Time forever marches on leaving behind the unprepared and the busy and not even sorry can bring it back.
Again I own nothing in this story. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and Avatar the Last Airbender to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
The Many Branched Path
"How could you let them take Appa Why didn't you stop them?" Aang yelled, unsuppressed rage evident in his voice.
"I couldn't! The library was sinking! You guys were still inside and..." Toph yelled back in an attempt to defend herself motioning to the sand dunes around her.
"You could have come to get us! I could have saved him!" Aang yelled back unable to control himself.
"I can hardly feel any vibrations out here. The sand benders snuck up on me and there wasn't time for..." Toph again tried to speak up.
"You just didn't care! You never liked Appa! You wanted him gone besides what was Tenten doing?" Aang interrupted accusing Toph.
"I tried..." Tenten gasped out from the ground.
Katara walked up to Aang and tried to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Aang, stop it. You know Toph did all she could. She saved our lives." She said.
"Who's going to save our lives now We'll never make it out of here." Aang lamented still shouting as team Gai looked on from the background.
"That's all any of you guys care about: yourselves! You don't care whether Appa is okay or not!" Aang said storming off.
"We're all concerned, but we can't afford to be fighting now." Katara replied calling out to him.
"She's right." Neji said speaking up. "We can't afford a team breakdown know... you know the stakes at risk and especially not given our current position." He said motioning to the surrounds sand dunes, with not even wind lightly caressing the grains of sand that spread as far as the eye could see.
"I'm going after Appa." Aang said looking back at them. "Since I'm the only one who cares." Aang then spread out his glider.
"Its not like any of you have ever lost your friend!" He cried flying away.
"Wait Aang!" Katara cried trying to run after him before giving up after a few paces. She turned away from the crater Aang had left in the dunes where the library had once stood.
"We'd better start walking. We're the only people who know about the solar eclipse. We have to get that information to Ba-Sing-Se."
"Tenten... can you walk?" Neji asked quietly to Tenten as Lee helped her up with one of her arms around his shoulder.
"I... I think so Neji" Tenten replied taking a few shaky steps forward before stopping.
"Yea, I'll be ok, it was only a glancing blow, I've suffered worse and I don't want to slow us down."
"Ok then if your sure... Lee, Tenten you go with them" Neji commanded as the veins round his eyes slowly started to stand out.
"What about you Neji?" Tenten asked.
"I'll follow Aang" was the reply as Neji dropped into a crouch as a blue glow emanated from his legs. "I'll catch up to you don't worry... and Lee, look after Tenten, make sure she doesn't over exert herself." He said offering a smile before he too jumped off blasting up sand into an explosion and causing Lee and Tenten to raise their arms to guard their eyes.
Katara looked and Neji's rapidly moving figure as he sprinted across the desert before turning around and starting to walk in the direction they came.
"How is he doing that?" She asked.
"He is using his chakra to reinforce his legs!" Lee proclaimed following her. "It does not require as much control as walking up walls, but instead offers an explosive boost of power to help travel great distances." Lee paused. "Although it still does not beat weight training induced speed!" Lee said.
"You also need a good supply of chakra to use it" Tenten said. "Using it to rush to a battlefield is a bad idea as you will be suffering from exhaustion before the combat has started, but for when you need to move quickly... it's very useful although easy to detect so is useless for stealth."
Sokka quickly ran up to the group before looking over his shoulder.
"You think if we dig out the giant owl, he'll give us a ride ?" he asked only to receive silence in return.
Sokka was already panting heavily with sweat pouring off him. Sand dunes encompassed the landscape in all directions offering little to no cover from the harsh sun. The intense heat caused the very air to appear to be shimmering under the hazy heat. There was not even any wind to cool the travellers down with the only water stored in the few plants scattered sporadically across the sprawling dunes. Tenten turned to look at Sokka concerned from his panting before turning to Katara.
"If you ever need a weapon I'm sure Sokka can offer you plenty of ammunition." She said trying to cheer Katara up.
"Hey" Sokka gasped out. "Don't say that... I'm too... tired... to be... sarcastic." He panted. Sokka then reached out plucking Momo out of the air before spreading his wings and trying to use him as a hat. Unfortunately Sokka then stumbled and slowed down causing Toph to crash into his back.
"Can't you watch where you're..."
"No I can't" Toph said annoyed crossing her arms.
"Sorry" Sokka replied sheepishly. Sokka looked up to see Lee almost brimming with energy.
"How can you be like that?" He asked whilst Katara looked up as she also wanted to know the answer.
"It is not so bad my youthful friends!" Lee exclaimed. "It is like endurance training!"
"Not to mention this terrain is exactly like the Land of Wind especially near the village hidden in the sand." Tenten said.
"Come on guys we need to stick together." Katara said turning.
"If I sweat any more, I don't think sticking together will be a problem." Sokka replied whilst Toph simply pushed him to the ground to get him off her.
"Can I have some water?" She asked.
"Sure, but we have to conserve it." Katara replied.
"We should have been more prepared..." Tenten said watching the original group exchange words. "For them to come into the desert and not bring sufficient water or supplies"
"Hey look!" Sokka exclaimed running towards a cactus. "Our water problems are solved!" He cried slicing the cactus in one quick slice before bringing it to his parched lips.
"Sokka, you shouldn't just drink that it could be poisonous!" Tenten cried running forward.
"Whoa calm down its the quenchiest quenching quench ever!" He cried flopping down and acting like a worm across the desert.
"What the hell is this?" Tenten asked peering over Katara's shoulder to try and get a glimpse of the severed cactus bowl.
"I don't know... some kind of hallucinogenic?" Katara said throwing the bowl away letting the few remaining drops impact on the sand leaving a few darker patches of sand before they completely evaporated.
"I think you've had enough." Katara directed at Sokka.
"Who lit Toph on fire?" came her response.
"Can I get some of that cactus?" Toph asked.
"For some reason I doubt that would be a good idea." Tenten said.
"How did we get out here in the middle of the ocean " Sokka said.
"I have got to use some of this as a weapon..." Tenten said picking up one of her many kunai and using it to extract some of the cactus toxin and stored it in a vial before dismissing it to a scroll.
A large blast suddenly erupted in the air several miles away.
"I hope Aang's ok." Katara said looking fearful as a large anguished scream followed it.
"Neji's with him he'll be ok." Tenten said to reassure Katara. "Besides I think there's someone else you should be worrying about." And with this Tenten motioned to Sokka who was doing a rather good impression of a worm.
