[Kisei Takatō]

Oiwai was a small village in the southeastern peninsula of Hi no Kuni. It sat nestled into the foot of a mountain range that may or may not have held the quiet threat of volcanic activity—Taka wasn’t familiar enough with the region to say for certain—and frequently played host to travelers and merchants coming up north from Tea Country. A group of terribly routine bandits had camped out on the outskirts of the town and were hassling caravans making their way through; Kusagakure extended a diplomatic offer of aid, and Taka had been dispatched. Additional orders had come down Wasuremono-side: gather information on the force of Konohagakure’s military presence in Oiwai while he was there. The why wasn’t his concern, and the task was simple enough. He was to rendezvous with a Konoha genin in Oiwai: Nara Shun, freshly promoted from the academy, a girl with promising potential and an eagerness to tackle any missions thrown her way. The rendezvous point was the tavern floor of a popular local inn. There was a sign at the bar that declared, proudly serving Kisei coffee, and the sight of it made Taka smile; his sister Reina was hard at work pushing the brand, it seemed. Perhaps he’d be able to stop in to see her and Yutaka when he escorted Shun back to Konoha. He looked around the premises, seeking the young woman he was to be partnered with. As he scanned the long benches and tables for a head of dark hair and a Konohagakure headband, he scratched idly at the puckered flesh of his left shoulder, the seam of scar tissue where a prosthetic limb had been hastily jammed into the socket. Ichi was working on commissioning some hideously expensive upgrade for him, apparently, but he was content enough with what he had. After a moment he found her amidst the bustle of other heads of dark hair and Konoha headbands, and slipped up to her table, clearing his throat softly to make himself known. "Nara-san,” he greeted. "I’m Kisei Takato; we’re to clear out the bandits outside of town together.”

Nara Shun -- 355

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

Oiwai Assistance
MISSION RANK: C
NPC REQUIREMENT: Optional
PARTICIPANTS: At least one Kusa shinobi, At least one Konoha shinobi
TIMES COMPLETED: 0
DESCRIPTION:

There's a fairly routine bandit infestation plaguing the outskirts of Oiwai. Eliminate the outlaws and destroy their camp as well. Kusa shinobi taking this mission are expected to mentally take note of the number of unique Konoha shinobi they come across as well as noting any patrol paths they can see.

I haven't added this to his inventory yet since the event in which Taka loses his arm is still in progress, but it's a simple C-rank item and easy enough to get, so I'm just including it here:

NAME: Nin-Prosthetic Arm/Hand [x]
CLASSIFICATION: Supplementary
DESCRIPTION:
A prosthetic limb formed from non-conductive metal and materials with chakra filament wire running through it's internals. When surgically attached to the stump of a lost limb or appendage chakra can be funneled through it to allow it to function as a substitute. Should a shinobi be unable to maintain the flow of chakra to it the limb becomes inactive and functions akin to a crude prosthetic.
ABILITIES:
Substitute Limb:
The Nin-Prosthetic Arm functions akin to a real arm so long as it's user possesses the chakra to fuel it. Chakra can be channeled through the arm for wall and water walking akin to real flesh in addition to being utilized to perform hand signs. It is neither better nor worse in terms of speed and skill then a natural limb though it lacks the ability to feel sensation.

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

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”The thing is, I don’t understand why women choose to become kunoichi. The spy trade is dangerous and who will look after the children? It’s one thing growing up without a father – I grew up without a father – but a mother? Heart-breaking.” one of the older shinobi at the table had had a bit too much to drink already and was going on about his own opinions about life and how it should work.

”Right...” Shun exhaled slowly over her cup of tea. Seeing as she was, at the time, the only female in the company, the girl felt like her reaction might be gauged the most. Two questions came to mind: firstly, would engaging in a debate over assumptions change this man’s opinion about life? Secondly, would trying to argue with a tipsy person because of pride be a good waste of her energy? Answer to both was ‘no’ so she kept quiet and sipped on her tea.

There was a company of six of them and Shun was a part of it only till she reached Oiwai. Her mission was to rendezvous with a shinobi from a different village and solve the bandit problem the city was having. While just newly promoted, Shun displayed the ability to stay calm and quick under pressure so she was assigned to a variety of missions – not just ones with her genin team. The girl couldn’t help but thinking she was being tested for something and the question sat at the back of her head for a week now.

”Shun-chan, take you for example,” the slightly tipsy man with silver hair and an overall rugged look started, ”you’re already a beautiful young woman – why risk a scar and a future family? You will spend years fighting men and beasts to the death and for what? To feel like one of the shinobi? Why do that when you have so much more to give?”

Now, after being called out, the teenage Nara felt like she should say something in return and stop ignoring the conversation. After all, the guy was not a bad person. All six of the group had spent a couple days together and, while different and with different priorities, they were loyal to the same village and protected the same people.

