"Well of course, I would love to." Kusa concluded a conversation with that administration lady as she handed him off a yet another great... whatever this mission was supposed to be. The point is, today was another day for a mission. Wow, a shinobis life could get boring. Then again, at least there is thrill in every mission. Thrill. The thrill to kill. Yeah. But of course, Kusa has never killed anyone yet. "Can't believe I'm actually thinking of killing..damn writer-- I mean, damn thoughts.." He looked up to the skies and then started to walk. He was told in order to accomplish the mission he would need a Chuunin to accompany him. A Chuunin named Synn. He would have red hair and an eye-patch on his right eye. Kusa scratched his head, "How in the world am I going to find this guy.." A rhetorically asked thought popped inside his head and decided to just find one already.


So, he started his search for Synn. Not too long into his journey, Kusa decided to just look for some Chuunin since Synn was nowhere to be found. Probably, on a mission. Walking through the town, he glanced at people who were wearing a headgear and asked them if they were Chuunin.

"Hey there, are you a Chuunin? No? That's alright. Have a nice day."

"You! Yeah you! Are you a Chuunin? NVM."

"Ah. Hey there, miss. Can I get chuu--" slapped. "Riiight."

"Send me a Chuunin already, writ--"

Kusa wasn't able to finish what he was about to yell because of a red haired dude who caught his eye. The guy was sitting on a box and he had an eye-patch on his right eye. A pirate? Woah. But he also wore the symbol of the leaf. And something about his calm, laid-back demeanor was Chuunin-ish. Not only that, he fit Synn's description perfectly!

Kusa approached the guy. "I shouldn't ask him if he's a Chuunin." Kusa thought. He might sound too desperate if he asked that question again. "Yoh." Kusa started with a wave, "I am Sarutobi Kusa. You may call me Kusa. I need your assistance for a B-ranked mission since I am still a Genin. I also have a companion named Xiahou. I will be bringing him along. And as you may have heard me say Xiahou is a 'he'. His name is very misleading, you know. If you ever played Tekke-- Wait. Speak of the devil. There he is feeding a flock of pigeons with bread crumbs! Just a minute, sire." Kusa ran to Xiahou and would tell him about the mission. Xiahou would nod and accompany him to Synn.

"Well, I guess we're all set then."


465/1500

Synn had taken the day off by simply not reporting in again. It wasn't unusual for him to do so. But given his recent show in effort to help out the village it would seem that they intended to use him whether he knew it or not. So he had moved to a part of the market that was fairly quiet and flirted a little bit for the morning. He was naturally charismatic and the girls seemed to enjoy his company. But of course that was what his clan was bred for. Using vanity as a ninja art. Of course it was hardly effective unless you intended to infiltrate and kill some one but it worked. He had a couple of addresses now in his coat pocket.

Still he had his attention drawn to some random guy bothering shinobi after Shinobi. What kind of Adhd person did they let graduate these days around here? he seemed more lost then a farmer in a city. He seemed to be asking question which on a boring day was enough to warrant paying some attention too. Still when he got slapped it made Synn hold in a laugh as he leaned back on the boxes getting comfortable. That was at least until the guy began to stare at him with an excited look that made Synn feel like a pirate stripper. He was even overjoyed when the random stalker ADHD moved over to him and began to ramble in one seemed like one sentence.

"I am Sarutobi Kusa. You may call me Kusa. I need your assistance for a B-ranked mission since I am still a Genin. I also have a companion named Xiahou. I will be bringing him along. And as you may have heard me say Xiahou is a 'he'. His name is very misleading, you know. If you ever played Tekke-- Wait. Speak of the devil. There he is feeding a flock of pigeons with bread crumbs! Just a minute, sire."

He felt odd being called by such a title but even more so as he brain tried to separate the words into an actual conversation. Still his interest perked at the mention of the random Genin he was studying. feeding birds no less. He waited quietly for them to get back contemplating his options of disappearing like the wind before they both turned up.

"Do you happen to have a file on this mission? uh...Kusa?" He said in a patient voice.