"Sokka is displaying the flame of his youth!" Lee suddenly exclaimed stopping to look at Sokka.
"Yea..." Tenten said glancing at Lee. ""I just wish he'd do it in the same direction as the rest of us..." Tenten made to carry on walking before looking back to see Lee standing watching Sokka.
"Maybe I should..."
"Lee if you do that I will hit you!" Tenten cried before joining Katara.
Night fell quickly on the desert plane, the searing heat turning rapidly to the freezing cold. Tenten and Lee unsealed their sleeping bags from their scrolls in their kits, but the rest of the gang had nothing to cover themselves with to escape from the harsh desert conditions.
"Tenten..." Katara asked. "Can we share the sleeping bag?"
"Sure" Tenten replied. "It will help keep us warm and protect us from hypothermia."
Lee offered to share his sleeping bag with Sokka whilst Toph pulled up a small amount of earth just big enough to fit herself under.
"What" She said when they turned to look at her. "I don't want to share and no there is not enough earth here for me to make us all a tent."
"Is there any more water?" Toph asked before Tenten tossed her a flask of water. "We shinobi are prepared for a couple of days hike, but we will need to stock up soon" Tenten paused. "I reckon we have another day or two if we push our supplies to the limit so we had better hope we are out by then."
"I hope that monster from earlier doesn't come after us." Sokka said fearfully to Lee whilst the girls conversed.
"What monster?" Lee asked.
"You know" Sokka said "The one that screamed earlier and nearly broke our eardrums."
"Sokka" Lee replied. "I think that was just someone showing their youth."
"Sokka let me see the things you took from the library" Katara said turning to her brother.
"What!" came Sokka's strained reply. "I didn't steal anything! Who told you that!" He claimed pointing an accusing finger at Momo. "It was you! You ratted me out!"
"I was there with you" Katara replied exasperated before she simply just took his bag.
"Oh yea..." Sokka replied before asking. "Why do you want to know about the stars anyway?" He asked as Katara liberated a star chart from the confines of the bag.
"I believe Katara is planning to use the stars to navigate towards Ba-Sing-Se" Lee said. "If we travel at night when it is cooler we will find the trip more pleasant and we can rest during the day, provided we find some shade to prevent the sun from getting to us."
"But I need rest now..." Sokka whinged.
"Oh relax." Tenten said. "We won't be leaving for a while so you can rest now for a few hours."
"True" Katara said before looking back the way they had come. "I hope Aang and Neji will be ok... how will they know where to go?"
"Don't worry" Tenten said comforting Katara. "Neji can use his Byakugan to find us like he found the library."
"Yea, how does that work?" Sokka asked.
"It's a bloodline trait from Neji's clan... but I will not say more than that." Tenten replied. "If you wish to know more you will have to ask Neji and even then he might not be allowed to tell you."
"That's ok we understand" Katara said sending a pointed look at her brother. "You guys get some rest, I'll figure out what where we are going and then we can head out."
"Hey guys!" Sokka exclaimed perking up from his previously slouched position. "I think I can see some shelter ahead."
"That's just a mirage" Katara replied not wanting to get her hopes up.
"No it's not!" Toph said joining in. "I can sense it there's a rock. YES! Finally some earth!" Despite the scorching sun the three began sprinting, well wading given how hard it is to move in sand, as fast as they could to the rock.
"So much for travelling at night." Tenten said wiping sweat from her brow.
"Come on Tenten do not let the heat dampen your flame of youth!" Lee exclaimed.
"It's not my flame of youth that's damp." Tenten said sending a sidelong glare at Lee.
"Besides Tenten..." Lee said "We need the cover for the middle of the day and we were too exposed at our last location."
"Fair point" replied Tenten trudging through the sand at a more sedate pace then her companions.
"Hey I think the cactus juice's effects have finally gone" Sokka exclaimed as Tenten and Lee jumped up onto the rock to look into the cave where the first three had entered.
"Finally." Katara said looking around. "I take it that means you won't be eating any more stupid..."
"Hey look at this!" Sokka cried diving for a yellow sticky substance clinging to the walls of the cave before he eagerly grabbed some and with Momo shoved it into his mouth.
"You've been hallucinating on cactus juice all day and then you just lick something you find stuck to the wall of a cave" Katara said exasperated.
"I have a natural curiosity."
"Yea about eating random things that have effects that are anything but natural." Tenten chided.
"I don't think this cave is natural." Said Toph facing towards the deeper part of the cave. "It looks like it was carved by something."
"Why do you think that?" Asked Lee turning so he had his back to the entrance
"She has a point" Tenten said leaving the brother sister argument. "The shape is wrong for this to be natural."
"There's something buzzing." Toph said straining her ears. "It's getting closer... look out! Something's coming this way!"
True to her words as soon as Toph had finished a giant blur rushed out of the cave followed by several more blurs. Tenten and Lee jumped back using chakra to enhance themselves to get immediately to the exit whilst Katara, Sokka and Toph ran for the exit. As they dived for the exit three of the blurs adjusted themselves in the air in front of Tenten and Lee so they could be seen hovering just out of reach. They were striped black and yellow and looked familiar to wasps, yet these creatures were far larger and looked more deadly.
"What the hell are these things!" Tenten cried. "They're like mutated wasps!"
"They're buzzard wasps!" Katara cried back before ducking under a rock Toph had thrown in a blind fit to hit her opponents.
"I can't see them!" Toph cried in despair.
"Don't worry!" Sokka cried brandishing his machete. "I'll deal with this!"
"Sokka... there's nothing there." Tenten said sweat dropping.
"I guess my head is not as clear as I though." Sokka laughed before the panic kicked in again.
"If only I had some water to bend." Katara said hastily dodging several dive bombs.
"Toph! Wasp to nine o'clock!" Katara shouted between dodges as Toph sent a large boulder spiralling out to smash into the wasp knocking it out of the sky with rubble and blood falling down to impact on the sand below with the thirsty sand claiming the red liquid in but a few seconds.
