Mission Taken – Evacuation! (D-Rank | Event Mission):

She had already freed the Academy students that had been trapped by fear and flames in their school with the help if Izumi, but now there seemed to be the pressing matter of the rest of the civilians who needed to be saved. Just like with the Academy students the civilians were running every which way, or some not willing to budge from where they stood at all, fear causing mass panic in the streets. Of course, there were others trying to usher everyone to safety, shinobi and civilian alike. Now that she was outside she could see that the flames were burning the village center as if they had purposely been aimed at the administrative buildings, though they were definitely spreading fast and filling the air with their thick smoke – adding to the general panic by making it hard to see and causing further confusion. Sounds of panic, and the scene of death itself, surrounded the small ten year old child as she stood there debating on what to do. It wasn’t until she she heard fresh screams and looked over to see people running by in an attempt to get away did she find herself steeling her resolve for the second time that evening: she was a shinobi, perhaps not one of this village but a shinobi nonetheless who had sworn to use her skills to protect people as her father before her had done, she couldn’t turn her back on these innocent people now.


She had no idea who all was behind this attack, though she was positive the man who had been playing at being her father had a hand in it, but she assumed she would simply get her answers later. Surely the innocent civilians hadn’t had anything to do with what had happened with her ‘father’, surely they were innocent in all of this and she wasn’t in fact about to do something horrible by helping them. No, surely that couldn’t be the case. She felt confused and conflicted but she couldn’t dwell on it: this was not the time or the place. Sure, she was only ten years old but she had to do something to help these poor people out.

Figuring she was going to need a little bit of extra pull she shifted her gray scarf she had been so far using to cover her mouth and nose, as well as her head and ears, so that her Konoha village headband would show – hoping that the symbol would mark her as someone who was there to help and not hinder further. She doubted people would pay much attention to her if they thought she was just a child after all, but hopefully knowing she was a shinobi, if just a Genin, would help make this easier so she could get as many people out of the village as possible and to safety. ”Oi! Come on, follow me. I know the safe way out. I just took some kids from the Academy through!”, she called out to anyone and everyone who could hear her. Some passed her by without so much as a second glance, while others stopped and even did double-takes at the Konoha headband that hung from around her neck. Some came over, inquiring as to whether or not she could actually help them, one lady even asking, “You saved the kids from the Academy? Did you see a short, blond haired boy with a green streak in his hair?! He’s my son.. please tell me he’s okay!” Chou nodded her head immediately, glad she could offer at least one person good news. ”Yes, I helped get him out. I took him outside of the village. Come with me and I’ll take you to him.” The woman agreed, as did those with her, and Chou found herself leading them back through the streets – moving as quickly as was safely possible.


It was definitely a strange concept to be in charge, let alone in a dangerous situation such as this. To have the weight and hope of so many lives on her shoulders. She couldn’t allow herself the time to process it as she led those willing to follow her through the streets – taking the same path she had used earlier with only the slightest of deviations when a particular street ended up blocked with debris and too thick with smoke to risk. ”Please try and keep your noses and mouths covered so you don’t breath in any of the smoke...”, she suggested as they went along, glad to see so many willing to follow through with the order. Once she reached the village gates she found herself stopped by a fairly haggard looking shinobi, “Take them to the outpost off in that direction, that’s where we’re evacuating everyone to”, before the man took off back into the village before Chou could even respond.


”Come on, folks. We’re almost there...”, she found herself calling out as she continued to lead the way, glad that they were away from the village. It seemed the closer to the outpost they got the calmer everyone became. No sooner did they reach the outpost did the woman the woman run over to the young boy Chou had saved earlier from the Academy, the pair clutching tightly to each other. Chou turned her gaze away from the reunion and back towards the village that was burning behind her…

Word Count: 950 / 750