Mission name: Eliminate or capture the saboteurs
Mission rank: B
Objective: Stop the sabotage
Location: Iwagakure
Reward: Heishi clan rank up
Mission Description: The base that was scouted before has appeared to make its first move. Their aim appears to be to sabotage one of the gates leading into the village. Likely to gain entry for their spies. Capture or eliminate them
Mission Details: There will be five bandits moving under the cover of night to the eastern gate. Two D rank bandits with simple D rank katana and D - 0 stats, two C rank bandits with explosive tags and Suiton library jutsu up to and including C rank jutsu with C-0 Stats and one B rank shinobi with B-0 stats with all raiton library jutsu B rank and under. They will fight until rendered unable to do so. Aiming to get passed any opposition to get to the gate even at the loss of their allies.

Kejido stood at the eastern gate. The sun was setting and vision was becoming gradually reduced as time went on. Still his silver eyes could see to the thin treeline further up the path rather well. Almost reflecting what light was left as they glistened like the metal they resembled. He was waiting for something but he knew it wouldn't be coming just yet. Their revealed plans had a different time line and they were likely still a good few miles off. Those that would dare to challenge the might of Iwa. To weaken it. However it wasn't the village itself that had gathered this information but rather spies from the daimyo court. They had originally intended to share the information with the village but with enough pull the Heishi clan had taken it upon themselves to divert the attempt. This was a mission with consequences if he failed. Unlike the last one where he had been but a scout. People would die if he didn't do this right. Perhaps this was their way of testing their own. Seeing how they handled the pressure. He couldn't say he was a fan of the responsibility but he had put his own insurances on this anyway. While it was designed to be handled by two chunnin he had gone beyond that and collected one of the villages strongest for assistance. Though he would be taking the front line on this one she would likely insure his survival and success. A fail safe as good as any.

Regardless he wasn't know for his hesitation. He had put on a pair of black shinobi pants that were fairly well fit to his legs. Not tight but not loose enough to not make any noise as he moved. Along with that He had slipped into a pair of padded shoes and slipped a kunai into his belt on either side of his hips. Then he slipped into a form fitting black tank top that had a turtle neck that went all the way up to his nose. After that he wrapped a scroll around his right forearm so the letters were facing outwards and pulled on elbow length gloves over each arm. Finishing with a pair of tonfa over his shoulders for weapons. The scroll was connected to its other half at the bottom of his weapons chest. If he needed more weapons he had access to them via that bridge. Afterwards he had slipped on his chunnin vest with the hilts sticking out of the arms. In his vest pockets were two flash bombs and two smoke bombs. A black bandanna was tied around his hair so only his eyes were visible. His headband was wrapped around his left shoulder. He knew this would be a battle so he was as prepared as he thought he could be. Still he was at the gate now. Pulling his gloves tight up his arm. Those scrolls were a trick he wanted to keep hidden. Senbon popping into his hand over and over again from no where was to his advantage more often than not.

He would shift his stance as he glanced back towards the village. She had been sent a missive about a time and place to meet him but no one else beyond the conversation they had and his clan had information specific to this mission. They wanted to take down this task force. To end them all at once instead of risking future attacks from the same group. He knew looking for her with the naked eye could be pointless though. If she didn't wish to be seen she wouldn't be. Still it was getting close to the witching hour. Time enough for two haunting spirits to move. He would take a deep breath and focus himself. Shifting his chakra within him into a ball and letting it tug towards the nearest largest chakra source. If she tried to sneak up on him this time, he would know she was coming and from what direction. He wanted to show at least that much competence for her. The ball of chakra would simply tug towards her chakra when she neared. Allowing him to turn and face her even if he couldn't see her. To give the appearance of impossibility for sneaking up on him.

