Chapter 32 Reunion?

An hour later, Riku was sound asleep next to Chiyo on Raiden's large back.

The forest was still, yet alive, as if the trees themselves leaned in to listen. Fractured beams of sunlight pierced the thick canopy above, flecking the mossy ground with spots of gold. Raiden strode deliberately at the head of the Kumarai. His massive, muscled frame shifted fluidly despite his size; his black-and-white striped fur shimmered faintly with the occasional crackle of white sparks. Beside him, Gamabunta lumbered with his signature swagger. The colossal toad carried his years with grace, his rough, warty skin sporting ridges that told tales of battles long since passed. A smoking pipe hung from his wide mouth, wisps of fragrant smoke curling around his head like an ethereal crown.

"You've gotten slower, Raiden," Gamabunta grumbled, his gravel voice rumbling through the stillness of the woods. "Used to be you'd leave me eating dirt by now."

Raiden snorted, his deep voice growling with humor. "Or maybe you've gotten faster, old friend. Last time I saw you, you couldn't walk ten paces without puffing like a bellows."

Gamabunta laughed, the sound low and guttural. "Touché. But I was hauling your sorry hide out of the marshes back then. You remember that? You were half-dead and still muttering about 'duty' and 'honor.'"

Raiden's expression turned soft, his sharp eye gazing ahead into the path of the forest. "I remember. I also remember you complaining the whole time. Something like Kumarai were too heavy for their own good."

"That wasn't a complaint," Gamabunta said, puffing on his pipe. "It was an observation. Big difference."

The two walked in silence for a moment, Jiraiya listening but not disrupting, letting the two talk. The gentle rustle of leaves and the chirp of distant birds filling the gaps between their words. There was no urgency in their pace, as if the forest stretched endlessly before them, a realm untouched by the chaos of the outside world.

"Do you ever think of those days, Gamabunta?" Raiden asked after a little while, his tone softer now. "Those days before the battles and blood?

Gamabunta gazed at him with that one big, wide amphibian eye. "I try not to. Too many regrets are there in my past, but. I remember how good life used to be. Like the first time we met."

A low chuckle spilled from Raiden's throat. "You mean how you tried to eat me?

"You looked like a snack," Gamabunta said with a smirk. "Didn't know Kumarai were so. spicy."

"Spicy?" Raiden raised a brow, the white sparks dancing along his fur flickering brighter as his amusement grew. "You spat me out like I'd burned your tongue."

"Still counts as winning," Gamabunta replied. "But you earned my respect that day. Not many can dodge my tongue strike."

Raiden's eye turned distant, his massive claws against the trunk of a nearby tree. "It feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, I thought strength was all that mattered. I was so sure of myself, so sure of the path I was on."

"And now?" Gamabunta prompted.

"Now I lead a race that has been hunted to the brink of extinction," Raiden said, his voice heavy. "Now I carry the weight of every Kumarai life upon my shoulders. Strength is no longer enough. I need to be more than this."

Gamabunta fell silent for a moment, the massive feet squelching softly against the forest floor. "You've always been more than that, Raiden. You just didn't know it. Hell, you were giving speeches about 'honor' while bleeding out in my arms. Strength's just the surface. What's underneath is what makes you a leader."

Raiden didn't answer immediately. The two continued their trek as the path began to wind deeper into the forest. A while later, he spoke again.

"Do you ever wonder if we could have done things differently?

Gamabunta's wide mouth curled into a reflective frown. "You mean avoided the wars? Stopped the hunting? Maybe. But every choice we made, we made with what we knew at the time. You can't carry the weight of the 'what ifs,' Raiden. It'll break even someone as big as you."

"Wise words from a toad," Raiden said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Don't get used to it," Gamabunta replied with a wink.

The trees began to thin out, and they neared a clearing. A soft breeze rustled the treetops, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and the promise of open skies. Raiden paused at the edge of the clearing, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon.

"Do you remember the pact we made, all those years ago?" he asked.

Gamabunta stopped beside him, his pipe clutched loosely in one hand. "I remember. 'No matter what happens, we fight for each other.' You still believe in it?"

Raiden turned to him, his gaze steady. "Always."

They trudged through the clearing, grass reaching up against their legs as they moved, and Jiraiya walked behind Raiden and Gamabunta, his arms folded behind his head. For once, the Toad Sage had remained peculiarly silent, his eyes fixed upon the weird couple in growing curiosity: at the way they moved—Raiden with his shorter but easy stride, Gamabunta heavy-stepped, his treads sure-footed. The air was thick between them with the sort of camaraderie that spoke volumes of battles fought and trials shared. Finally, curiosity got the better of him. Jiraiya picked up his pace, falling in line with the two. "Alright, I can't hold it in anymore. You two seem like you've known each other for centuries. How exactly does a giant badger-bear-

"Kumarai," Raiden corrected, his deep voice calm but firm.

