Pakkun let out a low growl that drew Kakashi's attention to a set of haunting yellow eyes. However, instead of belonging to the lovely women he was trailing they were that of an oversized black panther, it's broad shoulders rippling with muscles, it's white teeth dripping with watery saliva. Kakashi reached into his weapons pouch and drew a kunai knife while taking a fighting stance. Pakkun without warning barked and lunged at the stalking predator. Without even batting an eyelash, the animal lifted a giant paw and swatted Pakkun away like a buzzing mosquito. With a thud and a whimper, Pakkun landed back at Kakashi's feet.
"So this one's not just a vision." He said mostly to himself, regarding the ghostly images Chiyoko used to stop him before.
"Far from it, boy." A low gravely female voice emitted from the panthers mouth with a sultry tone.
"A summoning animal?" The panther paced back and forth before him, eyeing the jonin like a piece of meat.
Letting out a low laugh the panther grinned devilishly, "A boy genius are you?"
Kakashi felt odd being referred to as a boy, he was over a quarter of a century in years but he imagined this animal was much much older.
"So, Chiyoko knows we're following her." The panther scoffed and licked her lips with a long pink tongue.
"Give the girl some credit, of course she knew. She's able enough to be my master. And you did set off a number of traps on your way." The animal sat with a proud look on it's face, it's claws extending and retracting in a kneading motion on the tree it was perched on.
"And she sent you to stop us?" Kakashi widened his stance and prepared himself with Pakkun behind his heel.
The panther only replied with a low throaty noise, before springing up and letting out a scream-like noise that pierced Kakashi's ears. The animal lunged forward but before she could land a hit on the ninja, her ears perked and faced behind her. She stopped a mere foot in front of Kakashi, her claws digging into the wood like it was jello.
Growling out of frustration she clenched her teeth and seethed, "You're lucky she likes you." She retracted her grip and turned away from the confused pair. "I suggest you turn back now. You'll face worse than me if you make her mad, boy."
With that the black creature disappeared in a puff of smoke. Kakashi turned to Pakkun with a bewildered look on his face before shrugging and asking, "Shall we?"This was his mission, he wasn't about to quit now.
Pakkun nodded, "That panther reeked of Chiyoko's scent, it should be easier to follow her now."
Kakashi nodded in return and the two took off. The jonin looked down to his companion and thought to himself,
'So that's the reason he lunged at her so quickly.' while seeing the deep claw marks on the ninja dog's shoulder. He couldn't help but silently thank his loyal companion.
Chiyoko crouched and adjusted the large rod tied to her back. She had been running full stride for at least eight hours and her stamina was running low. She was right with sending Chi to stall her pursuers, it had bought her enough time to rest her shaking legs. However, even though she had sent her familiar with strict instructions to not lay a hand, paw, on Kakashi she could sense the threatening movements of the panther and immediately recalled her. Appearing at the kunoichi's feet, Chi looked at her master with a smirk.
"Chi, I told you not to harm him." Chiyoko scowled and began running again, Chi at her side.
"Oh come now, my name means blood so of course I love to see it spill." Chiyoko sighed and shook her head. Maybe she should have called Chi's sister instead.
"I know what you're thinking, La would have done the same."
Sighing in defeat, Chiyoko knew her companion was right. Sometimes she wished her familiar's were less bloodthirsty, but they were the animals used within her family for generations. It had taken Chiyoko years to prove her worth to them but now they were fiercely loyal to her.
"They're still following us." Chi stated as she sniffed the air.
"Damn," Chiyoko breathed, "Why?"
The pair remained silent, leaping through the trees as night began to fall around them. The kunoichi's muscles screamed and after another hour or two she stopped to lean against the trunk of a wide tree. Chi skidded to a stop and look back to question her master.
"We still have at least another entire days journey ahead of us, should you rest for the night?" Chiyoko smiled at the sympathy from her companion.
"I can't stop, they are still trailing behind us." Chi nodded before leaping to her feet, licking the girls hand with her warm tongue. Chiyoko smiled and stroked the animal's head.
"You could always call the Alpha."
Chiyoko scoffed and rubbed a sore muscle on her shoulder, "No, no. I can't rely on you or the Alpha, what kind of Onigoroshi would I be?" She sighed and began running once again through the winding mountain trails, Chi at her heels.
Chi sniffed the air, "They're closer than before."
"Fuck." Chiyoko clenched her fists as she ran, her black braid whipping in the wind, "What do they want?"
Chi licked her lips and raised her shoulders in a threatening way, "I could always ask them for you."
Shaking her head, Chiyoko kept her head forward. Her usual mischievous air completely absent from fatigue.
"Damn that Kakashi."
The pair continued running until the sky was completely black, Chiyoko guessed it had to be around two in the morning by the time they stopped. Her legs wobbled and shook from exhaustion as she collapsed by a stream with a waterfall. Unclasping Demonsbane and leaning it on a nearby rock, she stripped herself from her sweat soaked clothes. Her whole body was slick with salty sweat and her hair clung to her wet forehead. She lied at the edge of the water in her undergarments, Chi at her side panting softly.
"Chi, you were amazing today." She slid her hand down the sweaty animals spine, "You go home, rest. I'll call on your sister in the morning."
Chi raised her head with pride and wiped her tongue across Chiyoko's salty face.
"I will, but don't expect the same fine performance from my sister. Goodbye dear girl." Chiyoko smiled but Chi hadn't left yet. She raised her nose to the sky and added, "I can't smell them, you should be safe for a few hours." Then she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Chiyoko let out a sigh of relief and examined her surroundings. It was the perfect place for her to camp for the night, she always preferred these solitude locations away from any of the hustle and bustle of villages. She spent most of her time traveling through the untamed wilderness and found comfort in it's unforgiving conditions.
Slowly, the kunoichi waded into the cool stream swearing that there was no better feeling then that of the water washing away her impurities. She dunked her head and when she resurfaced she whipped her black locks behind her, reveling in the satisfying feeling. Reaching for her clothes, she dunked them under the water and began rubbing them with a bar of plain white soap. She couldn't continue looking or smelling the way she was, Onigoroshi's do have a reputation to keep up. Although she couldn't help but feel the presence of someone watching her.