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The Princess of Blades (Naruto/Exalted)

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Week 2 - The Rival II
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    • "Can't I just want to hang out with my glorious rival?" Your cheeks redden somewhat as you remember exactly the term you gave her in your haste. But you fight back the embarrassment, it's in the past and now the only thing you can do is soldier on with what you're stuck with. You'll have to tell Lee you've got a rival of your own the next time you see him, he'd be happy for you at least.

    You want to give him as many things to be happy with as you can.

    You see a flash of annoyance in her eyes, but it's quickly buried as she gives one last glance at whatever she was looking at before you interrupted her. Tracking her gaze the only thing of any importance in that direction you can make out is the looming presence of the village walls, visible even from here, but who knows if that was actually what she was looking at. "Fine" she sighs, "I guess you can tag along."

    The corners of your mouth curve up, "Good."

    From there the two of you move through the market stalls in silence, but at least now you are not alone with your thoughts. It also gives you a chance to observe how Temari shops, as she prowls through the stalls like a predator, her haggling style is brutal and uncompromising. Completely the opposite of your own, not that you shop like this all the much. Most of your weapons are special-ordered, which while great on the battlefield, isn't so great on your wallet.

    You idly pick up a pack of tarot cards to give them a closer look. You have a collection of them back at your apartment, along with star charts, palm reading kits, those type of things. It had started as a joke, something to hang over Neji's head whenever he got too wrapped up things for your taste, but well...over time you got used to toying around with them. You didn't believe any of it, not really, but they were a fun way to waste time.

    The pack hits the table when you think of Neji getting too wrapped in things though, and you turn away. The silence between you and Temari finally becomes overbearing, and you're the first one to crack. "Must be nice to finally be out of the hospital?"

    Temari glances up from the vendor selling roast chestnuts she was carefully examining, "Mm...yeah? I guess. Why do you care?"

    Because you got to get out of the hospital you don't say. Instead you shrug, "Figured it would be nice not to be cooped up anymore."

    She snorts, "Thanks for putting me there by the way." You can practically taste the sarcasm in her voice, but you also notice her softly rubbing her jaw when she thinks you're not looking. An awkward silence follows, but this time Temari is the one to break it. "Your friend, the one Gaara fought...he's still there isn't he? In the hospital I mean..."

    You stop dead in your tracks and turn back to face Temari, "Yeah...yeah he is...he gets a bit-" A memory floats up, of Lee straining in the courtyard, dealing with his injuries the only way he knew how. A memory of every one of your attempts to get him to stop being rebuffed, "...-restless."

    One of Temari's eyebrows quirks up, "So restless he's giving my oh so glorious rival trouble?"

    "How did you..." Your eyes widen, and then narrow. Once again you feel the switch click in your mind.

    <Wants someone to actually listen to her advice>

    You blink at that, but if Temari noticed she doesn't show it. "How? Trust me, I'm well versed in exactly the kind of boneheaded idiocy boys can get up to. No, when they won't listen to you, that's when you have to make them listen. They'll just ignore you otherwise."

    You think you detect just the smallest hint of bitterness creep into her voice at the end, but with what's happened lately you can't quite bring yourself to disagree. "Maybe..." You hedge, "Seems a little mean though."

    "Mean?!" Temari barks out a short laugh, "Oh no, I'm distraught, some leaf genin thinks I'm mean."

    The curve in your lips blossoms into a full smile as the two of you continue on down the street.

    Talking with Temari isn't quite what you envisioned. She's blunt, and rather bitingly sarcastic, but underneath there's an undercurrent of tension. You already figured out she's hiding something from you, your new ability only serving to confirm that, but that's to be expected from a foreign nin. Even then though, that's not all of it. She looks at you like she's half-expecting you to run at the first chance you get.

    Still, you have fun as you wander around the market with her. A welcome respite from what's been weighing on you the past few days. As the day winds down you pass by the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and you spot Ino helping people who are probably her family just inside the shop. You give a little wave, but she just spots your outfit and shakes her head before giving you a half-hearted wave back.

    Temari looks up from the flower arrangement she was inspecting, "Friend of yours?"

    You nod, "Yeah, though she's still mad I bought this outfit over the one she suggested."

    Temari makes a small disgusted sound in the back of her throat, and you suppress a giggle. "She was one of the konoha genin in the prelims wasn't she? And now you're facing her teammate?"

    You stop, you were weren't you? Honestly, between everything you had kinds forgotten you were going to face Shikamaru in the first round. You had been planning to do some research, but that...had fallen by the wayside with so many other things. "Yeah, I guess I am..."

    "Well, I hope you crush your little Konoha friends like they deserve."

    You give an awkward smile, "You're just saying that so you feel better about losing to me." But inside you cringe, just a little bit. You don't feel bad about facing Shikamaru, you barely know even if you know Ino. The only recollection you have is the vague notion of someone sleeping in the Academy class below yours. But Neji is also a finalist. Your record against Neji when he's actually trying isn't much better than Lee's. Can you beat him? Do you even really want to fight him all out?

    They'll just ignore you otherwise.

    "Tenten, you better do well in the tournament." You glance at Temari, and you see something pass by hidden in her eyes. You don't need some jutsu to tell you what it is, because you've seen the same thing in Lee sometimes, at the end of practice when he's finally stopped challenging Neji and thinks no one is watching. Desperation.

    Desperation to prove herself, or redeem herself, or something. Wipe away the stain of her loss to you. Would you be the same way if you lost? Desperate to prove yourself against the past? If what had happened never did, you were going to. You don't know, you hoped you would move past it, push past it to come out stronger, but you fear that you wouldn't measure up. So you do the only thing you can do for Temari, you give her a smile and a thumbs up. "Don't worry, if I went in planning to lose that'd be pretty poor form. You'll see!"

    "Yeah...I'll see..." Temari half mumbles, but before you can process what that could mean another voice interrupts you.

    "Temari?" The voice is soft and raspy, like the sound of sand blowing in the wind. It sends chills down your spine. You turn, and you feel the cold grip of ice wrap around your heart as you see the short red hair. "Why are you here? With...her?"

    "G-Gaara!" Temari stops short at the sight of her team-member standing there in the middle of rapidly emptying street. "I-I was..."

    You take an involuntary step back, but that only causes his eyes to swivel to focus on you.

    [ ] Well, this is as good a cue as ever to excuse yourself.
    [ ] Stick up for Temari.
    [ ] Write-in

    What's this? Crilltic actually managing to update at a time other than the middle of the night? Who are you and who is writing this story now? Also hi Gaara. Fancy meeting you here.

    Now, I've been a little disappointed in the amount of discussion that's been going on. Don't get me wrong, the ratings and votes are     super nice, but discussion is the lifeblood of the QM. Maybe updating at a better hour will help with that. But I'm also going to try something new and give you guys some discussion prompts to see what you're thinking. So how do you guys think Temari views Tenten right now? Any avenues of development you think Tenten should explore that I haven't done a good job addressing?
     
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    • Week 2 - The Rival III
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    • She's afraid of him, you think with a start of surprise as you turn to fully face the dimunitive redhead, tongue suddenly dry in your mouth as the first twinges of adrenaline start to filter into your blood. Five inches taller, two years older, and she's afraid of him. Her teammate. Her own brother.

    It's an emotion you can barely countenance; you've been afraid for Lee, and even Neji sometimes, but you've never been afraid of them. They're your everything. You'd die for them, and even if you've never asked you know they'd do the same for you. You never had to ask.

