Tracking Down the Green-Haired Kage

[The Creator]

Green Haired Kage Search
Rank: D
IIC Length: 2 days
Difficulty: Easy
Objective: The kage tower doesn't have a kage. Someone should do something about that.
Description: Yamato is looking forward to a holiday, but is swamped with new paperwork. His troubles would ease if the Otokage was in the tower to attend to her duties. He asks for any available shinobi to go and search for her. He offers a simple description: The new Otokage is a young girl with green hair.
Reward: 3,500 Ryo

"Hey, you up there!" shouted a woman from the street below. Shouta jerked, unnerved by the sudden provocation, turning to see her on the street. She was an aged woman dressed in peasant's clothes.

"Get down from there or I'll call for the local ninja!"

Shouta's eyes widened behind his white mask in a mixture of surprise and wonder. And, perhaps, more than just a tad bit of confusion. Call for the local ninja? But he was a local ninja! Perhaps it was the black robes that had her confused. But then Shouta considered: shouldn't black robes make the Sound headband tied to his right arm stick out? Perhaps it was the unusual, beaked mask that Shouta wore over his head.  He shrugged, trying to push the woman from his mind.

He hopped down on the other side of the building, away from the suspicious lady, clearing the garden in the back of the theatre. The weight of the mobile operations bag tugged at his shoulders and he pulled at the straps, readjusting them on his shoulders. His armband reflected the sunlight into his eyes as he did so.

It was full of neat gadgets: a single flashlight, a couple of wireless radios, surveillance spikes, quite a few tracers, a compass, and a lockpick set. Shouta was no good at picking locks but came prepared in any case. While the bag was relatively empty it was still a bulking, black mass strapped to the back of his small frame. A small shift in balance would easily result in a quick fall.

"What a queer lady." he muttered to himself, activating his Tasukeru. "If the new Otokage's in the city, I'll find her." He paused for a moment to remind himself to appear as Hokami, a helpful old shinobi, to anyone other than the Kage herself. It was an alternate identity of his that he had always attempted to appear to the public as.  It would not be the first time that shady figures would be watching him if they were out to do so this afternoon and if they were, he would be prepared.  With all that circling around his mind, he set off with the sun still high in the sky. The goal was to find the Kage by nightfall but should things prove difficult, he would be forced to ask around the locals and things might be forced to drag on. Should he have to he could afford an inn, and he brought a book on Dragons and a comic book on some bat-hero to read before bed. It would put his mind at ease should he become rather uncomfortable staying somewhere overnight that was not his home.  But, he tried to remind himself, it was a last resort.  A failsafe.  It was almost guaranteed to find her before such things would happen.  Yet Shouta knew as well as anyone, things often seem easier than they turn out to be.

But, hopefully, that was not the case here.

SPOILER: Click to show

Tasukeru (Seeing Life)
Rank: C, B, A, S (x2)
Skill: Doujutsu
Effect: Allows a full three hundred and sixty (360) degree field of vision and some predictability to physical attacks. Unlike Byakugan, the user sees life in its normal colors during this tech, no details spared. Signs of life, thermal readings and X Ray vision is near perfect. Can also read a determine the difference of a regular shinobi to that of one with a bloodline or if they house any foreign presence by the different chakra waves displayed when observed through Tasukeru. This does not mean one knows the BL right away. Must have encountered the BL before in order to know exactly who they are. The ‘C’ ranked version grants the user up to 50 meters of observing. Each new rank for the Jutsu will add 50 more meters. This can be trained multiple times after all the ranks are achieved in order to add 50 meters onto one’s total. Each extra training is worth an S ranked training.
Special: Although one is born with this jutsu, one must activate the eyes through training.
Drawback: Heavy chakra drain over time, especially when multiple phases of the Tasukeru are accessed. While Taijutsu can be predicted, the Onigami are not designed to have fast twitch muscles. As such, perfect blocking simply won’t happen all the time.
Description: Summoned through will, the scarlet eyes of the Onigami will grow a very vibrant neon red and all life becomes theirs to fully observe. Once activated, the user has a three hundred and sixty (360) degree field of vision, as well as the ability to see into other people’s bloods. For those allied to an Onigami, this jutsu is revered for making the Onigami known as the ultimate scouts.
Limit: Must be part of the Onigami BL.

