Rising Up

Her office was neat and orderly, as it always was. Besides just her desk, she had a liquor cabinet against the right hand wall, from her viewpoint anyway. The other wall had a couch against it, elegantly made and right at home in an office. Pictures of the previous Hokage lined the wall above the couch. The teen kage wore her usual attire of a red blouse, black skirt, and black thigh high socks. Her hair was done up with multiple black ribbons and her piercing blue eyes would be looking down at her paperwork as she perused it and gave it her signature. She had a meeting with a Chuunin hopeful today. Well rather, she had a meeting with a genin who was more than likely being promoted before they left this office.

The file of Tengoku lay on her desk, closed, but she’d already perused it. Two flak jackets lay leaned against the cushions of the couch. Identical in all but colour. One was silver, the other black. Akari wasn’t certain which colour Tengoku would prefer should the promotion take place so she had obtained one of each colour. She’d given Tsukiyo, Tengoku’s sister a silver gray one to match her hair. In the hopes that she would wear it. It was after all, a fairly useful garment. The young man should be arriving soon, it should be a smooth meeting. She remembered the last time they’d met. They’d worked together on a mission where he had ended up taking the lead and had ended up becoming a leader of a pack of wolves in the process. She figured if the wolves lived in the village then they would need to get adjusted to living in a city. She hoped they were managing well. Either way, her appointment would be here soon, and she’d simply do paperwork until he arrived.

Tengoku had an appointment today with the new Hokage. They certainly seemed to be going through those at an alarming rate. The last one was supposed to train them for a war that never happened. Well one they were still working on preventing. His sister and himself as well as a man named Masaru. But the fact that a meeting had been made and he had been summoned made him nervous. He could feel how damp his palms were and kept rubbing his palms against his black slacks. He had dressed up less like a shinobi and more like it was a job interview this time. He swallowed as he tugged at his black button up long sleeved shirts collar and the red tie his sister had picked out for him. She knew where he was and had simply encouraged him while essentially dressing him. Even his black dress shoes had pointed toes and were polished. The red tie was just what she called a power tie and she said it would inspire confidence in him. However he had left his katana at home and simply used his headband to hide his wolf like ears. He was still shy about those after all.

Ten would move up the stairs of the admin building until he reached the floor with the administration office on it. Swallowing loudly as he paused at the door. This was the office of the Hokage. Someone who stood above others in power by some impressive degree. He was nervous. He would check the watch on his left wrist. A basic ten dollar digital watch that told him he was five minutes early. He hesitated a moment as he listened in the silence. It didn't seem like anyone was talking. He could only hear one person breathing inside the room. He could smell some of the faded scents of the couch and paint but also a strong sweet scent of alcohol. Just standing out there inhaling a slow breath he learned a lot about what was in the office. Still he had to steady himself. He would force himself to knock even though he was early. If he was told he could come in he would open the door and shut it behind him before turning to look. The room was well put together and comfortable. Nice. But when his silver eyes landed on the Hokage he blinked before his jaw opened in confusion. Trying to mouth together words before clearing his throat and trying again. "y...you?! You're the Hokage?"

A knock on the door, a glance at a clock would tell her that Tengoku was a few minutes early, good. "Come in" She would say simply, and as the door opened her blue eyes would watch him carefully for his reaction. His attire would cause her to raise a curious eyebrow. Did he think that he needed to hide what made him different? Or dress as he normally wouldn't dress? To one who was a shinobi herself? She shrugged, hopefully this meeting would put an end to that. His slack jawed response would cause the ghost of a smirk to grace her features. Out of everyone in the village, Tengoku was the one individual in the shinobi forces who had worked with her before she had taken over as Kage. So his reaction was always going to be the most amusing in her eyes to be sure.

