Koinu: I'm so sad! I recived only one review for my last chapter! Please, please people, review. It doesn't take very long, and it affects my writing and when I update. So if you want more updates, then I need more reviews.
"I still think that was too easy!" Takai said sarcastically as she and her team walked through the forest. The ground was lightly dusted with freshly fallen snow, and more of the small, feather light, ice crystals fell from the dark sky as they traveled through the pitch-black night. It had been two days since they had left the small Village to the North of their home in Konoha, and a total of five days, including their day of rest in the Northern village, since they had begun the mission.
"Think what you want," Kakashi stated, "but I had to put up with the four of you. I'm exhausted." He was walking behind the group, or more accurate, groups. Sasuke was by himself, other than Takai who walked a slight distance ahead of him, and Naruto was talking excitedly with Sakura up in the front. Sakura looked like she was ready to punch Naruto to get him to shut up. Takai dropped back to walk next to Kakashi.
"Sensei, can I ask you something?" Takai stared intently at Naruto and Sakura.
"What is it?" Kakashi said in a level tone.
Takai's voice became a whisper. "Do they," She indicated towards Sakura and Sasuke, "know about the Kyuubi, the nine tailed demon fox?"
Kakashi continued to walk as if all Takai had asked was the time. "How long have you known?" He asked.
"Quite some time." Se responded. "His scent was different then any human's I've ever encountered. So I did my research. It's surprising how openly some people will talk about how much they despise him for being what he is when they think there is no one to hear them. So, do they know?"
"No, and no one in the village intends to tell them. Naruto's peers will stay ignorant to his secret."
"That means Naruto and I have a lot in common. We both know how it feels to be hated for what you are, not who."
The group walked in silence for a while, but Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks suddenly.
"What is it Sasuke?" Sakura asked as she and Naruto stopped as well.
"I saw something move…" He said quietly. "Takai, can you tell if there's anything out there?"
Takai sniffed the air; nothing. "No, we're up wind, I don't smell anything."
"Well then…" Kakashi spoke to no one in particular. He suddenly did a few hand signs and the wind shifted and became stronger.
:The great copy ninja strikes again: Takai raised her nose to wind. "There's eight, no nine, distinct scents… Five are human," She closed her eyes in concentration, "And the other four are being cloaked, but they might be dogs…"
"Dogs?" A voice range from somewhere above cell number seven. "What an insult."
Suddenly four figures jumped out of the darkness that enshrouded the nearby trees, landing in front of Sakura and Naruto, who were still a distance away from the main group. Sakura screamed and Naruto cried out in pain.
"Naruto! Sakura!" Takai yelled as she ran up to where her friends were. She was dimly aware of Sasuke and Kakashi as they followed behind her.
As she approached Takai smelled the stench of human blood. The crimson liquid seeped out of a wound on Naruto's right hand. The figures receded into the darkness, letting the shadows veil their forms.
"Let me see it." Takai instructed Naruto as she grabbed his wrist, not waiting for a response. :Something's claws inflicted this wound: Indeed, the cuts on the boy's hands had come from the claws of some creature. Takai sighed. "Don't worry, at least you won't die of blood loss."
All the while, the figures had been moving closer to one another. Now they sat there, shadowed body's that sat motionless. Not even their eyes were visible.
"Ready?" Kakashi said quietly from behind Takai. He and Sasuke had moved into formation, him behind the group and Sasuke next to Sakura, directly opposite Takai who stood at Naruto's side. Silently, the two pulled out some shuriken, and Takai followed suit.
"Now!" Kakashi yelled as he threw his shuriken. Takai and Sasuke did the same, but pulled kunai out of their weapons pouches as soon as their hands were free just in case the shuriken missed their target.
The shuriken flew towards the animalistic shapes that stood before the group. With a dull 'thunk' they hit their targets. Howling in pain, the form's retreated into the safety of the shadows.
"W-we did it!" Sakura said, her surprise making itself known through the squeaks in her voice.
"I wouldn't get too exited just yet, Sakura." Kakashi advised.
