The Princess of Blades (Naruto/Exalted)

Crilltic · Feb 20, 2017

VOTING IS NOW OPEN

Week Recap:
Last week was an adventure in itself. It started with watching one of your erstwhile competitors get dismembered by a sand-demon thing, followed shortly by watching a leaf jonin die in front of you after he caught wind of some type of shady goings-on. But the ANBU seem to be on top of that. What was awkward was how you immediately then struck up a friendship with the Sand Genin from the preliminaries. Er, rivalry, you struck up a rivalry with the Sand Genin you fought.

You met a rather extraordinary genin named Sakura, accidentally managed to infect her with Gai-isms, then met her...friend? Mortal enemy? You're not sure. Anyway, you met Ino, who you're still not sure what to think about. Then you met Kin, again, then she had a break down in front of you and then you hugged her and she defected...you think. Honestly, you're not entirely sure what happened that night.

However, the week ended on a low note, as despite Lee waking up. He insists on continuing his workout routine, despite all medical advice and common sense. It'd be infuriating if the fact that he may be throwing away his recovery chance through stubbornness didn't make you sick to you stomach.

Hopefully this next week goes better.

Training:
You have 14 training slots to allocate this week. 1 Training slot gives you the equivalent of 1 XP towards an Ability/ Charm/Jutsu/etc.

For the purposes of this training, Ninjutsu and Genjutsu techniques are treated as Charms in terms of XP cost, while Taijutsu and Fuinjutsu are treated as abilities. Seal Components have an XP cost equal to their complexity. Certain Training Resources can increase the yield of training actions that you take under their supervision.

I've cut out the fatigue system, because I don't feel it was necessary, now you just get 14 slots, as base. Gai and Sakura are both fairly busy this week. Gai can only be used for up to 4 days (8 slots), and Sakura up to 2 days (4 slots).

Available Training Resources:
- Alone: All by your lonesome. On one hand it is likely to be the best chance you have of keeping your techniques secret. On the other hand it means you have to figure things out without. (No bonuses)
- Gai-sensei: Bonus to training Taijutsu, Athletics, and Resistance. As well as Stamina and Strength Attributes.
- Sakura Haruno: Bonus to training Ninjutsu/Genjutsu and Occult

Train Jutsu
Time: 1 slot
Training Resource: [ ]
[Special Restriction: You need to have a Training Resource capable of helping you]

Train Attribute
Time: 1 slot
Training Resource: [ ]

Train Ability
Time: 1 slot
Training Resource: [ ]

Train Charm
Time: 1 slot
Training Resource: [ ]

Learn Seal Component
Time: 1 slot
Training Resource: [ ]

Social Episodes:
This is where I'm revamping material. Tenten will get 4 "episodes" which cover a social event chain. This is should hopefully aid in planning them out and not getting so bogged down. These will be the majority of the updates, rather than focusing on training (unless something comes up during the training).

The order you list the Episodes you pick will be the order in which they appear during the week, so keep that in mind.

Ties of Fate - Something is up with Neji, ever since the preliminary matches where...where...well let's jut say the preliminary matches didn't put him in the best light. Now he's avoiding you. You're going to get to the bottom of this, screw the tournament, you're going to make sure your friend is okay.

Traitor to Kin and Country - The last time you saw Kin, she was departing with Gai-sensei to do...whatever they do with defectors. You're not even sure if you can see her, but you certainly want to try. To see if she's doing alright at least.

Rest and Relaxation - Spend time relaxing in Konoha, visiting the hotsprings and hanging out with friends. [*Note* - While Fatigue is gone, this option is not basically the "random event" option. Much higher chance of meeting new people and other random events]

A Betrayal Most Cruel - You don't know what set them off, but an off-hand mention to Ino and Sakura that you were looking for a new qipao turned into something else entirely. Now you have been dragged into the hellish nightmare that is outfit shopping by these two fiends.

Her Favorite Leaf Genin - Last week you struck up a rivalry with your favorite Sand genin (albeit, it's not like she has much competition for the title). You might as well make good on that promise by doing what rivals do. Which means you're going to pester her until she agrees to inane challenges.

The Perils of Hard Work - Lee is going to destroy himself if he keeps his current actions up. You have to make him see reason, no matter what you have to do to accomplish that.

Look into the Competition
- [ ] Pick one other competitor

Voting Structure: These votes are likely to be hideously complicated, so I would encourage everyone to vote for a plan name and only a plan name in order to allow for ease of counting.

So people wanted me to give a list of what the available charms and such were, and here you go. I'll also be sure to include this for when the voting goes live.

Available Charms.
I should point out that these are only the charms available at time of voting. If you also spend time training her abilities, she will have access to more charms. Likewise, I have not included charms that have prerequisites of non-excellency charms.

I may have missed one or two charms Tenten qualifies for. So don't treat this as an exhaustive list. If you know a charm that's not on here, and Tenten qualifies for it, don't be afraid to ask about it. Chances are I just forgot about it.

