An Issue of Supply [C-Rank Mission]

[Osuteno]

With Junko gone and Osuteno looking after a lot of things at the hospital it was up to him to look into a certain supply problem but he had no freedom to leave the village himself to do so. So he organized a request. Unexpectedly Sara, despite being the leader of a foreign Medical branch seemed eager to assist him with this matter. But he would have felt terrible about sending her without helpers... He submitted a request to Yuii for her to find a free genin to help carry stuff back and sent a message to Kiri via Chibi the seal for him to assist as well. He believed Kiri should be near the correct area with Junko.

A hand written letter of appreciation arrived at Sara's inn containing the overall details of the troubles.

Spoiler

Sara-Sama

First, I must again say I can't thank you enough for helping us out with this issue. It is a great help to the branch and me personally. After looking a bit more into the supply interruption on this end I have discovered reports that the gathers who had been sending us these supplies have been a bit more late with each shipment. It hasn't caused us issue yet but the current shipment is half a month late and we have received no word from them, even after sending letters of inquiry. Looking at our current supply in about three months it will become a major issue and I would like to get to the bottom of this now.

These gatherers operate in the lush and untamed area of our country simply known as the Heartland and go by the name of the Green Badge Group. Of the ingredients exclusive to the area they search are the following:
-Folly's Root (Flower and stem are highly toxic, skin contact is only safe via root. Should be stored whole in individual clasp lid jar)
-Fox Fire Mushrooms (Again avoid skin contact and store individually, very strong sensory deprivation among all senses except taste)
-Lover's Suckle (Perfectly safe and very sweet nectar, fermented properly it has strong properties as an antidepressant)
-Sage Salt (A mineral though 100% not for eating, a sort of crystal that absorbs oxygen and humidity. Important for preservation)

To be clear I am not asking you to bring back a whole shipment's worth, but a a few jars of samples each. More importantly I would like for you to investigate the cause behind the shipment delay and, if possible, alleviate it. I have requested a genin from the main branch to assist you in this as well as sent a letter to my pupil who happens to be in the area. Both will report to you as they would any squad leader and I can say at the very least my student Kiri is proficient in carrying things.

You will be meeting with an associate of mine by the name of Wottsu in the small town of Frog's Hollow which will also serve as the location where Kiri will meet up with you. The genin is to be waiting in the common area of your inn one hour after dawn and will wait there until you are ready to leave since I was unsure of your morning habits.

Wishing You a Safe Return,
Chigokai Osuteno

Emiri received the following orders from the Main Branch Assignments Office

Spoiler

One hour after dawn you are to report to the xxx Inn and assist a VIP in an investigative task at destination, the Heartland. The VIP is the Leader of the Medical Branch of the Village Hidden in the Leaves and will be acting squadron leader. You will be meeting your other squad mate near destination. Pack appropriately.

Kiri received the following letter from Osu via Chibi the messenger seal.

Spoiler

Kiri
I have a job for you, you are to go to the town of Frog's Hollow and meet with a friend of mine named Wottsu, and you will be assisting the head of Leaf's Medical Branch in a small investigation. Her name is Sara and you are to treat her with proper respect. Tell Junko I need you to help out, I am sure he won't mind.

That done Osu got back to work doing hospital things and his part in this story was over.

* * *

A few days later a short figure stood outside the town of Frog's Hollow with an expectant gaze. A fierce light of determination in his eyes and a brillant samurai spirit made it clear he was no ordinary person... And the fact he was an otter contributed.

Spoiler

Wottsu watched for the ones Osutennou-Sama... no wait... Osu...Dono... told him to look out for. Things had become... a bit more problematic in the last day.

[Alright, so clear enough I hope for your first posts you will be traveling down to a really small town, more of an outpost, south of Kumogakure. Unlike our mountain it is considerably warmer and wetter here and has some hazardous flora and fauna. You are to introduce yourselves to each other and meet up with Wottsu Blue who is a member of Osu's contract team.]

 

[Kiri]

Kiri had spent most of his time training with Junko, and the occasional meet-up with Yuuto. He was so determined to get better that he had been so focused to even noticed a rather cute seal coming up close to him. Just then, he would summon his shadow tendrils from the ground and attack in sequence, slicing the propped up wooden target in the distance. Only then would he turn and find the seal atop a rock near his backpack. He blinked a few times before he remembered it from when he first saw it in Osu’s office.

