1 What does my blood taste like? (S-rank mission) Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:17 am
Ukiyo
Dead
Ukiyo dashed through branches in the dense forest, heading towards the boarder. It was night time, as she had just received the mission and was told to leave immediately. What's so important that it couldn't wait till tomorrow? I doubt this guy is that much of a problem, and besides, he's Suna's nuke nin anyway. Villages seem to be doing a poor job these days of keeping track of missing nin... As Ukiyo reached about halfway through the forest, she couldn't help but realize the strangeness of this mission being assigned to her, of all people. Maybe it's because I was closer? No, any ninja can get to my spot in the forest in a matter of minutes. Well, I am an ideal assassin, but something tells me this isn't going to be a very easy battle to conceal. The target is supposedly S rank. Come to think of it, I don't think I've fought an S rank ninja. This should be fun then! Finally someone who might be able to keep up with me. It's been a long time since I've had that... Ukiyo thought back to the day she and Mitsuo fought during the exams. He had been promoted to Chuunin and with good reason; his speed alone was on par with Ukiyo's. It was the first time she fought someone as fast as her and, as a result, lost their little spar. Tsk, Mitsuo. If we fought today, I wonder who would win? Last time I saw you fight you were so fast, even with all my training I still think we're equally matched in speed. How do you do it? Ukiyo drew closer to the edge of the woods, where the trees began thinning out and dirt took place of grass. She halted on top of a tree near the border and looked out. Nothing was there except the usual brush along the main path. Ukiyo jumped down and proceeded to walk towards it, keeping low as to not draw attention to herself, should foreign ninja be lurking.
So why Do you think they chose you for this? I don't know. My skills have never been questioned by the Hokage, perhaps they just think I'm the best one to handle this situation. I mean, I've gotten so much stronger in the past months, and this person sounds incredibly strong; I can't imagine any reason I wouldn't be chosen. Arrogant. Have you forgotten about what happened to your parents? Ukiyo stopped short, shocked by the thought. Her eyes shook, unable to see clearly as the memory flooded her brain and took hold of her. She remembered her parents the night they left for their fatal mission. They said goodbye to her in their usual fashion, but for some reason the memory is incredibly detailed. She could barely remember any other time they said goodbye to her when departing, but this time was crystal clear. Her father wiped her hair back and held her cheek. Ukiyo was pouting, upset with them for leaving so abruptly again. Her father chuckled at her disappointment and flicked her cheek. Ukiyo rubbed her cheek, remembering the day. He rustled her hair, as he often did, and kissed her forehead. We'll be back by sunset tomorrow, kid. Sunrise of the next day at the latest. She pouted again, but smiled a little at her father's affection. She admired him so much, wanted to be just like him. He was confident, strong, peaceful, respectful, everything she ever dreamed of being. He never complained, and seemed to enjoy every bit of each day. Ukiyo took after him in a lot of ways. Her mother, that night, picked her up and rubbed her face against Ukiyo's cheek. This made her giggle, as it always did. Her mother's warmth always got the best of her. She seemed to be happy enough for the both of them; no matter how upset Ukiyo got, she would be her light. As her mother pulled her head back, she closed her eyes (though Ukiyo, at the time, didn't know why) and a dozen flowers sprouted on Ukiyo's cheeks. She giggled again and shook her head, as if to shake them off even though Ukiyo knew she didn't want to. Her mother kissed her nose and then set her down. Ukiyo clinged to her mother's shirt, asking them if they really had to go. Her mother, again, closed her eyes and placed her hand on top of her head. Don't listen to your father. We'll surely be back in time for the sunset tomorrow. Watching the sun set and rise was something the three of them had done together since as long as Ukiyo could remember. Back then, they talked about the importance of the Sun and the Earth; the balance they shared and how it compared with the balance between humans and nature. The Earth was representative of humans, the Sun of nature. It provided for them, every morning rising to feed them and setting to let them rest. However it was not the sun that did this, but the Earth that rotated to allow such a cycle. In a way, the Earth could control the Sun, however to an extent. The Sun would always be more powerful then the Earth, they told her, and as much as it would like to control the Sun, it would have to remain content regulating itself. They left that night, and the next sunset, didn't return. The following sunrise they were still missing. Ukiyo grew increasingly worried each passing minute. Eventually, two days later, a messenger from their clan arrived to tell her the news.
