[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Blinking slightly at Zura's sudden departure, Kaoru shrugged slightly before turning back to Shigeo and looking the larger teen up and down for a few minutes. "Much as I would love to play bad cop, you're a bit too creepy looking to pull off good cop when paired with me, so I guess I'll have to be good cop," he grouched slightly, not blaming Shigeo for the situation, just once more feeling a little like he kept getting the dullest of missions.

With that decided, Kaoru wandered off in the direction that the man was most likely in, his sandals clattering quietly against the road as he walked, bells jingling along with every step.  It wouldn't take very long to spot the merchant, and with the sort of supreme confidence of an Asagao Tokonatsu, Kaoru walked up to the man with a pleasant smile, hand resting casually on the hilt of his jitte just in case.

"Excuse me sir, could I ask you a few questions? It won't take a moment of your time," he asked sunnily, flashing his Takigakure headband to prove that this was an official request from one of the village's shinobi.

"Bugger off kid, I don't have anything to say to snot nosed brats" the merchant replied with a sneer, turning away from the two Genin as though ignoring them.

"Come now sir, just a few moments to ask a couple of questions? We won't be any trouble."

"I said bugger off!"

"I understand, but my partner here won't let me do anything else until I've asked these questions, and he's been spoiling for a reason to draw blood all day, any chance you could see it in your heart to helps me out?" Kaoru wheedled, gesturing to Shigeo with a thumb as if to emphasise his point.

Word Count: 302
Mission: 16/15
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used: N/A

Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

Shigeo had tried to give Kaoru a more interesting task, but he supposed the other youth had a point. Face covered largely by bandages, body much the same, Shigeo looked monstrous in his own right. He frowned slightly at the implication- that he was scary and intimidating on principle- but ultimately deferred to the other Genin's lead on this one. Kaoru wasted no time.

He watched the swordsman quickly approach their target, amicably and respectfully, and got the exact treatment that Shigeo had expected. Rushed, emphatically disinterested. He seemed to want nothing to do with them, even when recognized as Ninja of the Waterfall. At the statement that they wanted no trouble, the merchant doubled down, and Kaoru played up Shigeo's bloodthirst. It was a stretch- the people of the Village knew that there were rules and bylaws, and for the most part, they were protected from rogue actions by Shinobi.

That didn't mean much when there was no evidence left behind, though. And even a Genin was good at smearing the facts and distorting the truth.

The taller youth let his thumb slide across the scabbard of his blade and revealed a carefully measured length of steel to the merchant.

"You know I can report you to the Guard and make your life miserable if you make a scene," the older man growled.

"If you make it that far," Shigeo nudged his head in Kaoru's direction. "It'd be in your best interest just to work with him. We need the info more than you need to walk for the next three months."

"Big talk," the man growled.

"You going to take that risk?" Shigeo countered the man's implication that he was bluffing. "A day of work missed is pretty gutting for a merchant. You miss a month and you'll lose your shop. Imagine a real, prolonged period out of work."

Shigeo had drawn the entirety of the blade now, toying with the edge between thumb and forefinger. The man watched him, unnerved. "I've been studying musculature, various points involved in mobility and range or motion," he elaborated. "Did you know that you can develop a condition called ataxia from nerve damage that hinders your ability to walk, use your hands, it degrades your nerves, and wreaks havoc on your balance?" His eyes found the man's face now, watching him quietly.

"Okay, okay," the merchant muttered. "I'll talk. To him-" he pointed hastily at Kaoru. "You, just get the hell away from me. You're giving me the creeps."

Shigeo shrugged haplessly, shoving his katana swiftly back into the sheathe.

"Thanks for your kind words."

[434 words]
Mission: 17/15
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Kaoru gave the man a charming grin, throwing in just enough of a wince in his expression to make the man think he was rather intimidated by his companion as well. "Thank you for your understanding sir, this shouldn't take long. We're following up on a missing scroll that was stolen not too long ago, I heard it belonged to one of the Yamakira..." he paused just long enough to let that sink in, the clan's reputation would almost certainly help increase the man's overall fear of not helping.