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Spoiler:

Stood in front of the mirror of the hospital room in which had been, by the hospital's accounts, and many's ‘knowledge’ her place of residence after she had returned home from Sunagakure no Sato. Having been held hostage for so long the village elders had deemed the act necessary, to ‘watch’ her and ensure her ‘health’, however, she barely spent any time at all at the hospital. A bargain had been struck by her doctor and herself, the very doctor that saw her crawl from the pits of hell and out into a battlefront, beaten, bloody and mutilated yet not finished with life itself. Her gaze, however, would not sit with her reflection but with the bindings in her hands. Though many bandages still littered her body, the fresh wrappings in her hands almost seemed alien to her now, as she pondered whether the use of them would give any help, would she again feel more of herself? For how long she stood she hadn't realized the press of night approaching nor the finer hairs of her exposed torso raising. yet from her hips a pair of cargo trousers, fitting nicely to her form, not too tight yet not too baggy even as they gathered into the army style bug cords to keep them tight against the army boots she wore. Settled at the front of her belt, sideways on, a pouch containing her kuni whilst Amai and Tatsu would be found in their original pouches strapped to each leg as Ripa tsume sat in its pouch at the base of her back attached to her belt for easy access.  This was certainly closer to how she had looked before Sunagakure.

Her mind wandered and escaped her as images flitted through her mind of the hospitals wards... she had delivered packages here as a genin and why now did such return? The sounds and echoes of the corridors, why did this place feel so haunting now? Broken from her trance-like state, only when a familiar rasp of knuckles against the door came. The same knock every time, the only knock that came to her door. And with a sigh her lips would peel apart to speak, her voice a husk, “enter.” Her gaze would slowly shift to the door as a body shifted into the dim light of the room, the door closing immediately behind him. The piercing gaze of her heterochromia orbs of blood red and vivid yellow would watch the male give out a sigh, deeply so as he, in turn, watched her for a moment. “Time is pressing on.” With a nod, her gaze would return to the bindings in her hands before flickering to the reflection in the mirror and then away again as she inhaled. Carefully she would begin to bind her chest, slowly as to make sure she would form a flat as possible surface. The doctor would step closer his brow furrowed as usual as he stepped about her, observing her for a moment before taking the bindings from her to finish the tie for her.  

Her gaze would flicker to the reflection watching him as he concentrated in the knot he created before doing the same to their sights as she spoke: ”Thank you." With that she would set away and to the small wooden chair beside the standard hospital bed, removing her t-shirt from its back. A deep olive green with a thin red strip around the collar and short cuffs. She would smoothly slip the top on before slipping into a black high collared jacket. A small section of her marred throat exposed and would remain so, the marring made by the collar she had worn throughout the entire time of her captivity when the time finally came to remove it, it had to be peeled from her as in parts it had become embedded. As she turned to the bed to retrieve her side faced veil she would pause watching the sight before her as the doctor held the very item she intended to apply next. Her head would tilt a touch to one side before holding out her left hand for it. With another sigh he would pass the veil over before watching her don it, attaching it at the correct loops, ensuring that it was secure enough on not only the loops in her hair but the ones that had been attached to her clothing, yet looser than before, enough to her face would be able to get a subtle breeze of air, as such the healing process now screamed for.  

Her hair already tightly pinned back into a bun by her senbon, save for the underlayers of her snow-white hair, the hair too thick to be coiled into a single neat bun, giving her a ghostly sheet down her back, yet as her head tilted a touch to one side her hair would shift into a jet black, a full head of beautiful curls reaching down her shoulder blades and where one half of her face had been hidden her features would shift and a full face would present itself, her features becoming softer as a more oval shape took her usual sharp feature place, her eyes showing as left being a warm chocolate brown and the other a subtle moss green. Her clothes would shift into a black playsuit with small plimsolls on her feet. Sweet, innocent... a pretty blossom in full bloom the perfect disguise. “Well?” The doctor would step to the door in silence before looking back at her, “It will do. Now, I will distract the others as discussed.” and with that, he would exit. After a moment or two she would follow out of the door swiftly and silently before making her way down the corridors and out of the building, her mind now focused fully upon the mission. Especially as the promise of a show of talent had been given.

