CHAPTER 1

I stopped from my journey and snickered. He thinks he can hide from my senses? Think again, loser!

"Come out! I know you're following me!" A ninja wearing a mask and the Konoha ANBU clothes came out in front of me. "Why are you following me? We're under a truce, and I'm not the type of person to break truces. Miss Lady Tsunade knows that,"

"Chikako Okami, I was sent to escort you the rest of the way." I clenched my jaw, slightly angered by this, but hid my emotion. "Who is this?" he asked, pointing to the girl asleep on my back.

"This is a Genin from my village. She was to come with me. Please try to understand and don't do anything to her… she's just a child," I looked at her sweet, calm face and got worried. What if they try to take her? They can't!

"Well, it is okay I guess… but, Lady Tsunade will want to know about this,"

"Well then, lead the way!" I smiled and let him lead me to a road, where he then began to walk towards the bright full moon, eastward, to Konoha, my new home.

"Awfully beautiful night, isn't it?" I asked, and the guy chuckled.

"It sure is. Well, that's just Konoha for you!" I smiled, and let my gaze go upward to the brightening sky. It would be morning soon. "U-um… can I ask you something?" The ANBU guy stopped short, and looked at me. I tilted my head and let my canine tooth peek out of my mouth, curious to what he wanted to ask.

"Sure, I guess. Asking doesn't hurt anything, anyways," he nodded, and lowered his gaze.

"I heard the Country of Wind, where you were from, was beautiful and serene. Why did you choose to leave it?" I sighed and pictured my homeland, the Okami Lands. I could practically feel the warm breeze and smell the flowers… I let a smile slip.

"More than half of that country is desert as you must know, but if you go the furthest west, you'll see a beautiful thriving forest with clearings full of nice smelling flowers and waterfalls and wilderness everywhere… it's everything you could imagine as what's called dreamland; it's more beautiful than anything you have seen. Yes, it was beautiful and serene, but there has always been something that's been troubling me with that land, even as a little kid, barely knowing anything."

"Like what?"

"Well, it's kind of a long story, but if you want to listen I will talk," The guy nodded.

"I'll listen!"

"Well… When I turned 9, I completed the Chunin exams, which is very honorable. My clan, the Okami Clan, is very close with wolves as you must know, right?"

"Yeah! They're world renowned for their friendship of wolves! It's said they can even mold their mind as one with the wolf! Is that true?" I smiled, nodding.

"Yeah, it's true, among other things. Every child, at the age of four, gets a wolf cub that would grow up with them and become their partner in battle, and my clan made a jutsu that allowed us to be one with the wolf's mind so we could convey our messages to one another through telepathy during battle. You sure do know a lot about my clan!"

"Well, you see… I'm interested in different clans' special techniques…"

"It's okay, you don't have to explain. Well, on to the story, shall we?" I smiled, and paused. "Well, I was 12 when weird things started happening. The people in my village soon started to turn up missing, and we were deployed to find them. Our senses could get even better than the wolf, so if anyone could find them we could."

"Really? Wait, like, your vision, nose, hearing, taste, and feel got even better than a wolf's?"

"Mine surpassed the wolf's level at 13. I was equal to the wolf at twelve. But yeah, you're right."

"Wow! The Inuzuka clan could never have one that!" I stopped short, and looked at the guy with my nose ruffled.

"The Inuzuka clan only deals with dogs. Dogs are domestic forms of wolves, so that is why. They're naturally weaker! They haven't seen a forest or caught their own meal once!"

"You shouldn't say that to any person of the Inuzuka clan or you'll be eating dirt for the rest of your life!" I narrowed my eyes in a sarcastic 'really?!' form.

