Sweeper Keepers [Gonk, Kasumi, Travin]

Spoiler:

The night had drawn in, snow fell from the sky, but due to the heat did not settle on the village floor. Ryuzaki sat at a teahouse that sat between the Kumo village and his home, he had stopped for some food and now sat with a hot chocolate, looking out over the landscape as the rare snow weather descended upon the land. As he was on his way home from a mission he was dressed in full gear, a pair of ninja tabi that covered bandages that wound around his feet and up his legs until they went under a pair of long shorts that stopped just below the knee, and met a pair of compression shorts. Strapped around his left leg was a long weapon pouch that housed half his kunai and shuriken, on his back right hip he wore a cloth weapon pouch that housed the rest of his kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, smoke bombs, and military ration pills. A belt wound around his waist, not to keep his shorts in place but to hold the hanging scabbard of his master's family heirloom, a katana. Ryuzaki wore a black, short-sleeved t-shirt, from just below his shoulders more bandages wound around his arms and his hands, doubling as hand wrapping for close-quarters combat. On Ryu's back two holsters crossed each other, both housing a tanto, their hilts pointing out and down from his back, so they could easily be drawn, his weaponry was mostly designed so that in the case of combat he could draw them while his enemy was caught in the shadow imitation jutsu, and if they had similar weapons they would not also draw them. Around his neck he wore a simple silver chain, hanging from it was a simple gold ring with the Nara clan symbol etched into it, the only sign that he ever belonged to the clan. 

As Ryu moved the drink to his lips he blew gently to try and cool the surface of the drink, so it was not too hot for his lips, as he did the familiar sight of the Hollykage appeared in front of him, he winked at him and clicked his fingers, Ryu knew what was coming next and stood up so that when he was transported he would not be in a seated position like last time. Suddenly Ryu was transported, but this time it was not to an alien-looking land, but to a building, he did not recognize. Ryu looked around him and he saw that it was some sort of workshop, he did not understand what the machinery around him was used for but it was certainly a mess. In his open hand he received a folded bit of paper, he opened it and read the details of the mission given this time by the Hollykage. They would bet asked with cleaning up the workshop, Ryu was to expect other people to assist him on this very important mission.

WC: 497

Kasumi stepped outside and placed a padlock on the door behind her.  She was finishing up for the day from her big project that she was working on.  She had hoped to complete it before the month drew to an end.  While walking she was walking home, Kasumi could see that the festivities where still going strong into the night.  A few days ago, the young genin had noticed one of Kiri's workshops wasn't being used until the year came to a close.  After a couple days of tracking the owner down and having a friendly conversation, Kasumi was given permission to use the facility – just as long as she didn't start a fire or ruin any of the equipment.

She walked down several blocks as she took in the Mist's cool salty air.  There were several villagers about enjoying themselves under Kiri's lamp-lit sidewalks.  Kids were having snowball wars in the streets.  She walked passed a familiar park which was having a snow sculpture competition.  With lanterns hung to illuminate their workspace, sculptors were still very busy creating their entries.  It looked like they were much further along since the last time she glanced by them the week before.  

You see, puppetry is a time consuming ninja art that only the most dedicated few see fit to peruse.  It might not have been Kasumi's first choice, but after she learned that she could make the Chakra Threads which gave a puppet the ability to move, she decided to run with it.  She needed a few new materials to make replacement parts as she was knee deep in an overhaul with her one and only puppet.  It preformed well during its debut mission, however, there were a couple of things which could have made it better.  

As she walked down Kiri's busy streets, Kasumi looked up just in time to to notice a familiar face.  He was a tall and round fellow with rosy cheeks and always had a sly smile on his face.  It was the Hollykage.  

”Oh no, not you again...” Kasumi groaned.  ”You're going to teleport me again, aren't you?”

The Hollykage chuckled, ”Ho, ho, right you are, Miss Kasumi.  Now then, for the task at hand.  I'm teleporting you to my workshop.  I make weapons for all of the good shinobi and kunoichi.  However, this time of year is always hectic for me.  My shop is a mess and needs a good cleaning.  Now I have some hirelings that will be working when you arrive.  I'm giving you permission to order them around.  They can help you clean.  Just give them a good pep talk to brighten their spirits.  Don't worry I don't expect you to do it by yourself, I'll be sending you As always  I'll reward you graciously when you're finished.”

At that the Hollykage placed his hands together and preformed a couple of hand seals.  All of a sudden the Kasumi's world was spinning as she was teleported back to the Land of Iron.  Just like before, the air was cold and there was a good three meters of snow on the ground.  The surrounding pine trees were also covered with snow as their branches sagged due to the extra weight.  As Kasumi looked forward, her pearly white eyes saw a lone brick building.  Its outline could be seen under the moonlight.  

This must be the place the Hollykage was talking about, Kasumi thought with a sigh.

Kasumi opened the door and cautiously poked her head inside.  She cleared her throat so that she could better get someoneone's attention.  

”Hello?  Is anyone here?  Are there any other nins here?”

Kasumi slowly stepped inside to get out of the cold.  There, standing in the foyer, she saw two spiky haired lads who appeared to be Genin ranked ninja.  They both wore headbands; one, who looked to be from Kumogakure, who wore his around his forehead, while the other wore his like a belt and was from Kiri.  Kasumi was first taken aback the two young men standing before her.  She did not know either of them, and, to make matters worse, One of them was from the Hidden Village in the Clouds.

Oh,I didn't realize the Hollykage would send nins form different villages on these tasks.  He must really get around.

Kasumi wore a padded blue vest, gray and dark blue camo pants, with wrist warmers and a scarf to match, and wore tall black boots.  Over top of everything she wore a dull blue cloak for warmth.  She had long dark hair which was tied up in a high ponytail.  Her bangs fairly long, and she had two wisps of hair that tumbled to her shoulders and yet, the most defining feature of all, was her eyes.  She had those white eyes.  The eyes of a Hyuuga.

”Good evening boys, I take it you're here because the Hollykage sent you?  Oh and my name is Hyuuga Kasumi,” Kasumi announced.

(WC = 814)

The task was simple, clean the workshop. Ryu had never really done much cleaning, but he thought it would be easy to handle. He turned as he heard his name, and he recognized a face, someone he had been sent on one of the Hollykages mission with before. "Hi there, Travin" Ryu said with a smile as he extended his hand, as a sign of respect between the two acquaintances. Shortly afterward another voice could be heard calling from the back. Ryu noticed a slight hesitation in the newcomer as she looked at him after she spoke, Ryu almost blurted out "He might be the closest thing to God I've ever seen" his eyebrow raised, realizing he had said it out loud. Extending his hand Ryu then spoke again to the woman who introduced herself as Kasumi "Nice to meet you I'm Ryuzaki, Ryu if you will" a smile stretched across his face, meeting so many new people was starting to take a toll on Ryus social anxiety. As the thought crossed his mind another shinobi appeared and introduced himself, Ryu met his hand and once again introduced himself "I'm Ryu". Ryuzaki then looked around and noticed the state of the workshop "Well this is going to suck, shall we just get on with it?" Ryu said reluctantly as he picked up a nearby broom and made a sweeping motion with it slightly off the ground.

WC: 236
TWC: 733

Kasumi pondered on Ryu's statement that the Hollykage reminded him of a god, and as she thought about it, the young teen could not argue with him in the least.  It was true, Kasumi had witnessed the Hollykage preform some amazing jutsu.  He could summon things seemingly out of thin air, and could teleport others even if they were unwilling.  Kasumi even tried to chase the Hollykage down but the jolly man was too elusive.  Naming him a god, at this point, wasn't really a stretch?  

”You know, Ryu, you might not be wrong about this,” Kasumi agreed.  ”My only concern is how nonchalant the man is with other's free will.  He seems to be genuine, but yet, he also seems to have some sort of hidden agenda.  He's too charismatic for his own good.  Also, he doesn't seem to care about doors.  He just comes and goes as he pleases, regardless if he's allowed in.  I wonder if any of our village's higher ranking ninja have tried to capture him for questioning?  Well, I suppose your right, Ryu.  We should just get on with it.  He's not going to teleport us back until this task is finished.”

Kasumi began helping the others pick up kunai, shuriken, and senbon up from off of the floor.  Eventually the group of Genin found their respective wooden crates.  Painted black text was stenciled on their wooden lids and had a small picture of what they were as well.  Puffs of smoke briefly filled the room as Travin's clones materialized into existence.  Three Travins were certainly better than only one.  As they swept and tidied the lobby up, Kasumi's mind began to wonder, and before long, a terrible thought crept into the kunoichi's mind.

”This place is a pigsty.  Like someone just waltz right in and started preforming wind-based jutsu all over the place.  Wait a minute, we're not cleaning up a murder scene, are we?!?”

Kasumi's pearly eyes widened as she began to search the room for blood.

(WC = 332)
(TWC = 1146)

Ryu started slightly sweeping the floor, when one of the others suggested using the clone jutsu, it would certainly speed things up. Ryu made several hand seals and then performed the shadow clone jutsu, two more versions of him showing up, they also held brooms. He chuckled at the joke one of the other made, hoping that she was not serious anyway. Ryu thought about the hollykage just teleporting someone into an active volcano, seemed easier than stabbing someone with a kunai at least. "I'll take the sweeping," he said since he already had a broom and continued to sweep around the room, there were various other tasks for the rest to take on. 

After around half an hour Ryu had completed his part of the cleaning and looked around as the rest had gotten on with whatever tasks they chose to do. Then once again Ryu was just standing back in his own home, the broom still in his hand, his clones dotted around hi mat various points, he nodded to them and they both released themselves and he became whole again. "He could at least give a warning when he's going to do that, or at least let me say bye". Ryu decided that since he was holding the broom he would tidy up a bit at home as well, although it did not get too dirty as he was the only one who lived inside and was rarely at home long enough to make much mess but was there enough that dust did not build up. Ryu completed the task and then put the broom away in a hideyhole, he then went into his room and prepared for bed.

[Exit]
WC: 282
TWC: 1015

Claiming Carbon Fiber, 40 Ap, 1000 words for Flying Swallow, 20 Trained Ap, +100 ryo and +5 AP for C-rank.

Approved