Widespread Violence!

[Mamushi]

SPOILER: Click to show

Widespread Violence!
Rank: B
Ninja needed: 2-3
Mission info: As more and more people resurface and the cities and towns begin to repopulate once more, violence and crime follow suit, with all manner of criminal gangs infesting the general populace. One such town is called Toshikawa, a bustling town on the bank of the Red River. It has grown quickly, being the general hub of both supplies and foodstuffs to all of Mizu no Kuni. A fledgling Yakuza gang has settled into the town, and they have bothered the wrong man. He seeks help from the village. Destroy them. Rumor has it that there is a shinobi amongst them - reportedly a Chuunin.

ENTER - Kaguya Ijitome

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"The mission is very straightforward," I began by way of introduction. "We must venture to Toshikawam track down the local Yakuza gang and kill every last one of them." I fixed my face into a wide, bright smile, twisting my head to look over m shoulder, sliding my gaze from one genin to the next and back again. "We must show no mercy." It was men like these that made life more difficult for Kouketsu-sama, sullying the great name of the Yakuza. These upstarts would learn their place beneath my heel.

I was almost giddily happy, giggling to myself as we walked along the winding dirt road to Toshikawa. I was sure I appeared quite demented, and I didn't mind one bit - it wasn't in me to care about the minds of others, as I had very few considerations in the world. I went barefoot, and the mud beneath my feet oozed up in between my toes as I stepped down onto the damp earth - it'd rained recently, and heavily too. The terrain was all forest between Kiri and Toshikawa, save for a few rice fields. All in all, it was a simple journey, if not a bit wet - trader's made the trip weekly.

"I suppose we can make introductions. You never know when I might need some more... help... on a mission." It was clear that I didn't believe I needed help at all, but rules were rules; I had to have at least one person accompany me.

I'd been watching the road ahead of me up til' now, but with that declaration I turned about and proceeded to walk backwards, my head tilted in apparent thought.

"My name is Kaguya Ijitome and I am sixteen... I enjoy being a shinobi, and I hate cowards and lechers.. One day I hope to kill a Hokage." The closest alternative sliipped right through my fingers... but he couldn't have been a leaf-nin... She inclined her head for the woman to speak first.

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[[ Vasanti ]]

Another day, another mission.

Only this time… it was better! The tall woman from before was leading the way and that pestering boy was still there, too. While Kanae thought through all the ways to try and trip him up during this mission, she uncoiled the Leaf head band that she had been keeping wrapped around her wrist, and slipped it into a nearby pocket. She still wasn’t sure what she planned to do with the head band, but something told her not to give it up so easily.

As they walked through the dirt, the tall woman who apparently was leading them on this mission – not that Kanae needed a leader, scoff, scoff – started off on a monologue; at first explaining the mission, which made sense, but then going off on a monologue about how they would show no mercy. In truth, she seemed kinda crazy. Not even the type of crazy that Kanae would have identified herself as being – this woman just seemed downright batshit loony. It was okay though, because who didn’t want to have an absolutely cracked person with them when it came time to start killing people?

When the tall woman turned to face them and then introduced herself, Kanae’s depthless eyes scrutinized her carefully. Then –

A child? A child!? Fuck, this kid was tall. Granted, she wasn’t too far off from Kanae herself, but damn! She was definitely taller. Ah well, obviously this Ijitome enjoyed her mud, as she trounced around in bare feet through it, and Kanae had to appreciate that, she enjoyed the mud as well; strutting around through it with her shoes produced some interesting squishing sounds. Sheesh, whore house veteran or not, this kid wasn’t kidding. Well, it was her turn –

“Kanae, that’s it…Kanae. I’m an Aquarius, and I enjoy long walks on the beach and candlelight dining.” Watching Ijitome, she brushed a few fingertips lightly over her facial scarf and trailed them up and down her right jaw line. “However, I’m not sexually attracted to females so you and I just wouldn’t work, love…”

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[Hermit]

"The mission is very straightforward, we must venture to Toshikawam track down the local Yakuza gang and kill every last one of them. We must show no mercy."

