I'M FINALLY BACK! I'm so, so, so, so, so, so sorry for the delay! XP I got the lazy attack and ended up not updating for…well, I don't know how long but still! Here's the fourth chapter to the story!
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Raining was a huge delay for the remaining Akatsuki who were off to save their now dog partners. First it was a small pour until Earth decided to slow them with rain that felt like small pellets shooting from a weapon and wind, very strong wind that knocked Deidara over. Man, did the Earth hate them that much?
"Die f*ckn' wind!"
Hidan yelled as he had his eyes squinted from the bullet like rain that blew in their faces. Hidan was too preoccupied to help collect wood for a fire they were preparing in a cave. Lucky for them, Konan had brought a match to light the fire. Problem was, there was no dry wood for them to use.
"What do we do now un?"
Deidara asked, covering his face as the wind rushed into the cave every few seconds. Second problem, if they got the fire to even start, the wind would rush in and blow it out like a candle. Konan was getting annoyed from Hidans' yelling and dragged him in by the back of the Akatsuki cloaks' collar.
"Shut up before I make you…"
Konan hissed irritably as Hidan immediately shut up. Deidara sighed and rested against the hard rock wall. What were they to do? They didn't have a clue because they needed fire and it would only survive for a second or two. Kisame sighed and leaned back as well, crossing his arms. Oh why did the Earth hate them so? This question was one of many that wouldn't be answered.
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A large black dog walked outside, listening to the wind rush by. But this dog wasn't normal; it had a large dark blue stripe of fur across its side, going down in a diagonal like fashion. Then another dog walked out, a yellow Labrador with an orange stripe going down its forehead, ending at the bridge of its snout. The Labrador looked behind it as a Husky walked out, with an almost orange fur on its face, gray fur all over its body, a white spot on its side and a purple lightning bolt like shape on the opposite side of the white spot. The three dogs looked at each other, sat down and gave out a sonorous, prolonged howl.
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The four in the cave shivered as wind rushed in and swirled about until the wind carried a beautiful sound. It was a song, a dog song, the sound of the howl echoing into the night. The four perked up and listened as wind continued to blow in. It started with one howl, a low, lonely like howl, until another came in. The song continued to play in the wind. They continued to listen to the howls. They wish that they could respond, but the wind was blowing the sound to them which would make their noise drift away from them. Then they heard a Loon quaking. Hidan looked at the other three as they nodded. They were sure that it was the dogs, no doubt. They continued to sit, not knowing what to do but sit, wait and listen to the Loons. What happened to the howls? Why did the howls stop? Questions arose from their minds as they continued to stare out of the cave.
"Lets go."
Konan said as all got up and dashed out, running as fast as they could go, rain pelting their faces, though they didn't mind. They jumped from tree to tree as quickly as possible, nearly falling in the process. They suddenly stopped feeling drained. Hours had passed and they sat down, rain and wind continued to attack them. They looked at the road ahead of them and slowly closed their eyes in exhaustion, listening for the howls. There they were, the lonely sound, sending chills up their spines. The lonely howl was alone this time, low and sonorous. Falling asleep under a tree of their own. Tomorrow, they'd continue. The wind continued to blow mercilessly…
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Konan opened her eyes to a muddy, yet sunny morning. She stood up and looked at her surroundings. Ah yes, their run. It was a foolish thing to do. They were fueled by the howls that they knew belonged to the dogs Orochimaru had taken. That last howl she heard before falling asleep was alone and she wondered why.
"Wake up."
Konan whispered, shaking Deidara awake.
"What un?"
Deidara asked, groggily and irritably. Then he realized that they were supposed to go save their partners.
"Fine, fine, I'm up…un."
Deidara grumbled and stood up.
They all continued to jump in the trees as Konan stared at the map Zetsu had given them. They were close, oh so close to Orochimarus' lair or whatever he called it.
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The large black dog with the blue stripe walked out side once more. It looked around and sat in the spot it had the previous night. This time, the dog didn't howl, it could smell some intruders approaching. The dog gave a soft, low pitched growl that seemed to come from the chest and stood up, walking away to warn its master.
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The four looked at the lair ahead of them as Zetsu appeared.
"It's about time."
The black half of Zetsu said in annoyance from waiting.
"I thought that you four were faster than that. Shut up."
Zetsus' sides started to argue as the four stared at Zetsu.
"Huh, oh yeah, lets go."
Zetsu said, emerging fully and walked next to the four who were sopping wet.
Konan approached a large battlefield like room.
"Orochimaru, I know you're here, so come out!"
Konan demanded as she glared at a balcony where she knew the snake sanin would walk out of. She predicted correctly as Orochimaru walked out with a grin plastered on his face.
"Well, well, looks like my guests have arrived."
