The Raikage's Palace

[Sakuga]

At the top of the highest peak in Kaminari no Kuni lies the Terrace of Elements. Hidden deep inside the tough and strong Ryugakure, lies a place of spirituality. A place of zen, of enlightenment, and self discovery. The Kage's palace.

    At the highest point of the palace lies a terrace adorned with dark wood, white snow, and wooden wind chimes. This is a place of calm.  Kozuke sits alone in the center of a room open on all sides. The massive, magnificent, white, sky surrounds him. The flowing water of the fountains below, the howling wind blowing regularly through, the flames that dance in hearths. Here in the terrace, Kozuke is surrounded by the elements.  Two swords sit on a rack in the center of the highest platform, just before them sits Kozuke. His legs are crossed and prayer beads hang from his wrist.

    Kozuke's mind is empty. Here in this place, his family's heirloom Katana and Wakizashi sit on display. Kozuke often comes here to pay his respects to his elders so that they might grant him their strength.

[Sakuga]

The terrace of the elements is a popular myth in Ryugakure.  Only the prestigious or the lucky ever get to see this place of perfect balance and beauty.  Some people in the city deny that it even exist.

Kozuke's heirloom sword sat in their display case.  They're ancient, delicate, and rusted.  The dark blue wrapping along the handles are worn and tattered.

Kozuke opened the case and gently lifted the katana from the wooden display that suspended it in the air.  He unsheathed it slowly, the ancient blade hissed as it slid from its protective sheath.  He laid the sheath on the wooden floor and held the sword in a position of battle.  Just holding it he could hear his ancestors whispering to him.  Sweet words of encouragement filled his mind they flooded his very thoughts almost as if they were becoming one with him.  You are an honor to our linage.  The highest re-guard goes out to you, champion of the dragons.

Kozuke closed his eyes.  A gust of wind blew into this sacred area from the terrace outside.  Then he opened them.

The whispers stopped.

[Sakuga]

Kozuke sheathed the ancient blade carefully and placed it back into its protective case.  He had enough of tapping into his ancestors whispers.  He decided he had been sitting in the terrace enjoying himself for a little too long and that it would be appropriate for him to return to his normal daily activities.  So he left.

Kozuke stepped down the many levels of the terrace of elements until he was met with the giant red gate that was the exit.  Like magic, the gate opened up and behind it was a path of sparkling white stone.  Each side, was lined with samurai who saluted their Kage as he passed.  Kozuke walked gratefully through the path into the central palace where the Kage and other political figures gathered for debate and legislation. This building sits just under the highest point of the city, and is the majority of what people think about when discussing the Kage and his operations.  Inside the main chamber sat the council. The council members were debating the future of the city and current operations, but were obviously having a bit of trouble staying on topic.  Kozuke wasn't paying much attention until the words "Usurp" were muttered. 

[Sakuga]

Kozuke, delirious, "What was that about usurpation?" The council looked stunned by the surprise appearance of the Kage.  "Well... you see my lord, a genin squad seems to have uncovered an underground plot.  The tyrant you overthrew, there are remnants of his followers among the populous." Kozuke looked absolutely stunned by this statement. "What?"

Kozuke took his seat at the head of the table.  "Fill me in."

The council told him the tale of team two, the team that went on a mission to capture a thief in the village, but instead discovered a mastermind who attempted to force them into spying on the Kage.

"So, what?  They intend to assassinate me?  The village is entirely in my favor.  We should make an announcement to the citizens about this and tell them to be on the lookout for any sort of suspicious behavior.  What else is on the schedule?"

[Sakuga]

One of the councilmen handed Kozuke today's daily agenda.  On a thin parchment scroll The kage's items were listed.  Many items were on today's list.  Visit ninja academy,  visit samurai headquarters, represent Ryugakure to visiting Kage... Wait!?  A visitor!?

Today's schedule list a few mundane task but one extremely exciting ones.  The Raikage was to have a visitor today!  Today's schedule obviously takes priority until the visitor arrives, so Kozuke closed the scroll and tucked it into his waist strap.  First on the list was visiting the Ninja Academy.

The ninja academy is in the center of town in a secure dojo.  New citizens choose to enlist as ninja, for the taboo is great here, but those who do are highly important to the Kage and must be rewarded for their steps in servitude to Ryugakure.  Kozuke leaves his palace and grabs his white stallion from the stables.  His royal guard of samurai wearing full armor followed him as he left for the center of town.