She would flow through the streets with ease, her chakra as low as possible to not cause alarm as she closed in on the eastern gate. Only then would she slow her pace to a soft stead walk. Her gaze would shift seeking out her comrade. Once she had set her gaze upon him she would, in turn, watch him look at her. Her lips would quirk into a smile, he was impressive. Even with her chakra so low, or so she had thought it to be, he still picked her out, or was it that he saw a civilian wandering the streets so late at night in such an area?  Yet not wanting to cause a scene at present her left hand would raise and the glamour would fade enough to show her gloved hand missing its pinky before restoring the glamour. Without stepping closer she would incline into a soft bow before rising, the curls of her hair grazing her face in the process. Observing him for but a moment before stepping closer, her voice a mere murmur, “Sergent Heishi, Kejido.”

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345/350:

Word count: 1179.

Kejido would watch a young woman approaching him. She seemed odd for coming about this late at night but the pull of the chakra ball was telling him she had a large body of chakra within her. He of course couldn't feel it beyond the sensory jutsu but he would assume that it was there all the same. The ball did not lie. Still she approached him with a ready smile which had he not been expecting someone he knew to be a master of genjutsu like himself he would have found far more odd. He was armed and by all appearances dangerous after all. Still the trick with illusions is never being entirely positive if it was one without actually revealing it. As such when she parted it for but a moment to reveal herself his doubts were laid to rest. From the look of a simple woman the face seemed to fade away like smoke for a single moment to reveal the damaged features of the woman he knew. For the first time it put him more at ease. She was here to assist him not assault him. Still the glamour would replace itself like smoke over a mirror once more to hide the truth before she spoke. He would smile from behind the part of cloth hiding his mouth. Speaking in turn as he made eye contact. His confidence matching his bravado.

"Let us hope that after tonight it will be warrant officer. That said, there is work that needs doing. Lets be off."

With that he would wink to her. Turning on his heel as he was sure she could easily keep up. He would shift his weight to his toes and use the pinpoint to kick off as he launched to the side of the road. Over several boulders and onto a rather gnarled tree branch. Already he was choosing the tactical approach and avoiding the main road as their target would be doing. He would only glance behind him to see if she was coming before speaking when she was within earshot. His plan becoming apparent. "I want you to keep ten meters back and ten meters to my left. Far enough back not to be immediately spotted if I am. If they see me first they will engage me. If I see them first I will engage them. In either scenario you are free to deem your actions as you like if I appear to be in peril. If not, the duty falls on me to be the primary in combat. Your main role here is observer and medic. Is that acceptable?"

If she would acknowledge his orders he would shift and move forward. They had discussed this already so it shouldn't be alarming for her to hear these orders. Still he was going to attempt to take the lead on this one. They would move branch by branch at first until the trees began to get a bit more dense and hiding them more. He would check with a quick glance to see if she was following where he wanted her before returning to his search. It would only be about twenty minutes by foot until they should be in the red zone. The predicted placement of the enemy forces around that time. Still he would remain sharp all the same. If they moved up their time table even a little he didn't want to be caught unaware. His silver eyes searching in earnest now for any hint of those moving against him. Against his village. They were out there and he intended to kill them.

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Her gaze would settle with his own and her glamour would remain, an illusion of a harmless creature by every means yet she was as she had always been, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Her trained eye-catching the shift in his demeanour as he saw she was of whom he had been waiting for. And though he were, for the most part, masked his smile would echo within his voice, heavily cocky with the confidence that seemed to drip from him in thick waves.  Her head would incline at his words, a subtle smile genuinely crossing her lips this time. A sense of normality would ripple into her mind, with this man she felt she knew their workings and their place within one another's minds. She was simply an aid to his true goals, she had after all knew a few like him, though they came in many different forms, yet all happy to use others to achieve their goals in the end... the question then became, were she too, this way?  