Spoiler:

Meteor crumbs blasted the pavement of the market street as Xiahou haphazardly threw bits of bread to the flock of ravenous pigeons below. To the naked eye, Xiahou looked like a bored, out of place young Shinobi on his day off merely passing the hours by feeding pigeons. But stuffing the gullets of these rats with wings was actually a little mission in itself.

In truth, the flock had come from further in the centre of town, and had been causing some of the shop keepers some discomfort by defecating on their signs. It had happened that Xiahou had an idea to move them to a more appropriate location over a long period of time. At this time, every day he could, Xiahou fed this flock a little further away than last time, and after nine days of this, the flock was moving slowly towards where he thought they would be more at home.

As he tossed down the last of his bread, Xiahou sighed and with a single throw, tossed the brown paper back into a trash can some ten feet from him. Now he was bored. Truly with nothing to do. He supposed he would spend the rest of the day on a hike, and then he would do puzzles somewhere in the woods, like always when there wasn't anything left to do. Potential boredom was the price Xiahou always paid for his standard of efficiency.

Preparing to take his leave, Xiahou was jolted by a hand gripping his arm and pulling him around. He was greeted by a familiar face. Another Genin who he just couldn't seem to avoid lately, not that he wanted to. Kusa was smiling and before allowing Xiahou to even say hello, was blathering about a B-rank mission for them to do. This would instantly provoke a grin and a sparkle in the corner of Xiahou's eyes. He would nod calmly and follow Kusa to their accompanying Chuunin.

When Xiahou saw the third member of their party, he inwardly shrugged at the size of the village. They must be running out of ninjas. It was Synn, the Shinobi who he had helped with the sabotage at the Silver Mill. Xiahou simply nodded at Synn and took a position near the two.

The mission was the other bounty hunt up in the administrative building. A dangerous defector from Kusagakure who had been cutting a swathe of blood and wound up in Konoha's neck of the woods. Xiahou was, in fact, itching to get into some real action again. That was something which troubled him, to be honest. Growing up, the killing wasn't ever pleasant. But now that he found himself chasing cats and lugging around tools for rude hermits, he wanted a challenge, something to test whether he still had what it takes to do what needs to be done. In truth, it wasn't the killing which he wanted to do, it was just feeling the flow of war once again. It was a rush he sorely missed.

"A bounty hunt," Xiahou said, raising his hand to his chin "Where are we supposed to look?"

Walking to where Xiahou was, Kusa grabbed the guy by his arm and dragged him all the way to where Synn was. He didn't really think about what Xiahou would react since he knew Xiahou would not complain when it comes to missions. Xiahou would even feel good about it.

Noticing a nod from Xiahou, Kusa immediately knew that him and Synn already knew each other. They didn't even introduce themselves to each other. But Kusa just brushed this off and let go of Xiahou as soon they got closer to where Synn was. In his mind, Kusa was already thinking about the mission details: to apprehend or kill a rogue Kusagakura shinobi, Daichi Watanabe. He has been reported to be killing civilians mercilessly as he roam the villages that are within the borders of Konoha. Kusa nodded to Synn and pulled out the mission scroll he brought with him. This was a crucial mission for him and Xiahou, probably Synn too since it was a B-mission. One of them could die and Kusa didn't want that.

Kusa unrolled the scroll, his eyes glanced at what was written as he muttered while he read. He looked at Synn and made a quick glance at Xiahou before nodding, "This is a bounty hunt mission." Kusa started but before he could utter another word he made sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. It would be bad if someone might inform Daichi about this, even if he was from Kusa, he just wanted to make sure. They would fail the mission. "I'll fill you guys with the details as we move." Kusa told Xiahou and Synn and made a dash the would follow him at the same pace and Kusa would then inform them of the mission as they dashed through town. Kusa would jump on the roof of a one-story town shop and would head towards the village gates.

"Daichi Watanabe, a Kusagakure rogue shinobi must be apprehended..or rather killed. He's been causing trouble for one of Konoha's village just east from here. His taijutsu skills are reported to be that of jounin-level. His ninjutsu are at chunin-level and he uses Katon and Doton as his elements." Kusa paused and would make a turn to the right, "Goodness. He's also as tall as you, Xiahou." Kusa smirked a bit at the thought of this Kusagakure shinobi, "Kusa.." He thought to himself, and couldn't wait to apprehend a man who was disgracing his name then again the man might have his personal reasons.