”Hmm...” Shun started as she pondered what to say. The raven haired genin stared down at her now empty plate and simultaneously stirred the honey in her teacup. She could try to explain that everyone could do what they wanted but there was a double standard in Konoha, too. Instead of getting offended about one person’s idea that she should cater to the people around her for a living, the girl simply said: ”We all want things in life – I want this.” and the other men at the group nudged Hideki – the tipsy one – to drop the subject. It had been much more fun when they were just chatting banter earlier. ”Come now, Hideki, Shun’s not interested in your preaching, hahaha” another man slapped Hideki on the back hard and took a sip of his (what Shun could only describe as) gauntlet.

It was at about that time exactly when the Nara heard a voice from behind her and perked up. She turned to see Takato introduce himself and stood up to greet him. The man was about 15cm taller than her and initially had a friendly air about him. The girl stepped over the bench and gave a slight bow. ”It is a pleasure to meet you, Kisei-senpai. You can call me Shun, if you’d like.” she spoke with a polite tone and offered a friendly smile. The girl usually had her headband tied into the belt hoops of her shorts but this was a serious occasion so she had it tied around her forehead for a change. The Nara was dressed in a black tank top, shorts, tall ninja boots and a huge pale green open shirt (that might as well be a small yukata) with large white hems. There was a detailed clan symbol on her back and a simplified one on her left sleeve.

”Shall we head out or would you like to stay here for a while first?” Perhaps the man had just arrived and wanted to rest for a little bit?

---

Words: 718
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

[Kisei Takatō]

Nara was sitting with a group of older shinobi, about five of them all hailing from Konoha. Her escort to the region before being passed off to Takato’s care, he assumed. She was petite compared to his gangly frame, well-dressed and proudly wearing both her village’s headband and the symbol of her clan, easily recognizable even for a foreigner. Taka himself had a grittier presentation; it was clear he hadn’t shaved in a few days, likely neglecting the task during his journey to the far side of Hi no Kuni. His pitch-dark hair was clumsily tied back in a low ponytail, long and frayed at the ends, his monochrome clothes were roughly three mendings past needing to be replaced, and the heavy dark bags beneath his eyes looked to weigh about twenty pounds each. His hitai-ate hung loosely around his neck. Overall the effect was less professional shinobi and more sleep-deprived vagabond, but here he was. Kusagakure’s best and brightest, if one were to believe Ichi’s praise. "Shun,” he allowed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Taka is fine.” Anyone who demonstrated some semblance of effort towards manners immediately endeared themselves to him; Shun was no exception in this regard. "Would you like to try a cup of coffee before we go? Some for your company, as well.” It was partially that he would like to take a moment to rest before they begun their task in earnest; sleeplessness he was used to, but the recovery period of loss of limb was longer than he anticipated, and he tired more easily after long journeys now than he had in years past. The other part was simply that he was proud of his sister’s work, and everyone deserved a chance to enjoy a cup of Kisei coffee. If Shun and her company were willing, then the fresh hot brew would be ordered for the whole table; a rich, full-bodied roast that went down smooth and set the mind to work. Then, the task before them.

Nara Shun -- 346

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

kisei hai-kōhī [希功 湃コーヒー]
Effects last for 5 rotations
Rotation 1/5:

Galaxy Brain | Improved Cognition
This intensely caffeinated beverage is a potent stimulant. When consumed, the user will feel more focused and alert, increasing their perceptive capabilities, attention to detail, and mental acuity for five rotations.

Gotta Go Fast | Improved Reflexes
The high caffeine content of the beverage increases the circulation of adrenaline in the body, improving the user's reaction time for five rotations.

These effects work simultaneously. They can be gained twice from one bottle of coffee, should the user choose to drink half a bottle at a time or share it with a teammate. There is no increased effect for consuming the whole bottle.

If the entire bottle of coffee is consumed in a single thread, after the benefits of the drink wear off, the user will experience jitters and heightened anxiety for the remainder of the thread.

NAME: Nin-Prosthetic Arm/Hand [x]
CLASSIFICATION: Supplementary
DESCRIPTION:
A prosthetic limb formed from non-conductive metal and materials with chakra filament wire running through it's internals. When surgically attached to the stump of a lost limb or appendage chakra can be funneled through it to allow it to function as a substitute. Should a shinobi be unable to maintain the flow of chakra to it the limb becomes inactive and functions akin to a crude prosthetic.
ABILITIES:
Substitute Limb:
The Nin-Prosthetic Arm functions akin to a real arm so long as it's user possesses the chakra to fuel it. Chakra can be channeled through the arm for wall and water walking akin to real flesh in addition to being utilized to perform hand signs. It is neither better nor worse in terms of speed and skill then a natural limb though it lacks the ability to feel sensation.

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

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”Taka.” she repeated, getting used to how it felt to say it. A light smile dawned on her face as her senior colleague took the offer. ”Alright, here, please, take a seat, Taka-san.” she stepped aside to motion towards the bench. The two other men on their side shuffled a little to make enough room and Shun would sit back down again as soon as she’d see Taka did.

The group would order and exchange pleasantries. The other leaf shinobi all seemed chuunin rank or higher and they all aged over thirty, by the looks of it. Their mission was routine, almost, by the way they talked about the city. They knew regulars at the bar and the staff called some of them by name. Three of them were drinking so the rest opted for coffee. Soon, a waitress would bring over enough for four people.