[Vara]

Out-of-character:

You're free to do the mission by yourself. Simply make three posts (So, two more posts) and I'll enter the thread in an appropriate way.

However, if you'd like the mission to be GM'd, feel free to click the spoiler below.

The below text will only apply IC if you choose for this to be GM'd.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

The robed figure bounded across the village, drawing the countless eyes of the usual citizens. His unusual appearance was a novelty, but not enough to raise any more alarm. Superhuman abilities didn't stand out as much as the wardrobe.

The Tasukeru lit up Shouta's vision with the twinkling auras of innumerable people. There was a lot of life to detect, possibly too much to weave through.

Most of the children in sight were scattered between playgrounds, schools, and residential complexes. A few stray ones were wandering in various outskirts.

[The Creator]

Shouta was not one to leap from rooftop to rooftop. His surveillance was one of subtlety and precision. His Tasukeru allowed for tracking of an individual from a distance beyond normal eyesight and his actions did not bring attention to him. It was his paranoia that dominated his behavior, it forced him to hide in the shadows and search carefully and slowly. Because of that, he could be mistaken as a simple shinobi patrolling through the streets.

"Hey mister ninja!" shouted a child that had run up to Shouta. He hesitated only slightly.

"Well hello there, girl!" Hokami said, his aged voice tinted with the accent of the country of Yu.

"That sure is a creepy mask!"

"I have to spook the bad guys, of course! Boo!"

The child giggled and backed away with a faux shriek.

"But I need your help little girl. Have you seen a little girl with green hair?"

The child's face was suddenly scrunched with what was obviously hard thinking.

"Maaaybe. But I don't remember where! I'm sorry Mister!"

"Oh, don't worry. You go and play with your friends now!" Hokami said, waving her off. Not caring to watch for a response, he frowned behind his plague mask.

Green hair is quite the identifier. This little girl didn't know who the Otokage was but perhaps other children do. But what children would know the leader of a shinobi state? Perhaps recent graduates of the academy? They might have recognized a fellow student with green hair. It's a start, at least.

Shouta made his way tediously, slowly, with the calculated limp of Hokami, towards the academy grounds. Recent graduates wouldn't be hanging out around the grounds but perhaps students could lead him to older ones. Friendship and acquaintanceship was a web of people and untangling it was the first way to find who and where somebody was. He waited for an academy student to make eye contact him then waved him over. Because the student was significantly younger than him, Shouta was a little more confident.

"Er- can I help you, Sound Ninja...sir?"

"I am searching for a powerful shinobi who has just graduated." Stronger ones tend to stick together, and the Otokage would likely be a stronger one. "I need any information you might have. I am on an important mission for the village, and will talk to your superiors if your leads help." With the sudden rush of pressure now on his shoulders, the academy student seemed suddenly flustered.

"My, uh, brother just graduated with top marks. D'ya mean him? I mean...sir. Do you mean him? He might know someone."

"Yes, that is good. Where might I find this lad?"

"He's probably at home. He doesn't do much except read comics at home! We live over on the North side, you know by the Raman shop with the purple ne-yon lights?"

"I know the one. Thank you. What is your name?"

"Takahashi Isamu!"

"Study well."

And with that, Shouta had another lead. Tracking was one of his specialties; he often thought about it while considering how people might track him. Two identities were extremely helpful when countering this. But now it was time to take it to the north side of the village and search for this Takahashi boy.

---

No need to post, Vara. I'll post one more time and then you can enter.

