[Mission] Echoes of the Forgotten

[AFungalNetwork]

Mission Rank: C-Rank
Assigned Team: Yuurei Kurui (Kumo), Itoshi (Suna refugee)
Client: Konohagakure Research Division
Location: Abandoned Shinobi Research Facility

Mission Brief:
During the height of the Great War, a clandestine research facility was established in the Land of Fire. Its purpose: to develop advanced biochemical agents and experimental jutsu. Recently, seismic activity has unearthed parts of this facility, and reconnaissance teams have reported unusual chakra readings and signs of autonomous activity.

Objectives:

Investigate the Facility: Determine the source of the chakra readings and assess any remaining threats.
Retrieve Research Data: Secure any surviving research documents or samples for analysis.
Neutralize Hazards: If experimental entities or traps are active, neutralize them to prevent potential outbreaks.

[hobnob]

A pigeon sat on the outside cill of Itoshiis window. It had a little scroll attached to its leg. This was sometimes the way missions were handed out, if the village desperately needed someone for the mission. Itoshii rushed over and retrieved the scroll, reading it immediately. The pigeon took off as the youth unravelled the scroll. A smirk spread across his face. This was a mission on another level. Something was finally happening. No more petty, little missions. He was being sent out of the village to investigate, retrieve research data, and neutralise any hazard. This sounded like a fun mission. And another bonus was he was being sent with Kurui, the girl he had met outside Konohas own research facility. It was time to get going.

He packed the essentials, like food, water, long-life foods in case they would be out for a prolonged period of time and there was no food that was safe to eat. With his backpack on, he dashed out the door and headed for the Village Gate. There was no specified meeting place, so the gate was a safe bet.

The streets were empty, it was early. A good thing, he could speed through the streets without having to worry about causing any havoc with the everyday-dooers. One foot infant of the other, and he were there in no time. Kurui wasn't there yet, so he walked over to the booth and informed the shinobi stationed there what was going on.

[250]

[AFungalNetwork]

Another joint village mission, huh? It's going to be very awkward if the meeting between the two villages doesn't go well. Kurui thought as she read the mission briefing. It was early in the morning so she was taking her time to walk to the village gates. The village was quiet and still this early, one would never expect it to be the bustling hub it normally was during the day. She checked her equipment, she had a few vials of concoctions; some poisons and stimulants. As she slowly approached the gates she spotted a familiar face speaking to the shinobi at the gates.

Ah, so it's you who I will be teamed up with for this mission. How exciting, I look forward to seeing your abilities in action. she said with a smile.

[hobnob]

Itoshii looked over, a familiar voice. He smiled, Kurui. He wasn't looking forward to any other substances she might have. He might think twice about trying anything else she may have, the ecstatic feeling was fun, but he did not think he could carry on, it made his brain feel weird after. Kurui! I'm looking forward to seeing yours! Do you have any other substances for me to try... preferably ones that won't make me feel so icky after... he said with a gentle chuckle afterwards. He still didn't have much of an idea of what this mission entailed and hoped that Kurui might have some idea what they were up to. He did know this was going to be a mission that was right down Kuruis street. An abandoned research facility, there would have been plenty for her to look into once they were there. It was probably best for him to follow her lead, and for him to work as if he were a body guard. After all he didn't have much of a mind for scientific research. So defence, would be something he would have to focus on. Regardless if the defence took the form of offence or actual defence. Combat was where he excelled, and was looking forward to a face-off against some... enhanced beings. He didn't take part in the Great War, but he would expect nations to use the time to experiment on enhancing their shinobi, even if he himself was against it.

[250]

[AFungalNetwork]

She sort of half listened to Itoshi as the two began walking. He mentioned something about having more substances to try but not wanting side effects. She looked at him and gave a wicked grin, My dear Itoshi, there is so much you can learn about a person by observing the side effects of things! Why on earth would I make something without them? she snickered as she remembered his reaction from last time. But, regardless, I didn’t bring anything along this time. This is a simple research trip, I needed to make space for samples and specimens. she was looking off in the distance dreamily as she said this last sentence. They made their way through the village gates, into a forest.

