Reborn in the Mist

I spent an hour more entertaining Lady Kaguya’s thirst for political significance— Perhaps too bold a statement to call it that even but Akane clearly wanted her clan to begin living the life we promised them.

It was all largely possible. I’d come to the conclusion Akane might be more shrewd than she presents, the timing and the full throttle initiative to pursue this now of all times. With everyone in the frying pan now is the perfect moment for a fringe clan like the Kaguya to take up space in the aftermath.

The village wouldn’t be the same afterall, that was the point. The Kaguya’s subtle introduction to greater society would just be another change that came along with the Fourth Mizukage’s ‘Purge’.

I agreed to work with her and had already granted her some authority. For one, she could act in the prestige of her title as a Clan Head outside my Estate, of course, it wasn’t a prestige much of anyone recognized so it wasn’t much of anything yet. She departed my presence with the enthusiasm of one enriched with true power and somehow none of the greed I usually found in Lord Funato or the others.

With the momentary source of simpler topics gone, I hurried to my office to tend the fire I’d set. “Get me Ao, Juzo and Junko if she isn’t already occupied.” I said to the shadows as I walked in. The waning noon light caught my attention, the clouds drifting through the warm blue skies. I cursed. “Summon all Jounin Commanders and announce an evening curfew for civilians.”

Whatever came from my decision would surely be violent. There was no escaping that truth, blood would stain my streets and I would watch, mediate and ensure fire didn’t roll ablaze as well.

I cast out Lady Megumi’s appalled shrieks of civil war and dropped into my chair. My fingers carefully shifted through the handseals necessary as I divided my chakra into an equal six portions. “Shadow Clone.”

A poof of smoke revealed my mirror images. My baby face twisted into one of pressing concern, gaunt with responsibility and wielding the fire to ensure success in our latest scheme.

One immediately ran through fresh handseals and clapped his hands together, whispering. “Silent Veil.”

The [Barrier Seal] warbled into place, shrouding my office but more importantly, the tight circle of mes I’d summoned. Seven of us nodded reassuringly as the Seal settled— [Silent Veil] wasn’t the strongest or most impenetrable seal but it would secure us and reveal any intrusion rather…loudly.

“I’ll start,” I said, leaning forward in my seat. “This is a necessary evil.”

#2 nodded. “We know that and it was bound to happen, either under you or…”

“Obito. We can say his name, he’s not a boogey man we need to be afraid of anymore right?” #4 said.

I nodded. “Leave that pandora box of thoughts aside guys. We need to be out there as much as I’m in here. If the Swordsmen come into a clash for any reason we’ll need to be there to subdue them.”

“Isn’t that why we’re calling in Junko and Juzo?” #6 asked. “Junko already favours us and Juzo—”

#1 interrupted. “I wouldn’t say favours. We’ve dealt favourably with her in the past but this is a new thing, one that can and will affect her clan one way or another. Isn’t it a little bold to ask her to our side when we haven’t given her any news on Obito or the Masked Uchiha?”

I waved my hand at that. “Owl Masks investigation will return what it uncovers whenever it uncovers something, she knows that, I know that. There’s nothing we can do for her except grant security in this new Kirigakure being born.”

My clones shrugged. “She’ll make a fine enforcer alongside us.”

“Not just, she and Juzo will train and lead the Law Binders we’ll create.”

#2 shuddered. “Law Binders sounds very…dictator of us.”

“It is.” I said. “But that’s the point, we have to become this to make any reality of our Kirigakure stand. The Law Binders will be trained by Junko, Juzo and I but they’ll only intervene when needed, when everything is clear as night and day.”

#4 nodded as he paced back and forth. “That means they’ll be coming in last. So who will be first? Ao?”

I nodded. “Ao will lead our Confessors. They will seek out truth, investigate the full events and legitimacy of any dispute and those involved. They will be this organization's frontliners, the ugly, judgmental face dissenters meet.”

#2 groaned, his face twisted like he’d drank a pint of lemon. “Dissenters?”

#3 laughed hard, his hand wiping his face. “Relax you guys, this is still nothing worse than what Sandaime-sama put the village through.”

“Yeah, but he was under Obito’s—” #2 began a rebuttal.

“It doesn’t matter!” I said, my fist slammed against the table. “Our Confessors will not act alone, there will be many. Teams filtered from the ANBU and local police, trained by those experienced as well and overseen by Ao! The Confessors are the fairest part of this organization and yes, we’re still nowhere as bad as Sandaime-sama.” I muttered, looking up at the framed picture of the past Mizukage on the wall.

There was nothing save vulnerability in that image. The memories of he and his prestige were drowned away by the fact that, in the end, he let Madara win— perhaps the Ghost of the Uchiha was far too tall a giant for him to scale but…that was his responsibility nonetheless.

Wish I had a cup of sake to wash this taste.

“What about when it isn’t so clear cut. I can see where the Confessors come in, how they act. Investigate and report to us right? But what about actual clan disputes? Trade, marriage, debt, all the aristocratically mundane things we’ve let Uncle Aoto handle as clan head. What happens with those?” #2 demanded like he didn’t know.

“Minako.” I said.

“You’re serious about that?” #6 gaped. “And you’re not going to send one of us instead?”

I shook my head. “That would just be adding insult to injury.”

I’d resolved to speak with Minako months ago soon after my fringing personalities had become one. She was the last remaining veteran of one of the platoons I’d led in the 3rd War. Last I recalled of her was the fingers she lost to the war, the very reasons she was pulled out of it.

“With or without her Kenjutsu abilities, she’s a known and decorated shinobi. Not to mention, she’s been idle since her early retirement from the war, not a lot of noise around her but enough that her accomplishments won’t be forgotten when she’s scrutinized for the position we’re offering her.” #5 said, his arms clasped behind his back.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do the talking when the time comes, this isn’t how I wanted to reconnect but good news is better than no news in her situation, isn’t it?” My clones didn’t answer me, their faces soured at the thought but we were certain. “Minako will be our first Mediator, there will be others, selected others that are certain to maintain an impartial stance. But we’ll start with her.”

#2 shook his head. “Does it really matter? We all know at the end of the day, you decide the outcome, the justice. And it needs to always be in our benefit.”

I sighed. “Maybe…but not always. Not always.” I said, consoling myself on the degradation of the moral high ground I’d stood upon. “Whatever, you six get out there now, go. You know who all to watch and who to send to me. Let’s protect the village.”

“What about you?”#1 asked as the others leapt out the windows. “What will you do after?”

I pulled my sleeve back and dipped my quill into its inkbottle, a fresh scroll sprawled across my desk. “I’ll go right to bed, Mei’s waiting.”

Right alongside Princess Hanako and Jiraiya of the Sannin… I groaned internally. There was little left to do in the office before I left. Detailing the broad strokes of this new governing body in writing as well as informing the relevant people was all I needed now before I settled into the chaos my actions were to wroth.

“One day at a time, Yagura. The foreigners can wait.”