So Many Bandits, so Little Time (Mission, Scare)

Spoiler:

Akame was going at a mild jog, keeping pace with Tsuki. She wasn't sure what Tsuki was capable of yet, but for a genin a good jog was always a great way to build stamina. Akame had no issues maintaining a pace like this for extended periods of time, though she wanted to get to the point where her body could maintain a dead sprint in a similar fashion. It would take a lot of work, but it was work she was willing to do if it meant getting back to form. When they were a few hundred meters from the gates on the road towards the Land of Frost, Akame would turn her head to look at Tsuki in order to speak to the girl.

"From what I read of your file, you're good a ninjutsu, right?" Assuming Tsuki would confirm this, Akame would continue. "Good. The mission we've got is to eliminate some bandits that are disturbing some trade along the southern roads into the Land of Frost. These bastards just keep coming back, like flies. Normally I could handle this myself, but my purpose is to drill you on skeleton squad formations. I'm going to be point and you're going to be rear. Your role is to cover my flanks and engage the enemy from a distance in some instances. My job is to get in close and eliminate them." Akame paused here, allowing Tsuki to take in what she said for a moment before continuing. "To put it simply, your job on this mission is to watch my back and to get real experience using your skills in practical ways rather than controlled training environments."

Akame would activate her sensing ability after this last sentence since they would be a good distance from the village now and Akame wasn't one to trust her environment completely. "Any questions?" The ANBU was not in her typical ANBU garb for the mission, bearing no mask though she bore no markings for Kumogakure either. An old habit due to being an ANBU, where identifying ones village needed to be as hard as possible in the case of capture. She was just another jonin to this Tsuki girl, and jonin were there to answer questions. Akame would do just that, ready to elaborate on anything she may want to ask.




Using:

Sensing

Tsuki jogged along with Akame for what felt like forever, but at the same time she didn’t complain about the exercise. It wasn’t often someone takes her out on a mission, or really ever. Never having a teacher or comrade so she was on her own since day 1 of being Genin. Akame looked over her shoulder although Tsuki was looking at the side for the moment. Akame asked for confirmation that Tsuki was good with ninjutsu to which the Tatsuda nods her head in agreement. Then Akame proceeded to give a briefing on what exactly they were doing. To be honest Tsuki wasn’t sure if she could take on so many people at once since her fights so far was 1v1.

Still after Akame told the genin what her role in this mission was, Tsuki felt a little bit safer. Tsuki nods her head agreeing to what Akame says, and of course she had questions as well.

”Yes actually. When we get to this location where the bandits are, would it be possible for me to use Phoenix Sage Fire before you charge in? So that you can take advantage of the chaos of fire and smoke? Or would a simple Fireball from afar suffice?” Tsuki had to ask this since both were area of effect jutsu and Akame could get caught up in that. So initiating a surprise attack before Akame gets close to them would be preferable in Tsuki’s mind.

The young genin asked Akame a question of her own regarding how the ANBU wished to proceed with the mission. Young genin... such an odd way to think of the almost fully grown woman she was paired with today. Tsuki couldn't have been more than four or five years younger than Akame and already her numerous missions as a shinobi had taken their toll on how she viewed the world. Akame herself was nearly twenty now herself, having been an ANBU for years now and a captain for the past year. Not THE captain anymore, but one of the subordinate leaders that typically organized the smaller squads and ran missions more frequently than the actual captain did. It was a position that she didn't mind, especially considering how much weaker she was now than she had been before taking her extended nap.

”Yes actually. When we get to this location where the bandits are, would it be possible for me to use Phoenix Sage Fire before you charge in? So that you can take advantage of the chaos of fire and smoke? Or would a simple Fireball from afar suffice?” The question showed an eagerness to take part in a mission, and this was a C rank mission which generally called for an entire jonin led squad of genin to complete efficiently.

Akame's reply to the genin was delivered in a bemused tone, the amusement not hidden by Akame like it would be later on during the mission. "Let's hold off on that for now. Neither of us are sure what the battlefield will look like, though I know the range of operation for the closest group of bandits is about a one hour jog away from the village at this pace. The groups of bandits may all be linked and operating in tandem or they may be separate groups. We have to determine that first, if possible, and in order to do that we have to be more stealthy than brash."

She had made sure to make the reply as short as possible with as much detail as possible for her plan of action. Akame allowed Tsuki to process this information since she didn't appear to have Akame's brainpower and processing speed. That wasn't something she could reasonably expect from the genin however, as Akame's intelligence had been unnatural for her entire life. "The bandits themselves don't appear to have much in terms of firepower, though there were reports of a rogue shinobi showing up at a few of the raid locations. We're going to stick to something simple and effective- the Transformation Jutsu. We've got to appear relatively helpless but also like a good target."

Akame wove the seals for Transformation at this point, her form changing with a puff of smoke into the visage of a man of medium height and weight with samurai armor on and a single katana on the left hip. The fuuinjutsu tattoo was gone, replaced by ordinary skin. The facial features were ordinary, as were the eye and hair color with a dark brown color tinting both. A pack was slung over his back that appeared to be full of stuff. It was a weight that would slow a fighter down in a fight, though the bandits wouldn't know it was a fake pack until it was too late. With a small smile, Akame would finish speaking. "Now you need to transform into the target. Make yourself appear vulnerable, though not too weak and pathetic. Preferably a woman with lots of jewelry on."

