Mission A Snatch-n-Grab!? [Self Modded Team Mission]

[Goro]

The South-Side of the Community District at night was a different beast than it was under the faux desert sun. The vibrant chaos of the day had settled into a low, restless hum, illuminated by flickering lanterns that cast long, dancing shadows against the sandstone walls. Goro stood at the edge of the market square, feeling the cool night air pull the heat from the stones.

He did not like standing out in the open. To steady his nerves, he began a mental inventory of his gear, his hands moving in a subtle, rhythmic dance beneath the folds of his clothes. His fingers drifted over the primary holsters where his three kunai and five shuriken were tucked away. In a specialized pouch, he felt the distinct, ridged edges of the hardened silk needles he had spent the previous night crafting. He had produced the silk from his mouth and infused it with chakra to give it the density of pine wood, then coated the tips in a mild, blunt-force paralytic. It would not kill, but it would certainly stop a limb.

Further along his belt, his fingers brushed the edges of his explosive seals. He had prepared these with a thin layer of Plexitism, a specialized explosive compound he had learned about through family trade. It made the blast more concussive and more focused, which was perfect for the tight confines of a bazaar if things went sideways.

As a patrol of the village police walked past, their armor clinking softly, Goro felt a sudden spike of self-consciousness. Even in the dim light, he felt oversized. He shifted his weight, pulling his extra limbs tight against his ribs and crossing his middle and lower arms over his stomach in a protective, grounding hug. He tried to make his silhouette as narrow as possible, blending into the shadows of a nearby spice stall.

He was ready for a fight he hoped would not happen, but the tension of the village post-attack felt like a wire pulled too tight.

Goro looked toward the main thoroughfare, his red eyes scanning the flickering lantern light for his teammates. The other two students had not arrived yet. He did not even know their names, just faces from the back of a classroom. He hoped they were punctual because in the Hive, being late meant a shift went unfilled. In the Academy, he suspected it meant something much worse. He adjusted his white braid, pulling it over his shoulder, and ran through the tally of his equipment one last time. Every piece of gear felt like a small, heavy promise to himself.

He took a slow, deep breath, trying to match the steady rhythm of the desert wind while he waited for his peers to emerge from the darkness.

WC: 464

 

[Kyouketsu Shinda]

Goro wouldn't have to wait long, as within a matter of minutes of arriving, Shinda would file in from the darkness. He wasn't attempting to blend into the shadows and he was not stealthy, yet he walked light and silent. This could be considered strange if one was to inspect him, his body covered in a shroud. Upon this shroud however were different ornaments made of human bone, crafted into items such as buckles, clasps, and buttons. These things added weight, let alone what remained unseen beneath his clothing. The night did him no such favor either, the bones mixed with his tri-pigmented (White, Black, Red) hair stood out even in the lowest of lights. With crimson eyes, he stared towards Goro with a gaze that said one thing and one thing only.....he was present.

There had not been much of any interaction between them both, though they were students and he had seen the boy here and there, maybe even a class or two. That however did not constitute him considering the boy anything other than a stranger he had an acquaintance with. This look on his face equally didn't harbor any open hostility in their gaze, just paired with his silence would lead to believe he was the thinking type. Which would be true as by nature he wasn't a fan of social banter with people he hadn't formed a trust with. Between two people of unknown origin, information of any kind after all could be used later for any myriad of purposes...and this he was cautious of. Shinda would take this time of observation to make notes of Goro past his physical appearance and found him suitable.

This boy was prepared as well, something he could tell by the equipment brought by Goro and moreso the thought in placement. Adjusting the scarf higher than it's usual position, as it slightly fell to the bridge of his nose, his gaze would divert towards the sky...the artificial dome high above them. Thoughts invaded his mind as his senses brought him back to not long ago when the air was filled with the smell of smoke and incense. Where he, as a Kyouketsu was present during the burial rites and rituals for the twenty-three whom lost their lives in the recent battles. There was still some adjustment to this new way of life but the lives of the old still followed them it seemed...
Snapping back to reality, he'd look at Goro once more, his head tilted slightly while shoulders raised ever so slightly as if speaking with body movements instead of words. Where was their third?

[Mission Entered]
[Topic Entered]
[WC: 440]

 

[Sabishii]

​

Sabishii... lingered in the hanging darkness. Not much did he have with him from day to day. During the day, he spent time reading silently. Having been able to acquire books from his caretakers in the Hokkyoku. The clan was much like his life had become. Nomadic. A being not clasped to the societal bindings, nothing to hold him down as the wind would blow which way. Though, he was grateful for the food... the new clothing... the ability to learn how to wield his father's polearm that stretched on a strap across his back. Dark, dirty brown hair, messed about his face covering tired eyes, the boy had not slept in a week because of the voices. His lean physique was not something you would associate with physical combat though he was experienced enough for his age. The ghosts and spirits that loomed around him pulled upon his chakra and using his body as some sort of beacon to draw upon... like moths to flames. They were tiresome, but they spoke to his growth... whatever that may be.

"Night watch... Bring... provisions..."
"Yes~ Provisions~ Make sure~"
"Listen~ Listen~ Make sure.... MAKE.... suuuureee..."

