Just As Beautiful As The Day You Met Me

Arisu approached the Hokage's office, fully adorned as she hadn't disarmed herself of her weapons or armor. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, she wore her standard Kunoichi armor and outfit. It framed her form in a very complimentary way, accentuating her thin form. She wore the Kiba blades on her hips, and the Ersatz Kusanagi blade on her back. A Kirigakure forehead protector adorned her head, her eyes back to their usual Golden sheen as she'd dismissed the Rinnegan while she wasn't focused on maintaining the Six Paths of Pain.

Her porcelain skin contrasted the blacks and greys of her outfit, as well as the gleam of the titanium headband, all of which were immaculate, as if her travels hadn't been quite extensive. One would assume that they might have some dirt around her boots, but she often spent time cleaning off when she had a chance, and with the exception of the travel from her hotel to the Hokage's office, she hadn't had a chance to reacquire any dirt on her uniform.

Approaching the office, Arisu knocked on the door, waiting for any sort of response. Flanked by 3 Konoha Jounin, the three that had been sent to guard her, once she was given permission to enter, one would open the door, Arisu giving a slight tilt of her head in polite acknowledgement to the Jounin before setting her eyes towards the desk and chair which the Hokage would usually sit.

"I apologize for such a sudden intrusion without much notice, Nanadaime Hokage Nyguyen Uchiha, I hope I'm not imposing." The guards posted up at the door, closing it behind them, simply adding to the on guard security there was likely to be already.

For once, Nyguyen was having a light day. The workload had been lessened by a new team of exceptionally hard working operations specialists that he had hired. Of course, a "light day" during the war still meant relatively early mornings and late nights, but the pace was substantially more reasonable. Nyguyen yawned as he reviewed the last stack of reports. The money they were receiving from Iwagakure was giving them a cushion, although he couldn't help but notice that the cost of maintaining a large standing army had increased during the Gurētodaiingu. If and when Iwa paid the final independence tax, he'd need to consider streamlining parts of the city's defense infrastructure. Nyg was about to sign off on yet another operation when he heard a knock on the door. Normally he'd be irritated at the distraction but since his work volume was tame, he decided he had enough room to entertain a visitor.

"Come in" the Hokage ordered.

"What can I do for yo-" Nyguyen looked down at the report and finished signing. It was only when he looked up again did he realize who had been at his door. Arisu apologized for the interruption and he had to fight the urge not to stammer over his own words. The man was flustered, not just at the unexpectedness of Arisu's arrival, but of the kunoichi's radiance as well. She was well armed but no less regal than the greatest of Princesses. There wasn't a scratch on her and her boots didn't even appear scuffed.  The Konoha Jounin he had sent to guard her were standing at attention and Nyg couldn't help but grin. It appeared that he had succeeded in his goal of protecting Arisu. She was alive, healthy, and indeed just as beautiful as they day he last saw her.

The Hokage brushed imaginary dust off of his immaculately maintained robes and replied:

"Not at all Princess Arisu Ōtsutsuki. I always make time for my friends and allies." Nyguyen tried not to blush but found it difficult. Arisu had been good to him. She had brought his brother-in-law back to life and saved the Kiri-Konoha Alliance. Without her, it was doubtful that he'd have ascended to the position of Hokage. Fortunately, he was older and more mature than many other young men. It wasn't the first time a beautiful young woman had caught his attention and it probably wouldn't be the last. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk and flashed a warm, but strictly professional, smile.

"Please take a seat....Kirigakure is a long ways from here, I'm sure you must be weary. Can I offer you anything? Coffee? Tea? Water?"

Whatever she wanted, he'd instruct his shinobi to fetch her. He then leaned back in his chair but not before setting his Hokage hat to the side. A symbolic act meant to show that this was a meeting between comrades and not just ambassador and head of state.

"How can I help you Arisu-hime?"

