Painter | Mission

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It was Spooks first day as a genin. When he studied at the academy, they explained that first starting genins could start doing mission in very different ways. The two most picked options were finding a team, and doing C - ranked missions with them; during these group activities, their learning was excelled. Since the genin were aware of their behavior, they could use the others to compare themselves and learn from each other. As the day progressed, Spook found out that most genins already were in a team. There weren't many anyway, most of the shinobi in Shikigakure was of higher rank. So Spook had a tough time finding others to partner up with. This resulted in him standing in front of the mission board, gaping at all the available jobs. Since he'd take this mission alone, his eye was primarily on the D - ranks. One of these missions stuck out particularly, it seemed that peace & tranquility was inherit in the description of the mission. The client was a man named Mr. Kawasaki; who usually set post in the 4th floor of the high rise in the center, “you will recognize him by his short stature, and his long grey beard”. So for the first time ever, Spook set off with lunch packed into his backpack by his sweet parents, a couple of shuriken and, kunai.

“I hope this won't be a drag,”

The male spoke, talking to himself--and secretly hoping nobody nearby would notice. The tall male put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out a cigarette from his smoke pack. He'd have pat down every pocket on his body, but alas, no fire. The departing genin looked around, wondering if there were any dads who came to pick their genin up who had a nasty habit.

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(312/1200)

Having had some long time between missions, Kuragesame found himself lazing around the village. As per his usual, a missive to participate in a mission arrived for him while he trained at the dojo. The other practitioners did not find him terribly approachable – namely due to his strange visage – but now they avoided him due to his skill: not prodigious, but tenacious. He loved nothing more than to train and spar and would go on tirelessly for hours and hours, eventually wearing down by sheer patience those around him. Strange that in his vast free time the lord of the land called on him so infrequently, but wanting not much for money he did not complain. As a corollary, he did not complain when summoned.



He reported off to the job boards where a genin would await him, loud, purple haori fluttering gently as he went. The mission should not involve combat, but one could never know and he wore the cheaply made sword provided him via the village. The thing could hardly be relied upon, but for lower ranking missions it should not matter much. Plus, if it broke he could still use it, he would just lose reach.



He approached another passerby at total random, held up his mission note summoning him, and spoke in his crinkling, papery voice. “We are supposed to go bring some kind of materials to someone. We should get this done quickly.”

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A man started to approach Spook, while he had set off to complete the mission. Spook was all caught up in the mission that he forgot that there was a possibility that he would be assisted by other shinobi. This was, after all, his first - real - mission. A figure walked up to him, and just like Spook, this male had a very specific appearance; it was obvious that he was no grunt--but a main character in his own life. With three-eyes, and a haori, the male stood opposite of Spook. Both facing each other. Before saying anything, Spook squinted his eyes at the notice, checking its authenticity. Not that he had the authority to verify it, but a little skepticism never hurt anyone. Spook gave a 45-degree bow to the male.

“My name is Spook Salvatore, but everyone calls me Spook.“

He extended his hand towards the Shinobi opposite of him--his cultural approaches clashed somewhat, using a bow and a handshake was the result of a multicultural parents homeschooling him.

“And you, what is your name, senpai?“

After the introductions were done, Spook opened his bag to show the other nin the missions that Spook was going to complete.

“We need to help mr. Kawasaki with a painting, he's in search of materials and, inspiration. He will also require to be escorted, and protected once he's painting. After all is said and done, we need to return him home with the painting intact.“

While Spook explained the details of their mission, he was already on his way--and he'd assume that his senpai followed him during this explanation.

“I may have a suggestion, we could split up once we've met the client. We'd be done much faster with these missions, and you won't have to waste your time.“

Spooks dialogue served multiple purposes--he wanted to increase the efficiency of completing these missions, and was also wondering if his senpai considered this a waste of his time.

Meanwhile, mr. Kawasaki sat on a bench in his front yard, waiting with a hot steamy cup of tea for the shinobi' to arrive at his establishment. He was quite frail, and over sixty-years old. Which in it's own right was remarkable.

