The ninjas that attacked them, they kept chasing after the group. It made their journey harder, they could barely get an hour of sleep here and there, they were constantly on the move, leaving behind as few traces of them as possible.
As they got closer to the Land of Thunder and the Senju Village adjacent to that, their enemies finally stopped chasing after them.
"We finally made it!" Yahiko raised his arms, cheering. He could see a few ninjas in the distance, wearing grey jackets, and a headband with the symbol of vajra that represented the Senju.
"Finally," Nagato put his palm on his knees, gasping for breath. He could see the sea in the horizon, making him blink, because the next second he felt a wave of heat against his cheek.
He searched around for the source of the heat, only to find fire on Cloud's palm, "Cloud...?"
Cloud leaped in the air, rotating in midair, landing on his feet between the Senju Ninja, "Fireball."
"Attack him!!
The fire spread in all directions, engulfing the whole area, burning everything in its path. The Ninja didn't even have time to react, the fire was too strong, too powerful. It burned everything.
"No...what did you do...?" Yahiko tried to reach out, seeing the men burn and fall, Cloud standing in the middle of the fire.
"We need to go. It's best if we reach the village," Cloud stood up, the flames covering his body. His sword was covered in fire. He turned his back and started walking away, the flames engulfing him.
"What the hell was that!? Why did you kill them!?" Yahiko grabbed Cloud, stopping him from leaving.
Cloud stopped. He realised he should have left the bodies, which had disappeared after melting, something had taken them into the ground to not leave any traces without the fear of fire. There was someone else here who wanted to make sure these creatures weren't found.
"I...asked someone if there would be any guards here. Or how we are going to enter. They removed the guards here especially for us."
"Ask? Who?"
"That would be me," the woman came out from the shadows, wearing a black and red suit. She wore an Anbu mask, revealing on her long black hair and reddish brown eyes. She raised the Anbu mask to smile at them, "Hello, I am Tifa Lockhart. Secretary to the Senju-hime."
"Tifa..." Konan repeated that name. Her eyes went wide as she shot an inquisitive look at Cloud, "That Tifa?! She's the woman you can't forget! I thought she was dead!"
"A girl you can't forget, huh," a smile appeared on Tifa's lips, who tucked her hands behind her back, blinking at Cloud, "I see."
Cloud crossed his arms, tilting his head away from her, "I never said that."
"You didn't have to," Konan narrowed her eyes, "you were always thinking about her. How do you two know each other."
Tifa noticed the blush on Cloud's cheek. It only made her smile widen as she kissed his cheek, welcoming them, "Come. I'll take you guys to Senju-hime. We have been waiting for you."
"She knows we were coming," Yahiko asked.
"Yes, I told her," Cloud nodded, following Tifa. The rest of the members of Akatsuki looked at each other. The way Cloud was acting, the way he was talking. They could tell that he and Tifa were close, very close.
"I know you have a lot of questions, but follow us first. It's dangerous here," Tifa called the elevator, welcoming them inside. They stood at the corner of the elevator, the doors opened in front of them. It was massive now that they saw it. Enough for 12 people to enter and not feel cramped.
They could see the village in the distance. There were huge buildings in the centre and then smaller ones spreading out. There were thousands of houses and small shops, people everywhere. They could see everything, and everything looked so clean and pretty. There were so many people, all dressed in their own style, walking, talking, and laughing. The town was grand, advanced with streets and lights, everyone living a peaceful life. It was everything that they were looking for. Their goal was here.
"The town looks amazing!" Yahiko smiled, looking around the area.
As the elevator stopped, they came upon a metal structure with windows and seats inside. Along with metal tracks into the ground.
"What is this...?"
"Trams," Cloud entered the coach that ran along the metal tracks, meant to help them the people reach village without having to cross the forest on foot.
"That doesn't explain anything," Yahiko muttered under his breath, but his curiosity got the better of him. He entered the vehicle, sitting down on the comfy seat, feeling the cold air hit his face. It made him look up, "what is this?"
"Please, sit. There are refreshments if you are feeling hungry," Tifa brought their attention to the sandwiches and drinks. Everyone started whispering among themselves.
"This seat is so soft..."
"There's food."
"I can sleep..."
"How is this thing so cold?"
"Maybe it has those air conditioners that only rich can buy."
"Where it is? That thing is huge."
Tifa smiled as the coach started running, and the members of Akatsuki got something else to be excited about. She called Cloud to the side, sucking her lower lip, biting it as he came closer. She hugged him, resting her head against his chest, taking in his scent that calmed her heart, "I missed you..."
Cloud circled his arms around her waist, patting her back. He missed her. More than he thought. His lips were dry, he wanted to kiss her, and she read his mind. She raised her face, their eyes gazing at each other, trying to find anything that had changed about the other person since they last saw.
His fingers ran through her soft hair, pushing it away from her face. Her eyes went half-lidded as he leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips. It was just a peck, but it made her want more.