Hungry Tiger Technique
Cost: 1m
Mins: Melee 2, Essence 1
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
Solar warriors make themselves one with their blades. The Exalt spends one mote and makes a Melee-based attack. This Charm allows the Solar's player to count extra successes on the attack roll twice for the purposes of determining raw damage.

One Weapon, Two Blows
Cost: 3m
Mins: Melee 2, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive (Step 1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Martial
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Solar is as swift as the first rays of dawn. Repeat steps 7-10 when resolving the damage for this Charm, effectively damaging the opponent twice. All damage from the attack is applied simultaneously in Step 10, allowing a single perfect soak to defend against it.

Call the Blade
Cost: —(1m)
Mins: Melee 2, Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Merged, Mirror (Blade-Summoning Gesture), Obvious
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Solar's weapons know their master. The Solar holds out her hand and calls to the Essence of one of her weapons. If the desired weapon is within (Essence x 10) yards, and a flight path exists between the weapon and her hand, this Charm draws the weapon into her grasp. She must own the weapon she calls. This Charm can be used to draw and ready a sheathed weapon reflexively.
The Solar may reflexively spend one mote to activate this Charm as described. He may only call his blade from up to (Essence x 2) yards away while in battle, however.

Dipping Swallow Defense
Cost: 2m
Mins: Melee 2, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Martial, Mirror (Elegant Flowing Deflection)
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
The maneuver named Dipping Swallow Defense restores defensive advantage to a beleaguered or overextended fighter. This Charm is used in response to an attack. It allows the Exalt to ignore all penalties that apply to her Parry DV when resolving that attack. Her Parry DV is still 0 if it's inapplicable, but it takes no further penalties.
This Charm negates penalties to the Exalt's Melee-derived Parry DV.

Joint-Wounding Attack
Cost: 2m
Mins: Thrown 3, Essence 1
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Crippling, Martial-ready
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
Even in a pitched battle, the Lawgivers strike with controlled precision. This Charm enhances a Thrown-based attack so that it stuns or cripples the Solar's opponent. For each health level of damage this attack inflicts, this Charm subtracts one die (as a -1 internal penalty) from the target's Physical Attribute dice pools and one point from the equivalent static ratings. This is a Crippling effect that lasts for the remainder of the scene. The players and Storyteller decide how the effect is inflicted—it could be an injured hand, slashed tendons or a stunning blow to the head. Storytellers will have to work with the players to determine how the attack cripples more exotic opponents such as automata and the walking dead.

Observer-Deceiving Attack
Cost: 1m
Mins: Thrown 3, Essence 2
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Solars' opponents are often arrogant and attempt to predict how and when the Lawgivers will strike. Such is their folly that they cannot see the vengeance of the Unconquered Sun even when it comes upon them. This Charm conceals a Thrown-based attack. Characters watching the Solar need (the Solar's Essence) successes on a reflexive (Wits + Awareness) roll to notice him making the attack. This success requirement decreases by one each additional time the Solar uses this Charm in a scene. For characters not watching the Solar, all evidence indicates that the attack comes from a direction and distance named by the Solar when making the attack. For example, a Solar attacking from behind might wound an enemy in the side or chest by having his missile curve at the last moment.

Triple-Distance Attack Technique
Cost: 2m
Mins: Thrown 2, Essence 2
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Solar imbues his weapon with Essence, so that it flies true. This Charm enhances a Thrown-based attack. The Exalt spends three motes and triples the Range of the weapon.
If the Solar has Essence 4 or higher, this Charm also negates external penalties from environmental conditions.

Branding Judgment Attack
Cost: — (2m per attack)
Mins: Thrown 3, Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Crippling, Obvious, Stackable
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: Any Thrown Excellency

Integrity-Protecting Prana
Cost: 5m, 1wp
Mins: Integrity 1, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: One day
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Sun's Chosen define their own reality. This Charm protects the character from any Shaping effect that directly alters her mind, body, spirit or traits. This includes instantaneous Shaping effects and any new alterations caused by long-term Shaping effects. This Charm also protects the character from any undodgeable, unblockable Shaping attacks. Wyld energy cannot create a serpent inside the character's stomach or turn her armor to lava, whether it's manipulated by an enemy or its own random whims, because these effects inflict immediate damage and the character's DV is not applicable.
This Charm does not protect against the miscellaneous dangers of the Wyld. If a Wyld effect creates a hundred-headed snake monster with burning chalcedony eyes that then eats the character, this is not directly altering the character's body through shaping. Nor is it an "attack" when a Wyld effect transforms the character's armor into harmless gossamer spider webs—simply an undesirable effect.

Destiny-Manifesting Method
Cost: —
Mins: Integrity 3, Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: N/A
Prerequisite Charms: Integrity-Protecting Prana
A Solar forges her own destiny, and none gainsay her will. This Charm increases the difficulty of any rolled Shaping effect (see p. 217) used against the character by two. Characters using Shaping effects that involve the character can remove this penalty with any stunt that reconciles the Shaping effect with the Lawgiver's sense of her own destiny. In the Wyld or the Labyrinth, this Charm reduces the frequency of random unfortunate incidents by a factor of 10. There is no cost to use this Charm—it is a permanent enhancement to the Exalt's nature.

