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sunshineapps) wrote2014-07-08 03:14 am
sunshineapps) wrote2014-07-08 03:14 am
Entry tags:
Hotohori
Name: Xing-Shu to other lords, "Hotohori" to anyone who's smart and not incredibly close to him.
Canon: Fushigi Yuugi
Journal:problemdaimyo
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Birthday: April 2nd
Canon History: http://fushigiyuugi.wikia.com/wiki/Hotohori
Canon Abilities/Powers:
Politics and diplomatic crap? He's got this. He's the emperor of a freakin' country, constantly in talks with another country that's just looking for any excuse to invade. He made it four years before they really out-did themselves finding a way to start a war beyond his control.
He has magical sword-fighting abilities. Basically, no one in the world can keep up with his sword-fighting skills when he applies himself fully. It helps that he's had nothing but the best sword-fighters teaching him from a very young age, but this is also just his celestial power. If it's with a sword alone, no one can beat him, not even Tamahome.
Also for a little bit he has a sword that can deflect or absorb magical abilities, but that doesn't last that long.
He also has considerable hand-to-hand fighting skills, but nothing at the level of a celestial warrior whose skills are melee-oriented, so generally he chooses to use a sword instead. If necessary, though, he's not helpless without a bladed weapon in his hand.
He's the mother-fricken' emperor. There's an entire country of reasons not to get on his bad side. This may not be an innate ability, but when a man can give a cold glare and clear out a room in a matter of seconds (or speak a few words and have someone who stayed in it killed), it might as well count.
Also it might not seem like it, but Suzaku likes him (cos he's so pretty). He could get just about anything he asked for if he prayed for it. But he doesn't know that, so it's not usually much use to him.
His celestial crest on his neck powers up to give him enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, and magical resistance when it's necessary. Usually to protect Miaka, but also in battle or if he charges his chi for any reason. It doesn't seem to do much other than allow him access to his magic Suzaku powers (but he can still get stuff done just praying even if it were to be blocked/removed). The crest isn't visible if chakra isn't flowing in it.
He doesn't know it, but the crest is one of several keys used to unlock the Universe of the Four Gods scroll and summon Suzaku. The priestess has to manifest each crest in order to access the power of Suzaku (without dying.)
Sunshineverse History:
Xing-shu was born as your average tenth son of a Daimyo, so far down the line that he never really worried about it as a young child. Neither did his father, who was too busy with his responsibilities as a lord and with the children who would one day inherit the nation to spend any time or affection on him. Occasionally he would catch the attention of his father, but only because as a child he displayed the sign of the Land of Noodles rare bloodline limit which made him potentially a valuable asset to the nation.
The peace of his youth was short-lived, though. By the time he was nine, his many half-siblings began to die in mysterious or conspicuous ways, slowly but surely clearing out the path to inheriting the country in front of him and sometimes even behind him. During this time, tutors were quietly assigned to fill up his day with teaching him politics and his father fell ill from a sudden disease. At fourteen, his father finally died of what had weakened him over the past few years, and in rapid succession his other half-brothers and sisters died in various accidents. Fourteen year old Xing-Shu inherited the throne, and the wife of the lord became Lady-reagent of the Land of Noodles.
For a short time, his mother ruled in his name, and the young Xing-shu remained trapped in the Land of Noodle's palace as an easily accessible figurehead. His Lady Mother had ideas for the country, plans to make it a great nation, and for that reason she began gathering a mercenary army of shinobi to change the Land of Noodles to a military nation (and therefore grant herself far more power than she currently possessed). Unfortunately for her, this plan never had the chance to bloom. While riding out to negotiate with other small countries she hoped to rally behind herself, her caravan was waylaid by bandits, and in the attack she was killed, leaving Xing-Shu alone to rule the shocked nation. His short encounter with the nukenin in the palace (who were quietly dismissed by the other politicians surrounding him) reignited the fascination he'd had with shinobi as a child. His position made the previous plan his mother had for him impossible, as he could never be the Land of Noodle's greatest soldier if he was also the only surviving member of its leadership, but for him it was an escape from the total loneliness and sudden, crushing responsibility dropped on him.
Xing-Shu dreamed of being a shinobi, of learning to activate his bloodline limit and becoming a hero who had adventures like the ones he'd heard of from tales of other shinobi and of the nukenin he'd briefly met. He dreamed also of meeting the one special person who would allow him to fully awaken his abilities, and who would necessarily become his permanent and close companion. The freedom, companionship, and perhaps even love, promised from his kekkai genkai and the life of a shinobi helped him cope with the quiet and lonely life of a daimyo, and with the loss of his large family in such a short period of time and at such a young age.
Between his lessons in politics, the determined young man demanded to be taught by the shinobi that passed through the lands. There was no way to dedicate the leader of the Land of Noodles to an actual training program for ninja, and even should he have found the time the risk associated with even the easiest program was too great a danger. Instead, he had to take individual lessons from the shinobi willing to share knowledge for the pay that the Land of Noodles could afford. The training was incomplete and inefficient, but it allowed him to hold on to his dreams of becoming a shinobi and therefore allowed him to focus on his other responsibilities, rather than give in to despair or run away.
Unfortunately for those who hoped indulging him would allow him to move on from his childish dream, at sixteen one of the shinobi teaching him mentioned that some shinobi came to be known by certain aliases rather than their own name, and Xing-Shu decided to change his name (the Great and Deadly and Mysterious) Hotohori. His advisers and those around him quickly learned to call him that during any time which wasn't an official meeting with another daimyo. Although vexing, they considered it a small price to pay for a leader.
Despite his eccentricity, Hotohori proved to be a good leader for the Land of Noodles, establishing more noodle routes than before and improving relationships with many of the smaller countries that had been ignored by his parents. Both his attractive, young face and his unusually sunny and bright personality (and his tendency to spend as much time with his people rather than in the palace as he could) made him very popular with the citizens of the Land of Noodles, too. His age, eccentricities, and unyielding nature when it came to decisions he made about his nation made other daimyo disdain and dislike him, but his cleverness prevented the Land of Noodles from suffering because of it.
Like his mother, Hotohori shows an interest in forming a shinobi village of some sort for the Land of Noodles as well, but only for purposes of dealing with domestic threats and as an alternate income source (and so that he might be more closely involved with shinobi matters), but he's yet to find enough people with acceptable ability, resources, and motivation to establish one. For the moment, he considers himself the Land of Noodles' primary shinobi, and usually takes jobs usually given to shinobi when it comes from his village. Should the mission be too dangerous or difficult for himself alone his country will then hire out other shinobi from different nations to support his efforts...but it's extremely rare to have a mission he's not involved with.
