Uzumaki Twins

Chapter 2

~ Chika's pov ~

We were bright and early the next day. Naruto didn't need as much encouragement to wake up this time. When there is a mission involved, Naruto's motivation towards the day changes from when he has nothing to look forward to. I already knew that my brother would start complaining the moment he finalises that this mission isn't about fighting or excitement, but just a dull boring delivery mission. Showered, dressed and ready, the two of us and our demons headed forward the village gate. But just around the bend, Juuku and Kurama disappeared in a puff of smoke, back to their resting places inside of us. With them outside and in the open, it will make our group larger and more noticeable. Being ninjas we need to be discreet.

Kakashi-sensei was actually on time for once as he stood there with Sakura and Sasuke.

'Oi,' Naruto called out waving his hand in the air.

The three turned to us and Naruto was grinning with excitement. He placed his hands behind his head, elbows pointed towards the sky and I just shook my head at his eagerness.

'Morning Sakura,' Naruto greeted.

But like always she ignored him. Instead her green eyes were focused on me. We were all wearing our trademark clothes. Sakura in her pink dress and green shorts. Sasuke in his blue top and white shorts. Naruto in his orange jacket and trousers. Kakashi in his jonin outfit and mask across his face. Then there's me, wearing my orange top with the straps over my shoulders, orange short shorts, netting on my left leg and fingerless netting gloves.

'So, Kuro, once we reach the Sand Village, do you want to hang out?' I raised an eyebrow at her but remained silent. 'Well, you see, I thought that maybe we could build our teamwork up…' she laughed nervously.

'Your attempt at small talk is appalling, Sakura.' I stated and walked passed and out the gates.

The gate guards waved us goodbye and good luck on our journey. Around five minutes on walking on the path, we switched to the trees, jumping from branch to branch. Kakashi-sensei took the front and Sakura the rear. Well that's because she's slow. Sasuke was a little ways in front of Naruto and me, but overall, silence was upon us. All around the blissful forest music spoke to us and I found myself smiling at the peacefulness I found. I looked over at Naruto and saw that he was too busy concentrating on the mission to notice the relaxing sounds that shrouded us.

Our journey was the same for the next two days. We lay camp at night, switching positions to keep watch and during daylight we made use of our time to get to the Sand. So by the time we actually reached the Sand village, it was night and it was cold. The wall surrounding the village looked around sixty feet high. There were ledges for lookouts and there's no doubt that we've already been spotted. My assumption was right when someone stepped out of the tunnel and stood before us. He wore beige, the colour of the village, with a sand village symbol on his headband.

'State your names and business,' the guard demanded.

'I am Kakashi Hatake and this is my team. We have come to deliver a message personally to the Kazekage.'

Nodding the guard answered, 'this way.'

He turned and led us through the dark tunnel. I was aware of many eyes watching us from the shadows of those ledges above, but I didn't look around, that would increase my paranoia. Out of the tunnel, we stood before and above the village. It was like it was a bowl on a lower platform than the cliff we stood on. I overlooked the village and saw the Kazekage building. It was the largest and was shaped like a dome. There were wires coming off it and connecting to other buildings and poles. Upon nearing it, my heart had begun to accelerate. New village, new people and new discoveries, what would I find here?

Naruto must be thinking the same as he seemed to struggle to contain his excitement.

The guard, our guide, opened the door to the building and led us through the corridors until he knocked on a specific door. A gruff voice answered on the other side. The guard entered after telling us to wait outside. I could hear their voices but couldn't make out their conversation. When the guard reappeared, it was to allow us through to see his leader. Sitting behind his desk, weaving an air of authority and intimidation, was the Kazekage. He was concealed under his blue and white robes, his eyes were like steel as they looked at the five of us. Intimidation is definitely a go considering I felt a little prickle of fear before it passed on.

'What do you want?' the Kazekage demanded.

I clenched my fists at the demand. The only demand I could ever withstand was the one of my Hokage. But I am here in his village, under his rule and his protection. I can't do anything that would make me step over the line otherwise he can do whatever he sees fit with me. He caught my action and narrowed his eyes at me. I also could have sworn interest flicked in there, but it had gone too quickly to make sure.

'Lord Hokage has asked that we deliver this to you personally, Lord Kazekage,' Kakashi-sensei said handing the letter over.

He took it but didn't read it. 'I'll read it when I'm ready. I expect he wants me to give you the reply?' Kakashi-sensei nodded. 'Then you shall be provided with lodgings at my house with my children for the time being.' He waved his hand at the guard. 'Take them to my house and inform Temari.'