901/1500

Synn would nod slowly as the idea of the mission was informed to him. Trouble was bound to rise from such a mission. Still he was amused at the thought of escorting two genin into such a harrowing ordeal. After all he was not known for his own ability. As a matter of fact it was a mystery to many how Synn was even a chunnin. Only the one Hyuuga he had dominated in the exams knew to not cross him. Most speculated it as luck but he had planned every moment of that fight and had more plans he could of continued with had it failed. Still he blinks as one of the two turns and takes off with out really explaining much. Sero grabs an apple and sighs following. His running style reflected laziness but some how it looked like he was easily matching pace. While chewing on an apple no less. The apple making a crisp crunchy noise as the juices flooded his mouth. Just how he liked his apples. Still it felt kind of weird moving out in the open through the gates. He was usually far more stealthy when he went outside those walls. Of course it was usually on a personal matter.

However the news of a lone man going on a killing spree made him scratch the back of his head. Man somebody who kills for the joy of it sure was a bother. If nothing else instigating a fight with him would certainly end badly. he suddenly wished he wasn't the supposed escort here. He could certainly stand his own ground. But if he had to defend one of these two. Chances are he would not risk his life for them. He looks to each of them with his bright green eye in turn as they move and one of them speaks about the details of the mission. The information on the murderers level of ability and physical prowess suddenly had Synn feeling a little depressed.

"A jounin...Ahh cmon is some one trying to kill us?"

Synn contemplated his options as he slows to a stop outside of the town. His hand stroking his chin as he thinks quietly. If he was alone the assassination of an individual from the shadows would not be a problem but there was a small chance of it revealing who he really was to his two companions. In other words his concern wasn't so much being unable to defeat the opponent but instead if he would have to reveal his hidden power to these two. Instead he would leave that as a last resort. For now he would come up with a plan utilizing the two of them. And hopefully just have him watching.

"Well alright then....Hmm one of you grab that rope off of that fence. Tie a hang mans knot in the end. Oh boy alright soooo.. Lets see. He obviously is better then any of us in a hand to hand fight so we need to think with numbers and tools. One of you needs to sneak in up into the rafters with the rope. The other need to be armed with A weapon. The one armed will instigate a fight drawing the target into the correct location. The support will drop the noose over the head and then using his body weight drop off the other side of the rafter and string him up. The weapon wielder will of course then deliver the fatal blow. Which one of you wants which role? I of course will be nearby if he displays more intelligence then ever before."

Spoiler:

Xiahou had read this mission once in the administrative building while awaiting his pay for some work he'd done around town. This was going to be the real deal. Daichi Watanabe was a rogue ninja who had consistently raised the bounty on his head by cutting a swathe of blood through the outlying villages and he had last been seen around Konoha. Xiahou was honestly surprised under what premise the administrative clerk had allowed Kusa to take the mission. Had he told her that he would be bringing another Genin and a Chuunin? Would that even be enough for her to allow that? All these questions weren't for lack of confidence, Xiahou knew that at least he, in a pinch, would be able to keep up with the guy. But truth be told, he feared for Kusa and Synn. He knew Synn wasn't the most focused around his direct confrontation, and he didn't know what sort of tricks, if any, Kusa had up his sleeve.

"Jounin too," Xiahou said, his knees bending and tensing as he took off after his partners, easily clearing the distance onto the buildings and keeping up with the other two as they would make their way out of Konoha's gates.

As they arrived at the town, the trio slowed to a walk. Xiahou noticed the size of the town first, it was small, not very many people could possibly live here. There was a smattering of farmland around, a few houses, and some general stores as well as a bar. This was where Daichi had been reportedly seen last. Xiahou spent most of the walk into the town's perimeter keenly observing his surroundings, looking for possible escape routes that the fugitive might use if the tide turned in the trio's favour. Then Synn piped up.

Xiahou listened to the proposal and contemplated it to himself before replying. It seemed simple enough, to lure Daichi into the middle of a room, at which point he would be bound by rope and someone would deliver a fatal blow. The only hitch would be if Daichi decided to fight outside, or if he could easily break the rope. But it was probably worth a shot and at the very least would serve as a distraction to get the odds stacked against him.

