1 Crushed Tomato | Video/Action

[ghostpepper]

[The video kicks on first to show a partially-rolled up and dirty white shirt. (Are those blood stains?!) The stomach below it has faint scarring in the shape of what could be a large circle, or maybe a semi-circle. At any rate, the video pans up after a few seconds over the shirt, hitting a wall of bright red hair at the shoulders. Dried blood long-since turned brown stained her chin and mouth. Then the full, filthy face of a very alive and pissed off Kushina Uzumaki.]

Is this some kind of a joke?! I woke up in a room that isn't mine with some woman claiming to be my mother who looks about my age shoving a bag of stuff in my hands. My husband is missing, my baby is missing, my chakra is missing. But that's not the best part, ya know! Some guy shoved this thing on me!

[She turns the video down toward a Vulpix that's staring up at her with innocent brown eyes. It lets out a happy cry and attempts to nuzzle up against Kushina's leg. But the video-- and Kushina-- move away from it quickly. When the video comes back up, her hair is flowing out at every angle around her quickly reddening face.]

If I ever find the guy who gave this to me again, I'm gonna kill him, y'know!! What a sick joke! So someone tell me how to get rid of this thing!

[Bonus Action Option Edit!]

[Anyone else who might have been wandering around New Bark Town probably had the honor misfortune pleasure of spotting a particular redhead fuming over her starting partner. Or perhaps browsing one of the manuals Minato had forwarded to her over the Pokegear, occasionally nudging the Vulpix away with her foot, while she waited for him to arrive. Do you dare approach?]

Comments

1/3

[believeit]

[IS THAT--]

2/3

[believeit]

[There's no mistaking it, that's definitely his Mom. Naruto finds himself suddenly overwhelmed as he fumbles with the Pokegear to reply, because she's back.]

3/3

[believeit]

MOM!!

[Aww dang he might just cry again, he can't help it HE'S JUST SO HAPPY TO HAVE HER BACK AGAIN MOM WHY DID YOU LEAVE.]

[video] 1/2

[aflashoffaith]

[Minato was actually asleep when her video appeared on the network, long nights and hurried travel over the past few days finally catching up with him- the past two months had been trying at best and he hadn't found rest until exhaustion took over, forcing him to sleep.

But his team - bless them - kept watch when he did succumb to a nap, Hachi jumping up and down on the bed beside him with the gear in hand. PLUUUUU! (pay attention!)]

'Shina I'm not missing I'm sleeping...

[It didn't really register at first that he shouldn't have heard her voice- that he was hearing her voice and it wasn't just a dream. But the anger in his wife's tone still caught his attention, never failed to really, Minato rolling over and blinking wearily at the small Plusle he was greeted with instead.

What?]

[aflashoffaith]

[...What?! The blankets were kicked off- or at least, he tried to untangle himself, fighting with the sheets wrapped around him until he eventually landed on the floor with a loud thud, Hachi frantically jumping down after him. And helpfully recording the whole thing.]

Kushina! Plu!

[He somehow had the sense to thank Hachi as he took the gear from her, heart racing, hands shaking as he momentarily shut off the recording on his end so he could watch her video. Had to make sure, maybe it was just a dream- It was her. It was her and she was here again and-

And she didn't seem to remember anything about this place. He took a deep breath, collected himself, and turned his gear back on to send a proper message.]

Kushina... it's okay. It's- well, it's a lot to explain but Naruto and I are both here too and we're okay.

It will take me a few hours to get to you. [A pause, and then a small smile finally found it's way to his expression.] Wait for me?

[Video]

[itsjustdust]

[It's hard to miss the voice coming over the line, to say nothing of the sudden flurry of blond flailing, and it was a quick scramble that had him bringing his gear out of his bag to answer himself. After all, this time he fully intended to be a bit quicker on the draw from last time so...

a few seconds of fumbling later, and he gave her a brilliant smile.]

Kushina-nee!!!

[Video]

[ghostpepper]

[Of all the faces to see, this one was undeniably unexpected. One she hadn't seen for a year or so. Not since before the last time he left the village. Excluding a team picture that had been in the house.]

Obito...?!

video

[notchinese]

[That voice sounds familiar...could it be?]

Kushina? [A brief pause as she watches the woman's reaction to her Vulpix.] Wow, isn't someone being cold today?

video

[ghostpepper]

Well how else am I supposed to react to it?! [Yeah... she believes she's in the right in how she's reacting to this thing. --Hang on a sec, she doesn't recognize this person.] ...Who are you?

[aburame]

It would be wiser to keep it with you. Why? Because here, Pokemon serve as the primary means of protection in place of your chakra.

[Someone's hiding their disappointment that she won't recognise him. And although he doesn't outrightly indicate that he knows her, there's no doubt he's a fellow ninja. Especially with the bug clan getup and forehead protector and all.]

