Personal Plot Thread. Our epilogue to suna.

A lot of things changed in Suna. Verdandi acquired many new special powers during the events in the sand. While the Sharingan acquisition and becoming an ANBU has already been explained IC, this thread is meant to connect the dots of these past events with the new event-items obtained, like how she got the Rasengan and the Dragon summoning contract.

Verdandi reunites with Chigetsu and finds herself on a little awkward adventure off into the depths of the desert, with unplanned but joyful romantic additions, that slowly cure the both of them from the painful emptiness that the conflict in suna has left within their souls. ❤

The Aftermath

Verdandi moved around a lot lately but primarily spent her time around the Kiri camps or at least what remained of it. It wasn't necessarily completely wasted but one could clearly see the destruction left behind from their encounter with the ryujin forces. The devastation caused by a few would exceed often the destruction left behind by the masses. It was incredible how much damage their leaders had left in their wake while in conflict with Kiri's defenders. The joint operation of all nations against the local rebellion was almost equal in powers. It was remarkable at least how a few powerful radical sand loyalists could defeat so many of the insanely large offensive forces of all the attacking nations.

The latest battle had painted a battlefield in red. Bodies would be piling up for weeks. The number of losses on either side were sad to just imagine. It would clearly turn out to be one of the strongest memories the young snow princess ever made within her career in the village army. But the joint venture wasn't over. A silent phase of transition was looming over the camps. The fight was long from being over. More enemies were awaiting the nations and the squabbles between the camps was far from over either. Potential conflict was overshadowing the break, the breather after this battle.

But Dandi needed a break. She was exhausted. Both mentally and physically. She knew Avalanche wasn't feeling any different. The bear had sustained quite a few scars in this battle. The medic had been working on soothing the poor young beasts pain and getting him back into shape. Verd made sure she would continue to be around for him and give him a lot of good energy. Depression was not far from influencing the people's minds in the camps. It wasn't important if they had won or lost. They amount of sacrificed forces was insane. Yet the army leaders were walking through the camps as if nothing had happened. Was this the adult, grown up mindset if you become a veteran shinobi? That you eventually stop caring and just accept the fact that death is ever so present within and during all of your career?

Verdandi didn't like that, it wasn't her style nor was it something she would ever hope for herself to be considered as norm. But despite the horrors she had seen, she felt remarkably well. The way she could dominate the battlefield in the second phase was clearly a booster to her morale. Despite the fact that a lot of her friends had endured painful losses and lessons. But most of them had survived. She knew they would all be fine in the long run… at least she was hoping for the best.

A lot were still in medical treatment. It wasn't necessarily sure that all of them would survive the next day. But alas. That is how war works. No one ever waits for you. Tragic motions and pain follow you all the way down to the final conclusion of the battle.


Welcome Dream Child

Verd needed a break. They seemed to have a little time before things would return to action. So, she had to make the best of it. As soon as Avalanche was feeling better, she would grab on the bears neck and slowly sink into and against his fur. Letting him carry her for a while but not all the way to her favourite oasis. She had to give him some time to fully recover as well. But seeing him energetic and happy as he quickly recalled the oasis from having been here with Mizuki. He quickly made his way to the trees. Kick against them until he could force a fruit to drop towards his position. Quickly munching into the nutty surface with his powerful jaw until the juicy drink and yummy fruit of the peachapple would pour all its sweet tastes into the young bears mouth.

Verd moved in between two trees. She had brought her hammock and used two kunai and her newly acquired strength to hammer them into two trees facing each other. Verd was sleepy and tired still. Avalanche munched his way through a multitude of fruits before he simply moved in to his favourite spot. The cool water pond of the oasis. It seemed to have gotten a bit bigger since last time. Maybe it had been refilled properly by the monsoon. Giving Avalanche plenty of water to dive and even swim for a bit. A huge pleasant relief for the young bear after all.

Verd created a shadow clone to sit guard nearby. Placing her own body slowly into the hammock. Sinking into the comfortable fabrics. Slowly pulling a few silky blankets over her skin and closing her eyes at last. She hadn't slept that well in weeks. She wasn't quite sure if it really was the effect this conflict was having on her personality. But she was sure that it left its marks on her. The coming weeks would decide if she could turn things around into a positive light or not. But for now. None of that would matter.

Cause Verd would casually drift off into the dreamworld. The place where, despite all the mean and shady characters existed, they would somehow calmly and politely interact with each other. Maybe this simple unconscious power was the very reason why Dandi was coping so well with the battles after effects. Forcing all those scary mean faces she had seen to shut the fuck up and sit down calmly on a table with her. Talking things out like civilized people. Sharing some biscuits and a laugh. All peace and flowers. All happy thoughts. It was just a dream. Of course, reality wasn't that forgiving. But still. Why would you try to deny such sweet thoughts if they came to you freely in a time of need and distress. Eventually Verd properly dozed off and kept a soft smile on her face. Happy that the world still was there, despite how dark the days seemed to have gotten.

1030

How long had it been? It felt like months now. Too long. He had spent too long in Suna. The desert winds chaffed at him. The bearing sun from above had turned his skin shades darker, and as that burn had peeled away he was left with a collection of melanin spots dotting across his face. Freckles. He was sure he would barely recognize himself in a mirror now. He was hardly the boy he was when he entered this conflict. All of this had changed him. Only faintly could he remember the coatings of mist that blew about in his homeland. The moisture always present in the air seemed almost too good to be truth now, after spending so long in the bone dry desert. There was a reason his ancestors had settled in Kirigakure. Spending so long here had lost him ten pounds, but unfortunately the weight he lost wasn’t the only physical mark of his time spent here.

His hand drifted to his chest. Down on the lower left side at the bottom of his ribcage. As his fingers drew near to it he would unconsciously flinch and freeze up. A hole, perhaps an inch across. It bore all the way through his chest, coming out the other side. Pieces of his rib had chipped off, and a portion of his lung had been removed and ruined from it. Not to mention how unsightly and painful it was, even now. Scar tissue swelled and surrounded it, leaving an ugly blemish of ruined skin that surrounded the wound. The interior of it was just as uncomfortable to poke at. Reaching inside and brushing his hand across the seared skin allowed him to feel the movement of his lung. He wouldn’t be able to touch at it too long, breaking away into shivers at how uncomfortable it was.  

He didn’t want to think about it. That battle. How that mysterious man challenged the Mizukage. His defeat at the hands of Izumi. He could still remember how it felt, as she shoved her hand through his chest. Everything that had come after was still a blur. He had been barely conscious when he escaped. Of course, not without another scar. The seal that had been forcefully placed under his tongue. He could assume its purpose without having to be told. Keep secrecy. Allowing word to spread of how they were betraying the mist would be bad. It was probably the only reason they allowed him to stay alive in the first place. Remove any possible sources of suspicion.  

He scowled. As angry as he should have been he hardly had the energy for it. It was all exhausting. The battles they fought here, and all those who had died. All for what? There was nothing. All of the fun of killing evaporated once he realized how pointless this all had been. Were they any closer to achieving their goals? He didn’t know. Only that the might of the Mizukage had been successfully challenged and Kiri’s power shaken. It was an impossibly frustrating defeat.  

Laying in the infirmary, all he could do was be frustrated. His only solace would be now his exit from this conflict. Soon he would return home and feel the comforting fog of his homeland again. Soon. Until then he had settled on burning the image of the top of this infirmary tent into his eyes. The gentle beeping of medical equipment. The moaning of those around him. The stench of death. He would never forget this. The melancholy feeling that wafted off the walls filled him with bitterness.  

---

[607]

Verdandi had successfully napped away the whole day in her little oasis. She enjoyed this place a lot. Places where Ava could have a swim were her favourite ones. She was literally collecting them like puzzle pieces. She had good dreams. About positive changes and new challenges. But for now, it was time to go back. Verd checked the placement of the sun above her. Visitors time at the infirmary. Casually she trotted off with the bear aiming for the entrance of the kiri camp. There was already a little barn with a lot of animal food. Avalanche would help himself. The barn master would always glare at Verdandi disgruntled. Knowing that Avalanche ate about five time the food amount of the other ninja pets and horses or camels. Verd giggles and watched Ava give the barn Master a smooching lick of his fat animal tongue to the mans cheek. Verd enjoyed the way Ava teased him. Barn Master couldn't help it but deal with it. While Ava would be feeding. Verd would make her way to the infirmary. Her father Deacon was somewhere around here. Verdandi didn't know if he had already met Chi but he was busy being all medic and stuff anyway. Dandi moved into Chi's tent. He had one for himself, on royal decree of the Yuki Clan. Having a sugar mommy surely had its perks, now right? Verd would smile and move into the tent to place her butt on Chi's bed. Giving him a smooch to the cheek.

"Hmmm still looks nasty. We can repair most of the tissue damage but I guess the scar will stay for the long run darling. It might just make you look manlier and more badass!" she chuckled. Her feet would pedal like a little teenager. She would soon get up and grab some of the special Hozuki-made medicine. The large syringe looking kind of nasty. "Now now. Liquid up a bit…" she would say and wait until part of Chi's belly would become flubbery. Pushing the 'needle' in without effort. Pressuring the healing chakra specifically designed to Chi into his body. The foreign Hozuki flesh would crawl up the holes of his wound and replace another bit of missing flesh. But again, the surface scar would remain. Now they had to wait again until this part would melt into Chi's own physiology. Being a seemingly immortal water monster doesn't make you instant-heal from actual bruises and wounds. Verd watched as the different coloured liquids moved around. She could see it in Chi's face. Part of him just wanted to reject the chakra again. "Stop fighting it weirdo. There is no need to punish yourself with a whole wound like this. The scar will remain anyway. Don't mess with yourself darling. That was a terrible war out there. I'm not sure how many times I almost got killed myself. But its going to be fine soon. We're going home not long from now. I'm looking forward to see my own bed and live through the day without ice sticking to my skin!" she laughed heartfully.

530 / 1560

He was broken from his self pity induced sulking by the entrance of Verdandi into his tent. The suddenness took him by surprise, and almost immediately he felt exposed. He hadn’t been wearing a shirt, out of necessity as he touched down at his scar. Beneath the light blankets that covered his waist down he was more or less only in a pair of hospital shorts. But this had been the third time now that he was in this situation around Verdandi, visited by her in a hospital after nearly being killed. The embarrassment faded. This was something he was used to at this point. After the little smooch she gave him he would relax back into the bed. If he hadn’t been in such a pitiful mood he might have laughed at her saying the scar made him more badass. It was funny. Hozuki didn’t generally get scars, much less holes through their body. It was a strange blemish. His eyes would turn down to look at it again, and his fingertips would be drug against the surface of the scar.  

“I didn’t know you were a doctor.” As the syringe was placed down against his stomach he would look up at her strangely. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her. Chigetsu trusted her more than he trusted anybody. It was just an odd feeling to have a massive syringe pushed into him by somebody who didn’t have medical experience. But without much resistance he would do as she asked and his stomach would turn into a thick and goopy slime. Of course, being that he had liquefied his body he hadn’t expected to feel any pain, but the sudden stinging of the medicine being inserted into his body made him tense up again. His body would lose its solidity for a moment, gooing against the bed with little bits of his form dripping down. The foreign chakra flowing inside of him was odd and uncomfortable. It stung against his insides, and he would shift in clear discomfort on the bed. The medicine would flow inside of him internally, sloshing around before it found its way to the hole in his chest and began to attempt and plug it up.

