[Fieldbox=Team 4 - Operation Crazy Devil, #007dba]
Starting in Konohagakure but heading towards the city of Hanaguro.
A collab between FrostedCamel, Inzane and Oetje.
Summary:
The members of Team 4 arrive in Hanaguro, the River Province's capital. There they don't waste too much time to establish a certain base of operations. Once they have gained a base to operate from, the team decides to venture on the first 'recon expedition' inside of Hanaguro.
Part 1! Travel towards Hanaguro.
Part 2 - Establising the (Temporary) base of operations.
Part 2.5 - A walk about Fire?
[spoili]
Once the two girls had returned to their room at the Inn, Aoi had quickly changed, making good use of the time it would take before their male counterpart had returned and then promptly took a seat at the window on the far side of the room that commanded a decent view of the street outside. She had spent the better part of the last half hour with her face pressed against the window to get a better angle at the road below, watching the people of Hanaguro go about their late night business like a kid staring through the window of a bakery watching the bakers skillfully executing their craft.
She had even let out a few exhilarated noises as strangers below exchanged intimate moments when meeting their significant others, the idea of being so out in the open to carry out such acts oddly polarizing for Aoi. She had at one point turned to Meilin to try and get her to come and watch with her but had decided against it as she had seemed busy with some of her stuff at the time.
Meilin also made use of the time to get changed by a bit - such as putting her jacket off. Folding and laying her gear in a most serious and disciplined manner, almost as if the act would mean the difference between a punishment and an easy night. Once done, Meilin would take some time for herself. Certainly, after spotting that Aoi's curiosity for the urban life in Hanagoro hadn't vanished, it seemed a good time for one of her rituals.
Kneeling in front of her backpack, Meilin would pull out a cheap looking necklace. The item, however, was treated as if it was made of the most vulnerable material in the world. Wrapping it around the fingers of her right hand, she would engage in a soft prayer in Chonobi, sending basically a good night to her mother and hope of bringing back the rest of her missing family. Ending the prayer with a soft request for Valdar's blessing, Meilin would place the necklace back into her backpack.
"I hope Madoc returns back soon. With some news," Meilin said out loud, stretching after getting up.
"Not to forget, we should see if Team 7 entered the city. Before we get lectured on that we don't hold ourselves to the mission's protocol."
Madoc entered the room seeing Aoi enthralled in the life of the urban city and Meilin looking a bit more relaxed, yet somehow still serious. Entering the room he would give the two ladies a smile as he sat down on his bed before speaking.
"Well ladies, I got some intel some possibly useful and some that sounds like a drunk would say it normally. It seems like the thieves guild is plotting something huge, which should be impossible as the watch reported that they took out the headquarters of the guild. Something huge would make sense with what Team 7 is doing which is guarding someone who could possibly be stolen. The monks have been more secluded as of late as well, although there seems to be multiple rumors on why. Such as only allowing those that practise the faith near, while another was only letting them in if they knew a secret saying that only the truly faithful would know."
Madoc let them process that bit first since its what they were most curious about when they were discussing what to do.
"Then we have some nobles complaining about high land tax which hasn't been raised at all, so most likely attention seekers. Then the Pink district had some murders happen as of late when its a low crime rate area." Madoc paused and briefly wondered if he would have to explain what the Pink District was to Aoi but hoped she knew what it was.
"And the craziest of all. A brown bear and a large one roaming the areas as of late. Now I don't know about any bear mostly large ones getting away easily. Yet Meilin you spoke of a large savage beast that was a human at first right? I think it's more plausible that this "bear" isn't actually a bear but one of these things you fought before and how its getting away is by transforming back into its human form."
Aoi perked up as the door to their room swung open, she spun around on the small table she had claimed as her seat at the window and smiled at Madoc as he walked in the room,
"Madoc! Welcome back! I was starting to think we'd need to look for you passed out and penniless in a ditch or something soon." she teased playfully before she held her tongue as he began to tell them what he had learned. She listened intently as he went over the Thieves Guild, which wasn't new information although he had come up with a bit of an idea of what just might be going down,
'Kidnapping the Tamiyo heiress? Isn't that a bit extreme? Even for something big?" she thought to herself as Madoc went on.