"I'll kill him," Xiahou said firmly and sharply "I can keep up. I'm sure of it,"

Not wanting to risk the lives of either of his compatriots, Xiahou was resigned at this point to the reality of having to use his eyes to keep up with the target. Xiahou cursed inwardly, scowling at the direction of the bar, which would more than likely be where Daichi would be causing his trouble. Perhaps getting a little liquored up before murdering the entire population. At the very least, the local bar would be the best bet to ask about anyone who had wandered into town lately, or where they had gone.

"Let's not waste any time," And Xiahou was off in a brisk, confident stride towards the establishment.

1,031/1,500

"Is someone trying to kill us?"

The words that came out from Synn's mouth still echoed deep inside the subconscious realms of Kusa's mind. He dislked to entertain such thoughts but this time he could not help but feel anxious over the mission, over his comrades, and over himself. But there was no backing out now, this was not some kind of volunteer work that Kusa could just quit. He was a shinobi. A Sarutobi, he despised the thought of shaming Sarutobi Hiruzen's name.

Arriving on the outskirts of the small village. Kusa, along with Synn and Xiahou slowed down their pace. He would take a glance and mark specific locations that would be worthy to be noted mentally. Then again, there was not much to see. He felt a bit of pain as he saw streaks of blood that were painted across some of the building walls. He would feel his stomach churn and also the thought of vengeance for the innocent lives this vile shinobi took. He probably would not be the one to kill Daichi, but he made a mental note that would cause Daichi to remember him even in the depths of hell, if hell really existed.

Kusa listened as Synn started to give out specific instructions. A rope hung on a fence where Synn had pointed, Kusa's eyes wandered towards the rope. As Synn continued to speak, Kusa took a few steps towards the fence and grab the rope, he carried it over the fence post and did what Synn instructed him to do. He tied the other end part of the rope into hang man's knot before he flung it on his shoulders. He felt relieved that Synn, a Chuunin, was here to guide them through this but he couldn't put his complete trust on this plan. Especially, now that Xiahou decided to deliver the fatal blow to Daichi. Well, it's not that he doubted Xiahou but he'd be the one to pull down a huge man using a rope. But this was alright, Kusa had already thought of something if ever his plan wouldn't work. He watched as Xiahou took the first step towards the village. Kusa being the one to sneak behind Daichi decided to take another route. "I'll head off into the trees surrounding the town." Kusa told the two and left for his way. Kusa jumped from one branch to another while his head was turned towards the direction of the village keenly observing a bar where Daichi might be at. Then he spotted a possible looking figure and decided to head towards the direction. He jumped, stepped one foot on a tree trunk and pushed himself into the village where he landed in a quiet alleyway.

Squatting low, in the shadows. Kusa twisted his headgear that was on wrapped around his triceps to hide the leaf symbol. Looking at the man that fit Daichi's description, Kusa waited for Xiahou to get a bit closer to where the man was. How did Kusa know this was Daichi? He just knew.

Daichi was standing up in front of a beer bar, threatening its owner for no particular reason.

Kusa glanced at Xiahou who was now close enough for the attack. Kusa took the rope's burden off his shoulder and gripped the rope on his hands, made sure the hang man's knot was tightened perfectly. Kusa had with him 4 kunais and 10 feet of wire. With a grin, Kusa mumbled. "I hope this works.."

With that, Kusa would body flicker behind Daichi and as soon as he would be 2 meters away Kusa would launch for the man's neck and would insert Daichi's head into rope's opening. Then while on air, Kusa would grab the rope's tail, tighten the knot and would try to bring Daichi down. As he did this, Kusa reached for a kunai from his back pocket, in case the plan would fail he would simply cut off the rope and assume a defensive stance IF he could be fast enough to avoid Daichi's jounin-level taijutsu.

Spoiler:

1605/1500

As they entered the town, though it was small, it seemed like a ghost town. Daichi Watanabe had been busy, From an angle not viewable from the road of the entrance of the town. The streets, ran red with blood, the people of the town splayed outward as whatever survivors of the village had no doubt already fled.