    What did he do to earn such fear?

    Kin's own fear-fueled breakdown comes unbidden to your mind. Is every other village not named Leaf insane? Their own shinobi turning on one another. Like through dirty glass you get a glimpse into some of the pressures that formed the layer of caustic apathy surrounding the girl beside you. And with it, you feel a surge of empathy. I'll never complain about Lee overdoing things again.

    Beyond the redhead you see the street mostly clear, a few stragglers hurriedly closing their stalls as the mostly natural wind stirred debris along the length of the street, with eyes mostly peering out from behind half-closed blinds. You really should follow suit, you tell yourself. You could run right now, you tell yourself, he won't really hurt her. But you stay rooted to the spot despite your own urging.

    Instead a voice rings out, drifting calmly across the emptying street. "Showing a rival from an ally village around the marketplace, actually", and to your shock you realize it is your voice, smoothly cutting across Temari's half-formed delivery, as you focus your eyes on the tattoo just above his left eye. Don't embarrass the village, don't look him in the eye, don't embarrass the village.

    "And reaffirming the bonds of friendship that bind our two villages together" you continue after a brief pause. The sound of Lee's screams echo in your ears, the tightness of the railing clutched in your hands as you watched helplessly burns in your palms. No matter that you did your very best to damage it.

    You hear something that sounds like a small choking sound to your right from Temari, but you don't look. Everything you have is focused entirely in front of you. Your hand tenses slightly by your kunai holster on your leg, and you see his eyes narrow. A second stretches into infinity as you breath catches in your throat. But the slashing sand never comes. The only change is the faintest hint of surprise and confusion on his face.

    "Temari...a rival? Why..." He pauses, a slight frown on his face as he looks between you and Temari, and you notice her stiffen out of the corner of your eye. You feel something catch in your mind and almost take a step back from the deluge that follows.

    <Curious. He hates you. Hates Temari. Loves Temari. Wants Temari to love him. It wants to kill Temari. It wants to kill him. It wants to kill you. It wants to ki->

    You slam your mind shut as the tidal wave of killing intent washes over you. Despite yourself you pale, even as the sensation subsides. What...what the hell was that? It? Suddenly the memories of that awful night on the rooftop return, helpless beneath the cold eye of the moon. The feeling of something ancient and evil looming over you.

    "Why...her?...unless..." You see Gaara's brow knit together in confusion. His voice barely more than a whisper over the wind that has begun to pick up.

    It is then Temari pulls away from you, "Gaara. It's not important." Her voice is light and filled with cheer, though to you it rings incredibly hollow. "I was just doing some shopping. Let's head back." She glances back at you, and your mind only supplies something you could already see in her eyes.

    <Doesn't want Gaara to kill you.>

    The two of them leave you standing there in the empty street, the encounter only serving to hasten the street vendors packing up for the day. You feel yourself sag slightly as the magnitude of what you just faced fully dawns on you. The small bag containing what few purchases you decided to pick up falling to your feet from limp fingers. Something is seriously wrong. The memory of what you felt on the rooftop rises like bile in your throat, and that's twice now you've felt it.

    It wants to kill you.

    It...what was it? Was that what you saw the night on the rooftop? Is there something else in Gaara's head? You don't know, you've never heard of something like that, but then now there's evidence staring you right in the face. A new thing throwing itself on your ever-growing plate to deal with. You liked it when it was just you and your friends, fighting bandits on C-rank missions, life was so much simpler then.

    You pick the bag up with a sigh and try to ignore the sick feeling in your stomach at the thought of fighting Gaara in the Finals. Your only solace is that given he's on the other side of the bracket from you, you're only going to have to face him if both of you make it to the final round. So you try and focus on other issues than the giant ball of unanswered questions and terrible memories that is Gaara.

    Like the fact that you can't keep up this rate of spending. Your preparations for the finals already wiped out a significant portion of your savings, and you need to pay rent and...eat. Yes, eating is important, can't forget to do that again. And since you can't actually do missions while in the exams are happening. Unless that night last week counted as a mission, but you don't even what that would classify as. While you'd love to imagine a fat A-rank check magically appearing in your bank account, until something like that actually happens you'll have to cut back a bit.

    It is only later, when you lay down into bed, that a realization strikes you to your core. Even if you're on the opposite side of the bracket...Neji isn't. If the Uchiha can't beat Gaara, then Neji will be facing him. You curl up tighter underneath the blankets. Neji's going to be fighting Gaara.

    You need to talk to him.

    You need him to listen to you. You don't care about competing, or fairness, or anything. You don't care if spending time helping him hurts your own training. You don't even care if helping him ruins your chances of getting promoted.

    You refuse to lose another teammate to that monster.
    *****​
    Something is wrong with Gaara. Something's there, something monstrous. You just don't know what it is. That needs to change.
    [ ] You never learned about anything like this in the Academy, but the Academy library is as good a place as any to start.
    [ ] Ask Gai-sensei, he might know what's going on, even if he has been busier lately.
    [ ] Try the Konoha Archive. As a genin, you'd normally need special permission for sensitive information, but the rules are somewhat laxer during the Exams.
    [ ] Stunt?

    You need to talk to Neji, you've already decided that. The only question is when.
    [ ] Sacrifice some training time to tracking him down. (Will not completely finish Dipping Swallow Defense this week.)
    [ ] You had a spa day already booked, to help you unwind, but that's easy enough to sacrifice. Even if you won't get the money back. (Replace [Rest & Relaxation] with [Ties of Fate])
    [ ] Stunt?
    **Note: Research Gaara will impact how speaking with Neji unfolds**​
    Well, Gaara didn't quite put the pieces together fast enough to want to kill you before Temari realize what was going to happen when he did. And you rolled social well enough to keep him from immediately trying to kill you regardless. So he's probably going to try to kill you eventually when he figures out you broke his sister's jaw.

    Oh and SRoI gave Tenten another hit of homicidal Jinchuuriki. I'm sure that was very pleasant for her. Oh yeah, and I'm revamping the rules on Omakes and such, so be prepared for that. Possibly thinking of reworking some of the mechanics, because running this with full Exalted rules is beginning to become something of a hassle. Feel free to give your opinions of such as well.     ​
    Adhoc vote count started by Crilltic on Mar 14, 2017 at 4:42 PM
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    • Omake List and Rules
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    • Omake List:

    Canon Omakes:
    Non/Semi-canon Omakes:
    Fanart
    Omake Rules:
    Alright, so I'm revamping the rules for Omakes (and also fanart, but I don't really expect to warrant any). Basically, any canon omakes give the player 2 XP to allocate as they wish. Either put it towards something, or just throw it into the general pool of banked XP. Non-canon Omakes give 1 XP, but are otherwise the same.

    Additional Reminder: While not technically omakes, I would like to also point out that sufficiently involved stunts (aka 3d stunts) will also give the same reward as a non-canon Omake.

    XP can only be spent on non-exclusive decisions (e.g. Summon Contracts are an exclusive background) that also don't overtly impact the tone and narrative (Most backings and Virtue dots are also banned). All XP allocation is also ultimately at my discretion.

    Players with Outstanding XP Rewards:
    Revlid: 6 XP
    Muer'ci: 1 XP
     
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    • Week 2 - Investigation
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    • When you finally manage to make it to the Konoha archives it's already mid-morning, encroaching swiftly on noon. Meeting with Gai-sensei had taken longer than you anticipated. By which you mean he roped you into training anyway. So as you run underneath the stern gaze of the Hokage Rock your muscles are already sore from that ordeal. You honestly felt a bit bad for having to cut the session short, but this was more important.

