Ghost of Ushani

[Tatsuo]

With all the new experience Tatsuo gained he decided to put his training to the test with a more difficult mission. From the plethora of requests that Kumogakure got, it was the first time he could be assigned one with an actual sense of danger. While the opportunity in the Leaf Village might have not arrived he was able to fudge the details on how far along he had come to Cloud Officials as they had no real interest in his survival and more money was more money the boy assumed.

He was assigned to help a small village with a ghost problem. Usually these kind of things were just a bunch of scared peasants who jumped at the sight of their own shadow, but to collect so much money in order to hire a ninja to deal with the issue gave a sense of legitimacy and Tatsuo was the superstitious type. He didn't doubt the existence of ghosts and other vile creatures as he'd already dealt with his fair share of undesirables.

After accepting the mission it took him a few days to finally depart, making arrangements with Kaji and others who would notice him missing. He restocked on shuriken, kunai, and other assortments of ninja tools. He even found a trinket shop in the corner of town which sold Moon Dust and Spectral Oil, two reagents that would make slaying a ghost so much easier.

He left before the sun came up, the train was to take him about a two hour walk
from the small village of Ushani. From the information provided from the dossier it was a small mining village in the outskirts of the Lightning Countries control, ruled by a particularly arbitrary lord. Must be why they opted to hire a ninja rather than ask for their liege’s support. Either way more money for Tatsuo he thought as he finally made it to the base of the town rested on a small hill.

It was a simple town, the houses were scattered around with a modest town square where the civilians would hold their festivals and assorted meetings. It was a nice change from the business of Konoha and Kumo. Tatsuo felt more drawn to these small towns anyways, he always had.

The first stop he made was a small inn that seemed to be carved into the hill itself. The man at the front counter had big rosey cheeks and a brown moustache larger than life. It was quite the contrast to his shiny bald head. Tatsuo nodded to the man as he made his way to the counter, “I'd like to get a room, I'm here to deal with the ghost problem the village has been having.” Immediately Tatsuo noticed the big yellow smile appearing under the man's moustache. “Ah! You finally arrived! Yeah one of those ghosts tries to kidnap my son I tell ya’ I've seen what you ninjas can do but i think they should've sent someone older. We woulda been able to afford someone older too if Kazuki wasn't so cheap. He sells meat, half fat, for twice as much as you can get it anywhere else I tell ya. I wouldn't do business with him he's a cheap-ass.” Tatsuo nodded along as the man spoke and showed him to his room. Humored by the small town politics. Finally as the man turned the key and showed a room with a small chest at the bed and a cot that'd just barely fit Tatsuo. He thanked the innkeeper and handed him a few notes. “Ah thank you! Lots of mercenaries think they'll just get the room free always an awkward conversation!” The man laughed heartily as he handed Tatsuo two keys. “For the room and for the chest.” Before leaving with a low bow.

Tatsuo never thought about the fact that some would consider shinobi mercenaries. It didn't surprise him but made him a bit uncomfortable, it had such a negative spin on it. He sat in his bed looking through the small window in his room and looked at the falling sun. It'd do him good to begin in the morning. He took off his leather jerkin and boots and began to get ready for bed.

In the morning he laid out all of his supplies on the floor. Ten shuriken, two kunai, his sword White Elk, a small pouch of Moon Dust and a vial of Spectre Oil. There were assorted bandages, a rolled up map and his passport. He then began to get dressed in his battle gear, a leather jerkin, his kunai on his legs. Shuriken in two pouches on his hip and the sword on the opposite side.

He still had to meet with the village elder before he could begin to hunt for the ghost. More details were definitely needed if he were to successfully hunt for a ghast. They tended not to be creatures which showed themselves without reason.

After questioning quite a few patrons at the inn and local tavern he finally was directed to a small house at the top of the hill. While the hill was still humble it was definitely a step above the tiny homes others claimed their own. Outside was an older man shoveling away at the garden. Tatsuo called to him, the man shook his head and rested on the shovel, “If you're lookin’ for the village elder, she's inside.”

