Make it out alive

Mission Info:

Time for another mission, but this time it was a little different than just pacifying ghosts and tending to shrines. There was an actual kidnapping that had happened, and he was in a team responsible for tracking down what happened to the kidnapped merchant. Standing at the meeting point outside of the trashed house, Kanata kept one hand on the tanto strapped to his side. It was more a nervous fidget than any true belief they’d be doing much fighting today, but that wasn’t really the whole point of this.

There would more than likely be actual work to be done besides simply tracking the merchant, though the approach depended heavily on whoever his partner for this mission was. Sighing, Kanata decided he was officially out of his depth. He most definitely wasn’t experienced enough to do much here, so he’d likely be deferring to the other shinobi assigned to this mission. Not that he minded listening to someone else, but he wished he had enough experience to actually do these things for himself. Oh well, this would be a good chance to get some of that experience. And building up ryo wasn’t a bad thing! Yeah, he’d be just fine. Now, just to wait for his teammate.

He wondered what this teammate would be like? Sure, it was a temporary mission team, but he hoped to get along with whoever it was. He was going to be friendly no matter what, but it was always better when they reciprocated that friendliness. Making friends was always fun. But, he needed to focus. His temporary teammate should be here soon, and then they’d be able to begin the actual mission they’d been called on. He could only pray it would go smoothly.

WC: 291

”Let’s see here… check… check… check. Looks Like I’m ready.” Emilia’s slender finger had been guided and pointed towards each check list item as the young genin ran through each of them in her head. She was preparing for a new mission… this one a little more dangerous than the others she had recently been on. Slightly surprised that the upgrade was so drastic – but she had all the confidence in the world. Based on information she had been given, it sounded like there would be another person with her – so she wouldn’t have to do it alone. ”I wonder if there will be someone else… and I wonder who they are? Do I know them? Should be interesting to say the least.” She darted out of her house as she locked the door behind her – heading towards the designated meeting point.

This particular mission was all about finding a well off merchant who was well-known in Hoshigakure. Apparently their house had been report that it was in shambles and several items were taken. The ultimate goal… find the merchant and discover why they were kidnapped, and also bring them home safely.

This was honestly a mission that would test Emilia’s abilities and really see just how far she had come with her training. She had been working a lot on her craft and added some new things that really could be beneficial on this mission. Her special eye being one of them. Though this is something she remained cautious of and really didn’t want to show it to just anyone and everyone. Anyways – she stayed on course and made sure that she was not late to the rendezvous point.

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While it certainly took long than a hop, skip, and a leap to get to where she needed to be – that’s about how long it felt to her. Emilia got a little lost in thoughts, mostly due to her anxiousness about starting this mission. Her legs carried her to what appears like the merchants house. It was he only one around that seemed to be torn down – slim chance that it wasn’t the correct house. After taking time to look around and see if she could spot any one – Emilia noticed a blue haired boy that was a little taller than she was. His clothes were… interesting, which is the best way Emilia could describe them.

”Looks like you’re my partner on this mission… It’s nice to meet you – my name is Emilia… but friends and family call me Emi.” Her golden eyes engaged his… odd color ones. Emi was sort of confused on what color they were. She extended her hand though and let out a nice smile. She was big on introductions – you could usually tell a lot from how someone introduced themselves. Are they more reserved? Are they serious? Lighthearted? Maybe they’re just as bubbly and upfront as she is.

Once the introductions are done, Emi would turn and look at the house they were suppose to inspect. A starting point might be difficult with the house in this much turmoil. They’d just have to start looking to see if they could find anything that would lead to the potential whereabouts of the merchant. Not that she was trying to leave her new partner in the dust – but it was sort of an ADHD moment where her mind went from one thing to another in a blink of a second. It also provided some guidance to the other shinobi.

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”I’m not real sure what we should be looking for here. The house has been absolutely trashed.” Her head turned towards him, immediately spotting something a little suspicious. It looked like a pedestal… where something once had sat, but not anymore. Was it stolen? She wasn’t sure what else would turn up, but it seemed clear that they were destined to run into a spot that would likely give them tons of opportunity.

It just so happened that Emilia’s thoughts were correct. Not long after she pointed to the empty pedestal… her eyes spotted a tiny pool of blood near the back door. She would immediately point this out.

”I’d certainly say there was a struggle here.. I bet we can find a trail that guides us a bit here. What do you think?”

WC:

”OH… It’s.. it’s nice to meet you as well, Natsuki.” A tiny quiver seemed to echo at the beginning of her response. A sign of nervousness from the young kunoichi, perhaps?

Emilia was slightly starstruck upon realizing Natsuki, a member of the Nova Corps, would be joining their mission. Initially, she hadn’t noticed Natsuki until she introduced herself, sparking a need in Emilia to approach the situation with greater seriousness. The presence of a Nova Corps member made sense, as Hoshigakure likely wanted to prevent the potential tragedy of two genin facing a higher-ranked mission alone. Almost immediately, Natsuki made her presence felt, quickly establishing herself as the leader and the one to take point in their adventure. This added an unexpected layer of intensity and responsibility to what Emilia had anticipated would be a straightforward mission.

”Emi, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but this mission might be more hazardous than initially thought. I've dealt with situations like this before. Let me take the lead. We should also dismiss the genin who was supposed to accompany us. It's too risky for them.”

Emilia hadn't fully grasped the stark difference in power between herself and the other genin until Natsuki, recognizing this gap, swiftly devised a suitable strategy for the mission's success. As the situation unfolded, Emilia saw it as a golden opportunity to align herself with someone influential. Her realization prompted a subtle shift in her demeanor. Attentively, she listened to Natsuki's plans, nodding in agreement and absorbing every word. This encounter not only highlighted Natsuki's capability but also allowed Emilia to subtly recalibrate her approach, blending respect with a keen interest in forging a valuable connection.

”I understand Natsuki, and I appreciate your guidance here. I will certainly follow your lead moving forward.”

Instinctively, Emilia began to subtly adjust her position to signal her alignment with Natsuki's plan, placing herself strategically as Natsuki took the lead. Emilia had already contributed by noting anomalies such as the blood pool and the item missing from the pedestal. Now, it was Natsuki’s turn to demonstrate her abilities, aiming to quickly locate the missing merchant and ensure a safe return. As Emilia positioned herself between the four and five o’clock positions relative to Natsuki, a gust of wind caught her red cape, making it flutter dramatically alongside her hair, both responding gracefully to the wind’s call. This gesture not only marked her readiness to support Natsuki but also emphasized the dynamic nature of their urgent quest.

”Do you think it would be best to check inside the home, Natsuki, or should we continue to check the surrounding area first?”

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WC: 457