    You push through the simple green doors that heralded the entrance to the Archives, and nod to the chunin on duty. You don't know recognize her, but she evidently recognizes you though, as she waves you through almost immediately. Normally as a genin you'd need written permission from your Jounin-sensei to even come in here, but as a prospective chunin the rules are slightly laxer now. Not all of it of course, but the merely restricted sections were now open. A way to help Konoha-nin in the Exams, and more subtly a way to test how prospective chunin handle restricted information in a relatively safe and controlled environment.

    As you pass through the sound-dampening seals that cover the entrance you are assaulted by the scent of aging paper and rows and upon rows of books and scrolls stretch out in front of you. The Archives extend deep into the base of the Hokage Rock, a veritable fortress holding the accumulated knowledge of Konoha. One entrance, one exit, and more guards stationed inside on the levels holding more classified intel.

    You take a deep breath as you look out what must be thousands of books, scrolls and other documents. Somewhere in here are the answers you seek, you just need to find them. You clap your hands together in determination. You always did love investigating things like this, solving mysteries, answering questions. But now, now it's more important than ever. Before it was just a way you tricked yourself into halfway enjoying studying, or sat down with a good mystery novel in your spare time.

    Now whether your best friend ends up crippled could very well depend on what you manage to find here.

    You swallow a lump in your throat. No pressure.

    It isn't until you begin combing your way through the aisles, your feet echoing quietly on the tiled floor in the silent hall, that you really notice how empty it is here. With most short-term missions suspended for the duration of the Exams, and it being close to the Finals, you're practically the only the one here. Your hand brushes past the faded titles on the shelf next to, their spines cracked and worn with age. It's almost overwhelming, being surrounded by so much information, with absolutely no idea where you should start.

    Then you stop short as you pass the next shelf of books and scrolls, coming upon one of the slight alcoves containing tables they have set aside, as you spot a familiar head of pink hair buried in a book that looks bigger than your head. "Sakura?" You ask with a slight smile in your voice, looks like your in luck. You might have a partner in all this after all.

    The girl jerks upward, and you catch a brief glimpse of the book she's reading, Advanced Chakra Techniques and their Applications, Vol. 1. She looks around somewhat frantically, before finally spotting you struggling to contain laughter. She strikes you with a mock glare, "Don't sneak up on me like that..."

    "Don't get so absorbed then," You easily slide into the wooden chair across from her, "What are you doing here?"

    She wiggles the book in her hand, "Kakashi-sensei is busy with Sasuke, so he gave me permission to come here and look through the advanced texts, so I don't fall behind." She places the book to the side and fixes you with a look, "But why are you here? Shouldn't you be out training?"

    The chair groans slightly as you lean forward, "I'm here to do some research on Gaara's abilities, up for helping me?" you whisper rather conspiratorially.

    She raises an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you be focusing on the opponents on your side of the bracket first?"

    "What? You don't have confidence in me?" You say with a somewhat hollow laugh, but after a pause you continue quieter. "It's not for me though...It's for Neji. Something's wrong with Gaara Sakura, really wrong. There's something inside him, something powerful, and it's terrifying." You lay your head down on the table with a sigh, suddenly feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.

    Sakura looks at you with a creased brow, "I'm...not sure I understand? Something inside him?"

    You sigh again, "It's like this..."

    You run through an explanation of your day yesterday, and Sakura's face goes through several interesting expressions as you go over your new...you're not even sure it's a jutsu anymore...and your encounter with Gaara and Temari. Once you finish though it settles one somewhere between contemplative and suspicious. She rests her elbows on the table, the book she was reading long forgotten. "I...um...wow...that's...that's a lot to take in."

    You awkwardly rub the back of your head, "Yeah, it's something I know."

    She takes a deep breath, "So, let me get this straight. You now have a jutsu that lets you tell why someone is saying something, and no one can tell you're using it." She pauses, "That is so unfair."

    "That's also not really the poin-"

    "No, no I know, it's just..." she sighs "It just sounds crazy is all. All of it."

    You rub your forehead, "Yeah, I know, but I swear it's..." You chew your lip, should you tell her about That Night? You did say you were going to open up to her more, and if she can help you with this... You exhale sharply through your nose. Dammit here goes nothing. "It's also not the only reason I know."

    Sakura looks at your quizzically, and you glance around to make sure no one else is here. You drop your voice down to an even quieter whisper. "You know Dosu? The Sound-nin who died?" At her nod you continue, "Well, and you can't tell anyone this, I was there when he died. He...confronted Gaara. It was-Gaara just unfolded under that awful, awful moon. Whatever's in him, I think I saw it that night. It just tore Dosu to shreds, and he screamed, and screamed and screamed." You have to pause there, to keep your voice from shaking as those screams echo in your ear. "That's...that's what he was going to do to Lee, if Gai-sensei didn't stop him. Just tear him apart."

    You glance down to find your hands are gripping the table so hard your knuckles as white. "I...I need your help Sakura, I need to warn Neji what he is. I-" You choke up slightly, "I can't lose another teammate to that monster, seeing Lee in that hospital bed...it's...I..." You shut your mouth and slump down in your chair.

    "Hey. Tenten." You glance up to see Sakura pushing her book off to the side, "We should probably start in the Myths & Legends Section."

    You give her a tremulous smile.

    The next several hours pass in a blur, a flurry of books, scrolls and other semi-classified documents pass before your eyes, a fortress of information grows on the wooden table around the two of you. You learn more than you ever thought possible about schizophrenia, about various legends of possession jutsu, about other mythological creatures, but nothing matches up with what you've found. It's like something's missing from all the records you can find.

    "Hey Tenten?" Sakura pipes up from over her own pile.

    "Mmm?" You briefly glance up to let her know you're listening as you pull out another scroll.

    "Do you think Sasuke would appreciate me bring him this stuff as well?" You glance up to see Sakura fiddling with one of her books, a noticeable blush on her face.

    "Yes, definitely!" You nod, "Your his teammate after all, and I'm sure any help will be appreciated." Plus if the Uchiha can beat Gaara, that means Neji doesn't have too...

    "Oh...okay" If anything the blush grows bolder. It doesn't exactly take a genius to figure that out.

    "You like him don't you?" Then you glance at the open scroll in front of you and you fist hits the table "DAMMIT!"

    "What?! You too?! I-"

    You blink slightly as you process what you just said, "What? No, he's cute I guess but it's this scroll. This is the eighth one sealed by order of the Office of the Hokage. Plus all those books that have pages removed."

    Sakura freezes, opening and closing her mouth several time before everything falls out at once "Oh...I'llgoasktheguardsifwecangettotherestrictedsectionberightback."

    She flees the table in a cloud of paper, and you can only sigh as you bury yourself back into the censored scroll.

    A short time later, you notice a figure returning and you half wave your hand in greeting.

    "Fancy meeting you here..." Wait that's not Sakura, you glance up to see Ino looking at you with her head cocked, "Shouldn't you be out training?"

    "Oh hey Ino, for a minute there I thought you were Sakura." Your hand gestures to the scrolls in front of you, "I ran into her here when she was catching up on some of her chakra usage literature, and she's been helping me with some research."

