New Chapter, nh?

"Hey, it's your turn, Kaira." Kimiko said, shaking Kaira's shoulders.

"Hm?" Shizuka observed, looking down at Kaira.

"Kaira, you better get down there to fight." Kimiko urged. Kaira's cat ears popped out.

"What was that, Kimiko?" Kaira asked, staring at the arena.

"You're fight. Did something click inside of you or something?" Kimiko said, worrying about her teammate. Kimiko just didn't know she was exactly right. "I said you should get down there. Are you alright, Kaira?" Kimiko asked, feeling Kaira's forehead. "Your temperature is average."

"Oh, I'm sorry for worrying you, I'm just nervous now." Kaira half-smiled. "I better get going!"

"Good luck, Kaira!" Zai called.

"You can do it, Kaira, I have faith in you!" Kimiko cheered as Kaira ran towards the arena.

Shizuka just starred at Kaira. When her name was called, her thoughts suddenly became a blur. What's going on?

Kaira stood across from her opponent, one of Kabuto's teammates. She smiled at him and he just nodded. Kaira let Mei down next to her. "You ready, Mei?"

"Meoww!"

A one-on-one fight, eh? Kaira blinked a couple of times and shook her head. That was odd. I've never fought one-on-one before. "Did you say something?" Kaira asked, looking at the judge.

"Huh? Uh, no." He said. Kaira looked away and around the room. She could have swore she heard something. The judge coughed before talking again. "Participants ready?" Kaira and Akado nodded. "Begin!" Kaira's cat ears were still out this whole time, but now her tail went with it and her eyes changed again.

"Chakra Absorption Technique!" Akado said. This hands turned blue with his chakra.

I remember this jutsu!. Kaira thought as he starting trying to hit her. She kept dodging them over and over. How about a Cat-Companion Body Switch right away? "Cat-Companion Body Switch!" Kaira automatically said. What the-? Kaira switched bodies with Mei. Mei, jumped into the air and quickly dove down for Akado. I didn't call this! Release! Kaira returned to her own body, but her timing was bad. Akado punched Kaira and started absorbing her chakra.

"Hey, Zai, you know that jutsu, don't you?" Kimiko asked, crossing her arms at Kaira's poor performance.

"Yeah, I always fight you two using it." Zai agreed.

"Why is Kaira hesitating?" Kimiko questioned.

"Something's wrong." Shizuka cut in. Kimiko and Zai both looked up at their sensei. "Her thoughts are all cloudy and that's unusual. Something happening in her mind."

"In her mind?" Kimiko and Zai both repeated, returning to look at Kaira.

"C'mon, Kaira! You can do it!" Kiba cheered, startling Team 9.

Everyone's expecting me to win. Kaira thought. So, I have to win. Kaira's slit eyes minimized as her mind went elsewhere. Alright, let's win, then. Kaira dug her claws into Akado's arm, so hard, that blood started streaming down.

"What?" He hissed. He pulled his arm away from her when it started stinging.

Kaira staggered to get up, but she eventually did. She put her free hand on her chest and her hand started glowing purple. She was healing her own chakra.

"That's impossible." Akado uttered. Kaira smirked as she reached down for Mei.

"Mei, can you distract him?" Kaira whispered. Mei looked up at Kaira for while, studying her. Even Mei noticed something isn't right.

"Meow." Mei finally replied, running towards Akado.

"A cat?" Akado said to himself. "Oh well." Akado said, aiming for Mei.

Kaira finished healing her chakra as she disappeared and reappeared behind Akado. This girl doesn't know the true extent of her speed and power. "You're picking a fight with the kitty?" Kaira whispered in his ear. She put one around his neck and the other held his hands down. Mei jumped into the air towards him. "Cat-Companion Body Switch."

Kaira, as Mei, extracted her claws as she neared Akado. Mei, as Kaira, tightened her hold on Akado. Kaira landed on Akado and dug her other claws into his face. He yelled in pain. Everyone cringed from the scene. Kaira jumped away from him and landed on the floor. Release! Kaira, back in her own body, put her hand to his neck. She kept tightening and tightening her hold on him.

"I give up!" Akado finally said, having enough. Kaira grinned, but she kept going. She then cut his arm and it started bleeding. He cringed from the stinging all over. She squeezed his neck more. If she did it any tighter, he'd surely die.

"Kaira Nekoosa! Your opponent gave up, you win!" The judge said. Kaira put her head next to Akado's.

"What's gotten into her!" Kimiko shrieked. Zai looked away, unable to see any more.

"This can't be the same Kaira.." Kiba whispered, staring at her. Shizuka flinched.

"My opponent lost." Kaira started, bring her sharp claws up his arm, leaving a line of scarlet wherever she went over. "Losers deserve to die." Kaira said darkly. The judge took a step back.

"Meoww."

Kaira jumped and looked down at Mei, who looked sad. M-Mei? Mei walked over to Kaira's feet and nudged her leg. Kaira released Akado and he landed on the ground without moving.

"Kaira…" Kiba whispered again. Kaira was able to hear him thanks to her cat ears. She looked up at him and saw his eyes weren't normal. They read fear.

"What did I do?" Kaira uttered, looking at her blood tainted hands. Suddenly, Shizuka came down and punched Kaira in the stomach all too quickly. Kaira fell over, unconscious.

"Since Kaira failed to stop attacking after he opponent gave up, she's disqualified." The judge finally said after a long silence.

"That's not fair! She won!" Kiba fought. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. Kurenai put her hand on his shoulder. "That's wrong, isn't it?"

"Kaira sure seems scary…" Hinata mumbled.

"Something wasn't right about that fight." Shino said. "I do believe it's not fair though, but she could have killed him." Shino said.

"Whatever happened, let her squad deal with it. It's out of your hand, Kiba." Kurenai said.

Kimiko and Zai ran down to Shizuka and Kaira. Medical ninja came out with a stretcher and loaded Akado on it. "Is she alright, Shizuka-sensei?"

"She is now. As soon as Mei made contact with her, her mind cleared up." Shizuka informed. "I wonder what happened." Zai walked over to the judge.

"I hope she's okay." Kimiko muttered, kneeling down next to her.

"How's Kaira?" Kiba asked, running towards them. Kimiko and Shizuka jumped. They didn't notice him come down. "Kimi, do you know what came over her?"

"Oh, um, no." Kimiko replied.

"The judge is giving us a ten minute break." Zai said, returning to the circle. "Oh, Kiba." Kiba nodded at Zai.

"Arf! Arf!" Akamaru barked, walking over to Kaira and licking her face.

"Meoww." Mei jumped on Kaira's stomach. Mei's paws then started glowing a dim purple.

"Urrrggh." Kaira moaned, her eyes fluttering open. Everyone around her smiled. "What happened?" Kaira asked, sitting up and petting both Mei and Akamaru.

"First off, I'm glad you're okay, Kaira!" Kimi cried, hugging her friend. "You had me worried there for a moment."

"Are you feeling okay?" Zai asked, giving Kaira a pity look.

"Did something happen to me? And, thanks, Zai, I feel fine." Kaira replied.

"You don't remember? You were about to kill your opponent after he already gave up." Shizuka reminded. Then it all came back to Kaira.

"I remember now, but it felt like I wasn't controlling my own body." Kaira muttered, looking down at the floor. "I won, though, right?"

"They disqualified you for your actions." Shizuka added. Kaira fell back on the floor. She sighed and put her arm over her eyes.

"I know, I don't think it's fair either." Kiba murmured. "You won, that's that."

"Thanks, Kiba." Kaira said. Shizuka looked over at Kiba before getting up and signaling for Kimiko and Zai to back off. Team 9, save for Kaira, met by the stairs.

"What is it, Shizuka-sensei?" Kimiko asked. Shizuka looked back over at Kaira and Kiba. "Shizuka-sensei?"

Kiba froze when they all left him alone with the saddened Kaira. He should leave too, right? But he can't leave Kaira alone.

"Hey, Kiba?" Kaira asked. Kiba jumped before sitting down next to her. "Did I look scary?"

"Well, yeah, you did, but we all came here to fight, so I don't see what the difference is." Kiba said. Kaira peeked through and looked at Kiba. "I always knew you were strong. Since you were my rival, I always watched your strength, to make sure you didn't surpass me, but maybe I missed something along the way."

"I couldn't control my own body. Even I was telling myself to stop, but… this voice, it told me to keep going and it overpowered me. I know it sounds lame and a bit crazy, but that's the truth." Kaira said.

"A voice?" Kiba repeated.

"It mocked me and made fun of me and it wanted to kill." Kaira added. Kiba flinched. "It couldn't have been my voice, though, right? It's the first time anything like that has ever happened. Then again maybe it was me, I mean, it did come my body and all, so maybe I have a dark side that I can't control, or just-" Kiba took Kaira's hand and lifted her up.

"It's not you, Kaira." Kiba said. Kaira blushed, then her expression softened.

"Thanks, Kiba." Kaira said. Kiba grinned before reaching up and touching her cat ears. She flinched when he touched them

"By the way," Kiba looked away and put his hand down, "you looked cute with your ears and tail." Kaira blushed again. "I better get back to my squad." Kiba said, standing up. "Let's go, Akamaru."

"Arf!" Akamaru jumped into Kiba's arms. He waved before turning his back and going back to this team upstairs. Kimiko, Zai, and Shizuka came back over once Kiba left.

"Oh, you must have a fever, Kaira!" Kimiko stated, kneeling beside her. Kaira gave Kimiko a strange look. "You're face is red." Kaira jumped and looked away. Shizuka smirked and crossed her arms.

"Hey, Shizuka, I was wondering how your student was doing." Kakashi said, appearing right by Shizuka. She jumped and put her hand over her heart, showing she was scared.

"Why should you care, you old man!" Shizuka lashed.

"I was just worried." Kakashi replied.

"Are you implying I'm not a good teacher?" Shizuka asked, putting Kakashi into a headlock.

