In a damp cave somewhere... a naked man sat by torchlight as a figure in shadows behind him looked on... He was tall, looked to be about in his 50s, with black and grey hair... and a green and blue eye each. Shirō Mengishii tied tight the sutures on his thigh. He bit down on the end of the thread to hold it in place as he finished the last touches of medical ninjutsu required to attach his severed leg. He tied it off and pressed his palms to the wound. "That's... good work." He said, massaging it and very slightly wiggling his toes.<br/><br/>"It's a damn miracle." The man in the shadows said, "You're already enough like Ryoichi without any prosthetics. You should take it easy."<br/><br/>Shirō stood up, "I can't afford to. They are looking for me. Soon, there will be no way in and out of the Land of Rivers."<br/><br/>"You're headed west, then?" The other man asked, "Through the pass?"<br/><br/>Shirō nodded, "It's the only way in the state that I'm in. On foot. They'll see the raven if I go by air."<br/><br/>"I'd love to join you." The man in the shadows said, offering his hand. Illuminated by the torch, his hand was covered in a bloodied surgical glove. "But I've got business in Ame. Ryoichi will be there too." Shirō shook his hand, smiling as he said, "The hard part's done. I'll see you there."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Back in the forests between the Land of Fire and Rivers...the faux woman held Tashi at kunai-point. Hitomi was nearby, less than pleased with the puppet master's way of doing things. "Seems like they got away..." The puppet said, relaxing her hold of Tashi and letting him stand, "Probably to get reinforcements. Well, we only need one as insurance- two will suffice as well."<br/><br/>Chiyo came out of the treeline, also holding Marise hostage. She pushed the younger woman towards the campfire alongside Tashi and brought her hands together. The puppet disappeared in a puff of smoke. "You're friends, right?" The older kunoichi asked, "If Aimi doesn't come back to the village willingly, I'll kill you. But once I find her, you-" she looked over to Hitomi, "And you... are free to go."<br/><br/>The puppet master quirked a smile.