"Do you know why my clan is renowned?" He shook his head. "Well, before we rose to supremacy, our greatest rival was the Inuzuka clan; we constantly engaged in fights, and spit words at each other every time was saw one of them. We were at war for decades, until we finally got them to surrender. Because of that, we were soon heard of and called on for help and we granted it for quite some time. We even crossed the great sea to help our clients! But, as the Third Shinobi World War drew nearer, the tasks got harder and came from both sides. We tried to stay flexible and balance our relations with the sides, but we couldn't, and were forced to choose. We called a session for consideration of either withdrawal from the war or choose sides and went everywhere, asking each of the sides what their story and view was and chose what was best for us. We sided with Suna, because our land was there and we agreed on their views the most. When the war ended, they granted us with permanent residence with our lands and a peaceful life, but we continued to take the cries of help."

"So… the cries of help helped you to rise to power?" I sighed.

"We didn't originally think it would come to that; we didn't want power, or for everyone to know our clan. Power comes with consequences, after all. We wanted to stay humble and low, and live life helping and doing the best."

"Oh… I guess that makes sense. But, what happened that made you want to transfer?" I stopped again and sighed, my eyes closed. I remembered it like it was yesterday.

"People in our village came up missing, and we were deployed immediately. My mother went out in the first wave and said that there was nothing there. They couldn't find any traces of people moving, and no traces of where any one of the villagers went. We sent out more people, covered more space… days went by and no evidence was found, but more people turned up missing; even those of our clan. The Okami that were captured… their wolves went crazy with grief. We become family with our wolf, and it was like losing your favorite family member. We become inseparable with our wolves.

"By now, one tenth of the whole village had been kidnapped… We started night posts, and for a time things quieted down, but we didn't slack off. I was called on one night with my wolf, Akane, and my parents to guard the East side. This was the last night we'd stay on guard; all the adults were exhausted, and we were relying on Genin now, which were all on duty the night I was. We all thought the crisis was averted, and we'd just have to live without the people we lost. But, we didn't know that the enemy was waiting for this moment.

"Around three, when everyone was tired, ninja started attacking my side of the village. We attacked back, and the moon revealed the headbands of Sunagakure ninja. We were betrayed! We fought back, now infuriated, and started to use our family jutsu instead of confusedly blocking the attacks. The Genin retreated and got Junín and Chunin, which started to wipe out the Sunagakure ninja, but reinforcements came and we were pushed back. My mom… well, she lost a battle. All I remember was seeing her one second, smiling at me, and then… a huge storm of sand took her away and rammed her into a huge spike… we soon surrendered, and the Sunagakure ninja took over the village. They told us the missing people were slaughtered."

"Wait… the Sunagakure Nin did this?!" The guy exclaimed, "Lady Tsunade won't stand this! She'll send reinforcements and get the rest of the villagers out and bring them here!" I smiled sadly, looking at the ground.

"That's kind of you, but… they're all too strong. I thought you could help us when I sent the letter, but I barely managed to get out of the Sunagakure territory alive with this young one, and I had to wait several months for my injuries to heal from protecting her before I could travel again. My wolf, Akane, and her wolf, Kikako, protected me during that time and got very substantial wounds… I got my father to summon them back for healing, and when I get comfortable with the village and everyone starts seeing us as a friend I'll summon them to our new home. I don't want more deaths just for my clan… we're survivors, and have good guts and brains. We can get out of this," I hope…

"Why did you risk leaving then?"

"We had to cooperate with the Sunagakure Nin, who took over and watched us constantly; even training. We have to hide our signs from them to keep our jutsus as our secret. For a while, things went down smoothly in a strained and false peace, but we decided to riot, and the Sunagakure started slaughtering. My father told me to go and not to look back; he practically kicked me through the air to get me to go. I wanted to take some of the Genin, but… my father didn't let me. I snuck up and took this one though. My father found out when I got him to summon her wolf, and sent me one nasty letter," I chuckled, despite my aching heart. Oh Father… please stay alive…

"Does the Kazekage know about this? About what his Nin is doing?" I shrugged, and started moving on.

"I don't think so. Well, I think that at first it was his idea and then he tried to stop them, but they split off and started their own little rank, because they now have different headbands and hit anyone who ask of the Kazekage and yell at them."

"What does the symbol look like?" I bent down, minding the girl, and found a patch of sand and began drawing the headband's symbol; a bubble letter S with a sun on the right side.

