Shisui looked up from his book, his sharp gaze meeting Ryu's. His eyes softened in surprise, his lips curling into a small smile. "Ryu?" he replied, closing his book and pushing off from the tree. His movement was fluid and silent, yet it held an intensity that couldn't be missed.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Shisui said, his voice warm with welcome, yet there was a sharp edge to it, a subtle undercurrent of anger. "The leaf had gotten pretty boring without you."
Ryu took a step forward, eyes not leaving Shisui's. "You're angry," he observed, his tone mild.
Shisui chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly, but the way his fingers clenched his book betrayed his calm demeanor. "Can you blame me?" he asked. "You disappeared without a trace, and went off to God knows where."
Ryu's face softened in understanding. "You're right," he admitted. "You have every right to be mad. At least you didn't slam me into a wall like Naruto did," Ryu chuckled.
"I'm considering it," Shisui replied, his voice hard. But then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the anger in his eyes faded, replaced with a twinkle of curiosity. "So," he said, leaning against the tree again, "Where have you been all this time?"
"I've been..." Ryu hesitated, struggling to find the words. He wasn't sure how much he could share, how much he should share. After a moment, he decided on the truth, or at least, a portion of it. "Exploring. Discovering new places, meeting new people... I'll tell you more if you're curious, but know that there are some things that you're better off not knowing."
Shisui nodded, accepting Ryu's words. For a moment, he was silent, seemingly lost in thought. Then, he opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words, a small smile spread across his face. "Well," he said, "At least you're back. Let's hope you stick around longer this time."
Ryu returned the smile, feeling a sense of relief washing over him. "I'll try," he said, "And if I go again, I'll make sure to properly say goodbye this time"
Shisui's smile widened at that, genuine happiness gleaming in his eyes. "Good," he said, tucking his book under his arm. "Welcome back, Ryu. I better go tell the news to Itachi, he'll be glad to know you're back."
---
Arriving at the outskirts of the village, Ryu and Yoruichi saw their members for the journey. There was Jiraiya, dressed in his Hokage robe and hat, Naruto, Shisui, and another man he was speaking to. Ryu didn't need to be a genius to figure out that the man was Itachi.
Itachi was now a young man with a lean yet strongly built, his skin stretched over well-defined muscles. His black eyes, beneath which lay pronounced tear troughs, held a depth of wisdom and sorrow that contrasted sharply with his youth. Jet-black hair, pulled back in a low ponytail, framed his face with chin-length bangs, split down the middle.
Over his shoulders hung a long, flowing coat, as black as a moonless night. Its exterior boasted a unique texture, reminiscent of a crow's feather—smooth, yet subtly rugged. The interior of this sweeping coat revealed a stark contrast to its black exterior—a rich, crimson red.
Beneath this imposing coat, Itachi wore a sleek, high-collar shirt. It was a deep gray, like a storm cloud, fitting snugly around his muscular torso. Though the shirt's collar was folded, If Itachi desired the collar of the shirt could be pulled up, concealing the lower half of his face.
His lower body was adorned with pants as dark as his coat. They clung to his form, enhancing his agile, powerful figure. These were not cumbersome or loose, but fitted, made for precise and smooth movement.
He wore black, high-ankle boots that shone with a slight metallic sheen under the morning sun's rays.
Around his waist hung a thin silver chain, glinting subtly as it caught the light. It served a dual purpose: a belt, and a carrier for a small pendant shaped like a crow. The pendant caught the light as it dangled, casting a tiny, crow-shaped shadow.
Finally, his forehead bore a protector, its band dark and the metal plate worn with pride. It bore the symbol of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
"...Ryu," Itachi greeted with a nod of his head as Ryu and Yoruichi approached the group.
"Well, that was the most mild reaction I've had. Though I guess it does fit you. How've you been, Itachi? I like your style," Ryu smirked as he examined Itachi's outfit.
"Shisui made me wear this flamboyant thing. I like simpler clothing," Itachi explained as his expression showed a hint of annoyance.
"He says that, but he still wears the outfit. The golden rule was to include crows in the fancy stuff," Shisui smirked as Itachi averted his gaze.
