Chapter 51
The Approaching Threat

As the faint gleam of the sun struck the icy coat upon the pines, the blizzard that ravaged the mountain village had finally come to an end.

Early that morning, equipped with their warm cloaks on their shoulders, the three Suna shinobi stood outside the chieftain's grand residence on the mountain hilltop. A warm smile on his aging face, Kyō gave them a nod as he saw them off. Unexpected as they were, he welcomed them as guests into his land and his home. Three years of ruling over the tiny mountain settlement had not only gave him the new horizons of a leader, but his desire for peace had never before been stronger. The mountain-folk welcomed his calming leadership, and their cautious glances towards the shinobi from the desert soon turned amicable and grateful. Even the Yamamori clansmen who resided further up the mountain slopes no longer watched from behind the pines with their ghostly figures and purple eyes. Trust and redemption was fresh on the winds – as cold and unforgiving as the winds were.

"Safe travels, to each of you." Kyō said. "You may come and visit Yamagakure whenever you like. My home will always be open."

"Thank you, Kyō-sama." Gaara nodded. "We appreciate the hospitality. From one leader to another, you have my thanks."

Stepping closer, Kyō put a hand upon the Suna-nin's shoulder. "Watch yourself on your travels... Those fiends could be lurking still."

Gaara understood, his eyes stern. "I'll send a hawk if we encounter them... rest assured."

Leaning away from the Kazekage, Kyō balanced his bad leg and looked to the purple eyes that watched his movements carefully. His expression saddening slightly, Kyō turned to his daughter who stood beside the two Suna brothers – her face exerting a light-natured smile as he stepped closer. A young woman grown, his heart ached with the coming departure. As soon as she arrived two years ago, her home in the desert was calling for her.

"Be sure to write to your old man, okay?" He smiled, masking his grief. "I'll miss you. Have a safe journey."

Sensing his parental worry in his tone, she moved closer and hugged him, her eyes closed tight to contain her shared grief. Although she spent more time than she could have hoped in her mountain homeland, it was not nearly long enough for her to spend with her father. From being previously at odds and estranged, they were fully connected as parent and child, although now they would seldom see each other due to the distance between their lands. She would drop everything and return in a heartbeat, but she knew where she belonged – and her time in Yama had come to pass.

She had to move on.

Letting go, she gave a light smile. "Yeah," She nodded. "Thanks, dad. I'll come back to visit soon, I promise."

The winds rose, the cold growing stronger. Entering her senses, a nearby presence struck her from the frosted winds.

Fire, blood, and warning.

Shocked, her eyes widened as she took it with her breath, bewildered at the thought that entered her flashing memories. Within an instant, she was reminded of the chakra from that night when Yama was destroyed, and the dangerous assassin from the Land of Rivers – the presence nearly identical. The feeling of fear crept up within her, remembering herself as the scared girl hiding behind fallen houses of fire as the armored men in black garbs attacked her village, pillaging homes, attacking the villagers, and searching everywhere. The forged crest on their gleaming armor was suddenly fully visualized in her mind.

It was the mark of a beast.

Reminding her of the fiends who chased her towards the mountains, her blood stirred. Feeling their chakra approach the village from the cover of the tundra, her shocked expression formed a snarl on her lips. Anger entered her mind from the threatening energy she felt emanating through her bones. Her blood was near at a boil, the wolf inside her rising in fury from the scent on the winds. Her eyes went wide with shock and hatred all at once, dreading what her senses were telling her.

They had come back.

Alarmed by her sudden freeze close by, Gaara turned to her with his eyes narrowed in concern. "Nomasaki, what's wrong?"

"That vile presence…!" She spat, containing her anger through her clenched fists at her sides. "They've returned…!"

"Who?" Kankurō asked, sternly, turning to her in suspicion. "What is it?"

Her eyes serious, she met their glances. "It's them – the ones who ambushed Yama when I was a child!" She turned towards the winding village path, her eyes narrowed as she could sense them approach the tundra below. "The same chakra is approaching the village right now!"

"Why do you think it's the same invaders?" Gaara questioned. "How can you tell?"

"I know." She replied, her eyes locked on the trail in contempt. "I never forget a presence. It's them, I'm certain! Although... -," Biting her thumb in tense thought, she did not even flinch when the warm red blood flowed from her lips. "...I can't tell if they're the same as the ones who chased me here. That, I'm not certain."

