Full of Fire[Flashback; Private; Bastian]

Katsuro had finally gotten the meeting he had been waiting for for so long. He had a certain plan he wished to get the Raikage's blessing for and it was matter he deemed as a matter of not only village but national security. He had a plan to form a special unit tasked with protecting the village's citizens from enemies foreign and domestic. The specialized 'task force' he had would revolve around two higher ranked shinobi acting as the main aggressors while training two younger shinobi to form their own attack squad. This would leave them the ability to strike at targets in foreign lands while also protecting the village from those enemies who have infiltrated them. It was this pseudo-dream that now has Katsuro standing outside the Kage's door slightly nervous but full of fire.

As soon as Katsuro heard the chimes signifying a new hour, he brought his hand to the door before wrapping against it with his knuckles. He had waited until the exact time of his appointment before he began his knocked but would wait for the Kage to give his ascent to enter before twisting the ornate handle and opening the door. After said receiving permission to enter, Katsuro would come to stand in front of the desk with his back straight and his hands clasped behind his back.

"Greetings Raikage-sama. I apologize for not revealing any information as to why I would like to see you, sir, but I did not want any sensitive knowledge to be compromised. And as such, would you like to go somewhere more private. With less windows and walls full of ears? Believe me sir, what I have to say warrants such precautions and paranoia."

"Lord Raikage, your final appointment for the day has arrived," an advisory stated. Gambaldi did not respond right away, rather he only nodded to the advisor as a show of acknowledgment. Taking the hint, the advisor bowed and let in Katsuo Michiki. Gambaldi was vaguely familiar with the man, though not more than head like. The Raikage bowed his head as a greeting. He listened quietly, allowing Katsuo to speak uninterrupted. Gambaldi appreciated the fact the man was straight to the point, most liked to bother with overlong formalities. Whatever this man had to say warrented secrecy, though Gambaldi only shook his head at the request to find a better location to discuss the subject. "Lord Katsuo, I can assure you now that any place I am is a place of secrecy," he said with a smirk, "None are foolish enough to even attempt to spy on me. You have my word."

Gambaldi gestured to the chair situated right in front of his desk. Whether Katsuo sat or not mattered little to Gambaldi as he set aside some paper work to give his guest his undivided attention. Gambaldi couldn't hold back his curiosity as to why there was a need for such paranoia, especially within the village. "What's on your mind," he asked plainly.

Katsuro nodded his head in return. He always seemed to forget the most basic of formalities when he set his mind to do something. However it wasn't something he was ashamed of. Rather he prided himself on his straightforwardness. Of course, he wasn't always so. Especially in the realm of love, which he had recently made a choice to refrain from since the disappearance of he most recent love interest.

Katsuro nodded and pulled his lips into a tight smile. "Sorry sir, no offense was attended. It's just that I've heard that ANBU are always waiting within earshot in case there is trouble but I trust your word." He chose to refrain from sitting. He had been told from an early age that sitting in front of the Raikage showed weakness and unprofessional-ism. "With the recent invasion from Iwagakure and the flood of shinobi and civilians from Iwakagure and Sunagakure, it is in my humble opinion that we have opened ourselves to attack from our enemies. Known and unknown. While I am aware that many of the people who fled to us came seeking protection of some kind, I still do not think we can trust these people so soon. It is my belief that the enemies of yesterday can never be the allies of today. But before I continue I must ask you this. Do you agree that with the influx of unknown shinobi, that we have potentially opened ourselves up for attack from our enemies?"

Katsuro removed the tight lipped smile from his face as he started talking. He didn't want the Raikage to think he was mocking him in anyway. That could potentially ruin the chances of this task force from forming and leaving Kumogakure wide open for attack.

As was his habit, Gambaldi didn't respond right away. Instead he let the question hang in the air as he allowed himself to think on the subject. Since the arrival of the shinobi and civilians from outside of Kumo, even the previous Raikage had come from Iwa. It was something that had given Gambaldi pause, but as a shinobi he was not in position to argue. Now that he was the Raikage this issue had once again loomed over him. While he had no issue with the outsiders, he did feel the need to tend to security of the village. "Your aware Garuda was the previous Raikage only a few weeks ago," he began as he reached behind his ear for a joint the size of a cigar, "I get your point, though. That very reason is why I ordered the building of the wall that shall cover the borders of Kumo. I've even increased the number of outposts and increased patrols within our territory. However, your concerns now bring rise to another problem. Only a dumb fuck would overlook an issue, regardless of how small," Gambaldi stated, pausing to light his joint before continuing.

