"Koji desu," he repeated. When given the reason for these people returning, he heaved a sigh. "Peace. That's something only the weak ask for. If they're coming to us to ask for peace, we could wipe them out and claim for ourselves whatever they have to offer. War is unfair... it favors the strong." With that said, Koji raised his head. It was then that he noticed Toriko bowing yet again, in spite of his earlier mention that he didn't know how to deal with such things. "Mendokuse..."
Toriko listened as the Mizukage spoke. He seemed to have some odd views on the nature of the visit of the people who wanted peace with them. She couldn't help but look up from her bow and straighten just a tad. "Iie, that isn't the case with everyone. Nor them, in particular. You'd find it to be a bit more bothersome trying to wipe them out than anyone should or would like," she said, knowing there wasn't much to be done against dojutsu though he did have an out or two. Usually people with those kinds of abilities also had a couple of outs as well, coming to stand up a bit straighter as she asserted herself. "I like those people, so I wouldn't help." she mentioned about potential warmongering. "Besides, I like to think it takes more strength to make friends than it does to wipe out your enemies, Koji-sama."
"I don't believe you. If that guy was half of their strongest pair, their little island doesn't have any threats on it." Sighing once more, Koji lowered his head again. This time, he let the side of his face rest on his arms to avoid obscuring his sight, or sight of him. "I wouldn't need your help, and that's an unnecessary kind of strength. Negotiations should benefit both sides. If we're being given something we have the ability to just take, we might as well just take it."
Toriko couldn't argue that, though she found the kind of strength possessed by those on the island to be rather interesting. Their customs were also a bit strange, given how they chose to establish which of them was stronger, it was also technically likely that any one with more physical skill would be thought of as weaker while technically being capable of more. This point was moot, though as it appeared the Mizukage was rather set in his ideas. "Kichiro-san is nice and all, but... I wouldn't use him as a marker. Their clan also determines strength in a strange way," said the girl, she'd met this man after meeting Youko and even without that man being on the island she could then have faith that people came with different types of strengths.
"Iie, that is a bad attitude to go into negotiations with, Koji-sama. And lots of people could take anything they want, but that doesn't mean they would or should," the girl stated. "A bit of open-mindedness would go a long way..." Toriko mentioned as she pushed crimson colored locks away from her face tucking them behind her left ear. She figured he would know these things, but perhaps he didn't have as much contact with his sibling as she'd thought.
"However they determine it, it's not enough. Kiri has the power to stop even the other major villages right now. Since you arrived, even Akatsuki is less problematic," he said as his head sank further. He didn't care much for this open-mindedness of which Toriko spoke; he only agreed to these moments of diplomacy because he felt his predecessor would have during her time. More importantly, with his plans coming together through this upcoming meeting, he fully intended to return the former Mizukage to power with everything in the same state, if not better, than what she once had.
Whether Koji liked it or not, the people he negotiated with were presently returning to his office. There were four in number now, instead of the former two. The first to approach the office was not one of the leader figures, but was instead a humble servant sporting a green keffiyeh and a long drape covering the entirety of his body. Standing in the doorway, he bowed before even looking toward the inhabitants of the office. "Sumimasen! The Lord and Lady of the Land of the Moon have arrived, and would like audience with the Mizukage at his earliest convenience."
"No, not that. Never that," this was the firmest thing that would come from Toriko's mouth. She could well, deal with all of this man's melancholy and even entertain the idea that they had the power to quell other villages if they needed to, but there was nothing here which would make her believe that somehow they'd find the Akatsuki less problematic. By virtue of the time she'd spent as part of that organization she simply couldn't believe that would ever be an option, and considering her own sister was still part of that organization to her knowledge and the man she followed, no... that wasn't even a possibility.
Soon enough there was a new group of people approaching, this group included one rather large chested white haired woman, who was standing behind the front runner of this group, who happened to be dressed in green with large green eyes. Toriko stepped forward from her position at the side of the desk, knowing that approaching visitors were in general her responsibility. "Ohayou Gozaimasu! No need to bow, Mizukage-sama doesn't tend to like that too much. Nor... me calling him Mizukage-sama. Gomennasai, Koji-sama." she said turning back to the man but forcing herself not to take the bow which usually came with such an apology. "Sumimasen, you're Kaede-san, yes? Long time no see," the red haired young woman said as she pushed hair back behind her left ear and extended her right hand. She was rather excited, she had gotten to know this man during her time in the Land of the Moon and was apparently excited to see him again. "Anyway, the Mizukage is expecting you, you all can come in."
Following his opening statement, the bowing male was informed that the Mizukage was not fond of people bowing before him. This prompted a rise, at which point he recognized the woman in the room, and received her personal greeting. "Hai. Gobusata shite orimasu, Suzukou-dono." With that said, Kaede stepped forward to meet Toriko's outstretched hand.
At this moment, the others were permitted to enter the room. Among this group was a tall, long-haired man with a yellow haori over his white kimono and hakama, as well as a younger lad with much shorter hair, clad in all white. These male figures were Kichirou and Seijuuro respectively, and they were the individuals previously in discussion with this pair. "Mata oai dekite ureshii desu," said Kichirou.
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