A/N: Okay, another chapter done! Yay! I still don't own anything except Reyna. Naruto and everything thus related to it are property of Masashi Kishimoto! Enjoy and don't forget to click that little button at the bottom!
CAPTURED
Over the next couple of years, Team Kakashi continued taking missions and training and one day, after working with Reyna on perfecting the rest of her Shadow Techniques, Kakashi approached her slowly. She glanced up at him and quirked a brow at his slow approach.
"What's up, Kakashi?" she asked lightly.
"I was just thinking that a collaboration jutsu would be the next step to go to with your shadows. I think you've got them about as strong as you're going to be able to get them."
Reyna tilted her head to the side at him, "What did you have in mind?"
"Combining Shadow Meld Manipulation with my Chidori," he responded carefully.
"I may have to work on getting those two into one technique a little more before we even attempt that, but it would definitely be a unique effect on Chidori," she agreed and he grinned.
"Well, then, let's get to work!"
"Kakashi I just got done three hours of training. What do you say we start on that tomorrow? I'm also thinking there is a very strong possibility that this is going to go very badly for a while until we get our timing down on it, so maybe we shouldn't involve others with that training."
Kakashi nodded as Reyna pushed herself back to her feet and they headed out of the training grounds, heading for his apartment. Reyna still had her own place, just for the days when she was ready to kill her hip attachment or he was ready to kill her over something. They had never been stronger as a team though. They hadn't even made it a quarter of the way home before Shizune stopped them.
"Lady Tsunade wants to talk to both of you, immediately," she informed them.
Reyna and Kakashi shared a look and nodded, both wondering what in the world could be so important. The two turned around and headed off to the Hokage's Tower. They didn't wait when they reached the office and soon found themselves standing before a very serious Tsunade.
"Lady Hokage, you summoned us?" Reyna spoke for the both of them.
"I have become concerned with the way you two are spending your time," she started.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked, confused.
"You are always together and there are rumors that you two are a couple. While I don't argue against ninja becoming involved together, it is a concern when you are on the same team; especially with the threat the Akatski pose to Naruto."
"We aren't…" Reyna started but Tsunade cut her off.
"You might as well be. You are always together; Reyna you spend nearly every night with Kakashi and we're starting to wonder why you even bother keeping your own apartment. Kakashi is very seldom more than half an hour late for anything and is even on time on occasion. You fight like an old married couple and are extremely possessive of one another. Like I said, personally I don't care, but I don't think that the two of you should be allowed to remain on the same team."
"What?" Reyna exclaimed, "That's ridiculous. We work extremely well together as team mates, even if we were together like you seem to think that we are."
"Oh would you two just admit it already. You like each other, you always have. It's been evident ever since Wolf gave that recommendation for promotion for you Reyna. It's just gotten more obvious the longer you two spend around one another! Open your eyes and actually look at how the two of you act together. Just because no one's actually seen you two make out or anything along that line, there is more than friendship there and you know it, you just won't admit it! Reyna I think you are the only living soul who knows what Kakashi looks like under that mask of his and he never says a word to you about knowing!"
"If that's the case then why would you want to take us off the same team? By working on separate missions our minds would constantly be worried about the other person. We would become a greater liability for our teams than if we are together on the same mission. Chances are we'd still be worried about one another, but at least we would always know the outcome from those missions," Reyna started and when she took a breath, Kakashi picked up.
"In addition, our team dynamics would suffer. We are one of your strongest teams because we have absolute trust in one another; and that's all four of us. We know the strengths and weaknesses of our other team mates, as well as our own. We know where each other will be and what they will do during a fight. By breaking up that team dynamic and adding another member into that equation, we become a liability, never sure where each other is going to attack from or what to watch for as far as covering for each other. If you spilt us up, we will probably all suffer the same fate; and that includes Naruto and Sakura."
"Fine, I see your point. As long as your missions continue to be successful, you will remain the team that you are. Just keep in mind that I will be watching and should anything change drastically within that team dynamic that you keep bringing up, I will change it. Now get lost."
The next day, the two hadn't even made it half way to their training grounds to work on combining Reyna's shadows when Shizune stopped them again, "Lady Tsunade needs to speak with you again, immediately. Sakura and Naruto are already in her office."
Reyna rolled her eyes but hurried after Shizune and Kakashi to the Hokage's office. Again they stepped directly into the office and stood before the Hokage. Naruto and Sakura looked as confused as Reyna felt and Kakashi just seemed bored by the whole thing, like he always did.
"I have heard a rumor that the Rogue Pack has reappeared in the Land of Rivers," Tsunade started and Reyna groaned.
"Not them and the Land of Rivers together. Why me?"
Tsunade glared at her and her team gave her an almost sympathetic look before the Hokage continued, "In addition to that, an ANBU agent has gone missing in the same area. I want you to look into the disappearance and bring him back if you can. Dismissed."
The group headed back out of the office, Reyna looking like the world had just ended and someone had run over her puppy.
"Well, look at it this way, Reyna. At least Kayha won't be there this time. Probably," Kakashi tried to reassure her.
"Great, thanks," she growled in response as Naruto and Sakura headed to their homes to gather what they needed for the mission.
Reyna and Kakashi headed for his apartment to do the same and within twenty minutes they had met up again and were heading out of the village towards the Land of Rivers. Naruto led the group with Sakura only a couple of strides behind him. Kakashi wandered along, one hand in his pocket the other had his book out. Reyna brought up the rear, dragging her feet and hoping that she wouldn't have to return to that bloody cave.
They were still a half day out of the Land of Rivers when Reyna picked up her father's scent. She mentioned that to Kakashi and she suddenly found herself leading the group through the Land of Rivers and the trail led them to the last place the ANBU had been seen. There she picked up a scent that did not belong to the pack and the faint traces of chakra use. Again she told her team and they continued to follow the somewhat cold scent trail deeper into the land.
It was on the third day of tracking that Reyna recognized where they were heading and she groaned aloud prompting Naruto to ask, "What's up, Reyna-Sensei?"
"I know this area. Damn it!"
Kakashi chuckled and Reyna glared at him as she continued tracking through the late afternoon. It wasn't much longer before they approached the cave that she had fought Griffin in. Another scent wafted on the wind and Reyna stiffened.
"You had to say it before we left, didn't you Kakashi?" she snarled.
"What?" he asked confused.
"That Kayha probably wouldn't be here. You're just lucky the scent is old. The ANBU is most likely nearby though, the scent is strong here and there is one wolf that's still around too which means the ANBU is most likely still alive and they wanted him to suffer a long and drawn out death. Yes, my father is a cruel and sadistic bastard," she supplied.
"What's the most likely place that they'd be?" Sakura asked quietly.
"The one place that I will not enter," Reyna pointed towards the cave.
"Then keep watch out here," Kakashi suggested before he stepped into the mouth of the cave.
Reyna groaned, cursing Kakashi as she watched him disappear into the dark cave followed by Naruto and Sakura. Still snarling, Reyna finally followed, hoping she was right in her assessment that there was only one wolf left in the area. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom quickly enough and she caught sight of the injured ANBU tied up on the far side of the cave and she just barely caught a glimpse of a dark grey, furry form hurtling towards her before Kakashi grabbed her vest and yanked her out of the way.
"Wyatt?" she asked, finally recognizing a nearly forgotten scent from her past.
The wolf snarled and launched at her again. He didn't clear the ground before he had three shuriken buried under his front leg, biting into his flesh and a flash of pink darted in on the other side, driving a kunai into his chest. The wolf fell with a thud and Sakura pulled her kunai from the beast's chest, wiping the blood off on its fur.
Reyna stood stunned for a minute while Sakura rushed to the aid of the ANBU and Naruto reclaimed his shuriken from the wolf. Kakashi still had a hold on her vest and she shook her head before turning towards the ANBU in the far corner.
"Sakura?" she asked.
"He's alive, but it's going to take a while before I'll have him ready to tackle the journey back to the Leaf."
"We still have a mission to complete. I want to know why the pack took an ANBU, tortured him and then left a single wolf to ensure he died slowly. Aside from which, the pack always wanted to destroy the Leaf so chances are they're looking for someone powerful to team up with," Reyna snarled, turning her gaze back to the dead wolf near her feet.
"You knew who the wolf was?" Naruto asked and she nodded.
"He was my cousin, Wyatt. He was a mean son of a bitch even when we were kids. I'm surprised I even remember his scent. I wasn't that old when my mom got me away from them," she muttered before stepping away from her team, lost in the past.
Kakashi sighed, but knew he had to get another team out to help get the ANBU back so they would be able to continue tracking the pack and find out the motives behind the abduction of the ANBU. He brought his finger to his mouth and bit it just hard enough to draw blood. A few quick hand signals and he pressed his hand to the stone floor and in a puff of smoke a small pug appeared.
"Kakashi, it's been a long time since you've had to summon me. What's happening? Hey, Naruto," the pug spoke, drawing a look from Reyna a ways off.
"I need you to get back to the village and have Tsunade send another team out to get this ANBU back to the village. We have to track those that took him but he's in pretty bad shape. By the time another team gets here, he should be ready to transport back," Kakashi explained and the pug nodded.
"You got it. I'm outta here!"
The pug ran out of the cave and Reyna followed him into the fresh air. She stopped just outside the mouth of the cave and closed her eyes. She had always known that eventually she would end up having to deal with the Rogue Pack, but it was still hard to face her own blood. She shook her head and nearly jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder from behind.
"Reyna, you alright?" Kakashi's soft voice met her ears and she relaxed a little.
She shrugged and turned to face him, "I'll survive. I'm going to try to pick up the trail of the pack though."
Kakashi eyed her, "Want some company?"
She shook her head, "I'll be back before full dark sets in; I just want to know what direction they took."
Kakashi nodded and watched her disappear in a swirl of shadows. He shook his head and headed back inside to see if there was anything they could learn from the cave itself. Reyna floated within the shadows, focused completely on finding the fading scent of the pack. It was next to impossible to hide the scent of the entire pack and since no one else could control shadows like she could they had no means of blocking their scent as they traveled. It was full dark before she realized that any time had passed and she mentally kicked herself as the transported herself back to the cave via the shadows.
Kakashi was pacing outside the cave when she did return and she stepped out in front of him. He glared at her and she shrugged. At least she had told him that she was going to find the trail this time. She just hadn't expected to get so caught up in following it that she'd lose track of the time and be late getting back. She walked past him and settled against the side of the cave, just barely within the confines of it. Kakashi joined her and they spent the rest of the night in silence.
They spent the next three days in the cave, nursing the severely injured ANBU back into health enough to travel back to the village. Reyna growled and paced the entire time, often taking off into the surrounding trees for a run without telling them that she was leaving annoying Kakashi to no end, even if she did always return within a couple of hours.
Finally Shikamaru, Hinata and Kiba appeared along with Pakkun arrived and took over the well-being of the ANBU while Team Kakashi finally headed off to find the Rogues. The scent trail was getting cold by the time Reyna had to pick it up again and they moved slowly so that she didn't lose it. They paused one evening in a small village getting some much needed rest and food. While the rest of them ate, Reyna's keen ears picked up random conversations around them.
"That Kayha that passed through here is she the same one that's working with Sasuke?" one patron whispered to his friend.
"Yeah, it is. That just spells trouble for all of us if she's betrayed us all," his friend replied and Reyna narrowed her eyes.
"Reyna?" Kakashi asked lightly.
She shook her head, pulling her mind away from the other conversation to focus on him, "Sorry, what?"
"What's with the look?" he asked and she realized that Naruto and Sakura had left them and that her own meal was sitting in front of her forgotten.
"Who is Sasuke and why would it be a very bad thing if Kayha was working with him?" she asked quietly.
Kakashi sighed, "Sasuke was a member of my team when they graduated from the Academy. It wasn't long after the Chuunin exams that Sasuke turned his back on the village and joined up with Orochimaru. I do know that you know who he is. Anyway, now we have reason to believe that Sasuke is working with the Akatski and wants nothing more than to destroy the Leaf Village and defeat his brother. Naruto thinks that he has some kind of bond with him and that it will save Sasuke. He still believes that there is some good in Sasuke and that all he has to do is make him realize it."
Reyna shook her head, "If he wanted to be helped, he would have stayed in the village or returned or something."
Kakashi sighed, "Try telling that to Naruto. Even after Sasuke has nearly killed him, he refuses to believe that he is beyond help."
Reyna sighed and stood up, "I'm not hungry anymore; let's just get some sleep."
Kakashi nodded and left enough money to cover the bill on the table before they headed out and into the street. Reyna sighed and snapped her head up, sniffing the air again. She growled in frustration under her breath and turned to Kakashi.
"We might as well just head for the Leaf in the morning. I won't be able to track them anymore after tonight anyway."
Kakashi gave her a confused look, "Why is that?"
"Because it's going to rain tonight; I can smell it," she muttered heading towards the village's only hotel, Kakashi falling in step behind her.
Reyna had been right and by the next morning there was a good inch of water laying on the ground and the group trudged back towards the Leaf to report what they had managed to find out, which wasn't a whole lot. They were going to have to rely on the information the ANBU could give to them about what was happening. About mid-morning, Reyna stepped up and started walking next to Naruto.
"Hey, Reyna-Sensei, don't you usually walk with Kakashi-Sensei?" Naruto asked.
She nodded, "I wanted to talk to you, Naruto. About Sasuke."
"I will save him and bring him home," Naruto replied fiercely.
"You know if he had wanted help he would have come back seeking it. He may be too far gone to save, Naruto."
"No he's not! Why does everyone have to keep saying that? He'll realize that he could still come home and he will!" Naruto snarled at her before speeding up and walking away from her.
Reyna sighed and fell back in step with Kakashi behind Naruto and Sakura who was now trying to calm the blonde down, "Looks like he really won't listen to anyone about this."
Kakashi shook his head, looking over at her from his book, "I told you that he wouldn't. I don't know what's going to happen if we have to face him. I really think that Naruto will end up dead just because he won't give up on Sasuke."
"Kakashi, if those two can't do what has to be done, I will. I know they'll hate me for it and if that becomes the case I will willingly change teams, but I will not allow my pack to fall. I won't make the same mistake twice and watch as everything I care about is ripped away from me. I will die before I see any one of my team mates die. I will only kill him if it becomes a last resort, but if I think he's going to kill any one of you, I will not hesitate and I will not pull back."
A/N: You all know the routine by now, please review to keep the muse happy! Now if my head wants to cooperate and stop hurting I may get another chapter up tonight, if not tomorrow sometime!