[Kayahara Urikohime]

The Hokage was supposed to be one of the strongest shinobi in the village, and as such, doing a dozen was to be expected. Urikohime had no idea who Miroru's sensei was, but it would be likely that her sensei would be a Jounin, and a Jounin could only do four, while Miroru obviously had way more than enough to do six. If her clone had been able to make five extra clones, it meant that Miroru could make at least the same number of clones as the Hokage, who was supposed to be crazily strong, could. And she was supposed to be a Genin. If Miroru was observant enough, she would notice what looked like realization and shock seem to register briefly, as the green-haired girl asked in an awed whisper, "Are you...", but then she seemed to think of something, and stop herself.

"Eh, never mind," Uriko said with an indulgent smile. "You seem uncomfortable talking about this, and I don't like making people uncomfortable. So, I won't pressure you to reveal anything you don't want to, but I shall give you a warning: if you want to appear normal, remember that a Genin shouldn't be able to make the same amount of Kage Bunshin that the Hokage can." As a very intelligent person, Uriko already had a strong suspicion that the girl before her was the product of some secret that the higher-ups in the village knew of, hence their escort. And the only of such secrets that came with an insane amount of chakra reserves was a jinchuuriki, as far as Uriko knew. She could be wrong, but she did not intend to ask Miroru, as the girl already seemed nervous, and she was beginning to feel sorry for her. But indeed, if Miroru was a jinchuuriki, what an awful burden that had to be on such a young person.

"Let's get into the pawn shop," Uriko said brightly. "And as payment for making you nervous, I'll treat you to lunch when we're done. And we won't talk about Kage Bunshin or Chuunin Exams, unless you want to. What do you say?"

---

Uchiha Miroru

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Kayahara Urikohime | 276 | notes

Miroru froze in place at that comment. What was Uriko talking about?! She only made six! Wahei made four! This was only a couple more, and-

And...

And she'd cheated to save more of her own chakra. Her eyes shot sidelong at Uriko like a guilty kid caught with her arm half down the cookie jar. She looked down the alley both ways, then grabbed Uriko by her upper arms and pushed her against the wall!

Or... well. It'd be more accurate to say she tugged her in front of herself and nudged Uriko back into the wall. It wasn't particularly forceful, just dramatic. More so as she started panic whispering!

"Okay so I didn't think about the math and you're totally right and I'll just have to keep the first split outta sight so nobody can make that connection in the future but PLEASE DO NOT TELL ANYONE. I mean like REALLY REALLY PLEASE. I was trying to be careful and I just did the math wrong but could you PLEAAAAASE keep it a secret for now?! I promise it won't be a secret forever but right now it is and I REALLY don't want to die of old age standing under the waterfall holding buckets for the next eighty years! Please?! Promise?!"

"Lunch," Miroru murmured anxiously as their conversation moved on. "I'd like that. Yakitori..? Maybe?" She asked as she followed Uriko over towards the pawn shop.

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kayahara Urikohime]

Uriko raised both eyebrows at Miroru as the latter dramatically caught her undivided attention. From the frantic way the girl begged her to keep what she had seen, and thus by proxy, what she had possibly deduced, a secret, Uriko did not need her heightened intelligence to inform her that Miroru could be in some deep trouble if word got out that someone unauthorized, so to speak, had been able to discover what was not supposed to have been revealed. In any case, Uriko was most certainly not, of her own volition, going to tell on Miroru. She gently placed a hand on her partner's head, fondly ruffling the red locks.

"Not a word from me, promise. I'll keep your secret for as long as I have to..." there was a pause, as, for some reason, Uriko's mind turned to more macabre things, "unless extreme torture or one of those unholy mind-breaking Genjutsu are used on me. I don't think I can take much punishment, which is my major worry about the exams. But enough about that." Uriko's mind would always wander to the Chuunin Exams, because she was frankly worried about how she would perform.

"One can never go wrong with yakitori!" the green-haired Genin affirmed enthusiastically. "Let's get into the shop, but first, if we look like ninja, which is what we do, our-- ah, client might be unwilling to approach us." She performed three handseals, and was enveloped in a puff of smoke. When the smoke cleared, she was still herself, except she now had long, blonde, straight hair and blue eyes, and instead of her ninja attire, was wearing a yukata. After waiting to see what Miroru would do, the disguised Genin exited the alleyway. "I frankly wish my real hair was like this," she lamented, "but what can a girl do?"

