It was barely a week since she was admitted into the Academy and for some reason, she was already told to go to the Embassy to get field experience. It was quite odd that they would tell a new student to go out into the open world when she wasn't even finished with two of her homework that was actually due the day after tomorrow. The young girl shrugged it off as always, her teacher had the look that most of the people around the village has when they stare at her. "Why bother, I'll just get in trouble again anyway." Satsuki murmured as she made her way towards the village's Embassy.
Satsuki was actually amazed when she arrived, it was a different part of town that she has never been to before. The bustling nature of the place kind of excited her for what's in store for her later on. The young girl made her way inside the huge building to get started. As she walked around, she saw different kinds of people, mostly shinobi of different sorts, some she have seen before, others for the first time. She was looking for the isle for student missions, which was a bit difficult given the number of people in the place. It was a bit too much for a small and frail-looking girl like her but she managed. After a few minutes of wandering around and a couple of awkward times where she needed to ask for directions from people who seem to know who she is, Satsuki finally managed to find the isle she was looking for and patiently waited in line. She was behind four students that were familiar to her, at least facially. They were in a higher class than her, she thought. When it was her turn, she gave out an awkward smile at the attendant,
"Uh, I'm here for a--"
"My, you look adorable!” the woman said, cutting her off.
"S-Suuure... Anyway, I was told to go here to get one of them student missions? Are there any that I could do?" the girl asked.
The woman gestured with her index finger to hold on a second as she thumbed through some files.
"I'm actually a bit nervous to give you this one since this is your first time. But since the other requests are a bit too much for a newbie like you..."
"How'd you know this is my first time?" the girl asked.
"Well, this is the first time I've seen you, pumpkin." replied the woman.
"Oh. O-Okay, so what's the request?"
"Old farmer Kaname has problems with varmints. He wants someone to deal with them, or else he'd be waist-deep in trouble." explained the woman.
"Uh, okay? But..." Satsuki awkwardly scratched her cheek while grinning nervously.
"What is it dear? Is it too much? I could put you on my waiting list if you want." The woman said.
"NO! NO! I'll take it! But uhm, what are varmints?" the little girl said with a wide, awkward grin on her face.
"OH! Haha, sorry sorry. I forgot to explain. Varmints are small animals that cause problems either in people's homes or like in this case, a farm. They might be birds, rodents, those kind of things that cause trouble." explained the woman.
"OH! OKAY OKAY! I'll take the mission!" replied the girl giddily.
The woman smiled at the girl, giving her a copy of the mission folder and directions to Old Kaname's farm.
The girl headed out immediately, since it was ways away especially for a girl her age to be traveling alone. It was still inside Iwagakure, but Iwa is pretty huge. She was headed to the outer parts of Maruishi where the farmlands are located. This area is comprised of majority of the Earth Country's farmlands and a ways off from the village itself. Satsuki was lucky enough to hitch a ride with a sheep herder who's on his way back to the farmlands. It took them a couple of hours before they reached the place but some old stories from the sheep herder made time pass by faster.
She was dropped in front of the old man's farm. The old man, was oddly enough, waiting for her. She walked up to him and flashed the mission folder,
"I'm here for the varm- var- small animals that are terrorizing you..." the young girl said with a smirk.
Old Man Kaname eyed the small girl, "I knew they were gonna send some kids but I didn't expect they'd send one kid, but good enough. Come, I'll explain everything to you inside the house." Old Man Kaname led the young girl inside his house.
In the house there was an old lady, the old man's wife, Sakura. Who prepared a small meal for the girl. Old Man Kaname went on with the introductions and they all sat down for supper. Afterwards, they sat on the front porch as the old man explained their situation,
"You see, we're one of the smaller farms in this part of the Akatsuchi Farmlands, and as you can see, we're on the edge of a small forest." the old man started to explain as he took out his pipe. "..my son, Seijuro, who's pretty much the muscle of our small farm, went to the Fire Country to get some new crops for us to plant with two of our farm hands. It'll be a week before they get back so I sent a request at the Embassy. Your task is simple little girl, take care of these pesky animals that run around my farm." The old man explained further.
The young girl panned around the surroundings. She didn't expect the location to be big. At this point she still didn't understand that a 'small' farm was around one to two hectares big. She eyed a corn field and some other vegetables. Satsuki stood up and jumped to sit on the railing of the porch.
"So, do you know what animals old man? I've dealt with rats before in our place. They tend to eat the smaller chicken and chicks that my grandma used to take care of.."
"Well, the things that go in my chicken coop could either be big rats, or raccoons. Deer and rabbits on the other hand... I've seen deer come in my fields. It's up to you to find out and clean up." the old man replied.
