ANBU: Age of Shinobi (IC)

[Dentali]

Kimiko Taira

The young woman was unsure what to make of the situation she found herself in. The new arrival seemed a little off, a little wild, like she had spent the last few years out in the wilderness. She seemed to lack any dignity as a shinobi, let alone a newly minted ANBU.

Either she really is like this, or she's a spy for the Hokage. I don't have enough information yet...

Kimiko turned slightly away from Aya and Yukiko.

"We're checking the village security," Kimiko told her laconically. It was clear she had no intention of starting a conversation with someone she hardly knew, and wasn't about to give her any more information than she needed to complete this task.

"That's not specific enough for me to do my job, the village is huge."

[The Twelve Isles]

Kimiko Taira

The young woman was unsure what to make of the situation she found herself in. The new arrival seemed a little off, a little wild, like she had spent the last few years out in the wilderness. She seemed to lack any dignity as a shinobi, let alone a newly minted ANBU.

Either she really is like this, or she's a spy for the Hokage. I don't have enough information yet...

Kimiko turned slightly away from Aya and Yukiko.

"We're checking the village security," Kimiko told her laconically. It was clear she had no intention of starting a conversation with someone she hardly knew, and wasn't about to give her any more information than she needed to complete this task.

"That's not specific enough for me to do my job, the village is huge."

"We arent really gonna be in the village," said Yukiko simply. She turned and began to walk down the road, making her way to the closest wire to check from where she was, letting the other two follow as they wanted. "We go to forest outside the walls, and there's a series of wires and simple traps set up. If triggered, it'll alert the Hokage's office directly, and we go to see weather or not its something worth worrying about and maintaining the ones that werent tripped." As she walked, Yukiko quickly and easily leaped up to the rooftops, and made a leisurely stroll to the edge before jumping to the next rooftop. She paid little mind to her companions, she could do this by herself if she needed to, but after she was three rooftops away she thought better of herself and glanced over her shoulder to make sure the other two were following her.

[Dentali]

"That's not specific enough for me to do my job, the village is huge."

"We arent really gonna be in the village," said Yukiko simply. She turned and began to walk down the road, making her way to the closest wire to check from where she was, letting the other two follow as they wanted. "We go to forest outside the walls, and there's a series of wires and simple traps set up. If triggered, it'll alert the Hokage's office directly, and we go to see weather or not its something worth worrying about and maintaining the ones that werent tripped." As she walked, Yukiko quickly and easily leaped up to the rooftops, and made a leisurely stroll to the edge before jumping to the next rooftop. She paid little mind to her companions, she could do this by herself if she needed to, but after she was three rooftops away she thought better of herself and glanced over her shoulder to make sure the other two were following her.

"Better than just standing around talking" Aya said as she walked off. The woman was frustrating, if she was going to continue to be concealing for no good reason their would be problems. Aya simply nodded and followed along, keeping her eyes peeled for anything odd going on.

[Britanania]

Kimiko Taira

Kimiko followed after Yukiko and Aya as the trio made their way towards the first of the wiretaps they were assigned to. Like Yukiko, Kimiko made no real effort to move quickly and followed a little ways behind Aya and Yukiko, and instead continued to wonder what the purpose of this mission was. For one, of course, they weren't in their ANBU armour, as to make this mission one of stealth, but the Hokage's spies were everywhere, Kimiko knew.

Surely he's keeping an eye on us, to make sure we don't try anything. Aya could still very well be one of his agents, and without any more information, I don't want to give her anything to go off of. If she is working under him, she might already know who I am, but I can't risk it. The Hokage and his agents could destroy the Taira at any point, and we must be vigilant. I only joined the ANBU to get away in, but if we keep doing missions like this, who knows where it will lead.

As the group approached the first wiretap near the forest, Kimiko gave a short nod.

"Well we're almost there."