Have you forgotten their naivety? Trusting the Senju, the village with their lives. Only to be tossed aside, sent out to die, when they were no longer needed. Do not forget the fate of a ninja, Ukiyo. Everyone who can will use you. They will take advantage of your abilities and your willingness to help. You can never rule out that they have selected you for this mission to be killed. Ukiyo was frozen in the middle of the main path out of the country. She had a few lone tears streaming down her cheeks. I...I know. You don't have to remind me.
1075/3000
So why Do you think they chose you for this? I don't know. My skills have never been questioned by the Hokage, perhaps they just think I'm the best one to handle this situation. I mean, I've gotten so much stronger in the past months, and this person sounds incredibly strong; I can't imagine any reason I wouldn't be chosen. Arrogant. Have you forgotten about what happened to your parents? Ukiyo stopped short, shocked by the thought. Her eyes shook, unable to see clearly as the memory flooded her brain and took hold of her. She remembered her parents the night they left for their fatal mission. They said goodbye to her in their usual fashion, but for some reason the memory is incredibly detailed. She could barely remember any other time they said goodbye to her when departing, but this time was crystal clear. Her father wiped her hair back and held her cheek. Ukiyo was pouting, upset with them for leaving so abruptly again. Her father chuckled at her disappointment and flicked her cheek. Ukiyo rubbed her cheek, remembering the day. He rustled her hair, as he often did, and kissed her forehead. We'll be back by sunset tomorrow, kid. Sunrise of the next day at the latest. She pouted again, but smiled a little at her father's affection. She admired him so much, wanted to be just like him. He was confident, strong, peaceful, respectful, everything she ever dreamed of being. He never complained, and seemed to enjoy every bit of each day. Ukiyo took after him in a lot of ways. Her mother, that night, picked her up and rubbed her face against Ukiyo's cheek. This made her giggle, as it always did. Her mother's warmth always got the best of her. She seemed to be happy enough for the both of them; no matter how upset Ukiyo got, she would be her light. As her mother pulled her head back, she closed her eyes (though Ukiyo, at the time, didn't know why) and a dozen flowers sprouted on Ukiyo's cheeks. She giggled again and shook her head, as if to shake them off even though Ukiyo knew she didn't want to. Her mother kissed her nose and then set her down. Ukiyo clinged to her mother's shirt, asking them if they really had to go. Her mother, again, closed her eyes and placed her hand on top of her head. Don't listen to your father. We'll surely be back in time for the sunset tomorrow. Watching the sun set and rise was something the three of them had done together since as long as Ukiyo could remember. Back then, they talked about the importance of the Sun and the Earth; the balance they shared and how it compared with the balance between humans and nature. The Earth was representative of humans, the Sun of nature. It provided for them, every morning rising to feed them and setting to let them rest. However it was not the sun that did this, but the Earth that rotated to allow such a cycle. In a way, the Earth could control the Sun, however to an extent. The Sun would always be more powerful then the Earth, they told her, and as much as it would like to control the Sun, it would have to remain content regulating itself. They left that night, and the next sunset, didn't return. The following sunrise they were still missing. Ukiyo grew increasingly worried each passing minute. Eventually, two days later, a messenger from their clan arrived to tell her the news.
Have you forgotten their naivety? Trusting the Senju, the village with their lives. Only to be tossed aside, sent out to die, when they were no longer needed. Do not forget the fate of a ninja, Ukiyo. Everyone who can will use you. They will take advantage of your abilities and your willingness to help. You can never rule out that they have selected you for this mission to be killed. Ukiyo was frozen in the middle of the main path out of the country. She had a few lone tears streaming down her cheeks. I...I know. You don't have to remind me.
1075/3000