It's finally here! The re-write of Running with Wolves! I'll be writing this and my other story, The Last Princess of Whirlpool for NaNoWriMo this year. I hope y'all like it!

"What the actual-"

"Language, Yua."

"You're one to talk, sensei," I mumble as I look down at the scroll in my hands.

"What's going on?" He turns to look at me from his spot at the kotatsu. He's been focused on the newest draft of his next novel for the last two weeks that we've had off between missions. "Word from Itachi?"

"No." Although we were expecting something from him at any moment. It seemed like something new was going on within the Akatsuki, but we hadn't been able to figure out what that was. They have been so quiet for so long but recently Itachi has been called into more frequent meetings.

"Who's the scroll from, then?" Sensei asks.

"The old man."

"What's he want?"

"I'm being called back to the village." He turns to look at me and raises an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"To become a jonin sensei." There's a beat of silence as he stares at me, a blank expression on his face. And then, he tilts his head back and lets out a loud laugh. Soon he's holding onto his stomach, tears coming out of his eyes. I glare at him as his laughter starts to die down. He wipes his eyes before taking a deep breath and motioning me over. I sit down next to him at the kotatsu and he immediately wraps an arm around my shoulders.

"You've been gone from the village since you were a genin, it was only a matter of time before he called you back home."

"I've spent more time in my life out of the village than inside of it-"

"The old man has a way of knowing when someone needs to become a sensei."

"He made you a sensei-" I try to say.

"Hey! One of my students became hokage!"

"Thank sage it wasn't me." Jiraiya rolls his eyes at my comment. "Hey, you know you don't want the hat, either. There's way too many stuffy meetings and paperwork."

"Did he say who you've got on your team?"

"Clan kids."

"Yua, it can't be that bad-"

"I have Hiashi Hyuga's oldest daughter." He gives a non-committal hum in response. "Asuma said that Kurenai got promoted a few weeks ago, why didn't Lord Third pick her?"

"She's a genjutsu expert, not exactly a Hyuga specialty."

"But she's from a clan." The entire reason I hadn't been placed on a genin team was because I wasn't from a clan. I'd graduated at the top of the class but the council refused to let a civilian, let alone a civilian orphan with no clan, be on a team with two clan kids. Let alone that team.

"Things have changed." Jiraiya shrugs. "There's a civilian on Naruto's team."

"Who's going to be his sensei?"

"Who do you think? Kakashi, obviously."

"You think he'll pass them? Hasn't he failed every team he's been given so far?"

"I think he'll pass them. You know what sensei has said about Naruto. He's persistent." From everything the old man had said in his letters, that was right. Jiraiya had been forbidden by the council to see Naruto. It didn't stop his old sensei from sending us letters about how the boy was doing. It also won't stop me from taking care of him, either. If I'm being forced back to the village, I'm taking care of him, since nobody else has.

"I guess I'll buy him some ramen, then."

"Like you need an excuse to go to Ichiraku." Jiraiya snorts before going back to his writing. "How many times did you get your summons to bring you some in the last week?" I feel my cheeks go red. I didn't spend too much money on things. Except for ramen. And since we were so close to the village at the moment, the closest we've been in years, I couldn't not get Ichiraku.

"But really, why me? I can't fail them, the council would have my head." I say, trying to steer away from the topic of my ramen addiction.

"Hiashi can be an ass, but I don't think he'd bring the council into it, if she isn't ready don't pass her."

"I've got the kids of both the Inuzuka and Aburame clan heads, too." Jiraiya whistles at that before leaning back in his floor chair.

"It makes sense though, that he'd want you as their sensei. Tracking team."

"I don't want them to be forced into that, though. I saw too many clan kids die during the war because they were so recognizable and the other villages knew their weaknesses."

"You're already thinking about what you'll do with them." He looks over at me with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

"It's not like I can fail them."

"I bet you'll be calling them your pups by the end of the first week." Another voice says. I look up to see Kyo, one of my summons. A midnight black wolf, the blue fabric of her Hitai-ate stands out against the fur on her neck. She comes over and shuffles under the kotatsu to take in the warmth against the harsh blizzard outside.

"I give it three days." Jiraiya says.

"I hate you both." I sigh as I look back down to the scroll. "Although I won't mind going back to warmer weather for a bit."

