"I don't wanna get up!"

"Kaya! Get up!" Deidara sighed. "Pain wants to talk to you."

Kaya blinked open her eyes. "Well tell him to come in here and talk to me."

Deidara watched as Kaya pulled her bed sheets over her head.

Deidara thought for a moment. "Hidan, Kaya's looking for a fight!"

Kaya's eyes snapped open, she threw the covers off of her, she jumped out of bed and got ready for Hidan to come in for a fight.

"Deidara, Hidan is out on guard, you know that," Itachi murmured, walking into the room.

"I know," Deidara smiled. "I did it to get this youngster out of bed," he put a hand on Kaya's head.

Kaya grabbed his hand with both of hers a flipped him onto his back in front of her. "Not funny, Deidara!" she growled.

"Well I thought it was," Itachi said. "Because I'm only joking. Hidan just got back."

Kaya watched as Hidan walked through the door. "I hear you're looking for a fight?"

"Uh.... no," Kaya replied. "You must be hearing things."

"I'm sure," Hidan smiled and walked towards her. Kaya took a few steps back but Hidan grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.

"What?!" Kaya exclaimed.

"Pain wants to talk to you," Hidan said. "I'm not gonna keep him waiting by fighting you."

Kaya sighed and Hidan carried her out of her room and he dropped her on the couch, sitting beside her.

Kaya looked at Pain sitting in front of her on the small table "Good morning, Little Miss Trouble," he said.

"Morning, Mr. Impatient," Kaya replied and Pain nearly laughed. "What was it you wanted that ruined my sleep?"

"Sasori told me everything when the two of you got home and you went to bed," Pain said. "Are you okay after fighting Orochimaru? Sasori said that when the two of you were fighting him, he used a snake Jutsu."

"Yeah," Kaya said, trying to think. "I'm okay." She covered the top of her left arm with her right hand, she had a deep wound there from when she was fighting Orochimaru and she fell back on some wood. Although her sleeve covered it, she wasn't sure it was covered completely.

Pain noticed her nervous movement and put a hand over her right hand, taking it away from her arm, pulling her sleeve up a little and looking at the wound. "That looks serious."

"It's nothing," Kaya said. "It doesn't even hurt."

Pain looked at her and put a hand on the wound, watching her flinch. "Oh really?"

"Okay, maybe it hurts a little," Kaya sighed. "But it's nothing, really."

"It could get infected. Konan!" Pain called. "I need you to treat Kaya's arm."

Konan came out of a room with a small box of medical supplies and she sat next to Pain, inspecting the wound.

Kaya sighed and watched Konan treat it and put bandages on it. "There you go," Konan said at last. "You should be fine by this afternoon."

"Good," Pain said. "Because tomorrow we have another village attack."

"You didn't tell us anything about a village attack," Deidara exclaimed. "Which one?"

"I'll explain everything tonight," Pain smiled. "Now, Kaya, go get some rest."

"Really!?"

"Yep."

"Done and done," Kaya grinned and went back to her room.

"She's gonna have fun tomorrow," Pain murmured. "It's gonna be a real challenge for her."

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

"So, tell us everything."

"Alright, calm down, Kaya. It won't be until tomorrow," Pain said. All the members of the Akatsuki were sitting on the couch, except for Pain, who was standing up in front of them all. Kaya was sitting in between Sasori and Hidan.

"So, which village is it?" Kakuzu asked.

"It's a ninja village," Pain replied. "You know this village very well. I'm sure you're familiar with the village, Konohagakure."

Sasori's eyes widened. "That's the village we're attacking!?"

"Yes," Pain nodded and looked at Kaya. "You will all be fighting ninja as well as attacking the village. But I expect you to make a big mess of it. Do you have any complaints, Sasori?"

Sasori looked at Kaya before looking back at his leader.

"Well?" Pain said. "Don't tell me you're afraid to fight against a bunch of ninja?"

"Come on, Sasori," Kaya grinned. "This will be a big challenge. For me anyway. It sounds like fun."

Sasori took a deep breath. "I have no problems with it, Pain."

"Good," Pain smiled. "We leave for the village at noon tomorrow. Then when night arrives, we will invade the village and cause a lot of havoc. You should get some rest now. You'll need it."

Kaya was the first to get up and walk to her room. The others went to their rooms, but Sasori stayed, with Pain watching him.

"Is there a problem, Sasori?"