Satsuki would then ask the old man and his wife for some things that she would need. Kaname already bought a couple bear traps but instead, gave it to the girl. She asked some small boxes, wooden crates and other stuff that was easily seen in any farm. The little girl would set up traps around the chicken coop and some deer traps in between the forest clearing and Old Man Kaname's field. She remembered what her grandma would always say, 'Maybe you can use your stubbornness for good'. Satsuki smiled, she would usually make traps and prank people who look down on her. This was the first time that she would use the skills that she acquired to actually help an old man and his wife. That was reason enough to give it her best.
After an hour and a half of setting up, Satsuki was up in the roof of the barn, it was a perfect spot since it was high up, and was situated along the crops near the forest clearing where she set up the bear traps. It was also in front of the chicken coop, which she has easy access to. She thought that whatever was attacking the chicken coop would most definitely go around the barn and into the coop if they came from the forest. The young girl waited, she had with her her makeshift 'kunai' just in case. It was a piece of hard metal she had found lying in the back alleys back in town, tied with a small handle. She waited for hours, into the wee night when she suddenly heard a rustling sound at the other side of the barn. The girl cautiously and silently went to that side and waited. A pair of raccoons came out stealthily and slowly made their way to the coop. The girl quickly got up and rand parallel on the roof towards the coop to see if the pests would take the bait. She asked for the leftovers from their supper and used it as bait in the metal trap that was meant for big rats. It wouldn't hold the raccoon for very long, but it would be enough to trap it inside a wooden crate. A raccoon cautiously came to the trap, smelling it, checking it out before taking a nibble that set the trap. A brittle snap echoed slightly as squirming followed suit. Satsuki jumped to the hay bale beside the barn and quickly ran towards the raccoon that had its snout crushed on the trap. On the way she could see on the side that the other one was running back into the forest. The girl quickly threw her home-made kunai at the fleeing animal before jumping at the trapped one. She took the raccoon by the tail and dumped it inside the crate before sealing it with a heavy wooden cover.
"What's happening?!" Old Man Kaname yelled as he opened his bedroom window.
"Got one of the raccoons old man!" the girl pointing at the shaking crate as she quickly ran towards the direction the other raccoon went.
Old Man Kaname caught up with the girl, satsuki with one knee bent, was checking the ground with homemade kunai in hand.
"Did you get it?" asked the old man.
"I think so? I dunno if its dead though," replied the girl. Satsuki stood up, dusting her knee and was about to go into the forest before the old man stopped her.
"Don't. it's too dangerous especially for a girl like you." said Kaname.
"But I got one of 'em!" pouted the girl.
"Yes you did. But it wouldn't be wise for you to follow the animal into the forest." explained the old man.
"But that means I failed to get them both. I don't wanna fail this mission old man, it's my first." pouted Satsuki more.
The old man smiled. He was about to say something before a cry broke out. It was in the fields. The two of them quickly made their way to where the sound was coming from.
When they arrived, they realized that she managed to snare a deer with a bear trap. Those sharp tooth-like things crushed the bone on the deer's leg.
"Hmm, looks like we have more than what I expected." Said the old man, gesturing at the tracks. The girl examined them for a bit.
"Well, I guess this means I failed the mission huh?" muttered the girl under her breath. She was there to take care of the varmints and here she was, a raccoon and a couple deer short of the goal.
"Actually... I think you did an amazing job. You caught that pesky 'coon and wounded the other one. And now we have a deer!" said the old man.
Satsuki stared at him for a moment. She was contemplating what he's coming to. Or why he was happy with the result.
"Wild animals, like us people, they learn y'know. If you managed to injure that other 'coon seriously, it would die. But if not, it would nurse itself slowly back but it would have second thoughts of returning. The deer on the other hand, its friends may have ran off, but they'd definitely return to see if their friend is still here when people aren't around. They've seen their friend injured and trapped and if they return and see that their friend is missing, then they'd have second thoughts of returning too." Explained the old man. He asked the girl to go fetch a knife from the kitchen. The old man stabbed the deer on its side where the heart is located to end its misery. He turned his attention at the girl who seemed to be nonchalant about him killing the deer. She was to be a future shinobi anyway.
In the morning, Kaname's wife made a big breakfast for them. The old couple knew that the girl would have to travel back to the village again. The old man had killed the raccoon that the girl trapped in the crate. Its snout was crushed so it wouldn't survive anyway. He told the girl that he would skin the deer and would send some deer pelt and meat for the girl the following day. Kaname told Satsuki that even though she wasn't able to get all the animals, she still managed to get rid of them, at least for the time being. The old man signed the papers that the little girl had with her,
"Take that back to the Embassy so they could file that. You did a good job Satsuki-chan," Kaname said.
"Thanks old man, I didn't imagine it would be that hard." replied the girl.
"Welp, it'll only get harder from here. But you take care of yourself now, you hear?" laughed the old man.
