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Song is Radioactive by Imagine Dragons (Nightcore version)

Pic of Deva Path Pain (Tendo)  --->

Third Person's POV

“No!” Kohana cries in horror, looking back over her shoulder and stumbling as Ashley drags her along by the arm. “We....We can't just leave him back there! He'll die!”

Ashley doesn't reply, gritting her teeth together and turning her head slightly to glance back at Pain. She sees the tall, orange haired man lower his arms, a thick cloud of dust billowing around his feet and across the now devastated ground. Forming a perfect circle around the Akatsuki Leader, the ground below his feet had been powerfully forced backwards by a wave of chakra, sending buildings toppling to the ground and burying people alive. One of those people being Kakashi Hatake.

Keeping his face angled towards the ground, Pain slowly begins to turn his head and glares at Ashley from the corner of his eye. The man narrows his purple eyes as his mouth pulls down at the corners slightly, the harsh expression sending a brief shiver up Ashley's spine.

Instinctively, Ashley tightens her grip on Kohana's hand, as she tugs the young girl along, moving even faster now. She wanted to get Kohana as far away from the Akatsuki Leader as possible.....As difficult as it was for the blonde to leave her Sensei behind.

“He won't die Kohana” Ashley eventually responds, skidding around a corner, with Ace, Chi, Jet, Tiez and Aki following closely behind. “Kakashi Sensei's the best there is.”

“And besides” Aki calls from the rear, ducking when a large smattering of ceramic tiles crash to the ground next to him, “Tiez and I already found some people to help him!”

“B-But that man.....” Kohana trails off, blinking her dark eyes and coughing a little, due to the thick smoke hanging in the air. Pausing behind another building and ducking her head to look under the smoke, Ashley squints her eyes.

Ahead of them, the blonde is able to make out a small number of Leaf Ninja all pointing at something, when they suddenly begin to shout and scatter in all directions. They frantically leap into the air and scramble over debris, before a large creature barrels through a number of buildings, sending them toppling to the ground with ease.

“Milady!” Ace calls out, widening his stance as the ground begins to tremble violently. “What is that creature?!”

“I dunno Ace!” Ashley shouts back, her voice barely audible over the sound of the beast's large hooves thundering against the ground as it charges once again. “Looks like some sort of Bull!....Or an Ox maybe?!”

“It cannot be good either way” Ace replies, taking a step forwards, as the rest of the Pack begin to glance around worriedly. Chi lays his ears back and crouches behind Jet fearfully, his now wide eyes darting around as he takes in the devastation. Aki and Tiez exchange a concerned look with each other, the younger Wolf subconsciously scooting closer to her oldest friend.

“They look as though they are struggling with the beast” Ace comments, nodding his head towards the Leaf Ninja currently trying to attack the gigantic Ox chasing after them. Ashley frowns a little, barely noticing as Kohana swallows thickly and grabs onto her wrist with her free hand.

“It's no wonder they're struggling!” Ashley suddenly cries as one of the Shinobi trips over, just as the monstrous animal chasing him rears up. “They're only Genin! We have to help them!”

Here Ashley whirls around and releases her grip on Kohana's hand, gently ushering her towards Ace.

“Ace, take care of Kohana” the blonde instructs seriously, staring into the Wolf's pale eye. “Please, defend her with your life. Jet, I'm gonna need your help for this. Mennään!” (Let's go!)

“Olen aivan takanasi!” Jet replies, bending his knees and leaping straight over Ace, following right behind Ashley as the girl spins on her heels and dashes out of the cover of the burning buildings. (I am right behind you!)

“Ashley!” Kohana cries fearfully, throwing one arm out, as Ace catches onto the back of her shirt with his jaws.

“You h-have to trust in Lady Ashley and Jet-chan” Chi speaks up timidly, tail between his legs as he rises to his feet and stares after his best friend. “They'll b-be alright Kona-chan.......”

“We will protect you young one” Ace assures Kohana in an emotionless voice, though he raises his pale eye to focus on his beloved partner. “......Milady will be back for you, and us, in no time at all.”

Racing towards the battered young Genin laying across the ground, Ashley grits her teeth together and looks up, only to see the strange looking Ox looming high above her, its massive hooves falling speedily towards the ground.