My commander's words fell upon little more than heedful ears; I listened to each word that plummeted from her mouth carefully, beginning to untimely brood upon all possible resultants. My mind flit about and it realized that Ijitome's words bore no falsities, we could not afford to show mercy to anyone, even those who are innocent but somehow manages to obstruct the task at hand, it couldn't be tolerated.

Compulsive footfalls beat mother earths flesh into a muddy pulp as I masterfully trudged through a thin layer of constrictive mud. just about for the entire duration of time my eyes remained seemingly hidden behind closed lids, almost as if my mind faded to the world of dreams, but such had not been the case. My senses remained panoptic, my teammates footsteps, the calm, passing winds, even the insects that took refuge around the area, it all came to him.

"I suppose we can make introductions. You never know when I might need some more... help... on a mission. "My name is Kaguya Ijitome and I am sixteen... I enjoy being a shinobi, and I hate cowards and lechers.. One day I hope to kill a Hokage."

I caught sight of Ijitome's form as she walked backwards, and then over to Kanae as she spoke before I closed my eyes once more and merely listened.

“Kanae, that’s it…Kanae. I’m an Aquarius, and I enjoy long walks on the beach and candlelight dining. However, I’m not sexually attracted to females so you and I just wouldn’t work, love…”

A mirthful chuckle released itself from my mouth in response to Kanae's last statement. "Raoh Sasanagi. Age, 14. I became a shinobi simply to bring fame to the Sasanagi name. Though it may seem selfish its something my brother failed to do, so I've taken on that role."

I can't put my finger upon it right now but I remember something had vexed me, it threw me out of my mood for quite some time, causing me to act more seriously.

[Mamushi]

I held my silence throughout, more inclined to study the horizon than comment on their introductions - I had already reviewed every file necessary on the both of them; I already knew what I needed to know.

"Their are many ways to bring fame to a name, Sasanagi-san... how do you presume to do so?"

We passed through the forest and onto the marshlands. Rice farmers waved to us from their posts in the shin-deep waters, and their children danced around us, singing the praises of Kirigakure. Shinobi had been clearing the land of vagabonds and deviants for months now, since the world had resurfaced - these were the fortunate who benefited from the countrywide policing.

"And Kanae-san... you are desirable enough... but I would break you if I made you mine; you're too - "

The village of Toshikawa came into view, spilling down across the countryside in a wide-spread spattering of various homes, buildings and offices, bordered on its south side by a vast forest.

"Soft," I finished at last, my focus immediately shifting back to the task at hand. "We will split up. Go to the town hall, make yourself known as shinobi of Kirigakure - I, instead, will go dark, and operate from the shadows. Find out what you can - we'll meet up back here in five hours. If you encounter the Chuunin and you cannot overpower him, make a ruckus to draw my attention."

I didn't await an affirmation, I simply disappeared.

The red light district shouldn't be hard to find...

[[ Vasanti ]]

Fame and bringing some respect to the family name. Kanae should’ve known that’s what Raoh was all about and that’s what he strived for. Stupid, annoying brat. In her mind she mocked and mimicked his voice announcing proudly what he was here for.

They passed by rice fields where farmers waved…however, she pretended not to notice. Instead, she kept her eyes ahead of her most of the time, ignoring the small children that came to dance and joyously sing their praise as they continued on. To her, kids were a bane upon anyone’s existence. In her mind, she had never been a child, but rather, she must have been born just this way. Of course that’s not what she really thought, obviously everyone had to grow from a child, but she saw herself as probably having been one of those children who were aged before their physicality caught up.

She couldn’t remember.

Ijitome’s words to Raoh fell on Kanae’s deaf ears, but when her name was spoken, Kanae’s eyes lazily drifted back to the tall girl.

