"That was close," Sasori breathed as they stopped to catch their breath.

Kaya nodded. "Orochimaru nearly gave away our position."

"Good thing you thought of something before he could say the Akatsuki," Sasori smiled. "One of Itachi's attacks? How did you think of that?"

"Uh....." Kaya looked at the ground.

"How did you even know that one of his Jutsu's was called Armaterasu?"

"Um....."

Sasori looked at her. "I don't remember hearing that he ever showed you. He's only used it twice to practice it. Once at a village attack, which you weren't around to see it. And another time when he was training. And you know that you're not suppose to watch us train. Pain's rule," Sasori looked at her nervous expression as she laughed nervously.

"Umm... I might have watched him training one day. Maybe," she looked at the ground.

"You know you're not allowed."

"I know, but I wanted to see his Jutsu's," Kaya smiled.

"And let me guess, you've seen everyone else train as well?"

"Um................... no," Kaya laughed nervously. "Maybe. Yes....."

"Who have you seen training?" Sasori asked her.

She gulped. "Um... Deidara, Itachi, Zetsu, Hidan, Konan, you........"

"Anyone else?" Sasori sighed, knowing there was at least one more person. He also felt a little weird that she knew his Jutsu's. He didn't know why, he just did.

Kaya looked at the ground.

Sasori's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you've seen Pain training?!"

Kaya stayed silent.

Sasori was shocked. "You know he'd be really mad if he knew!"

"Don't tell him!" Kaya begged, lifting her head to stare right into his eyes. "I only came across him by accident, but I had forgotten his rule and decided to watch. I didn't mean to watch him using his Jutsu's! Please don't say anything, Sasori!"

"Alright," Sasori mumbled. "How many times have I saved you now?"

"A lot," Kaya smiled. "Now, let's get going. We're supposed to be back by sun down remember?"

Sasori followed Kaya through the forest. "Kaya?"

"Yeah?" she said over her shoulder.

"You know we'll have to tell Pain about Orochimaru."

Kaya stopped and spun around, Sasori stopped just in time to avoid running into her. "You're joking!?" she said, looking at him with a serious expression. "That means we'll have to tell him everything!"

"No we won't," Sasori assured her. "We can just say we ran into him when we were training."

Kaya wasn't convinced. "Orochimaru wouldn't just run into us or attack us unless we were in his way."

"Yes he would," Sasori sighed. "Because he was once part of the Akatsuki. He hates us after he was kicked out for trying to take over Itachi's body. He would attack us, no questions asked. And you know he hates you a lot."

Kaya laughed nervously. "Yeah, well it was an accident, okay."

"Sure," Sasori laughed. "Challenging him to a fight and tricking him, and then making him chase after you and run into a grizzly bear, and then showing up again and watching from the side-lines laughing before running away was an accident?"

"....................... Yes," Kaya nearly cracked up laughing. "But that's only half the reason why he hates me-" Kaya covered her mouth.

Sasori cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really? What else did you do?"

"Nothing!" Kaya said quickly and turned around to keep walking, but Sasori grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, holding her so she couldn't run off. "Hehe..." she laughed nervously and begun making hand-signs.

Sasori grabbed one of her hands and separated it from her other hand.

"Damn," she mumbled. "I'm not telling you!"

"You'd better tell me," Sasori smiled. "Or I'll tell Pain that you saw some of us training."

Kaya growled good-naturedly. "Black-mailer," she grumbled. "Fine, I'll tell you."

"I'm listening," Sasori smiled.

"I kinda, um....." Kaya took a deep breath.

"You what?"

"I might have played a lot of tricks on him, like putting baby crabs in his cloak..... maybe," Kaya tried to stop herself from laughing, though she expected Sasori to be mad.

Sasori blinked at her, taking in what she had just said, and cracked up laughing, letting her go and holding his stomach.

Kaya tilted her head, Sasori wasn't mad for putting crabs in Orochimaru's cloak?

"What else did you do?" Sasori asked.

Kaya smiled. "Well, I put paranah's in a pond and shoved him in it. I put slugs on his head. I accidentally knocked one of his snakes off a cliff. Um... what else......."

"You really did all that?!" Sasori laughed.

Kaya nodded.

Sasori took a few deep breaths and calmed down. "You're a trouble-maker that's for sure," he put a hand on her head. "C'mon, let's get going."

Kaya walked beside Sasori through the forest and they reached their hideout.

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Katana sighed and wiped sweat from her forehead. She looked over at Kiba, who had just finished helping a villager. He walked over to her and she smiled.

Kakashi met up with them. "Come on, you two, the others are waiting for us. Everything's done. It's time we headed for home."

Katana smiled and followed Kakashi with Kiba beside her.