Once that was done, Akame would lead Tsuki towards the mission goal. After about an hour, Akame would hold her hand up to indicate to Tsuki to slow down. They were getting close to the edge of the operating range of the first group now and couldn't appear to be running or out of breath either one else it would risk their cover. Akame's attention turned back to Tsuki. "You ready?"




Using:


Sensing

Transformation

Tsuki was sure that her suggestions amused the experienced kunoichi. Still she had a point that Tsuki can't deny. For it really depends on the choice of battlefield that will decide for Tsuki on what she should do. Still she has at least a couple of ideas of what she should do depending on the distance. Akame later spoke of using disguises to distract the enemy potentially. Tsuki listened and watched as Akame transformed herself into a traveling warrior of sorts. Her voice even changed!

Now it was Tsuki's turn, and Akame suggested a woman with lots of jewelry. Appear vulnerable, and yet not too vulnerable where it's obvious that something is up. The young Tatsuda pondered for a few moments of what image Tsuki could use. Once the idea was set in her mind, Tsuki formed the tiger seal and with a poof of smoke her image changed. Now Tsuki appeared to be a young woman in her mid twenties with long blonde hair partially covered by a red bandana. Her eyes turned into hazel blue and her attire changed into a leather jacket with a blue blouse underneath. On her belt is a couple of brooches of stags and wolves on the right side. She has a hip pouch that lightly rings of coins hopping with each step. Of course there is a dagger-like knife tucked on her left flank of the belt. Pants were of baggy cloth and has a pair of leather boots. On her fingers were rings of various types. Some were just simple bands of silver and brass. While others appear to be more valuable with intricate designs and an opal and sapphire set into the rings. On her earlobes is studded rubies held by silver earrings. Lastly she has her backpack that contains her supplies.

"Okay, I think this should do." Tsuki muttered to herself as they kept jogging for another hour. Akame gestured for Tsuki to slow down and she gratefully does so. She was winded to say the least as she hasn't done that much running before. Still Tsuki reached behind her to bring up the canteen. After taking a swig of water and getting her body to calm down. Tsuki nods her head that she's ready now. Her breathing more or less calmer than before so it shouldn't risk blowing their cover. If they continue forward preferably at a walking pace Tsuki will drink a little bit more of her water. Then she'll put a cap on it and return it to her bag.

Used Transformation

Tsuki transformed into an appropriate form for the task at hand, getting Akame's approval. Once they got to the spot and Tsuki confirmed she was good to go, Akame would begin to walk forward at a mild pace. "We're on the lookout for areas where the road has numerous rocks, trees, or other obstructions nearby that could hide a sizable amount of men. More than likely, if they're in a group, they'll send most after me and a couple after you in order to divide my attention. Should they attack you, defend with ninjutsu. That tends to scare off the small fry since nobody wants to fight fire with a sword if they don't have to. If they don't immediately charge, just make sure none of them get behind me and don't get caught by surprise."

Akame's advice ended there as they kept walking. Her sensory abilities soon picked up a group of signatures about a hundred meters ahead of their location. "Get ready," she warned Tsuki. Akame made no adjustment to her physical form, pretending as if she didn't sense the men as they prepared their ambush. Likely a tactic that they'd done before. Ahead, there was a bend in the road with a large boulder sitting on the inner edge of the bend. That prevented them from seeing the other side of the road, where there were a few other larger boulders. It was a good spot for an ambush, since you couldn't see what was going on until you had the rocks on both sides of you.

That was no issue for her, of course. She could tell that there were four men hiding behind the inner most boulder where Tsuki and herself couldn't actually see, with three hiding on the smaller set of rocks on the other side of the road around the bend. Akame walked a bit faster to get in front of Tsuki, putting a few meters between them as they approached the bend. When Akame turned the bend and was between the two rocks, the seven men began to move.

They shuffled out from both sides, prompting Akame to stop dead in her tracks so they were all in front of the pair of shinobi. Her hand went to the katana at her hip on instinct, thumb pushing it out of its sheathe slightly. One of the bandits from the group of four on their right stepped forward, the other six trying to look as menacing as possible.

"Don't try anything stupid, now. There's seven of us and one and a half of you, so just drop your packs, all those pretty jewels, and we can all go on our merry ways, okay?" He smiled, hefting an ax meant for cutting wood. The other six were similarly armed, with one having a bow and a small quiver of arrows. Two had clubs, one had a pitchfork, one had a pair of knives, and one actually had a chipped katana.

Akame said nothing at first, giving the bandit time to think that she was being foolhardy. Then, in an impressive showing of speed, the jonin would draw her blade and take the head of the apparent leader in one quick slice. Before his head or body either one had hit the ground, she had made a blazing fast dash for the bandit bearing the bow and arrow. He was in the group on their left, the one with three initial starting members. The two companions he had were the ones with a pitchfork and a katana, and Akame moving that way meant that the other three were behind her. Tsuki would need to cover her flank as well as defend herself, as one of those three had started running for her. It was the guy that had the pair of knives, and he was only twenty meters or so away from Tsuki. The two guys with clubs stood around for a moment, stunned, before starting to move towards Akame.

