ura_no_ura | video

video | 003

[Video]

[ When the video first goes on, the screen is covered by a glove-covered hand, but after a slight shaky moment as it's set down on some sort of ledge, the hand retreats, revealing Kakashi standing outside. A few trees, still droopy with melting snow, can be seen in the background. Those familiar with the terrain might recognize it to be near Flame Building. ]

Hello, Luceti.

[ Kakashi dips his head in greeting, since he's addressing all of Luceti. ]

My name is Hatake Kakashi. Some of you may be familiar with me. For those of you who aren't, I'm a shinobi from a village called Konohagakure -- or Konoha for short -- in a country called "Fire Country." I am also the Commander of the Third Division, which is primarily a short-to-mid-range combat division, of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Many of you may be acquainted with or might recognize my comrades, amongst whom include Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, and Rock Lee. [ The names Kakashi lists aren't at random, but selected based on his observations of how recognizable those names would be. ]

The reason why I reach out to all of you today is simple. While things in Luceti currently are peaceful, and it appears we have nothing to worry about, the ever-present threat of the Malnosso and the Third Party remains. Kidnappings still occur, with seemingly no conceivable way to stop or fight them. Should there be an attack on the enclosure, at present, there is no organized force that can fight in concert to protect the enclosure and ensure the safety of civilians who might not be able to fight back. While some of us may be used to working together due to missions and drafts, as far as I am aware, no formal training or maneuvers are ever held to ensure all parties working together are using the best tactics and strategy. And from what I know, there are no formal safety measures in place to protect civilians or evacuate them to safer ground should a fight break out, as it did a few months ago.

On behalf of Konohagakure and Fire Country, by order of Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage-sama, I would like to formally extend an invitation to anyone who has military training, unique or magical powers, or immense skill in battle strategy, espionage and intelligence-gathering, field medicine, hacking, or other specialized skills to join us in forming an alliance. This alliance would not only give those of us from different worlds a chance to meet and discuss our shared interests in protecting Luceti's inhabitants, but would also give us the opportunity to learn and adapt how to fight with and against those with different training or powers. By conducting shared training sessions, maneuvers, disaster simulations, and taking missions together, we can share resources and power, as well as develop strategy.

As for who's in charge... seeing as we're all from different worlds, it would make much more sense for us to establish a council of leaders from different worlds. We invite leaders from other worlds who might have similar shared interests to contact us, and open a line of dialogue.

We look forward to hearing from you all.

[ Speech finished, Kakashi bows to the camera again, then reaches out and turns off the feed. ]

[Action | Flame Building | Afternoon ]

[ Yup, that sure is Kakashi walking vertically up the side of a wall. Just strolling along like it's no big deal. ]

[ Text | Filtered 100% to fellow ninja, written in extremely formal language ]

By order of Yondaime Hokage-sama, the Konohagakure Jounin Exams will soon be held for all qualified Chuunin. If you are interested in participating, a sign-up form has been placed on the door of Yondaime-sama's place of residence. Direct any questions you might have to Hatake Kakashi.

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Shikamaru ]

Shikamaru, I've nominated you for jounin promotion to Yondaime. Though we've decided to hold jounin exams, I've requested a special exception for you. However, if you would like to take the exams in the interest of fairness, you are still welcome to do so. - Kakashi

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Naruto ]

Naruto, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for jounin promotion. However, because you are still genin, it will be necessary for you to take the exam. - Kakashi

[ Text | Filtered 100% to Sakura ]

Sakura, I've nominated you for jounin promotion. Usually, this means immediate promotion, but because your peers don't have anyone to nominate them, we've decided to hold exams this year. Let me know if you would like to compete in them. - Kakashi

KONOHA JOUNIN EXAMS	LUCETI ALLIANCE DISCUSSION		ACTION
Kushina & Lee Kushina & Kakashi Kushina & Ino Kushina & Minato Temari Sakura Sasuke Lee Neji Naruto Ino Mikoto Shikamaru	Aang Adela Billy Bones Deadpool Eleytheria Elizabeth Gai Ginia Ikki Iroh Jean Johanna Karla Kirk	Law Loki Luke Masaomi Minato Peggy Riku Rogue Saleh Saori Steve Teddy Thor Vegeta Yuffie	Erwin Lea Sasame Trunks

((ooc: Since this is a call for discussion, feel free to thread-jack and hold your own conversations throughout the post. Kakashi will try his best to answer all comments. Also, feel free to comment on this post even it's super late. As long as we're within the 3 month bracket, we're cool!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mm, without an organizing council of sorts to schedule training, maneuvers, and determine different divisions and teams, however, there would be no real organization, strategy, or goals.

