My Brother's a Jinchūriki!

Chapter Fifty-Eight- Song of the Snake

Natsumi walked beside Oto in silence, keeping her hands in her pockets underneath her ANBU cloak as she looked at the woman from the corner of her eye and scowled.

Her expression is completely blank, but her eyes are smug. She really has no remorse for what she's done to me and put me through.

She looked upward at the midday sun, partially eclipsed by dark, thick clouds.

That's a big storm rolling in...

Oto slowed to a stop and placed her hand against the trunk of a nearby tree.

"This is a good place to stop."

"Stop?" Natsumi repeated and looked at her.

"Yes, stop. So that we can set up a shelter before that storm comes any closer." Oto chuckled and

"Why not just teleport back to the village the same way that we did to get to the shrine?" Natsumi put her hand on her hip, turning to face her.

"It only works at night, and then only when the skies are clear and the stars are visible. It's impossible to do at midday."

Natsumi sighed quietly.

Of course it is. That would be too convenient.

"Step back, dear." Oto waved her hand at Natsumi. "This will only take a moment."

Natsumi took several steps back and watched as Oto closed her eyes and took in a long, slow breath. After a moment, she released a large cloud of smoke and formed a series of hand signs.

"Yin Style: Double Smoke Sanctuary."

The smoke cloud shuddered and darkened, swirling in a singular column before it split into two, then formed two egg-shaped masses. The smoke solidified and Oto turned to look at Natsumi over her shoulder.

"All finished now." She stepped toward one of the egg formations and peeled a section back as if it were a door. "These will do nicely... don't you agree?"

Natsumi looked over the second pod, pressing her lips together.

I hate to admit it, but that was pretty cool.

Thunder boomed in the distance as the sky darkened, and Oto nodded shortly.

"Let's rest here for a bit, now. I'm quite exhausted."

"Sure." Natsumi lifted her hand to peel open her own pod and stepped inside, only to step out again and look the woman over. "Oto, you look terrible. Are you alright?"

"Hm?" The woman looked down at herself and held a hand. Her skin was graying rapidly and her movements became stiff. "Oh, this?" She lowered her hand and chuckled. "Don't worry, dear. Just a minor side effect of the pilgrimage. It'll pass soon."

"Okay... if you say so..."

"Ah, but... don't disturb me for the next twenty-four hours, do you understand?" Oto smiled and leaned against her cane as she stood. "I need plenty of rest, and you should rest, too. Receiving that gift can be... taxing on the body the first day."

"Okay..." Natsumi crossed her arms and Oto disappeared inside the pod.

I'd say that this was odd and creepy, but I'm not really in the mood to question it.

Natsumi stepped inside of her own shelter and sat down inside, thunder sounding closer until a heavy downpour broke out and she sighed.

Looks like we're going to be here a while... I just want to go back home.