Haruko the Salamander/Mission Journal

## B-Rank

The faces, the factions, the motivations, all of it is rendered irrelevant in the face of this overwhelming fact. War is a means to an end. Conflict born of desire for something to change. It is the primordial force in which life wrestles with itself for the things that will continue to live and that which will die. The Land of Rain has not known peace in the last century. Largely due in part to its fractured nation, broken apart by the constant wars fought across its fields, which splintered its lands into their own fiefdoms. Even after the war waged by the other great nations had left its borders, the thirst for revolution burned on. Warlords saw a land ripe with opportunity to expand their influence and grow their territory, and thus they have been plunged into battle going on decades since.

The fog of war had begun. Haruko stalked the field beneath a storm of rain and blood. Dark clouds obscured the light of the sun, and the cries of battle echoed in the distance. In the rain she was a goddess on the battlefield, the chooser of the slain. At her side a massive shadow moved sinuously, utterly silent in its movements. A faint vapor exuded from the pair, causing nearby combatants to clutch their throats as their blood was lit on fire, their senses thrown into disarray and their minds frayed. With a single gesture the kusarigama held in her hand lashed out like a whip cutting a swath through her enemies, bifuricating them at the waist. The massive shadow lunged forward, and from within that deep abyss a hungering maw revealed itself snatching up whole groups of enemies, crushing them in its jaws before devouring them outright.

Yet none could sense her, none could see her. For in the rain she was indistinct, a mirage of death. Her steps soon became a full sprint, and her weapon became a whirring blur of steel as it sliced indiscriminately into enemies all around her. To her front a large group of enemy shinobi charged onto the field. A single hand sign formed in her hand and she drunk deep of the air before unleashing a conflagration of such width and speed it subsumed the attacking shinobi entirely incinerating them instantly. From there steam flooded the area, scalding those left in its wake. Their screams of terror were drowned out by the dying embers and the sound of rain drops.

Then she walked up into the air, solidifying the water beneath her into steps as she ascended to the throne in the heavens above. Her hands flashed through a series of handseals, and then all the rain, all the water around them became infused with her chakra and at her command. What followed was a tidal wave of titanic proportions stained red with blood that simply consumed and drowned the rest of the enemy forces.

The battle had finally come to an end.

Haruko released a heavy breath. She would need to conserve more chakra, this battle was only one of many that needed to be won this day. Sheathing her weapons she transported herself through the rain back to her forces.

Having now broken through the enemies line, they had a clear path towards their supply routes. Today's battle had been one of many, against the forces of the Muneshige Clan, and their allies. Despots and tyrants who squeezed the people dry of what little resources they had, then pillaged what was left when they could no longer pay. Unable to sit back, she rallied her allies, and marched to the Muneshige territory. They were met with fierce resistance, suffering some losses from the heavy artillery.

They were forced to retreat, but as they did so, the Muneshige clan used the opportunity to send a battalion of their own to rout her forces as they retreated. She covered her allies retreat. She whose name is spoken as a curse cast the battlefield under the cover of darkness and rain. It was with these hands that she slaughtered those loyal men and women and sent their souls to the Pure Land.

One of her commanders approached. A former shinobi from the mist. Many of their ranks originated from there along with Grass country. It was the authoritative policies and actions of these villages that pushed many talented shinobi out, defecting from their homes. Here in Ame, they disappeared and attempted to make a life for themselves, only to find themselves embroiled into one conflict after another. Her family was like that as well.

Goemon, no surname, was a loyal follower, but impulsive and prone to quick action. His head slumped in recognition for his failure. A young man just over twenty four, he was desperate to prove himself, and thought that this battle would be his glory. This lesson would be a painful but necessary one. If he could learn patience, and temper his anger he could become a great shinobi. For now though, she would do her duty and be the hand that sculpt him into the ninja she needed him to be.

"Report." She said evenly. Goemon stiffened, then straightened his back. "We suffered moderate casualties, but with you guarding our retreat, we were able to gather our wounded and safely return. We're taking stock of our supplies right now, and they will hold for the week, but we're running low in crucial medical supplies and weaponry."

She hummed in response, and began to think. "See to our wounded and and inform Takeda that he is to establish a garrison here. He will defend it with a small contingent of shinobi. I want all those capable of earth transformation to remain. I will not leave our people defenseless."

She began walking to her tent, and Goemon hurriedly followed along. "Send word to Yukimura that he's to prepare two teams; one infiltration and one demolitions. You however are with me, we're going to the Capital."

Goemon looked at her in surprise. "The Capital? But, that's the heart of enemy territory, going there would be suicide." Haruko silenced him with a glare. "The Capital is to be a distraction while our allies pillage the enemy of their supplies. Our role is crucial. The more mayhem and destruction we cause, the greater the likelihood they'll send reinforcements. I want them to divert as much resources as possible to contain the threat. I'll prepare a reverse summoning. The moment the reinforcements arrive we'll retreat, and I'll signal to the two teams to begin their operations. Now go."

Goemon snapped to attention, and ran off to complete his tasks. Haruko was left alone with her thoughts.

Preparations had gone underway, the two teams were already geared up and ready to begin their respective mission. Haruko was busy checking over the last minute details and once satisfied prepared to sortie.

She and Goemon sped towards the Capital, meanwhile she kept tabs on the other two teams through her salamander summons accompanying them. Their objective was in principle the easiest, but by far the hardest given the level of danger.

To even break into the Muneshige stronghold they would need to break through the line of defense that surrounds the territory, then push through and infiltrate the enemy encampment, survey the area, then pick their designated targets to maximize the destruction.