Here it is, the final part of the last time Gaara spoke with Madara. This is where almost my entire plan is revealed, it's kind of disheartning, now my secret intentions are out. BTW, sorry if my last couple of chapters weren't up to scratch, i haven't been as motivated as I usually am. But this story's nearing its conclusion, so i'll make sure it goes out with a bang! Hm, what a Deidara-ish thing to say.
Disclaimer: My ego can't be broken any more than it already has, so the disclaimers are back! woo... I don't own Naruto.
Madara's last request
"Hey, where is everybody?" Kisame asked, looking at the empty fingertips.
"We have suffered great losses in a short time." Pein replied, "Deidara & Sasuke are both dead. It appears Deidara betrayed us & attacked Sasuke."
Kisame looked at Itachi uncertainly.
"Your brother's gone… are you alright Itachi-san?" he asked.
"I'm fine." Itachi replied, "It doesn't matter."
"So cold, Itachi-san." Kisame grinned.
"Because of our large loss this will take over four days." Pein said, making his hand sign. Everyone else did the same.
"Fūinjutsu: Genryū Go Fūjin!" Pein called, summoning five chakra dragons from the Gedō Mazō, which struck the old man lying in the dirt.
"We have lost so many." Gaara said, "Can we complete our mission without the others?"
"If it becomes necessary, then we can recruit new members." Pein replied, "But we will have to do the sealing ourselves. None of the rings have been recovered."
"Sasori's was lost among the rubble. Kakuzu's is in the possession of Konoha & Hidan has disappeared. The way Deidara & Sasuke died means their rings were destroyed. Regardless of how many members we have, it is pointless without those rings."
"I never imagined Deidara would waste his life fighting Sasuke." Kisame said, before turning to Itachi, "Maybe what you two had wasn't really that special."
Itachi didn't reply, but Gaara saw the annoyance in his eyes. And the pain.
* * * * *
"What now?" Temari asked.
"We're leaving." Gaara replied, "I have been tasked with the capture of the Hachibi, we're heading for Kumogakure again."
"We're going?" Kankuro repeated, a pained look in his eyes, "Ok, let me go talk to Tenten first."
"Why? You're not coming." Gaara said, folding his arms.
"What?!" Temari & Kankuro exclaimed together.
"I need you to stay here." Gaara said, "To keep an eye on Naruto."
"You mean… you're really going to take him?" Temari asked, shocked.
"I can't have him interfering with this." Gaara replied, "Besides, I don't think Tenten would forgive you if you leave a second time."
Kankuro caught on & smiled.
"I hear ya." he said, "I'll keep watch on Naruto."
"Alright then. We'll see you in a week or two." Gaara said, leaving Kankuro in the hotel room. Konan & Temari both looked at him.
"You know, you've been the one putting all the work into their relationship." Temari noted, "Why would you go to so much effort for them?"
"I hate to say it, but Kankuro's not the kind of guy who has happy endings." Gaara replied, "Left on his own, he would never be able to find a relationship with any meaning. That's not the kind of ending I want for him."
"But, is it right to manipulate people into a relationship like this?"
"I just did the groundwork. I couldn't possibly force the feelings they had for each other, they developed those on their own."
Konan put a hand on Gaara's shoulder. He looked at her questioningly.
"Gaara, please stop manipulating people like this." she asked, pleadingly, "I know what this kind of thing does to people, it never ends well."
Gaara searched her face for a second.
"Very well, I will leave be, if that's what you want." he said. Konan smiled & nodded at him, "Ok then, lets get out of here."
Kankuro came out the hotel room, a look of relief on his face.
"Oh, hey!" he said, grinning, "I'll walk you to the gates."
"If you like." Gaara replied.
They left the hotel, heading for the main gates. The streets were quite busy today; a good way to leave. They passed many nameless people, no one they knew.
"Well, here you are." Kankuro said, stopping. The gates could be seen ahead, guarded by the same guys from before. Temari turned around & gave Kankuro a hug.
"See ya later bro." she said. Kankuro blinked before returning the hug.
"Later." he replied. Temari let go, smiling. She turned & headed to the gates. Gaara nearly followed, but Kankuro grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Temari's getting scary." he whispered in Gaara's ear, "Seriously, get her a man or something. She needs some balls to bust."
Gaara glanced at Konan, who was going on ahead.