Of note, his mother originally intended to teach him to knead chakra so that he could access his ability, but she intended to secure a position of power and finish his other training before doing that, as she feared his bloodline limit would make him an easy target for assassins if it were revealed to the public before he was ready. She never explained to him that the first part of his ability requires the ability to knead chakra, so he has focused on building himself up physically instead of learning to control chakra.
Sunshineverse Abilities/Powers:
He's no longer blessed or infused by a god, but he does have really excellent sword-skills. Rather than expert swordsmen, he was indulged with mercenary and ex- shinobi and samurai that were willing to train a noble who they never expected to actually use the skills they taught. He's still never gone through the intensive training that shinobi children do, but his skills and his innate talent make him a very impressive swordfighter even in a world full of ninjas with swords. 'Kenjutsu' is an inappropriate term for his abilities, because he doesn't augment his attacks with chakra in any way, but he does use many techniques without chakra that would be expected of a skilled kenjutsu user.
Noteworthy of a Daimyo, he's also quite fit and strong. There's nothing augmenting his abilities, but he's still incredibly fit. Underneath his volumous robes he's got the body of a person who devotes all of his free time to training in whatever ways someone with his position and cash can afford him (good luck ever seeing that, but in canon he's just as fit as a lifetime martial artist). It's still not the body of a ninja, and he still doesn't have the experience or pain tolerance that a shinobi has, but it's practically a super power next to most Daimyo. As for strength, it's a fair assessment to assume he has the strength of a man who's spent a lifetime doing manual labor (because he insists), but not one who's done intense manual labor. More the level of a farmer than a sailor or lumberjack.
He's still a politician, and the leader of a country that has almost no military might, but has some moderate economic weight (being the one that makes most of the noodles in the shinobi world). Surprisingly, he knows how to do all the boring diplomatic things, and is really good at it, he just doesn't like to. Other Daimyo may disdain him as a matter of course, but not his country, and he still outranks many other shinobi leaders. At least in countries that choose to recognize the political authority of minor countries not their own.
In the land of Noodles, he could have people expelled or imprisoned on a whim, though more often it's hired or fired when it comes to shinobi. Outside of it...he has the weight of noodle trade routes to exert pressure with if he wants to. Unfortunately, his country doesn't really have an army, so against violent and strong countries (particularly those who are violent, strong members of the five great nations) that power is rather less effective than the noodle-reliant alliances that the Land of Noodles has.
He's not divinely bestowed with anything, but he's fairly lucky, apparently. He must be, to have survived his eccentric lifestyle and ended up the lord of a country.
Little known fact - He's pretty good at sneaking around. At least around regular security and politicians. It's how he sneaks out for air sometimes when he's being penned in by people who demand him to be responsible and do work. It's not much to look at when compared to shinobi stealth, though...
He's extremely charismatic when he wants to be (or to people who like his style). His people love him, and it's likely most of them can always be counted on to support him, his decisions, or his rule when it counts. This might be one reason why no one's tried to replace him with a more usual lord. But then again it might be that the Land of Noodles isn't important enough to replace a weird daimyo as long as it keeps providing noodles.
Some people in the country like to speculate he has natural, untapped talent for certain jutsu or chakra. There's absolutely no proof of this in his lineage, and it's completely pointless if he never gets the training to exploit that.
Something known only to a very select few, is that he has a dormant kekkai genkai believed to be unique to the Land of Noodles. As long as it remains dormant, it's completely useless. It does nothing, it can't be detected except in childhood (while pre-pubescent the symbol briefly appears whenever they're experiencing strong emotion, though it does nothing), it won't activate randomly. Without kneading chakra, it can't be accessed at all, so he would have to be taught to use his chakra to use it. Because of how rarely it's accessed, it's considered semi-legendary and not given much weight. Should he be able to, using chakra essentially gives him the physical abilities of a taijutsu specialist. Although he wouldn't be super fast like taijutsu masters, he would have the strength, endurance, and agility of a shinobi with a taijutsu preference. It also accelerates his natural healing when activated, but at the price of draining his chakra reserves (which, unless also trained, are rather miniscule). The more he uses those abilities, the faster they drain. A glowing red symbol appears on his neck when he's kneading chakra to show this.
There's another catch to his ability: his kekkai genkai only activates if it can synchronize with another even rarer bloodline. If none exist in the world, he can knead chakra and it won't do anything, it won't even activate the glow. If that person exists in the world, it can activate. However, it will never reach its full potential even then. The full bloodline limit can only be activated if he interacts with the specific person who has the 'prime' limit and develops a deep emotional bond with them. Once that happens, his chakra network synchs completely with theirs, which allows for chakra transfer between them, and amplifies his previous abilities considerably, which would grant him super-human strength and speed, greatly amplified kenjutsu reflexes and abilities (his specific bloodline's specialty - note that even with his abilities, it doesn't give him knowledge of any jutsus he doesn't learn, simply skill and agility with the blade, and the ability to reinforce that blade with simple chakra), and constant knowledge of the position and state of the 'prime' limit. It would also theoretically allow free chakra transfer between himself, the 'prime', and any others like him who also synched to that person to supplement their chakra pool when using their techniques, so long as they touch.
Side effects of this synchronization which are less desirable are that the bond usually deepens into a dependency on the not-prime side, making even non-romantic friendships turn romantic most of the time, and so due to their dependency/loyalty and other side-effects they usually end up the body guards or servants of that 'prime' limit. They don't actually experience the pain of the other person but, depending on the person, they can react as if they do simply because they know it's happening.
Should the 'prime' limit be killed, or the bond somehow be severed in another way, the synchronized bloodline members would become unstable and depressed. Their abilities would vanish and usually their chakra network fries from the recoil, making it impossible for them to ever knead chakra again. More importantly they usually become moody and rash and often suicidal. There is no known method to fix this side effect, and when the bond is finally severed, there's no way to undo the psychological damage short of resuming the bond...but a damaged chakra will remain damaged.
Currently, a 'prime' bloodline member exists in the world, potentially giving him access to his limited form abilities should he learn to knead chakra, but he's unaware of this and has never met them so far. Note that if the 'prime' did die before he met them and formed a deep bond, the only ill effect to him would be the loss of his basic bloodline limit abilities.
