Amidst the towering peaks, emerald waters, and jagged rocks, several agile figures leaped through the lush green treetops.
Logan watched as the trees blurred past, the scenery shifting rapidly. He cleared his throat and said, "Uh, quick question… where are we now?"
Hiruko, despite its grotesque form, moved with surprising agility. Sasori landed firmly on a thick branch, effortlessly weaving through the dense foliage before glancing at his uneasy companion, "Near Red Maple Gorge."
Logan thought about it for a while and couldn't think of the name of a small place on the map.
As if he could see through the thoughts on Logan's face, Sasori added flatly, "Once we cross the gorge ahead, we'll be there. No need to rush."
"... Not rushing."
It was the second day since their bold departure from Sunagakure. Logan looked ahead and saw that past the tangled woods, a river came into view, winding through the terrain with alternating rapids and calm stretches before cascading into the distant gorge.
The rushing water sounded almost like a melody.
'It seemed that we were about to arrive at the hideout.' Logan hesitated and asked, "Do I really have to go inside with you guys?"
"Obviously." Sasori replied without even lifting his gaze.
'Sasori wasn't the type to budge. That left only one option...'
"Explode on the spot, Katsu! Boom!" Deidara suddenly burst out, lost in his own imaginary scenario. He mimed an explosion with his hands before muttering, "Something still doesn't feel right. Maybe 'Sending you home' sounds more artistic..."
Logan stared at him with numb eyes, unable to complain. The journey itself wasn't the problem, as he was used to long treks.
But ever since Logan had casually dropped a few catchy modern phrases, Deidara had latched onto them like a kid with new toys.
Deidara also likes the classic 'Nothing can't be solved with a... If there is, just XXX', but unfortunately, it was a bit too wordy for mid-battle declarations.
Logan shook his head and thought to himself, 'It seems I have to find another way to get the Flying Thunder God Kunai. The focus is Genjutsu. Itachi had mentioned meeting at the autumn equinox, but it is still August now, so it is still ways off. As for the 'usual place'…' Logan wracked his memory.
'The scene of a quiet town at night... The information in the Genjutsu was not complicated.' Though years had passed, he and Itachi had only shared a handful of memorable locations. After some quick elimination, the answer became clear.
Birds chirped in the trees. After a few seconds, Deidara finally seemed to register Logan's presence. He turned, blinking, "Oh, my turn to talk?"
Black lines appear on Logan's forehead, 'That's not your character trait!'
Deidara took off his bamboo hat, fanned it in his hand, and said without much thought: "Just go in. What's the big deal?"
"Actually, I'm kind of curious. Hattori, why are you so scared of meeting the leader?"
"Well..."
"So you ran off for a few years. Who doesn't have bad days? As far as I know, you didn't do anything else to piss him off, right?"
Thinking of something, Deidara immediately added, "Oh, it seems that deserting is already very annoying. In an ordinary Shinobi Village, it is probably enough to get you executed."
Deidara's logic wasn't wrong, but unfortunately, it wasn't helpful either.
The mountain scenery was picturesque, untouched nature at its purest. As the babbling stream passed beneath them, Logan raised a hand.
"Wait a minute, I need to go to the toilet."
Sasori and Deidara paused. This reason sounded difficult to refuse. Deidara simply plopped onto a patch of grass, then urged, "Fine, hurry up."
Logan immediately vanished into the underbrush. Sasori watched but made no move to stop him.
After walking slowly to a place dozens of meters away, Logan glanced back. Through the foliage, the two figures were already half-hidden.
'What the hell… The pee excuse actually worked.' Logan was secretly surprised.
Now that he'd reconnected with Itachi, there was no reason to keep tagging along. The only thing stopping him from making a clean break was pride… he wasn't afraid to fight, but that was a last resort.
Pushing through the overgrown wilderness, he came across a slope. A quick climb brought him to a cliff edge dozens of meters high. Without breaking a sweat, Logan leaped up.
White clouds drifted lazily overhead. Below the cliff, valleys stretched out, cradling winding streams and dense forests.
One more step forward, and he could disappear into the rugged terrain, which felt easier than he'd imagined.
Logan originally thought that this would be a simple decision, as effortless as the lie he'd just told. But now, at the critical moment, he froze.
Logan couldn't help but turn his head again. His two temporary companions had shrunk to black spots on the green ground under the terrain. They hadn't noticed yet, so this was his golden opportunity.
'Am I really leaving just like this?'
Logan thought for a while and made sure he didn't miss anything.
"You go to seal Ichibi first and then deal with the people from Konoha and Sunagakure. Although it is a bit shameless, I have to leave first." He muttered under his breath, though no one could hear.
The cliff's edge beckoned. The vivid hues of the untrodden path beside him shimmered. A free wind, unbound by plotlines or fate, brushed against his face. Logan's expression flickered, clouded by something unreadable.
After staying with someone for a long time, when it's time to say goodbye, no matter how many prejudices they have or how annoying they were in the past, everyone will be generous and tolerant.
Logan had planned to slip away from this mess, but now, at the final moment before reaching the hideout, he realized why he hadn't vanished earlier during the journey.
Besides, he knew this would likely be the last time he saw them.
He'd never been the detached type. There were times when he could coldly eliminate targets, doing whatever it took to achieve his goals. But those very goals were always rooted in emotions he kept buried.
The innocent days of his student years, the peaceful life without bloodshed… those were what he truly cherished now t.
'Does being able to get out of sight in such an easy and unexpected way mean something...'
The hesitation caught him off guard.
"What are you doing?"
A cold voice came out, and Sasori appeared at the bottom of the slope without anyone noticing.
"Nothing. Just admiring the view." Logan was slightly stunned and said with a forced laugh.
There was no guilt or panic, nor even the desperate energy of someone caught red-handed, which made it difficult for Sasori, who was mentally prepared in advance, to say anything.
"Hmph. If you're done, let's go." Sasori walked back, "Humans and their useless biological needs are such a hassle."
Logan exhaled and followed.
"Yeah, yeah. Congrats on not needing to pee… you'd make a great idol. Want me to set up a fan club?" His usual sarcasm returned in full force.