“Are you ready Suihkukone?!” Ashley calls, turning her head as the large Wolf barrels past her, fangs gritted together in a mean smirk.

“Hai!” Jet barks back in his deep voice, golden eyes flashing. Moving in perfect unison, both Ashley and Jet focus chakra into their feet and leap into the air, rocketing towards the formidable Ox. Turning her head away, Ashley slams her shoulder into the Ox's side, just as Jet also collides heavily with the creature.

The chakra fuelled attack causes the Ox to let out a roar of pain, before it falls to the earth with a thunderous boom, sending up a thick cloud of dust and ash as the ground rocks to and fro from the impact.

Jet flips around in mid air and lands beside the injured Genin with a heavy thud, with Ashley lightly dropping to the ground and landing on one knee, a hand rubbing at her shoulder. She lets out a low hiss, her shoulder having smacked right into one of the Ox's steel hard ribs.

“Are you alright Milady?” Jet asks lowly, glancing down as the Genin beside him lets out a surprised gasp. Apparently the child hadn't expected a huge, talking Wolf to come to his rescue.

“I'm fine” the Minami responds, turning her head to look back at the Genin over her shoulder. “Are you alright? You look pretty ragged at the moment.”

“I-I'm okay” the young male replies, leaning up on his elbows and wincing slightly. “My friends and I have been trying to take this thing down for awhile, but it's too fast and strong. It knocked a building down on a few of us and I got hurt, but.....But at least I didn't d-die like Ame did.......”

Here the young boy's hands ball up into fists and his eyes fill with tears, though he manages to keep them from falling. Now was not the time to cry. Now was the time to defend his Village and prevent anyone else from getting killed.

Ashley's neck wrenches back around as the Ox begins to kick its legs viciously, rocking itself until it is able to climb to its feet, a nasty look in its purple eyes. Broken pieces of wood and shattered rocks rain down from the large beast's fur, a blast of warm air coming from its nose as it huffs angrily.

Focusing its attention down on Ashley and Jet, the Ox lowers its head and slams its left hoof into the dirt, scraping it backwards as if about to charge. Ashley's eyes widen a little as she slowly rises to her feet, holding her palm out towards the Genin.

“You need to get out of here” she instructs, still staring up at the beast before her, with Jet growling lowly in the background. “This is too much for a small group of Genin to take on. Jet and I will handle this.”

“Y-Yeah” the Genin agrees, struggling to his feet and exhaling sharply. “Thanks for the help and....G-Good luck with that thing!”

“Who needs luck when we have power?” Jet chuckles deeply, smirking as the Genin leaps away, moving a little slow due to his injuries.

“Jet, I'm gonna need you to hold this thing down for me okay?” Ashley instructs, placing her palms together. “I'll try to kill it as quickly as possible.”

“I understand” Jet replies, racing forwards at the same time as the Ox, every step it takes shaking the ground. “Earth Style: Chain Encapsulation!”

As Jet sends out a powerful wave of chakra through the earth, thick chains made of hardened rock burst up out of the ground, wrapping themselves around the oncoming Ox's legs, neck and horns. As the chains suddenly tighten in place, the Ox comes to a jarring halt, causing it to shriek in pain. It tosses its head madly and immediately begins throwing itself around, trying to break free of Jet's chakra imbued chains.

“Hurry Milady!” Jet urges, skidding to a halt and turning around. “These chains won't hold for long! This creature is too powerful!”

“Right.....” Ashley grunts, performing a swift set of hand signs. “Wind Style: Typhoon Divide!”

Slowly pulling her hands apart, Ashley begins to form a spinning ball of chakra between her palms, before she completely pulls one hand away, stretching the ball into a thin disc. She throws her right arm back, the rotating chakra disc now forming curved blades around its edges, buzzing loudly.

With a shout, Ashley heaves the disc forwards, her whole body travelling forwards from the momentum. The disc spins through the air at a dizzying speed, slicing straight through the Ox's left foreleg and back leg with ease, before exploding as it collides with a large pile of burning rubble.

Now unable to balance on only its two right legs, the Ox falls over once again, though Jet doesn't release it from his binding Jutsu.

Not skipping a beat, Ashley quickly performs another set of hand signs and crouches down, slamming her palm against the earth.

“Earth Style: Stone Column Spear!” the girl shouts, smirking to herself. It had been quite awhile since she'd needed to use her favourite Jutsu. This would take care of that annoying creature for sure!