"Yes Tengoku, I took over the position after Haku Masanori failed to continue working for the betterment of the village. A leader who isn't there is almost as bad as one who's intentions are chaos and destruction. I came in, and took over, completely unopposed." She would say, answering his question in full. A more insecure individual would go on to talk about their accomplishments since taking the office. Akari however? Not so much. Her accomplishments so far were simply balancing the villages check books successfully, and beginning expansions that would raise the quality of life in the village for all. At the moment though, that expansion was a double edged sword. For due to all of the construction in the village the crime rate had managed to climb severely. It was something she couldn't fix particularly well at the time. However the expansion was about half way done. Once that was over they'd be able to start cracking down. She wagered it would take another month or two to bring the amount of crime back down. Then the city would be safe once more, larger than ever before, and everyone would have a much better quality of life. Those accomplishments, one of which wasn't even noticeable on the surface, weren't much to brag about yet. Even then, Akari wasn't a braggart anyway.

"I've met your sister, Tsukiyo, only a week or so ago actually. I called her in to promote her to Chuunin, and I intend the same for you. But where are my manners? Please sit down Tengoku, can I get you a drink?" She would ask, a hand gesturing toward the liquor cabinet. It had more than simply alcohol in it as well, water bottles and other beverages were stored in a cooling unit built into the wooden frame. Things like juice, soda's, ninjarade. The front of the cooling unit was clear glass so the wolf boy could see the choices available to him.

Tengoku would hesitate in the doorway as she explained. She had come in to fix things when the one who had tried to claim the seat of Hokage hadn't actually done much for it. He had expected Haku's passion to be a little stronger given he was ready to take on an army. Buuut if he was gone then Akari was the one now in charge. He wondered just how strong she was. He knew she was an Uchiha and the only one he had ever met but was that all? He knew they were a legendary clan after all. But he didn't know much more beyond their legendary power. Did she go on the mission with him just to observe after all? Or had taking down the wolves taken that kind of priority? So many questions went swimming through his head as he idly glanced at the two flak jackets on the couch like his sisters. He swallowed as he wondered just how serious this meeting was. How he presented himself now might be important. So he would refrain from letting his arms raise to hug himself and show his discomfort and anxiety. His sister told him to remain confident so he would.

He would blink when the woman mentioned they already had this meeting with his sister and promoted her. How she intended to do the same for him. He would hesitate at that note. First that his sister had already met this person and hadn't really done more than suggest the two would have a hard time getting along in the same room It took a second for it to click that she claimed she was promoting him. He would blink twice before his ears poked out from behind his head band and stood at attention. His face would go from confused to excited as he smiled real big. Canines showing and all with a happy glint in his silver eyes. He would move quickly to his seat and sit at attention. If he had a tail it would be wagging. Still he would sit up straight and fold his hands in his lap. Tengoku was trying to contain his excitement for the moment but it was clear he was as excited as a kid near Christmas morning. When he talked his voice was a little rushed but still easy to hear.

"Are you serious? Me? Promoted? Oh um...do you have a grape ninjarade? I really like those..."

Just like that Tengoku's ears perked up as if she'd said the word 'treat'. It was almost amusing and it was clear he had a bit of trouble controlling himself. He moved to his chair and sat, back straight and hands in his lap. Good, it looked like this might be a good step toward making him more confident in himself in general. His voice was rushed now, not by much, but rushed all the same but it wasn't difficult to hear him. "Yes, I'm serious, and yes of course." She would say as she moved toward the cooling unit on the cabinet and withdrew a grade ningarade before bringing it back and offering it to him. She already had a drink of her own on the desk. Tea to be precise, she didn't drink liquor much and mostly only had the cabinet to be able to offer a drink to anyone who might want one.

Sitting back at her desk she would open the closed file and began to make a small show of perusing it. She didn't need to, but the tension in the room needed to be increased a little bit before she spoke next. Once a few quiet minutes had gone by she would look up toward him again, piercing blue eyes meeting his own. "Of course, that promotion depends on you. You see, when your sister came, I tested her. She passed, the details of said 'test' will not be told to anyone by me. However it isn't classified. You're welcome to ask her if you wish. The point of the test was to gauge her capabilities for the rank and to underline glaring weaknesses that needed to be fixed before any further promotions could be obtained. I intend the same for you." She would say, explaining the entire situation to the young man before making a show of looking at his file again.

