Meetings on Reality - Side Story

It was a beautiful day in Honegakure. The sun was shining, birds were singing, the day was perfect to have an outing or any kind of relaxed day. It was on a day like today that Puraido found himself walking through a nearby park. He wore his simple robes as he walked amongst the people, a smile on his face as he looked st the children and families. A few people waved at the good priest but most paid him no mind. Puraido returned the looks and smiles but mainly kept to his own path. He was here for a reason.

He stopped as he saw a man sitting alone at a bench. Kai, assistant to the kage was now taking the time to observe women in acts of extreme flexibility and core strength: yoga. Puraido walked so he was barely in Kai's vision. "May I join you?"

The flexibility and the tight fitting yoga pants were undoubtedly draws. The female figure was the most beautiful and Kai would casually watch the practitioners like he did from time to time. Maybe he would court one back to his home for a little dinner and fun...

Or maybe he would be engaged by an older gentleman who seemed less interested in the Yoga pants wearing ladies in the near distance. "Go ahead, it's a free village, do what you wish." He answered casually with almost a hand wave, he knew who this man was, he was another occupant of Setsuna's shit list, though he was quite a few slots below Kai himself, who topped the proverbial leader board.

"I didn't think a man with a title like Father, would be into watching a Yoga class." Kai quipped not even bothering to look at the man, who had ruined his plans, holy men made miserable wing men.

"I'm certain you're aware that I have no interest in such things, and I'm sure you're aware they wouldn't return my interests even if I was sincere" Puraido remarked as he took a seat next to Kai. He made himself comfortable before shifting his gaze up to the clouds avouve the village.

"May I ask a curiosity question? I'd enjoy the opinion of a man in your position" Puraido began. "Don't worry it's nothing secret, just a question is like to ask someone in your perspective" Puraido added. "Tell me, do you believe that having Setsuba in charge is the best idea?"

"You may ask." Was Kai's response, it was a playful way of saying that Kai couldn't stop the man from asking, but also let him know that he didn't have to answer if he didn't like the question. Though that wasn't the case, in fact it was the opposite case. "I don't think it's as simple as having Setsuna in charge as it is that people gravitate to Setsuna's leadership. Is she a good at managing a Hidden Village?" Kai asked rhetorically for the Father, "No. I don't think she could run this village by herself." But before Father Puraido could ask why Kai would be following her. "I believe however that Saizuki-san is a charismatic leader, and a smart leader, she surrounds herself with people who make up for her weaknesses, namely administrators and advisers and public image people. Her leadership style is coarse at best but there's no doubt in my mind its effective. Though she has a habit of stepping on toes when she doesn't get her way right away."

The red haired man would lean forward and put his elbows on his knees and use his hands to support his head. "I take it you're not quite taken with her treatment of you?"

"I have zero issue with her treatment of myself or any of my followers" Puraido corrected. "She came and spoke to me personally instead of having me arrested on thin allegations. It's not a kindness I might have been granted in other villages" the holy man admitted. He crossed his arms lightly as if he was about to pray.

"My only fear is that having someone as powerful as Setsuna sends the wrong message. To a village that seeks peace and neutrality we have a kage as if we were any other village. I know Setsuna desires peace in her heart, but I feel her position as a leader here will always cause problems. We need strength to defend ourselves, but should we place her in such a public spotlight? Especially given all the secrets she knows about Suna"

"Almost anyone strong enough to be a leader has dirt on one of the Big Five." Kai responded. "Myself included. Yes Setsuna needs to be in the spotlight, this entire village is her project, if she were to step down without a clear-powerful successor, it would cause strife within the village, and open us up to attack from outside forces looking to dismantle or take over the village." Kai explained, though he figured Puraido already knew about this but it was worth saying. "The Village's leader represents the village as a whole. So if you have a weak leader, people assume your village is also weak. Which again invites conflict. That public spotlight stops half-hearted attacks before they even begin."

"Sounds like we're damned if we do or damned if we don't" Puraido said quietly as his gaze shifted to a group of children playing nearby. The holy man had no direct family of his own, but he saw the entire village as his flock. They all deserved protection and a feeling of safety and peace. But what could they do? Hope they were strong enough to face any opponent that challenged them? They were only so large, and could only weather so much.

"Has any attempt been made to contact the other villages? Even offering peace with villages would create an expectation that we'd support them in any war effort" Puraido remarked. "I don't envy Setsuna, the devil works in politics after all" he lightly teased.

Kai responded leaning back on the bench, and crossed one leg over the other, he'd continue to watch the ladies stretching and working their flexibility out.  "That's about the best way to sum it up right there."

"Oh, there have been overtures of non-aggression made with all of the big 5, and a lot of the smaller states. Most everyone spat in our messenger's faces or worse." Kai responded in a deadpan tone. "Everybody wants to see Honegakure fail for one reason or another, it seems like its almost in spite of that that Setsuna-san wants this village to succeed."

"It sounds like you're trying to work in politics too. Why don't you keep to making sure the people are spiritually cared for and leave the paper pushing to the dirty politicians." Kai teased back.

"Nurturing of the spirit does little if the people are having their throats slit by an invading force" Puraido pointed out. He was a man of faith, but he was also well aware that faith could only do so much. In the world of the shinobi, strength seemed to be the only way to obtain what one desired. Puraido sighed before standing up, feeling as if there was little more he'd be able to gain from this conversation.

"Believe me, politics are not something I desire to be a part of, as I told Setsuna before. My place is elsewhere, but it will always be my concern to make sure the people are safe" Puraido added before glancing to Kai. "I told Setsuna that if she ever needed anything she was more than willing to come and ask. Should she prove to be too prideful, I hope you'd be willing to come to me. I can't fix any problem, but at the very least I'd do what I could"