Author's Note: I own nothing except Reyna; even Kayha and Katara are creations of a friend. Everything you recognize is property of Masashi Kishimoto. Characters are slightly OOC but that was the point of this; a friend and I decided that they needed to have some fun in their lives! Chaos ensued and this was the result.

Character Notes: Reyna has the ability to shift to a wolf as well as all the perks of being one (heightened senses); Kayha and Katara were two of Orochimaru's experiments. If there is interest I will post Reyna's story eventually as well. That's all I have to tell you now...ENJOY!

ARRIVAL

Naruto beamed as he and the rest of team Kakashi headed into the Village Hidden in the Sand. He hadn't seen Gaara, the Kazekage for quite a while and the whole team could definitely use a break; even if it involved being the political delegation from the Leaf Village. He suspected that it was simply because Tsunade had needed to get them out of the village for a while and it seemed like the best plan of action. Continuing to grin, he led the group into the village following one of the Sand's Genin ninja to where Kankuro, Temari and Gaara were waiting to greet them.

The sun was just beginning to set as they met with the Leader of the Sand and his siblings. Two other women were standing just off to the side of the trio, one seeming to stay closer to Kankuro, while the other had her concentration on Gaara while he made the introductions to the Leaf ninja and the two women. Kayha shifted her attention from Gaara long enough to acknowledge the group while Katara stepped forward with a small smile to greet them.

The wind was blowing the scent of the Sand group into Reyna's face and she narrowed her eyes briefly, recovering quickly enough that none of the others noticed. There was definitely something off about the scent of Kayha and Katara. She had met Gaara once briefly, and inclined her head to the Kazekage in respect before following Temari and Kankuro into the main house to find their rooms and get something to eat. Gaara disappeared back into the building that housed his offices while Kayha and Katara headed off into the village and presumably their home.

Reyna contemplated the scent as she followed behind Kakashi, but couldn't place it. For the time being she decided to try to ignore that fact and focused on maintaining her control in the heat of the desert. She never did like the heat much, but a mission was a mission after all. Who was she to question the Hokage?

That evening, after eating with Gaara, Kankuro, Temari and her teammates, Reyna found herself alone in her room while the others were visiting with old friends. Sighing she stretched out on her bed and tried not to think about anything for a while. When Kakashi slid her door open a few hours later to check on her, the young wolf was fast asleep. He quickly departed, his mask hiding the small smile on his face from anyone he passed as he headed for his own room and some much needed sleep.

Sunrise found Reyna and Naruto in the training field. She never questioned how Naruto knew where he was going within the village. It was common knowledge that he spent as much time as he could weasel out of the Hokage to spend in the Sand and visit Gaara. They spent the next couple of hours training; it had become a custom for the two of them to train together as much as possible after their previous bonding experience in the Leaf. A small smile touched Reyna's lips as she followed Naruto back for a much needed shower and food.

Breakfast held the first surprise of their visit as they sat with Kankuro and Temari, Gaara had been needed for official business and hadn't joined them. Kankuro smiled and leaned into the table conspiratorially.

"So, Gaara's been depressed lately," he started and the others rolled their eyes; he always seemed that way to them, "Okay, so worse than usual. I think it has something to do with the fact that he thinks Kayha is hiding something from him, but either way, he's my brother. So I was thinking…"

"I'm terrified already. You've been thinking, Kankuro?" Temari asked coolly, eyeing her brother from across the table.

"Hey…Can you at least pretend to have a heart?" Kankuro shot back before turning his attention to Naruto whom he knew would help him out. "So I was thinking…party. Tonight."

Naruto grinned and nodded, "That's sounds incredibly awesome! I'll help you plan it. How about it Kakashi? Sakura? We could all use a little bit of fun!"

Kakashi sighed, "I am not getting involved in this. I'll show up just to make sure you don't do anything too stupid."

Sakura nodded, "I noticed that the Kazekage did seem a little down when we arrived. Maybe it would be a good idea to try to cheer him up."

Reyna remained silent. She wasn't about to refuse to go but the idea of being around that many strange people was a bit unnerving to her. No one seemed to notice her silence, except maybe Kakashi because he noticed everything, but he didn't say anything. Not at that moment, nor did he say anything for the rest of the day which was spent training and speaking with the Sand ninja.