A few months ago, Nyguyen would have relished just being in the Ōtsutsuki's prescence, but events of late had made hardened his outlook on statecraft. It was nice to see Arisu again but if she was here, it probably wasn't for a social visit. He had heard disturbing things coming out of Kirigakure. Talk of new leadership, interim councils, and dead Kage. He was worried at first, but he didn't notice a decrease of activity on the front. Kiri was still participating in the War even though Hana had been "retired." He decided it was best to just wait and see. Kiri's internal politics were nasty and it wouldn't be the first time a Kage of Isles had been overthrown by his own Nin. Whatever the reasons may be, so long as he could rely on them as allies he had no reason to cut off relations with them. Arisu's visit, however, indicated that things might not be as simple as he had hoped.

"First, I'd like to apologize for not replying to your letter. Unfortunately, your warning came slightly late, as I was apprehended by that Menza person while assisting in the evacuation of the city under Karifornia Island. For some reason, I was released, although it wasn't without.... loss. However, I appreciate the gesture."

Reaching into a pouch, Arisu pulled out a folder full of documents that contained the research she'd been doing to verify certain claims, just so she wasn't introducing false claims and testimony. If she was going to ask for Nyuguyen to act or stand aside from the punishment of Akihiro and Ikomiki, she needed to be sure that there was enough evidence that he couldn't dispute that they were bad for Konoha. Simply attacking Kumo's civilian cities wouldn't be enough, but given what she'd been able to find, she might be able to sway him with the truth.

"Anyhow, I won't take up too much of your time, I know you're a busy man. So by now, I assume you're aware of the attack on Moonspire in the Land of Lightning. Hana Kaguya informed one of my fellow Jounin that she had participated in the attack with some partners. After that information, she attempted to flee Kirigakure with all of our artifacts, exclusives, and money. She was then aided by Kyoji Hoshigaki and another Kirigakure nin, resulting in the death of Kyoji and Hana, although the other was spared as we don't believe he intentionally knew what was happening and was under the influence of Bijuu chakra."

Holding the folder in her hands, Arisu prepared to open it up as she continued her speech.

"Now, one of the other Kirigakure ninja has a contact in Kumo that she deems trustworthy, and through the contact's information, it was determined that Hana's companions in the Moonspire attack are two of Konoha's ninja. Those two were identified as Akihiro Uchiha, and Ikomiki, who is an Otsutsuki like myself."

At this point, she opened the folder and slid it over the desk to Nyguyen. The folder held some medical information that she'd pulled from Kirigakure's hospital records, as well as the reports from the Chuunin Exams. It detailed that Ikomiki and Shinsui were reported entering the forest, but neither had been reported exiting it. The next time they were seen was during an implantation surgery in Kirigakure, helmed by Akihiro Uchiha, using the body of Shinsui down to the description, on Ikomiki.

Arisu spoke while giving Nyguyen time to go over the information she'd handed him.

"Kitsuki's contact in Kumogakure informed her of Akihiro and Ikomiki's involvement, as well as her hypothesis that Ikomiki had killed Shinsui, a Konoha nin, during the Chuunin exams. As a result of my independent investigation, I have to agree that the evidence points that way. The DNA implanted from the body matching Shinsui's description was Senju in nature, and Ikomiki displayed evidence of being a Wood Release user during the Moonspire attack. Akihiro helped hide what happened and has kept her close, ferrying her away from the forest with his teleportation, and implanting Senju DNA into her, then surrounding her with his group, Mockingbird."

Arisu activated her Rinnegan, pointing to the one ring that she had on her eye, before dropping the Rinnegan after, back to her base golden eye.

"As I mentioned, during my imprisonment with Menza, I suffered losses. At one point, I owned the Animal Path, but I lost it after being tortured. Ikomiki showed up to attack Moonspire not long after, and used the Animal Path to destroy Moonspire. Evidence points towards a potential alliance with Mockingbird and the Society, or at least tangential benefiting. I apologize to be the one to bear bad news, but Mockingbird, or at least Akihiro and Ikomiki, are rogue elements, acting only in their interests, even to Konoha's detriment, same as Hana was a rogue element to Kirigakure."

