Lost Dog [M]

[Lang]

SPOILER: Click to show

The Missing Dog
Rank: D
Minimum Participants: 1
Details: A woman, Mrs. Tojikano, has lost her precious Mr. Snuggle-dee-dums, and needs you to locate the dog. It was last spotted in the village's south district.
Rewards: 100 EXP & 500 ryō

'Mr. Snuggle-dee-dums...is that even its real name?

Some questions were better left unanswered; this happened to be one of them. After a long string of back-to-back C and B-rank missions, it almost felt good getting back into the monotony of doing simple chores. For once, the idea of combing through his village and looking for some random mutt didn't sound all that unappealing, and plus he could use the break from studying all those medical textbooks. Even for a studious individual like him, cramming years' worth of information into his brain over the span of mere days was overwhelming. Rael's wrist still ached a bit from all the writing and note-jotting he'd done over the past week, especially from drawing the anatomical diagrams.

With any luck, though he didn't particularly mind putting in some extra time completing the mission, he wouldn't be spending all day at it. The temperature was a bit chilly, to his liking, and a comfortable breeze native to Mizu no Kuni kept his spirits uplifted as he scoured the streets, comparing the many strays he came across to the picture held in his hand. Once or twice, he doubled back to follow a regular civilian walking their dog, making absolutely certain the animal didn't fit what he was looking for. Unfortunately, they were all either completely different breeds, their hair was differently-colored, or some other essential aspect was missing. One dog that chased him down two streets had done so on three legs; he would've laughed, but was too busy running at the time.

Perhaps I should ask some of the villagers for help.

It sounded like a plan to him. From what he'd heard, this wasn't the first time 'Mr. Snuggle-dee-dums' escaped from his owner's clutches, and he doubted it would be the last. Surely someone either working or residing in the south district had seen it by now, maybe even feeding it scraps for the poor mongrel to live on. Locating the nearest newspaper stall, the venerable senior sitting behind the counter smiled when Rael paid him several ryō for a copy. His face turned slightly inquisitive as the Genin asked him for a small favor, closely examining the photo he was given depicting a dog. "Looks a bit familiar, kiddo, though I can't be sure. My eyesight's not what it used to be, hah hah! I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I saw one like this on my way here earlier, maybe an hour ago? Try further up the street, second intersection on the right. Maybe it'll still be there, and you can check."

Thanking the older gentleman with a slight bow, Rael left the stand's tiny premises. Following his instructions on the path to follow, he reduced his speed by half, giving him more opportunities to scope out his surroundings for any signs of the pooch. Hopefully the tip was good, otherwise he just spent 50 ryō to go on a wild goose chase. Dog chase, whatever.

[Lang]

I have the strangest feeling that I've been hoodwinked.

Well, maybe that wasn't entirely correct. It was quite possible the old man had seen it around here, but like he mentioned before, that was over an hour ago. He knew some cats liked to hang around the same area for extensive periods of time, but couldn't recall hearing dogs do the same. Unless of course, it was rummaging around the garbage bags for food. Given how much Mrs. Tojikano seemed to spoil her pet rotten by her own admission, and the fact the dog in the photo looked nothing like it was on the verge of starving to death, Rael felt that wasn't too probable either. If only he had another lead to go on...

"Rael-sensei, is that you?"

Startled at being addressed so suddenly, Rael spun around, catching the young girl behind him by surprise. She looked older than him, compounded by the fact she had at least four inches on the shorter Genin. Green eyes a lighter shade than his own blinked owlishly at him, and he fought to remember her name before a sharp yip down beside him caught his eye. The sight of the brown-haired ninken immediately refreshed his memory, and he gave the young kunoichi-in-training an hesitant smile.

