"Ah, I am glad you are awak..." The priestess started to say to Michi as he woke up, only for Michi to call her a "cook" and compare her to those lesser devotions. Both areas that struck a nerve with Azumi as she focused on Michi and cast a glare to him.
"Michi...after all she's done for us, the last thing you have any right to do is insult Kami once again." Azumi said, as her umbrella was laid next to the parts of Reaver's suit so a physical reprimand was out of the question, but before she could verbally jab at him the priestess got between them.
"N-now now, there is no reason for tempers to flare here. I'm sure you both are on high emotion. A period to cool down before this divine meeting is very much what you both need. So let's just ease up, your bodies will thank for you that." The priestess advised, as Azumi seemed swayed enough even as she cast a judgmental glare at Michi.
----------
The red-headed figure, Nagato though referenced by his divine name Pain, kept his focus on the area of the hall before him as he expected the company of the two children. Konan, one of his best friends and a trusted companion, probably was right to wonder what Nagato's motive was concerning a couple of kids.
But as Nagato's Rinnegan was on full display, his face stoic and serious, it showed that he had a reason. Whatever that reason was impossible to tell, but Nagato would only hope that Konan would trust him that he knew what he was doing. Nagato had prided himself on making decisions that ultimatly served their home for the better.
Along with, a certain...personal group, he and Konan along with their other friend were affiliates of. But that mattered not right now as he glanced over to Konan.
"I sense you have reservations." Nagato stated clearly to Konan. As Nagato merely aimed to confirm what he suspected, as he figured knowing where his friend was at and concerns she may have had were best dealt with now before their new arrivals would come.
---------
“Maybe a day will come when I introduce you to them. Sure they’d like to get to know you better.” Tomiko said, as she seemed excited about the idea of Mori meeting her slum crew before she overheard Mori as he lamented about Iwa being difficult to find on top of risks of getting lost along the way which caused her to let out a sigh.
“You know, the whole “stop whining” piece of advice I give should also include avoid being a negative Nancy. True, we could end up getting lost with one wrong turn, and yes it is hard to find…” Tomiko said with a grin as she faced the highest rock along their path and began to climb it. In spite of the side effects of the food pill she seemed eager to get to the top to try and find that better view. No matter how impractical it may have been.
“…but, it is not impossible to find. And maybe we’ll get lucky and find where we need to go.” Tomiko said as she kept up the positive thinking as she scaled up the highest rock with the aim to scale to the top and see what she could find of interest.
-----------
Anko smiled as Shura made his appearance, while Tayuya had a scowl though it seemed Anko was just as eager to ignore Tayuya as she focused on Shura.
“Indeed, see our red-head friend here has information of value. However, we cannot get to it using…conventional means. So she is too valuable to simply kill off or toss into a cell. So it was decided she needed to be supervised for the time being.” Anko said before she would pull down Tayuya’s collar to show the seal placed around Tayuya’s Curse Mark, much to Tayuya’s attempt to stop her.
“A special seal has been placed around her neck. One that will cut off access to her Curse Mark and also limit her chakra capacity. To add to it you will also be able to halt any suspicious action with the girl by activating the mark which will cause intense pain. As so…” Anko said as she made the hand sign for Shura to see which caused the mark to glow blue.
“GAH! YOU FUCKING WHORE!” Tayuya yelled in agony as she dropped to the ground and clutched her neck as the pain had been intense and the girl thrashed along the ground as she suffered for a solid minute before Anko showed Shura the release sign which caused the mark to fade as Tayuya gasped on the ground as she tried to recover from the torture as she faced the Hyuga.
“…and deactivate once you feel the situation is resolved. You are trusted with her oversight due to being part of the team with first contact with this Oto-nin as well as your capabilities with the Byakugan which make you handy to keep an eye on her. Do you understand?” Anko asked the young Hyuga as Tayuya made it to slowly back to her feet as she glared at him.
Not that she had any power, or ability to object to this.
----------
Sakura turned to Taiyo as comment, as it appeared neither of them had been willing to let that incident go as if she was guilty of hanging it over his head he was guilty for being smug and trying to show off how responsible he could be.
Regardless, Jiraiya and company would not be kept waiting too long. As soon enough a familiar pair appeared before them. Tsunade, who seemed to eye Jiraiya specifically, and Shizune who held Tonton in her hands as they approached their table. There was a minute or two of silence as the two former teammates looked at each other, and one could practically cut the awkward tension with a knife.
“So…it’s been a while.” Jiraiya said after a minute as Tsunade said nothing in an immediate response as she simply took a sip of some tea Shizune had gotten for her before she let out a sigh.
“So, you want me to take up the mantle? If what we need is someone strong surely you’d have been suitable enough a candidate no?” Tsunade asked Jiraiya, as she seemed more interested in getting to the point, to which Jiraiya would respond to her fair question.
“It’s more than that. The village needs you, not just to lead it in this troubled time but to help gain some stability. Our medical core suffered heavy causalities during the invasion. We need some help in that area, someone who can not only help the core reorganize & regroup but also help tend to the severely injured. Our current Hokage Minato included. There is simply no one in the entire world more qualified for the job than yourself.” Jiraiya said as he outlined why Tsunade would be more suitable for the task than he himself could have been. Tsunade said nothing as she thought the words over before Shizune decided to ask a question of her own.
“I can understand that, but what inspired you to come with a pair of young ninja? Seems a bit out there given you have had a preference for going alone in these matters.” Shizune said as she wanted context for Sakura & Taiyo’s involvement in this as Jiraiya smirked at her.
“Yeah, I was advised to not go alone for a mission of this scale, and our forces are thinned out on missions to help fund repairs. Besides, these two are not any ole kids. This one here is the pride of Kakashi for example.” Jiraiya said as he glanced over at Sakura, and would allow Taiyo to explain himself since the Sannin figured Taiyo would do a better job selling himself than Jiraiya could.