Earth and Wood [Kyo]

[Senju Shizuka]

Fast, quiet and clean. Apparently, things concerning the forming gang hadn’t turned out the way the higher-ups wanted them to. They had taken out the leader last time, but a new one had taken his place ever since. It seemed that the problem was rooted deeper than what had been thought to be bad influence of one greedy, cruel man. So, this time, over a dozen people involved in the robberies, kidnappings and potential murders were to be taken out. Shizuka re-read the scroll. The sentences were short and to the point. She was to be on a team of two as a back-up. Like the last time, except this time it wasn’t just about one person, it was about a defined area with the targets on them. Estimated, there would be five to six of them present. The other location was allegedly assigned to another team. They would take those threats out. She sighed.

This wouldn’t be a fun mission. She knew that much already. Last time things had been somewhat messy and it only involved one person. They had managed, though. Successfully finished the mission and headed back home. The memory of her cutting a throat was still vividly etched into her mind. It turned out that attacking first and killing from nearby was harder than defending with Ninjutsu during an emergency.

Shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts, the young genin set out to the assigned meeting spot just outside the Cloud. There was a crossroad with a small shop there, people frequently met up there to travel north and north-east. That’s where they were heading today - north. Not too far, though. Two days of provision was what she had with her, because the scroll said the mission could last for two days depending on whether the group would move. She hoped they wouldn’t have to track them. Things would turn rough rather fast if they would to go up the mountains in the north. Somehow she doubted that it would happen, or maybe she wished that it didn’t so her brain refused to go down that road. The non-chakra users weren’t usually eager to go too far into dangerous places. She was counting on that now.

With her bag strapped to her back and Don (her slim warhammer) attached to its side, she came up to the side of the store. Her hooded jacket was protecting her from the sharp wind. She pulled up a bit of her bordeaux red scarf to protect her nose. Jade colored eyes looked for whoever would be her superior during this trip. The genin headband was tied to her right upper arm, onto the winter jacket. A deep green line across the black she wore. The furry hood framed her pale face. Chocolate locks slightly visible where the wind had managed to get to them.

Figuring it would be smart to check out the front of the little shop she headed there. Around the corner, a single man stood. Long, dark hair. Some scars. The signals sent from him seemed the ones she was looking for. “Hotaka, Kyo” - her scroll had said. She wondered if he knew her name.

“Goodmorning,” she genin let him know, coming up closer. This man was huge, she barely came up to his chest. That’s why she had to tilt her head a little back in order to get a good look on his face. “Senju Shizuka, reporting for duty.”

* * *​

MFT 579

 

[Hotaka Kyo]

Kyo had received word of a mission that would require his participation; it was to be a cleanup mission on a gang that Cloud had failed to take care of. The previous mission dealing with them had taken out the leader and left the members alone, and they were now attempting to hunt them down and deal with them and their new leader that had taken command. “This is why you kill them all.” He had been assigned a part of a two man team, the other member was a genin who had participated and proved themselves fairly well in the previous mission, they at least seemed to be capable of killing when the need arose, so he didn’t have to worry about that, just if they would follow instructions properly.

Depending on how well the other nin operated, this could be a fun mission, or it could be a teaching experience he supposed. Taking out six members of a gang shouldn’t cause any issues for the pair, even fresh faced genin should be able to deal with that many non-chakra fighters, as long as they hadn’t been trained in a similar way as he was training his Murders he supposed. He doubt they would be, as the training tended to specialized, and the Genin and other nins had taken the leader down fairly well from what he had heard.

Kyo had gotten ready and departed early, before first light, taking three days of food and water, despite the mission stating two days, wearing his new and improved light armor, the silk that held the light armor pieces in place giving it a sheen that his old armor had lacked, and his general equipment he kept with him at all times. While he likely should have brought some kind of cold weather gear, he wasn’t to effected by the cold, having lived a life of harsh training, including survival training on Monumentum Deo, and the fact he didn’t truly feel things as others did meant he went about in his vest and armor most of the time. He had exited the city with his mission passport, leaving information with Old Nan that he would be gone for up to four days, but should be back by then at least. He had arrived at the little shop at the crossroads and was waiting patiently for the other member of his team, stood tall and arms behind his back as he stood watching those coming and going.

The small girl with the red scarf and hooded jacket that rounded the corner caused the slightest of frowns to form on his face, though it was quickly wiped away. She had her headband tied to her arm, a practice that Kyo had never taken to, keeping his in a pocket on the inside of his vest, away from prying eyes. The hammer on her back was interesting, he had trained with blunt weapons when he was younger, though he hadn’t continued the practice as it wasn’t a part of the strict training that his family underwent, it having been more a side project he did for fun than serious training. His father had been unhappy he was wasting his time with it when he had found out; the punishment for it was unpleasant.


When she greeted him and introduced herself Kyo gave a small bow, “Hotaka Kyo, pleased to meet you Senju-san.” He really did not like the good morning greeting, the one giving it never had any idea what kind of day it was, though he kept that to himself. He openly looked her over for a few moments before nodding, “We should get going,” he paused a moment to look at her legs, “If we hurry, we should be able to catch them before they move.” After a moment he added, “Take that off your arm and stash it in your pack or jacket. You’re telling the world that a mission is taking place.” He indicated her headband with a small gesture. “Pride has no place on a mission.”

[Entered Topic]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

The man was quite formal, but it wasn’t uncommon. To be honest, the more times she did this, the more realized that starting off professional and quiet was the best option. Besides, the excitement from the first couple of times going outside of the village’s gates had worn off. This was work, not a camping trip with friends. It’s why she nodded when mentioned hurrying up. She’s had a good night sleep and felt fairly energetic. Keeping up shouldn’t be a problem unless he actually tried to lose her. She doubted that to be the case - they started walking. A second later, after the remark about her headband, Shizuka nodded again and took it off. The thing went into her backpack, her pockets weren’t large enough to effortlessly hide it. Apart from that she still wanted room for her hands too.

“It wasn’t meant to.. show off anything,” she replied, softly. Now that she thought about it, she had never before taken off her headband. Even last time, she had simply kept it on her arm. Perhaps now that they were heading out over day and might be expected by their enemy, it was indeed better to hide any signs of being shinobi.

Looking to his side she thought about what he looked like. A warrior of some kind. Maybe a guy from a gang. Though, why would a child travel with someone like that, right? Well, hmm, perhaps she could be an orphan then. Nobody would question that, until they saw her clothes, probably. Still, not every orphan had to wear dirty and torn clothes. As for being thin, Shizuka was still fairly skinny. She hoped that in the following years mother nature would offer her a feminine shape, because at the moment she could have been a boy if one hid her face. All bones, lean muscles and skin. Maybe just too little shoulders and slightly too much hips. Easily hidden with layers of clothes, though.

“Kyo-san, can I call you that?” Shizuka wanted to know after a couple of minutes. While she wasn’t overly loud, she did like talking when there was nothing else to do. “Have you been up north a lot of times?”

The road uncoiled in front of them. Specks of green still present on the side would soon disappear beneath the snow. Well, not too soon, but winter was coming. And should they walk far enough, snow would be waiting for them there. One of the things she wasn’t sure how she felt about was snow. Beautiful, soft but very cold. She liked its freshness and the sound it made when stepped upon. At the same time she didn’t like it too much when it melted into a goo or reflected the sun enough to blind her. It was good that clouds hung heavily above their home village so much of the time.

“I think that I like it here, up high.” She let him know after a while. Not that they had gotten really high, but it was decent. Roads had become a bit more narrow, a bit less safe. Thick old trees grew on the sides, holding onto the ground with hundred year old roots. She loved it here, between the trees. Less sun, not too much wind. Pretty.

“If I get to grow old, I’ll build myself a cabin somewhere a little higher. Not too far into the snow, but nearby. I like the forrest’s scent and its presence. It’s alive, like us.” Maybe oversharing a little, she hoped that he hadn’t grown annoyed by her yet. For now, she would be quiet unless he wanted to keep the conversation going. In the case of silence she could always dream away a little, think of what she could do in her free time.

* * *​

 

[Hotaka Kyo]

They were able to make decent enough time, she wasn’t so slow that they had to crawl, and he wasn’t moving so fast as to elect any curious glances at either of them as they made their way down the path. “What you meant, and what you were doing are different things. Do you think out here, amongst the citizens of Lightning and beyond, that displaying a headband for all to see is anything but? It’s an advertisement, a proud declaration of your loyalty and warning. None of which are helpful to us.” He explained the reasoning. He wasn’t sure if anyone had explained anything like that to her before, so he felt he should at the very least provide an explanation.

There was quite for a few before the girl spoke up again, asking to use his given name. While he preferred to keep things more impersonal, with the way they were traveling, others may very well view that as odd, besides they weren’t in the city or around others, so being a bit more relaxed wouldn’t harm anything, “That is fine.” He stated simply in reply. Her second question Kyo took a moment before answering, was she digging for information or simply making conversation? It could be difficult to tell at times due to the nature of the employment and life they lead. “I’ve traveled extensively, Spending time in the Spine of the World and other areas as my lot has dictated.” He answered truthfully.