"I need to speak with you," he replied.

When Pain nodded, they went outside and walked through the forest until they reached a clearing with a small stream.

Pain turned to Sasori. "Well? What is it?"

"I......." Sasori looked at the ground.

"Speak, Sasori!" Pain growled.

"I don't think this is such a good idea," Sasori said at last. "I don't believe that Kaya is ready for such a challenge."

"She fought Orochimaru didn't she?" Pain growled. "I'm sure she can take on a few ninja from Konoha."

"It's not that she can't," Sasori murmured.

"Well then what is it?!" Pain said impatiently.

"I just don't think Kaya is ready to face what we will tomorrow. She isn't going to like it when we get there."

"Why is that?"

"Because......." Sasori breathed.

Pain stayed silent.

"Because she hasn't taken on so many ninja before," he said at last. "She might get scared and freeze up."

Pain sighed and put a hand on Sasori's shoulder. "Don't worry about her, Sasori. I know you two have been close since the day we found her, but she can handle this. I believe she is ready to face this challenge. She'll be okay, trust me."

Sasori sighed and nodded before following Pain back to the hideout.

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

"Bark, bark!"

Katana opened her eyes and was faced with a white dog sniffing her face. She tried to move but realized she was being held. She looked at what was holding her and she froze, blinking at Kiba's arms that were hugging her.

"Uh... Kiba?"

In moments, Kiba opened his eyes and looked at Katana. "What?"

"Can you let me go so I can get up?"

"Uh.. yeah, sure," Kiba said quickly and let her go. She sat up and looked at Akamaru on Kiba's chest.

Katana looked out her window. "We'd better go. Kurenai will be waiting for us at the training field."

Kiba got up and Akamaru jumped on his head. "You're right."

Katana and Kiba jumped out the window and ran together out of the village gates and towards the training field.

"You're late," Kurenai said when they got there. Hinata and Shino were already there.

"Sorry, Kurenai-sensei," Katana breathed. "We just woke up and ran all the way here."

"Well you're going to be training really hard today," Kurenai said. "Four times harder than you usually do."

"What!?" Katana and the other three exclaimed.

"You heard me," Kurenai replied. "So you'll all have to push your bodies to the extreme, because I won't be going easy on you now. I'll fight you with all my strength."

"But you're a Jonin," Hinata said. "We can't possibly match your full strength."

"You'll have to try."

"Why do we have to train harder than we usually do?" Shino asked.

"Lord Hokage told me to," Kurenai answered. "I am not sure, myself. But orders are orders. Now, let's begin."

Kurenai got ready to fight, and so did the others.

"Are we fighting her together or separately?" Katana wondered.

"Fight me together," Kurenai replied.

Katana shrugged and ran for her sensei, before her friends were ready.

Katana jumped in the air and went to punch Kurenai but it was simply blocked. She touched the ground and went to kick her but Kurenai ducked. Katana grinned and went to punch her sensei, knowing she would land the blow. To her surprise, Kurenai was gone and her fist hit air.

"Katana look out!"

Katana spun around and Kurenai was right behind her with a kunai in her hands.

Katana jumped back and Kurenai jumped up and ran for her. Katana reached for a kunai from her leg but there was none, Kurenai had her kunai!

Kurenai came and Katana started to make and-signs.

BANG!

Katana stopped in her hand-signs and they dropped to her sides. Kiba was standing in front of her, his kunai blocking Kurenai's. "You really have to learn to work as a team," Kiba said, trying to push Kurenai away. "Otherwise you could end up in a terrible mess."

Katana sighed.

"Hinata, Shino!" Kiba called. "Come and help us out!"

Hinata and Shino ran over and all four of them were fighting against their sensei, every punch, kick or weapon was blocked or dodged.

By noon, Katana was exhausted. She crouched down on one knee and breathed, no one was able to hit Kurenai once. So this is how strong she is, she thought.

"How are we supposed to defeat you?!" Kiba growled. "You're too strong. We can't match yous strength!"

"Use your heads," Kurenai explained. "Think. There is a way you can defeat me, but you just have to work it out."

Katana tried to think, but she was so frustrated because she wasn't able to land a single punch or kick. She ran through her friends attacks in her mind, Hinata had the Byakugan, Shino had his bugs, which creeped her out, Kiba could fight with Akamaru and she had her Water Dragon Jutsu, and her Invisibility Jutsu.

