Reborn in the Mist

I was wide awake and dressed when I received my clone's memories. I couldn’t sleep a wink, not while the village was turned up on its head. In their memories I did find a thread of hope and another reason to be afraid and sleepless.

Mei.

For whatever conspired reason Lady Suikazan has thought up, Mei was the messenger the Caste Clans coalition sent to the jaws of the main clans. It was a hope that the Caste Clans had chosen, quite correctly, to enter dialogue rather than outrightly prepare for a day-long civil uprising.

But I feared what arrangements they made while Mei begged to speak with the Main clans. She’d be within Junko Hoshigaki’s host at the moment and while I trusted that Junko wouldn’t want to stand in my way, I worried about other possible ways she could take advantage of these events.

I’d wrestled with paranoid and valid fears all night and day, I shook my head free of the complicated web of political consequences that awaited me after today— Kirigakure would never be the same again. Whether for better or for worse, whatever happened today would set the foundation for everything that’s yet to come.

It’s already a mess.

Pacing my breath I had a final look at myself in the mirror, stared into my own purple-pink irises and into the soul of the Kage I was becoming. The one I had become.

“You’re a stranger.” I whispered, eyes locked on the dead gaze of my reflection. I numbed my feelings to the cost and nodded at myself. “Welcome then, you might be here a while.”

I tore away from my self-consoling, haori waving behind me as I marched down the stairs and out the mansion, waving away breakfast and its unusually unappetizing scent. The sky was absent today, nothing more than a layer of fog brightly illuminated by unreachable sunlight.

The ANBU like me were sleepless, working tirelessly on ensuring internal cohesion and to prevent the streets from flooding with more blood than it can soak. They flitted around like shadows and flightful birds, not one bothering to greet me as I marched towards the Central District, a sign of diligent work.

My mind drifted as I walked through the silent fog, the streets abandoned and scarce of civilians. Jiraiya’s little intrusion last night was, at present, the least of my worries in terms of security— the man was an effective spy and a Kage level shinobi, not to mention, I’d taken all personal body guards off my effects prior to everything turning upside down.

However, what intrigued my anxiety filled mind wasn’t Jiraiya slipping through non-existent defences but the wisdom he came looking for.

He’s going to become Hokage.

At least I hope so. Everything I’d mentioned about the burden of leadership was true and unbiased, even though I wanted a sensible person at the head of Konoha right now. If Jiraiya truly took my words to heart then....

Perhaps foreign relations won’t be so difficult moving forward.

It would be a much needed development as despite my unending promises to Junko to deliver the Masked Uchiha Kirigakure’s justice, Reina and her team hadn’t reported anything useful in tracking the elusive Uchiha. Not even around Amegakure’s surroundings.

With each report I received the more it seemed there was nowhere with a hint of Obito. It made sense that it’d be difficult to find a man capable of portalling wherever he wishes, but there at least had to be some sightings, a trail of clues or crumbs of public appearances or violent incidents that would lead Reina and her team right onto him.

Yet there wasn’t so much as a pindrop where he was concerned. From her many, uneventful progress reports I could tell Reina was getting frustrated as Junko was with the lack of results. It foreboding how completely he’s avoided us— whatever he was plotting in the dark couldn’t be good.

Konoha’s resources and time would help a ton.

I silently prayed for Jiraiya to become Hokage as I approached the Hoshigaki clan compound. The four guards stationed outside immediately straightened up from their board game, saluting and bowing in a confused and embarrassed jumble.

Rolling my eyes I inspected the outside with my eyes and expanded my senses further in even as I asked. “Where are they?”

“Lady Junko and Elite Jounin Mei?” I nodded, I couldn’t sense either familiar chakra signature within the clan compound. The guard shared a confirming look with his fellow as he answered. “I heard something about the Funato, they might be there now.”

“No, not there.” one shook his head. “The Funato and Hozuki are meeting in a neutral zone, my friend told me Lord Yuki would be their host.”

Hidaki Yuki.

I hummed at his involvement, it was fitting for how limited and diminished the Yuki had found themselves this year. Playing neutral was a wise and appropriate move, the Yuki themselves had no subject caste clans but passively benefitted from their oppression where their status as a Main clan allowed them to.

“Thank you.” I said before bursting into a sprint.

If Hidaki, Lord Funato, Lady Megumi and now Mei and Junko were all gathered in the same place then…

It’s happening.

The final dialogue for what Kirigakure’s future would look like had begun.

My heart skipped a beat as I neared the compound. “What will it cost?”

***

“Silence!” Hidaki yelled over the banter just as I strolled in unannounced yet right at home. He sent glares at the ever troublesome Funato-Hozuki duo before settling on me with a reverent gaze. “Lord Fourth…”

They held their meeting of fates out in the courtyard, for what sunlight escaped the mist to darkly illuminate their faces. But also, of course, to ensure they were efficiently protected with paths for escape.