[The Creator]

The aformentioned ramen shop was eerily dead on what seemed to be a busy street. Shouta peeked inside to see nobody but a single, old man sitting at the bar. As much as he didn't want to pester the old man, this was his only lead. Perhaps he knew Takahashi but it was just as well that he was simply passing through. He decided against it, glaring at the apartment complex that sat directly opposite of the ramen shop. It was not a large building, three stories, with curtains drawn on all but a few of the windows of the building. The place did not have windows; if Shouta were not so worried about drawing attention, he might have been able to yell at the building and see who answered his call. But no, that would not be possible. Nor would it be possible to employ Tasukeru: he did not know what the boy looked like and suddenly regret not asking the younger brother what some of his defining features were. There was no possible way to discern from who lived in the building who his target was; it might have been possible to attempt to find out who looked most closely like the student he had spoken to but such efforts usually proved fruitless as Shouta did not study the familial features of the boy intently.

No, it would simply have to be walking to each door and asking for his intended target. Perhaps he would happen upon a neighbor who knew of the boy's location and would help him close in on his target quicker. With that, Shouta steppted into the complex.

It took him no less than thirty minutes to find the boy he was looking for. Shouta never claimed to be a great detective but by all means this was more unsuccessful than he would have pegged himself for. A good ninja, by all accounts, should be able to sweep a building for a target within ten minutes or less. It was because of this reason that Shouta greeted his target with more than just a bit of impatience.

"Takahashi. Where's the Kage?"

"Wha..? Who are you, old man?"

"You're testing my patience, just tell me. Now."

"Fine! By the heavens, she's in the west part of the city. At one of the parks, training, most likely. I met up with her for lunch."

Without so much as a thank you, Shouta strode off quickly. As he walked through the city he was able to calm down a bit and think more rationally. He remembered that at first he had pegged his estimated time of success by the end of the day. He looked up at the sun an concluded that it was only late afternoon and that he was quite ahead of schedule. With a little more pep he eyed the park that Takahashi had spoken of. Now it was just a matter of whether or not he was lying.

[Vara]

Bree walked on top a set of monkey bars. She was a bit older than the other kids at the park, but enjoyed herself all the same. She practiced balancing and hopping from bar to bar, keeping the sole of her feet steady upon each narrow bit of metal. Her hands had a bit of glow about them.

The young kage's fingers cut through the air, letting out a dim whistle as it went. The other parents didn't look too concerned. The light upon the park was too bright for anyone to notice the dangerous glow Bree held.

So it went, the girl went back and forth across the topside of the bars. When other kids swung across the structure, Bree danced over them as she avoided their tiny fingers. She wasn't worried about failing and hurting anyone. As a medic, any injuries could be attended to personally.

Still, as Bree worked off the energy given to her by her meal, she couldn't help feeling the day come to a boring stall. She gave Listral a silent prayer, asking for something exciting to fall into her lap.

[The Creator]

Even if the green-haired Kage was not standing on top of the monkey bars, her hair would not make it difficult to find her. All the same she was standing on the monkey bars, forcing her to stand out against the other children at the park. Shouta hesitated before approaching, watching her as she deftly balanced herself on the thin rungs of the playground equipment, hopping and dancing as if she were in her own world. It was difficult to believe that the weight of all the responsibilities of the village were on such small shoulders.

Careful, Shouta, he told himself, children are unpredictable, and she has the authority to have you locked up and tortured. A chill ran through the genin at the thought. He could not consider such a thing idly, she was now the most authoritative figure in all of the land. He would have to treat the rest of this mission with a ruthless cunning. It would therefore not do to attempt to trick the child with his Hokami act, he would approach as Shouta.

"L-lady Otokage," Shouta called as he approached. He wrung his hands nervously in front of him before they suddenly fell to his sides in a formal manner.

"I have been s--, ah, searching for you. Do you-, I mean, may I speak to you in, er, pr, uh, private, please? Ifitpleasesyou."