"Does it mean anything to you?" He shook his head, got a scroll and pen out, and copied it and put the stuff back up.

"Come on, Konoha is right ahead. It's getting late, and Tsunade wants to meet you before you get settled in." I nodded, and we ran on in silence. I didn't really care though, because telling him the story reopened invisible wounds, and I had to recover.

We quickly started to run to Konoha, with the guy looking at us from time to time.

"What is it? I know you've been sending me glances," I asked finally, subconscious. Does he know about the wounds I have under this traveling cloak?

"Well… I was wondering who the girl was," Thank goodness he doesn't…

"Oh… she's called Asuka. She's skilled for her age, and we're like sisters. We've trained together since she entered our Academy and I want to help her achieve her goal, which is to be like me… She looks up to me like I'm a goddess, and I didn't want to leave her behind, because I agreed to be her teacher. She calls me Sempai and Sensei… I couldn't leave her in that Hellhole!" The guy laughed.

"You sound like Naruto!" I blinked.

"Naruto?" I asked, curious, and he nodded.

"He's the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, but our most important Nin. He saved us from Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki!" I smiled, but it soon faded with the rest of the guy's words. "About that… you've kind of come at a bad time. Our village has been completely destroyed, and we're trying to rebuild it. But, we've got help from different nations, so we'll be okay. No one was killed though. Well, at first they were, but Pain sent some weird Jutsu in the air and revived everyone after Naruto talked to him. I was one that was killed, and then revived." I bit my lip. How can that be?

"That's-" Asuka stirred.

"Chikako-Don-?" She started, but quickly corrected herself with a stern look from me. "Chikako-Sempai… who is he?" I chuckled softly, knowing the crisis was averted, and smiled.

"This man is here to help us get to Konoha, our new home! We're almost there," She smiled.

"Then I'll be able to see Kikako again, and you'll get to see Akane!" she laughed and got down and held my hand, skipping as we slowed down. "Yay!" I bit my lip. Akane… I miss you. If only I was better at the Telepathy part, then I'd be able to link our minds and I'd be able to talk to you!

"We're here," the guy said, and we arrived at the scene of a disaster; there was a huge hole in the middle of the village, and parts of houses everywhere around the rim. There was a little camp at the middle and everywhere there could be tents, and houses were already built and being made. Asuka stopped short and looked out with her big brown eyes at the devastation quietly. Oh no… Asuka, please… don't say anything! A smile came to her lips.

"This sure looks kind of like our village…" I cringed, and looked to see the guy watching me. He saw my cringe… crap! "Can we do anything?"

"What do you mean-" the guy started but I interrupted him, desperate.

"Asuka, how about we get settled in before we help, okay? Come on," I let her climb onto my back and looked at the guy, hoping he didn't see the desperation in my eyes but only kindness. "How about you show us to Lady Tsunade?" He bit his lip, his eyes trying to analyze mine, and nodded. We turned and began walking through the tents with villagers and Nin both watching us. I saw many look at my markings and Asuka's little scratch marking, and heard gossip about us.

"Are they hurt?"

"Why do they have that paint?"

"Is that… the legendary...?"

"No, it can't be!"

"The Okami clan!"

"Are they going to take the village over?"

"No, they're transfers. They're going to be Nin here; they're from the Okami clan,"

We kept walking to the very back of the tents, and walked in to see a woman sitting up, very pale. She looked up and smiled.

"Ah, the Okami Clan is here finally!" She noticed Asuka now, who was hiding herself as good as she could from Tsunade behind me, clinging to my leg. "Who is this?" I bit my lip and let the desperateness show.

"Lady Tsunade, this is Asuka Okami… she is a Genin but very skilled for her age, like I was. Please, don't make her go back! We're like sisters, and I agreed to train her… I don't want to have to go back on my word," I heard footsteps, and someone walked in. A male, I supposed, from the smell of sweat.

"Lady Tsunade, thanks to Yamato, all of the South part of Konoha is now back to normal! We can get most of the villagers to move into the houses now! Also-" he stopped, like he realized us. I turned to see a blonde hair and blue eyed boy standing in front of me. "Who is this?"