All four corners of the compound walls seemed to be cloistered with their shinobi, Hozuki and Funato just barely at each others throats yet too busy watching so that their leaders weren’t assassinated or blown up. For all their bark and bite, the two old goons opposed at the square table wouldn’t resort to that.

Hidaki presided at the table’s top end, his brows knitted in an ever deep furrow. On its end side was Junko Hoshigaki, her hand wrapped around Mei’s and her head tilted over her shoulder. She acknowledged me with a measuring look, her darting eye led me to Mei’s.

“Yagura…-sama.”

My throat tightened up and I swallowed as I strolled to the table. “Interesting…were the Karatachi not invited?”

Lord Funato looked well pissed enough by whatever jest, jeers and slurs Lady Megumi had hurled his way. I walked behind his chair and indulged an amused smile as his neck hairs rose on their ends.

Lady Megumi was never one to shy away from pressure. She didn’t hide her displeasure, her lips didn’t bend in their usual accommodating smile as she provided, “This doesn’t concern the Karatachi.” She narrowed her eyes on me. “Unless we are conclude that the Kaguya are your clan’s—”

“Lady Hozuki!” Hidaki hissed sharply as I stared unfazed at her unspoken accusations.

I completed my orbit around the modest arrangement and looked between Mei and Hidaki. “I will spectate.”

Hidaki stiffened, fingers snapping at servants. “Yes sir, we’ll prepare a seat immediately.”

“And for Mei Terumi as well, I assume she’s here as a representative?” I said, my gaze skirting briefly at Junko who seemed to reaffirm her grip on Mei’s hand.

“Not in any functional capacity, she is nothing more than Lady Suikazan’s strong arm.” Lord Funato spat distastefully glaring at Junko and Mei. “The only ones invited to this are myself and Lady Megumi here.”

I shrugged as Hidaki’s servants arranged a raised chair and some food platters for me. I took my seat and said. “Well, that’s not the case anymore, things evolve.”

“Indeed, Lord Fourth.” Hidaki said, his eyes closely following the servants as they placed an extra seat at the table for Mei. I felt her steal glances at me, and caught a couple too before Hidaki clapped his hands. “Please, let’s return to form and continue where we left off.”

Almost as soon as she’d sat down Mei rose again from her seat, the long scroll in her hands winding out as she cleared her throat. “I know what you all think of me, of the Caste clans.” she began, her eyes cast around the table, lingering on Lord Funato whose scowl was his entire wrinkled face.

“Your belief of superiority and our…enforced inferiority has long enabled the toxic dynamics that have led me to this…honourable gathering. My voice is that of the Caste clans, those that have aligned under the Suikazan banner, the Poison Mist, the Kozui, the Innui and others you are well familiar with.”

Her eyes found their steel as she took a deep breath. “With this voice I deliver an ultimatum, our last resort on this final day of discourse.” Lady Megumi snorted derisively but didn’t say anything. Mei ignored her, “But first, our demands.”

Junko took a particular shine to this part, her lips splitting open in a barely contained grin she made sure Lady Megumi and Lord Funato knew was because of them. “Yes, please, lets hear what the caste clans wish to seize for themselves.”

Mei sighed. “We aren’t seizing anything, it doesn’t have to come to that.”

“No, it doesn’t because if it does, it won’t end well for any single mudblood.” Lord Funato said with a self satisfied certainty, his hands clutching his cane as if he was already holding himself back from whacking Mei over the head with it for daring to even speak here and on such matters.

The atmosphere only grew more tense with my silent spectating. My brows were deeply furrowed as my thoughts whirled at all what Mei’s ultimatum could be. All effective options ugly enough to be called an ultimatum were…quite ugly.

I disallowed myself from intervening because of my own law but if this starts to look like the first day of a civil war then…

I might have to take back my words and the lives lost might have been for nothing. I kept my gnashed teeth hidden and squeezed the handles of my chair as I leaned forward, eager to listen.

“We demand an abolition of caste based restrictions.” Mei said, her voice loud and carrying through the courtyard with a necessary confidence. “The archaic tradition of keeping special ranks and titles exclusive to Main clan members is a greater part of what keeps our military traditions weak and our culture weaker. It must end.”

Starting off simple. I thought with a released breath. Mei and I had once spoken of this very issue, caste clan members being cut off from promotions unless it's a special case and entire clans being banned from advancing past Chuunin and thus never gaining access to the truly strengthening Jounin and Elite Jounin jutsu and skills. I’d love to see that gone.

“The abolition of indentured roles, enslaved generations of caste families servicing the Main clans must be granted their freedom, they’ve more than earned it.” Mei said, not backing away from Lord Funato’s fuming glare. “We demand fair mission distribution and pay equity, we demand fair land redistribution and we demand council representation.”

