I don't own anything except for my OCs. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Shifters and demons live in the 'plane' that if it showed on the map, would reach all Five Great Shinobi Countries and overlapping some like Takigakure and Otogakure. It can be divided into sectors depending on the land it's on. During the Warring States Period, plane opened and was considered neutral territory as anyone who fought there would instantly be killed be the forest's inhabitants. Clans would go to the plane to rest. Hanta met Hashirama and Madara(the human ones) when their clans stayed in the forest to rest and heal before continuing their fight. That was when Hashirama told her of his plan for peace. Hanta liked the idea and told him that if he succeeded in building his village, she would help to protect it. When Hashirama became Hokage, She visited him in his office on his second day as Hokage to discuss the pact. In the end, it was decided that Hanta would come to the aid of each Hokage only once when they needed it.

Chapter 3

(Twelve hours after the first chapter.)

Hanta frowned as she prepared the evening's meal. She couldn't stop thinking about the scroll she got from Tsunade. If the contents were true, then it meant that going to the Hokage's aid would be suicide, yet she had made an agreement with Hashirama, to come to the aid of Konoha when the Hokage requested it. Yet, she knew there was only one group of people who could get normal animals to behave like shifters.

"Hey, what's wrong?" asked a voice. Shocked, Hanta spun around. Kage leaned forward staring at Hanta worriedly. After all, it wasn't like her to be so unobservant. Hanta silently shook her head and pointed to the scroll beside the oven. Now curious, Kage picked up the scroll and started reading its contents. After he was done, he laughed nervously. "Hey, this is a joke right?" Hanta didn't answer as she resumed plucking a bird.

Now serious, Kage continued,"If it's true, are you going to Konoha?" When Hanta remained quiet, he snapped his fingers determined. "If you are, then we'll all go!"

At that, he got a reaction. Hanta's head snapped up and stared at him in disbelief. Before she could say anything, Kage quickly ploughed on. "If the cause if what I think it is, then going there will be suicide, and don't you dare deny it. If the pack finds out you're gone and you die in the process, then I'll have some very angry shifters and demons on my back. Plus, pack is family and no one gets left behind right?"

"Yeah, but I can't afford to bring them along! And don't bring up what happened years ago. Besides, they're stronger than the previous one, if they do get killed, then there's nothing I can do about that. After all, I can't keep protecting them. If they're weak, then they shouldn't even be here," scoffed Hanta.

"Regardless, they will still want to come once they know," argued Kage, refusing to back down.

"Who says they'll know" shot back Hanta.

"You're not going to tell them?" Hanta shook her head. "But I thought that no one keeps secrets here? What happened to the promise, Hanta? No lying, no keeping secrets, no leaving behind anyone, isn't that what family is? How can you trust someone, if they constantly keep things away? Even if you did come back alive and the pack is unharmed, they won't trust you anymore," finished Kage with conviction.

Seeing Hanta hesitate, he knew had won. He hated reminding her of the past, especially since she was still healing, but there was no why he was going to lose his stubborn mate to stupidity and rashness.

Hanta sighed tiredly. She knew when she was beaten. As she turned back to the bird, she told Kage to let the pack know the details and to inform them that they were to be leaving in the next morning.

Grinning, Kage saluted before leaving the kitchen.

"Okay, everyone I have a joyous announcement to make!" cried out Kage gleefully during dinner. Almost as one, all conversation ceased and everyone stopped to look at him. Undaunted, Kage simply launched into an overdramatic review of why his mate was going to Konoha and why they had to follow her. In fact, the speech resembled that of a certain Konoha's majestic Green Beast so much that a few people had started nervously inching away from him.

When Kage was done, he cheerfully hopped down from the table and resumed eating his meal. At that, the pack followed his example and too continued to eat. Soon, the table was once again filled with mindless chatter.

When everyone had left the room, Hanta let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. 'Well, that could have gone worse,' she thought sardonically. With that, she climbed up the stairs to her room.

