Coming in for seconds, no thirds

[Takeo]

Mission Title: RECON: Salamander Investigation - Newt
Mission Rank: A
Pay: 600.000
Information: After suppressing the previous uprising of the gang known as 'The Salamanders', there had been no sign of them for about a year. Now, a new gang that seemed to splinter from 'The Salamanders' known as 'The Newts' have been reported to be growing in size and strength close to the boundaries of Mizu no Kuni. Investigate and infiltrate this newfound gang and their place of operations, but do not engage at this time. Find as much useful information as you can: their skills, weaknesses, assets, places of interest, and important individuals.

---

Kokuun

Takeo

"Knowledge and awareness are vague, and perhaps better called illusions."

Takeo made sure to awake before the rising sun; continually, he had prepared all of his needed gear the night prior. He had received a red and gold lined mission scroll two days ago that detailed his next mission. Around 4:30 in the morning, Takeo left his in his normal attire with the addition of a black haori over his white kimono. The large garment provided him with the warmth he needed to harsh the bitter cold and current darkness. The chuunin was quick to arrive at Itsuki's place where he knocked on his door twice. "Itsuki, I'm sure you can tell by my monotone voice, it's Takeo," called out the chuunin through his friend's front door. "We didn't really settle on a meeting spot, so I figured I'd just show up here," continued the teen. He lingered around the front of Itsuki's home for a moment, his hands adjusted the gunbai on his back.

Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki

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[LmnDrp]

Itsuki decided to sleep in. He stayed up until about 9 preparing for the mission and prerolling marijuana cigarettes for his troubles, and he felt he deserved to rest. Takeo and he had never really decided on a meeting point, so he knew the square would wake up early and come knocking, it was like a natural alarm clock! And just like clock-work, Itsuki was yanked from a dream featuring a sad panda bear, a pink and white silly straw, and a tiny rainbow colored chicken. He grumbled loud enough to alert Takeo of his awakening and then slumped out of bed, he was already fully dressed so he continued to drag his half-lifeless body to the front door of his new apartment. He was greeted with an old friend and an expected face, Takeo Kokuun, his rival. "Right. Gimme 5 or 10 to get dressed and then we can head out. You can come in if you want, but I won't be long," Itsuki returned to his room, claiming a white down jacket, red undershirt, red joggers, and black combat boots for his attire this morning. He grabbed his over-shoulder bag and his pocket-box full of prerolled blunts, retrieving one and plopping it in his mouth. He pulled out an ornate lighter he had recieved for the holidays, it was designed to look like a long, twisting dragon that is colored orange. He lit the blunt and opened the door, then stepped out, the two headed off on their mission.

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

[Takeo]

Kokuun

Takeo

"Knowledge and awareness are vague, and perhaps better called illusions."

Itsuki took a moment to respond, but it felt like no time to Takeo who was looking through his playbook. Takeo was intently focused on a particular page in his playbook, so when Itsuki told him he could come in Takeo did not respond. Somehow a large majority of the pages Takeo had written on the Salamanders had either disappeared or were completely smudged. This deeply confused the chuunin because he wrote in pen; moreover, he knew he had written at least four pages dedicated to the salamanders, only one remained, the smudged one. Takeo abruptly closed his playbook, and Itsuki came outside his apartment at the exact same moment. Not only was the man smoking, but his outfit was immaculate. The duo looked like polar opposites, which Takeo had become accustomed to. After exiting Tenkaigakure, the two entered Hi no Kuni's currently barren forests. Takeo, who was somewhat ahead of Itsuki, looked back at his friend and said, "would you wanna fly there opposed to traveling on foot?" The chuunin took paused for a moment due to the loud crack of a breaking branch, but he soon continued on claiming, "Kuromaku could probably carry the both of us." He soon placed both of his hands inside of his overcoat to shield them from the cold.

Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki

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[LmnDrp]

Itsuki and Takeo headed off in the direction of their preordained mission, though they would have a bit of travel time, the young Chuunin realized. Just then, Takeo offered some aleviation from this fact, "cool that sounds good to me, I've actually been working on getting some type of flying contraption, a kite has been in mind but nothing concrete yet." Itsuki and his fellow shinobi Takeo had been passing their blunt back and fourth, it was the perfect recipe to get Itsuki awake after dragging himself out of his beloved bed... it called to him even now!