[Shadowwell]

Amariki "Kemono" Ketseuki
'The Flawed Experiment'
Complying with Orders

Amariki and Battosai were quite similar in many ways. They were both skilled in close combat, both in ANBU, they even both boasted a resistance to genjutsu. There was however a certain amount of differences between their personalities. During their guard duty there was a minimum amount conversation between the two of them. Himura seemed to be quite taciturn, not wanting to reveal to much about himself or speak at all.

'If not for the orders this guy probably would only give single word answers. Things arent too different as they currently are anyways.'

Most of what Battosai spoke of about himself was already know of by Amariki, or at least something he had inferred.

That the other man was a Hyuga was obvious, Amariki had known he had been ANBU for a longer time than Amariki himself had been. Little else of any consequence had been said by the other man. Amariki was similar, but a bit more open, most normal residents of Konoha considered him a bit of a mystery in some aspects.

If he did not need to work with the man after the guard duty Amariki would have brought up the topic of Battosai's treatment of the now limbless Kiri Shinobi. Amariki could be ruthless in battle when needed, but would more likely than not end any opponent before disgracing them in a way similar to what Battosai had done. Unless ordered to otherwise of course, there was a reason Amariki had neutralized the Grass shinobi he fought the way he had, to prevent any possible issues caused by the battle when unable to confirm orders.

[Dentali]

Kimiko Taira

Kimiko followed after Yukiko and Aya as the trio made their way towards the first of the wiretaps they were assigned to. Like Yukiko, Kimiko made no real effort to move quickly and followed a little ways behind Aya and Yukiko, and instead continued to wonder what the purpose of this mission was. For one, of course, they weren't in their ANBU armour, as to make this mission one of stealth, but the Hokage's spies were everywhere, Kimiko knew.

Surely he's keeping an eye on us, to make sure we don't try anything. Aya could still very well be one of his agents, and without any more information, I don't want to give her anything to go off of. If she is working under him, she might already know who I am, but I can't risk it. The Hokage and his agents could destroy the Taira at any point, and we must be vigilant. I only joined the ANBU to get away in, but if we keep doing missions like this, who knows where it will lead.

As the group approached the first wiretap near the forest, Kimiko gave a short nod.

"Well we're almost there."

Aya decided to hang back a bit, she would be following the group she was with as they inspected the traps certainly but she would focus on the surrounding area. She hopped back into the trees and took in the area overall. Her training as a wolf sage would be useful in detecting the changes in the forest, identifying anything out of the ordinary. While she was by no means anything more than a beginner in that department, he early training and already considerable ninja skills would give her a bit of an edge in the perception department.

[The Twelve Isles]

Yukiko "Karasu" Kurokarasu
The Origamist, Jonin, ANBU
Ninja Registration: 009888

Yukiko hopped lightly down from the wall where she had been walking, into the forest below outside of the village. She looked around, checking the sun to make sure she was heading in the right direction, before heading off. She was near the first tripwire, and wanted to get this over with quickly but without making it too obvious. She looked over her shoulder and said to her comrades, "We're just about there. Once we reach the first tripwire, Ill check it, and there should be two more in the trees to the north east and north west from this one. You two check that, and call if there's anything suspicious."

[Dentali]

Yukiko "Karasu" Kurokarasu
The Origamist, Jonin, ANBU
Ninja Registration: 009888

Yukiko hopped lightly down from the wall where she had been walking, into the forest below outside of the village. She looked around, checking the sun to make sure she was heading in the right direction, before heading off. She was near the first tripwire, and wanted to get this over with quickly but without making it too obvious. She looked over her shoulder and said to her comrades, "We're just about there. Once we reach the first tripwire, Ill check it, and there should be two more in the trees to the north east and north west from this one. You two check that, and call if there's anything suspicious."

"I know where the northeast one is" Aya said matter of factly from above Yukiko "I'm take that one" and like that with a bound and a flash she was gone, leaving the two she had only recently met. She increased her pace significantly to check the traps rather than the lounging pace Yukiko had seemed to prefer. I was strange to Aya that ANBU were assigned to something as mundane as guard duty and patrols, it was even more strange that to her knowledge no one on the team was a sensory specialist which was vital for scouting and patrol duties. Obviously something weird was going on, Aya just didn't know what.