In the centre of this maelstrom Lee stood composed, meditating with his eyes closed. He breathed out a deep breath before his eyes snapped open. Each heartbeat could be heard easily in his ears, the beats of the wasps wings seemed as loud as Naruto's battles and he could see the wings moving and not in the blur for everyone else. He readied himself before he catapulted over a wasp falling down below the cliff edge to land on another wasp he knew was flying there to do the excess noise it created with its wings. He landed harshly on its back, using it as a springboard even as its wings gave out and it plummeted to the ground and Lee found himself above his starting position and swung his legs around in round kicks to smash away his opponents before falling down only to land on a thin rod of wood held out by Tenten. They smiled at each other before Tenten used the rod to swing Lee at the wall causing him to flip around to land feet first on it. Then with a mighty crack causing rocks and debris to impact on the ledge Lee flew into his foes like a diver crashing into the water and he took out several with his initial charge back to the desert floor. Most wasps followed him down while the few that remained had their wings sliced off by accelerating kunai. A demon wind shuriken managed to hit a wasp above its abdomen severing the thin part keeping it together and causing the two halves to spin down to the ground causing an impact and sending sand flying upwards. Lee could be seen down below jumping and spinning and fighting the rest of the wasps.
"C'mon we have to go!" Tenten commanded grabbing Toph and jumping down to meet up with Lee. Sokka and Katara shared a look seeming to say 'is she crazy?' before they ran down the path they had taken up to reach the bottom only to meet up with a sweating Lee smiling as he flashed his teeth at them, which seemed to shine even brighter in the desert if that was even possible, and pulled off a patented 'nice guy' pose.
"I see a bright light... must go into the light? Mustn't I?" Sokka said, almost as if in a trance.
"No Sokka" Tenten chided. "You do NOT want to walk towards, or look, at that light."
"Anyway my youthful friends!" Lee exclaimed as they began walking away from the hive. "What should we do now?"
"There's nothing else we can do." Katara sighed. "We must continue onwards towards Ba-Sing-Se and hope that Aang and Neji meet up with us."
A loud cry emanated from Toph in the background causing Lee, Tenten, Katara and Sokka to turn and glance at her on the sand rubbing one of her toes, glaring venomously at a slightly metallic looking rock whilst cursing under her breath. They looked for a few seconds before turning back to their conversation.
"If only we had some form of transportation." Sokka said placing his chin in his hand doing his 'thinking pose'. "It would cut our travelling time massively and it would be so much easier." To aid his statement he made a slicing movement in the air with his hand."
"We could always take the glider." Toph said joining them.
"Yea we could always take the... wait what!" Sokka exclaimed turning to look at Toph in shock. "You mean there IS a method of transport we can USE?" After saying this Sokka turned away from the others and raised his hands in the air. "I have magical summoning powers FEAR ME!" He yelled whilst Katara blushed in embarrassment looking at him whilst Tenten sent her a look of understanding.
"I know what it's like" she said whilst patting Katara on the back.
"What glider is this?" Lee asked his eyes shining as he turned to Toph. "Where is it?"
"It's over there" Toph said turning and pointing at the metallic rock they'd seen her at earlier.
"I don't mean to doubt you Toph." Tenten started as Sokka ran up a dune yelling "Come to me oh magical fruity beverage" before he looked around with Momo on his head looking in the opposite direction to him scanning for any tropical drinks in low orbit. "But how do you know that it's a glider?" Tenten finished.
"I kicked it hard enough to dent it." Toph said looking straight at Tenten. "I could tell exactly what it was... I may not be as good with metal as I am with earth, but with the amount of force I hit it with even Sokka could of told what it was." Toph and Tenten turned to look at Sokka crying before trying to get his tears into his mouth to quench his first. "Then again maybe not Sokka..." Toph said pondering.
"Anyway" Katara said. "Even if we have a mode of transport there it will be a challenge to get it out."
"A challenge!" Lee yelled the aura of youth glowing visibly even in the harsh desert sun.
"Oh dear" Tenten sighed.
"What is it?" Katara asked. In reply to the question Tenten merely pointed at Lee running towards the submerged glider.
"I will show my youth! Gai – Sensei I will make you proud!" Lee exclaimed before gripping the metal corner and lifted as hard as he could. To say Lee lifted the glider out of the sand would have been an understatement Tenten thought. Lift would imply a slow speed and maybe control and a glider does not have much control when it is moving quite fast with sand streaming off it in a downpour not to dissimilar to the waterfall at the valley of the end, of course the thing about it that really says that Lee had lost control was that the glider was currently five feet in the air, with Lee still holding on to the end.
Lee however, despite appearance to the contrary, was in perfect control. He flung himself aboard the glider and adjusted his position on it so it was as stable as it was possible to hold on a flying glider before he aimed to back onto the sand dunes. It crashed onto the sand kicking up the sand that had fallen off it previously. Lee managed to make it stop right in front of Tenten and Katara.
"Thanks Lee" Tenten said jumping onto the glider and looking around it.
"This looks like a glider the sand benders use" Katara said climbing aboard herself before turning to help Toph get on.
"But how are we going to power it?" Katara said. "It looks like it needs to be powered by sand bending, or at least air bending... me and Toph can't make this go."
"Don't worry." Tenten said motioning at Lee whilst Toph yelled for Sokka and Momo to get on. "Lee can make it go."
"How?" Katara asked.
"Simple I will push it." Lee said grinning before he jumped behind the glider. "Tenten" He cried. "Which way do we need to go?"
"Due West" Tenten shouted in reply "Towards three o'clock" she added checking the compass as Lee let out a roar.
"What's he going to do? How's he going to move this thing?" Sokka asked.
"If you had been paying attention earlier you may have some idea." Katara asked as a blue glow burst into life around Lee's legs. "He did get this glider out of the sand before."
Whatever Sokka's reply had been it was lost to the wind and became little more than a scream of panic as Lee started running faster than Sokka could normally whilst pushing a glider weighing a couple of tons with several people gathered on top of it and with wind resistance as the sail caught in the wrong direction as Lee moved so fast the wind seemed to be blasting into them like some kind of Airbender deity had decided to attack them.
Of course with such a huge acceleration a huge amount of sand was kicked up, spiralling into the air behind Lee as more sand burst out from under his chakra empowered feet as he almost flew across the desert and pierced through sand dunes that got in the way and tried to impede his progress. Of course such a presence of a sand glider travelling like a ocean going galleon with sand blasting up around the prow and travelling at high speeds is going to attract attention and as such several sand bender tribes had spotted them and had already taken to their own gliders in a race across the sand as they tried, and for the most part failed, to keep up with Lee. However numbers are always an asset and with several of the nomad tribes already in the area as Lee began to close on the transition from desert to earth several gliders had already stopped in front of Lee as a barrier and with Lee beginning to tire from being an engine more and more of the sandbenders gliders were catching up to him.