That afternoon, while Naruto, Sakura and Kankuro were busy planning a last minute party, Reyna caught up with Kakashi in the courtyard outside the house. She leaned against the wall, watching him spar with one of the Sand Ninja until they quit, trying to focus on his technique rather than the man himself. Needless to say, that didn't work out for her so well as time and time again she found her gaze shifting from what he was actually doing to how he looked while he fought. Giving herself a shake, she approached the Copy Ninja.

"Kakashi, I need to talk to you about something," she spoke softly, glancing over at the Sand ninja that were standing a few hundred feet away.

Kakashi nodded and she continued, "Those two girls that the Kazekage introduced us to when we got here. Does anything strike you as….off…about them?"

Kakashi narrowed his eye at her, "No. They seem to be close to the Kazekage and his siblings but other than that…"

Reyna tensed as a couple of ninja walked past them, heading back inside to their various daily duties and she dropped her voice even more, moving closer to Kakashi so he would still be able to hear her. At least that was why she told herself she moved closer to him anyway, "There's something…off or different…something, about their scents. I can't put my finger on it, but it's….bothering me."

Kakashi lifted a brow at that and shrugged as the rest of the ninja headed past them, "We have to trust that whatever it is, is not a threat to us or the Sand Village. They do live in the village and I'm sure if Gaara had so much as a glimmer of a thought that they were a danger to his people, they would not be allowed to run the village unescorted. I understand that it may be frustrating, but there is nothing we can do about it. Try not to worry about it and trust Gaara's judgement of them."

Reyna nodded, though the thought went against everything she was. Kakashi dropped a hand on her shoulder as he walked past her, no doubt heading for a shower and change of clothes. Reyna turned and headed for her own room, which was cooler than standing outside in the middle of the afternoon in the desert.

As she headed back for her room, a knock sounded on the door to Gaara's office and he glanced up from his paperwork, "Enter," his gravelly voice carried through the door and one of the Sand's Jonin entered his office with a brief bow.

"Lord Kazekage. I am not sure if this is of the greatest importance but it did seem odd," the Jonin started.

"What is it?" Gaara questioned, his entire being focused on the Jonin, making the ninja feel a bit uncomfortable.

"That Leaf Ninja, Reyna. She may cause some trouble with Kayha and Katara. I overheard her talking with the Copy Ninja and she said there was something 'off about them' and that it was 'bothering her'. I thought you should be informed."

Gaara nodded, "I doubt that any of the Leaf would do anything against a member of the Sand Village, whether they were 'bothered' by them or not. You are to keep this to yourself. I will take care of it. Please send Naruto in to see me as soon as possible." I need to know about this Reyna. The experience I have with her is limited and I do not know the extent of her abilities or how far we can trust her.

The Jonin bowed and exited the office, closing the door behind him once again. Gaara settled back in his chair, paperwork forgotten for the moment. It wasn't long before there was quick knocking on his door again. Once again he called for them to enter and Naruto bounded into the room beaming.

"You wanted to see me, Gaara? I mean Lord Kazekage," Naruto just barely bobbed his head in respect.

"Yes, I want to know about this new team member of yours, Reyna. She seems…different," Gaara chose his words carefully, it hadn't passed his notice that Naruto seemed to be good friends with the woman.

"Oh, yeah…about that," the smile faded from the blonde's face and he dropped into a chair along the side of the room, "You see, she's kind of like you were and I am, except it's not a demon sealed in her…" and so Naruto spent the next two hours telling Gaara the same story that Reyna had told him and answering any questions that he knew the answers to.

By the time Naruto left to meet up with Kankuro and finish the preparations for the party, Gaara had more than enough information. If he was unable to find out what Kayha was hiding from him, then he was going to have to get the wolf to aid him. He was sure it was driving Reyna just as crazy as it was him, except for different reasons. She, at least, didn't want a relationship with the woman, but at the same time she probably saw Kayha as a potential and unknown threat to her team. More likely she sees them as her pack though, based on what Naruto just told me about how she acts with them. Good, Naruto needs another ally in that village, even if that ally is just as feared and hated as he is. At least he's not alone in that anymore.

He'd just finished that thought when there was yet another knock on his door and Kayha entered at his command, giving her customary half bow to him, "So, Kankuro's throwing a party. At your house, you should probably show up. I'm planning on it."

Gaara was a little taken aback by that but nodded, none of that emotion showing on his face, "I will be there as soon as I finish here, Kayha."

She nodded, gave another slight bow and headed back out the door, leaving Gaara to his thoughts and his work.

A/N: That's it for now...next chapter will be up tomorrow night most likely. Keep in mind though, my muse needs reviews to survive, so please give generously and feed my muse so she doesn't run away!