"Anyway, we've managed to figure out someone tried to sell it here, which to be frank is really stupid, because we're in Takigakure and selling something belonging to one of the clan's of the village is a bad idea right on their backdoor. Especially if it is a Yamakira's thing, ne? So yeah, some stuff has pointed us towards you, and obviously you're not stupid enough to piss off the Yamakira or my partner right, so can you help us figure out where this is gone? Don't even need to put your name on the report or anything~"

Kaoru absolutely would, but the man didn't know that, and by the way he had turned an interesting porridge colour as he spoke the merchant was realising just how far in over his head he was. Which was kinda hilarious.

"Look, I don't have any scroll, and I never touched it. It ain't even in the village anymore, some guy calling himself Ono tried to pass it off to me, but I wasn't stupid enough to deal in shinobi stuff like that. Said he was gonna try his luck with some of the Kaminari no Kuni lot, a travelling merchant named Dawa Altan. That's all I know!"

Kaoru stared at the man for a few moments, smile frozen on his face, "could you describe this Ono for us sir?"

Sweating, the merchant ran a cloth over his forehead, "Small, very thin, pretty old if the wrinkles are any indication. Grey hair and dark eyes, covered in stubble and a patchy mustache. Kind of rat-like," he described, glancing nervously towards Shigeo.

"Alright, thank you for your help sir~ If we have any further questions we know where to find you" 

And with that ominous farewall Kaoru turned on his heel and began to walk off, expecting Shigeo to follow him where they could debrief before deciding if the mission was complete.

Word Count: 407
Mission: 18/15
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used: N/A

Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

Shigeo watched quietly as the man cast a nervous glance toward him, and he made sure that it was known he was still watching. He didn't take his gaze off the merchant for a second, even as Kaoru asked his questions and got the answers they were looking for. After several minutes, they had a name. A description. Something that they could report.

Kaoru turned to leave, and the merchant turned white as he looked one last time at Shigeo before scurrying back into his shop, closing the door, and flipping the sign designating the business as open to closed.

The curtains swung shut, and any sign of movement or light vanished from the building. Shigeo took note of the extreme reaction, but determined it was better to keep it to himself for now. Probably fear of what might happen to him after being involved, more so than fear of what might happen after giving up the names of the perpetrators.

He caught up to Kaoru after a few more minutes, taking the time to wait first to watch and see if anyone headed for that shop in the minute or two after the confrontation. Satisfied that there was no immediate correspondence, they rounded a corner, headed down the lane, and took a brief respite on a bench near the bridge.

"So, this Ono guy either pilfered the scroll himself, or he got it from the thief and made initial contact with our merchant friend before resolving to try his luck with a foreigner," Shigeo recounted. "Unfortunately, if its left the village, there's not much we can do about it. And the mission was just to get information on what happened to it, and if possible, get names. We managed to do that, so we can make our report. I call that a success."

He glanced at Kaoru, nodding.

"Nice call on the good cop, bad cop routine. Sorry it wasn't more spicy for you."

[325 words]
Mission: 19/15
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

"Yeah, we have a name, and even the name of a potential buyer. Mission was only to find out what happened to the scroll, not retrieve it. Sure, mighta looked good if we had been able to get it back, but we definitely achieved our objective," at this Kaoru held his fist out for a fist bump, not particularly bothered if Shigeo didn't understand what it was or didn't reciprocate.

"Lets go turn this in, there's bound to be better things for us to do than waste our time here after all, and it'll be nice to get some extra cash just in time for lunch. I guess I'll have to get the spiciness in my meal instead of my mission" he commented with a slight snort, waving away the other Genin's apology. Was hardly Shigeo's fault he kept getting stuck with dull missions.

Kaoru would begin to head back towards the village with the sort of confident stride that had people getting out of the way almost subconsciously, unconcerned with any staring that others might be doing. What did he care for their opinions after all? No, he was happy enough to make a beeline straight for Taki in order to get this ordeal over with.

Maybe he could get another spar out of Shigeo?

[END MISSION]

Word Count: 407
Mission: 20/15
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used: N/A

Tags: Saigo Shigeo