Kichimaru Tomaka, emotional ninja

Chapter 5

My blood is pumping in tune to my fast footfalls. The cool dawn wind hits me head on and causes my bangs to fly wildly around my face, revealing my gleeful eyes. Running at my top speed, where I can't lose focus or take a wrong step cause otherwise I'll end up injured, is a special kind of exhilarating. I was but a blur to the shinobi I passed, and not even a spot to the civilians. Running speed and stamina was my specialty, my passion in this career, and I prided myself on how far I've come. My frame was built for speed, thin but wiry with lean muscles that made it so my top speed could now keep up with a jounin, although I would certainly tire first and rather quickly. Although, to achieve my speed I've neglected other physical conditioning. My fist felt more like a love tap, but I've always taken hits better than I've given them anyway. Besides, I don't fight enemies head on; I run around.

I curl my body inward as I smoothly leap off a rooftop to land in a roll leaving me on my feet in front of the Hokage's tower. My breath is quick, but in exhilaration rather than exhaustion at my morning run. It's still slightly dark as the sun slowly begins to rise over Konoha. Although I enjoyed sleeping in, early dawn is my favorite time of day. The soft golden light through the hashirama trees casted light shadows all across the village as people began setting up stalls and getting ready for the day. I idly breathe in the scent of early morning dew and bask in the soft smile it leaves on my face. I stroll into the tower leisurely, absurdly slow to those who know me, and enthusiastically wave to those I recognize as I make my way to Genin Corp headquarters. It's a short walk to the correct floor and before long the dull chatter of the dozens of Genin reaches my ears.

My smile widens as I open the door happily. The large office room has genin stationed at different desk handing out various low-level missions as well as completing paperwork. A few genin mill around, probably waiting for paperwork approval or deciding on which type of D-rank they wanted, but most are efficiently moving through the room or lines with the appropriate items out. The Genin Corp might be looked down upon by the higher-ranking shinobi, but we moved like a well-oiled machine. Upon entering the Genin Corp you are assigned specialties, such as courier or heavy-lifting, and put under the supervision of a Senpai in your specialty. The different specialty divisions each had their own mission desk in Headquarters, and were responsible for keeping files of their shinobi and assigning appropriate missions. As the Corp shinobi improve or develop new skills, multiple specialties can be assigned which led to an increased mission pool. Working as a Senpai also increased your mission pool, as well as a small pay raise, which made teaching the new bratty Kouhai worth it. I head to the familiar courier mission desk and let out an exclamation of joy at seeing Chigao-senpai on duty.

"Chigao-senpai!" I shout happily while pretending to swoon for him as I reach the desk. His green eyes warm at seeing me even as he shakes his head in apparent exacerbation.

"Kichi-kun, early again?" He fakes confusion before giving up the act with a grin as I laugh.

"I couldn't wait to see you, Chigao-senpai! ~" I coo out to him, not at all masking my affection for the man. While it took a while to break through his grisly exterior, Chigao-senpai was like an uncle to me now and I always enjoyed the chance to see him.

"Well we actually need a fast runner now anyway," He pauses before a shit eating grin lights up his face and he lets out a few snickers. "I guess the early bird does get the worm." I couldn't hold the laughter back even if I wanted too. When I finally realized grouchy old Chigao-senpai actually loved making terrible jokes and passive-aggressively bantering with people, we got along like a house on fire.

"I'll take this worm then!" I shot back with a playful determination. Chigao-senpai's smirk only grows as he hands me a scroll.

"C-rank, moving a prisoner with a jounin acting as guard. You can handle it, ne?" I briefly scan the scroll. Transporting a restrained missing-nin recently captured separate from their allies from an outpost less than a day from Konoha's walls to the Torture and Interrogation building. A frown pulls at my mouth briefly. Simple in theory and on paper, but moving live cargo always made things more complicated. Regardless, a mission is an order I intend to follow through, it's my duty as a ninja of Konoha. I close the scroll and raise it to a joking salute toward Chigao-senpai.