Watching as thick, pointed spears of rock begin piercing up through the ground, the Ox lets out a panicked bray and begins flailing its two remaining legs wildly, trying to stand. Jet turns his head away, just as numerous rocky spears burst through the ground and rip into the Ox's flesh, spraying dark blood everywhere. In mere seconds, the Ox is torn to pieces, leaving it nothing more than a battered and bloodied mess, before it disappears in a large cloud of smoke.

“Good job Milady” Jet praises, ears pricking up as he meanders back over to Ashley and nudges her shoulder with his nose. “I am impressed.”

“Kiitos Suihkukone” Ashley thanks the Wolf as she catches her breath. “Couldn't have done it without you. Now, let's get back to the others.”

Just as Ashley turns around to leave, a tall, muscular man with orange hair barges past, just about knocking her over. Jet manages to catch the back of Ashley's shirt in his mouth and tugs the girl backwards, just before she is flattened by the large man.

The two watch as the orange haired man leaps over a building and disappears from sight, with a confused and suspicious look settling onto Ashley's face.

“He......He had the same eyes as Pain” the blonde realises, turning her head to look over at Ace, who is still watching on from the shadows, Kohana's fingers curled tightly into his blue fur. “So it's just like Sakura said. There really are more......”

Almost as soon as the Pain look a like disappears over the roof top, an electrified, Wolf-like creature flashes past, howling furiously, the voice riddled with static. The bright blue figure dashes past Ashley in a streaking, zigzag pattern, seemingly focused on catching up to the fleeing man.

“Rei?!” Ashley exclaims in surprise, taking a step forwards, when Kai suddenly skids to a halt beside her. “Huh, Kai? What's going on? Why aren't you guys with Kiba?!”

“We are with that brat Milady” Kai breathes heavily, a sweat drop on the side of his head. “He's right behind me, but we're chasing after that guy with the orange hair. Apparently there are a few of these guys running around, but your chump and his Mother were informed that this one can't hack physical attacks, so they got sent after him! I'm about to pound his sorry ass into the ground and then rip his face off!”

“Hahaha, that's why I like this Wolf!” a familiar female voice laughs obnoxiously. “He's got a backbone in him!”

Riding atop her large Ninken, Kuromaru, Tsume appears on the battlefield. She slides down from Kuromaru's back and gives the large animal's head a pat, glancing back over her shoulder with a smirk on her purple lips.

“Too bad I can't say the same for you Kiba” the woman laughs roughly, as Ashley's eyes light up with relief, Kiba and Akamaru appearing on a roof top nearby.

“Hilarious” Kiba remarks sarcastically, before spotting Ashley, “Angel, you're alright! Well, that's one less worry I have now.”

“Shouldn't you guys be going after Rei?” Ashley asks, raising her hand in a brief wave. “She's chasing after that guy all by herself.......”

“Akamaru marked him” Kiba explains, the white Ninken leaping down to the ground and trotting over, “So he won't be getting away any time soon. Are you gunna join us with the chase?”

“I'll join you guys soon” Ashley promises, smiling at Kiba as Tsume climbs back onto Kuromaru's back. “I just have to get someone out of here safely first.”

“Lets get this over and done with boys!” Tsume barks brashly, with Kuromaru taking off in the same direction the electrified Rei had gone. “We'll take him out before Ashley has a chance to join us!”

“Stay safe Kai” Ashley says softly, turning to the muscular Wolf and placing her hand under his chin. “And keep an eye out for Rei for me too.”

“........Yeah yeah.....” Kai trails off after staring at Ashley for a moment, ears laying back. “You ah.....You be careful too then.”

Clearing his throat and exhaling lowly, Kai's mouth suddenly pulls up into an evil grin and his red eyes flash mischievously. He whirls around and bounds across the ground, easily leaping up onto the roof tops and disappearing from Ashley's view.

“Don't fight any of them alone Ashley” Kiba warns the blonde seriously. “They're pretty damn tough and I don't wanna see you back in the hospital again so soon.”

“Where's the faith Mutt?” Ashley asks cheekily, her signature smirk in place as Kiba rolls his eyes and also disappears over the roof tops. “No Akatsuki bastard is gonna catch me off gu- Aargghhhh!”