"You can say that again." Kyo says as I feel her lay down against my leg.

"You know what this means, right?" Jiraiya says after a moment of silence.

"Hmm?"

"We need to get you a new outfit."

"No way."

"You know all the kunoichi who make it to Jonin never actually wear the uniform on a daily basis."

"I'm a shinobi," I say. I hate how petulant I sound.

"I'll pay." I almost drop the scroll. The pervert has always been a cheapskate. I don't trust this at all.

"You'll pay?"

"I can't let my student blend in, you know."

"Am I allowed to say I'm your student?" Jiraiya pauses his writing before he looks over at me.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"You know the council doesn't like me-"

"You're my student." He says firmly, putting his pen down on the table. "You've been dealt a shit hand but you've worked hard and fought for your village. The council can shove their opinions up their ass."

"What was that about language, sensei?" I tease weakly, trying to change the subject. He sighs before pulling me into a hug.

"You're the closest thing I have to a kid, gaki." He whispers in my hair. I feel tears burn at the back of my eyes as I lean into his chest. "I'm proud of you. You've done so much out here, but it's time for you to go home."

"No one is thinking about me there."

"Sensei obviously is."

"Yeah, it just took over fifteen years." I shake my head against his chest before pulling back a bit and wiping my eyes.

"He's been asking me to send you back for the last few years, Yua."

"What?" I look up to see the watery eyes of my sensei. The man who had taken me in after I was broken after years of work along the border during the war. The man who showed me what it was like to actually have a teacher focus on you. The man who showed me what it was like to have a family. He'd hidden this from me for this long?

"I knew you weren't ready to go back." He says gently. "You were still too angry, too hurt."

"I'm not ready yet."

"Yes, you are."

"But-"

"I'm not going to be here forever, Yua." I feel my breath stop as I look up at him. "You need people who love you. You need your pack."

"But you're my pack."

"I know, but you need more Yua-chan." I hate how he emphasizes more. I know immediately what he means. He means finding my true mate. One of the "perks" of being a wolf summoner. The downside of said perk being the intense emptiness I feel whenever I'm alone or have a free moment to think.

"The chances of me finding my mate in the village are slim, sensei. We've been over this how many times now?" I'd given up long ago on finding my mate. My summons were confident that I'd find them, but wouldn't give me information. Saying that finding a wolf's true mate was an important experience. One that should be a surprise. One that I shouldn't be prepared for. It wouldn't be natural if they told me. I hadn't minded when I first signed the contract, I was a green genin with no team, no sensei, and just a few chunin who had my back in a warzone.

Ever since we'd had more peace, even sensei was trying to push me to go back to the village, just in case I found them.

But if my own village didn't want me, why would my mate?

"Just go back with an open mind, yeah? For me?" He says, breaking me from my thoughts. The pout on his face has nothing to do with my answer. Absolutely nothing.

"Fine."

"That's the spirit." He smiles widely before pulling away and going back to his work. "Go ahead and pack up. I know a good seamstress on the way back to the village."

"You're coming too?"

"Just to the seamstress. I'll come visit the village during the chunin exams." He ignores my pout, already too focused on his porn again.

"I'm not wearing anything skimpy."

"Of course not."

"You're not peeping in the other change rooms, either."

"But-"

He did try peeping in the other change rooms. Before the seamstress stabbed him with a particularly nasty looking needle. It was worth all the poking and prodding she'd done while getting my measurements to see the look of betrayal on his face as she stabbed him. After finishing up getting my measurements she all but kicked us out of her shop, I don't blame her. Jiraiya was - well, he was Jiraiya. But since I'd told him I was going back to the village he was completely different than he normally was.

He was the doting father that had taken me in at the request of his sensei as the war began to die down. The man who stayed up all night to help me fight away the nightmares for months. The one who taught me everything he could. From Fuinjutsu to the importance of not acting out of anger or revenge. The one who tore through almost all of the elemental nations to find his old teammate when I felt cramps at the age of twelve, scared to death that I was dying of some incurable illness. The redness on his face when he realized what was going on was worth the uncomfortable conversations with both Tsunade and my summons.

