The Negotiator [M:Private]

[¤ SFS ¤]

----Hostage Situation!


Client's Name: Shodaime Tsuchikage Kaguya Kira
Client's Occupation: Shinobi
Mission Rank: C
Payment for completion: 1,000 Ryo + 50 EXP
Mission Subject: A Genin shinobi has gone slightly off the hook when he didn't have enough Ryo to pay for his ramen and has taken the cook hostage, holding a kunai to his throat. Take him down without killing him, we don't need any senseless killings.
Special Requests: Can be done solo or with multiple people, but any harm to the hostage or if the shinobi is killed will be an immediate failure.
Notes: None.

The village was burning, figuratively speaking of course. There had been a flood of more serious missions poured into the Tsuchikage’s office. Not as serious as the venture into foreign land to ask for an alliance but still serious enough someone like him took two of them without hesitation. Iwa was making a modest recovery but there was also room for failure and things could always be worse than what they were. That being said the genin knew it was up to every individual to keep the village prospering and running smoothly. Other genin in particular were especially responsible for this as genin were the primary mission completing force of Iwa currently. He was no Kage but he had tact and determination and nothing would keep him from doing his part.

One genin in particular however, didn’t share his mentality at the moment. Yite Nuboda, a fourteen year old genin who he hadn’t seen around the village in the past was said to be holding someone hostage at one of the ramen stands in the village. In a village recovering from war it was necessary to be swift, militant, or even harsh but in the end reading too much into everything would be a bad practice of analytical skills. He bet everything he had that this situation was nothing more than a miscommunication that got a little out of hand and a young mind with a skilled hand felt overwhelmed and his instincts lead him in the wrong direction. Nothing vicious, nothing sinister, the mission ticket even said so, “gone slightly off the hook when he didn't have enough Ryo to pay for his ramen and has taken the cook hostage”.

It was really a good thing that the mission’s parameters prohibited the harm of the cook as well as the death of the genin. Someone with a little less compassion would just kill the kid collect their pay and call it day. He’d taken this mission out of a sense of duty to all involved; Nuboda, the cook and himself. No one would die today. He swore he would get his done and get it done without bloodshed.

Tactics aside there was still the issue of getting to the location where the hostage and his genin captor were having their quarrel. It wasn’t a problem finding the place, the problem would be taking down the Yite without costing the cook his life. Aside from his name there was no real helpful intel on the genin regarding his temperament and psyche. Sen was unsure if he could simply approach them head on and talk the boy down honestly though it was what he wanted to do. It seemed unlikely though and he would only get one chance to make a first impression.

[¤ SFS ¤]

If he put all his eggs in one basket and exposed himself he could fail the mission, cost the cook his life and in turn be more or less forced to kill the kid, three things he wanted to avoid. It was better to play it safe and come up with a plan because when it was all said and done he wasn’t just dealing with a punk kid he was dealing with a fellow shinobi. A fellow shinobi who was definitely on equal rank with him in title and stature but could very possibly be his superior in combat or tactics, or both.

He would need a proper distraction to make things work the way he needed them to. No matter the layout of the ramen stand and its surrounding area he would use the same tactic. While he closed in on his quarry his thoughts focused in on the first of his two missions. It was better to take his time and absorb all the information he could to better complete his second mission. Because unlike the first one, his second mission ticket gave no suspect or location of the problem. It only gave a situation and his orders to stop that situation and apprehend the culprit, where ever they were.

From behind a crowd of onlookers the genin made his way into the spectacle. It was incredibly important not to be seen if the kid had an itchy hand he might freak at the sight of another shinobi and kill the cook and make a break for it. The crowd all seemed to want to put an end to the situation but no one made a move against the crazed kid with a kunai. The ramen chef was fine, no apparent wounds no bleeding from the neck area. If the genin had kept his cool this long there was hope for him yet. Backing back behind a corner the Youton user set the handseals fly, from behind his cover, no one could see his movements and the crowds hindered the Yite from sensing his whereabouts. Youton Bunshin no Jutsu.

