The Naruto RPG

Reo walked down a path through the land of grass. He had gotten used to walking on his time away and found that he enjoyed it immensely. The way the minutes turned to hours as the sun moved overhead connected him with the flow of the world in a visceral yet gentle way. He remembered traveling this path long ago on a similar mission. It seemed this bridge was often in need of repair. Yet, such was the nature of things. It was worth repairing.

He saw a small cart being pulled by 2 oxen. He didn't have to ask where they were headed. The bridge was the only thing for hours on this particular road. He jogged up along side and the driver stopped. After a brief discussion, Reo learned that the driver was headed to a nearby village on the far side of the bridge in order to peddle his wares: small figurines of famous (and infamous) shinobi. They were hand carved from dense wood - giving a pleasant heft - and painted expertly. Reo was tempted to buy a few but his pockets were feeling remarkably light at the moment. He settled on taking a business card so he might be able to track the man down in the future.

The passed another hour in conversation and peaceful quiet when the saw a sign for the road up ahead. Reo figured he better find someone in charge to assess the situation, so excused himself with gratitude for the ride.

_________________

Reo waived at the friendly cart driver as he guided the oxen and cart away towards the bridge. Reo himself continued on foot down towards the tavern where he had been instructed to meet the overseer of construction. The path was dry and dusty, yet the early evening air was cool and pleasant. As he continued, the building appeared from behind a stand of trees up ahead. It was a two story affair, with worn green pain, a friendly yellow door, and small, easily shuttered windows. The broad covered porch in front had a few tables and chairs, but Reo opened the yellow door and entered into the dimly lit room inside.

The interior of the tavern smelled of stale smoke, stale sweat, and stale booze. An elderly matron was polishing the door and the fireplace was occupied by a pile of unlit wood. Reo approached the woman and made his introduction. After inquiring as to the location of the overseer, he was informed that his contact was out but was expected back soon for dinner. Reo decided he didn't need to eat quite yet, so after reserving a room in the upstairs of the tavern he went out into the woods.

It didn't take long to find a clearing. While he waited, Reo had something he'd been wanting to work on. It had been tickling the back of his mind the whole walk out here. If he was honest, he'd been toying with the idea for months - or perhaps even longer. Taijutsu had never been his focus when it came to shinobi training. Yet, in a sense all combat was taijutsu. The word, meaning body skill, was broad in scope. It made sense to him that most systems were based on physical principals of alignment, speed, strength, muscle memory, and so on. Yet what about the rest of the body? He had been studying various esoteric tomes of late, fascinated by the deeper theories of the body's internal energy systems. What he had learned on his path to become a gennin was useful of course, but it was more of an expedient practicality. What guided the body when one was an elite shinobi? Mere muscle and tendon? Yes, but chakra enhanced the function of both. And what moved the chakra energy? The mind! While basic conditioning had their place, Reo was inspired to cultivate his inner energy into a fiery inferno and his mind into a rarified state. To master his energy and reach the level of "furen shuten," where his mind and body would be as one - where the crude meat suit would be elevated beyond its normal potential.

Reo began doing experimenting with some of the exercises. Hours passed, and he found he was able to forcibly transform his chakra to elevate his mind to newer heights. Dualities melted away. Reo stood, maintaining the transformation of chakra energy. He looked with his eyes, seeing things as they were with new clarity. When he moved, it was with clarity of intention and integration he had never before witnessed. Yes, this would be the basis of his personal style. Feeling his chakra reserves dropping low after the energy intensive practice, he noticed the sun had set. It was time to meet the overseer.

_________________

Reo slowly walked from the clearing where he had been training back to the tavern. The barkeep had told him that the overseer would be back for dinner and it looked to be dinner time. He entered the main room of the tavern through the yellow door and was greeted by a site far different then the desolation he had witnessed earlier. Several of the tables were full of rowdy customers enjoying their hardy fare and ale with gusto. He noticed a few loners eating quietly at the bar. Most were covered in dust, wearing durable if coarse clothing. He noticed one among them dressed finer, not to mention cleaner, eating at a table alone. This would likely be his man.

Reo approached the lone well dressed man and introduced himself as a Jounin of Iwa, sent to watch over the repair of the bridge. The man confirmed that he was in fact the overseer of the project and invited Reo to join him for dinner. A young, bouncy wench made her way over - perhaps she was one of the matronly barkeeps daughters? She took his order, and brought him back a plate containing pile of spit roasted game, a crusty roll, and sauted local vegetables. He tucked in and began discussing the situation with the overseer.

_________________

The food was delicious; the conversation? less so. Still, Reo was able to learn that the bridge was damaged in a bandit raid two months back. The local construction and repair crew had been working very hard since then yet every time they neared completion of their tiresome task, they bandits would descend in the middle of the night a cause yet more damage. Morale of the crew was low, and the overseer had even had 2 members quit in frustration.