She kept quiet as Madoc went over the odd information on the Priests of the Way of Fire in Hanaguro, and turned to look wide eyed at Meilin as Madoc inferred that whatever people may have been seeing might have been one of the monsters that Meilin had fought before. She shook her head nervously as Madoc finished and raised her hand as if in school, the sleeve of her shirt falling down to her shoulder as she put her arm up high,
"That can't be right! They Way of Fire would never shun anyone, doesn't matter what you practice… They'd let an invading army into the the Temple and feed them if they had the chance! It's not right, it's completely against what we're taught, what we practice, what we do…" the concern in her voice was nothing short of intense as she spoke,
"I think they're a good place to start! I can probably get us in if they're really asking for a password or someone of the Faith, and then we can figure out what's gotten into them. They've either been intimidated by the Zealots or…" she shivered where she sat , shaking it off to look back toward the two,
"Or they've been replaced." she said seriously.
Madoc entering the room gained Meilin's attention instantly. Listening to what the Yamanaka reported caused Meilin to cup her chin with her left hand. She felt the need to pace through the room but it wasn't that spacious to allow her to do so freely. Resulting in that the Cho frowned while pondering on the report of Madoc.
When Madoc brought up the bear, Meilin wanted to wave it off as some urban legend. Some crazy tales of a flying bird dropping babies down the chimneys existed in Keishi and she wouldn't be surprised if this was a similar urban myth that couldn't be real. That was until Madoc stated about her encounter with those
beasts. The hair on Meilin's neck rose as a cold shiver ran down her spine. She was still able to relive the moment when she had been close to death's door thanks to those abominations.
"Easy, Aoi," Meilin said, flashing a warm smile towards the other.
"So far, there are just some rumours. We can figure out if they are true or not."
Though not really eager to head to a temple filled with monks and priests of a different faith, Meilin couldn't argue that it wasn't a good place to continue their search. But the temple was at the other side of the city than they were.
"The situation is that we likely have to move to the other side of the city. The Pink District and the Temple are on the other side of the river. Seeing we don't know where the Thieves Guild is operating, our best bet is likely to figure out about these clues before trying to probe in the dark."
Becoming silent as she considered what she had to say about the 'bear', Meilin's nose wrinkled at the bridge while a frown appeared on her brow.
"Possibly. Let us keep vigilant for this 'creature'. If we come across one, there are likely more of those mongrels around. So if that is all, I suppose we should get some rest and then tomorrow morning head to the temple. I figure we will need to pay somebody to ferry us over the river. Which comes to the next question," Meilin turned her gaze towards Madoc.
"Were you able to win any money in the gamble?"
The information he told them was sinking in the best it could, it might be hard to process or even believe since it was all based on rumors basically. Although he kind of predicted Aoi not thinking very well on what was told about the religion she chose, she reacted a bit more strong then he thought. Meilin was quick to try and relax her, reminding her they are just rumors at most, but that they can figure it out if they are true or not. So they were going to head on over to the other side where The Pink District was, along with the temple which was rather funny now that he thought of it. Meilin suggested they keep vigilant for this bear or monster in Meilin's case which was wise but what would they even do if they found it? Although it didn't seem like a good plan so far to him, he really hoped they came up with something better than possibly entering a temple full of zealots.
This would be when he was ready to start heading to bed when Meilin asked if he won any money, a smirk appeared on his face as he reached over to his bag and pulled out the pouch of money that was double its size from a few hours ago.
"It's not was I able to win any money, it's how much did I earn…. But I suppose I can pay for this fare but there will be interest in the future~" Madoc said a bit teasingly, yet agreeing to pay for their fare. He had to admit to wanting to see what this religion was like in person.
Aoi waved her hands in apology to the other two,
"Of course right, I shouldn't have let my imagination get the best of me." she said apologetically before perking up at the talk of a creature,
"If you've encountered the creature before, then I think we'd have a better chance at identifying it as either being one of them or not. Otherwise it could just be a bear or some or wild animal that the city isn't used to seeing… Being a city and all."
She leaned back against the window, listening once more as the her teammates spoke. She would find herself leaning forward as Meilin asked if Madoc had had any luck winning back their money, only to find herself grinning as the real question became how much more Madoc had managed to get from the men at the bar.
"Oh ho." Aoi laughed,
"It would seem you're looking for something in return then?" she asked the blonde as she would get up and move to her bed, laying down in it before continuing,
"I've heard there are plenty of girls to warm you bed in the Pink District if that's what you're after you lecher."
An amused snort escaped Meilin when Madoc gave an answer to her question, stating that there would be an interest in the future. She would throw a glance at Aoi, as the latter spoke up.