He would reach for her hand. His own slightly wet palm would stick to hers, little bits of his liquefied hand frosting over on contact. The re-solidification of his body came after the medicine had plugged up his wound, and soon after he would let out a deep sigh. “Usually I don’t mind needles, but… I can’t say I enjoyed that. I… You could have at least put on a cute nurse outfit before shoving it in, you know.” Again he would reach down to brush over the surface of the scar. It was hard to resist messing with his body, especially with his ruined flesh scarring around where the wound had been, and then the mess of the injected flesh into his body. “I was afraid I would never see you again.” Once he had said those words it felt as if he deflated. The moment that he had been dragged away by that woman, and the things he had told him. It all rang around in his head.

---

[552/1159]

Verd would chuckle at his tease. "My father is the doctor. You know. If you prefer to deal with him than myself I'm sure I could call him…" she said teasing right back. Once again Deacon had created specifically for Hozuki designed medication. "He must be thinking that you really enjoy testing the limits of your immortality darling <3" Verd smiled. She could see it in Chi's face that her comment pained him. Or at least that it brought bad feelings to the surface. How much the wound in his body was going to heal was to be seen. It mostly depended on his own wish and mental interaction towards it. The hole could be easily filled with the substitute flesh. And Verdandi would make sure to hide her personal distaste over seeing such an ugly wound on Chi's pretty body. A big scar was something else. A hole? Why would he want to keep it if his cells allowed healing of much higher magnitude? Verd sighed. She hoped he would just shut up and let the Hozuki cells do their job. Having a boyfriend with a beach body was certainly not of unimportance to the slightly pretentious queen of appearances. She chuckled further as he would get a bit kinky in his tease. Verd slowly crawled further in. Soon her bust was pressed upon his naked chest as she swung her arms around his neck. "Mhmmm next time I'll dress up as you want before I shove it in…" she couldn't help it. It was too perfect to pass out on the pun.

She would however, not go that far without placing a thick kiss on Chi's lips. Letting it linger for a while as they just held each other. Tightly and Chi probably almost exploded under the heat of the kiss. Verd's lips were obviously a bit cold but she had the ability to tone down her frost and slightly put herself to a more comfortable kissy kissy temperature. The lingering moment would edge on for quite some time. By the time Chi would probably return to normal human brain powers his face was already full of Verd's smooch marks. She chuckled and got up. Getting the last parts of his medicine and placing it in a glass for him to drink. "Well we have to keep doing some of those injections if we want the flesh to properly heal back. Then again you don't really need to be here for that darling. I got something fun for us to do if you want…." Verd chuckled. The missions she had undertaken for Kiri in this suna conflict had not been without reward to her. Verdandi had access to intel far restricted by the common shinobi. Either be it for being an ANBU now or be it for actually doing these missions for the ANBU and hence being automatically the person involved to know about those secrets. Verd had one thing specifically in mind. Verd would make that suspicious look to the left and right as if she was theatrically checking that no one is peeking in and eavesdropping on them. She then moved back to sit on Chi's bed again. Leaning in as if she was going to kiss him again. "I have a treasure map." She would say and then place her index finger to her lips and go all. "But shhhh, no one knows this. I literally know that Kiri thinks the place is dead. But it isn’t….!" she would giggle heavily now. "So, what do you say? Time for a little adventure before we head back home for good?"


610 / 2170

Immortality? That was one way to put it. Hozuki generally lived very long lives, at least when there wasn’t any electricity around. From her perspective it must seem like he was nearly unkillable though, and he supposed that wasn’t too far off from the truth. He certainly felt like there wasn’t any danger to him a great deal of the time, even when his allies might be scrambling for their lives. Maybe that affected the way he acted in combat a bit. Maybe he should be more careful. That Chidori that he had been run through with certainly made him want to reconsider.

He didn’t get much chance to ponder on his own mortality though. His teasing comment about Verdandi in a nurse outfit apparently sparked a bit of flirty interest. The private tent, in all its comforts, made these sorts of things easier. The closeness cause a barely noticeable flush in his cheeks. This too was something he had gotten used to. The pun she dropped almost made him break out laughing, although he was able to suppress it to a light giggle. It was just too perfect in the moment. His worries melted away, flowing out of him as she embraced him, and then as she pressed her lips to his. The moment was perfect. This was how things were supposed to be.

To say that he was enjoying himself was probably an understatement. The warmth of her lips nearly made him erupt into flames, figuratively speaking, of course, as he was made out of water. The moment would continue, fueled with passion. It was one of those ‘I’m so glad we’re both alive’ sort of kisses, mixed together with their playful teasing and already present emotions. By the time she had finished with him and pulled away his face would be covered in kiss marks, and he would be left with a dumb smile. The depression from his defeat had completely melted away.

By the time his brain had cooled down there would already be a glass of medicine placed beside his bed. Healing. The idea of keeping this wound as a memory of his defeat was something he had considered, but… It probably wasn’t good to let his thought linger like that. It would be shoved to the back of his mind. These were emotions he didn’t know how to deal with right now. Instead he would take comfort in Verdandi being here with him, and that he was alive. A bit of soreness ran through his body as sat up, downing the glass quickly as he did. Better to swallow it fast than focus on the bitterness. As she sat down beside him and leaned in he was nearly ready to go down to smoochtown again, but seeing as she placed her finger to her lips and shh at him Chi would hold his horses. Once she would finish her proposal he would lean in close, pressing his lips to hers and quickly snatching the smooch that he had been denied.

“Treasure map? That means there’s going to be treasure, right?” His shoulders would be rolled back, and Chigetsu would hop off the bed. “If there’s some buried national treasures we can dig up and haul back with us, it would be a start to making this entire Suna vacation start to feel like it was worth it. Especially if it’s a little bit of safe, wholesome adventure… Yeah. Let’s do this.”

---

[589/1748]

Verdandi nodded. She grinned from ear to ear as she could see that the previous worries seemed to have quickly disappeared from Chi's face. She knew he was one of those that might end up staring in the mirror again once he was alone. Feeling the darkness, the emptiness and the pain creep right back up his spine. Verdandi was, first and foremost, an empath. She had gained many skills over the course of her battles. Some more earned some probably less. But before all that. She had always had the ability to shut herself down and put herself into the position of the person she was looking at. Of course, there was a considerable error margin towards her assumptions being true or not. But being able to read someone's face, voice, expressions, breath, eye motions. Even the heartbeat could give subtle hints about what was going on in their mind. Ver put the treasure map onto the nightstand. Eventually wrapping herself back onto her little monster and indulging into what would feel like hours' worth of affection, kisses and just simply enjoying the turmoil of emotions that the lot of these subtle actions could cause within one's belly. Putting the two of them afire. Verd wasn't a prude one. But she would save the full out… naughty bits for another time. There was no need to rush things. Rushing them just might make them taste bland and removes their value. Isn't it way more fun to chase after something in tease whilst being fully aware the 'cake' will eventually be there hmm?

Actual hours would actually pass. The two of them getting all the privacy and cuddle time they wanted. Nothing was going to disturb them anymore. The war effort was over. What happened could be little seen as success but also not as complete failure. But the vassal-making of the sand certainly didn't turn quite out as planned. Auntie Aya had been severely injured as well. Verd had seen her not too long ago. Playing with her weird ass robot arm as if she had pulled off that whole limb sacrifice on purpose. But it wasn't time to worry about the legendary ice witch. She'd be fine too. Now the two of them had to make use of their lone time before the Kiri forces would withdraw for good. Verd dressed herself in something rather light and casual. She had packed the treasure scroll. Which was basically just a map with certain coordinates. First off. They had about a month of time at best until the Kiri forces were ready to retreat their last remnants. Maybe even two. So, it was fair to say that half a day travel to the primary location in question would be acceptable. Avalanche stood already at the gate of the camp. Waiting faithfully for its master's return. Once Verd gave him a pat to the neck. Ava would notice Chi being around. Getting quickly excited as he considered Chi as one of his favourites. Getting all jump as he brushed himself against Chi and licked away at his cheek a few times.

"Hmm guess everyone's kissing you today. Fair! Hihi ~ Hmm we need a carriage that takes us to us to the Ruins of Sāra. I've been there before. Met Jet there… eventually got kidnapped for a bit… but that's a different story. Hihi. Let's see." Verd would walk around a bit. At some point she could ask one of the stable masters to organize a carriage for the princess. She would turn about and see Chi glaring at her as if she was some sort of coated in a spell. Verd would look down on herself. "Oh? Something the matter darling? Haven't seen me in a casual wear in a while I guess? Daww you'll be fine." ❤

650 / 2820

He was glad that she had ordered a special tent set aside specifically for their personal use. Why she had done it was something he didn’t understand at first, but he figured it out very quickly on. This sort of affection done in a public tent would be enough to make his head spin and face light up. Having an exclusive place for some private time between the two of them was extremely convenient. He just realized … Did she plan this all in advance? It was all enough to make his head spin right now. Rather than think too hard he just let himself relax with her. The cuddling and make-out session took away most of his capability for advanced thought away anyhow. He would be filled with the rush of having another beside him experiencing the same emotions. Between the two of them it was likely Chigetsu that was the prude one, reversing the stereotype of the eager man. This sort of simple affection was more than enough for him right now. This sort of thing was new to him, and best taken one step at a time. Having a special moment like that in a hospital bed in Sunagakure wasn’t exactly how he imagined it happening either. Hopefully it would be somewhere more comfortable, and when he wasn’t being treated for nearly deathy injuries.

The end of the war in Sunagakure couldn’t have come soon enough. He was more than eager to be out of this desert and to never return. Kiri had completely failed in their objectives from Chigetsu’s point of view. No matter how much death and destruction they had caused they wouldn’t be able to vassalize the Hidden Sand. A quick tactical strike that resulted in the destruction of Sunagakure would have been ideal, similar to the manner in which the three criminals who destroyed the village. However it seemed that Kirigakure didn’t have an actual plan for what they were trying to accomplish here. Just killing and killing until there wasn’t anyone left to oppose them, and that would never work. Even Chigetsu could see that. He was frustrated by the entire endeavor, especially the Mizukage. Having her arm sliced off and lost as a result of this event only compounded on the issues. While he was vaguely aware of Verdandi’s familial connection, he was beginning to feel only negative things towards his nation’s leader. But those would be things he would have to think about once they’ve all returned to Kirigakure. Right now he was high on the feeling of being together with his lover. Everything else could wait.

The hospital provided slacks weren’t something he was exactly eager to wear when spelunking, and so he would shift back into more his traditional clothing. A light and loose shirt with a further down neck that exposed his collarbone, and a similarly airy pair of cotton pants all in marked in Kirigakure blues. He would let Dandi lead him then once they were prepared to set off. Once they came to Avalanche he would have to release Verdandi’s hand, coming up to embrace the big cuddly beast. It had been too long since he’s had a chance to hug the floofy little boy, and the licks that Ava gave him were returned with kisses to the beast’s forehead.