He then stopped the surging of his chakra as he calmed down enough to approach the young seal. Unlike their first meeting, Kiri wasn’t at all thinking about cooking this lovely thing. Oh no. Not at all. So he would crouch before it and pat it on the head before remembering to rub its belly. Of course, he would receive the letter from Osu, and though he was a bit anxious on what the content could– please let it not be a letter of disappointment– he would eventually read it.

And it came as a surprise to find how brief the message was. Nevertheless, he would give Chibi a treat before the seal would be on its way. As for Kiri, he would excuse himself from Junko to undertake this task for him. He had to do good for the last thing he’d want is to show any weakness to his mentor. Traveling for a couple days to reach the said destination, Kiri would notice the difference in the climate. Unlike the colder mountains he and Junko had been training at recently, this was area was… damp, and the lush flora along the scenery made it rather impressive, almost like a different country.

He would make his way further down to find Frog’s Hollow, a small outskirts town, and from there, he would look for this so-called Wottsu. Of course, if only he knew it was an Otter, it would have made everything easier. Ah, but he supposed that the samurai-looking mammal that was standing so sternly by the entrance of the town was enough to mark him. So he would approach it, take a few moments to observe it, just in case it started talking or not, before he would raise his free hand (the other was holding the strap of his backpack) and give a brief wave.

“Hi? Are you… Wottsu? I’m Osu-senpai’s student, Kiri,” he would greet.

WC: 422
[Topic Entered]

 

[Osuteno]

Wottsu regarded Kiri and gave him a nod. "Greetings student of Osutennou-Sam... Osu-Dono. There has been a bit of a complication. The Green Badges sent a messenger when I arrived to town and began asking questions. They are under new management and stated they are not selling anything to anyone at present date. When I tried to visit their base of operations seven miles south of here, they delivered warning shots, told me I was on private property and I should return to my... 'owners' and tell them to find someplace else to get their plants. I have spent the few days since scouting. There is more but we should probably wait until Sara-Dono is here."

Wottsu handed a small purse to Kiri. "Hide any factors one might use to identify you as a shinobi. You are the servant and bodyguard of a merchant's daughter and you came ahead to rent rooms. All contact from this point will be initiated by me... " Wottsu suddenly drew a seashell and flung it into a tree like a shuriken, making a man fall out of it. "The inn you will be staying is in the next outpost over, about four miles along the southeast trail from here. I suggest you enter the town from a different direction though." Wottsu began approaching the unconscious scout. "Get moving, the others should be here within a few days. Sit tight and don't break your cover... Your master deals in gathering rare flowers for nobles and he is sending his daughter on her first expedition."

Wottsu didn't give Kiri another glance as he began dragging the scout into the woods. He would continue to wait for the other two who should arrive in another day or so.

No need to post again yet Kiri if you do not wish to, it will be initially understood you went on to town. Sara and Emiri will have a bit of an awkward post set I understand since they will be traveling together. I would suggest shorter initial posts about meeting up and then another set about traveling to the checkpoint. DM on discord if you have any questions.

 

[Fujitika Misa]

Being a junior member of the anbu corp Emiri thought that she would be getting a lot of their mission work but it seemed to be the opposite, and so when she got the letter from the main branch missions office she actually was not surprised in the least bit. "Well it seems that once again the Higher up seem to find need me like they do every time, they cant just...you know make use of my actual talents can they." Emiri would say with a sigh of disappointment and dismay.

After having read the letter telling her to pack, well she wasn't the best at packing so she would just throw together a basic Anbu mission ready pack with bandages, splints, Snacks and other tasty MREs. When she was finally finished she decided to leave her house a little early in order to make it to this Inn where she was supposed to be meeting up with one of her team mates.

Walking around outside the Inn now Emiri would wonder what kind of people her team mates where and why the Main branch decided that it would require 3 people of genin ranking or above to go out and find some stolen and or lost goods.