“The mission will be a success or we will be dead and positions will matter very little then.” Her words slipped from her lips, fluid and unreasonably honest, “So it could be said, you will achieve your desire, save that we do not die.” giving a light snort she would follow his steps, her own as silent as the grave, mear milliseconds behind him, landing with ease a little too close, on the branch beside him. Her weight would shift ever so slightly so that her movement remained silent, and though her appearance at the present time gave the full impression of life at it upmost, her movements still mimicked that of a ghost as she flowed from one movement into the next. Perched, her left hand would nurse against her stomach whilst her right slipped between her thighs to grip the branch to give her a better balance as she paused to listen to him speak again. His plan of action as before acceptable she would nod yet her features would crease with amusement, did he really trust her medically? She would stifle the tickle of a chuckle that threatened to leave her. Her tongue would graze along the right side of her bottom lip, coating it in a thin glisen before speaking, “Proceed.” Her right hand would shift to indicate him to take the first step into their mission and that she would follow. As he moved she too would do the same moving as his shadow, step for step until the trees grew thicker.

She would with all means stick to the plan, knowing her part and how to play it. She would ensure a light contact with him before slipping into position, fading into the thick of the trees yet keeping his scent as she listened closely. Her senses would stretch past him and outwards, further still as she closed her eyes taking in the scents of the air, lung fulls at a time as she paused to discern those that approached into their path. Her left hand would remain cradled against her form, more so protective than she had been of it previously. Silently she would, to the best of her ability, still her mind to focus on the enemies approach. Regardless of who the enemies were, they would not have the pleasure of passing to the village, not whilst life still lingered through her veins. A flutter in her chest would trickle into a sensation of slight excitement, the young man had, after all, promised quite a show and now, she expected it.

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-Continue with the previous jutsu-

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Word count: 604.
Total word count: 1783.

Kejido wasn't much of one for standing around and bickering over plans. When it came to an assignment he usually knew what he was going to do quickly and in an efficient manner. Having calculated the best chance of success. Usually anyway. In this case he had moved his best chance of success into a purely support role. She would have decimated her way through this mission had he let her lead but for whatever reason he had a need to prove himself to her. The future Tsuchikage by most standards. However that was only if the current leadership allowed it to be so. Aside from that a part of him was ashamed about being caught off guard in their last mission. He had done well to assist her than but took more damage than he dished out. This time he would have the element of surprise on his side. However her response would catch him slightly off guard. The truth of it was actually a little comforting. Either they succeeded in their mission or they would be dead at which point social standing wouldn't matter. He would smile about the concept she had presented to him. a little bit more at ease.

Their progress through the woods was rather studious and it gave him time to mentally prepare himself. He was going into the thick of the fight and while he had a plan he needed to consider the possibilities and outs for should his plan fail. The element of surprise would be his of course but he could only take advantage of it if he did so fully. Once they began to draw closer suddenly Kejido would be making no noise at all. Not even the tap of his boot on the branch could be heard. Silence befell him like a shadow moving through the tree's. Not even a hint of his breathing or a ruffle of his clothes. When it came to sound he may as well of not been there. To the experienced eye he had coated his body in a layer of wind chakra that nullified all vibrations he produced on contact. He would only glance over his shoulder once to reassure himself she was still there before they arrived at the ambush point he had picked out. A thicker part of the woods with only a few footpaths through. Limiting the way through to a choke point. If they wanted to get passed him they would have to do so through him.

