Rian's walking down one of the less populated streets, chattering lightly with her teammates, Sakura and Mariko. It's a clear day in Konoha, and they're wondering if they have a new mission, since their sensei was called away to a meeting. There's some speculation over what it could be.
Mariko offhandedly insults Sakura, resulting in a brief chase between the two of them as Sakura tries to punch her teammate. Rian just snickers when Mariko tries to hide behind her.
Some of the chains can be swatted, but they're coming from too many directions to be entirely blocked.
Lee pulls back at the last moment, briefly kicking off Shukaku. He lands on the ground, frowns, and then ramps up even more, veins bulging. It's clearly painful for him.
Mariko adds more chains, falling to her knees with the exertion, while Rian directs Kasha to attack Shukaku from behind - and as soon as they have Shukaku's attention, Lee darts in again, soaring at incredible speeds towards Elieyha.
Elieyha rests on its forehead, with no sand shield forthcoming.
It's a solid hit. Her eyes snap open as she's knocked flying, and Shukaku's form dissolves in a shower of sand around her.
Rian runs over, with her teammates following close behind. Does it look like Elieyha will be able to catch herself?
Ahhh she's going to regret this, isn't she.
She goes to break Elieyha's fall.
She gets an armful of sand along with her disoriented jinchuriki.
She keeps half an eye on the sand, in case it tries killing or maiming her, then, figuring Elieyha probably doesn't enjoy being carried, jumps down to the ground and goes to lean her sitting up against a tree.
Rian looks her over with a critical eye. Then, firmly: "We're not going to let you harm Konoha, or any of our loved ones, you know. You try again? We'll stop you, no matter how many times it takes to get the message across."
"Any of it. Why did you catch me." Inflecting her voice is too much effort. She'll just sit here against the tree, and speak in monotone.
"I protect my friends and Konoha because I love them. Catching you was the right thing to do, and because you were there to be caught."
"That'd be the logical thing, wouldn't it," Mariko comments. "Care to explain why we're not, Rian?"
"I would say because we - all of us, Suna and Konoha - could be so much more than enemies. A few of us, comparatively weak, took you down, simply because we know each other well enough to function as one whole. That's Konoha's strength, and it could be Suna's. Could be the world's. But - in truth, there's been enough death. A thousand times more than enough death."
"Interesting point of view for a shinobi," says Kankurou, appearing to one side of Elieyha. "I don't know if she's likely to sympathize with it, though."
Tsubasa is on her other side, leaning on her fan. "The Kazekage's been sending assassins after her since she was six."
She frowns. "There's no excuse - " she starts angrily, stuck on the 'Kazekage trying to assassinate a six-year-old' thing.
"Rian," Mariko says, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder. She stares briefly at Elieyha, then takes a deep breath. "Look. I get it. I've got a burden, too. Half of Konoha hates me, the other half doesn't give a damn if I live or die. Changing that's an uphill battle. I'm rude and annoying and a know-it-all, and I'm a reminder of everything bad that happened. Only one person's ever really reached out to me, one of my teachers. I get angry, still. Angry with everyone. That doesn't fix things, though." She glances over at Rian. "Looking through that anger got me my team. And... What the Kazekage did to you was morally shit, and ineffective besides; shit like that's how you make enemies, not how you lead." Awkward shrug. "...I don't really know where I'm going with this."
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