Standard Fetch Quests and Finding Items

It was time to get started on missions. Daiko stretched out his arms, and for once actually got off of his lazy ass. He had things to do, places to see. Daiko quickly headed down to the mission's office and picked out four scrolls. These ones all looked to be easy, so he decided that it would be fair enough that he did them on his own. Cracking his back, he looks over his options. The one that looked the easiest right of the gate was the one titled something about Photography. Hmn. This seemed like it might work. Honestly, these weren't the missions that he had necessarily signed up for when he had first come to the village, but he figured that it would be essential to getting a lay of the land and overall figuring out what it was that he needed to end up doing for the village. Starting from the bottom, and working his way up. That didn't sound so bad. 

Getting set up, Daiko makes his way through the village of Kirigakure, finding the village that was listed on the scroll. It was a pretty unassuming building, though it seemed like there would be plenty of business found within. Either way, Daiko was here to scrounge up the ryo that he had come for. Walking in, he was greeted by a rather enthusiastic photographer, who was doing all sorts of poses. Looking over at Daiko, he nods his head. He welcomes him and then gives him a couple of tasks to do. They were simple things, such as bringing rolls of film to the darkroom, or retrieving papers. It didn't seem too bad, though the hours seemed to drag on the longer he was there. Around the final hour, things started to get a bit more interesting.

The cameraman took a quick look at Daiko, sizing him up with his fingers. Nodding his head, he instructed Daiko to step in front of the camera. It was kind of strange, though Daiko did what he was asked. The man instructed him quite clearly, and Daiko began to lean back, putting his fingers forward as if pointing at something, making a menacing face. As he did this, though it could've been his imagination, it seemed that purple kanji began to float around him. Huh. That was weird. After this was done, Daiko had some minor things to clean up before the person who had put out the mission thanked him, and went to the back room. Daiko was simply sitting in awe for a brief moment, not entirely sure what it was that was going on. The man finally came back, giving Daiko a couple of copies of the photos that he had received, as well as the pay for his time. It wasn't the most Ryo Daiko had ever seen, though he assumed that with menial tasks like this he wouldn't be able to expect as large of a reward as he may have wanted. It was no matter. Daiko was just happy to be out of here. 

[512]

After having gotten everything done with the photography and whatnot, Daiko continues down the list. It looked like the next thing that he had to do was to find some sort of cat that was on a large estate. Sighing shortly, Daiko begins on his way to find this place. It wasn't too far off from the main city square, and he was able to make it in record time, the huge gates to the place seeming almost looming. As he pressed a small button at the gates, he noticed that they slowly swung open, and he was greeted by a nice old woman. She explained that her little cat Muffin had gone missing and that they needed a powerful ninja to find it. Daiko had no idea what this meant, though he assured her that he would be able to complete the task. After being thanked profusely, he goes off in search of this feline.

It wasn't immediately apparent where this creature was, so Daiko thought it best to try to do his best when it came to tracking. He lowered himself closer to the ground and began to scan the area. Luckily for him, the grass was all well-maintained, so it was unlikely that the cat would be hunched down on the ground or in a hole somewhere. The biggest chance had would likely be up in a tree. Daiko would make his way over and is to look up and then slowly walk up trees. The first one was a nice-sized oak tree, and it looked like it had been planted many many generations ago. Daiko thought for a moment about what gnarled roots were likely underneath, and how a tree of this size would likely choke out most other vegetation that would be growing around. Hmm. The trees seemed pretty cool. Foreshadowing like this wasn't too on-the-nose for Daiko.

Finally getting a good view, Daiko sees what looks like the apex predator of all cats. Rippling with muscle and angrily tearing at a small bird. 'Oh. This must be the cat.' Daiko gathered himself for a moment, before running down the tree and making his way toward the cat. He slowly approached the creature, whose muscles were rippling like the eruption of waves on the beaches of this place. "Pss Pss Pss..." Daiko got down lower, lower than the stature of the great cat, and used a hand seal before a poof of material came in his hand. It was a little fuzzball. The cat turned toward Daiko, and rushed at him, slowly turning into a smaller kitty who excitedly took the ball and began to kick it around. Petting the little cat, Daiko then picked it up like a little baby while the cat tossed and batted at the ball that was in its paws. Scratching behind the little ears of the cat, Daiko brought it back to the old lady who was astonished that Daiko wasn't cut into ribbons. Hmm. The cat didn't seem that bad to him. Maybe Daiko would get a cat of his own someday.