Kyo enjoyed the scenery, the fresh clean air that was hard to find in Kumo at times, and the lack of people that surrounded one at all times in his home village and the cities of the surrounding country. Sure it brought its own dangers to bear on those travelling it, and while they were always paid their due attention, one could relax, even if just slightly, away from the prying eyes and judgments of the various peoples. The set of his shoulders had begun to relax somewhat, and his pace had quickened slightly towards his natural pace as he watched the lazy swoops of a bird in the distance being the only other travelers in view.

When Shizuka spoke again, Kyo slowed his pace, realizing that he may have unconsciously been making it more difficult for the young nin to keep up, “We aren’t high yet, you’re not truly in the heights until you’ve spent time on Monumentum Deo, looking down on the world as it sprawls out below you, as the world curves away in the distance, falling from view and seemingly stretching away for what seems like forever.” There was a bit of something in his tone as he spoke, perhaps wistfulness? It was difficult to tell.

When she spoke of growing old Kyo shook his head ever so slightly, though he held his tongue on the fact that the girl was thinking about retirement so shortly into her career. He instead addressed what she had said, “If you get to be old, you may wish to be closer to family, and away from the enemies our life builds. There is a reason so many that retire do so with in the Village’s walls, or in other countries far from home. Keep this in mind when you perform you work, the effect it has now, as well as down the line on your future, and Kumo’s.”

Kyo would continue on in silence for a while before speaking, “The world we live our lives in is different from the commoners, they can go about their little political games, or live quite lives worrying about nothing more than their next harvest, and other such things. We don’t have the choice of being so petty, without even meaning to cause harm, we can destroy cities and villages, and alter the political landscape of countries with our actions.” He gave a slight sigh, “Do you really think that they let us live normal lives when we grow old and live peaceful lives? How many stories, historical or otherwise, involve finding the old retired master and using them? Challenging them to prove your worth? Or simply to settle some debt that they had so long ago forgotten that they were unaware any were still angered over It and had tried living the end of their lives alone and away from it all?” Kyo stopped speaking, realizing he was starting to lecture a girl for having dreams of peace, and shook his head at himself slightly. He hadn’t been trying to crush her dreams or dissuade her, just pointing out flaws that she may not have considered. Even he had long term dreams after all.

 

[Senju Shizuka]

Now that he had explained himself a bit more clearly, she understood. It was just odd that the Academy didn’t really point it out. Perhaps that was because they knew the genin would learn soon enough. As they continued she paid some attention to those they passed. Nobody wore any sort of signs. They would have been an even more weird couple than they already were if she had kept the headband where it had been put that morning. Kyo was right. He was also older and more experienced. In various areas, it appeared. The tale of the Spine of the World caused Shizuka to dream again. Curling paths and deadly heights with freezing temperatures and nothing but ice and snow left at the tops. She knew the reality would be as cruel as it was beautiful. Regardless of that, she had to go there before the end of her life. Assuming she would have the time to, because in theory today could be her last day.

The thought left a trace of hurry. She quickened her steps as he slowed down a little. Her thoughts might have interfered with her feet before, but now she consciously strode forward. If death wouldn’t be today, then she would have time for herself once the mission was done. “You’re right.. but it’s nice to imagine it, like, you know, maybe it can be possible.”

Not every old Shinobi if they made it to that age had to train others or fight old battles, right? Then again, there were so few of those who got to get old. It was sad. She tried to ignore the topic for now. Well, planned to after sharing her last thought on it. “Challenging someone really old doesn’t seem like a good way to prove one’s worth. I mean, of course, they have a lot of experience, but when one is your age or the Sennin’s age, the generations before them might be kind of wrinkled.”

Unsure if that came across as rude, she cleared her throat. Saying that she hadn’t been trying to call him old might only make matters worse. So she kept quiet again. That was until they came across a bridge. There she told him the story of the bridge she used to draw during her Academy years. A random piece of knowledge about her that he would probably forget soon enough, but it kept the silence from stretching on for too long.

Moving on she gave him some time. And herself. But when the surroundings stopped being ‘new’ and she had grown used to being outside of the village again, she found her thoughts being pulled back to the things he had said at the start of their journey. Their lives, their powers, the weight they - as a group - held, all of it was so much more than the commoners had. At the same time it could all be bought. They did missions for money. And while she wasn’t sure how politically involved the village was, she still believed that somehow they always ended up picking a side. Assumingly their country’s. Though, sometimes their influence reached further.

It was at times like these that she regretted sleeping during the history classes. Only bits and pieces she had memorized for the finals had stuck with her. Perhaps she would have to freshen it up sometime. Not that she wouldn’t have slept again if time could be turned back. ‘Sleep is important for every kunoichi’, was a rule she had always went by. Still did whenever she could. Not that her body grew tired as rapidly as it used to. She simply liked the cosiness, the lack of worries, the sweet embrace of her blankets. Yes, Shizuka dug herself into a pile of those. Just like a cat would on a rainy day.