Ashley is cut off by a sudden powerful jab to the back, the sheer force of the hit sending her rocketing straight into a large pile of rubble. She collides with the splintered wood and shattered rocks with a loud crash, her body disappearing in a thick covering of dust.

“Lady Ashley!” Jet barks in shock, not having smelled the attacker approach. He turns to face the newcomer and bares his teeth, laying his ears back as he growls viciously.

“Milady!” Ace howls, bursting out of cover and moving to run over, when he suddenly stops and glances back at Kohana. He sees the fear in her wide, wavering eyes and lets out a heavy sigh, a look of conflict on his face.

Against his instinct and better judgement, Ace sits back down beside Kohana, curling his tail around her waist and shielding her from the view of his partner's attacker.

“What are the three of you doing?” Ace snaps at Aki, Tiez and Chi. “I have my orders to protect this girl, you have none. So get out there and help Jet protect our Lady Ashley! I will not have my precious partner fight one of them alone!”

“B-B-But Ace-kun” Chi whimpers, shaking. “He looks s-so mean.....”

“Yet you would leave Jet to face him alone?” Ace asks meanly, trying to put guilt into the young Wolf. “What kind of a friend are you?”

“Hell, I ain't cowering back here anymore!” Tiez barks, baring her small teeth, a strange glint in her violet eyes. “I'm gonna wipe the floor with this guy!”

“Tiez darling, you must be careful!” Aki warns, stepping up beside the purple Wolf. “I will fight alongside you, at least to keep an eye on you.”

“Try to keep up” Tiez teases, turning to look at the orange haired man walking towards Ashley, before suddenly streaking towards him, almost disappearing from sight. She smirks to herself as she races towards the large man, focusing chakra into the back of her throat.

“Torpid Needles!” the young animal cries, opening her mouth and shooting out a flurry of thin chakra blasts that harden as the air touches them. The orange haired man, his face full of piercings, doesn't even flinch as the painful needles embed themselves deep in his skin, walking as though nothing had happened.

“Huh?!” Tiez cries in shock, her eyes widening. “Why is he still moving? The poison should already be shutting down his muscles and paralysing him!”

The young Wolf puffs out her chest and narrows her eyes, baring her teeth in annoyed growl as she glares at the Pain look alike. She wasn't going to be brushed off so easily.

Letting out a snarl, Tiez takes off across the ground, sending up small clouds of dust as she races forwards, leaving a surprised Aki behind.

“Tiez!” the bi-coloured Wolf calls in a panic, running after her, “Stay away from him! He'll kill you!”

“Heh, just let that bastard try!” Tiez sneers, whirling around and skidding to a halt right in front of the orange haired man, head held low to the ground. She lays her ears back and digs her front claws into the dirt, her target pausing to glance down at her blankly.

“Frozen Mist Technique!” Tiez barks, sucking in a deep breath, before exhaling a thick, yellow mist. It envelopes the Pain standing before her, though he merely continues to stare at Tiez with an emotionless expression, causing the young Wolf's eyes to widen.

She raises her head and takes a step back, disbelief on her face. She shakes her head, taking another step back as the Pain look alike takes one towards her.

“H-How......How are you still standing?” she inquires fearfully, watching as the man continues towards her. “You should be frozen! With all that poison, every organ in your body should have shut down by now!”

The man doesn't reply, looming over the shocked Tiez and pulling his leg back to kick her out of the way.

“Tiez!” Aki cries again, leaping forwards just as the young Wolf closes her eyes and turns away, the man's foot only inches from her face. Letting out a ferocious snarl, Aki suddenly bursts into flame and tackles the orange haired man, knocking him away and saving Tiez from a nasty kick.

“Don't you touch her!” Aki roars, standing on top of the man's chest and baring his teeth, his fur burning with a myriad of reds and yellows. “I will kill you for even attempting such a thing! Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!”

Aiming to blast the man in the face at point blank range, the furious Aki exhales a chakra fuelled fireball at his enemy, only for the man to reach into his sleeve and pull something out.

Cutting Aki off short before he can fire his Jutsu, Pain stabs a kunai knife straight up into the large Wolf's chest, causing his eyes to bulge in pain. The flames immediately fade from Aki's fur, before Pain pushes the Wolf off and rises to his feet, slamming Aki in the side with a vicious kick.

