Protect the Farmers

Spoiler:

The Last harvest. Seid and company made their way into the beautiful country of the Land of Lightning. The journey was uneventful but they had made haste. This mission had the potential to be very dangerous. The locals had contacted Kumo for help stopping bandits in the area. They had become a problem in the vast land of a large country. The bandits need a culling. He to had ran into a large number of bandits before.

They were becoming more nefarious after the other. Darkseid was leading the mission, dressed in with a Flak Jacket over his armor. He also had all his tools equipped and ready to use. There would be no bandits that would be able to ruin this mission. Also the harvest were fruits and vegetables. Something that was a favorite meal for Seid. Perhaps they could yield some for their services.

Andalusa would be following not too far away from Seid, it was a bit of a boring trip although it had gone by quickly and soon they had traversed what land of the Land of Lightning was necessary to arrive at their destination. The newly graduated genin next kept his hand far from his weapon's pouch, even if they were hidden from the view of most due to his red coat. If anything, he looked like a client for an escort mission. Something that could yield potentially interesting results if the bandits that were terrorizing the area saw them and decided to take a change. They'd literally deliver themselves to the shinobi. A thought that brought an amused smirk to the face of the man.

Bandits were scum, almost as much as his old man in many respects. They took what they wanted with no regard to the law and didn't care who they hurt in the process. It was disgusting and Andalusa would have a grand ole time putting some out of their misery for their greed and lack of compassion. The crops grown, fruits and vegetables, stretched across their immediate vision, ready for harvest. A tempting target for bandits needing to eat.

They were a few hours from Kumogakure. Leaving behind the tall, rocky outcrops which made up the northern portion of the Land of Lightning. The southern potion of the country led into a large valley and appears much more habitable with rolling grassy plains and even small woodlands here and there. Like many Shinobi she wears the common black sandals which secure her feet and ankles. Iro wears a pair of loose fitting black pants which extend shortly above her ankles, which she has wrapped in a set of white bandage wrap. Her pants are paired with a black sleeveless, backless top with a white undershirt in the same design. Her utility belt was worn around her waist which held a first aid on the back side next to her hip pouch and a single holster on her right. A single, tan obi is worn around her waist. Black leather arm guards covered both arms from the back of the hand up to the elbows. On her left forearm she wore a set of platinum bracelets which glowed a dim azure blue. Slapped over her body was a dark gray flak jacket with three scroll holsters, the basic secondary flak jacket provided by Kumogakure. A leather baldric is worn across her body where she carries a quarter staff made entirely of oak.

Around her forehead Iro sports her forehead protector. In a black cloth she has the forehead protector's steel plate facing the front with Sunagakure's emblem engraved on the plate. Iro has long, plum hair which is fastened in a long ponytail using a tan hair tie. She keeps the rest of her hair parted in the front with two long bangs reaching down to her chin. Iro herself stands 5'8 and weighs approximately 135 lbs. With deep tan skin she bares golden amber eyes. Iro has an impressive athletic figure including a toned abdomen with muscle work shown around her body.

It was certainly harvest season. Iro was no botanist but the crops which spanned the fields looked good enough to eat, assuming they were washed from the soil and manure used to help grow them. It was easy prey for brigands seeing as the town was long away from Kumogakure's reach. The town had little to no authority there. Thugs were a minor threat to Chuunin. They were the average ninja, well-versed in multiple combat arts and physically conditioned beyond normal. Seeing as Iro and Seid were exceptional Chuunin they had little to worry about. It was the reason why the Genin was able to tag along with them in the first place. "Do you have any plans, Seid? Or should we just respond when an attack starts?" Iro offered as a piece of advice. They were quick so responding wouldn't be a bad option, but if these bandits were organized in the slightest they could read them like a book.

The trio of Kumo ninja had made great pace. But the hard part was still ahead of them. The bandits that had been plaguing this land were considered very dangerous. No telling what type of riffraff was associated with the lot. Iro looking as fierce as ever, asked Darkseid what his plans were. This would be his second operation ran after successfully drawing the Walking Death to Kumogakure. So he had to be sharp. "Its a pretty big area to cover. But that makes it hard to approach here in secret. So Andalusa, you can get Iro's back. You can hide yourselves, and will wait for the the bandits to approach. They have already been here before so they may think this is an easy picking."

