B-Rank: Ouch, the Lions Pride!

Nietzsche woke up to the sound of a dog chasing a cat through the street. It was a common occurrence, but it was enough to wrest Nietzsche from the claws of sleep. He had had a restless sleep. The woman’s dying face etched in his mind and dying cry stuck in his ears. Shaking himself out of his sleepy stupor Nietzsche got out of bed and pulled on some clothes. He then went to the kitchen and brewed some tea. Reading the newspaper Nietzsche read about a woman who had been found dead from a stab wound to the throat and was found in a dark alleyway. Nietzsche sighed; he could have stopped it, but he did not. Why?, because of a stupid mission that had been thrust upon him. While reading the paper Nietzsche heard a faint scratching on his window like that of claws on glass. Walking over to the window Nietzsche saw a black messenger hawk from the mission center. Opening the window Nietzsche put out his arm so the hawk would land on it. He then removed the message and sent the hawk back, the message read:
Urgent message for Nietzsche Mizshuma:
Please come to the mission center as soon as possible. There has been a development in your recent mission with the Crimson crusaders.

Grabbing his tea to go Nietzsche dashed out the door in the direction of the mission center. Nietzsche hoped this mission would allow him to pursue the crimson crusaders and bring them to justice. Running into the mission center Nietzsche ran right to the urgent mission dispatch. There was a short line, which after a two minutes wait was gone. Nietzsche walked up to the chunin dispatcher: “My name is Nietzsche Mi—“ “yeah yeah yeah I know Mizushima. Here’s your job review it here and hand me back your mission briefing once done.” The chunin handed Nietzsche a thin folder, which had a B rank seal plastered on it.

Nietzsche read over it and to his delight it involved the Crimson crusaders. So he was to send a “message” to leave the village hidden in the mist to them. Nietzsche took that to mean to kill the one named Tysake Yuke. Smiling Nietzsche retuned the mission briefing to the chunin who wished him luck and sent him on his way. So I am off to the inn: “The lion’s Pride” huh I guess this will be interesting plus it was b rank mission and his first real assassination.

Leaving the mission center Nietzsche watched a group of children run after each other in some game while their mother’s chased after them worrying about them. Nietzsche thought: I am doing this mission for them; I must stop those who kill the innocent it is simply wrong. It was broad daylight, but Nietzsche did not care. It would not be that hard to sneak into the religious fanatic’s hideout. Especially when Nietzsche had retained their robes from his earlier mission. So he could look like any other crimson crusader in there hideout and mix within their ranks like a ghost of death itself.

Nietzsche stopped in a park on the way to the Inn to change into his disguise. Looking around to make sure no one was watching Nietzsche slipped behind a tree and removed his clothes. He stashed his real clothes in the tree while he wore the crimson crusader’s robes. He left with his clothes all ninja tools save for two kunais-one for each hand-and slipped them up the robe’s long sleeves. Then pulled the red hood over his face, which threw a light shadow over his face. Now he was ready.

As Nietzsche left his hiding space he observed that a few people gave him looks of malice and hate. He was surprised some people did not jump at him and attempt to attack him; he could see in their eyes that they wanted to. Nietzsche thought that the crimson crusader must have gotten many of their victims from around here, because the looks he got made him want to shrive up and die. Luckily he made it the inn without incident, save for having some rocks thrown at him by some little kids. Above the inn’s door hung a stuffed lions head with a shuriken or two stuck in it’s regal head. From outside Nietzsche could hear a drunken ramble inside.

Pulling open the door Nietzsche was greeted by a drunken squalor. In the corner Nietzsche watched as a brawl between two large men broke out over something as trivial as who pays for the next drink. While in another corner there were three men merrily singing a sea shanty. Nietzsche couldn’t help laughing a bit; the world could be so ironic at times. Walking into the bar Nietzsche took a seat and made himself comfortable. He ordered a glass of water and sipped it as he surveyed the bar. Supposedly the hideout was in the basement, but Nietzsche was unsure of how he would make it down there undetected and back out. Taking a sip from his glass Nietzsche spotted the entrance to the basement. Now to distract them. Nietzsche’s thoughts were interrupted by a man wearing red robes walking up to him.