"Is this true? Are you sure?" Kyō entered, his expression taken aback. Looking back to her father, she saw him approach, his expression urgent and alarmed. After seeing her nod with a grimace, he averted his glance in frustration. "After all this time–!? They have the nerve to come back… just when Yama is finally rebuilt–! The bastards! I don't understand, we have no true resources – no assets of worth – what could they possibly want from us? We're a village of less than three hundred shinobi!"

"The Yamamori blood," Nomasaki answered. "It has to be... These enemies share the same chakra of a man who was sent to kill me – the same as the shinobi who tried to capture me as a genin! It's the clan they're after, it has to be."

Kyō's hazel eyes narrowed in suspicion. Her words seemed to ring true to him. The village possessed no other bloodline, no other prominent families from times of old. Only the Yamamori clan who recently rejoined their ancestral home were the Kekkei Genkai wielders of the tiny mountain settlement. Word spread near and far of their revival from their years of hiding, and no doubt there were those within the shadows wanting to steal their power for themselves – or for a large bounty of coin.

"What do you suggest we do, then?" He pressed. "They're amongst the strongest we have."

"Have the Yamamori guard the village perimeter," She said, her voice stern – commanding. "They can't be on the front lines. Keep them hidden."

Listening carefully to their conversation, Kankurō leaned closer to his younger brother's ear. "Gaara, what should we do…?" He asked in an urgent whisper. "If it really is an invasion from another country – from Ishi – we could have an international crisis on our hands…! Suna should stay out of this… you're the Kazekage…!"

"I'm aware of that," Gaara answered, his tone quiet as his narrowed eyes met his brother's glance. "However, if the situation escalates, we might not have a say in the matter… For now, we have no choice but to wait…"

"Should we send word to Suna…?"

"No," Gaara spoke. "This is Yama's conflict… I have faith in their abilities to defend their village… Right now, there's no reason for Suna to be involved…"

Taking in his words, Kankurō nodded. While Gaara pondered to himself on the possibility of a battle, he became troubled over the words of Zenken that they exchanged only three years prior. Ishi vowed to never again hunt the Yamamori of the Land of Mountains and asked for forgiveness of their past massacre of Yamagakure. Were the invaders that Nomasaki sensed truly of Ishi, or were they simply mercenaries for a nameless cause? He was hoping it was the latter – but she was a reliable source as well.

"Kyō-sama!"

The powdery snow passing through the fast winds, four flak jacket-clad Yama shinobi appeared before their village leader upon the snowy earth, poised to follow his commands. Engraved onto their gleaming forehead protectors was the silhouette of three intersecting peaks. Mountains. Their faces were young, unseasoned by the thrill and chaos of war – rookies, it seemed. If they were old enough for the last attack those seven years ago, they would have been slaughtered at the border patrol with the last remnants of a village gone and passed. If times were fortunate, they would not be the last Yama shinobi seen by outsiders.

"Summon all available chunin and above shinobi to stand guard!" Kyō ordered, his eyes narrowed in anger for what was awaiting them at the mountain's base. "Evacuate all women and children to the shelter! I'm not allowing a single villager to be harmed! Instruct the Yamamori to guard the village perimeter! No one is to leave to the tundra without my signal!"

"Yes, sir!"

Instantly, the ninja disappeared into the snowy village while the guardsmen began to mobilize. While the homes shuttered and families moved towards the snowy bunker under the Yama Ninja Academy, their voices of concern and growing panic soon filled the cold mountain air. The sound of paws hitting the snows behind them echoed while the purple eyed wolves hid themselves amongst the frosted trees. Feeling their chakra around her, her eyes grew concerned for what awaited them on the tundra. Catching her attention, she felt Gaara's chakra draw near.

"What will you do?" He asked, his eyes serious. "These are your people, your homeland."

Turning to face him, he met the stern glint of her lilac eyes in the faint sunlight while the frostbitten air grazed their faces. "I have to defend this place," She answered. "No matter who the enemy is, I have to fight them." Turning back to the mountain path, her eyes narrowed in her resolve. "Regardless if it is Ishi or not, I will protect Yamagakure. I'm not letting my father's legacy be for nothing... or my mother's."

