you."

OWL

[Kouga Kanoh]

There was a lot to unpack here. Between promises of peace, impending conflict and even the odd threat or two, Kanoh was left a bit bewildered. Some of this she’d expected. The notion that the topic of both Iwagakure and the hidden leaf wouldn’t come up was a far cry from reality, but she hadn’t expected their fates to be so deeply intertwined.

Toru was playing to the woman’s, if not all of Nohara no Kuni’s, desire for peace. Maybe her aspiration was proclaimed a bit too loudly, maybe its claws reached too far. But she couldn’t argue with the results.

However, there were some key concerns that bothered her. For now she nodded along with Toru’s words, allowing him ample opportunity to be understood fully before voicing any of them. In essence, it seemed she was being invited into a sort of alliance against Konoha, with Kusa serving as something of a neutral party. Though, despite her forebearer’s proclivity for disaffection, she wouldn’t be so easily swayed.

"Hmmm...” She began, musing over the offer and simultaneously indicating her intent to continue. "The friendship between Kusagakure and Konoha, as well as those friendships shared with our mutual allies, isn’t up for negotiation.” It may have sounded like a denial but she imagined Toru was experienced enough with negotiations to hear the deeper meaning behind her words as she continued. "However I don’t see why that means I can’t at least tentatively agree to these terms.”

She brought the tea to her lips and sipped delicately at the steaming liquid, not forfeiting the floor but taking a moment to pause. It was a delightful gift that refreshments brought that she’d seen her Lord Daimyo take advantage of many times before. She began to clarify as she set her cup back down. "Kusagakure can’t revoke its alliance with Konoha. They are our greatest partner in trade and in conducting missions. Beyond that, our cultures are nigh interchangeable in some places. Slighting them wouldn’t be a stone’s throw from a self-inflicted wound.”

She paused, her eyes flashing to meet Toru’s. There was no need to look behind them. She spoke clearly, with full honesty and the pride of her home burning in her chest. "But, in the case where an ally of Nohara no Kuni was being attacked, she would be hard pressed if the instigator were also an ally.” She hoped her intent was clear. Seeking strength in this world often came at the expense of allies, stepping on them to get ahead. But Kanoh wanted to get stronger by making more allies.

At last, her eyes closed. But her mind continued to race.

Would he take what she’d said as an agreement or an insult to his offer? She wasn’t turning him down. Instead she’d requested some assurance that Nohara no Kuni’s inaction be justified to those not privy to the political machinations in the backrooms of exotic port eateries.

--- words | Kaguya Toru

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Kouga Kanoh

Toru watched and listened. He did not speak a word, and his breathing seemed to almost halt. It did not truly halt, as he was very capable of becoming perfectly silent in his observations. His lips pressed together, he did not drink his tea, he waited for an answer. He knew what he was asking was no small thing, no small little gesture in the grand scheme of things. But he was also guaranteeing something big, something that Kusagakure had been wanting for many years now. The looming threat on their shoulders, the offer to alleviate it, it was there, not within reach for a very simple action...

Inaction.

She spoke, and she explained the situation. Toru did not immediately take it as denial, because he was a good listener. He was not a good speaker, he had learned how to speak over the last year or so of being a diplomat for his nation. He still messed up, it was natural for not only a human being, but a teenager at that. But he stood over his entire nation, not just his village. He ranked above most leaders in almost every regard, so he had to speak well and for the good of all.

Even now.

"I see... Well, Kirigakure and Kusagakure hold no ill-will towards each other. I do not see why we cannot forge an unofficial alliance until such a time comes where we can announce it to the world." Secrecy would help protect them both for the time being, while they started to exchange ideas and technologies if such a thing were of interest to the new Lord of Kusagakure.

"I am willing to open my merchants to traveling to Nohara no Kuni and Kusagakure. If you would do the same?" It would strengthen both of their economies anyway. Another trade partner.

OWL