Sing Me a Sea Shanty (Mission)

C-rank Mission:

Around forty minutes passed in near silence between the two Shinobi leaving Kirigakure. Apart for a bit of angelic humming from Tsubaki she noises at a minimum. She was absorbed in the atmospheric landscape that was the Land of Water's wilderness. It was mid winter, which mean fog and brisk air. Despite this she was rather cozy in her layers of Kirigakure-tailored clothing. Even then if she was down to her birthday suit the air would not bother her. She loved the cold and moisture.

From her feet Tsubaki wore a pair of thick rubber and leather combat boots. Embedded in the soles of the boots were iron plates to protect the feet from caltrops and the toes protected by a shell of iron as well doubling as a means to increase kicking power. She wore a pair of black pants which were modified like her boots by having bands of steel woven into them along her shin providing greater protection. These pants also provided a thick plastic-rubber compound at the knees and parts of the thigh and hips granting maximum comfort when crawling and moving about difficult terrain. White bandage wrap secured a navy blue holster against her right thigh containing a single kunai for quick draw purposes. Around her waist she wore a heavy utility belt holding the bulk of her gear. Two navy blue holsters were together on her right side together containing shuriken.

Around her back side she carried her hip pouch which was suspended above her right buttock containing the rest of her ninja gear. The left of that in a slightly canted fashion was a full length Chokuto in a navy blue scabbard. It was not lacquered or polished being bought from the local smith being a functional tool rather than a pretty one. Over her body she wore a light mesh shirt which was covered by a heavy, thick long sleeve top which served as the Kirigakure specialist combat armor. It was an insulated jacket which compound material which served as electricity insulated much like the rest of the advertised gear. Rings of steel where sown into the fabric from the lower rib cage up to the chest and to her upper arm. This provided additional support while still being lightweight to the most vital areas of her body. Of course this aided the main portion of her body armor which was a standard, slate gray flak jacket over her torso provided heavy support from blunt impact and cuts. This model was the common kind with elongated shoulder pads and extensions from either side protecting her lower abdomen and back even more. Across her chest was a brown leather baldric which carried two folded fuuma shuriken held by their rings store mid back.

On both hands she wore a set of black gloves which had a pair of steel plates on the backs of them for maximum protection. Topping off the design Tsubaki wore a heavy black cloak over everything concealing more of what was described fastened securely around her neck by a knot. The hood was down to show off her elegant features and provide maximum visibility. Tsubaki stood 5'6 and weighed approximately one-hundred and forty pounds being at her peak performance. Her skin was very fair to the point of being almost pale. This was coupled by her long, silky white hair extending to her lower back and sapphire blue eyes which anybody within Kirigakure that had knowledge of her clan would know she was certainly Kaguya, and the leader nonetheless. She wore no makeup, yet her natural complexion made her remarkably beautiful.

It was early afternoon and the skies were still overcast. Their trail would lead them both to the sounds of crashing waves, seagulls, and the distant civilization. Ota was a small port town where many trades were processed. Despite the somewhat urgent perspective of a busy dock, Ota was rather laid back. Gales of sea wind occasionally flicked her silky hair in the air which fell back down her back almost perfectly each time. She'd reach back into her hip pouch to pull the scroll closest to her buttock. Opening it she scanned her eyes over the details once more memorizing it to the best of her ability before handing it Kyoji. "We will be working on a ship called 'Yamato.' We were contracted by Silvery Shark to unload the cargo within five hours. This means~" She said trailing off counting on her fingers doing a short spit of mental math before picking up where she left off. "We have to move thirty crates an hour to meet our goal. They should tell us where to stockpile them. Fortunately not too far from the ship."

The couple would break through the jungle to see Ota in full light. Only four ships were docked which happened to be their luck. The end of the month generally attracted all of the trade ships inbound and outbound. Silvery Shark were certainly an experienced trade company and planned their departure ahead. They arrived and were ready to be unloaded by the time most other companies were just beginning to leave. This meant less traffic and more room for them to work with.

