Eliminating the Competition [Mission,P]

Age : 32 Posts : 308

*Flashback*

It had been about a week since his last being called upon in such a manner. It was rare in this line of business that he be called in for formal missions like this, and so he was more than curious as to what the nature of the situation was. Unlike his last mission where he had to go find and destroy a weapons cache that was originally stolen from the Kuromatsu clan mafia, he wasn't pressed for time. In other words, it wasn't an urgent matter. He had a meeting with his 'father'. The Father was the Don boss, and one of the six leaders of the Kuromatsu Clan. Each branch had its own Father, and each subordinate of the branch refered to their leader as such. Unlike last time he was in a hurry, as it was an emergency of sorts, but now they were making their strike, and could do it on their own time. The meeting was only a few minutes off, and once again, he was checking himself in the mirror to make sure that his clothes were fair enough to be satisfactory and that nothing of his appearance seemed off. It was always a great opportunity to work directly under the Father, as he was ultimately who ran the show and who would decide how he was promoted and paid in the future.

He stepped down the hall casually. It was late morning, about 11:00am, an the light from morning still seemed fresh. The fog that normally rolled in from the early morning hours had already burned away and the sun shown over Crater city; in some places even reaching the underground compound that made up the Kuromatsu's strong hold. Refreshed and ready, he slid the wooden door into the Father's office and took a few steps in.

"Don't you ever knock before coming into the residence of a respected superior?!" the voice barked, scolding him. Genryu was caught off guard! Already he had done something to upset his Father. How foolish of him in his moment of thoughtlessness to haven't even considered knocking on the door first! "Come in, come in. My patience with you is thin as it is. We have business to discuss, and close the door while you're at it, last time you were here you neglected to do even that! What a hopeless boy. Have a seat, the explaination is long." He said.

Genryu shuffled in quickly and pulled up a seat in front of the desk as commanded of him. He dare not say anything to futher upset the man. It was rare that a person hold such respect in Genry's eyes, however his ties with his clan had brought him much more admiration for these people; who shared a common goal: The ties of blood and family, kinship and clan. And even if their Father wasn't as accomplished shinobi and couldn't use ninjutsu, he still commanded much more power then Genryu himself could accomplish on his own. The Father settled in, calming himself from his previous outburst from the scolding, much like an individual settling down at the camp fire to tell a story. It was something Genryu anticipated and he grew much more attentive as to not miss a single detail.

Age : 32 Posts : 308

“I hope you remember well your little exploits from a week ago. They were quite successful from what I understand, as our clean up crew found no traces of what was supposed to be the weaponry. While that was a loose end that needed tying, there were other trails that needed to be to be followed. The routes and schedules of our black market trades are as you know, secret and confidential. There are very few that know when and where packages will be and for good reason. Thus, for a troop of shinobi to have purposely intercepted the a shipment, someone would have had to have tipped them off. I sent a few of my best ‘dogs’ to sniff out the source of this treachery. Speaking to one of our shinobi village clients, they said that they too were clued in as to shipments by a rivaling mafia. This group of thugs call themselves ‘The Triad’ and are in the business of selling information. They also have black market ties, however they do their business by sea, with their own fleet of ships. It would make sense that they would compromise our land routes while their water routes remain untouched. As a consequence, we have had to completely re-organize our schedules for moving shipments. While this is but a minor inconvenience, I fear there is even further events that need to be investigated. The Triad cannot go unpunished, however. We want them to know that we know their involvement in this scheme. I want to cripple their fleet. While we don’t know their exact sea routes, we are aware of one of their ports in Kumogakure.”

He paused only to take a folder on his desk and slide it forward to the edge where Genryu was, “Enclosed are maps, as well as classic insignia and boat styles of the Triad’s fleet. I want you to go sink their ships, plain and simple. You were always best at the force work. Feel free to make a spectacle of it, I want to send a message. Understand?”

“Ha, so you told me that big long explanation just to tell me to blow up some stuff? Sounds good to me.” Genryu said with an entertained smirk.