He was watching me with the same attentiveness he had when we'd received the scroll from his student that my best friend died. That one of his eyes was transplanted in the boy who had hated me with such ferocity in our small amount of time together at the academy. Jiraiya had stopped my multiple attempts to run from him to return to the village to assassinate the council member who ordered the mission-

A toad pops up on the rock next to me in the hot spring, breaking me away from my thoughts. Another treat from Jiraiya, he'd paid for me to have a private onsen. Something that happened so few times in the many years that I traveled with him that I could count them on my hands.

"Hey Yua-chan." The toad waves as the smoke around him dissipates. "Jiraiya wanted me to grab you, said your clothes were ready."

"Thank you, chibi-kun." I tease him, he was one of the younger summons, born around the same time as Naruto. If toads could blush, I'm sure that's what he'd be doing right now. I laugh at his expression before he quickly poofs away, back to Mount Myoboku. I quickly make my way out of the hot spring, drying off and dressing quickly before making my way back to Jiraiya.

"Took you long enough," he teases as he throws his bag over his shoulders.

"The water was too nice." I can't stop the pout from forming on my face as I shrug on my own scroll and backpack.

"It's a good thing there's nice onsens in Konoha, then." He winks at me and I roll my eyes at him.

"Just let me know when you're in the village so I know when to avoid them."

"Yes ma'am," he salutes, a carefree smile on his face as he starts walking towards the clothing shop we'd visited just a few days before.

Too soon I'm back in the dressing room, a pile of fabric on the bench, ready for me to put on. I take a deep breath before pulling on the leggings, a dark green that went halfway down my calf. Next, I put on the undershirt. Short sleeves for this time of year in fire country, she'd said. The shirt was more like a crop top, only coming to a few inches above my belly button.

But it had fabric where it was most important. I pull the scrunched up fabric around my neck up and settle it over my face.

My neck was covered. I feel my shoulders relax.

I am the only living wolf summoner at the moment. My summons had said that they heard from the previous summoner's pack that she had also covered her neck until she found her mate. Only after she was marked did she show her neck with pride. I'd promised myself as soon as I was told about her that I would follow suit.

I don't see myself walking around without this protection anytime soon.

I wasn't expecting the mask portion of this shirt, though. I'm sure that was thanks to Jiraiya pulling the woman aside before he started peeping. It was hard enough to deal with the smells in this shop. I can't imagine what it would be like in Konoha without at least a little layer between my sensitive nose and the bustling village.

Next I put on my actual shirt. Another crop top. I roll my eyes but pull the black fabric on, settling it in place before I grab the gloves sitting on the bottom of the pile. They were dark green like my leggings, had armor like sensei's and they covered my bracelet. I smile sadly as I look down at it, the familiar red and white fan on the inside of my wrist. A gift from Obito when I was sent out on the war front just days after graduating from the academy.

"A reminder of home." He had said, his goggles fogging up. "That it doesn't matter if you don't officially have a clan, as long as the Uchiha continue you'll be protected from that stupid council."

The memory brings a new layer of dread. I didn't just have to take care of my own team and Naruto when I returned. I need to take care of Sasuke, too.

Even after Obito was gone, I would get regular letters from Mikoto, and eventually Shisui and Itachi. And on a few rare occasions, I would receive one from Fugaku as well. Reminders that I wasn't alone. That I still had a home in the village. That someone was thinking of me.

I feel tears prick at my eyes as I shake my head. I will protect Sasuke. For Obito. For Itachi. For Shisui. For Fugaku. For Mikoto.

I take a deep breath before finally looking at myself in the mirror. My red hair is tied back in a ponytail, streaming down my back much like sensei's. The crescent moon markings facing opposite of each other on the center of my forehead stand out against my pale skin. The dark purple markings showing my connection to my summons. I continue to look down, my red cheeks and pale body are still as chubby as it's always been. One of the girls at the border had once offered me a "special" tea to "help with my weight." I just rolled my eyes and declined the offer. I didn't have to be small to be a strong shinobi.

Like the Akimichi, I loved to eat.

My stomach grumbles at the thought of Akimichi food. It'd been years since I'd had the special barbecue dumplings an older Akimichi woman would give me multiple times a week. The orphanage never had enough food in the best of times.

I skim over my outfit one more time before finally tying my Hitai-ate around my head, covering my markings for extra protection. The dark blue fabric matches that of my summons.