The next day, Kage was - in his opinion - rudely and horribly awakened. First he had boiling hot water dumped on me, in his bed. Then, after he had awoken with a start, his dear beloved sister had cackled evilly before flinging him out of the window.

In Hanta's defense, she knew that throwing her brother out of the window wouldn't kill him. Like all feline shifters, he had landed on all four feet unharmed, only a bit frazzled. And it wasn't like pouring ice water on him would wake him up. It would only make him sleep deeper. Plus, at least it got him ready to leave in under five minutes.

When the pack was ready to go, Hanta was pleased to see that the sun had yet to rise. If they left in ten minutes and traveled at a fixed pace, they would be able to reach Konoha by late afternoon. That was of course if they actually left in ten minutes...

Kage was going around searching for his mate, Misosazai, C was growling at Darui for getting her pregnant again, Madara was giving Hashirama the cold shoulder for whatever blunder he did again, Kakashi was falling asleep standing up-"Have you seen Kage anywhere?" asked Misosazai, stirring Hanta from her thoughts. She nodded towards the direction her brother went before adjusting the hood of her cloak to over her she was done, she called out to ask if everyone was ready. When they gave the affirmative, she nodded and lead the pack out of their territory and-and out of the plane to Konoha.

Tsunade really hoped that Hanta was coming soon. Since she had noticed the animal problems, she had been swamped with complaints about them.' Arhhh why did I become Hokage again?' Tsunade questioned herself.

"Obaa-san! There are some really weird strangers at the South Gate, they claim you called them but they don't have papers!" yelled Naruto as he barged into the room. In answer, Tsunade simply raised her fist and slammed it on his head. "ITAI! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR!" wailed Naruto cradling his head where a bump was already appearing.

"Brat! Don't shout so loud!" she hissed, mind reeling. 'Does that mean she was already here? But Naruto said strangers. Plural. And Hanta would simply come straight to her, not wait at the border...'

Still thinking, Tsunade marched stiffly towards the South Gate with Naruto following. When she was close, she could see an ensemble of Jounins there. They parted when she walked to them and then saw what they were weary of. There was a group of hooded figures.

Then, one of them stepped forwards and pulled down their hood. "Sorry, the pack wanted to come along as well," apologized Hanta, giving a sheepish grin. Tensed, Tsunade merely nodded before barking at the Jounins to live them alone.

"Demo, obaa-san! What if their enemies waiting to kill you?" complained Naruto. Damn, she had forgotten about that brat. Tsunade gritted her teeth, "Brat, would I be here welcoming them if they were enemies?"

Without waiting to hear his response, she brushed past him and-and went back to the Hokage Tower, Hanta following. Hanta looked back at her pack. "Split."

They nodded and shunshined to their homes. Or rather, the ones with homes in Konoha went home and the ones who didn't headed to the forest.

"Where are your pack going to stay?" asked Tsunade. They were both sitting in the Hokage's office. Hanta shrugged. "Anywhere we can." "What? You don't have anywhere to stay, how about Kakashi's, or Iruka's?" asked the Hokage shocked. Hanta's eyes grew cold. "Space is a serious thing to us, plus I'm sure they need some family time."

"Family?" Hanta smirked. "Didn't you know? Iruka and Kakashi are mates. They even have a son. Tsunade raised her eyebrows. While she knew that those two were shifters, she didn't know that they were mated...whatever that was.

"It's the human equivalent of being married. Just that you can't get divorced." startled, Tsunade stared at Hanta. " Those two have been permanently married for eleven years and still counting."

"Um, before we start discussing about the animals, can we talk about where your-uh, pack is going to stay?" said Tsunade.

"Where do you suggest," asked Hanta blandly.

There's an empty plot near a lake at the east side, plus it has its own plot of forest and even a small field," suggested Tsunade.

Hanta's eyes lit up and she grinned. "I'll take it." She stood up and stretched. "Now that that's done, I think it's time to introduce you to my family."