Knowing that was our dismissal, a rather rude one at that, we left the building with the guard and walked towards the Kazekage's house. It was a big building, coloured like all the others, with three floors. Juuku growled inside my head and so I looked up to see a boy around our age sitting on a balcony glaring down at us. I met his eye just as the guard knocked on the door. I felt Kurama stir inside Naruto a little restlessly. Whatever was going on, it was obvious that our demons didn't like this boy one bit.

'Lady Temari, your father has ordered that these Leaf Ninja be provided with lodgings here until he has given them a reply to the Hokage's letter.'

'Thank you, I'll take it from here then.' The guard bowed and walked away, leaving us with the girl. 'Come on in.'

Naruto elbowed my ribs and I broke eye contact with the boy. I narrowed my eyes at him but he just walked inside the house. I looked one last time up at the balcony only to discover it empty. I glared at the darkness and made my way inside. Only then did I notice the girl that had been talking at the door. She had shoulder length blonde hair spiked at the ends. She looked like she was ready for bed in her nightgown. She smiled at me and led me into a living room where the rest of my team was waiting. They were standing as if hating the fact that they were intruding. I felt the same way. It would have been much better if we had a hotel room instead of staying in this place.

'Is there anything I can get you?' she offered politely.

'I think it would be best if you'd show us to our rooms so we could all go sleep.' Kakashi-sensei stated.

Gratefulness shone in the girl's eyes. Of course it was brief and didn't last long, so I must have been the only one to see it. She led us out of the living room and up two flights of stairs. The last landing contained the guest bedrooms and there were seven in total. She told us we could choose anyone we wanted and retired to her room, on the second floor, for the night. Naruto and I settled in opposite rooms to the right, at the far end. Kakashi took residence in the room next to Naruto's and Sakura in the one next to mine. Sasuke took the room next to Kakashi-sensei's.

I was still awake an hour later as I had checked through my bag. Everything seemed to be in order and nothing missing. Not for one second will I trust the Sand Village. They being in an alliance with us didn't matter to me. They were sneaky and sly and there was something off that I couldn't put my finger on. The boy on the balcony was strange and had upset Kurama and Juuku, but it wasn't that that was alerting me to something strange. The atmosphere was off and our appearance made it that much stronger. For some reason all of the Sand ninjas we encountered had all tensed at the sight of us. Either it's me looking into things too deeply or there really was something going on.

I slipped out the bedroom and into the bathroom. Stripping myself I turned on the tap to prepare myself to wash down my body. But the atmosphere had shifted and I instantly looked around the room. It felt like I was being watched. And what better way to make a ninja feel vulnerable as to catch them whilst they were physically exposed like me? Regardless of the feeling, I didn't rush in washing myself down and brushing out my ponytail. I dressed in my nightgown still aware of the watchful feeling. The hairs on the nape of my neck suggested it still.

I stepped out of the bathroom and the feeling of being watched increased. My thoughts immediately went to the boy on the balcony. Is he the source of this uneasiness? Had he been watching me in the bathroom? There were no obvious signs of someone being there, but that didn't stop my doubt. The shadows may not contain a body, but it's just as well there are many ways to watch someone without being present. Jutsu is the most common way, and if the boy is able to do it, then there is no doubt that he would if he thought my team and I were a threat.

Feeling vulnerable and exposed I wished I had brought a kunai with me. It's never good to be caught like this. Say if the Sand were against us, they could have ambushed and killed or captured me. Then I would be submitted to their mercy. Sometimes it's not good to think like I do, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious, even overly so. I rushed back towards the bedroom and closed the door. Inside the feeling of being watched disappeared and I knew that it wasn't in my mind after all. Someone had watched me as I washed myself, even out in the hallway, someone was cautious.

'Chika,' a female voice whispered in the darkness.

A moment later a white wolf appeared at the bottom of the bed, towering it by double the bed's height. Her blue eyes were fixed on me and watched my movements as I sat on the bed. I wasn't ready for sleep, not ready for the time wasting my team and I have to do as we waited for a reply from the Kazekage. But my sleep was foiled by the fact that we were being watched.

'Juuku,' she came over to me, her claws clicking on the floor. I rested my hand at the scruff of her neck, slowly feeling the calm crawl up my arm and into me, filling me with peace and reassurance.

'Do not leave this room unarmed,' she warned with a growl deep in her throat.

'There is another demon amongst us and he is protecting his territory.' Kurama appeared a moment later. He stood at the same height as Juuku and his red eyes were glowing dangerously. 'If he as much moves for the kill with Chika or Naruto, I'm going to rip his throat out.'

'Easy, Kurama,' I said to him calmly. 'You won't have to worry about dealing with him. If he attacks, I won't hold back.'