The voices would ramble on as they whisked by him, pulling upon him and vanishing as quickly as they would appear, sometimes even appearing to the people around him. He could hear some whispering about him at times, they were... not afraid but... cautious. What could a child like this become if not guided into the right way. Could he potentially hurt someone? Himself? Could he become a menace? Could he potentially lead? No, not this boy... but maybe who he could become? There were more questions than answers when it came to him.

From his cot, he would lean over and begin rummaging through his belongings. Things he had taken from his former home and brought with him along the way. A Shoulder bag with some food and coins, just in case. His small stone knife that he carved while he lived amongst the dunes. some soldier pills he'd... stolen from within the compound. Something he would not do without proper preparations. And a few scrolls and ink to practice his seal writing that he would look to master as he got older. It was something his mother was attuned to when he looked through her belongings she'd left after she'd been slain.

Tonight, he was to watch with fellow students... those established in this village. Or so he would see as he'd peer from his standpoint. He wasnt completely hidden but it was easy to ignore his presence.

"There~ You see~ Night watch~"

A simple nod from Sabi to the ghost as it'd vanish would set the boy to walk forward wish his hands clasped in his pockets the other two weird looking boys would cause him to frown a bit, 'Such... oddities. This will not be... pleasant.' he'd thought to himself as he'd bring himself to rest a few feet away. The third had finally shown himself.

"Hm."

[Mission Entered]
[Topic Entered]
[WC=510]

 

[Goro]

The flickering oil lamps of the South-Side market cast long, distorted shadows that seemed to dance between the stalls. The air was thick with the scent of cumin, parched earth, and the metallic tang of cooling stone. It was a restless quiet, the kind that preceded a storm, or in this case, a struggle for survival.

Matsuda Toshi rounded the corner of a spice merchant’s wagon, his wooden sandals clicking irritably against the cobblestones. He clutched a leather-bound ledger to his chest like a shield, his face set in a permanent scowl of administrative exhaustion. He stopped a few paces away from the trio, his eyes darting between them with a look that suggested he’d been short-changed by the Academy.

"Unbelievable," Toshi muttered, loud enough for them to hear. He looked at Goro first, his eyes lingering on the extra sets of arms tucked against the boy's torso. "A six-armed construction brat," his gaze shifted to Shinda, noting the macabre bone ornaments clicking against his shroud, "a graveyard decorator," and finally settled on Sabishii, who seemed to be nodding at thin air. "And a boy who’s clearly missed his bedtime and lost his comb."

Toshi exhaled a sharp, jagged breath and stepped into the center of their loose circle.

"Listen up. I don't care about your clan names or your 'aspirations.' My employer has three stalls in this sector that have been bled dry three nights in a row. We aren't being hit by master thieves; we’re being picked apart by 'pests', those scrawny, displaced brats who think a crisis is an invitation to treat the Bazaar like a free buffet."

He pointed a slender, ink-stained finger toward a cluster of stalls draped in heavy, dark canvas.

"Pay attention to The Golden Grain Silo and Maru’s Dried Goods. Those are the primary targets. The urchins use the ventilation shafts and the narrow gaps between the stone foundations to slip in. They’re fast, they’re small, and they’re desperate. My orders were to see these pests 'dealt with' so the morning rations can actually be sold, not scavenged."

He looked at the three of them, his eyes narrowing.

"The Police Force is too busy playing hero at the breach site to care about a few missing sacks of flour. That's why you’re here. Don't break the stalls, don't scare off the legitimate customers lingering in the tea houses, and for the love of the Kazekage, try to look like you know what you’re doing. I’ll be in the manager’s office at the end of the block. Don't knock unless the market's on fire."

With a final, dismissive huff, Toshi turned on his heel and disappeared back into the shadows of the stalls, leaving the three students alone in the darkening market.


WC: 459

---

Posting order does not matter, post whenever you can / want to
Mission Mod Post: Please read the Spoiler below

Spoiler

Mission Parameters: Operation Night-Watch​

Welcome to the mission. As your Moderator, I will be guiding the narrative and reacting to your actions. Here is how we will proceed:

• Player Agency: Your choices will directly impact the mission's success and the village's perception of you. There is no "right" way to handle this—only your way.
• Dice Rolls & Stats: I will occasionally call for dice rolls (typically a D20) to determine the success of specific actions (e.g., Stealth, Perception, or Combat). Your character builds (PL, specialties, and equipment) will provide bonuses or adjustments to these rolls.
• Duration: We will play through roughly 3 to 4 rounds of interaction.
• Note on Combat: Since you are E-Rank, combat should be treated as high-stakes but localized. Use your specialized gear creatively.

Current Task: You are standing in the Bazaar. The urchins haven't appeared yet. How do you three coordinate? Do you set traps, hide in the shadows, or use yourselves as bait?

What is your first move, Team?

 

[Goro]

Goro watched Shinda emerge. The bone ornaments were a strange choice, but Goro had spent enough time in the underground shafts to know that everyone carried their own weight differently. He did not stare. Instead, he simply lifted one of his middle hands in a small wave before tucking it back.

When Sabishii arrived, looking like he had not slept in a week, Goro gave a faint nod.

"Hello," Goro murmured, his voice a quiet rasp. He said nothing more, letting the silence settle between them until the manager arrived.

Goro listened to Toshi’s insults with a practiced, stony indifference. He had worked under men like this his whole life, men who saw extra limbs as tools and children as cheap labor. He knew the type. Toshi did not want to help, he wanted the problem gone. Asking questions would be a waste of breath. Goro simply memorized the shop names and focused on the street layout.

Once Toshi left, Goro turned and began to walk. He moved with a slow, heavy gait, his red eyes scanning the rooftops and the gaps between the sandstone buildings. He stopped near a stone water basin between the two target shops and pulled a folded, dusty map from his vest.

He spread it flat, using two hands to hold the corners and a third to point. "The Silo is here," Goro said, his voice barely above a whisper. He moved his finger an inch. "Maru’s is across the gap. They are close."

He looked up at the others, then toward a nearby ledge that overlooked the alleyway. "We should find a vantage point above." Goro said lowly, not wanting to overtake any ideas they may have. While we watch, I can set a web in the gaps. It will snag them. He went quiet then, waiting for a nod or a better idea.

WC: 304

 

[Kyouketsu Shinda]

It wasn’t sight at first it was pressure. A faint, crawling pull at the edge of his skin, like fingers brushing against his bone from the inside. It was a similar feeling he had within the Bonehall, when bodies were prepared and the dead rest. Shinda’s shoulders tensed as he turned, red eyes narrowing beneath the paint on his face. The boy in the dark looked half asleep and half haunted. Messy brown hair and a presence that didn’t sit right in the air. And around him, Shinda could feel them...could feel it. This was unlike the times he'd seen him within the academy, this was direct and within personal space. Shinda didn’t tense up or adjust his own posture however, he didn't make it known he could feel something strange about the boy. He didn’t step closer either, keeping distance between himself and the other two. He just watched.

A man appeared not long afterwards and by all intents and purposes for Shinda, he completely ignored the man. There would be no exchange of expressions, no returning any looks, instead he found his gaze occupied by the sky yet again. A man that spoke in such a way did not deserve his attention, being lucky he was present by order and purpose. After overhearing the details, he would watch Matsuda Toshi leave, red eyes tracking the man’s retreating shape until it dissolved into the dark. The insults had rolled off him easily though as he’d heard worse, usually from adults who thought death adjacent work meant having a dull mind. It was rare, but when he encountered such ignorance there was mental fortitude to lean back on. The market settled again, oil lamps popping softly as they burned. “Pests,” Shinda repeated under his breath in a quiet tone that the others could hear if they wanted to. His expression wouldn't betray his thoughts as his face remained calm. He was not angry or annoyed, just… noting it.

He watched Goro unfold the map, the way his eyes kept lifting to the rooftops even while he spoke. He glanced back at Goro, red eyes focused yet distant at the same time. He lifted two fingers, then lowered them slightly speaking with the expression instead of words; "high enough to catch". A small motion of the hand, cutting downward once, an understanding that they should end it fast if needed. Nothing more and nothing less.

Still while they had yet to begin their actual mission, Shinda would become vocal if only for a moment. His voice is strangely deeper in tone than others his age, including them. His voice held structure and added weight to the few words that left his lips. "Pests for wanting to live..." This single statement from him was backed back real emotion, a pressure built within his chest while the bones at his wrist, fashioned into a bracelet, clicked softly.."Entering ventilation means rooftop...but foundation means...", his gaze glanced towards the ground, at his feet. Underground...could they be using the piping system?
[WC: 484]

 

[Sabishii]

"Hm..."

Sabishii would only stare as he eyed the man as he stepped into the clearing. His insults, were of merit but they did not sound like anything Sabishii hadnt heard before, so they fell off with minimal thought. The details of the night would be something he would want to focus upon, how was he going to get paid for what he was to do tonight. To... accompany the other two weird beings that stood on the precipice of their fates as they would intertwine with his own. These were, oddities that he would have to come across in his life. A being walking around with six arms like some mutant out of a comic, and a boy that just had a cry out for a new fashion sense. It all made the scraggily looking boy seem normal by comparison. And he was anything but.

Alas, getting the details of the mission would be interesting. The man seemed disinterested in what it was they were doing, just that he wanted it to be done and over with. An annoyance for him more than anything. His eagerness for them not to bother him was prevalent to the tired boy as well. '...He seems... nice...' a thought passed the boys head, but the moment passed as Goro, a name that seemingly fit the appearance of the boy, laid a map down for them to gaze upon. Sabishii didnt care how they would get to their objective, he would follow the leader...

Dark, empty eyes looked about before raising his voice, "...Whatever you decide...", before looking to the bone boy and then to the six-armed towering body of a kid that was the same age as him. A ghost, two actually would fly up next to Sabishii whispering into his ear,

"As above~"
"So below~"

Sabishii could only nod at this point but... what would be the next move? He'd follow Goro's lead, for now.