Taking in her words, he realized her conversation with Sasuke was not entirely for naught. Despite her hatred for Ishi in the past, her present motivation was not revenge but instead protection for her mountain homeland. A legacy. Accepting her words, he gave her a concerned glance as the harsh winds grew between them.

"Someone–! Help! Please!"

Drawing their attention, they witnessed the sight of a Yama ninja carry an injured woman towards the village gates. Making their way towards the concerned crowd, they approached the distressed villager and her escort. Upon reaching the crowd's center, they saw a dark-haired woman sobbing uncontrollably on the snowy ground, the side of her face bloodied and cut. Shocked by the sight, Kyō knelt down beside her.

"What's happened?!" He demanded, trying to console her sobs. "Who did this to you?!"

The woman grasped her injury as she attempted to stop the tears from flowing, her hands painted in crimson as she trembled. "My son…! Yuki... -!" She cried. "He…! He was taken, he was ripped from my arms…!" Her back shivered as she heaved closer towards the red-stained snow before her, tears staining her expression. "Strange armored men came and took my son! I tried to save him, but they attacked me... Their faces were covered, so I don't know who they are…! My son... He's gone...!"

Stepping forward, Nomasaki knelt before her, and assuring air to her expression as she placed her hand upon her quivering shoulder. "Don't worry," She spoke, calmly. "I'll save him."

Upon seeing the striking coloring of her lilac eyes as she met her glance, the woman jolted, her expression shocked and fearful. "You're…! You're a…–!"

Confused by her reaction initially, Nomasaki then understood why. The frightened woman knew of her clan – the wolves. Despite the village being recently reborn, some of its old prejudices still persisted about the clan she hailed from, whispered amongst hushed tones between elders and concerned citizens alike. Sympathetically, her eyes closed halfway at the trembling woman, understanding her fear.

"I know," She nodded, her expression serious. "But it's alright. I'm here to help you."

Relieved from her gesture, the woman broke into silent sobs again. "Please… save my boy…! He's only six!"

Standing up, Nomasaki started for the path with a determined and prepared glance – her footsteps crunching into the snow as she continued on ahead. "Gaara, Kankurō," She called as she glanced behind at them, her canines growing inside her jaws. "Keep watch over Yama, I'm pursuing them!"

Once she returned her gaze to the edge of the village, she eyed the icy forest below with a forming glare, knowing her destination was the harsh lands of the tundra. With a quiet wince, she felt her form shift from skin to fur, becoming a wolf with a snarl on its closed muzzle as she felt the blood boil under her clothes while her muscles shook with the change. Digging her paws into the snow, the strong muscles of her limbs propelled her forward as the cold air escaped from the bark of her fanged jaws. Darting through the trees in incredible speed and force, the snow leapt behind her paws as she sprinted down the mountain – determined to save the child from the enemy's grasp. Concerned, Gaara watched the white wolf disappear amongst the winds, worried about her safety in the battle alone.

"Go, Gaara,"

Surprised, Gaara turned to the voice behind him. Meeting the nod and stern glance from his older brother, Kankurō grasped the straps of his puppet's scrolls. "I've got things handled here. Make sure she doesn't hurt herself, or worse."

"Alright," He nodded, his body turning towards the path. "Don't do anything too rash, we have to remain neutral."

Smirking, Kankurō nodded. "Same to you, little brother."

Following her, the Kazekage started down the mountain slope in haste – ready to face the invaders that awaited on the frozen tundra.

A beast fumed beneath her skin, anger propelling her.

In the snow-covered lands surrounded by the white of the winds, she saw them before her in the distance. As her nostrils flaring with rage and feral strength, a growl ripped through her jaws as she made her way towards the group of armored enemies – eyeing the captive child in their midst. Her paws crunching through the snow with each step, she cautiously stepped towards them. Once a safe distance away, she stood her ground, a snarl ripping through the air as her white fur flared at her back – her muzzle exposing her threatening canines.

Watching the wolf from afar, the armor-clad leader of the renegades scoffed at the sight before him, his face concealed by a black mask. "A wolf?" He sighed. "I thought we finally killed you off in our last invasion? Our mistake, then."

