The sun began to set atop a mountain in the distance with it's brilliant shine giving purple and golden hues of color throughout the sky. The forest beneath the slowly dimming land was beautiful with it's lush green, spring kicked into full gear right after the winter Konohagakure suffered. Still, the new light green growth did nothing to hide away the chilling air. It was days like this that were perfect for bonfires, beers, grilling, and get together's. However this was the night of a mission from a week before where two Genin put a stop to the dasterdly plot of a group of bandits. True, bandits weren't quote commonplace in the forest of Konoha but it was regardless to the fact they couldn't be ignored. Not while they were capturing travelers and wandering civilians, the group were turning into more trouble than expected.

One of those Genin perched atop one of the taller trees of the forest sitting on a thick branch to where he had such a good view of the sky. He sighed, taking in a breath of air as he simply felt... free. There was something he gained being here than in the village itself, constantly struggling for business and not even having enough currency to buy a damn house. Up here, for that limited time, Alphine didn't worry about his problems. With winter leaving and spring slowly climbing into the year warmer weather would certainly hit soon. That allowed better caravans to pass through, more merchants and travelers, it'd be good for business.

That is, if those bandits hadn't of been attacking said caravans. Just twenty meters away was a well fortified fort, a literal fort with walls and buildings within it. The fortified camp itself was at least fifty or so meters in equal length and width, and clearly there was a wall around it made of thick logs and reinforced wood struts. There were multiple tents that were recent but there appeared to be three wooden buildings. The wall and structures had moss and vines grown on them, clearly aged with time but to Alphine's assumption they were still quite sturdy and less worn. Despite that, he'd been scouting these bandits from afar, getting close but backing off as he continuously changed spots to get better vantage points.

Alphine saw there were much more of these bandits than last time however only spot two of the same goons from before. There were constant patrols, archers with bows and even a bastilla at the ready. Bandits had leather armor on with shields and other weaponry, it was apparent they sought to be more organized like a military, that was probably their best strategy. Alphine took the job as a way to get away from his own problems, although he should have recruited someone to help. It seemed his problems would get worse... pending on the situation he gets himself in.

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Normally the missions Celestia went on were mandatory. Otherwise all her free time was spent with Haru breaking her into a killing machine. She'd already succeed to a good extent but Celestia had a strong personality. She wasn't worried her personality would be changed. Though she did volunteer for this mission. Celestia had grown a lot in her time spent with Haru and she was now far more capable than she was no very long ago. She needed to test what she had learned in the field to grasp how far she's gotten and how much further she has to go. The missions they gave her was already taken but they wanted big shots for this but all they could get to go was a genin. So they sent Celestia in to provide backup.

Jumping from tree to tree the genin made her way towards the bandit camp. She stopped abruptly when it came into view. 'By the stars that is fortified.' How the heck were they supposed to take that down. Celestia looked around for the genin she was suppose to be providing backup to. 'Oh no it's him. I'm probably the last person he wants help from.' Celestia quietly walked up to him not sneaking up on him but just being careful not to give their position away. "Hey, they sent me in to back you up. I know I'm probably the last person you want help from. I'll follow whatever you have planned though and try not to bother you any further." Celestia whispered to him.

Spoiler:

Alphine remained motionless for some time as night fell upon the area. He studied the fortifications for the camp and saw how well they stood as far as numbers, discipline, lack of weaknesses, and seemingly competent units patrolled and watched the area. He was surprised these bandits mustered together and noticed two of the bandits he fought before taking orders from a person clad in iron armor. The armor itself was clunky to the naked eye, but in truth the observant could the armor was light despite it's bulky appearance. The iron was a smooth black with a spike or two jutting from it's pauldron, a black leather with a white snowflake emblem within a golf hexagon symbol. The armor made whoever was in that suit appear strong and tall and no doubt in Alphine's mind that with a grade of iron they had, that armored individual was of high standing. A leader if not a field general. Shame Alphine couldn't see the face beyond that helmet of theirs.

The two bruised bandits nodded vigorously with smiles on their face as this armored person spoke with them, it was when they were waved off that these two bandits immediately walked away in a hurry, one of them carrying a brown leather sack of sorts. The bag itself swayed as the men made their way through the heavily wooded front gate, four guards standing atop two small perch towers each that overlooked the walls themselves. The wood doors opened slowly with loud creaks and the two men began to emerge from the protected walls. They threw on measly cloaks that did good to hide their heads and arms. It seemed the duo were leaving at the dead of night, and had a top-notch merchant's caravan not been attacked a day prior this entire operation would have gone unnoticed. He needed answers.

As Alphine was ready to stalk his prey he heard a whisper to his side. Immediately the Genin reached to his bone dagger but recognized the face of a familiar girl. His mind raced as to what she said but a second of thinking he pieces it together. She was here to help... now... for better or worse. Alphine looked back down as the two bandits fled into the forest, jerking his head to follow as he took off. Once they were a good deal away from the fort and had his sights on the bandits from afar he spoke in a low tone, nothing loud but certainly no whisper.

"Actually, your assistance is much needed," The Genin admitted even to himself, he needed to stop being so critical, "We're stalking prey, once we are a ways away we catch them. I've been watching the camp for hours, studying it, watching patrols and how well guarded it is. Suffice to say, this is more for advanced Chuunin even a Jounin mission. No telling how well trained they are. Be ready for a long night, it'll be boring but we won't rush in, that would be our death."

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Celestia perked up at the idea that he welcomed her presence, at the moment anyway. She'd probably end up doing something that will screw that up. He seemed like a very practical guy which Celestia had a hard time relating too. Course she had a hard time relating to guys in general but this one especially. Worse part was she didn't even know what she was doing wrong?

Stalking, not rushing in, long night. Sure that all sounded good and fine. Especially since that fort looked impregnable. Rushing in to her death was the last thing she wanted to do.

So first task was to capture these guys huh? "Got it." Celestia stealthily followed from behind presumably with Alphine. This would be a lot easier if she could use her natural senses but her transformation jutsu kind of kept those clogged. It's alright though, Haru drilled them enough the way she was. She wouldn't have a problem.

Celestia would wait for some sort of signal from Alphine that they stalked far enough. She'd then move in behind one of them forming some hand signs and spew water from her mouth engulfing one of them in a spherical prison of water. She kept a small bubble of air in there so he didn't suffocate for at least 10 minuets.

Spoiler:

As the two diverged upon the Bandits Alphine witnessed the girl, Celestia he thought her name was, use a water style Jutsu on the first target. Dropping from a lower branch Alphine slammed his fists on the second targets back as he seemed in a state of panic. Snatching the bag from the groaning man's clutches, the Genin slammed his boot down on his head hard to get the Bandits attention through pain and a sign of dominance. Not that Alphine was trying to exert it, he had a disdain toward chicken shit weasel dicks like this. Beginning to kneel, he placed his right knee on the mans head to keep him in place and pulled out a bone-carved dagger from a leather hilt. He then stabbed the dagger down cutting off the man's left middle finger as a sign of punishment that was to come, an example.

As the Bandit screamed Alphine quickly punched the side of his face that was revealed from the portion of his knee, shutting him up quickly. Disgusted, Alphine would speak in a calm tone, sadistic almost granted it wasn't the aim, "I see you have yet to learn your lesson, last time you were punished. Must I make an example of you to your friend?"

"Y-you!" The Bandit, the youngster with them no older than Alphine cried out, "Please! Please don't hurt-" The bandit was cut off as a hard fist met the right of his lips busting them and whatever teeth were there. He screamed in Pai again as the dagger came down again and chopped off the left pinky finger and again another blow was delivered to the face. It was excessive, but these bandits reminded him of the Raiders of the Moon, the crew he was with way back when.

"Can it. Next are your right fingers," Alphine said, his words sunk in and the kid began to cry as tears ran down his side, "Good... tell me why your group is bigger, fortified, and near Konohagakure. Tell me what you are planning "

The Bandit remained quiet and sobbed for a hard minute, spitting blood and teeth until Alphine brought the day up again, "NoNo! I'll tell you-I'LLTELLYOU!!!"

"S-since the attack a few weeks ago we fled only to run into another group like us! They were old soldiers, some veterans and others recruits kicked out of another village... they took us in and helped us back to health but... we had to work f-for them. They came here wanting to intercept traders and merchants for personal gain and wealth, start an empire of sorts! They come from that moon land, a group from all the way over there trying to expand. I-I-I can tell you anything! Please Don't Hurt Me Anymore!!!"

Alphine set the tied black bag to his side and pulled the bandit up to his feet. So a mighty Shi the Genin hefted the kid to a tree and tied him up, keeping his primitive dagger in hand. He looked at the kid with a cold expression... if this was the group he thought it was, Alphine knew trouble was coming... that He was coming. It stressed the Genin hard.

"Tell me, who sent you out, and how to get in."