Tatsuo furrowed his brow, he hadn't expected it to be a woman. When he entered the home he saw a small woman sitting in a rocking chair with a blanket up to her neck. A young woman was handing her a small wooden cup that smelled like tea. “”Here you go, grandmother.” The old lady gave off a wrinkled smile and nodded in thanks. The girl then turned to Tatsuo and asked if he'd like some. Instantly Tatsuo blushed, she was incredibly attractive with dark brown eyes and straight hair. He looked down a bit as to not stare “Uhm, no thank you. I really appreciate the offer.” The girl was at least two years older than Tatsuo and understood immediately why he was shy. As to poke fun at him, she said “Alright cutie, if you need anything just ask.” And then sauntered off into another room.

The elderly lady laughed which resulted in a throaty cough. “Ah she's a restless flirt. At least I know where she got it from.” Tatsuo shook his head, “Oh no, it was nothing.” The elderly lady laughed once again, “I hope you don't fear ghosts as much as girls.” Tatsuo shook his head and laughed a bit, “Girls are much scarier I, promise.” The lady pointed a finger at the boy and nodded “and you always remember that.”

Despite the joking aura of the woman she was quick to explain the situation to Tatsuo. Apparently the ghost that had been haunting them for so long, was an old bride, who died by drowning the day of her wedding. Immediately after her groom ran off with her sister or as the story goes, and because of that she haunts all the weddings in the village. It made enough sense to Tatsuo, he believed in the ghost but the story didn't make that much sense. Either way he was paid to get rid of the ghost, not understand it.

Apparently there was going to be a wedding the next day and Tatsuo was to find the ghost the night before and get rid of it, the lady spent an hour explaining how to summon the ghost at the grounds in which she drowned. It didn't seem too complex, light a fire at night near the river and ring a bell. Tatsuo doubted it'd work but he was getting paid for it, wouldn't be the worst night at least he'd have a fire.

The woman was kind enough to invite Tatsuo to join them for dinner and he had a hard time keeping his eyes off the girl. He spent most of the night stealing glances toward her, she was his definition of beauty and it tormented him. This was his first time really feeling this way. He'd never fallen head over heels for anyone but this girl could've said to jump off a cliff and he'd have catapulted off the edge. Every time she spoke to him his heart fluttered and his throat ran dry. When he responded he stammered and went red.

Unfortunately for Tatsuo everyone knew. It got a few snickers from the many at the table, but Tatsuo was adamant to finish his meal before calling it a night. He decided the best way to get through it was to just keep his head down and act like he was shy in general, which didn't work since everyone already knew.

After what felt like hours of agonizing teasing Tatsuo finally called it a night excusing himself to continue on the mission. As he left the girl followed him outside and blew him a kiss, saying “Be safe!” Tatsuo had fought giant spiders and bad mouthed Sennin, but this girl was his weakness. She giggled and waved as she headed back inside leaving Tatsuo alone in the dark night, his only company the crickets who were almost deafening at this time of year.

Instead of basking in the moonlight and his embarrassment Tatsuo decided to finally head to the river. He decided he'd wait till the moon was overhead make his fire and ring his bell. Though it was getting cold he'd probably make the fire now.

 

[Tatsuo]

Tatsuo was an experienced woodsman, so the fire didn’t take long it was crackling and providing him some much needed warmth in this terrible climate within minutes. The moon wasn’t completely overhead yet though, he’d need to wait to ring the little brass bell they had provided him.

Pulling out both a rag and the Spectre oil from his pack he began to cover his blade in it, the it was rumored the only way to actually cut through a ghost was a weapon covered in a Spectre Oil and Moon dust mix. Tatsuo had never really fought a ghost but he had heard plenty of tales of fighting other unsightly beings in his time. Luckily the shop in Kumogakure had both of the reagents needed. If every shop carried them, there probably was a ring of truth to them, as the folk tales from Leaf and Cloud were quite varied. Hopefully it’d work, Tatsuo thought as he wasn’t looking to be caught with his pants down if he was about to fight a ghost keen on eating his face off.

After what felt like hours in the boredom of listening to the river crash on the banks of the river, the fire crackling and crickets calling he finally decided it was time to ring the bell. Immediately after everything went quiet, all the crickets were gone, it seemed as if the river stopped, and the hairs on his neck stood up like needles. Instinctively he reached for his sword and stood up. He got into a defensive stance and scanned around looking for anything, but just as he began to look, a gust of wind so powerful nearly blew him off his feet. Whilst Tatsuo stood firmly on the ground, his fire didn’t share the same fate leaving him with just the faint moonlight illuminating his battlefield.

For many shinobi this wouldn’t be an issue at all, fire jutsu was a common thing to have in your arsenal, but wood didn’t shine. A quick ghastly blow would strike at his side, leaving him an uncomfortable numbness as he went to swing his sword at where he suspected the blow came from. He heard a sinister screech which would send many men reeling, even Tatsuo’s legs began to shake and his knees began to buckle. The moonlight flashed off his sword, giving him a quick glimpse of the injured ghost. A woman whose hair was long and frazzled, with a wicked face and fangs to match. She was in a torn spectral wedding dress.

Tatsuo reeled back from her blow, putting a few meters of distance between the two. He tossed his sword into the air, in which the ghost raised her hands up in a defensive stance and Tatsuo began to form a rapid flurry of hand seals. It would appear as if wood was growing out of him, it began to cover his body with a thick armor that seemed to have a mind of its own. By the time the armor finished coating him, the ghost had seen through his distraction and struck at him. His sword fell down nearly at the same moment, giving him a chance to parry the ghost with the flat of his blade. The spectre oil and moon dust mix seemed to burn at the touch, leaving the ghost screeching once more and fleeting away. This screech was even worst than the last, but this time it didn’t stop after its initial blow.

Tatsuo was shaken to his very core by the scream, he quickly felt the effects of Genjutsu overtaking him. Using all the force he could muster, he brought his hands together in a tiger seal, trying to perform the jutsu ‘Cancel’. Instantly he could feel the effects of the Genjutsu disappear. Going back on the offensive he tried to strike at the ghost again who let off a focused sound blast right in his face. He was sent flying backwards from the sheer force of the blow.

His sword was sent flying in a different direction and the ghost took this as an opportunity to run. Bringing himself to his feet Tatsuo tried to pursue but he felt dizzy from the blast, he could barely stand without falling over. He felt like vomiting, he lurched over and focused his energy. But the ghost was long gone, it went back to licking its wounds to prepare to fight once again. Tatsuo would have to come more prepared this time, offensively he was ready for combat but he hadn’t given much weight to the idea that the ghost would be able to fight back so easily. He looked up towards the village, in which most of the lights were being put down for the night. Lacking the energy to make it back to town, he kneeled down taking a rest before finally collapsing in the mud.

He felt something pull on him, but in his defeated haze he was too weak to fight it off and too delirious to figure out what it was. Flashes of light, someone much bigger than him, and a warm bed was all he remembered.

The next morning he woke up and recognized the room he had rented, it must’ve been that old man who brought him up from the river. Tatsuo went to get up but his side burned as if it’d been shaved off. He pulled up the covers to check his injury and found that it’d already been bandaged to his surprise. He thought he’d remember someone coming in and healing him. It was numb, it wasn’t the doings of any Med-Nin but it didn’t lack any expertise or finesse. For a non chraka based healing method it was actually quite good.

It wasn’t long before their was a knock at the door, to which Tatsuo called out to, “Come in!” slowly the door creaked and the same girl from the elder’s house came in with a tray of food. She smiled at him and said “You know, one of the guardsman had saw the fight you had with the ghost. They said you sent it running back into the forest, or wherever it came from.” she laid the tray on his lap as he sat up. “We know you didn’t finish the job yet, but we couldn’t just let you pass out in the mud. Old man Moko helped drag you in here and I wrapped up you're injuries. Does it still hurt?” She asked worriedly, Tatsuo shook his head and his cheeks turned a bit red. “No, it’s fine.” The girl laughed and placed a hand on her hip, saying “Good, now eat up, we can’t have a ninja dying on our watch. Especially a foreign one.” Tatsuo tensed up a bit at that, he didn’t realize that the locals would realize the difference between a Leaf ninja and a Cloud one, and had no idea how foreigners were cared for. But if they treated locals any better, he might have to move.

The plate was a hearty serving of rice and assorted vegetables with steamed chicken. It was honestly a god send, as Tatsuo hadn’t brought anything to eat with him the night before and had been starving then, now he was absolutely famished. Instantly forgetting his manners he dug into the food leaving nothing else, the girl went for the door and waved to him. “I don’t want to distract you while you eat, have fun.” she smiled and waved which made Tatsuo even feel worse about it. He was too shy to ask anything of her, he would blame it on duty to make himself feel better but deep inside he realized it was cowardice a trait the boy held quite disdain for. Which didn’t make his feelings for her any easier.