Appearance: More beautiful than any woman, and in fact unless he goes to certain effort to actually look like a man he's usually confused for a woman, due to his exceptionally fine and feminine features. He doesn't mind; he's damn beautiful and he knows it. Black hair with the slightest hint of brown in bright sunlight, which falls to just about mid-back, usually bound about two thirds of the way down to keep it from going everywhere. Golden brown eyes that are much more 'gold' than 'brown. The sort of pasty pale skin only achievable in Uchiha or a life lived in court.Stupidly tall. 6', slim and lithe but muscular from a life of horseback riding and sword-training, and more recently pretending to be a shinobi.
Personality:
Hotohori is a difficult person to figure out because, for one, the man is a politician. Even if he's many other things as well, he's still been raised in a political family and taught from a young age the art of diplomacy and politics. His true feelings on most matters tend to remain hidden from all but those he's close to, and any appearance to the contrary is usually a matter that's been calculated at some point.
As a politician, when facing those who are hostile toward him, or when he is forced to approach a serious situation, Hotohori is cold and professional, at times he's even been considered ruthless. In truth, he is simply concerned after the welfare of his nation and people. His mother nearly brought the nation to its knees, self-destructing the family completely with her manipulations and could have brought war to the Land of Noodles if she'd succeeded in transforming the nation as she'd planned. Thus, he takes the responsibility that fell upon him seriously.
However, he rejects the lifestyle and beliefs of his parents and those around him, an unspoken rebellion against the coldness and loneliness that was and is a constant in his life due to their methods. He craves companionship and warm contact with others, and so he turns to his people and has become a very welcoming and open ruler to the people of his nation. Alone as he is, his family dead and the other politicians around him old and different, and himself possessing an extremely uncommon kekkai genkai...he suffers from extreme feelings of isolation and loneliness, which he combats by immediately reaching out and latching on to those he determines like him. Because he lacks many other 'similar' groups of people to him, he's determined to make himself a member of the shinobi (a very large and expansive group of people) and so he usually seeks to befriend or find camaraderie with the friendly (or...not hostile...) shinobi he encounters.
He is his mother's son, and underneath his plain and honest exterior, he can be quite manipulative when he wants to be. He is not the sort to do harm to anyone unless he felt they threatened someone or something important to him, such as his nation, but...for all of his levity he has grown up the son of a lord and then a lord himself. He has a tendency to believe himself in some way entitled to the things he wants. When direct methods don't serve him to get whatever it is that he wants, then manipulation and deceit are completely acceptable alternatives.
One thing he will not do intentionally is endanger his nation or its people, and whatever he does is always limited by his desire to protect them and unwillingness to follow in his mother's footsteps. However, 'endangering' it is a decision made entirely by his own discretion and definition. He isn't unreasonable--he agreed that the shinobi training would be too dangerous and too time consuming for him to pursue, but he can be bull-headed and confident to the point of arrogant in his abilities. It's possible to convince him a certain mission is too dangerous or bad timing, but it isn't likely anyone will convince him to avoid taking missions at all, even dangerous ones.
He may seem rebellious and a little wild when it comes to his dreams of being a shinobi, but when not dealing with battle or his insistence on becoming a shinobi in his own way, Hotohori is usually a fairly calm and quiet man. Part of this is due to his political experience: calm collection is vital for ruling a nation and important in dealing with people who may be agitated or panicked. Even in a battlefield, when necessary, that calm and level-headed nature may come out. Unfortunately, in a rare instance where his passion is enflamed instead, it may do just the opposite, and he may act rashly to cover for his fear of loss (should it be his dreams, his nation, or someone incredibly close to him that would leave him lonely in their wake).
To those who become close enough to him to see beneath his layers of cloaks, though, Hotohori is actually a warm and gentle person. He cares deeply for the people he watches over, and even more for anyone who reaches through his loneliness to make a true connection with him. He is kind, and abhors the concept of using any friend or ally in a method that would do them harm, even if they're willing. This is probably one reason why he refuses to send shinobi off on their own most of the time. Even if they're fully capable and willing to risk their lives to do something for him, he would rather be there to help ensure they aren't harmed than have them hurt or killed needlessly at his behest.
Despite his sometimes loud manner, and the way that daimyo believe him to be immature, to the average 19 year old he's extremely mature. He was raised almost exclusively around adults. If there was a time in his life where he was allowed to freely play with children, it was brief enough that he doesn't remember it. Even before his mother openly manipulated him into the throne, she had quietly isolated him from his fellow siblings so that he would feel no remorse when they were gone. Thus, his mentality is that of a full-grown adult, and has been since he rose to the throne. One could say his dream of becoming a shinobi is his one flight of childish fantasy, and it is one he clings to tightly.
Although he reaches out for companionship easily, he is also constantly searching for the 'prime' limit who would activate his abilities and, more importantly, would form a permanent and deep bond with him should he ever meet them. As such, until given some indication that person might have the ability, a part of him would remain reserved even in a close friendship, as he's already devoted it to the unknown someone he might never meet.
Despite his layers of privacy and control, he's actually weak to genuine warmth and friendliness. People who make a concentrated effort to befriend him (rather than vice versa) will easily cut through his layers to meet the true him, and he will act on his true feelings and impulses when he's with them. He's also likely to become very attached to them, if they work as a salve for his loneliness because of that.
A part of his confidence, perhaps even bigger and more important than the confidence he has in his abilities, are those of his looks. He grew up easily the most beautiful person in the Land of Noodles (that he knew of), including his fellow family members. One thing that he was often complimented on even before becoming beloved by the people of the nation was his beauty. In fact, it was the only compliment his mother ever paid him, and the only thing his father remarked on that wasn't related to his bloodline limit. He is thus, extremely confident in his appearance, to the point of outright narcissism. He is shameless in his narcissism, and openly loves how attractive and beautiful he is. Flattering him on the matter of his looks is usually a good way to quickly gain many point with him, although they are superficial and easily lost should the person then threaten those that matter to him.
Although he's accused from time to time of being selfish due to his rashness and determination on the matter of being a shinobi, he really isn't. He may be somewhat entitled and highly narcissistic, but his raising and young rise to leadership has forced him to become a far more selfless person than that. He would sacrifice himself or his dreams for his nation if necessary, and he would sacrifice his happiness or anything else necessary for the people who are close to him. He's not an altruist--he won't give these things up without a fight, nor will he rush to do it even when it's necessary...but in the end, when it comes down to it he will always give up something of himself for those that he feels obligated to protect.
