[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/V0TwtCw.jpg?1[/img]
[h1][b].:[u]Seiji Hyuuga[/u]:.[/b][/h1]
[i]"All ways lead to death.
The way is in death.
Some ways are quicker."[/i][/center]

Seiji kept his gaze on Ichika from the moment she entered until several moments after she'd given her initial report. She'd arrived immediately, probably right from the site of her last mission. Ichika's face was neutral, but Seiji could see the signs of battle on her. She'd been swift, but not hasty. She was a very precise weapon, one that the world had tempered but one that she'd forged herself. He didn't take the scroll, but put out a hand and invited her closer, [b]"Sit. You've traveled a long way."[/b]

They had met in the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' rampage, but Seiji had been aware of her and her brothers from before. There had been someone who had brought them to his attention, someone that had wanted to forge them himself. But it was war and they were needed. That man would have to wait... and keep waiting. Upon Seiji's ascension to hokage, he'd kept her out of that man's grasp. Not even he would defy the ANBU Commander. Like everyone in Konoha, Seiji felt the weight of her losses on his shoulders, but perhaps a little more keenly. If he had been stronger, a little quicker, if he'd reached the jinchuuriki faster... Sorrow and regret were a kind of chain and he was tethered to her. He was tethered to so many.

[b]"The Cloud has sent an ambassador"[/b], he said once she'd sat down and made herself comfortable, [b]"The Ambassador is the Raikage's adopted son. Kiyuusagi Kuroki has been assigned to escort him through the village. Tomorrow, Kiyuusagi-san will be reassigned. Will you be ready to travel again?"[/b]

It was much to ask. She was coming back from what had been a long and likely fraught mission and he was about to ask her to leave again. She was also someone for who she trusted almost completely. Almost. There was no one else he could spare and he could trust. He settled his hands on his lap and looked towards the scroll. The information contained within could dramatically affect the next mission, for ahead of the ambassador was sent another message, an offer for a joint mission. It was unusual, and even more unusual that the offer did not come from the ambassador himself. The peculiar behavior of the Cloud put Seiji on edge. It seemed that they were tipping their hand, but for what purpose?