The man presented an unsettling smile and said “Come right this way, brother.” Nietzsche had no arguments if he was led right into their hideout. He followed the robed man to a set of stairs that led down to the cellar. “Brother take the plunge into our world.” Nietzsche was not really sure what to do so he just walked down the stairs. It seemed that the man did not follow him and looking around Nietzsche saw why.

The man had no need to follow him-he was just the doorman. The basement was bigger than it appeared. In fact Nietzsche was not sure how big it was, because there were various doors and corridors that led to who knows where. And a constant flow of crimson clad people milled about tending to this and that. The walls were painted with what Nietzsche hope was red paint. Pictures of a four armed Cyclops adored he walls; that must be their god Nietzsche thought. So this is their “headquarters”. Now to find Yuke. Nietzsche walked up to one of the people and asked him if he knew where Yuke could be found. The man pointed a room and replied. “You must be new here and wish to receive the assistant priest’s blessing. Am I right?” Thinking on his feet Nietzsche spat out a quick reply: “Yes exactly. I was at the last ceremony and I am interested.” The man he had asked smiled and said “Methos watch over your path.” Nietzsche walked away towards the door the man had indicated.

So Methos must be their god who orders them to kill the innocent-interesting-not that it mattered. Nietzsche gave two sharp raps on the chamber door. From inside issued a jolly “Come in!” Nietzsche pushed open the door making sure to close it behind him. The man in front of him was rather plump and had a short stature (about 5 foot eight) with messy brown hair-this was his target. “Assistant priest Yuke I have come to ask for your blessing, my name is Nietzsche Mizushima.” He felt fine with telling him his name, because very soon Yuke would be nothing but a corpse and a message. The assistant priest stood up soundlessly and walked over to Nietzsche placing his hands on Nietzsche’s head and spoke: “Nietzsche Mizushima I lay the blessing of Meth—“ Yuke would never finish his blessing Nietzsche had allowed his two hidden junai to fall into his hands. He then promptly stabbed one kunai into Yuke’s throat to stop screaming and then one right under his ribs, probably rending his internal organs useless. Yuke fell forward onto Nietzsche. Nietzsche then lay Yuke across his desk and left a note warning the Crimson crusaders to leave the village hidden in the mist.

Nietzsche then walked out of the room. The other crusaders still moved about like nothing had happened; they were none the wiser and Nietzsche hoped it would stay that way until he was clear of the scene. The blood on his robes was not visible, because it was the same color as the robes. He walked right out through the entrance. It was a flawless assassination; he was in and out without anyone save for the late Yuke knowing his name. Nietzsche made his way back to the tree he had left his clothes in and climbed up it. He quickly changed into his regular attire and reequipped himself.

Nietzsche jumped down from the tree and saw the same group of children run by again he had seen earlier; they did not know it, but Nietzsche hoped that he had protected them and people like them. With that he proceeded to walk the cool and slowly emptying streets of the mist village. A nightingale could be heard across the city. Nietzsche felt in harmony with the village itself-he had helped protect it’s welfare. Mist was starting to wrap around the building like a long never ending snake that constricted indiscriminately.

By the time Nietzsche made it the mission center it was nearly dusk. Yet again Nietzsche talked to the night duty chunin: “I will inform you of any developments on this mission, good job Mizushima. “The chunin had dark bags under his eyes Nietzsche wished he could relieve him; one day he would, one day he would become a chunin and do his duty to the mist village. Nietzsche smiled grimly and tuned to leave. His black duster swirled around him as he left. He looked like a black shadow etched into the world by a crude drawer.

Nietzsche made his way home. Upon arriving he took a shower and watched as the blood of Yuke circled the drain in it’s last futile attempt to stay in the world of the living until it was washed away. Thought flooded into Nietzsche’s mind. What will happen if the Crimson crusaders do not leave? Would they be forced out with violence or slaughtered en mass? He tried to dismiss these thoughts from his mind, but he could not help thinking that the Crimson Crusaders would merely dig in harder after this newest ejection attempt. After the shower Nietzsche made some ramen, which he slurped down in a heartbeat; burning his tongue while doing so. He then went to bed feeling content, happy and proud. (words 1760/1750 B-Rank done )

Considering it was my mission, Approved.