Their journey was marred in silence. Save for the humming from the Kaguya. Kyoji barely noticed. As they approached the sea that surrounded the Land of Water. He felt at ease. It was the one place in the world where his bloodlust was not ever present. When he was submerged and surrounded by water. Being one of the few people in the world who could actually breath and survive underwater, it was a feeling unlike many. He could not share such feelings except those of his family.

They reached the docks in Ota. He did appreciate the fact that the docks weren't busy. Which meant they could do their job unhindered. Tsubaki pulled out a scroll and began to scan it. After finishing it was given to Kyoji. As he began to read Tsubaki gave the important details for the most part. Noting they had to board a ship called Yamato and help board about thirty or so boxes. But they had to do it within the hour. "Doesn't sound like a problem. Lets get started." The shark man said showing a row of sharp and pointy teeth.

Kyoji was not a man much for works and she figured he was there to make his paycheck and nothing more. It was a respectable trait and one she shared. Tsubaki tried her best to keep her associates within her clan and that was for the fact that she knew the social characteristics of her kinsmen best. Trying to coexist with other cultures was a fool's game with guaranteed failure. Other groups of people in Kirigakure did occasionally come together to meet a similar goal. In her case, that goal is unloading a cargo ship. Once that was done the two would go their separate ways.

The dirt path they took led to a small set of concrete stairs which officially put them in Ota. There were a handful of buildings, some big, which made the port town look larger than it was. Realistically it had a population around five hundred. Most residents worked on the docks while others at the smaller services Ota provided such as the tavern and various goods and foods. It was definitely the place to be after a long journey on the sea where sailors can rejuvenate and have their supplies and ships repaired all in one stop. It was fair to say the Hozuki knew what they were doing when they once owned this town which led to their success. Nami...Nami Hozuki? I think that was her name. The heiress to the Hozuki clan, fallen victim to the plague.

Her boots make a very distinctive noise on the cobblestone roads giving a sense of authority to their presence. People would turn their head to find a greater surprise. Two Kirigakure Shinobi, both belonging to exclusive clans. The large, burly shark man Hoshigaki and the framed, reserved Kaguya. It was an odd combination knowing the Kaguya's xenophobic tendencies. Ota did not have much of a military presence. It was not considered a target as even pirates benefited from its services. But they would know better not to tread as Kirigakure was almost minutes away in response.

"There's the dock yard. Let's see which one of the ships are ours..." Using her gloved hand as a visor she scanned the yard. From the left she'd start looking at the ship for anything that gave away its name. Unfortunately it was an older ship so most of its details were buffeted off from years of storms and moisture. It was likely to rule off however, considering the amount of arms they had. Trade ships were usually passive with little to no defense. Turning her head she started on the next ship which its name hit her like a pile of brick. Yamato. Her face lit up as she pointed it out with her index finger. "There it is!" Tsubaki would make a linear path cutting the street and straight towards the docking bay where their ship waited.

Two men stood outside the gang plank as the occasional pair of sailors boarded, grabbed a barrel or crate from the inside cargo bank, and crossed the plank again to stash it in a reservoir. As the both of them approached the two standing outside they would catch their attention. One of the men were short and stocky standing the same height as Tsubaki who was considered short among her clan. Despite the height similarities the man was a solid hundred pounds heavier having a stout muscular frame backed by a thick layer of fat. Next to him was a more ideal sailor standing six foot two having a lean, muscular build and tan skin. Tsubaki would spot on the opposite side of the gangplank to speak with them while still allowing traffic to pass them by. "Hi, you must be apart of the Silvery Shark. We are here to carry out your undocking contract."

The man would explain to them the procedure. Apparently they were going to have a lunch within the five hours of work making it seem like only four. They were tasked to drop off the cargo in a marked perimeter just off the dock where they would stack the crates and barrels for the wagon to pick up. Tsubaki would salute the sailor enthusiastically. Aye, aye, Captain!" She'd march on board through the gangplank and stepping into the cargo bank following the set of stairs. She'd approach the first crate closest to her and squat down low following proper procedures when lifting heavy object. She'd struggle at first, eager to try and lift it on her own. Tsubaki managed to lift it a few inches off the ground with her body shaking before letting the crate thud against the floor. "Oof. Help me with this." The crates were mostly bottled and preserved goods ranging from liquor to jams from the different regions across the continent. The barrels contained salted, pickled fish which were a popular commodity consumed largely in Kirigakure.

