Chapter Text
The bamboo shivers around them, leaves rustling in the rising wind, but Izuna pays no attention as he draws his katana. The chance to cross swords with his rival like this is already too rare, and he will waste no opportunity that time grants him.
"Ready to lose?" He turns his blade to catch the setting sun, reflecting light into the red eyes of the man who stands against him.
"That should be my question," Kunai spin through Tobirama's hands in a whirling pattern, dizzying enough to confuse until Izuna activates the Sharingan. "So. Do you wish to talk? Or..."
"Or." Izuna leaps forward, pushing himself through the air at speeds no regular human would be able to match, and swings his blade down. It's caught on crossed kunai, and Tobirama shoves him back only for Izuna to direct the force into a jump that lets him somersault through the air.
"A bit showy." Tobirama's teeth are bared in a savage grin, and Izuna knows his own expression is a match. "But you always were dramatic."
"Am dramatic, thank you." Time slows as Izuna's Sharingan spins. "And you're no less dramatic than - "
Alarms blare and they both flinch as the world breaks apart around them, the bamboo grove shredding itself into pieces like paper.
"What's happening?" Izuna jerks upright, ignoring the momentary disorientation that always comes with disconnection. "Hikaku!"
"A message, relayed from one of the other ships." His friend updates him quickly as they run through the cramped passageways. "The Oracle is calling for help."
"They're calling for help?" Izuna slams his butt into the bucket seat, grabbing for the communications array even before he yanks on his harness. "An ironic role reversal."
"We need more information." Tobirama slides neatly behind the controls, hands falling into place out of long habit. "I'm taking us up."
The engine hums to life and the Hiraishin surges upwards with a burst of power, the same technique that's gotten Tobirama labelled as reckless by so many other captains, but it cuts out almost immediately as they reach broadcast depth, leaving them drifting silently through the mists. No lights, no weapons, minimal betraying electric signals to give them away... but also no way for them to see where they're going or know where they are.
Tobirama's always had an uncanny sense for locating the right place to be though, and they coast gently to a stop on a ledge that comes into view so suddenly that Hikaku has only moments to deploy the landing gear.
"Come on." They don't have to whisper, the machines can't possibly hear human voices through the hull, but the instinct to be quiet is impossible to ignore and Izuna moves silently as he touches his lover on the shoulder. "Let's jack in."
It's time to find out what the Oracle wants.