10th Tomoe || Video, Action at Route 47, 4th Wall Event

[beforethedarkness]

[There was a Crobat flying around a boy frantically and a Luxio nuzzling at him to try and wake him when the pokégear broadcasts to the network. Once it's on, a Blaziken appears on screen and points him out, clearly distressed at the state of his trainer. It's not hard to see why, as Sasuke starts getting up and spares the gear a look. He's covered in burns and his clothes are slightly tattered, but that likely isn't the most jarring thing about him.]



[It doesn't take long for Sasuke to wobble over, his hand gripping tightly at his left shoulder the whole time while he does. He cuts the feed once he makes it to the camera.]

[ACTION!]

[He's breathing hard as he's just trying to keep going, stubbornly pushing his pokémon away from him at every turn. Those pokémon just continued to try and help him, or at least carry him, back to a town. Any town. They didn't know what to do when their trainer was like this, clearly in a lot of pain and weak. Why did he keep pushing them away?

He stops, nearly falling when someone appears in his path. Who, though?]

Comments

[beforethedarkness]

Rather than telling Neji what it was, Sasuke handed him the pokédex, "That will tell you. From the looks of it, it's your starter pokémon."

And then the mark... Sasuke has to take a breath, scowling at the memory as he's made to lean onto Hiruzen for more support. Normally he'd be more reserved with that information, but he didn't know when he'd run into someone from Konoha again. And Neji, whether he knew him well or not, was an ally, "Forest of Death... Orochimaru cursed me with his bite while I was fought him. From what Sakura's been telling me, it almost killed me."

[onefate]

Though he took the device, he didn't have the faintest idea how to use it; by chance, it falls upon the strange creature, information almost immediately popping up on the screen. "Mein...foo..." he repeats quietly aloud, skimming the information and giving it a glance when it seems to almost nod, reaching up to pat his elbow. "That's what you are? Wonderful."

If he wasn't careful, he'd end up with a zoo like Sasuke apparently had.

"Orochimaru?" That's right, there'd be an alert released about that; he'd heard some of the Jounin talking about being forced to miss the main match due to guard duty. "So that's the source of that vile Chakra I could see."

[beforethedarkness]

Believe it or not having a 'zoo' like Sasuke had was a good thing.

He took the device back once Neji was done with it, putting it away and nodding, "Yeah. Kakashi already tried to seal it, but it broke while I was fighting Gaara of the Sand. Now it activates if I over-exert myself, as far as I can tell."

After a beat, he added, "Better than before. Before today, I couldn't access my chakra at all."

[onefate]

Hey, he wasn't done with that! He wanted to see what these other strange creatures were. It couldn't be helped, though, because he wasn't about to ask for it back. Instead, he ignores the Meinfoo as best he can and stares at the other.

"Interesting. What I have done is not a seal, and will only last for perhaps an hour." Neji frowns and gives him a sharper glance. "What do you mean, couldn't access Chakra?"

[beforethedarkness]

"Exactly what I said. Something about this place suppresses it normally," He sighed, shoulders slumped as he recalled the first time he woke up in that town... New Bark, was it? He didn't quite remember.

"It happens to everyone. Chakra and abilities are lost, weapons are illegal... Inhuman creatures become human."

[onefate]

The corners of his eyes narrow as he starts to feel the familiar pulse of Chakra behind them, but he doesn't need to activate his technique to know the other was telling the truth, as impossible as it seemed.

Suppressing Chakra? Being unable to access Byakugan or any of his other techniques? He felt himself go just the slightest bit pale at the concept, though he only crosses his arms over his chest and lets out another 'hmph'.

"In that case, I will move on to find the rest of my team." He gestures carelessly. "Do you want this... thing?"

The Mienfoo's head immediately picks up as if it understands completely and moves around to stand right in front of him, letting out a sound that was clearly displeasure mixed with betrayal.

[beforethedarkness]

"No. It's yours, and you need it. The wild ones are violent, and normally using your own is the only way to fight them."

Something about that still left a bitter taste in his mouth. He really didn't like that he didn't fight his own battles here, but more than that...

[onefate]

Neji just stares down at it with a disgruntled sigh and crosses his arms. "So you say." He didn't like taking orders from the Uchiha brat of all people, but he wasn't above taking information when it was readily available. And the other's face spoke volumes more than his words.

"Are the animals the only hostile thing? These... pokémon?"

[beforethedarkness]

"... People with them can be hostile, too."

He sighed and finally tried to walk again, although the fact that Blaziken wasn't letting him slip away was more irritating than anything. He could walk, dammit!