The man with the bow died quickly, her blade taking his right arm at the elbow before twisting to slit his throat in one smooth motion. She had enough time to block the blow from the man with the katana and then dodge to the side to evade the jab of the pitchfork. Her two opponents began to circle around her, waiting for the two men with clubs to catch up and make this easier. They weren't paying much attention to the girl with all the jewelry on, that was for sure...




Used:

Dance of the Blade Queen- C rank

Zantetsuken- A rank

Sensing

Transformation



Stats:

Strength: C -> C+-> B+
Constitution: C
Stamina: B
Speed: C -> C+-> B+
Coordination: B -> B+ -> B
Intelligence: A
Perception: B

A light jingle from the coins can be heard with each step Tsuki took. Although that's her actual ryo that's making the noise, but it was enough to convince anyone that she has some money that's not jewelry. Of course Akame's plan worked like a charm as they were walking on a bend there was a large boulder on the inner bend, and a line of smaller boulders on the outer bend. Tsuki did stay a little bit behind from Akame, a good 7 to 10 meters at most. Still the young Tatsuda found it a little insulting that she counted as a half. Her expression turned stoic, and of course with Akame quick to take care of the leader of the pack Tsuki's shifted from one person to the next.

Her eyes caught sight of one bandit with a pair of knives running to Tsuki. She walked a little bit closer to Akame since the distance was a bit too much for her lava release to be effective as the knife-wielding bandit comes after her. With just two seals of Tiger and Ox as the bandit crossed the 15 meter mark from Tsuki. She held off until the man gets within 10 meters, and by pouring chakra into the earth a small ring of fiery veins appears beneath the bandit's feet. At that same moment of heat rising up a spear of rock black as the night covered in red veins erupts underneath the bandit as Tsuki will attempt to skewer the poor man. The spearhead breaks after it punctured the bandit as lava pours out of the shaft essentially burning everything from the inside as the spear continues to climb higher into the sky until it was 5 meters tall. Carrying the bandit with it to the top before it breaks off in half. It'll fall towards the other two bandit's direction albeit little chance of hitting them. However their companion will collapse at their feet hopefully to stop them for even a moment.

With a shift of Tsuki's hands to form the Ram seal, the many fragments of volcanic rock caused by the broken shaft will launch exactly 15 shrapnel in high speeds towards the two bandits' direction. With them getting peppered by the sharp rocks, they probably won't be able to circle around Akame completely. At least Tsuki hopes they will react like she expects them to be.

Used Lava Mastery - UA (Reduces Lava Techniques by 1 rank in cost, but Doton Techniques cost 1 rank higher.)

Used Magma Spear -3 (C-rank technique, C+ Speed)
Used Volcanic Shrapnel -3 (C-rank technique, C+ Speed)

Strength: D
Constitution: C+
Stamina: D
Speed: D
Coordination: C
Intelligence: D
Perception: D

Stamina: 44/50 (-6)

Tsuki could at least use decent ninjutsu for a genin of her supposed skill level. She utilized a kekkei genkai, Lava Release if Akame remembered correctly, to halt the other group of bandits. That's a bit different from a Phoenix Sage Fire, the ANBU thought, amused. The bandit with the pitchfork Akame was facing made a thrust at her which Akame parried to the side before slipping around the weapon on the opposite side of the katana wielding man. That put his friend in his way, making this a one on one fight for a time. And this guy... was not good enough to one on one Akame. Not when she was already inside his guard.

A swift upwards slice took both of the pitchfork bandit's hands before a pivot and twist of Akame's wrists severed his head with a follow up strike. The man hadn't even had time to make a cry of pain before death took him. His body folded onto the ground now that it was without its head, lifeless and twitching as it refused to accept that it was dead just yet. The katana wielding bandit just stood there, stunned at the display. They hadn't been expecting such ferocity from these two, though they were beginning to realize what had happened to them. Akame wasted no time, pushing over the body of the first bandit as it fell with a low, quick leap. She feinted with a spinning slash to his head, the man reacting just barely in time to block that blow. Her blade trajectory changed however, and the excellent quality katana she wielded sheered through the meat and bone of his left thigh like it was made of paper. This man did scream, and he screamed more when Akame took the right hand which bore the katana on her follow up slash as he fell. Disarmed and dislegged, he would lay there and bleed as Akame swiveled to catch a view of Tsuki's fight.

The genin had killed one man and halted the other two, each with numerous holes in them from what appeared to be a fairly decent ninjutsu on Tsuki's part. Akame hurried over to them, as both had fallen but one was getting up to try and run away. The other had been struck on the head and was missing most of the left side of his nose as well as his left eye. He just laid there, moaning in agony. The man who was trying to flee had a limp and an injured arm from the looks of it, and both men had dropped their weapons. Akame calmly approached the fleeing man as terror filled his eyes.

"No, please, don't! I didn't want to do this, I sw- AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!" Akame's sword cut his leg off at the knee before he could finish his pleas. The bandit dropped to the ground and Akame kicked him over, waving for Tsuki to come. Once the genin had gotten to her, Akame would continue with the next bit of... education. The man had been weakly trying to crawl away, but a stare and threatening gesture with the katana had kept him where he was.

The ANBU tore the man's belt off his waist and made a tourniquet for the bleeding stump of his leg to stop the blood flow. "This is one of the more difficult parts, Tsuki," Akame said quietly as she brandished her ebony katana in front of the man once she was done with the first aid. "Field interrogation." She said no more, allowing the genin to fill in the blanks. "Hold his left arm down, Tsuki."

