An Unwanted Inner State of Affairs

Mission Details:

Konohagakure, one of the major villages of the eastern continent. It's history is filled with conquest, birthing notable shinobi from generation to generation. It has surely earned its right to be called one of the most advanced villages to ever exist. Although, with such victories, comes the the attention of all. Paragons and Vandals alike, will always seek entry into the village for progress or fame. Now, within the village, a threat has grown so prominent to the point where action was now required. Justice had to be carried out in order to heal what could be saved. It was a start, the first dose of the cure would not solve the problems of all in one night. But with progress, comes change.

Within the Leaf village, the Uchiha district to be precise, progress has taken its toll from the local clansmen. One by one, reports have indicated a massive influx of foreign money being poured into the district. From brick and mortar shops, to Highrise luxury apartments, these constructs have basically priced out the locals. Most of he working class no longer able to live there, this including many villagers with shinobi backgrounds, were forced to move out and scatter to other parts of the village. Forecasts, from prediction model simulations, have suggest a trojan horse event taking place in roughly 10 years from now. Pockets of potential sleeper agents would attack the main hub of the village in a highly coordinated strike. This event would be so large in scale, that the Leaf village would ultimately lose and collapse from an inside lingering threat.

The data, containing all the information related to this, laid neatly on the table in the table before the selected team. Most of the information was sealed, but the higher ups needed to bring the severity of the situation to light before the team. The village was in danger, it always has been. The team chosen, along with the many other shinobi of various ranks, needed top help end this threat. Their small contribution to the problem, meant precious progress towards the end of these eerie times.

Okisho, standing before the table new first hand about the gentrification problem. As for attire, Okisho is considered a minimalist, nothing too flashy and void of any logos. This also includes his Clan emblem, which much of his people love to don out in public. He is usually seen wearing a simple all black shirt, and a pair of dark navy-blue slacks which stop at the top of his ankles. A single ninja pouch concealed underneath his black shirt. The pouch his attached to his black leather belt, fastened on the back right side of his waist. His shoes are standard issued shinobi editions, revealing his toes and back ankles. He experienced this first hand multiple times. Missing people, businesses from the same company popping up on each street, and even the foreign practices that have dwarfed the Uchiha culture to that of... ancient history. The uneasy feeling of it all made his stomach tight, his face kept a still blank appearance while receiving his orders from the shinobi in command.

After his orders were received, he was seen headed to the locker armory. The mission would be executed in three stages. Locating, subduing, and finally capturing the subjects for the interrogation squad to deal with. Okisho had quite a few intrusive thoughts float within his mind after picturing himself in the garbs of the interrogation unit. However, that was ANBU business, currently way above his paygrade to get involved with. HIs father suggested for, Okisho Uchiha, to join the police force after losing within the first round of the Chunin exams. It was a difficult time, and the thought of joining the Police did help take his mind off of the daunting possible future that his record would be forever marred with such disgrace. Despite the fact that Uchiha joining the police force was one of the main stereotypes comics love to play on, it wasn't really that bad of an idea. Nevertheless, Okisho, carrying a plethora of uneasy yet life altering choices, gathers his thoughts refocuses his mind to the task at hand. To find the dissidents that would see the village revert into a failed cultureless state
---
TWC/ 713
TMWC/ 713/4,000

A storm was raging overhead, the wind howled and the rain poured down upon twisted metal. It was a familiar sight, one they had seen before. The howling wind and the relentless downpour seemed to echo the turmoil within The Child's heart. The landscape was a scene of devastation—charred, twisted metal and smouldering ruins stretching as far as the eye could see. The Child’s eyes scanned the ruins, searching for the figure they knew they'd find. Their Byakugan activated, cutting through the veil of rain and smoke.

It didn’t take long to find them; there they stood, a shadowy figure amidst the destruction. The figure's features were clearer this time, a scarred face and mismatched eyes gazed back at them. The figure held out their hand and gestured for them to come forward. The Child approached, their heart pounding in their chest. The figure grinned, opening their mouth to speak to The Child, and then the sound of banging ripped through the dream.

The Child awoke with a start. They were in a place of familiarity, the new room which they had taken as their new accommodation. The Child let out a shaky breath, it had been another dream. The sunlight peaked in through the curtains to let them know the next day was upon them. It took a moment for The Child to figure out the origin of the banging, the front door to their apartment. This perplexed them, why did they have a visitor? After they took time to collect themselves they opened the door and listened to the verbal barrage that came at them from the other side. The Child didn't catch all of it, but enough to know it was of the upmost importance they follow this person...or something like that.

And that was how they ended up here in this room, listening to further explanations. There were several documents, none of which The Child was capable of understanding, and a general sense of unease in the room. It seemed they had been brought in due to their most recent successful mission. The Daimyō's security team had been impressed by the child's work and had put in a good report supposedly. That coupled with The Child's newfound abilities, which had somehow become knowledge of the village, meant that they were 'suited' for this task. The Child had no interest in informing them that their experience with the Byakugan was extremely limited. Neither did they bother explaining that their was more important things on their mind at the moment.

