"I'm coming with you," Konan said.
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "This isn't your fight, Konan. I can handle it alone."
Konan's eyes narrowed. "You're not going alone, Hiroshi. Mei's our ally, and she's important to the resistance. You might be able to teleport back if something goes wrong, but she can't. She needs us."
Hiroshi sighed and asked Nova. "What's Mei's condition?"
Nova's voice was calm and analytical. "She's in a prison cell, unharmed. The tracker seal you placed on her cloak is active, and I can confirm she's in no immediate danger."
Hiroshi paused, "Then why not just bring her back now? We know the location right?"
Nova shook her head. "That would be unwise. Mei is in shock from her father's betrayal. If you bring her back now, she'll be emotionally unstable and unable to think clearly. If she's going to be the Mizukage someday, she needs to learn how to control her emotions, even in difficult situations. Let her process what happened while she's there."
sigh~
"Fine. We'll do it your way."
…
The road was long and winding, cutting through dense forests and rocky terrain. Kisame walked ahead, humming a tune while swinging Samehada lazily over his shoulder.
"You know," Kisame said, glancing back at Hiroshi, "this Obito guy sure likes to make things complicated. Why can't he just fight us head-on instead of pulling all these tricks?"
"Because he's a coward," Sasori replied bluntly, not bothering to look up from the scroll he was studying as they walked. "He relies on manipulation and traps because he knows he can't win in a fair fight."
Hiroshi smirked but didn't say anything.
Konan, walking beside him, glanced at Hiroshi out of the corner of her eye. "You're awfully quiet. What's on your mind?"
"Just planning," Hiroshi replied. "If Obito's involved, this isn't going to be a straightforward rescue. We need to be ready for anything."
Konan nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I already informed Pain."
That night, the group set up camp in a small clearing. The air was cool, and the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures filled the silence between them.
Hiroshi stood near the fire, carefully flipping burger patties on a makeshift grill he had crafted. The sizzling sound of beef cooking filled the air, blending with the faint crackling of the flames.
Kisame sat nearby staring at the burgers. practically drooling.
Sasori, who was leaning against a tree, barely spared the food a glance. He was too busy adjusting the mechanisms in one of his puppets, the small clicking sounds filling the quiet space.
Meanwhile, Konan sat a little distance away from the others, her gaze fixed on Hiroshi as he worked. She had seen him fight, she had seen him plan, but watching him casually cook like this felt... different. Almost too normal for someone like him.
As Hiroshi placed slices of cheese onto the patties, Konan finally broke the silence. "Do you really think Mei can handle this?" Her voice was quiet, uncertain.
Hiroshi didn't look up, simply placing the finished patties onto buns and stacking them neatly. "She doesn't have a choice," he said, his tone as steady as ever. "If she's going to lead the Hidden Mist, she needs to learn how to handle challenges head-on. This is just one of many trials she'll have to face."
Konan studied him, her fingers idly tracing patterns in the dirt. 'He's always so composed,' she thought. 'Like nothing fazes him. But... does he even realize how Mei feels about him? Or how I feel…?'
Before she could dwell on it further, Hiroshi turned toward her, holding out a burger. "Here. Eat before Kisame steals yours."
Konan blinked, caught off guard, before reluctantly taking the burger. "Thanks…"
"Alright, time to feast!" Kisame announced, grabbing his burger like it was the most valuable thing in the world. The moment he took a bite, he groaned in pleasure. "Hiroshi… This is the best fucking thing I've ever eaten."
:
:
Hiroshi, Konan, Kisame, and Sasori entered the Land of Demons, all disguised as travelers. The air was cool and filled with the faint scent of incense from the shrines scattered around the region. Hiroshi adjusted the cloak he was wearing, pulling the hood further over his head.
"Nova, anything unusual?"
"Nothing immediate," Nova responded. "But keep your guard up. This place has a strange natural energy flow."
As they approached the town, Konan sent out her paper butterflies to scout the area. "I'll look for Mei first," she said, her voice firm.
"Fine," Hiroshi replied. "Let me know if you find anything."
Konan's butterflies scattered, gliding through the air like delicate white leaves. They swept across the town and surrounding forests, their sharp paper edges scanning for signs of life.
One of the paper butterflies glided toward a clearing near the edge of a dense forest.
There, Konan saw something that caught her attention—a pale blonde-haired girl dressed in a kimono, surrounded by monstrous creatures.
The creatures were inhuman. They surrounded the girl, but girl held her ground—though her hands trembled, as she clutched a small bell.
"Hiroshi, we've got a problem. There's a girl being attacked by... something unnatural."
"Where?" Hiroshi asked.
Konan pointed toward the clearing, and Hiroshi nodded. "Let's move."
When the group arrived, the creatures turned their attention to Hiroshi and the others.
"Typical," Kisame said, hefting Samehada. "They don't even know what they're up against."
Hiroshi didn't waste time. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his dagger, and it shimmered with a mixture of light, dark, chakra. He dashed forward, cutting through the nearest creature with ease.
Konan used her paper jutsu to create razor-sharp sheets, that sliced through the remaining monsters.
Kisame smashed a few with Samehada, while Sasori stood back, controlling a puppet,
The girl, pale and wide-eyed, stared at them in awe. She clutched her bell tightly and took a cautious step back.
"You're safe now," Hiroshi said,
The girl hesitated before bowing slightly. "Thank you... My name is Shion. I'm the priestess of this land."
"Priestess?" Konan asked, her brow furrowed.
Shion nodded, her voice shaking. "Those creatures... they're from the darkness that I'm meant to seal away. But... I can't do it alone."
Shion studied Konan carefully, her pale lavender eyes softening. "You saved me. Please... come to my shrine. I need to repay your kindness."
Konan hesitated, glancing at Hiroshi. He nodded slightly, signaling that they should follow through.
"We'll accompany you," Konan said, her tone firm but kind.
Shion smiled faintly, though she still looked shaken. "Thank you. My shrine isn't far from here. I'll guide you."
As they walked, Shion explained a little about herself. She spoke of her ability to seal demons and predict deaths.
When they reached the shrine, it was quiet and serene, surrounded by blooming cherry trees. Shion led them inside and offered them tea.
Hiroshi's eyes scanned the area, always cautious. Nova's voice whispered in his mind, "The dimensional energy here is strong, Hiroshi. Be careful."