"To answer your question, yes. Though some are quite unconditional with their coming to our village, there are some who don't wholeheartedly agree with this move. Regardless, they too will have to step in. Enemies of peace shall all be dealt with," he stated, exhaling smoke. He let his words settle a moment before he leaned back in his chair and kicked his feet up on the desk. The Raikage made a wolfish grin as he grasped where this conversation was going. "I presume you have a solution to this concern that we both have. Let's hear it."

Katsuro watched his Raikage light up his rather large joint when it hit him like a sack of amphetamine addiction. He hadn't had a cigarette in quite a few days and the withdrawal symptoms had finally hit him. He had been irritable the day before and nearly killed that one genin when he made a mistake in his kunai throwing. Of course that's what is wrong with him. Of course as he pulled the nearly crumpled pack of cigarettes, and metallic zippo, from his pocket he would raise the pack towards the Raikage as if he was asking permission to light one up. Once acquired, if it was given, he would light the cigarette in a quick flick of the zippo hood. As soon as the sweet smelling smoke filled his lungs he would give a mental sigh as he felt the flood of nicotine in his system. Of course that still would stop him from his task of establishing a task force designed to protect all the citizens of Kumogakure.

"That is a good answer sir and I do have a solution to our mutual concern. I propose the creation of a small task force who's sole purpose is to gather information about threats that exist within our borders and find out who they are reporting to outside before eliminating both threats as quickly and silently as possible. This Task force would consist of me and three others. The only ones who would know about the task force would be you, me and the other members of the Task Force. All of which I have already investigates and chosen, without their knowledge of course. This task force should have complete autonomy in the regard of choosing who to investigate, how to investigate, and how to eliminate our targets. The when should fall on your shoulders sir. As to why not use ANBU to do these things, I say a specialized squad that is designed purely for this mission would be better and keep the ANBU's hands free for more deserving missions such as foreign espionage and the elimination of rogue shinobi."

Katsuro took another puff from his cigarette to let the previous statement sink in for a moment. He wanted the Raikage to grasp the extent of which he felt was huge.

"In the simplest form, the Task Force would consist mainly of intelligence operations to investigate possible corrupted individuals and then investigate those who they are feeding information to. The other aspect of the unit will be specialized ANBU-esque missions designed to kill those offenders. The only time we will be authorized to kill a suspect is under your orders after all evidence has been presented to you. And as for Garuda, all I have to say is that many of my friends were killed during his war for the title of Raikage."

He felt his heart pump slightly faster as he remembered the bloody battlefields he witnessed during the war. Of the friends he lost, of the friends that had been lost before that. He would give Kumogakure peace, even if it killed him.

((OOC: Based off that everyone says Iwagakure invaded Kumogakure and apparently won. As for the cigarettes I actually forgot that Katsuro smoked. Heavily.))

Taking a puff of his blunt and nodding at Katsuo, to give the go ahead to smoke his own poison, Gambaldi listened to his comrades suggestion. He rather liked the idea of a secret group, though Anbu was just that. With this special task force working under him, they could handle the more underhanded activities that would need to be done. Despite his dream of peace, Gambaldi was not fool enough to believe that words would be enough. Coercion sometimes was the best tool to use when dealing with those who felt to strongly about disregarding peace. There was also many internal issues that gave the Raikage pause, and this task force would be perfect to handle such things. Blowing a few smoke rings, Gambaldi removed his feet from the desk and sat up. He reached in his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper with the Raikage seal on it. Though most preferred scrolls as a means to pass on messages, Gambaldi thought such a thing was too typical. At least with paper, disposal would be a lot more easier.