At least their was a familiar presence in the briefing room. It seemed Okisho, who himself seemed uniquely suited for this mission, had been roped into this as well. The Child was glad, it made things easier if there was a more experienced shinobi on the team. Had to look on the bright side for situations like these.

With the briefing over The Child went about their own preparations in their usual silence. They kept all important equipment on their person even on a regular day, and thus were already pretty much ready to go. So their prep was mostly just adjusting their tattered cloak and making sure their bandages weren't loose.

Truth be told, The Child felt uneasy. The memories of the dream lingered, and the weight of the new mission pressed heavily on their mind.  

The first step was to locate the...bad guys? Seemed simple enough, The Child was sure that if they just walked through the streets then they would come across them in broad daylight doing shady stuff! On a serious note, The Child was still not truly familiar with the village itself. So it was a good thing they had someone they could let lead in situations like this. They naturally felt the need to voice this during the brief preparation period.

"You know the streets better." Was all the explanation that The Child thought necessary. The last time the pair had interacted had not been long ago at the carnival, though now they were back on the job together. The Child's attitude remained mostly the same, seeming distant and not fully paying attention. Their mind kept going back to the dream, and they were dividing their attention between wandering what it was all about and the mission at hand.

"Where would the bad guys be?" The Child would question, hoping for some insight on where they needed to be looking. They hoped to keep the usage of their Byakugan to a minimum. They were already not fully focused, and the strain of keeping it up for too long might be a bad idea.

[771]

[1484/4000]

Heading to the armory, as a unit, Okisho catches wind of a familiar figure within the squad after hearing the sound of an all too noticeable voice . His white hair, and short stature revealed the person to be none other than, Saku. "Saku?", the Uchiha question as he turned to his left eyeing the seeming innocuous person. Just how did he do it he wondered? Upon further inspection, the genin bore a ocular detail that Okisho himself either failed to notice before, or was simply brought up to speed Saku's new weapon to his arsenal. The Byakugan; the all seeing eyes that held greater sight than Okisho's sharingan. He was tempted to question it further, but the mission came first. Coming up upon the entrance to the armory, Okisho gathers his thoughts once more and readies himself for the operation.

"They're, in the village, Saku... and we have to flush them out.", he grits his teeth after voicing what must be done.

"Ok, Saku. The margin of error for this mission is a lot more punishing than the rest of the last mission we've taken together.", He enters the locker, hopefully with Saku near him within earshot range. Before them, a series of reinforced grey flak jackets displayed within the transparent lockers. Tools and such laid dormant within the white metal drawers within the locker room. It would seem the armory must have been refurbished, as it displayed a much more modern and polish look to it compared to the last time Okisho was here. Despite the face lift, Okisho walks over to a locker and picks out the flak jacket that thought would fit Saku the best. He beckons Saku to come to his side as he attempts to dress his partner in the protective gear. He knew that Saku had a habit of day dreaming, so he spoke to him once more about the mission. It was better that the two, along with the rest of the squad, were all on the same page.

"Ok, Saku. We're going to be entering the Hyuuga district. These, raids that we will be performing are going to risky and volatile. You might hear screaming from kids too, now that i think about it. Just..., do what you do. Stay calm, and stick to the plan. We locate, subdue if we must, and... detain. If you feel uneasy, just stick by me. Alright?", he finishes the last remaining touches outfitting Saku in his riot gear.    

The armored carriages were also just about finished up with the maintenance and checklist required before the unit rolled out to the apartment complexes. It gave the two a little time to get sorted with everything thing. Okisho, once assured that Saku's outfit was all good to go, geared himself up with the same gear and tools needed for the job. 'A job..., why did I feel the need to take on the task to assure, Saku that everything was going to be fine?', his heart flutter a bit, in realizing that maybe the pep talk wasn't just for Saku. He was sure of it, that this was what he wanted to do. Perhaps maybe he was too emotionally involved in the mission to carry it out with a sound mind. Should he pull out, he wondered? He stared at his faint reflection at the locker, the image donning the grey reinforced flak jacket gazed back at him with a resolute fixed stare.
---
TWC/ 1,289
TMWC/ 2,060

The tone of the room was hard to describe. The Child could feel it, the tense and uneasy feelings that clouded the room. Each individual sporting a grim expression, as if they didn't want to be here. From the way Okisho explained it to The Child, they understood why. The Child had dealt with the unknown for as long as they could remember. Faces without names were easier to deal with, no attachments meant no regrets...or something like that. So the thought of carrying out such an operation within the village itself was concerning. What if one of the bad guys was someone they knew? Was The Child expected to treat them once more like a nameless face?