Kuso looking into the nearby bar would see the worst of it. People put through tables, impaled on the table stands. Several pinned to the walls and slumped, blood was sprawled across the place in splatters which told a story of chaos, panic, resistance and death. But he still needed someone to pour his beer. But the man had outlived his usefulness. Taking out a shuriken he smiled, the barman took that as his cue to leave as the shuriken with S rank skill was bulleted through the mans' neck. Severing his windpipe and corrotid artery.

He'd be gasping for air and spluttering blood for the next three minutes, dying slowly and painfully... there was silence for a couple of seconds, as someone had appeared behind him, but it wasn't until he saw the shadow reaching up for his shadow in his perefferal vision did he realise there was someone else there. Spinning with a roundhouse kick for Kusa's side. Should the thunderous kick connect it would actually break the genin's ribs.

Without the direct backup of his team-mates he had seconds of time in which he could focus 'everything' he had on this ninja, in an attempt to overwhelm and overpower him with the advanced speed and skill an S rank Taijutsu user was supposed to be. Daichi would keep on his tail, if he stepped or jump back, he would step and jump in with a vicious opening flurry of punches.

Even if he only had two seconds against this Genin before his backup came through the door, that was two seconds where he could land one hit, and put him out of the fight. His punches aimed one for the neck to precision-ally slip one of his spinal disks, another for the solarplexus to stun and wind him and the last for under his arm by stepping to a side.

His most deadly aspect was his knowledge of how ninjas operate, he knew he would be here with a team, he knew they would be here to back him up. Precious seconds, that's all it was, precious seconds.

As if Synn would allow the genin to get that far ahead and ruin his plan by soloing the big guy. He watched the failed attempt at the rope from his perch Where he continued to chew on his apple. Just chilling on the branch. He smiled a little at the show of taijutsu in its flawed brute force. No real tact to it. But the individual was focused. Synn's plan was in two parts. Meaning the back up would now have the opportunity to flank the opponent. He was curious to see if the two of them could take down the beast with out him.

After all it was because of power houses like that guy that Genjutsu was made. The weak in body but strong in mind where the key to taking down the raging bull. When it was time he would step in and use his ability to end this but until then. He wanted to see if either of these two subjects where able do anything to something far stronger then them or not. A frontal assault was just plain a bad plan. Still misdirection was the art of a good illusion. Taking the apple core he tossed it up into the air letting it land with a thud to the mans right like the sound of some one landing nearby to perhaps persuade him to look away from his attack long enough for Synn's two companions to accomplish something or another.

(So based on the lack of activity I am going to wrap this up.)

Either way that kid was getting his ass handed to him. He winced as the kid got smashed into the ground like a chump. It was a horrible Idea to rush ahead of the group like that. Out ranked and outmatched. He really had no Idea of what had gone Through Kusa's head before the series of snapping noises. Man this murdering psycho was nuts! With dead people every where and this brat thought he could take him. It wasn't even close to the plan that Synn had come up with. No one was in position yet. Well as it stood the Kid was on the ground and certainly out of the fight. Well that was a bit of a pity but it did leave a lovely opening. His eye rapidly scanned the area for the other who had come along. The kid was more interested in protecting his own skin then saving his comrades life and was out of sight. Or so he assumed.

Well then he might as well hop down and deal with it then. If nothing else he could get payed for killing some one. More money for his travels and all. He needed to leave town now anyway. Too much attention was being drawn to the town and he didn't need a wary eye spotting him of all people. He places his boots on the branch he was sitting on and crouches down launching himself like a spring to land on the other side of the man from where the apple had landed. Removing the eye patch to look the target in the eyes right off the bat.

"Stunning eye's."

And with that he saw the man kind of zone out. He only had a moment so he reaches down quickly and snatched the Kunai from the downed Genin's hand and with a spin slit the targets throat. And with that it was over. He frowned at the fact that he could of done that from the start. Either way he bends down and finishes cutting through the rest of the neck and the spine. Before taking the Kunai and shoving it into his belt. His now! He was leaving anyway after he turned in the mission. So he stood and turned to head back to town. He was sure the Others would wake up soon enough to find the headless target. With a whistle head headed back to Konoha to turn in the head for his payment.
Exit thread

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