"And Kanae-san... you are desirable enough... but I would break you if I made you mine; you're too - " Yes, yes... too, what? Too, what?! But Kanae’s dark gaze followed that of Ijitome’s and she stared off into the horizon as the town came into view.

"Soft” ... soft? ...Soft?? Well, damn. That’s one thing Kanae definitely never saw herself as. Ijitome’s opinion of her didn’t matter much anyway, she probably came from the whore house, remember?

After delivering her instructions, Ijitome disappeared, leaving Kanae alone once again with the boy. Sighing, Kanae fidgeted around with the Leaf head band in her pocket and used her free hand to brush the side of her facial scarf and kept her eyes on the horizon. “Shall we?”

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[Hermit]

"Their are many ways to bring fame to a name, Sasanagi-san... how do you presume to do so?"

My powered steps slowly lessened in their pace as I began to truly, but momentarily reflect upon exactly why I had been coveting fame regarding Sasanagi as a whole. A sense of emptiness and direction-less ambition crawled beneath my skin, I couldn't do it, I couldn't think up of anything to give her a solid reason why I had sought after Sasanagi fame other then 'because I want to.' "Honestly I have no idea how I'm going to go about it, but, I know I have enough time to think and act upon it for sure."

Only mere moments after I had been done speak had we came upon the rice fields where farmers waved and offered tokens of extolment in various ways. For a brief moment my sense of politeness and gentility came to bear as I couldn't just merely walk by such a joyful bunch of children and not give them my blessings. They needed it, for they had been our future, the least I could do was add to whatever amount of hope the held.

"We will split up. Go to the town hall, make yourself known as shinobi of Kirigakure - I, instead, will go dark, and operate from the shadows. Find out what you can - we'll meet up back here in five hours. If you encounter the Chuunin and you cannot overpower him, make a ruckus to draw my attention."

My eyes fell upon Ijitome as her words of professionalism escaped her being. With attentive senses I listened, absorbing the information and orders she delegated before she had disappeared before me. My eyes shifted towards Kanae momentarily before gaze off into the horizon, “Shall we?” Kanae insisted we push forward, and that we did.

Within minutes of walking the town hall came into plain view, "Ah there it is." It was hard for my keen eyes to not notice the towering edifice that had been the town hall. With a gleaming Kirigakure head band I stepped through its doors, approaching the attendant, establishing ourselves as Kirigakure shinobi just as Ijitome ordered. Next, investigation would begin.

[Kii!]

The attendant shuffled through a couple of papers as he nodded, taking his mind off of whatever business he had been attending to previously.

"Kirigakure shinobi . . . right, the ones sent here to take care of our little gang problem, correct?" He asked, looking sternly up at the ninja as he straightened the papers he held against the desk. It seemed he'd been expecting them, and eyed them curiously, raising a brow. "Right, well, you should go speak with Takahashi-sama, through the door to your left." Lazily he motioned to the door using the hand that held the papers, and silently returned to his work without looking up at the shinobi.

If they chose to enter through the door, a middle-aged man would await them, similarly concentrated upon papers on his desk. Upon noticing them, he'd invite them to come and sit, by motioning to the few chairs that awaited them within the room.

---

Eventually, the area the the Kaguya searched for would become apparent. Where the streets and homes had previously been clean and well-kept, they slowly became a haven for filth. In the heart of the place, people very seldom moved about alone; most were accompanied by at least 4 or 5 others they were somehow acquainted with. Little seemed to go on on the surface, however, once one dug deep enough, the inner workings of the place would begin to surface. Deceit, murder, suspicion--all powered by greed and pride.

Still, the deeper the Kaguya went, the more activity she'd find apparent. A few fights here and there, whisperings and dealings amongst the shadows. One particular happening would likely stand out to the Chuunin, for its opportunistic nature. The punishment of a traitor, it seemed, with a knife held to his throat as he fell to his knees.

