Squad 4's Mission [Squad 4 ONLY]

Jiro arrived 15 minutes before 4 am a carefully packed rucksack on his back filled with additional equipment, rations, winter clothes, a sleeping bag and accessories he might need such as a compass and flint and tinder. He was by nature a light packer not carrying much more then the basics relying on his skills, wit and wallet to provide were his supplies failed him. He had doubled checked his kit, polished his sacrificial blade, sharpened his kunai and shuriken and ensured none of the links were going on the 30ft hardened chain that hung off his belt. He would be first to admit he did not know much about Yukigakure though he made an effort to liberate a old map or two from the Konoha library and a book on local customs, myths and social niceties.

With the necessities secured he had turned his attention to a more pressing matter, Yukigakure was a considerable distance away if the maps he had stolen were to be believed and the mission could well last several weeks if not longer. If he didn’t sacrifice to Jashin soon he may have to on mission, which would be considerably more problematic. Despite being full of Nin years of honed practise and careful observation had allowed him to carry out his bloody work undetected in Konoha. Not only would Yukigakure be an unknown territory, making it that much harder for him to find a suitable target and do so discretely but doubtless he would be under close surveillance by his sensei and indigenous forces alike. Better to his mind to go fully prepared, so as soon as he was prepared to go he went out in Konoha’s bustling nightlife looking for a suitable individual who deserved to spend the rest of their existence in Jashin’s personal hell like realm. He had the bandage checked out but nothing suspicious was found, still he left it behind in his backpack, years of caution ingraining a dislike to take risks even calculated ones. He would but it back on after the hunt.

He lucked out finding a suitable target after a mere 45 mins of searching, a butcher who from the look of it was selling sub par meat to a civilian school in order to turn a profit. If he wasn’t mistaken it was the same school that had suffered a number of very serious cases of food poisoning and a small girl had even died. Jiro didn’t really like civilians very much, he felt them to be a drain on the Nin population but a murderer was still murderer whatever his prey. Following him back to his house careful to keep in the shadows, soundless and out of sight he saw man return home where he subsequently beat his wife for cooking a supposedly lousy meal, then struck his daughter. It just confirmed to Jiro’s mind the degeneracy of humanity and how much they all richly deserved to spend an eternity as Jashin’s play things. After taking it out on his family the man went to an illegal dog fight and the opportunity to strike availed it self. The man decided to go into the darkened section where the dogs were kept doubtless to find one he liked the look of and rile it up. It had been all too easy to nick him without him even noticing, the butcher assuming he had simply grazed himself. Then he carefully closed the door, applied a stolen silencing seal and began his work. He couldn’t linger overlong but he had enough time to make sure the man would taste just a sample of what was to come now that his soul was Jashin’s. As for the body well there were a lot of abused malnourished dogs to feed. Jiro left 5 minutes later, being careful to destroy evidence of his involvement and leaving a dozen large and now rather full mastiffs barking their appreciation.

Seeing his Sensei already there he placed a tick in the embarrassingly small mental box that contained his sum knowledge on the man. Busy preparing for the trip he hadn’t found the time to pursue any active enquiries as yet. Hopefully he would get a chance to observe more on their trip. Bowing he greeted in a respectful manner:

“Morning Sensei”

