Silencing a Cretin | Mission |

Mission Assignment:

Boredom seeped into his life constantly, the constant thwacking away at a training dummy with a sword had become boring. Those who were already shinobi did not prove to be the best in terms of punching bags or even decent sparring partners. It was those that could challenge him, both physically and mentally that he wished to fight. His hand came over his face while he was in thought, walking around the Grey and white adorned house that he called home. The floorboards creaked with each step his bare feet made along the floor. Life as a shinobi wasn’t all that bad at times when looking at the big picture. Most who start out as rookies end up finding their own niches in life. Some took the ways of the sword, others took up fists in response, some studied the art of medical ninjutsu, and some would hone the arts of Ninjutsu to new heights never before seen. Yet some would end up not finding a niche at all, instead quitting life as a shinobi and instead finding something that they were best at. However, retrieving the mail for the day, he had been assigned a mission that was sure to raise some heads. Kiri was the most well known for taking action against those that would bismerch the reputation of being a ninja. They were proud of being ninja, it was how they made most of their money besides that of trade or weapons crafting. However the information made Shiro curious, just who would have graduated recently that would be so against the idea of being a ninja. He’d find his answer after fully getting ready. Quickly putting on a Silver long sleeve shirt that covered the small body suit that he almost always wore. Fitting tightly along his body, Shiro realized he had gained some amount of muscle from the physical training he had done over time. His arm flexed, showing the now built up bicep and tricep, along with his now much bigger forearm then before.

It showed the world that he had grown from his initial fight with the current Mizukage.

Finally putting on his slim black pants, Shiro headed out from his home, locking the door behind him before fully embracing the only sunny day that he had seen in a while. His blue and green eyes showed him a clear path back into the mainland of the village. He wanted to have fun, walking slowly away from the white and black house that he called his home. Its colors are adorned with small symbols of the Hyuuga clan's visage and emblems. His place smelled clean, fresh even. It made today feel different then most, especially when he had begun to walk. when he had traveled from his house into the center of town, there were massive groups of people walking around, almost as if there was meant to be a celebration to be had. His hands rested in the warmth of his pockets. Looking beyond what was in front of him, the people were beginning to notice just how rare this was. The bright sunny morning of Kirigakure, yet the day still continued after a few moments. Business would certainly boom today, the people continued to walk around the massive center. Chattering on and on about what they wished to do now that it was finally sunny out. Some making plans with their friends, others wishing to find some sort of outdoor activity to do. Shiro could only be glad at the enjoyment plastered on the peoples faces. He felt his lips beginning to quirk up into a smirk. The sun began to shine on his pale face. His hand rose up to block out the light for a moment. He knew he couldn’t simply relax in the sun, and yet this feeling came over him when he saw the people so happy. He couldn’t deny that it made him happy as well. Perhaps Kiri was in safer hands with someone stronger at the helm, yet there was something inside of him that wished to grasp a hold of that same strength for himself.

Yet he has to show a certain civilian not to mess around when it comes to the idea of becoming a ninja. His location was near where the academy was, which would make it much easier for Reizo to show himself. The genin had apparently graduated before they had put in place the needed systems for the newest generation of Kirigakure shinobi to become something new, something special. He had even heard about Medical Ninjutsu classes becoming much more filled in as a result of his showings against his Sister. The people of Kirigakure had been warming up and getting their bearings back together after the loss at his own hands. Yet it has built a much stronger community as a result, one that can hopefully begin to grow, begin to fight once again against any major threats.

He could not let the preachings of one individual slide to forsake his goal. His fists curled up as a result when he had used his Byakugan to find the ex shinobi trying to preach to others who were coming into the building to look the other way, not to listen to what the failed kage and his foreign buddy were trying. His face was blank when he had approached the man, curious if he was recognizable to him. A few of the students were surprised to see the Hyuga standing there, his height towering over the man with his hands still in his pockets. Hoping that Reizo would also show himself before the previous kage did something stupid.

“What are you-” The man was about to say before Shiro cut him off.

“You’re not a student of the academy, nor are you a parent or guardian. So what are you doing here?”

“This place does not help people! Being a shinobi has no benefits! Nothing to gain from it! They’re better to quit while they’re ahead,” He spouted off, with Shiro’s stare still glaring downwards, trying to burrow a hole directly through his soul.