“Don’t take it lightly, this is still Kuromatsu business, and failure won’t be tolerated.”

“Got it.” He said. It wasn’t the first time he had done Kuromatsu dirty work. Blowing up stuff was something of a specialty of his, and so when it came to demolition of buildings, objects, etc., he was often called upon. It wasn’t because he was the only one that could use Blackpowder, it was more because of his successes and talents a shinobi. He wasn’t the strongest in his clan by far, but sinking a few ships were well within his repertoire of skills.

Age : 32 Posts : 308

Of course this time unlike the last, the mission would be on his time schedule and on his terms. He could take his time preparing and then strike when it was most opportune. As he prepared himself physically by arming himself properly, he also did so mentally as well. If these thugs were anything like the typical street thugs he normally dealt with, then they would have the very average, make shift and half assed weaponry to use. More of which were improvised or poor quality. None of the people that made up gangs were usually of shinobi caliber and so he could most likely easily elude and evade as well as engage his opponents if need be. The only thing they did have strength in was numbers. That being said, the triad gang wasn't his target, but their ships. The men aboard them, and potentially protecting them would only be obstacles in his way, as his objective was very clear and clean cut.

The main difference was, however, that the ships were much larger. Looking over the pictures of the symbols and boat style that he would be looking for, not a single explosion would be enough to sink one of these ships. In fact, they were most likely built to be somewhat sturdy in order to survive some degree of canon fire from opposing ships, as while it was rare, piracy did very much exist. What was fortunate was that the ships themselves, while over water, were a liability. It only took one sizeable hole to sink a ship, and if he worked quickly, a few of them would capsize even the most sturdy of hauls. He had to be smart with his uses, as his Blackpowder was completely useless when wet, and thus couldn't be used underwater. He wasn't about to sneak on board of a ship in attempt to blow it up from the inside out, as that wasn't reasonable either. The second an explosion went off, any number of ants could come crawling out from their holes in an attempt to protect and savage the ship. Fire could easily be put out, a hole quickly patched up and fixed. So what would he do that would be particularly effective and quick?

Now that he thought about it, his "Drillshell" would be particularly useful at poking holes into the ship, and then igniting it into an explosion would do it's part in providing the fire. While one disaster is most likely something they can deal with, two might be over their head. He had already organized an ideal and a plan, and set out the next morning, map in hand, prepared to do the dirty work of the Kuromatsu clan.

Age : 32 Posts : 308

*End of Flash Back*

While the details are slim and far between, it was only a matter of a cart ride and a nights rest in a local motel to prepare him for his mission. (Those details being not so relevant to the over all story, and thus omitted). Genryu had considered the words of his father carefully and now that the day had started and the subtle twilight of dawn began to clear the darkness from the air, it was time for him to get moving. He knew from the map that the "Fisherman's Port" has a number of coves and caves that surrounded the main docks. It was most likely that their own private docks would be hidden there as well as a place sizeable enough to hide their own fleet of ships. It was most likely there that he could do the most damage in the shortest amount of time, and hit them where it hurts. It was missions like these that really helped him relax personally. He had so much on his mind lately that just pissing people off and blowing things up was a welcome change of pace.

He was lucky that this relatively large fishing town was a hub full of otherwise friendly and hospitable people. It was almost as if they were used to working with shinobi as instead of the awkward and resentful looks that he was used to getting from paranoid and impoverished people, he was actually getting decent cooperation. He simply asked locals if they knew of areas that were remote and open but still hidden away. While many were commuters and didn't seem to stick around too long, some of the more seasoned veterans of Lightning Country fishing had their own fishing stories to tell about pirates. One of them even used the world 'triad' which he hadn't expected. They hadn't much covered their tracks if a couple of old men could pick out their boats floating in the docks in broad day light. It was obvious that their operation had grown so comfortable here that they didn't even bother to keep what they were doing a secret. As the day went on and the sun was high in the sky, a number of ships, all with the triads insignia and boat style had come and gone through the port.