Shun waited a bit before taking a sip of hers. She liked the smell of coffee and would usually ad a splash of milk to hers. However, she had a bit of a cat’s tongue so she didn’t rush to drink hot beverages. This means she usually was last in a group to start drinking a warm drink and had to drink in that precious time limit when it wasn’t too hot for her sensitivity and too lukewarm to lose the joy of it. Though... she had her fair share of drinking it cold after forgetting about it. No regrets.

”Kisei coffee? Like your name, Taka-senpai. Any relation?” the teenage Nara questioned after reading the label provided with the tray. It was nice to have information available about the brew.

”Shun-chan, Shun-chan!” the man called Hideki started – as if reaching out from a memory - ”See? Now that would be a good job for a girl. Why not be a waitress instead? You get to show people your looks and this would be safer. Also! A good way to find a husband with talking with all these people daily.” The man went on a bit of a rant and Shun felt obligated to listen since she was addressed. Truthfully, though, she had no idea what or if she should respond to that. ”I... see.” she said the most neutral thing she could think of, a little embarassed and feeling like maybe this will make her seem like only a child or someone incapable of shinobi mission. Wanting to hide behind her coffee cup, the girl took a sip from it and hovered it in front of part of her face. What to do next?

*It tastes so nice...*

---

Words: 434
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

[Kisei Takatō]

Taka inclined his head, a small, proud smile curving his lips. "My mother’s work,” he said, "and my sister’s. She lives in Konoha now, actually…” He was considering whether it would be too forward to offer to introduce them—Reina had been a capable Kusagakure shinobi before she’d retired to move in with her husband and expand the business to Hi no Kuni—but before he could make up his mind, one of the men traveling with Shun interjected with what was most generously described as unsolicited advice. It was clear that Shun was embarrassed; too polite to say anything in response, but clearly uncomfortable with the trajectory of the conversation. He didn’t want to cause any further discomfort, but clearly it had been a mistake to linger too long… "Ah,” he said a little too loudly, looking up at the clock hanging from the opposite wall. "I apologize, I’ve lost track of time. Shun-san, we should get going before it gets too late.” To-go cups for their coffee were easy enough to acquire, and he was perhaps a little too forceful in issuing thank-yous and farewells to the Konoha chuunin at the table—taking the time to examine their faces, count their number, encode them into memory—but before long they were back outside in sunlight. Taka exhaled slowly. "Sorry,” he said softly. "That was… inelegant.” He nodded his head to the road heading west out of town and started walking, holding his takeaway cup with a rigid, awkward grasp in his prosthetic hand. "Is that… do you deal with that often?”

Nara Shun -- 259

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

kisei hai-kōhī [希功 湃コーヒー]
Effects last for 5 rotations
Rotation 2/5:

Galaxy Brain | Improved Cognition
This intensely caffeinated beverage is a potent stimulant. When consumed, the user will feel more focused and alert, increasing their perceptive capabilities, attention to detail, and mental acuity for five rotations.

Gotta Go Fast | Improved Reflexes
The high caffeine content of the beverage increases the circulation of adrenaline in the body, improving the user's reaction time for five rotations.

These effects work simultaneously. They can be gained twice from one bottle of coffee, should the user choose to drink half a bottle at a time or share it with a teammate. There is no increased effect for consuming the whole bottle.

If the entire bottle of coffee is consumed in a single thread, after the benefits of the drink wear off, the user will experience jitters and heightened anxiety for the remainder of the thread.

NAME: Nin-Prosthetic Arm/Hand [x]
CLASSIFICATION: Supplementary
DESCRIPTION:
A prosthetic limb formed from non-conductive metal and materials with chakra filament wire running through it's internals. When surgically attached to the stump of a lost limb or appendage chakra can be funneled through it to allow it to function as a substitute. Should a shinobi be unable to maintain the flow of chakra to it the limb becomes inactive and functions akin to a crude prosthetic.
ABILITIES:
Substitute Limb:
The Nin-Prosthetic Arm functions akin to a real arm so long as it's user possesses the chakra to fuel it. Chakra can be channeled through the arm for wall and water walking akin to real flesh in addition to being utilized to perform hand signs. It is neither better nor worse in terms of speed and skill then a natural limb though it lacks the ability to feel sensation.

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

- t h e  t a l e  o f -

O I W A I  A S S I S T A N C E

---

The two had left the inn and Shun couldn’t help but sigh. ”You don’t have to apologise, Taka-san.” She didn’t know what the best way to deal with that situation would have been but she could see that her Kusagakure colleague acted with the best of intentions.

”It’s not often but sometimes people would ask why I don’t do something else. I’m still a new genin so I have a lot to learn, I know, but…” she paused to think of the best way to say it, ”It would just be nice to be seen as a shinobi and not as a girl.” It was a complicated issue and Shun could see the logic behind her older colleague’s need to talk to her about her career choices. However, Shun came from an old clan of countless shinobi and she was certain about what she wanted to do. Of course, she could have complained about how she had never seen a young male genin questioned about his life choices but that was besides the point and would yield nothing. Instead, she would take a deep breath, hold it in while clenching her fist and then let it go as a heavy breath. Her shoulders dropped and she’d drop the matter as well. Even as a teenager, the girl was very careful about where she’d spend her energy and worrying about a drunk man’s life advice was not it.

