Ran did not know how to defend himself, but things were better now. With a wind barrier in front of him, he felt much more comfortable.
Still, he did not dare move too much. They were flying through the sky, after all. One careless slip, and he would fall to his death.
He gently turned to look at the three students behind him. They each had a wind barrier in front of them as well, but all three had their eyes squeezed shut, too afraid to look at anything around them.
Not far away, Chisato sat cross-legged atop Ryuun's back, chatting merrily with the crane.
They had been good friends for many years. Though they rarely had the chance to travel together, they still chatted for a while every day at the Cloud Clan Grounds.
"All right, children. We're going at full speed now. Keep your positions steady, or you might get flung off and fall to your deaths!"
Seiryu's joking remark made Ran and the three students even more nervous.
They hurriedly grabbed several feathers, though they still did not dare grip them too tightly.
The next second, Seiryu and Ryuufuu shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow.
The three Cranes behind them hurriedly followed, speeding toward the Land of Whirlpools.
Thanks to the wind barriers, however, even the sudden acceleration did not cause Ran or the three students much discomfort.
That gradually gave them more courage.
"Coming to Konoha really let me experience everything. I never imagined I'd be able to fly through the sky like this."
Seiryu laughed heartily. "There's still plenty you haven't experienced. Take it slow from here on out."
Back at the Cloud Clan Grounds, Ran had had a few chances to speak with Seiryu and Ryuufuu.
They were not particularly close.
But