"Excuse me, Kenji-san? I heard you were taking that strange assassination mission." The irritated man spoke.

"That's correct. I'm about to head out. Why?" Kenji replied, unsure of his comrade's strange mood.

"Well...apparently, your brother saw the posting, and decided to leave us a message about it." The clansman replied, nothing but disdain seething through his words, a glazed look in his eyes. "He said to deliver it to the one who accepted the mission."

"...What in...a message from Zerzuke? Why would he...?" Kenji started, but was cut off by the clansman pulling out a piece of parchment and handing it to him. "Read."

Kenji unraveled the parchment and started reading it.

"'Are you guys out of your mind!? I knew you guys were suckers, seriously, but even posting a mission like that!? Guys, come on! Are you greedy or just stupid!? I actually PLAN ON going to those damn things when I get older, and I'm not going to have a really great time if any of you start killing the bouncers! There isn't even challenge in it! It's a damn joke! I just know that one of you will be itching to jump at some easy money with no risk, so let me say something real quick before you start. You're a pussy. No, wait, you're a balless sack of crap. Hell, both is good. Be a man and accept a mission worth doing, for once! Don't be like my kid brother; I love the guy, but he's too much of a tightass. Do something fun, enjoy life! Or I might just kick your ass until you do!

Sukebi's only non-tightass,

Zerzuke Sukebi

PS: Whoever gets this, can you spot me a coin for the paper? I don't really have any cash on me. Spent it all on...nevermind what I spent it on, actually. Thanks in advance."

The clansman who delivered it was angry, but the boy who recieved it was utterly furious. Kenji's face couldn't stop his face contorting in a very unnatural way. The clansman couldn't decide whether it was out of rage or bewilderment, or some horrible combination of the two.

"By the way, he's done this before. Whenever he finds out there's a mission that he personally hates for being 'easy' or 'a joke' or some other foolish reason, he sends stuff like this and tells us to give it to the one who accepted it. I'm very sorry, Kenji-san."

Kenji crushed the paper in his hand and threw it on the ground. "That-! That-! How could he even think of pulling-I'm going to-Graaaaah!"

Kenji's rage was short lived. He knew he had a mission to do. Dealing with his brother would have to wait. Walking off to the province where he was needed, he gave the clansman one set of directions.

"Tell my brother that I'll come to deal with him later."

Oh yes, he would most certainly teach him a lesson. As soon as this mission was over, he'd show him...

'He's going to die soon.'

The day previous he'd been lucky enough to strike up conversation with an off duty courier who'd stopped in the shop and confirmed his suspicions. Konoha had received a hit for a man bearing his description. His boss had all but demanded that Koshi lay low, fearing as much for his den as he did the bouncer, but Koshi refused, he knew exactly the kinds of tactics employed by assassins who couldn't find their prey and it'd be worse for the den if he weren't around.

For what had to be the hundredth time today, Koshi opened the small container that fed the cartridges full of opiate into the needle on his right arm, double checking that the small metal casings were full. It always was such a pain in the ass to get a smith who could properly make the things. Most of the time the casing would be warped in some way, and wouldn't load right, the three currently in the chamber were from his old village something he had stashed for a true emergency, he refused to lose his life to a bad make.

Through his own set of directions his teachers had given him, he found the spot. A lonely, run down den of decadence. His brother said he was planning on visiting these. This made Kenji all the more furious. His brother, who was meant to be the pride of Sukebi, held such high regard of these horrible places that he'd viciously insult his own kin to make a point.

Kenji's rage was reaching its boiling point again. Whatever plan of action he decided on was forfeited, as he walked in the den, with the same contorted expression he had when he received his brother's letter. So hot was his rage, that he didn't even notice the man matching his target's description standing next to the door as he walked past him. He didn't bother to look around at all. The atmosphere around the den told him enough. Completely decadent, a place of losers and men with broken dreams. Zerzuke wanted to go here...!?

More than anything, the thought tortured him. His contorted expression got worse, to the verge of making him look like he was in pain. As he walked to the center of the den, a concerned serving girl stopped him.

"Excused me sir, are you alright?" The serving girl asked him. "Do you need anything?"

"Leave me alone." Kenji spat out in response, not even bothering to look at her. He had stopped moving. The truth was, he didn't even know where he was going. He knew he had to do something here. Something important. He took the time to look around. He saw dazed men, laughing silently. He could see the opium smoke lingering in the air. It was all so horrible. And Zerzuke said he wanted to come here.

"No no no no no no...!" Kenji clutched his head in his hands and tried to block out the sensations. "The honor of the clan, it'd be ruined...! He'd ruin us, he'd ruin me and father, over this-no no no no no...!" Kenji continued to chant in a whisper. In what seemed like an eternity, he managed to compose himself, and a thought came to him. Zerzuke himself had said that he didn't want him on this mission. Killing a bouncer would probably ban him and every Sukebi from every den for life. Yes, that possibility was very real. Zerzuke knew it. Kenji made a knowing grin, no longer angry. The solution was simple; he'd simply complete the mission he was assigned. Everything would work out from there. He had nothing to worry about.