The Nara teen took more sips from her cup as they walked slowly down the road. ”You’re a kind person Taka-san, thank you.” she smiled up at the man. Most people wouldn’t have said or done anything. Not that they should have but the hierarchy of rank and used etiquette was hard to navigate at first.

”Does your sister have a shop in Konoha? I’d love to be a patron.” the girl said politely. It was always good to help upcoming businesses. The Nara had a forest full of deer that they used for multiple produce and the Yamanaka and Akimichi - their close friends - had multiple businesses as well. Shinobi clans were not just about being weapons of war so Shun had an appreciation with many things outside of the life of a shinobi.

”Speaking of our mission… I have some ideas but what would you propose our plan of action should be?”

---

Words: 402
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

[Kisei Takatō]

Taka couldn’t say he understood, exactly, but… he had been through his fair share of people telling him to call it quits, though it was for wildly different reasons than something as mundane as his gender. Different, absolutely, but he still felt a pained kind of empathy for this girl, who was so clearly dedicated to her chosen path in life. She thanked him, though, and he didn’t know how to respond to that; the corner of his mouth only tugged into a very, very small smile. She asked about his sister, which was an easier thing for him to talk about—he told her about Reina and her husband, Uchiha Yutaka, the little coffee shop they ran together, that Reina had been a shinobi herself before she decided to retire to expand the family business. Before long they had made it to the outskirts of town; Taka downed the last of his coffee and neatly sealed the takeaway cup away to dispose of later. He observed a Konoha genin team scampering off-road, opposite from where Taka and Shun were going, and silently added them to his mental tally. "We need to destroy the camp completely,” he said, "so it would be simplest to locate it and strike there first. Go in quietly, introduce an element of chaos, and pick off individuals while they’re scrambling.” Explosives would be the simplest course of action; he could prep a couple of high-powered tags to blow the camp up when they got closer. But more importantly—”What are your ideas, Shun? You’re more familiar with the area than I am.”

Nara Shun -- 244

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

kisei hai-kōhī [希功 湃コーヒー]
Effects last for 5 rotations
Rotation 2/5:

Galaxy Brain | Improved Cognition
This intensely caffeinated beverage is a potent stimulant. When consumed, the user will feel more focused and alert, increasing their perceptive capabilities, attention to detail, and mental acuity for five rotations.

Gotta Go Fast | Improved Reflexes
The high caffeine content of the beverage increases the circulation of adrenaline in the body, improving the user's reaction time for five rotations.

These effects work simultaneously. They can be gained twice from one bottle of coffee, should the user choose to drink half a bottle at a time or share it with a teammate. There is no increased effect for consuming the whole bottle.

If the entire bottle of coffee is consumed in a single thread, after the benefits of the drink wear off, the user will experience jitters and heightened anxiety for the remainder of the thread.

NAME: Nin-Prosthetic Arm/Hand [x]
CLASSIFICATION: Supplementary
DESCRIPTION:
A prosthetic limb formed from non-conductive metal and materials with chakra filament wire running through it's internals. When surgically attached to the stump of a lost limb or appendage chakra can be funneled through it to allow it to function as a substitute. Should a shinobi be unable to maintain the flow of chakra to it the limb becomes inactive and functions akin to a crude prosthetic.
ABILITIES:
Substitute Limb:
The Nin-Prosthetic Arm functions akin to a real arm so long as it's user possesses the chakra to fuel it. Chakra can be channeled through the arm for wall and water walking akin to real flesh in addition to being utilized to perform hand signs. It is neither better nor worse in terms of speed and skill then a natural limb though it lacks the ability to feel sensation.

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

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O I W A I  A S S I S T A N C E

---

Feeling all warm and energised from the caffeinated drink, Shun would eagerly listen to Taka-san’s sister and make a note to go visit the coffee shop when she could. What a lovely new addition to places to frequent - never would she expect to gain one back home from a shinobi of a different village. Sure, they had to go wipe out some bandit camp but that did not mean they shouldn’t have any fun with it.

”An ambush? That makes sense. I guess it won’t be hard to find their camp since it’s hidden behind the tree line and should be close enough to town since this is, reportedly, the only town in this region to suffer such a predicament. Bandits don’t tree climb as high as we do so it’ll be easy to look through the forest from above. Perhaps, we should start our search from the last crime scene?” the genin inquired and also finished her coffee. Noting a trash bin nearby, the teenager skipped over and disposed of her cup before doubling back to Taka.

”I’m good at capturing people so if you can trust the rounding up to me if you’d like to focus on the middle of the camp. I have some explosive tags and flash bombs with me too, if needed.” The initial plan was not bad and Shun imagined they might have to fight as well… but perhaps, thanks to a jutsu she had recently mastered, it wouldn’t be necessary at all.

”If we have enough projectiles, we can catch them without fighting at all.” she smiled and would motion towards the reported direction of the last incident.