"Lee, left, left move left!" Katara cried as the glider shifted over before a blade of sand pierced through the sand that the glider had previously occupied naught but a few seconds ago.
"How are you able to move like that across the desert?" A sandbender cried from a glider to the left of Lee's glider as they closed in before ramming the side of their glider into the team's glider.
"How can you run like that?" Was heard before the man was forced to duck but a rather large and impressive array of weapons clattered into the metal of the glider.
"How did you outsiders even get a glider?" A man yelled as another glider smashed into the right side of the team's glider forcing the gliders behind to pull back so that they didn't hit their allies. Some tried to speed up over the sand to get ahead of Lee.
"We don't need to tell you!" Came Katara's reply as a blade of water slashed out at the opposing glider slicing through its sail causing it to swerve away as it lost control of its speed. The glider crashed into Lee's glider once more before veering away and flipping over to crash into a sand dune. Another glider cam up from the right to take its place however as a sandbender sent a blast of sand at Lee's legs causing him to have to jump over the blast before he leapt horizontally causing the glider to accelerate past their current foes. The backlash of sand and chakra shocked and blinded the sandbenders causing two gliders that had been approaching from behind to be up-ended and fall over vertically backwards by the explosion of force. The one approaching from the right swerved and crashed into a dune as the sand from the explosion caused the driver to be momentarily blinded and added to his sand whirlwind powering his craft overpowering the craft. Sand from the dune enveloped the craft as it crashed into it. The craft that had been previously thought to be stuck to the left of Lee's craft was sent spinning across the desert before it slowed facing the wrong way. After stopping the crew quickly got the glider started again and resumed pursuit although they had fallen behind by several seconds making all the difference as they would be unable to catch up again. However another glider closed in on the team from the left.
"Toph glider left!" Lee cried as Katara and Sokka held onto the glider for dear life as Tenten held Toph on board whilst using chakra to stick to the metal floor. Of course she had adjusted her posture in order to lower her centre of gravity and not fall over.
"Got it" Toph replied as Tenten let go of Toph so she could bend and soon a wave of sand was flying away from their glider towards the opposing glider looking like a torpedo travelling through the sand before it burst out and capsized the sandbenders glider. Lee ran as fast as he could over the sand, his legs blurring, as he swerved to the left and right over the sand and dunes avoiding the attacks of the sandbenders and other members of their tribes. He catapulted off a dune flying several feet before crashing down onto the sand. His legs nearly gave way, but he managed to move out of the way as another glider crashed down to his right and another glider approached from his left. A third sand glider almost fell on top of Lee before he pushed himself clear causing the falling sand glider to impact on the sand and sent sand flying forwards to trip Lee up. A fourth sand glider was not travelling fast enough over the dune so plunged face first into the sand below as Lee fell giving the glider one last final push with chakra enforced arms before he fell over, prone, on the floor with the two opposing gliders on the flanks desperately accelerating trying to keep pace with their prey as Tenten let loose a desperate cry for her teammate as he disappeared under the hot metal of the third remaining sand glider. As the glider passed over him instead of a sickening crunch a loud clang could be heard as a massive dent appeared in the floor of the glider before it flew upwards and spun around crashing back down to earth upside down with sandbenders toppling out of it. Lee jumped to his feet.
"Go... run!" He cried. "I will catch up later!" before he reached down to his leg warmers.
"Gai – sensei, I am sorry." He muttered. "But this is to protect my precious people!" He cried glaring up and pulling up his weights as the previously spun sand glider finally caught up again and flew over the dune and raced towards Lee. There was a faint look of recognition in the pilots eyes as he saw Lee standing in the desert holding to long strips of weights. Lee threw one weight directly at the pilot, hitting him square in the chest and causing him to fly backwards off his glider with a crunch as at least two of his ribs broke. The next weight was thrown onto the floor kicking up a huge amount of dust and sand obscuring Lee and the opposing glider from view. As the glider approached Lee in the obscuring cloud Lee poised himself than jumped aside at the last minute and kicked into the sail with enough force to bring the glider to a grinding halt as Lee was thrown backwards out of the cloud.
"Dynamic Entry!" He roared as he sprung back into the cloud. A pause of silence followed by a loud metal clang was heard before the glider fell apart from the force of the kick and several components flew out of the cloud to land near the driver in the dune.
"Foolish boy." A sandbender cried. "You are at a disadvantage in this sand now. We have the ability to attack you from all angles and you don't know where we are."
"Then I will just have to clear the sand and attack everywhere at once." Lee replied yelling. Some sand started to solidify and congeal around Lee.
"We will capture you and find out your secrets!" Was torn from the lips of several sandbenders.
"Leaf great whirlwind!" Was Lee's response as he spun and kicked up a tornado of air around him blowing away all the sand obscuring his vision and blasting away the sandbenders and their attacks. Some rising up with the whirlwind only to fall once they reached the top and slam back into the ground. Lee stopped spinning and looked up.
"Why do you distrust outsiders so much." He asked looking at the groaning sandbenders.
"If you tried for peace you might not have to be so hostile" He said picking up and returning his weights to their rightful positions. He turned to look in the direction he had pushed the glider.
"I hope the others are ok" Lee said as a huge cloud of dust arose and span up from the area. Several more gliders pulled up next to him.
"Green outfit with orange leg warmers and bandages. No doubt you're the one we were looking for." Came a voice from the leader of the gliders.
Lee turned.
"That is a good description of my youthful self." He said observing the man with side burns and a beard of brown hair, but was bald otherwise. He was flanked by two men with bandages covering their heads. On another glider stood a nervous looking man with longer hair who was also flanked by men with heads wrapped in bandages.
"I must congratulate you on beating these tribes. Not all of us are bandits and thieves, but some do give that impression." The man spoke again pausing for thought. "Now then... on to business."
After Lee had sent them flying with a burst of acceleration things had not improved much for Tenten and the others. Namely travelling at a quite high speed with no control over loose sand with experienced enemies bearing down from both flanks and the front was not the situation the ninja academy had trained its pupils to get into.
This of course is moot since if this is the point Tenten had realised that the ninja academy trained you perfectly for the real working life of a shinobi , she would not have made a good one, or more likely she would be dead.