"Don't worry about it." he replied, "It'll happen when you least expect it & bang, she'll have one."
Kankuro raised his eyebrows at his little brother.
"What a strange thing for you to say." he said, before grinning, "Well, see ya!"
"Here." Gaara said, pressing something into Kankuro's hand, "Keep a hold of that for me."
Kankuro blinked & looked at what was in his hand, "Uh, alright then."
Gaara nodded & caught up with the girls. They reached the main gates, where Temari smiled & waved at the guards, who looked away, annoyed.
"HEY, GAARA!"
Gaara looked back, surprised. Naruto was running their way, grinning & waving.
"Hey!" he said when he caught up, "You guys leaving already?"
"We've stayed long enough." Gaara replied, "We have places we need to go."
"Oh, right." Naruto said, "Hey, come back soon, yeah?"
"I'll try."
Gaara spotted something past Naruto. Kankuro was still standing there, watching them, but in another street, Tenten was also looking at them, confusion & sadness in her eyes. Gaara caught her eye & sharply nodded in Kankuro's direction. She gave Gaara a surprised look before turning to see what he was gesturing to. Kankuro was walking over to her, an apologetic look on his face. Tenten stared at him, her mouth hanging slightly open. Kankuro reached her & said something to her. She said something back, a hopeful look in her eyes. Kankuro grinned & nodded at her. She screamed & threw her arms around him. Gaara grinned at the two.
"Let's go." he said, turning around.
"Bye Gaara!" Naruto called. Gaara gave a small wave as he walked away, Konan & Temari behind him.
"So if we're going to Kumogakure," Konan muttered to herself, before looking at Gaara, "Does that mean you intend on sealing the Hachibi as well?"
"If necessary." Gaara replied, rolling back his sleeve, "Zetsu-san, what information do you have on the Hachibi Jinchūriki?"
"You'll know him when you see him. Tsk, he's the Raikage's younger brother & he's rather eccentric. Eccentric? More like crazy, ha ha! Don't laugh when there's nothing funny!"
Gaara deactivated the ring, not wanting to hear another argument between those two.
* * * * *
They reached Lightning Country a few days later, when the forests disappeared & hills began forming. As the terrain changed to mountain paths, the temperature started decreasing. After a while they began breaking through some low flying clouds. Temari shivered.
"I hate it when that happens." she complained. Konan was fine with the dampness, she was used to it from living in Amegakure. One thing she couldn't cope with however, was the lack of air.
"I- I'm ok." Konan said, after Gaara asked her again. She wiped some sweat from her brow, she wasn't as ok as she pretended to be. Gaara spotted a small cave up ahead.
"We'll take a rest." Gaara said, stopping at it.
"I'm fine!" Konan repeated. Gaara entered the cave.
"Maybe, but we should rest regularly. It wouldn't do to be stopped ambushed while out of breath.
"Oh… ok." Konan said, following him inside. Temari, however stayed out.
"Are you coming, Temari-chan?" Konan asked.
"No, that's fine, I'll stay out here!" Temari replied, fear in her eyes.
"…alright then." Konan said, before turning to Gaara, "Is there something wrong?"
"When we were sent to Suna, the Shukaku captured Temari & buried her alive." Gaara replied, "Ever since then she has been claustrophobic."
Konan blinked & looked back at Temari, who was eying the cave warily.
"Yikes." she said, "That sounds tough."
"I'd imagine it was." Gaara agreed.
Later, they had left the cave behind, something Temari was glad of. They managed to find flatter terrain, which was a relief, telling them that Kumogakure wasn't far off. Eventually, the sighted the uppermost reaches of the village, the buildings crafted into the mountains.
"I wonder how the people here remember their Kage?" Temari said, curiously.
"What do you mean?" Konan asked.
"Well, in Sunagakure, they keep statues of the Kazekage in the councils meeting room. In Konoha, they craft the Hokage's faces into a mountain."
"So that's what they were?" Konan said, realization dawning on her face.
"Why, doesn't Amegakure remember their Kage?" Temari asked.
"Amegakure doesn't have Kage." Konan replied.
"Oh, right." Temari said, sheepishly. The two of them looked up as Gaara walked off the path, heading for a less used road to the left.
"Where are you going?" Konan asked.
