[Joint Mission] Ghouls, Ghosts, and Spirits

[Ace Trainer]

It didn’t really matter what time of day it was when you were out in the deserts of Wind Country, it was hot regardless. But at 1pm, it was particularly hot. Without a cloud in the sky and the complete absence of a breeze, the hot air just sat around you baking. For the group of Sunagakure ninja that were traveling together, they were quite accustomed to this. Many of them adorn in different types of clothes meant to mitigate the impact of the heat. They had been instructed to meet at specific coordinates, the base of a cliff in the dunes that provided – even at the peak of the day – a small amount of protection from the heat. In the distance, they could see where the dunes split to show a small building between them that seemed to be falling apart.

Sitting on the ground was Seshoumaru, Tenga. He was well known in Sunagakure as one of the leading experts on ancient spirits. While he role was often more academic than practical, he was a key player in the management of the genma, and other issues related to spirits and the ether. This mission was primarily a invention of his mind, the region had been of interest to him for some time but he had began to sense that there were changes in the spirits in the area and thought it would be a good opportunity to learn from it. His long white hair was pulled into a pony tail that hung out the side of the hood covering this head, the long cloak he was wearing partially against the sandy floor he was sitting on. His bright blue eyes locked onto the small building on the horizon.

He continued to wait, as the various people meant to be a part of this expedition arrived. In total, it was a group of 14 people – but two of the fourteen weren’t truly part of the expedition, guards of the genma host accompanying them. The 12 participants would slowly collect, and when they finally did, Tenga would rise to his feet with a grunt and dust off the oversized cloak. With a heavy sigh, he’d begin.

”That building you see off there is the entry to an old ruin – as old as if not older than Sunagakure itself. Millenia ago, it was one of the first places humans settled when they freed themselves from the grasp of great beasts that ruled.”, his eyes at this point fell to a single individual in the squad before shifting off. ”As with many places within Wind Country, the shifting winds and sands obscured it from sight, and consequently history and it was lost until recent decades. There have been minor expeditions, but it is populated by minor spirits the village primarily views as nonfactors, so it has been left unmarred by our presence. However, in recent months strange behavior has resonated from it. And I have requested the opportunity to explore and collect samples.”

He would pull a scroll from within his cloak and perform a few seals, causing a puff of smoke and a small sphere to form in his hand. ”This captor stores imbalanced forms of chakra for analysis. It is specifically designed to respond to chakra that is not in harmony, allowing it to be stored and balanced temporarily so that I can then analyze and explore in controlled settings. When spirits go through unnatural evolutions, their chakra becomes disharmonious, which makes it suitable to be stored. When it is near disharmonious chakra, it glows.”

He sealed again, the small sphere vanishing.

”We will be going into these ruins and collecting this disharmonious chakra so that I can work to determine what is happening here. The first squad – the expedition squad – will be leading, they will need to map the ruins and identify any challenges or barriers ahead. You’ll dispatch the combat squad and divert in the event you run into any high level spirits. The combat squad is responsible for clearing out any high level spirits. You will need to be ensuring everyone remains safe so stay sharp and take direction. Finally, collection squad will tail everyone and keep an eye out on their captors, if they start to glow you’ll need to find the disharmonious chakra and collect it. Is that clear to everyone? I’ll be operating independently so follow your squad leaders and stay sharp.”

He didn’t really seem to wait for any additional feedback before starting to walk – the mission was beginning.

[Ace Trainer]

”I don’t get it, I never will. It is too hot!”

The young genma host groaned. Despite living in Sunagakure his entire life, the heat did not agree with him at all. He was adorn in his normal clothes, the large baggy pants, the open top, with a fair amount of jewelry on which likely was not helping his vulnerability to the heat. Even worse, since becoming the soul genma host he’d found that he tolerated the heat even less. Nothing good was coming from this genma. With a frustrated sigh, he turned to the guardian accompanying him, ”We’re close, eh? Or what?”

The guardian would give a nod, ”Almost there young master. I have a cloak for you if you need it.”, she offered.

Indra would give a defiant shake of the head and pick up his pace slightly, marching forward through the sand as they continued. Eventually, he would see the top of the cliff, and they would take a rounded route to head down the dune and collect at the meeting point. Indra could hear the sounds of the groups souls as he closed in as as he joined the group he would silently inspect each person, connecting the various whispers and hums he was hearing to the bodies before him. Most mysterious was the man that he immediately recognized as the one in charge, the deep reverberating hum coming from him one of the strangest he’d heard before. Slowly, the group came together and coalesced from a bunch of individuals into a group of shinobi on a mission. For now, Indra was silent, watching everyone. When Tenga finally began to talk, Indra leaned over to his guardian, ”Do you know which squad I’m in?”, he asked.

”Collection squad, young master. This is a test of your ability but we need to ensure you remain safe.”, she said quietly, her eyes not coming off Tenga.