"Practice what you teach, sensei!" Kimiko tried repeating it over and over.

"I'm glad to see you're better." Zai said to Kaira. She just nodded. Shizuka released her brother and huffed.

"Are you alright, Kakashi-sensei?" Kimiko asked, looking up at him.

"Oh," Kakashi said. "Yeah, I'm used to Shizuka's antics now." He then walked over to Kaira. "I just came down because I could tell my team was worried about her."

"You say your team, but it was mostly Sasuke, wasn't it?" Shizuka, reading her brother's mind.

"Still using that jutsu nonstop, I see." Kakashi studied.

"Yeah, so what! I like it." Shizuka ranted like a little kid. Then she stuck out her tongue.

Is that what Kimiko is going to be like when she's older? Zai thought.

"I'm glad he's worried, but tell him I'm fine." Kaira said, standing up.

"You better go wash your hands off, they're painted red." Kakashi said. Kaira nodded and looked at her hands. He put his hand on her head. Then he felt a jolt. He removed his hand and stared down at her.

"What's wrong, Kakashi-sensei?" Kaira asked.

"Oh, uh, nothing I guess." Kakashi said, smiling. "I better return to them then." Then he went off.

"Can you go with me to the restrooms, Kimi?" Kaira asked.

"Oh, yeah, sure." Kimiko replied. Kimiko and Kaira went into the girls' restroom as Zai and Shizuka went back up to their spot. "So, after this do you want to go get something to eat?" Kimiko asked, trying to talk about anything other than the fight. Kaira half-smiled, seeing what Kimiko was doing.

"I'd love that." Kaira replied. Kimiko opened the bathroom door and let Kaira go in first.

"Should we go eat some sushi?" Kimiko asked. Kaira smiled at her teammate while she turned on the water and started scrubbing her hands. "Or how about a big helping of the famous Kaira soup? You know, I think they're selling fish at a discount price tomorrow."

"Meow?" Mei meowed as she jumped up on the sinks by Kaira.

"Why are you only offering my favorites?" Kaira asked. "I'm perfectly fine with eating anything else." Kaira whispered. Kimi cocked her head to the side. "Sasuke always spoiled me; I don't want you to, too, Kimi." Kaira finally said, turning off the faucet and getting a towel for her hands.

"Okay, we'll go eat at a different place. Now let's see, where else is there…?" Kimi asked the last sentence to herself as she crossed her arms and put her hand to her chin. Kaira threw away the towel once she was finished.

Sasuke… Kaira thought. That mark on his neck…

"Meow?"

Kaira looked over at Mei and picked her up.

"Oh, hey, Kaira, are you going to keep your cat ears and tail out?" Kimiko asked. Kaira jumped, remembering what Kiba had said. Kimiko smirked. "Ah, Kiba said you looked cute, huh?" Kimiko giggled. Kaira blushed again and was speechless. "This mind reading jutsu sure is handy, I see why Shizuka uses it nonstop." Kimiko twirled her hair as she kept grinning at Kaira.

"Kimi, you-"

"So, what do you think of Kiba?" Kimiko asked. "I know you're still thankful for him helping and all, but what else? He also saved you from falling in the forest. So, it's more like, rivals turn friends."

"I hardly talk to Kiba, but I own him, I know that." Kaira replied, petting Mei. Mei just looked up at Kaira. "Other than that, I don't know. Are we friends?"

"It seems like that to me. Although, normally, friends don't call other friends cute." Kimi smiled. "Acquaintances don't. Rival defiantly don't."

"Maybe we're between." Kaira shrugged, walking past Kimiko and opening the door. "We better get back to the matches." Kimiko pouted.

I see you're sudden subject change. Kimi replied, but nodding as she walked out the door with Kaira. They quickly went to Zai and Shizuka.

"You two made it just in time, a match is about to begin." Zai said.

"Alright, I could use some more cheering." Kimiko grinned. Kaira giggled as she looked at the screen.

"Round 8: Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka." Kaira read.

"Meow!"

"Oh, it's Kiba's turn now, huh?" Kimi asked, looking at Kaira. Zai turned away as Kaira blushed slightly. Kiba was making his way to the arena. Kaira turned around and faced Kiba. Her ears and tail were still out.

"Kiba!" Kaira forced. Kiba looked at Kaira. Akamaru looked at her and Mei also. "Good luck!" Kaira finally said. Kiba grinned and reached out and petted Mei.

"Thanks, Kaira." Kiba replied. Kimi moved around the back of Kaira.

"Hm." Kimi muttered. Then she bumped into the back of Kaira, pushing her forward. "Oops." Mei jumped out of her arms as she started forward. Kiba put his arms up and caught Kaira. "I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy sometimes." Kaira blushed and plotted her revenge on Kimi. Maybe pushing her off the upper level?

"It's fine, Kimi." Kiba said, he smiled down at Kaira. He nodded towards her and released her as he started off towards the arena.

REVIEW, Pleeease? ^^

Oh, and the bold italics aren't Kaira's 'thoughts' but they're someone else's in her head D