Mission:

Sachiko and Shingen made their way towards the Missions Office for her second mission. Things went well during her first, and she was so excited afterwards that Shingen made sure they head out for another as soon as possible. Fortunately for Sachiko, ‘as soon as possible’ became the very next day.

“There’s always another mission,” Shingen had said that morning. “You must always be ready. Every day is a work day, even if you take the day off one must be aware for anything.”

“So no days off then,” she had replied, the disappointment visible in her tone.

“Not necessarily, Sachiko. One day you’ll be aware of things without having to put effort into doing so, don’t worry about not being able to relax. I will show you how.”

That had perked her back up. Her worry was that being a ninja she wouldn’t be able to at least take a few times off just for relaxing besides the occasional hospital treatments. Plus there was something new she needed to learn. She hadn’t mastered everything he had already begun teaching her but knowing that there was still more to be taught was exhilarating. Although, if there was a way for her to learn faster she would take that way in a heartbeat, even if Shingen reminded her that practice and hard work beats shortcuts every time.

They got to the Missions Office rather quickly. Sachiko chalked it up to the new spring in her step. She was very ready for another mission now and could not wait until she was tasked with something else. She had recently learned a set of jutsu that Shingen had been teaching her. They were some really vital techniques that she knew would come in handy if she went on bigger missions. This time she was hoping for a chance to try one or two of them out.

Shingen approached the bulletin board in the main lobby area. Usually there were various missions posted on the board that anyone could take up. Once chosen, all the person had to do was sign for the mission so the office knew it was being taken cared of and then report in when the deed was done. The system was rather simple and allowed for lots of ninja to get missions easily.


Mission: 389/600
Total: 389

After a thorough glance of what missions were available to grab, Shingen pointed to one mission and turned to Sahiko. “I want you to take this one,” he confirmed with a poke of his finger on the parchment.

Sachiko followed his finger and read the mission details. Her expression only faltered a little at seeing what she was to do next. According to the mission note, there was a need for more raw materials that could be acquired from an abandoned mine. The only real interesting part was that the mine was rumored to be haunted. That was it.

“I know it’s not much,” Shingen said, reading her disappointment. “I want to ease you into missions first. There’s still some training you need finish with me before you move on to more difficult missions.”

“I know,” groaned Sachiko, kicking the ground with her shoe. “You’ve told me before. I just thought with my improvement in ninjutsu techniques that I might have gotten something more exciting.”

Shingen sighed, the heavy breath hinting that he understood that she was disappointed by his choice.. Her eyes were looking at the floor and she seemed to be trying to dig a hole in the ground with the toe of her shoe. Sachiko just kept to herself, trying to keep her spirits high for this new mission, even if it wasn’t the kind she was hoping for. A soft hand rubbed the top of her head causing her to look up. He was kneeling down to look her in the eye.

“How about this,” he said. “You do this mission for me so I can make sure you have the will to do even the jobs you may not want, and in return I’ll let you take a bigger mission next time. Deal?”

Sachiko’s mouth went back into a wide smile, her eyes gleaming anew with hope. “Yes! Deal! Deal!”

“Alright then, better get going don’t you think?”

With that, Sachiko turned tail and ran out the door. Her spirits were renewed with vigor. She waved goodbye to Shingen as she got to the door. Next thing on her sights was the road to the western gates. And then, she would go to the island with the abandoned mine.


Post: 381/780
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 180

Traveling to the abandoned mine wasn’t that bad. When she got to the western gates leading out of the village, she decided it was best to check in with the shinobi working the gatehouse checkpoint for directions. According to them, the mine wasn’t very far. ‘A hop, skip down the main road, and when you get to the third wooden bridge you’re there.’

It seemed easy enough, except for the fact that there were more stone bridges then wooden ones. The journey to the third wooden bridge was long enough that she stopped her jubilant running and slowed to a more frustrated walk. The distance began to play with her head as soon she forgot about the recent deal she made with Shingen and instead resumed her sulking that she had to be on such a mission as this one.