They met up with all their friends. Katana looked at Sayuri, she looked nervous to be going back home. "What if they don't accept me back?" she asked Kakashi.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, kid. The Third Hokage will let you back, he let Anko back, and she used to be one of Orochimaru's followers."

Sayuri smiled. "Okay. Thank you."

Kakashi smiled back.

"Thank you for all your help," Kuramu said. "We don't know what we would have done without you."

Kakashi nodded and Ebisu smiled. "Well a great ninja warrior like me was perfectly suited for the job."

"'Great ninja warrior'?" Katana cocked an eyebrow at him. She looked away and rolled her eyes. "You keep telling yourself that, pervy-sensei."

Ebisu growled at her and she poked her tongue out at him.

Kakashi stepped in between them before Ebisu could move towards her. "We'd best be off."

Katana nodded and the ninja started walking out of the village.

"Take care!" Naruto called over his shoulder.

"You too!" Kuramu called back.

Katana sighed. "It feels weird, leaving the village and going home."

"Why?" Shikamaru asked. "We're going home, isn't that a good thing?"

"Yeah, it is," Katana breathed. "But we helped the villagers rebuild their home."

"And we had Kaya and her friend to help us," Sasuke added.

Katana looked at him before looking ahead. "They're long gone. Forget them."

Sasuke looked at her, she seemed put out. He walked beside her. "You miss your sister, don't you? I know you do."

Katana growled quietly. "No, I don't miss her. I'm glad she's gone!"

Sasuke sighed and spoke just as quiet. "You keep telling yourself that, but is that to keep yourself from admitting the truth?"

He heard Katana growl. "No! I don't miss her and that's that! Now back off and drop the subject!"

Sasuke slowed his pace and Katana kept walking passed him.

Sasuke sighed. Kiba pulled up beside him. "Give her time to settle down, at least," he said. "At most, it's a good idea not to talk about Kaya around her."

Sasuke shrugged and Kiba ran to catch up with Katana.

"What was that about, Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked to either side of him. Aw man! Not these two again! He thought.

Sakura blinked at him. "Well?"

"Nothing, can't you leave me alone?" Sasuke growled at her and Ino.

"Yeah, Sakura!" Ino poked he tongue out. "You're annoying my poor Sasuke-boy."

"You're Sasuke-boy!? I don't think so!" Sakura growled. "Ino-pig!"

"Ugh! Billboard brow!" Ino spat back.

Give me a break! Sasuke thought. They are so clueless.

Katana sighed. Ino and Sakura never gave up. Kiba walked beside her and she felt comforted. She couldn't help but think that Sasuke might have been right.

"You keep telling yourself that, but is that to keep yourself from admitting the truth?" Sasuke's voice rang in her head.

She sighed as she also heard Kakashi's voice. She remembered what he had said to her. "I know it might sound hard, especially after what she said, but it's time to make things right. You never know, Katana, maybe Kaya cried to, and grew up believing you were dead, with her heart shattered, just like you were."

Katana sighed again. I don't know what to do, she thought. Sasuke's right; I do miss Kaya. But I can't, because she's with her ninja friends outside of a village. I can't miss her.

They kept walking through the forest and Katana was getting tired. They had fought Orochimaru and his followers, rebuilt the rest of the village and now they had to travel home, all in the one day.

"We're nearly home!" Naruto exclaimed when they reached the top of a hill. Katana looked up from the ground and saw their village. It was huge, and pretty. The sun was behind it in the horizon, nearly disappearing as night began to take over. Lights were on in the village and she saw the Hokage's building. They would have to go there before they were allowed to go home. She sighed, but she was looking forward to sleeping for a day or two. Hopefully.

They walked through the gates of the village and the sky was dark, stars spreading across it.

They passed villagers and they were welcomed home with polite 'hello's'. Katana walked with her head held high, proud that she was able to help a village in need and be rewarded for it.

They continued on their path and reached the Hokage's building. He was standing on the steps just outside and he was smiling.

"Good afternoon, Lord Hokage," Kakashi said.

"Good to see you back so soon," the Third Hokage greeted them. "Everything went well I suppose?"

"Yes," Kakashi nodded. "But only one thing caused a delay."

"Oh, and what might that be?"

"Nothing," Ebisu interrupted before Kakashi could speak. "It isn't important-"

"Shut up, prevy-sensei!" Katana growled. "What happened is something that Lord Hokage should know about. After all, he was one of the Hokage's students."

The Third Hokage was alerted. "What was it?" He suddenly spotted Sayuri.

"Orochimaru showed up," Kakashi replied. "He gave us a bit of trouble."

"What did he want?" the Third Hokage asked.

"The village," Katana answered. "But we sent him packing."