Indra huffed, ”Well if that is the path illuminated for me by her light then so be it.”, he said, the dissatisfaction with her answer obvious in his tone despite the word that he’d chosen. As Tenga walked, Indra remained in place, letting the man get closer and the hum from his soul getting even louder as he passed. What an interesting man. Once Tenga got a fair bit ahead, Indra would turn to his guardian, ”Alright!! Lets GO!”, and with a small jump he’d march off to follow his squad.

[Gara]

Tianhuo Zhizhi ventured resolutely through the scorching desert, his face adorned with an infectious smile that defied the relentless sun beating down upon him. The sweltering heat bore down upon him with unyielding intensity, but the prospect of this remarkable expedition, entwined with spirits, infused him with boundless enthusiasm. It was a journey that promised not mere contemplation of esoteric knowledge but the opportunity to delve into the practical applications of Tenkujutsu that had long tantalized his inquisitive mind.

Tianhuo's attire, a striking ensemble predominantly white with intricate purple accents, not only demonstrated his reverence for the spiritual journey but also served a functional purpose. The loose, flowing fabric allowed every elusive zephyr to caress his skin, providing a semblance of respite from the oppressive heat. His uncle, a seasoned desert traveler, bore a different visage. Clad in battle-worn attire, he seemed almost impervious to the harsh climate. Four decades in the unforgiving desert had instilled a resilience that masked his discomfort, offering an inspiring example to his eager nephew. With an exuberant tone, Tianhuo turned to his seasoned uncle, his voice carrying both reverence and anticipation. "Uncle Feng, at long last, I embark on this expedition, entwined with the spirits themselves! May her light guide us, and I earnestly hope to glean not just theoretical wisdom but practical insights into the enigmatic Tenkujutsu. It's a privilege I've long sought, and I aim to make the most of this sacred opportunity."

Xiao Feng couldn't help but roll his eyes at his nephew's fervor for the spiritual aspects of their journey. He understood all too well that Tianhuo Zhizhi was more a pragmatist than a devotee, favoring the tangible over the ethereal. He respected the boy's skepticism, considering it a characteristic of curiosity rather than blasphemy. As the heat of the desert bore down on them, he suppressed a faint smirk, knowing that their contrasting beliefs would be a constant undercurrent during this expedition. Suppressing any signs of exasperation, he turned to his nephew, his voice uncharacteristically stern. "Xiao Zhi, regardless of your beliefs, when you're out here, you must follow every order you're given without question. I might not be able to stick by your side at all times, and I won't tolerate any goofing off. Our safety in this unforgiving wilderness is paramount, so ensure you're prepared for anything."

His words carried a flat, monotonous tone that brooked no argument. Typically, he indulged Tianhuo's youthful enthusiasm, but now, in the harsh desert beyond their village, he took their mission and his nephew's safety with the utmost seriousness. This was no time for whimsy; their journey into the realm of spirits held unknown dangers and challenges that demanded unwavering commitment and caution. Their journey through the merciless desert brought them to their destination sooner than expected, where they seamlessly merged with the eager gathering of fellow expedition members, each individual harboring their own aspirations and convictions. The camaraderie in the air was palpable as they stood together, an amalgamation of different backgrounds, all united by the spirit of adventure.

Xiao Feng, the unwavering sentinel by his nephew's side, maintained a vigilant watch over Tianhuo Zhizhi, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive in the face of the unknown. His presence was akin to a protective shadow, ready to shield the young explorer from the dangers that might lurk in the forthcoming spiritual encounter. As the anticipation reached its zenith, they were called forward to announce their arrival and purpose. Xiao Feng, ever the embodiment of duty and discipline, approached the leader with his nephew. His voice retained its characteristic monotone, evoking the aura of a seasoned soldier as he introduced them both. "Xiao Feng and Tianhuo Zhizhi reporting for duty. Please assign us to any task as you see fit." This simple yet resolute declaration underscored their commitment to the expedition and their willingness to contribute wherever their skills and abilities were deemed necessary. It was a reminder that, despite their differences in belief and experience, they were unified in their dedication to the mission and the mutual goal of learning from the spirits.

[Trusted Grader]

How strange, the thief had been hired to assist the ninjas in mapping out their expedition, perhaps his name had spread to the point where they could use his expertise, though map drawing wasn't his forte, it was finding ancient aquisitions, perhaps they knew of some that were burried and forgotten, or perhaps they needed his experise in finding them, nevertheless he was with them.

The God forsaken heat was relentless, if not for his loose olive green jacket and constant water drinking then he was certain that he would probably have melted, that and progressively wetting his hood in order to keep his head from overheating made sure that he could keep up with the best of them. See, they could use chakra to regulate themselves while Mahalow had not learned how to control his chakra enough to assist himself in such a way, hell, he was forced to climb using ropes and the like instead of the wall climb that the ninjas did.