It was these thoughts they played through their mind was they were outfitted up, with some help, in the uniform flak jacket. The idea that they had a size that fit a small child could be cause for concern, however The Child didn't pay it any mind. Their primary focus was to listen to the briefing of the briefing. No margin for error, screaming kids, do what you do, simple enough right? The Child seemed to think so, giving a small nod once they were decked out fully. "Got it."

By the time they were ready so to was their method of transportation. The armoured carriages lined in a convoy formation was a sight The Child had never seen before. The sleek, reinforced vehicles seemed out of place in the usually serene village, adding a tangible weight to the already heavy atmosphere. The Child climbed into one of the carriages, feeling the cold metal under their hands as they hoisted themselves up. The interior was cramped, filled with other members of the unit, all equally tense and silent. The Child glanced around, noting the various expressions, some determined, others fearful, but all resolute.

Raindrops had begun to fall as the carriage started to move. The Child's thoughts wandered back to the mission details. The prospect of encountering familiar faces made their stomach churn. Okisho's earlier words echoed in their mind: "We locate, subdue if we must, and... detain." It seemed straightforward, but The Child knew that reality was often far messier than any plan. They closed their eyes, taking a deep breath to steady their nerves. The sound of the rain against the metal roof of the carriage was oddly soothing, a rhythmic counterpoint to their racing thoughts.

They opened their eyes and glanced at the other members of the unit. Each one was focused, preparing mentally for what was to come. It was a reminder that they were part of a team, each member a crucial piece of the mission's success. The convoy moved steadily through the village streets, the armoured carriages an imposing sight. There was a tension in the air, a palpable anticipation that seemed to press down on them.

As they neared their destination, the carriage slowed, and the unit prepared to disembark. The Child adjusted their flak jacket one last time, ensuring everything was secure. The long silence ended as a senior member of the group divulged final instructions. The door opened, and the unit filed out, moving with a coordinated precision that spoke of their training and experience.

The Child stepped onto the wet pavement, the rain still falling steadily. Their job couldn't be clearer, the Byakugan coming to life the moment they stepped out of the carriage. The world sharpened into a detailed map of potential threats and allies. The still unfamiliar sensation brought nothing but apprehension, a reminder of their unique capabilities and the responsibility that came with them. They didn't have time to adjust though, this was a time sensitive operation after all. The Child took a knee, mostly to help them with balance, and began to scan the district.

Their voice was neutral as they spoke. The Child was used to masking their emotions, "First building. Floor one, one adult, one child, dining room. Second floor, one adult, bedroom, asleep." They continued to list off everything they saw in an almost robotic like fashion. It was a conscious effort to remain detached from this entire situation. Stick with the facts, don't worry about anything else. A rapid flow of information was passed on within a short period of time, affording the unit the information they needed to carry out the task.

The rain had grown heavier with each passing minute, the unit spreading out and following through on the information that was been listed off. Sounds of doors being forced open and shouts mixed in with the sounds of the raindrops. The Child ignored the sounds, ignored the rain and wet hair that clung to their face, and continued to go through the list. "Tenth building, first floor, adult and child, living room. Second floor, two adults, bedroom, one armed."

[1579]
[2868/4000]

The armored caravans roamed through the dark gloomy streets with a cold aura, swiftly making their way towards the address with each twisting turn. The rain bombarded the armored roof top of the wagon, the sounds seemingly getting louder and louder as they closed in on destination. Perhaps it was a trick of the mind, in an attempt to ease the mind by taking their attention away from the fact that they were going to break apart families. some innocent yes, but all were required to be brought in for interrogation. The team couldn't afford to leave any stones unturned, the entire village couldn't afford to leave any stone unturned. Okisho's body shifted left and right, the uneven road soon became smooth like marble. An Indication that they were indeed within the Hyuuga district, a wealthy and well maintained section of the village.

"Sigh...", Okisho, along with the rest, realize that they were almost there. He glances down towards, Saku. The two were lucky to be assigned to the same carriage. He observes the boy adjusting his flak jacket. Aside from that, he was still the same; like a stone. 'Just what are you thinking about, Saku? What keeps you so poised and centered?', the Uchiha wondered.

All the carriages came to a stomp in unison; they have arrived to the destination. Before getting out, the shinobi put on their black ski masks before exiting the carriage. The pouring rain boomed in volume when Okisho and the rest of the team stepped out onto the wet pavement. Okisho, along with the rest adjusted their radios before setting out towards the Apartment complex in a swift and absolute fashion. Saku's voice, one Okisho could never forget, came to the coms and relayed the ID signatures of all who were currently residing in the apartment. Saku's role, due to his all seeing eyes, was to serve as overwatch. Like the shinobi in charge stated before, we couldn't let anyone leave the seen. All had to be brought in, even the house dog perhaps.

