It had been three weeks since I started training Inuzuka and her dog. They were shaping up well although the entire team on whole had no chance of even a D ranked mission. There was no trust between Izuma and Uchiha and Inuzuka had to much trust in Izuma. That made the lack of trust worse because every one but Inuzuka herself that Uchiha had a crush on her. The attempts he had made on Izuma's life so far had been violent though un-succeeding.

The men stalking men had gotten worse. I saw them every day. In a store, at training, outside my windows. More often each day. I wanted to catch them but they were both so fast. I tried, tried, tried so hard to catch one, get close enough to touch one but the moment they realized I'd seen them they disappeared. I could see the people nearest them blink. It was the only thing that made me sure I wasn't crazy. Cause boy it sure felt like I was.

I stopped at the Kiba's door and knocked. Behind it I could hear barks. Small large loud and soft, they echoed loudly outside. And then the door was thrown open and Kiba's wife was standing proudly in its place.

Kuma was a tall proud woman with high cheek bones and sleek black hair. It reached to her mid waist and swished when she moved. She had bangs and it was legend that they were the only part of her hair she cut, out of morning the loss of her best friend in the war. She was short and thin and her green eyes were watching me distrustfully. Her waist was cocked to the left. Her arms folded over her chest and she tapped her small feet. In all she was impressive and really mad.

"What!?" She barked at me sounding like the dog behind her. "No we don't want anything. What ever it is, I'm already signed up for it. I can't take your survey so just go away."

"Um…" I glanced sideways looking for something to say. "Actually Kiba said he'd sell me a dog…. But I'll come back later."

"Oh!" Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an 'o' before she blushed and smiled at em. She had a nice smile for a woman who looked as haggard as she. "I'm sorry Sakura. I didn't know it was you. Come in come in."

She ushered me into her home and walked away motioning for me to follow her. I did gazing around at the small plain walls with no pictures and dim lights. All of it smelled like dogs. It was cramped but the kitchen we entered was bright and large. A child with rough black hair and green eyes watched us enter before turning back to his food.

The kitchen expressed what the hall didn't. The walls were full of scribbles and pictures. The wood floor was covered in crumbs and a large rug. It had wide windows and a small chandler hanging over and oak table. There was a bar at which the child sat and it was long enough to have three stools beneath the over hanging counter. The kitchen was airy and nice. In the corner was a pen and from the pen one could hear barks. Many, tinny, shrill barks.

"This is my son, Iwamaru." Kuma petted his head as he rolled his eyes. "Come in dear. I'll make you some tea. Kiba has told us how sad you are. And lonely. He mentioned that too. We'll have a nice chat after you look at the puppies. They're over there in tat corner."

"Mom," Iwamaru moaned frowning at her and throwing a glance at me. "That's Haruno Sakura. Her sensei was the seventh Hokage and her teammates were Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. She would know that as soon as she entered" His voice lowered to a whisper that I could've heard at Kakshi's office. "Do you think she remembers that fight between them?"

I winced and pretended not to notice how both of them watched as I walked towards the pen. Inside newspaper littered the floor and three toys were being chewed another forgotten in a corner. But what caught my attention most was the four puppies in the pen itself.

One, a male, had brown fur and a white chest. His paws were white too. He was contentedly chewing a toy as if uttered a feeble squeak. He was intent of his toy and his nose twitched when the fluffy part brushed his nose. He sneezed.

A female was sitting in the corner back facing me chewing another toy. She was brown with black tail tip and ears. Her tail was thick a plumed as it waved happily. Her teeth were strong and white. She yawned but kept chewing.

The second female was brown with a black tail tip and white chest. She seemed to be a cross of her brother and sister. Her teeth gnawed away at her toy and she sneezed when the feathers hit her nose.

But the fourth, the last female was pure black. Not a hint of brown or white on her. Her paws were over large and her tail was plumed in a thick wonderful brush. Her eyes were bright blue and the expression on her face was a look of dog frustration. She was scratching at the floor whining and trying to bite through. She didn't even notice me even as her siblings did. They crowded around me but she kept up her digging.

