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B-Rank Religion Missions x 35 (141 Sentences) Making her way to the White Flash Districts, specifically the Streets, Irelia had been trying to find something of deeper meaning in her life. She had delved into religion and spirituality when she was younger, but her parents shunned it. They believed religion would not be good for the young woman to become a strong kunoichi capable of being able to bring greater prosperity to the Goldenbaum clan. While it was not unheard of for members of her family to partake in religion, it was not common, and for her interest to be piqued like this on such a special day off was questionable at best. When she was deep within the streets, Irelia had met a man named Barosh Merrscream. Barosh was a Daoist and had been on a journey visiting Arashigakure to meet with people who were looking for something more in their life, so such a meeting between the two was a surprising event. “Are you looking for work, young Lady? I need your help.” Irelia frowned, bothered by his audacity to ask a noble to help a commoner like himself. But, at the same time, Irelia opened her ryo pocketbook and reluctantly would respond, “Only if it pays well. He smiled looking directly towards her as he moved into the light and revealed that he was blind.
Barosh was a traveling Daoist monk from Tanigakure. He had been on a 13 year journey and was closing in on finishing it soon. But, having entered Arashigakure he ran into some trouble. Very antireligious types had discovered that Barosh was telling of the Dao and its tenets, recruiting and sharing in such religious beliefs. They had first started to send him messages, small notes and letters telling him he was not welcome and needed to leave. And then some men started to follow him. “It all came to a head when an attempt on my life came. It is unfortunate, the youth these days, they’ll kill without mercy without even opening their eyes to possibilities.” The old blind man in great robes had gone on for some time, gripping on the lost age and how no one cares to sit down and listen. Ultimately, he would get to the elephant in the room as he came closer to Irelia, stating, “I’d like to hire your skills, kunoichi, I need you to escort me to the other side of town where my friends are. I have a special lecture to get to.” His words were straightforward and Irelia understood, nodding carefully.
The two of them would head into Arashigakure deeper in the streets passing various market stalls and shops. At first, perhaps the calm before the storm, it would seem as if nothing was wrong. Rather, that nothing would go wrong given they were inside of a village. But, as they came to the middle of the streets a stirring came. Something was off. There were no guards nearby. Where are the guards? What’s going on? The young kunoichi found herself getting into a fist closed position standing directly in front of Barosh. That was when she saw a kunai with an explosive tag heading for them. With a swift side-step and kick, she would knock the kunai at the tipping point of impact, just barely making it go into a nearby stall instead before it exploded. “Get back, Barosh they’re here! I’ll protect you with my life.” That was not entirely true, as Irelia was far more vested in self-preservation but, the ryo that the man was offering was something that was worth her time. Irelia needed to make some money badly. The assailant revealed himself as he wore entirely black attire, his face covered, with no blatantly distinguishable symbols. Whomever they worked for did not want to be revealed. Leaping upwards, Irelia would begin her assault on the assailant using a Dynamic Entry, her leg swiftly closing the distance between the two of them.
The man did not seem to flinch as he responded using a technique from the Bukijutsu style known as Omoi Insho, he would receive her kick with one tonfa, blocking its force, before striking back with the other using Counter Offensive. Their equal forces would send Irelia back a few feet. This time, using an Upper Fissure, Irelia would combine this strike with a Crushing Fist. Attempting to use a stronger Double Block, he was able to resist her Fissure strike but the Crushing Fist would connect, the palm launching the assailant far away, him sliding back before catching some mud and falling down on his chest. As he tried to get up, Irelia would use the Body Flicker to quickly get behind him and leap into the air using a Leaf Hurricane Whirlwind attempting to put an end to his resistance. Following the momentum and the spin, her heel would connect but not with the man, but a nearby stand’s chair. Forming handseals, the man quickly would release a Lightning Style jutsu, the Lightning Bolt aiming it for Barosh. She would form handseals and meet the Lightning Bolt with her own Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.
The superior element, it not only bested the Lightning Style, but would launch into the assailant, launching him into a nearby building. Sliding down, he was clearly knocked unconscious, if not wounded more severely. Irelia moved closer to him, grabbing him by the collar and raised her fist, as she was ready to kill him. Criminals and murderers had no place in the world, and while she could have left this to the APD, she would rather make sure justice was served. As her fist came down, a voice bellowed at her from behind. It was Barosh calling out, “Wait, Irelia. Are you certain he must die? You have a choice to make right now. His reasoning for attacking me, does it truly warrant death?” Irelia would halt her fists descend, her heart beating, adrenaline rushing. Turning to Barosh, she cursed outwardly, “He is trying to take your life old man. Are you a fool?” He would move between Irelia and the assailant. And then he would take Irelia’s wrists and pull her down into a sitting position. “Relax. Clear your mind. Meditate with me. You are not being rational.” Barosh had continued, now having her inhale and exhale with him.
