00UNTILTED

[third]

Breezes swayed normally. The soft gust of wind that usually wandered across Kumogakure was on time like always. Birds flew through the evenings blue chirping their alluring songs, it was angelic almost. The civilians wandered around making claims for the items they required while the shop owners sat, constantly negotiating prices with customers. That was everyday in a nutshell. Like clockwork, this was a general day for Kumogakure. The same things happening at usually the same times, all the time. It was nice having peace but formalities were often taken for granted, I mean, since when was peace actually peaceful? A calm day could never last too long... Not in these times, anyways.

On the far end of the town square a bit of a ruckus had broken out. It seemed as though a few miscreants say something they desired and got sticky fingers. To say the least, it was more unfortunate for the shop owner than the gang of thieves. Old man Mokuro was a feisty geezer but not even him with his loom of wisdom could handle the ambitions of he youth. They, the gang of kids, grabbed what they required and ran amok.

"Get everythin' you can!" A kid with a pair of goggles strapped to the side-ends of his face, matting down his unkempt brown mess yelled, barking out commands to rob the old man clean. "Take it all--!" Standing on top of a table looking down he couldn't help but smirk. He loved it when a plan came together.

Running out, worry plastered across his wrinkled mug Old man Mokuro was frantic. "HELP! THESE DANG KIDS ARE ROB'N ME, HELP?!" Pleading to a crowd of spectators who could help but otherwise wouldn't, everything seemed for naught as Old man Mokuro and the shops surrounding his were being hi-jacked.

"Oi!" A young shop keeper name Ichiroku called to an unsuspecting person. Face stuck into his bowl, hidden under the sugegasa that rested over his unkempt fuzz. From the attire and the hitai-ate that was embedded into the center of the straw it seemed as though this queerly dressed person was a shinobi.

"Nn?" Iroji turned away from his bowl, arching a brow.

"You're a ninja, right?" Ichiroku said pointing to the silver plate within Iroji's sugegasa. "I see your hitai-ate."

Whipping away the noddle that lied on his lip he nodded. "Yeah I am... why?" He queried, rolling the wood around the balls of his thumb. There was short silence where Ichiroku looked around and wondered if he really didn't see the mayhem that was going on around them. All this chaos ensued and he, a shinobi, did nothing? What was with him?

"Are you going to do something about that?" He said pointing to the rukus. "They're being robbed in front of you!!"

Picking away the food from his teeth he sighed. "So?"

"You're a shinobi! You're suppose to protect the villag--"

"No... you're incorrect." Iroji interjected, "My obligations as a shinobi have little to do with anything within the village unless we're under attack. If these people don't have any sort of defense for their shops, then that's their problem. Not mine." He said looking the opposite way from the mayhem.

"BUT! YOU'RE A NINJA?!"

"... Look. If I do this will you stop with the fucking formalities?" Asked Iroji standing from his seat with a sigh.

"Yes."

"Ara. I'll handle it then." In that instance, after finally looking towards the now fleeing miscreants, Iroji disappeared.

POOF!!

[| teru |]

There was a word Iza used to describe those who failed to protect their property.

'Pathetic.'

The young bystander was among the idle crowd of those who were content to loiter and play audience to injustice. Slowly she sighed and shook her head side to side, obvious disdain painted on her bold features. If that man was so careless as to get his livelyhood plundered by mere children than he deserved to be robbed. Judging by the crowed she immersed herself, Iza wasn't the only one who felt that way. Without a moment to waste they took off running past her followed by unheard protests. She turned to head off about her agenda before being stopped in her tracks when a voice in the back of her head moved front and center.

'...He seemed awfully desperate to get that stuff back...'

Lights clicked on. Her eyes widened with intrigue.

'...If you did...I bet he'd be miiiiighty grateful...'

Wheels were turning. A smirk cracked onto her otherwise opaque expression.

'I bet there'd be a nice reward in it for you...'

"DON'T WORRY~!"

She turned and announced to the crowd with forced perk, now gaining their undivided attention. Her sullen persona did an immediate 180.

"I'll get it back for you!! Because that's just the sort of kind, thoughtful, person I am."