"Yeah. Though that is the problem," Meilin thought for a second how she could explain it. The memory was still fresh in her mind. Of how grotesque the transformation had been and just how terrifying those creatures had been.
"Those creatures have shown the ability to appear as human as you can imagine. They morph into creatures that just seem the stuff of nightmares. We could very already have encountered the rumoured beast without knowing it."
Realising that she had spoken with a most serious tone, Meilin would run a hand through her hair. She didn't want to make the mood too gloomy. Their situation and odds could be as serious as anybody could imagine. Luckily, Aoi managed to produce a comment that saw to it that a smile grew on Meilin's lips. Only for a laugh to escape the Cho's lips shortly afterwards.
Aoi's comment produced even a smirk from Madoc himself, even when Meilin seemed to find the retort amusing enough.
"I think someone just volunteered to find another way to the temple. Yet you wound me Aoi. Thinking me to be such a perverted male to even indulge in something like paying for pleasure. I know damn well I wouldn't need to pay to get pleasure. Yet we can discuss that later. I think we should get some rest ladies, tomorrow sounds like a busy day."
Aoi laughed slightly at Madoc's comment,
"So you really are a playboy huh?" she said before shaking her head slightly,
"I agree with you on one thing though Madoc, we should get some rest, probably going to be an early morning." she said before laying down completely in her bed staring at the ceiling. She snickered to herself and turned her head to Madoc once more,
"Don't any funny ideas sleeping in the same room as two maidens. I swear I'll lock you were you are if you do." she said before turning on her side the opposite way of the other two beds.
Meilin watched the exchanges between Madoc and Aoi going back and forth. When Madoc stated that it would be a good idea to tuck in and Aoi agreed, Meilin wouldn't argue. Stretching out, the Cho would nod towards her two team members.
"I am going for a short walk. Helps me sleep better. I will have my earphone communicator with me in case you guys will wonder where I am."
That having said, Meilin would pick up the sheathed shortsword, strapping it to her back.
[/spoili]
A collab between Roran Hawkins and Oetje.
Summary:
Meilin Cho meets with Kensuke Nimatsu as they had agreed upon. The two briefly talk before departing back to their own teams.
[spoili]
The cold of the night didn't do much to reduce the rush that Meilin experienced as she made her way to the Tamiyo keep. It was certainly as imposing as it had seemed from a distance. The stout defences were even by night quite well guarded and manned by more people than Meilin had assumed. Climbing higher into the dark night, she didn't fear much from being caught or gaining attention.
Nobody would expect her until it would be too late. Or that was she assumed.
Soaring through the air, there was still a certain sense of caution present. The technique that allowed her to perform the current feat to transform and use the form of a raven was one that she hadn't fully mastered. Flying was something not too troublesome but landing was a different story. If it hadn't been for the fact she usually dressed in long pants and sleeves, Aoi and Madoc would have perhaps spotted her bruises from earlier trials and attempts to master landing.
Trying to find a suitable roof, Meilin would circle above the higher levels of the keep before deciding to land on a flat part of a rooftop near a tower. The landing went as she had feared, quite clumsy and painful. Reversing back to her own original form, Meilin softly grunted. Feeling the pain in her right knee and shin, she decided not to check it for any bruises. Instead, the chuunin would activate the spare ear communicator that Kensuke had given at their previous meeting, in Konohagakure.
Starting with a simple code to request the presence of the leader through channel A, Meilin would wait for a few seconds before repeating it. She hadn't really thought of how many times she would try the coded signal on each channel before calling it the night as she figured that sensory guards could perhaps find it odd to locate a humanoid chakra signature suddenly on a rooftop.
Having sent both Karma and Kyoi on their way to guard Lady Haruka Kensuke observed a ground plan of the citadel which he had procured after fifteen long minutes of arguing. He had taken his time to memorise the rooms and hallways of the palace, specifically those surrounding Haruka's quarters. He had taken special care to both record the lay of the plans of the floors above and under Haruka's quarters in addition to the floor her chambers were located on. Once he'd made quick but accurate copies of the plans on a piece of paper he'd brought along he began looking for a suitable roof on which to meet with Meilin in the coming weeks, as soon as they'd establish contact. It needed to be a place that was both out of view and easily accessible. Not an easy feat in a fortress. He had isolated two potential locations, but each had downsides to match their merits. One was an old tower that was left obsolete after an expansion of the fortifications, meaning it was most likely no longer patrolled. It was a relatively good position, provided that that'd be the case. Yet it was not immediately easy to reach for Meilin, who would essentially be an intruder and would have to negotiate an entire layer of manned defences. The second was far easier to reach, but the warehouse just outside of the palace gates was right underneath the walls. An overeager or bored guard looking straight down might consider shady individuals meeting there suspicious.