The farmers were already out and about. Trying to do their jobs quickly but carefully, as it was important do it right. However their fear of bandits spurred them to be faster. Seid pointed towards the ten workers in the field as they walked closer to the natives. "I will stay nearby with the workers. And will be protecting them personally. They aren't ninjas so we will know when they are coming. You both can take them by surprise if you see them. But be sure not harm their crops if a battle were breakout. Lead them into the forest area if possible."

Andalusa would nod at Seids words, before speaking himself. "I won't lie to either of you, I just graduated from the Academy, so I don't have much in the way of techniques, but I'll do my best to cover you Iro-san." He would say simply as they walked. Some of the workers were out and about already, trying to work swiftly, without damaging the fruits of their labors. "Hiding is difficult in a suit and coat, but I should be able to do something clever if I can get some hay and an old hat." He would say, his eyes drifting toward a set up for a scarecrow to be set up. It was empty at the moment and a perfect place for him to hide in plain sight.

Luckily, one of the workers heard him and smiled before pointing behind him. "We have some hay bales over there, take whatever you need, and thank you." The man would say, prompting a nod from Andy "Of course, and thank you." He would say before walking toward the hay and pulling out a kunai. He'd systematically begin to cut small nicks and holes in his suit. He couldn't hide on a farm while wearing a suit at least not in the normal way. But there was never a short of animosity between those in the country and those that lived in cities. So someone getting a suit to put on a scarecrow wouldn't be difficult. He'd reach the hale bay and begin to stuff his clothing with hay, the holes making some stick out at various points along his body. "Whole new meaning to 'stuffing something' doesn't me?" He'd ask to no one in particular. One he was done he turn to look for an hold hat where a farmer would be coming out of a nearby building and toss one to him. It had been one of the ones working in the field. He must've stopped to get him one. "Thank you, there any crates for people to sit on out there? I'll need to stand on it." He said simply, to which the farmer would nod in the affirmative, prompting Andy to move toward the set up.

He'd grab an empty crate on the way and set it in front of the scarecrows set up, conveniently at an angle to see the best lines of approach and stand on the crate, which was hidden in the vines and growth on the ground. He'd stretch out his arms, his hair tied to a ponytail that would be hidden by his body and the hat tilted down slightly to hide his features. He'd effectively hide in plain sight, since he was unable to do so by hiding out of sight.

Iro heard out Seid's suggestion. It was fairly direct: Iro and the new Genin will hide as Seid acted as a false front. She felt the plan could use a bit more...convincing, however. Her hands moved up and held the Shadow Clone seal. In a moment she created an exact replica of herself standing next to their squad leader. "I'll use this clone to accompany you, Seid. If these bandits are the least bit experienced they would know Shinobi security at least operates in pairs. If they just see you all by yourself they may expect reinforcements somewhere." Iro's clone nodded to her hostess' words. This was a delicate mission that required the consideration of their environment. There are a lot of real scenarios such as this. Iro's Ninjutsu usage will be severely limited which was harsh considering her three elements: Wind, Fire, and Scorch. Fire and Wind were known for their widespread destruction. Fire indiscriminately burned everything in its path whereas Wind had wide scale effects. Scorch served as an even more intense version of Fire decimating anything in its path. This would certainly be bad new for the ripe crops in the area. Causing destruction to these crops would not be of minor consequence, either. This town relied on its agriculture to survive. Losing an entire harvest would leave a lot of them stricken poor.

Iro cycled in some deep thought deciding what was the best tool for the job. Certainly it all came down to keeping the potential raiders off of the crop fields in the first place. But if that failed, Taijutsu and her staff were probably the best options. Even using basic ninja tools such as throwing shuriken and kunai risked harming too many crops, and worst case scenario, innocents passing through. It was difficult to see what the backdrop was among a field of crops. A stray kunai might find itself in an unsuspecting victim's back. By the time she was done with her thought the Genin was done assembling his elaborate disguise. She was...not convinced it would work. If anything the raiders might use him for cover unknowingly being an actual human. She kept her mouth shut not wanting to spoil his creativity. Iro would situate in a field of corn. The tall stalks were great for hiding in. She'd stay in a low squat to allow her to see movement past the thinnest part of the corn stalks. Meanwhile the clone stuck close to Seid's side acting as a standard partner to the operation.

