16autumnroad | [Voice / Action : Forest, 3/17] Arrival

Kai! [Sudden absence from the battlefield prompts Chouji's immediate attempt to dispel an illusion.]

Why won't the genjutsu break? It must be too strong. [Not to mention that genjutsu and fine chakra control are not his strongest skills. Pain should also work. It's hardly the preferred method for breaking illusions, but it's more reliable for anyone whose chakra control isn't near perfect. He reaches for a kunai, but none is available. Unarmed and unarmored in a genjutsu that could be used to do pretty much anything to him; somehow that isn't surprising. Chouji is starting to worry though. He crouches down, snatches a jagged rock, and slices open his left palm. Still nothing.

Unwilling to simply sit and wait, he pushes off lightly, leaping into the trees. Chouji conceals himself as well as he can among the branches, only now noticing the journal lying open on the ground below. Shivering from the cold, a twinge of pain between his shoulder blades makes Chouji twitch, wondering if the attack he's been braced for is finally coming. His eyes widen as he looks over his shoulder to see a pair of feathered wings. A little desperate now, Chouji makes one final attempt at breaking free. He stabs his thigh with the rock. Still trapped, he resigns himself to staying here until someone manages to free him, letting the stone fall back to the ground. Chouji keeps watch for any further signs of danger on the off chance the genjutsu's caster slips and gives something away.]

[Chouji can heard over the journal; he will pick it up as soon as he receives an answer. He can also be found in the forest or anywhere in the common areas of town after he eventually makes it there.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Pretty much. It's a reason to avoid dying, like always. [ So nothing's changed in that regard. ]

Well, let him challenge you anyways! I can use the day off, you know? And he'll pay for the materials! [ HAHAHA. Tenten the maniacal genius strikes again. ]

I'm not sure. I think it's for their own amusement, or maybe to test us in a personal setting and see how we react to the average stimuli around us. I think Shikamaru would know better on this subject than myself.

...Has anyone other than Temari died here? [He almost didn't mention it, but he wants some assurance that his teammates, the rest of his friends, are alright. Even if they come back, the initial fact of their deaths is bad enough.]

What if he challenges me to every kind of eating contest? Kakashi is his rival, but he might look for a food rival.

Ah, alright. A lot of people have said the same. I'll ask him more.

[ Tenten pauses at that question. She didn't want to be open about that. After a brief moment, she tries to say something but it's choked out. She finally gains the ability to speak. ] No. She's the only one.

He wouldn't do that immediately, but, even then, you're free to keep on eating until I need him. The more time I have to train at my own pace, the better!

She talked to me first, but I didn't know that was how she lost her hearing. Not until you said... [He shakes his head, trying not to think about it. Too many people have died in the past two days, but somehow Temari's death manages to have an impact even though it was temporary. It hits him harder than all but three of the war casualties have so far. He's still keeping himself numb to the big picture, not ready to deal with any of all of it in a place where most of his friends don't even remember what happened.]

You want me to distract Gai-sensei from training you? With eating contests?

[ Tenten's attitude about death remains icy. ]

Don't think about it too much. She's still with us and that's what counts. And don't let her know that you know, she'd hate to know that people are weak.

Yeah. I think Gai-sensei would like that, he's very competitive and you'd be able to eat anything you wanted. I hope I can remember this strategy to adopt back home too, cause Guy-sensei really needs to ease up on our crazy schedule sometimes.

[Chouji nods, silent for a moment. He's quiet when he answers.]

I'll try not to dwell on it, and I definitely won't mention anything to Temari. I know she doesn't like pity or feeling weak, and I also wouldn't want to bring up any bad memories for her.

Well, you can just... save that idea until Gai-sensei shows up here. [And Chouji will hope that she forgets about it by then, if he ever does arrive.]

Yeah. Don't make her angry. Because I've experienced her toughness and trust me, I don't want the entirety of Luceti being torn down in a giant razor wind. [ Sigh. ]

All right! Thank you, Chouji!

I'll do my best not to. It isn't as if I'd want that either!

[Chouji really doesn't think he wants to be thanked. That doesn't bode well for Tenten forgetting about suggesting the idea to Gai-sensei. But because he doesn't know what else to do, he just answers as normally as he can.] You're welcome.

Good because whoever sets off her temper has to rebuild everything and you aren't Yamato-sensei. [ She knows about that strange fella. ]

I don't want to set off anyone's temper. [Especially not Temari's] And I'm much better suited for knocking things down than building them.

I said I'd go meet her after I get a little bit settled, so I shouldn't keep her waiting too long.

I think with your size you'd be perfect for roofing things up and tall place work, but I agree.

Yeah. It might be best if you head down there now.

Probably so. It'd be like D-rank missions all over again, just with more ninjutsu.

I think so. We're all in the same building, though, so I'll see you later! Thanks for coming to meet me, Tenten.

And less lost cats scratching our faces. [ sorry she still hates Tora ]

All right! Thank you, Chouji!!

[Voice / Action : Forest, 3/17] Arrival

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