    It's then that you hear another pair of footsteps approaching, "Tenten, Suzume says we need special passes too-...oh hey Ino"

    You see Ino's eyes sweep over the table and she pulls out one of the extra chairs at the table, with a grin that makes her look like the cat that caught the canary. "Come on, you guys can't end it there. Spill."

    You and Sakura glance at one another.

    It doesn't take that long to get Ino up to speed. It turns out she was here to research Gaara on her own time as well. You don't go quite as in-depth in your story as you do with Sakura, but it's enough to get her on board. You're not entirely sure you like how Sakura and Ino both glare at one another when you mention Sasuke, but at least this time you manage to forestall an argument.

    The work is grinding, you, Sakura and Ino tear through books and scrolls that look like they haven't been opened in a decade at least. A thin film of dust settles over the pile of books and scrolls as the day winds down and down. You begin to lose hope, after book and scroll come up censored and redacted, and even Ino can't get you into the more restricted parts of the archive.

    Until Sakura opens up a one last book, a tome that's almost larger than your torso, completely caked with dust, that she found wedged behind several others. A Treatise on the Founding of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Mito Uzumaki.

    "Hey Tenten, Ino? What's a Jinchuuriki?"
    *****​
    As you trudge through the small path out the training yards you have time to think about the what you discovered. The Kyuubi, a Monster strong enough to level mountains and kill armies, that ravaged Konoha. Probably what killed your parents. That was only stopped by the personal sacrifice of dozens of Konoha's finest and the Lord Hokage himself.

    There are eight more.

    Eight. More. All sealed inside individuals so they cannot wreck havoc on the land, entrusted to the Hidden Villages to keep contained. The pieces fit together all too well, Gaara, the presence you felt. Something akin to the Kyuubi, sealed inside him. Desperate to get free so it can kill...and kill... and kill. Despite the warmth of the late afternoon, you suppress an involuntary shiver. As you walk along the carefully manicured path, surrounded by the peace of nature, you can only think of the question the three of you couldn't answer.

    What happened to the Kyuubi?

    Did it die? Can it die? Was it just sealed away, and then the records burned? Is that why everything related to Jinchuuriki is classified? You don't know. You don't know if you even want to know. Sakura had been strangely quiet, but she just brushed it off as she left with Ino.

    All you know is that Neji needs to know. He needs to know what he could end up facing. Which is why you find yourself here, approaching one of the training grounds furthest from the Village. You knew from Gai-sensei that Neji was using this one to train, and from the sounds you could hear in the distance, you can tell he's still doing so.

    Suddenly there's a shout, and a sound like rushing wind, and crash as something tears its way through the underbrush to come to a rest at your feet. You glance down to find the tattered remains of a target dummy, torn apart by some calamitous force. You glance back up to see the path it carved through the underbrush...and standing at the edge is exactly who you came to see. Your own brown eyes meet pale white one, surrounded by the trademark veins of an activated Byakugan.

    "Tenten?" His head tilts slightly, "What are you doing here?"

    You try and ignore the massive pit that just formed in your stomach.

    How are you going to do this?
    [ ] - You need him to listen, you'll make him listen. You want to help him. You don't care if he thinks he doesn't want it.
    [ ] - You refuse to lose another teammate to that monster, that's what matters most. Everything else is secondary.
    [ ] - Something is wrong with Neji, he's never avoided you like this before. You need to find out what that is.​
    [ ] - Stunt?​
    Well that was long. And I'm super tired now, but hopefully it's decent enough? I don't know it's 1 AM. Anyway, Tenten, Sakura and Ino now know what Jinchs are. And Sakura is like 90% of the way to figuring out Naruto is one.

    I'm sure that won't affect canon     at all.​
     
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    • 3rd Edition Chakra/Jutsu Rules
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    • Hello again, it's me, not leaving well enough alone...again. So first off a minor book-keeping thing I forgot to put in the last update you guys earned +2 XP towards increasing your Lore from the last update. Got it? Good. I'll delete this after a bit, just figured I'd let people know in a threadmark.

    The main thrust of this is that I'm revising the Chakra Rules (again) because I'm not happy with their previous iteration (again). Largely because they do not line up with what I'm actually envisioning. We see multiple instances in canon of genin learning fairly advanced techniques, and under the current system that just doesn't work. So I'm changing it.

    From now on (and I'll update as necessary), the Chakra Pool will largely stay the same (for now at least). However, Justu will now require a (Wits+Occult) check to Cast (Ninjutsu and Genjutsu are both valid specializations). The level of success required to successfully cast is determined by the Jutsu's Difficulty.

    Difficulty Ratings (Examples):
    E-Rank: 1-2
    D-Rank: 2-3
    C-Rank: 3-4
    B-Rank: 5-6
    A-Rank: 7-8
    S-Rank: 9+

    So each Jutsu has a Chakra Cost and a Difficulty Rating, so once you've learned how to properly cast the Jutsu, as long as you have enough chakra from the cost and pass the check you successfully use the Jutsu. Simple enough. If you miscast a Jutsu, you still pay the cost, but nothing happens.

    Chakra Skill:
    I'm keeping the Chakra Skill system, because I do like it, but what it is affecting is changed. First off, it no longer affects what Jutsu you can learn. You can technically learn any justu as long as you have learned any prerequisite Jutsu (whether or not you can actually cast it is another matter entirely). Instead, Chakra Skill gives automatic successes towards casting. So, as Tenten currently has a Chakra Skill of 2, she gets 2 automatic successes towards any Jutsu she wants to use.

    The other usage of Chakra Skill is in determining how much Jutsu cost. The base cost of a Jutsu assumes that your Chakra Skill is equal to the Jutsu Difficulty. If you are casting a Jutsu that is more difficult than your Chakra Skill it will be higher (the bigger the difference, the higher the cost). Likewise, if you are casting a Jutsu with a difficult lower than your Skill, the cost will be low, or even negligible. The exact malus and discount rate is something I'm still fiddling with, but I should have that ironed out by the end of the day.

    Finally, yes, to answer the obvious question, this means Tenten can cheat with an Occult Excellency to use Jutsu way over her head. However, you still take the penalty from having a low Chakra skill.

    If anyone has any questions or comments, please let me know. I'm still ironing this out, so now is the time to provide feedback.
     
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    • Week 2 - A Rift
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    • You resolutely ignore the urge to wipe your palms on your pants as you hold his pale grey eyes with your own; even dishevelled, you always feel like you're somehow underdressed, less cultured, than him. Like you just don't measure up. You do your best to swallow the lump that's formed itself in your throat.

    "Hello Neji."

    "You've been avoiding me." It isn't a question, and you see the barest hint of a blush form on his face before he turns away, hiding behind long brown hair. Not that it stops him from seeing you while he has those eyes activated. The fact that he's avoiding your sight, while keeping his own, isn't lost on you though.

    "I can't speak to you now, Tenten" he begins gruffly. "We're competitors, and we're not allowed to-"

    <Doesn't want to talk. Ashamed to talk to you.>

    You blink at that, before your hand curls into a fist. Temari's voice sparks in your ear, You have to make them listen They'll just ignore you otherwise.

    You cut him off in a decidedly frosty tone. "Hyuga. Neji. I took time off my training to seek you out. Y'know, because we're supposed to be friends." Best friends. He stiffens at that. "I believe you can spare me the courtesy of an hour of your time. And I know for a fact that there are no rules against pre-tournament contact, since the two Suna finalists live in the same apartment."