The injured Wolf tumbles across the ground at high speed, crashing into the remains of a wall and causing it to collapse on top of him. He wheezes raggedly, blooding seeping from his mouth and the wound in his chest.

“A......Aki!” Tiez screams in horror, her blood running cold as she watches the beautiful Wolf close his sapphire eyes, the rest of his body hidden under a small pile of cracked bricks. “No!”

“Y-You....You asshole!” Tiez shouts at Pain, squeezing her eyes closed and jumping to her feet. “Don't touch my best friend! I'll kill you! I'll-”

With a bone chilling snarl, a Wolf made of black lightning suddenly bursts out of the rubble Ashley had been knocked into, charging straight for Pain and colliding with him. It explodes upon impact, electrifying the orange haired man and sending small, black sparks dancing across his skin.

Opening her eyes and swallowing, Tiez turns her head, only to see Ashley now sitting on top of a rock, one eye closed and one hand holding her head.

“You may have caught me off guard” the girl breathes, wiping some dirt from her cheek, “But that doesn't mean you can attack my Wolves like that. I'll make you regret what you just did....”

Glancing around, Ashley sees the uncharacteristically scared look on Tiez's face as the purple Wolf stares up at her, her chest rising up and down rapidly. Turning her head, she sees Jet now standing before a softly whimpering Chi, having moved to shield his younger friend from their new foe. Across the battlefield, almost completely hidden beneath powdery plaster and cracked bricks, Ashley sees an injured Aki, blood now pooling on the ground beneath him.

The Minami's eyes narrow at the sight of her injured Wolf, his spilled blood making her own boil in her veins. How dare this criminal hurt her partners like this?!

“I have a question to ask you” the Pain asks roughly, to which Ashley sneers and climbs to her feet.

“You think I give a shit about your question?” she snaps back, shaking her head. “You can go to hell Pain. After everything you've done here, you think we'll tell you anything?”

“Do not resist” the man replies, not faltering from his resolve. “I will kill you if you do not answer me.”

“You can try” Ashley goads the man, before casting her eyes down to Tiez. “Tiez, hurry and go help Aki. Dig him out of there okay?”

“...Y-Yeah, okay” the small Wolf says with a nod, giving Pain one last wary look, before darting towards her best friend. She comes to a stop beside the black and white Wolf, gently prodding his soft cheek with her nose, until one sapphire eye cracks open.

“Ahh.......T-Tiez darling” the injured animal coos tiredly, “You're alright....W-Wonderful.....”

“B-But you're not you idiot!” Tiez retorts, eyes wavering. “Hang on okay? I'll.....I'll get you out of there....”

“Do not take him on alone Milady” Jet advises, sparing Ace a quick look over his shoulder. “Allow me to fight with you on Ace's behalf.”

“Thanks Jet” Ashley replies, silently praising her Guardian for heeding her orders, despite their situation. While it went against every instinct in Ace's body, he'd refrained from fighting and stayed by Kohana's side, just as Ashley had asked.

He was a greater friend than he got credit for.

“What is your reason for doing all this?!” Ashley demands to know, waving her arm and gesturing toward the destruction around them. “Why are you attacking the Leaf Village?!”

“I will be the one to ask questions” Pain replies coldly, to which Ashley lets out a low growl. “Now, answer me this. Where is Naruto Uzumaki?”

“What?” Ashley asks in a surprised whisper, eyes widening, before anger begins to boil inside her again. “What?! You think I'd tell you something like that? You're crazy! Leave him alone you bastard!”

That said, Ashley jumps down from the rock she's on and races towards Pain, chakra focused in her fists to deal him a monstrous punch. Keeping low to the ground, Ashley spins around as she darts in close, hoping to sweep the man's feet out from under him first.

He easily avoids this attack by jumping up, to which Ashley places one hand on the ground and pushes herself up into the air, flipping around to swing a kick at Pain's chest. He blocks the kick with his hand, before gripping tightly onto Ashley's shin and swinging her back down towards the ground, great force behind the throw.

Bounding forwards as Ashley flips back around and lands on the ground in a crouched position, Jet opens his mouth and begins focusing chakra in it, replicating Keilor's Wolf Style: Rasengan attack.