As he waited for the others to arrive he thought back to the previous day’s mock battle. Without his blade he had been severely limited yet he wasn’t unhappy with his performance as such. His sensei was clearly capable but he had learnt more then his name. The Uchiha was well ….. an Uchiha, he seemed to have more compassionate then your average one if his care for that bird of his was an indicator but the attitude was still there. He wondered if it was hereditary. His initial thought about those whirling red eyes was that they were problematic and nothing he had seen so far had changed his opinion. The Katon of the previous day and his use of multiple if weak bunshin seem to suggest he was keen to utilize ninjutsu. The girl he had to admit was the more surprising of the pair, he had expected the Uchiha would present a challenge but the young Kunochi was far more resourceful then she looked. He wasn’t aware whether she had a Kekkai Genkai but he didn’t think so, not that they were necessary he didn’t have one after all. Too many Nins used them as crutches to make up for their own limitations anyway rather then as stepping stones to greatness. Jiro knew enough to know that he would be fundamentally weaker if he took the same flippant approach with his immortality. She wasn’t a taijutsu specialist, that had been clear from their momentary tussle. She wasn’t bad so much as he was very good and her own blows, a little series of quick linked defences, were a stalling action so to speak. He had initially wondered if she was hoping to hold long enough for Yusei to get involved but in hindsight he had underestimated her cunning. This girl wasn’t content on relying on others. Utilising Yusei’s Katon as cover she had carefully placed a genjutsu on him moments before he shunshin’d behind her. It took effect around 3 seconds after the water sachets exploded and had taken Jiro completely off guard. It wasn’t as effective on him as he guessed it might have been on others, partly because he had a sharp mind and the vision were clearly illogical and partly because few things worried him. Even so it had taken him unawares for a few seconds before he realised he had been genjutsu’d and formed the seals for Kai. In the aftermath of the battle it had gone largely unnoticed though he thought he saw a flicker of amusement pass across the pretty girls face. He didn’t like to admit it but those seconds would have been more then enough time to eliminate him from the spar. Then there had been the vines. Yes she was curious indeed and a little worrying. Twice already she had made him look foolish. He had even gone so far as to practise talking to the girl in his bathroom mirror so as not to repeat yesterday’s social nightmare. Perhaps he would learn more about her and the rest of his team while on mission.

"Ugh.." Yusei moaned he got up and walked out of his room yuki was still sound asleep, his aunt and uncle had sent another letter enclosing a congratulations for meeting his team and 200$. he went to brush his teeth after his morning preperations yuki was now awake nibbling on the breakfast yusei had laid out while she had slept, after seeing the awoken yuki yusei smiled and said "Well well look who's finally awake yuki stay here i'll be right back."

it was that time of the monring agian after his preperations yusei always went to the seceret hallway in the uchiha meeting room, he read the scroll trying to unravel the secret way of the mangekyou sharingan. he still could not belive the requirments but he would meet them he sowre it he left the secret room putting the 7th mat back in place, he grabbed his breakfast a riceball he double checked his backpack 2 bottles of water 4 extra kunai and a extra set of throwing star's and some rice ball's. "Alrighty we are ready for our first misson let's go yuki! " yuki gave a screach of approval and flew to yusei shoulder, yusei took out his mother's old scarf and kissed it he prayed for there protection he stuffed the scarf back into his backpack and headed for the training ground.

He finally arrived scratcing his head surpirsed to see he was the last to arrive but he was there and the mission could start, he wondered what the mission could have in store for team 4 then he saw kimiko and jiro standing near the sensei "Hey guys ready and raring to go am i right?"

Jiro was about to answer Kimiko when Yusei swaggered among them his expression and enthusiasm clearly peaking with the idea of going on the mission. Jiro might have thought he had too large an injection of caffeine this morning or was on a sugar rush but he knew it was life that the young Uchiha was high on. Jiro wouldn’t admit it least of all to himself but he was excited too. He rarely strayed out of the village for fear of drawing unwanted attention and ever since he had killed the Chuunin a small hidden part of him truly wanted to face off more Nin in a life and death situation. There was something lacking from the executions that had become a monthly ritual.

Like Kimiko, Yusei too seemed inquisitive about his well being. Not one for answering questions Jiro was naturally a little suspicious but even he could see that there was no hidden intent by them and failing to respond might cause raise more pressing ones later.