Kyoji scanned the docks along with Tsubaki. It was relatively slow today. So finding the ship wouldn't take very long. And just like that, Tsubaki could be heard alerting him. Her perceptive eyes were able to spot a huge cargo ship. With the name Yamato on the side. "Good eye." Kyoji noted as they followed a path cutting straight through the docks to the ship. There was large wooden plank leading to the ship. While there were two men walking back and forth on it taking cargo to the ship.

Tsubaki called out to them asking if they were apart of the Silvery Shark. They need a great white shark or what? Kyoji said to himself but he didn't note on it. A joke only he would get because of his clan. But the man came down and explained what was needed from them.

The Kaguya didn't miss a beat and went to lift a crate. She tried but it only lifted slightly off the ground before settled down. He could hear her ask for help. "A little heavier than ya thought?" He walked over to her and bent down to help her with the crate. The both of them would be able to lift it. He could hear some jingling, indicating there was probably some bottles in it. Kyoji would help lead the crate onto the ship over the plank.

Tsubaki's initial struggle would be met with the help of Kyoji. He was certainly muscular, as was expected by his kind. He was in fact stronger than she could have imagined wondering if her presence was even necessary. She helped as much as she could, though she couldn't help but feel she was contributing little. The crate was full of bottles of wine, which made it one of the heavier containers weighing roughly five-hundred pounds. It would be a somewhat mild load to Kyoji alone. Tsubaki was at least able to push it by herself but not much more. Together, Tsubaki helped relieve Kyoji of some of the burden allowing them to work much more efficiently together. "I'll go up the stairs first. You have more strength so you'll have it easier from the bottom. I'll steer you up the way." Tsubaki began to pace backwards taking the lead checking over her shoulders as she peddled backwards making sure she doesn't bump into anybody.

Tsubaki would lift to elevate the crate, which with their combined effort didn't take much strength to do. Carefully she'd put her first foot on the step. "Ready? Let's go." The two would ascend the staircase at a moderate pace not in any rush but not being overly cautious at the same time. The both of them did the work of twenty men. Their combined strength and supernatural stamina allowed them to work constantly. Even though they had to work together, primarily for Tsubaki's sake, they were much more efficient than the regular sailor. Ascending the stairs they'd eventually make it back to the deck where she would elevate the position of the crate back to an even distribution.

Tsubaki would lead the crate across the gang plank with Kyoji making it onto the docks. "Okay, now we just pivot a bit so we're both going sideways to make it a bit easier." Tsubaki would rotate half way so she was no longer peddling backwards. Their drop off location wasn't too far from the docks, fortunately. Pacing twenty meters they'd reach their destination. Three crates were already set down from the sailors. It took the crew roughly half an hour to get three crates off the ship while it only took the two of them a minute to haul one. No wonder they hire Shinobi to do these tasks...I thought we were only good for killing. Tsubaki would bring the crate with the other setting it down on the ground and pushing it herself to lock it in with the others creating a neat, two-by-two square of crates in the drop off location. She felt good that she was able to at least manipulate the crates enough on her own to make them neat and orderly. "Whew! That wasn't too bad! Ready to go again? After all, we have twenty-nine more to go in this hour." She'd smile at Kyoji feeling a little good about herself. Tsubaki preferred this task over standing at the gates or patrolling. Primarily because it felt like she was actually doing something productive.

"29 ey." They had plenty of crates to move within the hour. It looked like after working together they were able to move the goods quite faster than the ship workers. Looking around he could see that there were three crates already there. An idea sprung into his head after seeing it. Maybe there was a way to cut time down with his current abilities. He wasn't the shiniest tool in the toolbox, but numbers he could do. "I believe I have a way to help us out."