"Well, as long as people just do their jobs I guess we will all make it home." It was a bit awkward, Mahalow had never been surrounded by this many ninjas even if he did live in Sunagakure, he mostly hung out with the criminals as there was no use for him outside of these individual missions, besides they usually went for Verndari if they ever needed help, which in turn meant that he went to Mahalow.

The boy chuckled as he followed their leader, things were going to be interesting, that was for sure.

[Kabu]

As she arrived at her destination Koyuki couldn't help but stretch, resisting the urge to yawn as she looked around at the others that had gathered for this mission. It seemed to her that some of her compatriots didn't really want to be here and she couldn't really blame them for that. It was ridiculously hot out here and more than that... She herself had been fully prepared to take the day off only for orders to come in as she had been getting ready for a long nap. That said... she wasn't totally sure if she was fully qualified for an expedition like this but oh well, now that she was here she was going to give it her all. She didn't know much about spirits but she did know how how to hit things and it seemed that was all that would truly be expected of her. It had been some time since she had last gotten to hit something outside of training and she was more than a little excited for the opportunity.

"Alright, let's do this! Relaxation can wait until we get home." she quietly murmured to herself, slapping her cheeks to get herself fully into mission mode before moving to follow their leader into the ruins. It was time to possibly get a chance to strut her stuff. Of course it may be better if nothing happened but that would be boring, now wouldn't it?

[Sia]

Ikanbi of the sand rose from the shadows where she had been tailing a few particular individuals of interest. Today, this meant Indra, Zhihi, Mahalow, and Koyuki. She stayed behind the others at first as the mass of them gathered before her. She stayed underground, hidden, slowly pouring small tiny bits of sand into the area and permeating the ground only slightly with the sand prickling along and catching a ride with everyone that just happened to pass over her. It clung to them silently, and as they walked around they dispersed it for her, and she began to sense the lot of them, and then all of them, then each of them specifically and individually one at a time, then she began categorizing each of them in her own mind.

This one, she stared at, was only approximately half of a shinobi. How interesting, she thought when she gazed upon their attire and wondered exactly how accurate their titled rank was versus her guestimation of their power rank. Ikanbi turned her attention then towards Indra and began to manifest herself upwards from the ground out of the sand, a small swirl of sand collecting around the ground and spiraling upwards until it slowly began to take on the form of a rather frail, but peaceful, smiling even, sort of human.

"Hello there, I'm not sure we've met just yet young one, have they let you out of the village much lately?" Ikanbi asked him with a slight elbow to their side as the question came out quietly.



258/????

[Kanade]

Kagayaki walked through the house looking for her buffing rag, her Sphalerite had been smudged in the previous evening's night terrors. She groped at the darkness, her hair askew, wondering whether or not she would be able to make it to the meeting on time or if she would time out on it and they would have to find someone else for the mission. Groggily groaning she finally found the buffing rag and made her way to the bathroom, pushing open the door she stared at the girl in the mirror and sighed, "A cold shower, a quick buffing and then it's off to the races girly." She told herself before shaking her head, her reddish orange hair shaking about as she did so.

--

An hour and a half later, five minutes after one P.M. Kagayaki had made it to the aforementioned meeting spot, persperation dotted her exposed skin and made her cotton clothes cling to her well-built form. She sighed, the hot air of the desert filling her lungs as she looked about at the others, missing the first bit about why they were here and what exactly the ruins were behind the man that was talking. She knew him as Tenga, but didn't know why he had insisted on the most hot part of the day to gather everyone here, if not to bake them and give them all heatstroke. The gathered people were one of the Jinchuuriki, Indra, who she had heard stories about. Perhaps she would be paired with him so that she could see what the genma inside of him could do. That would certainly be interesting enough to make this trek out worthwhile. She shifted her shoulders around, readjusting her chest-wraps in the process and fanned herself with her white garments, meant to keep the heat of the day from burning her alive.

She looked at the man as he continued to be as long winded as the ever-blowing sands that encircled sunagakure and rolled her eyes, just hurry up already, if she was going to be able to get into the ruins and out of this blazing blasted heat, he might as well shut his gob and get to it. She was a girl of action, and wanted to make sure that they had the most time to get the task done. It was a good thing that she had slept in as long as she had in her hut that kept the heat of the day at bay, half-buried in the sands of sunagakure.

She raised her hand after he told them all what the duties were supposed to be, and what they were supposed to be doing in the ruins, "What squad am I in?" She shouted rather loudly above the noise of everyone else. She placed both hands on her hips, her feet were roughly shoulder length apart and she wore a cocky white grin. Her sphalerites on her ulnas and the backs of her hands shone in the bright sunlight, but paled in comparison to the hexagonal cut gem that was embedded in her forehead, a coming of age rite, it burned brightest. "I want to make sure that my team shines the brightest, and for that, I need bright teammates, savvy?"

544/??