[Britanania]

Kimiko Taira

Their arrival at the first sensor array was about as eventful as Kimiko assumed it would be. That is to say, it was about as exciting as counting every leaf that surrounded Konoha. Not that it particularly bothered the aristocratic young woman in the slightest. Just as Yukiko suggested she and Aya take a look at the other ones, the younger kunoichi was already off. Kimiko gave a slight shrug and turned towards Yukiko before she departed.

"So what do you think of this new recruit? I initially thought she might be one of the Hokage's agents, but as time goes by I'm starting to think we were assigned to babysit her."

Of course, she could still be a spy, for all we know...

[Aidannadia]

2 Weeks later...

"Team Okami, we have a mission S++ Ranked mission. The Hokage has his forces spread thin, but this is of the upmost priority." Souma looked out at the team on the cliffside, leaning against his rock with his mask upturned to allow a cigarette to sit in his mouth.

"Over the last few days, no ninja activity from Kirigakure has been observed. Rumors have begun to spread that the village collapsed or that they may be planning something, so we have been asked as a reserve squadron to investigate and report back to the Hidden Leaf." Souma flicked his cigarette and fixed his dog mask. "Now, I know that we are short on manpower right now with some of our members being reassigned, but for a stealth mission like this, it is of the utmost importance that we keep a low profile. Less is more."

"Prep your things and let's get ready to head out." He motioned for the rest of the squad to get in formation.

[Britanania]

Kimiko Taira

Kimiko awkwardly stood in formation as Souma gave their new orders. Over the past few weeks, the young kunoichi was growing tired on simple guard duty and she was growing sceptical that the Hokage would let them out in the field again.

He doesn't trust us and trying to keep us under close watch Kimiko decided a few hours before as she sat in her room, playing shogi by herself. A little afterwards, the message arrived from Souma ordering her to meet at the usual rendezvous. She wasted little time gathering her articles and preparing. This new mission sounded exciting enough but more important Kimiko was hopeful that this would give them an opportunity.

And outside of the village, the Hokage's spies can't keep us under total surveillance.

Once the briefing was over, Kimiko slung her pack over her slender shoulders, made sure her mask and flak jacket were fitted properly and marched in formation with the rest of her squad.

[Dentali]

2 Weeks later...

"Team Okami, we have a mission S++ Ranked mission. The Hokage has his forces spread thin, but this is of the upmost priority." Souma looked out at the team on the cliffside, leaning against his rock with his mask upturned to allow a cigarette to sit in his mouth.

"Over the last few days, no ninja activity from Kirigakure has been observed. Rumors have begun to spread that the village collapsed or that they may be planning something, so we have been asked as a reserve squadron to investigate and report back to the Hidden Leaf." Souma flicked his cigarette and fixed his dog mask. "Now, I know that we are short on manpower right now with some of our members being reassigned, but for a stealth mission like this, it is of the utmost importance that we keep a low profile. Less is more."

"Prep your things and let's get ready to head out." He motioned for the rest of the squad to get in formation.

"Probably all killed each other" Aya thought silently to herself, the simmering hatred for Kirigakure being well hidden throughout the briefing. She was attentive to the briefing and very suspicious of the mission, this was basically a scouting mission and shouldn't be ranked S++ additionally if they were supposed to be scouting or spying then why were no sensor ninja accompanying them?

The Bloody Mist was dangerous certainly but in terms of population, military strength and economic output the Leaf Village blew them away, if they were going to attack they might make headway at first... probably kill a bunch of people but they couldn't win in the long term.

Aya packed her belongings, and after some deliberation placed her mother necklace in a floorboard under her bed deciding that if her teammates discovered it while on a mission to the Mist it might cause tensions. Finally she set out on the mission, falling into formation.