Kasai is a large town-city located at the southwestern sea border of the Fire Country in the Taika Province. It is the second most populous town after Teichaku, not counting Konohagakure. Kasai’s economy is currently suffering a recession due to a lack of ability to export their goods via boat as a result of an increase in piracy. Their poor economy has left them unable to afford the same protection that the vastly more successful Teichaku manages.

The architecture of Kasai is modern, typically employing the usage of wood, stone, and plaster. The majority of the population are general labourers and seafarers such as fishermen or naval tradesmen.

Demographics
Population: 240,000
Population Density: 2,666/km²
Land Area: 90/km²

Economy: Recession, stagnated
Relationship with Konohagakure: Poor
Relationship with Akagahara: Poor

---

Mission name: (Repeatable) Deliver a package
Mission rank: D-rank Crime mission
Objective: Deliver a package to the slums.
Location: Slums
Reward: 225 ryo
Mission Description: You are handed a back pack with instructions not to look inside and not to stop for any reason until the delivery is made.
Mission Details: The package has a little bit of weight to it but a pair of thugs will attempt to threaten you into handing it over before you reach the objective. You don't have time to engage them long so its your job to escape and make up lost time.

Required wc: 750 + 25% (crime) = 938

Out of the blue they appeared before her, right in the middle of the dirt road between the tall trees throwing their shadows down. ANBU? Their identity and purpose hidden by the mask and cloak they were wearing, everything about them was to remain a mystery. That much was clear. The two of them, a good head taller then her, had imposing auras sufficient to have the hairs on her arms raise up. Sober her up mentally just for a moment.

"Listen carefully, Alexa."

They knew her name, meaning they had monitored her. Impressive, as was to be expected from the secret division of Konohagakure. But she mostly wondered what they wanted with her.

"Are ye even Konoha-nin?"
"We are. And we have a mission for you."
"Fancy that. What ye want?"

He'd take a package from under his cloak and push it into her hand, his presence so close to hers it would be hard to spot he was passing her something. Moving his head closer, he'd speak with a hushed tone.

"Deliver this with utmost discretion to the captain of the Naiad."
"The Naiad, huh? I kn-"
"By no accounts are you to be recognised. Got it?"
"Sure, mate, bu-"

Not allowing her sentence to be finished, the two instantly flickered away and left not the slightest of traces behind. Shrugging her shoulders at the whole ordeal despite feeling a little worried about their serious tone, Alexa tucked the package away in one of the pockets of her long coat and moved on as she adjusted her new tricorne. The advantage of being well paid for missions was being able to afford new clothes. Hat, vest, boots. She looked less like the brat most took her for and more like the captain of the ship she'd sail one day. Continuing her path, Kasai would soon come to view.

---

314

The cobblestone streets were a familiar sight to the genin by now. Humming a sea shanty she had picked up somewhere without knowing the lyrics, she'd sashay through the streets without a care. And without a drunken stupor for a change, her mind fully focused on enjoying the new outfit she was wearing even though she was supposedly on some off-handed mission. Delivering a package. If that wasn't a dumb mission, then she wasn't sure what was. What plague her mind, however, was all the secrecy behind it. The ANBU masks hiding their identity was one thing, but the two men had not shed the slightest bit of light on the situation. No information, no directions, no warnings. Just... stealth delivery. It annoyed her. So much in fact that she was of a mind to disregard their suggestion for stealth, not use henge no jutsu and enter ship in bright daylight as herself. And yet... The knot in her stomach warned her such rebellious actions would cost her dearly. A tempting thought despite the discomfort.

The day still young and the sky beautifully blue, Alexa was of a mind the whole delivery could wait for a bit. First, she'd stroll along the open market and the quay for a while. Fresh fish had been hauled in, the most vocal sailors currently trying to sell their catch of the day and good prices as the crowd came and went. Alexa casually walked through the crowd, enjoying the pervading smell of the fish and eyeing the wide open gazes of dead fish rueing the day they were caught with half opened mouths. Interested in salmon, she'd compare a couple of hauls from various vendors before she decided on one of them. As she bantered with the merchant for a solid piece, a familiar parrot would fly in and land on her shoulder, triggering a sense of confusion in the salesman who recognised the old bird.

"Wait... Is that...?"
"Arrr. Go spread your fleas in 'nother's bed, ye scurvy hound."
"Aye, tha' be him. Bird's mine now."

The parrot would cock its head, looking at Alexa as if to say 'oh really?' for a couple of seconds before he started to gnaw on his leg. The salesman would scratch his head, not sure what to make of the fact a young brat like Alexa had the famous Arrchibald's parrot sitting on her shoulder without getting her gutted like a fish. Sure, everyone knew by now that the smuggler was dead but even then the parrot was notoriously known to be attached to the former captain. Alexa would prod through his distraction by pointing at the salmon with a questionable look.

"We agreed on a thirty-eight hundred, aye?"
"Err... Wait, we-"
"Ye backin' out on our bargain?"
"Ney, it's fine. Low on the price but consider yourself lucky today"
"Yarr. I'll drink one for ye."

Sealing the deal, the salesman packed a healthy piece of fresh salmon for her. He was right when he said she had paid well below the regular price, since she had cut under for about two hundred ryo - one of the few things her parents didn't scold her for as she bargained for lower prices of just about everything. The Hyuga were well off, so bargaining was hardly required, but every ryo gained by it would not be thrown away either. The downside of being a bargaining devil was that she had to shopping choir most of the time. Finding herself a courier as she was not about to run around the whole day with the fish, she sent him off to the Hyuga estate with a good price for his services so he wouldn't run off with the fish in the first place. Most likely, he'd be given another few coins upon delivery since that was just what her father tended to do almost as a force of habit.