“What’s the plan, Kyo-san?” the young genin wanted to know as they neared what she thought to be the location. Barging in appeared like something silly. While there shouldn’t be too many people, causing a huge drama might not reflect well on the Clouds reputation.

“Do we set traps? Use clones to find the targets?”

The sun would soon start to set - she liked to know where they would be when the night hit them.

* * *​

 

[Hotaka Kyo]

Kyo gave a nod to her statement that it was nice to imagine, “Goals and dreams are good to have. It that is the one you truly want, then work on making it a reality.” Kyo gave a shrug, “It doesn’t hurt to dream big and pursue it, as long as you understand what you are getting into and can make the sacrifices.” And dreaming of a peaceful and easy life in old age as a nin was just that, a big dream that would require sacrifices and hard choices that most wouldn’t make.

The scored young man looked over and down at the young Genin for a moment as she called him old, “You know that I’m only a scant few years older than you are currently, correct? I’m not quite half the age of Yuii-sama or the Raikage.” He paused for half a moment before continuing, “Besides this, do you think that our Division leader Hatako-sama is a push over? That his experience in war, missions and life has somehow made him soft and weak simply due to his face having wrinkles and hair turning gray?” It went without saying that the young man felt that was foolish, his tone and question implied it.

There was silence again, until she started speaking of how she used to draw a bridge during her time in the academy, he wasn’t sure why she was talking about it, did it have some meaning behind it? Or was this simply a part of small talk that people tended to engage in? Kyo had a hard time telling at times, he wondered at times if it had anything to do with his lack of his sense of touch, if it made it harder, or if it was his upbringing. It didn’t matter much in this case as he had simply answered her story with an “I see.” And kept from adding anything to the conversation himself.

There was a longer period of silence after that. Kyo was thankful for it, he enjoyed the silence, perhaps because it was his default stance, maybe there was more to it, but he hadn’t actually put any thought into why his default stance was silence, for him it just was.

Finally the young genin spoke again, Kyo continued on as he answered inquiry, “Either of those or a combination would work perfectly fine. As I wish to observe you and your capabilities, I shall allow you to choose our course of action, whatever you wish to do we shall do it. Keep in mind our mission, and that it isn’t complete unless we get all of the targets. Even one escaping would mean abject failure.” The young man added after a moment, “Do we move in before dark, or after it? I function fine in the dark as well as the day since I don’t rely as heavily upon my eyesight for awareness of my surroundings.”

 

[Senju Shizuka]

“Oh..” his age came as a surprise. She didn’t try to hide her reaction to it. Looking up sideways to the tall guy she wondered why she didn’t grow like he did. It wasn’t fair, really. “Guess.. you’re just tall then.” She decided after trying to see if any wrinkles gave him away. From the quick glance she managed to get he didn’t appear to have any. Perhaps he was indeed only a few years older. Of course that immediately brought the idea of his parents being giants. He was already taller than her dad but only a bit older than her! Only gods knew how tall his father was. Genetics were such a weird thing.

“Well.. we could set up a barrier around the location, but that might take up too much time.” She thought out loud, eyes distant while she worked through the various options. While it was a bit unexpected that he left it up to her to pick their course of action she couldn’t really argue with his decision. Surely Kyo would step in if things got out of hand. Besides, it wasn’t as if she planned to lead an air assault in hopes of crushing the enemy together with everything and everyone else around them. They would be sneaky. Sort of.

“If we wait until it gets darker, I might be able to drain the ones present by releasing spores. It would take a while for them to realize what was happening assuming they’re asleep. The counter, should there be one, might be weaker too.” The camp of sorts would be covered with the spores. Then, gradually, her victims would lose some of their life-energy. It would make things a bit easier if a fight was to break out. Above that, with the plants growing in different spots, it wouldn’t be easy to say where the ‘attack’ was coming from. Even if they were to discover that something was being done to them, it would still take time to act accordingly which would result in them losing strength. The only real reason she might not want to use the spores was the possibility of there being innocent people there. However, they wouldn’t die. Those people would probably just wake up sick in the morning. The results the two Shinobi would get appeared to her worth the cost of the vague nausea a handful of people might experience in the process.

“We can use wire and a couple of clones to make sure nobody runs?” Offering the idea before planning accordingly, she waited for Kyo to agree or disapprove the strategy. While it might eat away at their chakra a bit to have various solid clones running around, it would also give them the opportunity to strike in various places simultaneously. Should that be done with enough precision they wouldn’t even need the wire.

“I’m not sure about any explosive tags.. they might be too flashy?”

* * *​