“If you continue to spout off this nonsense in front of the academy again, I will have to deal with you myself. Or you’ll be used as practice for the swords. Do I make myself clear?”

WC:1059

On this rare sunny morning in Kirigakure, Reizo was cooped up indoors in the Academy. He had taken a bit of a liking to his position at the Academy. He thought it would be a dreadful experience as a gym coach, but to his surprise Reizo had come to enjoy the time he got to spend with the youth- the future of his new homeland. In his position, he was able to make a much bigger impact on the future of the village than almost any other role outside of the kage itself. To make it even sweeter, the students had taken a fondness to Reizo and his instruction methods too. Perhaps it was his more relatable age or his more demonstrative and engaging teaching style, Reizo wasn’t sure himself why he was so popular. He was hardly the popular student at the Kumo Academy, instead devoting much of his time to his studies at that time. The students and faculty alike were on good terms with Reizo, and it made gathering information and gossip in the Academy significantly easier as students felt comfortable confiding just about anything to him.

When Reizo heard the news about the deserter who was trying to dissuade his students from becoming a ninja, he was amused. His students openly talked about the weird guy that hung around the training grounds wasting his breath trying to convince students that the shinobi life was not worth it. Fortunately, it seemed the Academy faculty had taught the students well as none were even remotely swayed by the teenager’s misconceptions. With time now between classes, Reizo decided to confront this alumni for himself. At least, that’s what he had planned on doing. By the time he arrived at the kid’s location, he already could see Shiro addressing the problem in his own way.

A grin crept across Reizo’s curious face. At first he was merely a bystander, observing as Shiro laced into this poor boy who looked to be around 14 or 15 years old. However, when Shiro began to threaten the kid, that’s when Reizo knew it was his turn to step in. An improvised good-cop bad-cop routine would be the appropriate choice of intervention here. ”Yo, Shiro. Chill out. He’s still just a kid. Try to at least be a little more understanding,” Reizo would say, turning towards the angsty teenager. It was clear from Reizo’s attire that he was an instructor at the Academy given his Chunin flak vest and identification tags denoting he was faculty. ”You’re not one of my students, you must be from a previous year. You mind telling us what you’re doing hanging around here?” Reizo asked, despite already knowing the answer.

”You shinobi are wasting your lives away fighting for a select group of daimyo that don’t have any interest in actually serving this village. It’s all such a waste, don’t you get it? You’re being used! Sent to die for no real purpose other than to make some rich daimyo feel good about themselves like they’re doing something important when all they’re actually doing is enriching themselves. Our position in the shinobi world is a joke. You probably haven’t even seen any real combat. If shinobi were actually any…” the boy wouldn’t be allowed to finish his next sentence. Reizo wouldn’t allow any further transgressions and interrupted his diatribe.

”That’s enough! I know what you’re saying. I don’t know where you learned it from, but allow me to explain something to you. Many of us here aren’t naive about the daimyo and the state of the world. We know how wars are fought and why, and we do it anyway. For some, maybe it’s for glory. For some, the pay. And for others maybe it’s just to give themselves a sense of purpose. Regardless of the reason though, we shinobi put our lives on the line every day with one ultimate goal: to secure a future for kids like you to grow up free of these wars and in pursuit of peace. The lives lost are not wasted. Would you say that about the previous kage who have died, your friends and possibly even family who have given their lives to serve this great village? I would hope you’d have a little more sense than to denigrate your forebears that way! Those that desire evil will have their time one day. However, it’s in pursuit of protecting the future generation that we shinobi lay down our lives. If you still consider that pursuit a waste, then sobeit. Quit and run away from the duties and responsibilities of your friends, family, village and ancestors. You wouldn’t be of any use as a shinobi,” Reizo would retort before finishing, ”and if you are so inclined to know, I’ve seen more ‘real’ combat and death than anyone should. That just comes with the territory of being a shinobi.”

Reizo would peer down into the boy’s soul with an intensely serious gaze. So much for good-cop bad-cop. After what felt like minutes Reizo finally broke eye contact and became aware of his surroundings for the first time since he had confronted the boy. It would seem he had drawn a bit of a crowd of students who had just been watching silently. ”Shouldn’t you all be in class? Go. Shoo!” Reizo would command. The students appeared shell-shocked and didn’t move until an ear-piercing familiar red whistle snapped them out of their trance. Only once Reizo had blown his whistle had the students began to shuffle back inside the Academy.

