Always with the bandits (Solo/mission)

After finishing his business with the fishermen, Mitako returned to the what he now dubbed the "bounty board" for one more mission to finish off the day. Coming in from the rain, he left small puddles of water trailing behind him with every step, causing a slipping hazard for anyone not keen enough to see the puddles. Is that a lawsuit I smell? He was given the task of driving away five bandits that have been harassing and stealing from travelers along Kirigakure no Sato's borders. The instructions were very, very vague in how he was to deal with these bandits, and he assumed the Mizukage, Xyxer, wouldn't care if he left a few bodies behind as statement to any future bandits. So to Mitako, "drive away five bandits," was translated into "leave behind five corpses."

He left the building with his gourd intact. Although it got wet, the sand it was composed of didn't seem to change its state, aside from gaining a glossy/wet look. Mitako walked with a clumsy sort of gait. The extra weight from the gourd seemed to be throwing his balance off, despite its usefulness. He continued, however, to the country borders. The rain had stopped, at least for now, as he neared the docks. He jumped off into the water, using the surface walking technique to keep himself afloat. About halfway across the sea between Kiri and the mainland, he got used to the weight of the gourd. Whoever those bandits were, their day was about to take a turn south... Even though Mitako was likely among the weakest ninja of Kirigakure. 

He stepped onto the mainland and left the small dock town that served as a sort of port for Kiri. After about twenty minutes or so of walking, he found himself upon the scene of turned over trading cart, with one of five bandits in question picking through a dead guy's pocket, while another was picking through a woman's purse. The rest were in the cart, going through it's contents. They failed in hearing his foot steps as he approached. Mitako gazed at them for a moment, attempting to judge what kind of skills they had. They all looked roughly the same. The group collectively had dark hair, they all appeared to be within the ages of seventeen to twenty, and they weren't exactly unhealthy looking in terms of physical fitness.

Mitako stepped up to the man picking through the pockets, and cleared his throat loud enough the whole group would hear. They were all startled, but the one in particular jumped so hard he fell back on his ass, and landed at Mitako's feet. It took him a few seconds, but Mitako ripped his katana from his sheathe and plunged it into the man's stomach. Gripping it with both hands, he ripped it out from the side, causing the man to start gasping as his entrails slipped out onto the dirt. Flinging the blade to his left, he began taking steps toward the second man, who attempted to take a stab Mitako with a knife. He was pitifully slow, and his attempt was met with a swing of Mitako's katana, cutting the second bandit's legs off at the knees. As Mitako stepped toward the third, his sand began to seep out of the gourd, entering the second man's lungs, suffocating him. 

By now, the fourth and fifth bandits joined the third. The third held a rather large cleaver, and the fourth and fifth each had knives. Muffled screams could be heard from the second as he continued on his way to the remaining three. The fourth bandit with blue eyes, attempted to plead with Mitako, offering him a cut of the goods if he was spared. His teammate, the fifth bandit, interrupted him by running at the jinchuriki. This proved a mistake. The sand that was now flowing from the gourd grabbed his hands, and working in tandem with the sand, Mitako freed the bandit of his torso. The sand would then do a repeat of earlier, and silence the moans and screams of this bandit by filling his lungs. 

The third bandit, whom held the big sword attempted to run, but was quickly cut off by Mitako, at the neck. As his head rolled away, he eyed the fourth, whom was backing away from the scene. Mitako took off toward the boy, whom appeared to be the youngest of the group, causing him to fall on his back. The jinchuriki plunged the katana into the ground next to his head. Looking down on the boy, he told him, "Let any who would attempt to go against Kiri in such a manner know, this is the fate that awaits them." He then took his sword and lopped off the boy's hand, ensuring that the boy would likely have to talk about it to someone, provided he didn't bleed out. 

Mitako then went about the task of turning the bandit's corpses into a display, so that any would-be bandits would either turn away from the bandit life, or at the very least decide to put their attention into some place that wasn't Kirigakure. First, he took the body of the man and woman, who fell victim to the bandits, and stuck them in their cart, with their belongings. He then drug the cart down the road a bit before returning to the bandit's bodies. He took the bandits and their various parts, and arranged them in a messy, bloody pile. He then used his moving earth core to erect a small block of dirt, that was a meter wide, and inscribed with the words "The latest group of bandits to attack Kirigakure's traders." Underneath the words, was a small arrow pointing up. 

After that mess, Mitako took the cart with the innocent, yet dead couple, back to the village. He informed the small village, which consisted of about 15 people, what had happened. He then went on back to Kirigakure to collect his reward. 

[1003 WC
claiming mission rewards, 614 toward Sand Mastery, and 389 towards Iai Beheading]