"This idea is a very good one, I must say. Though I have stipulations of my own," he began, now starting to write his message on paper, "I do not doubt your judgement, but if you are going to assemble this task force and make it official, I require an example of what it can offer. A test, if you will. Not long ago I sent Lord Garuda to...pacify the Land of Snow. This is a task I know he can handle, but I don't leave anything to chance. If you desire to have this task force then you and your selected members will see that this gets done." Having finished the letter, Gambaldi rolled it up and brought out his stamp. Old fashioned, but still reliable in terms of keeping the paper folded in place. Within the letter was the mission, a fairly simple one at that. His all black attire and regal posture making him appear more imposing as he took a final hit of his blunt before putting it out.

"I have one final condition as well," he said as he approached Katsuo, "This task force, though ran by you, is mine. Regardless of title or position, I am the top leader of this task force. Rarely will I ever need to trump your words, in fact I doubt I will ever, but in the event that it do there will be no questions. You may investigate whomever you choose or even, if need be, kill whomever you deem a threat. But those that I pardon will be considered off limits to you. This will not be questioned. My plans for the future are not simple black and white. I want you aware of this should a time come and you find my orders disheartening." By the time he finished, he handed Katsuo the message and gestured for him to read it. He wanted Katsuo to read what it said before the letter was sealed. "If anyone has a issue with your presence or that of your task force, my seal alone will quiet any suspicion." The moment Katsuo would open the letter, Gambaldi would already be looking the man in the eyes. His expression alone showed how serious he was. He would remain silent only to hear Katsuo's response before bothering to say more. This was a test not for the faint of heart and if even a hint of doubt crossed the shinobi's face; Gambaldi would deny the task force right then and there.

(Ooc: yea I know I am late.)

Katsuro nodded his agreement as the Raikage talked. Katsuro had to agree that this task force was a good idea and that it would free up the ANBU for a lot more missions when his team would make sure their homes were safe. Though he was sure that no one would ever hear about their exploits for many years to come, and probably never. Katsuro's face didn't change at the mention that their first mission would be the pacification of nation or that they would be working alongside the former-Raikage-now-Sennin. His face also didn't change when he was told they would in fact be working for the Raikage, which was exactly what he said they would be doing and he just chalked it up to the fact that the Raikage wanted Katsuro to hear it from his own mouth as well. The mission Katsuro read was pretty straight forward from what the Raikage briefed him on. The wording was slightly different but he found that acceptable. Assist Garuda-sama in the pacification of the Land of Snow.

Katsuro handed the paper back to the Raikage assuming his stiff stance again. "It might be best to have another letter with your seal that doesn't have the mission specifics on it but it says other shinobi are not to interfere with shinobi who holds the letter. One for each member of the task force. It will stop someone from reading the mission to make sure we are who we say we are. It also means I can destroy any proof of a mission you give us once I have memorized it. Though we won't need it for this mission"

Katsuro kept a straight face as he talked, hiding his excitement at finally getting something he so desired. He just needed a way of bringing these people into the task force.

((OOC: Short Post is Short.))

Gambaldi took the letter and folded it immediately. "This letter will do. Your mission is apparent and my seal will be all you need to see the task done. However, if it will ease your mind then I shall make the proof you require, this one stating you are acting on my behalf. None must ever know your mission, any mission for that matter, only that you have orders to see it done. By any means necessary." Gambaldi turned to his desk and brought out several small sheets of paper. On each one, 5 in total, he put his stamp and signature on them. He then sealed the letter with the same stamp and signature. Once done he turned back to Katsuo and handed all the signed and sealed papers to him. Letter included.

"If you succeed in your task, I will order a official insignia to your task force. From that day forward, your actions will be my actions. Your words, my words. Should you fail, well," he paused a moment as if deciding a punishment, "We will cross that bridge when we get to it." Having said his peace, Gambaldi moved back to his chair, "Now hurry and assist, Lord Garuda. Time is a factor."

Katsuro nodded.  He knew full well what the implications of failure were.  And that his sentence for failing would most likely be death.  Katsuro nodded his thanks to the Raikage after he pocketed the five letters.  Just before he turned to leave he gave a salute and said "Sir."  He then proceeded to walk out of the office, careful to close the door without slamming.  Once he was out of earshot of the Raikage, he let his smile loose and gave himself an audible congratulations.

~Exit~

((OOC:  Short post is shit.))