The man's eyes widened at those words, though Akame wouldn't let him speak. "You're going to tell me what I want to know, and then I'll have Tsuki here cauterize your wounds as well as the wounds of your comrades. They'll both die from blood loss soon if you don't hurry, though." Akame, still standing over the man, placed a foot on his right arm which was the wounded one that had been lying almost uselessly to the side. He grimaced in pain and another gasp of pain escaped his lips. "There have been numerous bandit attacks like yours along this road the past few months. Are you all working in tandem?"

The man said nothing at first before looking at Akame, fear in his eyes. "Please, if I tell you and you let me live he'll-" he was cut off by Akame as her sword point buried itself into the ground. His pinky finger just so happened to be in the way of that path however, and his words were cut off by another howl of pain.

"Are you working in tandem?"

"I can't tell you th-"

The ring finger this time.

"Are you working in tandem?"

He eyed her, hatred and fear now both present in his eyes as his voice, hoarse from screaming, croaked the response she needed to hear.

"Yes, yes, please stop! Please, let me go!"

Akame placed her sword point on his middle finger. "You're not lying, are you?"

He viciously shook his head, but Akame pushed down and severed this finger as well. He screamed again with power Akame hadn't been expecting, honestly. She looked to Tsuki. "Confirmation is important." She turned back to him. "Are you sure you're working in tandem?" He nodded his head just as vigorously as he had shaken it earlier. "How many are at the next raid points?"

The man answered immediately this time, without hesitation. "There's six at the next one, I don't know about the rest, I swear! Please, leave me alone!"

Akame severed his index finger. "Surely you must know them all?"

"NO! I don't, please!"

And finally, his thumb. This scream was weak, almost silent as his overworked throat rebelled. "Really? You're sure?" The man nodded weakly, his body now feeling the effects of blood loss. Akame studied him and, after a few moments to analyze if he was lying or not, stepped off his arm. "Cauterize his wounds, then get his friend's wounds. The man I cut down is dead already. Then we need to get rid of the bodies." Akame would wait for Tsuki to complete her first aid before following up on the disposal of the bodies.




Using: Sensory

The turn of events was successful on Tsuki's part since she permanently removed one hostile, incapacitated the second, and the mostly injure the third bandit. Leaving Akame only having to deal with just the two on her end. Whom made short work of her two opponents. The only one left awake from Tsuki's attack recovered enough to make a run for it. Tsuki only realized that the man had gotten up, and frankly she was about to start weaving seals for the Great Fireball technique until Akame cut the man's leg with blurring speed that Tsuki could barely comprehend. If there was anything that Tsuki was glad is that Akame was on her side. Or rather on Kumogakure's side to be more specific.

No sooner had the man went down, Akame even severed one of the man's arms. Muscle and bone didn't seem to offer much resistance against the experienced kunoichi's blade. Tsuki felt a lump in her throat as she started to feel a bit queasy. Simply killing a person was the easy part as Tsuki's spear had demonstrated, but the suffering made it ten times worse in her mind. Regardless Akame addressing Tsuki to hold the screaming man down snapped her out of it. Albeit she still felt a bit uneasy about this, Tsuki trekked over as she reached for her baton and forced the bandit to lay down by pushing with her foot on his chest. Simultaneously she smacks the left arm at the elbow to make it buckle and manage to secure it by the wrist with her free hand. Doing so caused Tsuki to kneel down, with her knee on the man's chest so all of her weight and strength is focused on his solar plexus. Without having an arm to brace himself it was just abdomen muscles against her sheer weight and strength. If any resistance was to occur during the screaming Tsuki will press harder potentially make it difficult to breathe from the pressure. If need be Tsuki will clap the bandit on the jaw with her baton.

Akame wanted this to be a lesson for field interrogation. While it wasn't unknown to Tsuki, she has never experienced it herself until now. Her molten gold eyes were mostly focused on the man's face as Tsuki was trying not to look at each severed and split fingers that Akame made. It still made Tsuki uneasy as this was a new experience to her, and while on the outside Tsuki appears to be stoic save for the fact that her hand was turning white from gripping her baton. Eventually the man gave up the information of another group further up on the road. Tsuki held her breath as sweat trickles down her spine. In truth she had no idea of what Akame was going to do next. Luckily Akame turned and ordered Tsuki to begin cauterizing them.

Relief faintly showed in Tsuki's eyes before she lifted her foot from the man's chest. Reaching in her bag, she gets out some bandage wrap and grain alcohol. After wrapping what is pretty much gauze around the wounds of the living. Tsuki used up her ball of wrap and a half a bottle of alcohol. Putting a cap on her bottle, Tsuki tucks the alcohol back in her bag. The next part Tsuki thought of a couple ways to dispose of the bodies, but unsure how Akame wants it done.

"Do you want to be discreet about it or does it not matter at this point?"

As Tsuki made to manually bandage the wounds of the men, Akame would shake her head. "Don't bother. They'll die before any help can get here." With that, she would wave Tsuki back before slitting the man's throat in a quick stroke. She would do the same to the other man, still lying on the ground. When Tsuki inquired as to how to dispose of the bodies, Akame would respond in a casual tone of voice.