And in the shade of a nearby house, a fellow who looked like the textbook definition of 'creep' watched the two girls, a greedy look in his eye. Beside him was a bag, but its contents were as of yet unknown.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

---

Uchiha Miroru

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Kayahara Urikohime | 281 | notes

"Okay. Well." Miroru steps back, patting off Uriko's arms where she grabbed. "That's good enough. If folx would be considering torture, I think the cat would already be well out of the bag, the bag factory, the neighborhood where the bag factory was, and the greater prefecture besides. So you should be okay."

Miroru tilted her head for a moment. "Can't take punishment? Do you not do combat training much?" She asks, curiously. She wasn't doubting the assessment, she just wasn't sure she understood.

"Yeah! Exactly! Yakitori's the best! Who doesn't love grilled meat! Especially with teriyaki sauce!" The redhead crowed, delighted, and nodding at the need to disguise herself. A few handseals later and she made sure to follow suit!

There were lots of Uchiha around, and plenty of them weren't shinobi, so Miroru didn't feel the need to hide her eye color as they crossed the street. "Why, so you can look like everybody else?" Miroru asked. "There's lots of people that look like everybody else. I think looking like you is a good thing. Or is it just tough to keep up with the hair care?"

That could make sense for super long straight hair or for poofy puffs, so it should work fine for standard public conversation!

Meanwhile, peeking from behind a rooftop, one of the Miroru's caught sight of a shady figure in the shade across the street. She made sure to keep low, ensuring she woudldn't be discovered...

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kayahara Urikohime]

Urikohime's cheeks reddened slightly from embarrassment at Miroru's question about her ability to take punishment. "Oh, I do combat training, but I-- I don't have faith in my pain tolerance," she replied. Truth was, Uriko was most likely selling herself short; she probably had an average pain tolerance, which would definitely improve as she trained more, but being a medic apprentice, and seeing the nature of some injuries that had been brought into the hospital, the green-haired girl doubted she would be able to shrug such damage if she received such. And the fact that she was, in her own opinion, just a normal girl with no particularly outstanding abilities did not help, seeing as a good number of fellow Genin like Miroru would have various advantages though hijutsu or kekkei genkai.

It was settled, then. They would have yakitori after this mission. As the discussion moved over to hair, Uriko felt more at ease discussing about the subject. "Hair care is the issue! And many people tell me that my hair is cute, and it gives me a unique character, but it's a beast to manage," she stated with a bit of vehemence. She kept her details vague, so that no one who overheard anything would suspect there were any disguises at play.

Meanwhile, the shady figure kept watching the girls, until he was certain that they were heading for the pawn shop, and then lifting his bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he hurried over to them, just as Uriko was about to slide open the shop door.

"Instead of going into that boring shop, ladies, I do have some amazing trinkets that might catch the eyes of beauties such as yourself," he stated. "And if you want to pawn something off, trust me, you don't need to. I have a cool business I can introduce to you, that will make you quick, legitimate cash, if you're interested." While Uriko did not give off any visible reaction except mild curiosity, the fact that the man had to mention 'legitimate' was enough to suspect a lie.

---

Uchiha Miroru

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Kayahara Urikohime | 291 | notes

"Hrm." Miroru considered the information she'd been presented, and collated it with information she had on hand. "Well, I used to hear some of the other Academy kids' parents talk about how they helped their kids develop higher pain tolerances. You could always make trouble to get your parents to spank you." She thought for a second. "Or just skip the trouble and ask someone to spank you! That would be a good start." Miroru nodded confidently. Adults said it. It must be true.

"Oof! I get you! Mine's hard to tame, too! Plus, before I got into the academy, I had adults tell me it was shameful to dye my hair like this. Like, what? It's natural! What do you want me to do, dye it black?! THAT would be unnatural! AND it wouldn't match my eyebrows! People just don't get what it takes to look as awesome as we do," Miroru stated as they meandered towards the pawn shop.