And they fell for it. Just like she knew they would. The air filled with praise for the "sweet little girl" defending a cantankerous old man from hooligans and potential bankruptcy. The matter of payment would be discussed later. Instantaneously she vanished on the spot with a shunshin...

[---]

Like a vulture she'd swoop down from the rooftops and land in front of their path to either cut them off or give them a heart attack.

Whichever came first.

"Alright. Hand it over and I promise everyone will go home with all their teeth."

She announced with all the energy and enthusiasm of someone reciting the table of elements.

[Akira]

The day was rather nice, the wind past by giving off a breeze as Kumokagure was being as lively as ever. The fluffy white clouds were as usual covering the sky with a little of blue showing through the holes here and there. Birds flocking around old people as they drop little crumbled bits of bread onto the floor, different species and colors alike were communicating, simply deciding on who would get the delicious food. They had eaten stuff better, but none of the birds could really complain about getting free food just for flying the high skies and chirping in their language.

The screams of a distressed shop owner woke up the sleeping Akira, previously snoring away his day on top of a nearby roof-top, using his grayish beanie as a unfluffed pillow. His bed head had to be ignored at the moment, sitting on the roof while looking around to try and see what the problem was. A few munchkins began running in the opposite direction of a angry man as they were being chased by one of the other Genin's of the village who seemed to be quick on his feet.

Using his Shunshin, Akira appeared on the street pathway, walking towards the owner with haste. The man turned around, thinking it was one of the kids. "HEY YOU! GIVE ME-" continued to shout the man before Akira cut him off quickly, "Oi! You don't see my head-band?! I'm here to help you!"

"Ah, my bad. Please go catch those kids! They tried to steal my merchandise and now they are running away!" pleaded the man, pointing into the direction where Akira had found the munchkins running too.

"Alriiight then! HYAAH!" shouted Akira as he began to shunshin among the roof tops from the left flank, holding his Guan Do spear tightly with his left hand while he surveyed the area carefully so he could be able to stop the culprits in their tracks if they suddenly changed direction. Out of the corner of his eye, another Genin who's silhouette seemed of female stature was on the higher rooftops, but the more the merrier. It was good that they were on this before anyone else, maybe they could be a good team!

Akira began to make the first move of the encounter as he looked down on the streets one more time before jumping off the roof-tops, raising his Guan Do into the sky with both hands before he landed in front of the group, slamming it down with all of his strength. With the help of gravity, the force make it look like the ground was cracked because of Akira' strength, causing the small group of kids to jolt backwards, away from Akira with a kind of fright in their eyes. The silhouette that was actually a girl came down aswell, offering the kids surrender.

"Ora! It ain't nice to steal other people's stuff!" commented Akira as a smirk peeled its way across his face.

[third]

"NO! I WON'T GIVE SHIT BACK--" Intercepted by a clean fist to the jaw, tumbling back and against a wall in the aisle he ran though to escape the grasp of Iroji. Towering over one of the kids gazing deep into their fear-filled orbs, a sigh of aggravation escaped his closed lips.

"I-I don' got nothin', I swear!"

Rather annoyed after a long drawn out pursuit around a few shop stands, Iroji groaned. "Look... I just want the stuff you took, give it to me and you can go off and do whatever." A hint of irritation was present in his usual lax tone, it was almost brash. Iroji was going through all this extra trouble to do something that he didn't originally didn't desire to do.

In fact, if he never gave his word saying that he'd handle this situation he would be way across the village somewhere doing God know what. Anything but this, probably. He had only just earned his hitai-ate, or what he claimed as one, and he was already being required for pointless jobs, by lazy who are too dimwitted to get security or a means of protection. This wasn't what he signed up for he couldn't care less.

Nonetheless he was bound by his speech, the words he chose to commit to had him standing in front of a slightly bulky kid who was probably older than he was, with buck-teeth, unkempt strands of black and murky clothing. At first Iroji didn't know whether to throw him away or introduce him to soap and water.

"I tol'cha I ain't got nothin'." Squealed the kid as he slowly crept away from Iroji. Releasing a soft sigh he shook his head. It was unfortunate that this situation had to come to him, he was really going to let the kid go too.

