Kumogakure knowledge center.

[Skulking Shinzu]

Zuruel's studies had yielded him with quite the bit of knowledge. However, that wasn't the only things he had just gained. Glancing around him, he noticed the classroom lacked some of the more modern features and tools Mo's schools possessed. Curious why, Zuruel lifted himself off the desk and exited the building. His destination was the Raikage tower, where he hoped to pass some of his suggestions onto the Raikage.

[Exit]

[Therakill]

This was the first time Kimi had entered the knowledge center. He had always been one fore studying and learning on his own. It kept him focused and he could let his guard down for once, but he didn't have the right facilities or the money to create them as of yet. So the center was his best bet for learning what he needed to learn as quickly as was possible. He showed his id at the entrance and they allowed him in, where he quickly registered for two lore classes animal and plant. 

[Enter]

[Skulking Shinzu]

[Enter - Mission Start!]

Name: Pet zoo project.
Rank: “C” Rank.
IIC Length: 2 days.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Objective: Help out in making the animals more effective.
Description: A small group of farmers just showed up at our doorstep. They want us to help with making their animals more productive. All of these farmers are providing supermarkets in Kumogakure with animal products. Your job is to assist in the research. Feeding plans, vitamins or environment adjustments are just some of the important factors.
Personnel requirements: 1-3 shinobis. Genins can take this mission alone.
Reward: 28,000 Ryo for each completion (26,000 ryo for a non-nin).

Early as always, Yis arrived at the knowledge centre at 10:15. He was early enough that he had time to psych himself up and adjust his neck band. Along the front of the cloth, a spotless metal plate engraved with Kumo’s logo glistened against the summer sun. However, he hadn’t arrived so early that he would be forced to wait outside while awkwardly staring at the staff through the glass windows. Apparently, some found that behaviour creepy. While he likely got away with it before while a mere Genin, the same likely wouldn’t fly now that he carried the rank of Chunin.

Taking this time to stretch slightly, Yis ensured that his muscles were sufficiently warmed up and limber as he entered the Knowledge Centre several moment later. Smiling, he caught the glance of one of the receptionists. Apparently used to his flayed appearance, the woman didn’t bat a single eyelid as Yis approached. “Greetings. I have this mission slip.” He explained while handing the slip over. The woman perked up at the name of the mission. Lucy’s words earlier at the tower suggested that no one had taken this mission in quite some time. This woman’s mannerisms seemed to suggest the same – which served to heighten the importance this mission carried.

[Skulking Shinzu]

Yis paid careful attention to the receptionist’s words. Apparently, the farmers had donated several of their animals to the research centre. In exchange, the staff took care of the animals and maintained their environment. Meanwhile, the farmers were free to visit every so often to harvest what they could from the animals. Most yields were then distributed back to the village, while a small portion was kept by the farmers as a token of gratitude for their services. It made sense then why the farmers would be so worried upon noticing the expected level of yields declining over time.

By the time this was explained, three farmers had entered the Knowledge Centre to greet Yis. Much to his surprise, the old bearded men displayed no signs of shock at his disfigurement. Apparently, the reputation of the flayed Chunin that had protected the village against several prisoner escapees was well known and had spread like wildfire overnight. Almost blushing, the Kedoin shook the farmers hands before being led down a series of corridors and ending in front of a singular room. Beside it, there were four others. Apparently, all five contained a host of animals that required a check up and maintenance.

[Skulking Shinzu]

“It’s just about 11. Looks like you guys are early too.” Yis smiled as one of the farmers stepped forward to enter the first room. The others followed, but trailed slightly behind as if to only observe. The first room contained rows of hen. It took a mere moment for the farmer to shake his head. Pondering why, the Kedoin stepped forwards. The hens look agitated. However, not at his appearance. Curious, he reached for one of the birds, only to notice something stiff dragging along his forearm. It was the straw bed the hens were sitting on. Pushing down against the straw with his palm, Yis noted that it felt dry and hard. No wonder the hens were so agitated. There was no way they were sleeping in this condition.

“Let me guess. These little guys need some fresh straw?” Nodding and smiling, the farmer began rolling up his sleeve to expose wrinkled, yet tough and calloused skin. These were the arms of a worker. Grinning, Yis formed the unique seal for the shadow clone technique before conjuring four clones of himself into existence. The farmers grew wide eyed at this, before breaking out into laughter at Yis’ following comment. “You look like a pro. This is the only way I’m going to keep up with you.” Snickering, the clones set to work by splitting up and taking their time removing all the straw after the original Yis gently removed the hens from their respective dens. He then herded them together while the clones and farmer scattered fresh straw within the dens.

[Skulking Shinzu]

What should have taken hours, only took a dozen minutes or so thanks to the efforts of Yis’ clones. Once complete, the old farmer led Yis and a clone into one of the remaining rooms, while the three remaining clones were sent to the one right after. Both seemed to contain hens in a similar predicament to before. Mercifully, these rooms contained fresh straw too. It appeared as if the staff weren’t disposing of the straw until discolouration occurred. It was just unfortunate for the hens that straw could dry and become painful to the touch long before it showed any signs of dulling in colour. With that in mind, one Yis in either room set to work gathering all the hens into one corner of the room, while the remaining workers began exchanging the old straw in the dens for fresh hay bundles.

As the efforts of all the clones were focused on one room earlier, it took slightly longer than before to complete the tasks in these two rooms. It didn’t help either that the farmer quickly grew exhausted, which prompted the other two farmers into helping. However, even with these extra hands, the room filled entirely with clones finished their task first before regrouping with the original Yis to assist there. It surprised the Kedoin how fragile humans were. Even in Mo, the most basic of citizens had to train relentlessly until having reached a certain point in peak physical prowess. Once this was achieved, training tended to cut down. Effort was required to build muscle, but far less was required to maintain it. This was seen as a type of graduation in civilian life. The point where a teen had become a man, and earned enough free time to begin branching out into another activities.

[Skulking Shinzu]

Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, Yis was led to the two remaining rooms. Once again, the group split in half with Yis, a clone and farmer on the left room, and three clones in the right room. However, this time, the task seemed vastly different to before. Instead of hens, two rows of cows stood waiting on either side of the room. The two remaining farmers vanished at that point, only to reappear minutes later with buckets of green sloth in both hands. One then headed into the room with Yis, while the other assisted the room filled with shadow clones. There appeared to be trace nutrients that the cows were lacking in. They only required a top up every week or so, but still. Apparently, it was a key part of their diet.

Nodding, Yis grabbed some of the green solution with a large syringe, before using it to inject the solution directly into the cow’s liquid meals. This required some degree of work, as the metal containers with the food were hung high in the air with a feeding tube dangling out from the bottom. The height appeared key in the process, as it allowed gravity to assist with the feeding process. Also, unlike with the chickens, Yis couldn’t simply dart around as quickly as before. The cows seemed easily spooked and would stop feeding if anything caught their attention, so the Kedoin was warmed to act slow and deliberate in order to ensure everything went ahead successfully.

By the time he was done, Yis didn’t feel the full extent of exhaustion until his shadow clones dismissed themselves in a puff of smoke and with that, transferred their knowledge, experience and tiredness right back into him. Exhaustion multiplying, Yis suddenly broke out in a pant while the farmers chuckled at him. “I should have paced myself.” He smiled before leading the group back to the entrance of the Knowledge Centre. Once here, he waved the farmers off before getting his slip stamped by the receptionist. Mission successful. All that remained now was to cash in the approval at the Raikage tower.

[Exit]