"HUMAN! HOW DARE YOU DISTURB MY REST- Shukaku?" The Nibi cuts off in confusion. Shukaku makes a noise Tobirama is quite sure isn't possible to make with human vocal cords and Matatabi settles back on her haunches, apparently blindsided.
"Not that I don't love when you visit but, um... why? And why with a human?" Shukaku beams.
"This is my friend! His name is Tobirama!" The Ichibi's face falls and Tobirama twitches at the sight. He forces himself still when that brings Matatabi's attention squarely back to him. "He asked me about somethin' but I didn't know the answer but I said you might so please help us?" The pleading eyes he sends his sister are so horrible that Tobirama wants to cave and he's not even being asked.
"Is that so?" The Nibi's voice is... appropriately frigid. Tobirama wouldn't trust him either in this situation. The nekomata probably believes he's taking advantage of Shukaku.
"I had a question regarding a sort of chakra leech and had asked Shukaku if he had come across anything like it before," he informs truthfully.
"Really," Matatabi says, unconvinced. "And did you find out about this... leech before or after you made friends with my brother?"
"Before." Matatabi eyes him.
"Your honesty is admirable," she says blandly. "It's going to get you killed." Tobirama hums, clapping his hands together.
"Only if I'm honest to the wrong people. I'm a shinobi," he reminds. "I know how to lie."
"Sure," Matatabi agrees easily. "Now go away. Shukaku, you're staying. Your fur is probably full of sand so I'll need to groom you."
"Nibi-sama-"
"Out with you or I'll eat you."
"Matatabi-nee!" Shukaku cries, apparently horrified at the idea. Tobirama pats him on the head, ignoring the sparkly look he get in return.
"May we talk about this when you're finished with that?" He asks. Matatabi eyes him suspiciously.
"...If I feel like it," she says finally. Tobirama bows politely.
"Then I'll leave Shukaku in your capable paws." Shukaku grumbles and pouts but he lets Tobirama leave so that's something. Outside the cave, Tobirama sets up a small camp. He has a feeling he's going to be waiting for a while. Taking in the chill of the mountain for a moment, looking out of the view, he decides that it's really too cold for him to stay out here without protection for long. He raises a stone wall to curve around the side of the ledge where he is and shifts his stuff in order to be better protected. That done with, he offers a halfhearted prayer that Yukiko won't murder him and summons some of his snow leopards.
"TOBIRAMA!" Yukiko snarls as soon as she appears, lunging at him with a look that promises pain. He lets her hit him, knowing it'd only be worse if he runs. She pins him, ranting angrily about taking care of himself and not being an idiot. He sends a pleading look around her towards the others. Ayame and Isami seem content to ignore him and Yuki seems amused by the notion that he even tried.
"Yukiko," he finally cuts in. The snow leopard gives him a poisonous look but does stop scolding him. "I need to ask for your help." Yukiko eyes him, much like Matatabi had only minutes before. Then she sighs and lets him up, padding to her brother's side so the four of them are settled facing him. He pulls himself into a proper sitting position, the air turning serious.
"You only have to tell us what to do," Ayame assures. He gives her a smile.
"Firstly, I'll need someone to stay here with me. Humans aren't made to operate at these temperatures. I know it's beneath you all but I simply can't keep a fire going without wood with these winds, even if I supply it with chakra." Yukiko sighs, put-upon like.
"I suppose I can help you." Tobirama nods, quirking a smile at her attitude. She is perhaps the most overprotective of his summons but she tends to cover it with jokes. Not that she'd ever deny it- she knows exactly what she's like. It's particularly aggravating when she insists on grooming him.
"Thank you. Ayame, please go to Uzushio and ask the Uzukage if they would be willing to play host to me. They are the best with seals and I want to know if they can do something about the chakra leech." Though he's hoping Matatabi knows something, he's aware that it's unlikely that she could do anything about it herself. There's no guarantee that she'll actually help, either.
"Fine by me," Ayame agree easily.
"If you have time afterwards, please check in on my... cubs in Wave." He turns his attention to Isami and Yuki before any of his summons can make a big deal out of him using the term cubs. "I want you two to check the Uchiha for any signs of similar chakra leeches. Focus particularly on Madara and Izuna, if you can. However, if you think you're in danger or if you're discovered retreat immediately. I don't want any of you hurt." Yuki scoffs despite the stern look Tobirama levels him.
"Have some faith in us, would you."
"Isami, you're in charge," Tobirama says blandly.
"Oi," Yuki squawks, "no need to be mean!"
"Please hurry," he says to Ayame and Isami, ignoring Yuki's dramatics. He's just as bad as the Uchiha, honestly.
"Right," Ayame says. "You can count on us. Come on guys." With that, Ayame disappears over the cliff edge. Isami herds a complaining Yuki after her, looking very resigned with life. Tobirama and Yukiko are left in relative peace and quiet. The snow leopard stretches before investigating the ledge for somewhere to settle down. Once she has, she gives Tobirama a look. With a sigh and one last glance into the cave where he can just barely see the reflection of Matatabi's flames, he goes over to Yukiko and lets her arrange him so that she's draped over the most of him.
They settle down to wait.
