Playing with a full deck

( Private to Kureno )

( Private to Sakurai )

( Private to Self )

Gaara-san, I apologize for my lack of attention to your presence since your arrival in Konoha. The workload - I'm sure you know how it is. However, I foresee some free time coming in up which I'd be happy to escort you around the city. That is, if Naruko hasn't already given you several tours.

( Private to Hiashiko )

As I'm sure you've all heard, the Daimyo has made it a point that we need to crack down on the Akatsuki hard. Considering what happened at the gala, he has a very good point. It's time we get serious about wiping this organization out. We must be careful and professional about it, though, so I need only the best to consider applying. I've already chosen a few, namely Nejiko and Yuugao; if there are any others who are interested, please let me know and I'll take it under consideration.

( Private to Teams Gaia and Tentsuke )

( Private to Kureno )

I tried to get you something you would enjoy as well only to find most of it was illegal to make or banned from importing. I always suspected the Elder Council was not fun, this confirms it.

However, in my searches, I found something that might be considered fierce and dangerous enough for the Head of Torture and Interrogation. Well in principle anyway... in practice, there were apparently laws against bringing in a live one.

( So I improvised... )

( [Private to Yuuhi Kureno] )

Final preparations are underway for the gala. We'll travel en mass together the day of the event. Be prompt or be left behind.

( [Private to Naruko] )

The Daimyo of Fire Country has announced that the Fire Country's highest award, the Medal of Honor, will be awarded to Sarutobi Asuka, for her heroic actions in killing the Akatsuki Sasoriza, at a royal gala held in her honor in late February.

To properly celebrate this, all Konoha clans are required to send representatives. Also, select jounin will receive an invitation to go as well. Because this event is being held at the Daimyo's palace, all single females must have an escort.

Dance classes will be held weekly in the academy gym. Etiquette courses will be held in the academy cafeteria twice a month. There will also be several meetings among jounin to discuss Konoha's defenses while we are gone.

This a chance to remind the Daimyo why he lets us operate in his territory and to get more business from the other feudal lords. I don't need to remind everyone how important it is that this goes flawlessly.

( [Private to Rin] )

( [Private to Sakurai and Rin] )

Sarutobi, make sure one of the first place you visit as you leave the hospital is my office.

Kiba, Hoshino and Hinaji. Your new sensei is assigned. You'll meet him in one week at nine in the morning a top the Hokage's Tower.

ooc: sorry guys, got sick and then had to play massive catch up last week

Finally a bit of good news to bring back. I am proud to report that we have five, yes FIVE new chuunin to add to the ranks. An excellent job from our Konoha-nin, we should be proud of all the participants.

And we should most definitely start preparing for the next Chuunin exam as they will be held in our very own Konoha. Shikako, I'm placing my trust in you to make it an excellent exam once again.

Apart from that, I'm sure there is a mountain of paperwork awaiting me on my desk but... that's what I have assistants for. Kotsuki and Izume, good luck! There's a nice bottle of sake waiting for you if you finish before I get in tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow... I look forward to seeing it only after many hours of sleep. After all, it was only fair to give our new chuunin a proper celebration in Suna though maybe not such a good idea to make it last all night... and most of the morning... and some of the afternoon and... the entire way back...

I'm getting too old for this

Chuunin exams are starting tomorrow so we're making a quick trip to Sunakagure. It's been a while since I haven't had to travel with an entourage. Just hope the ANBU escorts can keep up with me.

( [Private to Rin and Sakurai] )

( [Prviate to Ibiki and ANBU Captains] )

( [Private] )

Final authorization for Jounin appointments came in. The letters should be arriving sometime today.

The next Chuunin exam is a week off and I will be attending it. As it in Sunagakure, our travel time is cut considerably so I plan to leave next week on my own as things here require my attention. Applicants will travel ahead to prepare.

Rin, Sakurai, we need to discuss a patient. I have the night shift tonight, we can meet in the morning.

