The farther they ventured into the Land of Rain, the sparser the grass on the meadows became. The sun shone feebly through thick layers of gray clouds. Gusts of wind blew in their faces and almost pushed them back, as if warning them not to go any further.
Kimimaro looked up from his fluttering map and said, "If we go straight to Amegakure, we can fill our supplies and get to Suna quicker."
Naruto was about to agree with Kimimaro's idea when Kurama's voice boomed in his head, "Brat"do not go to Ame."
"Why?" Naruto asked Kurama in his mind.
"They have been in a perpetual civil war for years now. Even being in this country alone is risky."
"Then how do we get to Suna, Mr. Fox?"
"Pass through the Land of Rain as fast as possible, then take a slight detour by going along the borders within the Land of Rivers," Kurama suggested.
"Then let's take the shortest route, duh!" said Tayuya.
"No! Let's head to the Land of Rivers," Naruto said abruptly. The other two looked at him confused. "I got a feeling that Ame is too dangerous," he explained hastily.
"A feeling?" Tayuya was completely baffled. "What the the fuck does that - "
"Alright, I trust your judgment, Naruto." Kimimaro said.
"You're trusting that shrimp's instincts?" Tayuya couldn't believe that the seemingly level-headed pale face shit would be swayed that easily.
"Well, it was Naruto's idea to go to the Land of Wind to begin with. Might as well just listen to him," Kimimaro shrugged. Maybe he was just tired from being the only one figuring out the directions, but something about Naruto's confidence in where they should go was convincing.
"Oh god Dam it, the stupidity virus is spreading." Tayuya looked at Kimimaro disgustedly.
They walked for another two hours, until raindrops started falling down, then in a matter of seconds it began to pour. Before they even realized it, Naruto, Kimimaro and Tayuya had grasped each other's arms firmly and clenched their teeth against the violent squalls.
"What the in the fucking hell is this strong wind?" Tayuya muttered under her breath as they held onto each other in the rainstorm. "I fucking swear - " She slipped on a small pile of mud before she could finish her sentence, pulling Naruto, who was in between her and Kimimaro, along with her. Kimimaro stopped Naruto from falling face-first into the ground, but Tayuya wasn't that lucky.
"Shit! I fucking hate this place!" she cursed and got up from the mud puddle, face and clothes all filthy. "Who thought it was a good idea to come here?" she yelled.
"Hold on tight to me, Tayuya!" Naruto shouted and grabbed her arm again, pulling her closer to him. "We don't want to lose you!"
Tayuya was a little flustered, but she laughed, "Ha! I'm not dying from a fucking rainstorm, shrimp!"
"We should hide somewhere and wait for it to stop, or we'll be blown apart!" Kimimaro shouted. They looked desperately around the landscape, searching for shelter, but all they could see were stray trees bending and almost snapping in the rainstorm.
They had no choice but to forge ahead, but the gales and miry trail made every step forward difficult. Tayuya started complaining again, but Naruto exclaimed in relief, "Look, a cave!" He gestured with his chin at a hollow boulder in the blurry distance. They hurried to the cave and dived for cover.
"This is fucking awful!" Tayuya said, brushing her messy hair with her fingers, her face still bearing traces of mud. Shivering in their drenched clothes and sludge-filled sandals, the three orphans huddled together in the cramped cave. Kimimaro and Tayuya felt an instant warmth from Naruto. His tiny body felt almost like a heater in the cold, dank air. They couldn't help but snuggle up to him. Sitting in the middle, Naruto blushed and wondered if this is what it's like to have a family. Tayuya realized she was almost squeezing him, and cleared her throat and asked, "So, shrimp. Where the hell are you from?"
"Konoha," said Naruto.
"Ha! How 'bout you, pale face?"
"...I'm from the Land of Water," Kimimaro said, still trembling with cold. Tayuya gave him a nod. She knew from his answer that he wasn't from its ninja village Kirigakure, and from his reluctant look that he isn't someone who would share his past. Well, not that she'd care.
They stayed in silence as they endured the howl of winds and the splashes of rain they were shivering cold wet and muddy they huddle together for warmth, Naruto wondered if this is what it was like to have a family
Early in the next morning, Kimimaro opened his eyes to a shaft of sunlight through the cave, then woke the other two up. "The rainstorm has stopped," he said, gently shaking Naruto's shoulder.
"Yesterday was a bad day, but I have a feeling we used up our bad luck!" said Naruto, stretching his arms outside the cave. "Oh, but it felt nice sleeping with my friends leaning against me!" he added with a big grin.
"Friends?" Tayuya stopped mid-yawn and turned her head back at Naruto. "Who the fuck are friends with you?"
"Why, you and Kimimaro of course!"
"Whatever. Let's get out of this cursed place," Tayuya said. The trio head out they are wet muddy and their clothes are torn but they had each other,and tayuya didn't realize that her lips were curving upwards.