"Intel received. Bravo, first floor, Echo, second...", Okisho, along with Bravo team arrived to the first floor of the first building. His narrows his eyes, along with activating his Sharingan. He as armed with a crossbow, the rest of the team equipped with various other tools. "Bravo in position...", moments later, "Echo in position", Okisho grips the handle of the crossbow. His rapid heartbeat seemed to be the only thing he could hear in that moment called the calm before the storm.  

The sound of the door bursting inward off the hinges, echoed throughout the apartment along with the screams of the child who was eating with her now enraged father. The Man tried to rush one of the shinobi, but was quickly overpowered due tot he shinobi's training and equipment. His body slammed against the door one the ground that was once on the hinges. The child still screaming, was also restrained, with now both being tied up with plastic restraints. Wrists, ankles, were restrained with the plastic ties, their mouth gagged with black rags, tied tight along the back of their head to muffle their screams and struggles. Okisho was in charge of the restraining.

*Sounds of a body being tossed down the stairs*

Bravo team's attention quickly focused to the stairs leading up to the second floor as a body, tied up in a similar manner like the father and daughter, came tumbling down the stairs into the dinning room like a doll. The leader of Bravo team couldn't believe what he weas seeing. "Echo team, what are you doing? Stick to the rules of engagement, keep them alive for ques-"

"Sorry, Coda Hirokazu san. She put up a fight. All that scratching and biting. She got me pretty good too.", he said out loud, forgetting to use to radios. He stares down at the female who was groaning in pain, to hurt to struggle anymore. The echo team was seen walking down the stairs shortly after the body, well within earshot of everyone in the dining room. All of Bravo team, including restrained father and a daughter, perk up upon hearing Bravo leader's name aloud. He rubs his temples in frustration before walking up to the genin from echo team. The air around him shifts, "Why? why did you say my real whole name in front of th- JUST put the burlap sacks over their heads and escort them out to the carriages! NOW!", the ashamed genin follows his orders along with team Echo and escorts them out.

Saku's voice comes to life once more, relaying more information about the tenth building. "Copy that overwatch! *Glares at Echo team as they exit* Bravo team go go go."

After many more forceful entries, Echo team on a tight leash, the teams manage to secure all who were wanted for questioning. Okisho, walks over to Saku and tells him good job if everything on both fronts went well. The genin who ignored the rule of engagement, was placed on suspension of course. A note placed within the report to scrub the minds of the family who heard his true name. After all was said and done, Okisho, returns back to HQ within the carriage.
---
Exit, claiming 8,000 ryo and 40 AP
TWC/ 2,116
TMWC/ 3,745
938 words for Blast Wave V7 upgrade to A Rank. Wordcount reduced due to maxed stats.
1,125 words for Demonic Illusion: Lightweight fabric smoke V7 Wordcount reduced due to maxed stats
2,000 words to memorize Saku's Chakra Sig
Discard rest of wc

It felt like hours, but it was over in a few minutes at most. The squad methodically worked through the district, entering and detaining those who were wanted for questioning. For the most part it went off without a hitch, apart from a hiccup here or there. The Child was not fully aware of everything that was happening, their focus stretched thin across multiple buildings at a time. Even the sounds of the operation, the odd shout and crash, were drowned out by the rain.

Even with the speed of the operation by the time it was over The Child was thoroughly soaked through. They finally stood, shivering slightly from the cold, and watched as the suspects were brought to the carriages. Each of these people could be a potential traitor, or had knowledge that would be valuable in hunting further cells. At least, that's what The Child had been told. Whether it was all true or not, it didn't make the job any easier.

At some point during the process Okisho had approached them. They seemed none the worse for wear, though that was not all that surprising. Resistance hadn't been zero, but it was nothing that trained shinobi couldn't handle. The Child barely registered what the older Genin had said to them. They responded automatically with a nod and their own, "Good work."

Before they were dragged off to help load some people into the carriages. There was a moment during the loading process where The Child could hear someone being berated by a superior. The Child didn't catch the full extent of the conversation, something about keeping their mouth shut during missions.

The ride back was just as quiet as the first. It was comforting in a way, knowing that at least everyone was of similar disposition about this whole ordeal. They didn't like it as much as the next person. It grounded The Child with a sense of normality for once, they didn't think differently than everyone about everything. The ride continued in a cold, wet and tired silence until they arrived back at the HQ. A final debrief was offered before each member went back to their daily lives. The Child learned a few lessons that day. The first was that there would be unpleasant jobs, ones that you would need to go through with regardless for the good of the village.

The second was to not stay in wet clothes for prolonged periods of time.

The Child spent the next week battling something they later learned was called a cold.

[4171/4000]

[2005]

8000 Ryo
40 AP
2 Speed
18 Chakra
2000/2000 Space-Time Speciality Second Spec