"This is Chikako and Asuka Okami of the Okami clan. They are transfers, and now Konoha Nin. Actually, I was about to call for you. I want you to show these two around and find a house for them," I turned back to Lady Tsunade.

"No, we don't need a house; we're shinobi, anyway. Let someone else have the house," Tsunade nodded, and I turned back to the boy and tried to calm myself. My senses were taking so much in, my curiosity was burning to know what happened, my gut told me to drop everything and help, and I missed Akane terribly. On top of that, my right arm was starting to hurt again. I was glad we were wearing our traveling robes so they couldn't see the bandages. I shifted so Asuka's weight didn't hurt my arm as much, and Asuka sighed.

"Sorry," she whispered so that the untrained ear couldn't hear it. I shook my head slightly.

"It's not your fault," I whispered back, and tuned into the boy's words, which were forming a question.

"Why do they have markings like scratches on their heads?" He asked rudely to the ANBU guy, who slapped him.

"Ask her yourself!"

"They're the scratches of our wolves. We both have wolves with scars where you see the markings. My clan believes in sharing the scars, so we mark our skin when our wolves get a scar."

"Geez, who are these people?! That sure is a weird belief…" He whispered to himself, looking away.

"You shouldn't judge or mock others traditions. Some would call it rude and dishonoring and kill you in an instant if they heard that," I said, and the boy jumped back, startled.

"How did you hear me?!"

"We're very close companions with Wolves. It's normal for us to surpass the wolf's senses, which I have accomplished."

"So, you two are sisters? I don't really see the connection,"

"We're from the same clan, the Okami clan, but not sisters. Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

"Oh! I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be Hokage someday! Believe it!" I sighed, and walked past him, outside, but I still heard what the ANBU said.

"Can I talk to you about something that's troubling me, Lady Tsunade?" Was he going to tell her? I shook it off and turned back to Naruto, who had followed me out.

"Well then, Naruto Uzumaki, you might want to get some brains," I muttered so he barely hears that I said something. Asuka laughed, making it even better.

"What did you say?! Come on, tell me! I heard my name!"

"So, what happened here anyways?"

"What made you want to transfer here?" I gave him a sideways look.

"Answer my question first, and then I'll answer yours," He completely forgot his earlier question… how lame. And he's the one who saved Konoha?

"Well, the Akatsuki's leader, Pain, came and started killing everyone and destroying the village to look for me, but I was somewhere else training. I learned of this, though, and came here and defeated him and talked to him, and he used what little strength he had left to bring back the dead," I sighed. Not as detailed as I wanted it, but it's good enough.

"Okay, then it's my turn," I launched into explaining as I did with the ANBU member, and at the end, Naruto was silent and looking very grim.

"I'm sorry I mocked you… I didn't know. Where are your wolves now? Are they healed?"

"I don't know yet; I haven't perfected the telepathy jutsu, so I can't tap into Akane's mind and ask. I just have to summon him,"

"Then why don't you summon them?"

"I don't know how the people of Konoha will act. I'm a stranger, anyways, and look what happened,"

"Well, let's go back to granny Tsunade and ask for a headband for you guys!" Naruto turned and took off, not even looking back to see if I was following.

"Naruto, wait!" I cried after him, but he didn't stop. "Awfully springy that one is, huh Asuka?" Asuka laughed. "Don't be like him when you grow up; being rash and rushing into things isn't wise,"

"Okay Chikako Sensei!" She giggled, and I took off after Naruto and finally caught up with him when he was a few yards away from the Hokage's tent, but something made me stop him. I heard talking; the Hokage and the ANBU member. He was relaying facts about how I acted and what I said about the village, and asked if they could do something. I heard a sigh, and the Hokage answered.

"We have to do something! There's Genin and villagers included, anyways. She didn't want to risk our lives? I think she knew beforehand what happened with Pain, so that's why she didn't want to risk our Nin. We're worse off than them, she probably guessed. But… what the child said was troubling. 'This is better than our village'… And how Chikako reacted to the statement is odd too…"

"We'll get some Junin to go check it out and act. Get Shikamaru and Neji to talk to Asuka and Chikako, okay? If anyone, they could probably crack their secret," Great... now I'm going to have dogs down my back. Please, don't send anyone out!

