Hello, again.
For the record, at least part of the reason this is one of the last ones of the tri-split chapters is because I'm having trouble figuring out things for Konoha. So starting next time, the Tsunade Retrieval at least will be well and truly over (even though this time will have their arrival).
Also, sorry about the delay. I claim writer's block combined with personal things.
Perspective: Sun/Sakura, Jack/Dash, various among the other brothers and Sasuke
Don't own MLP or Naruto, by the way.
Turning up everywhere
XXTurtle IslandXX
Sakura looked on, emotionless at the bow of the ship, and absently rubbing her arm as her mind replayed everything that had happened so far.
After they had gotten in to speak to A, Killer B, who was in attendance, instinctively went defensive at Sakura, only for Blossom to momentarily influence Sakura and smirk darkly at the man. Thankfully this helped to show just how necessary it was to get to Turtle Island.
Hence the boat.
Though it didn't exactly hurt things when her arm 'flexed' during the meeting.
Blossom chuckled inside the girl's head, but it wasn't loud enough for Sakura not to ignore it, which was helped along when Sun hugged her, let her lean into him. "It's only a matter of time now, Sakura. We're almost there."
"I know." she replied. "But this failing isn't what's scaring me right now. It's what could possibly come from it, even if it succeeds."
She then looked at him, worry evident. "I mean, what would it end up truly doing to me once everything is said and done? Blood Blossom isn't a Bijuu, she's a part of me. For all I know-!"
"There could easily be nothing that happens to you, so calm down." He was stern as he said that, not about to really take anything else.
Unfortunately, this time Sakura wasn't quite as accepting of his reassurance as she broke away. "You can't know that!"
"But I can and do know you!" Sun immediately shot. "Plus me and Jiraiya know a lot more about seals than Blossom does, so even if something happens, we'll be there to deal with it. So will you stop doubting yourself al...ready, hold on a sec."
"Huh?" The sudden loss of tension from Sun threw her off enough for him to touch her forehead in curiosity and concern. "Sun?"
"Let's put it this way, the seal is not mine." Blossom pipped in, making her even more confused until she felt Sun pluck something from her forehead. "A seal?"
"One I think that's tied to you." Sun told her. "It's not much, but I can feel it trying to pull back to you."
"What?!"
"Yeah, but the strangest things are just what I've so far figured out from it." Sun added, looking her in the face. "I think this might be the cause behind your sudden bouts of nerves over Blossom."
When she thought about it, it made sense. The possibilities of proper sealing are pretty endless.
But Sun wasn't done. "However, it was put on you years ago. So why is it only activating now?"
Her shocked cry nearly caused the boat to fall apart.
XXTsunade RetrievalXX
Jack and Dash couldn't help but chuckle at Tsunade in particular, the woman having never truly been exposed to their brother Pinkie before. And while Shizune wasn't all that much better, she was able to put a bit more focus on keeping Tsunade composed.
That and she was secretly having a blast watching Tsunade's reaction as well.
At the very least, transparent signs carrying various village/country symbols on them seemingly floated in place with a banner with corresponding kanji for that village/country overhead, while the gate was practically glowing point blank in their faces. FROM A MILE AWAY!?
Needless to say, Tsunade was left wondering just what happened to her old home after she found it wasn't a genjutsu.
It didn't help her nerves when she heard an echoing giggle that was clearly upbeat and happy, yet creepy at the same time.
When asked, the two brothers just responded as one with "Pinkie knows how to set up a party." which didn't help clear the air of confusion.
However, not too long afterwards, Big Mac stopped and looked towards the forest, getting Jack's attention first. "Sumthin's in there, ain't it?"
Dash instantly had his tonfa in hand. "Hostiles?"
Jack moved around Big Mac. "Feels like it, brother. Mac's tensin' up, and...Ah feel...sumthin'..."
He trailed off just as strange noises came from the forest. A few moments later, Jack cried out "MOVE!"
The warning was just in time as a screaming man was suddenly thrown between them, landing at the base of another tree.
Dash quickly moved in, knocking the man out as he tried to get up, only to notice the headband. "Jack, he's from Oto. But he's n-LOOK OUT!"
He instantly started running circles around Jack, Big Mac, Tsunade, and Shizune, generating winds that dispersed the fireball suddenly coming at them in the form of a rainbow colored tornado. A few moments later, he stopped to aim a kick back where the fireball came from, only to launch a blast of wind and lightning which Jack followed up with slamming his palms on the ground, sending streams of wood flowing into the forest.
Tsunade and Shizune prepared in case they were needed in the silence that followed, only for an explosion of pink dust sending a few people rocketing away with a very strange scream emanating from them.
Dash blinked for a moment, then grumbled "We could've handled them, Pinkie."
"I know." Said boy piped up out of nowhere from Big Mac's back, getting the two women to jump in surprise. He then turned serious. "But there was a reason why they were there. Oto's blackmailing Suna."
"WHAT?!"
XXKonohaXX
Pinkie hummed a merry tuned as he cared for a few of the apple trees, guiding Konohamaru and Hanabi's class around to show them how it was done under the eye of Iruka. Like the rest of his brothers, he felt a calm in tending to life, but he was the only one that- "No spoilers, YatsuKat."
...seriously, Pinkie? Even with the preview some time ago?
"That doesn't necessarily mean the looks will be the same or anything. So shush!"
I'm not the one looking like a weirdo having a conversation with the sky.
"But you are talking back."
The class looked back and forth between Pinkie and the sky in confusion, especially when they swore a loud 'BEEP!' drew itself out a few moments later, getting Pinkie to chuckle as he shook his head.
Hanabi looked towards Pinkie and asked "Just what was that about?"
Pinkie patted her head and responded with "Don't worry your cute little head about it, Hanabi. I was just addressing a matter. Now do you guys want to try caring for a tree or two? Gaara's wanting to talk."
A quick look towards the entrance showed said boy walking over, which left Iruka to organize the kids for the work as Pinkie moved to Gaara. "Everything alright, Gaara, or is there a reason for your darker-than-normal feel?"
"Temari." Gaara said after a few moments of silence. "She's being threatened by Oto."
Pinkie raised an eyebrow at that. "Lab experiment, or worse?"
"Worse."
"And the only way for her to be safe is to participate in the upcoming invasion, correct?" Pinkie rhetorically asked. "The answer is a lot simpler than you might think. When the time comes, don't let her out of your sight, particularly around your 'father.'"
Gaara looked at the boy in confusion for a moment, only to slightly widened his eyes in realization and nod just as a rainbow tornado shot up into the sky beyond the main gate.
"Don't be a stranger, Gaara." Pinkie said before sitting down, just an explosion of pink dust occurred in the nearby forest, followed by Dash grumbling "We could've handled them, Pinkie."
"I know." Pinkie responded, causing the two women currently with his brothers to jump. He then turned the conversation serious. "But there was a reason why they were there. Oto's blackmailing Suna."
"WHAT?!"
The scream from the rocketing shinobi is Goofy's, by the way.
And thus, with Tsunade's return, the three-way split is over. More than likely, I'll be focusing more solely on Sun and Sakura, mainly because the overall idea I have for what's coming up is thankfully more than these past few times.
Until next time. Please let me know what you think.