The Chinoike Clan Wet Market had at one time been a major source of controversy within Kumogakure. The open-air meat, fish, and produce market was linked to various bloodbourne pathogens. This connection was the direct result of the clan's archaic slaughtering and preservation methods. It posed no threat to those within the clan as they possessed both genetic and herd immunity to the illnesses caused by the bushmeat. Those outside the clan were not so fortunate. There had been outbreaks early on in Kumo's history and many a public health official had complained. Vik Chinoike, who at the time was the Chief Medical Officer for the Chinoike Clan, argued that the wet market was a way of life for his people. Normally, such markets would be located in the mountains far away from dense population centers. However, as Kumo grew so did the number of Chinoike within the village. The size of market in turn grew to meet the increasing demand as did the risk of disease transmission. He had worked with city officials to devise a compromise. The wet markets would be placed within the Chinoike Clan District and several quarantine procedures would be put in place to ensure that another outbreak did not occur. In the event that failed, he had developed a slate of vaccines, anti-biotics, and targeted treatments to wipe out any epidemic in its infancy. This solution was good enough to satisfy almost everyone but there were a few on both sides that were upset.
Certain hardliners within the Clan argued that their ancestral markets should not be segregated from the rest of the Market District. They stated that this was discrimination and a grave dishonor against one of the village's founding clans. They pointed out that open access to the wet markets would break down cultural barriers and get shinobi to try new foods. It would lessen stereotypes against Chinoike, and most importantly, help the entire country develop herd immunity to any diseases that popped up. Certain epidemiologists complained that Vik's quarantine procedures were insufficient and that even under lockdown, the market was still a breeding ground for new viruses. They stated that such markets should be put back in the mountains where they belonged and some advocated they be banned nationwide entirely. They noted that Vik's line of drugs would not account for future mutations that would threaten Chinoike and Non-Chinoike alike. Fortunately for the Clan, as its stature and power grew, so did the permanency of the wet market. Nowadays its existence is a fact of life. Unsettling to some, but ultimately not going anywhere.
One day, Shimiko was walking through clan wet market with a basket cradled in the nook of her arm. She walked past rows of tiger carcasses hung upside down and pickled with death garlic, bats strewn together seemingly petrified in sauce, and of course, goat. Lots and lots of goat. She was like a kid in a candy store. She had always enjoyed the taste of a good home cooked Chinoike Clan meal. The only thing that had kept her from it in the past was that she occasionally worried what other people would think if she was caught eating such strange food. Nowadays though, she cared less about what other people thought. That and she wouldn't be judged by her own clan mates. Shimiko stopped in front of her favorite bushmeat seller and gave a broad grin.
The girl was dressed in her military uniform. A bright red formfitting jumpsuit. Her Sai and tessen were visibly holstered into the grooves and pouches on her jumpsuit. Shimiko wasn't about to go to war at this exact moment but she had just come from training. She also preferred not to get meat-juice on her regular clothes. The blonde smiled at the stall owner and he gave a veritable salute to the ANBU Captain.
"Hai Boko!"
"My Lady Shimiko! Once again you grace me with your presence!"
The man bowed and she couldn't help but chuckle. He always made grand gestures when she stopped by and though it was embarrassing, part of her liked the flattery.
"What do you have for me today?"
"For you? Only the best! Boy! Come here!"
Boko called his apprentice forward and the young man presented a slat of choice cuts. Boko often saved the best parts for her and was careful to pre-season them just the way she liked. As one of the greatest Bukijutsu specialists in the world, Shimiko appreciated his attention to detail. The man was a perfectionist and it was what kept her coming back. The apprentice held up the slate as Boko pointed to each cut:
"Tiger liver poached with a bit of goat milk just the way you like it, a beautiful standing owl chop, a bit of bat rib, I can have those wrapped in the grape leaves I was telling you about and of course, and as you know our personal favorite...."
Boko paused and stared at the cut. To most people there'd be nothing wrong with the piece of meat his finger was pointing at. However, for a discerning bush meat enthusiast, they'd be able to tell that the fine goat steak before them was slightly misshapen. The damage wasn't severe, in fact, Shimiko would have readily bought the item. It was still of a superior quality and cut than what you could find in most supermarkets. Boko, however, was a perfectionist and this simply would not do.
"Boy....did you miscut my favorite piece of meat? The meat that Lady Shimiko also favors when she visits this stall?"
The butcher's finger was trembling now and there was an unspeakable rage in his eyes. Shimiko recognized the look and tried to step in.
"Hey its okay...I still...."
"No! I'm sorry Lady Shimiko, forgive my insolence but this simply cannot stand! You are too valuable a customer and your tastes far too exquisite to be insulted with this mediocrity."
He turned to his apprentice and began shouting at the young man. "HOW DARE YOU BOY! YOU'VE SHAMED MY BUSINESS AND EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF OUR CLAN'S CHAMPION! I SHOULD HAVE PICKED JOBO AS MY APPRENTICE! HOW DARE YOU!!"
And off he went. The butcher was screaming bloody murder and Shimiko was left standing there in the most awkward position possible. Other people in the market began turning around and watching the drama unfold. She scratched the back of her head and laughed nervously unsure of what to do. Normally, she'd step in and tell him to stop but she knew that disciplining one's subordinates was a natural part of the learning process. As ANBU Captain, she had occasionally made a big deal of minor mistakes. She did this so as to instill in her analysts and operatives the fact that there could be no missteps in the service of Lighting Country's national security. It was her career and she took it seriously. She expected those who served under her to approach it with the same discipline. While she didn't approve of Boko doing it so publicly, it would be wrong of her to stop him from acting similarly. It would only undermine his authority if she exercised her power to stop him. Instead, she looked on as Boko continued to cause a scene. Out of nowhere, the bushmeat salesman pointed a finger at a random Chinoike in the market. A blonde much like Shimiko.