[onefate]

"Of course." That only made sense, and he nods once. Could he fight without Chakra? He hadn't tried since that one day's worth of training that Gai-sensei had attempted to put them through. And while it was certainly possible, he'd hated every minute of it.

Still, he glances to the bird-thing with no small amount of amusement before crossing both arms over his chest again. "I believe your bird thinks you should rest. Where are you going?"

[beforethedarkness]

He paused at that, frowning at the ground before he answered, "East. It might take a while, but the closest town is in that direction. From there, we can catch a ferry back to the mainland."

Provided that this place doesn't decide to warp him again, of course. But it probably will, eventually.

[onefate]

"Mainland?" Neji's eyes narrow again as the arms over his chest tighten. "We are on the mainland. Gai-sensei and Lee and I on our way to the Land of Rice Paddies."

...As much as it irked him to admit that there was something he couldn't see, he had to ask. Eyes sliding shut in annoyance, he asks, "Have you seen either of them?"

[beforethedarkness]

... As much as he didn't want to (not while he was so tired anyway), he figured that it would be better to tell Neji now. Sasuke shook his head at him before pulling out the pokégear and holding it out to him.

"Look at the map. We're no where near it, or the Land of Fire."

After a moment, he added, "If they're here, they might show up or they might be on the other side of the world. I don't know where they'll be for sure."

[onefate]

Again, a moment of bewilderment as he takes the device, then manages to find the map and scowl at it. Impossible. Again, his Byakugan activate to scan the area, pushing to the very limits of his vision, trying to spot a familiar landmark, a person -- anything that might hint toward reality.

"Genjutsu?" He keeps forcing himself to look further, until the edges of his vision grow hazy several hundred meters in the distance.

The Mienfoo nudges him again, nearly making him lose his balance from the way his eyes were focused so far in the distance. Without returning his attention to the forefront, he scowls. "It makes no sense."

[beforethedarkness]

"No. I thought that might have been it too, but apparently it's a meeting of different worlds. When we go home is random and completely out of our control."

[onefate]

Neji is used to his fate being out of his control, but this wasn't due to the Head Family. Otherwise Uchiha wouldn't be involved. Still, it makes no sense, but if there's truly no helping it...

"Fine. I am going to continue to search for my team." Any direction was adequate, or so it seemed, but he certainly wasn't about to propose that they travel together so easily. "I recommend you rest before you collapse in the middle of the road. It would be quite an ignoble end for one of the famed Uchiha Clan."

[beforethedarkness]

"There's no where to rest until we reach town. It shouldn't take more than a day's walk to get there," He sighed and started to move again, still frowning at Hiruzen for his help before he returned Ino and Naru to their pokéballs. One pokémon fussing over him was enough.

[onefate]

...He'd never seen a summon release like that. No scrolls, no seals, just another type of small device. With one hand, he offers the pokégear, not entirely sure what else to do with it.

Without a word, he falls into step beside Sasuke, hands shoved in his pockets. This was the closest town he had seen when he glanced at the map, and it was only practical to travel with someone who knew the lay of this strange land. And, whether he liked it or not, the Mienfoo followed too, seemingly pleased that Neji wasn't trying to push it away any more.

[beforethedarkness]

"... At least now I have someone to spar with here," Sasuke smirked just a little, taking the pokégear back from Neji and putting it back in its place. It seemed like he still had enough energy for at least some attitude.

[onefate]

Neji only smirks in response, eyes falling closed though he continues walking as if there had been no change to his vision. "So it would seem. Though I'll permit you to rest some before you challenge me. I don't need the handicap."

[beforethedarkness]

He glanced back at Neji again, still wearing that smirk even as he was forced to lean against Hiruzen for support, "I wouldn't want to give you one."

[onefate]

"Heh." So the genius rookie of his class saw them as equals? Neji would have to be sure to beat that out of him, but it would be an interesting match. One of the ones he was most looking forward to for his exams. "It will be an interesting match, once you've recovered."

[beforethedarkness]

"... Mm."

Damn, he had almost managed to forget that too. The memory of his attacks being just plain ineffective still stung, but there was no helping it. Not then. He'd figure out a way to get past that soon, even if it just meant training until Chidori was stronger.

At least he managed to blow up that stupid flying chair of his.

[onefate]

Fighting Sasuke without Chakra would be... difficult. He couldn't anticipate exactly how that kind of battle would go, but he had complete faith in his own abilities to take him out. After all, Lee had been able to beat him, and they'd both had a month to grow stronger.

"Do you know when our access to Chakra will be limited?"

[beforethedarkness]

The question made him pause, but he shook his head after a moment as a negative answer for Neji. He didn't know... And he wasn't sure he wanted to.