He can be somewhat naive, given his sheltered upbringing and fairly sheltered and caged in life. This expresses itself most obviously in his apparent lack of understanding that all shinobi might not welcome a lord as a potential fellow shinobi, and at other times expresses itself in what would otherwise be considered entitlement, when he believes certain things should be his by right it is often simply because he was never raised with the consideration that it might not be. This isn't to say he's such a terrible judge of character that he'll trust someone dangerous and thus endanger himself or the nation...after all, he is still a politician first, and thus has had to learn to read people and their intentions. It's usually much more mundane interactions and concepts that catch him up (he has no concept of the reality of fishing, for instance) or in the ways that he openly embraces his dreams even when they're impossible or extremely unlikely. It can be said that the way he's inclined to quickly form bonds is also a form of his naivety, because he's formed so few personal ones that he is more likely to form stronger bonds more quickly than those used to making friendships.
When not on the battlefield or dealing with protecting his people, he is generally considered to be a kind and gentle man. He is soft spoken, with a smooth voice, and will often do anything in his power (or within reason) to help a person who comes to him with a concern, whether they are a friend, citizen, ally, or stranger in need. Given the choice to eat and watch another person starve or starve himself to feed another, he is almost always likely to go without. It's also not uncommon for him simply to forget to eat or to sleep while working out diplomatic treaties or planning missions for an extended amount of time, until someone intercedes and forces him to take care of himself.
His kindness shows through in his charisma, as his more frightening and ruthless sides are rarely seen by anyone who is not an enemy or potentially an enemy. Instead, the people who interact with him even as a lord will usually feel his kindness and warmth even through his cool and professional exterior. This kindness and his priority toward the people of the nation over himself is one reason why the people of the Land of Noodles are so loyal toward him.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Clever
+ Resourceful
+ Powerful: wields the power of the Land of Noodles
+ Kind, which easily earns him loyalty
+ Extremely dedicated once he decides to do something
+ Possesses an unyielding, iron will
+ Potentially quite strong if his bloodline limit is activated
+ Beautiful, and knows how to use that to his advantage
+ Skilled diplomat and politician
+ Excellent sword-fighter
+ Minor assorted ninja skills
+ Able to conceal true feelings easily
+ Quickly makes friends
+ Quick learner
+ Well-loved by his people, making it difficult to replace him
+ Ruthless when necessary
+ Calm under pressure
= Sneaky, but not at the level of a ninja
= Physically fit and hardy, for a normal person
= Manipulative at times
= Strong divide between inner and outer self
= Once earned, very loyal
- Eccentric and weird, doesn't fit in with the other daimyo and isn't respected by them
- Sometimes too easily trusting, because others may not be as quickly attached to him as he is to them
- Extremely lonely and isolated, always looking to fill the emptiness around him
- Too distracted by his childish dreams to always take the world for what it actually is
- Somewhat sheltered and therefore naive
- Completely incapable of dealing with children
- Insists on subjecting himself to missions and dangers appropriate for a shinobi, despite lacking the skills.
- Stubborn to the point of bull-headedness when he wants to be
- Can get too easily impassioned and make rash decisions about things that are important to him
- Is likely to sacrifice himself to protect someone else, rather than heed self-preservation instincts.
- Entitled to things and people at times, because he isn't used to 'no' being a firm and regular answer. May end up pushy or presumptuous about things.
- His country has no military might to speak of, all of his power relies on the fame and quality of the noodles it creates, and how much other countries want more of their supplies (and don't want to conquer them to get it)
- Can't knead chakra
- Bloodline limit can never activate without special conditions
- Even if activated, the limit is likely to make him subservient to whoever it is he finds...and will eventually become suicidal and unstable if that person he meets dies.
- Easily lets people in to see the true him once friends with them
- Weak to kindness and warmth, quite probably very susceptible to properly executed Talk no Jutsu
- Refuses to make a decision to intentionally harm his people even if that decision would be advantageous for him, or causes his own downfall to refuse.
- Incapable of devoting the time or risk to becoming a proper shinobi
- Usually bound to the palace to do ruling things, restricting movement and interaction.
- So focused on ninja-ing that he misses other things if he's dealing with that at the time.
- Can fixate on things to an absurd degree
Village Affiliation: Land of Noodles
Rank: Civilian - Daimyo
Prose sample: http://sunshine-ooc.dreamwidth.org/14177.html?thread=441185#cmt441185
Bracket sample: [There was no getting around it. He was most certainly stuck. He was absolutely, certainly stuck in a tree. To be perfectly fair to himself, and as himself it seemed only right to be fair to himself, it was a good plan when he first climbed up the tree. Climbing a tree was at once a good way to get away from the wolves (which he could have handled if he hadn't misplaced his sword when the carriage rolled down the mountainside...) and figure out where he was.
Now, however, while the broken branches had ultimately served the purposes of frightening away the wolves, he was also stuck far too high up in a tree to safely drop down, especially dressed as he was in slippers and robes.
Well, no. He could get down if he jumped. He'd probably land safely too, but he'd most certainly break something vital to walking and making his way out of the forest with if he did.
So.]
...No. No giving up! [Since, there's really no way he could expect anyone to just come wandering by and rescue him.
He carefully pulled himself up to his feet, balancing against the truck of the tree. Just long enough to get his balance on the branch, anyway. No use slipping off before he did anything, right?
If he just...took a running start, he'd probably make it to that other tree branch. At worst, he'd plunge to his doom just the same as if he'd jumped straight down. And...neither shinobi nor lords could afford to give up and die in a tree out of a little thing like fear.
He grit his teeth, and sprinted forward.]
Missive Sample:
Lord Kage Obito Uchiha of Konoha,
It has come to the attention of the Land of Noodles that an establishment within your borders has been smuggling noodles into their shop which have been stolen from our routes with other nations. If demand in Konoha for our noodles is greater than the current supply, then I am certain that we may arrange for a suitably larger route with the Land of Fire. Stealing noodles from other nations is unacceptable, as you surely understand. Insufficient shipments of noodles reflect badly on the Land of Noodles, and the minor nations that have arranged current routes almost certainly lack the funds that Konoha and the Land of Fire possess to refill their supplies.
Security for the caravans tracked the thieves to the borders of your village, and as leader of said village, it's my belief that we deal with you directly on the matter. However, it would be unwise to take this personal warning lightly. If attacks and theft persist from your village, the Land of Noodles will have no choice but to elevate this issue to a matter of nations.
