Don't own it!

Chapter Eighteen: Fanged danger

Naruto was the first to wake the next morning. The fire had long died down and the embers gone cold and not even his blanket was giving him much warmth; he was cold!

"Stupid snow," he muttered groggily.

Since no one was awake yet Naruto decided to take care of some business and walked off for some privacy. Walking along a stream he stepped on a strange lump, but just shrugged it off and walked on, when he was hit by a small rock.

"What's the big i—" shouting angrily the boy spun on his heels and immediately fell silent.

A half snow covered Imako sat up and glared at him.

"It's never a good idea to treed on a sleeping demon, boy!" she sneered.

"Sorry, I didn't see you under the snow," he shot back.

Imako frowned and rose to her feet to shake off the remaining snow clinging to her.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked.

"Well... I was actually about to—"

Imako quickly silenced him by raising her hand and turned to leave when she stopped and looked over her shoulder at the blond.

"Hey, umm...Kyuubi," she started, but then seemed to think otherwise and sighed. "You're a lucky kid," she said and disappeared.

Naruto just scratched his head and shrugged.

"You're weird lady," he said turning to the stream to do what he came here to do.

Not long after Naruto had left the others began to wake. Sasuke and Sakura went off in different directions to take care of their own business and Kakashi did the same. He was too caught up in his thoughts of last night to notice the pack of hungry wolves circling him; positioning themselves for an ambush hidden by their white furs. Only when the order to attack, a fierce snarl sounded did Kakashi look up to see the beasts lunging at him.

"Great!"

Not really wanting to kill the wolves Kakashi dodged their attacks; ducking, jumping and sidestepping. But the wolves were relentless and attacked in ever increasing numbers... and he really needed to go!

Sakura was on her way back to camp when she heard something growling behind her. Stopping in her tracks she looked around, but aside of a few boulders and snow there was nothing there. She shrugged it off and meant to walk on when she heard it again. Staining her eyes she stared into the snow, only now noticing the odd texture of some of the snow.

"You moron!" grumbled Sasuke back to back with Naruto. "You lead them right to me!"

"What did you expect I'd do? Stand around and let them eat me?!" snapped Naruto. "Besides, how was I supposed to know you were here?!"

"You could have just stood your ground and fought them!" spat Sasuke.

"I did! But they kept coming and I was in the open!" barked Naruto.

"But you didn't have to go and trap us both you inbreed!" shouted Sasuke.

The vicious growls and snarls of the wolves echoed off the cliff walls and it was clear the attack was about to commence.

Despite his earlier reserve to kill the wolves, Kakashi was hacking away at them with his kunai. They kept coming and he saw no other way to defend himself. Among the plaintive yelps and howls of the injured and dying were vicious snarls as Kakashi sliced and stabbed. His hand was already so bloody he began loosing is grip on the weapon. Then it happened. One of the white furred beasts broke through and bit down hard on the exact shoulder Imako had bitten him in her demon form. He yelled out in pain and just barely fought it off, keeping the others at bay. Another got his left arm, twisting painfully before receiving the Jonin's kunai through its head with an audible crunch. By mere chance he glanced over to a lone tree not too far away. His eye widened when he saw Imako crouching on its crown, watching him. Then suddenly she vanished. A high pitched scream snapped him out of it.

"Sakura!"

Thinking fast, Kakashi jumped on the pile of dead bodies and reached the tree. On the very spot Imako had watched him from, he took out a scroll and preformed the katas needed to summon his nin-dogs. Bursting out of the snow his companions immediately attacked the wolves, giving Kakashi just enough time to jump down and race to aid Sakura.

Hot tears streamed down Sakura's face as she held her broken arm to her chest; the forgotten kunai lying under the paw of the beast right in front of her. Her back was against a large boulder, but on top stood another beast. The other's surrounded her completely.

"This is just a dream," she sobbed. "A terrible nightmare. Wake up Sakura... wake up!"

"Sakura!"

Sakura's heart jumped a beat and she turned to see Kakashi.

