Starring:
Raion, Rangiku, Michiko (spoofing genin), Asato
Date: July 21, 2015
Summary:
Raion was told to lead a basic patrol… And the group he was leading was put into a strange situation.
"Ninjas Aren't Dumb!"
Outside Kumogakure
A few select Genin were told to meet at the village gates, and told that they would be under the command of Maneshi Raion on a patrol. Raion was at the gate, his nin-cat Pansa at his side. Asato, his team leader, was told to accompany him, but was also informed that he is in charge. An obvious test. Raion looks out past the gate as he awaits the others arrival, and the briefing on the patrol route.
Meandering out there, Rangiku gives a wave to Raion as she just….calmly makes her way to him. Of course, being on a mission with Raion before, he'll know that while this is Rangiku's natural state, she doesn't stay that way for long. It may also come to Raion's attention that Rangiku has a new sword and it is white and very intricately done. A gift from someone else maybe….
"Yotsuki Koto reporting for duty!" calls a voice, and a young teen who looks lean and well-muscled appears. He stands at about 5'6" even though his file would hate stated he was only twelve. "We're ninja, dummy. Don't make such a racket," mutters a female voice as she comes over. She looks thin and willowy, but she there's a strong aura about her. "Yamayuki Sei, reporting" she says with a quick bow.
Asato arrived early at the gates, glancing to Raion with a raised brow and a nod. "… Hope you're ready for this," he remarks casually, with his hands slid into his pockets. "As for me, you can pretend I'm not here." When the first of the Genin arrived, Asato's eyes were drawn immediately to the weapon she held, and he stared at it intensely for a moment. '.. Reizei…' He shook his head slightly. No need to get caught up in that now.
The next Genin, Asato couldn't help but roll his eyes at. He was just like his half-brother, Hideki… It must be a Yotsuki thing. The Yamayuki girl was tolerable. Reminded him a little of Nozomi. Nodding to Raion, the Chuunin waited for him to lead the way. He would be merely an observer.
Raion nods to Asato. "Of course I'm ready!" Raion then looks to the others, and nods to the Genin. "Alright. Simple mission. We're going on a patrol through the mountains. Expect a lot of climbing, but it won't be that bad. We'll be taking the paths, not just going in a straight line. So, without further ado, follow me and lets get going!" Raion smiles happily, and turns around before beginning to walk, Pansa hesitating a moment before following. He doesn't seem bothered by loudness… He's not exactly sneaky either.
Rangiku is right behind Raion. She doesn't seem worried at all, for she was learning as she went. She smiled to Pansa, but she was probably the second fastest of the group, but that was a guess. She looked behind her and chuckled. "We going to run into people like last time, Raion-san?" She says softly as she keeps an eye open.
The two genin glance at each other, feeling ignored by the Reizei, and the Yotsuki dashes after her. "Hey!" he yells. "Who're you, anyway? You didn't even introduce yourself!" Koto grumps. "At least say 'Hi!'" He holds out a fist for Rangiku. Sei follows with a bit less enthusiasm, checking her pouch and supplies for a bit before glancing at Asato. So he's not here technically? Okay. Sei just follows, shaking her head at her classmate/teammate. "You're going to draw the bandits to us, Koto!" she calls out.
Asato took the rear so he could watch the group, lifting a brow slightly. These genin were loud, already… That wouldn't do. Not on a patrol. His eyes flick to Raion briefly, seeing how he was handling it. So far, the Genin had only received instructions to follow. The Chuunin merely watched in wait of how this mission would be run.
Raion looks back at the others, and thinks for a moment. Before shrugging, "perhaps it would be wiser if we all kept quiet. A patrol can mainly be used to try and catch anyone doing something they weren't supposed to be doing off guard. Or to spot suspicious activity and report it, and stuff like that, and if they hear us coming, it's kinda hard to catch them off guard, don't you think? Oh and Rangiku-san, who knows? Only time will tell, right?
"Right." Rangiku says loosing her sword and appearing to put a wire on one of her wrists. At the loudness of the other genin, she looks back and blinks, but Raion handles it nicely. "As Raion said, I'm Rangiku." She gives nothing else before she looks to Sei. "Keep close." She says as she walks along up front…..