Nyguyen had been feeling mighty pleased with himself regarding his decision to protect Arisu, but it didn't take long for the alien to set the record straight. Arisu informed him that his warning had come too late. She had been abducted by Menza while assisting in the Commonwealth evacuation. The mirth he felt evaporated and the Hokage's expression grew angry. At Menza and at himself. Konoha's "allies" in the Mountain Wars had planned the fall of Kariforunia Island. If it wasn't for their greed and stupidity, Menza might not have had the opportunity to snatch an Ōtsutsuki. Nyguyen felt a knot in his stomach as he tried not to show weakness by blaming himself. Not only had his warning been sent too late, he had created the conditions for Arisu's capture and while the young woman was not forthcoming on what Menza had done, he could only imagine what kind of cruelty the mad scientist had exacted on her. Nyguyen turned his rage towards this eternal enemy of peace.

That accursed bastard!

"Menza? What did he do to you? Did he hurt you? Do you have any information on his whereabouts? You have nothing to apologize for my dear. I will make it my personal mission to capture this terrorist and repay every insult done to you....with interest!"

Nyguyen wasn't a tough guy. It wasn't in his nature to threaten or swear bloody vengeance, but for the first time in a long while, he truly felt angry. Arisu was innocent and Menza had taken something from her. There were no lengths he wasn't willing to go to bring the Nature Clansman to justice. If the Hokage was willing to kill his own student, one would have to wonder then, what he was willing to do with the global menace that was Menza Sukiyama.

He'd welcome any specifics that the Princess could offer but if Arisu wasn't willing to go into explicit details about her kidnapping, then Nyguyen would let the matter die for now. He did not wish to re-traumatize Arisu or force her to talk about the incident at length. He'd silently bottle his rage for later. Whatever her response, he'd let her get to the true point of her visit.

Arisu immediately launched into an explanation of what happened at the Kiri gates. The report confirmed his suspicions. Hana had betrayed the trust of Kiri or she had been framed. Whatever the case may be, the woman was now dead. She wasn't in charge of Kiri and judging by the circumstances, her previous decisions were now being repudiated. Nyguyen concealed his concern under a mask of stern indifference. It wasn't that he thought Arisu to be a liar, it was that he needed to protect his own village's interests. It would not do well to react too adversely to this news. He knew of the attack on Moonspire and who was responsible. His Head Strategist had been very honest about the attack and why he had done it. The news had made him sick but he had decided to trust Akihiro. The teenager was the smartest shinobi he had ever met and what was done was done. Better to go to war with allies then try to weasel out of it and end up fighting alone. What was news to him was that apparently Kirigakure didn't extend the same level of understanding to the late Mizukage.

Either this Jounin and her allies (presumably including Arisu) saw this as an opportunity to seize power for themselves or they genuinely believed that Hana was a thief who had lured them into an unjust war so that she could make off with their valuables. Valuables that would no doubt ingratiate herself with Mockingbird. The connection was automatic in Nyg's mind. He knew that Hana had participated in the attack with Akihiro which mean she was probably an associate of his organization. He didn't condone Hana's actions but it meant little to him. He'd let Kiri clean house so long as they didn't leave Konoha holding the bag for this war. Nyguyen accepted the folder given to him by Arisu. He activated his Sharingan and began to flip through the evidence at rapid speed. The Tomoe 3 Sharingan soaked up the information in record time as Arisu continued to give him background information.

Unfortunately, the attack on Moonspire was not the only bit of mischief that the Sparrow had caused. Kitsuki, the Kiri Jounin that had orchestrated this coup, had developed a contact in Kumo that uncovered yet another conspiracy. Akihiro was neck-deep in organ trafficking.

No....this can't be.....