It was true that he had helped her calm down. But, her anger still existed. This assailant tried to kill Barosh and her task was to protect him. The best route to protecting the man was ensuring he met a swift death. “In Dao, we teach compassion. Nothing that happens, if at all, by choice. We all come from different circumstances… By sparing him you will show humility. You will-” The sound of a crushing of his skull proceeded and Irelia killed the man anyway. She did not care for Barosh’s words. Humility? She was a noble heir to the clan. She need not practice humility. Sure, he was right about life not always being by choice, but will and determination can change the path. “But. BUT WHY? You didn’t give him a chance.” Irelia would push Barosh back and she barked, “Would he have given you one? Do you think you’re better because you practice humility, Daoist? You are not such a noble human. I saw what business you came out of. You’re not so clean yourself. I bet there’s more to these attempts on your life than you’re admitting.” Barosh looked pale, whitening in fear, clearly now looking more suspicious than before. Silence would ensure after their spat, but the two got up and continued before the APD arrived. They did not have time to answer questions.
Eventually they would cross town and leave Arashigakure into the Lightning Empire’s greater sphere in the Land of Floods. As they exited the village, this time a group of assailants in the same black attire approached. One of them stepped forward and unsheathed a kunai, “Barosh. You didn’t think you’d be able to walk away alive after the tab you’ve built up, did you? You owe us 25,000 ryo. We’re going to take it off of your cold dead corpse. Now step aside, Kunoichi, he can’t even pay you. Let alone pay us what he owes.” The truth shall set you free, they always say. Why did I trust this poor b*****d to pay me? Literally stepping aside, she shook her head and responded, “I mean if what you say is true, go to town. I’m sorry I had to kill one of your friends. I thought he would be able to pay up, you know. At least, that’s what I wanted to believe.” Barosh gripped his arms and fell to his knees reaching for her legs. Kicking him, she crossed her arms pushing him onto his back. “Please Irelia, I don’t want to die like this… I can - I can borrow the money. I’ll make sure you get paid. I swear on it in my life.” She knew she couldn’t trust him. He had already lied to her before. No one lies to the Frost Maiden and walks away from it unscathed.
As the assailants approached, Barosh started to plead even more desperately. It was truly an embarrassing and ugly display. He wriggled about and exclaimed, “Surely you understand! Be spontaneous! Be heroic! The Dao commands it, it’s a lifestyle that can’t be allowed to end here. I have so much to teach people… Please, please Irelia don’t let them kill me.” One of the assailants as they came closer with some rope in hand barked out, “Doesn’t your Dao also teach about not being in debt and practicing frugality? Was drinking worth it, old fool? You’re going to wish you were dead when we’re done with you.” For reasons unbeknownst to even her, Irelia would let the man come almost in rope tying range, before she slid forward and would jump into a Painful Sky Leg to knock the assailant shinobi up. Finishing him with a cold combination, she leaped above him grabbing him by the ankles and using a Peregrine Falcon Drop, crushing his skull into the ground head first. “So you’ll die this drunkard’s hero? You are one dumb kunoichi, Irelia.” The leader of the remaining two called out. He would start to form a series of handseals. “It’s not that I want to be a hero or care about this man that lied to me. It’s not about good or evil. I just agreed to a job and I’m going to get it done. You’ll pay up too, old man.”
The man would use a Water Style jutsu to create several gallons of water. Then he used the Water Shark Bullet jutsu, launching it towards her. Smiling, the Frost Maiden would show him how outmatched he truly was, as she used Ice Style to rapidly use the water that produced from the Water Manipulation Jutsu to turn the area into a heavily snow filled landscape. The Water Shark continued to approach her, she would use Breath of Winter, freezing the entire Shark as it shattered crashing behind her. The lead shinobi grew furious, “Cowardly witch! That’s cheating! Why do you have Ice Style?! This is Arashigakure. There’s no snow- Wait… Unless you’re…” Forming another handseal, she would call out, “Ice Style: Winter’s Howl.” From the existing snow, a twister formed. The two shinobi were now trapped in the center of the technique using everything they had to not be swept away. Using more handseals, she would then use the Ice Prison to trap both of them. Releasing the storm, the two of them were unable to move, trapped completely. “You b***h. Just wait until I get out of here… I’ll kill you.” Irelia turned to Barosh and would pick up the kunai that the lead shinobi had been holding originally. Warming it for a moment, she would then hand it to Barosh. “Be spontaneous. Show them the greatest humility they deserve.” Indeed, Irelia understood this Dao thing now. But in her own way. And she would deal with it in her own way as well. Barosh stayed on his knees for a while, before the man stood up and approached the two trapped shinobi. He would slash their throats before dropping the kunai. “W-what… What have I done…? This is not the Dao.” Approaching the man, Irelia placed her foot on his shoulder. “Now search their pockets and get me my pay. Mission complete.”
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