“A carriage together with a princess? Sounds like something out of a fairy tale.” He would joke while nuzzling into Ava. The mentioning of a kidnapping provoked a slight frown to appear on his face, although it would be quickly swept away. He wouldn’t ask about it, as to not spoil the mood. He would quickly be distracted from those thoughts anyhow. It truly was like Verdandi had coated herself in some glamor spell, especially considering how he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. It truthfully had been a long time since he had spent a casual afternoon with her, and seeing her in this outfit was... His eyes were drawn to a few obvious places. As much as he loved Avalanche he would stand away from his little playtime with the bear, turning over his full attention to the woman before him. Circling around, Chigetsu would embrace her from behind. He would be a bit touchy with his hands before looping them around her midriff.

“We need to spend more time together outside of missions. Especially if I get to see you in outfits like this more often. After this is all over we need to spend some time on a nice beach in Kirigakure… No danger. Just a nice warm vacation near the ocean.” He definitely wasn’t just suggesting this for the chance to see her in her swimwear. No, of course not. That would be silly.

---

[813/2561]

Verdandi chuckled. Rubbing her cheek to his and swaying her buttocks to his own midriff. Teasing the naughty boy for getting all touchy. She let the moments pass and the hug continue. His thought about a beach day was certainly not lost to her. Especially since it was something she knew her water addicted pet would be all in favour for. Verd waited and lingered. But in time the carriage she ordered would arrive. Turning around the snow princess would place a softy chilly kiss on Chi's lips and move away from him while biting her lower lip in a suggestively playful smile. She would check for the carriage driver and talk with him. To his own surprise Verd demanded the horse to be released and the driver to take a break from work. Whilst irritated. Being not only rich but also the kage's niece had furthermore certain perks. Verd's family emblem on her clothes was quickly flashed in a suggestive enough way for the driver to nod and bow before giving up his carriage. "We'll bring it back safely! Promised!" she would giggle a bit awkward as she wasn't sure if the men were really happy about all that, but certain adventures have their own cost. Verd would pull out one of the scrolls she had on her. Place her palm on it and then pushed her hand inside the scroll, only to return from its sealing dimension with a weird combination of leather strings. "Hmm don't worry, these are not for you... this time…" she would peck out her tongue at chi and make a super lewd joke.

Moving on, the leathery strings were rather large and thick. As she started to throw them around Avalanche it would probably start to make sense. She tightly wrapped them around him and secured what looked like a saddle and a lot of optional rings at its back. Patting ava's butt she'd lead him to where the horse once stood before. Pulling in the various ropes from the horse mount into ava's saddle rings and securing them once more around the leather straps just to be sure. She had done this, or something similar before with her cousin Burittsu as they were rescuing wounded Kiri-nin. To finish the preparations, she would lift an apple from her pouch and tossed it in the air. Avalanche would move his head forward and snatch it mid-air before munching it down in a bit. He already had his breakfast. But some hydrating food was always good. As another means to supplement the bears well-being, Verd would place her hand on his fur and inhale once. She would concentrate on the moisture surrounding him. Be it sweat or simply dampness residing between the oxygen particles. Forcing them to be infused with her wind and robbing them quickly off their heat. Slowly turning the liquids into thing layers of ice that would neatly cling to Avalanches fur. Once again sheltering the polar bear in a more comfortable gown for his desired body temperature.

Verd would come back to Chi, still playful and her hands still cold. Poking her index finger to chi's cheek to let a little wave of simple coolness rush through his body. She loved how she could make the head all more bearable. Especially since she knew that her lover boy was generally uncomfy in this sort of barren, sun-stricken wasteland. She would cross her elbows and make an expecting facial gesture. Waiting for Chi to play the prince in the fairy tale and to properly help her like a gentleman into the wagon part. A few little halfway clumsy tugs later. Verd would basically stumble in against him in the wagon. The two of them soon sitting back into the cushioned seats next to each other. Verd quickly grabbing Chi's palm. Dandi would then utter something probably a bit hieroglyphic for Chi. "Ash vann vahl duhn, Seivoglath." Speaking in old Hyougaan. Not that Avalanche didn't understand the common tongue, he was a smart boy. But whenever Verd relied on her forgotten mother tongue, Avalanche knew things meant business. The bear stopped goofing around. "Hold on tight darling." She would speak as Avalanche suddenly burst'ed off. The large wheels of the wagon were sturdy and could take a rocky ride well. But the wagon would still shake by the sheer speed and power the bear pulled them with. Verd must have mentioned the direction he was to take as he somewhat pulled the wagon a bit around and adjusted straight towards going into the desert.

After some initial adjustments to deal with the somewhat wiggly ride, the bumps became very casual and soft. The sand dunes filtering a lot of the feedback that would happen on a straight or more earthen road. The wagon roads were specifically layered with some sort of gliding wooden plated that could react similar like surf boards once in collision with sand. Allowing Avalanche to pull the wagon like a sled over the dunes. Verd wouldn't make any secret about her still being greedy for that smoochy attention. Soon after some cuddling returning to make her moves on him and pulling him in for deep passionate kisses. Having all the time in the world to enjoy it.

As time would pass, even smooching would become bland or at least lips and tongues could become tired. Verd reacted to the fact that the sun was going down and the suna heat would naturally cool. Avalanche was pulling a bit slower by now but still marching in a rather impressive movement speed considering the weight on his hips. His endurance showing what a grown bear could do to provide supplementary aid to his master. But dandi had dozed off. Her arms tights wrapped around Chi. Her head resting against his shoulder as she inhaled and exhaled a little frosty chilling breath. Nothing uncomfortable, just amusing to notice. If Chi would peek his eyes open. He would but notice that Verdandi's 'treasure map' had dropped to the ground and was rolling back and forth with the wagons motion, making thudding noises that were annoying to the ears.

If picked up. Chi would not only discover that this was a strictly filed ANBU intel data and hence not something Verd should have 'borrowed' but also a rather large text about "Wan Shi Tong's Library" that supposedly once housed every book in existence, every scroll, every text and every knowledge that exists. Guarded fiercely by Wan Shi Tong. The owl sage. Furthermore, there were many descriptions about the buildings size. Date of construction. Labour. Years of service. Honours. Mentions. Records. Truth or not fact checks. Even building blueprints. Obviously, all of it well received from what must have been a sunaan information source that went into great detail to record all of this. But Verdandi had underlined a certain spot in the text. And crossed it. The text that this library had been completely destroyed during the fifth great sunaan war and that all of its knowledge went lost. Many many years ago and hence forth any operations regarding to find it were unnecessary. That was what Kiri had thought. But Verd had lived in Suna for many weeks if not months now. She heard this legend before and she seemed to possess something that made her absolutely certain, that this library still exited. But for now. They would just enjoy the comfy ride. Sleeping or not.


1250 / 4070

Despite how flirty Chigetsu was being in the moment it was entirely a new thing for him. He hadn’t anything close to a lover before Verdandi, much less even a crush. She was his first. Most of it was improvisation, leading with what felt natural and praying it worked out fluidly. Everything had worked so far, and she seemed receptive to his advances. It all had been bubbling for quite a while now, so perhaps he shouldn’t have felt too surprised. At the same time it was a relief. The only thing that caught him off guard was that one comment. Even if he didn’t understand it at first, it was clear from the context that it was a joke, and so on his flirty high he would laugh. Only later would he understand what she meant. The realization dawned on him once she began to throw the ropes over Avalanche and strap him up, along with the saddle and rings. It was something that came to him slowly. The innocent and pure Chigetsu’s eyes would widen, and a distinct and noticeable shade of pink would spread across his face. So incredibly lewd.

Her return and poke to his cheek would calm him down, and stop his imagination from running wild. The cooling wave of energy through his body would both cool his cheeks and lift the haze out of his head. The unbearable heat hadn’t become more bearable as he spent longer in Suna, he just ended up complaining less as he got used to the feeling of suffering. He was truly blessed that he had Verdandi here with him. When he had first met her he had been terrifying of her freezing chakra, but now it was something that made him never want to leave her side. A pleasant sight would release out of him as she poked him. He would be nearly too busy enjoying his personal air conditioning to notice her crossed arms. It would take a moment for him to catch on. Play the part of the Prince Charming for his Ice Princess. Playing his part the best he could, Chigetsu would assist her up into the carriage with all the chivalrous intent and grace that he could muster. It was a beautiful moment, even as silly as it was. They were shinobi, trained soldiers fighting in a foreign land, and still for these moments he would be a prince and she would be a princess. Of course, she literally was a princess, something that Chigetsu often had to remind himself of. It would be something he thought of as she prepared the carriage and Avalanche dashed off. What an odd thing, for someone rejected by their clan to be in a situation like this with royalty. He was lucky.

He would be reminded of that as Verd pulled him in close again. The time they spent alone together should be cherished. Physical affection and attention would be given generously, and Chigetsu would make sure to please every desire that his princess might have. They had a long time to enjoy themselves. A day of released emotions and desires, preluding their little adventure. His darling would be held close in their passion, and as she dazed off in their gentle cuddling he would keep an arm wrapped protectively around her. She was like the opposite of a blanket for him, keeping him comfortably cool. It was enough to make him drowsy, and the temptation of sleep would be difficult to resist. For awhile he would rest in that flighty state between being asleep and awake, drifting off and away slowly.    

The only thing that prevented him from falling asleep with her was the sudden noise. He had noticed in his sleepy daze when she had dropped the map but he hadn’t initially thought anything of it. Only when it began rolling back and forth with the movements of their carriage did it catch his attention. As much as he tried to ignore it Chigetsu was nothing if not a light sleeper, and such an annoying sound was enough to keep him from falling asleep. Previously fluttering eyes would crack open, and he would glare down at the map with a ferocious expression despite it being an inanimate object. With Verdandi’s arms wrapped around him he couldn’t exactly reach down and pick it up. Instead he would stay as he was, and with his free hand he would stretch down for it. Having his body stretch and shift this way was one of the many advantages of his clan, and with his long arm he could easily snatch the map up off the carriage floor.

Now awake and with the map in his hand he would be unable not to notice its contents. Out of initial curiosity he would glance down at it, reading across what he could immediately see. His drowsy demeanor would be dropped as he saw it was ANBU intel. Sneaky Verd. If she was caught doing stuff like this she would end up in big trouble, and likely him too for being involved. Tsk tsk. The rest of the document would be scanned over, and as he finished it would be folded back up and placed down on their seat. A quick kiss would be placed against his sleeping beauty’s cheek. He would have an interesting conversation with her once they arrived.

---

[909/3470]

At some point, both of them would have dozed off again. Cuddled into each other. Affection spreading. Verd had to admit she had a kinky little core in the back of her mind that not rarely wanted to do much lewder things. Expose the boy's skin. Putting him down in that carriage and make him see and feel things that would change his life and his very definitions of joy. But truth to be told. Despite being of such kinky mind, flirty nature and self-confidence. Verdandi had zero relationships in her past. The only flirts she could remember where a few elder Jounin that flashed their well-trained muscles to Verd or the cute girl that was related to Gin. Which once again confused Verd as she was sure mostly people had connection on boy x girl basis. But she knew some boy x boy and girl x girl couples! A certain bi-curiosity in a 17-year-old that had been too busy learning how to do her blade dances and freeze people? Being trained into a bloody mists lethal killing machine? Sexual exploration was rarely a potential thing to delve deeply into, when you had to do a lot to keep your own sanity within all that rather unhealthy killing, blood and gore around you. Most people would just give into their urges and become animalistic over it. Completely ruining the potential sweet innocence of such a wonderful gift as the actual flirty and loving part. Verd would enjoy her naughty dreams without feeling bad for them and keep her 'butterflies' in her belly and chest to heat her cool body from within.

In due time. The carriage would come to a halt. Avalanche had reached his destined location and yet felt irritated, thirsty and was tired. Verd woke up from her trusty pet's roar. Chi still seemed to doze so she crawled past him, opened the side-door. As she did, the ANBU intel scroll would drop from her pockets as where Chi had last put them, quickly she'd snatch it like 'hope he didn't see that' kind of way. Not knowing he already peeked into it. Then moving to crawl in ninja-style onto the top of the carriage and from there to the front, another jump and she would land onto her bear back in his saddle. Her eyes gazing into the distance. Trying to echolocate herself with a waterdrop technique, as well as calculating her potential position. To find which was north seemed rather easy, the compass in her palm showed her quickly. But Verd had another compass at hand that was aiming into a very different position. A chakra needle, pointing to the nearest dense concentration of raw natural energy. While it sometimes pointed for short moments at Verdandi, making her raise her eyebrows, considering she had absolutely no idea how to use nature chakra, it directly pointed in a very specific direction. Verd would lead Avalanche the right way. Another few minutes would pass until they eventually reached a point where the needle started to mindlessly spin in circles.

Verdandi knew they were here now. But before the advanture commenced, she needed to make sure that some terraforming was done. Locating the nearest rock formation from a smaller mountain ridge. Verd would let Avalanche ride over to it. Unbind him from his leathers. While he casually trotted into the nearest shade. Verd would use a multitude of wind techniques to drill a hole into a rock formation. One large enough to serve as some sort of makeshift tub. Before she filled it up with her archerfish technique. Creating a nice large swimming pool for ava. Proceeding to breath her Hyouton onto it, the bear would move in and cool himself down. By the time Chi was properly up and awake, Verd was already feeding the bear with some unsealed meat from her scrolls and an unsealed larger water container. Verd knew, they could always drink suiton if needed. Or Verd could generate moisture-based hydration. But some actual drinking water from the kiri camps well was more her preference. Verd opened the top of the bucket and first let avalanche push heas head into it to wildly slurp away at it. While he was busy she raised a few blobs of it with her suiton control and lead it to her lips so she could drink it as well.

Once Chi was here, she would gaze back at him and wink. "Hello darling. Upon up wide!" she would say as she waited for him to open his mouth. Using suiton to move a large amount of fresh, cool water from the container to chi. His body setup allowing him to basically assimilate the excess water. Verd chuckled at him and quickly welcomed her lover butt with a hug. Gazing at him and kissing over his face again. And a few lewd ones to the lips. "Hmm we're almost here. The entrance must be somewhat buried in the sand here. I wonder how we're going to unbury it though. Any ideas snuggle butt?"

850 / 4920

The dreams that Chigetsu had once he dozed off were some of the most pleasant he had in a long time. Ever since he had come to Suna the stress had bore down on his mind, and more often than not nightmares were the only thing that he dreamed of. This became even worse in the moments after he had been defeated and kidnapped. But having Verdandi beside him and feeling her body heat were incredibly comforting. Even with her frosty breath and cold chakra she felt incredibly warm. He would be able to rest comfortably and without any worry. After all, if he was with her then there wouldn’t be anything to worry about. Soon enough they would be out of here and away from Suna, and hopefully they would never have to come back, and that stress would be gone forever and these memories wouldn’t matter. Once his little nap ended Chigetsu would end up quickly forgetting what he dreamed about, but the pleasant and warm fluffy feeling he got from them remained. With a great big smile he would exit the carriage, stepping out slowly to return to his lover.

As she told him to open his mouth he would, without thinking too hard as to why. He trusted that she had his best intentions in mind. He would be rewarded with the facefull of chilled water. What didn’t end up in his mouth would drip down his face and onto his chest. It would all end up absorbing into his body through his skin, but for a few seconds he would be laughing as his face was soaked. The hug and then kissing that came afterwards would be an incredible way to wake up. He would return in kind, kissing all over Verdandi’s face and then to her lips. Kissing was an art that he was new to and hadn’t yet mastered, so of course he had to practice whenever he could. He was sure Verdandi didn’t mind.  

A quick assessment of the situation was necessary. The contents of the map were still in the back of his mind, but talking about it didn’t seem all too necessary right now. No, he would wait until later to scold her. Everything was too happy right now. Ava would be regarded with a glance, and Chigetsu would watch him for a moment floofing about in his little swimming pool. Cute. He would set off to deal with the sand problem, but not before giving Verd one last peck to the cheek.

“Alright… Just sit back and relax. This is what I was born for.” Chigetsu would crack his fingers, staring down at the sand below. He would stomp down into the sand after that, and his foot would come away wet. Quickly a puddle would form around where he was standing, and that puddle would quickly begin to spread. Rather than creating water from his chakra, Chigetsu was transforming the sand itself into water by saturating it with his chakra. Soon a deep lake would be formed. An island would be left for Verdandi, Avalanche, and the carriage, but the lake itself would grow and grow to an impressive size. Of course none of this water would last very long. The heat would likely sweep it all away and cause it to evaporate within hours, and then in the weeks to follow the pit that was created would end up swept over again with sand, but in the moment it was an excellent excavation tool. Chigetsu was of course still standing on top of the lake he had created, a thin layer of chakra between his feet and the water. He would be staring down into the depths, attempting to feel out whatever they may have been searching for with his chakra. The water itself was crystal clear as well, so of course it would have been clearly visible with the sunlight illuminating the very bottoms of the lake.

“I’m trying to feel it out, but since I don’t know exactly what we’re looking for it could be tough… What exactly are we looking for, anyway?” A tactical lie. He had seen the map, but perhaps it would be best if Verdandi told him herself. She probably knew more than what the map itself told anyhow.

---

[728/4198]

Verdandi kept molesting Chi for a bit until he seemed to have an idea how to proceed, letting go off her smooch covered face he'd move into position, like a magician getting ready and making sure everyone was properly watching before showing off their next cool magic trick and actually Verd was quite impressed as he staged an archerfish technique in his very own style, Verd would glare around and nod at the display of sudden, heavy water. In order to help her love puddle with his endeavour. Verd would shortly close her eyes. Reopening them would rush the power of her elements through her chakra flow. Taking once again great melding skill to just exhale the elements that she wanted for this. Spitting suiton into thee heaven's clouds as soon, the dark horizon turned thick and grey, hundreds of scattered clouds turning to a large one above them. Casting a cool shadow onto the earth. Completely blocking the worse part of the heavy sunrays onto their personal island and surroundings, rain starting to fall and drop to the ground, slowly vapouring into mist until the hot sand cooled off, but soon mixing its wet, damp depths of moisturising power with the already existing suiton Chi had poured into the ground at great mass. Verd would calm from being a storm caller. Exhaling once again softly. This was but a very powerful skill of hers and always took quite its toll on her chakra pool. She'd slowly move towards Chi, seeing him trying to sense into the depths of the suiton lake.


"This. I'm looking for this, darling." She would say and giggle, the papyrus scroll with the painting on it would get slightly damp from being exposed to the rain. She'd quickly slide it back into the safety of her clothes. Verd was quickly soaked, her wet clothes would linger to her skin, revealing certain shapes and outlines that were otherwise censored by the clothes. Framing Verdandi's outlines without yet exposing the actual nudity below. Leaving a lot of it up to Chi's imagination. But still allowing him to get a few good, long stares on to all of it while Verdandi was busy trying to get her own feel into the situation. She undid the frost-born contact lens in her eye that had put her sharingan to sleep. She still needed a better, easier and healthier solution to this, but it did serve its purpose for the moment. Unveiling Verdandi's red, rotating eye fully to the surface. Completely unlocking its full potential as for now. Verd would stare into the depths of the ground below. Suiton chakra would faintly glow blue. But she could see something, she couldn't really determine what it was as she was unfamiliar with the colour it gave off. But there was something. Not all too far. "There! This way!" Verd would shout as she started to use her limited suiton control to try and start digging. She would try a few of those at her availability.

Especially the erosive lake technique, that usually did something very alike Chi's lake formation. But also, clearly allowed Verd to shove away earth, sand or mud in the favour of water. Rain would keep falling down onto both of them. Pouring down heavily and hard. Keeping Verdandi soaked completely. Her hair becoming damp and she not rarely had to push it back so it wouldn't stick to her face. Her eye still rotating. Making sure to keep that faint glow in focus as she aimed to get straight down. Chi however seemed to have an immensely strong suiton technique at him for himself. So, with his help, burying themselves further down into the sand would only take half an hour, while Dandi would probably have had days to excavate such landmass. But eventually. They would reach it. The dome of the library, the towers tip. Now that they had come so far. Verd would wave to the heavens above and send the clouds away. Rain would lower in mass and soon disappear. The sunlight would shine in heavy, bright glares down onto the two of them again. But while Chi might be annoyed by its return, he would soon realize that it also completely put Verdandi's still water-soaked appearance into a very bright spotlight. Especially some more… detailed tiny little rounding's that were previously unseen in the darkness. Verd would gaze back at him as he stared. "What's wrong darling? Out of juice for digging deeper? Just a bit more. We're almost there!"

770 / 5690

While his little magic trick probably wasn’t too impressive to Verdandi, it was exciting for him. Learning how to liquefy his environment was an extension of his own clan abilities. He was progressing with them, even without the formal training of his clan. As good as he was with liquefying, it wouldn’t do him any good unless he knew what he was looking for. This was especially so with the cautious he was taking to not accidentally liquefy whatever their buried treasure may be. He would feel it immediately as she began to help him. The cloud cover sent the ambient temperature down a few degrees almost immediately. Pleasant. When meeting Verdandi in her frigid homeland he was almost afraid that touching her would lead to him turning into a popsicle. Now in Sunagakure he couldn’t get close enough. Her body temperature and abilities all were incredibly useful in not getting heatstroke. Of course, there were other reasons he wanted to get close to her too. The rain now cascading down into the sand of the desert made him smile. Just like home. If they weren’t searching for this treasure he would have asked her to dance here. Of course, Chigetsu knew nothing of dancing. But dancing in the rain in a foreign land seemed romantic. Of course, romance was also something that Chigetsu also knew nothing about.