Next to him, a gray wolf with a red streak starting at the top of its muzzle and ending at the tip of its tail, gave out continuous barking that was a bit slower and lower than the rapid strings of barking, not sounding worried, even though it was usually heard worried and that wolves rarely barked. Orochimaru put a hand on the wolfs head and it stopped immediately, but didn't fail to emit a growl that sounded from the chest, ears definitely forward combined with bared teeth and wrinkled nose, giving off a direct eye-to-eye stare at Konan and tail horizontally straight out, pointing away from it. Orochimaru snapped his fingers and two doors opened in front of the group. Their eyes widened. There stood a black dog with a dark blue stripe going diagonally down its side, a Labrador with an orange stripe on its forehead, stopping at the bridge of its muzzle, a Husky with an almost orange fur on its face with a gray body, combined with a white spot on one side and a purple lightning bolt on the other, a small Pincher with a green diamond shape on its forehead and a brown dog with sun yellow marks on its eyes, forehead and muzzle, giving it a striking resemblance of Sabako(1).
"Guests, meet my new dogs, Itachi…"
Orochimaru said as the black dog gave an angry snarl.
"Sasori…"
Orochimaru continued, the small dog staying deathly still.
"Tobi…"
The dog with the purple lightning shape on its side, also known as Tobi, gave out a continuous string of barks, like the wolf up by Orochimaru. Not worried, but more angry like.
"Pein…"
The Labrador gave out rapid braking, stopping when Orochimaru concluded his speech.
"And Kakuzu…"
The dog with the yellow marks on its face gave a low sonorous howl which echoed in the large room.
"Oh and this wonderful wolf up here, is my one an only right hand man, Kabuto."
Orochimaru said after a few seconds of silence. The wolf snarled and jumped off of the balcony, next to Itachi. The dogs and wolf took a lunging stance, ready for their signal.
"What did you do to them!?"
Konan yelled, after examining the poor dogs with horror written all over her face. Had Orochimaru hurt them? If so, he'll pay the ultimate price.
"Go…"
Orochimaru simply said as the six canines gave a bark/snarl as they lunged at the five Akatsuki members. Hidan was the first to get hit by Itachi, jaws clamping down on the silver haired mans' neck, drawing blood. Hidan grunted and tossed the dog off, making the dog yelp. Hidan got up and charged at the black dog.
"Wait, Hidan!"
Konan yelled, but it was too late as the dog had his lips curled up to expose teeth and gums above his front teeth with visible wrinkles above the nose and lunged, snarling and grabbing at the mans' neck again. Konan turned to see Kisame fighting off Tobi, who had bitten his arms and was now going for his neck. She then noticed that Orochimaru had installed something in Sasori, making the small Pincher turn into a Doberman. Zetsu was currently holding the large dog down with thick vines, but Konan could see that Sasori was breaking loose. Then she saw Deidara fighting off Kakuzu and…Pein. Konan looked ahead of her just in time to see Kabuto lunge for her neck. Konan stepped out of the way, getting scratched on the arm as the wolf flew by. Konan sent paper projectiles at the wolf but Kabuto didn't seem fazed by it as he just ran right into the projectiles, only getting minor cuts and lunging again. Konan tried to dodge this time, but the wolf clamped onto her arm.
Deidara grunted in frustration, why was he the one to be ganged up on and not the immortal? This sucked, as he tossed Pein off of his body. Deidara heard Konan shriek and he turned to see Kabuto, paws scratching her face and jaws clamping down hard on her arm. Deidara knew that wolves' jaws were many times stronger than a dogs'.
Flashback
Deidara was six years when he took fascination of dogs and wolves. He was walking in the forest, admiring its beauty. It was strange that he could find a forest in Iwagakure, but he took his chances and ventured into it. Deidara then stopped, there stood a magnificent gray she-wolf, lying by a nearby pond and drinking from the fresh water. Deidara silently crouched into the bushes, sure he knew that they could out smell a human anytime, but he couldn't help it. The she-wolfs ears perked slightly forward and immediately stopped drinking from the pond. Deidara stood deathly still, not daring to even breathe. He knew that if he approached the wolf, she would defiantly run because wolves were shy of humans. He knew about that fact very well. The wolf continued to look around her surroundings until she saw Deidaras' yellow hair, then the thing Deidara least expected to happen, happened. The she-wolf growled at him, growled at him! This wolf was brave. Deidara gulped and had to get away as soon as possible, but wolves were fast and defiantly faster than humans. The next thing Deidara knew was that the she-wolf was clamped onto his arm. Deidara screamed and kicked the animal in a poor attempt to get free. The she-wolf growled and had her lips curled to expose some of her teeth. Deidara broke eye contact and struggled to get on his back, telling the she-wolf that he surrendered. The wolf stepped off of him and dashed in the opposite direction Deidara was. Deidara slowly stood up, cradling his arm as he walked home.
End Flashback
Deidara kicked Pein off of him once more and charged for Kabuto, the two dogs hot in pursuit. Deidara tackled Kabuto, causing the wolf to yelp and stumble to the ground as Konan jumped back and out of the way of Kakuzu who leapt for her.