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

[Takeo]

Kokuun

Takeo

"Knowledge and awareness are vague, and perhaps better called illusions."

Takeo was glad his friend was receptive to his idea, but the chuunin was somewhat nervous about how his summon would feel. I offered that up so brazenly, how can I be sure Kuromaku will be okay with this, worried Takeo as he pulled at his hair slightly. "A flying kite sounds interesting and practical," added the young man with a slight tremble in his voice. Get yourself together, you signed the contract too didn't you, ruminated the chuunin with determined eyes. His hands performed the respective hand seals for Kuchiyose no Jutsu, Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram; additionally, Takeo held his hands out towards the sky creating a large plume of wispy smoke. The large raven dug his feet into the ground staring deep into Takeo's eyes. "You again, what has that fox done to you? Let me guess, fly me here," announced the large bird. His voice was raspy and sly, so Takeo knew his summon was up to something. "What do you want Kuromaku," questioned the Jinchūriki with a twinge of embarrassment in his voice. The raven let out a large cackle claiming, "I would prefer that opposed to just using me to fly somewhere. You would allow me to aid you in whatever your task is. At least, let me make some small fry human suffer a terrifying illusion! That stupid fox has got you all bent on ninjutsu hasn't he, he's despicable!" The large raven began to beat his wings wildly screeching out at Itsuki, "The boy who fought me c'mon get on my back!" Takeo helped himself onto Kuromaku's back despite the harsh glance his summon gave him.

Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki

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[LmnDrp]

Itsuki laughed as the large crow Kuromaku teased and messed with Takeo, it reminded him of their own relationship which led him to believe that maybe it was simply predestined that Takeo get picked on. Whatever the reason was, he thought it was very amusing. Eventually, the crow addressed Itsuki himself who responded in kind. "Ah, thank you, you are too kind." he took his place on the back of the summon next to his friend and rival and made sure he was planted. "Alright, I got a good grip. Let's head off, we've got some old friends to visit!"

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

[Takeo]

Kokuun

Takeo

"Knowledge and awareness are vague, and perhaps better called illusions."

When both of the men climbed aboard the raven summon it began to wildly beat its wings. The over five feet summon took off from the ground and let its twelve foot wingspan take over. Kuromaku was like a black curtain soaring through the skies, especially in Hi no Kuni's bleak winter. The white ground and forest floor was greatly contrasted to Takeo's all black summon. "We're supposed to head east near the border between Hi no Kuni and Mizu no Kuni," announced Takeo was patting his raven summon on the head. "Yeah, yeah, as long as I get to use my genjutsu on someone I'll getcha there," replied the raven with a few caws here and there. The air above Hi no Kuni's vast forestry was significantly colder than the air below, mostly due to the altitude change. "I should have you both there within the next half hour, just rest up until then," said Kuromaku as the trio neared the Newt's supposed encampment. The border between the fire country and the water country had Hi no Kuni's forest encroaching on it; therefore, this encampment would either be hidden with the forest or just on the outskirts of this wooded wasteland.

Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki

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[LmnDrp]

Itsuki, Takeo and the large summon Kuromaku had been soaring for a bit before they reached their destination, to which the young man was more than happy to see. Being trapped on the back of the crow was... uncomfortable for him, he was so physically restricted! How can you do a triple back flip while you're holding onto dear life by a clutch of feathers?! Though, Itsuki did take note of Kuromaku's size, he must never have noticed he hadn't gotten a very good look at the summon aside from in the midst of combat. Itsuki had activated his saibougan a bit ago, scanning the forest floor in hopes of locating their target. It wasn't until they left the forests of Hi no Kuni and entered the woody swamps of the mid-eastern Mizu no Kuni border. This environment was foreign to the chuunin almost entirely, and catching glimpses of the passing flora and fauna was something else, but he couldn't pay too much attention to that. Eventually, with a great deal of distance between them and it, he located the encampment of 'The Newts' and let his allies know. "Kuromaku, over there is our target, let's land relatively nearby. Try and fly low, too, if you can... though you're the expert so don't let me make us crash!" Once they landed, Itsuki would immediately hop off and begin stretching with a smile of relaxation spread across his face. Ah... I've never been so happy to be near dirt! he thought to himself. "Alright, how're we gonna sneak behind enemy lines THIS time!"