SPOILER: Click to show

Youton Bunshin no Jutsu (Lava Clone Technique)
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary / Youton Kekkei Touta
Range: See special!
Chakra: High
Special: Up to one clone can be made at a time, plus one more each time retrained. When struck, the clone's lava essence forces whatever was used to strike it to stick within, as if it had just struck some sort of thick, jellatine substance. Clone cannot perform any jutsu, but when defeated, it explodes in a burst of hot magma, spreading its burning essence everywhere. Explosion range covers 5 meters all around the clone.
Description: With this technique, the Youton user is able to call upon aid from a perfect copy of themselves. Comprised purely of molten lava, this clone retains the user's movement speed and can share linked mental judgement. Best of all, when struck physically, most items slowly sink into the magma pit that has become their body, corroding away at appendages and weapons equally. Finally, when defeated, the clone explodes into a blob of intense lava that aims to take over the nearest opponent available, burning and melting them in place.
Domain: Youton. Fushokuzai 'B'.

From behind the corner he emerged taking point and center. He dispersed the crowd on the authority of being a ninja of on official Iwa business. It didn’t take them long to be on their way and with every other person in the vicinity taking their leave Nobuda’s face went to wily and anxious to fierce and determined. The grip on his kunai tightened and he held it closer to the cook’s throat. Whatever his reasons were he didn’t run and now he was facing whom he perceived as the genin that was going to take him out.

He did his best to stare Sen down, his eyes said it all, “Get lost, or I’ll kill this bastard”. But he wasn’t going anywhere he had a job to do and he was no one’s enemy. He wouldn’t let it get hostile if It didn’t have to go that way. Nobuda didn’t know it, but he’d already lost control of the situation, from the moment he appeared, he taken Nobuda and the cook both hostage. Now, it was just a matter of finding the proper moment to let them go.

[¤ SFS ¤]

Yite Nobuda. He approached slowly not entering a range closer than six feet. By order of the Tsuchikage you are to be neutralized and brought back to ANBU for questioning for the assault and hostage taking of an Iwagakure no Sato citizen. Put the kunai down and come with me, this don’t have to end up a blood fued.

You think after all this I’ll just come along with you quietly?! SCREW YOU!

[/b][/color][/right]
He made his stand. He wouldn’t just back down not now, the kid must have figured he was in too deep for that. No matter how he responded it didn’t change his situation and it didn’t change Sen’s tactics. From behind that cover the other Sen snuck up the street. His objective was to hit a few corners and approach Yite from the side. The kid was no slouch though so he would make sure his only aggressive move was his last aggressive move. It’s not too late for any of us. I’m not gonna let you kill this man. Nobody’s gonna die here. His words implied an incoming attack and when his right hand moved from its position at his side Yite got nervous.

KEEP YOUR HANDS APART! IF I SEE EVEN ONE HANDSEAL HE’S DEAD!

Relax. It’s not a headseal. The genin reached into pocket and fished out 100 Ryo hiding in a small bag of coins, he tossed it over the distance for the cook to peer into. You can let him go now, you don’t anyone anything, you’re debt has been paid.

BULLSHIT! JUST LIKE THAT?! IT’S OVER?! WELL YOU’RE WRONG CAUSE IT’S NOT ABOUT THE RYO!

Yite clenched his teeth and his eyes became more enraged. He moved his lips to start some inane rant about the reason he was here, about the reason he was in a standoff with one of his fellow Iwagakure genin, holding a precision blade to the neck of one the villages civilians . But Sen didn’t want to hear it, there was no need, he knew the reason why because he’d felt such things in the past.

Don’t. Just don’t. The status or standing of this village and your situations and predicaments in light of that are your own doing. YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT AND SERVE THESE PEOPLE! You’re being a fucking child and making excuses! You think you’re the only one who got a raw deal by being a shinobi of this village?! EVERYONE OF US ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU SO DON’T TRY TO ASK LIKE YOU’RE SPECIAL! You don’t like it? Leave. You want to make it better? Then WORK HARDER. Cause this won’t help your situation. It’ll only make it worse.

It was a total shot in the dark of a rank but from the look of Nobuda’s water eyes it seemed that his guess was right. The kid was just another genin unsure of his place in Iwa and thus unsure of himself, his loyalties and his future. In the face of all of that taking a hostage for some attention would make perfect sense if you couldn’t take the stress of it all. By now his eyes were just as upset as Nobuda’s but he remained aware of the situation. The cook was still under a kunai but at least he knew what the kid’s motivations were.[/blockquote]

[¤ SFS ¤]

He stepped toward Nobuda with a fire in his eyes. He was just about done talking and the other Sen had already snaked his way around the corner and found a good place crouch and wait for the moment to attack. Like I said… it’s not too late for you or any of us. Iwa can change and grow… It is changing. The Tsuchikage doesn’t want you dead and the really wouldn’t want you to kill this man. Your meal has been paid for don’t victimize someone who has nothing to do with your real problems. If you’re that pissed off… take it up with me.

As if he couldn’t help himself at the sound of someone challenging him, Nobuda flung the kunai across the distance at an incredible speed slicing the juglar of the older genin. Sen clutched at his throat as it began to bleed out but he didn’t panic. He instead kneeled to the ground and turned away to avoid letting his blood be seen. His labored breaths told YIte Nobuda he was dying and the younger genin seemed more sad for the entire situation that just sad that he’d killed a fellow shinobi. The cook who had been placed in a sleeper hold once the kunai was thrown was incapacitated and laid gently on the floor. Sen was more right about the boy than he thought. He was a beast of impulse, young and angry. He didn’t want to hurt anyone but if he couldn’t control himself he’d rather hurt and armed or more skilled opponent than an innocent.

Nobuda’s eyes watered but his face was one of stone as he said he silent apology to both the dying genin that paid his debt and the cook he was in debt to. For all of Sen’s talking Nobuda had heard one thing he said loud and clear. “You don’t like it? Leave.” You don’t like it? Leave. The small sack of Ryo would be all the money he’d have in the world as he kept his cool and left Iwa behind once and for all. He didn’t really want to leave but he’d killed one his own so there was nothing left for him here.

As he reached down for the Ryo sack his noticed someone strange. The red flowing out of the body of the genin who he thought he killed. The red was bright and glowing, it was even extremely hot, like lava. Then when he moved in to inspect the body, it disappeared, like a clone, the small pouch of Ryo along with it. In its wake a mass of molten lava spewed at the boy which he barely dodged and from the corner of his eyes he saw movement. But it only lasted a moment as he was incapacitated by the fist making hard contact with his chin.

Yite Nobuda never stood a chance in his wired and anxious state. The boy hit the ground with a thud and Sen turned his attention back to the cook. When a patrol squad got to the scene Nobuda had been tied and up and the cook was just coming to, but this time a real pouch of 100 Ryo was sitting in his lap. The genin didn’t have time to make pleasantries or friends. There was something else he had to take care of today before he left for Suna and it was extremely dangerous. It took a special kind of fearlessness to be untrained with a blade yet still torture animals to death in a place where skilled and trained killers nearly outnumbered the regular civilians, although with a population as small as Iwa’s that still wasn’t saying very much.

[¤ SFS ¤]

With a sigh he wiped the slight sweat from his brow and began to walk away from the patrol squads only to be cut off by the voice of someone he hadn’t heard speak until now.

Wait young man please. I owe you a great debt, won’t you please stay a moment before your next task? My ramen is simple but hearty and it’s all I can offer in the way of gratitude.

His voice was sad and the Iwa-nin could hear guilt in it as if the man felt he was somehow responsible for Nobuda’s outburst. With yet another sigh he turned around and greeted the middle aged man with a half grin.

The patrol guards carried the unconscious Yite Nobuda off with little no objections or questions. The cook who said his name was Mayo and Sen both filled them in on the details in quick form and they were on their way. It was doubtful that the kid would be executed although he did attempt to take the life of a fellow genin. It was more likely that after a mental evaluation he would be allowed back into the service of Iwa a genin or possibly put in prison or some other institute for those mentally unfit to continue the ninja way of life. Unfortunately anything other than putting him back into service would be a small loss for Iwa but a loss all the same.

Mayo poured ramen in a pot and let it boil while chopping up the meat and heating the pan he would eventually fry it in. He seemed a lot more at peace once his hands went to work doing something he found familiar. It was very possible that one day he himself would find that same solace in crafting, if not, being a cooking-nin was always an option.

Downing a glass of apple juice he’d been served with much appreciation he watched Mayo worked quietly. The man must have had something on his mind or on his heart because the silence became noticeably awkward. How did it happen? Did you say something to him that set it off or was he just as he seemed; a kid under a stress he couldn’t control.