Of course he wasn't foolish enough to make his own attack during the day. Instead he waited and bide his time. He decided to follow the ships along the shore while being stealthy in order to avoid detection. It wasn't like he had to try hard; besides the port, there weren't many people about, and the ones that were, were obviously off on their own business, he simply had to keep himself from being spotted by the ship itself. The one ship he did follow took him about a mile north of the little fishing town were it finally came toward land. This was what he was waiting for, but there was no cave, no hidden area. In fact, besides a cliff, there didn't seem to be much at all that was different about this area that would make it good for putting a ship. Genryu assumed that this ship wouldn't lead him to the triads secret stronghold, but before he left he was lucky enough to witness something extra-ordinary...

The ship was suddenly caught in a whirlpool. The water spun and the ship was quickly caught within it. It didn't take long at all until the ship itself was pulled under the water and disappeared. This was spectacular! Had they all been killed... or? Genryu was quick to investigate, getting closer and clinging to the side of the cliff as he looked into the choppy water. Perhaps he had found the Stronghold of the triad after all, but like any other secret entrance, it wasn't so easy to find yourself in. This made things difficult. He doubted that what had just happened was a natural event, rather, that of a ninjutsu technique. With it being placed over open water, and the sea at that, with enough force to pull down a ship, it must have been a water technique, and powerful one at that! If they had a water element using shinobi strong enough to counter his fire techniques, then his plans would be drowned out before they even began.

Age : 32 Posts : 308

As he looked over the cliffside to where the ship had been sucked under and disappeared, he brain stormed exactly how he would follow the ship into the sunken abyss. He didn't want to make the mistake of just jumping in head first, being under water and then being unable to locate the entrance while under, assuming of course that the entrance to the underwater cave was right where they sunk. He was assuming far too much to just leave it to chance, and if he were a shinobi from konoha still, he would have to be more cautious with his approach. However, he was no such thing. He was a just a hired hand, a body guard. He was a thug now and instinct was his best friend, not protocol. Once he realized he was thinking too much about the entire ideal, he jumped from the cliff and basically swan dived into the water. He wasn't necessarily the strongest swimmer, but even in the ocean drift he could muscle his way through. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and by then he had already been under water for a few seconds. As he looked around he couldn't see anything that seemed like an entrance to anything! He didn't want to go to far into the murky deep without a direction to head into. It was now that he cursed his singularity of elemental affinity. Having fire and fire alone to work with made it increasingly difficult to maneuver freely. It wasn't the most utility of abilities.

Instead, he breached the surface of the ocean once. He realized that if anyone was in the area watching him most if not all of his cover would be blown. From the moment he went cliff diving he knew that he was taking a major risk anyway. He quickly scanned the horizon and to his horror he would actually see another ship in bound to his position. In something of a comedic panic he dipped back into the water and headed for the shadow of the cliff where he wouldn't be detected easily. The closer he got to the cliff the stronger the current of the crashing waves seemed to be until the realized something even more astonishing. It wasn't the current of the water that was moving him about. The toilet bowl suction effect of swirling water had just started... the whirlpool that previously swirled around the ship was now doing the same to the incoming ship! Already underwater for more than twenty seconds, this was a nightmare of a scenario, and the second he realized that he was being caught in the drift, it was the moment he realized it was too late. He was already along for the ride and watched as the ship above had coasted into the whirlpool and in one whole chunk was swallowed under water. It was was this happened that he looked down and saw the massive whole in the ground opening up, sucking the boat down. He struggled to both maintain his composure and follow the boat; as it was quickly picking up speed due to it's large size. Thanks to the current of swirling water he wasn't too far behind. As he too was pulled into the whole, he could only think of how if he survived it he wouldn't ever do it again, and if he just so happen to die, he would be pissed.

Age : 32 Posts : 308

The decent into what he assumed was the triad's base would be something of a drowning hell. The second he was pulled into the mouth of the hole in the ground he, he lost the breathe he was holding. The water pressure as well as the speed of their movement made it like the water slide from hell and he had no choice but to endure the panic of the drowning feeling. He would almost black out as a result, and what was no more than ten of fifteen seconds of being dragged through the water would feel to him like ages. Granted this pipeway was rather wide seeing as though an entire ship could fit through it. It was quite the impressive situation actually to have built all this, and must have been a result of some sort of justu, at least he certainly hoped so. Like sludge from a drainage pipe, the ship and Genryu would be sloshed out of this underwater pipe line and into a massive underwater cave. This was just what he wanted to see, though in his half conscious state it took him awhile to get his footing back. The cave was for the most part dark, and as the ship sailed on along the current of water, he was casually pushed up against the side, being something of a 'shore'. It was lucky that it was dark in the cave and the majority of the illumination came from the small base on the other side of the cave. Genryu covered his mouth, attempting to keep himself quiet as he coughed up a residual of water. He wasn't dead, but boy was it a wild ride.

He gathered himself as he counted his fortune. Explosive tags would luckily still work if wet, but less efficiently so. He would have to make proper use of them. He looked over to survey what was apparently a number of ships, five of them even. It was quite an effort. The water was quite shallow but seemed to work from two different hole, one going in and one doing out. It made sense but it was still impressive. The Kuromatsu clan didn't have anything this elaborate, god forbid underwater. There were many moving figures through the lights in the distance. Their were certainly people, but how many he would have no clue. The ships matched the description he had studied earlier but unfortunately the maps and pictures were both ruined in his little aquatic adventure. He took his time, as he wasn't necessarily in a rush and made his way around the docks in the shadows of the cave. His clothes slowly dried thanks to heat generated from katon, however he didn't want to use too much chakra for nothing more than the effort of blowing things up. It was lucky that the boats were each in close proximity to one another. Having to bounce between far away boats would decrease his chances of success, though he would find a way to be successful one way or another.

He took a few minutes to watch for movement on the boats themselves. For any number of reasons there could be people coming and going and it would just take one of them spotting him in order to ruin his otherwise stealthy approach to this entire ordeal. His chakra was precious this time around as he would most likely have to use a few techniques to deal the most of the damage. As stated before, the water wasn't nearly as deep as something say, in the ocean. These larger ships would actually be salvage able as a result of sinking here. It would just be a long inconvenience for the ships to be 20-30ft under but still, they could be rebuilt. As he pondered this snag in his mission plan, the hole he came in on started to open up again. He watched how it worked, mostly out of curiosity, but the more he watched the more he understood. The water from the ocean would rush in, quickly raising water levels. The ships would rise and as the water filled in more, the other side would open, creating an out for the water to drain out of. It really WAS like a toilet! The ships themselves would also rise and fall with the water, and the water pouring it would have a thunderous crashing sound like being at the foot of a waterfall. He developed a crazy plan, but it was just crazy enough to work!

Age : 32 Posts : 308

He jumped into action almost immediately. A single jump and then another on the side of the first boat he scaled along it's side, placing one explosive tag after another along the edge of the boat just where the water met the boat; just enough so that it didn't get wet. He stopped himself for a moment when he noticed that he had run out but also to remain hidden. He ran about to the other side of the boat and quickly forming the hand signs for the 'BlackPowder Drill Shell'. The fire itself was concealed into blackpowder into the form of a drill bit and quickly without wasting time he launched it forward, hitting the wooden hull of the boat and drilling through it like butter. The DrillShell is capable of penetrating earth and rock, so wood was very reasonable. The hole would punch through about the same level, near the water, while the shell itself lost momentum and fell into the bottom of the boat itself. The sound of the splintering wood from the boat would be load enough to draw some sort of attention, he reckon, and so he quickly sunk into the murky and dark water. Just as he did so, a couple of individuals with lights walked over the edge, raising their lanterns to look into the water, but Genryu, pinned against the side of that very boat, would be unseen. The men, seemingly used to the clanging and banging of the ships would walk away unawares of the hole in their boat. Even then, he realized it was only a matter of time until they discovered it and he had to work fast.

There were five boats all lined up in a row along the dock. The furthest one had people coming and going on it, lifting seemingly heavy things and walking them off of the boat to whatever destination. He would avoid this one, as it was the most likely to get caught. He waited patiently, though nervously. His plan depended on a guess; an interval that he had only recently taken note of. The first boat he had looked at was about the same time interval away from the next boat that he was pulled in on, and the most recent boat to flood in was about the same interval after that. There was room on the dock for at least ten boats of this size and so if the same interval was present and they were coming in on a schedule, then he could predict that the next boat would be coming in soon enough. He waited at least three minutes before thankfully, the large mouth of an opening began to open. He was happy that his instinct had led him straight this time, but he had to be smart and work fast to get it to work to his advantage.

Because when the water came in, the level of the water was to rise. He pulled five shuriken from their compartment, and as he emerged from the water, through each to snap the ropes that kept each boat safe to their docks. These shuriken wouldn't go unnoticed. The weapons would catch attention and people would begin to look about suspiciously, some more surprised and panicked than others as they attempted to find its origin. He swam back as the water level was already ready to rise, and formed the half sign to explode the five tags. The explosion would regretfully not destroy the wall of the boat but rather do what he had intended, and rock the boat over. Because the water wasn't still the explosion would turn the boat on it's side as if being pushed over by force. This boat would be so close to the next one that it would slam into the neighboring boat with the hole in it. Close enough still, he would ignite the Blackpowder DrillShell that lay dormant in that boat, causing an explosion in the base of the second boat.

This had immediately turned the group of figures curiously investigating into a chaotic scramble, like a bunch of ants moving about an ant hill. The water continued to rise and the hole blown into the second boat would cause it to topple over into the third. The Domino effect was current and each boat would crash into the next. The water continued to rise as the second 'out' pipe of water began to open, and each boat, no longer secure, would began drifting with the current of the flowing water. The turbulence in the water would rock the now shifting boats. The result was exactly as he had planned. In a brilliant Rube Goldberg machine of effects, the loosed boats would be pulled out of the dock and into the pipe outward. No long rightside up, the boats would be jumbled and knock into each other, and the walls of the pipe, basically rattling them into pieces like throwing a lego toy down a flight of stairs. Genryu would make sure that he was among the debris. Prepared this time for the nightmare of a water slide he would brace himself while avoiding the crashing and breaking of the boats themselves until the five boats; now a pile of splinters, any people and cargo that were still unfortunately on the boats as himself were pushed out of the pipe into the open water of the ocean. Clinging to a plank of wood, they would float to the surface.

He hadn't destroyed three boats, but instead, five were casualty to the incident. Tired but still in haste he made his way to shore and quickly hid away once more to rest.

"I guess that's mission accomplished..." He said, coughing once or twice as he looked out on the sunset. The only thing more beautiful then the setting sun over a tropical beach setting was the raising chunks of boat that had floated to the top of the ocean water. He couldn't rest too long, for the ants would come out from hiding soon and he didn't want to be caught against a small army of thugs...

Later the next day...

Genryu had managed to scurry away from the scene. He had little or no evidence that the deed was committed, in fact because it was more or less hidden away from the world, he couldn't just point to where it was and claim that the deed was complete. No, he could do that, but he had seen a lot of what made up the triads base. He had already had travel home arranged for him and he would return to Crater City where he could tell his father of his successes. As he traveled he made note of a detailed account of what happened while it was still fresh in his mind. He considered himself lucky that things lined up the way they did in spite of the fact that it was so oblong to what his original strategy was going to look like, though that was his shinobi way, if he were to even adhere to the title of ninja. He would accomplish his goals, no matter what, and survive, at all costs. A great combination; run away to fight another day. But in the small scale of battles, this was one that he had won. He was aware that much still went on in the background, but as for his responsibility; his piece of the puzzle? It was accomplished.