2| A new adenture

'I'm sorry, what?' Kaiya spat out in shock as she took the headband out from her eyes. 'But he's the Kazekage, goddammit!'

'I know, everyone shocked.' Tsunade said, calmly. 'But we need to act. We have a friendship with the Sand, and this is the right moment to show that we're willing to keep it.'

Just a two days after Kaiya's return, team Gai was called in an emergency to the Hokage's office, only to find out that Gaara, the new Kazekage of the Sand, was kidnapped by the Akatsuki, some sort of groupation whose goal still wasn't clear.

'I already sent Kakashi and his team to the Sand to take care of the situation, and I need you guys to go as backup.' Tsunade explained.

At the mention of Kakashi, everyone's eyes moved to Kaiya for a moment, before brushing it off.

'Is it necessary, though?' Neji asked. 'Team 7 has good members, plus Kakashi-san.'

'This is a delicate situation. The more, the better.' Shizune said.

'Well said, Shizune. Anyway, here's an informative scroll about your mission, in case that the Sand guards will question you- which they surely will.'

Tsunade took a scroll from one of the drawers, which she opened briefly to sign before handing it to them.

'You will discuss your plan with Team Kakashi and, if one of you run, by chance, into an Akatsuki member while you're separated from the rest of the group, you will not fight them alone, and you'll report them as soon as possible to authorities. Is everything clear?' Tsunade instructed, as she pursed her lips and spoke every word separately by the end.

'Yes, ma'am!' The group nodded.

'Then I expect nothing but the best from you.' Tsunade said, more relaxingly. 'Off you go.'

The group nodded one more time. Guy stepped ahead with one of his typical big grins and took the scroll in one of his hands.

'We won't disappoint you, Hokage-sama!' He said confidently, before turning to his team. 'Let's go!'

The group all obeyed and walked out, energetically, letting Tsunade alone with Shizune and Tonton again.

'It's nice having you back, Kaiya.' Tenten smiled, as they walked down the hallway. 'We'll finally be able to do missions with the entire group now.'

For some reason, Kaiya's heart warmed up as it fastened its beat for a moment. The whole team...? She shook her head with a smile. Enough of this sentimental stuff.

'I'm glad to return, too.' She said. 'Although, I never expected our first mission to be like this.'

Tenten laughed. 'Well, at least it's something more interesting, right?'

'It going to be a really youthful mission!' Lee exclaimed. 'We'll be able to help Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan, isn't that great?'

'Naruto... he also returned in town the other day, didn't he?' Kaiya asked.

'Mhm.' Neji confirmed. 'He got sent on the mission just a few hours after he came.'

Kaiya's face wrinkled a bit. 'Man, that sucks!'

'Don't worry much- it's good for the body.' Guy said with a halt, as they exited the main building. 'Ok. Here's the deal- you guys run home and pack a few necessary things for a week's trip- some water, food, clothes and a few weapons, and we'll meet at the gates in an hour. Got it?'

Everyone nodded, before each departing to their homes.

Kaiya walked around her apartment aimlessly. She was just about done with packing up, but was doing the last checks.

Weapons? There. After some thoughts, she eventually opted in taking her tachi with her. She was nearly sure that they wouldn't run into the enemy, it was better to be safe than sorry. After all- whoever the Akatsuki was, they managed to capture a Kage and that said something.

A few spare clothes? There. Food? The amount of rice she fried should do just fine for a meal and a half, along with a small sack made out of animal skin for water she got from her father -well, step-father if you wanted to be precise- not too long ago after they went hunting once.

As she did the last checks, a knock was heard from her door, catching Kaiya's attention. Kaiya tensed up and hesitated, grabbing her kunai. The knock repeated.

'Kaiya-san, it's me, Lee.' A voice from the other side of the door said. 'I wondered if we could walk to the gates together?'

On the other side of the door, Lee pursed his lips a bit. His move was too sudden, for sure, but he wanted to talk to the girl. It wasn't anything important, but they didn't really talk since her arrival and Lee wanted to catch up to how she was now doing.

Hearing the familiar voice, Kaiya relaxed her body with a light sigh of relief. She put her kunai away in her small weaponry bag.

'Sure, why not.' She said, calmly. There was nothing to lose, so she had nothing that held her back. 'Just give me one minute and we can leave.'

'Take your time.' Lee assured, now smiling broadly.

Fair enough, it didn't take long until Kaiya exited her apartment with a tachi and a small backpack on her back, allowing the two to leave.

'So how are you now?' Kaiya asked as they moved through town.

'Nothing much, other than the usual,' Lee shrugged. 'Training, going on missions and repeat.'

Kaiya snorted a little. 'Can you still believe that the Kazekage got kidnapped? The new Kazekage is that redhead you fought in the Chuunin exams, right?'

Lee nodded in approval. 'That one.'

'Hmph. I'd say he nearly deserves it, but that would be horrible and sick to say.' Kaiya said. 'Nobody has the right to say such things.'

Lee looked at the girl, taken aback for a moment.

'That's correct.' He said, quietly.

He kept quiet for the rest of the walk. It wasn't that he didn't know what to say- he had quite a few questions and various stories to tell, but, for one reason or another, he felt like this wasn't the best moment.

Eventually, they reached the gates, where Gai and Tenten were waiting. From yet a few meters away, Kaiya called out to them with a wave -nearly giving Lee a heart attack-, to which they responded with a large smile and a greeting.

'Hey, is Neji not here yet?' Kaiya asked with a frown, when they finally reached the two.

