Mission name: Increased patrols .
Mission rank: B-Rank.
Objective: Clear the sector of Bandits.
Location: Rolling hills of Konoha.
Reward: 350 Ryo.
Mission description: Trade routes to the north-east have been raided by bandits heavily in the past month. Normally our regulars would take care of this but the squads that normally patrol that area have their hands full.
Mission details: Eight bandits are camped about half a mile off the road. Five of the bandits use bows that can drive arrows three inches deep into flesh {C rank} while two bandits use clubs that are able to break bones and cause deep bruises. Their leader, a large beast of a man that stands over seven feet tall wields a war-hammer that can shatter bones and cause internal bruises {A rank}. These men have been using their brute strength and numbers to raid caravans, rather than any real jutsu.

Rippa paused in his thoughts as he sat on the roof of the barracks in the sword saints complex. His red robes hung open along his chest down to his navel before actually closing. Hanging loosely on his shoulders as if he didn't care to show some modesty. His white hair blew slightly in the warm breeze that passed along. The smells of summer mixed with the smells of metal and general training ground scents. Dirt, sweat, wood even the freshly cut grass nearby. His bare feet settled on the polished tiles of the roof. Some poor soul likely had been punished for messing up or lost a duel with a bet on it. Scrubbing the roofs was a task set for those who had earned such a difficult task. Though much like the rest of the dojo whoever it was had done a good job. The common goal of the dojo was perfection in anything you intend to do. His body shifted to the side as he sought more comfort. The blue jeans he was wearing didn't strain much even as they briefly caught on a piece of the roof. He wasn't really sure why he wanted to be there. Perhaps it was because it was so peaceful, or perhaps he had just experienced what it was to fly and now he felt like being in the sky all the time. If only it was an option. His blood wings frightened many and had once more brought the concern that he and his clan were evil beings from the citizens. However, blood had been associated easily with violence for a long time. It was to be expected of them by now to have grown afraid of it. And fear could only breed hate. It never solved anything. So Rippa avoided using blood techniques in public if only to keep from spreading fear.

Still he had paused in his thoughts and shifted as he sensed the messenger approaching from the entrance to the complex. His senses were fairly heightened in comparison to when he had been a genin not too long ago. He felt like it had been ages though. A new being entirely sat there now. No longer the weak med nin that just wanted to protect. He had the power now to save those he cared for. Still a messenger at this hour alerted him. It was unusual for them to seek anyone out this late yet alone him. He could tell the man was searching for him because missions for the non ranked members were just offered at the gate. No, this was something important. Something they wanted the captain for. His blue eyes already locked onto the spot where the messenger seemed to pop into existence at before the man even appeared there. The man seemed a little startled to see Rippa smiling and watching him with blue eyes. Another messenger who thought his stealth techniques were unparalleled. Still it seemed Rippa would have to speak first.

"You have something for me then? A task of some sort?" Was said with a warm and calm tone. The kind of tone a practiced doctor learned. A bedside manner Rippa still practiced.

"Ah yes Sir. We have reports of missing or attacked merchant trains in the rolling hills again. It appears the example your team set of the last group did not take sir. The Rolling hills are once more in need of your blade. The council requests you handle this in person sir. They think if the captain of the sword saints steps up to deal with this then it will discourage bandit activities in the future."

Rippa paused before he stroked the white stubble on his chin. He calmly looked back to the setting sun as he considered the request. It would be dark soon. Though, the darkness wouldn't hinder him much. The thing was before he was a part of a two man cell and only managed to deal with the given task because the other had been the power house that had given the jutsu he used the opening it needed. Still, he was not the same man he had been back then...the him from then wouldn't even compare to the him from now. Still he needed to decide if he could handle this. Inquire of more information. After all the person who charges in sword drawn and expects victory purely on brutality was likely to die the same way he fought...violently and quickly.

757

"So, they never learn...how many is it this time and how well armed are they?" Rippa replied with still watching the reddened sky colored by the sun sinking over the horizon. The scout paused as he rummaged into his carrying bag before pulling out a report. Scanning it to confirm it was the right one. It appeared he had his job set out for him by the amount he was carrying. A lot of late night visits were to be had it seemed. Or perhaps he was just going to slide a few orders under some doors. Let people sleep and all. Still the scout spoke up as he read it aloud this time through. "It appears a half mile down the main road to the north east and another half mile east of there the group is camped. There are five bowmen, armed with what appears to be very basic long bows, two melee club wielders, bulky but mere wooden clubs. The only true threat there appears to be their leader, Sir....they say their leader is a giant...our normal patrol would take losses taking just him down...He wields a masterwork war hammer. Same quality as your weapons. Will you be taking some back up?" The scout said now pocketing the report. He was certainly curious for his position as messenger. Still likely he had been told to report back to the council with Rippa's answer and how Rippa intended to handle it. He likely needed to know some information. So Rippa spoke quietly as the last of the sun faded. His voice filled with a heavy heart. "I do not relish the shedding of blood. However they can not be allowed to continue on as they have been. Let the council know I will make sure these murderers and thief's are made to face justice. Off with you now. I have things to prepare for. An example to make."