-Honorable Lord and Daimyo of the Land of Noodles, Xing-Shu
(A smaller note in a neat, but quicker hand is folded up inside the crisp and official one, unsigned} I would greatly prefer this issue not elevate. You are in possession of a very unpleasant and shrill Daimyo
Canon: Fushigi Yuugi
Journal:
problemdaimyoGender: Male
Age: 19
Birthday: April 2nd
Canon History: http://fushigiyuugi.wikia.com/wiki/Hotohori
Canon Abilities/Powers:
Politics and diplomatic crap? He's got this. He's the emperor of a freakin' country, constantly in talks with another country that's just looking for any excuse to invade. He made it four years before they really out-did themselves finding a way to start a war beyond his control.
He has magical sword-fighting abilities. Basically, no one in the world can keep up with his sword-fighting skills when he applies himself fully. It helps that he's had nothing but the best sword-fighters teaching him from a very young age, but this is also just his celestial power. If it's with a sword alone, no one can beat him, not even Tamahome.
Also for a little bit he has a sword that can deflect or absorb magical abilities, but that doesn't last that long.
He also has considerable hand-to-hand fighting skills, but nothing at the level of a celestial warrior whose skills are melee-oriented, so generally he chooses to use a sword instead. If necessary, though, he's not helpless without a bladed weapon in his hand.
He's the mother-fricken' emperor. There's an entire country of reasons not to get on his bad side. This may not be an innate ability, but when a man can give a cold glare and clear out a room in a matter of seconds (or speak a few words and have someone who stayed in it killed), it might as well count.
Also it might not seem like it, but Suzaku likes him (cos he's so pretty). He could get just about anything he asked for if he prayed for it. But he doesn't know that, so it's not usually much use to him.
His celestial crest on his neck powers up to give him enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, and magical resistance when it's necessary. Usually to protect Miaka, but also in battle or if he charges his chi for any reason. It doesn't seem to do much other than allow him access to his magic Suzaku powers (but he can still get stuff done just praying even if it were to be blocked/removed). The crest isn't visible if chakra isn't flowing in it.
He doesn't know it, but the crest is one of several keys used to unlock the Universe of the Four Gods scroll and summon Suzaku. The priestess has to manifest each crest in order to access the power of Suzaku (without dying.)
Sunshineverse History:
Xing-shu was born as your average tenth son of a Daimyo, so far down the line that he never really worried about it as a young child. Neither did his father, who was too busy with his responsibilities as a lord and with the children who would one day inherit the nation to spend any time or affection on him. Occasionally he would catch the attention of his father, but only because as a child he displayed the sign of the Land of Noodles rare bloodline limit which made him potentially a valuable asset to the nation.
The peace of his youth was short-lived, though. By the time he was nine, his many half-siblings began to die in mysterious or conspicuous ways, slowly but surely clearing out the path to inheriting the country in front of him and sometimes even behind him. During this time, tutors were quietly assigned to fill up his day with teaching him politics and his father fell ill from a sudden disease. At fourteen, his father finally died of what had weakened him over the past few years, and in rapid succession his other half-brothers and sisters died in various accidents. Fourteen year old Xing-Shu inherited the throne, and the wife of the lord became Lady-reagent of the Land of Noodles.
For a short time, his mother ruled in his name, and the young Xing-shu remained trapped in the Land of Noodle's palace as an easily accessible figurehead. His Lady Mother had ideas for the country, plans to make it a great nation, and for that reason she began gathering a mercenary army of shinobi to change the Land of Noodles to a military nation (and therefore grant herself far more power than she currently possessed). Unfortunately for her, this plan never had the chance to bloom. While riding out to negotiate with other small countries she hoped to rally behind herself, her caravan was waylaid by bandits, and in the attack she was killed, leaving Xing-Shu alone to rule the shocked nation. His short encounter with the nukenin in the palace (who were quietly dismissed by the other politicians surrounding him) reignited the fascination he'd had with shinobi as a child. His position made the previous plan his mother had for him impossible, as he could never be the Land of Noodle's greatest soldier if he was also the only surviving member of its leadership, but for him it was an escape from the total loneliness and sudden, crushing responsibility dropped on him.
Xing-Shu dreamed of being a shinobi, of learning to activate his bloodline limit and becoming a hero who had adventures like the ones he'd heard of from tales of other shinobi and of the nukenin he'd briefly met. He dreamed also of meeting the one special person who would allow him to fully awaken his abilities, and who would necessarily become his permanent and close companion. The freedom, companionship, and perhaps even love, promised from his kekkai genkai and the life of a shinobi helped him cope with the quiet and lonely life of a daimyo, and with the loss of his large family in such a short period of time and at such a young age.
Between his lessons in politics, the determined young man demanded to be taught by the shinobi that passed through the lands. There was no way to dedicate the leader of the Land of Noodles to an actual training program for ninja, and even should he have found the time the risk associated with even the easiest program was too great a danger. Instead, he had to take individual lessons from the shinobi willing to share knowledge for the pay that the Land of Noodles could afford. The training was incomplete and inefficient, but it allowed him to hold on to his dreams of becoming a shinobi and therefore allowed him to focus on his other responsibilities, rather than give in to despair or run away.
Unfortunately for those who hoped indulging him would allow him to move on from his childish dream, at sixteen one of the shinobi teaching him mentioned that some shinobi came to be known by certain aliases rather than their own name, and Xing-Shu decided to change his name (the Great and Deadly and Mysterious) Hotohori. His advisers and those around him quickly learned to call him that during any time which wasn't an official meeting with another daimyo. Although vexing, they considered it a small price to pay for a leader.
Despite his eccentricity, Hotohori proved to be a good leader for the Land of Noodles, establishing more noodle routes than before and improving relationships with many of the smaller countries that had been ignored by his parents. Both his attractive, young face and his unusually sunny and bright personality (and his tendency to spend as much time with his people rather than in the palace as he could) made him very popular with the citizens of the Land of Noodles, too. His age, eccentricities, and unyielding nature when it came to decisions he made about his nation made other daimyo disdain and dislike him, but his cleverness prevented the Land of Noodles from suffering because of it.
Like his mother, Hotohori shows an interest in forming a shinobi village of some sort for the Land of Noodles as well, but only for purposes of dealing with domestic threats and as an alternate income source (and so that he might be more closely involved with shinobi matters), but he's yet to find enough people with acceptable ability, resources, and motivation to establish one. For the moment, he considers himself the Land of Noodles' primary shinobi, and usually takes jobs usually given to shinobi when it comes from his village. Should the mission be too dangerous or difficult for himself alone his country will then hire out other shinobi from different nations to support his efforts...but it's extremely rare to have a mission he's not involved with.