[Vara]

Being so focused on the movement of her feet, Bree hadn't paid much attention to the rest of her surroundings. When a visitor sudden approached and addressed her by her least known title, her mind became saturated by surprise. She missed her next step. Her leg fell in the space between the bars, and her knee was struck by metal as she fell down below.

"Ouch!" Bree cried. "I'm okay, I'm okay!"

Bree limped herself up straight. She bent her knee to test out the regions of pain, then let healing chakra flow into her hands. As she tended to the wound, she looked up at the visitor. He wasn't much taller than she was, which mean he was also pretty short. Still, he knew about her promotion to Otokage, which she hadn't attempted to make public.

Bree smiled. "Thanks for giving me stuff to practice healing on. What's up?"

[The Creator]

The Otokage regarded Shouta for the first time with what seemed to be surprise. Children often had either a horrified reaction to his white doctor's mask or a childish grin of awe. Seeing as it was more than likely the former, Shouta was shocked into a petrified state by the Otokage's slip. In a blink of an eye she had lost her footing and had slipped her foot through the gaps between the rungs. She tumbled to the ground with a resulting crash. Fear rooted the Genin, he dared not move an inch of his body.

Terror swept through his mind like a rush of adrenaline. Only moments before he had just reminded himself just how careful he needed to be with such a powerful figure. Now he was responsible for this figure falling to the ground with what could be very serious injuries. The child Otokage cried out with pain but the Genin could say nothing, fear had locked his throat.

But then, an unexpected twist that put a great ease on the ninja's heart, the childish smile of Bree glowing at him. The fear that had frozen him was melted away by the Otokage's words of thanks. A voice deep in the back of Shouta's mind still whispered words of caution but he felt much better now that the child had shown a kind and patient virtue.

"I am Onigami Shouta, of the Sound, ma'am, ah, Otakage." He paused to take a silent breath to calm the nerves that gripped him while speaking.

"There are certain authorities that are requesting you in the tower. I've been charged with relaying that request."

[Vara]

Bree pouted when she heard she was requested at the tower. That meant there was work to be done, political work. She didn't have much of a head for paperwork or government, so it was bound to give her a headache. Still, it wouldn't be nice to ignore her responsibilities, so she resigned herself to that idea.

There was no ill feeling toward Shouta. He was just doing his job, whatever it was.

The bruised knee had been healed. Bree stood up straight and hopped on the leg to make sure that everything was fine, then returned to her beaming smile.

"Okay, Onigami," she said. "Let's go to the tower. You aren't too busy to accompany me, are ya?"

In case the messenger was too busy, Bree walked on ahead. She didn't want to guilt him into coming with her to the kage tower. It would be a no if he followed, and a yes if he didn't. Better to spare any embarrassment. Bree herself hated being embarrassed, after all.

[Exiting]

[The Creator]

Shouta watched with a bit of wonder as the Otokage healed her own wounds. Medical jutsu was a fascinating outlet of discovery and knowledge, a branch that was far too scientific for Shouta's taste. Besides, he could not see himself supporting other people; yet maybe the real value was in healing one's self. Nevertheless, it was inspiring; Shouta would have to learn how to perform first-aid on himself.

The Otokage, whose name he still did not yet know, asked if he would like to accompany him to the tower. In fact she said it in such a way that Shouta believed that it was expected of him. Can one presume to be "too busy" for the Otokage? Shouta shuddered at the thought of saying that yes, he was indeed too busy to perform such a simple task and the Otokage growing so resentful that he would be hunted down like a dog. The child's bright smile pushed those dark thoughts from his mind.

"Of course." he said in a formal tone. The Otokage seemed to know the way well enough so the Genin in all black followed. He supposed that it would be unnecessary to use Tasukeru to look for oncoming danger; it was likely that the Otokage could handle herself in such a situation and, besides, for the Kage to be ambushed in her own village would be practically unheard of. Nevertheless if such a thing were to happen on his watch...

Shouta argued with himself as he trailed behind the Otokage, deep in thought, all the way to the tower.

-Exit-