Fisherman.

[Yox]

SPOILER: Click to show

name; fishing for food
rank; d
description; Kumogakure’s seldom food cache is making the Raikage look for other various resolutions on accumulating food for the hungry citizens of Kumogakure no Sato. One solution the Raikage has exposed is providing the shinobi with fun while being capable. The mission is simple, capture four fish for Kumogakure’s food supply.
reward; 100 experience, 500 ryo
minimum shinobi; one
mission status; interminable

And so it began. It was my first mission under a new banner. Kumogakure's newest soldier. I was ready to serve the village as best as I could. I had to make a good first impression on not only the other ninja I now called my 'comrades', but also the Raikage. He had allowed me to join his ranks. I wasn't going to let him down.

Of course I needed to start off with something slow and basic. I barely had any idea where anything was around this village. It was so different to Konohagakure. I liked it though. A fresh start made me feel eager on the inside. I really wanted to do my best.

Today I was offered the simple task of fishing. Although it did not seem important, it actually was. The food supply of the village was slowly declining. Something had to be done in order to combat this. Whilst the higher ranked ninja were off doing more dangerous tasks for the Raikage, I was more than happy to do this simple errand so that I at least contributed something. There was no point in me sitting around within my new apartment, twiddling my thumbs all day.

First thing was first. I needed to acquire a fishing rod of sorts. I was already in the middle of the village, scouting out the environment around me. It was so foreign, but that wouldn't stop me from doing what needed to be done. I edged across the marketplace centre, eyeing from side to side for something that could assist me. My eyes stopped once I saw a small market shop nearby that was selling what I was in fact looking for.

Fishing supplies were placed all over the little wooden shack. There were rods lined up across the front of the counter, tackle boxes stacked up on the counter and down on the floor as well. From the roof of shop dangled strings of line as well as various hooks. This was exactly what I needed.

I spoke to the man at the counter with a strong voice. "I need something that'll catch me the biggest fish in the river," I said whilst looking directly into the old man's eyes. He jumped up on the spot suddenly as if I had spooked him. Adjusting his glasses, he narrowed his own eyes toward me.

"Well," he said, "I might have exactly what you're looking for. Check this out," he whispered whilst gesturing his hand up toward the hooks that hung from the ceiling. "This hook here," he said whilst pointing to an oblong one, "wraps entirely within the mouth of the fish. Once the sucker gets hooked on this, even you will have a hard time trying to ply it off. But you'll also need something to catch it with... yes..." he trailed off whilst scratching the top of his head. Moving his hands down at the front of the counter, he moved up a rather large rod. "This one. There's none stronger."

I glanced to the hook and the rod as they both appeared in front of me. This was it. I quickly moved my gaze down to check the prices. They weren't cheap... I had to try something. "This is official business on behalf of the Raikage," I announced whilst tapping my forehead protector. "Any costs that are incurred can be-..."

"Oh, the Raikage!? Why didn't you say so!?" The old man held the rod and hook up with a passionate stance. He fiddled his hands in a tackle box nearby, flicking a bag of worms onto the table. "I live and breathe for Kumogakure! Anyone doing something for the greater good of the village is my friend! Here, have these on the house."

I grasped onto the things and moved away from the stand in a state of slight shock. What had just happened? Why had it been so easy to acquire these tools? I wondered whether this would happen in Konohagakure. Was this man just a one-off, or were people really like this here? Nevertheless I had a job to do. Next stop: the river.

[Yox]

The river was still when I had arrived there. Perfect. The less disturbances, the better. I leant over the edge of the railing preventing me from entering the water. Below in the shining blue water I could see various fish swimming about. It looked like a good day for it. The sun was perched up in the sky, shooting out a lively glow to the world below. The fish seemed to be loving it.

Without time to waste, I edged across along the railing toward an entrance to the jetty. It was pretty much empty aside from a few sailors sleeping on the back of their fishing ships as they sat docked there. These people were no hinderance to me. All was well in my world.

I sat down on the edge of the jetty, rolling up my pants and removing the apparel from my feet. Placing my feet in the water, I sighed with relief. The water was a perfect temperature; not too hot or cold. I slung the rod from my back to my side. In my left pocket was the bait that I was to use in order to lure the fish in. Inspecting each of the little worms before sliding them onto the hook, I wondered what fish really tasted in these disgusting creatures. Surely they'd prefer the taste of steak over a worm like this? It was rather ignorant of me though. I had never tasted a worm before, and today it would stay that way.

Flicking the rod above my head, I then proceeded to shoot the line out into the water. It landed at least ten metres away from me as the sinker dropped the hook to the depths of the river. I placed my right index finger on the string, running it carefully across my skin. Any sudden movements and I would definitely know about it.

From time to time I could feel little nibbles on the bait. I tugged my finger back slowly to hint to the fish that the worm was indeed alive. Some of them were smart enough not to bite on a motionless piece of bait. Though with little movements from time to time, a trap could be made. Finally, the pull from the other end came. I had indeed hooked onto something.

I stood up from my seated position, moving my feet into a strong stance on the wooden jetty. I began to then reel in the line with the fish on the end attempting to swim away. It was not strong enough to escape my reel and soon, it was on the jetty with me. Flipping about across the wooden planks, I watched it carefully as the life was slowly sucked out of it. Soon... it died right in front of me.

I unhooked the fish from the line and placed it carefully within a preserved cloth to save it for later. The old man who had sold me the rod was right; the hook definitely was a pain to remove. That was one fish down, and there were three more to go. I didn't hesitate to waste another minute. After stringing another piece of bait on the hook, I shot the line straight back into the water. It was time to catch more fish. It was all about patience, and I had all day.

[Yox]

After reeling in two more fish and other interesting things such as boots, buckets and other stray rubbish in the river, I was only one fish away from completing this task. It was often good to take up simple missions like this. They were truly a test of character. The whole fishing experience was really monotonous. Only the patient would survive. There were times when I had been unsuccessful in a reel that I had almost given up. It made me really appreciate these sorts of missions whilst I awaited for one last nibble.

My index finger had the string gently placed against it. I was waiting for any sudden movement. Once that occurred, I would reel in the last fish that the task required. Finally, that pull came and with it came my own. The last fish of the lot was reeled in as I stood up on the jetty. Dropping it onto the wooden planks, I watched as it too slowly lost all of it's life and faded from a living state. I removed the hook from it's mouth and placed it with the other three fish in the cloth. Mission complete.

I gathered the belongings on the jetty. The rod was slung over my shoulder with the hook reeled in to the very extreme. The small bag of tackle was no longer needed. I emptied the contents of it back into the water and moved along the ramp leading back up to the village centre. Before I made my way back to the Raikage's office, I had one more stop to make along the way.

It was back at the fisherman's stand. He had been nice enough to give me the equipment but I had felt bad about taking them from him without payment. On approach he looked up to see me with his passionate eyes. "The catch went well," I said to him as I unwrapped the cloth to show him what I had caught. He smiled and nodded to me in response, speaking thereafter. "What did I say!? Now the Raikage is going to be so pleased with your work! Good job."

I placed the rod back onto the bench at my front. "Here, take this back. I can't just take it from you for free. I don't need it anymore anyway. Thanks a lot for your help old man," I said with a forced smile on my face. It was difficult being nice to people, but when someone like this man was just so nice to me, it couldn't be helped. I turned away once I saw a smile in return across his face. The mission had been completed and the requirements remained in my hands. It was time to deliver it to the Raikage and collect my rewards.

[addy-hime ♥]

Yox, 30 EXP.

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