That last part visibly didn’t sit well with any clan head present. Hidaki looked as surprised as the day I spared he and his clan, Lady Megumi changed the look she gave Mei, in her eyes now were a threat to be curtailed and Lord Funato—

“Or else what!” He barked, kicking his seat back as he rose with his cane clacking loudly against the ground. “You demand this, you demand that. Who are you to demand anything of us? You think just because you’ve gotten Mizukage-sama to permit this radical nonsense that we’ll let you walk all over us?”

Mei’s lips parted to speak but Lord Funato had held his tongue long enough. “Your goons tried and failed to take my head, I am still standing generations after this village was founded, I am its oldest, wisest and longest reigning clan head of the Funato and I will see you dead where you stand before I ever let you corrupt my village!”

Mei stood undisturbed by Lord Funato’s cane wagging in her face, she raised a brow at him as if to ask if he was done before casting a look at the other clan heads. Lady Megumi patiently waited for the drama to unfold, though the uncanny look of an animal studying its prey never left her eyes.

I cleared my throat and drew their attention briefly as I spoke. “I will continue to spectate but let us conduct ourselves in a manner befitting our stations and this meeting.”

Lord Funato scoffed at Mei’s measured silence and hobbled back to his seat, muttering to himself and then barking at Lady Megumi. “Why are you silent? Does this child’s insolence please you? Does any of this!”

Lady Megumi snapped her bejeweled hand fan open, hiding a devious smile as Lord Funato returned to his seat opposite her. “Of course not, but this is the verdict of the Mizukage and just as you have foolishly taken advantage of it to launch attack after attack against my clan…I see no reason why anyone else shouldn’t make the best of a tough situation.”

He growled, dissatisfied at his hypocrisy being called out. Eager to move things along, Junko yelled, “Oh enough already, tell them what’s at stake, Mei. Tell them what will happen if they don’t get onboard.”

I was at the edge of my seat as well as Mei, still standing, declared. “Should any of our demands be denied then the caste clans will retaliate with complete and utter brutality.”

“Retaliate? Against what? We haven’t done anything to you?” Lady Megumi questioned.

“Generations of suffering, indentured and war fodder youths say otherwise.” Mei hissed.

Lord Funato chuckled darkly. “Retaliate? Try to remember who you’re speaking to, who you’re daring to threaten. We Fuanto have been this village’s back bone for generations after generations.”

“Not the last one.” Lady Megumi interjected, earning a mean side eye from Lord Funato. She shrugged. “Two Mizukage’s says a lot more than one, even if it is the founder.”

Lord Funato ignored her. “Whatever form of retaliation you wish to inflict upon us will be repelled completely. You are weak.”

“And we are united.” Mei said without missing a beat. “Yes, retaliating in any form or kind has always been met with death or harsh punishment, but we are united. We are dedicated to standing by each other, to protecting each other and perhaps we may be weak but you are alone.

“The caste clans have chosen me as their voice to deliver this ultimatum and promise an end to the discrimination and slavery. Already, I believe there will be no objections from Lord Karatachi to these demands.”

In the absence of Uncle she looked over at me for a response. “No, I believe my uncle will approve this change as I do.”

Mei nodded gratefully and looked to Hidaki, “And what of you, Lord Yuki? You may be an impartial host but your approval is still needed to enact these demands. Do you support or do you stand in the way?”

Hidaki looked caught off guard but after a moment of muttering he said firmly. “No, I will not offer support or objections, I forfeit my vote.”

Lord Funato snapped his head around at the humble man. “What! Are you thinking at all? It should never even come to something as delicate as a vote but—”

Junko kicked her chair back as she stood, proudly lifting a cup as if there were something to toast. “And I have already pledged my support to the caste clans, to Mei Terumi.” She grinned at Lady Megumi’s furrowed face. “Of course, I’ll always support the underdog and this dog has much to give in return.”

I couldn’t miss the squeamish look on Mei’s face at Junko’s words. It was only present for a second before she put on her visage of strength once more. Taking a deep breath as she looked between Lady Megumi and Lord Funato she said, “The decision lies with you two now and let me assure you…it might be easy to subdue we caste clans with your collective might but if all the blood, sweat and tears that has been exploited is dedicated to ensuring the destruction of a single Main clan…then we will be as satisfied with ourselves as accomplishing all our demands.”

There it is. The true nature of the ultimatum. “What are you implying, Mei?” I said delicately.

She shook her head at me and for the first time since stepping into this meeting I saw her smile again. It was bittersweet.

“I imply nothing, I am but a lowly messenger. Whichever clan stands in the way will see its end by the caste sword and blood. We are ready to die for our freedom, are you prepared to die to keep us underfoot, Lord Funato?”