He would stop just above the tree line entrance as he waited. Mostly concealed within the dark foliage. His dark clothes blending him in with the descending nighttime. In truth they had barely arrived in time. The enemy was arriving shortly after they did by only a couple of minutes. Kejido picking them out fairly easily as they shifted through a clearing. Five individuals all masked and moving at a steady pace. Only two of them were clearly armed with poorly made Katana at the front. However their formation seemed to indicate the member at the back held some greater importance. Naturally Kejido would wait in total silence. Idly allowing them to pass underneath him until the one in the back paused. Looking around as he breathed in. His ability to smell alerting him that they were not alone. However his poor choice not to halt the others would cost him. Kejido had already packed both his hands with senbon between the fingers. When he descended upon the man from above he was little more than a wraith. No herald to announce him. Instead Six senbon would plunge deep into the mans neck on either side before the right hand would rip upwards. Blood splattering across the tree to the side. Before his target could scream or call out suddenly kejido's hand would be little more than a blur. Moving at impossible speeds of twenty five meters per second for two hits in rapid succession. Even she would barely be able to follow it. In the end though the mans neck was barely more than mince meat.

Kejido had rolled to the side still making no noise before the body hit the ground. Knee's touched down as the man gurgled out his dying noise. The other four stopped to turn and look to their leader only to see him fall as blood poured out of what remained of his neck. Only once that happened did Kejido's next step trigger. He had touched the ground to the side watching the four as a ripple of chakra moved along the ground to touch each of them. invisible and dangerous. Their vision of their comrade would be cut off as the already dense forest became a complete wall of forest in every direction. Fake tree's mingling with real ones. Kejido would form a hand sign from where he was before dropping his silence jutsu. Letting out a whistle at a high pitch. Once He let it off he would dart to the left and place his back to a tree. Already two suiton jutsu rushed through the area he had whistled in. Tearing it apart. However cries of confusion and random jutsu began to go off as in their minds many dark shapes were darting around through trees and around them at high speeds they couldn't keep up with. They were surrounded, they knew their leader was dead and they were confused. Already all sense of direction lost. Their energy failing them. Of course Kejido would look up to Taeru as he rose to his feet. Letting off a wink as if this was all just casual to him. Idly tossing four of the six senbon. Catching each of the targets in the meat of the thigh as if the ones running around them had done it. Satisfied with their level of panic he would twirl his remaining senbon with one in each hand before slipping them back up his sleeves and giving a bow. Once that was done he would indicate with a swipe of his hand that she was free to leave her mark now.

Though her mind, for the most part, was securely set upon the mission yet a section of her mind concentrated on her mission partner, knowing the area he planned to ambush from yet it never did hurt to be thorough. He was in many respects an interesting specimen, bred of Iwagakure no Sato no less and she intended to study him. Noting how quickly his movements before silent, and but for a moment she would slip a little closer just to ensure before allowing her form to slip back into position as if she hadn't left it. She would, however, incline her head as he peered back to ensure she was still with him before dropping into her final position for the remainder of their treck, he didn’t need to necessarily be within sight as she followed his scent, trusting her nose this time as she had to find his apartment just a few nights prior.  

Yet the sound of on-commers drew her attention. They were coming. With that knowledge, she shifted a tree closer before lowering her form down to the branch so that she herself wouldn’t be seen nor cause distress as she watched the first part of Kejido’s place bloom before her. She would watch him descend unto the male at the back of the formation before crawling closer along the branches as she headed closer and then along the branch as to which he had been perched. Yet it was the moment of brutality that would beckon her closer. And down she would lean, as if to closer inspect what was happening, causing the thick curled bangs to bounce in the process, with the transformation jutsu still at hand for the time being. His movements beautifully quick and precise. No hesitation, no sense of lackluster within him to be found as he shredded the male's throat to ribbons. And even as the blood splattered up the trees, speaking her arm and face in the process she would not flinch away, only becoming more inclined to lean closer. She would, however, draw back up to the branch securely to continue watching the scene.  

Her gaze would flicker between the group as they turned in utter shock, to Kejido as he shited within the shrubbery. Pressing against the branch she would slowly and silently draw her body upwards and away from the branch to get a slightly better view as the panic within the group only seemed to intensify. And with it, a light smile would threaten her lips as she realized that they must have been enveloped within one of Kejido’s genjutsu’s. And to watch such a jutsu... thrilling. so few people seemed to grasp the art of genjutsu within the land of Iwagakure no Sato, often choosing to acquaint themselves far more in the physical arts of Taijutsu and so on. And what charnage one could create within the mind, magnificent.  