The papyrus scroll would be glanced at, Chigetsu looking up from the quickly increasing depths of the water below him. The image itself was something he hadn’t expected though. A beautiful building of spires and domes of like he had never seen before. The architecture was so incredibly different than what he had been raised within in Kirigakure. The drab and moist concrete couldn’t compare. Even the somewhat fancy looking lighthouses that the Hozuki Clan were known for building weren’t nearly as impressive. It was beautiful. Still, to find such an impressive looking building hidden so deep under the sands and not accidentally flood it at the same time…

He had something much more beautiful right in front of him anyway. Chigetsu would find his eyes being drawn away from the map that she presented and instead wandering across her. Before he could think about what was happening he would be looking at the outlines of her figure. The way the wet cloth stuck to her skin was something he couldn’t look away from. His fascination with the architecture turned into an appreciation for the woman before him. He had already had his moment of staring at her more casual outfit, but seeing it now in the rain was something special. His imagination ran wild in those moments. It had never been something that he thought about before. While he had feelings for Verdandi for a long time now they had been mostly innocent in nature before. Kissing. Hugging. Holding hands. As difficult as it might be to believe, the perverse sort of thoughts that one might expect from a young man hadn’t been on his mind before now. Spending so much time on the battlefield had stunted their growth in those areas. He would be stuck in silent awe as he stared at her body, too distracted to continue with his pursuits of liquefying the sands. The rain falling down on them was a wonderful thing. He already loved it when it rained, but knowing now the potential it had made him gain a new appreciation for it. He would smile and nearly laugh at how beautiful it all was.

“If I knew how to dance, I would ask you to one. I've always loved the idea of dancing in the rain.”

He would snap too. They had a job to do. Standing around slack jawed wouldn’t win him any points. The excavation would begin. With a snap of his fingers the water around them would raise up, floating away into the sky as Chigetsu levitated it with his chakra. Verdandi had already began her own attempts, but as soon as Chigetsu activated his Water-Heaven Convergence there would be no need. If there was one thing he could pride himself on it was Suiton control. The water they had been standing on descended like an elevator down into the lake he had created. Walls of water held in place would surround them, providing a clear view to their surroundings. It would have been an impressive aquarium, but the lack of fish took away any of awe it might have inspired. All there was to see in the water was sand. Sand, and hopefully their treasure. The sand around them would continue to liquefy as their little water-elevator lowered, giving them a clear view in their descend. Eventually their target would come into view. The arches and domes were a dead ringer for the image that Dandi had shown him earlier. Their arrive would be signaled by the sudden bright sunlight shining down over them again. Verdandi had ended her jutsu without warning and it would take a moment for Chigetsu to reorient his eyes. After blinking his vision back to normal, he would turn back to address his partner in his victory. Only to be stuck staring again. The sunlight illuminated her soaked form again, and he would be unable to look away. For a few moments he would be stuck, and they would be silent together. This time it seemed as though she was fully aware of how he was looking at her, especially as she broke the silence. He would blink again. After a moment he would clear his throat.

“I... I got distracted. You’re beautiful. I couldn't help it.” He would say it, and once it was off his chest he could move forward. After he would turn back down to the monastery they had been searching out. Their elevator would continue to lower down, now with a clear target in mind. Despite how his cheeks were burning he wouldn’t falter, and it would only take a few more seconds before they reached their destination. Now, their next challenge would be getting inside.

---

[1031/5229]

Verdandi chuckled. Placing a gentle kiss on Chi's cheek as he heroically took charge of the situation and his rather impressive skills over controlling the water around them would give them easy access to their actual goal. Verd gazed down past the almost transparent water, seeing the top of the dome from afar. The building itself must massively extend much further down deep into the sand. Making Verdandi wonder how many generations of thick desert storms must have clashed against this place to have raised the sand levels that far. Or maybe, whatever or whomever had been living there, clearly wanted to stay hidden and forgotten by time. How they managed to convince that the library was destroyed. Verdandi didn't know. But everyone seemed to have believed it and since no one could find it, being randomly buried somewhere deep below the vast desert, it didn't surprise her that it had been untouched for hundreds of years. Dandi hugged herself tightly to Chi as he lowered the both of them into the newly created lake surrounding them. Moving down in a very interesting way. The water motioning and moving at Chi's whim. Verd gazed at their surroundings. Especially as the sunlight returned to clearly illuminate the whole lake, showing the shiny transparent fluid with lots of sand casually flowing through it. Being slowly purified as the water itself filtered the sand away. Eventually they would reach the dome and while Chi seemed to wonder how to get in there, Verd already had an idea.

Before the fully reached the dome Verd pulled out an exploding tag and attached it to one of her kunai. Tossing it with a rather powerful strength forth. Due to Verdandi's full-powered toss it'd surpass the water resistance and eventually reach the top of the dome. Giving Chi some time to adjust his water to move away from impact point if he desired so. Either way. The explosion would send a short tremor into the new Chi-created Atlantis world. Breaking a small hole into the dome's surface. As soon as the hole was there, Chi's water would casually find its way inside it. Starting to pour down and into the building. Verd made sure that the both of them, as they elevated through the water, would find their way through that hole and use the already pouring-in fluid as an extended elevator that would lead them straight into the bowls of the building. Once they passed the exploded entrance, they would come to see a perfectly intact, bright insides of the library. Giving not the slightly appeal as towards it being abandoned at all. Empty and devoid of life at first glance. But someone was clearly taking good care of keeping the place clean and the various candles and torches on the wall lit. Once Verd and Chi found their way through the liquid elevator to the upper floor of the library. Verd would step outside the water stream. Allowing Chi to command his suiton to return, back out of the building as to not flood it and damage it.

Once he would have retracted all the water or partly pulled some into his body. Verd would point her finger at the exploded little entrance and shoot a small bolt of Hyouton chakra up. Letting the liquid at the entrance hole freeze and completely close the hole back shut. Verdandi nodded. This was all working out quite fine so far. With a single motion of her palm, she would slowly remove the moisture from her skin and clothes and drop it to the floor. Potentially to Chi's displeasure as she seemed to have been enjoying the view it provided him with. But the two of them wouldn't be able to chit chat for long as someone seemed to have already been awaiting them. Verdandi turned and almost screeched out in fear as the immensely huge owl creature with its supposedly missing facial expression was staring down on them. Verdandi gulped. She knew that there was supposed to be a guardian here and they way the library was lit and seemingly alive was another hint that it was not as abandoned as it supposedly seemed to appear or one would guess. The large bird chuckled a creepy laugh to himself and despite being quite creepy to look at he didn't seem to exhale a very dangerous or aggressive aura. He slowly took a few steps closer to get a proper eye full of the intruders.

"I am Wan Shi Tong, he who knows ten thousand things, and you are obviously humans; which, by the way, are no longer permitted in my study."

He would casually growl from his beak in a very creepy low voice. Verd instinctively held herself against Chi while she was obviously still confused and scared. But it started to subside the more clearly it became as to how this huge bird thing didn't really seem to wish and hurt them at all.

"However, I didn't have a visitor for quite some time… It can become quite… dull at times down here. If you've read all the books and new information just keeps pouring in very slowly. You know what? Pay your entrance fee. Give me something to add to my library and I shall allow you to roam… for a while."

Verdandi bit her own lip as she saw that there was a potentially peaceful way to go through with this. Nodding to herself as she pulled out the mission briefing scroll copy. The text that contained all currently top-secret info about the Library. The large bird stared at it and chuckled in amusement as towards what the puny humans thought of had historically happened to his Library. Satisfied with such payment, he moved on to stare down at Chigetsu. His face coming closer.

"What about you… you don't seem fully human to me but you still have to pay the entrance fee." He would growl and lift his talon as if he was expecting Chi to produce anything of potential value for the library.


1030 / 6720

Chi had never entered a library before in his life. Yet, here he was now. Verdandi’s solution to enter into the building was… Not what he had expected. He had to admit it caught him off guard. From such an elegant and beautiful woman he expected a bit more of an elegant approach, but explosive tags were just as effective as anything else in creating entrances. The beautiful dome that he had been admiring seconds before was smashed in from the force, with bubbles of heat and steam quickly rising upwards through the water. The control he was exerting over the water around them allowed him to prevent any liquid from steaming into the building through the created hole. The tremor of force that brushed back past them would be similarly pushed aside, as so not to inconvenience them. Their little elevator of water would descend down then through the hole that she had created. While the view of the interior library was immediately beautiful, he found himself instead focusing on how to keep the place from flooding.  The platform of water he was lowering down to the floor could easily be absorbed into his body later, but his ability to control the movement of water had a range associated with it. He wouldn’t be able to stop water from streaming in once he got down to the bottom. Verdandi seemed to have the same idea as him, shooting a bolt of her ice chakra up to freeze open the entrance. It would keep things steady for now, but it was an inevitability that the ice would eventually melt, especially here in Sunagakure. It seemed like a shame, but in the end he supposed it didn’t really matter. Nobody else would be able to see this buried treasure either way with it hidden so deep below the ground.

The library itself was beautiful. Like nothing he had ever seen before. Stacks upon stacks of books. Chigetsu had never been much of an intellectual. His time in the academy was short and sweet, and he certainly didn’t win any awards for intelligence or devotions to his studies. The expanse was honestly a little overwhelming for him. Lowering down to the floor and then absorbing the remainder of their water elevator into his body, Chigetsu would twirl around to take in the massive marvel that they had lower themselves into. This was buried treasure for sure. Even if he didn’t exactly value conventional education the sheer quantity of books in this building meant there had to be something that even he would be interested in and could be bettered by. That wasn’t even counting their monetary value. Who knows what loot they could haul away from here and the sort of funds they could get from selling their illicit gains. It was something that he thought about immediately. His less than noble intentions probably radiated off him. He had completely forgotten about how there was supposed to be a guardian, even though Verdandi had warned him of it earlier. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to notice that Verdandi dried herself off with her Suiton control, and as much as he enjoyed the sight it provided he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the marvels he had dropped down into.

Suffice to say, he was surprised by the giant owl that appeared. Chigetsu had never seen an owl so big. It was very shocking, especially as it seemed to appear without making a sound. He had simply turned his head and the owl had been there, where empty space was moments before. Chigetsu had to hold himself back from jumping from shock. Steadying himself, he would reach a hand over to Dandi and grasp her by the shoulder. The warning of there being a librarian here was long forgotten, and so the beast before him was regarded quickly as an enemy that had to be defended against. At least, until it spoke. Its voice didn’t make him any less uncomfortable though. It was all incredibly unsettlingly, except perhaps in the knowledge that it didn’t seem to want to immediately attack them. Still, he would hold his treasure closely. They were both confused and scared. As it continued to speak the level of tension would drop from the air ever so slowly, and eventually the pair would relax themselves. Without even needing to defend themselves the massive owl seemed to talk itself into allowing them into the library. Of course this put Chigetsu’s plans of theft on hold. He wasn’t nearly brazen enough to dare do it under the watchful eyes of an owl. Especially one with such an intimidating aura. No, those plans would be abandoned. The problem of their payment then dawned upon him. Verdandi had improvised, as he had relied on her to do. She was much better at quick thinking than he was, and so he had expected her to find a way to get them both out of this payment. Of course he was sorely mistaken as the owl turned its attention down onto him. He would turn and look down at himself. He was still just out of the hospital, only having recently recovered from the last battle. Chigetsu wasn’t anything of an intellectual either… He was supposed to have some sort of donation for the library? He would scramble about, reaching a hand deep inside his core as he struggled to think. Especially as the owl stared down at him so closely, lifting its talon.

