Scrub Scrub Scrub! (Mission)

Masuyo Kaede wrote:
Mission Name: Paint Scrubbing
Mission Type: Chore
Mission Rank: D
Mission Goal: Remove of the graffiti from the Hokage Rock monument.
Description: Some children have seen fit to deface the Hokage Rock with paint depicting crude pictures and choice words. Mr. Eguchi cares deeply for the history of the village and wishes the paint to be removed, as well as any other graffiti found near the Hokage Rock. If you happen across the children responsible, you may reprimand them with care.
Payment: 10,000 Ryo
Requirements: Genin

Taiga was tasked with another chore!

She was a Genin so there was not a bunch she could do. The volunteer work she did helped pay off her debt and develop basic skills before moving onto more complex tasks. She was willing to admit she was not ready to fight anyone in her current state. She was weak and didn't know a lot of technique to give her an edge in combat. For now she focused on developing her basic physical skills and paying off her debt before moving onto something greater. She had some "make-up" work to do.

She was alone on this mission which was preferable in her opinion. Even though that generally meant more work for her it was work she could do in peace without the persistent thought of acknowledging another person. Her thoughts were her best friend and dwelling on them while doing mindless chores was actually quite therapeutic. Taiga wore her casual outfit being a pair of black sandals, pants, and a sleeveless black top. She wanted to get used to wearing more of her gear even during casual situations. They were really her only defense. Even though she knew Taijutsu it wasn't very helpful as a lot of technique were out of her league.

Taiga had her staff along her back, a tanto on her belt with a Kama, her pouch and holster, and her kakute rings. Along with her gear she carried her cleaning supplies which was a large bucket of soapy water and a long brush. She ended up biting off more than she could chew as the gear she carried and her required tools were cumbersome. By the time she reached the base of the mountain she was exhausted. But now she had to face the challenge of climbing up the scaffolding which was her only way up to the graffiti. Well, not her only way, but the safest way. Taiga wasn't the one to take risks. She could try to climb up the mountain using her chakra walking technique but she had the risk of tumbling down the mountainside, which was a death sentence to her. Starting up the scaffolding she started climbing the ladders which ran up the platform. She had to approaching it in an interesting way working around her physical weakness. Taiga had to climb the ladder first and set her brush down before descending and retrieving her bucket separately. She had to carry her bucket with both hands meaning extra caution was necessary.

It was hard work, but at least it was simple work. This meant that she could take her time and slowly progress her physical self without going through too much stress, like a fight or a dangerous mission where others depended on her. All she had to do now was focus on climbing ladders and trying not to fall. Almost a half hour later she managed to make it to the top after a couple breaks in between. Now it was time to actually start working.

Some prankster thought it would be funny to paint all over the Hokage's faces. And for some reason she was the only responsible for cleaning it up and not the culprit. It would be more satisfying and more ninja-work related to instead track down those responsible and make them clean it up instead. Or better yet, just hire a janitor. The mission urged that if she found the people responsible she could "reprimand them with care." Whatever that mean, she guessed getting physical was off the table. It wasn't worth the extra effort in her mind. She was tasked to clean the Hokage Rock. If she were to get a bonus she would consider it. But as far as she was concerned, it was just extra work and no extra pay.

Various kinds of colored paint was used, but it was just paint. And paint didn't stick very well to stone. The water in the bucket was mixed with cleaning chemicals to help make scrubbing off paints and colors easier. Taking the pole scrubber she gave a few dunks in the bucket before slapping the drenched brush against the closest graffiti, which was a bad word.

"Shithead..."

It was written in red paint and across the first Hokage's forehead. It was disrespectful and she felt whoever did it were just bad kids with nothing better to do. The water mixture mixed with the dried paint and as she scrubbed the abrasive bristles of the brush started to rub away the bad word. She'd start from the left and slowly move to the right as the graffiti gradually went away. The water mixture running down started to wet the other bits of graffiti making her job a little easier when she went to them. It must've been easy to dirty the Hokage Rock with paint, but cleaning it was a whole other story. Taiga's arms began to feel a burning sensation as her muscles began to overwork.

She kept her breath steady as she brushed the rest of the graffiti. At least her first part. Leaving the brush's head in the bucket she let her arms hang to her sides. It was hard work. Especially since she was short. Taiga was able to barely reach most parts of graffiti requiring her to use both arms to hold the brush at the base and scrub. With each word and stupid picture she scrubbed off the more she felt inclined to find those responsible and "gently reprimand" them. She thought it would just be mindless work that she could handle, but every second she stood on the scaffolding the more she felt embarrassed that she was the only person doing this humongous chore and in clear view of the village. She felt that those responsible were laughing at her right now in their homes seeing her clean the Hokage Rock out their window. Not only that, but she was getting a real good workout from all of it. Her back was hurt and her arms on fire. Some of the paint was tougher to scrub off than others making her have to exert more effort. Taking a seat on her platform she'd breath gently trying to catch her breath.

"I should have brought some water..."

In due time, Taiga finished her task after so many hours of working on the scaffolding. She was not fortunate enough to catch the ones responsible for the crime, but that was kinda hard to do when focusing on cleaning the mountain. Even getting up the mountain was a challenge on its own. Regardless, she did everything she was required to do. That was good enough for her. Taiga dumped the rest of the water in her bucket off the side to make it easier to carry when descending. Holding the bucket in hand and the scrubber brush in the other she carefully descended the ladder and eventually made it down several platforms until she hit the rock bottom. Taking herself back to the academy building she would drop off her supplies there return home after a somewhat tiresome day working outside.

[Exit]