    You cross your arms and peer closer, pausing slightly before you fumble with one of the new seals you've put onto your clothes, coming up with a water bottle. "You've been hydrating right? You know how Gai-sensei gets about that stuff. Because you look terrible." You briefly wonder just how much he's been training here, as you lazily toss the bottle through the air, you can't remember the last time you've seen him looking this stressed.

    He catches it reflexively as you walk past him, deeper into the training ground.
    "Water and electrolytes; replace some of what you've lost."

    The training ground looks like a warzone. Something has carved massive circular tears in the grass and dirt of the clearing. One of the training stumps lays splintered and shredded on its side, uprooted from its former position in a shower of dirt. Your eyes spark gold, and the world spins around you.

    One can never be too sure, even in a training ground as remote as this one is. The vibrancy of the freshly-bloomed spring leaves stands out the most, surrounding you on all sides, the scent of loamy soil is almost overpowering. And yet, it is only you and Neji here.

    You turn to Neji, still standing behind you, and suddenly you see. You see the faint slivers of wood embedded in his hands, the dirt and blood left under his nails, the rings under his eyes, partially hidden by the veins of his Byakugan. The veins that haven't disappeared since you got here. "Neji? Is there any one else close by? Within lip-reading range?"

    "What was that Tenten?" There's a faint note of suspicion in his voice, though however faint it maybe it stands out clearly to you. Is this how he feels? When he has those eyes? Like he's looking through people, rather than at them?

    "Neji..."

    He sighs, "No."

    You lean back against one of the remaining two posts and fix him with your best stare. "Good. You are going to sit, and I'm going to tell you what I've found out about some of the other contestants. Things you really need to know." You pause, you've never been good at arguing with Neji, especially when he sets his mind to something, but what's been happening isn't acceptable. You're going to stop it, you have to stop it. "...And then we are going to talk about why you've been avoiding me."

    Neji just stares back at you, a faint scowl on his face, but he doesn't move to leave or stop you.

    You take that as good enough.

    "Do you know what a Jinchuuriki is?" You begin casually, and that gets him to blink. "They're prisons. Built to contain the Tailed Beasts."

    "Tenten I don't-"

    You cut him off, "Neji, Gaara is the jinchuuriki for the One-Tail."

    Neji opens his mouth, but then closes it. You see his jaw working as the veins around his eyes finally recede. After what feels like an eternity he finally exhales a breath, and beneath the veins you can finally see the lines of tiredness they were obscuring. "No, I...I did not know that."

    You idly pull a kunai into your hand, turning it over and over again in your hands, the feeling of steel pressing on your skin calming in its familiarity. "He's...Neji, I've seen it. The One-Tail. It's awful. It hates us" Memories of all-consuming killing intent washing over you, under that awful moon. "You can fight it, I know you can, but you need to be prepared. Lee-"

    Neji's face instantly hardens, "Lee was destined to lose that fight."

    And there it is. Destiny. You had never totally bought Neji's talk of Destiny. Some of it was true, obviously, your birth determined...a lot. Being an orphan had forced you to learn that lesson very early on. You and Neji could use Ninjutsu, Lee couldn't. Neji had the Byakugan, you and Lee didn't. But to say that work was meaningless? No you didn't buy that, you couldn't buy that. It had always rubbed you the wrong way.

    Now it felt somehow even worse, striking against something fundamental deep inside you.

    "Lee was amazing," You tone cools drastically, "You still don't understand what he was up against, and he almost managed to beat that...that thing."

    "Tenten, thank you for your advice but-"

    <Proud. Confused. Ashamed to talk to you. Trying to push you away.>

    You set your jaw. Not likely. "No."

    That gets a reaction, you see his eyes widen, "Wha-"

    "Neji, watching as Lee fought Gaara was the worst thing I ever felt. Watching as he almost died, while I couldn't do anything." You stop moving the kunai in your fingers, your hand clenching tight at the memories of Lee's screams, "That's never going to happen again, not if I can help it. So I'm going to help you, whether you want me to or not. But this-" You wave your hand around, "This ends now. We're friends Neji, I know we are, so act like it."

    "You've changed Tenten." Neji's voice is quiet, barely more than a whisper as he looks at you.

    "I've changed?" You say incredulously, "I saw you almost murder your cousin in cold blood. That's not the Neji I know."

    A small part of you worries that maybe it is the Neji you know. That you've been blind to your friend's flaws until they were shoved in your face, but you push that part of you down. Neji can be harsh, but he's never hurt you. Even Lee always bounced back.

    Neji just looks away, "I-...I lost control, there, I'm sorry you had to see that."

    Oh.

    He's ashamed to talk to you.

    Right.

    You open your mouth to say something, but this it's Neji who cuts you off this time. "But you have changed Tenten. Something happened to you during that fight, your Chakra is different. You're more...you're acting different."

    You quirk one eyebrow up, "Well, if I am, that's news to me." Have you been acting different? You don't think so, you certainly don't feel any different. But then would you? No, you don't think it's that. It's just now you've been forced to look, really look, at what you care about. Now you realize what you need to do.

    Still, the idea sticks in your head, and it only subsides when Neji sighs. "If you want to do this though, I guess I can't stop you, even if you are a competitor."

    <Resigned. Worried for you.>

    "Neji, I don't give a damn about the competition anymore. There'll be more, but there's only one you. And we will talk more about this." You pause, and then a your entire face splits into a beaming grin. "But for now, I'll take this as a victory."

    Then you punch him in the shoulder, not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough he fixes you with a glare, "That's for being an idiot."

    You swear you see a ghost of a smile on Neji's face.

    Gained Training Partner: [Neji Hyuuga]
    Bonus to Taijutsu, Awareness, and Perception

    You stay to talk with Neji a bit more, filling him in one a bit more of what you've learned about Gaara. It's nice, to be talking with him again. They say you never knew how much you'll miss something until it's gone, and you can't help but agree. Eventually however, you run out of answers to his questions, which begs the question of what you're going to do now.

    At least you've managed to partially rebuild from whatever rift happened with Neji, and you intend to work on that further, but you remember the condition you saw he's in. Will staying here just encourage him? Will you be able to get him to call it quits for the day? You'd normally trust him to be responsible with his health, but now?

    You're not so sure.

    Pick One
    [ ] Stay with Neji
    [ ] Spar
    [ ] Just help him train​

    [ ] Continue with your research
    [ ] Read up on Jinchuuriki more
    [ ] Research another Finalist (if so who?)​

    [ ] Try to find Gai-sensei, you might be able to catch up on what you missed here, if you run yourself ragged.

    [ ] Go visit Lee
    - [ ] Stunt?​

    **Rules Edit**
    Sakura also gives a bonus to training Occult.
    Ahhhhhh why I'm updating at 2:30 in the morning. Oh yeah, and a head's up, choosing to Spar with Neji will lead to another minor vote about how you plan to approach the spar.
     
    Last edited:
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    • Week 2 - A Rift II
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    • You push yourself off of the wooden stump you were leaning against, "So..." you cast a meaningful glance at the carnage all around you, "What exactly were you so worried about not letting your...fellow competitors...see?" You cast the question in a teasing lilt, but despite yourself it still rings somewhat hollow.

    Neji drops into a stance you've never seen before, arms extended as he faces you, "It would be easier just to show than to try and explain." He glances at one of the scrolls on your hip as you see his Byakugan activate, "I want you to try and hit me."