With that the scout seemed to fade from vision once more. Rippa was able to track him as he left but he didn't bother for long. The council wanting him to move was a bit extreme. Yet if there was a giant involved...a man with that much power that a patrol squad might struggle....he might need to raise the troops morale by dealing with it in person. With a blur of red he moved from the roof to the door to his room at the dojo. He never slept at the manor anymore or the guest house. Not since his father passed. The servants still lived there but other then that it was dark. Servants with no lord....how amusing the rest of the clan must think it was. Still he slide open the paper door and stepped inside before closing it behind him. He sighed as he moved around and tossed his red robes to the side. Standing there in jeans he moved to his dresser and pulled out a black tank top and slid into it. Next he sat down and put on socks and finally strapped on his combat boots. His silver necklace was left sitting under the clothes in the top drawer still. His mothers pendant left to sit there and gather dust. Another memory of the past. He then slipped into his red captains long coat and then pulled on his fingerless gloves. Lastly he put on his ammo belt with eight shots pushed into the little loops. Cain and Abel went on either hip both loaded with six shots. With that he set out to finish his mission. To end the enemy.

607/1364

He made his way then out of the barracks. He didn't collect anyone to follow him for this mission. He didn't really feel the need to have back up for such a task. Another couple of reasons filled his mind on that though. First of them was he didn't care to risk the health of his men on such a mission. If alone, even if wounded Rippa could heal himself but if he was separated from one of his men and they suffered a fatal wound then it would be on him as a commander. It wasn't like he never sent them on missions. They all were ready to put their lives on the line. However...Rippa usually also worked alone. The second reason was his clans curse. The blood parasite as he called it living within them. They were merely a host to their blood and if wounded too grievously their blood took over and killed both friend, foe and neutral in the area. He couldn't risk killing his men with his own hand. Of course there was a final reason. A third reason far darker then the rest. He intended to leave a survivor. He would break and imprison the man but the man would survive his onslaught. Last time he had killed them all. This time though, a survivor could tell the tale of how one man walked into their camp and wiped out their entire squad. He walked out the front doors of the dojo and moved to the north gate. He walked out with barely a nod to the guard. His normally warm, sky blue eyes were now as cold as ice. The guard at the gate knew that look. He knew the captain was out to kill that night. He had seen it only a couple of times before but both times it had ended in a body count. The work of the sword was not for the merciful or faint of heart, What once had been a frail boy returned from a sabbatical learning the medical arts was now one of the most fearsome swordsmen in konoha. Not the best but certainly capable.

Rippa moved along the path towards the encampment making good time. The Mile to the camp barely took more then a couple of minutes. Rippa easily saw the camp fire from over a dozen meters away while he was still out of the light. A quick survey of the area told him that the giant man and the two men with clubs were merely a ruse. The leader wasn't just a huge brute. Blue eyes raised to count five shadows relaxing on some of the larger branches. They had the archers set up in the tree's as snipers waiting to ambush anyone who charged the three below. Still, Rippa could see them almost as clear as day. He would take care of them first. Perhaps a quick display to set the mood for the rest of the battle.

With a sudden blur of red through the woods the camp moved to arm themselves. However Rippa was already upon the first archer before he could even reach for an arrow. A flash of metal reflected the moon light as Rippa cut through both bow and bowman before he moved as the bowman began to fall. To him it was all in slow motion. The blood hadn't even begun to spray before he was away from that one. He moved from tree to tree drawing his second sword as he cut down all five archers one by one in the time it took the first one to hit the ground. He stopped in view of the camp fire as the first body thudded. Followed by four thuds within a moment of each other behind him. Dead men falling in under a couple of seconds. His blades dripped red as he stood looking at the two men with clubs looking rather panicked. The large man though was calm. He rose to his feet and lifted both his men like toys and chucked them at Rippa. Still even at those speeds Rippa danced around them. One he stabbed through the chest and the other he smashed across the temple with the butt of his sword. Still the large man was upon him. A mighty swing of a war hammer was too close to dodge. Still Rippa lifted his left blade and blocked it with the flat side of his blade with a small shock-wave rippling the grass around them. Rippa didn't wait for the shock to register on the giants face that he had been blocked with a one handed weapon to his two handed swing. Instead Rippa leveled his right blades barrel at the mans face point blank and pulled the trigger. Ending the battle with a bolt through the eye and into the brain. A head shot was all it took.

With the battle done he cleaned his blades with the water there and wiped them with a clean cloth before sheathing them. He calmly dug out the bolt from the large mans brain but decided that one he would need to boil clean. Then he heaved the one he had knocked out over his shoulder and made his way back to the village. A prisoner in tow to tell the tale of how one man had taken down his entire group.

Exit thread

910/2274
1500/1500 B rank mission complete
774
750/750 Lightning Release: Shock Bullets trained
24 remaining