Stalking the Bomber [Asahi]

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

The Sun stood at the peak of the blue sky as it shine down on the Tanbogakure, the lack of clouds made the sky look even more blue than usual as birds moved through the air minding their own business and chipping away. Leaves dance as they fell from trees that surrounded the village, the road towards the gates was covered in leaves, and footsteps travelers, merchants, and shinobi passed by the main road. Beautiful fields of rice covered the lush terrain as Mikaela came back to the village as he was studying plants in the forest and was requested to participate in a series of missions. Tanbogakure was as busy as nothing had changed; The great gates stood tall as the wooden doors were open allowing people in and out. Guards and shinobi stood surveilling the gates, the closer he got to the gates the more they tend to look familiar even with so much time passed things didn't change dramatically. Mikaela stood in the center of the entrance looking around, some guards stared at him as they spoke to each other, and shinobi also staired at him; they all recognized him but some really didn't know him as there seem to be a small tension between them as Mikaela ignored them and continued to walk the streets.


The more he walked the more things began to look familiar until he reached the market of Tanbogakure. It was busy merchants selling goods towards customers, restaurants seemed full, shops were also packed to the brim with villagers and travelers alike; Everyone with a smile on their faces from kids, parents, grandparents, to the employees and even the shinobi that stood around to guard the market. The walk was quick and enjoyable after a good ten-minute walk he arrive at the building. Mikaela stood in front of the building as he stared at the door then up at the last structure, the tea shop, he was meeting someone here to embark are a mission. Apparently, they had to follow a man who has been a stalker by one of the higher-ups.

Mikaela entered the tea shop but didn't see anyone that he was supposed to meet, so he then picked a table and went and sat at it. He figured he was late because he had a rough time getting ready this morning but maybe he did arrive early. Who knew.

[WC: 401/2,500]

Pain....that was the first of several sensations that would cross through his mind as he began to sit up.  He felt as though he still had a hangover from two nights before.  His new friend, something.....Hashimoto had ended up being more fun that he anticipated, and his sanity was now paying for it.  The hangover still feeling as though it was in affect, despite liberal attempts at food and hydration.  There had been pastries, and more sake but nothing seemed to help.  Lighting his long pipe he'd take a breath allowing the sweet taste to permeate his body.  Getting up he'd fill the wash basin in his small apartment with warm water, and begin splashing at his face.  As he did so, a loud tapping sound seemed to fill the apartment.  Rubbing his face with his hands in an attempt to rub out the vibrations he'd make his way to the window and unlatch it.  Within half a second of doing so a small white pigeon plopped down on the floor.  It pecked at its legs a couple times, before fluttering back out the window.  Leaving two not so fun surprises for him.  One a mess, and the other most likely some sort of job.

Grabbing the small scroll, he'd move over and sit on the bed before opening it.  Reading it carefully, he'd sigh.  As anticipated......it was another job.  Once again words like expertise tried to appeal to his perfectly average ego thank you very much.  One last sigh, and then a return to the wash basin.  A vomit or two later, a swig of water, and he was picking out his clothes.  A simple yellow kimono with black outlines, hair tied up in a traditional samurai style top know, and sword hung at his lower back completed the main outfit.  Wooden clogs tied with a red string, the mission briefing tucked in an inside pocket and he was heading out the door.  It seemed he was supposed to meet the Senju boy he'd met previously downstairs in the tea shop.  This gave him a mild smile, seeing a familiar face in the eve of all this work, well it could be worse.  

Making his way downstairs, he would enter the tea shop from the back room.  Scanning the area he'd see the senju already having taken up a seat at an empty table.  Moving through the room, he'd grab a chair and plop down into it, scooting it backwards with his feet.  If there had been any sense of stealth it had been ruined by this action and the scraping noise that came with it.  His chair was moved so that he and Mikaela where back to back.  Pretending he was in a spy scroll he'd read as a kid he'd simply say "Humming bird, you got the goods?"  In a dead pan serious tone.  This would obviously make zero sense to the Senju, but he was doing his best to have some fun.