He raises his head to look up at the falling Pain, before snapping his jaws closed and sending the spinning ball of explosive chakra at his target. As the man lands back on the ground, head turned to watch the incoming attack over his shoulder, he suddenly darts to the left, heading straight for Ashley.

Jet growls as his Rasengan collides with a burned down house, exploding upon impact and sending up a thick cloud of black smoke into the air.

Ashley, leaping backwards, performs a set of complicated hand signs and balls her hands into fists, before skidding to a halt and dropping to one knee, punching her knuckles into the dirt.

“Wood Style!” the girl cries, brows furrowed. “Tree Wall Barrier!”

Immediately, thick tree trunks rip the ground open and shoot up into the sky, snaking around each other to form a strong, defensive wall. Before Ashley can so much as rise to her feet, Pain explodes straight through her wall, shredding the tree trunks right open with one chakra fuelled punch.

As Ashley's eyes widen and she begins rising to her feet, Pain lashes out towards her, his fingers curling around her throat in a tight grasp. The man continues running forwards, until Ashley's back is violently slammed against the wall of a burning building, small pieces of brick crumbling down beside her.

“Now, answer me honestly” Pain says in a low voice, leaning closer to Ashley as she coughs, “Or you will die here. Where is Naruto Uzumaki?”

“Wh-What a stupid question” Ashley chuckles, smirking at Pain despite him holding her off the ground by her throat. “I-I'd never tell you s-something like that...”

“Lady Ashley!” Chi cries frantically, his ears pricking up as he sees Pain tighten his grip on the girl's neck. He stares at the blonde for a moment, before the young Wolf's aqua eyes begin to narrow, flashing a bright yellow colour for a split second as he pulls his lips back into a silent growl. Jet watches as Chi rises to his feet, head lowered and the fur on his back beginning to stand on end.

It seemed the pup was finally about to get his head in the game.

“You have one more chance” Pain utters warningly, his purple eyes taking on a dark look, “Where is Naruto Uzumaki hiding?”

“I......I don't sell out my c-comrades, even if y-you threaten my life” Ashley growls defiantly, spitting a small amount of blood at Pain. “Like I s-said before, go to hell!”

“.........You would choose to lose your life?” Pain asks, sounding faintly angry as he uses his free hand to wipe the blood from his cheek. “How pathet-”

Pain is cut off by a furious growl, before Chi suddenly crashes into the man's back and sinks his teeth into the flesh of his neck. Chi's fangs easily rip through Pain's flesh, the bite made even stronger due to the pup focusing his chakra into them.

Digging his claws into Pain's shoulders and pushing against them, Chi throws his head back, tearing away half of the man's neck with it. The young Wolf drops back onto the ground as Pain releases Ashley, his blood soaked fur making him look strangely terrifying.

“You leave Lady Ashley alone you big bully!” Chi snaps angrily, stalking over to Ashley as she slides to the ground and helping the girl to her feet. “We don't wanna help you anymore!”

“Thanks Chi” Ashley wheezes, rubbing her throat with one hand and patting Chi's head with the other. “Good job.”

Pain blinks his eyes a few times, before turning around and glaring at Ashley and Chi, seemingly unharmed by the huge, gaping hole in his neck.

“Wh......Why isn't he dying?” Chi gasps, eyes widening as Ashley pushes him behind her, grimacing slightly.

“There's something weird about this guy......” the Minami mutters thoughtfully. “Tiez's poison doesn't affect his nervous system or muscles and now having his damn throat ripped out isn't even hindering him.......What's the deal with Pain?”

Before Ashley can so much as think, a huge paw suddenly comes down from the sky and flattens Pain beneath it, causing the ground to tremble so much that Chi falls over. The blonde girl stares in utter surprise, before a familiar voice catches her attention.

“Hey!” Atsui calls down urgently. “I need your help! Saffire and Shimei are out cold!”

“Tai-chan!” Chi barks happily, his tail beginning to wag as he looks up at the gigantic Wolf standing before them, Atsui riding on its back. “Look Lady Ashley, its my big brother-chan! He looks so cool!”

Tsumetai glances down and sends Chi a closed eye smile, though Ashley can't help sweat dropping at the expression. With that wild fur and those crazy sabre fangs, Tsumetai looked anything but cute right now.

“Where are they Astui?” Ashley asks, tilting her head back to look up at the green haired Minami.