A MINUTE LATER

"Gyuh." He quipped as he finished tying the kids feet together and leaving him lying in front of a bench. Looking down at him once more, his features seemed disappointed. "Next time just give up the stuff. Now I've wasted a lot of time," the Genin requested marching off to the next kid or two that he could catch, beating the snot of them swiftly then tying them up. Luckily these kids seemed to lack the credentials required to make Iroji break a sweat nonetheless to really have to put effort into his pursuits.

[Akira]

The other Genin that Akira had seen earlier before he began the chase was fixing up the rest of the little group of munchkins, tying them up and bitch-punching when they talked back. It was pretty cool, Akira rarely saw such badasses in the village who didn't take shit from no-one and followed their own agenda. Now placing his Guan Do on his back, Akira simply let Iroji handle all of the business from there on.

After a minute later, everything was done with. Now wanting to make conversation with the two, Akira walked towards Iroji with a smile and with his left hand, he scratched the back of his head slightly.

"Yo, I'm Akira!" he began, just introducing himself to the Genin, who really didn't look like the social type. Holding out his right hand out, stilling having his big green on his face, Akira continued trying to make conversation. "So, you seem pretty strong, what kind of training methods are you on?" It really was a dumb question, but it was his best. Truthfully, he was nervous about getting socked in the face.

[| teru |]

Satisfied with the panicked look on their faces, Iza snapped her fingers once. Seconds later a pile of pilfered goods was literally thrown at her feet. The thought of supposed "tough guys" cowering in fear of a little girl maybe half their height because of the metal strapped across her brow and the acid in her words pleased her to no end.

"...Bye now!"

She spat. The hooligans took the hint and sprinted off away from her.

Iza looked down at the spoils sprawled out on the ground. Upon closer inspection of the goods her eyebrows furrowed together, the obvious disappointment overcoming her usual stoic facade.

Food. It was all food. At least form her pair.

"Aaaaaaaargh, are you kidding me!?"

What was she supposed to do with this? Out of all the things of potential value, weapons, scrolls, jewelry, or even money itself, it just had to be food.

'How am I supposed to bargain a reward now?! Nobody's gonna care about some nasty food grubby kids have had their stank-hands all over. I'd might as well just keep it!'

Iza didn't even want it. Still, she would attempt to work something out. The girl hated to see profit go to waste.

With a sigh she stood upright, fully paying attention to her surroundings for the first time. She'd shadowed them over to the area and was sure to keep careful tabs on all members of their ragtag platoon, though she hadn't paid any mind to the other boys engaging them. Not until she heard one of them talk. Quickly she strode over to the pair as they walked off, but not before placing a kunai with a note attached to it in front of the pile she abandoned.

"THIS FOOD BETTER BE HERE WHEN I GET BACK" - Love, touchitandnevereatagain

"Just so you know- this is my job. Don't try and cut in on my reward."

[third]

"One, two," he began counting as he pointed to each of the hooligans he caught, they were lying beside each other, the items they had stolen in a pile beside them. "Three, four, five." Iroji groaned as he completed his count,taking a breath as his hand rubbed the side of his neck, a long yawn slipped from between the spaces between each of his whites.

From over his shoulder a voice called, it was an introduction. Turning with a sigh Iroji looked off idly, "Do I know you?" He queried, from what he saw he didn't know whoever this person and given the situation at hand he quickly opted that this kid might of been another of of the hooligans, regardless if he introduced himself or not. "You're not another one of these... thieves, are ya'?"

To be quite honest Iroji didn't give a damn if he was actually one of the thieving kids or not, he was done. He did what he said he was going to do and quite frankly it was aggravating him, he was done for now. If there was anything else that needed to be done, any other ghouls that loomed still Iroji wasn't dealing with them. They needed to go call Ghost Busters or somebody that cared. Though, giving the expression he say and the question that followed shortly after the first he quickly decided that this Akira kid wasn't one of the bad guys, not today anyways.

In reply to him, Iroji turned away, "I d--!!" Before he could finish his words a feminine voice chimed in out of nowhere, making claims about a reward and how he better not be trying to take hers. Whatever it was that she was talking about went in one ear and out the other, he didn't know nor did he care enough to try and find out what she was talking about. For Iroji it was just a blank moment where he'd stood there, eyes cocked, with a blank look worn across his youthful, embellished face.