Waves of sand parted from the prow of the sand glider as it passed over the dunes. Tenten applied chakra to her feet to steady herself before launching a few kunai with exploding tags at a passing glider to her left. The kunai struck home with a clang and before long a resulting explosion tore into its side and sent it crashing away. Tenten surveyed the rest of her team and concluded that there was not much hope. Katara was struggling with her limited water supply and had fallen back to just telling Toph where to shoot. Toph was struggling in the desert with limited rock and sight and Sokka was desperately trying to find a way to steer or slow down their glider.
"Take cover!" Came a cry from Sokka as he looked up to see a blockade of sand gliders stretching out in front of them.
"We'll never survive that impact!" Katara cried in anguish.
"What?... what is it?" Toph cried. "I demand to be informed as to what you're panicking about so that I may panic about it as well."
"Well the good news is that I've figured out a way to stop the glider!" Came Sokka's reply.
"That's great!" Toph said happily. "I can't stand this mode of transport any longer without Lee in control." She paused. "But wait what's the bad news?"
"The bad news is we're crashing!" Came Katara's reply.
The sand benders on the flanks not wishing to forgotten so soon began sending projectiles of sand over and onto the glider and without Lee to guide it many more meet their target causing the metal to shudder and groan against the sudden strain.
"Hold on!" Tenten cried readying more kunai.
"How are throwing knives going to help us?" Sokka questioned. "Unless that is some seriously epic paper on the pack."
Tenten replied by throwing her kunai at the sand in front of their glider and slightly in front of the blockade. The glider passed over kunai and Tenten choose that moment to detonate the exploding tags. A great explosion of sand and dust erupted out from under the rear of the glider causing it to up end and flip forwards over the blockade before Tenten, Katara, Toph and Sokka fell from it and landed sprawling on the ground with a thud as the glider shattered around the hole caused by the explosion and fell mainly with a loud thud and kicked up a dust cloud as it fell slight past them. Shards of metal rained down on the sand dunes piercing deep into the sand and managing to cripple one glider. The rest of the sand benders disembarked their gliders and advanced on the group, weary of their skills. The advance was stopped when Toph kicked up a dense wall of sand between the two opposing parties.
"I won't let you hurt my friends!" She cried defiantly as Katara and Sokka stumbled too their feet.
"Tenten!" Katara cried in worry as Tenten had tried to get to her feet by propping herself up on her hands, but she soon fell down back onto the sand.
"I-I can't get up." Tenten gasped out. "I never recovered from the injuries I sustained originally." She paused gasping for breath. "With that explosion, I think I've hurt myself more seriously I need medical treatment."
"Don't worry we'll protect you." Katara said moving in front of Tenten's prone body and got into a guard position.
"We aren't murderers" came from the bandages covering a sand benders head in a deceptively young voice. "We're just thieves really."
"Then why are you attacking us." Came Sokka's reply.
"The older members of our tribe may not like direct confrontation and don't even want us to steal at all." Came another young voice.
"The fools!" another yelled. "Don't they see that this is the only way to survive out here. We need to steal and attack outsiders if need be."
"Now try not to resist." Came a voice and the sadistic grin could almost be heard in his voice. The standing members of the group tensed. "This might not be too painful... we may even get your friend medical attention."
Sokka, Katara and Toph tensed in fear and anticipation as the sand benders charged forward. They were but a few scant feet from each other when a howling wind blew across the dunes slicing through the sand and causing both parties to hold up their arms to protect their faces. Tenten covered her head in her hands before looking up.
"I won't let you hurt my friends!" Came a cry from a slightly glowing figure, though Tenten wondered if that could just be a mirage holding a staff.
"Yes" said another robed figure dropping down next to the first and batting away a blast of sand with ease with two of his fingers.
"And I was wondering... could you tell me where my other friend is?" He asked calmly eyes glowing as he stalked forwards.
"ARRRRGGGGHHHH!" Aang cried slamming his staff down onto the ground causing a large mushroom shaped cloud of sand to erupt skyward.
"You are quite a hard person to track." Neji said, a lot more calmly than his companion. "Do you have any idea how far you've flown?" He continued. When Aang only turned to glare at him before looking away in disgust Neji carried on undaunted.
"You'll make them worry Aang." Neji said.
"What do you know." Aang spat out. "Let them worry. Let them worry now but when Appa was being taken everything was FINE then wasn't it."
"It was not Toph's fault that Appa was taken." Neji said "Neither was it Tenten's". His voice was level by anger was lacing his tone.
"They was there they could have done SOMETHING!" Aang yelled back.
"Toph was in an unfamiliar environment trying to save us." Came Neji's reply. "If it was not for her we may not even have broken the surface AND Appa would still have been taken." Neji paused. "Would you have preferred to have been left trapped underground to your doom whilst Appa was taken off and then he truly would have been lost because he would have been on his own without a friend to come after him, but we need to do it together as a team."
"A team yea right. What was Tenten doing whilst Appa was kidnapped!" Aang yelled back at Neji before he turned and blasted another sand dune from existence. He paused only to send a harsh blast on his bison whistle out.
"She was injured trying to protect your bison!" Neji spoke, almost yelling, almost. His tone was laced with anger now.
"Other members of your party are in trouble and yet you only think of yourself. Some party leader you are. One member is lost and instead of thinking about the remaining members who might be suffering as much as you, you choose to blame them all despite them doing the best they could to help the situation!"
"Well what do YOU know about loss!" Aang yelled turning to yell at Neji giving him his full undivided attention. Wind whipping around the two ruffling Aang's and Neji's robes and Neji's long hair. Sand flowed on the dunes around them as the wind harshly caressed the dunes.
"You don't understand do you?" Aang yelled flinging his arms up sending to blasts of air rocketing out from his palms, the sand being kicked up into blades where the only hint that they were there. Neji jumped and span to the side.
"You naive fool!" Came Neji's reply no longer calm. "You think you're the only one with loss?" Neji landed lightly on the sand glaring at Aang.
"My whole people are dead and I've just lost the only link to them I had!" Aang replied. Sending out another blast of air at Neji. Neji merely cut through the air with two chakra infused fingers as the air blast dispersed around him making his clothes and hair flap erratically around him.
"You don't get it!" Neji replied. "Your too busy lamenting the old links to care about the new links!" Neji stopped for breath. "Yes Appa is gone but he's not dead! If we can find him we can rescue him."
"What's the use... we'll never find him." Aang said slightly calming down as his depression took hold.