“I've got them right here, on Tsumetai's back!” he calls back, running a hand down his face. “We got stuck fighting some weird demon Chameleon, and they got hurt.”

“Where's Fang?” Ashley inquires, brows furrowing again. “Can't she heal them both?”

“I'm right here.....” a faint voice responds, Fang walking into the clearing with Ace and Kohana right behind her. “I'm....A little tired......”

Atsui, carrying Shimei on his shoulders, leaps down to the ground and lands in a crouched position. He gently lays the tall red head down on the ground, breathing heavily.

“Fang's been healing people left, right and centre” Atsui explains, placing one hand on his knee and pushing himself back up. “She's pretty tired out, not that me and Tsumetai aren't either.”

That said, Atsui focuses chakra into his legs and jumps back up onto Tsumetai's back to retrieve Saffire as well.

“Good job keeping everyone together” Ashley compliments as Atsui appears on the ground again, an unconscious Saffire slung over his shoulder. “.....I'm just glad none of you have been killed.”

Atsui sighs heavily and places Saffire down on the ground, before rubbing the back of his head and glaring over at Ashley.

“I never want to come back to this Village again” he states stonily. “Last time was nothing compared to the carnage I've seen this time.”

“It's not usually like this but.....” Ashley trails off for a moment, pushing the hair back from her face as she looks around, “.....It would appear that the Akatsuki are here for Naruto. They must be after the Nine Tails again.”

“All this for that stupid blonde kid?” Atsui asks, raising one brow and rolling his eyes. “......Hmph. Well, we'll have to keep fighting if we don't want them to get their hands on him.”

“You'd risk your life for that stupid blonde kid?” Ashley asks teasingly, mocking Atsui's tone of voice.

“You're a stupid blonde kid as well” the male Minami responds coldly, crossing his arms and turning away. “Doesn't mean I'm gonna sit back and let some insane criminals kill you for that thing you have inside you.”

“......As nice as that is” Ashley says after a few moments, surprised by Atsui's sentiment, “Don't talk about Hakuba like that. He's not some.....thing. He's.......He's more than just a source of power....”

'More?' a faint voice asks Ashley, sounding both surprised and intrigued. 'What do you mean.....More?...'

“Whatever” Atsui sighs, shaking his head. “Can you just heal Saffire and Shimei so we can move somewhere more safe?”

As Ashley opens her mouth to respond, she is cut off by a panicked bark from Tsumetai, causing everyone to look over at him. The blonde is unable to suppress a gasp as she sees Pain slowly rising out of the dirt, both hands pushing against the bottom of Tsumetai's paw.

The man glares at Ashley darkly, his body shaking from the strain off lifting up such a heavy creature. Before he can completely free himself however, Pain vanishes in a puff of smoke, the sudden disappearance causing Tsumetai to overbalance and fall to the ground with a boom.

“What........What just happened?” Jet asks, ears pricking up as Tsumetai returns to his normal form, with Atsui running over to him worriedly. “I.....I cannot hear........”

“Those big animals are gone” Chi speaks up softly, tilting his head to the side as he listens carefully. “I can't hear them running around and breaking stuff anymore. Does that mean we won? Did we beat up the mean old bad guys Jet-chan?”

“Perhaps they have retreated” Ace speaks up, watching Kohana as she releases his fur and runs over to Ashley, throwing her arms around the girl's waist. “Perhaps......Perhaps we are safe from them now.”

“Kohana......” Ashley says in a hushed voice, kneeling down and placing one hand on the scared girl's head. “It's alright. I'm fine.......”

“Are they gone?” the young girl asks, tilting her head back to look at Ashley through uncertain eyes. “I thought........I thought he was going to kill you before......”

“It's okay” the blonde replies, smiling faintly at Kohana. “I'm not so easy to kill. I had a trick or two up my sleeve, but Chi saved me the trouble.”

“He tasted gross!” Chi giggles cutely, sending Kohana a goofy closed eye grin and wagging his tail. Jet can't help rolling his eyes, despite his relief that Chi had come out of the fight unscathed.

“Ahhh, he pushed me over Atsui-kun” Tsumetai grumbles, crossing his arms as he rides on the green haired boy's shoulder. “I wish I coulda stomped on his head again! That meanie.....”