    Three kunai are in your hand in an instant, but you hesitate, for just a second...you'd normally trust Neji on this type of thing. Lately though, no, you mentally shake that out. You do trust Neji on this type of thing. You twirl the kunai in your fingers, "Watch out though, I've got some new tricks up my sleeve as well."

    Neji just nods, a severe expression on his face, and you consider that enough. You push off with your foot, leaping backwards as the world slows down around you, highlighting everything important around you in gold. You feel the cold press of steel in your hands and you exhale softly. Tension, the path unfolds in front of you. Release, two steel darts carve through the air.

    The third you hold back for a fraction of a heart beat, the mental clock in your head chimes perfection and you throw. Golden light sparks in your hand. Throwing is not just a matter of here and there, to achieve true accuracy you must know the journey it takes in-between as well. A faint snap-hiss reaches your ears as a golden streak leaves your hand, carve perfectly along the thin contrail leading directly to-

    "Rotation!"

    Your eyes widen as Neji's form blurs, even in the slowed perception of your vision. Chakra streams from all over his body, turning the air around him into a dervish of concerted chakra and air-currents. Dirt and grass around are torn apart by the scything whirlwind. The first two kunai ram into the current and are casually swept aside, bouncing harmlessly away in the face the rotating chakra.

    Then you notice an irregularity, an imperfection in the rotation, forming a minor eddy in the current. You smirk slightly as you notice where exactly it is. The third kunai strikes the eddy with a shower of golden sparks and the sound of shattering glass. The imperfection doubles, then doubles again, a cascading effect as the dome wobbles and shakes before finally receding. Neji drops to one knee, breathing heavily. A kunai is sunk, still faintly glowing, into the dirt at his feet.

    Exactly where you aimed it.

    You're by Neji's side in an instant, but he just waves you away as he pushes himself up to his feet. He has a rather sour expression on his face, which is a bit unfortunate, because you're currently ecstatic for him.

    "Neji that was amazing!" You fix him with your best encouraging smile, "You were expelling the chakra from everywhere to, combined with the rotational energy, create a defense shield. I didn't even know you could do that." Just the amount of chakra control you'd need to perform it and keep the rotation moving makes your head hurt.

    He blinks at that, "Yes actually. It's the Kaiten, one of the signature techniques of the Hyuuga clan" a distracted, bitter tone overtakes his voice, "The main branch at least." He glances down at the kunai embedded in the dirt, a scowl on his face. "When used correctly, it should block almost anything."

    You reach down and lazily pull the knife from the dirt, "Don't feel bad, I learned some new tricks to you know."

    He just stares at you with half-lidded eyes, "Yes, I gathered that from the way you're currently glowing like a lattern, and the fact you managed to identify the principles behind the Kaiten at a glance."

    You blush slightly, but clap your hands together regardless. "Either way, the only to get better is to practice! So do it again! I'll just watch this time."
    *****​
    The flare of chakra churns up leaves and a fair bit of dust, still visible in the faint light of the early evening, but not enough to hide your frown as Neji comes to a halt.

    He raises an eyebrow to you"Better?"

    You press your fingers to your lips in thought, letting out a small hum. By now you've seen him do so a dozen times, and he has gotten better, especially now that he has another set of eyes. Still though... "You're still losing control of the chakra there at the end."

    You pace a half circle around the training ground, gold glimmering on your bow as you consider what you sensed. "It's the same issue I used before, the chakra isn't rotating at a completely even speed, and that's creating flaws. Easy enough to handle at the start, but as it progresses..."

    "They multiply." Neji's hand tightens, and you know him well enough to know when he's frustrated.

    "Yes that." You sigh, unfortunately all the observation in the world doesn't help when you don't actually know how to fix the issues you find. "You're already better than me at chakra control, so all I can really say is more practice." You give him a helpless shrug.

    Neji scowls, but doesn't disagree.

    "Anyway, it's getting late, and you especially can't have much chakra left." You give him a soft smile, "Though if you ever need my help training again, I'm always there for you."

    For a second you think that Neji is going to insist on staying, but eventually he just gives you a solitary nod. "Yes, that is probably for the best."

    You turn to leave, but just before you can leave the clearing he calls your name, "Tenten?" you turn to glance back, "Thank you."

    You feel something blossom in your chest, like those words make the entire day worth getting up for, but you settle for a beaming smile. "Don't mention it Neji."​
    *****​
    Your apartment is the same as it always is, cramped foremost of all. The walls packed to the the gills with unfurled scrolls and weapon racks. Shelves straining under the weight of extra sheets of sealing paper and your own personal library. Most of it is devoted to books on sealing theory, but there's also your collection of mystery novels, ad other such personal items. You've never been big on studying anymore than you forced yourself to, but reading for pleasure, that's something you can enjoy.

    As you fall into bed though, most of those thoughts are far from your mind. For now, you feel like a weight has lifted from your shoulders. You hadn't realized just how much you had missed practicing with Neji until it had stopped. You can still feel the stress and the worry pressing down on you. A million little things, never mind the larger issues, constantly via for your attention. God only knows what Lee will have down before you get a chance to visit him again.

    But for now at least, the burdens feel lighter. As you burrow down in the cocoon of blankets that lay atop your bed a slight smile curves on your lips. Your eyes flutter shut in the night-time gloom, the faint light of the moon falling through your window, but this time it doesn't stir any memories, just the vaguest sense of familiarity.​
    *****​
    The next day passes without incident, training with Gai-sensei consumes the entirety of your attention. With your knife in your hand, the jarring impact of catching blows that could shatter rocks on its blade, you can feel something new forming. Every strike you can feel it, your grip is surer, you yield just a little bit less to pressure.

    You can feel the not-chakra spreading through your limbs as you duck and weave, a core of iron forming to not lose focus even under an onslaught.

    When the time comes though, that's not what worries you. Because soon you find yourself standing outside the entrance to the hospital, two cones of ice-cream starting to drip in your hands. You take a deep breath, the last time you tried this, it...ended less than well.

    It's time to visit Lee.

    [ ] - Your top priority is keeping him from hurting himself further, all his efforts are for nil if they just keep hurting him further.
    [ ] - You can't forget you're his friend, he needs that, he needs someone to be there for him, to support him.
    [ ] - Write in?​
    [ ] - Stunt?​
    Can you say Limit, because I see gaining Limit in your future. Not entirely happy with how the vote turned out for this, which considering this is a consistent problem I've been having of being unsatisfied with the choices I'm offering you guys, means that might something to look in for how to run next weeks events. It's something to consider at least.
    ​
     
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    • Fuinjutsu Rules
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    • Fūinjutsu Rules Revamp (Final)*:

    So based on the feedback I recieved on my draft, here are the revamped rules. I should also specify that "Fuuinjutsu" in the context of this quest covers a range of different types of Seals, from general Fuuinjutsu techniques like Storage Seals, to Junijutsu techniques like Cursed Seals, to Space-Time techniques that use Seals as anchors like Summoning Seals and Hiraishin.

    Components:
    Much like before Components make up actual sealing techniques. Many seals consist of only one component, though it's not uncommon for them to have more than one. Each Component has a specific function and an attached Complexity. This Complexity is what determines how fast Tenten can learn new components to add to her arsenal. Whenever she sets aside time to research a new Component she rolls her [Fuinjutsu]. Each component costs XP equivalent to its Complexity to learn and reproduce. Tenten can only learn Seals with a Complexity double that of her Fuuinjutsu. So with a current Fuunijutsu of 2, she can learn Seals with a complexity of 4 (aka C-rank seals.)

