Chapter Text
Bug was the first to arrive. Of course he was.
The old platform hadn’t changed much since the last time they’d all been here—same cracked stones, same faint hum of energy deep beneath it, like the ground was holding its breath. He sat near the edge, kicking his boots out over the side, staring out at the mist-covered mountains beyond. It was quiet. For now.
He didn’t expect it to stay that way.
He was right, as behind him came Crab and Uni, bickering as usual.
“I got here before you,” Crab insisted, her cloak fluttering in the breeze.
“You ran ahead,” Uni shot back, brushing leaves from her sleeves. “You’re literally obsessed with being first.”
“Because I was first. ”
“No, you weren't.”
Bug sighed and didn’t look over. “You two still going?”
Crab and Uni both froze mid-step. “No,” they said at the same time. They each sat down on opposite ends of the platform, still glaring.
A low laugh echoed off the stones as Ren arrived, hands stuffed in his pockets. “Glad to see some things never change,” he said. He kicked lightly at Crab’s boot as he passed. “Still trying to prove you're fastest?”
“At least I have something to prove,” Crab muttered, not looking at him.
“Hey, now,” Ren said, raising his hands. “Peace. I'm in a good mood. Let’s not ruin that five minutes in.”
“You?” Uni said, squinting at him. “In a good mood? Wow, is the world ending?”
“Oh boy,” Bug muttered. “Here we go again.”
A gentle sprinkle signaled Chaos’s arrival—water droplets drifting like mist ahead of her as she stepped onto the stone. “I’m not late, am I?”
“Late?” Uni said. “You’re early by our standards.”
“Yeah, Henry’s not even here yet,” Crab added. “He’s probably still deciding which pair of boots to wear.”
“I only own one pair,” Henry’s voice called, as he appeared from the treeline, scarf wrapped high on his neck.
He nodded at Bug, then Chaos, and then eyed the others with a tired expression. “Still arguing?”
“No,” they chorused again.
“Liars,” Midnight said as she stepped into view, silent on her feet. She moved toward Bug without comment and sat beside him, shadow trailing like mist behind her.
“You made it,” Bug said, bumping her shoulder.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
One by one, the rest of them trickled in.
Sil, brushing pollen off her coat with furrowed brows. Sun, stretching dramatically and winking at Chaos. Spirit, who hummed to themself under their breath.
Dan and Kim arrived together, neither of them saying much.
Then Squid dropped from the sky. Literally. She landed hard on her feet, sparks crackling across the stone.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “Got distracted. Does anyone know why we got summoned?”
“I thought we retired,” Henry muttered.
“Probably a new threat,” Ren said, frowning. “One that we aren’t ready for, and that will likely end in all of us nearly dying. And also the world ending if we don't stop it.”
“We will be ready,” Bug said.
Everyone turned to him. He shrugged. “Look. I’m not saying we’ll win the first round, or that we won’t get kicked in the teeth a few times. But we’ve done this before. We know each other. We’re stronger than we were.”
“Speak for yourself,” Sun said, flicking a tiny flame between her fingers. “I’ve always been strong.”
Sil groaned. “Here we go.”
Chaos laughed. “She’s not wrong, though.”
“Thank you,” Sun said proudly, puffing out her chest just a little.
“You’re still a showoff,” Henry muttered, crossing his arms.
“And you’re still a grump,” Sun shot back with a grin.
Ren leaned toward Kim, voice low. “I give it five minutes before someone challenges someone else to a sparring match.”
“Two,” Kim replied dryly. “You forget who you’re dealing with.”
Bug had already stood up. “Alright, anyone want to warm up?”
Chaos immediately raised her hand. “Me. I’m not rusty. I just want to prove I’m not rusty.”
“Proving it means you think you might be,” Sil pointed out.
Chaos blinked. “...Okay, maybe I’m a little rusty.”
“Then we’re all doomed,” Ren said, only half-joking.
Bug clapped his hands once. “Alright. Let’s get to work, then.”
Chaos stood up, stretching as she looked at Bug. “You and me?”
Bug raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”
“Scared?” she teased.
He snorted in response. “You wish.”
They both moved to the center of the platform, the others stepping back to form a loose ring around them.
“First hit wins?” Bug suggested.
“First good hit, but it works for me.” Chaos agreed, sliding into stance.
“Call us in.” Bug called to Henry on the sidelines.
“Three… Two… One… Go.”
Chaos moved first, sharp and fast. Water forming a whip in her hand, snapping towards Bug’s legs. In response he stomped down hard onto the ground, a pillar of earth jutting up to block the attack, the water splashing harmlessly against it.
Pressing forward he sent a jagged crack across the platform, directly towards the younger ninja. Chaos jumped, flipping up and over the crack just in time. Water formed at her feet, lashing out around her as she sent a wave towards Bug with a flick of her wrist.
The suddenness and strength of the water caused Bug to lose his footing for a split second, just long enough for Chaos to dart in, but Bug caught her wrist before it was able to connect with him.
“Nice try.”
She just smirked, spitting water all over his face, which caused him to reflexively loosen his grip, enough for her to yank her wrist out.
“Really? That’s gross child.” He sputtered, wiping the water from his eyes.
Taking his distractedness to her advantage, Chaos swept his legs out from underneath him with another blast of water, causing him to hit the stone with an audible thud.
“First hit.” She grinned, panting a bit, but obviously very proud of herself.
Bug just laid there for a bit, then laughed, “Alright. You’re not that rusty.”
Chaos offered him a hand up. “You good? Old man like you could have broken your back with that fall.”
He swatted her hand away, standing up on his own. “Kim’s the old one here, watch what you’re saying you little rascal.”
“Hey! I’m not old!” Kim cried out indignantly, crossing their arms in mock frustration.
Much to their dismay however, everyone present decided to turn on them at that time. “Yes you are.”
“You… You young whippersnappers don’t know youth anymore. I am a perfectly young person,” Kim huffed, muttering something about respect and the decay of manners in the younger generation.
Before more teasing about Kim’s age could break out—though Bug looked like he was tempted to keep it going—he stepped in. “Alright, enough jokes. Who’s up next?”
Several hands shot up, and soon enough, everyone was moving again. Training began in earnest.
What for, none of them really knew. But they all agreed on one thing.
It was good to be back.