The redhead did a lovely job manufacturing a surprised squeak as they were intercepted. "OH! Oh my goodness! I am SO sorry, sir, I was just so startled! How do you do?" She tuned in as he offered to show them amazing trinkets, and widened her eyes convincingly. "Really? We were just going to shop around for some presents for the our families, but if you have your own stock, it couldn't hurt to take a look, could it?" Miroru asked, glancing to Uriko. "Can we have a peek? Are those your wares there?" A point, to the sack!

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kayahara Urikohime]

"Oh me, oh my!" Uriko said in shock and amused outrage at Miroru's statement about her asking someone to get her spanked, as the older girl's cheeks flushed deeply. She was sure that the younger girl probably had no idea what connotations spanking carried among adults, although it was quite obviously an existential threat as far as children were concerned. But Uriko was not bold enough to continue such a line of discussion with Miroru; besides, she felt that educating the younger girl about the expected purpose of spanking among adults was counterproductive for someone of that age.

The issues of having uncommon hair color were real. Uriko remembered two events from her childhood days in the Academy. One was when an instructor called her aside to inform her that counter culture was not becoming of young children of ten years. But it was not as bad as the incident that earned her the nickname for which she was infamous, 'Kijo' in her Academy days. A student had crudely said something about Uriko and drapes matching carpets. He had received the beating of his life that day. And she had been branded with the nickname because of her strange hair and eyes, and her violent response.

Uriko felt that Miroru's acting was spot-on. But while the redhead played the enthusiastic child, Uriko decided to play the skeptical young adult. "I don't know..." she said, a look of mild suspicion on her features. "I doubt there'd be anything of interest in that sack."

"Don't be like that," said the man. "Your friend has the right of it, fair lady. A little curiosity wouldn't hurt anyone." Uriko shrugged nonchalantly, and the man took it as a sign to proceed. He set down the sack, and opened it, revealing all sorts of things, from toys to jewelry. "And as I said, if you want to pawn an item, let me buy it from you, not that skinflint in the shop. I pay more, and I'll give you the address to my shop when you want to collect it back. And my rates are cheaper than those of that old tortoise in there. But I suspect you're more interested in buying stuff, so look for anything you like!"

---

Uchiha Miroru

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Kayahara Urikohime | 241 | notes

Miroru blinked at Uriko's reaction to the simple suggestion of low-level pain exposure to increase her tolerance. Spanking seemed a perfectly reasonable place to start, didn't it? The connotations shot over her head- not by much, perhaps, but as of yet, that door hadn't opened, and she didn't even notice the shadow of perversion swooping past that locked portal.

"Aw, what? You never know what you'll find in a sack! Could be all sorts of interesting stuff a store wouldn't risk putting on the shelves! Maybe it wouldn't sell, or it'd offend their patrons' delicate sensibilities!" Miroru protested, crouching primly to start sifting through the wide variety of items. "Ooh, this looks like a Twelve Hands action figure! I think it's Saintess Yotsuko!" Miroru proclaimed as she wandered through the goods with her fingers.

Meanwhile, her clones started to clamber down from the rooftops, each blocking a street or alley leading away from the storefront. Out of sight- but closing avenues of escape by the moment.

"See? No reason to be so standoffish. Please, take a look! There's more than a few pieces of jewelry to adorn the more mature form- though I doubt a fine young woman such as you struggles to keep the attentions of your suitors, do you?"

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kayahara Urikohime]

Again, Miroru might not have been aware, but her choice of words were, for lack of a better word, interesting. Talking about the contents of the sack, without the present context, would sound like the redhead was describing what would be more at home on the shelves of infamous adult stores, and perhaps also hidden in the drawers of people who did not want secrets that would offend the public's 'delicate sensibilities' to be known. Urikohime smiled wryly at her partner's comment. "You're such a naughty girl, Miroru-chan," she thought in amusement. What made Miroru all the more endearing was that the younger girl did not seem to know just how badly misconstrued her words could be.

