Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 71
"Wandering Sages"
[Calamitous Ascent, Part 3]

Ten more days pass. I take my time and relax for once instead of trying to run all sorts of errands at the same time. Just a few things related to Magnolia House, easily taken care of from the comfort of my hotel room. A few more inquiries about personnel, and I find out quickly enough that most of the people I had considered are out on their own business. It might be for the best, anyways. Few could hope to survive an encounter with those psychopaths.

Another bit of news comes up, which we have been waiting for intently. The Tsuchikage has agreed to a face to face meeting with the Hokage, with the final date still to be confirmed. We're expecting a delay of two weeks at most, which means that we should be heading out as soon as possible. The news came in this morning, and I called both of my teammates to confirm our next steps. They both agreed earlier on going ahead without Kurenai, so that she could be closer to home and her newborn daughter. As said before, the three of us should be enough to complete the mission safely. Entering combat with any member of Akatsuki is something we want to avoid until we can't do it any longer.

Fio is going out with her full team for the first time, as part of the recent series of patrols. They'll be in the north of the country for about three or so days. Tsunade and I went to see Jugo, and he was looking stable and comfortable. I helped him get rid of the nature energy he has stocked, and so he should be ready to go with no issues. I'll hear about it if anything does happen.

This is an early morning today. Fio and I said our farewells properly the night before, so I give her a kiss before rolling out of bed. I let my body take itself through the usual routines: teeth, shower, skin and hair care, then returning control to my conscious self. I make breakfast, eat while studying the mission details one last time, wash up, rinse my mouth again, pull on my backpack and click all of the straps in securely.

Ready to go.

The rendezvous point is near the village's eastern gate, which is mainly used by shinobi and high priority couriers. Everyone else is encouraged to use the main entrance, though it's not a problem when that fails to happen. We have the barrier system to thank for that convenience. Hina and Shino reach about two minutes after me, dressed in their normal outfits and with their own packs secured.

"Equipment checks," I say. Hina turns her back to me first so that I can search through her things. She has a side pouch for medicine strapped to her right leg. Shino is well equipped and I can hear the slight buzzing of his insect colony from the extra bag slung over his shoulder. "All clear. Are we ready?"

"Ready, ma'am," Shino says.

"I'm ready as well, ma'am. Awaiting orders," Hina says.

"Understood. Direct route through Fire Country towards the eastern coast. Objections?"

"None," they say in unison.

"We will begin, then. Team Kobayashi, call sign, Mobius Flight. Commencing mission. Wing formation once we clear the village gates."

"Ma'am."

We trade salutes with the shinobi on guard, and then clear the east gate. A casual speed as we bounce towards the treetops and launch ourselves from the first branches we see.

The next few days are spent going over our general strategy and possible combat scenarios. Our objective is to avoid any fighting if possible and make contact with Utakata. After getting an accurate view of his situation, we should be able to provide him with safe places to stay. The best case would be for him to return to the protection of the Hidden Mist, but at this point it might be a very hard thing to ask.

Gen is unfortunately away on other business at the moment. We settle in with some of his colleagues instead, after a few days of travel towards the eastern edge of Fire Country. A vessel large enough to hold several people for a while, which will be moving towards Utakata's last known location.

"We have the information you requested, Colonel."

I nod and take the scroll from the chuunin officer as he salutes. Moving towards the ship interior to avoid getting ocean spray all over it, I unroll the scroll and look at the lists of names on it. These are all missing people as reported to Water Country authorities in the area that Utakata might be roaming around in, the country's northern islands. The archipelago makes it easy to get rid of bodies, or at the least send them far enough away that they won't be discovered until much later. It means that murder discoveries are close to useless for my purposes. Missing people however can tell a useful story on their own.

There isn't an appreciable spike in the number of reports. It means that Kai and Ishako are either not around, or they're being very restrained at this point in time. Either way bodes well for us right now.

"Everything okay, Boss?" Shino approaches and I roll up the scroll again.

"Fine for now. It doesn't seem like those two are causing too much disruption in the area, which means we have a better chance of getting to our target," I say to him.

"What will we do if he refuses our help?"

"Figure out why that is and remind him of the dangers he's facing. We can't do anything other than that, at least not without repercussions. He isn't considered a missing-nin just yet, so trying to move him by force would easily cause an international incident once the Mist found out. That said...if things get too desperate, we would be best served by killing him outright."

