Hauntings with a Hoshimura(Mission Event Thread)

[Ryoushi HoshimuraMissing-Nin (D-rank)]

Mission Briefing:

The upcoming festivities of Hallows Eve were foreign to the lone wanderer inside of the halls of Tsukigakure. Ryoushi’s hands struck away at one of the many notebooks she kept on hand, discussing the village, more specifically the architecture of the vast walls that rose higher than any towns she had ever seen. Her pen marking down the specific details about the crescent moons adorned a top of those large gates out inside of the front of the village. The entrance was a splendor that she was not used to inside of the west. Beside her notebook was a large vase that held the flowers native to the country of moon, said to be vital in creating medicine and were some of the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. The soft, bright glow of each petal caught her gaze for a moment. Ryoushi had grown slightly fond of this new world, this land hidden inside of the very moon's shadow was home to an interesting crop of people. Lone vagabonds and even missing ninja that she had heard stories about during her time with the bandit group that had raised her. She marked down the specific appearance of their leader, the Kage of Tsukigakure was someone she wished to see more of. Those eyes filled with crimson, similar to that of the very blood in her veins was an alluring visage, yet one that she’d have to work her way to meeting again. Ryoushi continued marking down other small details and oddities about the village, right before she realized the time. The Sun had begun to set, which meant that she would begin her march around the village. Her large straw hat hung right by the dresser of the place she was staying in. A small inn had allowed her to stay for a price, one that was easily manageable given the small amount of money that she had been able to keep with her before leaving her old group behind.

Quickly, Ryoushi rose from her desk. She quickly closed the green covered notebook and tucked it into the small satchel she kept right by the desk. The satchel had grown heavy from all of the notebooks she had, yet she easily moved it from the side of her desk towards the cabinet, keeping it out of sight in case someone had tried to rummage around where they shouldn’t. She knew that now, more than ever, was a time where she needed to think about moving forwards, and to make sure that no one could try and trace her to her past. Her slender fingers quickly grasped the sheath of her sword, sliding it tenderly into her waistband. She quickly slipped into her usual blue and black robes and pants. Tightening the bandages around her chest, before turning towards the dark brown door and walking forwards. Her hand grasping the straw hat hanging by her desk on her way out. She knew that now was the time to act, as there was much to do on the day before festivities. She quickly began to rush outside of the small inn that she was staying in. Her eyes quickly scanned the area, even without the use of her new dojutsu, she was able to notice just how many people there were inside of the village just outside of the inn. She moved with purpose, large strides through the crowds of people that had appeared as a result of the festivities. Her hands remained at their side, hidden by the cloak of blue that she wore over her usual clothing. She continued to walk through the village, a small curiosity beginning to well up inside of her at the types of activities that she was a witness to. Most villagers were dressed up in all manner of garb, some of them even trying to look like different animals or figures throughout the world's history. Her purple eyes however were a rarity around places such as this. A few villagers had complimented them as they passed, some even asking how she found contacts that looked so real. She felt confused at such antics, quietly nodding her head and mouthing a simple “thank you” before walking past them. This holiday was certainly an interesting time for her to be in the village. She slowly began to try and look for a way out of the ever present crowds. Hopeful to potentially find an opening where she could escape and find some place to rest. The crushing weight of the crowd was beginning to become nauseating for the Hoshimura. She felt herself being crushed by the stares, they were unnatural, almost prying at her flesh like a swarm of wasps. She finally had found her opening, swiftly passing through the crowd and making her way back to an opening near the streets. She scanned the area, this time with the Kenseigan flaring up in response, her once amethyst eyes transforming into a bright fiery red. The flaring up of the chakra that she saw made her wonder where she even was. The sudden tugging of her cloak made the ninja turn around in an instant, she had expected it to be another party goer during Hallows Eve, but instead, she tilted her head downwards to find a small child tugging at the edges of her cloak. His head adorned with a bright orange lump of hair and freckles dotted over his face. His eyes were massive, with small green dots that were his eyes. He reminded her almost of a carrot that came to life. Her face, shifting from slight annoyance to amusement at the child tugging at her cloak.