Reo reflected on what the stocky, sun baked man opposite him was saying. It was clear why a shinobi presence was needed. The question was, should he proactively seek them out or wait for there next attack? It sounded like the bridge was almost ready to open in full capacity once again, so perhaps mere patience would bring him in contact with the perpetrators. Then, he could capture or destroy the bandits in full thus preventing this problem from reoccuring. It was pleasant enough out here that he wouldn't mind spending a few nights under the stars observing the local happenings. The food was good enough, and the over seer assured him that the beds were comfortable - not a louse to be found.

_________________

His mind made up, Reo spoke with the matronly barkeep about a room. Apparently it had already been arranged under the terms of the contract that he had accepted back in his village; he was relieved by this happy discovery as his coin purse was feeling rather light. He reflected on his days, wees, and months spent wondering in the wilderness stopping only at the barest hints of civilization to resupply. No, those days had not been kind to his pocketbook, but they had been very profitable with regards to something else: his soul. He was content now in a way he couldn't ever really remember feeling before. That was well worth the price. Beside, the ryo would flow soon enough. He was a jounin of Iwa and of a powerful bloodline to boot. He would not be wanting for long.

Reo was led up the stairs by the cute serving wench who had served him at dinner. She was shyer out of her element, and Reo thought he caught a hint of a blush in the dim glow of the candle as they ascended. She showed him in, shut the door, and asked if there was anything else she might do for him. Reo did his best to decline graciously, stowed his few belongings, and headed out to observe the bridge. He asked the girl to deliver him a pot of hot coffee around midnight and described were he might be found.

_________________

By the time Reo exited the tavern, the crescent moon was hanging high in the sky and there was chill upon the night breeze. A dense blanket of stars spread across the heavens. Reo followed the road up to the bridge. Once there he surveyed the work that had been done so far. The overseer was right - things were just about ready to open for operations once again. Perhaps he was just in time.

Instead of crossing the chasm before him, Reo cut off the road to the left and began climbing the boulder there. About 20 feet up, it leveled out affording him a beautiful and strategically sound view of the bridge and surrounding areas. The path wove and dipped behind hills and trees yet he was able to get a general survey of the land. He would have been more concerned about the shadow, nooks, and crannies if he were a mere civilian, but if he were a civilian he would not be here on this night with this particular goal. He settled down, cross legged and eyes peeled, and opened his deeper senses. He activated the basic sensory technique and felt for hundreds of yards in each direction. Then he waited.

_________________

The crescent moon had moved through roughly 30 degrees of the night sky by the time that Reo felt the grouping of strange chakra approaching from the edge of his sensing radius. They moved slowly, in spurts, and he felt a mixture of fear, excitement, and aggression from them. Three in number, they drew closer. Forming a quick series of hand seals, Reo descended into the stone boulder, travelled through the ground, through the stone of the bridge, under the feet of the strange trio, and popped up slightly behind them, just as they approached the edge. One was armed with a pick and the others with large mauls. They had yet to see, sense, or hear him. It was too easy.

A powerful sidekick, appropriately timed as the saboteur neared the edge of the chasm, sent him tumbling into dark oblivious. The others began to turn. Reo stepped forward deliver a series of 3 punches in sequence: face throat and gut. The second bandit dropped in a mewing heap. However the third used this time to swing and the heavy head of its maul was quickly descending. Reo stepped in, grabbing the haft near his opponents hands, and fell back onto the hard earth behind him. His foot shot up into the bandit's stomach as he was wrenched forward, and then he too was sailing into the chasm - his grip too weak to hold fast.

_________________

Reo took a length of cording from his pocket and restrained the remaining bandit. The dazed buffoon put up little resistance beyond a few grunts and mumbled insults regarding his captor's parentage. As he was finishing, Reo heard a sweet sound carried on the wind from the other side of the bridge. What perfect timing, he thought to himself. Yanking his captive to his feet, Reo led him across the bridge and tied him to a tree a little ways from the road, in good view of his intended perch. Then, he casually climbed up to the top of the boulder where he had kept his earlier vigil.

There, waiting for him with wicker picnic basket in hand, was the cute serving girl from the tavern. By the position of the crescent moon, Reo judged her to be right on time. She smiled at him and blushed, gesturing down at the thick blanket she had spread over the hard stone. He settled in to enjoy a thermos of hot coffee, as well as the tasty treats she brought to share.

Some time later, he bid his blushing companion farewell, and taking his charge's lead, began the trek back to Iwa where the bandit could be properly interrogated. On a whim, he formed a hand sign and a shadow clone popped into existence next to him. Reo continued on his way, while the clone began the trek to the cherry blossom festival.

[EXIT]

_________________