"Because the tailed beasts can die along with their hosts," he concludes.

"Yes. It would stifle the masked man's plans for a while longer. Of course, with this now said...it means that the Six Tails can appear just about anywhere, and we likely wouldn't be able to make it in time to stop it from being captured. The reports of the tailed beasts being weaker and easier to subdue without the supposedly heightened intelligence of a human host are fantasy, nothing more. But Akatsuki sports powerful fighters with equally powerful esoteric abilities."

"It means that this mission is vital, then. Hopefully all goes well."

"Hopefully. We don't have anything of importance to do before getting to our destination, so rest as much as you can," I say to him.

"Understood, Boss."

The seas aren't too rough, and it makes for quick travel. It's much cooler in these parts, especially compared to Fire Country. I can see the different types of trees that make up the forests as we pass by, resembling what one would see while travelling through Hot Water and Frost. From what I remember, it also snows year round in certain areas.

It takes a little over two days for us to reach our stop, five kilometres from the closest town. We get the emergency contact information we need and leave the boat as it heads off to monitor other islands as part of our search network. The team does another round of equipment checks and then we head east.

"It's not lost on me that I'd be freezing right now as an actual serpent," I say as we jog through the trees. "I guess with all of the wandering that Ane-ue did in her youth, transforming into a human was more practical than one realized."

"It is a bit chilly," Hina says. She has her Byakugan active, using her exceptionally strong reach with it to survey the area as we move. "I suppose more so with that outfit you have on."

"I do place a high value on aesthetic, as you know."

"Perhaps too high, you realize."

"Perhaps. We'll be changing into our cloaks properly as soon as we get within sight of the town, so there's nothing to worry about."

"The area is clear for the most part. Just a few people travelling, and some shinobi doing wide patrols. I believe there are some who could be classed as mercenaries as well."

"Hiring on extra help in these times makes sense," I say. "That's something we can ask the local populace about when the time comes. Do we have any changes we want to make regarding our plans?"

"Nothing that I can think of," Hina says.

"I don't have anything either, Boss," Shino says.

"Good. Then we will proceed as scheduled. Hopefully there's a proper rest stop, if not, a night in the trees will be a small sacrifice."

The place we come upon really is small. There's a diner which also serves as the local watering hole, so to speak. One bank that also houses the post office, and a market which covers all of the local needs. Not much of note. Probably why Utakata was here for any amount of time. After talking to the few people we come across on the dirt roads, we head over to the bank and discover that the postmaster - who is also the lone bank teller, because of course - had some extra space to loan out and did so for a strange, thin looking fellow about three weeks ago. He matches much of Utakata's description. The postmaster offers us room to stay for the night and we take him up on it, for a more than reasonable donation.

Upon Shino's insistence that he take the floor for the night, I give him my good sleeping bag and share the bed with Hina. We talk quietly about the information we've gathered before calling it a night. The next morning we rise with our host and have a light breakfast, then grab a few items from the market before heading out of town altogether. Utakata was last seen heading south, for reasons we have yet to ascertain. Following the only path in that direction, we start our search of the surrounding area. Hina activates her Byakugan once more and goes midway to her full range as we walk briskly through the forest. Five kilometres is a good net to cast as far as I'm concerned.

"Three hundred fifty."

As Hina says that, I look to my left and activate my tracking techniques, searching for chakra and unusual vibrations. Nothing on that end. However, there is a very faint wood scent.

"Distance?"

"Two and one third," she says.

"I read. Shino, go ahead."

"Got it, Boss." Shino scatters his insects into the air and has them drift towards the outlined location. We stand in place and continue to monitor the area while information is gathered. These forests do feel a bit cold and miserable...salty and damp in places as well. Resting in the open wouldn't be as comfortable as back home.

"No traps or anomalies detected," Shino says after a few minutes. "Evidence suggests that this was a former campsite at some point. It's been cleared out."

"Let's have a closer look and investigate properly," I say. "Now we know for sure that Utakata moved in this direction, and we should be able to pick up his trail from here." We walk towards the area and take note of its condition. Thoroughly cleared out as said...perhaps too neatly. It wasn't with fire, either. Something else.

"The way this area looks is almost unnatural," Hina says. "Not a trace of anything identifying. By looking beneath the various layers, we can conclude that this is a result of Utakata's power. Without that, we wouldn't know where to start."

"He must have used some kind of chemical," Shino says. "Perhaps created one as part of protocol."

