The Long Day

Missions:

The sun had yet to fully rise and the village lay dormant in a tranquil stillness. The streets were silent barring the occasional lone person that passed by. The child sat on a rooftop overlooking the streets below. Their eyes scanned the skyline slowly as they took a long moment to adjust to where they were. They had woken up here on the rooftop, unknowing of how they got there and when. The only thing to clue them in was the heavy sheet of papers that they had in their grasp. An assortment of tasks they had been assigned, their first as an official Genin of this village. A soft sigh left their lips as the memory of the previous day came rushing back to them.

They had somehow made their way to the place that assigned missions. Where was it exactly? The child had no idea, they had simply arrived there at some point yesterday. It had been the dying hours of the day, the sun had been going down and the elderly looking shinobi at the desk seemed tired. A long day of having to deal with all manner of different people did that to people. As the child had approached the desk they had been looking around the building, half paying attention as per the usual. A moment passed, then another, then several more before the elderly man cleared his throat. "What do you want?" He said sharply, wishing more than anything to simply be allowed to go home.

The child remained silent and stared at the man. "Oh for gods sa-" The man began to grumble before rummaging through his sheets in front of him. "One day of normality is all I ask." He said quietly in despair. "What rank are you?" He would ask, the irritation and tiredness in his voice very obvious. "You know what I don't care, just take these." He finally said, handing over several sheets of paper. "Now listen carefully because I am not repeating myself. These are very simple missions so I'll be quick." The shinobi stuffed the paper into the child's hands as he explained rapidly what they were meant to be doing. This was done while he was busy clearing up his desk, seemingly quite happy to be rid of these bargain bin assignments that no one would take. They had left soon after, leaving the child standing there with a handful of papers for seemingly no apparent reason. The child stared at them, the jumble of symbols making no sense to them at all. Awhile later they had left, and that was where their memories had stopped.

Now here they sat on the rooftop, papers still in hand and a sense of wonder about what was the meaning behind all of this.

Perhaps the answer would become clear to them in time; or maybe it would not. There was no real way of telling other than to do what the disgruntled old man had said. It was with that in mind that the child clambered down from the rooftop. An awkward sight for those early-risers, that of a small child flailing wildly as they slipped and landed backside first onto the ground with a thud. A soft grunt was the only noise they child made before they stood up. Sheets still firmly in their grasp they headed out on this grand adventure of doing menial tasks for bad pay.

With the sun finally beginning to rise the butcher would open up his shop. Raising the shutters and opening the door he would be startled by the small child standing practically on the doorstep. A loud curse as the rotund man nearly had a heart attack from shock could be heard down the streets. When the man's heartrate finally dropped to a safe level he questioned why the child was there. The child held up the sheets of paper in response. With a raised eyebrow they butcher took them and began to skim over them. "What has this got t- oh!" He exclaimed on finally getting to the paper that detailed out the mission assigned for him. "Well, ya certainly got here earlier than expected." The butcher chuckled, turning around and entering the shop once more after handing the papers back. "It's going to take me a bit to get it all ready. Ya can wait or come back later if ya wan...t." He trailed off upon turning around to see the child had already departed. A bemused expression crossed his features before he shrugged and got to work. "Always the odd ones."

The child walked through the streets. They were starting to fill up as the village began to stir into action. They had little idea of what to do next. The sheets of paper were a crumbled up mess now, not that the child had any idea of how to read them in the first place. Something to work on in the future perhaps. Their thoughts were interrupted when a loud scream and crash was heard around the street corner. The child was curious, so ventured on over in no particular hurry. As they rounded the corner they were promptly bowled over by some large and furry. The child was sent skidding across the road, coming to a halt when they softly thudded against the wall of a building. Bleary eyed and slightly dazed they shook their head and looked up at the source of the hit and run. A deer was rampaging through the streets. The child blinked several times in confusion before looking at their papers. They ignored the screams of terror and the crashing as they deer went about destroying some market stalls as they shuffled through the sheets of paper carefully.

Finally after a moment they held up a sheet of paper in triumph. Badly sketched onto the sheet was some sort of animal with what appeared to be horns. It had four legs and a small tail, and this was enough for the child to recognise that this deer was in fact the animal in question. This was one of the many tasks that the child had to deal with today. So it was to be that they would in fact help deal with the overly large deer that was causing terror on the local populace.

The child hopped to their feet, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of having to tangle with such a foe. It would be their first taste of combat. Well second technically, though did that weird scuffle with that odd boy in the academy count? The child wasn't sure, but the lump they had on their head that had been there for a week after told him that it had been real enough at the time. So they supposed that this was in fact the second taste of combat. The child hoped that this encounter would not end in a similar fashion to that of the one before.

It was during this time thinking that the deer and finished devastating the stalls and had began to gallop - did deer's gallop? - down the streets in search of more things to do. Once the deer had rounded a corner the child snapped out of their daydream, eyes filled with determination, and prepared to fight off the evil foe. They spun around to fight the deer and found that it had in fact disappeared. The child imagined that this was probably not a good thing. Another crash and scream could be heard on the road opposite the buildings they were standing by. The child blinked once and scrambled to rush after the deer.