It was, however, his wink that would cause her brow to arch, he was as always charmingly cocky. Yet with his indication, she would loop her body to swing downwards before dropping near silently to the ground, bending her legs with the impact before raising. She would as she did so keeping her gaze upon him for a moment longer before flickering her gaze to the group still panicking. Her right hand would shift to retrieve Ripa tsume from its sheath before stepping up to snatch one from the group spiriting him away. Her left hand would shift to place her thumb and index finger’s beneath the man's jawline, her thumb pressing just below the male's ear one side and her index the other as her remaining two fingers pressed beside his voicebox to hold him strictly in place as she pressed him against her. Silently she would slip Ripa tsume into the male's stomach and as she did her true image would return as her jutsu broke, her yellow gaze set on the male she held in the process breaking him from the genjutsu so that he would be able to see the two that tore through his group, that Iwagakure would not fall to them. She would drag Ripa tsume across and then up to split the male open, opening him for the world to see. She would release the male to allow him to fall and meet his insides that littered the ground before leaning down to remove the senbon from his thigh. Stepping over the body and closer to Kejido she would hold up the senbon for him, as though to silently indicate that it was his turn. She wouldn’t, however, take her concentration off of the three still held within the genjutsu.

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word count: 795.
Total word count: 2578.

Kejido had been idly studying the group even as one was spirited away into the night. One moment he was there standing with his allies in an attempt to at the very least make a stand against a large number of enemies and the next he was gone. Of course Kejido knew what had happened even if he could barely follow it. She was truly an impressive woman. On an idle thought she likely could have dispatched the lot of them. With that in mind Kejido had to consider if anything he could do would actually impress her. After all she would be making a report on this which his clan would read regarding his actions. He would need to step up his game if he wanted to really guarantee his promotion. Though success would ensure it he would no doubt want to leave no one questioning his worth in the matter. If all parties agreed that his promotion was deserved ranking up further would be an easy task. Still even if his mind would wander a little toward the promise of increased wealth and power he did not fail to notice what part of this battle would present him with an opportunity.

Even as she landed next to him and the body dropped just close enough to be seen by its allies he was plotting. Their increased panic increased with shouting as they started to tire out. All their energy expended now from fighting the illusion. He would smile as they began to show their fear and backing towards the edge of the tree line. Fear driving them to the flight response after the fight response had failed. She would hold up his senbon and he would collect it with a small pluck of his own. They were injured in their thigh just enough to prevent running far. Though during the fighting each of them had removed the offending weapon. He would tilt his head a moment before noting what he had been looking for the whole time. Terrorists and their explosives. Always an amusing and yet volatile combination. One which he would use to his advantage. At least one of them had one and one would set off others. But his game was not over. Already they were attempting to navigate through the thick woods by feel and lashing out as figures of him dashed around them. All to no avail. Suddenly the one in the front would find that some illusions were actually very real.

Suddenly Kejido was standing in front of the foremost escapee. A smile on his face as silver eyes shined in the dimly lit night filled forest. Before she could cry out in surprise his hand rose from left to right in an upwards motion as her voice was cut off. Her throat would form a line of blood before it began seeping outwards. With that he would take the senbon he had just been handed and shove it point first into the explosive tag poorly concealed within her vest. Pinning it to her side before setting it off. With that he would raise his now free hand and point the palm towards her. Sending out a flash of a shockwave that threw her back into her allies. The three of them falling into a pile. One would raise his head to try and discover what happened before hearing and seeing the hiss just with enough time to scream. Then it went off setting the other one off as well as body parts and blood painted the forest in a brilliant explosion that bent the grass back from the sheer force of it. With satisfaction in his smile He would brush his knuckles against his chest. The enemy was decimated and some of them little more than mixed chunks of intestines. His work was finished and now he felt pride in his artful finish. Still he would glance to her with the moon behind him shadowing his eyes with a sense of power yet to be behind them. Glistening even in the darkness.