With the boy running out of sight, Alexa would continue her stroll along the quay, taking in the salty scent of the sea outside as she watched a couple of the fishermen she passed by. She had never found the patience to dedicate to the sport of single-rod fish-catching, instead preferring to throw out the fishing nets and crab pots to drag in a hefty amount of fish all at once. Hard work not to be underestimated but instant gratification for it. The killing and cleaning of the fish afterwards was a grimy job, but the gain from selling fresh fish was worth the trouble.

Speaking of trouble... It was time she took care of the delivery.

Digging up a couple of biscuits, she'd lure Arrchibald onto a nearby bird stand pertaining to a small aviary of the docks own little coop. It was mostly used for brief messaging in Kasai itself, but the exotic birds that housed it made the perfect camouflage to have the bird sit here for a moment. It was just a matter of providing sufficient biscuits while she'd be out to make her move. Attaching a small back with biscuits onto the stand, Alexa would consider that little difficulty settled, Arrchiburd already nibbling away at the treasures he had been handed and giving the stinkeye to the other birds if they looked so much like they were inching closer to his biscuit bag. Leaving the aviary, Alexa made sure she'd pass a forgotten street with no prying eyes before she executed the henge no jutsu and changed herself alike to the courier she had sent away.

---

942
Total: 1256

The Naiad rested quietly in the lightly churning waters of the docks. A couple of empty crates on the side of the jitty had to be passed before the plank could be reached, but boarding the rather empty schooner posed little challenge. Messenger Alexa looked around the ship, the squeaky clean deck reminding her of how she had once spend her time to tidy it up much like this. The ship seemed empty, most either taking a break from a recent sailing experience in the tavern or just taking an extended sleep in the bunks. The only one, and the one she needed, was the captain himself standing at the helm, bend over a couple of folders and documents. Alexa would run up to the man and salute him.

"Delivery, sir."

He'd look up curiously from his work and cover his papers faster than he had probably meant. Stroking his beard, his grey eyes would look down upon the courier before digging into his pockets for some coins. As he handed her a measly few pieces, she'd frown at him in acted disappointment, pocket the change and take out the package she was to deliver. Greedily he'd grab it, eyes widening for reasons unknown and giving Alexa a reason to stick around all curious-like.

"What's in it, sir? Is it somethin' nice?"
"Yes, but nothing for a kid like you."
"Don't mock me. I'll be a great sailor one day."
"Yeah, well, go play somewhere else now."

She'd sulk for a moment and turn around, casually walking away as he opened the package and read the note that was to be found in it along with a bundle of other scrolls and notes. What Alexa didn't see was the brief stare of disbelieve on his face before it made room for the red of boiling anger.

"Hey, you there."

Alexa would turn around as he called out, not sure what he wanted from her now when he just had shoo'd her away. The Messenger would keep quiet, the question about the situation easily read on her face.

"Come 'ere and read this.", Alexa would walk over, take the offered note in her own hands and allow her eyes to run over the content it held. Barely had she read two sentences when he continued talking with a cold murderous tone. "What's the meaning of this, lassie...?"

"To the captain of the Naiad.

Now that we have your attention, be informed. A rat in your ship spilled the beans on your trades while an outside agent fed you false information. You were allowed to be tracked your sailing routes, compromising your so called 'hidden' smuggler routes. Consider the Konoha Forces aware of your illicit actions as a smuggler.

Your vessel has been surrounded by Konoha ANBU as you read this note and will soon emerge to apprehend you. We suggest you and whatever crew remains of yours surrenders without any violence. Our mutual agreement will make sure to see you freed as soon as possible. It goes without say this letter will be destroyed after reading.

K."

Alexa couldn't believe what she was reading. She knew that Konoha's administration had given her a couple of missions concerning the Naiad before and as a good sailor she was well aware every captain partook in a little smuggling on the side, but this note explained her own actions. She had been that agent providing false information! With the ANBU on their heels, the whole situation seemed to barrel roll within her mind and with it, the Henge no jutsu she maintained would flicker and disappear to make matters worse.

"Y-you..?", the captain would gasp in shock. "What are you doing here?"

An answer would not be provided as from the waters five shinobi wearing ANBU masks and clothes would emerge and land on the deck. In a moment of reflex, Alexa would turn the paper in her hand to a crisp as raiton chakra burned it before any of them were able to figure out its content. Uncomfortable silence would follow for a couple of seconds before the captain sighed.

"Alright, fine. I'll come quiet. Let me gather me men."

He'd ring the bell and yell 'all hands on deck', making the few men holed up in the lower section of the ship to run up in a half-drunken daze. In the meantime, one of the ANBU was eyeing Alexa, calling her out and asking what a Konoha genin was doing here in this situation. The Hyuga knew she screwed up while not knowing how or why since she had been given a mission on the go, but remembering the words the man had given her all she did was shrug her shoulders.

"Jus' wanted to be part of tha crew an' workin' my way into it."

After all, what did she know about his smuggling actions, right? She was just a genin perfoming missions at the behest of the Administration.

---

[EXIT]

845
Total: 2101
- 938 | D-rank Crime
- 1000 | C-rank jutsu: Wind Demon Hurricane Kick
Discarding rest