Nyguyen knew better. The incident with Chikamatsu had taught him never to blindly trust anyone, not even those close to you. The evidence was solid and it corroborated what he himself had heard at Konoha's hospital. The day that Chikla was arrested and executed, one of his final acts was to accuse Ikomiki of wielding the Senju bloodline. Akihiro had not denied this and instead played coy. He didn't explain how Ikomiki had gotten these abilities, but his implication was that the procedure was lawful and without foul play. Chika had suggested the opposite and while Nyg was not inclined to believe a traitor over his own blood, he had been so emotionally compromised that he wasn't really capable of analyzing the revelation. He had meant to look into it later, but the unending demands of the war and Ari's recovery had pulled his attention away. He had resolved to trust Aki and his new protégé. Besides, if Satomi was disturbed by what he heard, then he could definitely trust his brother-in-law to investigate. The accusation was never followed up on but that didn't matter now, the evidence was staring him in the face.

Akihiro's pupil had allegedly butchered a Konoha genin during the Exams. An act that while not unlawful in of itself during the contest reflected poorly on her character and capacity for self-control. He remembered how quick she was to anger. How quick she was to start a fight in the hospital with not just Nyg's student recovering, but hundreds of other wounded shinobi. Unlike Arisu, that Ōtsutsuki was a loose cannon. A fact that he was willing to overlook since it appeared Akihiro had control over her but this was too much to ignore. Not only had she murdered Shinsui, she had sought Akihiro's help in covering it up. He then proceeded to implant the young boy's organs into her body. Nyguyen's conversation with Jingo came into focus. The elder Senju was so blithe about organ trafficking as were many of the doctors in the village. Was this philosophy so prevalent as to drive his own officers to murder children for more power?

Arisu's next words answered his previous question. She pointed to her Rinnegan and its lone concentric ring. Menza had taken Animal Path from her. He didn't know what it did specifically, but given Ikomiki's ability to summon a giant Chameleon in the hospital, he could guess. If Menza was working with Mockingbird then Nyguyen really had been played a fool.

Nyguyen shut the folder and closed his eyes. Chikamatsu was right. There was something fishy going on here. He folded his hands and listened as Arisu finished her analysis. Akihiro and Ikomiki were using Konoha to further their own interests just as Hana had done. It was a lot to take in and if Nyg was a weaker man, then he'd have reached for a bottle. He kept his eyes shut and tried to think through the events of the last few months. As he did, something that Yui Kotoshura had said to him stood out.

"I do have a warning for you, Aki will betray your village, if you think you can keep a monster like him in check you are sadly mistaken. He will betray you to get more power and you will be helpless to stop him, you let him develop this mindset without punishment. You never choose to punish him for anything he's done, even with certain killings that can't be proven but we know he did it."

As truthful as she had been during that meeting, Nyguyen had dismissed her words as the bitterness of a reckless turncoat. Today's meeting was making him reconsider. Perhaps it had been he who had been reckless in trusting the Sparrow. Akihiro often disappeared without telling anyone, he took major actions without approval that put Konoha in tough positions, and on top of, it he was leeching off the future of Konoha to strengthen his own interests. What would he have done if Ashitaka was not Nyguyen's student? The Uchiha shuddered at the thought. He opened his eyes and sighed.

"Just....give me a moment. You've given me a lot to think about."

Nyguyen ordered his secretary to bring her everything she had on Shinsui Uchiha. The woman would return with his file. It was fairly light given his short career as a ninja, but it was something. Like the folder Arisu handed to him, he flipped through it with ease. Everything that he read corroborated the Kiri report. Shinsui had left for the Exams, completed the first round, was assigned to a second round that he failed to complete, and then never came home. There was nothing in there about him being a Senju, but Nyguyen didn't find that surprising given his own protégé wasn't aware of his heritage until fairly recently. Orphans and bastards with advanced bloodline limits were fairly common nowadays.