"Again with that defeatist attitude. How the hell did YOU become the leader?"
"Well what else has been lost? Tell me that Neji!"
"Toph can't visit her parents. They are still around yet she's lost them that can be even more painful." Neji yelled in retaliation.
"Sokka and Katara's village has been raided and they've lost many tribes people to the Fire Nation attacks because the avatar wasn't around to prevent it. They've lost more than just one sky bison and they've lost family and yet they don't blame you for not being there to help, for your mistakes, for the fact that it could be your fault. You judge Toph yet none of your companions judge you in the same way. Yet you still go off like this. You may be young, but your also the avatar and your companions aren't much older than you are."
"So" Aang said his voice cracking slightly. "That's only a few people."
"In my village I am an outcast from my clan. Most of the main branch would happily sacrifice me if I got caught and I once almost killed my own cousin, the only one who stood up for me. Lee has been picked on due to his inability to perform ninjutsu and genjutsu. Tenten does not know her parents at all. "
"Yea but..." Aang tried to start, but Neji interrupted again.
"One member almost got killed when his best friend betrayed our village. We chased after him to bring him back and his best friend drove his hand into his chest. He give him enough wounds to kill him three times, I dread to think how he survived. This same person has also never been allowed to live in peace in the village and both his parents are dead and you have the audacity to proclaim yourself the only grieving person."
Aang looked down sheepishly.
"Look around you." Neji said gesturing to the desert. "We are in the middle of unfamiliar territory and we've lost a companion and you storm off and blame your friends. That's not a good leader. You won't save anyone by doing that, in fact you may lose more people."
"But..."
"This world is war-torn. Attempt to keep the old links for I can't blame you for doing that, but don't endanger your new links..." Neji looked away from Aang as the wind began to die down. "Katara, Sokka, Toph, Lee, Tenten, we all care about you and Appa. His loss pains us as well and it pains us to see you like this. They need help and support that is what a leader is for."
"All right." Aang said with some authority in his voice despite his few years. "I get your point now let's go back. I'm fine now"
"No."
"What?"
"I don't believe you." Neji replied with a stony stare.
"What do you mean?"
"You do not mean that you get my point and it would be a danger to bring back an emotional and reckless leader."
"Fine then!" Aang cried, his arrows glowing as he hovered.
"Eight trigrams empty palm!" Neji yelled sending a blast of air and chakra right into Aang knocking him back.
"What was that for?" Aang cried jumping back to his feet. "I thought you cared about me I thought you were different from the Fire Nation."
"I do care for you" Neji replied taking a battle stance. "But until you show me your resolve to help your companions we can not go back. An indecisive leader will not help us regain Appa."
"I told you I'm fine!" Aang yelled sending wind blasting at Neji. Neji disappeared from view before the wind hit him making it dissipate amongst the sand dunes harmlessly.
"Then show me!" Neji said appearing beside Aang. "Actions speak louder than words." Neji span attempting to deliver an open palmed strike into Aang's stomach. Aang threw himself back on with a blast of wind and landed, but for a second before propelling himself up with an air current and began to hover several feet in the air above Neji. Neji paused before sending a barrage of shuriken at Aang. The shuriken pierced through the air before shaking slightly and falling as they lost their momentum before Aang's outstretched hand.
"Upsetting the air with vibrations... clever" Neji grinned before leaping to his left as an air blast tore up the sand he had occupied scant moments before. Aang gestured with his staff before making slicing motions. Aang span and delivered horizontal and vertical cuts in the air before Neji had to somersault out of the way as the blades of air crashed into the desert floor, cutting up the dunes and sending vast clouds of sand into the air. Aang scanned the ground and caught site of the dust cloud moving. He sent a powerful shockwave towards where he believed Neji to be before an explosion tore up the ground and countered Aang's shockwave. As a by product this also cleared the battlefield revealing nothing but sand. Aang looked surprised as he felt a disturbance in the wind and glanced behind him to see Neji perform an axe kick and send him flying to the ground. As Aang hit the ground he spat out short breathes catching Neji as he fell with small blasts of air that pierced through Neji's clothes as he tried to protect his vital spots. Aang gestured and Neji was flung to the ground as the air slammed him to the ground. A cracking sound was heard before a loud explosion of smoke appeared showing Neji's pack crumpled on the desert.
"Eight Trigrams vertical rotation!" Neji cried as he appeared over Aang and performed a somersault with a chakra wind following him around. Aang grunted as he raised his own barrier of wind to meet it. After what felt like an age but was actually a brief moment Aang sent Neji flying back. Aang flew up after Neji only to be countered by Neji spinning in mid air and performing eight trigrams heavenly spin. Aang flew into one dune as Neji flew into one opposite it. The two combatants lay there panting. Gasping for air the way a drowning man might. After a few minutes Neji spoke.
"That's good Aang." Neji said straining before managing to make it into a sitting up position. "You can be a good fighter and a good leader, but you lack experience." Neji stood up and made his way to Aang. As a leader you must learn to take the events fate deals you in stride and move on.
"Life is made of events and how you deal with them... and with a little experience you will learn how to do with events beyond your control." Neji offered the prone Aang a hand. Aang looked up before grasping it and allowing Neji to pull him to his feet.
"Thanks Neji." Aang looked around him. "If nothing else that has helped clear my head."
"Good" was Neji's reply. "Because we have company." The two turned around to view the dust cloud that was rapidly approaching them. As the two watched a group of strange craft came into view before pulling up in front of them.
"What are you outsiders doing in the desert?" The lead man clad in robes cried. "The open ground facing the full power of the sun is no place for a duel."
"Who are you?" Asked Neji putting out a hand to hold Aang back.
"We don't have to an..." another sandbender started before the first stopped him with a gesture.
"I am Sha-Mo" He replied. "Of a the Hami tribe and this is my son Gashiun, now who are you."
"I am Neji Hyuga from the Land of Fire and this is Avatar Aang."
"Fire Nation!" cried Gashiun. "Quick father we must capture him."
"Wait." Aang cried. "He is not from the Fire Nation and I the avatar will vouch for him as a friend and an ally."
"Is this going to happen everywhere?" Neji asked Aang.
"Unfortunately yes."
"Oh the joys of being tied with a fascist power with delusions of grandeur."
"If you'll vouch for him avatar then we will take your word."
"Wait father how do you know he is an airbender?"
"How do we know you arn't thieves?" Neji replied.
"I don't take kindly to those stereotypes." Sha-Mo retaliated.
