Pebbles bounced across the trembling earth as the thunder of hoofbeats swept in from the distant horizon, leaving deep prints in the ground.
Among the mighty column of riders were several open carriages, carrying students from the Ninja Academy.
At the head of the column, leading the charge on horseback with a song, was Lord Hokage. Elite shinobi from the various clans followed close behind. Relishing the freedom of galloping horses and the cool breeze rushing against them, the group heading for the Eight-Tails gripped their reins with high spirits, doing their best not to let their mounts run wild.
The autumn wind sweeping in from the horizon tousled Naori's hair. Her bright eyes flickered beneath her lashes, and her high purple ponytail swayed in the breeze.
Stray locks kept getting in the girl's eyes. Frowning, she admired the beautiful scenery by the roadside, then raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. "This trip is so amazing."
Nao Yamanaka tucked back her own hair and nodded in agreement. Her biggest challenge on this journey was keeping her willful golden hair in line.
"Hey!" Danzo leaned over the side of the carriage and shouted to the silver-haired man driving it. "Teacher Tobirama! Why are we using carriages this time?!"
Tobirama, holding the reins, clearly heard the boy's question behind him. The roaring wind in his ears reminded him of what had happened in the Hokage's Office.
He certainly hadn't agreed with traveling on horseback or by carriage. Neither was as fast as shinobi leaping through the forest, and they'd have to deal with troublesome things like looking after the horses.
So in the Hokage's Office, he'd sternly rejected the Hokage's fanciful idea.
But then the Hokage had said, sounding aggrieved, "Madara traveled around the Shinobi World on horseback,