[center][i][u]Land of Rivers[/u][/i][/center]

The numbers were marching toward them by the thousands. Five or six, by her calculations. The Empress made her orders simple and straight to the point. On her command the Empire Shinobi sprang forth into the forest with a rush of energy. Surges of emotion filled the room, from loyalty to a sense of duty to the bloodthirst of battle. At the Empress's back to her left, directly opposite of Yakoul was Namine Akizakura, standing tall as the flurry of emotions ran through her. She knew each and every shinobi's feelings toward the situation, casually watching them scurry into the forest for a piece of the action. 

No bloodshed for Namine, at least not at this battle. She crossed her arms as the chaos ensued. Her face was stoic and lacking in the emotive department, having dealt with the emotions of others all her life she became quite skilled at hiding her own. Namine focused on her majesty, the Empress. What was she feeling? Deep down, what was her stance on the war? Did she view her subjects as pawns or comrades? Was she confident or fearful? And so she looked into the Empress's soul... wondering just what she would find. 

A large hornet flew off with a girl atop, catching Namine's eye for a moment. ~[i]That energy.. that girl harbors a Bijuu within her...[/i]~ Namine pondered that thought for a moment. The hornet took a dive and picked up a red-headed tentacle boy. Namine focused in on that scenario for a moment, feeling the moral rift inside of the redhead's mind. Her focus shifted to the gliding flower petal that wasn't there a moment ago. 

A suppressed sense of joy came from the Empress's right hand bodyguard, Yakoul. Namine felt it, though made no visible note of it. She could feel it judging the Shinobi on the front lines. Another of the higher ups in the Empire, Ra, spoke up to their leader elegantly. Namine's attention flew from the bodyguard and fell upon Ra, disecting her words and tone like a bird picking flesh off a bone. Her suggestion was notable and wise, they could definitely use more supporters with whispers of a rebellion arising. Yet Namine couldn't help but feel detached from the current scenarion. Why were these fodder of any concern to the Empress? Were there not several Jinchuuriki capable of dealing with these small figures in a couple of minutes? Namine was sure there was something more to this little squabble.