"Alright, alright. Since we're all here, let's get going. The meeting will take place not too far from here, in a secret location my spies made. Since we're the hosts, we shouldn't be late, right?" Jiraiya smiled mischievously as he flickered away, causing the rest of the group to follow him.
The group made their way through the lush forest, their bodies flickered from tree to tree, a movement so swift and graceful that it seemed to be a dance of shadows against the vivid backdrop of the dense forest. The wind swirled around them as they leaped, their feet barely touching the bark before they were airborne again.
Finally, their swift journey brought them to the edge of an unusually large tree, its trunk so vast and grandiose that it dwarfed everything around it. Its leaves were a vibrant, emerald green, a stark contrast against its rugged, dark brown bark. The tree was old, its exterior showing signs of the years it had weathered.
The entry point was a gaping hole high up in the trunk, its darkness looking like a wound on the otherwise majestic tree.
One by one, they entered, their bodies flickering as they moved through the hole in the tree. Inside, the hollow was surprisingly spacious, the walls a mix of contorted wood and soft moss, the air was cool and fragrant, filled with an earthy scent of wood and leaves.
In the middle of the hollow, bathed in soft, filtered light, was a large round table made of a single slice of ancient wood, its surface polished to a shine. Around the table, four stately chairs were positioned, each one a testament to the Kage who would sit on it.
Seated around the table, their eyes fixed on the newcomers, were three of the Kages.
First was the Tsuchikage, a man Ryu identified as Onoki. His petite stature betrayed the immense power he held. He was an old man, his back bent, but his eyes held a sharp, vigilant gleam. Dressed in traditional Kage robes, his large hat protector proudly displayed the symbol of the Hidden Stone Village.
Next was the Raikage, who Ryu identified as A. A mountain of a man with a dark complexion and a muscular frame that seemed to burst out of his Kage robe. His blond hair was styled in a distinct, high Mohawk, and his eyes, a deep black, held a fierce determination. His Kage hat bore the symbol of the Hidden Cloud Village, which he wore with unabashed pride.
Lastly, a man Ryu identified as Gaara, the young Kazekage. He was an oasis of calm amidst the tension. His pale skin was a stark contrast to his vibrant red hair and piercing seafoam green eyes. He had the kanji for "love" (愛) on the left side of his forehead, and his hair was parted in order for it to be kept visible. Gaara's hat bore the symbol of the Hidden Sand Village.
"of course, you're late," Onoki scoffed as he looked at Jiraiya, his arms crossed.
"Jiraiya, what is the meaning of this? We each agreed to bring two bodyguards, why is it that you have four?" A said aggressively as he eyed Jiraiya suspiciously.
"Oh, I did bring two bodyguards. These two are friends of mine, but more importantly, they are relevant to this conversation," Jiraiya said casually as he took his seat, leaning on the table using his elbows for support.
Onoki raised a doubtful eyebrow, while Gaara merely watched, his gaze calm and observant. "You always have a way to bend rules, Jiraiya. How do we know that you won't use the two of them to attack us?" Onoki asked, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
A, on the other hand, wasn't as amused. He looked like he was ready to leap across the table and challenge Jiraiya on the spot. However, before he could speak, Gaara interrupted, "Let's hear him out."
Jiraiya nodded at Gaara, appreciating the younger Kage's efforts. "Thank you, Gaara. Now, these two," Jiraiya gestured towards Ryu and Yoruichi, "are Ryu and Yoruichi. You might have heard about Ryu, the legendary blacksmith who easily took on the Nine-Tails single handily, and the man whose underlings are the secret Shinobi you all were scared of."
"And the woman?" A asked, his gaze flicking towards Yoruichi, who leaned on the tree's bark, playing with a random piece of wood she found.
"This is Yoruichi. While I don't know her enough to give you any meaningful information, Ryu vouches for her ability, that should be more than enough," Jiraiya introduced, his gaze turning serious. "Both of them have experienced threats that we haven't even dreamed of and survived. In all honesty, the two of them alone are probably more powerful than our entire alliance,"
This got the attention of the three Kages. The tension in the room seemed to lessen, replaced by a silent curiosity.
"Well, after hearing something like that, I think some proof is needed," A said with a hint of excitement as lightning gathered around his body.
"Sure, what did you have in mind?" Ryu asked curiously.