Kaya looked over her shoulder, no sign of Deidara.

"Haha, he can't match my speed!" she laughed. "Good thing I got something decent from my old Clan. Besides the Kekkei Genkai. He'll never catch me!"

"Oh yeah?" Kaya was suddenly lifted a short distance into the air by the back of her shirt and she stopped running. "But I can."

"Hi, Hidan," Kaya grumbled. The only Akatsuki member that can catch me and they had to send him, didn't they!?

"Sorry, Kaya," Hidan smiled and she looked over her shoulder at him, giving him a death glare. "But you always run off on either Sasori and Deidara, you never run off on me."

"I run off on them because it annoys the hell out of them," Kaya grinned, but then growled. "But even if I try to run off on you, you'll always catch me."

"So you finally get the message," Hidan said and put her down.

"Nope," Kaya said and tried running off.

Hidan quickly grabbed her by the back of the shirt again and sighed.

"Damn it," Kaya mumbled.

"Come on, I told Deidara I would watch you, so I'll be the one to train you today," Hidan said and let her go.

"Fine," Kaya sighed and followed him towards the woods. "You suck, Hidan."

They reached a small clearing in the trees and Hidan turned to look at her. "Alright. Today, you're gonna have to fight me."

"That's impossible!!!" Kaya complained. "I've tried fighting you before and you know I can't win!!"

"Try," Hidan said.

"I have tried," Kaya mumbled.

Hidan rolled his eyes. "Try again."

"Fine," Kaya sighed and jumped off into the trees.

Hidan leaned his back against a tree, listening to Kaya's footsteps getting quieter and quieter as she ran off. "I guess I have to go after her again," he smiled. "She really doesn't know when to give up."

Kaya watched as Hidan ran straight under her and through the trees. She smiled and jumped down from her tree branch and ran the other way. Here's my training for you, Hidan, she thought. Try and catch someone when you're heading the wrong way. You may be as fast as me, but I can still outsmart you. Idiot!

Kaya ran out of the woods and towards a large lake surrounded by a small amount of trees. She ran straight through them but skidded to a stop behind someone. He turned around and looked at the 13 year old that was standing right in front of him with a scared expression.

"Uh... Hiya, Pain," Kaya smiled innocently. "I thought you'd be at the Waterfall Cave.... hehe... oh crap," she murmured the last part to herself.

"Shouldn't you be with Deidara, training?" Pain growled. He did have a friendly side, but when Kaya got on his bad side, she hated it.

"Yeah, but Hidan took over," Kaya said.

"And where's Hidan?"

"Uh..........."

Pain rolled his eyes. "Kaya, if you want to be a successful, powerful ninja, then you have to start training!!!!!"

Kaya looked at the ground. "Sorry."

"Kaya-"

Kaya turned and saw Hidan, he looked nervous when he saw Pain.

"Hidan, if you're supposed to be watching her then you shouldn't let her run away," Pain growled. "You're as fast as her so she couldn't get away form you that easily."

"Sorry, Pain," Hidan said. "She must have tricked me."

Pain looked down to look at Kaya but she wasn't there.

"It's called a good old tree branch."

Pain and Hidan looked up to see Kaya waving at them. Then she took off through the trees.

"Aw man!" Hidan sighed.

"DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Sasori came through the trees, holding Kaya by the back of the shirt.

"You suck, Sasori!" Kaya growled.

"Thank you, Sasori," Pain said and walked over to Kaya. "You need to start paying attention! So stop running away and start focusing!!!"

Kaya flinched, she hated when he was in a bad mood, because it was usually her fault.

She dropped her head. "I'm sorry, Pain."

"You say that, but then you'll just stuff around again!" Pain growled. "Do you know why we took you in after your Clan was destroyed?"

"Because you saw strength in me and you thought I would be a great aspect to the Akatsuki," Kaya recited. "You've said it a thousand times!"

"Then act like you've paid attention once or twice!" Pain growled and grabbed her by the throat.

"Pain!?" Sasori exclaimed.

"I could have just left you to die after your Clan was destroyed! But because I saw power in your eyes when you tried to defend yourself, I decided to take you in. So is this how you're going to repay me? By acting like a happy two year old and playing around?"

Kaya grabbed his hand and tried to push it away from her neck, trying to get air, but he was too strong. He was a lot older and stronger than she was, she was only 13.

"Pain, I think you should let her go," Hidan said.

Pain looked into Kaya's blue eyes and saw that she was scared and desperate to breathe. He watched her for a few more seconds before letting her go. She fell to her knees, one hand on the ground and the other holding her neck, breathing hard. She looked up at him and his eyes showed his anger. She got up on wobbly legs and walked over to Hidan. "Are you gonna train me or not?"