What do you propose as an alternative?

Edited 2014-02-10 18:56 (UTC)

Team leaders. Or focus leaders, if you have to have a council, have the teams send in representatives. The issue with a high command here, which I'm sure one or five people will throw out, is that people go home and if your organization relies on a head, it'll fall to shambles. It happened to the White Lotus, happened to the Blue Rogues, and also happened to the Justice League and that Avengers group someone tried to organize. The "council" actually has an entire different issue though, which actually brings me to my second point:

That I don't technically fit any of your criteria for membership. And I'm sure a lot of other people don't either.

Ah, but I haven't listed any criteria for membership, have I.

[ In fact, Kakashi hasn't even determined there would be any just yet. He had mostly conceived of an idea of leaders, those who wanted to protect both the interests of their own people, but most importantly, Luceti's population. ]

[ Hah. It'll take some fiddling, and he has to play it back to himself a few times before he can recount it but after a pause, he recites: ]

Military training, magic, or "immense" skill for strategy, spying, doctoring, hacking, or "other specialized skills." [ He also counts that off on his fingers ] Not to mention that it's a formal invitation from your Hokage, which as we just covered, is silly.

Edited 2014-02-10 19:12 (UTC)

Mm, there seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding. What I listed wasn't criteria for membership, but simply a list of desired traits for the first call to action. You have to begin somewhere, right?

[ A beat. ]

That being said, if you are a civilian and wish to contribute, there are many ways in which I can see non-combatants contributing.

[ He's going to patently ignore the jab at Minato, because it's a waste of time to argue with this kid on it. ]

Edited 2014-02-10 19:15 (UTC)

Oi, oi. There you're going, conflating again. Let's try this again: Not a lot of this enclosure is military, or even military minded.

I'm aware of that. Which means in the case of a major attack, a good portion of the population would not be able to properly defend themselves. Nevermind the fact that their interests would be with their immediate friends and those they care for here in Luceti, and not necessarily the enclosure as a whole.

While a feasible solution would be to simply train everyone, and I'm not opposed to that possibility, that method takes time. In the interim, there needs to be another solution, which is to gather together those who do have certain qualifications. As I said, we have to begin somewhere.

Of course, this doesn't discount the possibility of working with those who don't necessarily fit the qualification. This was just a first call to action, after all.

Edited 2014-02-10 19:20 (UTC)

So your organization is to be our "military" - an Alliance which, apart from the "civilian" population is to be our guardian angels?

[ Just to make sure he follows that ]

Edited 2014-02-10 19:26 (UTC)

Yes and no. A large division of the alliance would certainly fulfill the role of military, in addition to disaster relief and other emergency situations. [ Such as in the case of fire, a major flood, earthquake, or other natural disasters. ]

But on the non-military side, I don't see why there can't also be a division of the alliance aimed at improving the quality of life here in Luceti by working together to develop more infrastructure, such as new technology, educational programs, and even community projects.

[ After all, quality of life is equally as important as preventative measures. ]

Though, I had originally thought that would be a later development.

In that case, I'm not sure I see the need for a distinct Alliance which makes an us and them of protected and protectors. Even less so if you try to go for that leaders thing still. Plus, it's just a bad titling system...

Though, [ And his tone shifts now, adopting a more jovial tone ] I am going to be involved either way, if Shikamaru's really in on it. And I should stop speaking for the concerns he'll voice anyway.

Mmm, Shikamaru's mentioned a few concerns already, but we didn't exactly have the chance to talk at length, or as a group, until now. That's partly why I made this post -- not only to propose this idea, but to also invite dialogue.

As for whether or not a distinct alliance is a good idea, I personally think calling it an alliance, at least the military and emergency response part of it, makes quite a bit of sense. Especially for those of us with military backgrounds who answer to a leader. How we structure the leadership is something that can be discussed, but I don't see the harm in calling it an alliance, especially when it may concern the cooperation of larger parties with their own interests...

[ And here Kakashi pauses in consideration. ]

Is there some reason why you don't particularly like the word "alliance"? Or the idea of it?

