The Bandits Ire 1/3 (Group Mission)

Mission Info:

The Kataki Road was usually quite peaceful generally, it had several guard spots and rest stops along its long and winding road. Almost everyone took its path to get to their destinations if possible as banditry was significantly lower because of the periodic guard presence in and around its region markers. This lead to a false sense of security for most as they traveled along the roads. For those that traveled to the barrens to plunder its legendary riches, turmoil had begun as of late. A bandit lord had begun stirring up the region and making it almost as dangerous as it was lucrative. Bandits and all sorts of villains had begun plaguing the merchant caravans and small outpost towns that had been setup in the region for treasure hunters and companies to sell their finds. The party has been hired by the local Headman Toshie Hijiro to protect the largest of the three merchant outposts in the territory as its caravan was preparing to head out of the region in the morning with the most recently discovered treasures in tow. The group must hold out until morning when the guard regiment will arrive and escort the payload back to the villages.

The journey had been long and tiring so far for Genkumaru as he was put in charge of a mission with several C-rank Genin having a chance to prove his leadership abilities like his brother Sojiro. The missions he had taken on for the region involved doing the dirty work of the local Headman Toshie Hijiro, a pompous and self important merchant baron who had started to lay claim to the barrens and its untold riches. This time he needed him to protect one of the three outposts in the region from the local banditry problems that were ever growing. The villages in all their wisdom had sent Gen several of their own to learn from and support him in his efforts to help pacify the region.

As he waited at the largest of the three outposts for his charges to arrive, he struck up several conversations with the miners and laborers discovering that they were fairly consistently moving large sums of art, relics, gold, weapons, and rare gems from the nearby ruins and area, making Hijiro a very rich man in the process. However, he didn't pay for a lot of armed guards choosing instead to pay for laborers in bulk. If someone was too injured or died they were easily replaced by two more. Which sickened Gen some, but this was the duty he was saddled with, as Toshie Hijiro was regarded as an important man the world over.

The men had also told him that ninja were only hired to guard the outposts when large shipments were being gathered, or if losses were too great, this being such a situation as they figured that roughly forty thousand or more Ryo must be sitting in value in the warehouse as it was being prepped to be moved. Such greed would eventually catch up to Hijiro if he continued to plunder this lands. Anytime Gen tried to learn about The Boar, the eponymous grand bandit tyrant of the region, no one was willing to speak up for fear of their own life.

As his wards filtered into the outpost they would find him sitting in front of the main main warehouse that was in the center of the wooden walled boxed outpost. He would be on a wooden bench over looking the large gates that allowed traffic to flow in and out of the place, waiting to see some more headbands so he could get a start on the days tasks. He was fairly confident that they would be able to handle what ever was thrown at them, as long as they all followed his lead and didn't act like he had done when Sojiro was in charge of him last.

WC: 654/1600
PC: 1/4

WC : 484

"Somebody's dancing on my grave." Cure felt a shiver down to his very bones. This was something he hadn't felt in a while. Cure was much closer to his destination but he was not even remotely interested in hurrying. Cure was the type who almost always researched his missions before getting involved in it. When he got another escort-like mission especially with the surprise from the last mission of the type. What he learned was less then satisfactory. In fact Cure seriously considering refusing the mission but no other medic ninja would accept the mission from that detestable person and he was no longer given a choice.

He had no choice but to play nice and complete the mission but once the mission was done. Cure's eye's  flashed mercilessly as he dreamed of cleaning up some unnecessary trash from the world, but he hid his killing intent reluctantly. Even if they'd finished this mission there's no way that blowhard didn't have his own private security of sorts and with his position....no, he still wasn't at the level of power to be able to meet out justice to the corrupt like his sibling Plague so he should just focus on getting the mission over with already. When he arrived at the destination that he was supposed to be going to other then the small  bit of posh luxury from their charge's caravan the scene seemed sweaty, messy, and disturbing. There was the smell of blood, sweat, medicine, and minerals all soaking together. With a frown before he even went to look for his commander he went to go take stock of the situation.

When he arrived around the miners he passed a tired looking Sun ninja who he assumed would be one of his squad mates during this mission. Sparing her a small nod he immediately had a good opinion of the lady when he realized what all she'd done to help the miners and he started taking materials out of his medical bag as he let chakra flow to his hands as well. He would start reworking the miners with somewhat more serious injuries and the others that she couldn't do much for with serious injuries. It took quite a bit of time but most of the miners were as good as new when he was finished.

He'd probably cut into their time to get on the road but Cure didn't give a single frick and if their "charge" had anything to say about it he would take the full blame after all, he was a skilled medic ninja and senior researcher of the village. There was only so much the blowhard could do and Cure wasn't even a little scared of the man. After finishing up he put away his supplies and waved off the miner's gratitude before finally going to the commander and stating simply in his normal gender-neutral voice (the deep one) "Genin Cure, reporting for the mission as ordered."