After a day or two of the girl bringing him meals and Mr. Moko checking on him he finally felt rested enough to get back out there and try hunting the ghost once more. He would be more prepared this time, though as he didn’t want to face such a pyrrhic victory twice in a row. It might make him look bad, especially in front of that girl he fancied so much. His first stop was a local clothing shop where he bartered for a thick pair of earmuffs, they wouldn’t block out his hearing all the way, but with some earplugs made of beeswax and the earmuffs should do the trick. After inserting the beeswax into his ears, he placed the earmuffs over them then rang the same bell from earlier. He couldn’t hear a thing, which was great. He wasn’t going to be needing his ears for the fight anyways. The next thing on his list was a lantern, that wouldn’t blow out if wind were to strike his fire again. He was barely able to see the ghost the first time and that allowed her to get an opening strike on him, one he didn’t want to take again. While it seemed he couldn’t strike the ghost with normal means, the spectre oil and moon dust would do the trick for his blade. But it still didn’t stop the ghost from hitting him, however it relied on the screeches after he had obtained his wooden armor. Perhaps it couldn’t strike past such a chakra charged armor. He opted for an oil based lantern, as there was little chance it would run out before he needed it to. And if worst came to worst he could always use it as a projectile on the ghost. Though a flaming ghost might make even a worse enemy. After finally feeling prepared he returned to the room at the inn and began doing inventory.

 

[Tatsuo]

He still had enough Spectre Oil and Moon Dust to slay the demon if he managed to actually get a hit on it. The earmuffs should protect him from that ghastly scream. With the closed lantern he should be able to see the ghost so he could actually fight it. Now all he needed to do was return to the spot and ring the bell.

Camping out there all day he tried to pay close attention to every detail of the terrain, just in case the lights were to go out once again. He’d have enough information of his surrounding terrain to slay the ghost. He washed his face in the water to keep himself awake and vigilant as he awaited nightfall. Once the moon began to shine and the sun finally crept behind the horizon he took the bell and waited. He could no longer see much farther past him. His fire gave him a bit of warmth and visibility but still not enough to make him comfortable. Normally he didn’t fear nature as it tended to be his ally but this was his first time fighting a ghost. As he applied the Spectre Oil and Moon Dust to his blade he heard something walking behind him. His head jerked backwards and he scanned the forest, it was just a small fox grinning at him as he had just caught a mouse. Tatsuo shook his head and sighed, was he really so jumpy that even a fox could scare him? Perhaps he was out of his league in this one. Though how could he return to a foreign village and tell them that he wasn’t good enough to do an assigned mission. That would hurt his pride more than anything. He shook his head as he doubled down on his resolve to stay here and see this mission out, even if it killed him.

As the moon was finally overhead, he took a branch from his fire and lit his glass lantern. And placed on his earmuffs, it would be difficult to fight without the assistance of his ears but he’d have to rely on the lantern's light to guide him. He rung the bell and just like last time, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and a strong gust of wind blew out his fire. But his lantern didn’t fail him. The ghost appeared once again and immediately let off a screech in which he couldn’t hear and wasn’t affected by. Tatsuo rotated his foot while funnelling chakra into the ground. Immediately a large wooden log worked as a launching pad sending Tatsuo forward at incredible speeds.

He had gotten a good hit on the ghost, ectoplasm was shooting from her injured arm. “Got you now!” Tatsuo would shout before turning around to face the ghost again. This time she had no intention on being on the defensive and sent out a screech which Tatsuo could feel the chakra in it. Instead of a Genjutsu it was a Ninjutsu and sent him reeling backwards into the mud as he slid through the mud. Focusing the chakra in his arm, he encased it in wood and used it as a break to prevent him from sliding away. “So you can use ninjutsu too..” he said as he brought his palms together. Soon vines began to spawn from his body wrapping him head to toe in a sinewy natural flayed man. Wooden plates soon appeared to reinforce the armor. “LETS GO!” He said as did a similar trick to as last time, this time launching him high into the air.

The ghost had entered a defensive stance, assuming he was launching towards her for another sword strike. But wasn’t expecting a blow from the air. As he extended his arm five tendrils grew from his forearms and sought out the ghost. She managed to dodge two but three of them managed to pin her down. Still mid air Tatsuo threw his silver sword aiming directly for the heart of the ghost. Last minute she managed to break one of the tendrils and get the blow to hit her already injured arm.