"Master Kakashi!"

A little smarter about the situation, Kakashi split into ten doppelgangers. Seven to fight and three to get to Sakura. He had to hurry before they received damage and disappeared. The beast on the boulder meant to jump attack Sakura, but Kakashi got to her first and pushed her aside. It was just a doppelganger and it disappeared shortly after. The original Kakashi grabbed Sakura in his arms and kicked two of the wolves away with a swift roundhouse.

"Hold on Sakura!"

Biting her lip against the pain in her arm she clutched his vest with her good hand.

"I'm so glad you're here Master," she cried. "They just kept coming!"

Only one doppelganger remained and Kakashi ran right at him, determined to beat the wolves to him. The doppelganger cupped his hands and readied him self. Kakashi jumped on his hands and the doppelganger launched them high into the air with all his might before being torn apart by two wolves and dissipating. Holding Sakura tight in his arms he flipped in midair and landed on a convenient cliff. There was Imako again, crouching and staring. When he hit the ground she was gone.

Sasuke nailed another four wolves with his shuriken as Naruto fought with his many doppelgangers.

"I don't get it," panted Naruto. "Where are they all coming from?!"

"How should I know," said Sasuke. "All I know is these aren't ordinary animals."

"Naruto, Sasuke!"

Kicking away their closest attacker both boys looked up to see Kakashi with Sakura in his arms.

"Master Kakashi, what's going on here?" shouted Naruto dodging another two beasts.

"Are you guys alright?" called Kakashi. "Hurry and get up here!"

"How?!"

Sasuke studied the cliff wall for a moment and came up with an idea.

"Naruto, have your doppelganger pile against the wall," he said. "We'll be able to jump on them to reach the cliff."

"You heard him," called Naruto. "Pile up!"

A few doppelgangers stayed behind to give cover while the others built a human ladder. The Genin quickly fell back and jumped up the Naruto's to reach Kakashi and Sakura.

"Hey, watch it!" said one of the clones.

"Are you alright?" repeated Kakashi when both had reached him.

"Just dandy," frowned Naruto.

For the first time he noticed Sakura quietly crying in Kakashi's arms.

"Sakura, what happened, are you alright?" he asked concerned.

"She's o.k., it's a broken arm," said Kakashi. "But it's not too bad, a quick heal."

"Naruto you dumbass!" came shouts from below. "We're being eaten alive down here!"

Kakashi sweat dropped and Naruto quickly ran to the cliff edge.

"Thanks guys!" he called before canceling the Jutsu.

The wolves snarled, growled and howled below as they tried to run up the wall.

"What are they?" asked Sasuke.

When he didn't get an answer he turned to find Kakashi angrily staring at a large boulder a few yards behind the raging beasts. Following his gaze Sasuke turned. There was Imako crouching on top; funny enough none of the beasts even seemed to notice her. He knew what Kakashi was thinking and couldn't help thinking the same. The she stood and threw what looked like a rock at one of the wolves. It snarled and turned. Spotting her it loosed an abnormally loud howl that seemed to echo back from everywhere. And from everywhere it seemed that the beasts came until Imako stood on a boulder in the midst of a white sea.

"What is she thinking?" asked Naruto. "She'll be killed!"

"Not if she's the one behind this," muttered Kakashi angrily.

Naruto couldn't believe his ears.

"What?!"

Kakashi couldn't believe his eyes. All this time he though he could reach her, though he could bring back the Imako he knew, cherished and loved when they were children. It was clear now his efforts had failed; he had failed.

'How could you Imako...'

"Hey you must be crazy," objected Naruto. "If that's really Master Iruka's twin she would never do that!"

"You moron!" snapped Sasuke. "Being evil has nothing to do with what family you come from!"

"Hey, you don't have to bite my head off!"

Kakashi could completely understand why Sasuke had reacted like that and he was right.

"Just be prepared!" said Kakashi.

Ohh another cliffy he he he. Thank you for your wonderful reviews, it makes me so happy! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and look forward to hearing from you again.

Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf