An Unlikely Squad in the Mist

The dark clouds pouring torrential rain covered the heavens above Kirigakure, a small parchment of paper in the wrapped hands of a particular shinobi. Menma was adorned in his typical fashion, dark black hakama of his ronin robes, his torso covered in tight wrappings to hide him up to the bridge of his nose, his long silk black hair beginning to cling to his body as he became more and more saturated by the rain. He had read the details written on the slips of parchment a few times, though still he checked once more to ensure the meeting place for this selected team was correct. ‘Beneath the Willow on the edge of the lower district, there the select shinobi will convene for the missions.’ Menma looked up slightly to the long feathered branches of the willow, he had been here a few times before to simply rest undisturbed by the rest of the village.

As he took a seat beneath the trunk of the mighty tree, he slipped his katana sheath and all from his cloth belt. He took a seated position in which his left leg was fully extended on the ground, but his right was bent creating a resting place for his crossed arms supporting his head. His sheathed katana’s tip in the ground by his right foot and the hilt sticking up from within the bend of his right elbow. Menma sighed to himself for a mere moment as he continued to wait for the rest of the team, at first appearance most would assume he was oblivious to his surroundings as his eyes couldn’t be seen, hidden behind his forearm. However, in truth Menma was using his sense of hearing to differentiate the sounds of falling rain on the cobbles of the street from the sounds of peoples feet. The key was the weight behind the earthly impact, but regardless he awaited the start of the mission.

(WC 322)

Prim had been up and getting ready that morning as a scroll was dropped off for her. Was it missions with her usual team? A singular mission? Or a mission with some new people again? She was actually anticipating this! She enjoyed doing the missions with others and getting to meet the Shinobi or Kiri.
She put on her usual leather outfit, and boots before heading out the door to a different meeting spot! This definitely meant she wasn't running missions with her usual team and it meant she wasn't running missions alone! As she walked towards the meeting spot she noticed the dreary weather seemed to be setting the scene for the day. Normal spooky weather for the time of year it was!
The cobblestone path was kind of desolate and empty this morning, could be due to the timing, it was a time of day that you wouldn't see many people out and about, or it could be the weather. Prim's footsteps echoed across the pathway announcing her arrival to the meeting spot! She noticed the other Shinobi under the tree.
“I guess we are part of a team working on a mission! I'm Prim. Primrose Uchiha.” Prim said, smiling at the young man.
(206)
Mission 206/2,000

The heavy hits of his hammer hitting the anvil cancelled out the sound of the pouring rain. Drops of sweat falling down from his forehead to the ground resembled the current weather in Kirigakure. Such circumstances made for a perfect scenery, so the young blacksmith apprentice thought. Still in the process of learning the ropes and picking up tricks of the trade when it came to the secrets of the forge, Sosuke could feel himself improve, hoping to eventually become a master of the craft. "It's progress, no matter how slow". That being said, after having spent hours in the family's smithy, the Hyuuga realized it was about time to head out.

Wearing a light black haori with a white shirt underneath, Kirigakure's shinobi headband firmly tied around his left biceps, Sosuke left for today's location. Keeping one hand on his katana he carried with him, the Hyuuga swordsman went over the mission details mentally. Rumor had it there was a haunted mansion in the Mist village, or at least that's what stories of a supernatural being implied. Long story short, after a wealthy businessman purchased said residence sudden appearances of a strange creature started to fill the hearts of residents with fear. And it was at that point they reached out to the military forces for help.

Curious about whether they were dealing with nothing more than a troublemaker looking for attention, or an actual supernatural existence that needed to be eradicated, the Hyuuga swordsman prepared for the worst. Eventually, after collecting his thoughts, the young Mist shinobi arrived at his destination. Upon doing so, he noticed the presence of two other individuals, both of them more than likely part of the task force. Consequently he would calmly walk over before introducing himself. "Good day all, my name is Sosuke, here for the mission" the young blacksmith bowed while offering a greeting. He then waited for a response, be it an introduction of their own, or the official start of the matter at hand.

(WC: 335)

As the sounds of boots stamping across the cobble streets approached, Menma lifted his head from behind his forearm to see the dark haired woman. She addressed him with her introduction, her name was Primrose, though she seemed to prefer Prim. He looked upon the other man approaching, awaiting his statement but it was a rather quick introduction. “I’m Menma, it appears as though the rich are in need of assistance.” His voice was monotone and really expressed his rather cold, shadowy personality that he projected in his pursuit to be an Anbu. Menma stood his katana grasped in his right hand as he slipped back into the sash style belt that held his hakama in place, With the squad assembled Menma turned and began heading towards the mansion they were commissioned to handle.

If the others followed, it would only take a few minutes to arrive on site. The man who bought the home stood outside the main gate, he addressed the squad as they approached the gate. “Good Evening Ninja, I recently acquired this home and it seems something has been keeping me from entering. I can usually only make it close to the door before I seem to fall asleep and reawaken where we stand.” Menma thought about it for a minute before turning to his comrades, “Genjutsu.” he spoke with certainty in his cold voice. Curiously Menma decided to test his theory, he lifted his hands and signed; Tiger, Horse, Ram, and Clone. The result was the creation of a second and third Menma, appearing standing shoulder to shoulder with the original. The clones looked at their creator for a second using their eyes only and not turning their heads, but ran through the gate each taking a crescent shaped path to separate themselves as they closed the gap to the door. The true Menma remained standing at the gate, his eyes scanning the estate for any signs of what could be causing the issues. His eyes flickering over as the clone who took the right side path exploded into a puff of smoke, the memory of what had occurred flooding into his mind as the second clone exploded as well revealing more information.

Menma, still scanning the grounds for more information as he relayed what information he had gathered. “The grounds are trapped. A knockout dart struck the first clone, the second ran across caltrops. It seems someone is really trying to keep people out.” His voice was calculated as he awaited to hear what his comrades would make of the situation.

(WC 427)

The guy who walked up she recognized almost immediately, they had done a mission previously together. Sasuke Hyuuga, but the other guy she has never seen. Maybe she needs to get out more! A haunted house? She was still having trouble believing this but a mission is a mission.
As they approached the building, she noted it did look rather rundown. As the gentleman explained to the group that he felt the place was and what happened to him, Prim activated her Sharingan. Instead of EMS she simply activated the three tomoe so she could scan the area. As she did she watched Menma closely.
“Well, obviously it is genjutsu that Is being used on the owner, but it's apparent that someone wants this house to themselves and they are trying to scare off the owner. Now I'm not an exorcist or a ghost buster, but we aren't dealing with a ghost!” Prim said as she looked.around the area. “unfortunately these guys are pretty smart with the traps they have set up!” Prim was sure there were other traps set up around the area.”Now, to figure out who they are and why they are doing this, any ideas?” Prim asked the others.
My TWC: 410
Mission TWC: 1530/2000