Before his partner could raise to many questions of confusion, he'd lift the scroll from his pocket and hold it over his head, so that it would end up over Mikaela's left shoulder.  "You get one of these?"  If Mikaela had and knew what was going on it would be all old information.  If not it would explain in more details about the mission.  That they were to find the stalked but not necessarily engage.  That they had been tailing none other than one of the concubines of the Daiymo.  She was to walk past the tea shop in around half an hour, and from there, they were to become the stalkers of the stalker.  Fun times.  While the Senju either read or acknowledged his own knowledge, Asahi would order them both a hibiscus tea.

TWC - 631 / 2500

Mikaela heard the sound of someone basically throwing themselves into a chair and almost slamming themselves into his back. Mikaela's face lit up and goosebumps covered his body because he disliked the feeling of human contact and especially from someone he doesn't know at all. Mikaela already annoyed with how the day was going, was going to give this person a piece of his mind when he heard a familiar voice say 'hummingbird, you got the goods'. Mikaela put his palm up to his face as he immediately knew who it was, why is he like this, the emerald-eyed Senju sighed. . He knew, at least, it was not going to be a boring mission if he was being tagged along with Asahi. The bumps on his skin went away since he knew particularly fine with Asahi. That's when he saw out of the corner of his eye, the scroll, similar to the one he received last night. I guess I missed the part where I was teaming up with him, Mikaela thought as his eyes scanned the tea shop.

"Yes, I did, but I guess I missed the part it was you tagging along, I guess you're cousin decided last minute that you finally needed to do something,"  Mikaela chuckled at his own comment because he did not know the activities of the man, so it was more of an assumption of him. Finally, the hibiscus tea arrived for them that Asahi ordered. Mikaela studied the tea, he loved the deep red color, it could almost match his hair. He really didn't care for the tart taste that come with the tea, so he mixed in some honey with it so he can give it a sweetened taste, and smooth texture. He wondered if that was the reason he ordered the tea. Taking a sip of the tea, taking in the sweetened flavor of the warm tea, he then proceeds to say, "thank you," to Asahi. 

However, he was still confused by way Asahi was facing away from him. It almost seemed like a nuisance to the younger male, but he couldn't put it past the man and his childish actions. Mikaela decided to be petty, and flip the side of his red hair, hopes of hitting Asahi in the back of the head. Whether or not it did, Mikaela just went with it and proceeded to talk about the mission that was given. "So, the noble we are supposed to be following, I already have leads that she will be at the bathhouse supposedly in an hour, walking right past here. Should we wait here, or should we already position ourselves at the bathhouse for her arrival," Mikaela stated as he already knew the noble since she was a friend of his father? Mikaela would wait and see what Asahi would have in mind on what they should do with their course of action. 

[WC: 485]
[TWC: 886/2,500]

"Wait here I think....."  Asahi would say spluttering out the fine red hair strands from his face before taking a sip of tea.  The flavors dancing across his tongue as well as a stray strand of hair, his eyes would continue to watch the window.  Apart from not really feeling up to moving, it seemed more practical to watch the concubine move through the streets.  There was the potential to have suspects narrowed down before they entered the bathhouse, thus at least giving them some chances to know who the stalked was.  Of course there was the potential that the stalked was already inside the bathhouse, but if they were than going there now would reveal no more information than if they waited.  Mulling that all around in his head for a moment more Asahi felt fully convinced his laziness in staying here was fully justified.  He would relay all of these thoughts to his partner, still sitting with his back to the boy feeling it fit the spy aesthetic he was going for, even if he forgot to relay that was the purpose of his actions.  

The moments would pass painfully slow as the two men sat in the tea shop.  Asahi would finish his tea quickly, taking great sips of the scalding beverage, relishing in the heat as it helped dilate his blood vessels and wake up and wake out of the hangover.  He'd drain the cup quickly, before saying "Alright, why don't you go outside the shop.....be the eyes on the street, plus........I can see just fine from here."  He would lean back making eye contact with Mikaela, a large grin on his face.  Looking back at the table he'd close his eyes, forming a single seal.  His chakra would flare for a moment, before seeping through the room and beyond.  Doubling the normal range of the technique was taxing, and after a few moments he could feel beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow.  The minds eye allowed him to see things in a way the normal senses never could.  He trusted in a couple facts here, which may or may not show inexperienced.  One that no one would attack while he was this focused, and two that their target wasn't a well trained shinobi that would notice the use of the technique.  

Still one had to try something.  Eyes closed he would feel out and watch as many chakra signatures as he could.  Dismissing those that where small enough that could only be animals he sought out what he was after.  He felt out the group, concubine center amongst them.  Then spread his view out.  It was around the time that she would be passing Mikaela that he had two suspects.  Opening his eye he would shrink the range of his technique.  Still active though with a much less hold.  Moving swiftly out he'd catch up with his partner, whatever they were doing.  In a low voice he'd whisper, "Those two..."  He would inconspicuously point out two individuals.  It was hard to tell, but he'd been watching and they were the only two that seemed to be following the procession.  Still in a whisper he would add, "I'm pretty sure its one of them, unless our target is already in the house, but its a start."  He'd make to follow the followers, attempting to stop and look at small shops, or make his own loud idle chatter that only Asahi could make to remain hidden from suspicion.  

TWC - 1215 / 2500

Every time Asahi grins, it kinda makes Mikaela's skin crawl, because it seems he was up to something that was not good. Mikaela rolled his eyes as he said he should go to the street and he would stay there, of course, he would. "Now, don't get too drunk in here," Mikaela said knowing the man's love for the drink. Mikaela stood up as the man a hand seal, and that was the point the redhead would head outside. Upon opening the door, the bell on top of the frame rang out and the cold winter air licked his face, turning his porcelain white skin to blushing red on his cheeks and tip of his nose. 

Now what is that he was outside, he began locating for the female that was supposedly being followed. Looking around that's when he noticed a beautiful and rare citing, the Scilla. Mikaela almost screamed as he ran to the plot of land containing the flower. Bending to his knees to inspect the flower, he started almost petting to bulb on the flower. He knows that these flowers have six tepals and six stamens, and are arranged singly or in racemes of two or three. Petals may be reflexed to the horizontal when sunlight is bright, but are more often cup-shaped. The stamens of Scilla are separate, unlike those of the related genus Puschkinia, which are fused into a tube. These flowers can withstand harsh conditions in winter but usually stay dormant. Almost foaming at the mouth, Mikaela knew he need this for his room. Seemingly forgotten about the mission he heads into a nearby store, gets a pot, and starts digging up the plant carefully.

Once he finished putting the plant in the pot, he sighed with relief. Now he needs to get this home but he remembers the mission. Damn, I hope I haven't lost sight of the woman. Still holding the plant, he scans the street for the woman but he would see Asahi looking at stores and it looks like he was talking to himself. From the distance he could see the woman, but barely. He knew that Asahi had to see her, that's why he's outside. But he knew that he probably saw him playing in the dirt instead of focusing on the mission. Damn. Maybe he should take the shortcut around to the bathhouse so it would look like he didn't abort the mission for a flower, or maybe he can go face Asahi, and hopefully, he didn't see him. He let a loud grunt and decided to take off through the back alleyway and cut through the street towards the bathhouse. Carrying the plant it would look like he was just out buying a plant at the beginning of winter, but who would notice.

As he approached the side of the bathhouse, he looked inside it to see if anyone was in there, but what he saw shocked him completely. Paper bombs covered the walls. He quickly walked around it and inspected all the windows and saw what he knew was try. The bathhouse was filled with paper bombs. What he had assumed this must have been an assassination attempt on the girl from whoever was stalking her. He needs to let Asahi know but if he waits for him, the girl would enter the building and be blown to smithereens, most likely taking out civilians on the street as well with how many papers bombs are in that building. Or he could stop the girl but then his cover would be blown. Still holding his plant, he cut back across the street and fast-walked to Asahi.

"We have a problem, the bathhouse has paper bombs in it," Mikaela stated to Asahi. "What do we do," Mikaela was reaching at this point, hoping Asahi would have an answer. Maybe if Mikaela wasn't playing in the dirt he would've caught this sooner. But he looked to where the woman was, it seemed that she is almost made it to the bathhouse.