"My apologies." Neji replied. "We should not judge on stereotypes of people we meet."
"Agreed" Laughed Sha-Mo. "I apologise for thinking that you were evil as well, despite my better judgement."
"He has the arrows and I know that their fight had two air users in it by the way they were fighting. Though I would be curious to know why they are friends now."
"Even the best of friends can spare to hone their skills, to settle differences." Neji replied. "Or beat some sense into them when they do something stupid."
"I still want to know if he truly is the 'avatar' that's been missing for over one hundred years." Gashiun said.
"Do I detect a hint of fear in your voice?" Neji asked. "Like you're worried or have done something you wish you hadn't know you have the clarity of hindsight."
"YOU TOOK APPA!" Aang practically exploded as rage filled him. His arrows glowed and he rose a few inches into the air with causing vicious winds to whip around him.
"What have you done Gashiun?" Sha-Mo asked.
Neji placed a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"Aang calm down." He said glaring with Aang at Gashiun, his eyes level with Aang's. "We need information and we can't afford to antagonise this tribe just because of one gang of youths." Neji grinned. "Besides, it's harder to extract information if you take out their cognitive abilities."
Gashiun took a panicked step back.
"Where's Appa?" Aang demanded slightly calmed down from Neji's talk and presence, but still filled with rage.
"I-I don't know!" Gashiun stammered back waving his hands in front of him. "We sold him to a group of Beetle – Head merchants and I think they were taking him to Ba-Sing-Se. I swear I'll help you in any way I can, just don't hurt me."
Aang turned away in disgust and strode forward a few paces to look over the desert before screaming in rage. His airbending skills amplified it and caused a shockwave to tear through the dunes.
"You will give us directions and transport to Ba-Sing-Se." Neji said looking at Gashiun. "We will also follow my lead to pick up the rest of our group."
"Yes of course we will." Sha-Mo said glaring at his son. "It is a tradition of ours to aid people we have wronged. When do you want to set off?"
Neji looked at Aang and then the sky.
"We should find cover for now and then you can tell us about these merchants and Ba-Sing-Se." Neji said. "Then we will resume travelling to find our friends."
"Of course." Replied Sha-Mo.
The wind rustled through Neji's hair and clothes as the glider practically flew across the dunes only hopping and shuddering as it passed over a few dunes. Neji turned as his hair flapped about wildly to observe the sandbenders manning the contraption. The tornado of sand easily powering the glider. Neji or Aang could have easily piloted their own gliders, but to make up for their wrongs the sandbenders had volunteered to power them allowing Neji to use his Byakugan to navigate the terrain towards the rest of the party. Aang was lying by the edge putting his hand in the dunes like a child on a boat dipping his fingers in the water. Neji knew Aang was feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders and he now no longer had his best friend Appa to help him deal with it.
"Are you sure we're are going towards your friends?" Sha-Mo called out snapping Neji out of his reverie and making him turn to look at him. Gashiun quailed slightly as Neji's vein emphasised eyes passed over him to rest on his father.
"Yes I am sure they have headed this way." Neji replied. As they skirted around a large rock which was the only piece of earth to be seen for miles.
"Well it's just that this leads to Ba-Sing-Se and I'm unsure how they could have travelled across the desert so quickly."
"They can be very inventive." Came Neji's reply. "They have maps of the area from the library and I'm sure Lee will help with the travelling."
A buzzard wasp flew lazily over head. Closed inspection revealed that its wing had been bent in a way that was not natural. The snadbenders could almost have sworn that it looked like it had been kicked. It flew into a cave on the earth before the sandbenders let out a sigh of relief.
"Buzzard wasps can be deadly opponents." Gashiun said. "I wonder what happened to that one."
"Now I definitely know my friends came through here." Neji said smiling.
"Your friends must be powerful to stop the buzzard wasps from patrolling." Said Sha-Mo.
"Yes they are powerful, but not powerful enough I fear in this unfamiliar environment."
"Why do you say that?" said Sha-Mo as Aang raised his head to look at Neji.
"Because of that dust cloud in the distance." Neji replied pointing out several small specs of dust moving rapidly across the desert.
"Curses" cried Gashiun. "Other tribes must have seen them and are after them."
"They we should hurry" Aang stated standing up before breathing deeply for two breaths. He then slammed his hands forward and a massive tornado sprang up powering them forward. The sandbenders quickly grabbed onto their craft as Neji released chakra through his feet to remain on the craft before sinking down to help keep his balance.
"Hold on" Aang cried redundantly. "I'm going to catch up to them."
As they closed in on the rest of the team Neji realised that Lee was no longer in view pushing the glider. He wasn't too concerned as he knew Lee could handle himself, but he was still slightly worried. He was however more worried about the others that he could still see being pursued by a large number of enemy combatants and with that information he made his decision.
"You guys" Neji commanded sounding every inch the Jonin that he was. "You go after Lee, I've already described him too you so you know what you are looking for. Aang we'll go after the others... I fear that they are in more trouble."
"Ok Neji" Aang replied readying his glider and looking resolute.
"Roger!" The sandbenders replied.
With that command Aang launched himself from the glider and flew off towards the conflict. The sandbenders looked up at a small disturbance in the flow of wind to see that Neji had disappeared from view. The sandbenders kept travelling straight on seeing Neji running across the dunes at high speed easily keeping up with the avatar flying on his glider.
"Up ahead sir!" Came the cry from a glider to Sha-Mo's left. "We can see a fight up ahead, it might be this 'Lee' that Neji was talking about."
"Ok" Replied Sha-Mo shouting over the wind. "Full speed ahead in case he needs any assistance."
As Sha-Mo approached the fight he could see the cloud of sand suddenly disappear amidst what appeared to be a freak tornado. He signalled for the gliders to come to rest as he came closer and head the young man lecturing about peace.
"Green outfit with orange leg warmers and bandages. No doubt you're the one we were looking for." Sha-Mo said.
The boy turned.
"That is a good description of my youthful self." He said
"I must congratulate you on beating these tribes. Not all of us are bandits and thieves, but some do give that impression." The man spoke again pausing for thought. "Now then... on to business."
Lee tensed.
"Haha, sorry boy I didn't mean it like that." Sha-Mo said hurriedly I meant that we met your friend Neji and wish to help you.
"You know Neji?" Lee asked looking happy at the thought of his companion being back.