Of note, his mother originally intended to teach him to knead chakra so that he could access his ability, but she intended to secure a position of power and finish his other training before doing that, as she feared his bloodline limit would make him an easy target for assassins if it were revealed to the public before he was ready. She never explained to him that the first part of his ability requires the ability to knead chakra, so he has focused on building himself up physically instead of learning to control chakra.
Sunshineverse Abilities/Powers:
He's no longer blessed or infused by a god, but he does have really excellent sword-skills. Rather than expert swordsmen, he was indulged with mercenary and ex- shinobi and samurai that were willing to train a noble who they never expected to actually use the skills they taught. He's still never gone through the intensive training that shinobi children do, but his skills and his innate talent make him a very impressive swordfighter even in a world full of ninjas with swords. 'Kenjutsu' is an inappropriate term for his abilities, because he doesn't augment his attacks with chakra in any way, but he does use many techniques without chakra that would be expected of a skilled kenjutsu user.
Noteworthy of a Daimyo, he's also quite fit and strong. There's nothing augmenting his abilities, but he's still incredibly fit. Underneath his volumous robes he's got the body of a person who devotes all of his free time to training in whatever ways someone with his position and cash can afford him (good luck ever seeing that, but in canon he's just as fit as a lifetime martial artist). It's still not the body of a ninja, and he still doesn't have the experience or pain tolerance that a shinobi has, but it's practically a super power next to most Daimyo. As for strength, it's a fair assessment to assume he has the strength of a man who's spent a lifetime doing manual labor (because he insists), but not one who's done intense manual labor. More the level of a farmer than a sailor or lumberjack.
He's still a politician, and the leader of a country that has almost no military might, but has some moderate economic weight (being the one that makes most of the noodles in the shinobi world). Surprisingly, he knows how to do all the boring diplomatic things, and is really good at it, he just doesn't like to. Other Daimyo may disdain him as a matter of course, but not his country, and he still outranks many other shinobi leaders. At least in countries that choose to recognize the political authority of minor countries not their own.
In the land of Noodles, he could have people expelled or imprisoned on a whim, though more often it's hired or fired when it comes to shinobi. Outside of it...he has the weight of noodle trade routes to exert pressure with if he wants to. Unfortunately, his country doesn't really have an army, so against violent and strong countries (particularly those who are violent, strong members of the five great nations) that power is rather less effective than the noodle-reliant alliances that the Land of Noodles has.
He's not divinely bestowed with anything, but he's fairly lucky, apparently. He must be, to have survived his eccentric lifestyle and ended up the lord of a country.
Little known fact - He's pretty good at sneaking around. At least around regular security and politicians. It's how he sneaks out for air sometimes when he's being penned in by people who demand him to be responsible and do work. It's not much to look at when compared to shinobi stealth, though...
He's extremely charismatic when he wants to be (or to people who like his style). His people love him, and it's likely most of them can always be counted on to support him, his decisions, or his rule when it counts. This might be one reason why no one's tried to replace him with a more usual lord. But then again it might be that the Land of Noodles isn't important enough to replace a weird daimyo as long as it keeps providing noodles.
Some people in the country like to speculate he has natural, untapped talent for certain jutsu or chakra. There's absolutely no proof of this in his lineage, and it's completely pointless if he never gets the training to exploit that.
Something known only to a very select few, is that he has a dormant kekkai genkai believed to be unique to the Land of Noodles. As long as it remains dormant, it's completely useless. It does nothing, it can't be detected except in childhood (while pre-pubescent the symbol briefly appears whenever they're experiencing strong emotion, though it does nothing), it won't activate randomly. Without kneading chakra, it can't be accessed at all, so he would have to be taught to use his chakra to use it. Because of how rarely it's accessed, it's considered semi-legendary and not given much weight. Should he be able to, using chakra essentially gives him the physical abilities of a taijutsu specialist. Although he wouldn't be super fast like taijutsu masters, he would have the strength, endurance, and agility of a shinobi with a taijutsu preference. It also accelerates his natural healing when activated, but at the price of draining his chakra reserves (which, unless also trained, are rather miniscule). The more he uses those abilities, the faster they drain. A glowing red symbol appears on his neck when he's kneading chakra to show this.
There's another catch to his ability: his kekkai genkai only activates if it can synchronize with another even rarer bloodline. If none exist in the world, he can knead chakra and it won't do anything, it won't even activate the glow. If that person exists in the world, it can activate. However, it will never reach its full potential even then. The full bloodline limit can only be activated if he interacts with the specific person who has the 'prime' limit and develops a deep emotional bond with them. Once that happens, his chakra network synchs completely with theirs, which allows for chakra transfer between them, and amplifies his previous abilities considerably, which would grant him super-human strength and speed, greatly amplified kenjutsu reflexes and abilities (his specific bloodline's specialty - note that even with his abilities, it doesn't give him knowledge of any jutsus he doesn't learn, simply skill and agility with the blade, and the ability to reinforce that blade with simple chakra), and constant knowledge of the position and state of the 'prime' limit. It would also theoretically allow free chakra transfer between himself, the 'prime', and any others like him who also synched to that person to supplement their chakra pool when using their techniques, so long as they touch.
Side effects of this synchronization which are less desirable are that the bond usually deepens into a dependency on the not-prime side, making even non-romantic friendships turn romantic most of the time, and so due to their dependency/loyalty and other side-effects they usually end up the body guards or servants of that 'prime' limit. They don't actually experience the pain of the other person but, depending on the person, they can react as if they do simply because they know it's happening.
Should the 'prime' limit be killed, or the bond somehow be severed in another way, the synchronized bloodline members would become unstable and depressed. Their abilities would vanish and usually their chakra network fries from the recoil, making it impossible for them to ever knead chakra again. More importantly they usually become moody and rash and often suicidal. There is no known method to fix this side effect, and when the bond is finally severed, there's no way to undo the psychological damage short of resuming the bond...but a damaged chakra will remain damaged.
Currently, a 'prime' bloodline member exists in the world, potentially giving him access to his limited form abilities should he learn to knead chakra, but he's unaware of this and has never met them so far. Note that if the 'prime' did die before he met them and formed a deep bond, the only ill effect to him would be the loss of his basic bloodline limit abilities.