They stepped beneath the tall canopy where filtered light danced across the moss-covered ground. Trees loomed, their trunks wide and gnarled, bark split with age, and vines twisted like veins up into the mist. Small creatures stirred in the underbrush, vanishing before they could be fully seen. Mushrooms glowed faintly at the bases of roots.

As they moved deeper, the forest thinned. Branches creaked overhead. A distant sound of water guided them until the trees gave way to a river, swift and cold, slicing through rock and shadow. The surface shimmered, catching sky through gaps above. A narrow bridge of fallen logs crossed it, damp and slick with lichen. On the far side, wildflowers clustered thickly, yellow and blue and white, trembling in a rising wind.

Beyond the river, the land opened. Trees thinned into scattered clumps, then disappeared altogether. Grass stretched flat and golden under a wide sky, the horizon rippling with heat. At the center stood a broken facility—concrete walls half-sunk into the earth, windows black and jagged, metal doors rusted ajar. Birds circled silently overhead. Dust clung to the wind.

They stood still, watching it all.

Now, we must be careful Itoshi she said sweetly, we have no idea what will be waiting inside that facility.

[hobnob]

Itoshii chuckled as Kurui spoke. Her barbaric level sadism was funny. She'd happily put someone through pain and suffering just to learn a thing or two about them. He was glad they were on the same side, dreading the day, if it would ever come, where they were fighting against each other in a real situation. That's a shame. That potion... whatever it is that you gave me was interesting, just the side effects and the come down that were a shame. Saying that, Itoshii began following her along the route. Itoshii didn't have much knowledge of the surrounding areas. So letting her take the lead was the best idea. But, he did remain vigilant. Not knowing the area meant he had to be more vigilant than ever, he did not how any idea where an enemy might appear from. So, trying his best to juggle between paying attention to her, and the surroundings, he continued on.

The atmosphere created by the noisy, creaking, forest. Made him feel a lot more on guard than he expected. Every noise he was not used to, drew his attention. His head moving around more than normal. But, it felt good. Being kept on his toes was something he was loved. Every moment, every sound, it all meant something to him. It was his job to figure out what it all meant.

Soon they were there. A dark, abandoned building at the centre. He made the first move. Eager, he dashed for the facility.

[250]

[AFungalNetwork]

The moment Itoshii crossed the threshold of the facility, the air changed—thicker, heavier, saturated with the stale scent of rust, mold, and old blood. Faint traces of chakra lingered, like static clinging to the skin, sharp and cold. The corridor before him was narrow, half-collapsed in places, walls of cracked concrete marked with faded sealwork and scorched paper tags, some still fluttering weakly despite having long since lost their power.

Dim emergency lights, somehow still functional, pulsed in a sickly red glow along the ceiling, casting long shadows down the hall. Exposed wiring hung like dead vines, occasionally sparking, their crackle echoing faintly in the silence. A chill draft blew from deeper within, and with it came a low hum—an unnatural vibration just at the edge of hearing, pulsing like a heartbeat through the walls.

Scorch marks and clawed gouges marred the walls. A shattered observation window opened into a chamber on the left—a ruined lab. Tables were overturned, glass littered the floor, and shattered containment tanks oozed faintly glowing residue. In the far corner, the skeleton of something vaguely humanoid was slumped against the wall, its bones twisted, fused, and unnatural. Metal tubing still jutted from what was once its spine.

To the right, another door stood barely ajar. The plaque above it was rusted beyond recognition, but a faint chakra seal shimmered on the frame—active, but unstable. It hummed softly, sparking at irregular intervals. Inside was darkness, but the scent leaking from within was sharp—chemical, caustic, mixed with rot.

Further ahead, the corridor opened into a larger atrium. The ceiling here had partially collapsed, exposing tangled rebar and allowing shafts of pale light to spill down onto cracked tile. In the center stood a large, circular hatch embedded in the floor, sealed with mechanical locks and Fuūinjutsu that glowed faintly in response to Itoshii’s presence. Scorch marks radiated outward from it, as though something had tried to break free.