"I got it!" Katana shouted and her teammates looked at her. Katana looked back at them. "Shino, use your bugs and trap Kurenai-sensei. Hinata, use your Byakugan to help you hit the Chakra points on her. Kiba, you and Akamaru use one of your Jutsu's. We might just be able to defeat her."

Her teammates blinked at her, as if they were that shocked that she came up with an idea.

"That could work," Kiba said.

"Well then let's do it," Hinata smiled.

Shino nodded and made hand-signs. "Bug Clone Jutsu!"

Katana tried not to hide behind Kiba as bugs came out of Shino's shirt and multiplied. She watched them go after Kurenai, who was now trying to dodge out of their way and avoid being caught.

The bugs quickly managed to grab Kurenai and the Jonin was desperately trying to escape.

"Alright, Hinata," Katana said. "Your turn."

Hinata made a hand-sign. The veins around her eyes popped out and she ran for Kurenai, her hands shining with blue Chakra. She then started trying to hit the Chakra points on her sensei. Kurenai managed to free an arm and block a few hits but Hinata was able to hit her sensei.

Kiba smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere!"

"Your turn, Kiba," Katana smiled.

Kiba nodded to her and started making hand-signs. "Akamaru, I'll need your help."

Akamaru looked at Kiba and stood beside him. Kiba finished his hand-sign. "Beast Clone Jutsu!"

Katana smiled, she knew this Jutsu. He had used it against Hinata when they had trained one day.

Suddenly, Akamaru turned into Kiba. There was now two Kiba's.

Kurenai looked at them, the two Kiba's were making growling noises, so she wasn't able to tell which was the real Kiba and which was Akamaru.

They looked at Katana. When she nodded, they jumped into the air and started spinning, they looked like gray cocoons and they flew at Kurenai.

"Hinata, move out of the way!" Shino called and Hinata did as she was told. Then, the two Kiba's hit Kurenai full on. She cringed in pain and was thrown away, towards the water. She hit the ground near the bank and Katana smiled.

"My turn," she murmured. She started making hand-signs. "Invisibility Jutsu!"

Katana suddenly disappeared, and she ran towards the water, unseen and probably unheard.

She came behind her sensei, preparing to strike but Kurenai struck first. Hitting Katana in the stomach and throwing her into the water. Katana became visible again. She must have heard me, she thought. Damn it!

Kurenai laughed and Katana continued to sink to the bottom of the water. "You're weak, Katana. What have you been doing all this time?" she said.

Katana growled. Weak!? She thought with outrage.

"Maybe if you trained more, rather than stuff around with Kiba, you might have been able to defeat me," Kurenai continued.

Katana gently touched the bottom of the water.

"At this rate," Kurenai laughed. "You'll never be as strong as you say you will. You're a joke. Why don't you go back to the Academy and start all over. You're more weak than a bird."

Katana clenched her fists. She was running out of air, but she was furious. I'll show you who's the weak one!!!!!! She thought and she quickly started making hand-signs.

"More weak attacks?" Kurenai laughed. "You won't hurt me."

Oh yeah? Katana thought. Try this on for size. Shadow Dragon Jutsu!

Katana smiled as her body changed. She grew a long tail with an arrow kind of thing at the end, large wings, and her teeth were pointy, sharp fangs. She came out of her little ball and flew out of the water. She landed on the ground in front of her sensei, roaring loudly.

Kurenai looked up at her student, who was now three times bigger than a full grown grizzly bear.

Katana looked down at Kurenai, her black scales shining in the sunlight with the water droplets dripping from them. Her red eyes flashed and she opened her mouth. "Calling me weak was a big mistake. You wanted to see my full power, you'll get it!"

Kurenai blinked as she saw fire forming in Katana's mouth.

Kiba was frozen, frozen with fear. Katana was a dragon, a huge dragon, and she was mad. This didn't look good. Akamaru was shaking and he jumped up and crawled into Kiba's jacket, popping his head out at the top.

Hinata stepped back and stood with Shino. Shino's bugs quickly retreated into his jacket.

Katana built up the fire burning in her belly and let it out. It smashed against the ground, throwing dirt and bits of earth out of the way. Kurenai just managed to dodge out of the way to avoid serious injuries. The fire disappeared and a giant crater was left in the ground, Kurenai beside it.

"Katana! What are you doing!?" Shino called.

"Proving to her that I'm not weak," Katana growled and went to blow out another fire ball.

Kiba's heart was pounding a million miles an hour. What could he do to stop her? She was mad, and there was no way to stop her when she was mad.

He finally found his feet and clenched his fists. "Katana!" he yelled. "That's enough!"

"Stay out of this Kiba!" Katana growled.

"Kurenai-sensei was only joking around to get you to show her how strong you were!" Kiba growled back. "You've shown her, now give it a rest! Otherwise you might end up killing your own sensei in your outrage!"

Katana looked right at him, making him freeze up again, thinking she would attack him instead.

The fire in Katana's mouth disappeared and she calmed down. Smoke rose up and Kiba and the others had to cover their eyes from it. When it disappeared, Kiba opened his eyes and moved his arm away from his face. He looked at Katana, lying on the ground, unconscious.

He sighed and walked over to her, picking her up in his arms. Kurenai stood up and walked over. She looked down at Katana. "I'm sorry, Katana. I didn't mean to cause such a stir, I didn't know how angry you got when you were called weak."

Katana suddenly opened her eyes and smiled. "I know. I'm sorry, Kurenai-sensei. I didn't mean to get so angry. It won't happen again. I promise."

Kurenai smiled. "Let's just get you back to the village. You're exhausted. You all are."

Hinata and Shino joined them and they started walking back to the village together. Katana rested her head on Kiba's shoulder and fell asleep.

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

Kaya looked up at the sky, the sun was half way into disappearing before night took over.

She was walking in circles as she and the others had to wait until night came and nearly everyone was asleep.

"Calm down, Kaya!" Itachi murmured. "Don't use up all your energy before this attack even starts!"

"Sorry, Itachi," Kaya murmured, looking down at the village from the hill they were waiting at. She looked over at Sasori. "What's the matter with you?" she asked him. "You've been edgy ever since last night."

Sasori looked at her. "Nothing. Everything's fine."

Kaya cocked an eyebrow at him but shrugged. "Pain, can we go now?"

"No," Pain replied. "We wait ten minutes after the sun disappears before we invade."

"Why?" Kaya asked. "Everyone's gonna be awake when we attack anyway so what's the difference between now and later?"

"Just wait, Kaya," Pain growled and Kaya sat down with her legs and arms crossed and a stubborn look on her face.

She waited and waited until the sun was gone and five minutes past. "Can we go now?" she asked.

"Wait five more minutes!" Pain said.

"But I'm sick of waiting!" Kaya grumbled. "I wanna go now!"

Pain hit his head with his hand. "Do you even remember what to do?"

"Of course I do," she smiled. "I get to be the one who threatens a villager and he yells out and I get to kill him."

"That's not the plan this time," Deidara spoke. "The plan is to attack the guards and head straight for the Hokage's building, making a few villager kills along the way. That's where all the ninja will go so we can take them out quickly and then cause havoc undisturbed."

".................. oh," Kaya said. "Nobody told me that," she put the stubborn look back on her face, making Deidara laugh a little.

"But Kaya, don't forget to be careful," Hidan advised. "You'll be fighting Jonin and Chunin ninja, maybe even Genin. It will be tough for you because you don't know their strengths and weaknesses."

Kaya nodded. "I know. But I have to try at least."

Deidara nodded.

"Okay," Pain said. "Let's go."

Kaya jumped right up and the Akatsuki ran down the hill and stopped near the gates. Watching the two ninja on guard.

"Alright. Konan, Kakuzu and Zetsu, you three make villager kills along the way to the Hokage's building," Pain whispered. "The rest of you, follow me straight to our destination."

They all nodded and ran forward. Hidan and Itachi attacked the ninja guards and threw them out of the way and they all ran into the village. Kaya ran alongside Pain and Itachi, in between them.

They ran through the village, hearing screams as Konan, Kakuzu and Zetsu made their pit-stops.

Up ahead, Kaya noticed people standing in front of a huge building which seemed to be the Hokage's building. She looked at all the ninja, a bunch of ninja around her age were standing at the front, Kaya couldn't see them properly.

"Slow down," Pain said and they did. They got closer and closer to the building. "And stop."

The Akatsuki stopped and the three members caught up, blood staining their cloaks.

Kaya looked at the ninja around her age and she stood frozen, her heart skipped a beat, and her blood ran cold. Colder than a frozen river in the middle of winter.