"Kumo Shinobi are very protective of the Hachibi Jinchuriki." he replied, "Being the Raikage's brother, it's not difficult to see why. If we are seen, capturing the Jinchuriki will be very difficult."
Konan & Temari both nodded, following him to the hidden path.
"This is the road I used when we came looking for the Nibi." Gaara said, "I take it you guys used a different method for getting inside?"
"Yeah." Temari replied, bitterly, "Apparently Uzumaki Naruto taught Kankuro a 'special distraction jutsu', that's all I'm gonna say."
"A special distraction jutsu?" Gaara thought, "How clever, I wonder what it was?"
They continued along the path until they found themselves near a large lake. Clouds were obscuring parts of the landscape, but they could make out a figure training on the water. As they drew nearer, the person became clearer. But as he became visible, so did they.
"Who's out there?" The Shinobi asked, frowning, "You don't look like Kumo folk."
"Stay back here." Gaara said to Konan & Temari, "Back me up if it looks necessary."
The two of them nodded as Gaara walked across the water. After briefly using the Shukaku's Eye, he confirmed who this person was.
"I take it you are the Hachibi Jinchuriki?" he asked, although there was no need. The Shinobi grinned broadly at Gaara's words.
"Course I am, but that ain't my name." he replied, "From all across Lightning Country, I am the legendary MC, the one, the only, Kirabi!"
He struck a pose while saying this, standing on one leg & holding out his hands like a puppeteer. Gaara folded his arms.
"Kirabi?" he repeated, closing his eyes, "He who strikes, with a buzzing tune, in the dead of night, alights the moon. Your bright colours are a warning, to all who see, from dusk until morning; the killer bee."
Kirabi dropped his pose, smirking.
"You ain't a bad rappa yo'self." He said, "But I know all about you, mister Sandman. You think it all gonna go to ya plan? Well I got some news for you, mister Sandman. You about to witness a drop in ya life span, mister Sandman!"
"Is there any need to use these words, where nothing good can occur? For the shining light, of Kumogakure, is it my wrath, you wish to incur?"
Konan sweat dropped.
"Are they really…?" she asked.
"Two things about Gaara," Temari replied, sweat dropping as well, "He's articulate & he hates to lose."
"You really don't know who ya messing with, do ya?" Kirabi said, grinning again, "Fine, if that's the you want to play, that's fine, I got all day!"
He reached behind him & pulled out a bundle of swords. He then threw them in the air & caught them in a strange way. He held a blade his mouth, one between his head & his shoulder, one in either elbow, one in his armpit, one behind a knee & the other between his thigh & stomach.
"Now you gon' feel my hooks!" he exclaimed, leaping at Gaara, who retreated to solid ground. It wouldn't serve him well to fight on the water.
"Heh, you runnin, fool?" Kirabi goaded, hopping across the water at an extraordinary speed, "But I ain't done wit' chu!"
Kirabi reached him & flipped at him, he looked like a razor tornado. Gaara was reminded of one of the genin from the chunin exams, the one who fought with his dog. Before Kirabi's attack could hit, the sand rose & blocked the attack.
"I forgot chu could do that!" Kirabi said, "Wha's the matter dawg, you a scaredy cat?"
Gaara didn't reply, didn't move. He just allowed the sand to defend him from the blades.
"Was the matter, ran out of rhymes? Ya need some help, just ask anytime!"
Kirabi leapt around Gaara, trying hard to beat the sand. But none of his strikes came close to contact, the sand stopping every strike.
"Come on, coward, fight me! If ya do, I promise you'll die quickly!"
That's when Gaara struck. The wall of sand that stood between them was destroyed as an inhuman arm broke through, flying at Kirabi, who smirked & leapt in the air, aiming all his blades at the Shukaku's arm. His strikes connected, sinking through.
"Ha, my blades have made it through! And now, it's time for-"
"Sabaku Kyu!"
At once, all the swords shattered, leaving Kirabi with only the hilts. The rapper stared in shock at his now useless blades, not even noticing when Shukaku's tail appeared behind him. Before he knew it, he was held in a vice-grip, unable to move his arms at all, even his breathing limited by the inability to expand his lungs. Gaara slowly pulled him in.
"I'm sick of hearing these rhymes, it's not a necessary way to talk." Gaara said, "There are only two possible results to this battle. You can come with us, or we can take you. I warn you, choose the latter & you will die."