I suppose it was both in equal parts. He seemed distracted the moment he came in here and sat where you’re sitting now. Maybe I should have tried to ease his mind a little before pressuring him so hard. It’s all my fault. I didn’t mean to make the kid snap. I didn’t mean to snap myself he just seemed so able and it got the best of me that he didn’t seem to care at all about the problem I was telling him of. He went to take his food and pay me but he must have forgotten his money at home. I threatened to have him arrested. I lashed out at him and provoked him because he wouldn’t help me. I feel so damned foolish.

So he was already on edge. You had something you thought he could help you with and when you asked he didn’t seem too eager to help so you went off on him and in return he went off back. In all the heat of the moment you traded insults and when he didn’t have the money to pay you he left the upperhand in the argument and took you hostage as a bit of a final stand against the village. The sizzle of red meat hitting a metal pan drowned out the silence. It smelled good, too good really. It made him wonder how he’d never heard of this place or this man before now. Iwa wasn’t that big. It would be shame to have to lock up Mayo for contributing to what eventually became a hostile situation. Factually he bore some responsibility for what happened to both himself and Nobuda but it wasn’t illegal to argue with someone. What he asked Nobuda for help with however could have been.

[¤ SFS ¤]

Well. His voice cut through the silence like a camera flash in a developing room. Mayo didn’t answer right away instead chopping vegetables tossing them in with the frying meat. He seemed to be getting nervous and the more nervous he good the faster he cooked, and the better it all smelled. The genin’s stomach rumbled in response to something that was sure to taste so divine. But his mind wouldn’t let it be. He had to know what Mayo was going to ask Nobuda. What was it that Nobuda didn’t seem eager to help you with? He sat patiently waiting, staring a hole into the cook’s back. He sipped at his Apple Juice occasionally savoring the taste. He’d slam the glass down on the bar top to signal he wanted another and Mayo would refill it and go back to ramen preparations.

In only a few moments the biggest bowl in the stand was filled with noodles, beef, chicken, shrimp and and about four different kinds of vegetables. It was the kind of bowl a man would order before heading out a ‘S’ ranked mission or returning safely from one. There was more of everything else in it than there was ramen. As good as it looked, it only tasted better. So long as Mayo wasn’t a crooked criminal cook the genin saw himself returning to this place often for a good meal. As he dug in he noticed that same sad expression on Mayo’s face and he realized he was being coaxed into something if not flat out bribed. But he showed the physical reaction to his realization outside of the gratitude for such a mother-slapping good lunch. Breaking away from the ramen he downed another glass of apple juice which Mayo was quick to refill. At which point he was ready to ask again only with a little more threat behind it. Don’t make me ask again Mayo-san. Just spill it. What did you want with Nobuda.

I… I just wanted him to do his job. Mayo clutched hard at his apron to give him the strength he needed to finish talking. The genin in front of him sipped more apple juice slowly but still paid all his attention to the cook. I wanted him to investigate and stop the man that’s been killing dogs all around the village!

He nearly coughed out the apple juice he was enjoying so damned much. It was an amazing coincidence really. His next mission was to find that same suspect responsible for the dog killings and neither the mission ticket nor the Tsuchikage’s secretary nor anyone else he’d come across since accepting the mission had left him any leads but here he was now fresh off the ass end of one assignment and about to dive into the belly of the next one. With his third sigh being one of relief instead of annoyance he cleared his throat and finished his glass before going back to his ramen. Mayo seemed anxious to know what the genin would say. He hoped he wouldn’t be arrested for what he’d done but he didn’t care as long as someone stopped that man from killing more animals. When Sen didn’t speak right away Mayo’s expression of sadness only intensified as he began to clean his work station and cooking tools.

When the young ninja finished his meal he was grinning and placed payment on the table. His eyes met Mayo’s for a moment before he answered with reassurance. As it happens I’ve been assigned to deal with that. So don’t worry I’m gonna get the guy, so tell me what you know.

When the intel was exchanged he made his way back to the Tsuchikage’s office. With what he’d learned it seemed the stopping of the man would take more time that he had right now. He needed to get to Suna on the double but there were no worries to be had. No dogs would be harmed for a few days given the information he’d just received. He would formulate a plan and execute it upon his return. For now, Suna was all he could afford to think about.

[EXIT]

[Icarus]

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