A small scroll would be produced. Of the written texts he had to choose from it was either this or the poem he had been writing, and that still wasn’t nearly finished. The scroll would be stretched open and presented to the beast before him, and Chigetsu would nervously explain himself. “It’s a blueprints for the ships that my clan sail looking for storms, together with maps of previous recorded storm paths.” He would point out the technical information and pictures listed, unsure if that was exactly something that belonged in a library. All together his offering was made without much confidence, but it seemed to be accepted by the massive owl either way. The beast would take a glance down at the information listed, staring at it for several nerve wracking moments before it took it out of Chigetsu’s hands, and the boy would let out a sigh of relief.

---

[1086/6315]

"Interesting..." the owl would speak and growl into it's beak as he studied the documents received by Chigetsu. He was genuinely and positively surprised, as it was more common that there's always that one guy in the group that never had anything of value to with him. To get two actual fulfilling donations would put Wan Shi Tong into quite a good mood. "I would however prefer, that you use the front door next time. Thank You." he added in a voice that Verd couldn't figure if it was supposed to be sarcastic or if he was making fun of them. His feathers would point down the halls and floors to a huge, large archway. What once used to be an actual door, now of course buried beneath the sand outside along with the rest of the building. Was now a huge Fūin seal. A gate so to speak. Verd and Chi would be able to notice a large amount of red fox-like creatures entering and leaving the building through that gate. As a sealing acolyte Verdandi was instantly impressed at the insanely high level of sealing technique displayed. So far, a similar gate of smaller magnitude they had only seen being casted by Sero as he opened the trans dimensional Seal Gate to Hansha. Teleportation or movement beyond light speed was something still incredibly rare in this world. Whenever Verd was able to catch a glimpse of it. She'd adore it with a certain amazement. Enjoying to just glare over the huge creation.

Wan Shi Tong would raise above, his wings flapping casually. Moving slowly to the frost sealed hole in the tower-head of his library. A single touch of his talon would melt Verdandi's ice, a second touch would turn the water outside back to sand and a third one would slowly call upon mud and broken pieces of wall to slowly reconstruct itself and perfectly fill the hole in the building. Whoever that guy was. His powers were certainly on par with Sero or stronger. Verd made sure to note to herself not to mess with that bird. If she were to learn how that fuin seal worked that he so casually used as a gate. Verd would potentially gain the chance to return to this Library at any potential time she wanted to. That is, if there was a chance for her to study her summoning skills to a deeper value. By the time Verd was wondering what she wanted one of the foxes came closer. Like an actual animal it seemed shy at first as it approached the two visitors. Verd slowly lowered herself to her knees and stretched out her palm. The fox creature slowly approached and sniffed ad her palm and her own slightly perfumed scent. Licking at her wrist a few times as if he had to taste the stranger just to make sure he knew what they were about before eventually getting quite calm and moving in closer, allowing Verdandi to gently caress his head and neck with idly scratches.

"Oh my such a good boy. How frickin cute can you get." She'd express her joy quickly and giggle. Watching the fox exhale its pleasure over being pampered not much unlike a dog would. Breathing joyfully and wiggling with the tail. Verd wouldn't mind to keep scratching the good boy and occasionally laugh towards Chi over the funny situation. Eventually the large bird was descending back from the repaired roof and passed by the visitors. "You may roam at your own delight. Ask the seekers as to what you are looking for and they shall guide you." He would casually say before he slowly descended further and disappeared at last past the large sealing gate at the front entrance. "That guy is hella scary. Let's try nooot to anger him mkay?" Verd would laugh as she gazed at Chi. Her palm still casually scratching the fox on his chin. "So, you're supposed to be a seeker huh?" she said, at first in a way of her speaking to herself. Verd would quickly drop her jaw as the fox began to nod eagerly. "Alright. I want to know more about the summoning gate…" she would say. The fox however, would tilt his head and glare at Verd. She would pull back her palm as she was trying to figure out how this works. "You, Fox, bring me, summoning gate, book." She tried again but the fox tilted his head in the other direction and had no fricking clue what she was talking about.

"Ok… lets try this in a more basic way. Topic: Summoning!" Verd would gasp on her third try and the fox actually got up again and nodded eagerly. Howling once before he started to run off in a very specific direction. Halting and making sure that Verd was following him. For now Verd would grab on Chi's palm and make sure to take her snuggle buddy with her. They seeker and his guests descended a good five floors via stairs and then moved into the east wing of the giant library. As he would sit down and start to growl like a dog again. Verd would scratch his head and tell him that he was a good boy again. The fox seemingly overjoyed by the presence of so much affection. "Now let's see… this whole wing is about sealing and summoning… now how do we find the gate scroll… hmm?" Verd wondered. For quite a while she tried to converse with the fox, but aside from very basic commands he seemed unable to comply. Verdandi eventually hissed. "Book: Most Powerful." And the fox actually got up and started to move. Verd dropped her jaw. She knew that whatever he was going to fetch now, uncaring if it contained the gate seal or not. It was going to be god. The fox would return with a book. One about the 'Most powerful Snail summon'. Verd slapped her palm to her face. "I'm not a snail person…" she said a bit disappointed.

The fox nodded. Picked the book back up and motioned his head to follow them. Eventually returning the book a into a very special section of the sealing library. Where Verdandi discovered dozens of Summoning contracts stacked upon each other. "Niiceee" she exhaled as she went through the lot of them. Pulling aside a few basic ones like, dog, cat, bird. She stopped at a few like, tigers and bears even. She couldn't however get herself to give Avalanche any competition on that point and kept searching. While she was digging through the pile she eventually dropped one to Chi. "Hey, that one has your family crest on it." She would giggle and place it in Chi's palms. 'Shellfish' was the title. If he opened it he would, without mistake find the name of his own ancestor 'Gengetsu Hōzuki' on the scroll. Alongside various notes that the great Mizukage must have tucked into the scroll itself. Verd eventually stopped digging as beneath the pile of animals she eventually found a unique one. Pulling it from its covers as she read the inscription that said without mistake. 'Dragon Contract'. Verdandi's eyes would widen instantly and she would glare down at it with shiny eyes. "Sweet mother of Susanoo…" Her heart would skip a beat. She opened the scroll. Only a single name listed as contract holder. His name crossed through. His bloody palm imprint washed away. His name unreadable. Whoever tried to summon these beasts must have failed horribly and was no longer permitted to do so. A shiver ran down Verd's back at the idea but she couldn't help but study the runes on the scroll.


1300 / 8020

He shrunk under the gaze of the owl. Literally. Chigetsu was a few inches shorter once its eyes turned away. He sunk down, his feet lowering somewhat into a small puddle. The way it studied the document, one that Chigetsu honestly didn’t prescribe any great worth. Most of the information he could get again from his clan pretty easily, althougreally would be real awkward meeting with them all again. His connections with the Roto Arashi weren’t often, and the sort of unfamiliarity that he had with his so called ‘family’ made them closer to strangers to him. Still, that was the only tradition he had. He still prayed to Susanoo, without really thinking about why. Maybe it was that desire to feel like he was a part of something. A family, a clan, a village, a nation. They all filled the same need. The strange owl seemed pleased with it though, and that lifted a weight off his chest, and he would spring back up to his normal height. It was a relief. Its little comment about using the front door struck flat with an already confused and slightly afraid Chigetsu. The massive seal that was pointed towards quickly illuminated what he was referring to though. He could only presume that it was supposed to be some sort of entrance to the library, but where the other end was he couldn’t tell. Fuuinjutsu and sealing had always been above his understanding, and unfortunately he wasn’t able to appreciate it the same way that Verdandi must have been. Still, he was curious, and he would gaze into the complicated mess of the seal trying to glean some information from it.

If he wanted to learn more about sealing this would probably be the perfect place to do it. Chigetsu was never an intellectual, but here he would probably have the easiest time studying a complicated new subject. The exit of the bird up into the higher towers of the library allowed him to relax for a moment, and he would take his mind off it. Whatever it was doing up in the ceiling wasn’t his concern. He didn’t want to think about it. Instinctively he would grab Verdandi’s hand. How uncomfortable he was in this situation was probably readily apparent by his body language, but the way he tightly grasped and held onto her was another clear sign of it. The appearance of the foxes gave him something else to focus on though. Their presence in the library was strange, although less so when he remembered the librarian was an owl. He had to admit that they were adorable, especially when they came up to Verdandi and licked at her wrist. He couldn’t help but laugh, especially once it began to nuzzle into her hand and demand pets in a similar way to a dog. Chigetsu had never had a pet before, or really desired one, but seeing this little cutie make him want to take one of them home with him. Avalanche would have to be petted and snuggled with the next opportunity he got. Until then he would unload affection down onto the little foxes that came near, scritching behind their ears and happily petting at them.

The direction that the returning owl gave caused Chigetsu to snap upwards from his fun with the fox. He would nod vigorously in response to what Verd whispered to him immediately after, still a bit startled. “Too scary… I never thought I’d be afraid of an owl.” His eyes would stay focused on the owl as it disappeared down into the massive sealing gate. Rather than let those moments of fear linger Chigetsu would turn down to the foxes himself. Verdandi was already seeming to try and figure out how they responded to commands, and listening in on her attempts gave Chi a few clues as how to start himself. “Alright.. Topic: Hōzuki.” The fox would give a slight turn of its head towards Chigetsu, and through the glimmer in his eyes it seemed as though it understood what he meant. “Book: … Jutsu?” He was winging it. Looking for something vaguely related to his clan would be a good first start. There probably wasn’t much of value relating to the Hōzuki here in this library, considering it was in Sunagakure, but it would at least allow him to get a feel for the way these foxes operated. The seeker fox would scurry off, disappearing into the labyrinth of books. It wouldn’t be long before it returned, a small scroll in its mouth. A quick glance over what it had brought would show a list of simple Hōzuki jutsu, mostly variations of the Water Gun technique. Nothing all too interesting, but at the same time it was nice to know. About the time that he had finished scanning over that scroll Verdandi had found some thread to follow on her own, and he would be dragged away by his excited girlfriend. Quickly they would be lead into a special area of the library.

“My family crest? That’s…” His attention was immediately caught, and he would stare down at the scroll that she handed to him. It was covered in a thick layer of dust, and his clan symbol had been pressed down into it with a hot stamp of wax. He would open it once the dust was cleared off, pulling the scroll down to reveal its contents. Immediately the name ‘Gengetsu Hōzuki’ would pop out at him, and Chigetsu’s eyes would nearly pop out of his head. The Second Mizukage. Gengetsu had a lot of history within his clan. The main branch worships him. The nomadic storm followers saw him as a whiskered demon. Chigetsu would stare down over the contents of the scroll, soaking it in with his eyes. "Gengetsu Hōzuki..."

---

[988/7303]

Verdandi pulled out a bag from one of her scrolls and put in the big contract with the dragon seal. She slowly moved through the library while the foxes casually put the seemingly less-important books back into their places. Some of them curling themselves around and next to Chigetsu while he was reading into the contract that obviously once belonged to his ancestor. Verdandi moved through the corridors of the sealing library. She tried to find the clue about the teleport gate but didn't seem to have any luck with it. Chi would hear her talk with the foxes next to her a lot and she'd eventually return with a rather big pile of sealing books. But neither of them seemed to end up showing the real secrets of instant transportation. Verd pouted. She however always got a new excited smile whenever she glared at the dragon contract in her bag. That one's gonna be extra fun. She wondered how big they would get… Probably better not to try it for the first time right here in the library. Sounded unhealthy for the library at least. Verd eventually grabbed Chi by the palm. Pulling him up to quickly smooch and kiss him excited over the newest turn of adventures. Letting him casually drop his family heirloom into the bag as well. Before moving further into the library. On the path to the Jutsu Sections, Verd dropped in as many books about standard jutsu that she could find. Mostly Ninjutsu and Elemental.

