[Kuishinbou Kuebiko]

Keeping the cabinets of the hospital stocked with important medicines is not a process that happens automatically. Every so often, shinobi have to venture out into the northern reaches of Nohara no Kuni to find the medicinal plants and bring them home, taking special care to ensure that they've retrieved the correct ones and won't be poisoning their comrades on the return trip.

Kuebiko is not a stranger to this task, though with his schedule at the hospital he does not take it on particularly often. Still, he cannot dodge the unenviable duty forever. Today it is determined that there is a particular need and his exceptional sense of smell makes him a prime candidate for the job.

The destination for this mission is north of Yugawa. Most people would not associate such a place with a gathering ground for plants, since it is known for its stone and concrete, a grey and harsh environment. It borders the lands of Tsuchi no Kuni and so the lovely grasslands of Nohara no Kuni begin to give slight way to rocky terrain, grass mingling with hardy shrubbery.

However, perhaps surprisingly, medicinal plants often grow and thrive in such harsh environments.

Kuebiko's teammate for today's mission is not one that he knows well. He is a slightly older man - well, older in terms of shinobi. In this line of work, living even into your thirties is a blessing. Walking along the river to Yugawa's north, Kuebiko is tempted to start a conversation with him, though isn't quite sure how.

"...There's a sort of folk belief about medicinal plants," he opens. "That they have a healing effect because of their perseverance. That it's a function of their spirit."