[WC:671]
[TWC:1,557]

Mikaela's approach contained with it a certain sense of urgency. He'd thought he had explained the plan to the Senju upon exiting the bathhouse, his yes on the targets he had not even noticed the attempts at floral recovery. So it was with some amount of shock that he would notice the plant in their hands. Shaking his head though he would turn his attention to what he was telling him. Paper bombs.......maybe this wasn't a bit of harmless stalking after all. if stalking could ever be considered harmless.......which perhaps it couldn't.....unless.........no this wasn't the time to have such philosophical debates in his head. "That does present.......an issue." He would say turning and seeing the concubine getting dangerously close to the bathhouse. Reaching up he'd untie his hair. Letting it fall form the tight top knot around his shoulders. Giving it a shake, he'd move forward. Making several quick hand seals. Though it would be unbeknownst to his companion several fires would burst inside the bathhouse. Within these flames they would burn away quickly revealing three blonde eyes in separate rooms. Having been within the bathhouse numerous times, He had a decent lay of the land. Turning those eyes he would see and confirm the Senju's words.

Letting out a sigh, Asahi had to admit he was a little lost for words. Surveillance was one thing, but this was turning into something completely different. The eyes continued to search, not revealing any one inside the bathhouse. Both good news and bad news. Good news, if they could stop this there was little chance of death........Bad news....they were going to have to stop this. It seemed to him there were only two options. Either let things play out and hope something good would happen....unlikely. Secondly they could attempt to intercept, thus risking breaking the rules of the mission.

It was a couple long seconds, his real eyes watching the concubine, and the false ones watching the innards of the bathhouse still vacant. "Alright......I think I have a a plan." Asahi would say. The first time seriously since the two had met. In all honesty he didn't much care about the woman, and the mission was just a pay day. But he spent many hours in that bathhouse, and seeing it blown to bits would really dampen his day......or make it less damp.......depending on perspective. "I'm going to transform. Distract her........I need you to run and get the guards. We weren't supposed to interfere but I think that time has passed. Get some chunin or something, whatever it takes." With that he would take off into the alleyway, dissapearing from sight. He hoped Mikaela was listening and would do what they were asked. Otherwise even if they managed to stop the concubine, someone else was bound to enter and spring the trap.

Another couple seals, and the sweat was pouring from his brow. His chakra compeltely disguised, he would exit the alley at the same time he activated the rudimentary transformation no jutsu. HIs appearance now a perfect match of the Daiymo. "HALT!" he would shout with as much authority as he could muster. They were really in the frying pan now.

TWC - 1745 / 2500

"Understood," Mikaela nodded as he then turned away from Asahi and began actively searching for someone of a higher rank. Now Mikaela's first mission is beginning to turn into a race of survival for many civilians in the area. Since then, he'd been running through the streets to the military district to find get the guards since they seem they didn't like to be on duty in the area that they needed to be in. Lazy guards. The village leader needs to do something about the amount of work -or lack of- the guards on duty were doing.

You have GOT to be kidding me! Mikaela thought as he reached a guard station and saw them sleeping. What help were they actually going to be, Mikaela thought as he began to knock on the wall of the guard station. That's when the aroma filled his nostrils. Not only were they sleeping guards, but they were also drunk. Mikaela, scanning the room, saw typical bottles of saki. Some still standing while others were knocked off the table and rolled around on the ground. Surprise they didn't shatter on the impact on the ground, or maybe they were placed there. Nevertheless, Michaela started yelling, "wake up!" not something the typically introverted genin would be doing, but this was a matter of certain urgencies.

"Argh, who's doing all that yelling," deep-sounding words came out of a man as he rose from his sleeping position on the table, rubbing his forehead with his right palm. Mikaela cleared his throat, announcing it was him doing all the yelling as the man took a few seconds to stand and stare at the redhead. "Why's a pretty girl like you yelling," the man was clearly still drunk, or so Mikaela thought as the man started towards him. "First of all, I'm not a girl. Second, the bathhouse is about to blow at any given moment, unless you and your basically useless guardsmen can do anything about it, a whole block with civilians will be dead."Mikaela hissed through his teeth as his cheeks began to turn the same color as his hair. He watched as the color from the man's face drained, given that he knew he messed up by getting completely wasted on the job. Mikaela will be reporting this later to the village leader, or maybe Asahi can.

"Alright, alright. Men! Get up! We have an emergency," the man said, with all four of them rising questioning what was going on. After being explained the details, Mikaela leads the guard duty member towards the bathhouse making them cut through his shortcut, arriving on the other side. It seems as though the bathhouse has not exploded, he thoroughly tried searching Asahi in the streets but Mikaela did not know what he transformed into, maybe he should've stayed and figured out what Asahi was going to turn into. Shaking his head, he told the guard duty to make the civilians steer clear from this surrounding area. Mikaela knew he was going to have to risk some harm to the bathhouse to safely remove those tags.

[TWC: 2,074/2,500]

Well they were in the thick of it now, that was for sure.  His transformation was flawless for what he could tell.  He had only caught a brief glimpse of the daimyo a single time.  He knew very little of his mannerisms or the way in which he conducted himself.  Still he felt a pompous attitude and condescending tone would fit any situation he would find himself in.  Having just called out, he was still striding towards the concubine who had stopped roughly ten feet from the entrance to the bathhouse.  His hand raised, and the confusion of those looking around.  Some of the more enthusiastic had already bowed, the guards however saluted, albeit quizzically. 

"What are you doing here!"  He would say loudly forcing as much authority into his voice as he could.  His face took up an expression of anger at what was implied to be disobedience.  "I told you I needed you in the palace at this very time, and what should I find...….Guards escorting you to places that are not there.  Is this what is to be done, or are my orders to be followed?  I ask myself and I tell myself this is wrong.....so what should be we doing!"  He'd give his foot a little huffy stomp.  Arms crossed he attempted to stare daggers at the guards, ignoring the reddening and teary eyed face of the concubine.  Perhaps it was harsh, but he needed this all to be believable, and make sure no one continued on into the bathhouse. 

As the guards started mumbling something about schedules out of the corner of his eye he'd see the return of Mikaela with more guards in toe.  They began to fan out, and shuffle citizens.  It was getting a bit hazardous, as if they weren't careful they'd spook the real stalker before they could actually capture him. 

"Take her to the palace, I am done with incompetence...."  He'd snap his fingers before yelling at two men that where near them.  "You two, attend me!"  his voice still carried the same authority, and to his immense satisfaction the two came closer.  "Seize them!"  He would say, which prompted two of the men that Mikaela had brought with him to grab them, if not a bit haphazardly not understanding why the Daimyo was in the area.  Sighing, he would release the transformation jutsu, returning to his normal self and causing even more confusion.  It didn't matter now though.

He would explain to the guards that he had reason to believe it was one of these two men that had planted the bombs, and had been stalking the concubine who was now safely spirited away.  "But, how do we find out....."  He would say as ideally Mikaela would appear at his side.


TWC - 2207 / 2500

Still considering what they ought to do Mikaela appeared next to him.  What came next was a rather graphic description of what they should do to the two men.  One of the possibly innocent and one guilty. Asahi could feel his eyes go wide as the young lad described the cruelties of the flora, and he mildly wandered if all he described was within the Senju’s capabilities.  A light cough and then Mikaela pulled the old uno reverse card saying just kidding.  Letting out a small laugh at the jest.  He’d release the breath he’d held momentarily.  He’d thought this place was all rice farmers and bathhouses.  Glad to see nothing had changed that except for some jokes.  Crossing his arms he would consider, just as Mikaela also brought up the concerns with the bathhouse.  


Turning to one of the gaurds he’d ask “isn’t there a fuin jutsu expert somewhere around?”


“Umm yes…..sir?”  The guard would respond in a questioning tone.  Asahi had nearly no real authority, but having a grasp on the situation and acting with confidence often leads people to believe they are supposed to be in charge.  What fools people often are.  The guard would hustle off, the tags would have to be dealt with by someone else.  He could tell where they were, but he had no more power to take them down as any of the civilians meandering around.  


Just as he was about to activate the minds eye jutsu to interrogate a chunin approached them.  “We can take it from here.”  He’d say in a gruff voice.  Asahi with a little bow would watch as the two men where taken away for questioning.  A little anti-climactic he had to admit.  Still their mission had always been to simply observe and report.  Not get the dirty work done.


Time would pass, and the fuin jutsu squad arrived in a bomb squad type move would clear the bathhouse.  Clapping Mikaela on the shoulder when it was all said and done he’d simply ask “so how about a bath?”  Then he’d walk whistling into the “cleared” bathhouse, hopefully they’d got them all.


Exit


TWC - 2562 / 2500

Claiming 10k ryo for both missions and 50ap for both missions

+25 speed

500 words to complete Quick draw
https://www.narutoroleplaygame.com/t51021-will-cultivate-for-spirits - Prev training found here

claiming Flying swallow with 1k words
Claiming Defelct C rank with the last 1k words