040 [Locked from Dahlia; Hackable]

[attorneyatlol]

I've been having some trouble with my internet service provider. Seems they decided last weekend was a good time to disconnect me, so until this gets cleared up, I probably won't be around much.

I haven't missed anything important, have I? Did anyone figure out why we were all tied up?

Comments

[attorneyatlol]

Sorry, I'm not sure what a Kazekage is... It sounds like a very important title, though. Why did you battle so often before then? Are you at war?

I'm a defense attorney.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I should have used a different term. It simply means I am the leader of my village.

War breaks out rather frequently within the Five Great Nations. However, that is not the reason why I had fought so often before. It is expected in the life of a shinobi, due to dangers that surround us, as well as the nature of our missions.

Oh. So you deal primarily with the judicial system in your world, correct?

[attorneyatlol]

What is the nature of your missions, if you don't mind my asking?

That's correct. I defend people charged with wrongdoing.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

It's fine. As I understand, people forge bonds by exchanging information with each other, correct?

There are many different kinds, including: locating an item, gathering information, acquiring scrolls, or even assassinations.

If I remember correctly, there is an attorney that prosecutes, and one that defends. Why have you decided to become the one that defends? Is there any particular preference?

[attorneyatlol]

Assassinations...?

I..did it to help people.



((OOC: Great. Gaara would be the third assassin that Phoenix has met. He's not sure how he feels about that. XD;))

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

Yes. Usually, only high-ranking shinobi are given those types of missions.

That's good. You must be a virtuous person.

(OOC: Assassination is part of a ninja's life, unfortunately. ^^0 Gaara used to kill a lot, but he doesn't anymore, not since he became the Kazekage of Suna.)

[attorneyatlol]

But... you're okay with that? With assassinating someone?

Maybe. If you want the truth, I initially did it to help one person in particular. Now I do it make sure justice is served. Is that virtuous?

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

I am a shinobi. I am not a stranger to death.

However... I would prefer not to have that scenario turn up. I value life a great deal now, especially since... Never mind.

Yes. You seem to think otherwise. Why is that?

[attorneyatlol]

I know... and I'm trying to understand that, believe me. Where I come from, assassins aren't unheard of, but it isn't a common way of life. If they're caught, they're punished like any other murderer.

You would prefer not to kill, but do you preside over others in your village who would kill?

It's not that I think otherwise. I've never given it much thought at all.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

Shinobi that kill in excess are regarded with disdain. They can be brought before a Kage and punished for their crimes. It depends on how strongly a village is affected by the people slain.

I should hope that none of my people have that mindset. Though if I ever discover a Sand ninja acting in this manner, I will stop him or her.

[attorneyatlol]

But why is assassination necessary? I understand killing in the midst of war or while defending yourself, but... assassination... It's killing in cold blood.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

Corrupt leaders with too much power, as well as mob bosses, must be eliminated in certain situations. Those whom cause others to suffer for selfish reasons... they don't deserve to live.

[attorneyatlol]

Who makes that determination?

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

The people that want them out of the position.

Has this kind of situation ever happened in your world? Where you live, why do people commit murder?

[attorneyatlol]

I meant who makes the determination about whether or not someone deserves to live or die.

It's happened in my world's history and it may very well be happening in parts of the world I'm not familiar with. The part I'm from... Murders are committed for a variety of reasons. Hate, anger, fear, jealousy... self-defense. Sometimes reasons that only make sense to the people who committed the crime.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

I suppose the general society does. Or to be more exact, whomever submits a mission with that objective to a village leader.

Hmm. I see. In the life of a shinobi, the main reason for killing someone is usually because of an assigned mission.

So then, does it happen often?

[attorneyatlol]

There's no judicial system?

More often than it should. But the world is very big... I don't believe most people wouldn do something like that.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

There is, albeit not as intricate as the one in your world. You may disapprove of our method.

I should hope not. Life is... very important.

[attorneyatlol]

It's not that I disapprove. Our judicial system isn't perfect, either. Yours is just... obviously very different. I'm trying to understand.

That's something we can agree on.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

Well. The perpretrator is brought before the Kage of the village and states his or her case. After hearing the details of the situation, the Kage and the council will discuss the issue in private. Ultimately, the Kage decides how the perpretrator will be punished.

(OOC: I actually don't know how the judicial system works in the Naruto world, so I'm pulling this out of my ass. >_>; Sorry!)

[attorneyatlol]

So the Kage acts as a judge, in way.

Our judicial system is in constant reform. When someone is accused of wrongdoing, a prosecutor (as well as a defense attorney if the defendant can't afford their own) is assigned to the case. Both sides present evidence and at the end of it, a judge decides whether someone is guilty or innocent. As a defense attorney, I try to work with the prosecution to find the truth, but not all prosecutors are receptive to that... Many of them are more worried about winning than what's actually going on.

Then again, I suppose there are probably defense attorneys like that, too...



((OOC: Heh, no problem. I do that all the time for things that aren't explained in the PW games. XD))

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

I suppose. Although I try not to pass judgment without first consulting my council. I must consider all sides of the case before I can decide whether or not the accused person is guilty of any crimes.

Hmm. I see. Why was the jury entity removed from the procedure?

Winning? This is not a competition. What is the purpose of desiring that?

[attorneyatlol]

I see. That doesn't sound like a bad way of doing things. Do you have established laws?

To make trials shorter, primarily. There's been a recent uprise in crime and to make sure justice is done swiftly, jurists have been removed in addition to limiting the number of days allotted for each trial. I can't say I agree with those changes, but... There isn't much a defense attorney can do. Not at this point, anyway. The law seems to swing heavily in the prosecution's favor, more often than not.

Notoriety, I guess. A perfect win record.

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

The hidden village of each nation determines what is acceptable for their land.

Really. You seem very displeased with this kind of bias. Is it due to your desire for justice, or because it makes your job more difficult?

I find that to be rather pointless. A person's reputation and freedom are at stake. Those should not be taken lightly.

[attorneyatlol]

What about when it concerns someone from a different land? An enemy, maybe. Are they treated to the same fairness?

Well, I have to admit, it does make my job more difficult. More than that, though, it's not fair to the defendant. There shouldn't be any bias in court. That's why I enjoy working with Edgeworth so much. We understand that proving our own cases is secondary to finding the truth. I just wish others saw it that way.

Not only their freedom; often times their lives.