The Temple (Western Entrance) Grass Nin Here.

I followed slightly behind Julie, our steps, even a soft as they were, seeming loud in the dead silence of the temple. We were truly alone here, locked within foreign lands - would they prove hostile?

Only time would tell.

John led us down a long, harrowing passageway, its walls lined with statues of ancient warriors, their visages bordering on grotesque. I was a curious woman, and my hand itched to reach out and trail my fingers along their faces. Something still me, though - I had no idea of the traps lying within the temple. Why, my subtle touch could lead to a quake, or shooting darts; no, I kept my hand by my side, instead deigning to watch with my eyes.

Soon we came upon a door, its one memorable feature its empty keyhole.

“Help me find the key,” John requested.

I neglected his askance for a moment, instead allowing my eyes to roam back over the statues that stood behind us, back within the passageway. By the time I began to search for the key, John had already discovered it…

But as he reached to grab it from within the grasp of yet another statue, the sound of shifting stone rung out, and the statues hand closed around the key. Almost in that exact moment, the statues within the passageway awakened, leaping forth from their places on the wall. I regarded with a non surprised expression, masking the trill of excitement that flitted throughout my body. There were seven of them, and John’s attack with his sword would prove them but simply annoyances. Their bodies were decrepit with age… but again, before I could act, Julie withdrew her fan, using it to bat away the “creatures.” That left me with the task of retrieving the key.

*Sigh*

Without moving from my spot, I sought use of my Mokuton affinity; I was not a physically “fluent” person, and believed wholeheartedly that my ninjutsu talents would be more appreciated than my physical deficiency’s. Four handseals found completion in less than a second; a length of wood grew from my arm, its target the key gripped within the statues hands. My manipulation of the earthly limb was perfect, as it was, in essence, my own arm, though my use of the technique didn‘t quite match is purpose. A mangled mass of wood effectuated the same purpose as a hand, closing around the entirety of the statues hand and wrist. I issued a grunt, using my chakra to withdraw the limb back into my body. The key, and thus the hands that held it were torn from the statue, and soon found themselves within my own grasp.

A few hurried steps placed me before the door; I thrust the key into the whole, and gave it a quick turn…

The combination of our collective efforts felled the snake – the impact its massive girth created against the ground awoke John from his “slumber”. Our guide muttered a near inaudible thanks before swiftly moving right back to the chest, opening it with a simple “snap”. In a wholly cliché manner, I though, the contents were revealed to be thousands upon thousands of ryo… cliché, but entirely welcome and appreciated. A slight smile blossomed my face – with this money, I would be able to buy that flute I wanted… Like a true gentleman, John divided the ryo up amongst us three. I didn’t bother counting it, only going so far as to glance at the money as it was shoved into my hand before slipping it into one of the various pouches at my waist. My concern, at this point, was simple survival.

With no words exchanged, John led us further into the temple, until we encountered a room as dark as the blackest night… as we traveled deeper into the room, I contemplated activating my eyes once more, but before any attempt could be made, a blinding light flashed through the room, the floor gave away, and I fell into a pit. Two separate but equally gentle thuds alerted me to the presence of Julie and John. We all scrambled to our feet and enacted a quick survey of our surroundings. There was a ladder on the opposite wall of the pit, but as I made my way towards it, a menacing growl sounded out. My steps halted, and I inhaled an excited breath… what creature would appear now? A tiger? A lion… a… turtle ?!.

The sight was unexpected, but wholly exhilarating. I had never before laid eyes on such a large creature. It was tall, and wide, with the girth of some ancient, extinct creature. Oddly enough, it had teeth… sharp, skin ripping teeth. I wasted a second contemplating my next course of action – to fight, or flee? The four legged turtle would be unable to move without the use of its limbs…

“Are we not shinobi?” I questioned. “We can walk up walls…” John, however, would be unable to do so, and I was certain I would be unable to carry him.

Hurriedly, my hands embraced together before my person, dancing through a brief set of hand seals with masterful speed. My entire focus was directed upon the gargantuan creature; upon completion of my hand seals, my chakra would coalesce around two of the turtle’s limbs – the right front leg, and the left back leg. The choice of what limb to target stemmed from simple logic – without use of both a back leg and a front leg, movement would be extremely difficult and severely hindered… hopefully enough that John could escape. There was one problem however...

“The turtle will be unable to use his right front leg and his left back leg,” I began, my voice soft, yet audible over the growling of the creature, “but while the technique is active, I cannot remove my hands from this seal,” and here I paused, indicating the dragon seal my hands were still effectuating. “Nor can I move. John, you will climb the ladder; and once you are safe, I will leave through use of the “tree-climbing” technique… unless of course, these walls are chakra resistant….

“Test them Julie, to be sure. If they are chakra resistant, then John… you will have to carry me past the turtle, and I will have to concentrate an immense effort on remaining totally still. It will be difficult, but doable...” I hope.