The second headset he had brought suddenly reported an incoming message when he was looking for a third location. Kensuke raised his brow at the familiar notification and replaced it with his team's one after a quick glance to see if there was anyone around. He folded the plan and handed it back to an impatient and worried clerk outside the door and thanked him with a nod.
"Your cooperation is most appreciated." He said, and walked into the nippy evening air. He walked around the barracks, heading back to his room while his eyes scanned the rooftops around him.
"This is Team 7, come in."
Meilin's patience hadn't to endure much before she received confirmation of Kensuke's voice resonating over the communicator. A mental sigh followed by Meilin as she would walk a bit closer to the edge. Being on a high rooftop meant that she was more prone to the cold winter breeze. Making Meilin briefly wonder why she hadn't decided to pack thicker clothes. Making a mental note, she would reply back to Kensuke.
"Team 7, this is the support. I am in need of a rallying point. Can you specify one?"
Glancing over the edge, she had the view and could see most of the island on which the Tamiyo administration was located. But she wasn't entirely certain where she expected Kensuke to meet up. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to enter any building as she doubted that her technique would make it that much easier. Shifting back and forth wasn't a real joy, so far at least.
"Support, stand by. How easily can you access the citadel's roofs?" He said, and changed his route towards the old guard tower. On the way there his eyes kept scanning the rooftops above him. It quickly came into view. Apart from a servant carrying a heavy basket of cottons out of a nearby building the tower was abandoned, as he had hoped it to be.
"There is an abandoned tower in the South-Western side of the citadel, part of an older ring of defences. Can you make it there?" He said as he looked around, stretching his arms with unfeigned fatigue. It had been a long day. The servant had disappeared around a corner, and noone was watching. With quick and deliberate movements he then silently scaled the side of the tower, using chakra to speed up the proces there we he didn't find ridges and gaps between the stonework to hold on to.
The question wasn't answered right away. Meilin threw a look around as she tried to spot potential guards on the roofs but couldn't find any from her spot.
"Not much of a problem. I have my ways." Was Meilin's answer.
Listening to the instruction, Meilin threw another look around as she tried to find the tower he spoke off. Trying to find north, she was certain that the direction she came from was the west. Concluding thus that she was facing south, she spotted a tower. Walking to the edge Meilin would take a breath in before she would allow herself to fall forward. In mid-air she would utilize the technique, experiencing the alien sensation that cloaked her with chakra before she would gain the form of a raven.
Soaring through the air, she first circled around one tower but wasn't too entirely certain if it was the one that Kensuke spoke off. There wasn't any light coming from the interior, which gave her the idea that it was abandoned. Deciding to land to the rooftop next to it, Meilin would attempt a landing. Much like before it didn't go that smoothly. Half landing and half crashing, Meilin managed to revert back to her original form. Rubbing her right knee, the chuunin wondered if she was at the right spot.
"I think I am at the good spot? I am just outside near the windows of the tower without any lighting." She would state through the communicator, hoping that she wouldn't have to do another landing for a short while.
Cresting the top of the tower and finding it empty he gave his surroundings a quick scan. He thought he'd heard something strange just as he climbed the last few steps, like a bird being caught by a cat, but all thoughts of it left his mind when he spotted Meilin standing on a nearby rooftop.
"Support, I have a visual." He said, and crouched down on the roof of the abandoned tower.
Dusting off her pants Meilin whispered some curses. When she heard that Kensuke had visual, Meilin straightened her back and looked around. Spotting the tall blonde man, Meilin was wondering if she should stay formal or just raise a hand and wave. Turning towards Kensuke, Meilin would take a few steps towards the jounin.
"I hope I am not arriving at an uncomfortable time," Meilin said, the amusement evident in her tone as phrasing,
"Anyhow, I can already start that I and the others are moving underneath the radar. We are staying at one place only for a day or three before moving to another spot."
Meilin then became silent as she wondered if Kensuke would even desire to know that. Perhaps he just wanted the information on what Team 4 had managed to gather so far?