(Topic Entered)

 

[Yaku]

Helping out a newly friendly allied village seemed like a fitting task for her. Even more so as it involved medically oriented plant supplies. She did enjoy so much collecting flora, especially discovering new ones she had never seen. She always took a few seeds for herself whenever she went to a new place of something she hadn't seen before. So far she had about 10 different local plants in her collection, and might be increasing it by three more that she was now sure of there effects. But first she would have to get to where she was needed. And with no idea of local anything, it was smart of Osuteno to provide an escort. Today the young girl was to meet up said traveling companion of unknown gender, age or tutelage. Only thing she was sure of, it was a genin...

Sara watched as people entered and exited the inn, half expecting every person that entered to be the one she was to meet up with. Most were much older then her, and she was pretty sure they weren't genin. Then again, she didn't know the local level of distribution for ranks. Perhaps it was difficult to move up in ranks here. Perhaps, it wasn't uncommon for old people to keep the rank of Genin. Or maybe retired shinobi kept the rank of Genin as an honor? Well, one thing she needed to keep hope for, that they knew whom they were to be looking for because she was stumped. But Sara continued to sit there, in the common area, sipping on some milk, hoping the tentacled doctor wasn't pulling a fast one on her.

It must have been three hours after dawn no, maybe four? The small girl had fallen asleep for a short time, awoken by the inn keeper asking if she wanted something stronger. She looked up at him in a daze and shook her hand over her cup and took a sip, spitting it back out as she watched him walking away. "Blah..." She stretched while staying seated and looked around, hoping for a new face to be nearby. "Damn guy...maybe it was a joke? IT sure as hell ain't funny!" She spoke with some disdain. 'Well I know exactly where he works. I should go return the joke in kind.' A slightly slick smirk folding into the look of anger, like she had a plan that would earn him good. Something involving an insinuation from several months ago and running away. She got up from her chair and grabbed her stuff, and heading for the door. Swinging it wide with some unduly force, causing a raised voice to echo outside. She turned around, backing outside, "Sorry sorry, just not very happy with someone named Osuteno. But I am sorry!" She yelled as she turned around and looked for her bearings, trying to figure out where the hospital was.

 

[Fujitika Misa]

Emiri looked around after a while she decided to peek inside to see if the person she was meeting up “Hello! Is anyone with the name Sara in here? Im looking for a Sara and they have kept me is waiting outside for over an hour now!” she said with a little bit of pissed off disdain in her voice, but the moment she walked in someone with equal disdain in their voice decided to plow into her now of all times. As the two collide something goes flying across the floor, something very important to Emiri ” You clod!” she yelled as she scrambled to pick up her one of a kind rifle before anyone saw it and took it from her.

She did manage to grab it before anyone else and slung it back onto her back before standing back up and looking at the person who had run into her with a look of mixed feelings. “Ok since you made me go through all that you must at least tell me where I can find someone Named Sara if not then im leaving this place and not coming back.” Emiri said trying to calm down.

 

[Yaku]

The tall slightly ugly woman acted quite disdainfully towards the short girl and Sara was ready to apologize, right until the twit opened her mouth! "Really now!" She picked up her weapon, and Sara slightly recognized it, though advanced as it was,, it was a weapon used by general population, usually to do no good, at least in movies it was. Shit might have been going down. Maybe she was apart of some underground mob club that stole money from banks. Or she was here to kidnap someone or something. This wasn't her home village, but she sure as hell wasn't going to allow something like that to pass unchecked!

"I sure as hell hope you are part of some village defense force, and not here to rob the place!" In the blink of an eye as the girl picked up her gun and turned towards Sara, she was right on top of the girl, her hand holding onto the weapon with force placed upon it. She started to speak, and surprise surprise, she was asking for her of all people. It was a kidnapping, and she was the target! She had two choices now, act like she had no idea, or to spe..

"She's your girl, right there!" A voice rang out from the background.

Sara gritted her teeth and was just about ready to have to fight her way out now! "Why..."

 

[Fujitika Misa]

Emiri was already starting to calm down when the girl in front of her seemed to get a little bit nervous about the situation, which normally when someone who is armed gets frustrated usually happens but that was clearly not the case this time. “Ahhh you are Sara then Sorry for being so rude its actually against code to make such a scene like this” Emiri said as she would turn around to the person who had shouted out and tosses them a few yen.