“I wish I could've stomped on him....” Atsui growls lowly, teeth bared slightly. “Asshole, thinking he can attack my Guardian!......”

“Lady Ashley!” Tiez calls from the other side of the battlefield, her voice shaking. “You gotta come and help Aki! He's.....H-He's really hurt!......”

“Right! I'm coming!” Ashley calls back, when Ace suddenly steps in front of her, causing the girl to blink. “Ace?”

The navy Wolf stares at Ashley through one hooded eye for a few moments, before stepping forwards and resting his chin in the crook of her neck, lifting one paw and pressing it against the girl's back.

“I apologise for not helping you Milady” Ace says softly, closing his eye momentarily. “I assumed you wished for me to carry on with your orders, however........I....I was fearful for you when that evil man attacked......I am greatly relieved that you are safe....”

“Oh.....Ace...” Ashley giggles, her eyes wavering a little as she throws her arms around the Wolf's furry neck. “Thank you for heeding my order, I couldn't trust anyone more with Kohana's life and I knew you would carry out my commands properly. You're a good Guardian Ace.......And a good friend.”

“........You had better go and attend to Aki” Ace replies after a moment's pause, stepping back and sitting down. “He does not look to be in a good condition.”

“Yes!” Ashley responds with a playful salute, before spinning around and walking towards Aki. Ace rolls his eye and shakes his head, though he can't help smiling to himself. His partner was a good one.

“Hey.......Jet-chan?” Chi asks slowly, squinting up at something in the sky. “What is that thing?”

“What thing kid?” the ebony coloured Wolf asks, frowning as he looks skyward as well.

“That thing right there!” Chi barks, jumping up and down impatiently. “It's flying right in front of the sun! Can you see it Jet-chan?”

“You shouldn't be staring at the sun kid” Jet sighs, ears drooping a little as Chi begins shaking his head back and forth.

“I'm not!” the caramel Wolf complains. “There's something there! Just......Look! It's moving!”

Hearing the commotion Chi is creating behind her, Ashley tilts her head back and throws up one hand to shield her eyes from the sun, before she suddenly pauses and scowls.

“It's Pain!” the girl exclaims angrily. “What's he doing up there?!”

Barely able to make out the small, black silhouette floating right in front of the bright afternoon sun, Ashley watches as Pain raises his arms up, her eyes narrowing.

What was he planning up there?!

Suddenly, Ashley feels a great trembling in the ground, causing her to look down at her feet. Her brows begin to furrow as the trembling swiftly grows stronger and stronger, even the currents in the air becoming more violent.

“Is this.....chakra?” Ashley mutters, head snapping up at the sound of a thunderous roar approaching at high speed. Chi and Kohana let out a gasp at the sight of an incoming dust cloud, debris flying up into the air and houses being ripped apart right in front of them. Ashley's eyes widen in fright as the strange wall of dust and debris looms closer.

Whatever was happening, it was heading right for them.

“Everyone” Ashley screams, struggling to be heard over the roaring of the incoming attack, “Get down!”

Groaning in pain, Aki throws himself over Tiez just as Ashley dives for Kohana and Tsumetai disappears in a cloud of white smoke. Chi and Jet run towards each other, with Ace now racing after his partner.

Ashley hugs Kohana tightly to her chest and squeezes her eyes closed, her hair whipping around her as a stinging wind lashes against her skin. The roaring grows louder and louder, until Ashley can hear nothing else, debris flying around them and crashing into the surrounding buildings.

As he senses the remains of a concrete wall heading straight for Ashley, Ace throws himself at the girl, knocking her out of the way.

Okay, so I'm just going to assume that you've all seen the Invasion of Pain Arc. It is very drawn out and the characters take their time figuring a bunch of stuff out, yet I'm getting through it quite quickly.

This is because I'm ONLY focusing on Ashley alright? She has no idea about all the facts about Pain that all of the others are working out together. If you want all of the same details as the anime, watch the anime. This is just focusing on Ashley and the Pack for now.

Just getting in before anyone complains about it, because there's always that one person who doesn't seem to understand it's a fan fic :/

I'm working on the next chapter, so expect it within the next few days......Although I DID just get Dragon Ball Xenoverse, so maybe not hahaha xD

Btw, if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I'm currently organising a Super Saiyan/Majin Vegeta cosplay for a con next month. I'm so excited for it!!! xD