Bravo Cell: First mission - Wanted: Bandit Chief [Arrival in Rice Country]

Age : 49 Posts : 1036

Starting threadhttp://www.ultimateshinobi.org/t7912-bravo-cell-first-mission-wanted-bandit-chief-aka-here-we-go-again

Like most nations whose economy depended on agriculture Ta no Kuni was a temperate nation. And at this time of year that meant rain - lots of it and just cold enough to be decidedly uncomfortable. Added to the wind that was blowing that rain in unpredictable pockets and drenching sheets and it was the recipe for sending any reasonable person fleeing this miserable weather. For the solitary figure wrapped in a grey rain cloak that was leaning against the trunk of the tree whose branch (some thirty feet off the ground) he was standing on, miserable weather was the least of his concerns.

From his perch Toshiro's eyes swept over the camp he and his two students had set up after they had crossed the border into Rice Country. Even though "camp" would probably be a bit too generous a description for their current resting place. A single slab of rock sticking out of the ground at a steep angle that barely provided shelter for the two genin and one panther, the three shinobi's packs, and a small smokeless fire that was barely embers. Hardly four-star accommodations but better than the drainage ditch he had ended up spending his first night in this nation. At least they could be reasonable dry and weren't having sleep with one eye open for a gamekeeper and his too-smart dogs. As on his last time here, he had kept himself and his genin to the smugglers trails to avoid any encounters with ninja from Hidden Sound who might tip the bandits off about a team of foreign ninja in the area. He had also taken them to a different crossing point to avoid the game keeper who had dogged his trail almost half the length of Rice Country last time, instead crossing further east into the foothills there were. So far their arrival appeared to have gone unnoticed and he wanted to keep it that way as long as possible. If all stayed quiet tomorrow they would be in place to start scouting the bandit's fortress the next day before getting to the messy part.

That was the part Toshiro was mulling over between sporadically checking the camp and perimeter. From the information he had been handed before starting this assignment the bandits had only been briefly disrupted by his taking out the leader on his prior visit. Whether it was due to a strong chain of command or an outside influence, it was pretty obvious that simply taking out the leader wouldn't remove this particular thorn. They would need something more... drastic. It was coming up with the means by which he intended to do just that was part of the reason why he hadn't woken either Rin or Matsunaka to take their watches. As miserable as the weather was, this was the best time he could find to play the endless games of "what it" and speculation that were part of planning. The other part was that he intended to come on the fort from the mountainside this time and he wanted both genin fresh for when they started climbing the cliffs. He had the chakra to walk up them if needed, but they would need theirs. With that thought the chuunin pulled the hood of the cloak lower only to freeze in mid-motion as something made a twig snap nearby. He didn't move until the source of that noise, a solitary fox, emerged from a bush to sniff at the camp then slink back into the underbrush. It was, Toshiro would later note, as if the vulpine had recognized that his two genin and their companions were fellow predators not to be trifled with.

Posts : 1187

The Rice Country seemed nice enough. It was pretty hot here, that was probably the worst thing about it. Rin was a boy who liked the cold and he was going too find it even harder to fall asleep. He started to think. 'This place does exactly what it said on the tin.' The place was coated in Rice fields. Everywhere you looked there was vegetation. But now in the dark of the night it was hard to see much with the small amount of light. From the teams shabby camp there was only a dim glow from some embers and as much light as the moon was letting in. He had no idea what time it was so his main priority was to sleep. Having taken a sleeping pill that was not working, Rin was becoming really angry. But he was trying just to close his eyes and pretend he was asleep. This was just not working. Opening one eye he searched the small camp. Matsunaka and his panther seemed pretty fast asleep but Toshiro was no where to be seen. Maybe he was out on watch or something, that or training.

Getting up he stretched and yawned as quietly as he could. Trying not to wake the others; a boy and a panther. Rin was wearing only his lightweight grey T-shirt and his tracksuit. His necklace felt cold against his chest. Looking two his left there was a bundle of cloth, his wrapped up scythe. The two rolls of tape were next to his bag along with the two thin, metal plates. He ignored them and decided to go with what he was already wearing. Sliding his weaponry belt around his waist he slid in his katana and ninjato. A pouch dangled from the back of it. Slowly creeping out of 'den'- as this is what he had began to think of it as- he made his way to a tall tree. Drawing the katana and slashing the tree, Rin began to imagine it was a bandit. Tomorrow would be awesome, he could think of it as one huge training session. Then taijutsu was being practised. Right cross, left cross, jab and finally an upper cut. He continued to do this to the early hours of the morning.

*I know it is quite short but I thought it would be good to do the arrival quickly.

Posts : 235

They said that the rice country was an agriculture powerhouse providing most of the known world with its namesake. The rice produced here is served all over and is highly sought out. Yet for a nation that provided nourishment. It also could be an extremely annoying place to be. The air was humid and cold. The water was coming in a slight drizzle that covered a lot of the country. With his hood on his head and his boots on his feet, Matsunaka trudged through the wet mud of the path, the dark overcast of the sky casting him as a dark shadow. TetsuKaiden plodded next to him, his fur is clumped together from the from the water that continued to rain on him and his master. Matsunaka looked at his panther seeing the tension in his body, he turned his head back to road kept his eyes forward. He became aware of his own tension but he couldn't blame Tetsu. This was there first life and death mission since, the battle against the monster mammoth of a human being. Neither of them had gotten out of the battle without their own fair shares of bruise and scratches. The burn marks and pieces of singed fur were still evident on Tetsu's body. He felt behind him on his neck, the scar from the strike of their foe still fresh. He felt the ridge of skin, remembering everything that had happen. Removing his hand from the scar he vowed never to receive another mark on his body from an enemy. The rain continue to slightly thud against the leather of his body, his white and black hair clomped together in his face hanging just in his eyes.

Pushing the hair out of his eyes, he turned to see look at the nearby rice paddies, the rice farmers were out in full force oblivious to the strange sight of a young man and a panther, but when the amount of rice you brought in decided on how much your family ate you would be oblivious to such things as well. To the farmers that did notice him, he met their gaze giving them him his death glare trying to entice fear into their bodies but like their counterparts they merely shrugged him off and continued with their work. Removing his attention from the farmers he saw the camp in the distance. Toshiro was no where to be found and judging from the sudden growl Rin must have been awake. Hiding behind the tent he removed the back flap and removed the two dummies to represent him and Tetsu while they went to do some extra recon. Removing his wet clothes, and taking a towl he placed his clothes off to the side and began to dry off Tetsu. The big cat purred and shook him going to rest next to Kuro. "Be ready." Tetsu answer by growling and settling down. Matsunaka laid on his bed and pulled out his loveless book and began to read preparing for their orders to move out. As he began to read, he fell into the droll of Rin's katana striking the tree with a satisfying thunk. Soon his eyes began to droop and right after he was sleep drifting off into the world of unconsciousness.