Righteous Lion Defense
Cost: —
Mins: Integrity 3, Essence 1
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
To the Solar Exalted, "death" and "surrender" are almost the same thing. This Charm helps a character hold fast to her fundamental Intimacies in the face of temptation. The player picks one of the character's Intimacies when purchasing this Charm. For the purposes of this Solar Charm, this loyalty must be to an ideal—not to a person or a love, but sometimes to a relationship; not to a tribe or city, but sometimes to the nation she might build of them; not to a battle or a war, but to the extinction of one foe or the conquest of a great region. (Other Exalted have versions of this Charm that support different commitments.)
This Charm allows the character to treat mental influence to betray or forsake that Intimacy as an unacceptable order (see p. 180). If the character voluntarily abandons that Intimacy or it becomes obsolete, this Charm ceases to function until, first, a new story begins and, second, the character chooses a new Intimacy to which the Charm applies. Players can also shift this Charm to a new Intimacy at any time by spending one experience point. Players can purchase this Charm a second time to reinforce one additional Intimacy. Any further loyalties require more specialized magic.

Stubborn Boar Defense
Cost: —
Mins: Integrity 3, Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: N/A
Prerequisite Charms: None
Solar Exalted in Limit Break cannot temper their glory with wisdom. This Charm causes the character to treat all directives from unnatural mental influence as unacceptable orders while in Limit Break.

TEMPTATION-RESISTING STANCE
Cost: 6m
Mins: Integrity 2, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Stackable, Social
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Any Integrity Excellency
In foul nests of demons whose ways of corruption assault the human mind; amidst the courts of faeries gluttonous for human souls; in Nexus, surrounded by a thousand temptations—though the whole world seeks to drag him down, the Lawgiver is unmoved. This Charm increases the character's Dodge MDV by his Temperance for the remainder of the scene. Storytellers can allow the Exalt to use his Conviction, Compassion or Valor score instead of Temperance if the character has appropriate motivation.

Crafty Observation Method
Cost: 5m
Mins: Investigation 3, Essence 2
Type: Simple (DV -1)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Any Investigation Excellency
The world holds no mysteries to the Chosen of the Sun. This Charm is an Investigation-based action wherein the character studies observable evidence. This Charm functions exactly as a dramatic Investigation action that takes up to 15 minutes, save that the character performs it in a handful of seconds and does not need to ransack the scene.

Judge's Ear Technique
Cost: 3m
Mins: Investigation 2, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive (Step 1)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Any Investigation Excellency
The Lawgivers are the guardians of truth. This Charm allows the character to recognize as lies all deliberate lies presented to her. The character can also recognize the deliberate use of half-truths, though doing so does not tell her which part of the statement is true. If another Charm contests these effects (see p. 179), add the character's Essence in automatic successes to the (Perception + Investigation) roll to oppose the other Charm.

Courtier's Eye Technique
Cost: 3m
Mins: Investigation 3, Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Lawgivers understand the harmonies of the world. This Charm allows the character to detect others' importance or wealth with a glance. This Charm targets one individual the character can sense. The Exalt's player rolls (Perception + Investigation), adding the Solar's Essence in automatic successes. If the target is concealing his identity or Resources in any way, subtract an external penalty of ([the target's Manipulation + Socialize] ÷ 2) from the successes on the Investigation roll. If the Exalt succeeds, she learns the target's Resources and Influence ratings. In addition, she can make a rough but solid estimate of how many allies the target considers himself to have in the immediate circumstances and how much wealth and power the target wields through organization-specific Backgrounds such as Backing and Followers. The Solar may not attempt to use this Charm on a given target more than once per scene.

Keen (Sense) Technique
Cost: 3m
Mins: Awareness 3, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Any Awareness Excellency
Essence enhances the Solar's senses. Keen (Sense) Technique is actually three Charms, one that heightens sight, one that heightens hearing and touch and one that heightens smell and taste. This Charm gives two bonus successes on Awareness actions that use the relevant senses. It also allows the character to clearly perceive sensory impressions that are normally too faint for human senses to validly observe at all. Some feats appropriate for users of this Charm follow.
Sight. The character can make out the detail on a commander's epaulet at 500 yards distance, at night. He can see the individual threads of a shirt, and with a legendary success, he can make out the motion of the mites that live on others' eyebrows.
Hearing and Touch. The character can gauge the quality of fabric with a touch. He reduces the external penalty to target unseen characters to -1 and the internal penalty from blindness to -2. He can hear conversations normally through thick stone walls. With a legendary success, he can read by touch.
Smell and Taste. The character can recognize others and hints of their recent activities by smell. He can track by scent, gaining one bonus success when tracking someone who has a scent. The character can identify spices and poisons by taste. With a legendary success, he can detect but not identify a few drops of tasteless poison in a wine—as its presence serves to dilute the wine.

Surprise Anticipation Method
Cost: 1m
Mins: Awareness 5, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
In this degenerate time, the Lawgivers depend on a preternatural sense for danger. This Charm guarantees success on any valid Awareness roll to notice immediate mortal danger. This Charm works whether in or out of battle, awake or asleep. If the Exalt has a chance to notice a surprise attack during a prolonged struggle, a dart blown at him in the jungle, an invisible opponent or a cleverly concealed pit, he does so.
If the Exalt's player must make such a roll and has a chance of failing it, and if the Solar can invoke this Charm, this Charm invokes itself automatically. At that time, if the player has a Combo containing this Charm, he may declare the use of that Combo instead of just the Surprise Anticipation Method Charm.
Surprise Anticipation Method does not invoke itself if the character has already used his Charm for the action, if the character does not have any motes of Essence, if the character is Inactive and cannot become active, if the character is already certain to succeed on the Awareness roll or if the character cannot normally attempt an Awareness roll.

Inescapable Eye Of The Sun
Cost: 3m
Mins: Awareness 3, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Touch
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: Any Awareness Excellency
The vigilance of the Lawgivers is as inescapable as day and night. By touching a solid obstruction such as a door or wall no more than (Essence) yards thick, the Solar is able to perceive any events occurring on the other side as though he were present.
Breaking contact with the surface through which one is spying ends the Charm.

Whirling Brush Method
Cost: 4m
Mins: Linguistics 1, Essence 1
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
The diplomats of the Unconquered Sun write with a swift and elegant hand. This Charm supplements a dramatic action to write something down—be it a copy of an existing book, the transcript of a live conversation or an original work. This Charm allows the character to write at (her Essence x 10) times her normal speed. Instead of dedicating 30 hours to copying a manuscript, an Essence 2 character might finish it in an hour and a half. Instead of six hours writing and polishing a treaty, an Essence 3 Eclipse might prepare it in 12 minutes.

Available Jutsu:
Similarly to the Charm category, I may have missed something, so if there is something that you think I missed then don't hesitate to let me know.

Shunshin no Jutsu
Cost: 1 Chakra per metre Min: Chakra 2
Duration: Instantaneous
Prerequisite Jutsu: Substitution no Jutsu

One of the foundational Jutsu of the Shinobi, by channeling chakra through their body the user can accelerate their movements to an extreme degree. Especially useful for moving through the field of battle, or for re-positioning in a fight. The amount of chakra expended depends on the distance moved, but in general the user can move up to (2xChakra Skill)x10 meters in the blink of an eye (in an unobstructed straight line). Often accompanied by smoke or other distractions to hide their movements.

Oh yes, and keep the Interlude votes coming, since that needs to be posted before the start of Week 2

Crilltic · Feb 28, 2017

You were doomed. There really was no way around it. At some point you had died, betrayed by those you had trusted, and now you were doomed. Condemned to Hell for your mistakes.

A Hell which bore a striking resemblance to a department store.

Perhaps you should back up a bit. The day had started out well enough, Gai-sensei was off taking care of whatever needed to be taken care of with Kin, and that along with the fact that Neji had evidently requested training help from him meant you were practicing on your own.

Not that you were particularly concerned with that fact, it was only for the two days, and it let you...procure some more explosive tags without having to answer any awkward questions. Though that wasn't the main reason you were filing out the tags, at least not now. When you were writing down the seals you had noticed something odd; The golden chakra shifting and focusing as you wrote.

As the day wore on you noticed it more and more, a hazy, indistinct feeling hung over everything you saw and read. Like something was there, just out of reach, but whenever you tried to grasp it the feeling disappeared, dissolving into the air. Eventually you managed to get a handle on the feeling, but it still remains frustratingly out of reach of any sort of coherence.

The day only improved when you met Sakura and Ino for lunch, or it had improved until an idle comment on your part about possibly looking into replacing some of your aging wardrobe had ignited a fire in the eyes of your two friends. Then the two showed their true colors and set aside their rivalry to unite against you.

In short you are an idiot, Sakura and Ino are the worst and now you're trapped in Department Store Hell (but you repeat yourself.)

Sakura and Ino themselves aren't exactly making the whole experience any easier to enjoy.

"You stupid fat pig!"

Case in point.

"Oh like you know anything about fashion, you can barely dress to take attention off that giant forehead of yours." Ino brandishes her chosen outfit for you like a shield. It...well it is certainly a thing, and your eyes are immediately drawn to the length of the purple dress that forms the centerpiece of the outfit. Or more specifically the lack-thereof.

"That purple totally clashes with everything! Besides, does she even like purple?" You open your mouth to say something, but Sakura doesn't even look at you, "See?! She doesn't like it." Sakura meanwhile is clutching a dark red dress to her chest. It's more conservative than Ino's selection, but still far too airy for your tastes.

You cough, and although the way both of their heads snap to you in an instant with an unmistakable hunger clear on their face sends a chill down your spine, and hold up the pair of navy blue cargo khapri's you'd selected while they were arguing. "I, uh, actually like these the best."

They both look at you like you've grown a second head.

Sensing more persuasive reasoning will be needed you go for the sure thing. "Look, it has pockets!" You hold up your hand in the depths of one of the innumerable pockets.