Scattered around the room were toppled file cabinets and scorched notebooks, some pages fluttering with handwritten notes in a mad scrawl—chemical formulas, chakra diagrams, human anatomy charts annotated with unsettling modifications. Bloodstains trailed off toward a hallway in the back, smeared as if someone had crawled, or been dragged. A strange clicking noise echoed faintly from deeper within.

Kurui looked around like a child in a candy shop. Let's be careful now, Itoshi. It seems like we aren't alone here. I would like to collect some samples, please keep an eye out as I do. she had a brief moment of trepidation in her voice but the excitement overpowered her as she began scraping bone samples, ooze, and other such things into several empty vials she had brought along.

450 words

[hobnob]

This place was not very pleasant. The smell of age filled the air, it was obvious it has been abandoned for quite some time. Itoshii moved forwards through the facility, as vigilant as he could be. Their mission was to collect samples of the experiments that have been carried out in this facility. This wasn't Itoshiis ideal mission, he was more interested in combat, but by the sounds of things this too would eventually happen, unless they remained quiet. While Kurui was around, collecting samples of whatever this facility was being used for, Itoshii marked all the exits, playing close attention and figuring out the best route of escape. He did enjoy combat, but the idea of getting Kurui, and himself killed was a lot like this facility, not very pleasant. Easiest way to go would be the way the came, but if things went south, he could blast a hole in the wall of the facility, creating a path of escape. But, that would create too much noise and could potentially create more trouble for them. They had to tread carefully, until they got an idea of how strong these potential foes were. Right, over to you. Try to stay remain as stealthy as you can... If things really turn sour, I will blast a hole in the wall and we can get out of here quick time. Itoshii said quietly, and moved close to the wall where he had a good view down the route they came from.

[AFungalNetwork]

Kurui crouched low beside the collapsed workstation, the tatters of her dark kimono fluttering as she moved. Her cotton-candy-colored hair glowed faintly under the pulsing red lights, strands of pink and blue twisted like carnival smoke. Her face, partially shadowed, was marked with two stark black lines running down the center; today's expression of focus and anticipation. The corners of her lips curled upward in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Those shifted as she blinked, flickering briefly from violet to a shimmering green.

The strange, pulsing residue on the shattered containment tanks fascinated her. It was viscous, semi-luminescent, and still faintly warm. Her fingers worked quickly, forceps in one hand, a reinforced vial in the other. The organic lobe twitched again as she peeled it gently from the membrane surrounding it. A whisper escaped her lips:

Still alive… oh, you beautiful thing.

The lobe thudded wetly into the vial. A faint ripple passed through it, like it recognized containment. Kurui sealed it, eyes wide with delighted horror. The vial began to fog slightly at the edges. She grinned wider.

Do you know you're in a container?, she whispered to the mass; her face now reflecting a twisted curiosity.

From behind her, deeper in the shadows, came the now-familiar click-chkk sound—rhythmic and insectile. Kurui rose slowly, slipping the sample into a pouch on her belt. Her face markings subtly bled outward, forming new branches over her cheeks like cracks in porcelain. Her smile remained.

A figure emerged into the ruined atrium; lurching, crooked, yet horribly graceful. It had once been a man; broad-shouldered, perhaps a guard or shinobi. Now his arms were elongated, braced with blackened tendrils that pulsed and writhed. His chest cavity was partially split, ribs opened like a maw, exposing a core of glowing protomass. What was left of his face was slack, save for the eyes, they were wide, bloodshot, and still watching. Kurui’s expression didn’t falter.

Fascinating, she breathed, stepping slightly to the side, watching how it tracked her. I haven’t seen a specimen that large in... ever.

The creature let out a low gurgling hiss, and the tendrils on its back began to twitch. Kurui’s form flickered—briefly dematerializing into smoke before reassembling a few feet back. Her grin widened, eyes flickering yellow.

Itoshii, she called softly, still staring at the creature. We’ve made a friend.

Then, softly to herself, as her fingers brushed the cool metal of another vial:

I'm going to need a bigger container.