"Shall we go to dinner than?"

As he plucked the senbon from betwix her fingers her gaze would follow him along, her appearance now herself once more supporting the piercing yellow gaze of her only visible orb, set upon him intently. Her gaze seeking out the information hidden. Did he enjoy the brutality? Did he put on the façade of such? What aims and goals did he have? She knew she was there simply as insurance to his advance within the ranks of his clan. His talent and the potential of him become so much more, so clearly evident, coupled with his charm, he was indeed a dangerous individual and would only become more so. What an intriguing thought, he would become, if fate decided that he would live out a long life, known across the Tsuchi no Kuni.  

Watching him engage, no qualms about taking out a female was in some ways a good sign, as such often presented a problem, her thoughts occupying her mind as she watched. As the group were forced back it would be the small sound and scent of ignition that would signal as a warning and with such she would naturally shift her left leg forwards sum, just under the body at her feet giving leverage before drawing her foot upwards with force enough to elevate the corpse just enough for her to grasp with her hand, raising the body to shield herself from the wave of energy and mess that splattered about the clearing, yet speckles would still dust along the dark fabrics of her clothes. Very effective, and a sharp eye, he was indeed impressive. She would slowly lower the body she had used as a shield before gazing about the clearing, taking in the mess that had been made, no less than the scum deserved. Stepping back she would drop the corpse once again, her step back ensuring it wouldn’t simply drop onto her feet before stepping to it, she would shift into a crouch as though to inspect the body. Her fingers would trail along before allowing one hand to pluck out a senbon, evidently the one that had set of the explosive tag upon the female enemy as her other hand shifted, inserting the tips of her gloved fingers into the wound to his stomach that she had created, and with her action, the body would begin to degrade, the stages of decomposition coming quickly upon her touch, as his form lost moisture, his eyes sinking deep into their sockets before evaporating into small swirls of dust, the skin becoming taught to the bone as though mummified before breaking down. the skeleton would follow as her hand lowered to touch the spine, ensuring that it too would twist into dust leaving no trace of the body behind.

Raising she would turn to face Kajido, pausing for a moment at his words before allowing her head to tilt a touch to one side ever so slightly. A subtle chuckle would spill past her lips, the sound oddly musical in comparison to the usual monotone her voice often took, yet it seemed to suit her more, or would have done at one time or another. Replacing Ripa tsume into its sheath she would step over to again hold up his senbon. An odd request in that moment it would seem. With her gaze washing over him in the process, still neat to say he had just caused so much mess. “Dinner sounds wonderful.”  her gaze would shift to his silver hues, “It shall give us time to write our report and from my understanding, this should ensure your promotion?” Inquisitive, she had definitely become such. It was after all smart to have powerful allies especially those with such promise and potential, this she would take advantage of, just as he himself was doing with her.

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Word count:641.
Total word count: 3219.

Kejido would smile to her and nod as she inquired about having time to write their reports and ensuring his promotion. Surely if anything that indicated that she did not doubt his ability nor did she mind his tactics. The brutal pit left of the enemy with a small fire still burning here and there would draw his gaze as the scent of burning corpses would fill his nostrils. The Iron in the blood mixing with the smell of burning wood and a hint of steel. He knew the scent well these days. More and more the scents of battle accosted his senses and now became a comfort to him. Though he remained refined he knew his role as a soldier. His mind was not lost to insanity of course but he was not so weak as to allow a gruesome scene to hinder him. He recalled a time when his stomach would turn at the sight of it all but now he had grown into something more. Even now as he looked over the carnage he felt no compassion for his enemies. It was a tactical choice against an inferior opponent that didn't know how to keep their plans from leaking. Despite their numbers they had been wiped rather easily and panicked all too quickly. They were not veterans to be sure. Still he wondered who had used them. There was little reason to commit acts of terrorism if not for someone to profit somewhere. They lacked the zealot nature to be truly devoted to a cause.