"Who's going to take responsibility for this?"

"I think the best form of payment would just be his head."

"I dunno, it's pretty damn ugly."

[Mamushi]

SPOILER: Click to show

Don't. That's one of the reasons I had us split up. Hopefully things at work will calm down next week so I can post more consistently.

Deeper into the rabbit's hole I went, burrowing past the outlying criminals to penetrate into the heart of the den itself, where men killed men on the street as if it were a normal thing. Two men cornered another - the latter pleading for his life from his knees.

I had several options. I could allow them to kill the men and then interrogate them. I could kill the men and interrogate the 'coward'. I could do nothing and continue searching, or I could just kill them all.

I considered killing them all longer than I considered any other option... in the end, I decided to intervene, taking care to appear as harmless and as sexual as possible. I adjusted me kimono to display my cleaving, and adjusted the obi to show a little leg.

"Yes, he is ugly... why are you wasting your time with him?"

I approached from their blindside, each step slow and measured as I drew nearer.

[[ Vasanti ]]

Kanae watched as the attendant looked at them sternly and wrinkled her brow in return as the man spoke. Once the man pointed them in the right direction and dismissed them, she turned on her heel and glanced in the vicinity that the attendant had pointed to. When she strode to the door, she set her eyes upon another man who was equally as buried in paperwork as the attendant had been.

Sheesh…did all these people do was paperwork?


Moving silently to the chairs that the man behind the desk gestured to, Kanae sat and ran a hand idly over the outlines of her facial scarf, tending to it in places where it obviously didn’t need tending to; straightening and brushing it, fussing over it really and with no need. Not wanting to seem blatantly rude, but not wanting to sit in the chair like a student in the principal's office, she lightly cleared her throat.

[Kii!]

[[ Right, since it's been almost a week . . . ]]

There was a bit of an awkward silence for a moment that hung still over the room. Though he wasn't sure why, the air felt tense around Takahashi, whom the shinobi had been sent to speak with. Just as the female had, he cleared his throat to fill the void and straightened a few papers.

"Right, so, ahh . . ." He said. "You're here about the gang problem we're having, right?" Fingers tapped at the desk nervously as he spoke. "Right, right . . . W-well, I suppose it's really not all that impressive to, uhm, explain. A rather wealthy man has had some . . . things stolen from h-him, and so he paid us to call on the village." Again he cleared his throat as he paused. "Apparently they have a shinobi among them . . . like you. There isn't much information I can r-really give you, except that their base of activities is in the, ah . . . bad part of town. Their leader organizes everything, so taking him down means they'll all just scatter."

With a shrug, he looked with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity toward the girl. If she had questions, he was awaiting them--and if not, they were probably done.

---

The apparent leader of this little fiasco, with his knife to the man's throat, was immediately infatuated by the new presence. In an instant his head snapped to the newcomer, eyes widening almost maddeningly as he slammed the traitor against the wall and turned to approach her. Knife still in hand, he reached out to touch her, first at her shoulder, and if she'd allow, he'd make his way downward.

"O-oi, she's alone, doesn't this look suspicious?" Said another, spectating and apparently far more nervous than he was enraptured by the woman's presence. A broken cackle came from another.

"Yeah! She's probably got a dick, better be careful!"

"Shut up!" Said the leader, gripping his knife with a fury, but never moving away from the female. It was obvious this wasn't something that happened to him often . . .

[Mamushi]

I remained stationary as the miscreant pawed me, raising dainty hands to beckon the other two closer. I curled one arm around the knife wielder and pulled him closer to me, my palm tucked under his ribs, our closeness hiding the bone knife that jutted out of my hand and into his lung, killing him. I held him close as he bled, one hand still half raised.