"Excuse me, miss?" He called back to the serving girl he spoke to earlier.

"Yes sir, what can I do for you?" She asked with a grin. Kenji's face was completely serious, his voice in a sharp whisper.

"I'm looking for a bouncer."

Of course this only worked with undisciplined ninja as more specialized assassins will blend in easily untill they spot their target, but Koshi was sure he couldn't hear a thing as the boy stepped past him. Koshi's eyes drooped to slits, the same way they did when he prepared to confront the noble. This boy was definitely the one, his normal loud steps (Koshi found it easier to intimidate the clientele when they could hear purpose in his steps.) were replaced by soundless movement by the time the boy had finished his little breakdown and asked his question of the serving girl Koshi was in position.

The serving girl's confused look faded to one of fear as she saw Koshi behind the boy, his normally dead eyes alight with a ferocity she had never seen. The only response she could think of was to lift her bandaged hand and point to the figure looming behind the boy.
"He's right there..."

Using that as his cue, Koshi reached his left hand around, and snapped his fingers right under the boy's nose, a three inch blade snapping into place on the index finger. The serving girl turned and ran and once again the patrons that could move stood to stare at the scene. In a detached, almost bored voice Koshi spoke. "If you're here to kill me, turn around." Koshi's right hand was poised palm down, the hanging sleeve giving no indication that his true weapon was raised and positioned perfectly should the boy turn, the ring razor restricting his movement, offering no room to back up.

Kenji thought quickly. He was just dealing with a lowly bouncer, right? That was what the mission posting said. Kenji had the reflexes that only a ninja could have, so he should be able to take this man down no problem, right?

"No common old fool will get the drop on me!" Kenji spoke sharply, and in an instant his right hand retrieved his hidden kunai. Kenji would have to get a blind shot in. He flipped the kunai in his hand and stabbed behind him without turning, hoping that he'd hit the target in some way, at least get him to stagger so Kenji could free up his own movement.

Kenji stared at his foe, and the onlookers around him. They were all watching them, standing rather still. The thing was, something strange was happening. The opium smoke that lazily traveled across the air...it seemed to be traveling faster. Something was very wrong. Kenji felt like he needed to end this quickly.

He looked to his kunai, which had penetrated its mark, but didn't seem to have much of an impact. Maybe it was dull? He was sure he had sharpened it earlier. He'd use the technique, just to be sure. Kenji brought a hand to his weapon and attempted to manipulate his chakra through it, in order to have it surround the blade and increase it's effectiveness. While he did, the odd feeling grew more intense.

Despite the incredibly odd effects surrounding him, Kenji wanted to pay it no mind. They were distractions. He had allowed himself to get distracted before, and it had led to a rotten start. Never again. He would kill the target, and leave. Kenji lunged forward and made a vertical slashing motion towards the bouncer.

Koshi winced as he finally felt the strike from the Kunai the blood flow stirred by his movement staining his white Hakama, so, making a simple hand seal he pressed his left hand to his side and forced chakra into the wound, disabling the nerves in his side and forcing the blood to clot. He'd properly heal the area later. The pain was gone, and more importantly he'd sent his greatest taunt at the kid, it would be obvious to anyone watching that Koshi was a Medi-Nin.

A smirk crossed the bouncers face as the kid molded chakra around his blade, it was a neat trick but it spelled his doom. Thanks to Koshi's connection to his toxin he could feel the drug start winding it's way through the kid's Chakra circulatory system. The kid would forecast all of his attacks, convinced he was moving at a normal speed. Koshi took a step back for ever two he could see the kid take, the slash missing him by a foot.

Kenji continued his attack on the man, with the two approaching a wall. The man would no longer be able to back up, and Kenji would simply drive the kunai through him again, this time in a far more lethal area. Nothing but success could possibly result from this!

"I don't need to hear anything from YOU! Just die so I can go home, I've got other stuff to do for the clan!"

Kenji stabbed the kunai forward, the target's back to the wall. He would have hit, if it weren't for the fact that a chair had been kicked right into him, knocking him backwards and winding him slightly, but he still couldn't feel any amount of pain. He could see the man escaping him. Never! Kenji continued his persuit. Nothing would stop him from completing his mission.

"I am Kenji of the Sukebi clan, and nothing is more important than completing my mission! For the honor of my clan, I'll strike you do-!"

He was cut off from his words with a torrent of pain that swept through his body, as Koshi had yelled out a jutsu name and explained the true purpose of the poison. His invincibility had all but evaporated, replaced by terrible agony. Caught off guard, Kenji yelled and nearly dropped his weapon, kneeling on the ground with uneven breaths.

"Wh-what...! My body! Auuuugh!"

The pain was unbearable, and Kenji couldn't even think straight, let alone fight with any kind of potential. He could only wrack his brain on where he had went wrong.

Koshi clicked the razor closed, his ability to fight almost as drained as the kid in front of him. "Tell me Kenji, what part of this was honorable?"