"Carrying a base on him?" I muse. "It seems to be overdoing it, especially out in this kind of environment. Not many are willingly going to search these kinds of places unless pressed, and he's been evading the patrols well enough lately."

"Base, Boss?"

"The burns on the logs are consistent with that type of chemical reaction. Those aren't heat burns," I say as I crouch and look at the eaten away section of log in front of me. "Could be something to do with his tailed beast, though that is guesswork on my part..." Unfortunately, I didn't get to talk too much with Choumei and Matatabi about their other siblings. A mistake on my part, even if I didn't anticipate things getting this far out of control. "This is close to a day's travel on foot, normally. And he was in the last town about three or so weeks ago...I wish we had an idea of some of the Mist patrols."

"And there are quite a few of these small islands," Hina says. "He could be anywhere by now. At least we don't have any company yet that we can see."

"Then it's time to use some of our special equipment." I take off my backpack and search through it for the earpieces we need to use. This long range communications equipment is in its infancy and still subject to restrictions, especially in its wireless form. Most technology of this type at this point in time is used with the help of entire units, like shinobi being tasked with carrying the batteries and hardware, sensor type shinobi used to transmit and receive signals, relay teams to decipher code, and so on. Personal radio use in the field is still being explored. The last mission with myself and Gen involved him staying in one spot to operate our communications equipment, with the other two participants working from inside of large seafaring vessels.

"It's rated for eight hours on land, so we'll stop at about four and regroup at my position while I recharge. Hina, how well are you at the moment?" I ask her as I secure my earpiece.

"I feel well enough at the moment. I'll extend my range a bit further for the search until we stop for a break."

"Good. Shino, here." I hand him a small device for soil testing. "Since we've made the chemical discovery, see if you can find anything else matching it in unusual areas like we saw earlier."

"Got it, Boss."

"I'll be keeping an eye on you both, but don't hesitate to mention anything that looks out of sorts. All ready?"

"Ma'am," they reply in unison.

"Then we'll begin." The three of us go our separate ways.

Four hours of searching gives us nothing. Another four hours after that also gives us nothing. We walk between the many small islands, a significant number of which aren't marked on any of our maps. We talk to a few people who don't look like they'll try to attack or report us to the authorities. Still nothing. No truly unusual sights from the fishers. Encounters with Hidden Mist shinobi while feigning helplessness also give us very little aside from the knowledge that they received the message from Leaf and are looking for Utakata in earnest. But there are many spots to search and little in the way of time.

Kai and Ishako still haven't made themselves known.

Days stretch on towards a full week. Messages between myself and Anko grant some promising news, such as the Tsuchikage dragging his feet on finalizing his meeting with the old man. It means we have some extra time. The deployed platoons are working out well, and Akatsuki's operations in Fire Country are between slowing and receding. How long we can keep that pressure up depends on how the Fire Daimyo feels after getting out of bed. Hiruzen will find a way through, as he has before in these times.

So we're not at the point of frustration just yet. But a trip into an actually populated centre for some supplies is well advised. Maybe I can get greedy and look for a hair salon. This weather is not kind to a woman's delicate locks, I will say that much.

Today we've stopped on one of the larger islands, which sits on the western edge of the archipelago. Vibrant, a touch warmer than the north, and with several shops and establishments to choose from. And they have a cozy little inn with open rooms. We head for it as soon as we get directions from one of the locals.

"I'm sure you'll be glad to have us out of your hair," I say to Shino after checking in. We have our keys from the receptionist and are heading to our rooms.

"I didn't mind it," he says. "I assumed you would be more excited for your own privacy, as women."

"Aside from being teammates for such a long time, you're more than trustworthy," Hina says. "And polite besides. Going on missions with other people leads to...interesting arrangements, and discoveries to boot."

"Always someone trying to get fresh," I say. "Egregious behaviour. We used to be a proper society, like Zen told us all that time ago."

"I want to agree, but I have to wonder what you mean by that."

"Surely some distant admiration is possible? I'm more than willing to give someone a show if they keep their hands to themselves."

"There it is." She shakes her head. "Shino, be glad you don't have to deal with this any longer than you have to."

"I'll count my blessings before bed. Good night."

"Sweet dreams, Shino. Keep Futaba in mind while you rest. I know I will."

He waves before opening the door to his room and disappearing. Hina elbows me lightly.

"The worst."