Nyguyen set the papers aside and turned to Arisu. There was definitely enough here to launch an investigation, but that option wasn't as straightforward as it seemed. He was willing to now guess that Kiri would not continue an unjust war, especially now that the trench front had collapsed.  This meeting served two functions. A courtesy to Nyg to let him know that Kiri would likely not continue fighting and a warning that he too should clean house lest he be left holding the bag for Moonspire. They probably wanted him to act and act quickly. That didn't sit right with the Hokage. Akihiro was his kin. No matter what he had done, he was family and to Nyg that was everything. The Uchiha had stood behind him in his toughest times. What sort of man would he be if he turned his back on his own cousin in his greatest hour of need? He wanted to give Akihiro the benefit of the doubt, the opportunity to defend himself, and clear his name. But Nyg also knew that the Sparrow was a slippery fellow. He was highly intelligent, outrageously strong, mobile beyond belief, and had allies in high places. If he let Aki onto what he knew then he might very well find a way to wriggle out of the situation. Either by obfuscating evidence or outright escaping Konoha's criminal justice system. Kimiko would be of no help in this regard. She was loyal to her lover (fiancée?) above all else. He had seen how fiercely she had defended him during the Clan Meeting. No....the only person I can trust with this is Satomi....

Ikomiki was an open question. Nyguyen's policy towards the aliens was simple: constructive appeasement. Where it was possible to befriend them, he'd befriend them. Where it was possible to cut them slack, he'd cut them slack. They were extremely powerful and turning them into enemies was not a good idea, especially when there were so many willing to use their powers for their own nefarious ends. That said, he could not let Ikomiki run roughshod over Konoha. Nyguyen was not naïve enough to believe that Arisu didn't have her own agenda. Despite being in the same clan, Arisu might see Ikomiki as competition and given that she had lost an ability to the cat-girl, Nyg found it oddly convenient that evidence of this conspiracy materialized based off a tip from a nation they were at war with. The whole thing reeked of a counter-intelligence operation and if Nyguyen didn't have his own batch of corroborating evidence, he'd have dismissed Arisu. Unfortunately, it wasn't so simple. Akihiro's behavior had indeed been problematic and fighting this war alone would be next to impossible. This left Nyguyen with the task of keeping Kiri happy while also not totally throwing Mockingbird under the bus.

The Hokage's warmth had worn away. The Nyguyen Arisu was now dealing with was the same one that had aggressively demanded compensation for Satomi's death. There was only a ruthless edge to his voice and an intense look in his eyes.

"These are grave accusations. Understand what you are accusing my cousin of....you are supporting Kumo's unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that Konoha and Kiri were somehow behind the attack on Moonspire." This was a bold face lie. "Not only that, you mean to tell me that my Head Strategist and confidante is actively subverting Konoha by taking the organs of a Senju genin and giving it to his disciple? Princess Arisu....your evidence is compelling but not ironclad. It has given me cause for concern I admit that much, but you more than anyone should know what I'm willing to do for my family. Good or bad, all that we have in this world is our kin. Konoha was founded by kinship and I do not intend to break that tradition. If there is an issue with Aki's behavior then Konoha will handle it internally. My only question is...can we count on Kiri's continued support in the war? Make no mistake....Shimiko and her band of Jashinist freaks won't be satisfied with Hana, Akihiro, or Ikomiki's deaths. They will come for us all regardless of who started the war. Making a separate peace with Kumo would be a betrayal of the alliance and of your promise to me. Don't forget, it was Kiri that had killed our Kage and put our relationship in jeopardy. Its been repaired through mutual trust but leaving Konoha out in the cold would break that trust"

"Menza isn't a problem right now. I'm physically fine now, just mentally there's some issues. But we can loop back to that later."

Arisu was eager to get to her point rather than discuss the trapezoidal eyed man.

"I'm well aware of what the implications of my accusations mean. However, I don't just wildly support or excuse any actions, especially ones that target innocents. It doesn't matter to me who does such a thing, there's no justification for mass murder of civilians, and my ties are ultimately to the innocents of this planet. I asked to be the one to speak to you as I believe you to be a moral man, committed to justice, and to give you a chance to respond to this."

Arisu turned her gaze to his eyes as she spoke, examining his face and expressions as she spoke. It was clear enough that he didn't enjoy being put in such a position, nor was it fun for her to be the one to put him in such a position. She'd done her part before in ensuring that the alliance between Kirigakure and Konoha continued when she raised Satomi from the dead, but at the time, she wasn't partially in charge of Kirigakure. Her orders had been to continue the alliance, and so she had. As a leader herself now, she had to choose which path Kirigakure was to take, and was willing to continue an alliance so long as it was not one with a foundation of immorality.

