Hey guys here is the third instalment of the story :) Review, follow or favourite! As usual I don't own Naruto.

A bird was resting it's little wings on a tree branch, enjoying the gentle breeze that made the branch sway back and forth. It's beady black eyes blinked in the sunlight as shadows were cast by the tree canopy.

Ruffling it's feathers, the bird glanced down towards the waterfall and chirped in surprise.

A white wolf-well the bird assumed it was white-body was lying on the rocks below, its body covered with scratches, gauges, needles and dirt. The bird ruffled it's feathers again before making a quick decision to check it out.

Flapping it's wings, the small bird took off and flew down to the wet rocks below. It's tiny feet clutched at the rock as it stared at the wolf. Close up, the bird could see the wolf's sides rise and fall shakily.

A violent twitch came from the wolf, startling the poor bird and causing it to fly back to its tree in safety.

The bird ruffled it's feathers as it watched the white wolf slowly lift its head and gaze blearily around. With the twitch of it's small wings, the bird took off, deciding that there'd be safer trees to be in.

Mori slowly blinked her red eyes and looked at her surroundings before laying her head back on the smooth rock and closing her eyes. Everything hurt, and to Mori it was a miracle that she was even still alive. The sound of the waterfall crashing into the deep pool below and the wind blowing through the trees assaulted her ears, making them twitch.

Opening her eyes again, she willed what little strength she had to place her paws underneath her and lift up. Her limbs shook uncontrollably as her body rose up, pain racing up and down her spine.

Her lips pulled back in a silent snarl as Mori held her senbon-riddled leg up in pain. Those had to come out, but she was in too much pain to pull them out herself.

Slowly, she pulled herself out of the water and with one paw in front of the other, picked her way out of the pool. Her three working paws slipped on some of the rocks, but she managed to get out of the rocks safely. Limping, Mori slowly walked into the shadow of the trees, her breath coming out in pants and gasps.

A noise suddenly caught her attention, and Mori's head shot up despite the pain she was in.

"A child..?" Mori thought in confusion as more screaming came from deeper in the woods.

Her ears swivelled back and forth. Yes, it was a child who was screaming much to Mori's confusion. She was in pain, but Mori wanted to check out the screaming child. Continuing to limp towards the sound, she carefully made her way through the foliage until she came upon a clearing.

A child was indeed screaming, but instead of screaming in fear like Mori had assumed, the child was screaming in anger and frustration.

Upon a closer look, the child-a boy dressed like a giant orange-was tied by his foot and hanging by his legs from a tree. Tilting her head in confusion, Mori's legs gave out and her body crashed to the ground with an audible "whump". White hot pain raced up and down her spine as her eyes closed, whimpering quietly.

A rustle directly in front of her caused Mori to automatically leap to her feet, a deep growl vibrating from her chest as her teeth gleamed in the sunlight with her hackles raised.

Her mind swirled in pain as her ears pinned back against her head, her teeth still bared in a warning to whoever to stay away.

"Mori?" a smooth voice questioned as it pierced through the pain-filled fog in her mind.

"Hey Kakashi-sensei! I'm not finished with you! Let me down so I can beat you! Believe it!" the orange-clad child shouted from behind.

"Quiet Naruto!" the voice in front of the child scolded as Mori snarled and tried to move deeper into the foliage.

"Mori, what did you do to yourself?" the voice questioned again.

Mori's mind began to clear as her brain recognized the voice that belonged to the person still standing in front of her. Her hackles lowered slightly, but the growling continued. Her ear twitched slightly as a sigh sounded from the stranger in front of her.

That one sigh caused Mori's growling to stop immediately as her brain finally connected the voice to a face.

Kakashi Hatake, your good friend, was standing right in front of you. Finally, you had found some good luck.