The sound of both their hands hitting their foreheads is weirdly in sync.

"Tenten those are, ah...they're..." Sakura pauses, seemingly trying to come up with the right word.

"They're hideous" is Ino's contribution, and Sakura can only nod.

"Well, I like them." You sniff. "Next you're going to tell me you want me to wear something other than cheongsams."

They glance at one another, and you spot something unspoken pass between them, then they both nod resolutely and turn back to you with shark-esque grins on their face.

You take an instinctive step back.

"Tenten we're-"
"-staging an intervention-"
"You clearly can't-"
"-be trusted to take care of yourself."

Okay, so that is definitely creepy. You take another step back.

It isn't enough.

What follows is a whirlwind of fabric that quickly swallows you whole. You quickly lose control of the situation as all manner of clothes are piled in your arms. It's all you can do to make sure that you grab some clothes you actually like to slip into the growing pile in the chaos. It only comes to a close when you are unceremoniously shoved into a changing stall with a stack of clothes taller than you are.

"Make sure to try everything on!" A pair of voices shout from the other side of the door.

You stare at the towering pile, "All of them?!"

"Yes!"

Are they mad at you for something? You feel like they're mad at you for something, though thinking back you can't imagine what.

You gulp as you begin the arduous process of digging through the pile, looking for at least something you can salvage from this fiasco. Too short...too tight...not tight enough...not enough pockets...who designed this? ...too short...but why mesh though?

You're beginning to sense a pattern here and that pattern is "skirts" just...so many skirts. Which isn't bad, it's just you can't remember the last time you wore a skirt. Still, you stare at the pile of clothes in front of you. You might as well try to make something of it before moving onto the smaller selection of clothes that are actually more your style. Hm. This halter top doesn't look too bad, and if you wear shorts underneath like everyone else a skirt isn't the worst thing ever.

You carefully pick your selected articles off of the pile and put them on before turning to the mirror to check yourself. Then you immediately turn back around and take them off because somehow you managed to make everything clash with everything else simultaneously.
Tenten actually botched a roll here, because well...two dice is not a stellar dice pool
Then you look through the pile again and you realize that they are actually organized into outfits. On one hand, you're a little bit insulted they didn't trust you to pick out cohesive outfits on your own...but then you also crafted the abomination you were just wearing so perhaps they're right.

You hold the first one up against your chest, it's clearly one Ino picked out, and well...you don't hate it. But it's definitely not something you'd normally wear. You will admit the pink dress is pretty cute, but it's short and distinctly lacking in pockets. You like pockets.

You narrow your eyes when you pick up the other prominent one, which you can only assume was from Sakura, this is...pretty nice actually. It's a grey dress that only comes up to your thighs, but it's also combined with actual pants and belts you can put things in. You could always swap out the pants for other ones with actual pockets too, they're practically the same thing anyway. See? Fashion isn't hard once you get the hang of it.

You're almost set to go with the one in your hands when your eyes set down on the small pile of clothes you had managed to pick out. Your earlier attempt may have been a disaster, but this is your style. Maybe there's something to be said for sticking to what makes you you?

The white cheongsam you had picked out was similar enough to the pink and blue ones you usually wore, though the cut was different and the material was significantly nicer. Now, you can just pull the pants from earlier out and grab the belts from here aaaaand....Voila!

You glance over at the mirror and your eyes widen slightly, it...it looks incredible. Though part of it may be your biases, since these are the clothes you're most comfortable with, but you don't particularly care. You love it, even more than you liked Sakura's outfit. Hah, intervention your ass, you'll totally show them up with this. See how they handle your "Fashion disaster" this time around.

Images of manically grinning pre-teen girls flash through your mind.

...on second thought maybe you shouldn't provoke them.

What outfit to you walk out with?

[ ] Ino's Pink Dress: It's okay, you guess, and it would really test your comfort zone. Plus, it'd probably get you closer to Ino if you picked her choice over Sakura's. You can even see yourself wearing it in public...once...at night when no one can see.

[ ] Sakura's Gray Dress: You really, really like this one, even if it's a step outside your usually wardrobe. But hey, maybe a promotion to Chunin is when you should take the chance to re-invent yourself.

[ ] Your own style: Your own outfit doesn't bring anything new to your wardrobe except for a manifold increase in style. But you love it to bits and want to wear it forever, and you already have a reputation as "that genin who wears qipaos" so you could probably build off that.

[ ] Do over everything! Try again!

Man, Sakura high-rolled like a motherfucker in crafting her design choice for Tenten. Unfortunately with the addition of Tenten's Integrity pool to sticking to her own style she got out motherfucker'd. (Seriously 5 and 6 successes on 5d10's is not normal).

Poor Ino only got 2 with a bigger dice pool.

Also next update you find out your elemental nature (thank @uju32 for this) and find out what Ino and Sakura have been up to while Tenten figured out how to into fashion for an hour and a half.