Kyoji stood by the edge of the walkway near the water. He made a single handsign, the tiger seal. Ten meters away from them there was two dark shadows within the water only inches apart. Then the water began to flow upwards from both spots until they both began to take on a form. The small water sprouts began to take a recognizable shape. Water clones of the Hoshigaki himself. "They're going to help with the rest. And me you can still work together." He nodded to his clones. They jumped up from the seawater and joined Kyoji and Tsubaki.

They each went to a crate and Kyoji went to one as well. They all picked a crate up and waited for Tsubaki to give directions.

Tsubaki nodded at Kyoji's rhetorical comment. It really wasn't too bad. Even at their current pace they could easily meet their goal with consistency. Thirty crates an hour was something assigned to regular crew members. For them it was a hard goal to meet keeping their breaks short and following a back breaking routine. Kyoji was a human car jack and Tsubaki more or less had enough fuel to keep up. She'd imagine they could knock out their two hour quote in the first hour having the other hour free. That was before Kyoji pulled the unthinkable. He mentioned he had a plan to help the work flow. Tsubaki canted her head in confusion as wild theories clouded her mind. How could he make moving boxes possibly faster? Maybe he plans to attach wheels on a board and skating it across the dock...or maybe get a brigade set with the other sailors so we just pass the cargo to each other... Kyoji stepped towards the edge of the dock where he formed a hand sign. Ninjutsu?

Tsubaki stayed quiet but neared towards the edge next to Kyoji. He held his hand sign steady as she peered into the rippling blue sea. Just ten meters from their location she caught an irregular shift in the water. Two pillars of water formed in the ocean standing approximately two meters high. They developed human-like features and when the detaining portion began, Tsubaki was blown away. "Wow! You made two copies of yourself?" She exclaimed in astonishment. Deep down it was also kinda spooky to see multiple copies of the same person. There was a distinguishable between this technique and the standard Clone Technique. These clones were conjured differently using water as a resource. On top of that they moved independently giving Tsubaki the impression they had free will.

"If they work independently that means we can work three times as fast! We can get the whole job done in the first hour, then have an extra long lunch!" The thought of getting paid to sit around was exciting. Unfortunately she did not pack her lunch for that day. Mainly she did not expect to even get a lunch out here. And if she did she was willing to try her luck with the local eateries. After all this place was formally owned by the Hozuki. Tsubaki trusted Nami despite their brief interaction and the clan seemed relatively formal. If Ota kept anything of their good teaching she would be safe to eat at the local places. But being the cautious Kaguya she was Tsubaki filled up on a large breakfast making her not-so-hungry until dinner.

Tsubaki turned to Kyoji and gestured him to follow along as his clones exited the water and boarded the Yamato. "Let's go!" Tsubaki almost skipped her way back to the cargo bank given how much pep she had in her step. The clones worked like drones not speaking much of anything but working diligently. By the time she stepped onto the boat the two of them were already out, each holding a crate on their own followed by a pair of sailors carrying a barrel. She'd stand in front of a barrel waiting for Kyoji to follow up before attempting to lift. "Ready?" She'd say before squatting down and hugging the bottom of the barrel. Being so close her nose picked up the pungent smell of the salted, pickled fish sealed in the barrel. It was powerful to both of their noses, more so Kyoji's given his blood line. It made Tsubaki blush and salivate in a bit of a euphoria. Certainly Tsubaki was familiar with very traditional Japanese dishes having her diet heavily based around it like most Kaguya. Kusaya... She would forcefully bring her consciousness back to the task at hand. She'd lead Kyoji back to the dock and inevitably repeat the process until it was lunch...

The clones were quiet as Kyoji did not need them to speak. But only to work fast and efficiently. Even though he was being calmed by being in his element. He still had the temptation to find a worthy fight. The clones were making good ground on getting the crates off and so was Kyoji. They were strong enough to carry these crates with no problem. When Kyoji was picking up a particular crate, his nose was met with a pleasant aroma. Kyoji being a shark man, was usually a seafood eater. It did not even need to be prepared as humans do.