    A Fuuinjutsu excellency allows Tenten to attempt to trade successes for XP in crafting a component, with the number of successes required equal to the the XP cost of the component. If she succeeds, she immediately gets a copy of that component which she can use for any technique. Though the component isn't added to her library.

    Techniques:
    Theses are how Components are actually implemented. They are a combination of 1 or more Components, and any accompanying Ninjutsu that goes into it (this is partially where the Chakra costs come from. For Example, for Tenten's Rising Twin Dragons she uses Chakra Manipulation to hover in the air and control her scrolls.) Some techniques like Hiraishin, or Summoning Scrolls have an additional Chakra cost to actually activate the Seals themselves. Most techniques have a time requirement to prepare, which is numerically equivalent to the most complex Component. Each point is equivalent to 6 hours. However, some Techniques once prepared (such as Tenten's item seals) can be re-used for minimal effort, whereas others (like Explosive Tags) are one use only.

    There are two exceptions to this: Firstly, Techniques with a single 1 Complexity component (so individual Explosive Tags, explosive tags etc.) have a nominal prep time; Tenten is able to produce them in a few minutes if she concentrates. Secondly are seals that are immediately cast with nothing but pure chakra. These seals are specified as such, and have alternate rules, which are discussed below.

    Immediate Casting:
    I'm adding this section because I know people will ask about, but you can form (certain) Seals from pure Chakra. For some seals this is the primary method of delivery (such as the Five Elements Seal). Tenten's learns the Components for these Techniques the same as regular Fuuinjutsu, however in order to actually use them, they are cast the same as Ninjutsu. With a Difficult equal to the total Complexity of the Technique. If you're trying to directly apply a seal to another person as an attack, they count as a touch-based attack for the purposes of combat resolution.

    *hopefully

    Here are a list of some example Components that hopefully people will find useful.
    Explosive Tags
    Complexity    : 1
    Cost: 3 Chakra

    Item Sealing
    Complexity:     1
    Tags: [Reusable]
    Cost: 1 Chakra

    Elemental Sealing
    Complexity:     3-10 (depending on strength of Seal)
    Cost: 5 Chakra

    This seal allow the user to seal away the effects of an Elemental Ninjutsu. Each seal can only hold the effects of one technique, and must be tailored towards a specific element. In addition, in order to capture stronger techniques, a stronger seal is required. For example, a Complexity 3 Elemental Fire Seal will not be able to contain Amaterasu. The Jutsu captured can later be unseal for use by the Sealer. (This is how Tenten created her Exploding Dragon Strike)

    Basic Chakra Seal
    Complexity:     4
    Tags: [Chakra Manipulation]
    Cost: Variable

    This component functions as a chakra battery, allowing the user to store additional Chakra to function as an additional well of Chakra over and above their regular cap. Are also an important component of most Technique that activate independent of the Sealer. There are more advanced versions with a higher storage capacity.

    Manipulated Storage Seals
    Complexity:     2
    Tags: [Reusable]
    Cost: 2 Chakra

    These are modified Storage Seals that allow the contained item to be fired out of the seal at high-velocity, rather than having to be thrown by the user.

    Vision Seal
    Complexity: 4
    Tags:     [Space-time]
    Cost: 10 Chakra per minute activated

    This Seal functions as a third eye for the Sealer, allowing them to see a vision of the surrounding area of where the Seal is placed in their mind, though at this level only vision is available through the seal

    If you have any further ideas for Seal components, feel free to let me know, and I'll make them for you (or if you want to make them yourself, give them to me to approve/modify as necessary. If you do something good or inventive enough, I might even reward your for XP for helping me out).

    Hopefully this answers your questions @uju32
     
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    • Week 2 - A Rift III
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    • You start as a hand reaches over your shoulder and plucks the second cone right out of your hand. You jump back slightly, hand-curled protectively around the other cone. Your assailant, Ino, meanwhile just takes a nonchalant bite out of her stolen cone "Mmm. Strawberry-flavored icecream is the best. Especially on warm days."

    "These are actually for someone, y'know" you huff, glaring at her in annoyance. You don't have unlimited money you know, and just like taking it out of your hand like that.

    Ino stops licking the cone for a moment to eye you critically. "You mean Lee?"

    You raise a mental eyebrow. How did she...then your brain catches up and you squash the question, Lee is your teammate after all. Still though, your moment of confusion must have shown, because she answers anyway "There's only three genin who ended needing to stay in the hospital after the prelims, and Hinata and the sound-nin were already checked out by their jounin-sensei."

    You grimace as the mention of Hinata reminds you of your other outstanding social obligation; for Neji's sake, if nothing else. Just another thing to add to the pile.

    "So are you the reason why he keeps training? Even if it could paralyze him?" The lilt was gone from her voice, and you can feel her stare drilling into you as your brown eyes meet hers.

    Your mind flits through several possible replies - that it's none of her business, that he wouldn't listen to you, that he's stubborn, that you love him too much to do that to him- and settle for a single word answer.

    "No."

    She stares you in the eyes for a moment, and for a moment you remember that Ino is also the word for boar.

    "Good."

    Apparently satisfied at whatever she found in your face, she returns to finishing off her- your - ice cream cone.A little silence passes, before you venture, "I wasn't aware that the details of his condition are public."

    She waves a hand in the general direction of the wards. "They aren't. My people have people. Your ice cream's melting, by the way."

    You stare at the green-grey-colored ice cream beginning to run down your hand, it was the one you bought for Lee, his favorite flavor. Eventually pragmatism wins out over everything else, and you lick it, feeling a slight stab of guilt.

    "The nurses have tried to stop him, you know. Hasn't worked. How do you plan to do it?"

    You wince. "I don't know. Talk to him?" Truth is you don't have a plan, but you need to do something.

    Ino sighs. "You've spent entirely too much time with boys."

    You blink once, giving her a puzzled look at the non-sequitur "What's that got to do with anything?"

    She dusts herself off as she gets up from the bench she was leaning against, "Nevermind. Look, when a logical argument has failed, you don't repeat it. And it's not like boys are especially logical anyway." You consider saying something about her rivalry with Sakura over Sasuke - never really figured that out - but wisely keep your mouth shut.

    "First, we go get Sakura."

    "Wait, why Sakura....oh." Dammit, you should have thought of this. Of course Lee would listen to Sakura.

    She gives you an amused look. "Yeah, oh. C'mon, if we hurry we should still catch her in the library."

    You do end up catching Sakura at the library, and between the two of you it proves trivially easy to convince her to come along to see Lee. You even picked up some more ice cream on the way.

    You made Ino pay for those ones.

    When you got back to the hospital though, for a second there you felt lighter. That feeling lasted until you got to Lee's room.

    There were a lot of things you were prepared for when you came to visit Lee. You dreaded an argument, like last time, you expected him to be stubborn, like every time, you'd even dared hope that between the three of you one of you could make him see sense.

    You didn't expect to find him sitting in his hospital bed, staring at his legs under the sheets of the bed, with a listless expression on his face. You turn back to Ino and Sakura, "Let me go in first, see how he's doing." You see Ino open her mouth to say something but you cut her off, "I know Ino, but...I've never seen him look like this. Just...wait here."

    She gives you an unreadable look, while Sakura just looks between the two of you with a worried look on her face. With a deep breath you turn and push open the door.

    "Lee?" If Lee notices you enter, he doesn't show it. The room itself is spartan, the sole breath of color in the drab room a single daffodil in a vase by the bed. "I brought you some ice cream, Mint Chip...that's your favorite right?"