"Yes, and proud of it. Besides, she does cut a nice figure these days."

"Nicer than mine?"

"As if. Now who's the one getting spicy?" I ask with a smile.

"It's still you. Did you want your own time in the bath, or should I set it up for both of us?" she asks while opening our room door.

"Mm. I'll go in after you tonight. I can cling to you later while we sleep."

"Of course."

One relaxing bath and wonderful sleep with Hina later, I'm refreshed and ready to go. Mingling with some of the inn guests and staff opens a few slivers of light into our mystery. A gathering of shinobi along the western part of Water Country, investigating something or other extensively.

"So they've found more burned areas?" Shino asks at breakfast. "I suppose that would be unusual so close to the sea."

"They were finding what would be called unusual occurrences inland," I say to him. "We might be looking at more strange chemical reactions as part of Utakata's work."

"More chemical reactions," Hina muses. "What a strange set of abilities, if it is the case. At least we've picked up the trail again."

"We can check if there are too many Mist shinobi poking around, and do some more careful observation if so. Otherwise, we want to have a look at these salted areas ourselves. The other possibility is that those two have arrived and are causing some kind of interference. I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

We finish eating and check out, then go through the markets to top off our supply kits and get a few treats while we can. I think we've earned them for our work. Shino goes off to look at something that caught his interest while Hina and I get our hair touched up a bit before hitting the road again.

"Your hair looks better than mine on its worst day," the stylist says to me with admiration. "Just a little touching up, though?"

"I'm here on a visit, and I've been worrying about what the weather here will do to me," I say as I get into the chair.

"Oh, god. You're telling me...and they're going on about the possibility of acid rain? I just got these hair extensions, this is awful!"

"I think that's just something someone made up the other day," the other stylist says as she looks over Hina's hair.

"They're saying that it's because there are those tailed beasts out there, and they can mix up the weather together or something like that."

"Who said that?"

"Some shinobi the other day was blabbing about it at the bar."

"I'm a firm believer in science over gossip. Dunno if that's how acid rain works."

"Girlie, it rains rocks over on the mainland."

"It does not!"

"I've been over there," I say while a comb goes through my hair. "It really does rain rocks at times, because of currents coming from Wind Country."

"Ha! Told you that wasn't a lie!" she says.

"Oi. Whatever...acid rain or not, I'd like to get a good look at that host guy," the other woman says.

"Utakata, he's called?"

"Fine piece of meat, mm-hm. He can objectify me or I can objectify him, whatever."

"They have photos of him?"

"Just in those Bingo Books and stuff. One of the regulars gave me a peek."

"Yeah? I saw what he looked like once, and you're right. He could get a handful of my hair and yank to his heart's content. Too bad about the whole monster thing, and I don't know what he's really like."

"Nobody does, really. Damn shame. He'd be filthy rich as a model."

"I know, right?"

They chatter away a bit while making progress on our hair. Seems that aside from his supposed good looks - definitely not my type - he really is a mystery to most of the populace. Han and Roshi had their reputations established for better or worse, and Gaara changed everything around with lots of hard work on his end. I have to wonder what happened to make Utakata such an unknown throughout the country.

"There you go, that should keep you gals looking healthy for at least another week or two. Careful you don't walk into any storms before then," my stylist says with a smile.

"Thank you very much. We won't be around for too much longer...Fire Country is home, after all."

"Oh, that place is so gorgeous. I think I should move out there at some point..."

"You and me both," the other woman says. "They're putting up some fancy new apartments in the Leaf, and they're at damn good prices."

"No kidding? I'll check that out, then. Anyways, you girlies take care!"

"We will," Hina says. "Thank you very much, you've done wonderful work."

We wave and head out, feeling refreshed. Shino is waiting for us outside of the market, as scheduled.

"Anything new?" he asks.

"Nothing. Just some gossip and submissive fantasies, usual hair shop fare."

"I see."

"Usual doesn't seem like the correct word to use," Hina points out.

"Please. You hear all kinds of unhinged talk when you put enough women and hairspray in a room together."

"I will keep this in mind as well. It seems there is a lot to keep track of when it comes to the affairs of women," Shino says. "I have an admiration for how easy the two of you make it look."

"What a compliment," I say with a laugh. "Thank you, darling. It's always lovely to see your hard work appreciated. Don't you think so, Hina?"

"For once, I can agree with you without hesitation."