Seid nodded as Iro offered to have her a clone stay with him. It was good reasoning, however his powers were harder to use with others around him. No matter, he would find a way to maneuver around his comrades. He had true mastery of his powers now. No one really knew the extent of his strength, and neither did he completely. But he was able to feel it and so he had trust in his own skills. He would see Andalusa attempt to conceal himself in the open farmland. Though Seid appreciated his attempt, though he had hoped he would have used the Transformation technique. With Iro nearby he knew everything would be fine.

"Alright Iro, lets keep a lookout for them." Seid said activating his Doujutsu. He'd be able to notice the flow of chakra, increasing his perception of all living things. Giving them a noticeable glow even in the daytime. A single ring appeared in his eyes as the Rin'negan was activated. Unbeknownst to them, there was a group of bandits approaching. Though mostly unskilled, there was a ninja among them. The leader of the pack was much more than a bandit.

50 meters away from the field they were walking through a wooded area near it. There were five bandits, none of them would ever be regarded as special. However they weren't all folly. They would be approaching soon.  

Spoiler:

Behind them was there impromptu leader. A shamed ninja from the Village Hidden in the Grass. A missing ninja by the name Koga the Slayer. A reputed kenjutsu user, also known to wield Earth release. They would have to be hard pressed to defeat him. However they would be in for a rude awakening.

Spoiler:

The Transformation technique, a useful jutsu that allows one to take the form of an object or person. An invaluable tool for infiltration and stealth missions. Not however, a particularly useful technique if there’s a chance someone might touch you, and dispel the illusion. Andy hoped some of the now approaching thugs would try to use him as cover. If they touched him, they’d feel solid mass, behind straw. Exactly as a scarecrow should feel, and it might prevent them from thinking twice and looking up. However if they touched him by accident and dispelled the illusion, a cloud of smoke would arise. A twitchy bandit, or shinobi would throws knives and jutsu first, and ask questions later. So Andy stood perfectly still, arms outstretched, straw sticking out, floppy hat covering his head, he could barely see under the rim of the hat. What he saw however didn’t give him the warm and fuzzies.

A B ranked Missing Ninja was amongst the targets. No one had mentioned anything like that but it was something he should have considered. He couldn’t hide from Koga for long, not like this. However if he tried to move from this position he’d be in a severe amount of danger from the man. Andy was strong, fast, or very coordinated yet. He was smart, that’s about all he had going for him. If Koga got too close, Andy would be killed wholesale, and no amount of pre-emptive arming on his part would assist him. The thugs Koga brought along with him were your typical lowlife, stupid, but plenty of brawn. Andy would be hard pressed to handle any of them himself as well, he just didn’t have the physical capabilities to pull it off yet. If any of them got too close without him being found out, he could potentially get the drop on them, literally, with a knife through the skull. Otherwise, he would be distraction at best against these guys.

(We will continue without Iro I believe)

The sky was bright, no clouds seemed to be threatening them with a bad time. But there was a storm brewing, coming out of the woods. The bandits weren't to much of a threat to the ninjas there, they would pose more of a threat to the farmers. But they would be shocked to see that a ninja accompanied them. The group was about to walk out of the woods, and Seid was able to get an eye on them using his Rinnegan. "Enemies approaching north of us. 6 in total. I will engage them there in the woods. If any get past me. Keep them from the farmers. Attack them quick and easy."

There wasn't much time to talk about anything else. Darkseids eyes narrowed as he focused on the group. Among them was one with an impressive tenketsu system. He could tell this man was not like the rest. Seid ran forward, picking up incredible speed to meet the the group of bandits coming through. When he took off it would feel like a blur, till he came upon the first tall trees. Not like the Senju trees, but were high enough for ninja to travel unperturbed. He jumped up a tree and began to leap from branch to branch. It took only a few minutes before he could see them walking towards the farms.