The day had been just as hard the last few he spent here and nothing was going to change that. He had already doubled their digging efforts his first day as he became a living blasting charge per the request from his unfortunate temporary master. What was the village thinking? He was wasting away here and this was just proving his point. Men kept getting injured, everyday was hard and taxing and made the toughest men break down. All for what? A heap of ryo? Ridiculous...

As he laid there in wait for his charges to find him Shizuka snuggled up to him. He had gotten used to her touch and honestly after everything of late, was comforted by it. He knew that she meant no harm and was at least kind to him because she wanted to, not because she had to be. Snaking his arm out from under her he would lay it over her shoulder and give her a side hug as he did, allowing her to still rest her head on him. Speaking softly as he looked out onto the mining outpost he was visibly livid if not more akin to the calm before the storm, "Shizuka... You have no idea how right you are... If it wasn't for the village I would have gone home already. I don't want to help with this man's greed any longer....", his voice would trail off as he more then likely appeared sad for the first time to Shizuka.

Squeezing her gently for a brief moment he rose to his full height as he got off the bench, the sun setting over head causing a menagerie of colors to grace the sunset in a vibrant display of hues. It was then that his last charge appeared and introduced himself, "At ease Cure. I may be in charge but I am still a Genin as well for now. If we all do as we are told this night will go smoothly and we can muster out with the caravan in the morning and be back to the village richer and done with this place for a moment.", any form of enthusiasm he had once shown before was gone as he spoke now, clearly he was not pleased with their assignment.

Walking to inside the warehouse he would point to the rafters where some beds were setup in a makeshift barracks for them, wooden barriers installed for privacy out of convenience. They were located in the center of the ceiling rafters so that even from above they could have full view of the warehouse,  a requirement by Gen when he was asked by Hijiro for things he needed. A walkway rose from one end of the building and wrapped around the inner walls to climb the outer levels railings and lead to the walkway on either side of their housing platform, clearly it must have been a foreman's office at one point. Traversing the walkways upwards to their perch for the night he spoke again, "The walls of the outpost here are double layered and a secret ditch was dug ten meters front eh outer wall and filled with explosive tags, when this was done, we made sure the bandits had a lookout posted, as I expect that will deter an all out assault. What we need to be more worried about is the ten foot section that was left untouched and leads to the loose section of the wall just behind the warehouse. What they did n't have a chance to see is that I also had them dig spike pits on the spaces to the sides right after they would burst into the walls. If a raid happens tonight, they will be forcibly funneled into here, and in smaller numbers, which is where you two and myself comes in.", ending his long winded speech just as they reached the door to the overhang office, and after opening it, he would reveal that five rooms had been designed into the space that was once one office. Two on either side and one in the center that was smaller, at least if the doors and dividers meant anything. Stepping into the hallway he would open up the first door on the left reveling a room that seemed to have already had some use, "This is mine, but pick one for yourself Cure, Shizuka already did earlier. Rest well, you will know if someone breaks in, we have alarm tags placed at the only spot they can enter into the warehouse from. the middle room is a bathroom, its basic but it has a shower, toilet, and sink.", he would leave the door open just a crack to his room, just in case someone chose to visit him, but as soon as he entered his room he took off his sandal boots and his shirt and flak jacket throwing them onto the chest at the foot of his bed. His body had numerous scars on it now, the most noticeable begin a horrible jagged large scar running from his back to his front on his left shoulder, ending several inches above his heart. It was new and earned in a way that now gave him unfortunate clarity about the world.

WC: 1532/1600
PC: 2/4

WC : 732/1600

Cure knew that he was not the only one who was less then satisfied with their unwanted charge. Like him they couldn't exactly just kick him to the curb or silently kill him off though. Cure listened silently to the commander and he did not  really have one opinion on the various and numerous means in which was set up to entrap any possible adversaries. There was really nothing for him to see it was not his prerogative and surely the higher ranked genin understood what he was doing with the traps much better then they and even if he did not the other two that's why the other two of them were there.

He and Shizuka was more then capable of capturing any bandits or whoever came that might slip through the cracks. Cure was not really interested sleeping or resting. After his run-in with the hunter ninja he was not willing to lower his guard often so he did not sleep often. However he was fine as he had caffeine pills he could take to counter his lack of sleep. It was not a permanent solution but Cure was a medic ninja he could support his own body for at least a month of no sleep before it became a real problem. Cure put a caffeine pill in his mouth and  and climbed to a hidden corner of the outpost on the roof to silently watch the going on's of everything instead.

He disregarded the sleeping rooms after all besides the weapons he always carried he only had his disguise and none of those things weapon or disguise were coming off his body any time soon especially on a mission surrounded by people who could discover his identity by one simple burst into his room without knocking. After a while Cure noticed Shizuka had also taken up a post on the roof and he inwardly exclaimed on how similar the two were or at least they both trusted their own security in their own hands instead of others. Cure kept his eyes out for trouble or their squad commander whichever came first.

WC: 844/1600

As he waited for anyone to approach him in his room, no one did, and so he would close his door and lay in his bed, arms crossed behind his head. This day and those that came before weighed heavy on him, he hated the man he worked for and was upset that it was even a question. How was it that he had to be the one who was constantly in service to this man? He was a tyrant through and through and those beliefs clashed with his own personal beliefs so often. This was not the time he thought it would be, as it wasn't even a mission of honor or value to him.

He would lay there for a good while before he finally fell asleep. The night claiming him as it did all who were weary. It had only been several hours before finally the alarm tags triggered and Gen shot out of bed, still shirtless. Running to outside of the office he looked off over to the hole that was left for them and saw only smoke. "Cure, Shizuka up and at em'!", he would vault over the side of the railing and land with a superhero pose before running off and into the smoke.

WC: 1742/1600
PC: 3/4

Have fun with the event guys! Whatever you guys want for the invasion force.

OOC: Sorry for the delay. I had to take a break from everything.

Cure who had not bothered sleeping was immediately aware of the glaring alarm. It would be particularly hard to miss but he commended both of his squad mates fro attempting to inform him regardless of how erroneous it was. As Cure observed the situation calmly he could not help but raise a brow at the young ladies pointing him to what he should do. Bold to randomly give him directions but it didn't bother Cure as he disappeared before the kunoichi even finished gesturing. When he reappeared he was before a straggling bandit and before the guy could blink Cure had a chakra scalpel through his heart. After which Cure disappeared again as he reappeared hear and their and went after the straggling bandits running from the tunnel placing an expertly wielded chakra scalpel through various vital points killing the bandits in one to a few blows.  

This was more akin to a walk in the park but to Cure it was heartbreaking. So many eager to thrive from crime just like his family! Did no one want to seek another way? No matter how one says they don't have a choice a choice always there. It just depends on what's more important to you. Your morals? Or your survival? Anyway Cure had no right to judge any one of the people here for their choice to choose survive but like it or not his job was to become executioner and he'd leave the judging to whatever higher power awaited these people. Cure at least made sure to look them in the ye's as he took their life so they didn't have to be alone in the end. You'd be surprising how grateful someone who knew they would die could be at this one simple gesture. To Cure it was worth the more vivid nightmares and the countless eyes burned into his memories. Cure suddenly heard a whimper coming from a pair of rocks.

Their sat another bandit. A really, really young  bandit, There was an unmistakable fear in his eyes and a huge helping of regret. Cure was familiar with that regret. The regret of a young person pulled into the dark simply because the circumstances that "raised" him and who wanted nothing more then a way out. Cure looked this way and that and once confirming both of his squad mates were preoccupied with their own battles he leaned down to the trembling lad and whispered. "Get out of here lad, go to the Sun Village to this address." Out of his pocket Cure would pull out a card to a trustworthy orphanage he knew in the Village before leaving a few more words and turning away from the lad pretending as if he never saw him. "Live a better life and be someone you can look in the mirror in the future."

When Cure just stood there pretending to be oblivious as he stood guard before the lads hiding place before he heard a few final sniffles and a quiet voice say, "I'm Aiyoto, I'll repay you some day mister!" Before footsteps shuffled off in the dark. When the kid was far enough away Cure dropped both his explosive tags on the previous hiding space causing a comotion and bright lights that would cover the lads retreat. "It seems I'm still a softie after all." And Cure was more then fine to realize it. This world could use a little less killing and a lot more healing.

WC: 1,424

Cure finished the last of the straggling bandits and started calmly cleaning the blood from his hand. Blood was something he was no stranger too both as a medic and a ninja. In a moment  he walked calmly over to an interesting spot to watch his squad mates finish off their respective tasks. Well he couldn't actually see Gen in the smoke but he just imagined what was going on. He felt the situation was well under control so Cure took the time to begin healing the various wounds and injuries he got in battle.

Cure also let his mind wander for a bit before Commander Gin's voice reached his ears yet again. They were being called, most likely for after battle review or such. Cure stood up and surveyed his surroundings a bit before finding the location of the voice and with yet another body flicker he would appear before Gen and likely Shizuka. Cure without saying much would begin checking over both of his squad mates for injuries or wounds both clear to see and hidden as soon as he arrived.

If either protested he would ignore them and just give them that doctors look, you know the one. It wouldn't be invasive but his hand would be glowing with green chakra as he scanned them and healed even the minor inconveniences. After being satisfied at the two's health he would silently  stand back and wait for guidance on what they would do next.

WC: 1,670