"Asuka and Momaru," he made sure to include the nin-puppy in his greeting, knowing how Inuzuka considered them to be one of their own, "how have the two of you been lately?" It'd been weeks since he last saw the girl, and while they weren't particularly close, it didn't hurt to maintain past connections. The three exchanged small talk (well, two, since he couldn't understand Momaru), his temporary student filling in the Genin on current events at the Academy, before Rael was struck with an idea. "Asuka, I'm actually having a spot of difficulty with an ongoing mission right now. Do you think you and Momaru might be able to help me out with something?"

Both owner and ninken blinked curiously at the Genin, the former recalling how her sensei didn't seem like the type to ask for help with anything. Back at the Academy, he seemed like the quiet, professional, not saying much unless he was explaining a concept to them. This new, more laid-back attitude was definitely unexpected, but not unpleasant.

"I'm not sure how much help we'll be, but I'll see what we can do, sensei. What is it?"

"Well, there's this dog I'm looking for...no, not you Momaru..."

[Lang]

"Are you sure this is a good idea sensei? Please be careful!"

Showing his appreciation for her concern with a slight nod, Rael carefully crept his way along the side of the building towards his prey.¹ The creature's back was turned to him as it sifted through the piles of rubbish, sniffing loudly as though in search of something. Too bad for it, the Genin wasn't about to devote the rest of his afternoon to letting it wander around like this. His right hand crackled once with blue electricity², and as the fiend tried to spin around on all fours, Rael had already pushed off the wall, speeding towards his target and swiping it once along the nape of its neck. His enemy stilled, then collapsed to the ground, legs twitching erratically in the air.

Maybe it was a bit much, using such a high-level jutsu on his quarry. But as Rael looked down at the passive pitbull lying akimbo next to his feet, all ninety-five pounds of it, he decided it was better to be safe than sorry. Sure, Mrs. Tojikano might be alarmed to see her dog walking all funny for the while, if it could even manage that, but whatever. The Genin wasn't about to risk having that thing sink its kunai-sized fangs into him, so better it than him.

"That turned out much better than I thought. Thanks a lot for your help, Asuka. Both you and Momaru were a big help." If it wasn't for the Inuzuka pair and their heightened sense of smell, Rael probably would have spent at least another hour or two looking for the mongrel. Making his way back out of the alley, where the two hid from view as Rael handled his chore, the white-haired youth rubbed the ninken affectionately on the head. eliciting a series of happy barks and yips.

"I've got to go hand the dog over to his owner and report in at the mission's office. Next time we meet, lunch is on me, alright?"

---

la fin

SPOILER: Click to show

1. Kinobori no Waza [Act of Tree Climbing]
Rank: E
Type: Supplementary
Range: 0 - 5 meters
Handseals: No
Chakra: Low [initial], None [upkeep]
Special: --
Description: Kinobori no Waza, the art of tree climbing, serves a dual purpose by helping ninja learn how to focus their chakra, as well as teach them how to run up trees and walk on vertical walls. The training helps the ninja learn how to focus just the right amount of chakra to a particular part of their body. The amount needed to climb is small but it must be precise. The feet are regarded as the hardest location to master chakra focusing. So by gaining the art of this skill, the ninja will have any jutsu available (theoretically) because they will be able to focus their chakra as needed.
Domain: Academy Ninjutsu

2.Ranshinshou [Chaotic Mental Collision]
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary
Range: --
Handseals: No
Chakra: High
Special: Forces all physical movement to be destroyed, to the point a normal movement produces the opposite effect. Lasts a total of one post, plus once more for each time retrained.
Description: 'Ranshinshou' is an advanced medical ninjutsu that allows for the severe disruption of the medic's victims. Changing the chakra in their hand into an odd electric-like pulse, the medic successfully mimics and creates an electric field to disrupt their target's nervous system. Because the brain and body communicate using electrical impulses, the medic uses the field to disrupt their target's ability to move. What results is commands to move one body part being relayed to another, making it near impossible for them to move efficiently.
Domain: Iryou Ninjutsu

[KEITH]

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