[ghostpepper]

[The forehead protector is a dead giveaway. And dem goggles. Lucky for him, Obito already told her everyone in the group. But unluckily, this is still their first meeting.]

You're the Aburame Obito mentioned, right? Ah, what did he say your name was... As for why I don't want it... I have my reasons.

[Video]

[babel_hacker]

You shouldn't get rid of her, or him. [How do you tell female Vulpix apart from males again?] Since they'll be your main form of defense here, you should try to get along with them.

[Video]

[ghostpepper]

I don't care what it is. I'd rather have anything else but this.

[Yes, it is unusually cold for her, but she has reasons she's not really willing to give up to just anyone.]

[Video]

[uncagedforjustamoment]

There's no point in attempting to get rid of her. Nothing I've done has successfully rid myself of my own. [Instead, Meditite seems to adore him.] I've yet to find him again, either.

[Video]

[ghostpepper]

Great... So not even forcing it off on someone else works?

[Kushina is so thrilled. Also, she is trying to get a better look at his face, because dem eyes look kinda familiar.]

[godaime]

Oi! Kushina! Calm down! There's only so much I can explain but your husband is here, your baby is here and grown up and all of our chakra has been taken away. [ Tsunade looks super old for example. Also, she has a tentacool on her head. ]

This place has given you a pokémon, a summon like animal with great powers. It's not the Kyuubi, although it's similar. This place has a sick sense of humor.... Tonton, for example, is this. [ And now she'll pan the feed down to Tepig.

She knows this is a little harsh and quick but this is for the safety of everyone else in New Bark Yown. ]

1/2, I think...

[ghostpepper]

[Who the hell is this old lady and how does she know about the Kyuubi and Kushina's connection to him. Instantly, suspicion levels start shooting through the roof as she squints at the video reply trying to identify her.]

2/2

[ghostpepper]

[Nope, nothing.]

Who the hell d'ya think ya are, ya old hag?!

3/2 one more 8D

[ghostpepper]

[And then it hit her... She mentally went over the list Obito gave her of the ninja they were all traveling with. The only one that would have any idea of her past...

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit]

Tsunade-hime! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize it was you, ya know! It's probably been a long time since I saw you! Or since you saw me... or something, y'know...

[She's just... gonna go to the little lake in town and drown herself...]

video;

[memoryborn]

[ Wow, this woman is energetic and so obviously dismayed. She's probably gotten a bunch of answers right now, but-- ]

I don't think he meant it as a joke. The Vulpix is for your protection.

video;

[ghostpepper]

I don't care what it's for, I really don't want it. But whoever picked it for me has a really sick sense of humor.

[So many of the same answers are starting to wear on her a bit. Broken records. You can't get rid of it. It's your only protection here. Try not to be too hard on it. For now she would just keep it in its ball. At least until she could figure out what to do with it.]

[Action, just because. Also backdated to the 21st]

[usedearthquake]

Dustin didn't recognize the redhead but didn't appreciate the way she was treating her partner Pokemon. "Hey, that's no way to treat your Pokemon! You have give him or her some trust."

[Action]

[ghostpepper]

Haaaaaaa ha ha haha hahahahaha hahahahahahahaha. Poor boy doesn't realize what he's getting into. At least by this point she's fixed her dress so the giant scar on her stomach is covered. On the other hand... the dried up blood is still on her white zip-up shirt and face.

"Trust?" Kushina laughs, but it's a really hollow sound. "They gave me a fox and you want me to trust it?"

--Hey Vulpix, get away from mama's leg. She pushes it away with the leg the little fox was attempting to rub against.

video;

[punches]

[ Oh crap, she recognizes that voice. Recoiling, Sakura doesn't exactly answer right away until she's sure that everyone else has probably sent in a response. When she does, it's with a softer tone hinging on a nervous breakdown. ]

H-Hey there, have all of your questions been answered? I'm one of Naruto's teammates, Sakura. [ With a small wave. ] Sakura Haruno.

video;

[ghostpepper]

Most of them, whether or not I like the answers.

[Still grumpy, but at least she's not still at the point of actively seeking to murder a lab assistant.]

One of his teammates, huh?

video;

[medinin]

[ ...Well, it's impossible not to recognize the Konoha jinchuriki...especially when Kushina had been travelling with them previously. Rin will pipe up a little later than the boys. ]

Ah...for now, you probably shouldn't try that, Kushina-san. Without our powers, those act as our weapons.

video;

[ghostpepper]

[Obito had said Rin was there, but it was still a shock to actually see her. How it made her heart ache to see the girl alive again. She's trying not to let it show. But ah, Rin... why did you have to bring that up. 8(

That's what everyone else is saying. [Grumpiness is fighting with concern...] Are you doing alright?