“Could I help you?” She asked, crouching down to meet the carrot top boy face to face. He immediately let go of her cloak, small, pudgy index fingers tapping against one another as he danced around what he was going to ask of her. She noted how he moved, someone who definitely didn’t want to ask her in specific about what his question was, yet she was here to entertain the idea of it. She hadn’t expected anyone to be so surprised at her appearance, but the young child in front of her was far better than the late teens and young adults that thought she was some kind of exotic animal.

“I-I wanted to ask if y-you could help me find a pumpkin?” He asked, his voice was rather soft, a small rasp from what appeared to be a cough suddenly escaping his throat. She knew all too well of coughs, yet the boy didn’t seem to be sick at all. She’d think about how she could help the boy with his problem, there were small markets that she remembered holding those massive vegetables. Perhaps he was hungry and in need of food? She didn’t exactly know why he wanted a pumpkin, yet what she did know was that he was someone who did need her help. She nodded her head, causing the boy to smile with glee. The warrior only held a small smirk, not one to let her emotions show, she’d grab his hand, making sure to keep him safe from potential harm in case there were any trouble makers. She’d keep herself focused on walking, while her voice rang out for the young boy to hear.

“Could I ask why you’d need a pumpkin?”

“Momma and Pops didn’t have the time to get me one to carve, so I came out here looking for help! Everyone near me already has a Jack O Lantern outside of their home, I’m one of the only kids who doesn’t have one!” He shouted, Ryoushi didn’t know what a Jack O Lantern was, nor why exactly people would carve up pumpkins and leave them outside to potentially rot or get stolen. She couldn only imagine what exactly would go through someone’s mind to carve a pumpkin. Perhaps it was some kind of threat? An artifact to ward off evil spirits?

“Why would you want to carve a pumpkin? Isn’t that a waste of it?” She asked.

“It’s not a waste! You get to carve cool designs on the pumpkin! Some people even draw funny faces or get super creative with the designs!” Carrot top said. Ryoushi didn’t really understand. Yet she noticed that the two of them had finally made their way into the large marketplace of Tsukigakure. Large caravans full of different items, cloth for costumes, threads and even molds made out of an assortment of plastic or even clay. Large masks full of beasts of legend that she wished to see in person one day. Yet what got the child's attention were the rows and rows of large, almost perfect pumpkins on the shelves. Large lines of people all clambering to get a pumpkin. Yet Ryoushi could see the kids' hopes almost dashed due to the long lines of people. Yet all Ryoushi needed was a small distraction, one that allowed her to slowly make her way over from the crowds. Keeping herself composed while she shifted through the lines, appearing in front of the clerk that was desperate to find some kind of help. Yet all Ryoushi would do was hand him a small coin purse full of Ryo, handing him the bag before she vanished from the crowd, having gone so fast most of the other villagers didn’t even see her take the pumpkin from the shelves. One moment she was there, the next she was walking with the child once more. The child was elated to have such a massive pumpkin being held by the shinobi. His eyes were like saucers even as they approached the door to his parents house. The young child knocked on the door, only to be greeted immediately with a worried expression from what Ryoushi could only assume to be his father.

“Norimo! There you are! We were worried sick about you! Where did you run off too?!” The father asked, crouched down in front of his son before turning his attention towards Ryoushi. He looked surprised to see her at first, his eyebrows creased, an accusatory glance shifted her way, before looking back down at Norimo, who seemed shocked that his parents had been worried about him in the first place. He turned his attention towards Ryoushi as well, almost as if he was presenting her with the massive pumpkin she was holding in her hands. The father rose from his position, motioning Norimo back into the house, to which he’d softly close the door.

“What were you doing with my son?” He asked, his voice filled with rage at her presence.

“I was looking out for him, he wanted this pumpkin, so I got him a pumpkin,” She responded. Still holding the massive pumpkin while explaining to the father what she had been doing with the young boy. His green eyes stared down at her shorter frame. Then, a small sigh escaped his mouth, his hands moving towards his chest in a show of strength. Yet Ryoushi felt that she was going to be asked a question. Quickly, she crouched down, placing the pumpkin to the side of the entrance of the house. The father only stared up at her, his glance held suspicion, but it seemed as though that there was a request to be had given that she had returned Norimo safe and sound inside of the house without any injuries.