Sasuke and Naruto stayed silent, but cocky smiles could be found on both their faces. Takai, on the other hand, kept a firm grip on the kunai in her right hand, and prepared herself. She could still sense the presence of their attackers not far away.
"You poor, poor fools," A new, masculine voice crooned from within the shadows, "Did you really think that we would be defeated so easily?"
Takai stiffened, and her face went pale. :That voice… it's so familiar… Could it be? No, there's no way, they're dead… it isn't possible:
The voice laughed. "Ha! Now you will see the true power of the wolves!"
Everyone gasped and looked at Takai, who was walking to the front of the group. She seemed to be having a hard time keeping herself composed and in human form.
"Shut up, Tsume." She growled. The laughing stopped. "So… now you listen to me?" She paused for a moment, and then threw her kunai at a shadow in front of her that had shifted just slightly. The cry of an adolescent boy could be heard, and then the night was filled with the stench of wolf's blood.
Growls erupted all around the tight group of ninjas, but Takai smiled.
"Heh, from the sound of things… I guess I hit Toboe?" Takai smirked, but on the inside she dying, the fact that she had injured one of her own eating away at her.
Suddenly, four wolves appeared before her, all in human form. They growled, and hatred burned in their eyes. The youngest had a kunai protruding from his leg.
Sasuke dared ask a question. "So, you know these guy's?" He asked Takai
Takai backed up a few steps and took a defensive stance in front of her friends. "Yeah," She said loudly enough for all to hear, "they used to be my pack."
Cheza stood outside the house, bathing in the light of the once full moon. She stared up at it with unseeing eyes, able to scense its beauty and power.
Suddenly the stench of wolf's blood came to her. But this was blood that should have never been spilled again.
"Toboe…?" She said quietly. She turned to stare at the forest that lay on the other side of Konoha's gates, and her red eyes suddenly widened. "He's here…Kiba… KIBA!" The flower maiden didn't hesitate before running off into the forest.
"Hey Hige, she smells like Takai…" The young wolf called Toboe said quietly to one of his companions.
"I know Toboe." Hige whispered back quickly. "But it can't be."
"It's her all right." The white wolf suddenly stated. "I'd know those eyes anywhere. Plus she has Cheza's scent on her." Kiba finished.
The gray wolf spoke up. "Well that's interesting. It seems our old friend runs with a pack of humans now. I thought you abhorred all humans Takai."
"Shut the hell up Tsume." :It can't be them… They're probably just ninjas that are using a transformation jutsu: Takai pulled out Tsume's old knife from her weapons pouch and held it in front of her, ready to strike. She slowly moved backwards towards her group, until she was right besides them.
"So Takai," Kakashi seemed intrigued by the new situation, "what do you suggest we do?"
"You guys go take care of the humans, I'll keep the wolves busy."
"Be careful…" Sasuke muttered before disappearing along with the other ninja of their team.
"Don't worry about me…" Takai gripped the knife harder and the bracelets on her wrists clinked.
"Enough of this!" Tsume suddenly charged at Takai and she narrowly avoided the blow. While his back was to her, Takai swiftly kicked Tsume in the back, sending him sprawling on the ground.
"Tsume!" Toboe cried. The young wolf changed to his true form and lunged for Takai. He succeeded in clamping his jaws down on her leg only to be throw away. He hit a tree and slumped to the ground, temporarily injured.
"No! Toboe!" Hige rushed at Takai, still in his human form and fists at the ready.
"To slow…" Takai mumbled as she elbowed Hige sharply in the stomach, forcing the air out of his lungs and stopping his attack. :Now, it's time to see who these guys really are:
Takai threw a punch at Kiba, who had been following Hige in his attack. Her fist connected with his chest. He was stunned, but not thrown back. Suddenly, Takai grabbed the collar of his shirt in her right hand, while her other came to her chest in a hand sign. Her icy blue eyes were tinged with gold as they met his gaze.
"Tomo-kenzan no jutsu!" In the span of a second, Takai knew that the wolves fighting her were who they claimed to be. She had seen into Kiba's mind and had learned everything that had happened to them. Everything they had done, and everything they hadn't.
Koinu: I only have one thing to say to all you readers out there; Review.