Mission-Caravan Escort (Sōjirō, Enkai, and Kurogane)

ooc:1 round of posts to get the order then the fun begins

The carts moved down the caravan road lined up in a straight line as they traveled over the bumpy road. The sun was high in the sky now as they moved beating down on the drivers, camels, carts, and the shinobi assigned to protect them. Sō reached up to his forehead with his right hand as he wiped away the sweat. To be honest as much fun as it would be to protect the caravan from an attack I actually hope that we don't get attacked. Sō thought to him self as he scanned the horizon checking for any form of movement over the sands that might belong to anything hostile. But all that Sōjirō saw was what seemed to be a reflective shimmer. Well so far so good, we might just get lucky yet.

Kurogane wakjed akingside the caravan in the middle. He was to give support to both teamates but also look from the sides. Even though this was Kuro's first mission, he knew you could never be to careful. He couldnt look at both side at once. He knew that if he looked at once side, someone like a bandit would charge on the other. It also wasn't smart for him to do a quick look at both sides over and over becouse then he wouldn't be able to get a good view of what's going on.

As they Traveled up the road, Kurogane spotted a cactus up ahead. Kuro used the chance to use one of his jutsu's, He took another glimpse for left and then right. He then focused on the cactus. He quickly reached for his borrowed leg holster and grabbed a kunai. quickly, Kuro threw it at the cactus. It pierced the cactus as water dripped from under the kunai. The young shinobi then Took the chance to use one of his jutsu's "Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu". Kuro thougt to himself once he finished doing some handsigns As a clone was formed near the cactus. The clone grabbed the kunai and walked to kuro and stood on the opposite side of him once returning the kunai. This made Kuro's adrenaline go up. He had done his first jutsu in a mission. He couldn't wait to use it during battle. Kuro then looked at one side as the clone watched the other.

6/60

What a waste of energy and of the essence of surprise, if the bandits are watching us then he just gave away what could have been considered a wonderful trick and surprise by being too hasty in showing off that he could use water to create a copy of himself. Sō thought to himself as he scanned the 180degrees that he had assigned to himself covering from the left side of the cart he was in, around the back and to the right. So far there was nothing but the walls of the village were just starting to fade from view seeming as almost nothing more than a Mirage in comparison to the sandy terrain that it was built on. Well the time for us to truly start to worry has begun, with the village out of site it would be much harder for any conflict caused by our defending of the caravan would be harder for our village and any possible reinforcements to notice.

It wasn't long after Sō completed that thought that 8 bandits just seemed to rise up out of the sand on the back of horses. There were three bandits near the rear cart they had positioned themselves so that there were one on each side and one bringing up the rear, two of the bandits set themselves up on either side of the middle cart, and the three remaining had surrounded the front cart in a mirror pattern to those around the rear (see ooc in the bottom for approximately what it looks like). To be honest if Sō didn't know any better he would of thought them to be an armored escort for the caravan.

The bandit that was riding on the left side of Sō notched an arrow aiming at Sō's head as his buddy on the other side did the same but instead aimed at the driver of the cart, the one bringing up the rear of the group of bandits was aiming passed Sō and he could only guess that it was going for Kuro's clone. The two around middle did the same one aiming at Kuro the other at the driver. Up front a similar action was occuring. The one that placed himself in front of the caravan hand swung himself around on his horse so that he was in fact riding backwards. He pulled out a Katana pointing it at Shuju. The lead bandit then said Sir this doesn't have to end with bloodshed just tell your employees to put down their weapons pull over and to put up no resistance and we shall just take your carts, leaving you, your people, and your camels unharmed. Your camel's can return with you we have no use for those stinking animals anyways.