Appearance: More beautiful than any woman, and in fact unless he goes to certain effort to actually look like a man he's usually confused for a woman, due to his exceptionally fine and feminine features. He doesn't mind; he's damn beautiful and he knows it. Black hair with the slightest hint of brown in bright sunlight, which falls to just about mid-back, usually bound about two thirds of the way down to keep it from going everywhere. Golden brown eyes that are much more 'gold' than 'brown. The sort of pasty pale skin only achievable in Uchiha or a life lived in court.
Personality:
Hotohori is a difficult person to figure out because, for one, the man is a politician. Even if he's many other things as well, he's still been raised in a political family and taught from a young age the art of diplomacy and politics. His true feelings on most matters tend to remain hidden from all but those he's close to, and any appearance to the contrary is usually a matter that's been calculated at some point.
As a politician, when facing those who are hostile toward him, or when he is forced to approach a serious situation, Hotohori is cold and professional, at times he's even been considered ruthless. In truth, he is simply concerned after the welfare of his nation and people. His mother nearly brought the nation to its knees, self-destructing the family completely with her manipulations and could have brought war to the Land of Noodles if she'd succeeded in transforming the nation as she'd planned. Thus, he takes the responsibility that fell upon him seriously.
However, he rejects the lifestyle and beliefs of his parents and those around him, an unspoken rebellion against the coldness and loneliness that was and is a constant in his life due to their methods. He craves companionship and warm contact with others, and so he turns to his people and has become a very welcoming and open ruler to the people of his nation. Alone as he is, his family dead and the other politicians around him old and different, and himself possessing an extremely uncommon kekkai genkai...he suffers from extreme feelings of isolation and loneliness, which he combats by immediately reaching out and latching on to those he determines like him. Because he lacks many other 'similar' groups of people to him, he's determined to make himself a member of the shinobi (a very large and expansive group of people) and so he usually seeks to befriend or find camaraderie with the friendly (or...not hostile...) shinobi he encounters.
He is his mother's son, and underneath his plain and honest exterior, he can be quite manipulative when he wants to be. He is not the sort to do harm to anyone unless he felt they threatened someone or something important to him, such as his nation, but...for all of his levity he has grown up the son of a lord and then a lord himself. He has a tendency to believe himself in some way entitled to the things he wants. When direct methods don't serve him to get whatever it is that he wants, then manipulation and deceit are completely acceptable alternatives.
One thing he will not do intentionally is endanger his nation or its people, and whatever he does is always limited by his desire to protect them and unwillingness to follow in his mother's footsteps. However, 'endangering' it is a decision made entirely by his own discretion and definition. He isn't unreasonable--he agreed that the shinobi training would be too dangerous and too time consuming for him to pursue, but he can be bull-headed and confident to the point of arrogant in his abilities. It's possible to convince him a certain mission is too dangerous or bad timing, but it isn't likely anyone will convince him to avoid taking missions at all, even dangerous ones.
He may seem rebellious and a little wild when it comes to his dreams of being a shinobi, but when not dealing with battle or his insistence on becoming a shinobi in his own way, Hotohori is usually a fairly calm and quiet man. Part of this is due to his political experience: calm collection is vital for ruling a nation and important in dealing with people who may be agitated or panicked. Even in a battlefield, when necessary, that calm and level-headed nature may come out. Unfortunately, in a rare instance where his passion is enflamed instead, it may do just the opposite, and he may act rashly to cover for his fear of loss (should it be his dreams, his nation, or someone incredibly close to him that would leave him lonely in their wake).
To those who become close enough to him to see beneath his layers of cloaks, though, Hotohori is actually a warm and gentle person. He cares deeply for the people he watches over, and even more for anyone who reaches through his loneliness to make a true connection with him. He is kind, and abhors the concept of using any friend or ally in a method that would do them harm, even if they're willing. This is probably one reason why he refuses to send shinobi off on their own most of the time. Even if they're fully capable and willing to risk their lives to do something for him, he would rather be there to help ensure they aren't harmed than have them hurt or killed needlessly at his behest.
Despite his sometimes loud manner, and the way that daimyo believe him to be immature, to the average 19 year old he's extremely mature. He was raised almost exclusively around adults. If there was a time in his life where he was allowed to freely play with children, it was brief enough that he doesn't remember it. Even before his mother openly manipulated him into the throne, she had quietly isolated him from his fellow siblings so that he would feel no remorse when they were gone. Thus, his mentality is that of a full-grown adult, and has been since he rose to the throne. One could say his dream of becoming a shinobi is his one flight of childish fantasy, and it is one he clings to tightly.
Although he reaches out for companionship easily, he is also constantly searching for the 'prime' limit who would activate his abilities and, more importantly, would form a permanent and deep bond with him should he ever meet them. As such, until given some indication that person might have the ability, a part of him would remain reserved even in a close friendship, as he's already devoted it to the unknown someone he might never meet.
Despite his layers of privacy and control, he's actually weak to genuine warmth and friendliness. People who make a concentrated effort to befriend him (rather than vice versa) will easily cut through his layers to meet the true him, and he will act on his true feelings and impulses when he's with them. He's also likely to become very attached to them, if they work as a salve for his loneliness because of that.
A part of his confidence, perhaps even bigger and more important than the confidence he has in his abilities, are those of his looks. He grew up easily the most beautiful person in the Land of Noodles (that he knew of), including his fellow family members. One thing that he was often complimented on even before becoming beloved by the people of the nation was his beauty. In fact, it was the only compliment his mother ever paid him, and the only thing his father remarked on that wasn't related to his bloodline limit. He is thus, extremely confident in his appearance, to the point of outright narcissism. He is shameless in his narcissism, and openly loves how attractive and beautiful he is. Flattering him on the matter of his looks is usually a good way to quickly gain many point with him, although they are superficial and easily lost should the person then threaten those that matter to him.
Although he's accused from time to time of being selfish due to his rashness and determination on the matter of being a shinobi, he really isn't. He may be somewhat entitled and highly narcissistic, but his raising and young rise to leadership has forced him to become a far more selfless person than that. He would sacrifice himself or his dreams for his nation if necessary, and he would sacrifice his happiness or anything else necessary for the people who are close to him. He's not an altruist--he won't give these things up without a fight, nor will he rush to do it even when it's necessary...but in the end, when it comes down to it he will always give up something of himself for those that he feels obligated to protect.
He can be somewhat naive, given his sheltered upbringing and fairly sheltered and caged in life. This expresses itself most obviously in his apparent lack of understanding that all shinobi might not welcome a lord as a potential fellow shinobi, and at other times expresses itself in what would otherwise be considered entitlement, when he believes certain things should be his by right it is often simply because he was never raised with the consideration that it might not be. This isn't to say he's such a terrible judge of character that he'll trust someone dangerous and thus endanger himself or the nation...after all, he is still a politician first, and thus has had to learn to read people and their intentions. It's usually much more mundane interactions and concepts that catch him up (he has no concept of the reality of fishing, for instance) or in the ways that he openly embraces his dreams even when they're impossible or extremely unlikely. It can be said that the way he's inclined to quickly form bonds is also a form of his naivety, because he's formed so few personal ones that he is more likely to form stronger bonds more quickly than those used to making friendships.
When not on the battlefield or dealing with protecting his people, he is generally considered to be a kind and gentle man. He is soft spoken, with a smooth voice, and will often do anything in his power (or within reason) to help a person who comes to him with a concern, whether they are a friend, citizen, ally, or stranger in need. Given the choice to eat and watch another person starve or starve himself to feed another, he is almost always likely to go without. It's also not uncommon for him simply to forget to eat or to sleep while working out diplomatic treaties or planning missions for an extended amount of time, until someone intercedes and forces him to take care of himself.
His kindness shows through in his charisma, as his more frightening and ruthless sides are rarely seen by anyone who is not an enemy or potentially an enemy. Instead, the people who interact with him even as a lord will usually feel his kindness and warmth even through his cool and professional exterior. This kindness and his priority toward the people of the nation over himself is one reason why the people of the Land of Noodles are so loyal toward him.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Clever
+ Resourceful
+ Powerful: wields the power of the Land of Noodles
+ Kind, which easily earns him loyalty
+ Extremely dedicated once he decides to do something
+ Possesses an unyielding, iron will
+ Potentially quite strong if his bloodline limit is activated
+ Beautiful, and knows how to use that to his advantage
+ Skilled diplomat and politician
+ Excellent sword-fighter
+ Minor assorted ninja skills
+ Able to conceal true feelings easily
+ Quickly makes friends
+ Quick learner
+ Well-loved by his people, making it difficult to replace him
+ Ruthless when necessary
+ Calm under pressure
= Sneaky, but not at the level of a ninja
= Physically fit and hardy, for a normal person
= Manipulative at times
= Strong divide between inner and outer self
= Once earned, very loyal
- Eccentric and weird, doesn't fit in with the other daimyo and isn't respected by them
- Sometimes too easily trusting, because others may not be as quickly attached to him as he is to them
- Extremely lonely and isolated, always looking to fill the emptiness around him
- Too distracted by his childish dreams to always take the world for what it actually is
- Somewhat sheltered and therefore naive
- Completely incapable of dealing with children
- Insists on subjecting himself to missions and dangers appropriate for a shinobi, despite lacking the skills.
- Stubborn to the point of bull-headedness when he wants to be
- Can get too easily impassioned and make rash decisions about things that are important to him
- Is likely to sacrifice himself to protect someone else, rather than heed self-preservation instincts.
- Entitled to things and people at times, because he isn't used to 'no' being a firm and regular answer. May end up pushy or presumptuous about things.
- His country has no military might to speak of, all of his power relies on the fame and quality of the noodles it creates, and how much other countries want more of their supplies (and don't want to conquer them to get it)
- Can't knead chakra
- Bloodline limit can never activate without special conditions
- Even if activated, the limit is likely to make him subservient to whoever it is he finds...and will eventually become suicidal and unstable if that person he meets dies.
- Easily lets people in to see the true him once friends with them
- Weak to kindness and warmth, quite probably very susceptible to properly executed Talk no Jutsu
- Refuses to make a decision to intentionally harm his people even if that decision would be advantageous for him, or causes his own downfall to refuse.
- Incapable of devoting the time or risk to becoming a proper shinobi
- Usually bound to the palace to do ruling things, restricting movement and interaction.
- So focused on ninja-ing that he misses other things if he's dealing with that at the time.
- Can fixate on things to an absurd degree
Village Affiliation: Land of Noodles
Rank: Civilian - Daimyo
Prose sample: http://sunshine-ooc.dreamwidth.org/14177.html?thread=441185#cmt441185
Bracket sample: [There was no getting around it. He was most certainly stuck. He was absolutely, certainly stuck in a tree. To be perfectly fair to himself, and as himself it seemed only right to be fair to himself, it was a good plan when he first climbed up the tree. Climbing a tree was at once a good way to get away from the wolves (which he could have handled if he hadn't misplaced his sword when the carriage rolled down the mountainside...) and figure out where he was.
Now, however, while the broken branches had ultimately served the purposes of frightening away the wolves, he was also stuck far too high up in a tree to safely drop down, especially dressed as he was in slippers and robes.
Well, no. He could get down if he jumped. He'd probably land safely too, but he'd most certainly break something vital to walking and making his way out of the forest with if he did.
So.]
...No. No giving up! [Since, there's really no way he could expect anyone to just come wandering by and rescue him.
He carefully pulled himself up to his feet, balancing against the truck of the tree. Just long enough to get his balance on the branch, anyway. No use slipping off before he did anything, right?
If he just...took a running start, he'd probably make it to that other tree branch. At worst, he'd plunge to his doom just the same as if he'd jumped straight down. And...neither shinobi nor lords could afford to give up and die in a tree out of a little thing like fear.
He grit his teeth, and sprinted forward.]
Missive Sample:
Lord Kage Obito Uchiha of Konoha,
It has come to the attention of the Land of Noodles that an establishment within your borders has been smuggling noodles into their shop which have been stolen from our routes with other nations. If demand in Konoha for our noodles is greater than the current supply, then I am certain that we may arrange for a suitably larger route with the Land of Fire. Stealing noodles from other nations is unacceptable, as you surely understand. Insufficient shipments of noodles reflect badly on the Land of Noodles, and the minor nations that have arranged current routes almost certainly lack the funds that Konoha and the Land of Fire possess to refill their supplies.
Security for the caravans tracked the thieves to the borders of your village, and as leader of said village, it's my belief that we deal with you directly on the matter. However, it would be unwise to take this personal warning lightly. If attacks and theft persist from your village, the Land of Noodles will have no choice but to elevate this issue to a matter of nations.
-Honorable Lord and Daimyo of the Land of Noodles, Xing-Shu
(A smaller note in a neat, but quicker hand is folded up inside the crisp and official one, unsigned} I would greatly prefer this issue not elevate. You are in possession of a very unpleasant and shrill Daimyo