"I'm guessing you caught some of these guys, right?" Pointing to the tied-up hooligans Iroji turned to Iza. "Where'd you leave 'em?" It was true that he was done with his task and wasn't going to do any more than required but the least he could do was collect everything he could and try to return whatever wasn't damaged to their owners.

[Akira]

In Akira's mind, such an abrupt greeting wouldn't be too rude or otherwise awkward, but such an answer that was given by Iroji wasn't as expected either, but Akira accidently let out a yawn while he began to take an assessment of the situation before continuing his rather unpleasant conversation with the Genin.

"Hehe, I think I would recognize you if we meet," happily replying Akira, rather backing up a bit with his way of talking, instead simply retracting to a more calm demeanor. Quite the awkward conversation, but obviously Akira would need to focus on the objective at hand, which involved the little munchkins and their stolen goods. Hopefully not much was damaged in the process of the short chase, so that maybe all of it could be given back to the owner.

The echoing of the females voice in Akira's ears wasn't anything to ignore, now turning around at the same time as Iroji, seeing what seemed to be the very embodiment of the saying, "Looks can be deceiving." Rather then be the confronting individual of the group, Akira followed Iroji's lead as he added onto the question, "Well, we couldn't take the reward if the old man didn't tell us about it," replied Akira, trying to add common sense. His smile turned into a mild grin, both the other Genin's acting rather stoic?

[| teru |]

It was evident that Iza could care less about the task she assigned herself. The only reason she'd followed them over was to make sure she gathered all the supplies. With a vacant stare she folded her arms and looked up to the sky to think.

"No, I didn't catch them. I just hunted, threatened, then made them run away screaming. Wasn't that hard really. I've already gotten most of the stock back. I just need to shake down the last couple of stragglers and I'll be done here."

The girl answered absentmindedly with a gentle shrug of her shoulders. Then the other little boy chimed in and for some reason she found herself put off.

"...There isn't a reward. Yet. But I'm sure I can negotiate an arrangement for myself. And what're you grinning about? This isn't a game, its business!"

[/badpost]

[third]

Relieving one of the tied up deviants of their kimono Iroji used it to wrap up the stolen items he recovered. He was correct, he wasn't the only one taking up the obligation of handling the miscreants, and from what the dark haired kunoichi was saying, he should have been conjuring up hoe he'd like to be rewarded as well. Wrapping the products up and slinging the cloth over his shoulders he smirked lightly, he liked the thought of being rewarded for doing something that was, to him, insignificant. Seeing as Ichiroku was the one who asked him to get up and play hero, to do his duties, he'd owe Iroji as would old man Mokuro and most of the eastern shop owners.

Whipping around after he gathered all the stolen merchandise, his humorless gaze was an inattentive one. His brown bristle cascaded as the find pushed by gently, a small glimmer in his crimson, unmoving orbs. "This isn't any of my business, I dun' really care about these peoples lack of sense or security." is comment though blunt, was true. These people where not his responsibility and he didn't plan on making them either. The only reason he decided to do anything on this day was from annoyance.

"That isn't my job." He said turning around to return the merchandise, and trudging off.

[Akira]

Well, it was a rather quick operation that the three Genin had completed, but surely there would have to be an reward for all of them to reap gracefully. Akira just listened to Iza and her reply, she sounded like the manipulative type, probably could advance a career in interrogation. Yawning a bit, Akira glanced at Iroji's figure, as he began to take off the kimono from one of the tied up munchkins. A resourceful fellow from Akira's eyes, but he didn't say much as Iroji walked off to give back the merchandise.

Taking the cue, Akira checked to make sure that the rope that tied the little thieves was tight enough, before he got a tight grip on it and began dragging the kids back to the market-area. They were gonna get punished, which made Akira happy. It was evident as he had a smirk on his face but then he remembered the chick that was gonna get her reward. He looked over his right shoulder and shouted, "You coming? We got the dirty work handled, go sweet talk yourself an reward!"

They could be a good team after-all! Thats what he thought anyway. His day-dreaming episodes were gonna begin soon, so he wanted to get this over-with.