"Oh, Iljrene. What's up?"
"All the divination specialists are saying it's today."
"It's today? What's today?" Tenten thought about it for a moment, going through her schedule. Sword practice with Iljrene later, while now she was heading for breakfast with everyone. A big communal affair that the priestesses would give a sort of blanket blessing during. Later she had to check the task board and see what little odd jobs needed to be done. Lunch at some point. Ranged weapon practice later on, which she already had down but she had to help with the others who weren't as skilled. Later on was supposed to be something.
"The path to your home universe is opening today," said Iljrene, watching her student in the blade for reaction.
Tenten's normally sure stride faltered. "TODAY?!"
"Yeah, the time distortion was always the big hurdle, and all the divinations agree - it breaks today." Iljrene smirked at the panic that briefly settled on Tenten's features.
"But... I got..." Tenten let out a breath and took a deep one to calm herself. "Okay. Is Naruto going to be ready?"
"Ready? I think he's been ready for the past two years," said Iljrene.
"TODAY?!" asked Sakura, green eyes staring.
"Yes," said Vejra, idly throwing a knife into a wooden target. "Word is that it will open shortly before noon. I heard that your little blonde friend was ready to try immediately."
"He better not try," practically growled Sakura. "Last time he threw himself against that time-ripple he was unconscious for three days!"
Vejra nodded, a brief smile flashing her white teeth made more brilliant by contrast with her dark skin. "I remember that."
"Yeah, you would," said Sakura with a disgusted tone to her voice. "I still can't believe you tried that."
"Too young, but has potential," said Vejra, tossing another knife into the target.
"I'd better go cancel my plans for the day then," said Sakura. "We'll see how the rest of it goes."
Her eyes opened, the lights from the crystal reflecting on them before she turned away.
"The distortion will end today," said Ino Yamanaka.
That is so, whispered the cavern around her.
"I'll leave and return back to my own world," said Ino, turning back to the crystal and closing her eyes again. Other senses reached out. "Psionic abilities work differently there. It may take me some time to adjust my Talents."
Nothing that you are not perfectly capable of, whispered the cavern. You have progressed far enough for that.
"Home," whispered Ino, her lips tugging upwards in a smile before she turned her full attention to memorizing what she could in what would be her last lesson here.
Block the oncoming strike, twist, duck, strike with two fingers at the nerve junction, leap back out of range of the counterstrike, dodge, parry.
Hinata eventually tired, her response getting just a shade too slow, and she was caught by a kick to her stomach that lifted her off her feet.
"Are you okay, Hinata?"
"Hai, sensei," said the girl with the pale eyes, catching her breath after the blow had driven it out of her.
"We'll stop here then," said the older man, rubbing at where her earlier nerve strike had landed. "You have to be ready for when you depart here."
"Hai, sensei," repeated Hinata. "I only have a few things to pack."
"I'm ready to go NOW, dattebayo!"
WHACKUM!
"Owie."
"Stop using that ridiculous catchphrase."
Naruto rubbed the top of his head. "It just slipped out."
"Remember your lessons, and TRY not to blow anything up that you might need later."
Naruto sulked for a few seconds before token-protesting. "I haven't done that in months."
"It's one of those things that bears repeating."
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(Posted Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:59)
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