The only issue was now, Tatsuo didn’t have his sword. The ghost rose to her feet and went to hit him with another sound blast, Tatsuo responded with a strong wooden wall that protected him from the blast. The earth to each side was torn apart from the more focused air blasts. “Damn, that one would’ve really hurt.” he said as he hid behind his barrier. Sinking his hand into the ground he sent a small wooden branch through the earth in which came from up under his sword and shot it towards him. He jumped a few feet to grab the sword mid air and continue his offensive. The ghost however had no intention in giving him a break. She charged towards him and her arm grew an even more ethereal grip which was heading straight towards him. He managed to cut it off with his sword, it immediately vanished but he hadn’t noticed the ghosts other grip coming straight towards him. He was caught on the chest and jerked back to the ghost. She opened her infinite maw and another sound blast went to hit him at face value.

“Poof.”, “Thank god I learned that at the academy.” he said his heart beating faster than ever, he nearly lost there. A blow of that intensity from such a close distance would be the end of him, even Tatsuo could tell that. He couldn’t get cocky or rely on luck to defeat this ghost it’d take every bit of training he’s received up until this point.

After making another hand seal he made, what he called, a bush clone. He wasn’t able to fully formulate clones out of pure wood. But he was able to create these clones made of random debris you’d find in a forest. They weren’t particularly strong but they could trap an enemy for long enough for Tatsuo to get in a good hit.

The clone rushed forward grabbing onto the ghost who used a screech to tear the clone in half. It’s legs and most of it’s torso sent flying into a debris of mud, wood, and other assorted mixtures you’d find on a forest floor. But what she wasn’t expecting was Tatsuo to strike. With the ghost preoccupied, Tatsuo dashed in, slashing the ghost across the chest. A fatal blow. The ghost gripped it’s torso and lurched forward. Tatsuo wiped his blade clean and his armor began to retract back inside the boy. He sheathed it as he watched the ghost fade away like ash in the wind. All that was left was a tattered and dirty wedding dress.

Tatsuo stopped feeding chakra into his clone and then went to grab the wedding dress. Placing it over his shoulder he went to make his way up the mountain in which the village elder would be interested in his slaying of the ghost. It took him about an hour to finally make it up the hill from the low valley he had been in. He had no intention in going quickly, slaying things, even such creatures always made him a bit somber. Especially the whole idea of this ghost never getting her wedding. Tatsuo began to wonder if he’d ever get married and if he did, what if he died the day before? Would he haunt the world until he was cut down? He sighed and decided to not worry about it. When he knocked on the door of the house and after a few moments of waiting, the elderly lady flashed a candle at him then ushered him in.

Her hand instantly reached over to the dress in which Tatsuo was giving to her. “She was so beautiful that day, I remember how happy she seemed.” Tatsuo could see the tears swelling in her eyes. “It’s alright.. She’s in a better place now.” The lady shook her head and sighed. “We don’t know where ghosts go, tell me, was it quick? She was my eldest.. Do I even want to know?”

Tatsuo’s heart felt for this woman, no one deserved such a fate to have their daughter succumbed to such evil forces. “It was quick.” he lied. “One quick blow, all it took. Looked painless.” he further clarified. The lady nodded somberly and handed him a small bag of coins. “It should be more than enough compensation for dealing with it.” Tatsuo waived his hand and said “Don’t worry about it, the experience was good enough.” It took him over an hour to finally have the elderly woman to agree to turn down the money but Tatsuo had already decided. He had no intention in being greedy.

He made his way outside the simple village of Ushani, unfortunate he had never gotten to see that girl anymore. Probably for the best. Had she asked him to stay, he probably would’ve and that wouldn’t be too good for his career as a shinobi.

It wasn’t long until he finally arrived at the train station and made his way back to the Cloud Village by train. Quickly allowed through the gates he made a beeline for Kaji’s home. He missed his bed more than anything else. And once he finally got to it, he slept for what felt like days. He still felt weird about the events that happened, but one thing he knew he’d never forget his adventure and the experience he had in Ushani. Perhaps he would spend some more time learning how to fight such vicious beings.

Mission Complete!