[center][b][i]Success brings new chances,
Chances for more success.

A collab between Lillydove and Gerontis.

Summary :
A flashback before Takeru left for the Chuunin exams. He request Katsumi's presence in his office as he wishes to speak with her about something.[/center][/b][/i]

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[hider=A promotion.]

Sitting behind his desk, Takeru was reading some files. The chuunin exams were going to happen in a few days and he was taking the last preparations to be sure that everything would be well in his absence. Not that he was forseeing problems. The last news about the Antare clan had been some time. This led him to suspect that the troublesome group had went into hiding. Even with some ANBU squads on the case, they weren't having much success. And that was worrying Takeru. Not that he was thinking that the crazy gone Antare clan would inspire the common populace in uprising. They had already a bad name for what they had tried to do.

Placing the file down that he had been reading, the masked Raikage mumbled something himself. Writing something down on his notespad, he started to think on what more he would need to do and arrange before he could take his leave towards Amegakure.

Katsumi was sitting at the table in her small kitchen with her owl companions leisurely perched on the built in perches she made for them, her mind was else where. Wandering back to the days where her twin sister was alive and not killed by Katsumi herself, she flinched at the thought. Shaking her head, she sighed and began to pick at the small saldad she had made herself but was not really all that hungry, she was restless. Getting up, she began to pace the small room and muttered some things that neither owl could make anything out of. Her thoughts also wandered to the man and his family, the family that she had spared and she wondered if it was the right choice or not. She supposed that there was nothing she could do about it now, whats done is done. 

Hearing a knock on the door, she narrowed her eyes a bit and walked over to the door slowly while preparing to attack who ever it was in case it was a hostile, even though it was unlikely. Openning the door, she saw that there was no one present just a note attatched to her door. She picked it up, her eyes widening a bit and then left in a hurry to the Raikages office. 

In his office, Takeru was reading a profile. Making with his right hand some notes, he kept his eyes focused on the profile. Reading, he was genuinely interested and made notes for the future. Though he had already made up his mind and planned what he would do. For the good of Kumogakure, he wanted to be sure that he would take the right measures or else he would come back to a ruined village. Outside the office, two ANBU guards wouldn't nod or salute to Katsumi. One of them simply would open the door for her and close it behind her.

Once she arrived at the Raikages office, she was surprised as the door was opened and nothing else. Walking in slowly, trying to think of what he could possibly want with her. She saw him at the desk, bowed her head in respect and kept her eyes averted as well, waiting for him to speak to her. Her mind still racing to figure out what he could want from her now, not that she minded but it was always interesting.

[b]''It is good that you came that quickly, Katsumi. I hope you're doing well.''[/b] Takeru said as he would make one more note. Once he had done that, he would start to store up his work and turn his attention towards the ANBU. [b]''I hope I haven't been bothering you with summoning you here. I remember that you did an outstanding job with your last mission and that you have earned some rest.''[/b] Takeru politely continued.

[b]"I am doing well, Lord Raikage, thank you for asking,"[/b] Katsumi said, with a polite nod in his direction. She watched with minimum interest in what he was doing but made no comment on it and focused back on him as he began to speak again. So, he thought her mission was a success, an outstanding job on her part as well. It made a slight smile appear but it was gone just as soon as it came it was gone. [b]"Thank you,"[/b] she replied simply.

[b]''I think that I should be thanking you. The Daimyo and also leader of the shinobi of the Snow country have accepted to become the vassals of the Cloud. It seems that the Cloud is finally starting to grow in both power as in influence.''[/b] He said back. Pausing for a moment, he decided to ask her a question. [b]''But for your next task, I must ask rather something more personally. If you had a chance to protect Kumogakure, would you even be willing to turn against those who you are sworn to defend?''[/b]

[b]"I am glad that it was such a success, I would not have liked to dissapoint you,"[/b] Katsumi replied back uniformly. Again bowing her head in respect, she looked back up rather sharply at his question. [b]"Well, if I have to protect Kumogakure by turning against those I was sworn to protect then that is what I have to do, the village itself comes before individuals, does it not?"[/b] Katsumi answered. She was still rather shocked by his question, wondering why he was asking such a thing. 

Her question seemed to make the man think. With the mask it wasn't possible to see if her answer pleased him or disappointed him. [b]''Well enough. I will not beat around the bush. As you may have notice is that there is always improvement for the security to be better. I have plans where I intend to have more check points and watching over people.''[/b] Takeru explained to her, letting his words sink as he introduced a pause. [b]''Though all and all that would help, what I think Kumogakure needs is a capable Guard commander.''[/b] After his words, the masked Raikage would stop and see what her reaction would be.

