Hinata saw Genya, and her eyes lit up, but her legs could no longer carry her.
She stood there, watching that familiar figure approach through the morning light, her eyes growing warm.
Ino leaned against her, panting and mumbling.
"Finally... made it..."
Shikamaru crouched on the ground with his hands braced on his knees, tilted his head toward the sky, and sighed.
"What a drag. We only got here after the fight was over."
Naruto straightened, drew a deep breath, and walked toward him.
Sasuke followed behind him, along with Hinata, Ino, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Shino, Tenten, Neji, and Rock Lee.
Everyone followed.
Genya saw them. He stopped, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"Hey, you made it?"
Naruto stood before him, panting, and grinned.
"Yeah. We're here."
Genya reached out and gave him a pat on the head.
"Too slow."
Genya looked over the dusty, bedraggled boys and girls, taking in the mud and sweat on their bodies, their crooked forehead protectors, and their worn-out soles.
They had arrived late, but they had come.
Sasuke scanned the crowd twice, but found neither that familiar long black hair nor that cool, aloof face.
His brow furrowed, and he turned to Genya.
"Where's my brother?"
Genya pointed with his chin toward a nearby house. Its door stood half-open, with two Anbu stationed outside.
"Your brother's guarding Obito and Orochimaru. Obito's behaving now, but no one can guarantee he won't suddenly turn intangible and escape again. Orochimaru's been cooperative, though."
Before he had finished, Sasuke was already striding quickly toward the house.
He nodded to the Anbu at the entrance, then pushed the door open and went inside.
Itachi sat in a chair in the corner, his back against the wall and his eyes closed.
He had overused his Mangekyo.
At