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

[Takeo]

Kokuun

Takeo

"Knowledge and awareness are vague, and perhaps better called illusions."

Takeo was surprised how well his summon responded to Itsuki when the raven promptly landed. After his friend hopped off of Kuromaku's back Takeo lingered for a moment; his hands gently rubbed the top of the raven's skull. The chuunin soon slipped off of his summon; continually, Takeo also patted himself off and straightened his outfit. The chuunin exchanged eye contact with his summon when he addressed him saying, "Kurmokau use those strong wings of yours to quickly fetch a single person on guard outside this encampment. There isn't much they can do against a giant bird swooping through and taking one of their own. Bring the person back to us and capture them how you please." Takeo looked back at Itsuki and replied to him as well. "After Kuromaku fetches us a newt I will kill them and take their face. From there you can easily disguise yourself and we can sneak in with ease," uttered the chuunin.The raven began to pick at his wings, and his voice trailed out as he walked off away from the duo. "Let's see how they like my illusions," retched Kuromaku with a gurgle in his voice. The summon flew up into the air and broke above the trees; moreover, within mere moments, Kuromaku had spotted his target. A lone man on the west side of the encampment's wooden wall was currently relieving his bladder in a small bush. The raven immediately used Magen: Jubaku Satsu on the man by simply looking at him, and while the illusory tree immobilized the peeing man Kuromaku cackled out. The raven swooped down and picked up the man with ease. He flew back to where Itsuki and Takeo were momentarily resting. The summon had shockingly attracted very little attention, but the man he captured was completely dazed and confused. The captured gang member was laying face down in the grass. Takeo nonchalantly flipped the man over and rested his knee on the stranger's sternum. His raven stood around the subdued man overlooking the whole ordeal. "My genjutsu is keeping him nice and stuck huh," announced Kuromaku with a stern tone. Meanwhile, Takeo had positioned both of his hands around the man's neck and proceeded to break it, killing him. The chuunin immediately placed his right hand over the deceased man's face and used Shuushagan no Jutsu copying the man's face down to even the mole under his left eye. Takeo quickly stripped the man down and sat his clothes aside; continually, the chuunin folded the gang member's naked body and carried it into a bush. Takeo took his large black haori off and threw it into the bush as well. Following that, the Jinchūriki walked back over to the Newt's clothing and put it over his own. The man's clothing was aqua head-to-toe and was too big for Takeo. Despite that, the chuunin dressed himself in the newt's attire. He still had his tools sealed into his kimono but accessing them would be significantly harder. The supposedly tight-fitting clothes were baggy on Takeo, but the hood accompanying the outfit allowed him to shield his hair. "Well now let's get you someone's skin to wear," casually said Takeo with a straight face. His eyes had shifted from black to blue and his eyebrows were longer and blonde; in addition, Takeo's teeth became sharp and his nose hooked downwards. The chuunin felt his morphed face with disgust.

Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki

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[LmnDrp]

"I think I've got myself covered, go ahead and head towards the gate." Itsuki overlooked their target with his Saibougan activated and analyzed it thoroughly, searching for an easy but effective target. With no one outside of it's defenses, he figured the guards protecting the encampment's entrance would be his best bet! He utilized Saibou Henka on a bird flying off in the distance and replicated it's cellular structure onto himself, he flew towards his unsuspecting targets and hovered above them in his avian form, returning to his body and holding himself above them still using chakra to stay stuck to the wall. Above them, he retrieved one of his assortment of Ishuu and used the long dagger sort of like a throwing knife as he launched it at one of the guards and dropped onto the other. The one with a dagger in his skull died instantly, but the one Itsuki landed upon was pummelled and knocked out which was a much rougher scene, if you can believe it. Not very well planned, but effective enough. Itsuki approached the unconscious man and replicated his being utilizing the same jutsu from earlier, after doing so he consumed both bodies using Saibou Juyou. He saw Takeo approaching and addressed him, "I should probably switch this body out for another guard. A man in uniform would be useful, but I'd rather have someone that does patrol work so I don't get in trouble for leaving my post, haha!"

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