The Hoshigaki can even eat sea life raw. The smell was coming from one of the barrels. Pickled fish was the dominant smell. Fortunately Kyoji could enjoy the food in both forms to his utmost delight. Tsubaki walked up to it and squatted down to pick it up. She asked if he was ready and he walked to her and mimicked the same motion. "Ready." They both would lift the the barrel as the other clones continued moving. Hopefully the sailors would feed them after their help.

The two of them, or more precisely four, worked diligently for the next hour. Without the need for breaks they wrapped up the entire task in an hour and ten minutes leaving the captain and first mate dumbfounded by their efficiency. The ship they worked on had its cargo bank emptied with all crates and barrels stacked neatly in their place. Tsubaki stood next to the cargo dump site with the captain as he held a clipboard in hand. "Fantastic work, you two. You guys definitely earned your lunch. Go have that now. By the time you guys return we should have a wagon filled up with goods. You can ride on one of those back to your city. Once again it was a pleasure working with you two." Tsubaki nodded with a smile feeling like she accomplished much. "You too, Mister!" Tsubaki worked up a mild sweat, but nothing that showed she was worked to the bone. The task was not terribly hard with the help of some real muscle.

The ship's crew would clear off from the depot, the sailors heading towards the district of Ota to rest up before the wagon arrives while the captain returned to his private quarters in the ship. Tsubaki and Kyoji were the only ones left. "Let's see what they have to eat around here." Tsubaki said before trailing off. Certainly food services were a must in a port town. After a long trip at sea or day of unloading cargo cooking a meal was the last thing on lots of people's minds. Tsubaki was allured to the nearest convenient store. Pushing the glass door open a small bell chimed from above. There was a refrigeration section which had bento. Lunch boxes, rice balls, sushi rolls, snacks, and everything in between were pre-made and ready to sell. Tsubaki would pick out a bento for herself, which contained the basics of rice, pickled vegetables, meat and potato stew, fermented vegetables, and grilled mackerel. She'd wait in a small line of three to check out what she wanted.

The hard work was needed for Kyoji. Though they finished within the hour, it was not without breaking a sweat. Kyo still had to keep his clones active while he worked. Though his stamina was high, it was enough for him to actually try. Though it seemed like a chore below a Jounins status. It felt different to help someone out without shedding blood. Though fighting was his number one passion, but this was a interesting change of scenery.

The captain came out to congratulate them on their work. They all began to depart until it was only Tsubaki and Kyoji left. She wanted to find somewhere to eat. Being so close to water, they had to expect seafood. Tsubaki wanted to go to the store. Kyoji looked at the water and declined. "I will be going for a swim later. I do my best cooking with some rare fishes that don't venture to the top much. But I'll wait for you to get back so we can to take that cargo ride. I also have a proposition for you." Kyoji said to Tsubaki.

Tsubaki nodded to Kyoji's response. She figured since he was at least half shark he needed to balance his time in air and water. Tsubaki was a bit curious about how they reproduced. It was partly due to her never seeing a female Hoshigaki. Did they even reproduce? Did they randomly occur in nature? She was interested and not interested at the same time. Her curiosity with their clan was much like popping a pimple. Unsettling, but intriguing nonetheless. She departed to let Kyoji do what he planned to do. Buying her lunch she enjoyed it on a bench right outside the store having the bento box resting on her lap and using chopsticks to eat. She kept to herself eating in silence while enjoying the view of the sea before her. The overcast day was beginning to break as sunlight and hazy blue skies were beginning to brighten the land. Tsubaki reckoned in a few hours the clouds would be completely broken up resulting in a nice, sunny day.

Tsubaki enjoyed her food for half an hour taking her time while eating and taking in the sights. She had a goal to kill time. After all the cart wasn't expected to come until another hour. Finishing her lunch she'd toss the box into the nearest bin and began making her way back to their location. She would hope to find Kyoji present after his swim. Assuming he was, Tsubaki would speak. "So, you had something to tell me?"

As Kyoji had mentioned before Tsubaki had departed, he would go for a swim. It was an interesting ability to be able to breath both on and land and water. The Hoshigaki's were clearly different than the rest of the clans in Kirigakure. Even the Hozuki whom had the most dangerous abilities with water. Could not actually live in the water, though they were able to control it to a degree untethered by mortal powers. It didn't take long for him to plummet to the seafloor and capture his fish raw. No matter how it was dressed, food was still good to him either cooked or not.

After finishing his meal underwater he made his way back up. Drying himself off before the Kaguya would show up again. And she did and arrived back where they had left. She asked him what it was that he needed to speak to her about. "The Mizukage has asked me to get rid of the criminal elements that have been brewing within the city. Theres a few missions that I can handle myself, however..." He paused as he was pondering how to describe it.

"There is an S-rank mission I may need your assistance with. If you wish to help me with the others you are free to do so. It may not be up to your speed. But they will help lowering the reach of criminal scum within the village."

Kyoji was direct with what was on his mind not wasting a second when Tsubaki had inquired. The shark boy had orders exclusively from the Mizukage to eliminate a criminal threat within Kirigakure. The last Tsubaki could remember the village was no exclusively known for criminal activity, but then again she never left the clan district except for important matters. Her impression on the village was dated, however. Kirigakure has experienced extreme development over the past two years becoming a bustling city in a short period of time. Crime was bound to grow. The mission was S-rank, according to Kyoji. This meant a heavy payout.

"Hmm....Okie then. What's the mission about exactly? Are we assassinating a crime lord?" She asked out of curiosity. They had time to kill. It was the least Tsubaki could do as a thanks for helping her with her mission. It gave her a taste of Jounin work in addition. The menial task of moving boxes did not compare to helping eradicate crime from the city. Seeing as Kyoji was receiving S-rank missions this one may have been nothing to him. Tsubaki felt accomplished by receiving the invite. She felt the way she dressed did have an impact on getting the invite in the first place. Her old sandals and kimono were nice and good for casual goings, but her Kirigakure military uniform worked especially well when in the public eye helping her gain respect from her peers.

Tsubaki thought about the proposal for second before asking what the mission was exactly. And she was able to guess it accurately. "Yes you are correct. Lord Mizukage first wants me to grab a few thugs off the street. Rehabilitate them into respectable shinobi. Show them that the criminal life will eventually catch up to them. Then weakening the crime lords forces will we assassinate him." Kyoji reached into his to pick up one of the scrolls given to him. It was the B-rank mission to grab a few of the criminals.

"Here's the first step if you are interested. I will be taking this the moment we get back to the city." He would give her the mission specs if she reached out to grab it. The criminal element in the city had grown exponentially. And the Jounins were needed in weeding out a particular powerful criminal lord and his small manned army at the heel of his influence.

Kyoji explained the steps the Mizukage wanted them to take. It was a simple battle plan. Take out some of the subordinates to weaken the defenses of the crime lord before making a major move. "Rehabilitate? Doubtful. The world would be better off with their kind put in their grave. But it's whateves." She disagreed, but tried to look on the bright side. Perhaps if they were beaten hard enough they would get the message. She wanted to test her steel-enforced combat boots on some real flesh. Tsubaki took the scroll and stashed it in her hip pouch willing to read it on their ride back. The sound of hooves clacking on the cobblestone drew Tsubaki's attention to an arriving wagon. "Here we go!" The sailors worked to load the wagon efficiently. In about twenty minutes it was ready to depart. Tsubaki sat on one of the crates in the back of the wagon. Once Kyoji boarded the wagon would take off back to Kirigakure.

[Exit -> Kirigakure]

Kyoji listened to Tsubaki's reply. But all he could do was shrug. To be honest she was right, he wanted nothing more than to kill every single last one of them. His blood lust had always been there and ready to exude itself in battle. However he had to play this out how the Mizukage wanted. He had a more strategic plan in place. Kyo was more about that action then carefully laid plans. But he did have permission to assassinate the leader when it was all said and done.

"You're right. But we will have our chance of eliminating most of them. Which is fine by me." He said to her. She took the scroll and stashed it on her person. The wagon finally arrived and the Chuunin hopped on. Kyoji followed suit and the duo finished up there mission and headed back to the village.

[Exit -> Kirigakure]