Uzumaki Twins

Chapter 24

~Chika's pov~

Not long left until the final rounds of the Chunin exams. I don't understand why, but I have this really bad feeling. It's been sitting in my gut the closer the exams came. Is it because I haven't seen Gaara at all during the month? Why now do I have to think about that rotten boy? I like him, so what? Who wouldn't with his looks? They only don't like him because of the damned Shukaku. So why am I dreading the final rounds so much? Why am I not happy for my brother? If something were to ever happen to him, I would never forgive myself.

I pulled myself into my trade mark clothes (see chapter one) and ran the brush through my hair. I only have today to really enjoy myself. The rest of the week is about preparation for the final round. Many ninjas will be arriving from all over the ninja world just to see the final round. Allies, enemies, I'm not sure who would come but it's best to be on guard for all of it. It's making me nervous just thinking about how many people would be watching. Apart from written exams, Naruto doesn't suffer with the case of nerves like I do.

'Ready?' Mizu asked as I walked back into the living room.

Naruto had left earlier to get some more training done. With my part of the summoning training completed and almost in mastery of the combination jutsu with Mizu, I thought that maybe I could spend one day off training and focus on everything else.

Juuku stood behind her. Her nineteen tails were combined to look like one. I couldn't even tell if they were one or not. Her white coat is sparkly and beautiful. It's easy to get confused between her being either a demon or a Goddess. Human form she's a demon, animal form she is a Goddess. Yup, I can remember that. Sort of. She's too damn ethereal.

'Let's go!' I say with a smile.

Locking the door behind me, I jogged to the end of the apartment's platform and jumped over the railing. Juuku and Mizu were right behind me. Once landing I started jogging with the two wolves at my side. People stepped out of the way as we passed but they didn't turn running for safety. No, all they saw was two wolves simply running beside one of the demon twins.

I've noticed that they are not as bold as they were before. They were less violent, rude and mean towards Naruto and me now. Something must have changed since the Chunin exams. I can't assume it's to do with the exams because the change could have happened through anything. But as long as they are treating me nicer than what they used to, I may end up changing in the way that I treat them. It is the way that I work. You only receive what you have delivered.

Although I am in human form, the three of our sync is perfectly in tuned. I could hear their thoughts. Sometimes they thought of food when passing the food shops, sometimes they wanted to torment some people just for fun and then there was the other times that they were just enjoying themselves. At least they are. That gives me a cause to be happy.

Turning into an alleyway the three of us headed into a more isolated part of the village. No one usually comes here no more. I don't understand why Lord Hokage hasn't ordered for these houses to be taken down. He must have his reasons. But for now, I don't care as long as I get a little privacy. I performed the transformation signs and then turned into the familiar form of a wolf. For me, being a wolf is now second nature.

~Unknown pov~

It was splendid to watch her suddenly turn into a magnificent wolf. A blood-red wolf with eyes only a touch darker. The two wolves beside her, white and blue, nuzzled her. It surprised me to see that she accepted and responded in kind to the touches. Here I thought she was cold-hearted because of the way the whole of the village resented her so terribly. Could she have changed? No one changes that quickly. Especially not one who contains a demon.

I have been informed of her being a vessel for a very powerful demon. It is one of the few things that my master has little information on. What kind of demon she contains and how powerful it really is. He wants to understand more about this rather than being ignorant to it all. Would she want the demon released from her or would she rather keep it? The more important question is: what is the best way to draw her over to our side?

The communication has been quiet as of late. There was nothing to report to them and they had nothing to report to me. We can't do anything until the Chunin exams are dealt with. It puts a stop in our plans but we can continue it soon after. Doing this I could be promoted for my success and I may even get a higher position.

I should stop thinking about that. Wondering from the task at hand is dangerous. If that girl is really onto me then it would be problematic if she found me. Not only is she in such a vicious form, but I don't doubt that those two wolves beside her won't rip my head off with their teeth. But what is she to those wolves? Surely they can't be more dangerous than the most common wolves found in forests. But there is a difference. They're more powerful than common wolves. Are they summoned creatures? If so that would be most problematic if they suddenly sniffed me in the air.

~Gaara's pov~

I've had it with that guy following that girl around. If he's out for her blood he's going to have to bloody well wait. She's mine first.

'What are you doing?' I demanded.

My voice caused him to jump in the air and turn around to face me. I didn't realise he reached for a kunai until my sand blocked it from touching me. Brown eyes met mine. Dark brown hair framed his covered face. The only exposure of his skin was around the eyes. The rest of his body was covered in black. Was he a spy, criminal, stalker, kidnapper or an assassin? I couldn't tell. He just pisses me off with the way his eyes follow her every movements. Where she goes, he goes. It pisses me off.