    His head raises the slightest bit, "Thanks Tenten, but...I'm not that hungry."

    Lee? Not hungry? A small part of you flinches back at that. Something is seriously wrong here, but you press forward. "Oh, I'll leave it with the nurses then. Ino and Sakura are here to visit you too, they're..." You pause, "How are you feeling Lee?"

    He curls up even tighter beneath the blankets of the bed, "They tried a procedure today...it..." His voice is barely more than a whisper.

    Oh.

    Oh.

    In an instant your hand was on his shoulder. Which made it stab all the deeper when he flinched at your touch. "Lee..." You try to form the words, to think of something that will fix everything, but they don't come. All you can do is squeeze his shoulder in support.

    +1 Limit Gained

    "Lee, Ino and Sakura came to visit, do you want me to tell them to come back later?"

    Lee's nod is so barely there you almost miss it. You go to leave, but you hear Lee shift behind you. "Tell them I'm sorry."

    You feel something tear inside you at those words, "Lee, you have nothing to be sorry about. Lee, look at me." He raises his head up and you see his eyes are ringed with red. You still see the hope and the determination there, in those eyes.

    But there's less than you've ever seen before.

    "Lee, they'll find a way, they have to. You just have to hold on." You take a deep breath to try and keep your voice from cracking up.

    "You think so?" Lee's voice is small, but you can hear the faint reminder of how it used to sound.

    "I do, we're all here for you Lee, no one's given up on you...even Neji." That gets a reaction, and you make a note to get Neji to visit, even if you have to drag him here yourself. Even still, it doesn't make it any easier to see Lee like this. He'll get better, you know he will, but...

    You push on the door and emerge back into the hall with Ino and Sakura. "So?" Sakura says.

    "He...wants you to come back in a bit, he's...he's not doing good right now." Your expression is tight as you move past the two girls, hand holding protectively around the ice cream cone like it's your firstborn "I need to go drop this off with one of the nurses so it keeps."

    Ino tries to grab your arm but you brush past her, leaving the two girls there as you try to figure out who gave you the right to feel like crying.

    That night you have a dream about Lady Tsunade, returning to the village and fixing Lee.

    When you wake up, all that remains of that dream is the poster of her you bought when you eight.
    ~///~​
    The rest of the week passes by in a blur. You visit Lee once more, and thankfully true to your prediction, he's bounced back...somewhat. You can still see the pain in his eyes though, and it makes you sick to your stomach. You can handle Neji being cold and brooding, even if it hurts, but Lee...not Lee.

    It's not the Lee you know, and seeing him look so...empty stings in a way you can't adequately describe. For a second you almost wish he was back to trying to train himself into the ground, you're honestly not sure what is worse. He'll get better, he has to get better, you know he will. He wouldn't be Lee if he didn't, but that doesn't make seeing this any easier. You don't know how to handle it.

    So you don't. So you do what you always do when you're stressed or scared or upset, you throw yourself into training. When you're trying desperately to avoided getting pounded into the ground by Gai-sensei, it's rather hard to think about anything else. If you can just try harder, get better...

    It's not until you manage Gai-sensei's foot on the blade of your Kunai in the middle of one of his blistering torrent of blows that you realize something's changed. A spark of something, flickering as you duck and weave, as one of his blows hammers into your blade. It all flows so easily that you almost miss it, but it feels easier, you leave less room open when you counter-attack, the space between his blows seems wider. You can feel your reserves draining as you fight, but you don't care.

    Gai-sensei of course, just takes this as leave to come at you twice as hard and twice as fast.

    Which means when the time you set aside near the end of the week to relax comes up, you welcome it, even if you didn't want to. You did this in the hopes of resting, a time to forget about everything weighing down on you, even if just for a moment.

    Which is why you booked yourself an appointment at a bathhouse. No stress, just to rest and relax and get clean at the end of the week.​
    ​
    Where's the excitement there?

    [ ] The bathhouse is evidently packed to the gills, the chunin exams proving that its not just the merchants who are making a killing on the additional business. You're not entirely sure what quirk of fate caused everyone to come to this bathhouse at this time, but you're growing increasingly inclined to find it and try to stab it.

    [ ] You've been to bathhouses before, and this experience followed mostly after those, no more or less crowded than the norm.

    [ ] You'd think the one of the most popular bathhouses in Konoha would be more frequented during a time like this, but it's practically a ghost town. You even noticed the slightest flash of surprise on the attendants face when you checked in. Though, you're not exactly complaining about getting space to breath and just relax by yourself.​
    Sorry this took so long, this week was a bitch. Going to try to update more rapidly from now on. If you're wondering, this vote determines what table I roll on to see who you meet. See if you can guess who's on which table.

    Also, I'm currently thinking of reworking how training votes work, because I often find difficulty figuring out what to put as votes at the end of Social Events. So right now my idea is to having the Beginning of the Week Vote determine Social Votes and what Tenten's Focuses are for the week, and then do specifics in between the Social Events. Thoughts?

    Also Fun Fact: In the manga, Tenten originally had black hair and gray eyes.    ​
     
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    • Allowed Custom Charms
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    • Oh yeah, remember when I said I was going into looking into allowing custom charms to buff Thrown? Well, I finally have time to page through a bunch of custom Exalted 2e charms to pick out what I felt were a few good (and more importantly fairly balanced) examples. Now, just a reminder in regards to further custom charms, I need to approve any you guys want to use, but you can generally assume if it's by EarthScorpion or someone else it's probably allowed.

    I'll threadmark this a repository of all the custom charms I allow.
    Article:
    Sight Beyond Sight
    Cost: 3m
    Type: Supplemental
    Keywords: Dual
    Duration: Instant
    Mins: Thrown 4, Essence 1
    Prerequisites: Angle-Tracing Edge

    Nothing can obscure target from Solar, as her inner calm and mastery of her weapon allows her to never miss her mark – for true masters cutting a single wing of an fly in storm of century is nothing more than child's play.
    Any attack supplemented by this Charm ignores all penalties to Solar's accuracy, be it greatest storms or pitch darkness. It doesn't however allow for attacks beyond weapon maximum range without additional magic.

    Swift Blade Typhoon
    Cost: 6 motes, 1 Willpower
    Type: Simple
    Duration: Instant
    Mins: Thrown 5, Essence3
    Prerequisites: Cascade of Cutting Terror

    The Solar throws a single weapon so well that it cuts everything around it. The Solar makes a normal Thrown attack, and every target within (5x Essence) yards of the target (the Solar may specifically target the area of the attack so it contains as many people as possible) suffers the attack.

    Dawnlight Grace
    Cost: 10 motes, 1 Willpower
    Type: Supplemental
    Duration: Instant
    Mins: Thrown 5, Essence 4
    Prerequisites: Fiery Solar Chakram

    Imbuing a weapon with the effortless power of one of the first rays of sunlight, the Solar casts it towards his target in an imitation of how the Sun's own beams fly ever-true.

    An attack enhanced by this Charm is a perfect attack, as per Accuracy Without Distance. Zombies and other extra-level creatures of darkness struck by this Charm die instantly and permanently. Against greater creatures of darkness (including Abyssals, Deathlords, and Third Circle demons), the essence of the sun itself contained in this Charm is an insulting, not to mention deadly, affront. The attack adds twice the user's Essence in damage to such creatures.

    Mortal weapons are burned to ash after the use of this Charm.
     
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