χ VOICE χ

[wingedascension]

[ What's happened? He had hoped that this place was all a terrible dream, in large because -- ]

Gai-sensei? Iruka-san?

[ Sakura-san. ]

Naruto?

[ At home, calling out like this would have drawn many voices out in answer. He waits a few more agonizing moments before calling out -- one more time. ]

Can anyone hear me?

[ Aaand he waits. ]

Comments

[eternalscorpion]

[Yes, it appears as though the gods here truly are a bunch of bastards if they brought this annoying Hyuuga back.]

Oh, it's you. And here I'd thought you were gone for good.

[wingedascension]

[ Why is he alive? He can't be.

He can't be alive because Neji slaughtered him, with every last milligram of rage and pain-riddled chakra pulsing weakly in his system. But it hadn't been enough, so he did it again. And again.

Sasori shouldn't be alive, yet, there he is, blabbing on about nothing through the monitor of Neji's hitomi. ]

I know I killed you.

How is it that you're alive?

[eternalscorpion]

[Sasori raises an eyebrow.]

You, kill me? Really, you're certainly full of yourself, aren't you. It was Sakura who killed me, not you. You were merely an obnoxious irritant.

The so-called deities here saw fit to revive us all in order to toy with us further. Death does not seem particularly permanent in the place.

Well, fffff. I AM SO SORRY ELISA /humble <3333

[wingedascension]

[ Why does he bother? This man; he's not even a man. There's a reason behind the status of missing nin: he's a murderer, a defiler. Neji should just walk away, but --

-- he witnessed the death of Sakura-san as a result of their fight, and Neji refuses to forgive.

He can't. Because of her.

Still, he will remain calm, for Sasori is too little a specimen of shinobi to behave otherwise. ]

They've spared Sakura-san, then.

[ Following up with the timing of a pro, Neji smiles a brittle smile. It's icy enough to effectively communicating his contempt. A nod, and speaks with dismissive finality. ]

Good. It seems they've done something right.

Sasori is just Sakura-centric. Sorry, Neji. XD

[eternalscorpion]

[Sasori shrugs. Was that supposed to irritate him? Really, this Hyuuga has no idea...]

Yes, they did, although considering what they did to her and the rest of us afterwards, I'm not so certain it was a merciful act.

[His tone softens, just slightly.]

...I suppose she probably would have preferred to stay dead, if she'd had the choice.

Ah~n. It's all good. :D

[wingedascension]

[ Going rigid and relaxing in the space of a second, Neji confronts his own rage.

It must stop.

Because the residual Naruto mindwhispers insistently.

Funny how the boy, the man now, leaves a piece of himself with everyone he touches.

Directing his attention toward the majesty of Konoha, Neji speaks. ]

Sakura-san is safe.

That's all that matters.