Kumo dragged the limp body of his friend through the forest his unconscious body creating a trail in the fresh snow. The sight of three ANBU standing together in the clearing stopped him in his tracks."I see you've taken us up on our offer," the cat masked ANBU said stepping forward.Kumo tossed his limp friend into the field before them, "If we don't hurry Kakashi will be on us in any minute." He explained.The ANBU in the cat mask stepped forward removing the mask. Kumo stared into the pure white eyes of a Byakugan, "I am Sutōkā Hyuga," he said introducing himself, "And I am here to bring you two to our master Kusari." "Kusari?" Kumo said watching as the other two picked up the unconscious form of Nenshō."Yes," Sutōkā nodded, "Our master Kusari or as the world will soon come to know him, the Tetsukage of the Hidden Glacier Village.""There is no Hidden Glacier Village," Kumo said.Sutōkā smirked, "You're right," he said, "as of yet there is no Village Hidden in the Glaciers, but that is simply a reason we asked you here Kumo. You've brought in our prisoner and as promised we'll take you to your mother and release her. But we'd like to offer you and once in a lifetime opportunity to help create a new village, in the Land of Iron."
"How long will that anesthetic last?" one of the fox masked ANBU asked seeing Nenshō stir in his drug induced state. "I gave him a large dose," Kumo explained, "I'm fairly familiar with Nenshō's biology so I'm certain the drug will be good for four to six hours, he should regain consciousness in seven unless we administer more anesthetic which we should continue to do every three hours.""Can't you simply administer another large dose for four to six hours?" the second ANBU asked him."I could," Kumo answered, "If you want him to overdose and die on the journey." "We'll do as you advise Kumo," Sutōkā said, "injections every three hours is reasonable so long as we remain consistent. How much did you bring with you?""Enough," Kumo answered simply.Mostly they traveled in silence with Kumo keeping mostly to himself. "May I ask you something Kumo?" Sutōkā said."I suppose," Kumo said coldly landing on a branch and leaping forward.Sutōkā's eyes narrowed, "There is no need to act so cold," he said, "If you keep an open mind we could very well be calling each other comrades soon.""What is your question," Kumo asked ignoring him, he didn't feel like socializing with the same people that had blackmailed him into betraying his best friend by holding his mother hostage."I'm curious why you of all people are carrying Zabuza's blade," He asked, "wielding swords especially ones as large as that one are not in your M.O. so why are you lugging it around when you can seal it in a scroll?""This sword as you know belonged to my master Zabuza," Kumo explained, "I'm not a sword user but as his one remaining student this sword is my rightful inherence since Nenshō I can only assume will no longer have a need for it's passed to me. And as Zabuza's student I will carry this sword with pride not seal it away in a scroll.""I see you're sensitive about this subject," Sutōkā said, "though I'm sure a Jōnin of your skill will be able to find use for such a blade."Kumo didn't say anything as he leapt through the trees keeping up his pace, he had to give Nenshō credit the Executioners Blade was a heavy burden to carry and the heavy wooden scabbard he had built for the blade. It weighed heavily but he managed to keep his usual pace, Kumo wondered if he was simply getting stronger or if he had always had this much muscle mass."I have a few questions of my own," Kumo said looking at Sutōkā who was obviously the leader and spokesman from this group."I'll answer you to the best of my abilities," Sutōkā said."Who is this Kusari?" Kumo asked, "And where dose he come off calling himself the Tetsukage? Even if he does manage to successfully create a hidden village the other five Kage most likely won't recognize his authority, and the Samurai of the nation have refused to relinquish any military power especially to shinobi.""I'm not really at liberty to divulge that information," Sutōkā said simply, "All you need to know is we're serious about establishing this village.""That's hardly good enough for me to defect," Kumo said, "For all I know this Tetsukage nonsense is nothing more than a pipe dream, you honestly believe I'll simply pledge my loyalty so someone calling themselves the Iron Kage.""I don't think you have much choice," Sutōkā said dangerously, "You've already betrayed the Leaf by handing Nenshō Kinzoku over to us." He explained, "You're officially a rouge ninja again, you know better than us that rouge shinobi don't last for very long on their own. Like it or not you and your mother will need protection if you intend to survive. Though I'm sure the tracker ninja from the Hidden Mist would be very interested to hear you're no longer under the protection of the Hidden Leaf."Kumo stared at the Hyuga through his dark goggles, "Is that a threat?" he asked resting his hand on his kunai pouch."It's just common sense Kumo," he explained, "we can't let a liability to our cause simply go unchallenged." Sutōkā looked at him, "You can't survive the post war ninja world without friends, you were lucky enough to have survived as long as you did without being a shinobi of the Leaf. Even Nenshō would have eventually been brought to justice, you can try to survive as an outlaw as long as you want but you'll never last long, not without us."Kumo stayed silent, it was better if they believed their threats had effect on him. Kumo knew they had some truth to their words, if Kumo ever really was made to a rouge shinobi he'd have few resource to help him survive. It was lucky that Nenshō managed to last on his own living off of Zabuza's exhausted resources.Kumo thanked he had a home to return to and tried to imagine going home to his fiancée soon. He had a feeling it might be awhile before he saw Ino again.