"I think you should take a break," Pain sighed.

Kaya looked over her shoulder at him. "You're the one who wants me to be strong and now you're saying I need to rest just because I'm exhausted!?"

Hidan and Sasori flinched, no one dared talk like that to Pain when he was in a bad mood. Pain looked at her, his eyes glittering with anger. Kaya glared back at him, not caring what trouble she'd get into.

She turned back to Hidan. "Come on, you need to train me." She grabbed his arm and dragged him away before Pain could growl at her.

#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/##/#/#/#

"Katana, Naruto, why would you do that to the Hokage faces?"

Katana and Naruto looked at Iruka.

"Because we wanted them to look better," Katana said.

"Do you even know who they are?" Iruka asked.

"Of course," Katana said.

"Especially the Fourth Hokage," Naruto said. "Giving up his own life to kill the Nine-Tail Fox and save the village."

"Then why?"

"Because I'm going to be greater than any of them," Naruto said and Katana smiled. "Me, Naruto. A ninja legend. Then everyone will stop disrespecting me and look up to me!"

Katana nodded and stood up. "I'll leave you two to talk."

Iruka looked at her and she walked off, if she was quick, she could get out into the forest without being spotted.

She ran through the village and reached the south gates, there were no guards there at that moment so she ran out into the forest.

#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/##/#/#/#

Kaya crept passed the other members of the Akatsuki, they were all asleep, leaning their backs against the cave wall.

She took her cloak off and put it on the ground where she had been resting after training with Hidan. She cringed when she felt the pain in her stomach again. She had fought with Hidan and she couldn't beat him. He had punched her in the gut, harder than he expected. She crept on silent feet to the entrance of the Waterfall Cave.

She stopped at the entrance, hearing footsteps behind her. She turned around and before she could yelp, her mouth was covered and her heart raced. She looked up at Deidara.

Deidara looked over his shoulder at the rest of the Akatsuki and lead Kaya out of the cave. Once they were outside he turned her around. "Where do you think you're planning on sneaking off to?"

"I want to go and train," Kaya said. "Because I was no use training with Hidan!"

Deidara sighed. "So you plan on training by yourself?!"

Kaya nodded. "If I can get more strength by myself then I can get more fighting ability from the rest of you."

Deidara blinked at her and nodded. "Okay, but I'm risking my neck for you."

Kaya nodded in return. "I'll be back before sunrise."

Deidara sighed. "Alright. But you better not be late because Pain will kill me."

"I'll be back don't worry," Kaya said and made hand-signs. "Bird Transformation Jutsu!"

Smoke rose up and Kaya turned into a small bird. She flew into the air and Deidara watched her disappear before going back into the cave.

#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/##/#/#/#

Katana ran through the forest, she liked putting distance between her and the village, because no one could hear her when she was using her Jutsu's and training by herself.

She stopped in a clearing and caught her breath.

She heard the chirping of a bird and saw one in a tree, its red and black feathers shining in the moonlight.

She walked towards the tree it was in. "What a beautiful bird."

"Why thank you."

Katana jumped and stared at the bird. "Did you just.. talk?"

"Oh yeah, my bad," the bird said and smoke rose up around it.

Katana blinked and the bird was gone. Replaced was a black-haired girl with a black shirt and brown pants. The girl smiled. "Hi."

"Were you that bird?" Katana asked.

The girl stayed up on her tree branch. "Yep. That was my Bird Transformation Jutsu. Who are you by the way?"

"It's common courtesy to give your own name before asking for someone else's name," Katana said, a little nervous.

"Oh, my apologize," the girl said and jumped to the ground, putting a hand out. "My name is Kaya."

"I'm Katana. Which village do you come from?"

"I don't come from any village," Kaya said. "What village do you come from?"

Katana smiled, adjusting the bandanna on her forehead. "The Leaf Village. But.. if you don't come from any village, where do you come from?"

"I used to live in a village," Kaya replied. "But it was destroyed. Since then I've been with some people that took me in. They're training me to become a great ninja."

"Who are they?"

"Sorry, I'm not allowed to say," Kaya smiled. "But they're extremely powerful ninja. S-ranked."

"Wow," Katana exclaimed. "What are you doing out here?"

"I'm training."

Katana stepped back. "Is any of those ninja's with you?"

"No, I came alone."

"Whew, I was a little scared then," Katana breathed.

"Why?" Kaya asked, tilting her head.

"Because you said they were powerful," Katana replied and thought to herself. I have never known of a ninja training outside of a village. "How did your village get destroyed?"

"A demon," Kaya looked at the ground.

"A demon!?!?!"

"Yes."

"What kind of demon?"

"A giant tiger with three long tails. Everybody died, but me and my sister were separated after she saved my life. I think she was killed to."

Katana's eyes widened.

"Are you okay?" Kaya asked, sounding more like herself. "You look...... I don't know."

Katana looked up at her and shook her head. "No, I'm okay."

Kaya smiled and nodded to her. "I have to go train now. I'll see you around maybe."

"Do you need help?" Katana asked suddenly when Kaya turned to leave. Kaya turned back around. "I mean, I could help you train if you wanted."

Kaya smiled. "That would be nice."

Katana and Kaya faced each other as if they were about to fight.

#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/##/#/#/#

Kaya looked up at the sky, she was breathing hard and her eyes widened. "Oh damn!"

"What's wrong?" Katana asked.

"The sun will rise very soon!" Kaya exclaimed. "I have to go!"

Katana nodded and watched Kaya make hand-signs.

"Bird Transformation Jutsu!" Kaya waited but nothing happened. "Oh no! I don't have enough Chakra!"

Kaya had trained all night with Katana and used up a lot of her Chakra.

"I guess that means you'll need to walk back to wherever you need to go," Katana said.

"I was supposed to be back by now," Kaya said. "I'll see you around. Bye!"

Katana watched Kaya bolt off before turning back to return to her village.

Kaya raced through the forest, running as fast as she could. I hope my lightning speed can get me back in time! She thought. Because me and Deidara are dead if I don't get there before the sun rises!

Kaya wished she'd hadn't flown so far out, she was exhausted but she had to force herself to keep going.

The sun appeared just over the horizon and Kaya knew she was nearly at the Waterfall Cave, but she wouldn't get there in time. She was toast!

"Kaya!"

Kaya looked up and saw Deidara on his giant clay bird. She stopped and he made his bird land beside her.

"You're really late," Deidara said.

"I know," Kaya murmured, gasping for air. She had run for half an hour straight to try and get back in time. "I'm sorry."

"Are you okay?" Deidara asked. "Don't tell me you pushed yourself too far? Why didn't you fly back?"

"Not enough Chakra," Kaya breathed. "I ran for half an hour. Really tired......"

Kaya started to fall backwards, her body was too worn out to hold itself up any longer.

Deidara jumped off the bird and grabbed her in his arms. "Let's get you back."

He picked her up and got back on the bird, looking down at Kaya. She was breathing quickly to try and catch her breath, she looked like she had fallen asleep, her whole body was boiling hot and she had dirt all over her.

The bird flapped its wings and flew into the air towards the Waterfall Cave.

"Deidara! Where have you been? Where's Kaya-"

Deidara carried Kaya into the cave and the Akatsuki members were all awake.

"Uh...." Deidara murmured.

"Don't tell me she ran off again?" Pain growled.

"No."

Everyone looked at Kaya.

"I wanted Deidara to train me," she murmured, coughing a little. "I wanted to make it up to you because I was running away yesterday instead of training. I'm sorry if I caused more trouble, Pain."

Pain's eyes softened and he put a hand on her head. "It's okay, kid. But now you should rest. You can train tomorrow."

"No. I'll be okay to continue training by noon."

"Kaya, you don't need to push your body past its limits just to make it up to me," Pain said. "You didn't need to train during the night to make up for your behavior yesterday."

"But I wanted to," Kaya replied.

Pain shook his head. "Rest today. Train tomorrow."

"But...."

"Kaya, you need to rest, okay," Pain said, looking into her eyes with a seriously worried expression.

She looked into his orange eyes and nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Pain."

Pain smiled and nodded to Deidara. "Konan, let's go."

A blue-haired girl followed Pain out of the Waterfall Cave and the others left as well, leaving Deidara to look after Kaya.

He took her to the back of the cave. "Why did you lie to Pain?"

"Because I wanted to keep you out of trouble," Kaya replied.

Deidara smiled and ruffled her hair. "Thanks, kid. But how hard did you train last night?"

"Pretty hard," Kaya smiled, she didn't think she should tell anyone about the girl she met in the forest. After all, she came from a village, and Pain would probably want to attack it. "And I seriously did want to make it up to Pain for mucking around yesterday."

Deidara nodded. "Now get some rest. I think you need it."

Katana jumped down from the top of the south gates. She stayed in her crouching position for a few seconds, looking around. She finally stood up and started walking back to her home, not that she would have anyone waiting for her. She had lost her parents when her Clan was destroyed by the same demon that destroyed Kaya's village. She walked slowly as she remembered the night it happened....