They didn't seem to have much updated info on the ice clan's techniques but some older ones she never heard about. Verd packed the books into her bag. Study material is always good. She wandered through the various corners of the jutsu library. Eventually halting whenever she saw something that seemed powerful. Many of the techniques seemingly far beyond her comprehension. She'd put them right back into the shelfs and act as if they just didn't fit her taste. Verd was about to give up when she found something about the Rasengan. Having already learned the basic applications and idea of the technique from Takao and Nayoko, she was very interested to get into a deeper attempt to learn about this seemingly overly powerful ability. Scratching her head once again at the riddles of its texts, however still seemingly comprehendible if compared to the rather heavy S-Rank techniques she had peeked into earlier. Verd was satisfied. She had a lot to work with. Asking the foxes to take them to a nearby lounge they would guide the way to one of the seemingly many reading rooms. Seating herself on a comfy sofa and wondering how this absolutely amazing place found itself to become buried instead of resurrected. She glanced at Chi after having him dragged all over the jutsu section. "Hmmm found anything fun darling? Maybe a new squiddle technique? Or more Hozuki stuff maybe?" she giggled. Slowly sitting up from her end of the sofa and crawling over to Chi's.

Playfully hugging him from the side and smooching against his cheek. Leaving the books aside for a minute. Molesting her cute squiddler every now and then was supposedly part of a date-like adventure. "Mhmm maybe something that turns you into a huuuge kraken thingy again?" she thought about it. Remembering how Chi fought during both the pirate camp and the large battlefield with Maigo. Reminding herself of the epic way she ended up burying half the enemies under sand… and how the large chimonstru stomped through the masses and sent poor little soldiers helplessly flying around with no chances of beating such a giant blobb. Some cuddles and sweet talk would certainly not hurt. Eventually she'd have to get back to read into her books and study some of the material she had found. Wondering if Chi would stick around for another bit or if he was going to look for something else? Verd didn't know what other things than techniques could really interest her. She already knew the history on Yuki and Kiri. Kiri, Iwa, Kumo, Suna. Even those of less popular and minor villages. The seven bells. The Aoi Bara. She had pretty much snooped into every even remotely interesting looking book in her sister's library. In time they would probably just have to leave the place and figure out where this huge entrance would lead them towards. If she could find a way to connect the gate with a location in Kiri or Yuki… that would open new possibilities however.

Seemed highly unlikely though. Verd pouted. One of these days she'd get a hold on the teleportation technique. One way or another. For now, they could just laze around in the lounge and pet the foxes. Read into their books and scroll and occasionally hear how the big owl would fly by, laughing and growling joyfully as he was probably reading into Chigetsu's stories about men that sail after storms to find their most fulfilling inspiration within the unification with the great Susanoo. The large bird seemingly amazed by such an outrageous idea. Unable to determine if he should be laughing, barking or express his deep found respect for such a courageous act. But mostly he seemed to be just overjoyed to read something else than the books that he had been reading here for the hundredth time in his own library. He certainly could use some new friends it seemed.


920 / 8940

Gengetsu Hōzuki. The Second Mizukage. The fourth head of the Hōzuki Clan. He was an… interesting figure. He was named the successor to the First Mizukage by Kirigakure’s elders, rising quickly up to prominence in Kirigakure society. He revolutionized the Hōzuki Clan, providing the roots of many of the clan’s current traditions. The historically sparse and spread out Hōzuki Clan was consolidated entirely into Kirigakure by his policies, collected out from the lighthouses that they had spread across the world’s coastlines and riverways. The Roto Arashi that had raised Chigetsu hated him more than anything, but among the main branch he was a hero. His successor was another member of the Hōzuki clan, cementing the clan’s position within the village. While Chigetsu wasn’t exactly a history buff it was hard to ignore some elements of the past like this. Two other members of the Hōzuki Clan would eventually become Mizukage beyond Gengetsu and his successor, but they wouldn’t be able to command the power that he did. He was a legend. The greatest member of the Hōzuki Clan without competition. Only Mangetsu would even come close to commanding the power he did. Reading this made his eye go wide and goosebumps to appear up and down his back. It was incredible.

Verdandi would take him by the hand, and with her guide he would press up to her lips and press into her with the most passionate kiss he was capable of. It was as if she could read his excitement. He would hug and squeeze her, possessed by the excitement of the moment. The scroll that he had glanced over would be dropped into the bag she was pulling around. He would look at it in much fuller detail later, when there was more time. Just from what he had saw though it was a treasure beyond compare. Not only was the Second Mizukage’s summoning contract written out here, but it appeared as if there were other techniques of his own creation listed out and described with commentary. He would be busy digesting this for a long time. Having already found a treasure of his own Chigetsu would continue along with Verd. The rest of his pursuits in the library would be of following her around, rather than getting overambitious in his search. There was nothing he could find that would top the first scroll anyhow. The occasional interesting text on Suiton techniques would be pulled at and glanced over, and Chigetsu would cast a curious eyes over the methodology that was used in their construction. He was more interested in that than anything else, and so the actual contents of the jutsu would be skipped over. It would soon be that he was scanning over instructional manuals on how to create jutsu instead, kept in the same location as where the lists of jutsu were. Even there was little of interest to him. It was only once he stumbled across a series of small books marked with the symbols of Konohagakure did he become interested. Emblazoned with the symbol of the Senju Clan, Chigetsu’s interest would immediately be caught. Rather than instructional guides or textbooks they would be a series of diaries, all penned by Tobirama Senju. The lot of them were all snatched up instantly after that. Even if he wasn’t the fondest of Konohagakure it would be hard to ignore the genius and talent they had historically. He wasn’t against studying the work of the Second Hokage in addition to the Second Mizukage, not one bit.

Once Verdandi seemed to have found what she was interested in they would both be lead over towards a lounging area. The foxes from earlier would serve as their guides, and as soon as the sight of floofy couches came into vision Chigetsu would take the opportunity to flop down onto one, making himself as comfortable as possible. His eyes would gaze over to Dandi as soon as she called out to him asking about if he had learned any new ‘squidde’ techniques, and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her. It was a new vocabulary word for him. “Squiddle?” He couldn’t help but ask as she crawled across the couches over to him. He would hug her close and snuggle together with her as she came near, kissing her face affectionately. “I did find some books on Hōzuki jutsu, some very interesting stuff. Nothing about making a huge kraken thingy though… Just some interesting stuff left by my ancestors.” Explaining the nitty gritty of his treasure wasn’t something he exactly wanted to get into when he had a beautiful woman cuddling up beside him, and so he would leave her with that explanation before pressing himself into a little cuddle and smooch session with her. For all the molesting she did Chigetsu returned in kind, getting boldy touchy. All the nervousness and awkwardness he had displayed at the beginning of their relationship melted away, and spending time together so close allowed him let all his little worries evaporate. He was growing more and more comfortable spending time together with her alone. It felt natural. A bit of it was probably still the high he was experiencing from knowing that soon he was leave this place, and that he was still alive after all of it. Inhibition was thrown to the wind. Even after they returned to reading Chigetsu would keep himself close to her, a dumb little smile on his face as he lost himself in Gengetsu’s writings.

---

[943/7303]

Verdandi casually dropped her books every now and then just to molest Chi again and cuddle into him. Smooching over his lips and using their opportunity of being left alone in the library wing for a long time. When smooching got boring they switched around into comfy cuddle and reading positions. Usually in that sense Verd would turn Chi into her pillow as she was studying through the sealing techniques. Not rarely she'd be found scratching her head and wondering if she actually got them figured out correctly. Sometimes when Chi seemed tired of being the pillow Verd would allow the two of them to switch positions. Something he seemed to greatly enjoy. Since Verd had in-built pillows into her own physique and wasn't shy on letting Chi use them for comfort to his seemingly great amusement. Hours would pass. Many hours. There were no open windows due to the fact that the whole building was deeply submerged within the sand. No sunlight. But the perfect lantern and candle-born lightning within the halls often made one forget that there was actually night and day shift going on outside. Verd would figure in time, that the foxes were way more unusual than normal pets. Aside from clearly enjoying it to get scratches, they also could be persuaded to fetch food and drinks if offered some coin. Since Verd was pretty famous for having the big coin bags, the table next to their cuddle lounge soon filled with plenty of food and drinks offered by their animal caretakers.

They way they lived here, days could pass by without much notice. But Verdandi had foreseen herself getting lost in the vast joy of endless knowledge. She had eaten her way through a whole section of unique, restricted techniques and applications. Knowledge about beasts. Monsters. Historical powers of ANBU. Politics. Skirmished between Kiri and neighbours in the last few dozen years. Important names. The misdeeds of Hao. The war with Aoi Bara and the Seven Bells. She added a few Yuki no Kuni books to her list of purchases and seemed to finally find an end to her initial gorging into all the knowledge available here. A little seal she had put on her own wrist was squeezing her palm. It was a timer she had set. They were overstaying their welcome in Suna. Verdandi had set the timer to when she knew would the Kiri troops start removing themselves from Suna shore. It'd certainly take another two or three days until the forces had properly evacuated their own troops and sent everyone except the occupational troops back to their homeland. Staying here past the time of evacuation would force the two of them to explanations over what the two seemingly responsible ninja were doing out here in enemy territory without official permit. Needless to say, that they were at an ancient relic site that Verdandi only could find due to the use of illegally obtained ANBU intel. She wasn't specifically keen on getting in trouble with her higher-ups about this one.

Verd was starting to pack her things. She asked Chi if he was ready to go as well. Not trying to stress him at all. Considering they still had like two to three days until they were actually 'late' on anything it wouldn't matter if he asked for another few minutes if even hours. It was only important that a feeling of 'we have to get moving' was coming up between the two of them. The bag of books they wanted to purchase was moderately well filled. While some of the foxes inspected the books to make sure they weren't snatching anything forbidden Verd returned to snuggle for another round or two with her Chi. She kept using the word 'squiddle me' occasionally. It confused him still as it seemed. Leaving her to only giggle more and smooch him again hard. In time they had to leave the comfy lodge they had spent so long in. Verd winked and waved at the sofa in a weird melancholic fashion. She read the bill over how much the owl and the foxes requested for the books. It was of course a number that was insanely large. Something that Ryo alone would most likely not cover at all. But as it was time to pay. Verd just casually nodded as if it was a very usual request. Dropping a multitude of thick, pure gold coins and adding a large diamond from her jewellery pocket on top of it.