"How long will that anesthetic last?" one of the fox masked ANBU asked seeing Nenshō stir in his drug induced state. "I gave him a large dose," Kumo explained, "I'm fairly familiar with Nenshō's biology so I'm certain the drug will be good for four to six hours, he should regain consciousness in seven unless we administer more anesthetic which we should continue to do every three hours.""Can't you simply administer another large dose for four to six hours?" the second ANBU asked him."I could," Kumo answered, "If you want him to overdose and die on the journey." "We'll do as you advise Kumo," Sutōkā said, "injections every three hours is reasonable so long as we remain consistent. How much did you bring with you?""Enough," Kumo answered simply.Mostly they traveled in silence with Kumo keeping mostly to himself. "May I ask you something Kumo?" Sutōkā said."I suppose," Kumo said coldly landing on a branch and leaping forward.Sutōkā's eyes narrowed, "There is no need to act so cold," he said, "If you keep an open mind we could very well be calling each other comrades soon.""What is your question," Kumo asked ignoring him, he didn't feel like socializing with the same people that had blackmailed him into betraying his best friend by holding his mother hostage."I'm curious why you of all people are carrying Zabuza's blade," He asked, "wielding swords especially ones as large as that one are not in your M.O. so why are you lugging it around when you can seal it in a scroll?""This sword as you know belonged to my master Zabuza," Kumo explained, "I'm not a sword user but as his one remaining student this sword is my rightful inherence since Nenshō I can only assume will no longer have a need for it's passed to me. And as Zabuza's student I will carry this sword with pride not seal it away in a scroll.""I see you're sensitive about this subject," Sutōkā said, "though I'm sure a Jōnin of your skill will be able to find use for such a blade."Kumo didn't say anything as he leapt through the trees keeping up his pace, he had to give Nenshō credit the Executioners Blade was a heavy burden to carry and the heavy wooden scabbard he had built for the blade. It weighed heavily but he managed to keep his usual pace, Kumo wondered if he was simply getting stronger or if he had always had this much muscle mass."I have a few questions of my own," Kumo said looking at Sutōkā who was obviously the leader and spokesman from this group."I'll answer you to the best of my abilities," Sutōkā said."Who is this Kusari?" Kumo asked, "And where dose he come off calling himself the Tetsukage? Even if he does manage to successfully create a hidden village the other five Kage most likely won't recognize his authority, and the Samurai of the nation have refused to relinquish any military power especially to shinobi.""I'm not really at liberty to divulge that information," Sutōkā said simply, "All you need to know is we're serious about establishing this village.""That's hardly good enough for me to defect," Kumo said, "For all I know this Tetsukage nonsense is nothing more than a pipe dream, you honestly believe I'll simply pledge my loyalty so someone calling themselves the Iron Kage.""I don't think you have much choice," Sutōkā said dangerously, "You've already betrayed the Leaf by handing Nenshō Kinzoku over to us." He explained, "You're officially a rouge ninja again, you know better than us that rouge shinobi don't last for very long on their own. Like it or not you and your mother will need protection if you intend to survive. Though I'm sure the tracker ninja from the Hidden Mist would be very interested to hear you're no longer under the protection of the Hidden Leaf."Kumo stared at the Hyuga through his dark goggles, "Is that a threat?" he asked resting his hand on his kunai pouch."It's just common sense Kumo," he explained, "we can't let a liability to our cause simply go unchallenged." Sutōkā looked at him, "You can't survive the post war ninja world without friends, you were lucky enough to have survived as long as you did without being a shinobi of the Leaf. Even Nenshō would have eventually been brought to justice, you can try to survive as an outlaw as long as you want but you'll never last long, not without us."Kumo stayed silent, it was better if they believed their threats had effect on him. Kumo knew they had some truth to their words, if Kumo ever really was made to a rouge shinobi he'd have few resource to help him survive. It was lucky that Nenshō managed to last on his own living off of Zabuza's exhausted resources.Kumo thanked he had a home to return to and tried to imagine going home to his fiancée soon. He had a feeling it might be awhile before he saw Ino again.