The kid looked up as one side of his face was completely broken, a tired expression dressed his it along, "G-General Itsawa... he sent us to take care of that bag," The kid jerked his head lazily at the bag, "He's tough, tougher than any of those vets. He uses a mix of Taijutsu and Ninjutsu to gain advantage but carries some greatsword like it's weightless. There's a flaw in the wall though... a weak spot in the East wall, a large crack... patrols switch in the morning right before sunrise... but that's all I have..."

Alphine turned to Celestia, "Let's get that other bandit tied too. And let's bound their mouths, don't want any noise from them."

The Genin then walked toward the bag, he lifted it and poked it lightly. To his surprise the bag moved vigorously and Alphine opened it. He carefully peeked in there to find... a bat. A little bat pup with wide eyes staring at the Genin. He simply stared at it, he felt inclined to leave it behind and almost did when it made the slightest chirp. For some reason, Alphine couldn't help but want to keep the thing, not that it was cute but it simply reminded Alphine of himself. Defenseless, scared, no one to care for it... Alphine felt a painful nostalgia. He carefully tied the bag shut and held it in his left arm not wanting the bat to escape... it wouldn't even last an hour with all the predators lurking about.

"We'll need to head back to the vantage point," Alphine said to Celestia, "Once we see the patrols switch or get distracted, we pick them off, one by one." Once he was done the Genin scaled a large tree till he was near the top, taking off with his assumption that she was following his lead. Alphine seemed bothered, more blunt than before and clearly his calm demeanor became a harsh one.

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Celestia may not for the most part be bothered by killing anymore but torture was another thing. She cringed in revulsion and tried to advert her eyes to the cruelty Alphine displayed. Though she extremely disliked it there wasn't anything she could do about it. For starts Alphine was head of this mission but also this wasn't outside the boundaries of what they were allowed to do to finish the mission. In information gathering, this sort of thing was common place. Haru likely already figured out the girl wasn't fond of it but if Celestia actually spoke up about it there would likely be some 'training' in store for her. Something one of the bandits said captured Celestia's attention for just a moment. Moon land huh? Didn't mom say she was from there?

A crack in the wall. What help was that! That was no help that's what it was. It would still take very loud force to bust through. Alphine told her to tie the other one up but she had an idea real quick. Releasing her jutsu Celestia grabbed the bandit and studied his features carefully. Every flaw, scar, everything. Once she was satisfied with the picture she drew in her head she preformed the transformation jutsu and turned into an exact replica of him. She then stripped him bare of his clothing and weapon and put it all on. His weapon was a sword. She really had to get herself one, one of these days. Maybe she'd steal the family hairloom. Wasn't like mom was ever going to use it. "This might come in handy." Celestia said assuming the voice of the man she'd stolen the identity from. She had made sure to grab his name too.

The two made their way back to their lookout perch and Alphine instructed her to start taking out bandits one by one. It would be hard to sneak around in this form but she could just pretend to need their help or something and then stab them in the back. "Alright, let's split up to cover more. If we have the element of surprise it should be child's play cleaning them up." Celestia got to work and eventually finding more to ambush would get harder an harder as there were few left to ambush.

Spoiler:

In the main scheme, Alphine was impressed by Celestia's ability to shift through some Jutsu. Now this, this was what he was looking for, strategy. He immediately jumped across to the nearest tree, giving the girl a nod and turned to her a last time before she took off. Alphine knew this night would be rough and long, he knew that once these ambushes and gorilla tactics would become harder as more numbers of the bandits would fade. Regardless of that fact the two Genin would know when it was time to make the final strike and they couldn't let the prey escape back to the fort... it would ruin any chance of surprise.

"Be careful," Alphine said quietly as the girl disappeared from sight. He gave a sigh and positioned himself to where he could see Celestia and she could most likely see him albeit the two were far apart, still, flanking the Southwestern and Southeastern corners of the gate depending on where search parties and scouts went would be the designated target for either Genin. Alphine was high up, covering the view for the Southeast corner, he supposed and hoped Celestia did her part. If she infiltrated the camo with that form he'd be ready to back her in case things got hectic. That included keeping the bat pup safe.

Alphine tied the bag around a sturdy branch as chirps exited the sealed top, the little bigger clearly wanting out. He didn't let it though as this was the safest place for the thing. Now turning his full focus from the constant chirps Alphine waited patiently for any signal or any sign of a team leaving. It's not like... nevermind. A team began to leave, however it was a group of ten men total. They split into two teams of five, one going where Celestia was assumed to be and the other traveling down Alphine's path. Carefully Alphine watched them closely and followed closely but far above. Now the fun began.

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