Crilltic · Mar 6, 2017

You look back and forth between the gray dress and the white qipao, this is proving to be a difficult decision. You like both of them, perhaps the one you made a bit more, but then that's to be expected. You've worn qipaos for everything as long as you can remember. Plus it looks really, really good on you. Though there's also something to be said for stepping outside your comfort zone with an outfit you also like. Ino's dress lays to the side, it's decent enough, and she's the kind of person you'd expect to know the latest fashion trends. But you cannot adequately encapsulated how little you care about those.

Which brings it down to two. You bite you lip...you know what? Screw it. You'll just buy both. It'll probably take out a larger chunk of change than you were hoping to spend on this venture, but you'll bite the kunai on this one. You quickly bundle up the clothes you plan on purchasing, putting the rest off to the side, and slip back into the clothes you wore here and push back the curtains to the changing room.

"Hey, sorry I was in there for so-...long." You trail off when you emerge to find yourself standing alone outside the changing rooms. You glance around, "Sakura? Ino?" But the two pests who dragged you here are nowhere to be found. You rub the back of your head, did they seriously drag you here, stuff you in a changing room, and then ditch you?!

"Tenten!"

The shouts to your right interrupt your annoyance, "Oh good, I thought you guys...ran...off" You turn to greet them but your greeting dies on your lips. The bundle of clothes in your arms falls forgotten to the floor as you look at the pair of them, and more specifically what the pair of them are wearing.

"You like it Tenten?" Sakura gives you a beaming smile, with one hand cocked proudly on her hip, clad in dark red jumpsuit and boots.

"Yes, I think it makes us look positively youthful!" Ino pipes up with a smile and thumbs up of her own, clad in a matching purple jumpsuit.

You feel your face go through several expressions as you look back and forth between the two girls. Shock, denial, annoyance, more shock, before finally settling on abject terror. For the love of-...it really is contagious.

Your mouth opens and closes several times before you can manage speaking, "No." You settle on blunt refusal, "This is not happening."

You stare down the two of them, but it is Ino who cracks first, dissolving in a fit of giggles. Sakura just glances down at her out of the corner of her eye, "See? I told you."

"Y-your face, t-totally makes up-ahahaha-your face was great." Ino eventually manages to get her laughter under control, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "That was great Sakura," She glances down at herself, "Now, I'm going to change out of this abomination before anyone sees me."

You stare at the retreating form of Ino, and the quietly chuckling form of Sakura in confusion, before realization suddenly dawns on you. You turn on Sakura with narrowed eyes, "You are the worst."

She just crosses her arms with a smirk, "It's just payback for throwing us into the deep-end with your absolutely insane sensei when we didn't know what we getting into."

You snort, "I didn't see you complaining when we left Ino alone with him." As you pick up the clothes you dropped in your surprise you feel the need to defend your sensei, "Plus, he's not insane he's just...very driven. And, ah, quirky" Understatement of the year right there.

Sakura blithely ignores you as she peaks at the clothes under your arm, "So, what'd you end up going with?"

You shift the clothes slightly to let her see, "I couldn't decide between the one you put together, and one I made from clothes I picked out myself, so I just decided to get both."

Sakura blinked at that, but before she could reply Ino reappears. "Hey, what'd I miss?"

Sakura turned to face the blonde girl with a cheeky smile on her face "Oh, Tenten here was just saying how she liked my outfit so much more than yours."

Goddammit Sakura.

In an attempt to forestall the argument you can clearing see gathering on Ino's face, you choose this moment to butt in. "Ino, your outfit was fine, great even, it just wasn't really...well me. And I didn't really want to buy an outfit I didn't think I was going to wear."

"But, sleeve-less dresses like that are the latest trend! If you wear that you'd be getting in on the ground floor!" Ino splutters.

You tilt your head in confusion that is only half-feigned, "And?"

Ino throws her hands up in the air with a groan, "Completely. Hopeless."

You shrug, "Besides, my favorite thing was the one I came up on my own," You hold up the white qipao, "See, this one is basically perfect."

Both Ino and Sakura give you dubious looks, but you'll show them, and they at least don't press the issue. Instead Ino turns to Sakura, "Aren't you going to change?"

Sakura just glances down with a small smile, "No actually, I kinda like it. I'll think I'll buy it."

Ino looks aghast, but you just suppress a small shiver. Whatever happens, you must do your best to make sure that Gai-sensei never, ever, sees her wearing that. Ever. That thought is crystal clear in your mind.

Eventually however, you manage to corral the two girls away from the clothing section of the store and towards the eventual exit from the department store. Until that is you yourself get distracted by several small sheets of innocuous white paper on a shelf. You carefully pick the small packet up off the shelf and turn it over in your hands.

"Hm? Tenten, what are those?" Sakura peaks over your shoulder.

You hold them out for her to see with a smile, "Oh, these are sheets of chakra paper. They're used to test for elemental affinity. I just didn't know they sold them here. I've been kinda meaning to find out mine for awhile, but Gai-sensei never put much emphasis on ninjutsu, and I've been focusing on weapons for awhile." You spare a glance at the price displayed and recoil just a touch. Sheesh these things are expensive, but you pick up the pack anyway.