Shuju is definitely not going to agree to that though if he chooses too we will have no choice but to go along with it because as our employer we must do as he says. Sōjirō thought to himself as he started to move his hands together but suddenly one of the bandits beside him made a noise which caused Sōjirō to stop moving. Tsch I wouldn't do that if I were you at this range I could possibly take your head clean off with my shot.

ooc: looks like below
--Left
--SKE
--+++
C+SKE+E Front
--+++
--DDD
--Right

S=Sō
K=Kuro
E=Enkai
D=Driver
C=Clone
+=Bandit
the letters outside of the little circle of bandits is what they are aiming at

oh and don't worry about the three in the back i will get them in my next post though unfortunately Kuro it might cost you your clone.

One of the kurogane's watched left and the other watched the right. The young shinobi stoof in the middle of the caravan. Kuro then noticed and odd thing. It seems that something was rising from the ground. Kuro was reaching for his leg holster but stopped once he noticed he was being aimed. Kuro stopped and stared as he thought of a plan.

He heard Soujirou was speaking with one of the bandits. He overheard the bandit saying something about surrendering and letting us live. That's all the genin can make out. Kuro was facing the bandit as the criminal just aimed his bow at him waiting for order r for any movement the young shinobi made. Kuro stood there expressing no emotion, he just studied the bandits face. By the look of it, it seemed that he was focusing only on Kuro and no one else. this gave him an idea but it would be risky. If the plan was to fail, it would cause Kuro his life and the life of his companions. but if it were to sucseed, It would him and his comrades and opening.

Seeing how the wagons stopped, Kuro looked at the first wagon knowing that is where the driver and the owner of the wagon was seated. With the corner of his eye, he noticed another bandit aiming ahead towards the front of the car. This caused a few problems. This bandit can easily aim Kuro through his attempt of killing the bandit aiming for his head. "Chances are chances." Kuro thougt to himself as he grabbed a kunai from his leg holster and threw it at the bandit aiming at him, while he also moved to the side. Kuro only being a genin, didnt have the perfect aim, The kunai got the bandit in his left thigh. Kuro wasnt able to move quick enough since the arrow skinned his shoulder. It was bleedin but it was just a minor wound.

Kuro then kept his attention on the bandit aiming the the driver as he hoped Soujirou would take care of him. he noticed the bandit recovering from the attack. during this time, Kuro's clone did the same thing as Kuro but but dodged the arrow in an opposite direction. Kuro's clone turned into water being hit through the chest. Looks like the other bandit was more skilled then the only kuro was facing wich did cause problems.

The bandit the clone was going against was able to skin his cheek leaving a red line across his cheek. This angered the bandit and he grabbed another arrow as he started at kuro with hatred. This gave Kuro about 5 second to do a jutsu. The other bandit was still taking out the kunai from his leg. so Kuro payed his attention to the stronger one. The young shinobi walked towards him as he finished his handsigns"you little brat, you will pay for that" He said as he aimed his bow at Kuro."Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu" Kuro yelled out as he then began running. This genjutsu caused the bandit to see a hellish scene of himself or love ones wich cause the bandit to completely missed the shot. This being done, kuro quickly made more handsigns"Kasumi Jūsha no Jutsu " Kuro whispered this time 20 clones appeared in the bandits eyes. He quickly got read a bow and arrow as he launched it at a genjutsu clone as it dispersed. the rest of the mincluding the real Kuro took out a kunai and charged the real one. the real Kuro stabbed the bandit in the chest. Kuro took the kunai out as he turne to face his next oppnent"uhuh...never..would have thought this would be so tiring...uhuhu... i need to practice some more when i get back to the village" Kuro said outloud but not that louse to where anyone could here him accept the dead bandit. Kuro turned around t find out the enemy was aiming his bow at him...

14/60
1/4 kunais used

Spoiler:

ooc: just to let you know ll finish him off on my next post...

As Sōjirō's companions started to combat the bandits surrounding them the two that were aiming at Sōjirō and the driver of his cart fired. Their arrows whizzed through the air the third one clipping his hair as it popped Kuro's water clone. Sōjirō sidestepped the arrow aimed at him catching the arrow and throwing it like a kunai at the other one causing a mid air collision that deflected the arrow right into the wooden frame of the cart. Sōjirō spun himself around pulling two kunai out of his pouch throwing them at the bandits on the side of the cart. The one on the right got hit right between their eyes, the kunai aiming for the one on the left clipped the horse's ears causing it to rear up knocking him off of the horse causing him to land painfully on his back before the kunai landed in the ground bout three feet away. As Sōjirō finished his spin so that he faced the one in the rear.

The one who was at the back of the caravan was notching up another arrow as Sōjirō formed handsigns. Sō quickly leaned forward as if he was trying to shoulder toss some one and with a flick of his hands Ai leaped off of his back towards the third bandit, the fingers on Sō's right hand twitched as Ai's body twisted around striking out with its tail. The bandit was pulling his bow string back to get ready to launch but as it had been pulled back to full draw the blade that is on the tip of Ai's tail sliced right through the bow causing it to snap back in a way that it swung around, using the arrow as a fulcrum of sorts as the wood of the bow smashed into his arm shattering it.

The bandit screamed out in agony as he fell off of the horse. The loud noise of the bandit's scream combined with the charge of Ai spooked the horse into rearing up. The horses front hooves came down hard right onto the skull of the the bandit crushing it like a grape. Sō jumped out of the cart and with a flick of his left hand the two kunai he threw earlier came unseated from where they were stuck and with a twitch of a couple of his fingers started to float around him. Sō then reached into his pouch and pulled out his two remaining as the connected to chakra strings on the opposite ends of his middle through pinky fingers so that all four of his remaining Kunai were floating around him. With a twitch of four of his fingers sticking through the guys wrists and ankles pinning him to the ground. With another couple of twitches from his right hand a blade slid out of the palm of her upper right hand poison dripping from its tip right onto the mans abdomen as it leaned over proned to strike.

Sōjirō leaned real close to the guys ear his voice almost a hiss as he spoke into the bandits ear You guys picked the wrong caravan to attack.

With a twitch of all of his fingers his Kunais flew out of the guys body and the blade attached to Ai's upper right hand stabbed into the stomach and exited with a strike similar to that of a viper. Sō returned to the cart Ai and his kunai floating right behind him as Ai's venom started to flow through the guys veins he started to scream as if Sōjirō had lit him on fire.

5/55 cp used

jutsu's + puppet used

Spoiler:

Kurogane faced his last opponent as a weird breeze passed by through the air. Kuro examined his enemy as he looked like he was in great pain. The bandit took out the arrows as he placed them on his bow. He aimed them at Kuro as he thought of a plan."TAKE THIS ASS HOLE!" the bandit screamed as he launched the arrows at him. Kuro jumped into the air as he did a mid-air flip to evade the arrows under him. While he was in the air, he took a quick look to make sure enkai was OK. Then of course, he looked at soujirou to make she he was well too. Once kuro landed, He took out a shuriken as the bandit was taking out more arrows as the shuriken hit his arm. The arrows flew out of his hand as so did his bow. He grabbed his arm in pain.

Kuro then quickly rushed towards him as he kicked the bandit in the leg where the kunai was"AUGGGHGHHH" the bandit screamed as he fell on the floor. Kuro then turned his head to front of the ship where Enkai was and began to run over there. As he ran the bandit seemed to have gotten up as he stood up. The bandit got his bow ready and aimed it at Kuro. He then launched it as he fell on the grown.

Kuro kept running as but stopped as something bothered him. He turned around as he noticed the bow right about to hit him through the stomach. Kuro moved to the left as quickly as possible which gave him enough time to evade any painful and harmful injury. The arrow struck right into his leg. Kuro took it out as he sat there feeling like he couldn't walk. He turned to Enkai and watched her fight her battle...

shuriken
1/5

With an explosion the last bandit was killed by Enkai after he had injured Kurogane with an arrow fired from his bow. Kuro has potential but needs a bit more refinement, Not that I can say much differently about myself I am still young and relatively inexperienced myself but at least I know enough not to try and reveal any techniques prior to when they are needed because you can never know who is watching and what there plans are, I also know enough to keep any required materials close. Enkai also has potential but she seems to have a thing about people harming her comrades, though I wonder about that gourd whether or not it is in fact filled with water as I think I can see myself enjoying working with these two again in the future Sōjirō thought to himself as he thought about his team mates while he decided what he thought of them.