"Heh, bored of the rhymes?" Kirabi replied, disappointed. And here I thought you were a genuine rappa."
"Sorry, that's not a personal hobby of mine."
"Oh well." Kirabi said, shrugging, "Guess that means I'm still the numba one rappa in all the land."
"Fine." Gaara replied, irritably, "But I need you to listen."
"Aight, fine, I'm listenin."
"Very well then." Gaara said.
"As Yahiko grew older, parts of the Rikudō Sennin's memories began to resurface." Madara said, "I had heard tale of a boy with strange eyes living somewhere in Rain Country. But when I found him, I was shocked to see a boy who spoke just like the Rikudō once did."
Madara sighed.
"I should have killed him right then. That way, I could have allowed the other to live. But however much a monster I may be, I could never hurt a child. As it was, I let them be. It was bad fortune that they would meet the legendary Sannin, that Jiraiya would choose to train them in the Shinobi arts, but he did."
He chuckled.
"I still find it humorous the way Yahiko begged to be taught the ways of the Shinobi. After all, deep down he was the one who created Shinobi."
"I'm afraid humour is wasted on me." Gaara replied. Madara nodded.
"Right, back to topic. Because of who they were, Yahiko & Nagato became inseparable. Years later, they were still together with Konan, although she had her own reasons for sticking with them. But by this point, their group had became quite powerful. It was there that I saw the opportunity to eliminate Yahiko before the Rikudō could fully emerge. I met with Hanzō & convinced him that Yahiko was a threat. Hanzō's paranoia was invaluable, he immediately set out to kill Yahiko."
"He was successful." Gaara replied, "Yahiko killed himself, so how could he possibly still be alive?"
"That was the one thing I couldn't account for. It would seem that even after a person dies, their soul remains in their body. Whether this is temporary or not, I don't know. Nagato flew into a rage upon Yahiko's death &, amazingly enough, managed to summon Gedō Mazō. After finishing Hanzō's henchmen, he found out through the Gedō Mazō all that he was capable of. You see, although the Gedō Mazō is technically a statue, it is still has chakra, making it somewhat living. It remembered the Sennin's abilities & upon summoning, Nagato remembered as well. Among the jutsu he discovered that with the Gedō Mazō he could take control of deceased bodies. He decided to use this knowledge on Yahiko's body, turning it into what is now known as 'Deva realm'."
Gaara's eyes widened, "Are you saying?"
"Yes. Once the connection between Nagato & Yahiko was established, the Rikudō Sennin's soul managed to take over Nagato's body, to an extent. He couldn't remove Nagato's soul, so he merely overpowered it. The result is that Nagato is aware of all that the Sennin sees & does, without being able to do anything about it."
Gaara stared at Madara, amazed.
"But what I don't understand," Gaara said, "Is why he would do this? What is it he intends to do?"
"His ambition to become a god." Madara replied, "He intends to do this by killing every single Shinobi other than himself, making him the only person with true power."
Gaara was stunned.
"To kill every Shinobi?" he repeated, "How is such a thing possible?"
"With the power of the Bijū inside the Gedō Mazō, he will have a weapon powerful enough to destroy the hidden villages."
"What?!" Gaara exclaimed, "Then why are we helping him seal the Bijū? Aren't we hastening our own destruction in doing so?"
"It may seem that way," Madara replied, "But it's the best way to keep an eye on him. Plus, I believe we can use the Bijū against him.
Gaara blinked.
"Use the Bijū… how could we do that?"
"Inside this scroll are the instructions for a special jutsu. Use it when the time comes."
Madara tossed a scroll to Gaara, who caught it carefully.
"Your mission is to capture the Bijū, and kill the Rikudō Sennin. Do you accept?"
"Why can't you do this?"
"I've already raised too much suspicion. As it is, he is coming to kill me as we speak. But that's fine; I don't care. I'll be able to face my death knowing that this mission is in safe hands."
Gaara surveyed Madara, who looked to be quite dishelved. He thought back to Pein's words, they definitely seemed accurate. Perhaps Madara had lived too long. The man stared at Gaara, awaiting his reply.
"I'm sorry, Madara-sensei." Gaara said, "But I refuse."
Kirabi's brow was raised in surprise.
"That's some story." he said, "But then, who are you, to have something so important left in your hands?"