'Who the fuck are you?' he demanded back a kunai already in his hand.

He's fast, I'll give him that. I should kill him. I should have when I first noticed him following the girl around. I'm surprised she hasn't realised that she has a follower. Doesn't matter, I'll finish him and she would be none the wiser.

I crossed my arms. 'I'll kill you if you don't answer.'

'What's it look like?' he challenged.

I really don't like him.

'Stalking like a pervert,' I replied.

His hands clenched. I sensed his urge at throwing that kunai at me. He didn't. Smart man. 'I am not stalking her like a pervert. I'm looking out for her.'

I scoffed. 'Liar. I've noticed the way the village hates her. No one would even dare trying to look out for her.'

'No one from this village anyway,' he agreed. 'I need you to go away. You're interfering with my mission.'

'And that is?' I prompted. Not for a second will I believe that he is looking out for her. He's up to something else.

He's definitely an outsider and definitely up to no good. He refuses to be seen by her or anybody else. If he really was looking out for her he would be allowing her to glimpse him and let her know that everything's clear. As far as I can tell, he's just bullshitting with me and has an agenda of his own. So what could he gain out of this little mission of his? Who's hired him to do this?

'My mission's to protect her,' he said irritably.

Bullshit!

'Not good enough,' I tell him readying my sand for attack. 'Try again. This time the truth.'

'Why do you care so much? What do you get out of this? Why are you following her?'

'I don't care; you're just pissing me off sneaking around. I get out of this is being satisfied of your death. That way it'll be quiet around here and I wouldn't have to see you bobbing around everywhere. And I'm not following her. I'm following you.'

~Chika's pov~

I stopped and lifted my head towards the sky. Ever since I transformed into that of a wolf, I smelt two different aromas. The first time I started syncing with Mizu, she had taught me how to identify the different scents. These two I can smell are human and masculine, one older than the other one. In fact, the younger scent has not even matured to the stage where males grow hormonal. He must be around my age. The younger one's scent has a little extra bonus to it though. Something dark and sinister. There are only two young males I know with that scent.

I recognise my brother's scent in wolf form. I had showed him it once and took in his scent so I knew never to attack him. In wolf form a lot of things can be seen as dangerous. Even allies can be dangerous and the wolf has some caution to them. But with pack, family and such there is no such danger. That is why I had to recognise my brother in this form. That is why I showed him. But the other with that something dark and sinister is Gaara. As of yet I have not been around him in wolf form. Yet I can tell that this young male I can smell is definitely him.

The older one I don't have a clue about. He smells like an outsider.

'Chika,' Mizu growled in the wolf tongue.

I turned to her. 'It's nothing Mizu. Just a little brat you don't need to worry about,' I replied back in the same tongue.

The wolf tongue is one that humans cannot understand. To them it would seem that we're just growling, snarling, yipping or whining at each other. This way they would think that we're just some ordinary common wolves. But if they were wise, the colours of Mizu and I would say different. Blue and red wolves in our colours are not common.

'I didn't know Gaara was a little brat we didn't need to worry about,' Juuku teased.

'Ooh, is that the boy she as a crush on?' Mizu asked grinning wolfishly.

I groaned. 'You had to tell her didn't you, Juuku?'

'Of course,' she said grinning. 'Pack always knows about the others.'

~Gaara's pov~

'You'll pay for this!' the male hissed in rage.

His body was bloody from our fight. Despite his wounds, he still held his sword with a tight grip. He was ready to go again but his eyes said different. He walked backwards with a limp and then jumped away out of sight.

It seems he isn't as dumb as I thought he was. He knows not to engage anymore with me. I would have killed him.

I narrowed my eyes at the building he disappeared over.

How could he manage to dodge all my attacks despite how many times I injured him? He moved with efficient speed, enough to get out of range, but then he always attacked and got injured. Was he trying to find the weak point in my defence? Useless, my defence has no weakness. No one can ever get through it. But he was holding back. He didn't want to use his true strength yet he knew I was no easy kill. What is he hiding and why?

I looked down at the Uzumaki girl. She stood just a little behind the blue and white wolves. She too was in wolf form. A deep red just like her hair. I had watched her change and it was a magnificent transformation. Her wolf form is just as amazing. I wonder if she would ever be able to fight in such a form. Would she be weaker or stronger? But why a wolf out of all things? Is there a significant purpose as to why a wolf was her animal form? Is her demon involved in any of this transformation? And that white wolf. It's the demon that had been with her in the sand village. The one who protected her against Shukaku and me.

Why is her demon outside of her seal?

And why are they touching as if they require each other's touch?

I'll get the answers just before I decide to kill her.