Her brownish-red eyes were filled with longing. It was the first time that they hadn't seen each other in over seven months.
"You should have told me you were coming," her fingers trailed down his arm, holding his hand. Her voice was barely a whisper, "I would have met you sooner..."
"I didn't want to put you in danger..."
"Cloud...I would have brought backup..." Tifa stroked his chest, sighing. It's not that she didn't understand why he was so worried. Creatures that couldn't be sensed unless you had great control over Aura Reading.
"Tifa..."
"Don't you think you should explain?" Konan sat beside Yahiko, her eyes darting between the two.
Tifa chuckled at her expression, looking towards Cloud, who strangely shook his head. It made her furrow her brows. She read the reports about the Whites, but they were sure these creatures wouldn't be able to follow them in the Senju Village, 'are they not worried about being found out? Or are they that confident?'
"I need to see someone before that."
.
.
.
That Night, Hotel Room,
"Ahh, this feels so good," Yahiko walked out of the bathroom, drying his wet hair. Being the leaders of Akatsuki, he, Konan and Nagato had gotten the biggest room. They were on the sixth floor, able to see the village lit up at night, people happily going about their days, and the moonlight hitting the sea.
He had never enjoyed so much luxury. He was like a child, taken in by all this new stuff. But the others weren't like that. The moment he left the bathroom, he had to face the stares of all friends. Everyone who chose to follow him.
"Uh...? Didn't like your room?"
"No. It's about Cloud and this Village. Are we obediently going to stay here? We don't even know who they are and they drew us here on purpose! What if they are after Nagato!"
"He's not wrong. Moreover, I never saw Cloud when I worked for Hanzo. He came after me, but a guy like him, I should have heard it. He could be a spy sent by Senju Village! From the beginning their goal could have been the Rinnegan!"
"Yeah, it doesn't make sense that we were attacked no matter where we went. Even Lord Hanzo wouldn't dare to provoke all the villages. Those ninjas could have been from Senju Village! You saw how he heartlessly killed the guards and that woman didn't even ask anything!"
Yahiko looked at their angry faces. He rubbed the back of his neck, "it's not like I don't feel betrayed...but...Cloud is a friend. He's freaking strong...and he taught me how to fight better...and he never minded sharing the Jutsu with me, with us. Why would he do that?"
"Who knows. Maybe he thinks it wouldn't matter if he kills us all?"
"Haha..." Yahiko scratched his cheek, "Maybe...or maybe he thought we would leave and if so, we might need this against our fight with Sir Hanzo. With his training we would have the chance to survive."
"Either way...I think he hopes we stay...even if he can't give us answers right now. In three days! In three days we will meet the King and plead him to help us in our cause to bring peace! If I am wrong! If they attack us! Then I will put my life on the life to make sure you guys escape!"
"Yahiko!" Nagato had been nervously sitting on the couch, thinking it was his fault, it was because of these eyes that they got dragged into this.
Yahiko grinned, patting his shoulder, "Don't worry. I trust Cloud. But...if I am wrong to. Guys. I need you to promise me that you will take Nagato and escape!"
"No! Yahiko!"
"How could we leave you behind!"
"It's for the peace! I believe! Like Sensei believed! Nagato will bring peace to this world! It doesn't matter if I die! You must escape!"
"No..." Nagato's eyes went wide. He shook his head. He didn't want to leave Yahiko behind, or him to die. But the others clenched their fist, lowering their head.
"Fine...we will..."
"No! You guys!"
PUFF
BURST
SMOKE
A man with wild white hair came out from the smoke, dressed in a red cloak. laughing.
"My disciples!" his booming voice made all of Akatsuki jump in fear, "you guys want to give up and let your teacher down!? You want to die! When did I teach you how to die! I taught you how to live!"
"You..." Nagato widened his eyes, feeling the sense of joy and relief in his heart, "Jiraiya-sensei!!"
"Hahahahhahahaha," he grinned, "look at you two! You have grown so much!"
"Sensei!" Yahiko and Nagato ran to hug him.
"You two..." the laughter from Jiraiya's face disappeared, replaced by a gratified smile, "you have grown so much."
"Sensei! Why are you here?"
"Haha," Jiraiya rubbed his nose, "the Senju-hime is Tsunade. She's one of the three Sanin, my teammate. She sent me a message that the three of you were in trouble and called me here."
"She did?" Nagato felt much better that they were willing to call their Sensei, one of the Sanin. They had seen the fight between them and Sir Hanzo. Even if the whole of Akatsuki tried to take on Jiraiya right now, then they would lose.
"Where's Konan, she's not with you?" Jiraiya paused, asking with a nervous look in his eyes.
"Oh, she went to see Cloud. She was hoping he would give her some answers," Nagato informed him, and Yahiko, who didn't know where she was.
"Cloud...? How about you two tell me exactly what has been going on here?"