"I'll take it. Shall we head towards the coast for now? We'll split up again and use the wireless equipment. Three hours should be good this time, and we can resume tomorrow if need be."

We leave town and get ourselves set up, then split to survey our first target area. The first three hour session yields nothing as we note the uptick in Hidden Mist shinobi, at least compared to the northern area. It might be that they're setting up a perimeter around the largest island, where the village itself is.

"This is Hinata, reporting in." We're into the day's second session. It's afternoon and there's light fog as I walk around the edge of a small island.

"I read," Shino says.

"I read," I say. "Give us your report, Hina."

"I believe that I've found something, or rather someone near the edge of my current range. I've aligned myself facing north at this point in time. Subject is at two seven two degrees."

"Read and received," I reply. "Tracking now, stand by."

"Standing by," Hina says.

"Standing by," Shino says.

I focus in the direction that Hina gave to me, relative to her position. There's definitely something there, and the further I reach out, the more the weight increases. It's a very heavy chakra, north of me, sitting near the edge of yet another island. If that's Utakata, then what is he doing out here? Is he aware of what's happening? It would save us some time if he were.

"Rendezvous on my position. Moving north," I announce.

"Moving north on your position, I read," Shino says.

"Moving towards rendezvous point," Hina says. "Read and received."

"Further instructions upon arrival. End of transmissions, over and out." I take off the earpiece and shut down the wireless transmitter. Won't be needing it any longer. I find a point about five kilometres from what I suspect is Utakata's position and wait for my teammates to arrive. They do so quietly and we go over the usual signals as a matter of course.

"Have another look, Hina."

"Right." She makes a half seal with one hand and focuses with her back turned. "It's definitely him. He's stopped to make a fire, there's no food that I can see just yet. I don't think he looks any worse for wear. Chakra system is normal from what I can tell, no disturbances or anomalies to report."

"He seems fine as far I can tell as well," I say while homing in on his chakra. The feeling of familiarity is...mm. Tsunade this time? Something to do with slugs, then? Or some kind of invertebrate? "Katsuyu's progenitor, then? I wonder."

"What are you thinking, Boss?" Shino asks.

"Just musing over some possibilities. Nothing immediately important...we won't make too much of a game of it now, a simple approach should do." If we were on solid ground, it would be very easy to transform and blend into nature. But I suppose he's accounted for that, or at the least is just paranoid enough to have inadvertently built a defence for such things.

No matter.

"Let's begin. I'll go in alone for the final approach. You two stick together so that I can signal to you properly."

"Understood," Shino says.

"Understood," Hina says.

"Starting approach now." The three of us start forward together until we reach within nine hundred meters of Utakata, who still has not moved. Hina and Shino stop behind a large rock formation while I move on, bouncing across the rocky holds towards our host. With no reaction at this point, I jump and land on the tall rock ahead of him. He looks at me curiously, a strange metal pipe in his hand. It seems to be made of gold, or perhaps simply golden at the least.

"Quite swift. I can tell that you're no middling shinobi," he says.

"The compliment is appreciated. Utakata, isn't it? You're quite famous around these parts, for many reasons."

"I suppose if you've recognized me, you know what I am. And you haven't come alone," he says with a lethargic tone. "Here on the Mist's behalf?"

"Far from it. I'll introduce you to my comrades either way." I signal with one hand for Hina and Shino to approach. They settle themselves on the rocks next to me. "The three of us, as you might have guessed by now, are from the Hidden Leaf. We have some information to relay to you, if you would hear it."

"It depends." He wiggles the pipe in one hand while observing us. "Who are you exactly, Hidden Leaf Kunoichi?"

"Someone nearly as famous as you in these lands. Lilith Kobayashi."

"That only makes sense. Hair of scarlet...so you're the Scarlet Viper of such infamy. And you say you have information for me? Curious." He gestures with his free hand towards the other fallen log in front of the fire. "We're aware of each other, and you've come all the way out to this miserable place to seek me out. Let's hear what it is you have to say, shinobi of Leaf."

Awfully confident, isn't he. But then, it only makes sense as someone who plays host to a tailed beast and is a seasoned shinobi. Probably reasons that he could easily kill the three of us if anything, and the ability to conjure bases or even acids out of thin air can cause a great amount of devastation in an instant. Can't really blame him for thinking he's in control. As for his looks, from up close I can understand a bit more why women would swoon over him. One of those Sasuke types, as I call them sometimes. Shoulder length dark brown hair that is styled to shade one part of his face, leaving one pale gold eye to look at us. He wears a light blue kimono with an orange sash that is quite loose on his body, baring some of his shoulders and a good part of his chest. Quite slim, but with fairly defined muscle that I can see. And of course, the pale skin that drives people so wild. Never truly understood it, I've always found darker shades far more alluring.

On that note, I need to find an excuse to wander into the Hidden Cloud again one of these days. For surveillance purposes. Yes.

The three of us sit together across from Utakata, who calmly smokes from a different pipe than the one he had earlier. Giving it a closer look, the strange golden pipe has a wide opening. It's probably meant for jutsu and the like...I have to wonder what kind. Surely not for simply spewing corrosive substance into the air.

"So have you come to lure me away from the Mist? Perhaps if you make a lucrative enough offer, I'll consider meeting with your Hokage to finalize the details."

"I believe you know that you're still officially an asset of the Hidden Mist, so doing such a thing would cause an international incident immediately," Shino says to him.

"Hm. Not one for humour, are you?"

"I am well versed, in truth. But some might miss the layered nature of banter that I employ."

He chuckles lightly. "I see that you're just as catty as your leader here. Well done."

"The reason we've come here is to offer you protection of some sort, or barring that, give you the ability to prepare yourself for what's coming," I say. "I assume that returning to the Hidden Mist is out of the question?"

"You assume correctly."

"As expected. Well, you are currently being hunted by Akatsuki according to our intelligence, which would explain the increase in searches for your person. And by hunted, I mean by specialists specific to this area."

"Hm. Kisame Hoshigaki, then? And another, but I couldn't figure out who."

"No, not him. Another pairing...Kaitaikojo and Ishako Shigisei."

His visible eye widens with shock and...something else I can't read at the moment.

"Kaitaikojo? Him? He's Akatsuki?"

"Yes. Hired at some point within the past three or four years. He and his sister are on the front lines hunting the hosts of tailed beasts. I assume you knew them well?"

"Unfortunately. Though it only makes sense that those psychopaths would eventually seek out new thrills. Where are they now?"

"We don't know at the moment, sir," Hina says. "We've been looking at various records to try and anticipate their movements, but nothing has come up so far. It seems they're attempting to be as stealthy as possible while searching for you. It's why we wanted to find you first."

"If you're not already aware, they have esoteric abilities that can allow them to fight and overpower even the strongest warriors," I say.

"Yes, the demonic sword that absorbs blood...and that man's already inhuman strength and durability. I know of those powers well enough. But with the right kinds of attacks, even he can be overwhelmed."

"It would be enough, if only for Ishako."

"Her. Yes, an expert tactician and strategist. She also has experience with various medical techniques. The first move would be to separate them, but even that is difficult," Utakata muses. "So they've been sent after me this time."

"Most likely due to their experience with the Hidden Mist and Water Country," Shino says. "Even with our elite navigational abilities, the many islands and land breaks of this nation create numerous and varied challenges, and may hinder egress. Fighting them is also ill advised for most shinobi, according to our data."

Utakata inhales from his pipe and puffs out smoke. "I see. So you want to facilitate my escape, or at the least arrange for some temporary protection. Does the Mist know?"

"The Mist is aware of our collaboration, but not of this specific mission or our plans during such," I reply. "All of this will be at our discretion."

He nods and starts to think over what we've said for a little while.

"I've created several safe havens on the country's main island. It is the most populated, but also contains the most resources and stable positions to operate from. There is one such hideaway on the western coast. Perhaps we could continue our discussion there, with more assurance of our safety?"

He's considering our offer, which is more than I could have hoped for. An easy choice to make.

"Of course. Please lead the way, Utakata."

"Appreciated. We'll take what seems like a winding path to our destination, but avoiding the majority of Hidden Mist patrols is a must, for reasons I'm sure you can discern."

"Quite."

Now that I've had some time to think about it, I realize what that look from before was. That old hatred between the three of them still runs deep, it seems. He could very well see this as an opportunity to erase them. But having been away from the Mist for so long, they more than likely have abilities and strategies that he has no idea of. He must think that his corrosive abilities would be enough, but out over the ocean, with a barely human behemoth and an expert water jutsu user...

Taking risks at this juncture is a bad idea.

Gaining more of his trust and talking him out of doing something stupid is the only thing we can do at this point.

And I really hope we can.