Kaname then asked his neighbor, who was on his way to the village to deliver goods to take the girl with him so she could safely return to the village.
--Mission Complete--
OOC Word Count: 2,244
MFT
Satsuki was actually amazed when she arrived, it was a different part of town that she has never been to before. The bustling nature of the place kind of excited her for what's in store for her later on. The young girl made her way inside the huge building to get started. As she walked around, she saw different kinds of people, mostly shinobi of different sorts, some she have seen before, others for the first time. She was looking for the isle for student missions, which was a bit difficult given the number of people in the place. It was a bit too much for a small and frail-looking girl like her but she managed. After a few minutes of wandering around and a couple of awkward times where she needed to ask for directions from people who seem to know who she is, Satsuki finally managed to find the isle she was looking for and patiently waited in line. She was behind four students that were familiar to her, at least facially. They were in a higher class than her, she thought. When it was her turn, she gave out an awkward smile at the attendant,
"Uh, I'm here for a--"
"My, you look adorable!” the woman said, cutting her off.
"S-Suuure... Anyway, I was told to go here to get one of them student missions? Are there any that I could do?" the girl asked.
The woman gestured with her index finger to hold on a second as she thumbed through some files.
"I'm actually a bit nervous to give you this one since this is your first time. But since the other requests are a bit too much for a newbie like you..."
"How'd you know this is my first time?" the girl asked.
"Well, this is the first time I've seen you, pumpkin." replied the woman.
"Oh. O-Okay, so what's the request?"
"Old farmer Kaname has problems with varmints. He wants someone to deal with them, or else he'd be waist-deep in trouble." explained the woman.
"Uh, okay? But..." Satsuki awkwardly scratched her cheek while grinning nervously.
"What is it dear? Is it too much? I could put you on my waiting list if you want." The woman said.
"NO! NO! I'll take it! But uhm, what are varmints?" the little girl said with a wide, awkward grin on her face.
"OH! Haha, sorry sorry. I forgot to explain. Varmints are small animals that cause problems either in people's homes or like in this case, a farm. They might be birds, rodents, those kind of things that cause trouble." explained the woman.
"OH! OKAY OKAY! I'll take the mission!" replied the girl giddily.
The woman smiled at the girl, giving her a copy of the mission folder and directions to Old Kaname's farm.
The girl headed out immediately, since it was ways away especially for a girl her age to be traveling alone. It was still inside Iwagakure, but Iwa is pretty huge. She was headed to the outer parts of Maruishi where the farmlands are located. This area is comprised of majority of the Earth Country's farmlands and a ways off from the village itself. Satsuki was lucky enough to hitch a ride with a sheep herder who's on his way back to the farmlands. It took them a couple of hours before they reached the place but some old stories from the sheep herder made time pass by faster.
She was dropped in front of the old man's farm. The old man, was oddly enough, waiting for her. She walked up to him and flashed the mission folder,
"I'm here for the varm- var- small animals that are terrorizing you..." the young girl said with a smirk.
Old Man Kaname eyed the small girl, "I knew they were gonna send some kids but I didn't expect they'd send one kid, but good enough. Come, I'll explain everything to you inside the house." Old Man Kaname led the young girl inside his house.
In the house there was an old lady, the old man's wife, Sakura. Who prepared a small meal for the girl. Old Man Kaname went on with the introductions and they all sat down for supper. Afterwards, they sat on the front porch as the old man explained their situation,
"You see, we're one of the smaller farms in this part of the Akatsuchi Farmlands, and as you can see, we're on the edge of a small forest." the old man started to explain as he took out his pipe. "..my son, Seijuro, who's pretty much the muscle of our small farm, went to the Fire Country to get some new crops for us to plant with two of our farm hands. It'll be a week before they get back so I sent a request at the Embassy. Your task is simple little girl, take care of these pesky animals that run around my farm." The old man explained further.
The young girl panned around the surroundings. She didn't expect the location to be big. At this point she still didn't understand that a 'small' farm was around one to two hectares big. She eyed a corn field and some other vegetables. Satsuki stood up and jumped to sit on the railing of the porch.
"So, do you know what animals old man? I've dealt with rats before in our place. They tend to eat the smaller chicken and chicks that my grandma used to take care of.."
"Well, the things that go in my chicken coop could either be big rats, or raccoons. Deer and rabbits on the other hand... I've seen deer come in my fields. It's up to you to find out and clean up." the old man replied.
Satsuki would then ask the old man and his wife for some things that she would need. Kaname already bought a couple bear traps but instead, gave it to the girl. She asked some small boxes, wooden crates and other stuff that was easily seen in any farm. The little girl would set up traps around the chicken coop and some deer traps in between the forest clearing and Old Man Kaname's field. She remembered what her grandma would always say, 'Maybe you can use your stubbornness for good'. Satsuki smiled, she would usually make traps and prank people who look down on her. This was the first time that she would use the skills that she acquired to actually help an old man and his wife. That was reason enough to give it her best.