Gaara released Kirabi from his grip, the rapper dropped to the ground neatly, brushing sand off his clothes.
"At one time," Gaara said, "I was known 'Sabaku no Gaara', the Jinchuriki of the Ichibi no Shukaku. But when new information arose I became known as 'Gaara, the Pseudo-Jinchuriki apprentice of Uchiha Madara'. but now, I am known by only one title. I am Gaara… the true leader of Akatsuki."
Konan & Temari both stared at Gaara, stunned. Kirabi looked lost for words as well, thankfully.
"I have lost a lot of comrades." Gaara continued, "Without them, I don't know if defeating Pein is possible, but I won't let that stop me, I can't. I allowed my sensei to die believing that I was a traitor. I won't die with that being fact. And so I ask you for your help. Please, lend me your strength for this task."
Kirabi did something he wasn't used to & regarded Gaara seriously.
"Like I said, that's some story." Kirabi told him, "I can't say I completely believe you, it's not unlikely that this is just an attempt for me to come quietly."
Kirabi took a couple of steps back, looking out to the lake.
"However, if your stories true, then it won't be easy to launch a singing career with some madman killing half my audience.
Kirabi stood there, concentration etched on his face. He smirked.
"All right then, my partner has spoken." he said.
"He was communicating with the Hachibi?" Gaara thought, "This can't be good."
"I'll let fate decide if your telling the truth or not." Kirabi continued, facing Gaara with a grin, "If you can defeat us, then I'll come wit chu."
Gaara released the sand from the gourd, letting it pour into the earth.
"If that is what I must do, then I shall." Gaara said, wielding Sasayaki.
"Is it just me or is Gaara looking incredibly cool right now?" Temari asked.
"After saying all that, he has a lot to live up to." Konan replied, "By not thinking about looking cool, it just comes out of him."
The sand disappeared between the gaps in the rocks, doing their secret work. Gaara faced Kirabi, his face expressionless, the wind blowing through his hair. Kirabi face him, cracking his knuckles.
"Not bad little man, you seem to have captivated our audience." he said, gesturing to Temari & Konan, who were staring at Gaara, awestruck, "The stage is set to make you look like the hero, but when you stand against Kirabi, your chances are zero… hey that's pretty good."
He quickly drew from his pouch a notepad, on which he scribbled something down.
"I just came up wit a pretty good rhyme." he said, "So I'm in a pretty good mood. Aight, let's do this."
Kirabi charged at Gaara, striking at him with his fists. The sand blocked each strike, but as Kirabi's attacks became more ferocious, the sand was having a hard time keeping up with his attacks. Kirabi leapt back, onto the water.
"This is getting stale." he said, grinning, "If I want a fight, then I gotta hit you so hard you can't defend."
He held up one of his broken swords that was less damaged than the others. He gripped it tight & the blade extended, Raiton chakra forming a new blade. Kirabi smirked as he surveyed his weapon. He then came running at Gaara, spun on the ground & threw his blade at Gaara. The sand wasn't fast enough to defend, but Gaara was. In a single move, he struck the blade with Sasayaki, absorbing all the Raiton chakra, grabbed the hilt of the broken sword, spun round & swung Sasayaki, sending all the chakra straight back at Kirabi. The rapper watched in surprise as his own attack was turned on him. He barely dodged it, looking back as the ball of lightning flew into one of the surrounding boulders, obliterating it. But in doing so, he failed to see the broken sword that Gaara had also thrown, which embedded itself in Kirabi's thigh.
"Argh!" Kirabi growled in pain, reaching out & removing the sword.
"Aight, that was my fault." he said, "But now you gon' face the full force of my partner & I!"
Kirabi chuckled as a strange chakra covered his body, taking a menacing form. The chakra moulded into the shape of an ox with massive horns & three strange tentacle-like extremities. He threw his head to the side, the chakra ox copying his movements, a puff of steam blasting out of its partially-formed nostrils.
"Aaaaaw yeah, now it's on!" Kirabi exclaimed. He dragged his foot across the ground a couple of times, before charging at Gaara, "Rariatto!"