The mission wasn’t awful, it just wasn’t what she wanted. Leave it to me to want to be a ninja and then not own up to taking every mission one must take as a ninja, she thought. All she really knew she wanted from this mission was that the abandoned mine to be haunted. Even though the idea scared her, she wanted something about the mission to be exciting. She didn’t think it would happen though, her aspiration for excitement in the mission being more wishful thinking than serious hopes. Ghost stories were only just that: stories. Sachiko was definitely not one to believe spirits would stay just to freak out people, and if they did they wouldn’t stay in an abandoned mine.

It was about an hour and a half for the entire journey. Much longer than she would have liked but today was just not her day. Her mood was suffering so she did her best to focus on the mission. Get the materials and get out.

The abandoned mine was highlighted by two wooden posts standing up just outside the entrance. Two long red ribbons were tied to each post, the wind playing with them as Sachiko moved in between the tall posts. She needed to find the materials first, the materials being iron ore. Iron to help the smiths and crafters make more weapons to fuel the military might of the Hidden Mist.

Why it had to be from this abandoned mine, Sachiko had no idea. There must be more mines than this within the borders of the Land of Water. The mission only said to bring five to ten kilos back to the village. Sachiko didn’t know how much that would be in terms of mass but it didn’t sound like very much, at least not as much as what was probably mined by actual miners. Still, she entered the mine, walking slowly as the light slowly faded, the darkness waiting for her in the depths of the mine.


Post: 483/1263
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 663

At the top of the mineshaft, there was a rail cart with a few unlit torches. The light from the entrance still gave some indication as to the rest of the main area, a lobby or unloading area of sorts. There were pipes outlining the left wall, one of the pipes branching out half a foot into the room. The pipe’s opening was coned down to a smaller opening than the bigger pipe and it had a cap on the end of it that was chained to a lever. Pulling it, a flare of fire burst out at Sachiko. She jumped back at the suddenness of the fire. Heat still tingled her face as she stood back, the cap going back over the pipe’s opening to stop the fire.

That’s how they did it.

Sachiko took one of the unlit torches and held it in front of the coned pipe. Taking a few steps off to the side, she prepared herself for the heat this time. A quick yank of the lever and the cap came off, sending out a stream of flame, lighting up the torch in her hand easily. She capped the pipe with the lever and began to head down the main mine shaft. It was a good thing the miners were smart and built things to last, even if they did abandon the place because of a collapse.

With a lit torch and her pathway unhindered by any fallen rocks, she found her way around pretty simply. It wasn’t until about ten minutes in when things started to get harder to maneuver. About fifty or seventy meters into the main tunnel was where signs of the collapse began to show. And a little more further down, she could tell others had been here because the shaft split into two other smaller shafts, the two tunnels looking newly cut compared to the rock walls of the main shaft which had quite a bit of erosion on them.

Figuring left was the best option of the two tunnels, Sachiko pressed on. It wasn’t long before she came to a nice pocket where a crumpled section of the mineshaft looked to have been picked at, and then a larger section that had recently fallen down. There on the ground was a good-sized piece of iron ore. Sachiko could tell it was different from the other rock groupings by the shine of the rock as the torchlight flickered upon it.

She carefully set her torch down, making sure the flame stayed alive as she moved to pick up the big chunks of iron ore. They felt heavy, closer to ten kilos than five, so once she managed to settle things enough that she could hold the torch in one hand she made her way back. Just as she approached she thought she felt the ground move a bit. It felt like a rough vibration that ran along her feet. She stopped for a moment just before the exit of the smaller left hand tunnel she was in and waited.

There was nothing.

