Crouching low to the ground, a wave of fear infected my body. What if it was Akatsuki? Would I be strong enough to fight them for real? Would I be able to get away unscathed… or get away at all? All these questions, they’re clouding my mind, I thought angrily as I shook my head out. Ears pricked straight up into the night sky as suddenly a twig cracked in the bushes. The air heavy with the aroma of flowers and foliage, my one great sense was rendered useless. Eyes scanned the area, locking onto the bush where the sound came from… waiting… watching…

Hitting the ground eagle spread, 3 kunai whizzed past my ear and pierced the tree behind me. Whipping around I flung myself into the bramble where they came from. Throwing all my weight forward, I crashed into a body about twice my size and weight but with my momentum, we both cascaded to the ground. Thorns caught in my pelt and snagged out clumps of tawny fur. Pinning the enemies’ arms down with sharp claws, I growled fiercely. Her scream pierced through my growls, birds taking flight into the sky in pure fear. With the blood pounding in my ears, I dared not to let my prey go.

Her cherry blossom colored hair stuck to her forehead, her emerald eyes locked in a struggle with my hazel yellow. Her red dress and leggings were torn from the battle that was locked in between us. “Tried sneaking up on me eh? Didn’t work now did it,” I hissed in her face, tail quivering in anticipation. Her breath caught in her throat as I pulled back, jaws opened in a final yowl.

 

“HEY YOU BIG BRUTE LEAVE HER ALONE!”

 

Halting to a stop a few inches below her chin, I adverted my eyes over to the one person who dared to interrupt a kill. His ice blue eyes were narrowed in pure anger, hands curled into fists by his side. Shaggy blonde hair was held at bay by a Konoha hitai-ate. Recognizing the symbol immediately, guilt washed though me as I shifted. The sudden shift seemed to have scared him as he took a step back, eyes wide in curiosity. “I’m truly sorry I didn’t know you were-“

I was shoved violently into a tree, my head cracking sickeningly against the trunk. I could feel the blood trickling out of my temple from a cut, being held up by my throat. I gasped for air, clenching his wrist. “Give me one reason why I should forgive you,” he snarled, the whiskers on his face darkening. “You come in here like you run the place and nearly kill poor Sakura-chan. Give me one damn good reason!”

“I… have information… on… Akatsuki,” I managed to sputter out, my lungs burning for air. He searched my face for a minute, deciding if I was trust worthy or not. With a growl he let me go, falling into a heap onto the ground. Wonderfully cool air flooded my lungs as I took in a deep breath.

 

“You have a minute start talking.”

 

I looked up at him with eyes interlaced with pain and confidence; sure of every word I’d say.

 

“My name is Lynx Riyaku and I am a rebel ninja and the jinchuriki or the Twilight Panther from Amegakure. My clan was brutally killed by the Leader of Amegakure, Pain, and I fight against his rule, seeking out information to exploit him to the people and put someone else worthy of running the village in charge.  I’ve been run out of Ame by Itachi and Kisame and I’ve come to visit an old friend, Kakashi Hatake. I owe him a favor and I’m here to return it by giving information on Akatsuki.”

 

 

I held his gaze the whole time, not once blinking. Not sure whether to actually believe me or not, his tense posture relaxed slightly, his gaze lessening.

 

“I’m sorry for judging you Lynx. Kakashi has spoken of you before. I’m Naruto Uzumaki,” he mumbled, watching me stand up and dust myself off. I took in a sharp breath of pain as I watched the blood ooze out of cuts on my palm. Naruto grimaced. “I shouldn’t have run so much in one night. I completely rubbed my paws and palms raw. But I guess if you’re running from somebody who wants to kill you sacrifice whatever you can,” I sighed, wiping the blood on the tree trunk. He nodded, turning to face where the girl, Sakura I guess she was called, was. But all that was left was the imprint of her body in the springy grass.

“So I guess we’re in the same boat huh? Terrorized by a group that just wants us for the monsters we have within us. Me… I’ve got the Nine Tailed Fox within me.”

Shocked, at glanced up at what Naruto had revealed. I had just met this kid, and somehow, in these precious few minutes, we had linked like we had been friends forever. I was amazed at the feeling that welled up inside me, the want for someone to understand me and not just look down in pity. Always I had been an outcast, but now, I felt I belonged somewhere… Brought back to reality by someone clearing their throat, Kakashi stood in front of me.