A pair of chakra horns grew from the cloak around Kirabi's left arm, lethal looking as they drew nearer. But as Kirabi reached his target, Gaara sidestepped him, the Shukaku's Eye replaced his own. At the very moment of passing, Kirabi looked to the other in surprise as Gaara's arm changed into the Shukaku's & grabbed him, using the momentum of his own attack to pick him up & throw him across the lake. Kirabi became very small looking as he flew through the air, disappearing completely as he crashed through the water. After that, silence.
"Is it over?" Temari asked, nervously.
BWOOOSH!
The lake erupted as an immense form burst through the surface, its body completely overshadowing the area, Gaara included.
"So this is the Hachibi no Kyogyū." Gaara thought, "It's quite a beast."
The Hachibi roared, sending shockwaves across the lake & land, Gaara had to shield his face to avoid being blinded by dust & sand.
"HROOOOM!!! SO THIS IS THE PEST THAT HAS GIVEN YOU TROUBLE, KIRABI? HOW PATHETIC. WELL NOW, LITTLE ONE, ALLOW ME TO MAKE THIS YOUR FINAL BATTLE!"
Chakra started to from at the Hachibi's mouth, shaping into a large sphere, crackling with electricity. The dark sphere grew in size, lightning visibly jumping across its surface. The Hachibi fired the sphere at Gaara at a speed impossible to dodge. Gaara did the only possible thing he could do. He raised Sasayaki.
"I don't know if you can take this much power," he thought, "But there's no choice."
The sphere struck Sasayaki at the tip of the blade & froze mid-flight. The sphere was rotating at an incredible speed. The lightning jumped off the sphere & struck Sasayaki's blade, the naginata quivering under the sheer force. Perhaps miraculously, the sphere began to shrink in size, Sasayaki draining its power. Seconds later, the sphere had completely disappeared, Sasayaki glowing with the same dark colour of the sphere. But something was wrong. Sasayaki was glowing too brightly & it was vibrating dangerously.
"Sasayaki!" Gaara groaned, forcing his chakra around her in an attempt to keep her from exploding, "Do you really wish to die here, in the land of Raijin's descendants?"
The vibrating stopped abruptly, the dark glow dimming. Suddenly, all the lightning chakra burst from Sasayaki's tip, striking the water of the lake. The Hachibi roared in pain as it was electrocuted. Lightning continued to spill from Sasayaki until there was no more, the light gone. The lake had evaporated completely from the heat of the lightning, now just a large crater in the ground. Gaara placed her sheath on the blade & replaced her on his back. It wasn't safe to use her right now. Gaara looked back up to the Hachibi, who appeared disoriented from the attack. Gaara raised both his hands, sand burst from the ground, an incredible amount. He threw his arms forward & the sand obeyed, flying at the Hachibi, wrapping itself around all of the Bijū's many limbs & its neck. The Hachibi struggled violently, but the sand moved across the great beasts body, completely covering it. Gaara raised a single hand, fingers outstretched.
"Sabaku Kyu!" he cried. The sand pulsed, but maintained its shape. The sand poured off the Hachibi, who appeared uninjured.
"THAT'S ENOUGH. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF."
With that, the Hachibi faded away, Kirabi left crouching on the ground, holding his head. Gaara headed over to him.
"Damn, dawg, you fight hard." Kirabi said, grinning, "I like that."
"What happened?" Gaara asked, "The fight had barely begun."
"Let's just say I've been looking for an excuse to take a vacation." Kirabi replied. Gaara nodded.
"Very well." he said, "Then if you're ready, we'll leave immediately."
"That's fine wit me."
Gaara helped Kirabi to his feet & the two walked back to Konan & Temari, who took cover behind a boulder when the Hachibi appeared.
"Gaara, you were incredible!" Konan exclaimed.
"Yeah, I knew you were strong but…" Temari agreed.
"This battle wasn't a show of my strength; it was a show of my will." Gaara replied, "Kirabi-san ended the battle because he no longer wanted to fight. Now let's go."
The four of them walked back the way the three of them had come.
"Gaara-san, we have some news for you. It appears both Uchiha Itachi & Hoshigaki Kisame have been killed by former subordinates of Orochimaru."
"I see." Gaara replied, "They're both dead? Looks like finally there's no-one left to stand in my way."
"Ooh, how sinister sounding. You'd better not be planning on having us killed as well!"
"I don't think that will be necessary."
"That's good to know. So when do we do this?"
Gaara glanced back at the others for a second.
"Now."