The teenaged boy looked remorseful and almost on the verge of tears. Reizo crouched down to be at eye level with the kid and put his hand on the kid’s arm. His ninshu involuntarily took effect and Reizo got to see a distant memory of the boy as a much younger child, hearing the news of his father being killed in action. Ah, so that’s what it was. Poor kid; we’re not so dissimilar I guess, Reizo thought to himself. Almost as quickly as Reizo had grabbed the boy’s arm, the boy shook free. ”I’m sorry, sir. And you too Lord 6th,” the boy would whimper, clearly about to cry. Before either of them could say or do anything however, the boy ran off. Reizo glanced at his partner, Shiro, and shrugged. ”I guess that’s a mission accomplished. I feel kind of sorry for him…” Reizo would say. Just then, the toll of a bell would indicate that it was time for the next period. ”Shit, sorry I can’t hang around for longer, Shiro. I’m going to be late for my next class! We can catch up some other time. See ya!”

With that, Reizo would dart back into the Academy to finish out his day of teaching.

[EXIT]

—---------------------------------
1170 words

CLAIMS:
C-rank Mission complete: +4000 ryo +20 AP
1100 words = +44 AP
Not training any jutsu or anything this time

Reizo Shōyu wrote:
[EXIT]

—---------------------------------
1170 words

CLAIMS:
C-rank Mission complete: +4000 ryo +20 AP
1100 words = +44 AP
Not training any jutsu or anything this time

Approved

“I was just trying to explain to him-”

Shiro was cut off at trying to be a bit more understanding, yet he couldn’t be understanding, he couldn’t understand why someone who was a part of their country would speak out towards the Academy. He understood how bad the shinobi world could be, hatred, peace, love, kindness, anger, respect, all of these emotions were constantly on the battlefield. Yet he just couldn’t see why the kid, who was no older than 15, would have the idea to speak out against the Academy of all things.

Yet his accusations about the Daimyo only making themselves richer, and how that they were only helping those that were rich, that their lives were only there to serve those who would pay. Shiro only could be shocked that the previous academy student would believe something like that, the Daimyo wouldn’t have the balls to challenge any of the villages directly if they were to actually revolt. They were there purely as a way to find some village activities, and even then they weren’t necessary. But what could have compelled the kid to say that the two of them, the ones right in front of him, hadn’t seen any form of real combat.

He knew that Rezio hated being challenged over his actual combat records and life as a shinobi. Yet Shiro found it quite surprising that the child would be possibly referencing him into that mix of those that hadn’t seen battle. He didn’t know what to say, his eyes only showing a sign of surprise, right as Reizo had explained his own thoughts on the matter, about how those who would put down their lives as shinobi shouldn’t be insulted like this, that the shinobi within the village shouldn’t be insulted for helping whenever they could. Shinobi were civil servants after all, whenever there was clean up, a small odd job, a reconstruction of an old house, new furniture, or even simple instruction on combat, it was always shinobi that had stepped up to the plate in order to help the people. The idea of shinobi being the ones who protected their village, the ones who would help their village no matter the cost, that they would protect those inside from evil. That’s what Reizo thought of what a shinobi would be.

Yet Shiro had only thought of Shinobi as those who fight for their village, he took jobs only when he needed too or wanted to, not because he was actually trying to better the people. Reizo’s words struck deep through his heart at the mention that he was supposed to lead the village again one day. His heart could only burn at the thought of leading, with the experience behind him, Shiro knew that he had a better chance, more than anybody, to help lead the village to a much more prosperous future. Yet it seemed that they had grabbed quite a crowd of students, some of whom were keenly listening to Reizo’s words.

Reizo’s dismissal of the student body, along with seemingly having talked down the student, who now referred to Shiro as lord sixth made him wonder just what Reizo had done when he had placed his hand on the boys shoulder. He was curious about whether or not he should have said something more, or something more harsh in the first place. Perhaps he wasn’t thinking at that moment, wishing to only use bravado. In Shiro’s own thoughts clouding his senses, he barely could let out a farewell to Reizo before he headed off, making Shiro wonder about what his friend had said to him before.

“Am I truly fit to lead as Kage?”

WC:615
TWC:1674

Earth Shaker: 1312/1312

Discarding remaining WC

14000 Ryo(+10000 Master Rank)

At max AP