All shinobi on guard at Konoha's front gate should be advised that the Head Monk of the Great Fire Temple, Chiriku, has been barred access to the Village proper save for official business that has been approved by the Hokage.

Congratulations to all the jounin exam participants. No matter what the final outcome for you was, you all did Konoha proud. There's still some paperwork to fill out but I'll be making the official annoucement in a few days.

Sakurai, when you have the chance, stop by the office.

( [Private to Ibiki and Hyuuga Hiashiko] )

( [Private] )

The physical exam is over. Two of our applicants had to transported in the middle for injuries. They'll recuperate just fine though need for rescue is an immediate failure. The remaining will have the evening off and finish their exam tomorrow. It does not need to be said, but I am sure all of Konoha is behind them.

Secondly, there appears to be an oversight on my part. While I had hoped not to address this during the exam and instead give our applicants the full attention of Konoha, things have conspired to make this impossible. I apologize, mostly to them, because I believe we should be concentrating on them and not on what rumors are circulating back home.

Yuuhi Kureno has been arrested for treason. The full effect of his crimes remain to be seen. Until then, he is to be held in detention. My oversight was in not stipulating that this imprisonment should not be anything less then total isolation. But then I assumed the prisoner would use the time in silent contemplation over the severity of his crimes. Apparently he needs help with this.

Transfer the prisoner from the detention area to the isolation cell immediately. I'll decide after the exams are over if the light bulb there should be replaced.

Two days and we haven't heard anything from our participants. Considering the physical portion of the exam involved stripping them down to clothes (and whatever they could smuggle in) and then dumping in the middle of the wilderness that's a good thing. Most of them must be surviving...

Mental portion done, physical in process and the emotional... well, that's going to be a tough one this year. No one said being a jounin was easy. Even after the exam.

Word arrived from the Daimyo, they'll be ready to go first thing in the morning. That said, all people traveling to Iwagakure for the jounin exams should meet at the front gates promptly at five a.m. It'll take two extra days to get there with the civilians in tow. Remember to be polite, last thing I need is a bunch of nobles whining at me more then they will be anyway.

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( [Private to Kureno, Yuugao, Nejiko, and Tatsumi] )

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( [Private to Hyuuga Hiashiko] )

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( [Private to Kakami] )

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( [Private to ANBU Medical] )

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Yay! Vacation time!! I hear Iwagakure has a few nice casinos... and some nice bars... mhmm vacation. I wonder if I can convince Shizuya to bring Tonton with us...

Final decision was made today.

The next jounin exam will be held in Iwagakure the last week of August. All applicants will need to hand in their paperwork to me. As a reminder, it is best to have participated on at least five A-rank and twenty B-rank missions before applying. Also a mastery of two elemental jutsu is highly recommended and a jounin sponsor is required.

The next chuunin exam will be held in Sunagakure the last week of October. All applicants will need to create a three man cell and submit their paperwork together. It is a good idea to have participated in at least twelve C-rank and fifty D-rank missions before considering taking this exam.

That's all.

*EDIT TO PREVENT FURTHER ANEURYSMS*
Jounin application are due by August 10th
Chuunin applications are due by October 10th

When bitch of an ex-teammate leaves a message, do not punch the screen. Apparently that makes things stop working. Stupid technology.

Until requisitions can find me another one, I'm using yours Sakurai. As you have not come to see your dear shishou in a while, I am assuming you're swamped in work and as such not able to use it anyway. Oh, speaking of which...

( [Private to Sakurai] )

SHI-ZU-YA!!!!

There is a stack of paperwork on my desk that is twice a big as Tonton! What the hell? What makes you think I have time for this?? I'm the Hokage! Every day I have gamble deal with mission assignments, drinknagging council members and spend an hour doing my hair try not to send us to war! Paperwork is your department!

Shizuya... you're not going to make your dear beloved mentor do this are you? Please? ... are you there???