As the child hurried after the rampaging deer, they found themselves weaving through the bustling streets of the village. People fled from the path of the wild animal, their shouts and cries adding to the chaos. The child's heart pounded in their chest as they chased after the creature, their mind racing with thoughts of how to stop it. They rounded a corner and skidded to a halt as they came face to face with the deer once again. It stood in the center of the road, its eyes wild with fear and confusion. The child took a deep breath, trying to calm their racing nerves. They knew they had to act quickly before anyone got hurt. With determination in their eyes, the child stepped forward, their hands outstretched in a gesture of peace. A silent plea from the child for the deer to cease in it's mindless destruction of public property.

For a moment, it seemed like the deer might listen. Its frantic movements slowed, and it looked at the child with a hint of recognition in its eyes. But then, with a sudden burst of energy, it bolted forward, charging straight at the child. Instinct kicked in, and the child leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the deer's antlers as they crashed into the ground. They rolled to their feet, adrenaline coursing through their veins as they assessed the situation. The deer was still charging, its hooves thundering against the pavement as it bore down on them once again. The child knew they had to act fast. They reached for a nearby object - a discarded broomstick lying in the street - and held it up like a makeshift weapon. As the deer closed in, the child braced themselves, their heart pounding in their chest. And then, with a swift motion, they swung the broomstick, aiming for the deer's flank. The blow connected with a satisfying thud, causing the deer to stumble to the side. It let out a startled cry, its momentum carrying it past the child and into a nearby alleyway.

The child didn't waste a moment. As the deer stumbled past them and disappeared into the narrow alleyway, they followed closely behind, their heart still racing from the adrenaline-fueled encounter. The alley was dimly lit, the early morning light struggling to penetrate the narrow space between the buildings. Carefully, the child stepped forward, their senses on high alert as they scanned the shadows for any sign of movement. The air was thick with tension, anticipation hanging heavy in the air as they cautiously made their way deeper into the alley.

Suddenly, a rustling sound caught their attention. They froze, their grip tightening on the broomstick as they strained to see through the darkness. And then, emerging from the shadows, they saw the deer, its form silhouetted against the faint light filtering in from the end of the alley. Without hesitation, the child stepped forward, their movements slow and deliberate as they approached the startled animal. The deer watched them warily, its eyes wide with fear and confusion. It seemed to recognize the child, though whether it was out of gratitude or simply a trick of the mind, they couldn't be sure.

With gentle movements, the child extended a hand, reaching out to the deer in a gesture of peace. "It's okay," they murmured softly, their voice barely above a whisper. "You're safe now." For a moment, it seemed as though the deer might bolt once again. But then, to the child's surprise, it took a tentative step forward, its movements hesitant but curious. With a small smile, the child reached out, their fingers brushing against the deer's fur in a gentle caress. And in that moment, something shifted. The tension that had gripped the alley seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of calm and understanding.

A crowd had gathered at the entrance of the alleyway, several faces peeking around the corner cautiously. They scrambled backward when the pair exited from the alleyway, the child's gentle hand resting on the deer's flank to guide it forward. The child raised their other hand, a sign to the crowd that there was no need for alarm.

It was likely a strange sight early in the morning. A small child clad in a cloak leading a deer that was almost thrice it's size through the streets of Konoha. They would arrive back at the place that the deer had escaped from with relative ease. All the child had to do was follow the path of destruction that had been left in the deer's wake. The scientist had been very thankful, heaping variety of praise and gratitude to the child who simply stood their and stared at them in confusion.

They would leave soon after, not wishing to stay in such a strange place for long. It made them uncomfortable, though the scientist assured them that such an issue would not happen again. The child found it hard to believe, but did not voice such concerns as it was not really their style.

With the task finally completed, the child took a moment to catch their breath, surveying the scene before them with a sense of wonder. The sun had risen higher in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the village as it bustled with life and activity. People went about their daily routines, their voices mingling with the sounds of birdsong and distant chatter.

As the child continued their walk through the village, their stomach began to rumble, reminding them that it was time for lunch. They looked around, searching for a cozy spot where they could sit and enjoy a meal, and their eyes fell upon a quaint little tea house nestled in a quiet corner of the village. The tea house, with its colourful paper lanterns swaying gently in the breeze, exuded an air of warmth and hospitality. The child approached the entrance, the scent of aromatic teas and savory dishes wafting out to greet them. Stepping inside, they were greeted by the soft murmur of conversation and the gentle tinkling of wind chimes. The interior of the tea house was cozy and inviting, with low tables surrounded by plush cushions and paper screens adorned with delicate cherry blossom motifs. A friendly waitress greeted them with a warm smile, leading them to a table by the window overlooking a tranquil garden. The child took a seat silently, looking out at the garden.

After a fufilling lunch the child exited the cozy tea house, continuing their journey through the village. They made their way down winding streets and bustling thoroughfares, their senses almost overloading with the sights and sounds of village life. It was mid-day now, the escapades with the deer having taken up the majority of the morning. The child felt a feeling of fatigue wash over them for a moment yet they shook it off. Once the task was complete then they could go...take a nap or something.

As they walked, the child's thoughts turned to their other task for that day, the collection of meat for the Inuzuka clan. The butcher's shop was located on the outskirts of the village, several minutes walk away from where they were. The child took their time, making sure to avoid the busier parts of the streets as a personal preference, as they made their way back to the shop to see if the order was ready.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking, they arrived at the butcher's shop. It was a modest building with a weathered wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze. The smell of freshly cut meat wafted out to greet them, mingling with the crisp autumn air. The child pushed open the door and stepped inside, the sound of a bell tinkling above their head as they entered. The interior of the shop was warm and inviting, with rows of meat displayed on gleaming countertops. The heavyset butcher was hard at work...doing something. The child honestly had no idea what was going on but they silently stood as the butcher chopped away at some sort of animal.

It would take several minutes before the butcher looked up, and for the second time that day nearly died of a heart attack. "For god's sake!" They exclaimed, hand clutching their chest in fright as the child looked on in quiet curiosity. "Can ya give a man some warnin'?" He questioned, to no response, before shaking his head in exasperation. "Whatever, the orders over there. Ya know where you're goin' right?" He asked the child as he motioned to the large crate that was set off to one side of the small shop.

The child didn't respond, naturally, and went over to the crate. They noticed a problem immediately. The crate was almost as tall as the child. Would carrying it be feasible? They were unsure, but they had to make an attempt at least. "Be careful with that." The butcher said, visibly stressed as the tiny child crouched and picked up the crate with relative ease. "Don't cause any problems ya hear! I don' want to be blamed if that order doesn't arrive." He called out after the child as they exited the butcher's shop.

It only took several steps before the child realised they were in for a bad time. Their vision consisted of the crate and even more of the crate. A sigh escaped the child's lips, a flash off irritation overcoming them for a moment. Despite the frustration, the child pressed on, determined to fulfill their duty. The streets were bustling with activity as they navigated their way through the village, the crate feeling heavier with each step. They received curious glances and bemused looks from passers-by, some offering to help but the child simply ignored them and continued on.

As they walked, the child's mind wandered, contemplating the events of the day so far. It had been a whirlwind of excitement and unexpected challenges, what had started as a relatively normal day had turned into a strange highspeed chase through the village after a rogue deer. Compared to that this task of carrying a heavy crate was practically mundane in nature. So lost in thought was the child that they didn't notice that they had somehow managed to navigate their way through the bustling streets and into the Inuzuka compound by some miracle without bumping into anyone.

That was until they collided with the Inuzuka member who had been waiting for them. A loud thud was heard as the child fell onto their backside, the crate dropping to the floor with a heavy thud. The child rubbed their forehead, wondering exactly what they had walked into. Their gaze snapped up to the Inuzuka member who seemed unfazed and highly amused by what they had witnessed.  "You made it!" he said. They were a tall man with a rugged appearance, fitting for one of the clan. "We were starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost."

The child didn't respond, instead climbing back to their feet and dusting off their cloak. "Thanks kid." Another member of the clan, a female, said as they approached the crate. They kicked open the crate, to reveal the carefully packed meat inside. There were cuts of all kinds, from tenderloins to ribs, each one meticulously prepared by the butcher. The child guessed this is why it had taken so long. The amount was a lot more than the child had expected, it was more food in this single crate than the child had seen in their lifetime...probably. "This will feed our dogs for a few weeks." The male Inuzuka responded to the child's unasked question.

The child nodded in response, watching as the crate was taken away by the members of the clan. That was it they supposed. Two tasks that had taken far too long to complete done for the day. The child looked to the sky, the sun was beginning to set. Another sigh escaped their lips. Another day in which they needed to find somewhere to rest for the day before beginning again. The streets were quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the day giving way to a peaceful calmness. Lanterns flickered to life, casting soft pools of light along the cobblestone pathways. The child walked slowly, taking in the sights and sounds of the village as they made their way home. It had been a long and eventful day, filled with excitement, danger, and unexpected encounters.

It had been a long day, far too long. The fatigue was fully set in by the time the child arrived back at where they started. The rooftop in which they had woken up. Why had they done all of this? Quite honestly, the child had not a single idea. The answers they sought, why they were here, what they were doing, how they had got here, all of them had not been answered from doing any of this.

Yet why did they feel a sense of a fulfilment from it all? They had not a single idea and it would be the question that ran through their mind for the remainder of the day, and continue deep into the night. As they lay on the rooftop and watched the stars the child would continue to question it all.

[Closed/Exit]

[3504]

7000 ryo
35 Bonus AP
15 Vigor
5 Chakra
15 Strength
1000/1000 Copper Guard
2000/2000 Chakra Infusion
500/500 Basic Sealing Technique

Saku wrote:

Missions:

[Closed/Exit]

[3504]

7000 ryo
35 Bonus AP
15 Vigor
5 Chakra
15 Strength
1000/1000 Copper Guard
2000/2000 Chakra Infusion
500/500 Basic Sealing Technique

Approved