"Right, a Kumarai,, and an old toad end up as. whatever you two are? Friends? Frenemies?"

Gamabunta emitted a low chuckle, blowing on his pipe. "Careful, Jiraiya. Keep talking like that, and Raiden might introduce you to his claws."

"Only if he asks nicely," Raiden rumbled, a faint smirk crossing his face.

Jiraiya raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, hey, no need for sparks to fly. I'm just curious. I mean, what is a Kumarai anyway? And how does someone like you even know Gamabunta? He doesn't exactly hang out with just anyone."

Raiden threw a look sideways to Gamabunta, and he barely nodded. Returning his gaze to Jiraiya, Raiden started to talk in his deep, dark voice, carrying with him ages long since forgotten.

"The Kumarai are an ancient race," he said.

"Once, we thrived in the wilds, children of balance and harmony in the natural world. We are connected to the earth's primal Yang energy, and the sparks you see are an outward manifestation of that bond. But humans." He stopped, his voice clouding with sadness. "Humans saw us as threats. As monsters. Over the centuries, we were hunted. Driven to the edges of the world. Now, there are few of us left." Jiraiya's brow furrowed. "Sounds familiar. Humans do have a bad habit of messing with things they don't understand. But that doesn't explain how you know Gamabunta here."

A long puff of smoke escaped Gamabunta's lips, the tendrils curling around his broad face. "We met during the Northern Raids," he said gruffly. "The Kumarai were being targeted by some guy calling himself a Raikage? who thought hunting them and studying their lightning kekkei genkai would make him a legend. Raiden here was leading his people, trying to hold the line."

Jiraiya's eyes widened. "The Northern Raids? That was decades ago. You were there? And why the Raikage of all people…"

Raiden nodded. "I was younger then, more reckless. I thought I could protect my people by facing the warlord's army head-on. I was wrong. The humans overwhelmed us, and I would have died that day if Gamabunta hadn't intervened… Not after EATING ME!"

Gamabunta waved a hand. "Don't make it sound like I was playing hero. I just happened to be passing through. But seeing that big oaf surrounded, bleeding, missing an eye and still swinging like his life depended on it? I couldn't just leave him there."

"You fought an entire army for him?" Jiraiya asked, astounded.

"Not alone," Gamabunta replied, a smug grin on his face. "Let's just say we made a good team. Raiden held the front while I took out the big guns. By the end of it, the Raikage guy was running with his tail between his legs, and the Kumarai had a fighting chance."

Raiden chuckled softly, a deep, rumbling sound. "You call it a good team. I remember you complaining the entire time about how heavy I was when you carried me out of the battlefield."

"You are heavy," Gamabunta shot back. "And I've still got a bad back to prove it."

Jiraiya laughed, shaking his head. "So you saved each other's hides and decided to stay friends. Makes sense. But I still can't get over the fact that you're the leader of an ancient race or whatever, Raiden. Why have I never heard of the Kumarai before?"

Raiden's expression turned thoughtful. "Because we learned to hide. After the Northern Raids, I led my people deeper into the wilds, far from human settlements. We couldn't afford to fight anymore. Most Kumarai now live in seclusion, guarding what remains of our territory."

"That's. heavy," Jiraiya said, his voice softer. "But it makes sense. People can be pretty terrible sometimes."

…

…

Deep within Riku's soul space,

*I'm always so reckless… Back to 0%? How… How can this be?* Kokuenryū was laying on the floor, looking tired and drained, as if his energy had been exhausted completely.

*Is it because of that attack? Because of Riku's age? It could be because we are still not fully bonded… Oh well, I'll use it as a last resort.* Kokuenryū sighed and continued, *I hope that Chiyo kid is okay… Riku too, he must be really struggling without me.* Kokuenryū giggled and then smiled somberly as he looked at the rate his power was returning.

*2% a day? That's… slow.* Kokuenryū sighed.

…

…

In the outside world, just an hour after the trio had finished their chat, Raiden looked at Gamabunta and asked, "So um, where are we headed?"

Gamabunta sighed, he didn't really know if he would be allowed to do this… "I was thinking of taking you to Mount Myōboku, I wanted to see if you could learn how to use Nature energy and maybe become a sage. After all, you're probably the only creature I know that could possibly become a sage." Gamabunta scratched the side of his face nervously.

Raiden and Jiraiya stopped in their tracks, "S-seriously?" Raiden was at a loss, first of all, Mount Myōboku was a place only accessible to Toads and maybe their summoning contractors. Second of all, only three known creatures could be called 'Sages' and Gamabunta thought RAIDEN could become one?

Jiraiya was equally as dumbfounded, "Really? Mount Myōboku?"

Gamabunta smiled somberly, "I trust you. And I'm sure those kids on your back are equally as trustworthy, even if they're not… Be sure to discipline them!" Gamabunta took a puff of his pipe and they continued their walk.