He was high enough in the trees about 15 meters on top of a branch. "Halt. No trespassers allowed here, return at once." The group stopped abruptly. One of them was not taken aback by the sudden voice.

The dressed in black ninja gi looked up to Seid. "They sent for Kumogakure ninja. How unsavory."

"Theres only one of him as well." One of the grunts said. And another chimed in. "Lets kick his ass!"

Darkseid ignored them and spoke to the ninja. "I am Darkseid. You were unfortunate enough to meet me."

This seemed to alert the ninja as he recognized the name. Which meant he took him serious now. "I am Koga the Slayer. And no...it's the other way around." He quickly made one handsign. Seid tensed up to react. He hadn't expected him to fight so quickly. Chakra tensed up in Koga's body. And out of his mouth he shot earth bullets, they traveled much faster than anything a bandit could ever hope to do.

Seid jumped off the tree and headed to another branch. But he kept shooting. The grunts took this time to escape from the battle. Seid was going to do his best to limit those numbers. He took three Kunai from his pouch, as another bullet shot by and he dodged it. He had a good vantage point from where he was at. Aiming hard and true, he was able to the throw the kunai. The three kunai hit their targets, three of the grunts felt a pained kunai on their back. Non-fatal injuries but they could still die.

Two of them managed to get away. He would have to trust Andalusa and Iro to take care of the two.

"I guess that just leaves us two." Koga said from the ground. Seid jumped down as well, giving themselves about twenty meters of space. "Perhaps I can learn a thing or two about those eyes." He seemed genuinely interested in his eyes.

"You will be the first to see it." Seid said preparing for the fight.

(I'll just finish this up.)

The two who thought they were getting away were about to get a rude awakening. Still within range of Seid Otsutsuki, they would not disturb the Genin Anda and the Chuunin Iro. They were mere fodder before him, not the ninja of course. Remembering where the two grunts were running and how fast they were going. Seid stuck a hand outstretched behind him and a two chakra receivers shot from his hand at an incredible speed. They shot an angle where no matter what happened, being pierced by them would cause death.

The two were almost towards the edge of the forest area leading to the fields. However they were stopped when two three meter black rods pierced their chest. Into their hearts and into stabbed itself into the ground. Keeping the bodies propped up but not able to fall completely. They were dead upon piercing.

"Your group is now dead. You can meet their fate as well as I gave you a chance to surrender already." Darkseid said flashing his Rinnegan. Koga seemed visibly upset that his group was taken out in a manner of minutes. Even with him providing cover fire. Now he knew that Seid was someone to face seriously.

"No. Now you will die for your insolence." Koga yelled in anger and dashed forward with an amazing first step.

Though Koga was used to taking most folks by surprise. He would have none of that advantage against a foe like Darkseid. He unsheathed his katana sword swiftly and advanced upon a stationary Kumo Chuunin who was waiting for him to make a move. If he had known his techniques beforehand, he wouldn't have rushed him so quickly. Koga expected a long drawn outfight. That also would live up to expectations. The Missing ninja moved very fast but the moment he stepped into Seids range, the fight was over already.

Koga reached back arching his sword arm to make a sharp diagonal cut towards Seids chest. Though he was a meter away, an invisible field began to generate itself from Darkseids body. It was the first time he had utilized this technique. It blasted out to about 3 meters, and was able to block Koga from advancing further. But the force field was incredibly strong, able to hit Koga with tremendous force. He was thrown back about 15 meters. Crashing into the ground and sliding till he hit a tree and embedded himself into the large base of the tree.

It had broken almost all of the mans bones with the vicious attack. Blood was pouring from the mans mouth as he struggling to focus on what happened. His face equally battered, sputtered blood with words trying to come out. "How...what was that..." He said teetering in and out of consciousness. Darkseid looked at Koga and said nothing. He didn't answer deadmen. He aimed his arm at Koga. And a stream of black lightning turning into a dragon, shot forward with an even stronger speed. It blasted and tore right through Koga and the tree. Killing him instantly. Seid stood among the many corpses he had caused. With them dead, he had protected the farmers from the threat. A mission complete.

[Exit]