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?"

"Seven. Isobu and Kurama's jinchuuriki remain free."

"Hm. More than anyone's managed before. I can see why the head monk here was talking about breaking neutrality..."

"The mortals are holding a summit to begin their preparations. I plan to attend, and I wanted to extend an invitation to you or a representative. Times of strife such as these offer opportunity to place parties in your debt that you might not otherwise have access to."

"My usual policy is staying out of human affairs, and if they're smart they stay out of mine. But humans do have a history of deciding matters that affects non-humans without our input. I'll talk to the monks here; it might be time to change that."