Koto looks even more disheartened, and he slumps, trudging along and now moving to the back. A few mutters under his breath to show his unhappiness is all he does for now, the Yotsuki boy not even bothering to look around. At least Sei is a bit more attentive as she follows Rangiku. The girl glances around occasionally, but her gaze is fixed on the path up ahead, and visions of what's to come enter her mind.
Asato smirks slightly. Raion had the right idea, but he needed to be more assertive. His eyes falling to the Yotsuki that falls back near him, he plants a foot in his back and shoves him forward a bit to get his attention. If he turned around to look, he would see a stern eye from the Chuunin, telling him to get his act together.
Raion continues to lead the way along a path up the mountains. There are few people around this area, but there are definitely people every once in awhile. Most give a respectful passing nod to the group of Kumo-nin, and continue on their business. Raion doesn't seem to be looking around much, mainly due to him relying more on his ears anyways. If he heard ANYTHING that sounded out of the ordinary, he would definitely look then.
Rangiku walks along rather peacefully and calmly. Her hair often gets in her face, so she doesn't see quite as much as she should, but she IS looking about like a good genin…..even if she IS a bad genin
Koto keeps his eyes to the ground, not even looking up to notice the people who are waving. They are thoroughly ignored. At least Sei offers them small nods in return, though she seems a bit wary. She's clearly not used to this whole thing, especially with this being her first mission. When Koto gets kicked, he lets out a yelp of surprise and spins to glare at Asato. "I'll beat you up if you do that again!" he says grumpily. Except that at least pulled him out of his reverie. Then he looks to Raion. "Where's your Chuunin vest, anyway?"
Asato gave the boy a dry look when he threatened him. Oohhhh, how he was tempted to give the kid a humbling experience. But that could wait until /after/ the mission. For now, he settled to keeping his senses open, in case the Genin missed anything… important.
"Perhaps, instead of being loud you could help us watch out for trouble." Rangiku says to Koto after he's nudged. She then looks to Sei. "Relax. Tensing up like that will only make you tired in the long run." She says with a chuckle. But then again, she's carrying a sword……
Raion looks back at the rest of the group, then shrugs, "Because I'm not a Chuunin. I'm a Genin. Just a Genin that's been put in charge of course." Raion and Pansa both slow down, and they look at a seemingly random direction, nothing is there. They blink and continue staring at it, as they slow down more and stop, possibly having whoever is closest bumps into them. "I think we should check this out. I think I heard something over there." He points off the trail, and seemingly at a rock. Where most people wouldn't be. He doesn't wait for a response before beginning to go towards the rocks. Even Asato would have no clue what they're talking about. There's no sound, and nothing but a rock where he just pointed, and are headed. They both seem a bit… Worried.
Rangiku looks over her shoulder at the two OTHER genin, making sure they're okay. "I figured that was the case, Raion. Are you being tested or something?" She says as she keeps an eye out.
"Yer a /GENIN/??!!" comes Koto's voice, loud and ringing. Hopefully it doesn't scare off whatever is making Raion nervous… Ahem. "Why do I have to follow you, then? You're not the boss of m- OW! What was that for?" He holds his arm and ducks away from Sei, who apparently just punched him. "Show some respect," she hisses through her teeth. "And pay attention."
Raion stops in front of the rock he had pointed at and stops. He examines the rock and when Koto yells, the rock shakes, causing Raion to take a defensive stance, but it then collapses in on itself in an… Impossible manner, but shakes. Raion stops and grabs the 'rock', which was actually a well made camoflauge sheet, and held up by small beams of wood. Beneath it was a kid wearing… A small sheet of metal awkwardly attached to a raggedy cloth. He's clearly not a ninja. Raion seems throughly confused. "I heard you breathing." He says, before the kid leaps to his feet and runs a short distance away before turning around and pointing at the group. "I'm Mokomaru! And I'm just as good as any ninja!" Raion seems very thrown off by this, and just stares at the kid.