"Kirigakure will continue to offer its support as Konoha's ally. As I understand it, the attack of Moonspire was carried out by rogue elements of our nations, but not as representatives of either. I'm not asking you to participate in the taking in of Ikomiki or Akihiro, but I am asking that you not impede their being brought to justice. I'm asking that you acknowledge their acts as criminal, and that you disavow Mockingbird. If you want to handle the taking in of Akihiro, then Kirigakure is happy to lend its hand, and I believe Kitsuki has some method of shutting down his teleportation, and I have methods of shutting down his Bijuu abilities."

Raising a hand to brush a strand of her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. It was a small act of hers, a small nervous tic she'd always had. Arisu was a calm and collected woman, her poise befitting one of her station, but when she was uncomfortable, she often touched her hair, tucking it behind her ear.  

"If not, if you stand behind the act, Kirigakure will pull its support from Konoha. As professional courtesy, I feel obligated to tell you, we will ally with Kumogakure's warriors to bring their assailants to justice. If Kumogakure is not placated with the monetary support we're providing to the survivors of Moonspire and the deaths of the assailants, and continue to attack, you'll have Kirigakure's support as justice shall have been served."

A moment of pause followed as she contemplated her next words, holding up a finger so as to inform Nyguyen that she wasn't quite finished speaking.

"I say this, not as a Kirigakure representative, but as a protectorate of the people of this planet. My ultimate allegiance is not to any of the nations. National alliances mean little to me, and I'm willing to bring anyone to justice, foreign or domestic. I didn't enjoy the death of Hana, nor am I a fan of violence, but there are times it is required, and I'm willing to do so. I do have a personal request, however. Regardless of what choice you make, I would like to reacquire the Animal Path from Ikomiki. All it takes is a moment with her and I can absorb her power, but I cannot allow it to be used for such wrongdoing."

She could see as she had spoken, as she'd listened to the Hokage, that he'd grown more intense. A reminder of how he'd been during the meeting before Satomi's revival. However, Arisu's own intensity shown through as well. She had regained her composure after a brief moment of nervousness, and as she had spoke, grew more and more sure of her conviction. If she needed to be the one to break the alliance, it was clear that she would. It was equally clear, however, that she didn't want to do that if it was avoidable.

The Hokage let the matter of Menza die for now. What she come to Konoha to talk about was indeed far more important and when she explained why, he couldn't help but get angry. Nyguyen's warm expression turned into a glare the more she spoke. It was the first time since she had boldly proclaimed her ability to resurrect Satomi that he had shown displeasure towards her. Kirigakure wasn't just willing to withdraw its support, they were going to actively help Kumogakure bring Akihiro and Ikomiki to justice. If Konoha protected them, then they'd be fighting against their indomitable foe and their once proud ally. If that happened, then Iwa would probably be emboldened to withdraw their support. Suna, who had been acting out with respect to Rivers, would likewise jump ship given that they were closer to Kiri than Konoha. Kumo might have been able to manage a four against one war, but Nyg doubted that Konoha could do the same. It'd be the end of the Fire Country as they knew it. The man's hand was being forced and although he could tell Arisu was uncomfortable communicating this threat, she was communicating it to him all the same. She also knew too much. Nyg wasn't even aware that Akihiro had a Bijuu, but judging by the way she spoke, she wasn't lying. How could she know that? Nyg wasn't sure but it increased her credibility much to his chagrin.

The dazzle of her beauty faded and now Nyguyen found himself looking at a cold alien whose perspective lorded above his own. Apparently kin and country weren't as important to her as doing the right thing. A laudable goal but a hopelessly naïve one. Nyguyen had read enough history to know that right and wrong weren't always so objective. Akihiro had indeed murdered scores of civilians and knowing what he did weighed on Nyg's conscience. He had contemplated disavowing Mockingbird then and there, but he had seen what Kumo had been up to. An openly Jashinist nation that meddled in the affairs of the world was building a techno-army that would ensure their dominance in perpetuity. Akihiro's actions were cruel, yes, but they served what Nyg considered to be the greater good. Even this business with Shinsui, as cruel as it may be, added a more powerful ninja to their ranks right in time for war. Nyguyen wasn't convinced that his subordinates were intrinsically evil. They were doing what they needed to do to secure their interests and up until recently, Nyg had believed those interests aligned with Konoha's.

Unfortunately, as angry as he was with Arisu, he had to admit that that alignment wasn't as close as he had originally believed. Nyguyen remembered the day Akihiro had come into his office to report the attack on Moonspire. He had his Sharingan active then, and the teen's words were burned into his memory. Every sound, syllable, and motion that his lips made were now effortlessly recalled.  

"Hana is the Mizukage. Branding her a terrorist will likely break Konoha and Kiri's alliance at least while she's in power. That would be a long while, since there's likely no one in Kirigakure no Sato who can match her strength, and even if we could replace her an inner conflict would only weaken them. Not to mention, it would raise suspicions between the two villages tremendously, making it incredibly difficult for them to stand together against an impending Kumogakure no Sato invasion.

Banishing me seems like the most obvious move to make if we only consider the immediate consequences of the attack. But if you think ten, maybe fifteen steps ahead... I think it's a bad idea. Not for myself, but for the implications that would have with our relation with Kirigakure as well as for the war effort. Not to mention..."

He had long praised Akihiro for his intelligence and insight, but his prediction turned out to be wrong. Kitsuki, Arisu, and whoever else had gone along with this coup was strong enough to take down both Hana and Kyoji. In fact, this Kitsuki might even be able to counter his infamous teleportation abilities. They were now in control of Kiri and all the reasons that pushed Nyg in favor of protecting Mockingbird were now moot. Konoha simply couldn't afford to alienate Kiri and remain locked in conflict with Kumo. It was totally untenable. As much as he despised what Arisu was saying, the practicality of the situation was plain to see. He cared little for her morals but the conviction behind them would force his hand. Akihiro had attacked Moonspire without his leave and had harvested the organs of a genin. He was smart but his loyalty and reliability were questionable. If he had to sacrifice Akihiro to keep the Uchiha and Konoha safe, then the boy had left him no choice. The Hokage ground his teeth and shook his head bitterly.

"I, too do not look kindly upon what transpired at Moonspire. And I will get to the bottom of your claims but let's be clear. No nation is free of guilt. From the cultists in Kumo to Kiri's actions in Demons....if Aki is in fact guilty, his behavior is unexceptional when we consider the history of this continent and at a minimum he should be afforded due process. It wouldn't be the first time he was falsely accused of treason."

He thought back to Tatsu-sama. Was it really a false accusation though? The cat was insane but was there some level of truth to her madness? Whatever the case may be, there was no helping it. Akihiro had to be brought in and he had to be brought in quickly. If there was truth to this organ harvesting business then Nyg needed to know and if he could also buy some time to figure out how to save the young man's life, then even better. Nyguyen  swallowed and gave his reply:

"I will not allow Kumo to take his head until I am 100% sure he did what you say he did. I will not condemn my kin based off the word of an anonymous source from an enemy village and a Jounin whom I've never met. However, you've given me enough credible information to pursue an investigation. Unfortunately, knowing Akihiro...it would not be prudent to give him advance notice. There is only one person I trust in Konoha to ensure that he is brought in alive and safely. Satomi Uchiha. Your help and that of this Kitsuki would be welcome in this. We will need to move quickly and take him within the week, or within the day if possible. He is currently located at Mockingbird's local base in Konoha tending to Iko who has been afflicted with the plague. I will let you take part in his capture but once that happens I'd say your involvement ends there. Akihiro will be placed in joint custody but Satomi will lead the investigation into the crimes you spelled out. We will find out the truth and then act in the interests of justice and peace as the Hidden Leaf has always done. Until I get a report from my designated lead on this operation, I don't want him turned over to Kumo. If he is found guilty then I want your word that we will be permitted to deal with him in an honorable and humane fashion. We don't want his eyes in the hands of those Jashinists...."