“Good Moring Kimiko, Good Morning Yusei. I am as ready as I can be and I must admit to a certain excitement to be leaving the village. Thank you for your kind compliments but I am not all that good, my tutors at the academy always said I lack the instinct of a Ninja. I will endeavour to correct my failings and I hope don’t slow the team down. You were both very good. I was most impressed by your Katon Yusei, a powerful move not to mention your illusion Kimiko. It was most carefully placed. If it were not for Sensei’s intervention I believe you would have had ample time to dispatch me”

One thing he noticed when talking to people was that if you repeated something enough they invariably began to believe it. The more they considered him weak the better and of course with all good lies he had added enough truth to make it hard to see. He was after all satisfied with his team’s performance yesterday and it was a good morning but it served no purpose to reveal his level of skill. Better all around if they remained ignorant in case of the day he was uncovered and was forced to flee the village.

Breaking open the scroll handed to him by Robin he started to browse it as they began their short journey to the boats. They were going to the country of his birth it would seem, not that this mattered. He had long ago shed his past and his ties with it. The Snow Village had never been there for him, much like his own clan. He had long run out of tears to cry and he wouldn’t waste them on Snow even if he did. Only snippets of memory from those years still remained and blurred into those of the painful years before Jashin Sama. That said he was curious to see it, a land supposedly covered in snow and ice for most of the year. The mission scroll lacked specifics, such as whom and how they would go about getting a treaty though he imagined that his Sensei had received more detailed instructions on this matter. As with many things it’s what the scroll didn’t directly say that was more important then what it did. One that there was a good chance of success, normally negotiations were carried out by high ranking diplomats seasoned in bargaining and negotiating. That a Genin team whatever the skill of its Jounin sensei had been so tasked suggested that the two villages were on good terms already and the outcome was considered favourable. Secondly and more importantly was the clearly labelled B rank. That was a statement in itself that Ninja level opponents were likely to hinder their mission. He hoped his teammates were ready to face proper Nin. Even he had doubts about whether the team would make it through in one piece. It seemed unlikely his peers were blessed with similar protection from an unseen patron. Jiro pondered on the issue wondering what to expect when they got there as they continued towards the boats

Yusei walked while waiting for orders excited by the fact that this was his first mission he was easilly excited over first time stuff. Yuki looked at the rest of the team curiously "Ouch" yusei winced yuki had tightened her grip on his arm her talons dug into yusei's arm, "Gezz yuki relax i all ready told you, you can trust these guys there our new teammates and if push comes to shove you know i got your back." "but there is somthing musteryious about that jiro but regarudless his my new teammate so i'll never leave him behind kimiko or sensei."

He thought about the mission ahead he wished he could know what was coming so he could be prepared, he thought would there be enemy ninja attemping to stop them would somone sleep on a bed of posin ivy get infected and have to retreat, what if somone posined there food while they slept all these thought's raced through his mind then he realized his kunckles were turning white he took a deep breath he had to realax.

He clicked his mouth 3 times this signaled yuki that she could fly through the air for a while then yusei whipped out his flute and began to play a song, that was his mothers old flute song called Konoha Sonet as he played yuki gave a joyful caw yusei knew that this was yuki's favorite song it was also his he walk more realaxed now as he played his flute.

Jiro took in his Sensei’s encounter with the voluptuous blonde and not for the first time wandered what all the fuss was about even as he felt something stir within him which he tried in vain to repress. Women to him were an unfathomable mystery, not in technical sense he often seen the depraved access of humanity as he sought a suitable sacrifice, but what men saw in it he wasn’t sure. Surely time would be more productively spent checking out the ship or training then getting hot and sweaty in a primitive form of wrestling. Women, it was dawning was an area of some uncertainty, avoid in his training, his exposure had been minimal and he just didn’t know how to deal with them. Their odd mannerisms, their strange interests, that odd knowing look they seemed to possess as though they were privy to secrets men were not but most all the odd feeling that they stirred within him confused and worried him. Why did he feel so when his gaze fell upon a pretty face, why did he blush so when he talked to them and why did even close proximity bring him out in acold sweat? He had thought he had cast aside such mortal weaknesses when he had attained immortality and truly begun his service to Jashin but with hindsight his limited exposure a result from a natural tendency to keep to his own company had only served to hide his failings. How was he to truly serve his eternal master if he became flustered so easily?