An icy wind swept by, stirring up the snow at their feet. Once the wind retreated, it was not a wolf who stood before them, but a woman clothed in a dark cloak and a blue kimono-like dress – Nomasaki. Her lilac eyes narrowed in a feral nature towards them, suppressing her anger as she could begin to feel her blood boil. She saw it – the emblem engraved onto his armor. The beast marking she remembered as a child chilled through her. Her instincts were right.

"You thought wrong! Let the child go!" She spat. "If you value your lives, surrender the child and turn back. You're enemies to these lands."

Glancing at her up and down, he took in the shape of her new form, smirking to himself in amusement of her threat. "My, such bold words from a mere woman. That's quite the threat, I must admit... but we came here for a purpose." As the child was bound behind him by rope, he pulled the child forward by the hair. Shivering in the cold, the boy gave a faint wince in pain, his expression displaying his utter fear for his young and short life. "This child…" The enemy began. Pulling the boy's hair tighter, he rose the child to meet his threatening eyes. "…He was wandering around the outskirts, which was convenient for us! It's not a boar, but it's still something for our men to hunt." Watching her stand with her fists clenched at her sides, he dropped the child back to the snow. "If you come with us, we may consider sparing the child's life. If not… consider the child dead."

She narrowed her eyes, her blood stirring in contained rage. "If I come with you? For what purpose are you here?" Then it all clicked. Guilt rising to her throat, her glare intensified towards the armoured man. "Is it me you want?"

A grin painted his scarred lips. "You have quite the bounty... and your chakra is highly sought after. Why wouldn't we want the blood of the wolf? Especially when her father is the chieftain of Yamagakure. We tried, I'll admit... but that wolf's blood of yours is troublesome and you fought us off your trail." He placed a hand upon the hilt of his blade, eyeing her in the distance. "Besides... our superior commanded us to take you whether that is a matter of life or death. What do you think our purpose is, she-wolf?"

His words stilled her.

They want me, she thought, Just as I feared.

Courage filling her, she hardened her stance upon the snow. "I will not! You have no right to tread here!" She barked. "You terrorized my village and burned it to the ground!" Narrowing her feral glare towards him, her voice curled into a growl. "I'm not letting you move any further! I'll stop you before you can even step foot in Yama! As long as I live you will never reach the village gates!"

In a quick moment, the man held a katana to the boy's throat, the men at his sides prepared to charge on command – unfazed by her threat. "If you move, the child dies. Surrender now and come with us... we'll spare him. Your choice."

Closing his eyes, tears streamed down the boy's face, shaking as he stood defenseless. Seeing the child in that state made her even angrier. Her feral instincts screaming at her to attack, she kept them at bay. Controlling her rage, her glare pierced through the man and his mercenaries before her. "I'll give you one last chance," She spat. "Let him go…!" Turning to the followers at his sides, he nodded at them to move forward – the line of armored men poising their spears for attack in response. Cleansing her instincts from her mind, she closed her eyes. "So be it."

Opening her eyes, she dashed forward along the tundra.

As one of the men stabbed their spear towards her, she flipped her stance under him, tossing him behind as she used his weight against him, throwing him to the frozen ground with a thud. Continuing forward, she kept at her path towards the leader, her feral violet eyes locked onto him amongst his armored men. While the other bandits stood hesitantly as she approached, their expressions became fearful – and their leader noticed.

"Why are you just standing there?!" He shouted. "Kill her! She's just a woman!"

In an instant, ten weapon-wielding enemies charged forward, lunging at her. Suddenly, she solidified her stance into the snow, weaving hand-signs in a quick and swift motion.

"Secret Art! Snow Wolf Pillars!"

With a rumble, a relentless wave of wolf heads rose from the snow, attacking the charging enemies and swallowing some whole as they receded into the snowy earth. Noticing the child was now alone and unguarded, she ran to him. Once beside him, she cut the rope that bound him with a kunai from her satchel.

"Are you hurt?" She asked, calmly. Afraid and eyes wet with tears, he shook his head. "Hold on to me, and quickly!"

Before his eyes, with a quiet wince and a snarl, the woman who rescued him transformed into a white wolf. As the beast turned to him, it glanced at him with the same lilac eyes. Shocked by the wolf's words and transformation, he hesitantly grabbed the thick fur on her back. Once he had a grip, the wolf dashed toward the mountain's base in the veil of white.