Iwamaru had wandered over and thoroughly inflamed my curiosity when he mentioned. "She does that all day. We're not quite sure why but she doesn't stop. We put mashed meat in their toys but she ignores it. We think there's something wrong with her brain."

I reached out about to pick her up but he stopped me. "You don't want a crazy dog Haruno Sakura. Besides if you pick her up she'll bite you. She's done it to me and everyone else."

I shrugged and stretched out my arms. Her siblings watched as if amazed that some one would pass them up and go for their psychotic sister. My hand connected to the soft fur of her neck and I grabbed her. She squirmed and wriggled as I lifted her into my arms. The moment she was infolded in them, she stopped squirming and looked up at me seeing me for the first time. She licked my chin whined anxiously and looked back at her spot. Then back up at me.

I frowned and shoved her into Iwamaru's arms. Instantly she bit him. And he yelped. She bit him again but I was too focused to hear him again. The wood was scratched open in a tiny sliver and I could see something shinning through. I slipped my nails into the crack and pulled ripping p the wood and earning an indignant cry from Kuma. Inside the small hole was a shining flashing ring. I let chakra flow to my eyes and the chakra emanating from the ring almost blinded me.

I lifted it from the hole and both mother and son gasped. The puppy had stopped squirming and was glaring at the ring. She growled. And I smiled at her.

"Kuma. I'll take that tea now." I said as brightly as I could. I set the ring down in the middle of the counter. "And I have a couple of questions for you."

The woman nodded and set out the cups. Iwamaru shoved the dog in my arms and sat down too back to his food. The dog barked happily at me and licked my chin. I sat down to my tea and took a sip. It was wonderful and suddenly I could see why Kiba had married the woman who he had sworn never to. He cooking was wonderful.

"Alright." I set down the cup and patted the dogs head. "How long have you been n this house?"

"Just a couple years." Kuma settled down across to me and stared at the ring on the counter.

"And who lived here before you?"

"It was an embassy for Amegakure."

"How long has she been scratching at the floor?"

"All her life."

"How much will you take for her?"

"Twenty cause you might've saved our life."

"When can I have her?"

"Now." And then she stood up and took away my tea.

I pulled out my money and handed it over. She took it. She had shown no sign of fear but her hands shook. I nodded reassuringly as I could as I picked up the ring. The puppy in my arms froze and whined, her blue eyes focused on ring, but her face up turned to me.

"Don't worry, Ookami." I whispered. Louder I added. "I'll take this to see Kakashi. He'll know what to do. Thanks for the dog."

As I was leaving I heard Iwamaru say, "Look how cool she is. She used the seventh Hokage's name. Yabi is so lucky."

Chuckling, I closed the door and made my way down the crowded street. Ookami, my dog, was still tense as she focused on the ring. We…well I walked down an alley and she yipped. This time she was looking over my shoulder. I whirled and at the end of the alley were the two men.

They stood as they always did, looking delighted to see me. I couldn't understand it. They saw me almost every day and yet they beamed (as well as one could beam with a mask over their mouth and goggles) every time they set eyes one me. I began to walk towards them but as usual they disappeared with a blink. I was beginning to give up trying to stop them and just wanted to meet them. Why were the obsessed with me?

I puzzled over the same questions I had asked myself the first time I woke up. I hadn't realized how close we were to the to the Hokage's office until I ran into Kakashi himself. He dusted himself off mildly and looked down at me.

"If you wanted to show me your new dog, Sakura," He teased. "I will gladly look at her after my lunch break."

"I didn't come to show you my dog." I answered stiffly. "I came to show my new ring."

I held it up and Kakashi's eyes widen but he remained calm. "Well," he sighed. "There goes my lunch break."

He opened the door and together we ascended the stairs that led to his office. I wondered how this discussion would go.

Lifewithouthemlifewithouthemlifewithouthem

Hi. I'm kinda worried that I might forget this story. I do that a lot. If you guys could help me remember by pming or reveiwing or something I probably won't. This isn't a ploy to get your reveiws. I love getting them and stuff but I really don't mind if you do or don't. i just really like this story but I will forget it. Anyway any reminder woud help. Word count: 10,747. Yes i've reached the 10 thousands. I'm moving up in this world. ~Lark.