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(688/1200)

He had selected the boy correctly by some pointless miracle of fate, catching the lad with a white stick used for.... presumably something. He saw people light them on fire sometimes but had never done so himself. When Spook bowed, Kuragesame exchanged the favor, executing his own, very stiff and unpracticed display of cordiality. He cocked his head to the side questioningly at the proffered hand, however, having never seen something like this. He had only been in the village proper for perhaps half of a year, and the few people he bothered (or was forced) to interact with held strongly to more traditional displays. Thus, he stuck out his matching hand like his partner, positioning their fingers mere inches from one another. Because he mirrored this boy, a handshake became impossible lest Spook use his non-dominant hand. The very socially adept shinobi blithely pressed on.

I am Shinju, Kuragesame. People don't usually call me anything. Which was true; people did not much call upon him and he spent nearly all of his time in a dojo. He listened absently as this genin listed off the itinerary for this mission set, walking along side the take-charge Spook. He wondered again why a military presence had any connection to painting, but he kept these thoughts to himself. When his companion suggested that they split up for a few of the disparate mission segments, he nodded along. Sure, that sounds reasonable. You can find his materials and I can find his inspiration.

Kuragesame was not an artist.

He spotted the man - or who he presumed was the man - in question on a bench at the listed addressed and shouted across the street to him. Oi, Mr. Kawasaki, we're here to inspire you. Come over here to paint please. Somewhat astonishingly, the man got up and began moving to meet the pair, though his face showed a rich display of mild rebuke and deep confusion. He probably did not much deal with ninja. I am Kuragesame, and this is Spook. We are escorting you today. Shall we he looked left to right rapidly begin?

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Spook extended his right arm, as people do when giving each other a handshake--he was much noticeably taller than his superior; his superior copied his move and also extended his right arm. Spook kind of gave a weak smile out of pity and lowered his arm. It was at this moment that the genin connected the dots. High ranked people must've randomly receive lower ranked missions as well; not to just keep in touch with people they're supposed to protect--but also to calm down after rough missions. This was Spooks assumption. His observational skills had yet to develop to extend also across situation in combat, but all in due time. His senpais last name, God Tree, it came unfamiliar to Spook. His family wasn't from a clan, so it wasn't like the genin held any reputational name, as far as records went he was just a statistic.

"Don't call you anything? How strange--I shall nickname you Kura! If that's okay with you, Kura-senpai?"

And just like a therapy dog, Spook began showing his more cordial side, knowing that every face had another backstory and perhaps his superior might have a rocky day. Spook waved at the client as soon as they crossed eyes from across the street. It was Kura-senpais yelling approach that caught Mr. Kawasaki off-guard.

How did this man recognize me so easily, "A-ahh, yes." Kawasaki replied, he'd started walking with a wooden stick towards the duo. His grey beard extended all the way onto the street. The tip was black and obviously stained from the ground. While crossing the street, two of the boys from the neighborhood crossed through the street on their bicycles. Kawasaki angrily extended his (wooden) stick at the teenagers and begun yelling, "Slow down around here! Children live here!" The two young boys turning back once they passed Kawasaki to mock the old man, youth in Shikigakure had this specific hand gesture that was meant as an insult like a middle finger but with the ring finger. With a grunt, the old male turned his attention back to the shinobi and begun talking to them. "I need 2oz. cobalt blue, and as for inspiration hmm..." Kawasaki deeply stared into the eyes of the higher ranked shinobi who also attended this mission.

"Uh--right, my name is Spook. I shall be on my way then, see you in a bit, Kura-senpai and I will return with your paint in a bit, mr. Kawasaki."

Spook departed and would return later with 2oz of blue cobalt; there was a hardware store nearby that gave him the blue cobalt on the pretense of the owner having a look at the painting before anyone else did, excluding the original painter and his assistants.

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(1151/1200)