Hm, that’s odd, she thought just before taking another step. Her foot landed upon the rock and again the movement pulsed, this time stronger. Dust fell from the ceiling and Sachiko had to take a few steps back in a desperate attempt to catch her balance. The mine seemed alive. This definitely isn’t ghosts. And indeed it wasn’t, because soon pieces of the tunnel’s ceiling crashed down before her, closing the mouth of the tunnel before she could do anything about getting out. The huge clamor pushed her down on the ground, her torch flying out of her hand and then crushed by the stampede of falling rocks. The barrage kept coming and she had to push herself backwards in a panic as the falling rocks fell closer and closer to her.


Post: 654/1917
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 1317

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Shingen stepped out of Momochi’s office, holding the door just a moment longer as he spoke. “Alright, Momochi, I’ll head out in the morning.”

A last nod and then he shut the door behind him. He took slow steps back into the main lobby of the Missions Office, his eyes staring into the ground before him as he walked. The sound of Hideyo’s voice snapped his head up to find Hideyo talking with a chunin in front of the bulletin board. He was taking down one of the missions.

“…because of the recent tremors they told me to make sure no one takes this mission for today, at the least. Check tomorrow if you want to take it.”

The chunin nodded and left, leaving an opening for Shingen. “What’s going on, Hideyo?” Shingen asked as he approached the board.

Hideyo turned to look over his shoulder as he folded the mission note. “Oh, hey there, Shingen. I was just taking this mission down. Like I was telling the other guy, there’s been some small tremors detected by some of our more experienced Doton specialists, so places like this abandoned mine are to be closed off until they stop. Just a safety prec—“

“The abandoned mine, did you say?” Shingen’s face began to look worried.

“Uh, yeah. Why?”

Shingen didn’t stay long enough to explain. With just a word escaping his panicked face he left Hideyo with the closed mission note in his hands. “Sachiko!”

He took off down the road to the village’s western gates. Once there he’d be on his way to the abandoned mine. It’d been nearly two hours since she had left but the mine wasn’t very far so there was no doubt she was already there. In fact, she would be done around now and be heading back. If nothing happened to her. That was something he was going to find out.

---

Post: 333/2250
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 1650

When the dust cleared, Sachiko found herself in darkness. She felt around to see if anything was broken or if there were any rocks that had pinned her anywhere but the only slab of rock she could find on her was the piece of iron ore she had been carrying. There was the faintest glint of the ore that helped her tell what it was, and she looked about afterwards to find the source of light creating the glint. Above her, where the mine’s ceiling had fallen was a small glow of light.

Thank you! She thought to the little bit of light that was poking through the cave. Her eyes didn’t have to adjust too much to compensate for the lower amount of light now existing than was before with her torch. So while her eyes adjusted she dusted off her legs and arms, stood up and felt out the cave-in. A few knocks and digs on the wall and there was clearly no simple way out. She’d have to use jutsu to get past the wall, but that would also be a problem of using jutsu as she needed to bring the iron ore to complete her mission. The only way to get out for her was to dig her way out.

Not wanting to waste any more time than she already had, Sachiko began digging right away. She focused her energy on the top where there seemed to be less rock than at the bottom. The digging took a long time and seemed to produce no solution. Yet within a half hour of what seemed like pointless digging, a hole formed at the top. There was almost an excited yelp as she saw that her hand could just barely fit through it. She could see, now, that she was making progress and it made things feel a lot less worse than they were. However, upon pulling her hand back out, a sound of distant voices touched her eardrums. Curious, she pushed her ear to the hole and stayed quiet. Quiet as shadow.

“…Things to consider about this place,” came one voice.

“What I’m considering is how best to orchestrate our strings,” came the second.

“You miss my meaning, sir,” said the first voice. They were within eyesight of Sachiko. Her little hole in the wall allowing her to see a wisp of smoke drifting up off their torch, writhing like a snake as it rose. “This place is perfect for such a play. Think of it as the director’s box: hiding himself from the audience while they stay enraptured by the actors.”

“Don’t you think it too far from the stage?” the voice with the accent complained.