"I don't bite," I said coquettishly, swaying closer to a specific one of the remaining duo. "But I would like to know... who do you hotshots work for? Guys like you aren't smart enough to be more than cannon fodder -" And I dropped the body abruptly, one finger lashing out to pierce the nearest goons neck before he could react to me. That left one to piss his pants, and the supposed 'traitor' who'd already pissed his pants.

"All I want to know is who you work for, and where to find him... tell me and you'll live..."

[Mamushi]

For the sake of this taking way longer than I anticipated, I'm initiating a 24 hour IIC. If you happen to come back before the mission is over, you can continue your part, but this has gone on long enough...

[Kii!]

[[ Although the IIC was instated recently, it's been more than a day since the last IC post, and since these two things are happening in different areas, I don't think it'll make a huge mess if we just continue for now. ]]

"So, how do you--" The bone knife sent a web of pain exploding through the thug's body. His mouth opened to speak, but no words came; blood trickled down his body, however, the sensation was totally overshadowed by pain and disbelief. Though still alive, he crumpled to the ground weakly and lay there to bleed out, unaware of the following events. The next man didn't realize what had happened until the bone broke through his meaty neck and pierced his artery. Eyes widened, he fell to the floor, clutching at the wound and squirming in pain, though unable to do anything for himself.

"I-I don't know!" The remaining gang member attempted to flee, though fell back onto his hands in fear. The traitor attempted to flee as well, but was apparently somehow weakened and moved at no more than a snail's pace. From the floor, the frightened thug continued. "We don't know his name, j-just where he likes to hide out at! I-I'll take you there if you let me go." To him, this whole Yakuza deal had been a game. A way to pass his time and make his boring life a little more lively. His loyalties laid wherever he would benefit the most from, and the possibility of living certainly looked the most beneficial to him. "It's further down that way!" With a shaky hand, he pointed down the street. Still, the precise building was indiscernible from a simple pointing finger, so the woman would have to keep him alive.

At least, for now.

[[ Vasanti ]]

Kanae listened silently as the attendant spoke; he seemed nervous, maybe a little disorganized. His speech stuttered here and there and he almost seemed as though he wasn’t quite sure what direction to go with all of this. Her partner, the annoying kid, seemed to have fallen silent even more so than she. Hopefully he was getting nervous and cold feet and would scramble off soon or something. Honestly, she hoped to cross Ijitome again – at least that chick seemed like she knew what she was doing and could probably help get her to the top.

When the man was done speaking, Kanae waited for her partner to ask any questions he might have had, and when he didn’t, she assumed he really must be getting cold feet. That, or he was just so well versed and ready for this mission, he didn’t need to ask any questions. Kanae, on the other hand—

“So, we just go to the…not so good part of town, and find this shinobi and take him down and that’s that?” She smiled and glanced around the small office, allowing her eyes to finally settle on the man’s paperwork. If that’s all she had to do, and the attendant confirmed it, then she would stand and take her leave from the office.

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[Mamushi]

[/i] cowards.

I felt my muscles coil, my lithe frame shaking with barely suppressed rage. I was of the Yakuza - I knew what an honor it was, and what it meant to be Yakuza. Without warning my foot lashed out into his knee, shattering the bone and rendering the leg unusable.

"So you can't run anywhere," I murmured, already turning my attention to the sloth-like escape of the man I had saved. Within a few swift steps I was at his back, my newly acquired knife taken from the lifeless hands of the lead 'thug'.

"Not so fast; traitor's must die, after all." I slit his throat cleanly and smoothly, dropping the body where it stood.

"And now for you..." He was, perhaps, by this time screaming bloody murder, if not in fear then in pain. "Listen closely - I will kill you. You have two choices: painlessly, or painfully... do not lie to me you little shit, you understand?" By this point I was right up in his face, my beautiful face a mask of horror and doom, my finger digging into his forehead.

I threw him over my shoulder, jostling his knee in the process, and took to the rooftops - if those genin had any sort of ability, they'd be heading this way now... in the meantime, however -

"Show me this building, dead man - where do I go?"

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