Boulder Brat

[LmnDrp]

Mission Title: Ecstatic Escort
Mission Rank: B
Pay: 420.000 Ryo
Information: A wealthy family recently had their son visit Hi on Kuni on a trip, due to work neither of his parents could accompany him. The ninja that escorted the young boy to Tekaigakure could only escort him there and back to the border of Tsuchi no Kuni. Itsuki has been assigned to this six year old. He must escort the boy back to Gestsugakue where he is from. This mission should be fairly simple, but dealing with the wants of a rich kid will prove to be an annoyance. The village is not paying you, it is the boy's parents, so be wary how you treat the child.

---

Itsuki had suited up for a pretty casual mission, I just need a little time away from combat to gather some money, without the help of the others. I think it'll be nice to get out on my own, though I wouldn't have requested a solo mission if I knew this brat was going to be a part of the equation. Not the biggest fan of children, he thought to himself as he set off down the cobble path in the sunny day. The air was crisp with the frigid touch of winter, though instead of dreadful the chill felt refreshing today, and the sun kept the surface of the skin warm enough. He wore a long brown jacket fit with faux-fur covering the interior, black jeans, and black combat boots. He neared the gates of Tenkaigakure soon enough and encountered the young child, "I am Mentsu Roba! You're the guy who's gonna take me back home, let's get going! Now!" The shinobi that escorted the boy to the gate to meet with the chuunin offered some silent condolences as they exited Tenkaigakure together and set off to their target, Getsugakure.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

Itsuki and the little shithead had been travelling for a good couple of hours at this point, according to the sun and his personal guesses he thought it was around 7 hours that they had been together. He was already contemplating killing the boy and going rogue, or maybe killing the boy and his family and taking the money and covering up the whole ordeal entirely. Eventually though, the petualant child began to whine incessantly about wanting to rest and eat. "WHAT?!?!?" was the brat's reaction immediately to Itsuki saying they'd need to camp outside in the woods for the night. "Yep. I don't see any settlements nearby, do you? Cause I'll gladly keep walking to look for one, but again, that would require walking which you refuse to do. Can't have your cake and eat it to, as much as I imagine you'd love to." The kid began to pout as Itsuki set up a fire and two tents before they settled up for the night entirely.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

The two shared a fairly nice meal together, grilled salmon Itsuki had bought from the market before he had set out and then cooked over the open flame. Though it wasn't seasoned as thoroughly as he would've liked, and he didn't have any sauces on him either, he enjoyed it due to it's fresh quality and potent flavor brought out by well-timed cooking. Though, the kid was less so appreciative of the meal and more so picky beyond the point of rudeness and more akin to demented. "You weird fish freak! I don't eat gross fishy fish! I only eat my momma's handmade meatloaf or ramen! Where's my ramen?! Where is it?!?!" he screeched out. Itsuki truly had to hold himself back from infanticide. He simply took the boy's grilled salmon yakitori sticks and at them himself, though he left one in case he changed his mind as each one was full loaded it would still be sufficiently filling. The two then went to their respective beds and laid down for sleep.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

Itsuki woke up at the crack dawn, as the light broke through his tent and shined directly into his eyes. Though, this didn't bother him today, though he preferred to normally wake up later rather than earlier his travelling companion was a true inspiration to expediating the process. He went to start a morning fire for the duo and begin breakfast, which was simply egg and rice, but this was when he noticed that the boy had apparently snuck back out to eat the grilled salmon yakitori that Itsuki had cooked for him. Hm, well that's good, I guess he thought as he continued to cook. He had time on his hands now, so he searched the forest for some herbs and spices growing naturally to flavor. He found some wild green onions and thyme and added them to the cooking stone with the eggs as he soaked the white rice in a bit of soy sauce.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

The intoxicating aroma of his cooking must've drawn the young child out of bed as soon after Itsuki finished plating the eggs, Mentsu ended up emerging from the tank. "That food smells super duper good! Hurry and give me some!" he demanded, but Itsuki's face controted in anger as he snapped back, "look you little shit. You're not my kid. I'm no Tenkaigakure pencil pusher, don't talk to me that way. You know how to talk. I know you know how to act, because you're choosing to act out. Talk to me that way, and you get treated this way." he said as he ate 2 of the eggs off of the boys plate, leaving him with only 3 and the rice. The kid frowned, but bowed to Itsuki in appreciation. Ah, well that's a good start! he thought as he considered where to lead a conversation.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

"Getsugakure, huh?" he asked, "yep. What about it?" the kid responded, their conversation continued. "Well what's it like? I've never been to that village." "It's nothing special. Better than Tenkaigakure though, people there are waaaay cooler and it looks richer too. I don't get out too much though, that's just what I've seen." "Oh, why don't you get out much?" "Um, my family just wants to keep me indoors since they don't have the time to keep an eye on me 24/7 with all their work but they still want to keep me safe, or whatever. I don't care, it means I get to play my games and watch my shows a bunch," Itsuki considered all of this as they continued to speak together. Maybe it's not all the kid's fault he's such a little shit, he could probably use a little attention and a little guidance, but that's not really my place I guess.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