The peddler's coaxing was, of course, absolutely ineffective, seeing as unknown to him, she was already aware of his wiles, but Uriko understood the power of flattery, which the shady fellow was presently trying to use on her. As such, she played along, although it was not overt; having come across as the 'standoffish' one, in the man's words, Uriko would retain that persona, although she subtly showed signs of yielding: her form shifting slightly so that she was facing the man more fully now, the expression of indifference tinged with mild disdain now replaced by what seemed to be curiosity which was trying to be concealed. Then she also crouched, slowly though, as though trying to preserve her dignity while she stooped, a task she executed with great success. "Oh!" the older girl exclaimed, pulling out a lacquer-coated and jade comb, a thing of beauty. She observed it for a moment, then looked up at the peddler. "How much is this?" she asked, seemingly trying to maintain decorum to avoid showing building excitement.

The peddler's eyes glinted. "One thousand ryou," came his reply. Urikohime smiled again, this time a sly one. "Rather expensive for a fake, yes? Kai!" She performed the handseal for the Genjutsu: Kai, and looked at the item in her hand. It was still a comb, but a poorly made one of softwood, obviously useless for an actual comb. The peddler's eyes widened with shock as he realized he had been literally caught in the act, and he turned and bolted for the alley close by, leaving his sack behind, and trying to observe whether the ninja would give chase, that he did not notice that he had no viable escape routes.

---

Uchiha Miroru

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Kayahara Urikohime | 227 | notes

Miroru was sincerely thinking mostly along the lines of romance novels, swimsuit calendars, and some graphically violent comic books. She hadn't gotten to the point of considering much on an adult level, though she knew she appreciated the curves more adult girls had, though whether she wanted them herself or wanted to explore them, she hadn't bothered to mentally differentiate.

"Ooooh... that IS pretty!" Miroru comments- only to stop solid for a moment as if hearing something unheard. She squints at the comb; looks up at the seller, and then- Uriko cries out, and Miroru follows suit, triggering the same seal with absolutely startling hand speed!

"Scoundrel! Rapscallion! Scalawag! CHEAT!" Miroru started to cry aloud, deliberately adding to the panic as the "merchant" scampered away- and right into the line of one of her clones! "Oh, hello, there- do you know anything about the girl howling foul~?"

Every alley blocked, Miroru's Henge released, her hands folded in front of her. "Now- where exactly were you scurrying off to, good sir? Surely you weren't attempting to flee the scene of an attempted crime? Seems to me all this could be considered an attempt at, essentially, fraud and theft?"

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kayahara Urikohime]

Having been aware of Miroru's presence, so to speak, at every available exit from their current location, Uriko simply allowed herself a small smile as the redhead went all dramatic on the con man as he attempted to flee. The fleeing criminal stopped in shock as one of the clones blocked his escape route, and turned to another one, to no avail. He had been surrounded. For a moment, he seemed to consider attempting to fight; there were only two girls after all.

"Oh please, go ahead," Uriko said, her voice smooth, but laced with a venomous tone that alarmed him. "Give me a reason to wreck you." He didn't, instead choosing to sigh and drop his head. Frankly, Uriko was mildly surprised that she had managed to seem convincingly menacing, despite her disinclination to violence. Maybe she had a thing for theatre. "But... but aren't you just Genin? How could you have discovered there was a genjutsu on the goods?" he sputtered, as Uriko came up and bound his hands. Having a sight-triggered genjutsu cast on the sham items was a neat trick, and those who bought them would be none the wiser till quite a while after their purchase, before it wore off. This would have allowed the peddler to escape.

"Well, I must admit your genjutsu is quite good, if basic," the green-haired shinobi replied. "But when relying on genjutsu, remember that in most cases, only one sense is affected. If you could cast one that affected more than one sense, I don't think you'd have been making a living selling trash. So when I saw a delicate lacquered comb lying carelessly among your pile of duds in the sack, I couldn't help but notice that it was all smooth and pristine. Such a comb certainly would not have been damaged, but the lacquer was supposed to have many tiny scratches from rolling about roughly in your sack. And then to further prove this, I attempted to dig the nail of my thumb into the brush. It dug in, all right, but there was no such sign on the brush itself. That was when I knew something was messing with my sight."

She turned to Miroru. "Your clone strategy was amazing. What say we stash the trash and go for some yakitori?"

---

Uchiha Miroru