"Sure, we agreed to help him after we found out that my son and his gang stole your Avatar's bison."
"It was you!" Lee asked.
"Yes and my son is sorry for it." Sha-Mo replied. "But we have already talked to Neji and the Avatar about that matter and for the moment we should focussing on helping the rest of your group."
"Tenten!" Lee yelled turning. "I hope she and the others are ok."
"Don't worry" Gashiun spoke up. "Neji and the Avatar headed for them as they thought you were ok. Get on and we'll take you to them."
Lee turned back to the sandbenders and gave his 'nice guy' pose.
"Thank you my youthful comrades."
"Just... just get on. Please." Gashiun whined as he cowered from the bright light that is the powerful desert sun reflected off Lee's teeth.
Neji felt his heart clench in fear as he saw Tenten lying prone on the ground as Katara, Toph and Sokka moved to protect her. Neji saw Aang react to the scene.
"I blamed her, but she got seriously wounded trying to protect Appa." Aang spoke dejectedly.
"There will be time for remorse later." Neji said. "If we can rescue them now that is."
"Right." Said Aang looking up as a faint glow started to emanate from his arrows. "I'll show them just how much I value my friends." Aang jumped up before throwing his glider into their. As it rose Aang extended his arms and blasted air from them making him spin a way similar to Neji's heavenly spin as Aang gained momentum his glider span back down towards him which he deftly grabbed and used it to launch blades of air whilst forming more around his orb of compressed air. At the end he batted his glider forward and all the air that had been compressed around him exploded out in that direction. The wind roared through the valley towards the group before with blunt force and slicing wind smashing into the desert and sandbenders sending a few flying and protecting Katara and the group.
"I won't let you hurt my friends!" Aang cried hovering just above the ground as he directed a glare at the sandbenders. The sandbenders looked shocked at the display of power, but one soon came to his senses before sending a large amount of sand blasting out towards the new opponent.
Neji took this moment to land next to Aang before he reinforced his fingers with chakra and used two of them to slice through the approaching attack.
"Yes" Neji said looking at the one who had launched the attack. "And I was wondering... could you tell me where my other friend is?" As Neji spoke he began advancing at a brisk walk whilst his veins started to stand out as his Byakugan activated. Neji broke out into a trot followed by a run as Aang flew past him to slam into a sandbender before he bounced off him to hit another sandbender in the face with a round kick. Aang then slammed his staff into the ground and spun around it kicking three more sandbenders away before finishing off by firing a blade of wind out as he span which took out another two and finally launching himself into the air from his staff and as he fell back to earth he slammed down causing a shockwave to emanate out to hit yet more sandbenders as he controlled it so the area with his friends did not suffer even a slight change in wind. Neji just ran into the crowd and span and ducked and weaved in and out of guards bringing pain to them as he hit their chakra points and disabled them.
"Y-your friend fell earlier over there." A panicked sandbender cried out as Neji advanced on him. If he thought that this would distract Neji he was sorely mistaken as Neji made his body experience pain that went beyond sore. Katara, Toph and Sokka looked at the carnage before Katara ran out towards Aang.
"Stop Aang! Please! Even they don't deserve this punishment." Aang turned to meet her, before he ran up to her and hugged her.
"Don't worry, me and Neji haven't done anything nearly as bad as it looks. Anyway I'm glad to see you again Katara and Tenten." Aang looked over at Tenten grimacing on the floor, but she managed to smile.
"I'm sorry for what I did earlier." Aang said "I was just frustrated at losing Appa."
"It's ok" Tenten coughed out. "I understand."
"Tenten be careful don't push yourself." Neji said running over to her to check up on her, tenderly taking care of her basic needs of comfort as Aang signalled for Katara to come over and help her.
Katara paused as, if only for a moment, she had thought that Aang while better had not returned to his usual cheery self. She discounted it later with a shake of her head before rushing over to help Tenten with her injuries. Sokka kept a watch over the groaning sandbenders. He was amazed to find that Aang was right and that the sandbenders where not hurt as much as he had originally thought. He gasped in terror as he saw three more gliders rush towards them.
"Guys more sand guys are coming!" He yelled in a panic.
"Don't worry" Neji said looking up. "I've been expecting them." Neji got up and turned as the gliders slowed to a halt near the group.
"You're late Lee." Neji said jokingly as Lee jumped off the glider and ran over to Tenten.
"To prove my youth I will do two hundred press ups to make up for being late!" Lee cried, but before he could start Neji stopped him and looked at Sha-Mo.
"Thank you for the transport. We know where we are going from here."
"Are you sure... we could help you more." Sha-Mo replied.
"No, your gliders will not work outside the desert and a smaller party is better at avoiding patrols and suspicion. Besides, we've almost reached the end of the desert anyway." Neji paused as Aang walked up to them.
"Thank you for your help Sha-Mo." Aang said. "Maybe after I have found Appa I will be able to forgive your son."
"That seems fair." Gashiun mumbled embarrassed.
"Then we bid you farewell" Neji said as he and Aang waved at the sandbenders as they readied their gliders.
"May we meet again in more pleasant circumstances!" Lee yelled waving at them as Tenten propped herself up to wave as well. As the group watched the sandbenders retreat back into their desert homeland Katara turned to face Aang staring out over the grassy and rocky terrain that welcomed them to the next stage of their journey. She did not want to set him off, but she felt that she had to ask the question.
"Aang... have you really forgiven them for stealing Appa?" She asked.
Sokka gasped in shock at his sister, but Aang didn't react as violently as he thought he might.
"I may not like Gashiun and his gang for stealing Appa, but... I can't blame Sha-Mo and the rest of his people for it. He and Neji taught me that. I will only hold my grievance with the people who stole Appa and attacked you. I can't judge everyone for the actions of the few, it isn't fair."
"Aang's right" Neji said. "Now we should move out of this desert and find a good place to set up camp and rest for a while. We need a break and we will most likely require a rest before the tasks ahead."
"Good idea." Said Katara. "It will give me a chance to heal Tenten and we can consolidate the intelligence that Sokka wanted so badly."
Bonus
"Hello and here we are again after another horrendous and unyouthful break. I'm your host Rock Lee as Tenten is still recovering."
"The question this time is: Does the author take so long thinking up these question segments, or are the jsut lazy. Why does it take so long to be updated."
"An interesting question. The answer is that when threatening someone with shuriken for not updating and they call your bluff if you attack them they are unable to write"
Question Answered.