Yeah. Someone will probably word this better than the likes of me, but- The "Alliance" which needs to happen is a unification of the whole enclosure. Possibly even with some other enclosures. A distinction between those in the loop and those out of the loop, even with words, tend to make people feel like they aren't in the same crew.

[ Kakashi's response is pretty immediate. ]

If that's the case, then how about we call the military side of it "joint forces" or something along those lines? And perhaps we can call the quality of life improvement part of it "Luceti Projects" or something like that?

[ - Huh.

He replied to this mostly be unhelpful with maybe a side comment of helpfulness due to him not thinking Shikamaru would agree with this, but... ]

Eeeh...

-- I like Joint Forces. Or maybe even something like Combined Corps, for alliteration - but that's probably my poet's soul.

[ A beat. He really chafes at the idea of it having any sort of big military structure or that it was announced in the name of this ~Yondaime Hokage~ let alone an actual nation, but if this guy's going to listen, he might as well attempt to be legitimately helpful ]

I'm also throwing out reinventing that defunct training center idea.

[ The way Kakashi represented Konoha and its interests was the way he knew best -- in a diplomatic manner, especially in the event that there were any other heads of state here in Luceti, or perhaps other military leaders. When you live a life of structure, after all, the expected response is to act in accordance with your beliefs.

And Kakashi, who has all the respect in the world for the Yondaime Hokage, who is also his sensei, saw no reason as to why there would be issues speaking diplomatically. Cover all the bases.

Even if Konoha isn't here in Luceti, the will of fire still is.

If Shikamaru's friend is open to the idea of "Joint Forces" or something along those lines, Kakashi doesn't see why they can't simply adopt that name, which still functions as an alliance. At least, in Kakashi's book.

He nods in response to the young man's suggestion.

But this idea of a training center-- ]

Can you tell me more about it? The training center?

[ It could be of real value. ]

Edited 2014-02-10 23:48 (UTC)

Oh, you don't know -- well that's understandable. Basically, a lot of years back some older skilled warriors decided that they should get some of the non-fighters up to snuff using the Barracks, at the time. Daily lessons, pairing up the unskilled with the skilled and recruiting people who were willing to take students. It's sort of fallen by the wayside and then been revived again a number of times, mostly due to the fact the teachers kept going home. The idea was to make anyone who was willing to try in Luceti proficient with at least being able to pick up a shinai [ Or any other weapon, really ] and fend off a cultist footman long enough for someone else to show up.

Edited 2014-02-10 23:51 (UTC)

That's a great idea.

I originally was considering taking over a few unused fields and setting up parts of the forest and mountains for joint training and maneuvers with parties who wanted to join the [ and here he pauses, catches himself ] -- Joint Forces. Having some sort of basic training system for civilians who want to learn how to defend themselves would be a good way to help them prepare themselves in the event of an attack, like you said, or even if they're called for a draft.

[ ...! ]

Okay, good idea, particularly with the Dome getting overstuffed so often. Two suggestions though: first, the Mountains are a long way off for non-ninja, so you're going to want to talk to Leon about getting a teleporter set up when you find a spot. Second, you need Moro's permission for the forests, now she's back.

[ There's the sound of scritching, which sounds a bit like writing. ]

Le...on... and Moro... Got it. Would you perhaps be able to make some introductions?

[ A pause. ]

...and do you have a name?

I could for Leon-kun... but not Moro. ... If you don't know, Moro's a wolf who's probably close to six meters tall.

[ He laughs a little sheepishly at that ]

My name though? Masaomi Kida. I'm Shikamaru's roommate.

A wolf, huh? I guess it's a good thing I have a pack of sentient dogs that can hopefully communicate with ... him.

[ Moro sounds like a male name. But he could be entirely wrong. ]

Anyway, thanks. Any other suggestions, Kida-kun?

[ Yep, family name. He doesn't know Masaomi well enough to go by first-name basis yet. ]

[ All wolves are masculine by nature (just ask Japan and Moro's confusing JP voice actor) but she's a woman-wolf. Not that he's going to correct that for the exact same reason. ]

Mmm. Not that I can think of. I've never been the brains of any outfit, I've just been around him long enough and been here a while.

Edited 2014-02-11 00:12 (UTC)

...if what you're concerned about is that we aren't conferring with Shikamaru regarding all this, rest assured that we most certainly are. He is, after all, our chief strategist.

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