---

Words: 281
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

[Kisei Takatō]

Taka listened quietly as Shun worked through her assessment of their strategy, nodding along as she spoke. "Standard explosives might do the trick, but if we’re willing to take a bit of additional time, I can produce a couple of stronger explosives for us to use.” In a pinch he could just use a bit of fuuton chakra to etch the seal onto a surface from a distance, but a lack of preparation made him twitchy, especially when they didn’t yet know what the layout of the camp looked like. "It’s a sound plan. I’ll follow your lead to the crime scene.” Part of him simply wanted to serve as counterpoint to Shun’s rude colleague, build her up where the other man had, however well-meaning, tried to tear her down. Demonstrate faith in her capabilities, and allow her to take the lead in investigating and strategizing around completing their mission. Part of him, too, was simply always glad to take the passenger seat; not a role he could ever truly comfortably settle into when he was responsible for a genin, but it was nice to allow someone else to take the reins, and simply offer advice and support when asked. The crime scene, when they arrived, turned out to be the decimated remains of a single traveling merchant’s cart, clearly hand-painted and well-loved, the shop and domicile of someone who sold fabrics and buttons and hand-tailored pieces, from what Taka could tell. The bodies had been removed from the scene as soon as it was reported, which meant that the crime scene was technically contaminated, but his own quick assessment told him that those who retrieve the bodies were careful to leave as much as they could undisturbed. "What do you think?” he asked again, crouching down to examine the dirt more closely. Soot, footprints, blood splatters, bits of fluttering cloth and stray leather—it was chaotic, certainly, but there was information to be found if you looked with a critical enough eye. The treeline was some dozen meters away, though there was no clear path into the woods off the road.

Nara Shun -- 351

LAIKA OF THQ

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

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She was nervous. Truth be told, the idea of eliminating an encampment only seemed straight-forward in theory. Shun was yet to kill anyone for work and not some truly unfortunate necessity so her mind would slip into chaotic thinking about how she might deal with it. There were no words to comfort that, none that could actually make her forget her worries, that is…

However, her need and want to be great at her job and learn to protect her village outweighed whatever character weakness she might feel. She knew that her talents were more suited to the life of a weapon than someone else her age so she would learn to live in a new way - an efficient kunoichi way.

As they arrived at the crime scene, and she got a closer look, ”Three sets of footprints here,” she pointed while crouching down at the side of the cart. Luckily it hadn’t rained yet so some tracks were still there and clearly visible to a trained eye. She felt lucky that her best friend was an Inuzuka with a whole pack of ninken so she had picked a couple things up from training with him.

”Someone fell here.” she noted the smudges of footprints and the dents in the dirt accompanied with the now dried up dark spot. ”This set of footprints - the bigger ones, then must belong to the merchant. The long sideways splatter indicated a blade and that a vital spot was hit.” she motioned along the side of the cart. The girl tried to imagine the scenario, the struggle, the amount of people and how they moved. She stood straight and followed the footprints to the back of the cart. ”Taka-san… look.”

There was a new set of footprints that joined the other two. Large boot size, by the looks of it. The dirt was soft so one could tell that the prints became more distinct - as if they got heavier. This meant something got carried away, probably. It took no genius to assume it was anything of value that the merchant was carrying.

There was, however and inconsistency and the Nara carefully stepped around the tracks to near the cart and lifted a large tarp to reveal a box of fabric underneath. Upon closer inspection there were markings on the edge of the wooden crate. Claw marks? But small. There was a trace of blood there and what looked like some skin. Shun started to become uncomfortable with a realisation that soon followed. Something about the scene still bugged her and she pulled the crate to the side.

”Taka-san…” The Kusa shinobi would see her shoulders drop before she reached for something behind a crate and lifted into view what appeared to be a doll. A simple doll with a blue dress and black hair. There was no mention of two victims in the report. Shun couldn’t let the doll go right away. She only looked to Taka to connect to the present moment better. Her eyes were full of fear and she had lost color at the realization of what this evidence meant.

---

Words: 529
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

[Kisei Takatō]

Taka hung back, listening quietly and patiently as Shun described what she saw to him, accurately articulating the cause of the blood splatter and correctly identifying that there were three sets of footprints. She was highly observant, clearly able to take in the forest but still identify the trees, working backwards from the chaotic visual in front of them to rationally deduce what had led to this result. It was impressive to say the least. But as the details of the scene came into focus and Shun emerged from behind a crate she had moved holding a small, simple-looking doll, Taka’s blood ran cold. But even as his heart rate elevated and his palms prickled with a sudden rush of fear, his expression remained cool and placid; he couldn’t allow the swell of emotion to affect his decision-making, and good decision-making had just become infinitely more critical. For a brief moment he cursed himself for lollygagging with coffee and chitchat before making their way over here. There was no possible way he could have known—there was nothing in the report about a missing child—and yet he felt sharp and sure that he should have known, and acted with all due urgency. But there was no time for self-flagellation; they needed to act. "Parameters have changed,” Taka said to Shun, gesturing for her to follow as he quickly tracked and followed the set of footprints leading away from the scene—the large, heavy boot-prints, the shift in depth indicating that they were carrying something. Someone. "An ambush will likely still be our strongest strategy, but we’ll need to hold off on the explosives until we can retrieve the survivor. Quickly and quietly.” Even as the footprints became less obvious as they peeled off the road and into the treeline beyond, Taka’s sharp gaze caught the subtle signs of clumsy movement, the progress of a troupe laden with ill-gotten goods and a young captive. With any luck the camp wouldn’t be too far into the wilderness—and he hoped beyond hope that they were lucky enough for the child to be alive and unharmed.