“I’m sorry about my earlier tone, his mother and I were worried sick about him. There are tales of ghosts haunting this particular holiday, and kids will get rather rowdy during this time as well. But, Norimo has always wanted to celebrate, and since you’re here it would be kind if you could accompany down to the market in search of clothing for a costume. We’ve tried to get him into some of the few clothes we had, but he wants one that is special, special enough for him to wear anyways. . .” The man said. Ryoushi only nodded in response.

“I can do that.”

“Are you sure, I don’t want to put more on you than what is needed, but my son would love it.”

Ryoushi nodded, not wanting to mince words as she waited for the young boy to be brought back outside. She had a slight ruckus inside of the house. With Norimo seemingly jumping for joy just outside of the window. However, what Ryoushi was not expecting was the mother who had greeted her. She was a tall woman, with a large, well built frame and inky black hair that went down to her shoulders. A scar right near both of her cheeks from daggers due to the entry point being so large. Norimo came racing out from right next to her, with the mother only giving Ryoushi a small nod. The Hoshimura understood immediately what that look meant, yet the gravelly voice that came out of the woman made Ryoushi focus.

“I apologize for asking so much of you, however, if you could, please take our son out for trick or treating, and make sure he doesn’t get into any more trouble than he has. I want him back here by 10:30. Got it?” Ryoushi nodded once more, her expression not even switching for a second, yet she understood the ferocity of a mother, even if she didn’t know how it felt to be protected by one. Norimo quickly grasped the edge of her azure blue cloak, tugging it along as Ryoushi turned her back from the mother, slowly beginning to walk off with the child back towards the market place. Yet it wasn’t until she was out of view that Ryoushi’s heartbeat had returned to a normal pace. Her eyes shifted back towards Norimo, noting how his hair had come from his father, rather than his mother.

When they had arrived back into the market place. Ryoushi kept herself on guard from the sudden eyes that were on them. A few teens were walking around the place, she could tell, from the slight shift of their weight that they held something heavy within their pockets. A store nearby was suddenly enveloped in smoke, Ryoushi’s cloak suddenly covering Norimo from the plumes of gray. The small child blinked a few times from underneath, while Ryoushi watched as a few adults came running out of the shop, with the old owner chasing after them in a blind rage. She rolled her eyes at the childrens antics, one of them coming nearby and almost grabbing the blue cloak from where Norimo was covered. Yet a swift kick to their wrist caused them to flinch backwards. She kept one hand at her side, while the other was holding the sheath of her sword. Some locals were shocked to see someone during a time like this be wielding what appeared to be an actual sword, yet Ryoushi didn’t mind the stares for the moment. She slowly walked back towards Norimo, her hand reaching down and picked up the cloak that was covering the young boy. Her expression changed from annoyance, to the slightest of smirks at seeing the child look in wonder at her. She quickly wrapped the blue cloak around her body, right as Norimo pointed towards her. His voice suddenly rang in her ears, the most shocking of news.

“I wanna look like you! Where can I find stuff to look like you?!” He shouted. Ryoushi motioned for him to quiet himself down. Yet in her heart, she did appreciate the fact that the kid wanted to look like her, even if it was because of her one display. The missing ninja turned babysitter blinked once, then twice, before responding.

“I don’t think you’d want to look like me, kid.” She said, her hand tipping her straw hat to cover her eyes.

“But I want to look like you! That was so cool!” He yelled. Ryoushi couldn’t understand how someone could give into the demands of a child. Yet here she was, standing there with one of the biggest dilemma’s she’s had in recent memory. Either break the poor kids heart and deal with the wrath of his mother, or give in and allow him to wear something that matched her own outfit. She wished she could walk away, yet the carrot top boy stared up at her, his eyes practically begging for her to take him somewhere where he could look like her. Her right hand pinched the bridge of her nose, knowing that she was about to take him to a place that sold one of those cheaper strawhats that looks similar to her own. Yet she couldn’t control herself from motioning him to follow, finding one of the few stalls that had clothes and other materials to look like her very own cloak. WIth one of those cloaks even being on display for a price. Rummaging around inside of her pockets, she found some of the coins she had been stashing earlier and bought him a small cloak for him to wear. It was pure black compared to the blue that she wore.

