Chp 4. The Hunter and The Hunted

It was their second day of heading south, following a river. Sasuke felt restless. He hoped that this move south would lead them to the sight of the attacks. He grimaced. He was tired of walking, and bored. He wanted to get back to Konoha and train without restriction. The only way to do that, however, was to complete this mission.

He heard a small rustle to his side. Being a ninja, he already had a kunai out ready to counter by the time the thing was at his throat. with a thud a small wolf fell to the ground, kunai embedded in its silver fur.

A glance at the wolf and Sasuke realized something was wrong. Its teeth were longer than ordinary and so were its claws. However the most disturbing thing about the wolf was a third eye on its forehead, blood red in color

Sasuke's own red eyes surveyed the strange organ which was open wide, staring even in death. Sasuke was never scared of things (obviously) but nevertheless the hair on the back of his arms was raised. The thing was clearly non-human, and though Sasuke could not discern the chakra from the thing..it felt evil.

He didn't have long to be concerned.

"Sasuke!" Shouted Pakkun. Sasuke turned

Ten of these creatures appeared. Sasuke was annoyed, but not particularly concerned until one more walked into the clearing. It was about three times the size of the already large wolf like creatures. It's canines were about half of the size of Sasuke's head. They were bared at Sasuke, glistening with blood and saliva.

Sasuke glanced around. He really shouldn't engage being so outnumbered, but Sasuke had never been very good at backing down from a challenge.

Three wolfs fell on him. He quickly performed a replacement jutsu. The dogs snapped at air. Sasuke darted back and threw a few shuriken at them. The sharingan began spinning rapidly as he assessed where each wolf was, and followed their movements.

Six of them were taken out within the first five minutes of fighting. He smirked. They were large, and powerful, but they were also wolves and no match for a ninja's intelligence and speed. Simply using taijutsu and well aimed shuriken he managed to take them.

What happened next was either a lesson in hubris or bad luck because Sasuke was suddenly thrown to the ground, his arms bleeding from a bite. He gasped for breath. The wind had been entirely knocked out of him.

The large wolf stepped forward, its middle eye bulging. It was turning a dark purple color. Sasuke realized too late that he should look away from the eye. Suddenly his arms and legs had lost the ability to move. With shock he realized that the eye had powers similar to the sharingan.

'What an idiotic move.' If he was lucky to be alive after this and find himself in a battle with a creature or ninja of strange eyes he would not repeat the mistake.

He prepared himself to be mauled by the beast. Therefore, he was utterly surprised when the thing stepped forward slowly. A cruel, almost human smile on its face. 'I've never seen a beast act this way..'

"Boy...I almost admire you... So similar to us with those eyes."

Sasuke tried to whip his head around. Where was this strange, malice filled voice coming from?

"To think you will so quickly be destroyed. If you had simply kept out of our territory it may not have come to this."

Sasuke was sure that if Naruto or Sakura saw him they would think he was another ninja. His mouth was gaping open ready to catch flies. He snapped it shut, a stoic look returning to his face, although his eyes still showed surprise.

The voice was coming from the giant wolf...thing.

"Don't look so surprised. You should be honored that I would speak to you boy. My wolf brothers do not have the ability, and I usually do not have the desire." The things eyes (minus the third one) glinted with...humor? Could wolf monsters with three eyes feel such a thing?

Sasuke was not sure that he could move even if the eye's weird power had been lifted from him. His surprise was overwhelming and the feeling of sheer evil and power from this...thing..hung thick in the air.

"I like your abilities. I would keep you, as you are entertaining. But you killed so many. You are a threat."

The wolf's humor appeared to be up. Sasuke did not relish the idea. Preparing himself for the worst his brain began churning through ideas to escape. It would be difficult to escape with his arm injury even if he could move his arms and legs.

The wolf took a step forward.

A sharp pain dug into his good arm, and suddenly be could move. Pakkun relinquished his hold on Sasuke.

"Run!" Barked Pakkun.

Sasuke did not need to be told twice.

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They found refuge in a small gladed area. The trees around were damp and had large knots. Sasuke was resting on the large branch of one of these trees with their packs. He used the last of his long spent energy to drag both himself and Pakkun onto the branch. Here they would hopefully be far enough up to be out of range of the creatures. They had also made their way up-wind, which even in Sasuke's injured state he knew would help them avoid predators. Particularly of the wolf-like variety.

"It seems I can no longer smell any trace of them." Pakkun was moving around the tree, sniffing it for danger and Sasuke could not guess what else.

He clenched his fist. What in the world were those things? "Pakkun...thanks."

Pakkun looked over and his tail wagged for a brief second at Sasuke's words. " you would be no good dead, despite how annoying you are."

Sasuke didn't take the bait. Uchiha did not do such things. He had told the dog thank you for saving his life and now he could rest easy.

"You must send a note to Tsunade" said the dog. "You won't make it far with that injury if beasts like that are out here."

Sasuke sniffed. "This is nothing."

"I'd rather have you weak but alive than dead and stupid. No need to prove yourself to me Sasuke-kun" the dog made sure to add the diminutive.

Sasuke glared through long lashes.

"Those beasts are not natural. We know nothing about them, what they can do, and what else is out there. I would not engage them without yourself fully healed and reinforcements."

"I do not intend to engage with them."

Pakkun rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say. However, it seems that if you step into their territory you engage. In addition, these are wolves Sasuke. Wolves and dogs share a few things in common, which is our sense of smell."

Sasuke glared for awhile, but realized the truth of Pakkuns words. "Ok, we send a note to Tsunade tonight. Tomorrow we move out, and try to go back to the closest village. We can wait for Tsunades response."

"That's more like it, snarky" despite his rude words Pakkun seemed pleased.

Although Pakkun was a summons Sasuke sent a carrier bird to Tsunade. Pakkun was under orders to stay with Sasuke at all times partially for his safety and partially to make sure he did not defect. Pakkun would be faster, but Sasuke estimated it would only take the bird a day to make it to konoha.

Tomorrow they would begin their trek back. Sasuke's eyelids began to close. His position perfectly imitating a cat perched on a branch. His injuries had been bandaged a little earlier, but blood was seeping through the white cloth. His black and white visage only punctuated by dots of red.

The image resembled a dark panther taking refuge in the shadows. Sasuke certainly had the predatory Uchiha power that lent itself to the symbolism. Tonight though, he was among the hunted.