"Yes, we should retire for the moment to prepare for dinner. You should pick a nice dress. I will make arrangements at Arpège for a table. A little less meat for dinner might be in order given the...activities so far. See you outside my building in say two hours?"

He would smile to her and wink a moment. The restaurant he was referring too had quite the setting. French cuisine. Known more for their vegetable dishes than anything else. Easily a five star joint for the two. Naturally he was looking to celebrate and quickly too. Not caring for the out of pocket cost he would incur. His own way of remaining the spoiled man he was. Even if his abilities were superb as was his mind his rank afforded him a larger purse within his clan. It was his common way to splurge for amusement. Still his thoughts were derailed as the quiet destruction was broken by the sound of someone choking. He would direct his attention to one of the people that had been in the pile. They were missing an arm entirely and their chest and abdomen were torn up pretty badly but they had managed to survive. The man choked out blood as he struggled to breath. Staring around him in fear unable to even move. The fear of death clear in his eyes. Kejido would tilt his head before shifting to walk from where he was to the side of the dying man.

"Shh shh. You picked your battles poorly and now judgement has come. Fear not though, I will not force you to suffer a slow death. Close your eyes and join your allies. Shh shh its okay. Close your eyes."

With that Kejido would pick up the young mans Katana. Shifting his grip on it as he felt the grip in his hand. It felt comfortable, sturdy and heavy. Enough to do some damage he supposed. A decent weapon had the man been a decent fighter. Perhaps it would be something decent to add to his collection. A new bit of his armory to deal more damage. He would flick some dirt and bits of his friends off of it before shifting the angle of it. The crude blade catching the moonlight as he placed the tip over the young mans chest as he stared up through a mouthful of gurgling blood. Kejido would take his gloved hand and place it over the mans eyes as he continue to shush him quietly. His other hand shifted as he put his weight behind it suddenly. The sword plunging into his chest as his back arched for just a moment before blood spurted out of his mouth and he went limp. The final enemy released from his suffering. His pain faded as Kejido would wait a moment before pulling the katana from his heart. He wasn't just a sinner nor was he a saint. Just the kind of devil that suited his needs.

He would collect the scabbard from the boys waist. Marked black wood from the explosion but still intact. He would use the corpse to wipe his blade before sheathing it and holding it in his left hand. With his right he grabbed the body by the collar and tossed it onto the other burning bodies. A sort of burial where they didn't just leave decomposing bodies laying around. His eyes would watch as the fires danced in them a moment. The body catching fire and the burn continuing until it stopped spreading. Controlled enough for now he would look to her a moment before nodding. He was content that the fire would spread and the bodies would burn sufficiently. With that he would turn from it and begin walking away. New Katana in hand as he shifted back through the woods at ground level this time. The light of the fires quickly fading behind him.

He didn't seem to mind if she followed him back the same way or left before him and went ahead. Two hours was plenty of time to get home and refresh himself. Still his mind would reflect on the battle that just happened. He had toyed around a little too much. She may have appreciated his tactics but if he had to be honest with himself. He had lowered his efficiency by a good forty percent just to show off and show how little he had to try. He could have been on top of them within a couple of seconds and denied them their power. Set them all into an explosion within five seconds and eliminate the threat. He wouldn't share these thoughts of course but he had toyed with the enemy and that was always frowned upon as a tactician. Still he would report in at the gate and quickly make his way to his apartment. Choosing to take the time to relax and shower. Change out of his clothes and make a phone call to reserve a table. Despite usually needing to reserve a good week ahead of time his clan held a table at all times and it was his luck that no one else was using it. Or rather he mused to himself few others ever did. Not many in the clan spoiled themselves as he did. it was perhaps how the clan managed to hold onto its wealth so efficiently.

Exit thread
4215

2500/2500 B rank mission complete
1000/1000 training Katana Bushido
700/700 Reaction time C-3 to B