Catching a key he noted he had got 71. He carefully placed it within the folds of his kimono and headed towards the vessel silently pondering how best to resolve this problem. He knew he would have no qualms in battle but it was worrying to find himself at such a predicament on a social level and he turned his sharp mind to finding a solution. As he walked on board he hoped his quietness would be misconstrued as mission nerves and not something deeper. He avoided making eye contact with his team mates, lost as he was in his own thoughts and worried it might lead to Kimiko starting up yet another conversation he was ill prepared for, as he jumped aboard the large passenger ship he headed straight towards the nearest hostess to ask for directions to his cabin.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Junko, a 17 year old hostess was as ever confidently dealing with the stream of passengers bound for snow or one of the stops between. The ship did a brisk trade and there was always work to be done. That said it was rare to transport Shinobi so their arrival on board had caused a stir among the crew and from the looks of it one more had just arrived. It was hard to tell what he looked like below that long fringe of hair he possessed that obscured most of his face. He was obviously relatively young but he was tall and clearly mature for his years probably all that Nin training his kind did. On the whole he would provide plenty of gossip along with the other Nin’s but he seemed a relatively unremarkable all the same. He asked a few polite questions but he deftly managed to avoid getting looked into a conversation and was soon on his way. As he wandered off she thought she saw the rest of his team home into view.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It didn’t take long for Jiro to find his cabin. He needn’t have asked but then he was sure a nervous Genin would and acting out of character might draw unwanted attention. Once aside he set down his pack and double checked that all his kit was in order before breaking out a battered book he gotten from the library yesterday afternoon. Titled “Understanding the Female Mindset” its foreword claimed that it was a guide to the female psyche and Jiro, being a studious individual was ever willing to give something a go. The sooner his issue was sorted the better. It would be a few days later before he would throw the book over the sided as a complete waste of time but at this moment he believed good a way of any to start. However his long thick fringe kept getting in the way. It wasn’t the first time but subconciously he knew it was becoming increasingly problematic and might soon enough obscure his vision in a fight. He had never cared about his looks and so had let it grow and grow but if it was causing problems then he conceded it was over due for a cut. Not that he would let another person do it, like most Nin the idea of letting anyone so close with sharpened instruments was just asking for trouble and so breaking out a pair of scissors from his pack started to hack away so to speak till it was altogether more manageable. So that his headband couldn’t potential cause similar issues he took it off bending the metal relief a bit and reattached it to his upper right arm instead. All done he took a look in the adjoining bathroom mirror and was surprised how much of his face the new look showed off. For a moment he wandered if he was ugly as the kids had told him back at the orphanage but it quickly passed in part because he wasn’t sure about what constituted good and bad looks but mostly because he didn’t care, it wasn’t important after all.

Turning back to the book he made some quick notes and decided what to do next. It was still early in the morning, he could get some more sleep but Jiro liked the darkness and was wide awake. He was hungry though. In the end he decided he would find a restaurant on board and go eat all the while surreptitiously conduct some observational research on the fairer sex to better familiarize himself as per the books instructions. After which he would find a secluded area to train till he was tired then he could get some rest. Leaving his bag and any unnecessary items he left in search of somewhere to eat

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Junko walked into the late night restaurant on the 3rd deck to collect another delivery for a cabin on deck 5. She had been reassigned from greeting to room service only 10 minutes earlier and it provided a good opportunity to discuss the latest goings on aboard most chief among them arrival of the Nin and the Captain’s rather unique welcome to their leader. Being something of a first hand witness Junko had received quite a few questions from he friend Anna behind the bar at the restaurant about how many there were, to what they look liked and said and had been more then happy to answer drawing her full attention. She didn’t know as much as she would like but she could tell she had her hooked. However it doesn’t last long before the restaurant manager broke up their little huddle and sent her on her way. That said she couldn’t remember doing or saying anything that would engender that sort of stare. Anna was giving her a look that said she had left something out and wasn’t happy, though the look did have an oddly mischievous look about it. As she walked over Anna asked:

“It seems to me you left out one important detail earlier Junko. I mean I can understand why you might want to keep it to yourself but I would have thought you could have told your best friend”

Junko looked baffled replying: “Anna you know I wouldn’t do that. I told you everything; we best friends I wouldn’t hold out on you. What are you going about?”

