- Next day, 3:00 pm -
"You weren't kidding about the cold," Naruto said, a visible puff of steam escaping his mouth as he leaped to the next branch. He pulled the sides of his long black cloak tighter against a sharp gust of wind. "I can feel it already, and we're only halfway there."
"It's only going to get worse," Kakashi replied, keeping a steady, effortless pace at the front. "The Land of Iron stays below freezing virtually all year round. The only time it warms up is during the peak of summer, and even then, it's just barely enough for their lakes to thaw."
A sudden rustling sound came from behind him. Kakashi glanced over his shoulder and paused, staring at the bright red, incredibly fluffy earmuffs Naruto was currently sliding over his blonde hair.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Kushina?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, adjusting the plush fabric over his ears with a slight blush. "She insisted that I not catch a cold, but I can't recall a time when I was sick."
Sasuke's hand subtly drifted to the inside pocket of his cloak, where a pair of navy blue earmuffs, lovingly packed by Mikoto, joined the rest of his weapons.
"She probably just wanted to feel like a mother, Naruto; let her."
Kakashi replied, knowing Naruto just wasn't used to motherly affection all that much; the way Kakashi raised him wasn't how Kushina or Minato would have, and how could he? Kakashi was very aware of the future; he knew what was coming, and Naruto couldn't afford to be weak.
"Right…"
Naruto said, a brief silence stretching between the three before he glanced over at Sasuke.
"How have you been dealing with it, Sasuke? Your parents being back, I mean. Probably as nice and strange as it is for me, right?"
Sasuke hummed, thinking about the warmth his mother had been showing him lately; it wasn't that she was ever cold, but now she acted as if every day could be her last. He was sure she'd eventually pull back and return to the normal self he remembered from childhood, but right now, it felt nice.
"It feels nice… in a strange way, but a good strange."
Naruto offered a small, understanding grin, adjusting his red earmuffs one more time as a sharp, freezing blast of wind swept through the thinning canopy.
"Yeah," Naruto said softly, looking back toward the path ahead. "A good strange is exactly what it is."
The initial conversation faded into the background as the trio maintained their punishing pace. They ran for the rest of the afternoon and straight through the night, tracking the stars as the air shifted into a chilling, biting cold that made the previous cold pale in comparison. By the time the early morning light began to break over the horizon, the border of the Land of Sound was far behind them.
The trees grew shorter, their branches laden with thick sheets of white frost as the frozen mountain ranges of the Land of Iron began to loom in the distance.
"It's beautiful."
Naruto exclaimed, his breath clouding as he gazed at the winter landscape, the early morning light casting a glow on the treetops and mountains, making them glisten.
"Yes, I think the same thing every time I've been here. The sight never gets old."
Kakashi replied as he led the group through a familiar snowy path.
Up ahead, a massive iron gate cut directly into the frozen cliffside. A dozen samurai stood guard, their heavy, dark armor coated in a light layer of frost. As the three ninja stepped out of the treeline and onto the main path, the lead guard immediately held up a hand and called his men to attention.
The samurai didn't draw their swords, but their posture went entirely rigid. Even behind their iron faceplates, they clearly recognized the distinctive hair and the white cloak of a kage.
The lead guard stepped forward and brought a fist to his chest in a formal, disciplined salute.
"Welcome to the Land of Iron, Lord Hokage," the guard announced, his voice muffled slightly by his metal helmet. "Master Mifune has already prepared the citadel for your arrival. The Raikage and the Kazekage crossed the border late last night. The Mizukage and the Tsuchikage are expected to arrive within the next day or day and a half.
Kakashi offered a polite nod, his hands remaining in his pockets. "Thank you for the update."
The guard turned and signaled to the men at the iron mechanism. With a heavy groan of frozen chains, the massive gates began to grind open, revealing the stone bridge that led directly into the heart of the nation's three-pointed mountain fortress.
The three of them stepped onto the bridge, their boots crunching softly over the thin layer of frost covering the stone. Below them, a sheer drop plunged into a misty, snow-filled ravine, emphasizing just how naturally fortified the samurai nation truly was.
As they walked, Naruto looked around at the massive, cavernous entrance ahead, where groups of armored samurai marched in perfect, silent synchronization.
"It would seem that this summit has them a bit on edge."
Naruto commented just loud enough for Sasuke and Kakashi to hear.
"Of course, imagine what could happen should there be an incident. They're a very disciplined group by nature, but they likely have upped the security for the summit."
Kakashi replied, seeing the leader of the Samurai waiting for them at the fortress entrance.
Mifune stood at the end of the stone bridge, his hands tucked into his long, heavy winter sleeves. He wore his standard grey robes, and the thick bandages wrapped around his head crinkled slightly as he bowed his head in a respectful, measured greeting. Two elite samurai stood half a step behind him, their hands resting loosely on their katanas' hilts.
"Welcome to the Citadel, Lord Hokage," Mifune said, his voice deep and raspy from years of breathing the dry, freezing mountain air. He straightened, his sharp eyes taking in the Hokage. "It is good to see you; you look like your father, but I think you got more of your mother's face."
Mifune seemed lost in thought for a second before grinning at Kakashi. "Though I must admit, the reports reaching my desk regarding your village lately have been nothing short of miraculous."
Kakashi offered a calm smile. "Things have been busy back home, Master Mifune. I appreciate you hosting this summit on such short notice."
Mifune's gaze shifted past Kakashi's shoulder, briefly lingering on Naruto and Sasuke. As a seasoned warrior, he recognized the heavy chakra signatures radiating off the two teens and knew that they were far from simple.
"I didn't know you were close," Sasuke said quietly as they walked behind the samurai leader.
Kakashi nodded. "He and my father once had a run-in during the Second Ninja War. Instead of a fight to the death, they tested each other's swordsmanship. When he was home, Father would speak of a man with the best sword skills in the world." Kakashi didn't bother muffling his voice, speaking in a normal tone for anyone in the corridor to hear.
"Haha. Is that what he said? Quite the funny one, that Sakumo," Mifune chuckled, shaking his head. "While in terms of pure swordsmanship I was a bit better, your father had much better chakra flow along his blade. He nearly cut my sword in half without even using an element, using only raw chakra. I saw in him the future of swordsmanship, a worthy successor to my style."
"You didn't care that he was from a different nation?" Naruto asked, a bit surprised. Most ninja wouldn't share techniques with anyone outside their own people.
"I follow the way of the sword, young man. To cut, or not to cut," Mifune replied smoothly. "Sakumo was truly gifted with a blade, and he inherited my quick-draw well… perhaps too well." Mifune grinned a bit, knowing his technique had been put to devastating use in the man's hands during the Second Ninja World War.
Sasuke glanced at Kakashi, who smirked at the unasked question.
"Yes, it's what you're thinking. The quick draw I taught you was from my father, who ultimately learned it from Master Mifune."
"Oho, so you've learned and even passed it on, good, good."
Mifune spoke up in delight, always happy to see swordsmanship flourish.
"You two will have to show me your skills after you're settled and have rested some more."
Mifune looked over his shoulder at Naruto.
"What about you, young man? You seem to have a sturdy build; do you also wield a blade?"
"I'm not as proficient as my sensei or Sasuke here, but I'm fairly decent."
"Fairly decent, eh?"
Mifune looked at the calluses on Naruto's hand and turned back, leading them through the fortress door; the guards took their positions and closed it once they were all inside.
- Chapter End -