Don't own it.

Chapter Thirteen: Geography lesson

Sakura dropped to her knees panting hard.

"I-can't-take-another-step!"

Naruto plopped down ungracefully and held his stomach.

"Ditto," he breathed.

His stomach gave its own two cents and growled loudly. Sasuke just peered through the darkness of night when he glimpsed something.

"There's a fire," he said.

"Is it Master Kakashi's?" asked Sakura hopefully.

"I can't be sure. But we'll camp here for the night and head on tomorrow."

'Great... thanks to Naruto I'm realizing how hungry I am...' hr thought putting a hand over his stomach.

"Imako... why are you crying?"

Imako looked up from her dark corner in the empty classroom to see Kakashi crouching on the corner of a desk.

"They won't leave me alone," she sobbed. "They keep saying I'm a monster and- and that I should be dead."

Kakashi jumped off the desk and sat down next to Imako.

"Don't listen to those idiots," he said putting an arm around her. "They don't know what they're saying."

"But it's true Kakashi!" she said loudly. "There's something... something under my skin- sometimes I don't feel like me anymore!"

Kakashi pinched her in the arm.

"OW! That hurt sempai!!"

"But you felt it," he smiled under his mask.

Imako rubbed her arm with a confused look.

"You felt it; so it means you're you right?" he said. "If you weren't you then you wouldn't have felt it!"

Imako faintly smiled as Kakashi wiped away her tears.

"Now come on before your parents have a fit... not to mention Iruka," he added. "And of course Kotezu and Izumo are looking for you too."

Imako opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder at the sleeping Jonin.

"You lied," she whispered. "You lied..."

It was midday by the time the Genin finally reached the camp Sasuke had spotted last night. Both Kakashi and Imako hadn't moved from the spot nor talked to eachother.

"Master Kakashi!"

The Jonin raised his head and smiled as his students arrived.

"I was beginning to think you didn't get far enough," he said.

"Well actually, we didn't." said Sakura. "We were sure we were going to die when Sasuke found a crevice and pulled us in."

"Good work Sasuke," praised Kakashi.

"What was that anyway?" asked Naruto feeling left out.

"It's the after-effect of the soul seal; and the reason it's taboo," said Kakashi. "I'll explain later. Right now we should concentrate on getting back to Konoha."

"We saw a mountain range over that way," said Sakura pointing to whence they came. "If this is really Iwa then those mountains should be the Fubuki Range; the border between Iwa and Yuki."

"How can you keep all that stuff in you head?" asked Naruto. "You didn't even pull out a scroll this time."

"It's called memorizing," frowned Sakura. "You should try it sometime."

"You're right about the geography Sakura," said Kakashi praising. "We'll head there tomorrow. Imako and I need this day to regain enough strength to actually move."

Naruto looked over to the silent woman sitting cross-legged with her head bowed.

"I take it she won't attack?"

"Not yet little fox... no, not yet," she said dully without moving an inch.

Sasuke noticed his Master's sadness as he looked at her, but knew he wouldn't get an answer were he to ask. Suddenly his stomach growled audibly for the first time and everyone- including Imako looked at him. Sasuke went red and glared at Naruto's wide grin.

"Not one word!"

Tadaa! How's that for a quick update? I was in the middle of typing when I got the first review for the last chapter, so here's a treat, enjoy lol! And thanks to everyone who has and will review.

Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf