The Grand Auction Begins!

The city was bustling with activity. Uniforms were back in style with black and gold trim. The temperature in sky was mild which provided for a lot of plant growth and on the coast it was a slight bit colder. Even in the summer on the floating city of the heavenly emporium there was a brisk breeze in the streets. Still it was nothing that the city didn't prepare for. People were bundled up nicely and there was rarely cloud cover sporadically in this part of the world. So the wind felt good to most. Still there were employees who went about cleaning up any ice or trash in the city. Salting the streets and the sidewalks at night to be safe. On one side of the emporium was the nearby coastline of the land of sky. Where a dock was set for arriving ships and a special dock for the skyship that ferried people back and forth to the island twelve times a day. Every two hours. Carrying shipments of supplies for the guests and population. Though the people working in the tower were not from the land of sky...but rather from the original crew of the emporium. Assigned to either the tower or the engines. Trusted with keeping and maintaining flight and order. What set them aside were their eyes. The whites had turned black and most had a single blue slit for an iris.

Most of the attending staff outside of the tower and engines however were from the surrounding lands that Okane had purchased. Either having moved here with their families to work indefinitely for the good benefits or on a temp work visa from the nearby land of sky. Everyone there was well taken care of and enjoying the opportunity to work there. Though the non locals were still wide eyed and amazed and could be picked out easily. Still everyone was doing their best to do their jobs. Guests just visiting were directed by a guide about their business and usually were gone by the end of the day. There were lodging establishments available for overnight of course. Those who were here for the auction however and said as much would be escorted to other accommodations more fitting for high society. Thousand thread count bedding and chandeliers with room service kind of rooms. All of it comped to the tower. They were encouraged to enjoy themselves and guards were placed for them. Any time they wished to explore a guide would be provided that also acted as a body guard. They were under orders not to accept no and could not allow otherwise. The only way to go about the island alone was to escape them. And then someone without a guide outside the uniform would be spotted easily. The guides and guards were all A rank fighters of some skill too as to prevent any fighting they could.

The first day of the auction was a celebration. A festival filled the streets and vendors from around the world were peddling their wares. Showing their craftsmanship and food was filling the air with an abundant aroma of mouth watering assorted food stuffs. From a hot dog stand all the way to calamari. A parade led straight through the streets and people lined either side with smiling faces painted or masks purchased nearby. Some shinobi and some samurai were all in the weapons and armor sections attempting to up their game. Attempting to get some quality weapons from anyone selling or sturdy but light armor. In truth it was a beautiful sign of peace. A letter in thick eggshell white paper with actual melted gold font would arrive for anyone announcing their business to join the auction. They were invited to the diplomacy district after lunch around two. Their escorts would guide them.

The diplomacy district was three large dome shaped buildings with an assortment of rooms available for negotiations. Here the board met often with the minor nations to discuss maintenance and improvements. It had also been used before to end a war between the major nations in the form of a peace treaty. The guests would be directed to the center building which had been renovated. The entire dome was empty with red velvet pillow cushioned seats in their own raised platforms for each expected representative. Each individual party would be directed to their seating area and be handed a numbered sign to pick up when they wished to bid. A microphone attached to the table in front of them. They were encouraged to keep talk into the microphone to the auction only and push the red button under it when they wished to speak. Their escort would remove themselves to the back of the platform. Each party guarded with an A rank npc.

Kiyoshi would quietly adjust himself in his seat as he looked around the large dome room, being as it seemed he was the first to arrive here with the exception of the staff even the smallest of noises seemed to have an echoing effect within the room. He had arrived at the emporium early enough that he was able to get an audience with the Iron Prince, a meeting that he felt went fairly well in his own opinion, and now that it was out of the way he would be able to focus on what it was that he was sent here to do. Suguru would be left in the hotel room with Akimitsu, something that Suguru was initially against. With all the guards looming around the metropolis as well as his own skills he saw little need for Suguru's muscle during the auction itself, so Kiyoshi told him the one thing that he knew would get the other man to stay in the room. He told Suguru that he was the only person that Kiyoshi could trust to keep Akimitsu safe, while he would be fine on his own with the guards he needed Suguru to ensure that no harm fell on Akimitsu while he was gone. Suguru didn't argue after that, simply stating that Kiyoshi had his word that he would protect Akimitsu Fist of the leaf style.

Earlier in the day he had walked the market area with his guide, though he was left rather disappointed not only were they over priced in his opinion the materials they were made out of left much to be desired. In truth every piece of armor or weapon he saw just made him think that he could have done it better, in fact with the exception of the prince himself, Kiyoshi felt he was the most skilled crafter on the island, suddenly regretting not bringing any of his own wares to display. Now he sat in the auction booth for Konohagakure alone waiting for the auction to start and with any luck get an item that's actually worth the money.

Ryuko's outfit:

When she saw how many men and women it took to keep the Emporium running, Ryuko let out a sigh.  Perhaps her idea of having a sky island of her own was somewhat unrealistic.  Maybe when she’d had the Kingdom of Thunder behind her she could source the type of manpower required but where was she going to find the personnel to keep such a thing operational now?  It was ironic how despite all of her personal power there were plenty of things she couldn’t do right now because she was essentially a lone wolf without a pack. 

Take the auction for example.  The fact it was only one item per buyer put her at a massive disadvantage compared to someone who came with a crew like Kiyoshi.  The only saving grace was that the starting bids were so high, limiting the potential pool of people that could participate.  Ryuko was rich but even she only had so much Ryo to spend, if she wasn’t careful during an event like this even she could go broke.

In a way the Auction was a battlefield, just one fought with money rather than kunai and shuriken.   If she had more time she’d investigate the other attendees to try and work out how much money they had to work with but that wasn’t really an option thanks to the guard constantly tailing her every time she so much as left her room.

 Frankly she found it stifling.   They weren’t exactly weak but considering how strong she was they might as well be tissue paper against anyone that was powerful enough to be an actual threat.  Sure she’d had her own royal guard back at her palace but they didn’t usually follow her around the village when she was out on business.  Well not that she couldn’t slip away if she truly wished too, the only real reason she didn’t was out of a desire not to cause trouble. 

As she made her way to the auction house she paid attention to the fanfare of the festivities around her.  It was nice to see a moment of peace and she privately had to wonder just how much longer it would last.  The times were always changing and with them the people in power.  Such was the nature of man that another war was inevitable.  Be it tomorrow, a year from not or decades down the line.  She could only pray that her work would push it back as far as possible.

Reading the event program that was available she frowned when she saw that they would be beginning with a chemistry item.  With the limited amount of things on auction she had been hoping they would start with her least desired category and work their way up so that she could bleed as many rivals as possible out of the race.   Call her cheap if you want but if she could only win one item she wished to obtain it for the lowest price possible. 

Her first instinct about a chemistry time was to have Okane replicate the serum that guaranteed a successful implant surgery.  She’d probably get more than one dose which would be highly useful but it’d still be kind of a waste considering one of her main objectives was to have an implant done on herself.   Considering she didn’t have an existing bloodline to complicate things the odds of success were already heavily in her favor.   

Not that she wasn’t afraid to play the long game, it could work out if she got her hands on another bloodline or two but that was much much easier said than done especially given Ryuko’s general nature. For someone whose hands were drenched red with blood she was remarkably soft. She didn’t want to hurt or kill people unless she had a good reason too.   Causing pain just for her own gain felt incredibly wrong. 

Well honestly even using it for something as powerful as getting multiple implants felt like a lack of imagination on her part.  It wasn’t every day you could get a chemical that could break some of the rules.  She just wasn’t really sure what she’d want to even use such a thing for.  As such she wasn’t about to cry and tears if she couldn’t acquire it in this auction, not when she had her eyes on a larger prize. 

Scanning the seats she saw the only one to arrive prior to her was her new acquaintance Kiyoshi.  She thought it was rather bold of him to come without his bodyguard Suguru.  Did he actually trust the Emperium guards that much or was something else going on?  If nothing else, having someone else to bid for him meant he could have gone for two items rather than one… Perhaps he wasn’t confident enough in his funds for that. 

On one hand he was someone she wanted as a close ally but on the other the less potential rivals for her the better.  If he bought one of the things she wanted less the more likely she was to win the prize she sought, especially since it didn’t look like there was going to be a flood of people joining them.   A representative from Kiri most likely and perhaps one from Iwa as well were the most likely options since the backing of a major power was virtually a requirement to attend.   The amount of people with enough private funds to participate like Ryuko was slim. 

Because this was a public event Ryuko was decked out in an extravagant and fancy dress that belied the fact most of what she was wearing was in fact armor. If only the softer inner layer that was usually concealed under her hard metallic platemail shell which her summon Leonardo was holding onto for With permission from Okane she also had her legendary shield and spear equipped among other items though they were in their most inconspicuous forms to avoid drawing attention.   If anyone dared to cause trouble that the guards couldn’t handle, she was well prepared and positioned to deal with them with extreme prejudice. 


[1]



Equip list for this thread

Equip list:

(OOC: Came here via international travel but Okane said he is fine with it, if any issues with my prescence in this thread please let me know)

Kitsuki's Outfit:

Kitsuki had arrived at the reconstructed Emporium an exhausted and disheveled mess. She had hauled ass to get here, quite unnecessarily one might say as it had taken longer than anticipated to start the auction. But Kit was willing to burn through her chakra reserves so that she would not disappoint the Iron Prince a second time. When Kit got to the Heavenly Emporium, she was surprised at how thorough the restoration process had been. The city flew like it had never been plunged into the sea by vicious terrorists. Kit took a shuttle to the floating construct and gave her identifying information. Like the other VIPs, she had been given a comped room with all the most luxurious amenities. She showered, rested and put together an outfit that would kill. It consisted of a white blouse with ashcoft, double-breasted officer’s tailcoat in a dark navy with silver buttons. And finally, a pair of snow white rider’s pants, polished black boots and white gloves. She complimented it all with a silver tiara that signified her status as a royal.

Once she was perfectly put together, Kit left her apartments and traveled to the auction itself. She didn’t resist the guides that attended her every time she left her private quarters. Like Ryuko, they were more for the Prince’s peace of mind than her own protection. There were few who posed a threat to her physical person and none that could do so without themselves risking life and limb. But if the guards made Okane feel better than she wouldn’t complain. Eventually Kit would make it to the auction dome housed in the Diplomatic District. She entered the building and stopped to scan the room.

She didn’t recognize anyone. And the hall was far more sparse than she’d have imagined.

Is this how the shinobi world welcomes back their Iron Prince?

Okane had been at the vanguard for major advancements in defense technology. The long lost art of creating weapons of high caliber quality had returned with the rise of the Stag Emporium as had numerous breakthroughs in anti-gravity, medicine and even diplomacy. Kitsuki was disgusted with her own inability to save Okane from his enemies and rescue him from whatever captivity had held him for the past few years, but she found herself angrier at the world for not showing up in full force to celebrate his return.

Unless there is something the world knows that I do not.

Kit accepted the auction sign handed to her and allowed herself to be directed to her seating area. She didn’t know anyone there personally but there was one individual she recognized. The Queen of Kaminari. The Walking Fortress.
“Ryuko Shizu von Rose in the flesh” Kit whispered. She knew the woman by reputation alone. She was everything Kit had hoped to become. A paragon of virtue of justice, beauty and feminine wit. Kit’s own sensei spoke highly of the woman and she had governed the village well prior to the World War. A War which Kiri itself had started when it made the decision to raze Moonspire. Aside from the bit about maintaining the legality of Jashinism, Kit had always wanted to meet Ryuko and now was her chance. Kit took a breath and approached her one-time idol. Kit would walk up to Ryuko, bow politely and whisper in her ear.

“Your grace, is the seat beside you taken?” If Ryuko accented then Kitsuki would seat herself right next to the young woman. Ryuko would of course know who Kitsuki was. After all, Kit had by now gained global fame for her efforts during the Shinobi World War and global infamy for her role in overthrowing Kiri's last Mizukage. It didn't hurt that Ryuko had made the Isles her temporary home since the collapse of Kumogakure. She ought to know one of the Princesses that led the country that had granted her asylum. A status that she had more than earned since helping Kiri overcome the terror of the Matatabi.

"I wanted to thank you personally for your help in fighting the Two Tails. I was sick with plague at the time and I wasn't there to defend my city...but you were. For that, you have Kiri's eternal gratitude."

Kit's heart was beating like a dance club.

ⴰⵔⴻ ⵢoⵓ ⵙⵓⵔⴻ ⵉⵜⵙ Oⴽⴰⵏⴻ ⵢoⵓ ⵀⴰⵠⴻ ⴰ ⵛⵔⵓⵙⵀ oⵏ?
Zizz! Kit mentally chastised the Angel nesting in her hair.

Outfit:

The set up team was doing finishing touches as the VIP's would begin to arrive. The individual stands being taken up mostly by invested parties and those with enough influence to call in favors for an invite. Truthfully not a one of them from the masses with no title behind them were here to buy anything. They simply wished to witness something entertaining. To see the first auction of this magnitude. The last time Okane had gathered so many people on the island it had gone under attack...prior to that though he had hosted a drawing. Giving away his legendary craft and forming a brilliant katana. One that mimicked the legendary fire sword from Kumo. Matched it in its own right. He had proven to the world in a game that he was on the same level as those who had crafted artifacts from long lost legends. Items that could change the world and he had played it with a game of chance. Beyond that Okane had been kidnapped shortly after. His creations torn from the sky and only his shadow remaining in the form of looming towers both on the fallen emporium and in suna. Now he was back however....now he was angry.

Okane was in the back getting the final touches to his outfit and make up done. Sitting in a chair with his emerald eyes looking into the mirror. The make up covering a scar on his once perfect face. A place they had cut and healed....every time he disobeyed...they marked him. They were cruel captors. He had learned suffering. He had learned starvation and fear. He had learned humility by force. Torn into painfully both physically and emotionally. They thought to tear apart his pride and teach him he was just a man. Even now his finger ran down his jawline along the most prominent mark....the makeup would cover it to the average eye at least...Still he felt that ebbing sense of fear always now. His pride torn and now he needed to repair it. He had learned without the ability to fight back his wealth meant nothing. He needed a guardian...and he needed to learn how to fight back. He knew what was coming after all. His empire needed to stand firm and fight back. He needed to fight back. But how to demonstrate to the world leaders his willingness to step out from neutrality. To fight his enemies.

A trembling girl...the one who used to work the front desk would enter. She had been crying more lately. He could see the red puffiness in her eyes. Her punishment was a demotion to running errands. She had lashed out at guests after all so she wasn't fit for the front desk. But now she looked afraid. Okane would raise his eyebrows at that. He had never tried to inspire fear in his people. His employees. He did not threaten...only rewarded and punished as was earned. Yet she seemed to be afraid to hand him whatever memo was in her hands. "Come here girl. Give me whatever message you have." He would say before snapping his fingers once to get her attention. She would flinch before bringing him the message and stepping forward. The paper slid into his hands before she took a step back and wrung her hands. Idly he would slip on a pair of reading glasses before opening the letter. Reading the contents before sitting forward. Shooing away his prep crew with the scar still in view. His eyes widened as he shook a moment. Finishing by standing up and crumpling the paper. Marching out of the room.

He had planned for fanfare and to use one of his flying thunder god seals to make an almost magical appearance. However rage filled his eyes. He left his coat behind and rolled up his sleeves to a perfect fold as he moved down the hall. rolling them to his elbows to reveal a series of burn and cut scars mostly faded away. He wouldn't hide when he was this angry. For so many reasons he was enraged. His hands ran up through his thick mane of dark hair as his dress boots clicked along. The shirt was a silver silk with a black tie buttoned down the front. A white vest over it. Still the prep team would look up in surprise as he marched in. His sharp eyes taking in everyone there as there was a lack of any level that Okane was known for at all for flamboyance. Instead he would point to the sound team and they would quickly turn on the mic as he stepped quickly to the mic. His green eyes taking in those in the room before he took a deep breath. His hands planted on either side of the podium as he gripped it till his knuckles turned white.

"Ladies and gentleman I apologize for the abruptness of my entrance. I am Okane Tomi. Prince of Iron and called the Grand Merchant. What few of you may know is I am originally from Sunagakure. We will start the auction in a moment but before we do I have a couple of announcements. First...would representatives from Konoha and Kiri and anyone you wish to attend remain after for a discussion of the future if you please. Second...a couple of things have been brought to my attention since I have returned. First was the murder of the elderly all through out Sunagakure. Including the death of my own parents at the hands of a member of Iwagakure, Chen Kimyōnakama. Acting as Tsuchikage at the time of those orders. What did Iwa do? Condemn him and leave him be in Suna. IN MY HOME. Now....now I have a report that stated he struck again. Ladies and gentleman the city of Sunagakure is gone.  My company headquarters where I began is destroyed and thousands of lives destroyed. So I will state two things here for the world to know. I am reclaiming Sunagakure and will be rebuilding as best I can there. I will reclaim my home from a nation that does nothing to protect it. Merely leaching off of it for its resources. I would ask for your support in this endeavor. Secondly...I will put out a bounty here. Five million to the one who brings me the head of Chen Kimyōnakama."

Kiyoshi waited as the other bidders began to filter into the auction house, not at all surprised to see Ryuko arrive. She was here at least in part for the same reason he is, he found that out during the meeting with Okane earlier, though he was surprised by her outfit. The elegance of it alone made Kiyoshi suddenly feel underdressed, despite him wearing his puppet armor. It made him realize why she is called the Queen of Lightning, cause she looked like royalty. Kiyoshi made a mental note to make a suit big enough for his puppet armor for the next event such as this, that or smaller puppet armor that could still provide him with the mobility he needed. He would give Ryuko a small wave from his box, but beyond that remained in his seat.

The next important figure to arrive was both a shock and intriguing to Kiyoshi. Kitsuki Kurahasa, one of the Kiri triumvirate, a Princess as they call her in Kirigakure. Her arrival was almost perfect, considering the fact that his goal after this auction was to travel to Kirigakure. If Kiyoshi could just get a meeting with her before hand, it might even speed up the process of it all to where he could return home sooner. He began to wonder if it would be too forward of him to simply approach her, or if perhaps he might impose on the Iron Prince for an introduction, when he saw Kitsuki approach Ryuko and he would smile to himself. It seemed he was in the world where everyone was important and everyone knew everyone else, it was possible that he might have another way in for a meeting with one of the Kirigakure Princesses, if he could figure out the right words. Of course now was no time to think about such things, he had an auction to win afterall.

As Okane entered it seemed as if every eye in the building shifted towards him, including Kiyoshi's own. He had expected a grand entrance to be made by the Prince, not this, though in one glance Kiyoshi could see the anger in his eyes even from this distance. As he approached the mic, Kiyoshi could hear the workers fumbling to get it turned on quickly for him and chuckled to himself. As Okane began Kiyoshi would nod, mostly to himself, as the grand merchant asked that representatives remain for a discussion afterwards. He felt the Hokage might be better suited for the job, but as the only representative from Konoha he saw little choice. At most he would relay to Okane that he would have to take the discussion to the Hokage before any true commitment from the village could be obtained, something he was sure the other man would understand. As the shift of the announcement went to that of Chen, Kiyoshi would lean forward in his seat. He had heard about Chen massacring the elders in Suna, of course he had no idea that Okane had family there, however this news about the complete destruction of the sand village was the most troubling. If the man wipes out an entire village, what's to stop him from doing another. Kiyoshi would write everything down in his notebook, while he might not be a Shinobi capable of taking out someone like Chen, doesn't mean he couldn't convince someone to do it and split the Ryo with them. Five million was nothing to shake a stick at.

Kitsuki couldn't help but smile at Ryuko's mention of the "Goddess of Time." The Angel housed in her well-kept afro buzzed with delight once Kit translated the compliment. Zizz was currently the size of an ant but Kit could feel her vibrating with happiness.

ⵙⵀⴻ ⵛⴰⵍⵍⴻⴷ ⵎⴻ ⴰ ⴳoⴷⴷⴻⵙⵙ!
Don't let it get to your head

When Ryuko asked if she could pray to bless this meeting. Kit replied with a "Of course." She was not a religious woman herself. She was closer to an atheist than an agnostic truth be told, but she respected the religious practices of others so long as no harm came of it. Kirigakure tolerated a wide variety of different faiths and beliefs. She had heard that the Queen was at one point and time a high-ranking member of another native Kumo religion known as the Church of Hakkin. She knew practically nothing about the faith but she found it quite ironic that Shimiko (known for being the Champion of Jashin) and Ryuko (known for being the Champion of Hakkin) were supposedly close friends. How does that even work? Kitsuki was curious but not curious enough to ask at a moment like this.

Ryuko went on to praise Kiri's handling of Kumo's collapse. Kit felt that she could take very little credit for how well the administration of the country had gone. She was in a coma when it had happened, but to Ryuko's point, the groundwork she had laid over the years had borne fruit. Kitsuki had relentlessly stripped the ideological heresy of the "Bloody Mist" from the Isles. She had instilled values of equality, justice and peace between nations at every level of government. She was happy to hear that this change in vision had led to Kiri treating its former adversary with respect and humanity. Like Ryuko though, Kit didn't do it for her own personal glory but because it was the right thing to do.

"You honor me beyond words. If you have time, perhaps we can discuss in greater detail after the auction. Kumogakure and Kirigakure have long been rivals but I think the time has come for unity and peace between our nations."

Kitsuki was reminded of her conversation with Arisu. The prospect of a united world was both tantalizing and dangerous. It would allow them better control over the affairs of other nations so as to prevent tragedies like Chen's Massecere in Suna but it might make it easier for an evil individual to usurp power and exercise dictatorial control over the planet. If Kit could get Ryuko involved though it would serve as an additional check on whatever world government they conjured up. The more powerful and noble people involved in the project, the harder it would be to corrupt it.

The pair didn't have time to talk much more as Okane soon took the stage. Kitsuki's attention snapped to the Iron Prince and it was as if she had completely forgotten Ryuko's prescence. If the Queen continued to speak to her, Kitsuki wouldn't hear it. It would appear as though she were in a trance. The Princess only had eyes for her beloved crush. She respected Ryuko but she loved Okane. The man was every bit as imposing and charismastic as when he had been taken from them. With her superhuman perception, Kit could see the faded scars on his arms and the trauma in his eyes. They had beaten him. They had tried to break him. And yet here he stood admist a crowd of some of the most powerful people in the shinobi world. The Emporium had been rebuilt and he was back to work crafting like it had never happened at all. Kit felt a stirring of admiration for him.  I wasn't there to save you....I wasn't there to find you.....I wasn't there to rescue you....She almost wanted to look away out of sheer guilt. Will he see me in the crowd? Will he think me a fraud? Kit looked away afraid of drawing his attention, but when she looked back she noticed that he didn't really appear engaged with the crowd. He looked angry. Not at her, but at something more abstract. When he began speaking, she understood why.

Kit knew that Okane was a Suna native. It was a basic fact of trivia that most of his fans would know but more obscure for those who didn't care. What she didn't know was that his parents had still lived there and that they had been victims of Chen's depravity. The words that followed, however, took Kitsuki out of the auction. It brought her back to the trenches. To the battlefield of the First Shinobi World War. To the rivers of blood and mountains of corpses that had become common features of the mainland. According to Okane, Chen had reproduced those horrors and loosed them on Sunagakure by razing the village. Kit now understood the depth of Okane's fury. He decried the Tsuchikage for failing to stop Chen and neglecting his village's safety. Diana immediately came to mind. ]i]She is a problem....she couldn't protect the elderly from Chen and now the entire village has been destroyed under her watch.[/i] Kitsuki's eyes shone gold as Okane continued to speak. The righteous fury and Angelic chakra of Zizz fueling her mind and spirit as she vowed to bring Chen to justice.

Kit realized that Arisu was right. Iwagakure had proven inept at securing the safety of Suna. Not once but twice. As far as this Princess was concerned, Okane had more than earned the right to take dominion over the country. He asked for their support to reclaim Suna and he'd have Kiri's blessing. She'd need to speak with Diana and convince them to hand it over peacefully, but more importantly, they'd need to capture Chen. The money was a non-issue for her but it would encourage the timid and avaricious. Kit turned to Ryuko and the Queen would see nothing but the most majestic resolve in her eyes.

"He's right. Chen needs to be brought to justice. Kiri will back his claim for Suna" She didn't expect Ryuko to disagree but it needed to be said. Kumo was now under Kiri's jurisdiction so Kit felt obligated to inform its former leader what they planned on using the village's resources for.

Okane would finish his offer and stood tall once he was finished speaking. There was an uproar of conversations and debate over his statements. Most of which from what he could pick out seemed in his favor. It was possible this could become a popularity contest. Still he had no intentions to wrestle it from Diana by force. He wanted allies more than enemies. There was a need to be more tactful than that. Publicly denouncing her set a stage of equal footing at the least. Giving him a righteous cause to defend his homeland. Someone like Chen though would be a problem even for him. Still his emerald eyes would shift to each of the three who mattered there. The representative for Konoha Kiyoshi...a considerably talented crafter and intelligent man. One he had hopes to use to expand his reach. Especially with the other two major nations. Maintaining his stance of independence and neutrality while gaining ownership of his homeland. His father likely would be filled with pride for how much more his irresponsible son had accomplished since leaving the family business. If he had survived what led to this strong position. Still he would continue to glance to the other two ladies.

Ryuko was a good soul....perhaps too experienced to be called Naïve. Yet her goals seemed to align with his. She was a powerhouse of a combatant too. Her legends preceding her before people got to know her. If anyone in the room could handle Chen it was likely her. She was without a doubt the strongest by reputation. He just needed to maintain a sense of morality to keep her on board. Not that he dipped into anything so horrible as human testing. Still his emerald eyes would fall to the last of the three. A woman he had entertained before over dinner. Okane was long separated from his playboy days finding his work to be his mistress. However he wasn't so much of a fool as to not know she was smitten with him. From what he could tell reading her posture and lips...Kiri would side with him against Suna. Kit certainly was a passionate and driven princess...however he would navigate that carefully as well. After all both the women in that booth were trying for a world not covered in blood stains. If Kiri went to war because of him....she would fall from her place of morality. Still with that he would have waited long enough. He would clear his throat as the lights dimmed. Three spotlights focusing on him as the sole focus of the dark room. Anyone who bid was being watched for by the staff.

"Now let us begin. I know you are each eager to change the world....but how will you do it? The rules are as follows. I will place all four categories up for auction in the following order. Chemistry, Engineering, armor and weapons. You will raise your card to bid but the bid will be rapidly done. Each party can only win one item. Now we will begin the bidding for each at one million. Do I hear one million for chemistry?"



((Each person will have 48 hours to reply. No wc requirement. Simply include the amount of your bid in the post and at the end of the round I will post the highest bid and give each of you another chance. If you wish to pass simply post doing so within your 48. Posting order is Okane, Kiyoshi, Ryuko and Kit.))

Kiyoshi would pass on bidding for the Chemistry item, he was there for things that he thought would benefit the village and he doubted the New Hokage was interested in some Chem right now.

Kitsuki sat quietly and allowed Ryuko to bid on the Chemistry item. She had no particular interest in the Chemical Implement.

The bud is currently held by lady Ryuko at one million. Going once, going twice?

Kiyoshi would remain quiet as he waited for the bidding to end on the chemical item and move on to another

Kit remained uninterested in the Chemical item.

Ryuko has won the bid for the chemistry category for one million. We will now move onto the engineering item. Do I hear one million?

Kiyoshi would raise up his sign, "1 million."

Kitsuki remained silent. She didnt want the engineering item.

Going once for a bid of one million for engineering, Kiyoshi for one million

Kiyoshi waits for his bid to be finalized...

Kit remains silent. She doesnt want this item.

Okane would frown. Was there so few interested in the future? This wasn't a bidding war, this was just taking turns picking what each wanted....or perhaps the masses were simply too poor to participate. Either way he would sigh a moment before continuing. "Engineering goes to Kiyoshi. Next up we have armor. Do I hear one million for armor?"

It seemed the limitation of only being able to win one item worked in Kiyoshi's favor as no one seemed to bid against him, nowthat he won the item he had been sent for he would just sit back and wait.

Kitsuki leaned forward and pressed the button to activate her microphone. She spoke loudly and clearly while raising her arm and holding up her bidding sign. "1 Million"