Anna snorted before continuing: “Everything? Are you sure? I thought you said the one in black was relatively non-descript, where you thinking of keeping him all to yourself”

Junko looking increasingly confused replied: “But he was…”

Anna stood a second or two trying to detect a lie but could see her fair haired friend was plainly confused and said:

“Why don’t you take a look at table number 14 in the corner there?”

Junko turned around and did just that still wandering what all this was about only to see the Nin from earlier sitting there with a pot of tea and spring rolls in front of him, making occasional notes. Well at least he was dressed the same, as for his looks her breath caught momentarily. That couldn’t be the same man but thinking about it hadn’t his hair obscured most of his face. She didn’t know how or when he had found time for a hair cut but now that he had she could see why Anna seemed slightly peeved. It took a moment for her to realize she was practically drooling before she turned to see her friend with a questioning smile. Stumbling over her words Junko said:

“He’s…. Had a haircut. He didn’t look like that earlier at least I don’t think he did”

“Okay I believe you but that must have been some haircut. Damn why do all the really good looking ones live abroad. Do you think he has a girlfriend?”

“Anna he’s a Genin he’s probably only 13 or so I don’t think …”

“Pssh he looks more like 15 or 16 from here. Don’t worry I won’t make a move, you saw him first after all but I would move quickly before that harpy Hana or one of her friends sinks their talons into him”

Junko normally a rather bubbly confident girl nervously replied: “You sure he isn’t attached?”

Anna thought about it for a moment before asking: “How bad was the haircut?” Junko couldn’t help but smile, no girl in the right mind would have let him cover up that. Turning she waved goodbye saying, “Wish me luck” and strode over trying to look as elegant as possible to probably reintroduce herself

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Something was definitely amiss on table 14. Jiro had followed the books instructions to the letter but he wasn’t sure they had anything to do with all the odd looks he was getting. He prided himself on blending into a crowd so why the hell was half the room staring at him on and off. Did he cut or mark himself earlier and didn’t notice? It seemed unlikely as someone was bound to have mentioned it by now. Had he cut his hair in such a fashion that he offended them? That too seemed unlikely as those stares didn’t seem angry well accept from the odd glance from a man or two. The furtive looks he was getting from much of the restaurants female occupants were far more worrying and confusing and to his mind boded no good.

These were nowhere near is alarming as the women who approached him. He had only been sitting down a couple of minutes when a girl came up asking if he would like to buy her a drink and winked. Jiro had no intention of using his carefully horded reserves to by any random person a drink and politely but firmly refused. The whole thing was all the more confusing when she practically burst into tears and ran off. Then there was the lady in her mid twenties who had left what looked like her room keys on his table and walked off blowing him what looked like a kiss. Something was happening or had happened but he was at a loss to know what. Nothing he had done in his past had remotely trained him for this and he had nothing to go on. The suggestions in the book seemed a long way off now

That’s when he noticed the pretty hostess from earlier walking his way looking at him intently. The way her hips seemed to saunter of their own accord and her almost predatory gaze worried him more then he would dare admit. He wasn’t so much in deeper water as drowning at this point and was at a loss of how to proceed

(OOC: Feel free to join me here if you want. I plan to start a fight with thugs next post though it can be delayed. I have run on the assumption is a larger passanger vessel from the large number of cabins and that its got a fair few staff and other people on board since a vessel this size wouldnt be hired to transport just 4 shinobi. I have assumed we had booked travel on a ship already heading for snow among other places)