"I will be leaving in a few days. Come find me before then if you wish to join."

"Perhaps one of us should check if Isobu wishes to be represented. Assuming he can shrink to fit in the humans' tiny little buildings."

"I intended to pay a visit to him next."

"Good." She lays her head on her paws and swishes her tail. "I'll see you I suppose, if I decide to come."

"Until later, then. Farewell." She takes off, and heads for Isobu's lake.

There's no shinobi visible on guard - though they're still there. Isobu seems to be sunning himself in the shallows, and he waves his tails when Ellisaria comes by.

She lands.

"Hello, Isobu. Has the jinchuuriki been by?"

"No. Have you seen him?"

"I have not, but that is not terribly surprising. Are you much aware of events in the humans' world?"

"I haven't been asking, but they sometimes talk to each other where I can hear."

"They plan to put together a coalition against the Akatsuki. I have been invited to attend, and I have extended that to Okami of Unarida. I was wondering if you would be interested in accompanying us as well."

He lifts his top shell a bit and rustles his tails in what seems to be a shrug. "I don't like talking to humans that much... The scientists aren't too bad, but most shinobi are. And I don't like being small, really."

"Understandable. I simply wished to offer you the chance to decide, if no one else did."

He nods. "Thanks. I don't want them deciding stuff for me, but I don't think they'll listen enough..."

"Then I'll just have to be sure to speak loudly."

"That'd be good. You're very assertive. I don't think I am..."

"A necessary consequence of living with my dragonflight for as long as I have. If you don't protect your own interests, no one will."

"Maybe," he says, voice thoughtful. "And none of the others can talk. So maybe I should go..."

"I would enjoy your company and it might be good for the humans to face a reminder of who exactly they have been enslaving all these years. But it is, of course, entirely your decision."

He's quiet for a bit, then: "I'll come, maybe. I can always leave I guess if they're mean..."

"Or swing back. You have a few days to think it over. We will be traveling with Sasuke and his group."

"He's interesting," Isobu acknowledges. "Alright. Thanks for the heads up."

"I'll come by again when it's time to go."

And back home she goes.

Isobu waves, then settles back into his lake.

Two days later, Okami bounds up, two humans in monk's robes on her back.