She listened, nodding at appropiate times and keeping a blank expression. Not wanting to reveal anything to the masked kage yet, even as her heart skipped a few beats as he spoke. [b]"People do need to be watched over,"[/b] Katsumi commented after paused. Then continued to listen, a capable Guard Commander and she tried to think the individual that he could be refering to. [b]"A capable Guard Commander would be a good person to have,"[/b] she said, trying to connect the dots.

[b]''Good that you agree.''[/b] Takeru said with a polite and friendly tone. [b]''The duties of the Guard Commander wouldn't be that hard. In manner of speaking that is.''[/b] Takeru briefly chuckled at the choice of his words before he would continue, in a more serious fashion and tone. [b]''I wish you to become the Guard Commander. Your duties will to ensure that peace is being kept in Kumogakure, but also needing to act together with the ANBU or Jounin commander to ensure that peace in the Lightning or any vassalized country is being kept. For that you will be given an office within this building as an own police division that will be following your leadership. Do you have any questions?''[/b]

Katsumi finally put the pieces together, yet she said nothing as he spoke about the duties the Guard Commander would entail. After a single mission, she was already being promoted, it seemed a bit odd to her but who was she to question it. In her honest opinion, she thought she could have done a better job but if the Lord Raikage said she did well enough to get promoted then so be it. [b]"I am surprised that you wish for me to take such an inportant role in the village, after one mission... But I have no questions to ask,"[/b] Katsumi said. Still somewhat in shock from what he was telling her.

[b]''I have studied your profie and though it is indeed after one missions, I am organizing a better system in Kumogakure. Our defenses need to be tightened so that we can prevent civil unrest as well trying to counter any spy activities.''[/b] Takeru told her. [b]''With our influence and might growing, we need to be sure that our potential rivals and enemies don't manage or at least have a hard time to sneak into the Cloud or attempt to incite any civil unrest.''[/b]

Nodding slowly, wrapping her mind around the fact that it was just after a single successfull mission rather than a series of them. [b]"I am honored that you think me capable enough to take the position, Lord Raikage,"[/b] Katsumi replied. Her heart rate seemed to settle down a bit as the conversation, after all, it wasn't bad thing that she was getting promoted. She would get her own section of shinobi and an office in the building, it was good.

[b]''Good.''[/b] Takeru was glad that she would take the position. [b]''I do hope that you won't get too much work. I rather have that the peace will stay present and that we don't have to deal with anything bigger than petty crimes.''[/b] Having said that, Takeru thought about something. [b]''I do assume that you're capable of knowing how to deal with law enforcing? Like, some people are diplomatic immune unles I give the order?''[/b] Not that he really doubted her, but Takeru decided to ask the questions.

Doubting that there would be much of anything overly problematic for her to deal with, she nodded and focused more of her attention on what he was saying. Petty crimes would most likely be the most of it but there could be the few who dared to go bigger and they would certainly regret that now. [b]"I am aware of how to handle such troublesome people, and the few that are diplomatic immune are seemingly above the laws, I understand,"[/b] Katsumi answered, looking to the Raikage for further instruction.

Getting the idea that she understood the purpose of the Guard commander to be the head of the police force, Takeru nodded. [b]''Good, very good. Now do you have any questions before I will send word that an office should be installed for you, next to the other requirments.''[/b] He asked of her, waiting patiently to hear out any questions she could have for him. Meanwhile he was thinking about what he had to deal or arrange more before he would leave to the Chuunin Exams.

Shaking her head in reply to his question, she stood there and thought of what she would do first. In her mind, maybe she should check with the clans present in Kumogakure and then with the merchants? [b]"Thank you, Lord Raikage,"[/b] Katsumi said simply.

[b]''You're welcome. I trust you with this the office of the Guard Commander. Hope that you can help to keep things peaceful in and around Kumogakure.''[/b] Takeru friendly replied. One of the double doors of his office was opened and Takeru would continue his previous work. There were some files that he wanted to read before he would make his leave.

[b]"I am glad that you have confidence in me,"[/b] Katsumi, glancing at the now open doors. She understood, bowed her head once more and took her leave, walking slowly back to her home where she was greeted by the soft sounds of her owl companions. She wondered if she would need to install perches there for them. [b]"A promotion is nice,"[/b] Katsumi said. 
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