"Thanks Deidara!"
Konan called as she continued to back away from Kakuzus' continuous snaps.
"You're welcome un!"
Deidara responded, wrestling with Kabuto who snarled angrily and tried to get at Deidaras' neck.
Hidan swung his scythe at Itachi angrily. The dog had just howled once Hidan had collapsed, but didn't know that Hidan was completely finished and Hidan took the howl as a taunt. He yelled angrily as the dog continued to avoid the three blades that swished his way. Then Hidan noticed something, Itachis' tail was tucked between his legs, ears back, hackles raised, the corner of his mouth was pulled back, teeth were slightly visible and his body was low. Hidan smirked, Itachi was scared! Of him! Itachi then gave off an undulating growl that raised and fell in pitch. Hidan knew that Itachi was saying that he was terrified as Hidans' smirk widened in triumph.
"HA, are you scared!?"
Hidan yelled with a wild smirk plastered onto his features as the dog gave another undulating growl that raised and fell in pitch. Hidan took the chance and swung his scythe at Itachi. It hit.
Konan tossed Kabuto off of her body as she stood up and tossed a kunai with a paper bomb on it. The wolf plucked it out of mid-air, spun around three times and tossed it back, blowing up on contact with Konan. What a smart wolf. Wolves were defiantly smarter than dogs, studies showed. Konan was preoccupied with the wolf until she heard a scream that sounded like a child in pain mixed with a prolonged yelp. All of the fighters, including the dogs and wolf turned to see Itachi flying in the opposite direction of Hidan who looked like he had swung his scythe. Blood was all over the dog, man and weapon as the dog slammed into the ground, skidding to a stop and unmoving. What had just happened? Hidan seemed to look content with what he had done until he noticed, just out of the corner of his eye, Kabuto dashing in his direction, giving an extremely frightening snarl, ears defiantly forward, direct eye-to-eye glare, lips curled to show teeth and gums above the front teeth with visible wrinkles above his nose, bristling hair all the way down the tail and hair bristled on shoulder and all the way down his back, onto his tail. Hidan then noticed his mistake, the rest of the dogs were behind Kabuto, all sending off the same signals.
"Hidan!"
Konan yelled as the five canines leapt onto Hidan, snapping and scratching at the Akatsuki member. Deidara rushed to Hidans' aid and managed to pull Sasori off, who snapped at the blond. Deidara felt a sudden rage build up and he grabbed the dog by the muzzle and squeezed the dogs' muzzle tightly. The dog struggled to break free, emitting barely audible whimpers. Deidara then barely picked Sasori off of the ground with his only hand and tossed the Doberman across the room. Sasori skidded on his paws and felt the need for revenge, charging in the direction of Deidara who did the same. Konan then felt the need to pull at least one dog off of Hidan like Deidara had bravely done, but she knew that she couldn't because she wasn't muscle packed like the rest of the men. She saw Kisame and Zetsu run to the aid of Hidan as well, pulling off Pein and Kakuzu. Kisame grabbed Kakuzu by his tail and sharply yanked the dog off, making him yelp loudly and snap at Kisame who avoided Kakuzus' teeth and got him in a head lock. Zetsu strangled Pein with his vines, but not enough to kill him. Zetsu then tossed Pein across the room, sending the dog crashing into the wall. The only two left were Tobi and Kabuto. Hidan fared well with Tobi, but Kabuto was a different story since he was a wolf and not a dog. Konan sighed and ran in to help Hidan, miraculously pulling Tobi off and holding him down with her paper. The dog struggled but couldn't get out as Konan stared at Tobi.
"Kabuto, now!"
Konan heard Orochimaru call from his balcony. She turned to look at the wolf that jumped off of Hidan and rushed to the opposite end of the room. Konan watched cautiously as the wolf finally made it and howled. The other dogs managed to break free while their opponents were distracted and ran over to the wolf. The patterns on the dogs and wolf(2) started to glow as they all howled. Just then, Konan felt one of the dogs on her, biting her neck. They were now faster than the speed of sound. Konan finally processed what had happened and pushed Tobi off of her, ripping some skin off of her neck. Then she felt Tobi clamping onto the backside of her left leg. This was going to be complicated.
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(1) If you don't know who Sabako is, you'll have to read my other fictions The 10 Biju or Sabako. I recommend The 10 Biju since it has more information. I think…
(2) The patterns if you haven't guessed are like that purple lighting bolt shape on Tobis' side, or the orange stripe on Peins' forehead.
Well, I'm finally done with this chapter. You know when they hear them howling? I was listening to Dan Gibson's solitudes. Go on Youtube and type in: Dan Gibson's solitudes Legend of the wolf, winter rituals. Then it'll sound cool. I have it on CD and on my Ipod. When they start running, it's like the more active part of the solitude. Just tellin' ya if you wanna know what I was thinking while typing that small portion of the chapter. Please review and no flames, I really hope that I update sooner! Peace!