The fox servant shortly confirmed the quality and purity of the gold and Wan Shi Tong seemed majorly pleased. Even positively surprised by what had been offered as payment. Without much words, the scary owl bowed and slowly lifted off into the depths of his library. Giving Verd and Chi some time to give the foxes some last cute scratches before heading towards the huuuge portal. Verdandi was honestly intimidated by the size and glowing chakra imbued power of the portal seal. She grabbed Chi's palm tightly and stepped forward. Experiencing a space and time jutsu for the second time now. Remembering well how the first one had sent her flying face first to the floor in Hansha. This time they were gently dropped near a dust covered rune stone in the desert. The sun was back up. Allowing Verdandi to use her sensory techniques in combination with the sun to quickly estimate their position. It was a bare ten-minute walk back to the actual spot they had been digging for the library. As expected, Verd would have ought it to be weird if the hidden entrance of the library was too far away from the actual building. Powerful or not. There still obviously seemed very certain limits to space time techniques. After the short walk. They would reach the spot where Avalanche was casually sitting in his man-made swimming pool. One of the seekers. A fox was sitting next to him in the pool. Obviously, he got bored waiting for Verd and Chi and had made a new friend on his own.

"Well, that was certainly an exhausting adventure. What do you think Darling? You want to return back home to the camp or got anything else in mind?" she would grin as she organized the books that she had bought and casually sealed the large bag with its contents in a scroll as to not having to drag around the heavy thing for the remainder of their journey. They still had a day or two left. Technically. They could either return to the library… now knowing where the entrance was. Or maybe do some training here… or just laze around with Ava and his fox buddy at the pool. All of that sounded quite nicely.


1140 / 10080

He didn’t know how much he needed this. His mental state hadn’t been something that could be described as particularly strong or stable in even the best of times. This extended warfare in Sunagakure was beginning to weigh down on him in an unhealthy way though, especially with how things had been recently. The time spent in the desert wastelands chasing down and slaughtering bandits wasn’t all too much different from what he did in Kirigakure, but the environment and general atmosphere wore him down into a dull shadow of his former self. That was before the Battle of Inabayama. Even if there was a large portion of what occured during that battle was missing to him still, erased entirely from his memories, the stress and pressure from it remained within him still. The only thing that had been removed was the explanation. Having an event like that, one that melted you down entirely from the sort of person you had been before, removed entirely from his mind left the strangest cloud of trauma hanging over his head afterwards. It was there, hanging around in the back of his mind, and in the corners of his vision that constantly skirted away whenever he tried to look at it. The scars of his wounds and pain remained unexplainable, along with his disappearance. It was hard to realize and something he didn’t want to look at directly. Sitting here with Verdandi though, laying beside her both buried in books, both sharing in the warmth of one another, it was as if none of that had ever happened.

It felt so simple and pure. Even if the position that he was in right now with her was a bit less than pure, ironically. Comforting himself in the softness of her body, including her ‘built-in pillows’, was something that he was rather fond of using when it became his turn to be the pillow. Of course, her breasts did distract him quite a bit and make it difficult to focus on reading, but that was a sacrifice he was more than willing to make. The moment was perfect. He could have completely forgotten his life as a shinobi and stayed here with her and have no regrets for the rest of his life. Especially with this comfy atmosphere the library and foxes provided. The food and drinks provided just made it all the easier to justify staying around. Hours passed like minutes. Just like earlier in the day they spent time without care enjoying each other’s company. The books that Chigetsu had brought with him were chewed through quickly. Reading about the Second Mizukage maybe should have inspired a bit more in him, but the journal that he collected was formatted strangely. Between the summoning contract and techniques there was hard to decipher ramblings, all disorganized to such an extent that reading any narrative from them was near impossible. The techniques themselves were nearly all nothing special either. While he had been excited to pick them up he quickly found the sort of revolutionary secrets of the Second Mizukage were nearly two hundred years old now, and thus no longer such closely guarded secrets. The value of the summoning contract went without saying though. The Giant Clam that the Second Mizukage summoned was almost as famous as he was. There would be a time when Chigetsu returned to Kirigakure that he would attempt to learn how to read this. He would likely have to attempt to summon the Giant Clam and write out a contract, although how exactly he would do that was a mystery to him. More reading would probably illuminate the answer. There were some jutsu that did catch his eye throughout the mess of nonsense written by his ancestor though. There was one in particular that was very interesting. Not exactly in the way that he would be jumping out of his seat and cheering with joy to see, but more of a dull shock. The sort of, ‘Oh, really?’ reaction. He was surprised to even see this mentioned, or that it really existed. He always assumed the myths of the Joki Boi were really only that - myths. It would have to be another thing he experimented with, although the idea of making himself explode was rather scary. Maybe he would hold back on that one for a while and go for it when things settled down. He would casually end up moving on to the Second Hokage’s journal after that, which proved to be more immediately interesting. Even if from another village Tobirama Senju’s work on Jutsu Theory had to be praised. He was an interesting man. Reading about these two made him almost want to open up a portal to the past and see what that time period and these two men were like.

He was unfortunately reminded that all good things had to come to an end. Verdandi reminding him of the alarm that she apparently set removed him from the dazed state of comfort he had relaxed into. The books that he had collected would be slowly put away. The pile of books that he intended to take with him was much smaller than the massive haul that Verdandi had piled up, and looking over what she had read he would had a hard time imagining reading all of it himself. Reading never truly had been a strong point of his. Maybe after they returned home he would ask her about all the things she read here. Looking at them now he couldn’t help but be curious. He wouldn’t have much time to mull over the possibilities of what could be hidden away in those pages though, as Verdandi would return quickly to snuggled with him as their books were being counted over by the foxes. He would be quick to comfort her, returning happily to the couch without a second thought. The phrase ‘squiddle me’ was something he couldn’t help but pause and stare at her in confusion about though. The way she broke out into giggles and kissed at him only confused him further, but he couldn’t complain with the results. Anything that got an adorable giggle out of her was worth it in his mind, even if it was his own confusion.

Then it came time for the bill. It caught him completely off guard. For there to be a bill for taking books out of a library seemed a bit contradictory, given his previous experience with libraries. He hadn’t expected to need to bring his coin purse along with him when excavating these ancient ruins in Sunagakure. Nervousness set in. He would glance over Verdandi’s shoulder to see the bill that she received and immediately regretted looking. Slowly he would sink down into the couch cushion he had been resting on, now in a slightly melted state from the sheer shock. He was about to start desperately searching in his pockets until he saw Verdandi beginning to take care of things. The gold coins and jewels that she seemed to casually produce from a pocket completely silenced him. There were moments he forgot her roots in wealth. Even though he did know she was a princess the amount of money involved was more than he could comprehend. His mind would eventually settle down and he would settle on not thinking about the money involved, unless he wanted his mind to explode. The foxes and big scary owl librarian seemed pleased by the payment and that was good enough for him.

They wouldn’t stay long after that. Some time was spent playing with the foxes some more and giving them some last goodbyes, but after those moments they would leave through the portal together. Vertigo momentarily washed over him, but in the blink of an eye it would be over and the two of them would be standing back in the desert. He would follow Verdandi’s lead to their original location to meet back up with Avalanche, rushing to cling to the bear as soon as he could. Ava’s fluffyness would be nuzzled into, and Chigetsu would quickly climb his way up onto the beast’s back to rest on him like a big furry pillow.

“Let’s go home… It was nice here, spending time together in the library, but I’m homesick…” He would sigh down into Avalanche’s fuzzy back. “If we ever come back here we’ll have to make another visit to this library, but hopefully that won’t be for a long time.” Turning his head away from Ava’s back, Chigetsu would stare over to Verdandi from his position with a slightly dreamy expression. He almost looked half asleep right then, and his voice took on a similar airy characteristic. “I love you, Darling~ Thank you… Thank you for everything.”

---

[EXIT]
[1490/9736]

WC:

Verdandi chuckled. Avalanche turned his head just enough so he could slobber a long lick over Chi's face. Being adored by not only the princess, Chi was also dearly loved by his bear buddy. However, Avalanche had little means other then licks and snuggles to express that much. The only thing that could potentially make him more excited was when Verd or Chi were up for 'play time' and once again proofed, that the giant polar bear was in the end nothing but a rather oversized dog. Verd quickly produced a thick piece of meat from on of her almost invisible seals on her left arm. Placing another one quickly down to the ground, then shooting a third seal towards the place they popped out of earlier. Pins. Markers made of chakra. Verd would find this place again sometime. A nerd like herself would probably end up spending her whole holiday leave on this place once in a while. But for now. She had more than enough reading material for a few months and a lot of complicated jutsu stuff that would keep her busy. Knowing well that some mathematic concepts built into the complexity of fuinjutsu was giving her headaches as well. She yawned in response to Chi's exhausted behaviour and slowly crawled up on Ava's back. The fox that Ava had made friends with acknowledged the fact that they were about to move. In a sweet way of affection, he made a short noise and Ava quickly moved to bump his nose against the fox's nose.

As the canine keeper of the library casually escaped Ava's bathtub and trotted off happily into the distance. Avalanche would glare after his newfound friend for a while. Potentially contemplating if he would miss that fox or not. But he'd get a lot of chin and head scratches from Verd now and was instantly overwhelmed by his Masters attention. Growling happily and rewarding her as well with a few licks to her cheek. Verd giggled and gently grabbed onto a thicker strain of fluffy hair and pulled herself in a swift, lightweight move onto his back. For a while Verd and Chi would just lazily cuddle about while clinging to Ava's back as the bear slooowly and casually trotted towards south east. Giving the lovey dovey couple some time to relax and enjoy each other's warmth. When Verd realized that both were about to doze off. She unsealed the chariot wagon from her scroll and Avalanche happily helped to get himself strapped into the pulling ropes once again. Dragging the sleepy Chi off from Ava's back and into the chariot. Where the two of them would eventually find themselves all snuggled up, arm in arm and dozing off while Ava would move slowly into the night. He would occasionally speed up as the sand dunes allowed him to skate and surf into them again as before. Obviously enjoying all of this in his own playful way. Making it but a game for his joy.

Finding the way back was easier for him. He had an insanely good sense of orientation and didn't really need much of Verd's guidance to find his way on a path towards the Kiri camps. Hours would pass and by the time Chi and Verd would wake up they would find themselves already stopping at the gates of said camp. His nostrils had led the bear directly and without fail to his favourite barn. The chariot must have been unlocked by some of the guards. As Verd peeked through the hole of the wagon's windows, she could see her pet already snoozing in the barn as he must have probably emptied its food stock before dozing off for good. Verd would let Chi sleep. She casually casted some sort of water prison technique to catch her boyfriends' body and drag him casually along into the camp while he was safe and sound, protected by the bubble that surrounded him. Allowing Verd to pull him off towards their tent and make sure she could carefully drop the sleepyhead in her bed. She started to pack her things slowly. Making sure to organize her purchased goods and books in one of her sealing scrolls. Then piling up the scrolls with all the swords, armor parts and other goodies she had organized. Casually sorting them into her backpack before she ought that she had everything ready for the way back home and all spoils and goodies collected that she had obtained.

Verd would glare at the jade statuette for a second, her memory from the ANBU quest series she worked on in suna's capital. Packing her various goodies and presents from the kiri troops and then at least waking Chi so he could organize himself as well. After this. The two of them had but one desire. To finally board that last ship that would get them back to Kirigakure. Back to Mizu no Kuni. Back to the land they belong to and finally back and away from all the torturing heat they had endured for so many months in this nasty plane of existence. She had a good time here though…

[EXIT]

Verd WC: 870 / 10'950
Thread WC: 20'686 (8 EP)

WC Usage: