That is good to hear. She had also brought up the possibility of a visit, if Isobu would like that.

That'd be nice, yes, he hasn't gotten to see Kurama - or any of the others, really - in quite a while. 

She'll follow up next time she sees him, if hasn't happened by then.

With a few pleasantries to conclude the visit, she files the rest of the way home. She doesn't intend to do much for the next while; she needs time to finish healing. The slug kickstarted the process, but her own skills do not trend in that direction. Time and rest, with what magic she can do to help things along.

Sasuke spends the next few weeks mostly focusing on diplomacy and shoring up his own defenses (the fake Madara had infiltrated at least some of his base, and what he told Sasuke - about Konoha's crimes, about the truth behind his family's death - well, Itachi's confirmed some of it, and the handful of spies Sasuke inherited from Orochimaru have confirmed Tsunade's still out, and that bastard Danzo has been maneuvering to be named Sixth Hokage - )

If it was just Sasuke, he would've already left to confront and maybe kill Danzo. But he has an entire village to look after, and a significant amount of responsibility for the whole nation is on his shoulders, and it's not just his own life or even Itachi's he'd be setting on fire - 

He does trade eyes with Itachi, restoring both their lost vision, and sets her free, starts integrating her into his guards on her request. 

He tightens his alliance with Amegakure, makes inroads on his more immediate neighbors, does what he can to help the daimyo improve trade...

And then the Akatsuki apparently have recovered enough to move against Kumo, stealing the last of that village's jinchuuriki, and a Five Kage Summit is called.

Sasuke spends maybe ten minutes hesitating over whether to (diplomatically) crash the summit, before deciding his coalition is strong enough and, anyways, he's allied with one of the two bijuu no longer under Akatsuki control.

The actual Kage can each bring two guards into the summit itself. It'll be polite to keep to that. Karin would be invaluable, but he's refined his communication with her enough he doesn't need her hovering over his shoulder, so she can stay with the larger entourage...

He sends a message to Konan, in case she wants to join him, and goes to find Ellisaria. Itachi's the only guard with him, Karin staying behind to manage his tightened defenses.

They're stopped at the entrance to her lair by a rumbling mass of earth assembled into a vaguely humanoid shape, holding what looks suspiciously like a sword and shield made of rock.

He'll stop, won't push the boundary, but will loudly call out, "Ellisaria?"

There's a rustle from deeper within, and she emerges to stand beside the construct.

"What is it, boy?"

"The Akatsuki moved against another one of the big five, this time Kumo, capturing their jinchuuriki, and there's been a Five Kage Summit called. I plan to show up - the smaller nations need a say in world decisions, and we're now allied with one of the only two bijuu remaining outside of Akatsuki's control. The Kage are being allowed to bring two guards with them, and I was curious if you would wish to accompany me, as an ally or as an independent party. It'll be a lot of politics, but there's a possibility of a fight - either between the attendees, or if the Akatsuki use that moment to interfere." He pauses, having run out of pre-rehearsed words. "If you're not interested, there is still intelligence I want to pass on."

As much as he loathes Danzo, he's not, actually, planning on starting any fights, himself.

"Hmm. We would be leaving now?"

"We have a few days before I'd absolutely need to leave under my own power, you're faster than me, and it's probably best to not lurk too long in the area beforehand, so no."

"Then I'll meet you at your base in a few days."

"Right." He'll just give her the politics summary then, when he's sorted it out in his head more.

She turns her head to look at the other visitor.

"And who are you?"

"Uchiha Itachi," she says, voice soft but firm. "A guard."

(Striking the balancing act of 'threatening enough to be a guard, nonthreatening enough to not inspire backlash against Sasuke' has been... Interesting, especially given the complications from her reputation and the way she switched sides.)

"Uchiha? Any relation?"

"His older sister."

"Interesting. Well, run along then."

Sasuke snorts, turns, and waves lazily back over his shoulder as he walks off. "See you then."

Itachi sends Ellisaria a longer, more unimpressed look, but follows him.

Another Uchiha, hm. This makes three. And why has she not met this sister before? Come out of hiding to fight the dire threat the world faces, perhaps. This had better not shape into another Windrunner drama, that would be the last thing she needs.

She has a few days to kill before the meeting. She goes looking for the wolf spirit.

Okami is lounging outside a mountain temple complex that has a few monks coming and going, a few pilgrims, a few less determined visitors, but isn't all that crowded. She nods towards a clearing when Ellisaria comes into view, and then flops over onto her side.

She lands in the indicated clearing.

"Hello again. I trust you have been well?"

"Well enough. There's been more pilgrims lately. People seem worried."

"Things are moving in the mortal world. The bijuu are being collected by one faction, and forces begin to marshal which would oppose them."

"Humans are idiots," is her sage opinion. "How many do they have?"