Rangiku shakes her head at the kid when he blurts it out, but then smiles when she notices the camoflauge and the kid hopping out of it. "Don't let him spook you, Raion." She says stepping to the side. "As any ninja, huh? Then why're you hiding way out here?"
"Oh yeah?! Pro-MMMF!!!!" Koto is cut off when Sei covers her friend's mouth and she hits him on the head. "Baka!" she mutters. "Let Raion-senpai handle this," she says angrily, clearly not happy at her friend. The girl turns to Raion and nudges him. "What should we do, Senpai?"
Due to Raion's shocked response, the kid puffs out his cheeks a bit in annoyance. He looks at Rangiku, "Yeah! And I'm out here because… Because I wanna!" He looks to Koto as he has calls out and points at him, "What were you saying?! You looking for a fight?!" The kid yells out. Raion smiles nervously and gestures for the kid to calm down, "Easy there. We aren't looking for a fight. And if you're so good why don't you join the academy at Kumogakure? Wouldn't that make more sense? Or do you have something against ninja?" The kid crosses his arms and looks away, before saying briefly, "Ninja of all the hidden villages are stupid." Which once again leaves Raion lost, and silent. Considering just what this kid's problem is.
Rangiku chuckles a little bit at the kid, and slides her sword onto the belt she's wearing. "He's got a point, actually. And if the hidden village ninja are so stupid, why don't you go in and make us smarter?" She then ponders a little bit. "Besides, what makes us so stupid?" She says crossing her arms across her chest, sorta curious now.
Koto seems pretty angry by the kid. "Look, Mackerel, you think you know everything, but you don't! So come over here and fight me!" he yells, raising his fists as if he's set on battling. Poor Sei just sighs and ducks her head, unsure of what to do. Koto was in a range.
Mokomaru looks at Rangiku and says, "Because all they care about is money and themselves!" He then turns to Koto, looking mad as well, "I thought he said you weren't lookin' for a fight?! Because you seem like you are!" Raion then steps between them, and the kid shifts focus to him, "Hey outta the way! I'm not done talkin'!" Raion shakes his head, "I am the leader of this group. And I say we aren't fighting. And if there is any fighting I'll be the one to make sure the offenders are punished for it." Raion throws a glance to Koto, and looks back to the kid. "Now, you said ninja are stupid because all they care about is money and themselves. What makes you say that? I really don't care about money, and I care about others way more than myself." Mokomaru scoffs and looks away while again crossing his arms, "Because. It's a long story. And I don't feel like telling dumb ninja… Let's just say ninja and their greed are the reason my dad died." He starts to mumble towards the end, and his crossed arms tighten a bit.
"Not all ninja are greedy." Rangiku says as she cuts her eyes to her left. She then walks up to Raion and lightly nudges him with her forearm on the back. A bit of a warning, but he probably knows already. "We have plenty of time to listen Makomaru. Well….I can't speak for Raion here, but I'M willing to listen." She doesn't SOUND distracted after all.
Koto glares at Raion, but he relents. He wouldn't dare go against orders, after all. At least, not directly. The kid just sits down where he is, eyes boring into Mokomaru accusingly. Like the kid was doing something wrong. Sei was a bit more comforting, saying, "Don't listen to him. He's got bugs in his nose."
Raion had noticed, and he feels the nudge. His left ear twitches, and his smile immediately fades away. "Mokomaru-kun. Forgive me…" Raion says, before launching foward and kicking his legs out from under him with a low sweeping kick, a confusing display likely, for everyone. Mokomaru seems throughly shocked, both that Raion caught him off guard, and that he moved so quick. Raion, however, was not attacking Mokomaru, which would be made clear when a kunai with a strip of paper attached to it makes a 'tink' sound against the rocks. The paper ignites after the impact, and Raion hears the hiss, his eyes narrow at the kunai, in one fluid motion, Raion grabs the boys ankles, and spins, before releasing and throwing him away from the paper bomb, and without stopping the spin he leaps up above the blast radius of the paper bomb, calling out, "Everyone! Get back!" followed shortly after by the exploding of the paper bomb. What he barely noticed is, as soon as whoever that was threw the kunai, he ran away. So the group would be left to wonder just why the boy got attacked…
Hearing Raion's shout, Rangiku manages to outrun the blast. She doesn't just leap out of the way, but she simply runs. Yes, she's fairly quick….and NOT in the air.