The three of you move to the check-out, between the outfits and the chakra paper you blow a nice little hole in your spending money until you can start taking missions again, but hopefully with your promotion to Chunin coming that will mean a nice influx of cash to your pockets. To your continued disbelief, Sakura actually goes through with buying the jumpsuit, while Ino just buys some odds and ends.

It isn't until you get outside the store that you take out the pack of paper you bought. Sakura just looks at you expectantly, and you handed over one of the scraps of paper to Sakura. You also offer one to Ino, but she shakes her head, "I already know what mine is, thanks though."

Sakura clutches the piece of paper in her hands, "Okay, so what do I do?"

"You just channel chakra through the paper, it will react differently depending on what your affinity is. If you have a wind affinity it will-" Sakura's brow creases and the piece of paper almost immediately flops over soaked, "-or if you have a water affinity it will do exactly that." You seamlessly finish.

Then, for the moment of truth, you hold up the piece of paper in your fingers and focus. The piece of paper almost immediately catches fires in your fingers. Which leads to you enduring some good-natured joking the entire way home about how Sakura's elemental affinity beats yours.

It's good to have friends.

By the time you get back to your apartment it's already dark, but fortunately this time you don't encounter any emotional unstable foreign-nins stalking you, or watch an unholy monster murder one of the exam contestants, or anything else that would end in you talking to ANBU. Again.

So instead you collapse into bed thankful for the reprieve from the chaos that the chunnin exams have dumped on your life. What's worse is you haven't really had a chance to talk to anyone about what's happened, both because of the orders not to, and because who would you talk to? Neji still hasn't talked to you, Lee's in the hospital, and Gai-sensei already knows plus you can already basically hear what he'd say.

You turn over on your bed and groan into one of your pillows. You could try talking to Sakura and Ino but well...

[ ] Open up to both of them a bit, nothing confidential of course, but just let them know more about what's been going on with you outside the times you've seen them.
[ ] Sakura definitely, but Ino you're not so sure about. You honestly don't know how you feel about Sakura's vitriolic "friend" and you're not going to do anything until you figure out it out.
[ ] Just keep what's been going on going on, you like have friends you can just unwind with and not thing about how crazy life has gotten. Plus, you're not sure involving them is a the best idea.
[ ] Write in

Which still doesn't answer the fact that you've still barely managed to process how you even feel about the events of the last week.
[ ] Proud yet frightened: You've done something great, an ANBU member flat out told you that to your face, and you're proud you managed to serve your Village well. But you're keenly aware that in doing so you stuck your neck into something way bigger than you. Involving a lot of people who could very easily kill you without a second thought.
[ ] Excited yet overwhelmed: A whole lot of it was exciting, and terrifying, but it's all just so much to take in. Just the numerous plausible answers for what you've seen make your head spin, it's...well saying it's a "bit much" is a rather tremendous understatement.
[ ] Optimistic yet anxious: You've done a lot of good, but you can only hope you've done enough. Something is obviously going on, and you worry that despite what you've managed to accomplish something terrible is still going to happen.

Gained +2d bonus to Appearance rolls until the end of the week.
+2XP towards increasing Appearance.
Ino [2/3 Scenes] for Intimacy.

Tenten has a Fire Affinity.

Well, that scene was kinda a pain to write, but alas, it is finally done. Because the vote was close I went with Tenten buying both outfits, so she'll be wearing them both. However, the vote did decide which outfit I'm going to get a commission for her in, so there's that at least.

Hopefully the next update takes less time, so you'll get to see Tenten torment Temari in the near future. Which you'll have Sagacious Reading of Intent for...so that should be fun.

Crilltic · Mar 9, 2017

The next morning you pull one of the blank scrolls from your shelf and settle down on your apartment floor. The reminders of the hole you blew in your wallet are sitting carefully folded on the shelf in your closet, but you remain in the clothes you slept in as you carefully pick up the brush coated in black ink. You sink into the carpeted floor of your apartment as you begin the familiar routine, the brush expertly tracing the beginnings of a storage seal in your practiced hands, the strokes quick and clean.

The fuzzy feeling is back, like you're straining to look past what you're writing to see something deeper. It reminds you of how you felt when you first started practicing fuinjutsu. Learning to look past the seals being drawn, forcing your chakra to uphold the intent of the seal itself. The brush skims over the blank white of the hard-backed paper in front of you as you concentrate. Fuinjutsu was one of the first things you found that you were genuinely naturally talented at, the same with throwing, rather than something you had to forcibly claw your way up to a decent level with. When you had discovered it you had been overjoyed, finally something you were the best at, finally something you had a knack for.

You practiced throwing until your fingers bled through calluses, you practiced writing seals until your hands were so cramped you couldn't hold a brush, but you didn't care because they were yours. Sitting here, making the familiar movements with your brush lets you pretend, just for a second, that it's like before again. Before the chunin exams started and everything got turned upside down. That you can show off this new scroll and Lee will be amazed and Neji will give you a slight smile, because even for a prodigy he can't use weapons like you can, and you'll feel that swell of pride in your chest but you can't.

