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.]

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"Really? I wonder what caused that to happen." His idle curiosity about that fairly irrelevant detail is set aside when Lee mentions the guide. Chouji falls silent as he searches for it in his own journal, meeting with success after a couple minutes. "Ah, thank you, Lee! You've helped a lot with explaining things."

"I'll ask Shikamaru to show me how," Chouji mutters, more to himself than Lee, before raising his voice back to its usual level. "I'll be careful not to share sensitive information that might help our captors or harm any of us," Chouji promises. A nod at the information about the wings, and Chouji sounds genuinely pleased when he says, "That's good."

There is delight in his voice as he responds. "You are most welcome, Chouji-kun! I am very glad to have been helpful."

And then he goes on, more composed and confident. "Of course - I trust you already in that regard. I'd expect as much as any of us shinobi from Konoha! I do not imagine settling in would be too difficult for you. Especially because you, like myself, have both of your teammates here to help you adjust." Not to mention Asuma-Sensei... but again that's something that Lee's not sure he should bring up himself.

Chouji chuckles at Lee's enthusiasm, but he sobers too quickly.

The word "Both," escapes before Chouji can stop it, raw and incredulous. Neji. Lee doesn't know; Neji is here. "Yes, having Ino and Shikamaru here will make things easier. But..." he pauses. If Neji is here, that lends even more credibility to the idea of Asuma being present as well. "Lee, Sakura said... she said Asuma-sensei is here."

If Chouji can distract Lee from wondering what prompted his initial outburst, Lee won't have to find out. He shouldn't find out like this.

He blinks at the way Chouji says it, but he's not sure what is meant by it. Of course, some disorientation must be the explanation. Perhaps he's feeling overwhelmed by all the ninjas who seem to be present in his world. And then the mention of Asuma successfully derails his train of thought.

"Ah..." So he already knows. Lee is caught off-guard by this. "So you know. That is true, Chouji-kun. I have seen him with my own eyes. I know it is hard to believe, but... he is indeed here. And I am certain he will be glad to see you." It feels heartwarming. As much as he'd love to be reunited with Gai-Sensei, this here is a very once-in-a-lifetime reunion. Surely Lee can have plenty of great times with Gai and the rest of his team when they go back home.

"As unfortunate as this situation is, I suppose you are lucky to have them all here for you in this world."

"He's here." Even after getting a second confirmation of this fact, it still won't sink in entirely until Chouji actually sees Asuma.

"Thank you." Chouji takes a deep breath. "I'll be glad to see him too." Words can't express just how glad.

"Yes. If my team is all here, I'm happy I am too. I wouldn't want them here without me any longer than they had to be." And Asuma is here. That would be worth the kidnapping, Chouji thinks.

"I am also glad that your team is whole in this world, Chouji-kun. I hope it can help you to adjust here well. There is much to get used to in this world."

But he continues with a more light-hearted smile.

"If our teammates and mentors continue to be brought into this world... this village may very well become a new Konoha!" he said with a laugh. It's probably as close to a joke as Lee gets.

"Yes, that's the impression I've gotten." Chouji looks a little uncomfortable with the situation, but after all, even if there's a lot to get used to, Lee is right that he has plenty of help. Lee has already provided some himself.

Chouji chuckles. "I don't know if that would be good," he says, not sure he likes the idea of everyone pulled away from home, just in case time unexpectedly starts moving again back there. Unless the whole village were here, they would still need some people to protect their home. He's sure that having Gai-sensei around would be greatly appreciated by Lee, though. "But I'm grateful for the part of Konoha that did manage to make it here. And Suna."

"You are right. After all, our numbers are truly needed at home to fight the war. However, whatever force brings people in this world does not seem to want us from seeing that through." And he kinds of hopes that Gai will be the one to find a genius solution to get them all back home.

"But you are correct, Chouji-kun. Instead of focusing on the absence of those not here, we should treasure the presence of those we do have. With Temari-san's presence, we do have some representation of the outside shinobi world!"

"That's good, at least." He still has a few doubts, but he'll trust everyone telling him not to worry about events back home. After all, there's nothing he can do about it right now. Chouji has to stay positive.

He smiles. Lee is also good at staying positive. "I'll definitely do that. This would've been a lot worse without all of you to help."

"Then I am pleased to have helped you Chouji-kun! If you have any other questions, I will gladly answer them."

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

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