The two fresh Genin blink and look around, both of them getting blasted by the explosive tag. The two fall to the ground, dazed from the blast and a ringing in their ears that make them unable to stand for a bit. "What was that?!" yells Koto, which prompts him to clutch his head in pain. Sei just looks nauseous and is unable to respond.
As soon as Raion touches the ground, he dashes over to the Genin. "Whoever it was ran away. I'm sorry." Raion looks up at the boy, who had just slid across the ground on his belly and was only just getting up. "Mokomaru. Why were you attacked just now? That kunai was definitely aimed at you. And considering how two of us were hurt as a result, I think you have some major explaining to do." Mokomaru pushes himself to his feet, and looks at the ground silently. After a moment he finally speaks. "This is all your fault… Fine. I'll tell you. My father. He had a bad gambling problem. Really bad. He ended up going into debt. And started trying to give the guys he gambled with stuff instead of money. He handed over a lot of stuff, even the house. But every time he'd end up owing more and more money. Eventually he made a dumb bet. He ran out of things to bet, so he bet the only thing he had left. And he was sure he would win… His life. He lost that bet, and they told him they would give him a sliver of hope. As a joke. They all laughed about it too… They said that if he could hire someone to protect him successfully, they wouldn't attack twice. So he went to many different villages, trying to beg for protection, but they all said the same thing. He had no money. No fame. No anything at all besides a son. And therefore he would get no protection. Some considered giving help, but something always happened to change it…" The boy tears up a little. "He couldn't take it, and he killed himself. He didn't even warn me. I walked outside and saw him hanging there… I survived on my own. I decided to try and be the ninja without a village. I trained really hard, just to help others at no cost… But then someone tried to attack me. It wasn't that bad, and I survived, but the attacks have been getting worse. I think the guys who were after my father found his body, and realized that they can't collect his debt, and decided, that killing me would be the next best thing." Mokomaru does not look up from the ground, and Raion blinks. "I see…" Raion thinks for a bit. Giving the others an opportunity to speak first.
As soon as Raion touches the ground, he dashes over to the Genin. "Whoever it was ran away. I'm sorry." Raion looks up at the boy, who had just slid across the ground on his belly and was only just getting up. "Mokomaru. Why were you attacked just now? That kunai was definitely aimed at you. And considering how two of us were hurt as a result, I think you have some major explaining to do." Mokomaru pushes himself to his feet, and looks at the ground silently.
After a moment he finally speaks. "This is all your fault… Fine. I'll tell you. My father. He had a bad gambling problem. Really bad. He ended up going into debt. And started trying to give the guys he gambled with stuff instead of money. He handed over a lot of stuff, even the house. But every time he'd end up owing more and more money. Eventually he made a dumb bet. He ran out of things to bet, so he bet the only thing he had left. And he was sure he would win… His life. He lost that bet, and they told him they would give him a sliver of hope. As a joke. They all laughed about it too… They said that if he could hire someone to protect him successfully, they wouldn't attack twice. So he went to many different villages, trying to beg for protection, but they all said the same thing. He had no money. No fame. No anything at all besides a son. And therefore he would get no protection. Some considered giving help, but something always happened to change it…"
The boy tears up a little. "He couldn't take it, and he killed himself. He didn't even warn me. I walked outside and saw him hanging there… I survived on my own. I decided to try and be the ninja without a village. I trained really hard, just to help others at no cost… But then someone tried to attack me. It wasn't that bad, and I survived, but the attacks have been getting worse. I think the guys who were after my father found his body, and realized that they can't collect his debt, and decided, that killing me would be the next best thing." Mokomaru does not look up from the ground, and Raion blinks. "I see…" Raion thinks for a bit. Giving the others an opportunity to speak first.
"Well that explains a lot." Rangiku says rather flatly as she walks her way back up to Raion. "Gambling's the worst way to think you're going to get ahead. Some swear by it though." She then looks to Mokomaru, then to Raion. "Did they have any headbands on them?" She then looks to Makomaru. "Well…..I'll try and protect you, at least. I'm just a Genin, but I'll do my best."