"Not at all, I was just going to try and establish contact with you." He said, waving her concerns away, ignoring her tone. He was too tired to deal with subtleties right now, and he had no clue what Meilin could be getting at. She then summarised their activities thusfar and paused.
"Good. Stay mobile and hidden." He added after a moment's thoughts.
"I'd like to know when and where you move, every time you do. It'll be hard to contact you or help you otherwise." He said.
"If you find information, bring it here," He began, and stepped on a loose roof tile.
Meilin remained silent for a good few seconds after Kensuke last words. Slowly her lips parted before the words would leave her mouth.
"I am afraid I can't do that. Informing you when and where we move."
Letting that sink in for a second Meilin's facial expression matched her serious tone.
"Team 4 is operating underneath the radar and I already take a risk of meeting you here. Though we could try to inform you and go out of our way to keep you briefed, I don't see a big benefit for either side. You and your team are here in this fortress while we are outside. If the Zealots are aware that we are out there, we either get hunted down or you could be lured away. So I can't brief you in on the team's location or direction. The gained information, however," a wry smile crossed Meilin's lips,
"That is a different story."
She nodded towards the western side of Hanaguro.
"We have managed to gain various interesting rumours that might give some insights on what is going in Hanaguro. Such as trouble at the temple of the Way of Fire. The Thieves guild might be plotting something big. Then also rumours of various nobles being pissed off by a rise in tax. But trouble doesn't end there. As there is a rise of murders in the Pink District. Most odd of rumours is this talk of a large brown bear stalking the streets at night."
Letting Kensuke process the information for a few seconds, Meilin would speak up again with a light shrug of her shoulders.
"Of course, the team is aware that some are just rumours and not worth spending time on. There hasn't been any raising on the taxes, so we disregarded pursuing that lead. And the Thieves Guild has been cleaned up by the city watch not too long ago, so that might be also not worth the time to chase after. And the big bear might just be some surfacing urban myth."
Kensuke gave her a slow nod when Meilin said she couldn't disclose their location. It was a risk either way, and no longer her teamleader it was hers to take. He could order her to disclose the information and she would be required to give it, but he knew Meilin well enough to know it'd give bad blood. And despite her tendency to do whatever she wanted to regardless of his opinion, he knew she wasn't incapable.
"Good to know." He said, pursing his lips in thought. None of those things, horrible as they might be for those involved, had little do to with the safety of their employer. Those were problems the shinobi of the local ninja village should be hired for, as their task only extended to anything that could threaten the daughter of the former daimyo. The bear sounded most troubling if anything. Reports and personal experience had shown that the zealots had shapeshifters among their ranks. Easy to mistake for a bear.
"Keep at it. I'll hear of you later." He said, mentally filing the information away.
"If Team 7 is for any reason unavailable and the situation is dire, there are two dependable contacts inside the palace. Hallbjörn, a guest and guard of the lady, and Aratoshi, an officer of her guard."
Meilin would remain patient, waiting for Kensuke to progress the information and see what he had to say. She was wagering that he would likely pass on an order or a set of instructions. There was even a moment she wondered why he hadn't already argued back on her decision but found herself quite content that it seemed to be no problem.
When Kensuke spoke up, Meilin focused on what he had to say. For a moment, she found herself surprised. Blinking once in a rapid fashion Meilin wasn't too certain on how she should respond. The lack of a true authoritative response on what she should do with her team and following a certain set of instructions made her wonder if Kensuke did have some faith or trust in her.
Memorizing the names that Kensuke gave her, Meilin would nod to indicate that she understood it. She wasn't entirely certain how she would contact those two men. Then again, that was only in need of emergencies or when Team 7 was unavailable, for whatever reason.
"Understood."
A second of silence followed the word as Meilin would scratch her neck.
"So, I suppose that was it then? I will try to reach out once I have more information."
Taking already a step back, Meilin would wait to see if Kensuke had anything to say.
"I will hear from you." He nodded her a goodbye and perked his ears again. During their conversation, the same servant had appeared again, so returning unseen would require more of an effort this time around. He formed the seals for the camouflage jutsu and turned around, walking back to their rooms for a moment of rest. He still had to check on Karma and Kyoi at Lady Haruka's chambers before midnight, but that'd have to wait a little while longer.
Seeing that the meeting was over Meilin would walk towards the edge, weaving a few handsignals, and take a deep breath in. Allowing herself to fall forward, the chuunin would vanish into the dark of the night.
[/spoili]
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