After an hour and a half of setting up, Satsuki was up in the roof of the barn, it was a perfect spot since it was high up, and was situated along the crops near the forest clearing where she set up the bear traps. It was also in front of the chicken coop, which she has easy access to. She thought that whatever was attacking the chicken coop would most definitely go around the barn and into the coop if they came from the forest. The young girl waited, she had with her her makeshift 'kunai' just in case. It was a piece of hard metal she had found lying in the back alleys back in town, tied with a small handle. She waited for hours, into the wee night when she suddenly heard a rustling sound at the other side of the barn. The girl cautiously and silently went to that side and waited. A pair of raccoons came out stealthily and slowly made their way to the coop. The girl quickly got up and rand parallel on the roof towards the coop to see if the pests would take the bait. She asked for the leftovers from their supper and used it as bait in the metal trap that was meant for big rats. It wouldn't hold the raccoon for very long, but it would be enough to trap it inside a wooden crate. A raccoon cautiously came to the trap, smelling it, checking it out before taking a nibble that set the trap. A brittle snap echoed slightly as squirming followed suit. Satsuki jumped to the hay bale beside the barn and quickly ran towards the raccoon that had its snout crushed on the trap. On the way she could see on the side that the other one was running back into the forest. The girl quickly threw her home-made kunai at the fleeing animal before jumping at the trapped one. She took the raccoon by the tail and dumped it inside the crate before sealing it with a heavy wooden cover.
"What's happening?!" Old Man Kaname yelled as he opened his bedroom window.
"Got one of the raccoons old man!" the girl pointing at the shaking crate as she quickly ran towards the direction the other raccoon went.
Old Man Kaname caught up with the girl, satsuki with one knee bent, was checking the ground with homemade kunai in hand.
"Did you get it?" asked the old man.
"I think so? I dunno if its dead though," replied the girl. Satsuki stood up, dusting her knee and was about to go into the forest before the old man stopped her.
"Don't. it's too dangerous especially for a girl like you." said Kaname.
"But I got one of 'em!" pouted the girl.
"Yes you did. But it wouldn't be wise for you to follow the animal into the forest." explained the old man.
"But that means I failed to get them both. I don't wanna fail this mission old man, it's my first." pouted Satsuki more.
The old man smiled. He was about to say something before a cry broke out. It was in the fields. The two of them quickly made their way to where the sound was coming from.
When they arrived, they realized that she managed to snare a deer with a bear trap. Those sharp tooth-like things crushed the bone on the deer's leg.
"Hmm, looks like we have more than what I expected." Said the old man, gesturing at the tracks. The girl examined them for a bit.
"Well, I guess this means I failed the mission huh?" muttered the girl under her breath. She was there to take care of the varmints and here she was, a raccoon and a couple deer short of the goal.
"Actually... I think you did an amazing job. You caught that pesky 'coon and wounded the other one. And now we have a deer!" said the old man.
Satsuki stared at him for a moment. She was contemplating what he's coming to. Or why he was happy with the result.
"Wild animals, like us people, they learn y'know. If you managed to injure that other 'coon seriously, it would die. But if not, it would nurse itself slowly back but it would have second thoughts of returning. The deer on the other hand, its friends may have ran off, but they'd definitely return to see if their friend is still here when people aren't around. They've seen their friend injured and trapped and if they return and see that their friend is missing, then they'd have second thoughts of returning too." Explained the old man. He asked the girl to go fetch a knife from the kitchen. The old man stabbed the deer on its side where the heart is located to end its misery. He turned his attention at the girl who seemed to be nonchalant about him killing the deer. She was to be a future shinobi anyway.
In the morning, Kaname's wife made a big breakfast for them. The old couple knew that the girl would have to travel back to the village again. The old man had killed the raccoon that the girl trapped in the crate. Its snout was crushed so it wouldn't survive anyway. He told the girl that he would skin the deer and would send some deer pelt and meat for the girl the following day. Kaname told Satsuki that even though she wasn't able to get all the animals, she still managed to get rid of them, at least for the time being. The old man signed the papers that the little girl had with her,
"Take that back to the Embassy so they could file that. You did a good job Satsuki-chan," Kaname said.
"Thanks old man, I didn't imagine it would be that hard." replied the girl.
"Welp, it'll only get harder from here. But you take care of yourself now, you hear?" laughed the old man.
Kaname then asked his neighbor, who was on his way to the village to deliver goods to take the girl with him so she could safely return to the village.
--Mission Complete--
OOC Word Count: 2,244
MFT