"We need to pile them up off the main roadway and then burn them. How it's done doesn't really matter, as long as they burn without putting the area around us at risk." Akame cleaned her blade off on the shirt of the bandit whom she had interrogated earlier before sheathing the ebony blade. "Start dragging them over here." The ANBU then squatted down next to his head and scooped him up under the armpits, dragging the corpse about twenty meters from the side of the road before dropping him. Assuming Tsuki was following suit, Akame would continue back to aid in the grizzly task they had to do before moving on.

The way the two shinobi had gone about this was a bit brutal and bloody, yes, but Akame had intended to send a message that crime was not welcome within the boundaries of the Land of Lightning. There was no reason for stealing another person's possessions, even if that person was rich. What was theirs was theirs so long as they themselves didn't steal it from someone else as far as she was concerned. That made thieves like these among the top on her list of types of people who could die without the world missing their presence too much.

Once the two shinobi had gotten the bodies piled up and all the, uh, "loose parts" picked up from the road and piled, Akame would stand back and fold her arms. "Alright then, let's see what you can do Tsuki. All they need to do is burn to ash, or skeletons at the minimum, without blowing up the area around us."




Using:

Sensory

Akame was swift to change her mind and killed the survivors. As Tsuki saw it as a swift mercy than slowly dying out here. Besides even if the one with the severed arm, fingers, and leg survived. There would've been no way the guy could've contributed to anything. The groaning man with rocks wedged into his face would have scars and one eye missing. So he could've lived through it, but Tsuki had no way of cauterizing their wounds since no Katon technique that she is aware can do that. He would've died from either the wound or it'll become infected and die from that.

The instructing "jounin" explained what they were to do with the bodies. It was unfortunate, but Tsuki acknowledged it. Sickening as it was to grab the bodies by the armpits and dumping in a pile twenty meters to the side of the road. Tsuki endured it as she could smell the iron scent of blood coming off from these bodies. She was quiet during the process as she really had nothing to say on the matter. Any loose parts Tsuki picked and thrown on top of the bodies. Not really caring about the crude weapons, although she does remove them from the road. Hoping to prevent them from damaging wagons and people's feet if they accidentally walk on them. Or worse even cut into horse's hooves.

Afterwards, Akame expressed that she wanted the bodies burned without damaging the surrounding area. Tsuki faintly hummed to herself as her molten golden eyes looked up for a moment.

"Hm… what to do…" Tsuki mumbled to herself as her mind was pondering on what Katon techniques she could use. There were a few things that came to mind, but all of them had area of effect. A sigh escaped from her lips before weaving together Tiger and Ox. From underneath the pile of bodies, sprouting through the mass is a broken column of volcanic rock as lava pours out of the rock. As it touches the flammable material such as clothing immediately ignites. The beautiful red flower of flames sizzling from the hair adding fuel and sweat glands evaporating from the sheer heat. Tsuki circled around the pile as she formed a single Ram. At first it didn't seem to do anything, but more lava pour out of the column's sides. Effectively burning anything within the pile from the ground up. However, it appears that for some reason the lava pouring out is actually trying to move away from Tsuki. Still once it covered the pile and it was thoroughly burning Tsuki dropped her concentration and just let it go free.

Turning her eyes back to Akame as she walked towards her direction. Tsuki's vision blurred for a moment as she could feel an increase of heat on her back. It wasn't harmful, but it was uncomfortable. Tsuki stopped to blink a few times before shaking her head like she is dismissing some memory. That image of her looking up at the sky. Sand dunes everywhere she could look, and most importantly a dark silhouette standing before her. In her head Tsuki felt damp like she has been swimming or gotten out of a bath. Most of all, she felt deathly still as it was hard to breathe. The silhouette of shadow spoke in a distorted voice that Tsuki couldn't define whether it was feminine or masculine.

"Farewell, and safe journeys, Akeno." Then, as if she was speaking even though her lips never moved. Tsuki spoke in a different voice albeit weakly to this silhouette.

”Besides… I got to see home for a couple of days… so I couldn't have asked for a better outcome than this…” Wind howled as a grey line fell from the bright sun between her eyes all the way down to her groin.

Tsuki finally blinked as she realized that tears were streaming down her face. She wasn't scared like she should be, as everything within this strange vision felt real. Like her body was split in half. Blinking a few times as she shook her head. Tsuki raised a hand to brush the tears away. A strange emotion, but Tsuki can label it as sadness like a full ache within her soul. If Akame was saying anything or doing anything Tsuki was unresponsive. Thankfully it only lasted for ten seconds, and the heat on her back faded away. Once she regained her composure, Tsuki will politely bow in an apologetic expression.

"Apologies, I don't know what came over me. However since we now know of a second ambush I suggest we go and take care of them as well. Best to be thorough and all that."

Used Magma Spear -3 CP (w/Lava Mastery)
Used Lava Split -1 CP (w/ Lava Mastery)

Learned Lava Split - D rank (821/150)

Stamina: 40/50 (-4 CP)

Akame raised her eyebrow when Tsuki started babbling incoherently for a good ten seconds or so. The genin had done well with Akame's order to burn the bodies, utilizing her kekkei genkai to do the deed. Akame had to admit, that was a potent ability to gave at ones disposal. It looked like it had properties of fire and earth from what she had seen of it with Tsuki's brief uses, and the chakra she sensed hinted that her suspicions were true. But she was also fairly certain that advanced elements didn't typically cause their bearers to hallucinate like this. The ANBU folder her arms under her breasts, examining Tsuki as her vision took hold.