Nara Shun -- 357

LAIKA OF THQ

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

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The duo would bob and weave through the treeline and soon came to a small creek they would cross. Shun voiced that the bandits would seek fresh water near their camp so they might be close. And indeed, they soon happened on what looked like a man made fence to ward off wild animals from the buildings further along. The fencing wasn’t high and was sloppily made - not enough to keep a human out. Regardless, the Nara motioned upwards so the two could take to the higher part of the treeline.

The trees in Fire Country were pretty tall everywhere which was incredibly useful for anyone with control of their chakra. From above, the duo could see that the base was just five buildings built in a circle. They were all wide and one floor high. In the center was a place for a bonfire and a bunch of crates stacked in a pile. It looked like a couple of men were sitting around the bonfire and cooking something.

Shun would have taken more detail in but her heart was still racing. Her palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy… it was the first time she had experienced this kind of dread. Her eyes actively scanned everything in their view but there was no child to be seen.

The small amount of clouds above them cleared up and sunlight poured in through the branches and blessed the camp with warm lighting. Shun, now perched on a branch of a tree above one of the buildings, quickly took her forehead protector off and tied it around her neck with the metal part reversed. There was foliage covering her but she didn’t want the gleam of the metal accidentally give away her position.

”Oi, took you long enough!” one of the men by the bonfire called out to one of the buildings where another man exited from, ”You were in there for hours. Lunch is getting overcooked. You said you’d be done by then.” he complained.

”Ah, sorry…” the man joining - a big guy with a very thin ponytail and a ripped up shirt - said while giving a nervous smile and scratching the back of his neck. ”I had to de-teeth this one. I blame the age group. Teeth just get in the way.”

”Tch… I guess it can’t be helped. At least the noise stopped an hour ago. It was doing our heads in, wasn’t it, Kei?” the first man - a skinny guy with two katanas strapped to his back and long oily hair.

”True, I was about to go choke that thing out - even when I know how much you love them, brother.” the third man sighed and got up to scoop some stew in his bowl.

”Anyways, all this annoyance is history now.” the first man started as he lifted his bowl towards the bigger guy and beckoned him to fill it. ”Let’s just dig in! Have a good meal, everyone!” he smiled. The other two exchanged ‘have a good meal’ and ‘thanks you’ within the group and began eating.

Meanwhile, Shun just glanced towards Takato. She was sure he had listened in on the men, too. Her stomach had sunk so low it felt like it didn’t exist anymore. ’Why would they need to get rid of someone’s teeth?’ the thought echoed in her mind but she stopped herself from looking for an answer… this was not something the Academy prepared people for. This was not something anyone was prepared for. What exactly had happened? What noise had stopped? Where was the girl?

The two were still in the tree line. What was their next move?

---

Words: 626
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

[Kisei Takatō]

Compartmentalization—dissociation. Taka emptied his mind as they drew up into the trees and approached the rickety campsite, all of the guilt and fear twisting his stomach and plaguing his thoughts carefully boxed up and placed aside in favor of detached, scrutinizing observation. He was no sensor, but his eyesight was keen and trained to pick out details from a cacophony of information. Absently he copied Shun, flipping the hitai-ate hanging from around his neck inside out, though the metal of his was far more dull and scratched than the genin’s bright, gleaming new insignia. Five wide, short buildings in a circle. Visible people were the two men sitting by the campfire, a third emerging from one of the buildings. A brief conversation volleyed between the trio, and Taka cataloged the information carefully. The child was in the building that the large man had emerged from, then, heavily injured and possibly unconscious—or possibly dead. Possibly not. Two statements from two individuals at war with each other, and without confirmation from the man himself or any sound emerging from the scene of the crime, there was no way yet to confirm. Hope was foolish, perhaps, but Taka clung to it regardless. That left four buildings with unknown purpose or occupants. It seemed unlikely that a camp this elaborate would belong to only three people, so there was a high chance that at least two of the other four buildings were barracks or dormitories of some kind. One of the buildings had a wide double-door, scarce bits of visual evidence indicating that it was a storage facility of some kind; another had a clothesline clumsily strung up next to it, which likely meant that it was housing. One housing facility was most likely going to be adjacent to the other, and both were on the opposite side of the bonfire from where the child was being held. It took a few minutes of quiet observation, but Taka finished his deductions while the three men ate around the bonfire. Dropping his voice whisper-soft, careful to blunt his sibilant sounds against his teeth, Taka said quietly to Shun: "I’m going to deal with the two buildings on this side. Do you think you can handle the trio at the fire?” If not, he was prepared to go in alone—but if Shun could muster up the will to fight, then her assistance would be invaluable. He repositioned himself to the treeline behind the two supposed dormitory rooms, working quickly and quietly to form the handseals first for imprint wind and then for a high-powered explosive seal—sending the explosive seal to scratch itself into the wall of the back of each building, first one and then the other. Then he waited a moment to allow Shun to get into position, and held his hand up where he thought she would be watching, beginning a countdown of three fingers. Three, two, one— A single handseal, and both buildings would erupt in a massive explosion, a deafening boom ricocheting against the trees, fire catching and sending splintered wood flying every which way.

Nara Shun -- 522

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SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kaze-in [Imprint Wind]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Fuinjutsu
ELEMENT: Futon
HANDSEALS: Two
REQUIREMENT: N/A
DESCRIPTION:

After performing the proper hand seals, the user will send their chakra through their palm or a chakra-conductive object. Upon doing so the user can blow the seal from whatever its been channeled into up to [10 meters] away, effectively letting the user throw the seal into the air, as a visible symbol, scratching itself against any real surface less then metal. Allowing for an incredibly expedited quick drawing of seals.


NAME: Bakukami no Jutsu [Exploding Seal Jutsu]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low - Very High
CLASSIFICATION: Fūinjutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: N/A
DESCRIPTION:

One of the simplest jutsu taught to almost all beginner fuinjutsu users. This technique has been used for centuries to create Explosive Tags. The idea behind this jutsu is to seal a certain amount of the user's chakra inside of a tag and release it at a later date using a simple seal. The user is capable of inscribing the seal onto any non-human surface and the explosion strength can be varied depending on how much chakra the user puts into the seal, a [Low] amount being what most use for the average tag.

[Nara Shun]

NARA SHUN CHRONICLES

- t h e  t a l e  o f -

O I W A I  A S S I S T A N C E

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Shun agreed with the plan and had quietly made her way a bit lower on the tree and waited to ambush the three when she’d get a sign from Taka-san. She was sure she could do it. It was a weird thing scaling her own abilities against fully grown thugs but she assumed none of them had any training and they couldn’t put up much of a fight… hopefully. The biggest guy looked like he packed a heavy punch, however.

She gave Taka a heads up that she was in position with a nod from her vantage point and already had some kunai prepared. Three, to be exact. There was a technique in the Nara clan that allowed the members to pour their chakra in projectiles and then immobilize their opponents via pinning their shadows with the projectiles.

It was simple enough to do after the explosion. The noise was loud enough to startle the bandits and all three quickly jumped to their feet and looked to here the new ruins of their barracks were. At that time Shun would throw her kunai. Two at first and then the third. The first two landed in the shadows of the two average sized men but the third must have hit a rock in the dirt because it bounced off the ground and landed to the side outside the big man’s shadow.

”Tch” Shun let out and headed down to fight the big guy. She didn’t want him removing the other kunai and the other ninjutsu in her arsenal were mainly fire-based. If she were to use them, the pinned shadows would move and her jutsu would be canceled.

As soon as she descended the tree, she had to knock back a pot of stew flying her way. The big guy had spun the pot they had made dinner in around himself and yeeted it straight at the Nara genin!

She changed its trajectory with her forearm and ran forward, another kunai in hand. She felt the heat of the metal make her skin sore afterwards and it had been heavy, and most likely would bruise, but there was no time to dwell.

Making use of her honed agility, the girl quickly closed the gap between herself and the man and slashed his thigh with her kunai. The brute was way faster than she expected and backhanded her into the building nearby. No one expected the man to be that strong. He walked after her to the same building where he had just come from. Albeit, he was limping now and blinded with rage so he could not hear the other two men calling out to him and panicking about not being able to move.

In the house.

Shun slowly slowly took in her surroundings after crash landing in the hut - luckily the walls were thin and she felt like she had not broken anything. But most of her was very sore and her extremities were scraped up. She was lightly bleeding but got herself up to sitting and then slowly propped up to standing. There was not a lot of time to regain composure. The man was already in the doorway and approaching closely. She reached for a kunai but, like a rag doll, he grabbed at her hand, lifted her by her forearm and flicked her body against the ground. Shun’s breath got knocked out of her body and she felt a big rugged hand press the side of her face into the ground. The pressure was so intense she thought her skull would break. It was hard to think.

Now holding her down from above and overwhelming her with his size, the bandit cackled at her head: ”KEEHEHEHE! LITTLE HERO GIRL!!” he laughed and leaned in close. ”Came to save the girl, did we?”

Shun’s heart dropped and she suddenly felt more clarity, even in the extreme situation she was in. That’s right, the child! Where was the child?!

The guy saw her eyes widen and search the room and the power he held over the situation made him grin from ear to ear ”Too late.” he said gleefully and forcefully turned her head upwards so she could see behind them.

”No” she let out in shock because what she saw was something she never wanted anybody to see… or think. There was only part left of the girl and she could see the ropes binding her, and the blood surrounding her. Shun couldn’t process what she saw at first and it took a good half a minute for her to zone back into the shrieking laughter of the guy atop of her and his grubby big hand ripping open her shorts.

Without thinking too much about it, Shun formed two hand signs and within a split second, a black spike shot out of her shadow and straight through the forehead of the man. ”Kage Tansetsu no jutsu.” The shadow forging technique allowed Nara clan members to form simple weapons from their shadows. It was mainly used for piercing damage but had multiple uses.

The jutsu retreated and Shun nudged the limping oaf to the side so she could get out. She stumbled to her feet and would exit the hut. Slowly she made her way towards the remaining men. How could people like that exist, she thought. How could they stand by something like that. Shun felt let down by humanity and any and all reservations she had against taking life disappeared that day.

The remaining bandits were still pinned to the ground and she stopped a little bit before them. Her hand hugged her side where the big guy’s knee had been. It hurt.

Calmly but surely she formed seven hand signs and took a deep breath: ”Katon: Karyuu Endan.” A huge dragon of flame escaped her breath and would circle the two men. It hesitated looking down on them. Shun made it hesitate long enough to see true despair in the trapped men’s faces. Then and only then did she make the stream of fire crash down on both of them. Using Katon so close to the kunai had changed the shadows and the two guys were no longer trapped but no matter - they were too scared to move anyway.

… the screaming stopped as the remaining bandits collapsed trying to outrun their flames. It stunk. Shun just stood still. She looked up in a moment remembering that Taka-san was still somewhere. She would have to tell him what happened but when he would ask, she could only take him to the building she had crash landed in. There was no way she could voice that.

Later Shun would go in the house, take off her Nara robe as it was big enough to cover what was left of the girl and she wrapped her up in it and brought it out. The least they could do was bury her.

---

Words: 1168
Tag: Kisei Takatō
Shun: 395828

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kagemane Shuriken no Jutsu [Shadow Possession Shuriken Jutsu]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 1
DESCRIPTION:
By infusing his weapons with his own chakra beforehand, the user is able to give them the effect of his shadow techniques. By using these weapons to pierce the enemies' shadows, they are paralyzed in place. To pierce the shadow, it is necessary to avoid the target just barely. Since it is more difficult for the enemy to notice it, this ninjutsu compensates for the weak point of the similar Shadow Imitation Technique, being its limited effective range however it can be disrupted simply by the removal of the blade or by the disappearance of the opponent's shadow.

NAME: Kage Tansetsu no Jutsu [Shadow Forge Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 2
DESCRIPTION:
At first glance, this jutsu is identical to the Kage Mane. The user extends their shadow. At first, it moves at the same speed, but when the user activates a second handseal, their shadow rapidly picks up speed. At three times the speed, the shadow lifts off the ground, in the shape of a blade, and attempts to stab the opponent. Once the attack it finished, whether it was a hit or not, the shadow retracts to the user at Kage Mane speed. The range of this technique is 20 yards.

Name: Katon: Karyuu Endan [Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet]
Rank: B
Chakra Usage: Medium
Type: Ninjutsu
Element: Katon
HANDSEALS: 7
Description: After performing the necessary hand seals, the user emits a giant stream of fire which takes on the form of a long dragon. As it approaches its target, it can split into three or four smaller but similarly shaped dragons, attacking from the left, right and top (and bottom if four), a tactic used to surround and then incincerate the target in a matter of seconds. This requires a good degree of chakra control in order to keep the wild flames under control due to their fast pace and incredible power.

[Kisei Takatō]

The barracks exploded, and for a short time the camp devolved into chaos; while Shun made her move on the trio in the center, Takato was responsible for dealing with the stragglers dragging themselves from the wreckage of the buildings. Some were still fit to fight, more or less, which Taka shouldered the blame for; if he’d placed the explosive seals better, if he’d charged them up a little more, if he’d gotten here faster, if he had just— —Taka looked up from his bloody work of picking off the not-quite dead. there was a crashing sound from across the way as Shun was backhanded through the wall of one of the huts nearby. Before he could move to help her, though, he was assailed from behind by one of the few miscellaneous bandits still well enough to put up a resistance, and for a time he was lost to a cacophony of violence, his mind going smooth and blank as his body took over. The body knew what the mind couldn’t tolerate, and would put the matter to rest. When he came to his knuckles were scraped raw and bloody; his nose was broken, a knife sticking out of his flesh-and-blood shoulder, and his prosthetic leg had gotten jammed out of place somehow, making his gait stiff and awkward as he limped after Shun. He asked after the girl—the kid they’d come to save—but Shun could only silently lead him to her crash site, passing by the unrecognizable faces of the half-dozen people Taka had brutalized, the still-smoldering remains of the men Shun had immolated, the big man with a hole in his head and a gruesome expression of glee frozen into his features. He saw the child—more bloody smear than girl, more rope than corpse. Bile rose in his throat, and he spat it discreetly to the side. There wasn’t much to bury, but they buried her anyway, and after Taka was done shoveling he stacked a small cairn to mark her final resting place. He went through the motions absently, his dark eyes dull and glassy, cheeks wet with tears he wasn’t cognizant of shedding. "I’m sorry,” he said, his voice thick and raspy. Whether he was saying it to Shun or to the girl he’d failed, he wasn’t sure—he’d failed Shun, too, in more ways than one. Any apology he could give was inadequate, but words failed him, jamming up the hollow of his throat with regret.

Nara Shun -- 411

LAIKA OF THQ