HEY KURO ARE YOU OKAY, Sōjirō yelled as he grabbed the kunai with his left hand disconnecting his chakra strings from them leaving the strings un-extended from his fingertips. With his other hand he had Ai retake her place on his back wrapping her arms around his arms like shoulder straps, Ai's legs and head folded into her body as her tail wrapped around Sō's waist like a belt. Sōjirō then stuck the kunai into the frame of the cart before he looked over at Enkai to yell again ENKAI CAN YOU HELP KURO BACK INTO HIS CART SO WE CAN GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD?

Kuro watched Enkai kill the bandit the injured him. Kuro was disapointed in himself once again. he turned to enkai but he turned away as soon as he saw her face. he tried to stop the tears from coming down his face but they slipped out. The warm droplets went down his face as he began to pull out the arrow. Kuro was only 11 years old and a little younger than a regular genin. He studied at his hardest to get where he was now. Kuro could just sit on the floor and give up.he finished pulling it out as he broke it in half and threw it in the sand.

He wiped the tears of his face before his team would notice. he didnt want them to feel sorry for him or to think he was weak. he tried to get up but when he tried the pain came to his leg. and he sat back down. Kuro took a deep breathe as he looked at his teamates, they looked awfully worried. Kuro fought the pain as he quickly pulled out a kunai and ripped a strip of his shirt and rapped it around the wound. He then slowly back up and put the kunai away.

"Im okay, lets continue..."

MEH it was his own fault. Sōjirō replied Enkai's statement about the bandit who still screams in agony, he was glad that Kuro felt well enough to continue though Sō knew that he would need some medical attention or at least a bandage to stop the blood loss because there were a couple of major veins and arteries that could cause him to bleed to death. Sōjirō grabbed one of his kunai out of the frame of the cart and wiped the blood off of his kunai with the handkerchief that he pulled out of his pouch as he shouted to Kuro to make sure that he could hear him over the screams from the last living bandits HEY KURO WRAP UP YOUR LEG WITH SOME CLOTH YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RIP YOUR SHIRT TO DO SO

The bandits scream started to sound gurgled as Sōjirō moved on to his second Kunai being rather meticulous with his cleaning of it before returning it back to his pouch. When Kuro returned to his carriage and Enkai to hers Shuju started the caravan again. It was almost night fall when the caravan had returned to the village after making their deliveries, After that first attack by the bandits the rest of the mission went rather uneventful.

When the caravan came to the gates Sōjirō had the guards send a message to the medical corp. to get a couple of medics for Kurogane. As Sōjirō and Enkai went on there way to go report in one of the guards stopped Sōjirō to give him a flak jacket, a new Leg holster, five new shuriken, A medical kit and a note.

The note said:
Congratulations Watanabe Sōjirō,
You have been promoted to the rank of Tokujo for your service to the village

Sincerely,
Shikaku Hiruzen

Sōjirō removed Ai and his coat from his pack before putting his flak jacket on. He then put his coat and Ai back on over the flak jacket. Then he and Enkai continued on there way one thought going through his head as he walked Well I think that this is odd to promote a genin so far, though it might be because I am one of the few who can use the Kinjutsu that once made Suna so feared

ooc: I had her permission to control her char, and exit Enkai+Sōjirō

Kurogane sat down in a chair once they reached their dstination, he sat down as he noticed sojirou and enkai leaving... he noticed he still had Soujirou's leg holster" WAIT DONT GO!!!" the young shinobi yelled out but it was too late, they had left. He then looked aound as he notived medic ninjas coming to him to take a look at his leg. He would wait until they would heal it, then try to catch up with his teamates...