"Alright, kid. It's about time we head out, we need to get you home witin a couple days worth of travel, maybe a week and a half at most, depending on the weather." He'd started to soften up to the kid slightly, especially after that conversation. It's not entirely the kid's fault he's a little shit, though it ultimately is his fault, but his parents could still help him out if they just gave him some attention, geez, though he caught himself once again before saying something and stepping out of bounds. The two gathered all of their things, put out the fire, and set off in the directioin of Tsuchi no Kuni and subsequently Getsugakure. "So, your family's work is pretty important right? What do they do?" he asked the kid as he pushed through the underbrush of the forest.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

Itsuki waited until the kid responded, and he did so "well, my dad is a big doctor in Getsugakure, he's got a lot of rich customers and works for hospitals. He's working all the time, all over Tsuchi no Kuni and he's super famous, I'm supposed to be a doctor too." the boy paushed slightly. This let Itsuki know that he wasn't so sure about that plan for himself, through even more doubt on his parent's entire innocent of the situation. "What about your mom then?" Itsuki asked heistantly, half expecting her to be dead or something, "oh right, yea my mom is a makeup saleswoman. Also pretty popular in Getsugakure, and always travelling."

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

Itsuki and the boy had grown to be a bit of friends, as he had grown to respect the older and highly skilled Itsuki and Itsuki himself growing fond of the kid once the edges were smoothed out a bit. They had entered the boundaries of Tsuchi no Kuni about a day and a half of travel behind them, and would reach the village in another day and a half hopefully. They had taken to hunting and camping out for the first half of this time period travelling together, but as they had entered Tsuchi no Kuni's territory they ran into many more small settlements to take up residence in along their travels.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

"I like this environment a lot better, little pebbles and jagged rocks feel more... like home," the kid said as they trekked onward. The boy and Itsuki climbed mountainsides of red stone, to reach the top of rolling rock hills. Rockslides were a fairly common sight, different magnitudes could be seen from something that would be devastating to a building to devastating to ant hill. "The village shouldn't be too much longer if I remember, thank you for the help by the way, Itsuki!" Now that the two had begun getting over their differences, Itsuki beamed a smile at the kid and replied, "of course, kid! I'm just glad you ended up being immesuarably less obnoxious than when I first met you. I swear, I promise you, I contemplated killing you, haha!" Itsuki geeked out for a bit as Mentsu chuckled uncomfortably.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

The duo climbed up a steep mountain sie once again, though this one even more so, that gave them access to the precipice of a valley. As they approached the side, the boy informed the chuunin that below was actually the village of Getsugakure. "Ah, that's a pretty cool location. I'm a bit excited to get down there a get a peek at their culture before I head out, though of course I have to handle the mission first. Which means getting you back to your family, kid. Let's head on down there." They then descended down the internal side of the valley downwards towards the village hidden under the moon.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

Descending down the rocky and dusty redstone cavern towards Getsugakure, he grabbed the kid just to make sure he got down safely. If this kid breaks an arm right outside of the village, that'd be just my luck! Bye! Bye! Mission reward! Geez! he thought to himself. Eventually, though found themselves on even footing and they approached the gates of the village. They were massive just like in Tenkaigakure though they were composed of an entirely different material, metal walls and dense stone pillars; as well as differently designed and decorated. As they approached the massive stoned doors that were adorned with the depiction of an intricate boar, they were intercepted by the armed guards of Getsugakure who were both burly and built looking men. Probably shouldn't get myself into trouble in town here, if this is law enforcement, he thought.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

"Who goes there? What do you do want with Getsugakure, state your business," the guard closer to Itsuki spoke first, as the other struck his polearm unto the ground, expressing urgency or maybe impatience. "Yeah, one sec," he continued to scramble through his bag, though he was having trouble finding the papers and registrations approving his travelling here assuring no espionage or similar acts were underway. As he was struggling to find this, the guards impatience grew at a rapid rate, who would've guessed. "Hey now! I don't have all day, you're getting suspicious by the minute, you'd better answer my buddy's question or--" but suddenly he was interrupted by the kid approaching them both and speaking, surprising all three of the men.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

The kid approached the two guards and spoke up clearly and firmly, "look at this," he proceeded to show them a coin that he pulled out of his pocket with the icon of a horse on it. He continued, "I'm Mentsu Roba. My dad is Uma Roba and my mom is Rakuda Roba; I'm coming home after being gone for a long time and my parents would be sooooooo mad if they found out that you wouldn't let me in! I'm gonna tell my daddy!" He frowned at the two guards as they looked between each other and then quickly backed back up to the wall and looking away from them as they entered.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP

[LmnDrp]

The two had finally made it, their travels from Tenkaigakure and Hi no Kuni to Getsugakure and Tsuchi no Kuni was finally concluded after many, many days of travel. Along the way, they had grown accustomed with each other and actually became friends, as well as Itsuki giving the kid some advice and becoming a mentor to him in a way. In addition to this, he accepted the kid and saw him for what he was rather than simply for how he acted. At whatever case, at this point Itsuki had formed a new friend and visited a new country and village, and the boy had earned the self confidence and self respect to ask his parents to spend more time with him as well as realizing he doesn't need as much attenion as he previously did. After meeting with the kids family and getting paid, he said goodbye to Mentsu and they headed back to Tenkaigakure after staying now.

Itsuki is the greatest in the world, woo-hoo!!! BRY of W&&R, ADOX, and PIXP