“I’m guessing he’s your brother?” The owner asked, a large, bearded man with a booming voice asked. To which she only shook her head.

“No, I’m just a babysitter,” She said, yet Norimo tugged at her cloak with annoyance.

“I’m not a baby! I haven’t been a baby in 4 years!” He shouted. Yet Ryoushi only rolled her eyes at the carrot top.

“You’re still a baby to your parents, that’s why it’s called being a babysitter,” She said, motioning him along as they walked away from the display of cloaks. She had grabbed one of the few strawhats on display from an almost empty cart. The owner wasn’t even paying attention as she quickly placed it on his head and shoved Norimo along.

“Hey, you didn’t-” She clasped her hand over his mouth for a moment so as to not arouse suspicion.

“They were giving this on your head away for free, alright,” She said. Her eyes made sure that the owner did not notice her quickly pushing him along as they slowly began to leave the marketplace. Norimo quickly began to admire the black cloak and straw hat on his head. His arms outstretched from underneath to see just how big it was on top of his body. What was most surprising to her was how the kid seemed to immediately try and copy her movements. His hands remained at his side while he was walking next to her. Yet now he was the one leading them along the winding roads and dirt paths throughout the neighborhood near the markets. They passed by one of the signs that was labeled “Marspath”, with Norimo pointing out the houses and the amount of children all walking around. She could see many in different costumes, some were wearing skulls as facemasks, while others seemingly were dressed up as mini shinobi. Wearing an assortment of different villages chunin flak jackets and garb. She remember encountering those shinobi on her travels, whether it was for odd jobs or even in duels to the death. Chunin were always a wildcard in comparison to the ranks above and below them. However, Norimo quickly began tugging her along to one of the many dark purple painted houses, a far cry from what she was expecting given the name of the road. When they arrived at the house, she was greeted by an older woman with spindly gray hair, Norimo shouted almost immediately the phrase that Ryoushi was not expecting.

“Trick or treat!” He shouted with glee. The older woman offering him a bar of candy, yet also turned her attention towards Ryoushi.

“You’re such a kind older brother for him, here, have some as well,” She said, her voice sounded sweet, like caramel on the tongue. Ryoushi was offered one of those large bars of chocolate that Norimo stashed in his pocket. The missing ninja realized that she had forgotten to get him something to store all the candy into, however, the two of them were in luck when she could sense people stalking nearby. Ryoushi immediately nudged Norimo to the nearest house, as she came face to face with three teens, two of which were slightly taller than her, and one being around the same height.

“You seem like a sweet sibling, so why don’t you give us that sword that you’re holding?” One of the teens, the tallest among them, said to the missing ninja. Ryoushi only blinked, the edge of her sheath having poked out of the bottom of her cloak. The three teens had some kind of weapon on them, brass knuckles, a kunai, and a few senbon from what she could see. However, what they probably weren’t expecting was for Ryoushi to simply roll her shoulders.

“If you kids want it, you’re gonna have to come and get it from me.”

The three teens were shocked at what she said. Yet the Missing Ninja vanished in a flash, appearing behind them with the sound of the sword they wanted being drawn. The plan to scare them had seemingly worked, with the kids shocked to find her standing behind them.

“Boo.”

The three kids immediately scurried off, one of them shouting that she was a witch of some kind. Ryoushi only rolled her eyes, turning her attention back towards Norimo, as she began to become accustomed to the young boy shouting trick or treat. With them returning back to his house after the night.

“Thank you so much for going trick or treating! I can’t thank you enough Miss!” Norimo said, right as Ryoushi dropped him off, his mother came out through the door, with Ryoushi letting the young boy back into the house. What she did not expect was that sudden flash of red, the tomoe of a sharingan, plain as day, staring at her.

“Thank you, Hoshimura, for helping my child, I look forward to seeing you around here in the future.”

With that, Ryoushi returned home, hanging her blue cloak, and falling on top of her bed without a second thought, waiting for the morning sun to wake her.

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TWC:3710

Exit and Claims:

[Ayato HyuugaHogokage]

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TWC:3710

Exit and Claims:

Approved