"What"
The questions sounds loud against the nature sounds of the forest.
Jay heards Cole, Zane and Lloyd echo the same question.
And can you blame them? None of them were expecting this.
Nya sighs, pressing tiredly the bridge of her nose, there's some rustle behind her but she ignores it.
"The kid is Kai"
She repeats speaking clearly, slowly as if she was explaining the most obvious thing in the universe for the hundredth time.
Jay blinks, confused, because there's absolutely no way this small, tiny, scrawny-looking kid is Kai.
Jay remembers when they saw Kai as a kid, when they all got hit so many years ago with one of the Mega Weapon.
He was just.. Kai, but smaller. Arrogant, loud and stupid. Not this... kid that is hiding from them.
"Are you sure this is Kai? " He finds himself asking out loud.
Nya shots him a look.
Listen, he didn't meant to ask it but can you blame him?
This five year old kid can't be Kai.
This five year old who is currently trying to make himself as small and invisible as possible behind Nya.
This five year old that is unbelievable thin, short for his age, long straight hair and not a single mark on his dark skin.
This five year old who is looking at them as if they were three headed monsters spawn directly from the underworld.
Because apparently this five year old is Kai.
Nya huffs, annoyed.
"Of course is Kai! I would recognize him anywhere"
Nya sounds so sure Jay has to wonder if this is their sibling bond speaking.
Zane, who is still looking at the kid thoughtfully with icy brigh blue eyes finally speaks.
"He does match my records in terms of facial estructure and other identifying characteristics"
Well, so there you have it, this shy kid is Kai... yay?
Nya scoffs.
"I didn't need you to tell me this is my brother, but thank you for confirming it."
After some silence Lloyd steps up, being the first of the group to address the silent kid.
"Hello there, my name is Lloyd, you're Kai right?"
He smiles, warmly, because even if he's small right now this is Kai.
They don't know if this is like that time with the Mega Weapon, if he has the memories, if they're active or if really doesn't know who they are.
But seeing by the way he just hides behind Nya even more, they can assume is the last one.
Lloyd is at a loss of words, and he backs up as if not knowing what to do now.
The rest doesn't move, awkward silence filling the atmosphere.
Finally, after what feels a bit too long Nya turns around to address the kid.
"Hey Kai" Her voice is soft, so unbelievable soft Lloyd only had heard it a couple times before, usually back when he was a kid... or when she's comforting him from some nightmares.
The kid, Kai, looks up to her, listening carefully.
"Do you remember I told you about some friends?" Kai nods. "Well, these are those friends."
Kai looks at them, as if surprised, before frowning.
What does that mean?
"I told you we would get out of this place remember?" the child looks up to Nya again and nods.
"Well, we have to go with them to get out of this place, is that okay?"
Kai doubts again, why is he being so nervous about them anyways? He has only met them for five minutes.
Finally, Kai nods again.
"Alright then" Nya offers her hand, Kai takes it firmly without a second thought. "Let's get out of this place."
She turns to face the rest of the ninja.
"We can talk more once we're at the bounty."
" I... okay, yeah. Alright, let's go everyone" At Lloyd command everyone starts to walk back to where the bounty is stationed, with Zane informing Pixal about the situation..
They all keep glancing at Kai, until Nya shots them a murderous glare, almost saying "You're scaring him", so they stop.
Nya is at the end of the row, mostly because she senses this little Kai will feel better if he's not surrounded by strangers.
As they walk through the jungle they can't help but feel a bit lost at to what to do now.
They've found Kai sure, is not exactly the Kai the know but maybe this is what happens when you get throw in a time vortex.
Idly Lloyd wonders if the tomorrow tea could fix this.
If not well... They would've to make a few adjustments to work because as it is they just couldn't leave Kai alone with Pixal now they could toss him around as they continued their search.
Because as happy as they were to find Kai they couldn't forget they're still missing one.
Wu was still out there.
And they wouldn't rest until finding him.
But first they had to take care of Kai.