“Ah yes Why I’m here. I was informed by A shinobi named Osuteno that I would be finding you here and that we had to go meet with him out somewhere blah blah something about supplies I guess” She said in a now somewhat chipper tone. “So I guess we should get going to….” she paused as she looked at the orders “The Heartland I guess huh” she said stuffing the orders back into her pack that was rather heavily packed.

From her pack she would pull out a brown package and tears it open revealing a single meal that was pre-prepared ahead of time in some factory somewhere far away. “Would you like some Cheese?” Emiri offered in an apologetic manner.

 

[Yaku]

After the woman apologized, Sara looked at her blankly, trying to figure out what the hell was happening. She released her grip on the gun, revealing a slight burned smudge on anything that wasn't metal. The odd woman started to explain the situation of her wanting to find she and where they were go to. She was still looking at her blankly and was reflecting on what just happened. "Are...are you men... Never mind. Right, sure, okay. Heartland..I guess, Lead the way.", Sara slightly scoffed with laughter and then sighed following behind.

Shortly after they started there trip, several hours rather or so the woman pulled out a package that she read to be some meal packet. She could never get into those things that much. Rarely did they taste good, and more so then not, they didn't taste like what they were supposed to. The unknown girl held her hand out with some cheese offering it to her. "Um...sure. Thanks. Pocket Cheese is my favorite." She took it and nibbled a small part of it then put it in her pocket. "So...um... Weelll. You wouldn't happen to have a name by chance do you? Osuteno referred to you as Genin number 2." She laughed trying to make a joke. "Joking of course. He said he was sending someone from the Medical Branch?"

Sara waited for the girls response to fix what branch she belonged to. Something...felt odd about this girl. She never gave her name. Didn't really greet her with the formalities that most of the others of the village had up till that point for the most part. And she carried that gun. The young girl almost felt like she was perhaps still being duped. That pocket food package also wasn't very traditional.

 

[Fujitika Misa]

Emiri couldn’t believe someone like her had been referred to as genin number 2, what was worse this person thought that she was part of the Medic corp. “First off kindly refer to me as Em, second I am sadly not part of the Medical Corp, I am here on assignment from the main branch office.” Emiri corrected before putting the Pre-packaged food away and sitting down. “So the mission sounded pretty vague to me, do you perhaps know of any other information that could help me better understand what in the name of all things white and cloudy we are doing?” Emiri asked in what seemed to be her most calm tone since she got here.

Looking into Sara’s eyes Emiri could see a look of worry or…maybe distrust she wasn’t sure of the difference right now. “You don’t have to get yourself into such a tizzy you know Im not here to hurt anyone without due provocation, and lets be honest it takes a bit to provoke me into combat” Emiri said with a quick wink as she would stand up and look around the room before tossing someone at the bar a small amount of money “For a new bar stool I accidently broke that one” She said.

 

[Yaku]

"Understood Em of the main branch office. Our mission should be exciting. We are to be transporting cargo. We will be ensuring the cargo reaches it's destination." Of course that was but one part, the main part. "For now, lets head to out meeting spot. Um..what was it again. Frog's Wallow? Frog's, Hollow? Something like that. I was told you would know how to get there." She looked at Em, still feeling something was off.

"I walk around with my knife drawn all the time too!" She suggested meaning the gun in hand. Sara laughed at the jest, for actually, it was true in a manner of speaking. "Whenever your ready, lets head out."


(Left due to inactivity. If we pick this up, please msg me.)

 

[Fujitika Misa]

Emiri tightened the shoulder strap on her rifle as that it may not go flying again and put away her MRE in her bag before nodding to Sara “Yeah I do know how the get there it is a decent ways walk from here So I hope you brought enough liquids to keep you hydrated on this long walk?” Emiri said as she would begin walking in the direction of the meeting place.

Within about an hour Emiri had arrived hopefully with Sara in tow, if she had lost her at any point in the journey Emiri would trail back to get her and make sure she was able to continue on the trek. “So guess we finally made it here ok But….Uhh I cant remember who we are meeting up with something to do with Water?” Emiri said looking around for someone who might be wet or someone who looks even a bit slightly out of place amongst the scenery. “Ok I am just slightly a bit lost right now….give me a minute to figure out if we are in the exact meeting place” Emiri said as she would look at a map of the area and indeed they did seem to be in the right place.