It pained him to say those words. Akihiro was his blood and he had watched the boy grow into a man over the course of these past few years. He was still a bit immature and unwilling to take responsibility over his family life, but he was just a kid. He still had room to grow and as smart as he was, there were somethings that just couldn't be taught. He remembered trying to talk Akihiro into committing to marriage. He was scared and he had every right to be, but that girl loved him and Nyg knew that she'd make him a better man. Perhaps one less reckless and selfish than he was becoming. It was doubtful that a marriage would happen now. Nyguyen knew that he was possibly sentencing Akihiro to death. Like the decision to kill Chika, it crushed him. The difference was that there was a lot less to crush this time around. This pain was familiar and he had learned to swallow it for the greater good. The sadness was quickly replaced with rage. He would not shed a single tear but would instead give Arisu the dirtiest look he had ever given any kunochi.

"Spare me your moralizing out-worlder. Whatever interest you have in this planet is no concern of mine nor is your relationship with Ikomiki. I will permit you to take her power...hell I will let you keep her body and produce it to Kumo. It might cool their bloodlust a bit. However, I expect nothing less than Kiri's unflinching loyalty during the peace negotiations. I don't want you conspiring with them to leave us in the dirt, you've never seen us with our back against the wall and you'd do well to keep it that way. I have a feeling there is a lot we need to discuss on the international stage...the factors that led to this World War did not sprout from the ether. If we are to ensure a lasting peace then it is critical that we resolve these systemic issues before they arise to a repeat of the Gurētodaiingu."

Unlike Akihiro, Nyguyen had no particular love for Ikomiki. So long as the alien was an ally of the Hidden Leaf, he'd defend her, but she had proven to be a liability in more ways than one. She was easily rattled and if Arisu spoke the truth, she was a danger to other Leaf genin. She had to go.

"That is perfectly agreeable. By all means, do your own internal investigation and deal with the body afterwards as you see fit, placating Kumogakure isn't a concern of mine necessarily, I'm doing this out of a sense of justice. Humane deaths and accurate information are vital, and I don't much like the Jashinists myself. For that reason, the Jashinists of Kumogakure are next on my list to remove."

Arisu shifted in her seat slightly as Nyguyen told her to spare her moralizing. For the first time, a frown broke her visage as her eyebrows furrowed slightly. This wasn't the first time someone had targeted her lineage in conversation, and the last time it had been someone she had considered an ally as well. Kitsuki had torn their relationship asunder, and she wasn't exactly thrilled with the prospect of Nyguyen also having thrown away the care he'd had for her.

"Spare me your insults. I came here out of courtesy for you so you'd hear it from me. You'll have Kiri's loyalty during any peace talks. That said, I'm going to prepare to move fast. We'll apprehend him as quickly and as safely as possible. I suggest you prepare a dungeon room with a seal of some sort that shuts down chakra while inside it."

Rising from her seat, Arisu bowed her head politely and made to leave the room. So long as Nyguyen didn't stop her, that would be that, and she'd make her way back to the hotel to pick up one of her paths.

[Attempted Exit]

Nyguyen nodded as the two came to an accord. It was dirty business but it had to be done. For Konoha's sake.... He was intrigued at the prospect of Arisu wanting to take down the Jashinists. He didn't mind but he concerned that a breach of peace so soon after the war might lead them right back where they started. He didn't show any remose when she chastised him for insulting her, although internally he regretted his words. It wasn't her fault that Akihiro was now a wanted war criminal. He knew this day might come the second Aki had confessed the crime to him. Nyguyen did not move to stop Arisu but instead sent the guards assigned to his office to reach out to Satomi and explain to him the situation. Once the guards left, he'd draft orders for a dungeon to be set up and for a guard team to be assigned to him. As he worked, a tear rolled down his cheek and nestled in his beard.

How much longer could he go on like this?

[Fade to Exit]