"Yes Ma'am," the ANBU stood up by the sound of it, and started walking out of the tent. I grabbed Naruto by the scruff and pulled him behind a tent and hid us three until the ANBU walked out, and I walked back into the open, sighing in distress.

"What was that about? HUH?!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, and glared at me.

"The ANBU guy that escorted me was in there. He told Tsunade about our village and they're going to send Junin out to help my village… I don't want to risk the lives of your Ninja after they've had to go through so much already," Naruto grunted and backed off, understanding.

"The thing about Konoha is that we don't desert our friends, no matter what, and we have something that makes us stubborn to do something called the Will of Fire. We're going to save your clan no matter what you two say, Chikako," I looked away at the ground, torn, and felt Asuka lean down to whisper into my ear.

"I think we should trust them… I miss Daddy and Mommy," I swallowed, and knew I had to keep a good example for Asuka. I looked back at Naruto.

"I know- I trust your word. I just think you've suffered enough,"

"Well… we're all alive, aren't we?" Naruto's eyes seemed to drift to something behind me, but I ignored it. I can't let them do this! But... I miss my old life so much. Besides, Asuka wants me to... oh, what am I letting you get me into, Asuka?

"In that case… I want to come with you guys. I want to be able to help. I know the area and where to avoid and where not to, where traps are, and where good hiding places are. It'll be good for you to have me; I know the area well," Besides, they know I escaped and will put up even more traps…

"And that, Chikako, is why you're going to lead a squad into the Sunagakure land when you recover from your journey and those hidden injuries." I spun around, alarmed, and cringed slightly as my stomach started hurting. I coughed and looked up to see Tsunade, still pale and barely standing up, behind me. "You were walking sorely. I'm also a medical Nin, so you can't fool me when you're hurt. Also, Neji here used his Byakugan by my command and commented to me how determined you must be to carry that child," I craned my head and finally noticed a guy with white eyes and black hair and a casual outfit on. He smiled and walked up to me. So, this is one of the hound dogs. I need to be careful what I do around him...

"You're chakra is low and there are…" he activated his Byakugan and let his eyes dart to the numerous wounds on my skin, and deactivated his Byakugan. "There are exactly eight injuries that you're hiding with that traveling robe. The littler girl, though, has no injuries, only low chakra. I'm guessing you defended her from weapons." I looked down and let a shadow block my eyes, hiding a dark look. If this is one of them, I don't want to see the other.

"You sure are precise." I commented, and Neji smiled.

"You must be Chikako, the Junin exchange from The Hidden Village of Packs. I'm Neji Hyuga, another Junin."

"Yeah, I'm Chikako Okami. This is Asuka Okami, a Genin that's my student."

"I'm going to be just as powerful as her and even better in personality!" Asuka said loudly, her hand reaching out and forming a peace sign. I could imagine her smiling with her eyes closed, and couldn't help but giggle.

"Uh, hey… Granny Tsunade? Can they have Konoha headbands? They miss their wolves terribly, but Chikako is worried that Konoha will freak out," Tsunade let her mouth fall a little and turned her head upward like she remembered something.

"That's right! I was going to get you to go get some headbands from the weapons maker!" Neji groaned.

"Um, the one that almost got Tenten, Naruto, and me killed?" Tsunade nodded. "Uh, then… can I guide her?"

"I guess so. Yeah, I think that would be perfect." Tsunade smiled.

"Can we go when we get rested up? I'm kind of tired, and Asuka here is nodding off…" I asked, feeling Asuka's head hit my shoulder and bounce up again.

"Yeah, that would be better. You three, meet up here later and go quickly, okay?" Tsunade said and we nodded, and split ways with Naruto showing me to a tent that we could have for now. We got in and went to sleep immediately, tired.

When I woke up, it was in the heat of the day. Asuka was still asleep, so I just lied back down and rested, not caring to go out and explore.