You can't because everything's insane now, Lee's destroying himself to try and prevent being crippled, you're in way over your head and Neji...Neji won't talk to you. Neji's never not talked to you. You may not be the best at saying what you mean, but you can listen, you prefer to listen, but now he won't even let you do that. You didn't have a lot of friends. In some sense you still don't, Sakura and Ino are nice enough but they can't replace Neji and Lee.

No one can replace Neji and Lee.

A harsh snap shakes you from your revelry and you look down to find the ruins of the brush in your hand. You let out a sigh as you let the shards fall from your hand, careful to avoid any splinters. The fuzzy feeling is gone now, replaced with something else, but it isn't until the faint golden flow reflected on the white paper draws your eye to the half-finished seal that it clicks. The harsh lines of the seal, stark and angry and desperate, blur together into a picture in your mind. The intent behind what you've made all too clear now.

<To relive a happier time>

Gained Charm: Sagacious Reading of Intent

All around you the written word melts down when you look to reveal their hidden intent. Some were easy to guess, other's less so, you'll have to get rid of some of those books on your shelf at least. With a mental flick everything around you flows back to normal, but you can still feel it there, a slight weight on the back of your mind. Pride blooms inside you, but then you see the shattered remains of your brush in front of you and the accomplishment turns bittersweet in your mouth.

You glance out the window, at the sun still high in the sky and the streets of Konoha, and rise. Maybe some fresh air will help?

You hope it does.

*****

The streets of Konoha are filled with people, the markets and shops bustling with commerce attracted by the Chunin Exams. You only remember one previous Exam that was held here, but before it was much the same, though at the time you were young enough to care more about the street vendors giving away sweets and such to young kids far more than the Exams themselves. Now, however, as you push through the crowds your thoughts are elsewhere still.

You idly test out your new ability as you walk, causing the advertisements and merchants hawking wares to somehow become even more cynical. You stop every now and then when you find someone who truly needs, sacrificing some of your ryo to ease someone else's pain. It's the least you can do.

But that's not what you focus on either, no what consumes your thoughts as you wade through the sights and sounds of Konoha is the mess you've found yourself in. You're proud of what you've managed to accomplish for the Village. You even have a commendation from an ANBU officer to your face, but you're also scared. You're scared you're in over your head. Whatever happened last week was much bigger than you, bigger than any mission you've ever done, and involved a lot of very terrifying people. You're scared you haven't done enough, that despite your best effort you just weren't good enough. Hayate still died in front of you, taking whatever he was going to say, everything he had found, with him.

You're scared that despite your best efforts you won't be able to protect the people you care about from whatever's coming.

All these worries pile up on top of your existing worries, about the exam, about your friends, as you walk through the crowd of people. Weighing you down as you push through, noticing but not seeing the people around you until you slip up and collide with a person standing near the edge of the street. The impact jarring you from he melancholy thoughts hanging over you like a crowd.

"Watch where you're-..."
"Sorr-"

You both start talking at the same time, her admonishment mixing with your apology, until you notice the sandy blonde hair and the harsh, metallic lines of the fan. "Temari?"

She seems to have a similar realization at the same time, because her eyes narrow as they land on you, "You."

"Hey..." You muster a weak smile, the last time you saw her was in the hospital, the day after you saw her brother tear one of the other contestants to shreds and her instructor gut your exam proctor like a fish. In your haste to cover up how much you were freaking out at the time you accidentally declared her to be your arch-rival. "Good to see you out of the hospital!"

She grunts in response then turns fully to face you "What do you want?"

That makes you pause, you hadn't initially intended to even meet up with her, you just wanted to get out...to do something. Not that you were doing a very good job of that up until now. Hanging out with her might help you take your mind off things, for a little while at least, or it might not...but you don't have any other plans for today. Not unless wandering through Konoha slowly stressing yourself out counts as a plan.

So what do you want?
[ ] Suggest a sparring match.
[ ] Find some place to eat.
[ ] Just try and hang out with her in the market district, get to know her a bit better.
[ ] Write-in

Oops that took a little while longer than I anticipated. However, it's for a good cause, because I spend that time re-reading through the quest, and getting feedback on it from my friends to try and see what I'm doing well and what I'm not. Main takeaway was that up until now I've done a very poor job of actually presenting Tenten's internal narrative and characterization. She's just kind of there, reacting to things in the immediate but nothing beyond that.

So I'm aiming to improve that obviously, so feel free to let me know how I did in this update, and other updates moving forward.

Oh yeah, and if I can use this quest as a vessel to pimp fanfics I think deserve to be read, I choose to pimp Necromancer, simply because it has one of the best Tenten's I've seen in any fanfic ever.

Also passed 100k views. Holy shit.

Crilltic · Mar 11, 2017

"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?

Crilltic · Mar 13, 2017

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

This vote count is in an error state, please contact support

Crilltic · Mar 16, 2017

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.

Crilltic · Mar 19, 2017

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.

Crilltic · Mar 20, 2017

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.

Crilltic · Mar 25, 2017

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.

The Princess of Blades (Naruto/Exalted)

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