She had followed the sight of her younger self through the streets, her mind still intent upon the administration building, however reaching the building she didn’t bother with the stairs nor even entering the building itself as she watched the younger fantom of herself enter. The Tsuchikages office would, of course, be locked, now home to none, the paperwork, she imagined had disappeared. Yet she knew the building well, more so from the outside as her form stalked up the side of the building, her footing deadly silent with each step yet blood dripped every few steps, dropping towards the ground as she ascended further, right up until watching the fantom self-emerge from the window to the Tsuchikages office. Pausing in place her head would tilt a touch to one side, her recall of events near on perfect. As her fantom self-stepped atop the roof disappearing from view yet the muffled mumble of her voice calling out to the Tsuchikage would continue. Yet her gaze would be drawn to the window of the Tsuchikages office. Open, but not just open, splinters of wood hung over the edge of the window sill with the window ajar and ever so slightly hanging from its hinges. Arching a brow she would prowl ahead before reaching the window, stopping a few feet short of it she would lean close, reaching up to grip her loose hair to keep it from getting in the way, the action subconsciously allowing the blood that dribbled from her hand to soak into her hair, turning sections into a monthly blooms red whilst ensuring it wouldn't contaminate the scents as she inhaled deeply. Though multiple scents existed, mingling together in a stuper yet a fresh scent lingered, hanging there. Her lips would curl back and for but a moment she would forget her humanity, as she had done more and more recently, a low rumble of a snarl would hang low within her throat.  

Reaching out she would use the pad of her right hand's index finger to push the window open so that it rest against the wall beside before slipping in, the movement itself somewhat snake. Landing on the balls of her feet she would dip low into a crouch before inhaling deeply again. Her motions animalistic as she followed the scents about the room, though the room, for the most part, had gained a stale sort of scent the open window allowed the crisp air to enter. Looking more animal than human and she prowled along the ground leaving partial bloody prints where her hand touched down. And yet her mind parted in different directions only for a split second pushing other scents aside as she caught the old scent that seemed to only visit her in her sleep. Her upper body would bow down into a bow as paid tore through her as she gave a silent choke, her form shuddering before continuing on. A part of her mind basked in the grief and sorrow of the seventeenth Tsuchikages scent, the small part of her mind being pushed to the back burner of her mind as her main focus returned to the task at hand, the intruders scent. With a hiss again she would follow with an inhale before following it to a glass cabinet, ornate and quite practically beautiful, housing random items, each with their own labels. Artifacts of past kage and the space for the non-existent present kage. Keepsakes more than anything else yet the single crack in the glass and the and the small lock on the ground that had at one point been attached to the cabinet only emphasized the empty dustless paces within the cabinet.

Taking her time she would peer into the cabinet as she stepped closer, recalling with near perfect precision what the cabinet had once contained, what the items looked like the kages that had owned them and the shelves they had occupied. She would graze her gaze over the small engraved plaques within, the name and status of each kage and then the item’s that belonged to each. The distinct taste of hate churned within her stomach as she noted the missing items yet only when she saw that Karumo’s chess set was also gone, causing her stomach to churn and bile to rise into her throat giving the acidic taste to her tongue and with it brought forth a sadistic growl, guttural and primal. How dare they, how dare someone steal such things, from such people... Seething was too light a word to explain. But the scent here was strong and the small traces of chakra that had been left like litter for her to pick and follow to its sauce. Rats always did leave a trail, you just needed to know how to find the signs and have the stomach to follow what was given.  

Back out of the window, she would follow the train that she had been left, pausing only to make sure that the window was closed all the way, a twinge of distaste that she wouldn’t be locking it behind her. Weaving her way through the streets and ally-ways she would make her way out of the main of the village before slipping out of the gates passing almost as silent as a weith in the process. The scent drawing her on only for the sounds of running water to trickle into her ears. Geisi lake. She knew now where she was heading, Geisi lake harbored many holes and caves, some even leading to the tunnels deep beneath the village. Poetic almost, isn't it? That the rat that dared to steal from the kage’s of Iwagakure no Sato, of its people, the rats would crawl into a hold. Yet whether by fire and smoke or simply entering the caves herself she would correct this wrong.  