"Out of curiosity, while I decide how best to test you. Tell me your goals Tengoku, what is it you want to achieve?" She would ask, her eyes not coming back up this time. In the end she might end up asking a series of loaded questions, and notate the answers, and then do so again with her sharingan active. "For that matter, where do you feel your strengths are? Your weaknesses?" She would say, curiosity touching her tone. This question WAS in fact loaded, she wanted to see how hard on himself he was or wasn't. Wanted to know his reasoning behind where his strengths and weaknesses. They would help in determining whether or not he really would be promoted. The flak jackets sat on the couch, not ten feet from him. The symbol of a Chuunin, it was akin to dangling the treat in front of him, and then snatching it away. Or setting it upon his nose and telling him to wait. The question now became how he would react.

Tengoku would blink as she went and got one of his favorite drinks. When she returned he eagerly accepted it. He would close one eye as he focused just enough pressure to open the drink for the first time. Not enough to rip the top off the bottle. He wasn't sure he could but he had found his strength had increased as of late. He had idly tossed a rock and noticed it had gone further and faster than before. When he hurled the next one it took a chunk of bark off a tree. He was cautious now about his strength. After all Tengoku was a rather gentle soul when not in danger or angry. He smiled and said "Thank you Ma'am." before taking an eager drink. His lips and mouth felt parched and he was worried about his voice cracking if he didn't drink something. He would listen as she perused what he assumed was his file. Graduating the academy, not very social, trained with swords but reserved and quiet. Not much of a talker. Almost always with his sister which she had already met. Still she would ask him about his goals and he swallowed audibly. Oh shit it was starting.

"Um well....I usually...just do whatever my sister does but um...I told you before I am a uh...tracker specialist. I wanna be a tracker nin and help my sister capture bad guys one day."

She seemed to stare at the file silently for what felt like forever. He shifted nervously and twisted and untwisted the cap a couple of times. When she asked him about his strengths and weaknesses he would frown and look down at his lap. What popped into his head first was an assessment of himself that he wasn't very special. He was clearly nervous at the question. Still Tengoku would take a deep breath and force himself to look up with those silver eyes. Focusing and centering himself. He was quiet for a moment longer than he should have been but he cleared his throat before speaking. Attempts at some confidence. "My sister and I are a team. We trained to cover each other effectively and trained together. I learned that I am not that great at dealing with or even noticing illusions from reality but my sister is working on that with me. I also don't really do an incredible amount at ranged combat. Truth be told. However I cover her weaknesses like she covers mine. I....(Deep breath) I am a sensory specialist and not much escapes me. My sensory range my sister tagged at the moment of five hundred meters. I am also a close range swordsman. Not the best at it but I can usually keep up....kind of..."

Akari would listen to the young man's response to her question, not moving, not twitching, not even blinking. Tengoku's almost seeming blind devotion to his sister was frankly, like looking into a mirror. She herself was fiercely devoted to her older brother, Mansuke. It made her see things from an outside perspective and she wasn't sure she liked what she saw. Yes, caring about ones family and siblings was all well and good. But to this degree? She wasn't sure anymore. Still though, they had worked well together thus far. Not only that, but if she split them up she risked putting them in a nasty situation where their partners wouldn't be good enough in their respective fields to cover the weaknesses each one possessed. Still though, at the end of the day a rank up to Chuunin was only a rank up to Journeyman, in order to rise to the level of elite shinobi, like that of the Jounin, or even the ANBU, they would both need to do some growing up in certain areas.

Tsukiyo needed to learn to swallow her pride, and to temper that over confidence of hers. Otherwise it would get her killed. That had been more than shown to her in Akari's office when she had been promoted. However as she had told Tengoku, she wouldn't speak of that test to him. That would have to come from Tsukiyo's mouth alone. "I think it's safe to say promoting you to Chuunin wouldn't be a mistake. However the reason I asked is to try to see and isolate you're weaknesses. Not just in terms of combat potential, but your weaknesses as an individual." She would say, beginning her response calmly. "If you ever wish to make it past the rank of Chuunin, you'll need to take care of your own personal weaknesses Tengoku. Your lack of confidence could be the death of you, or even a team in the future." She would continue, remaining just as calm before shifting her eyes toward the jackets to the side. "I wasn't sure which colour you'd prefer, pick one. Wear it proudly, and start working on yourself. Training the body is one thing, however training the mind is just as important. It isn't a question of how much intelligence one has, but a question of how one uses what one does have. You fear that you're not good enough, you get nervous when asked to talk about yourself." A random flash back to their mission would bring another point. "You self deprecate too. These are things you need to work out of yourself. Remember that I wouldn't have promoted someone with no potential." She would say, taking another sip of her drink.

Then she remembered something. "Oh yes, and I've assigned you and your sister a sensei. They aren't strictly limited to genin after all. Her name is Kanna and she's an acting Jounin in the village. Her skill set is uniquely tailored to work with both you and Tsukiyo. Use her as a resource, and let your sister know too. I haven't had the leisure to inform her yet." She was say, getting the last thought off her mind. "Any questions Tengoku?" She would ask, wondering if the newly minted Chuunin had anything to ask.

Tengoku would sit still and consider her words. He lacked confidence and that could get himself and others killed. He couldn't say she was wrong. He knew he lowered his thoughts about himself beyond his actual capabilities. He knew he was getting stronger than he used to be. Just a couple months ago when they returned to the village he hadn't been very strong at all. Still he had improved his physical abilities to an extent now that he was fairly sure he could fight most genin on equal ground so long as they didn't crush him with genjutsu like his sister had a tendency of doing. The whole reason he didn't spar her often anymore was because she had a need to win. The last time had ended in a draw where they both got knocked out. He remembered it clearly. Still his silver eyes would look to the Hokage as he seemed to search for truth in her thoughts. It felt like she was being mean but brutal honesty was what it was going to take to get through to him. He felt the hairs rising up on the back of his neck as he felt a wave of adrenaline washing over him. His fists tightened on the arms of the chair as he looked down to them before he would look back up to Akari. Speaking now with some more confidence. Or trying to.

"I will get stronger. I will face myself and get beyond this. Just you watch me Hokage Sama. When I come into this office again...you will be making me a Jounin."

He would let his smoldering silver gaze remain making eye contact with her if she let him for a moment before he would grab his drink and stand up. Moving over to the black flack jacket and touch it with his free hand. Feeling the fabric and stiffness of it. He was ideal for night ops so black was his color. He didn't have much of a fashion sense anyway. Still he would run his hand along the shoulder strap and lift it. Feeling it's lightweight nature a moment before letting it settle once more. He would smile fondly at the idea of being promoted before looking back to Akari as she mentioned a mentor. "A Jounin named Kanna? Are we supposed to make arrangements with her to train ooor? I am not really familiar with having an attentive sensei."

She could almost see the gears within his mind turning over and over. It was almost amusing, how he sat there and considered her words. What was he thinking she wondered? That she was being mean? That her thoughts of him weren’t fair? That she was right? She wasn’t sure, but it did not matter in the least. What mattered was whether or not he could admit it to himself and strive past it. He did not have to outwardly accept her observations. Frankly, she didn’t care if he did or didn’t. All she cared about when it came to such matters were the results. All she wanted to see was him become more confident in himself. Whether he took a ‘fake it till you make it’ perspective on the matter, or worked at it over time. It didn’t make any difference. So long as he did it.

His fists clenched the arms of the chair, his knuckles turning white. His eyes came up to meet hers, a rare thing for one to do in general. Making eye contact with an Uchiha was liable to get one’s mind tampered with. However she did not use her abilities so wantonly. It was childish to do so. So Tengoku had nothing to fear unless she felt she might be in danger. His voice came out, it was confident. Or at least, it had the necessary seeds to become as such in the future. His claim that the next time he was in her office, she’d be promoting him, would cause a smirk to cross her features. “For your sake, I won’t hold you to those words Tengoku. Be careful in your efforts to obtain that confidence that you do not make such boasts. I’d make you a liar if I called you into my office to assign you a mission, discuss a previous mission, or any number of innocent things. However I expect to see progress out of you, and soon.” She would say, taking a moment to give him a bit of instruction in terms of not making a fool of oneself.

He’d proceed to move toward the black flak jacket. A solid choice really, the matte black material absorbed light rather than reflecting it so it would be more difficult to see as a whole on night missions. Once he’d run a hand over it, and felt its weight, he would turn back to answer her question, asking one of his own in return. “If you give her time she’ll come to you, but I’d wager she’d much rather you show some initiative. That’s just my advice though.” She would say, effectively telling him that they should probably seek her out instead. She wouldn’t bother giving him an address. If he was a tracker, then he should be able to find his own mentor when he lived in the same village as her and had her name. “If that’s all, then you’re dismissed, take your flak jacket, and leave a Chuunin.” She would say, giving him a congratulatory smile as she did.

Tengoku would nod slowly as he picked up the Chunnin flak jacket and undid the side straps. Slipping it on over his dress clothes and strapping it to himself tightly. It felt a little encumbered in comparison to what he was accustomed to. He was used to being light on his feet and unrestricted in movement but it didn't reduce that by much. It was a vest so it hardly limited movement and it was light enough that it wouldn't slow him down. He would roll one shoulder at a time to get a feel for it. Adjusting it a little by the neck and then looking over the vest pockets for all sorts of tools. A small part of him wondered how many candies he could carry around like this. Just stuffing the pockets full of sweets and pulling them out whenever he liked. The chest pouches would be good for juice packs too. He would take his ninjarade and place it in the side pouch and clip it over where a scroll might go. He smiled and though it was bulky there now he knew it worked. Still he would turn to see the Hokage was still watching him. With an alarmed look on his face he would quickly turn fully to face her again and bow deeply.

"Oh uh yeah. Thank you very much Hokage Sama. I will try and um...try to work on me and all and uh...find my sensei? Um...thanks again."

A blush rose up in his cheeks before he left as instructed. Slowly closing the door behind him as if he was trying not to wake someone up. Barely letting it click close before he smiled and did a small happy dance just outside the office. Once that was done he would straighten himself out and strut his way downstairs and out of the office with thumbs tucked into the arms of his vest. Nodding to everyone he passed like they knew he just got promoted. Like they should somehow know he was a fucking champ. That's right you hosers from the academy. Most of them were still genin and here he was a chunnin. A stupid but extremely happy grin covered his face as he made his way down the street with a flash of inspiration in his eyes as he spoke to himself.

"Just you wait sis...I'm gonna catch up to you."

5 - 50
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Akari would watch as he put on the flak jacket, getting a feel for the new piece of equipment. The newly minted Chuunin would look lost in though as he checked the locations of various pockets and pouches. Was he simply excited to now be a Chuunin? Probably, so the dark haired teen would give him his time to relish the idea as he checked out his new flak jacket. After a few moments though he would turn to see her watching and get an alarmed look on his face before bowing. 'He forgot I was here?' She'd think in amusement as he spoke. Thanking her and informing her that he would try to work on himself and track down his sensei. Nodding her head in approval she would speak.

"Excellent, good luck Tengoku." She would say as he left, closing the door quietly on the way out. Akari would go back to do doing her paperwork, having no other meetings at the time and deciding to be productive. She did not have enough to warrant making a clone so she simply began to idly work through it. Idly she wondered if Tengoku was ready for the life of a Chuunin but then figured that if he wasn't then he would soon grow into it. She hoped the experience the position would give would help him on his path to becoming more confident. Lord knew if he ever wanted to progress further in her forces, he would have to take care of them problem.

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