The two Genin aren't really hearing very well. But they can make out bits and pieces of the story, and they can have their minds make up the rest. "What?! I'll flail those guys!" Koto yells, which makes him wince again in pain. Dang ranging in his ears… The boy swallows some bile in his throat and sits down clutching his head. Sei actually isn't able to hold on and ends up rolling to the side to vomit a little.
Raion's attention is drawn down to the Genin, and he thinks for a moment before cupping his hands over Koto's ears, and focusing healing chakra into them, hopefully at least quieting the ringing a little and allowing him to hear again. Raion nods as he does this and looks to Mokomaru with a smile.
"Don't worry. This time, you /can/ hire help. Because even if someone has to pay, I'll pay for you. Things change. And I think your dad just looked for help in the wrong villages or something. Kumo will definitely help you. If you let us. And I insist you let us. I don't care if it's just me and Rangiku-chan doing it for free, I'm up for it. And I say we start immediately. Consider yourself under the protection of Kumogakure." Raion smiles happily and as if inspired.
Mokomaru blinks in surprise, but crosses his arms. Tears were still in his eyes, and he was even shaking a tiny bit. "I don't need anyone's help!… But I guess you guys aren't as dumb as the other ninja I've met. So I guess I can stick around." He sniffles a bit before moving closer to join the group. He was scared but trying his best to not show it… He is very unconvincing right now.
Also, whenever Raion finishes fixing Koto's damaged ears, he would examine Sei's situation, and attempt to focus healing chakra into her as well. Aiming for the ears before asking "Where does it hurt?", and if it wasn't the ears, healing there instead.
"I wouldn't worry. Raion's a pretty good guy. She's a stupid ninja, like me, but he's a good guy." Rangiku then giggles a bot and pats Mokomaru on the shoulder. "Of course, if I had to…..I'd have pulled a resource that I really don't like drawing on, but considering your case, I'd have talked to my cousin."
Rangiku sighs a bit and taps her sword. "My name is Reizei Rangiku. I'm of the same family as the Second Raikage. It's…….like I said….a resource I really don't like drawing on." She then pats Mokomaru on the shoulder. "Come on. We have two other 'stupid ninja' to help out here." Yup….she has no problem being called 'stupid'. She likes being underestimated.
"I'm fine," Sei says after the ringing in her ears stops. She's a bit weak and shaky, so it's probably best she go back to the village. Koto, being his stubborn self, is up and at 'em as soon as Raion gets his paws off him. "Let's head back to the village, then!" he says. "It'll be safer there."
Raion nods to Sei, and looks to Rangiku. "I suppose we should head back to the village… We can finish this patrol later. Or someone else can." Raion then looks at Pansa, "Uhm, Sei, you look kinda shaky. You can ride on Pansa's back back to the village." Pansa looks like he's about to complain but Raion cuts him off, "He can look at it as stamina training." That causes Pansa to sigh and grumble before moving closer to Sei, and crouching down, offering his back. Once she's on, or not, Raion would begin to lead the group back to the village.
Mokomaru seems a bit surprised by the slap on the shoulder, and nods to her. He doesn't really have much to say besides, "So when I get to the village someone is going to actually protect me? No tricks? And once they start leaving me alone I'll be free to leave?" He reaches up and wipes his eyes before looking at Rangiku. He does want the protection, so he's not going to deny it, but he also doesn't want to drop his belief that the village ninja are dumb. Hence the discarded piece of metal on his forehead representing his lack of a village.
Raion answers first, though, by suddenly calling out, "Absolutely! We will have you covered. No strings attached! Isn't that right Rangiku-chan?" Raion smiles, and looks to Rangiku as the make the trip back to the village. The trip would definitely go unhindered. Though the group may randomly get that feeling of being watched sometimes.
"No strings attached. No problem." Rangiku says with a chuckle. "COme on. Let's get back to the village before someone worries." She says, this time letting the other Genin take the front….since they've been the loudest anyways.
