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[Entrance from the Village]

A streak of black fur darted around a corner of the Underwater Caverns. He was following his nose to where the vial's contents would leak out. From the visualizations that he had perceived from Nakamura, he knew that the contents would be coming down into the caverns any second now. What he didn't see, was that there were others in the cavern beside himself. His maw was pointed in the air, as if searching for the strange liquid with his eyes and nose together. It wasn't untill he spotted a line of what could only have been the poison trickling down towards a cavern on the right.

Hyousetsu turned to the right, suddenely becoming startled from the sudden appearance of Kaida and Wahotts. He paws left the ground with a single leap, his body soaring over their heads while he looked to where the poison was heading.

Upon landing on the icy floor, he stumbled slightly before recovering into a continous bound. It didn't take him long to locate where the liquid would end up dropping. Nakamura had indeed made intricate pathways in order to protect the water supply from ever becoming defiled. She's even smarter than I thought she was. Hyousetsu concluded when he ran to the end of the cavern. He could see a small tube where the liquid would come out.

Without waiting for the liquid, Hyousetsu hit the ground with his paw, and instantly, a frozen vial erupted from the ground and was held firmly beneath the tube. The poison has been halted and is being collected now. Hyousetsu informed Nakamura from his position. He also conveniently left out the part of the two he passed on his way down into the Caverns.

Wahotts made his way down another tunnel with Kaida on his back. Yet again he had to balk and turn around having been confronted by yet another wall of ice ...it was driving him crazy and he growled in frustration before turning around.


Kaida patted her companion on the back "COme on Whaotts you'll get it right this time..." she encouraged. This time he chose a new tunnel and toook off down it. Kaida felt him getting more an dmore exicted as he ran down teh tunnel and soon enough she too could smell the fresh air before finally seeing the light at the end. "YOu did it Wahotts!!" she exclaimed hugging him from atop him as he ran.


[exit to takigakure]

[Enter from Waterfall]

Shinji took a tentative step forward and felt the cold splash of water against his feet. It had been a long time since he had been here and he was so young, yet it all felt so familiar. Each footstep sent a resounding echo through his memory. Scurrying feet, frenzied shouting, attacks, evacuations all were etched into the stone, forever scarred. He had never been in here alone, it was cold and empty.

A stalactite shook threateningly above him. Shinji groped around from the ground and found a small rock. With a huge amount of effort he collided the rock into the stalactite, which fell to the ground with a crash. Shinji let out a relieved laugh and continued through the cave.

“The caves are there to protect those that need it most.” Shinji’s mother’s words rang through his head. He remembered her hand dragging him along, pulling him through desperate crowds of people. A tear fell down Shinji’s face, which he quickly wiped on the back of his arm.

Shinji slumped down on the ground and ran a hand through his hair. Why had he been so stupid, how could he think that a boy his age could navigate his way through such a complex labyrinth? He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the cold stone. A cold breeze began to blow against his right cheek. Shinji scratched his face irritably and then it hit him. The cold breeze, could it be…it had to be the way out! Shinji leapt to his feet and continued to walk towards the breeze. With each step the breeze became stronger and more intense. Suddenly a light came into view, a ray of perfect sunlight.

[Exit to Takigakure]

((Nakamura Enters from Silver Spring))

Nakamura walked along the icy path that trickled through the Underwater Caverns and into her Chambers. The icy walls met it's equally icy floors and ceiling inside of a frozen room. The furniture was made of ice, consisting of a king sized bed, a vanity mirror, and a large dressor. She peered inside of her chambers, staring at it from just outside of the entrance. She hadn't been inside in just over two years, and nothing had changed. Her right hand moved behind her; brushing her ponytail over her shoulder; she began to pet it nervously. This place brings back so many memories she thought with an audible sigh.

Across from her, she could see into the chamber that Ayala had brought Felix and Travis. How could she have let them go off without her? If she was there, they'd probably have been alright. Even though there was nothing she could do for them now, she knew that they would be alright here. Nakamura took a hesitant step inside of her chambers. Her legs took her to the vanity mirror where she stared at the ice that held her reflection. "So, you've already been to the Leaf village. The Sound village wouldn't dare attack anyone with a Waterfall headband. I suppose the Mist village would be a good bet, but it's doubtfull he would be there. Maybe one of the others would have gone there. Hmmm... I'll have to evaluate the situation. It's possible I can find one of them there, but I don't want to barge in and cause a scene." Nakamura verbally argued with herself for the next several minutes trying to come up with a plan. So many things to do, so many villages to search, and yet she had shinobi here that needed her guidance. She couldn't possibly be in several places at once. If she took them with her, it could be too dangerous for them, but maybe that was the only way to do it.

Nakamura placed her left hand into her hair and stroked it a few times, contemplating her next move when she felt a tugging from within. These caverns were coated in her chakra, and anyone that entered them, she'd be able to find them. Well, I guess I won't get anything done sitting here. If I take him to Kiri, he might be able to get some efficient training done. They still owe me from the time Star attacked their village. Perhaps the current Kage hadn't forgotten my deeds. she thought to herself, pushing the icy stool out from the vanity mirror. Taking to her feet, Nakamura heard a water splash that echoed throughout the caverns. Instead of manuevering around them silently, she stepped out from her chambers and looked down at the end of the cavers where a shadow seemed to be bounding about the rocks.

"We're going to the Mist Village." Nakamura whispered to the walls. Her silent voice travelled from her position, echoing in whispers that danced about the ice-filled cavern. Whether or not Shinji wanted to go, she felt it was best to get him some training... and it was something she couldn't do alone.

Shinji decided to try and sense Nakamura's presence again. He had a little knowledge of the area but he wasn't quite sure that he would be able to find Nakamura simply by wandering around. Also his shoes were now rather soggy, so he didn't want to keep moving around in the damp for much longer.

Sense Chakra
D20 = 12

Roll 1d20 ( 6 ) + Chakra (2) = 8 fail.

Shinji attempted to sense Nakamura's chakra, but he continued to be disturbed by some unknown chakra source. "For god sake!" Shinji said, face palming "Right, I'll just look for her.

Shinji continued to trudge around in his damp socks, feeling annoyed with his own incompetance. He placed his hand on the wall and started panting. Suddenly he felt a surge through his body, as though an energy was passing through him. He focused his mind for a moment and felt a clearer chakra presence in the next passage. Shinji followed it round, his hand trailing along the wall.

"Why do you have to hang out in such a freaking cold place?" Shinji asked Nakamura, who was apparently standing outside the chamber of two unconscious ninja.

Shinji wasn't sure what to make of the unconscious ninjas. They had been laid down on beds of ice, which he assumed were more comfortable than they looked. He wasn't quite sure why Nakamura was keeping unconscious young men in her cave, but thought it would be best not to ask. His worries were then wrenched from him when he noticed that Nakamura had apparently torn a hole in the universe. What the- Nakamura was giving him a reassuring look, urging him to step into the shining vortex of death.

Shinji wiped his fringe out of his eye and took a step towards the portal. He suddenly noticed a misty location at the centre of it. On closer inspection, he could tell that there were figures standing within it. His legs shaking and his eyes closed, Shinji leapt forward.

A pulling force dragged Shinji forward, his body feeling almost weightless. He let out a loud shriek and began thrashing his legs around wildly.