Mission On The Chase [E-Rank]

Today was like any other within the Seki District of Kumogakure. Life for the average inhabitant here was full of luxury, joy, and frivolous spending. The total opposite of that of those who dwell within the Cronopolis. Luxury shops lined the district streets, as the aroma of rice delicacies from the near by, high end, restaurants filled the air. Amongst the hustle and bustle of the citizens, a worried woman stood shouting out a single name. "COCO! OH COCO! COME BACK TO MOMMIE!" She shouted, clearly distraught from the loss of her beloved pet. The woman began to move frantically through the streets, checking near vender stalls, and any of the trash receptacles, and asking strangers about sighting of her pet.

This woman, known as "Emi", had placed an urgent request with the Main Branch of the village for someone to be dispatched to help find her pet. A request of this nature, naturally, falls to lowest priority for shinobi operatives and instead, has been handed to an Academy to hand out and assign to a chosen Student.


[Mission Approval]
[Objective: Make Contact with the client, and we'll go from there.]

Her target was close.

Bakuen Hibana had left early this morning to report to her first solo-mission. Though she had only recently joined the academy, it seemed they were testing her aptitude in various ways and as such, she'd been cleared to attempt this mission by herself.

What would it be? Her limited experience was troubling, but she did have a rather niche set of skills. But just how useful would explosive making be for such a low ranked mission? In truth, it would probably be best if her specific set of skills weren't needed. Perhaps -that- was the hidden objective for her mission that her superiors would want to see? IF she could complete a simple task without blowing anything up?

Her thoughts raced as she made her way towards the bellowing woman.

She could be herd down the street shuffling from person to person asking about "Coco"

The urgent request had come in, and Hibana was dispatched.

She reached the woman and Hibana would carefully introduce herself.

"Hello miss. My name is Bakuen Hibana. I was dispatched to assist you in an urgent matter. How may I assist you today? Her customer service voice and demenor in full effect. A few years of helping her parents sell fireworks had given her a natural customer service voice. It was polite, demure, and mean to disarm the woman's nerves so that she may calmly and rationally explain the situation.

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As emi continued her search, a young woman with white hair would approach her. Listening to the girl, a look of relief crossed her face as she sighed out of stress. "Hibana?" The woman stated, as if she were asking a question. "It's about time!" She exclaimed. "My poor coco is missing! I can't find her anywhere, but someone told me they had seen her running around here somewhere earlier." Emi explained, as she started to glance around at some of the nearby stalls.

Before turning back to Hibana, the woman looked down and shook her head. "I just don't know what I'll do if I can't get my coco back." She said, expressing her sorrow with a dramatic tone. "She's a cat with black and brown fur, and a snubbed tail. She's really hard to miss. Please, i'll be out here looking too. If you find her, please bring her to me!" Said Emi, as she began to walk off in search again.

The young kunoichi, after having a few moments to soak in the information the woman just divulged, would almost immediately be alerted to the sounds of a metal can falling over just a few feet away, deep within a nearby alley. Though this wouldn't be the only alert she might pick up on. Amongst all the restaurants, one of them further down the street produced an aroma that filled the air. Anyone remotely close to the place, like Hibana, could smell the scent of a lightly smoked cut of meat; paired with a hint of citrus and herbs.

Right now, these two seemed like the best two options she had.

- Which will in investigate?
Smell or Sound?

Click to expand...

Her cat was missing?

Even as a fledgling shinobi, something as mundane as a missing feline was perhaps a bit beneath her capabilities. Hibana would hide her annoyance as best she could before turning to the direction of the sudden noise catching her attention. Was it Coco? Perhaps it was that easy? No... If Coco had gone missing, she would have returned by now if she was within earshot, unless her owner was the abusive sort.

Hibana cared little for pets. They typically ran away from loud noises and around her family, those were commonplace. But another sensation permeated throughout the air. The fragrance was enough to perk Hibana's tummy, and in that moment, she realized something like that could also be a simple answer to her mission.

Had the cat smelled some yummy treats and wandered off?

"I'll canvas the neighborhood ma'am. I'll be sure to be thorough." The girl would turn and head into the direction of the smell she'd picked up on earlier. Alluring as it was, Hibana made her way down the busy street towards the direction of the delicious smell. Hibana had a plan in mind. Once she'd discovered what that aroma was, even if the lost kitty was not around, she would use it as bait to lure out her prey.

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As Hibana quickly left Emi's side and followed the distinct smell, devising all sorts of plans, she'd quickly come to the entrance of a local restaurant. Patrons were lined up outside the door, waiting for their chances to get in and be seated. "Smoke's Cafe'" written elegantly on a sign over the door. However, before arriving at the entrance the young kunoichi notice an alleyway leading down the side of the building. In clear view from the street, she'd see a man cooking smoker. In that alleyway, several cats would be laid all about resting and playing with one and another.

Amongst the cats, she'd see several orange, black, and even brown cats lounging around. If she chose to look further, she'd see one in particular with a snubbed tail, a black coat, and brown patches all over. This one, specifically, seemed to be sitting on top of a trashcan staring directly at the man. Unlike all the others, laying around and playfully fighting with one another, this one seemed to have a sense of intention behind it.


[OOC: Rolled in bot fun]
[Options yours on how you want to proceed. Will be rolling for success/failure]

Her intuition was correct.

The savory aroma's wafting down the street had been luring in cats from all over, and based on her observations, Coco was one of them. Several other felines populated the area. Many of different colors and breeds, Hibana wondered were they being gathered purposefully?

So, before walking down the alley, Hibana paused for a moment.

Why were there so many cats here? Would she be alright heading into the alley as she was? Her intuition keeping her on alert, Hibana would continue forward.

The lump of coal in her chest hardening, but her resolve pushed her forward anyway despite the worry. Hibana was not a brave soul, however, she often did what she had to do in the face of those fears.

Hiding those very fears, Hibana would calmly continue to make her way down the cat infested alley way. Though she was careful not to scare anyone or any of the felines, some of them perked up at the sight of her and scattered, many choose to stay. She'd introduce herself once she entered within earshot.

"Hello. I'm looking for a cat. I believe she's made her way here? Her owner has asked me to collect her." It was at this moment that Hibana realized that animals don't typically allow people who they didn't know, to touch them. So now, she was a matter of checking how well she could handle animals.

But what exactly was the man smoking back here that was attracting all the felines anyway?

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