“Never! With such high celebrities watching, we must be ever so careful not to get in the way and ruin the atmosphere for which we have so desperately constructed. If our man discovers anything about the director then the whole play is in shambles.”

“Do you forget who you talk to?” the anger seethed from the other one. “I know very well what you mean. I just much rather prefer to have a good view of the show myself.”

“Of course, sir! Forgive me, I was only warning that our particular audience has a wary eye. One slip and our charade is over.”


Post: 560/2810
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 2210

Flames licked at the cold air. The tall shadows were almost upon her. An instant later the man holding the torch stepped into her sight, his companion beside him. In the torch light, she could see he was a stout man in a leather half cape. Even in heavy boots, his feet seemed to glide soundlessly over the ground. A round scarred face and a stubble of dark beard showed under his straw hat, and he wore a dagger at his belt. Sachiko shifted away from the hole, hoping to erase the chance of glint coming from her eyes. She held her breath as the men reached the two caved in tunnels. “You have quite the high opinion of him, my friend. Do his eyes really see that much?”

“I’m afraid so. That is why I plead caution. It is still too soon to act,” replied the first man. He past the torch to his partner and began performing hand signs to the other caved in wall. The caved in section flew to the ground and opened up the tunnel.

“I need this over with soon. Him and that Missions Officer must be dealt with before their influence spreads,” the other grumbled. He passed the torch back and began heading into the tunnel, out of Sachiko’s line of sight.

“What would you have me do?” asked the torchbearer. He had no beard, but his hair seemed to be a muddy yellow color. It was hard for Sachiko to make it out in the orange and red lighting.

“Shinobi died all the time before, why not again?” answered the scarred man. “You have danced the dance before, my friend.”

The torchbearer still stood before the open tunnel, shaking his head. “Before is not now, and this shinobi is not like most others.”

“Perhaps so, nonetheless, we must get rid of him if we are to continue.”

The torchbearer nodded and entered the tunnel, their voices slowly beginning to fade away from the distance. “What I can do, I will. I must have gold, and another fifty birds.”

“So many? The ones you need are hard to find … so young, to know their letters … perhaps older … not die so easy …”

“No, the younger are safer … treat them gently …”

“… if they kept their tongues …”

“… the risk …”


Post: 385/3195
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 2595

Long after the sound of their footsteps faded away, Sachiko could still see the light of the torch, a smoking star that bid her farewell. She finally let herself breathe normally when the light faded as well and resumed digging. After such a rest during the two men’s conversation she found a renewed vigor. Mere minutes passed and there was a hole big enough for her to crawl through. A push of the iron ore and then a squeeze of her body was all it took for her to get to the other side of the tunnel.

Once back in the main tunnel that she had first come through, it was a simple matter of legging her way back out of the mine, which she quickly did. There wasn’t any telling of when the two strange men would be back or what they might do to her if she were caught by them. Not wanting to find out, she raced out of the mine as quickly as she could.

Coming out of the mine, she ran into Shingen who was speeding towards the mine. He cried out her name in exclamation as soon as he saw her. “Sachiko! You’re okay!”

He stopped short, seeing that she was fine and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Uhh, yeah. How—Did you know about the cave-in?” she asked. She was bewildered in seeing him here. Hadn't he said he would wait for me back in the village?

“Cave-in? No, I just heard there were tremors being picked up and that they wanted to close the mine for today to anyone trying to take the mission.”

“Oh, well that explains that, but there were two other men in there.”

“Two men?” Shingen looked over at the mine, his eyes showing he was weighing the decision to go in after them.

“No! I don’t think you should go in there,” Sachiko began, and then she detailed all that she heard of the two men’s conversation to Shingen as they headed back to the village.



Post: 348/3543
Mission: 600/600
Unused Total: 2943
Training Perception stat E -> D: 750/750
Words Remaining: 2193
Training Endurance stat E -> D-1: 1075/1075
Words Remaining: 1118
Training Strength stat E -> D-1: 1075/1075
Words Remaining: 43