"You! Young man! Come here! Look at this trash! Does this look like Prime Wangchuk Goat Steak to you?"
Oh God no... Shimiko thought as she looked over to the unsuspecting victim. He was being roped into this drama against his will and she was powerless to stop it.
Certain hardliners within the Clan argued that their ancestral markets should not be segregated from the rest of the Market District. They stated that this was discrimination and a grave dishonor against one of the village's founding clans. They pointed out that open access to the wet markets would break down cultural barriers and get shinobi to try new foods. It would lessen stereotypes against Chinoike, and most importantly, help the entire country develop herd immunity to any diseases that popped up. Certain epidemiologists complained that Vik's quarantine procedures were insufficient and that even under lockdown, the market was still a breeding ground for new viruses. They stated that such markets should be put back in the mountains where they belonged and some advocated they be banned nationwide entirely. They noted that Vik's line of drugs would not account for future mutations that would threaten Chinoike and Non-Chinoike alike. Fortunately for the Clan, as its stature and power grew, so did the permanency of the wet market. Nowadays its existence is a fact of life. Unsettling to some, but ultimately not going anywhere.
One day, Shimiko was walking through clan wet market with a basket cradled in the nook of her arm. She walked past rows of tiger carcasses hung upside down and pickled with death garlic, bats strewn together seemingly petrified in sauce, and of course, goat. Lots and lots of goat. She was like a kid in a candy store. She had always enjoyed the taste of a good home cooked Chinoike Clan meal. The only thing that had kept her from it in the past was that she occasionally worried what other people would think if she was caught eating such strange food. Nowadays though, she cared less about what other people thought. That and she wouldn't be judged by her own clan mates. Shimiko stopped in front of her favorite bushmeat seller and gave a broad grin.
The girl was dressed in her military uniform. A bright red formfitting jumpsuit. Her Sai and tessen were visibly holstered into the grooves and pouches on her jumpsuit. Shimiko wasn't about to go to war at this exact moment but she had just come from training. She also preferred not to get meat-juice on her regular clothes. The blonde smiled at the stall owner and he gave a veritable salute to the ANBU Captain.
"Hai Boko!"
"My Lady Shimiko! Once again you grace me with your presence!"
The man bowed and she couldn't help but chuckle. He always made grand gestures when she stopped by and though it was embarrassing, part of her liked the flattery.
"What do you have for me today?"
"For you? Only the best! Boy! Come here!"
Boko called his apprentice forward and the young man presented a slat of choice cuts. Boko often saved the best parts for her and was careful to pre-season them just the way she liked. As one of the greatest Bukijutsu specialists in the world, Shimiko appreciated his attention to detail. The man was a perfectionist and it was what kept her coming back. The apprentice held up the slate as Boko pointed to each cut:
"Tiger liver poached with a bit of goat milk just the way you like it, a beautiful standing owl chop, a bit of bat rib, I can have those wrapped in the grape leaves I was telling you about and of course, and as you know our personal favorite...."
Boko paused and stared at the cut. To most people there'd be nothing wrong with the piece of meat his finger was pointing at. However, for a discerning bush meat enthusiast, they'd be able to tell that the fine goat steak before them was slightly misshapen. The damage wasn't severe, in fact, Shimiko would have readily bought the item. It was still of a superior quality and cut than what you could find in most supermarkets. Boko, however, was a perfectionist and this simply would not do.
"Boy....did you miscut my favorite piece of meat? The meat that Lady Shimiko also favors when she visits this stall?"
The butcher's finger was trembling now and there was an unspeakable rage in his eyes. Shimiko recognized the look and tried to step in.
"Hey its okay...I still...."
"No! I'm sorry Lady Shimiko, forgive my insolence but this simply cannot stand! You are too valuable a customer and your tastes far too exquisite to be insulted with this mediocrity."
He turned to his apprentice and began shouting at the young man. "HOW DARE YOU BOY! YOU'VE SHAMED MY BUSINESS AND EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF OUR CLAN'S CHAMPION! I SHOULD HAVE PICKED JOBO AS MY APPRENTICE! HOW DARE YOU!!"
And off he went. The butcher was screaming bloody murder and Shimiko was left standing there in the most awkward position possible. Other people in the market began turning around and watching the drama unfold. She scratched the back of her head and laughed nervously unsure of what to do. Normally, she'd step in and tell him to stop but she knew that disciplining one's subordinates was a natural part of the learning process. As ANBU Captain, she had occasionally made a big deal of minor mistakes. She did this so as to instill in her analysts and operatives the fact that there could be no missteps in the service of Lighting Country's national security. It was her career and she took it seriously. She expected those who served under her to approach it with the same discipline. While she didn't approve of Boko doing it so publicly, it would be wrong of her to stop him from acting similarly. It would only undermine his authority if she exercised her power to stop him. Instead, she looked on as Boko continued to cause a scene. Out of nowhere, the bushmeat salesman pointed a finger at a random Chinoike in the market. A blonde much like Shimiko.
"You! Young man! Come here! Look at this trash! Does this look like Prime Wangchuk Goat Steak to you?"
Oh God no... Shimiko thought as she looked over to the unsuspecting victim. He was being roped into this drama against his will and she was powerless to stop it.