'Who's not here?' A slightly deeper, confused voice asked behind Kaiya, making Tenten burst laughing for a moment.

Kaiya turned around surprised, only to see Neji looking at her calmly, almost disappointed. How comes she didn't sense him coming? Curse her half-bloodness!.

'So, everyone's here.' She stated as she turned around to face Neji, trying to keep a straight face and not show the embarrassment growing inside her.

Guy looked at the group, checking. 'Yep, everyone's here. Are you guys ready?'

Each member answered positively.

'Then, we should not lose any time and catch up to team Kakashi!'

'Roger!' Said the group at once, before fleeing into the same direction, deep into the forest.

A few hours later, the group was still going. By now, it became slightly clearer that everyone improved in the past years, as they all had a faster pace and better stamina that didn't let them become fatigued so easily.

'So tell me, Kaiya,' Guy began, curiously, 'what did you do in the past three years?'

The group listened and paid close attention to what Kaiya was about to say. After all, taking her background, they were nearly dying to know more.

'Nothing much, to be honest.' She shrugged in response. 'I trained a lot with my father, cousin and brother, and the elders of my clan took me in to learn to control my Spirit Seer abilities.'

'A spirit what?' Guy asked in confusion, his forehead wrinkling.

'It's a side effect to her family's Kekkei Genkai that some people suffer from.' Lee informed. 'It allows them to see the spirits of the dead. Is that correct, Kaiya-san?'

Kaiya turned her head to the boy, her eyes wide open in surprise.

'The description is on point.' She told him. 'I'm impressed.'

'That's very youthful of you to know, Lee!' Guy said. 'Great job!'

Lee looked obviously pleased and delighted with the compliment. 'Thank you, Guy-sensei!'

'So, what can you do now, Kaiya?' Tenten asked.

'That some people suffer of? How is any of the side effect suffering?' Neji said, just as Kaiya opened her mouth to answer Tenten's question.

'Well, the side effect slowly consumes your chakra. As a kid, if you don't know how to control the powers, the ability is more or less always on, thus keeping your chakra on the low.' Kaiya explained. 'Besides, it's not really pleasant to see things that others don't. Now, on Tenten's question, I can save a lot of chakra, and I'm currently working on summoning spirits- basically, a ritual in which I can bring ghosts to me if I wish.'

'Y-You can summon ghosts?' Guy asked.

'Not yet.' Kaiya laughed, amused by the man's reaction. 'I'm still working on it. The elders did their best to teach it to me, and now it's all about me and how I cope with it.'

'Amazing.' Tenten said, honestly impressed. 'So, you're able to see ghosts from Konoha, too, right?'

'Mhm.' Kaiya nodded. 'I can't really tell the difference between the living and the dead, though. They all look consistent and active just like living people. One of my so-said neighbours is dead, actually. I didn't realise it until my mother came and pointed out she didn't see him.'

The group was impressed with the girl. For a moment, Neji's mind flickered to his father for a moment, before closing his eyes, deactivating his Byakugan that made itself present at the boy's mix of thoughts and emotions.

Soon enough, it became night and it was time for the group to rest. They stopped next to a stone wall, where they made a fire.

'Are you sure that we'll make it in time, sensei?' Kaiya asked, tilting her head to a side. 'If we slowed down and walked, we could cover somewhat of the journey.'

Guy sighed. 'You're right, but if we want to help team Kakashi, we need to be in full force. We can't do that with no sleep and little food.'

Kaiya pursed her lips, before nodding in agreement.

'You're right, sensei.' She said. 'I'm sorry for putting a silly question.'

Guy frowned.

'There's no such thing as a silly question!' He said. 'That was a good plan- we just need rest, ok?'

'Yes, sensei.' Kaiya said, before sitting down, resting her body on a large stone just a little smaller than her.

She closed her eyes just one time, yet it was enough to get her to fall asleep. Her teammates looked at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

'And she wanted us to walk all night? She's exhausted!' Tenten exclaimed, careful not to speak too loudly.

'She must be stressed.' Lee considered. 'Who knows what her family's like- they might react to things different on the way we do.'

'But they seemed willing to give her some good skills as a shinobi. She might as well become a fine weapon.' Neji considered.

'You have a point there, Neji.' Tenten thought. 'If she manages to control those special powers of hers, do you think she'll make it into the ANBU?'

'Maybe.' Neji shrugged, with a light yawn. 'Or she'll remain a chuunin, or jounin...'

'You all seem tired.' Guy said. 'Go to sleep- we have a full day tomorrow.'

'Yes, sensei.' The three obliged, without any further comments.

They all set themselves comfortable and, soon enough, they all fell asleep. Guy looked at the group and couldn't help but smile a little. He had a group of amazing young shinobi- he couldn't ask for any better. They all cared for each other deeply and, at last, they were all back together. Skilful or not, he knew exactly how he felt towards them.

He was proud.

A/N
Yeetus deletus, how's it going, y'all?

Here we are, with chapter 2 of 'The Wolf Within'. I worked really hard to bring this to y'all, so why not tell me what did you all think of this chapter?

Some of you might have noticed the new cover I made for this book. I really loved the previous cover. I mean, look at it:

The problem? The size. The size didn't mcFricking work with Wattpad, and if I changed the text's place, it didn't look as good. So I had to make a whole new cover. Well, I'm quite proud of this cover as well, so there's that.

Well, this should be everything for this author's note. See y'all in the next chapter!

Yobe! *yeets the mic into the public with the power of a Kobe as I leave the stage*

-Avery