"With my special help of course," Ebisu said. "I fought Orochimaru with all my strength-"

"Stop lying!" Katana spat. "You didn't fight Orochimaru at all. Only his followers! It was me and Kaya who actually sent him running for home!"

"Kaya?" the Third Hokage echoed. "Who is that?"

Katana looked at him. "Lord Hokage, Kaya is my sister. She ran into us on our way to the Ryoku village and offered to help. We accepted and she brought one of her ninja friends."

"Ninja friends?"

"Uh.. she was found by S-ranked ninja when she was little and I thought I had killed her. She has been with them ever since. She doesn't live in a village."

The Third Hokage blinked at her.

"It isn't the Akatsuki that she's with," Kakashi added. "They're apparently called the Armaterasu."

The Third Hokage didn't look convinced. "Kakashi, I would like a word with you. The rest of you may go home and rest up. You go back to training tomorrow."

"Aw man!" Katana grumbled.

The others laughed and Katana followed them away from the Hokage's building.

Kakashi followed the Third Hokage into the building. They sat down at a table, facing one another.

"Kakashi," the Third Hokage said. "This so called group, is not called the Armaterasu. That name is the name of an attack used by an Akatsuki member, Sasuke's brother, Itachi."

"So, you're saying, she was lying?" Kakashi said.

"Well, have you heard of any S-ranked ninja that is not of the Akatsuki?"

"..... Come to think of it, no," Kakashi looked up at the Third Hokage with a serious gaze. "Are you telling me, this girl is from-"

"The Akatsuki? Yes, that is what I assume."

"Then that would explain her strength," Kakashi murmured. "She was as strong as Katana, if not, stronger."

"This girl could mean trouble for the Leaf Village," the Third Hokage said. "If she is from the Akatsuki."

"What should I tell Katana?"

"Nothing. Do not tell anyone about this. That is an order, Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded. "Of course."

"You can go now."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Kakashi nodded and stood up, leaving the room and leaving the building.

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Katana lay down on her bed, her hands behind her head, looking up at the ceiling. She was tired, but she couldn't sleep. I wonder what Kiba's doing, she thought.

"Hi," whispered a voice.

Katana sat up and looked at a boy sitting on her window sill. "What are you doing here?" she whispered back, smiling. "Where's your little friend?"

"He was asleep so I left him at home," the boy smiled and got off of the window sill and walked over to her, sitting on the bed beside her. "As for me, I'm visiting a friend."

"But you'll see me tomorrow," Katana laughed. "We're on the same squad remember?"

"I know, but I didn't want to wait. Besides, we're always training with our sensei so we don't have any proper time to hang out."

"So this is what you call hanging out?" Katana said.

"Kinda," the boy replied. "And you know I like you."

Katana sighed. "Yes, I know, Kiba. I know."

He blinked. "What about you?"

Katana was silent for a moment. "Kiba, I....."

Kiba looked nervous, waiting to hear what she had to say.

Katana leaned forward and leaned her forehead against his, looking into his clear gaze and feeling his warm breath on her face. "I really like you. I always have, ever since we were put on the same squad I've had feelings for you."

Kiba's eyes widened a little bit, but he smiled. "And why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Why haven't you kissed me yet?" Katana smiled, not answering his question.

Kiba smiled a little more and moved his head forward, making his lips connect with hers. He put a hand up on her cheek and she kissed him back, putting a hand up behind his neck.

They broke apart after a few seconds and blinked at each other, Katana went red in the face. Kiba laughed. "That was different," he said.

Katana smiled and kissed him again. "So was that," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Kiba sighed inwardly, happy to know that she felt the same way.

Katana lay back down and Kiba lay down next to her, his hands behind his head. "I wonder what Kurenai-sensei will train us tomorrow," he sighed.

Katana nodded but yawned. She was sleepy, and her eyes were getting heavy. Katana rolled onto her right side and rested her head half on Kiba's shoulder and half on his chest, one hand up near her face on his chest. She closed her eyes.

"Uh..." Kiba murmured but she didn't open her eyes again. She was asleep.

He sighed. It looked like he was stuck there until she woke up. He put his arms down over her and soon, he fell asleep as well.

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"Lord Hokage, you wished to see me?"

"Yes. I apologize, this cannot wait until morning, Kurenai."

"What is it?" Kurenai asked, rubbing her eyes and trying to hold back a yawn.

"I need you to train your squad harder," the Third Hokage.

"Um, yes of course. May I ask what for?"

"I can't help but get to thinking," he looked out the window. "Trouble is coming to the Village Hidden in the Leaves."

Kurenai didn't ask any more questions. She just nodded. "I'll train my squad harder, starting at sunrise."

The Third Hokage nodded. "Thank you, Kurenai."