[514]
{1026}

After doing all of the work that Daiko needed to complete for this woman, she paid him and pulled him to the side. Reading another one of his scrolls, Daiko noticed that this was also the same woman that had put out the mission for a shinobi to go out and shop for food for her. This was convenient. Daiko listens to her go on about what she needs, before she hands him a list. It wasn't too long, though it was very specific. Nodding his head gratefully, Daiko slowly walks away from the old woman before sprinting towards the last place that he had known that there was a shopping district. It wasn't too far away, and Daiko affectionately remembered being around this general area with Saya in the past. This was when they had ended up going out to get some of that spicy soup that he enjoyed so much. As he slowly made his way closer and closer to what seemed to be the central market, he thought for a moment about how lucky it was to be able to find a friend in this village, when he truly had no idea what was going on or the state of the world. Daiko counted himself as fortunate for this. 

As he finally made it, he looked down at his list. Most of the stuff looked pretty normal. The lady appeared to be making some sort of soup. There were vegetables listed such as leeks and cabbages, as well as some dried bonito flakes and chili oils. Thinking about it made Daiko's stomach grumble quite a bit, though he was very excited for what was to come. He was going to get paid after he did all this work, and he could treat himself to whatever food was on his mind or caught his eye. Going down the list slowly but surely, Daiko fills up a cart with all of the necessities that he would need. As the cart got more and more full, Daiko realized that it would be nearly impossible to carry everything out with him. Scratching his chin, he thought of what might be a better solution. Realizing that they also had scrolls around here, Daiko decided that while the lady paid for all these groceries, he would get one scroll to ease his back when carrying everything home. As he was checking out, the person at the counter was loading everything into large bundles, and Daiko thanked them and went on his way. 

Struggling to carry out all the groceries, Daiko sets them down and does some quick writing on the scroll that he had purchased. Using the basic sealing technique, Daiko seals all of the foods and items that he was sent to get inside of the scroll. He then goes back to where the old woman was, and she looked surprised that he had made it. Taking the scroll up to her kitchen, what he does is roll it out, and unseal the groceries. She looked amazed and paid Daiko. Nothin' like helping the elderly.

[513]
{1539}

Daiko cracks his back, having left the house of the old woman only moments ago. He was finally down to his final scroll. This would be the easiest, hopefully, and take the least amount of time. Daiko was already starting to get hungry, causing him to be a bit more irritable than usual. Looking over the scroll, he sighs. It looked like he would have to do some menial labor over at a bank, and basically just lock up. The day was basically over already, so he assumed that he would only have to sweep the perimeter a couple of times and make sure all the doors were locked. Daiko was beginning to think that some of these missions were only to be tedious, and not to actually teach him any ninja skills. It was no matter. Daiko would learn something. He was thinking to himself about how using two hands for seals could be inconvenient. Scratching his chin, he decided that he would figure something out about this eventually, even if not right now. Walking his way through the town, he finally finds himself standing at the front doors to the bank. It had looked like inside everyone was wrapping up. 

Walking in the bank, Daiko waved at the teller and showed him the scroll. Wiping sweat from his brow, the teller seemed like he was happy that Daiko had arrived to offer some help. After a somewhat warm welcome, Daiko got to work. He began by emptying all the trash cans in there, as well as putting new bags in there so that the next day would be ready to go. He took the trash out, and while he was outside, he checked the perimeter. There wasn't anything crazy going on out here in the slightest. It seemed like a pretty calm evening overall, and Daiko figured that he would be getting out of this job sooner than later. With the trash taken care of, Daiko looks around for more work that he can do. Though the front doors seemed to be the most important, Daiko was handed a few keys and sent to lock up and make sure that all of the different weird door contraptions were all locked and set for the next day. Daiko was not sure why they had so many weird office doors, but he decided not to question it. Handing the keys back to the teller, Daiko follows the man outside as he locks the front doors. The man nodded and thanked Daiko for his help, and gave him the little amount of ryo that Daiko had earned from this mission. 

Things like this really seemed like they should be reserved for the regular people of the village, but Daiko wasn't one to ask too many questions. All he really cared about now was that he had enough to be able to get some food for the night. Daiko was really looking forward to the idea that he would be able to do something less mind-numbing than this in the future. 

[Exit]

[509]
{2048}

[2000/2000] One-Handed Seals
48 Words Discarded

[2000] 40 AP
48 Words Discarded

Missions Complete -
The Sneaky Cat 1000 Ryo, 5 AP
Photo Op Protege 1000 Ryo, 5 AP
Food Shopping 1000 Ryo, 5 AP
Maintenance 1000 Ryo, 5 AP

Totals -- 
+4000 Ryo
+60 AP

Don't forget your 100 ryo bonus pay per mission, approved