"Well," Akame said as it started, "this is different." Once the girl was done, she would apologize and bow to Akame. It appeared as if she had started to cry as well, which could be a side effect of the vision itself or what Tsuki saw within that vision. Akame didn't know, she wasn't a psychologist or a medical shinobi. She was smart, one of the smartest in the world if she had to be perfectly honest with herself, but mental problems aren't exactly her specialty. All of her knowledge of the human body related on how to kill it or how to give first aid. Anything beyond that and Akame could only use her best guess.

The former ANBU captain eyed her genin charge for the day, eyebrow still ticked upwards slightly as she examined her. There was silence for a few seconds after Tsuki finished speaking as Akame contemplated what to say or do next. The girl didn't explain what that was or why it had happened and it really didn't matter that much in relation to the mission parameters. Akame could do this mission herself in all honesty, but there were always people who could learn from her. While she was away from ANBU tasks, that was the least she could do for the village.

"Right," Akame began slowly, eyeing Tsuki. "So... is that something that happens normally or is today just a special day?" It was important to get a good grasp of Tsuki's current mental state, that much she was certain of. She was looking for signs of something being wrong in the genin before the mission would commence. Depending on her decision, the genin may have to go back to the village to sit the rest of the mission out. After all, leaving one who could potentially not be able to defend themselves on the mission as it stood now would not be called a good choice by most military personnel.

To no one's surprise Akame held doubts within Tsuki. Here she was doing so well since she recovered from her mental therapy. Months had gone by without much incident, except for when Tsuki dreams. Even so she has never experienced this while she was awake. When Akame asked about what just happened to Tsuki, the Genin didn't really have an answer. Still she mustered up one as clear as Tsuki can make it.

"This is the first time it's happened in months. Out of all the missions I've done this is the first time it popped up." Whether that was good or bad Tsuki didn't know. It's not like she can control these visions either. As they happen on random occasions, and Tsuki makes a mental note that she'll have to visit Morikawa again. Dismissing her thoughts to focus on the present in front of her.

"At any rate, we should go ahead and take care of the next ambush. The faster we get it done, the better." Tsuki wanted to complete the mission given to her. It was the first mission that involved outside of Kumogakure's walls, and she wasn't going to let some vision ruin it.

"Right," Akame said somewhat doubtfully. "Stay close, then." With that, Akame would sheathe her blade and turned back towards the road to continue on their way. The next series of raids had been done in an area near a roadside inn that was popular among locals. It was at a crossroad with one road leading towards the coast of the Land of Lightning with the other end going towards the Land of Frost as well as the Land of Fire which made it a frequented road by merchants and the like. It earned a lot of money, was fairly large, and employed quite a few people from nearby villages.

Once Tsuki caught up to Akame, she would begin to describe the next part of their mission to Tsuki. "We knew the rough location of the next attack, but not how many were involved," she began. Akame peered over at Tsuki before continuing. "Sometimes you've got to do some unpleasant things to learn the things you need to learn. That jutsu you used that fired the rocks is a good one for that task and you should improve upon its usage. Try to make it fire at their legs only if you need to interrogate them, for example. That way they can't run away but you avoid doing too much internal damage and they stay alive longer. Be concise and to the point with your questions and the consequences for not answering. The more you dally, the more time they have to get used to the pain." Akame paused here again, noticing a splotch of blood on her hand. She casually wiped it on her shirt. "Any questions?"

If Tsuki had any questions, Akame would answer them to the best of her ability before continuing on. The ANBU hoped that the genin would ask a few. Having questions asked made one think differently to answer that specific question and could cause some interesting trains of thought to occur. Many of Akame's own ideas came from questions or observations made from other people that made her ask her own questions. Fostering critical thinking and intelligence was something Akame had no problems taking the time to help people with despite her not having a squad of her own yet.

After the questions were asked, Akame would describe the inn to Tsuki as well as how long it would take them to get there. "Our destination is an inn. It's two stories high, but each floor is roughly three hundred square meters in size. It has its own stable as well as its own granary. Big place, very popular with merchants and locals alike. This group of six, if that man wasn't lying, have been attacking the area around this inn. It'll take us about eight hours at this pace to reach it, but I plan to jog the last half to get there quicker. We can recover and plan at the inn before continuing in the morning. You think you can jog for that long without killing yourself?" Akame figured she probably could, but a jog of that duration if you weren't used to it could tire one out very quickly. She wouldn't have any issues with it and could probably complete the mission tonight, but that wouldn't teach Tsuki anything.

There was a moment of relief in Tsuki's composure as Akame didn't turn her away. It would be one thing if Tsuki utterly failed at the tasks given to her. Despite Tsuki's naive outlook on finding it easier to deal with the emotions by ending the person's life swiftly and efficiently. Tsuki hasn't complained about it as she keeps the nausea down as the screams of men echo in her young mind. With a turn of her heel, Akame began to walk down the road once again. Tsuki followed as she attempted to catch up to Akame.

Akame explained her actions to the letter of the purpose behind them and it was something that Tsuki need to be aware of. Sometimes just asking with the word "please" doesn't get the people talking unless they're actually losing a few fingers or limbs. Akame even suggested the next time Tsuki used that shrapnel jutsu to aim at their legs to remove their mobility and not significantly harm them. Tsuki makes note of that as well since it is something within her capability.

"I see. To be honest I was focused on just stopping them from reaching you that I didn't even think about taking them alive. I'll keep it in mind for later." Tsuki confessed to her sensei before Akame inquired of any questions in particular the young Tatsuda might have. She paused as Tsuki pondered on what she should be asking. What was it that she is missing? A light hum is audible from her closed lips until Tsuki prompted just one question.

"If these bandits were such a problem before, is it possible for these thugs to have a gang of sorts outside of our scope? Mayhap a clan even, because I don't know if this is just me. But they seem too light on traveling gear and there's no sign of any stolen caravans around here that I can see. Not to mention that this group is aware of a larger one down the road here has gotten me curious if we should force one or two to retreat in hopes of following them into their den. Thus the possibility of their leader be uncovered and we can take them out altogether?" Tsuki suggested more than question. Perhaps she was putting too much thought into it and there is more likely several flaws that Tsuki isn't seeing. However in her simple mind right now that was the best she could come up with.

Without further ado Akame began elaborating of what was ahead, and gave a detailed description of this roadside inn. It sounded interesting to Tsuki, and hearing the sheer size of it paints a picture equivalent to a mansion of sorts.

"Sounds like something a well-off noble or merchant would make." She mumbled to herself, Akame informing the Genin of not only how long it would take to walk there. But to also jog the last four hours straight to arrive there. That almost made Tsuki's mind spin from trying to picture exhausted she would be.

"To be honest with you I probably could make it albeit exhausted beyond what I can imagine. But I think I can manage."

It was some time as Tsuki and Akame traveled for this inn. The place was quiet popular with travelers and as such it drew the most attention. Both wanting and unwanting. Still when Tsuki arrived at the establishment in question, she purchased a room for the night. Where the young Tatsuda can begin resting as they were supposed to plan the next move by dawn. Still Tsuki didn't expect this to be taking long to finish. It will definitely prove to be a valuable experience though.

The night passed uneventfully, and the next morning Tsuki woke up with a bed hair. She wasn't exactly a morning person, but Tsuki brushed her hair to unravel the tangles and such. This was a moment where Tsuki wished that she brought a comb or something because she's having to use her fingers. Glancing over Akame's sleeping form still on the other bed. Tsuki found it odd that the Jounin had not woken up yet. So Tsuki swung her legs from the soft bed to let her bare feet touch the wooden floor and walks over to Akame before gently shaking the woman's shoulder.

"Akame? Ma'am? It's morning already. We gotta plan our next move so we can get home by evening." Tsuki spoke, but there was silence save for the shallow breathing from Akame. Maybe she was a heavy sleeper?

"Akame-sensei, wake up sleepyhead." Tsuki reached over and lightly pat Akame's head while being extra careful that Akame doesn't suddenly remove Tsuki's arm. Wouldn't want that to happen again. Yet for some reason Akame was still not responding. Now Tsuki was starting to get worried. Should she throw water on Akame? Roll the woman off the bed? Tsuki wasn't sure, and if Akame is in bad condition Tsuki doesn't have the experience to treat wounds greater than cuts, rashes, or first degree burns. Which means that she'll be to wait or go off and finish the job on her own. Tsuki is pretty sure she can manage, but then Akame will be left vulnerable for who knows how long. This just means that Tsuki is going to have to be quick. Perhaps this was a test on Akame's part, but the Tatsuda will see to it that the job is done.

Tsuki makes sure that Akame is comfortable and isn't going to roll off. Then she got dressed and equipped her gear. This just means that Tsuki will have to improvise and adapt when the situation calls for it. Then Tsuki will travel down the stairs and pay for an extra night. Hopefully that'll keep anyone from intruding on Akame, but Tsuki climbs back up to the room after eating breakfast. Locking the door, and even sticking a Kunai beside the doorknob on the wall. Then takes out some steel wire to wrap it around the ring of the Kunai to the doorknob. Just so that if anyone was to come in, this will hopefully buy time. Double checking Akame once more, Tsuki opens up the window and climbs out of it as she magnetized her feet on the outside wall. Then after closing the window, Tsuki walks down to the ground and begins to hide behind obstacles and whatnot to eavesdrop on several people who are preparing their horses and getting ready to leave. Hoping to catch some information regarding the bandits' main camp.

After half an hour of no such luck, Tsuki eventually walks back into the inn where she asks the receptionist about any known bandits camps were located. It wasn't quite concrete, but a rumor of the bandits' camp was all Tsuki needed. Passing over some more ryo to him, Tsuki departs from the inn and travels to the suspected site. Of course she is going on foot, and she's choosing to sneak over there. If there really is a camp, then she could gain the advantage of surprise.

Upon arriving after an hour or so of walking. Color had returned to the sky as the sun was above the Eastern horizon now. The rocky terrain provided plenty of spots to hide in, and given the shadows being cast from the sun makes it a bit easier on Tsuki's part. Eventually she came upon an odd set of tracks. Slight disturbance on the gravel reminds Tsuki of wagon tracks or something on wheels. It wasn't far from the main roads either, and she was technically in a steep canyon right now. So she followed the tracks as it bends around boulders and cliff faces. Until she comes upon a site, a cave of sorts as it was really a subterrane. A hollowed pocket in the rock formations. Yet there was two wagons, both filled with crates and barrels. Four horses were drinking out of the small stream in the canyon. And officially twelve rough apparent men were gathered around campfires. Drinking and eating heartily as laughter occasionally fill the walls. It would be fine if it wasn't for the fact that these men were equipped with leather armor and crude weaponry. Tsuki figured that she could take the wagons and leave, but their position is around the outside so Tsuki can't just drop the cave on them. Gears turned in her head, but as she does so Tsuki climbs up the steep wall of stone via magnetizing her feet onto the surfaces. Out of sight, and has the height advantage.

Truthfully she expected to find a lookout somewhere around here, but seeing as how Tsuki can look straight down and had she not just seen the hollowed formation Tsuki would never guessed people would be hiding right here. They probably would've just kept an eye out on the path Tsuki was just on. Still, Tsuki eventually came up with an idea. If she can't collapse the cave, then Tsuki can just plug them in there. Using Doton techniques wasn't preferable because of how much chakra it consumes, but it was worth a shot in her opinion.

So Tsuki, being as silent and careful as possible, climbs over to the lip of the formation as she was upside down and holding her hair back with one hand. With the free hand she formed the Monkey seal, or half of one as she builds up the Doton chakra in her core. All the way to where it begins building up in her mouth. Noting the horses distance, the fact that they have saddles makes it easier. So Kunoichi pokes her head over the ledge and launches multiple tiny rocks that propels from her mouth in a wide area. The rocks will quickly expand, but not before passing over the wagons. Into the size of boulders as they crash into the camp at high velocity. Simultaneously Tsuki leaps off from the spot and with a graceful flip of her body Tsuki lands on the saddle of a chocolate colored horse. Her hand lashed out to snatch the reigns of a spotted white horse next to her, the spooked the horse started to run off. Tsuki had the pleasure of being part of a rodeo as she patted and calmed the two horses she had while the other two galloped off further down the stream.

While that was going, the camp was demolished and three of the twelve men were crushed by the boulders. The rest retreated further into formation and who it saved them from meeting immediate death. They realized with growing borrow that they were trapped. The boulders grew big enough to block off their only escape route and while there were tiny gaps to get their arm through. Neither had the strength to push the boulders try as they might. Groans and cries echo the pocket as Tsuki eventually calms the two horses down. Then she'll lead them over to one wagon and get them strapped up. Humming a little song as she does so to soothe the horses, and while the bandits cursed her and demanded her name. She refused to even acknowledge them. Instead she made them helplessly watch as she picks up the goods from the second wagon and stacks them on the wagon that she was going to use. Which honestly did take about an hour to do, but once she was done Tsuki turned towards the trapped bandits with both hands at her hips.

"Now then, I will be taking these goods back to the merchants and people you've stolen in the past. Let this be a reminder of what happens when you steal from the Land of Lightning. Either you die in there, or you live working a more productive lifestyle. That is, of course, assuming you can get out." Tsuki left that to send a chill down their spines as she wasn't nervous and she didn't leave room for questioning. Once she was done, Tsuki climbed up on the wagon driver's seat and took the reign in her hands. With a click of her tongue and a slap from the reign. Tsuki gets the wagon moving up this haphazard path towards the main road.

[Learning Earth Release: Stone Bullet - C rank (973/200)

Thankfully the travel time was drastically reduced to get back to the inn. When it took Tsuki an hour to get to the camp on foot, it took nearly ten minutes on the wagon to get back to the inn. The trail was steep and a bit scary even. Yet Tsuki held her nerves with a firm grasp and carefully guided the horses back to the main road and then turned for the inn's direction.

Once she arrived at the establishment, Tsuki pulls on the reigns to slow the horses down to a stop near the stables. Some of the people that were outside glanced up at Tsuki, but otherwise didn't pay much attention to her. Still, Tsuki will go about informing the nearby merchants and the recovery of their goods. Or rather what's left of it. Tsuki goes about the grueling task of sorting out each merchandise and doing her best to verify the information. To ensure the merchandise goes to their respective owners. Whatever was left over, Tsuki was going to bring it back to Kumogakure and let them decide what to do with it. There wasn't much left thankfully, just some crates of tools and barrels full of alcohol.

Wiping the sweat off her brow, Tsuki hops down from the wagon and climbs up to the room Akame should be in. Through the window of course which people grew suspicious of that. She ignored their stares as Tsuki unraveled her makeshift lock mechanism and pockets her tools in her pouch. Then Tsuki will gather Akame's belongings into her bag for what room there was for it. With the backpack on her shoulders now, Tsuki does her best to pick up Akame's slumbering body and the Tatsuda will walk down the stairs to place Akame on the wagon. Of course Tsuki placed her backpack under Akame's head to serve as a pillow. The young Phoenix returns to the inn as she drops the room key off and thanked him for his time. Tsuki comes back to the wagon and climbs up on the driver's seat. Taking the reigns in her hands once again, Tsuki gets the horses to move back on the road as she returns for Kumogakure. Also trying to make the ride less bumpy as possible to make sure Akame isn't thrown off.

[Exit to Kumogakure]