Emerging into the clearing of the lake, finding the sight of the night's blackened water ominously beautiful, she would wait, just a moment to take in the moment. Stood there, silhouetted in the moonlight, watching said light dance along the surface of the water, another drip...drip...drip, pitter-pattering as it splashed against the ground. Thick ruby essence, bubbling forth to pollute the fresh air with her so very ominous sweet scent. Blinking for the first time in what seemed like the whole night, inhaling deeply, enough to fill her lungs to their capacity before slowly turning towards the scent she had been following. She would as she had been, follow the scent. Each step strong yet silent as she made her way to the mouth of the cave. How many times had she sat in this very cave with others of the orphanage in her younger years? Another pang of guilt and hatred would well up within her stomach, sending bile into her throat. Further, she would continue inside, the sounds trickling out like the lakes sounds had and the further inside that she stepped the thicker the scent became. Stood in the entrance of the second compartment of the cave. Sat with his back to her a young man, one hand reaching up to tug off the balaclava that had been covering his face. From what she could see he hadn't stopped looting after the Tsuchikage’s office, no he had continued to loot. Yet, what she saw drew her head up and her spine rigid as venom laced her tongue. He was sat with a chess board open, the white’s king and queen in his grubby hands. Her breath would shudder and the venom would leek out... coating her words, her accent thick yet her voice like the strike of an adder, jolting him out of his illusionary bliss, surrounded by his trophies, thinking him safe from everything whilst nestled within the supposed safety of the cave. “Rat’s!” her lips would twist and quirk to form the word, exposing her pearl white teeth in the process. Causing him to flinch at the unexpected announcement of another within his space, quickly cramming the pieces into the box again before snapping it shut as his head snapped up to peer at her over his shoulder, the shock on his face immediately evident yet quickly fading as he perceived no threat. “what, pft you made me jump, go on now get outta here. Aint-” speaking as though he had a right to do so, as though as though a creature of death didn’t linger at his door. She would cut through his small speech, taking another step in as she continued to speak, “The fought the dogs and killed the cats,” closer and closer she would walk and with such the young man would inch away, “and bit the babies in the cradles, and ate the cheeses out of the vats, and licked-”

Though this time it was his turn to interrupt her again his voice elevated to try to show some form of command, pressing to his full height yet an inch or so taller than Taeru, no great display of a man would be found here as he still clutched the board in his hands, “I said get out of here already, find your own-” Her movements would for the time being remain slow as she continued to close in upon him, “You have no right to touch that you rat.” her voice shifted to display the venom coursing through her veins yet the male would only clutch it closer to his chest as though that could stop her. Her movements though would heighten quickly drawing her face up close with his, as his back, unexpectedly for him, pressed to the wall of the cave. Yet the small rickashae of a pitter-patter would be the only indication for many that the smoke bomb had been dropped but a moment after the sound the smoke would engulf the small room and his presence shifted to the opening. Attempting to run? Taking just the chess board. a snort would leave her as her form twisted following his scent and his sounds as she stepped after him just in time to see him a few meters ahead, an attempt at escape. Her right hand would shift snatching up Amai from her obi line, in the singular fluid movement she would snap the tessen open before striking with it in a diagonal arch, her chakra already pumping into the weapon coating it in a toxic green coal like state before dispersing a cloud of thick, disorientating ash out before her, swallowing the male up. the whimper and cry of the male caught off guard would be heard yet she would step forwards without hesitating to stomp down on the back of the males left knee sending him straight to the ground.  

Leaning down into the burning smog her eyes tightly shut she would follow her legs tract to grab at the males before dragging him back some, just enough to keep herself out of the brunt before feeling for the chess set. She would remain in place simply to keep the male in place, knowing it would simply burn and damage him further the longer he remained within, sacrificing the flesh of her left hand and arm as though such was natural to do so. As the jutsu began to dissipate she would drag him back, struggling with his sight she would keep him alive, she had questions to ask but first, a lesson to teach him. She would sit herself down upon his back to keep him in place before placing a foot against each of his wrists, pinning him in place. Arching her torso forwards she would, without word reach out with Amai still in hand before striking at each of his hands a total of three times ensuring that she had broken both hands.

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Word count: 1989.

Mission word count: 1500/1500
Extra ryo for mission word count: 400/400 = 100ryo extra.