Suddenly, once the leader regained his footing after her jutsu of the snow, he formed the hand-signs for a fire release jutsu as he witnessed the beast dash towards the mountain with his hostage. "Finally… you're mine!"

As the wolf continued running, feeling the heat of the flames on its trail, a large stream of sand quickly flew behind them, blocking the attack in a single lash. Once at the edge of the tundra, the wolf stopped in its tracks, sliding its claws along the snowy earth as it sensed an all-too-familiar presence.

"Nomasaki!"

To their surprise, Gaara appeared before them from the cover of frost.

Meeting his stern gaze, she looked at him, her feral eyes surprised to see him in her current form. Realizing they stopped, the boy slowly opened his eyes – hopping off the wolf's back as the beast lay its belly onto the snowy earth for him to dismount. As the wolf stood before him calmly, he examined its form fully for the first time as if in ages. Just as he thought, she was larger than the last time he saw her form during the war. Although smaller than Hanone, her fully grown wolf form was mired in feral strength with its strong limbs, thick white coat, and beastly violet eyes. She was as monstrous as a direwolf but the familiar humanity he knew was clearly visible within her form's eyes.

It was almost intimidating, he thought – although in silent admiration.

"Are you alright?"

Closing its eyes, the wolf winced through its jaws as she transformed back into a human, the icy winds of the tundra whipping her gold hair against her face, her cloak shielding her from the intruding cold. "I'm fine," She nodded, brushing off the snow from her kimono's lap as she stood. "Your timing was impeccable, as always. Thank you."

Sensing a set of eyes watching them on the tundra's boundary behind them, she glanced towards the ghostly figure that stepped towards them through the snow. From the cover of the white winds, a wolf with piercing lilac eyes approached cautiously, pausing before her. A Yamamori clansmen, she thought – And not a minute too soon. Glancing into its beastly eyes, she nodded towards it. "Take the child and return to the others," She commanded, her eyes narrowed. "We can handle this one."

Turning its head towards the adversary in the distance, the wolf snarled at the armored figure through its jaws. As the child shivered from the cold, the wolf drew its attention to the boy. As they met glances, the wolf allowed the child to climb onto its back, grasping onto its thick coat of white. Within an instant, they disappeared into the invisible lands of the frosted tundra – away from the battle at hand.

Stepping beside her, Gaara paused, his gaze narrowing into a suspicious glare towards the enemy ahead. Watching him stand in the snow at her side, she turned to him as her breath evaporated into the cold air. "Nomasaki," He began, his tone stern. "You said the mountain and snow provides defense from invaders… Why was Yama so easily ambushed back then?" Slightly alarmed by his question, she felt her chest pound with the thought. "I can tell by looking at you that you may know why, but for some reason you're unsure."

Turning back to the foe, she narrowed her eyes in suspicious disbelief. "You're right," She replied. "I… always thought it was strange how it all happened. But," Looking to Gaara, her expression turned serious. "Whoever was the leader of Ishigakure at the time, must have been familiar with the terrain… or at least, been to Yama before. If they were somehow related to this mercenary, I wouldn't be surprised."

"In that case," He answered, his gaze locked onto their enemy. "We must capture this one alive. There's a possibility that this one is also a missing-nin from Ishi, just as the assassin we encountered years before. I'll seal him with my jutsu, and then we'll take him to Zenken-sama for questioning. You can use fūinjutsu, right? I may need your help on this... it may prove difficult."

"Of course, I'll do whatever I can. I'll draw him out," She spoke, preparing herself to make the charge. "My fighting style is best for close combat or mid-range, while your strength is long-ranged attacks. I can take care of this–,"

"We'll take care of this," He replied. "Together."

Catching her attention, she heard his stance solidify into the snow below. Turning to him, she gave him a nod as a light smile painted in comfort formed upon her lips. Looking back towards the enemy, her eyes narrowed into a glare marked in ferality. "Follow my lead!" In a quick moment, she shifted her skin into a coat of white, dashing towards the mysterious enemy as he began to draw his katana in response. As the wolf bounded across the tundra, its jaws echoed a vicious bark.

Causing the very air to fall silent.

Notes: Song recommendation / / "Grá" by Wardruna