Soon enough, I'm walking out of the changing room. The older seamstress looks up and down my body, checking her work before nodding to herself and handing me a scroll, filled with the rest of my clothing.

"Thank you," I bow a little to her, but she waves me off.

"Just get your sensei out of here." I laugh at that and head towards the front of the shop, but pause when I don't see my standard shinobi sandals. There were only a pair of sandals that I'd rarely worn, ones that were identical to Jiraiya's. I smile down at them before gingerly putting them on my feet. I wave back to the seamstress as I open the door to the shop, welcoming the sunlight that hits me.

I look to see my sensei sitting at a bench across the small dirt road, my bag and large scroll sit beside him. He smiles widely when he sees me, standing up and bringing my gear to me. He helps me put them on my back before turning me around.

"You've gone and grown up on me, ne Yua-chan?" He says as he looks down at me, a large smile on his face despite the tears that threaten to spill down his cheeks. I feel a lump in my throat as I look at him. Sure, we'd been separated on missions before, but I always knew he'd be a short run away. But now, now he would be out here alone. Alone to lead a spy ring. Alone without his team, his sensei, his godson. Outside of the village he'd already sacrificed enough of his life for.

"Sensei-" I say, my voice finally cracking as the tears start flowing down my cheeks. I knew I'd have to leave to go back to Konoha but damn. It was finally sinking in. I was leaving my pack. "I can't do this!"

"Yes, you can Yua-chan." He says, pulling me into his chest. I take in his scent, the smell of fire, ink, and parchment fill my senses. I lean into him fully, trying to memorize as much of this as I can. He and my summons were the only pack I had and here I was leaving a packmate out alone- leaving my father alone. "Hush," he whispers into my hair. "You're going to take care of yourself, of your pack."

"But you won't be-"

"I'll always be with you, silly girl." He runs his hand through my hair just as he always had when I would wake up from nightmares. Calming me, whispering that nothing could hurt me now that he was here, that it was just a dream. But none of that was true now.

We stand here for I don't even know how long. But eventually the tears dry. He smiles as he pulls out his canteen to help me wash the tears from my face, being careful not to get my mask wet. "I'll be back in the village before you know it."

"Write to me?"

"You don't even have to ask," he chuckles, pulling me back in for another hug. This one is much, much shorter. But I close my eyes, taking in the moment. "You need to head out soon, I don't want you to have to get to the village in the dark."

"Yes, sensei." I say after taking a deep breath to steady myself. I pull back and look up into his eyes. "I'll take care of him." He cracks a smile at that.

"And yourself too, Yua-chan."

"Yes sensei," I smile up at him, forcing the tears back.

"There's my girl, give them hell for me, yeah?"

"You know I will." I grin and finally take a step back. "I'll send Rai to let you know as soon as I'm in the village." I see Jiraiya's shoulders relax as he gives me one of his easy going grins.

"I'll be sure to get him some steak." I nod, knowing that my youngest summons will be very happy to be spoiled with some steak. I finally take a deep breath and turn away from my sensei, walking down the path. I turn around and raise my hand, he raises his as well in a wave. But instead of waving, I use the hand signs I know I'm not supposed to know how to use, but I know if I say the words I won't be able to go back to the village tonight. 'I love you, dad.' I can see him swallow hard, struggling to remain composed. He stops his wave, instead signing back to me, 'I love you too, daughter.' I manage a sad smile in return before I have to turn back around.

As soon as I know I'm out of sight, I summon Kyo and Rai. We walk to Konoha together in silence. Their flanks brush up against me every few steps. And then after what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, I see the gates of the Village Hidden in the Leaves for the first time since I was nine years old.

In just three days, it will be seventeen years since I walked out of those gates. I take a deep breath, motion for Rai to go back to let Jiraiya know I'd made it to Konoha safely. Rai nuzzles my hand for a moment before turning around at a quick pace.

"Would you like me to come with you, Yua-chan?" Kyo asks when I don't step forward.

"I think- I think I should do this alone, Kyo." I say after a moment. She gives a wolfy smile before licking my hand.

"You can do this, pup. Call us when it's time to sleep." She disappears in a puff of smoke as I walk out from the cover of the trees. It's time to go home.