I was currently walking through the mountain range on the west, which was a large grassy mountain. I sighed, saw far, and saw nothing but dark green herbs.

'So far, the herb of life is nowhere to be seen. It's probably farther up the mountain range.' I thought as I continued to walk up the dirt and grassy path, looking around for the herb of life.

"Well, guess I will just continue making my way up this moutan range until I find this herb or find some sign it not on this mountain," I said with a sigh. I wish Kabuto had a better idea of where this herb of life was located.

***

After two hours of traveling, a decent amount up of the west mountain range. I decided to stop by a river to take a break for a little while.

"I take a lunch break here before continuing my search," I said, grabbing some fire food so I could start a fire to cook some fish for lunch after I collect some from this beautiful river," I said gather some sticks of wood that was nearby and placing it in a pile.

I made hand signs placing my hands in the water as a giant bubble formed, bringing up a nice batch of fish to eat for lunch. Once I had the fish, I made hand signs performing an elemental fire style justu to start a fire to cook my fish with.

"Now time to eat lunch," I said, grabbing one of the fish and placing it on a stick, cooking it over the blazing fire in front of me.

'Don't worry, father, I will find that herb so you can use your hands again. The body switch helped you be able to pick up items, and it stopped bleeding, but you can't use a lot of  justu, and I know that pains you.' I thought as I ate my fish.

"Though even if I don't find the herb. I will find another way. No matter, I will always be by your side and protect you," I stated to myself, cooking another fish.

***

After I was all down with all the fish, I began clearing the firewood after putting it out and stood up, getting ready to continue my search for the herb of life.

Just as I was about to take off, I heard a rustling in the bush. I narrowed my eyes, sensing it was an animal and not a ninja.

'What kind of creature is it this time?'  I thought as I looked at the bush, pulling out a kunai if the animal decided to attack.

My eyes widened in surprise when I saw that same strange-looking creature from earlier with the bandage on its paw.

"You again?" I questioned, putting away my kunai.

It walked over to me, looking at me with its big eyes. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what It wanted from me.

"I don't know what you are or want you what," I said. "However, do you know where I can find this herb at?" I asked, showing the winged creature the picture of the herb of life.

The creature stared at the picture for a couple of minutes until it nodded its head, signaling me to follow its lead down the path.

'So this creature has seen this herb before, and I did end up choosing the correct mountain range. Lucky for me because I didn't want to travel through another one.' I thought, following my strange-looking guide towards where the herb of life was located.

***

I have been traveling down this path for a few hours now, and still, my winged guide has since reached the destination of the herb of life.

'I wonder how far this herb is down this path.' I thought as I continued to follow my friend on the path as I noticed that the grass was getting a bit lighter of green, and so were the herbs, but still not the one I was looking for.

"Well, the grass is a little bit of a brighter green. So I guess That is a sign of us getting closer to my target herb," I said as we walked farther down the path.

As we continued to walk down the path for another hour are so noticed that the path was getting kind of steeper, signaling we were going uphill, most likely.

'So the herb of life is uphill.  I guess it makes sense it be hard to get to since it is supposed to be a rare herb.' I thought as I followed my guide up the steep path where the dirt was even softer and wet, an excellent soil for growing herbs, and the herbs I noticed were even brighter than earlier.

"Are we getting close?" I asked.

The winged creature nodded and nodded at me to continue following him, or here I haven't figured out its gender and don't even know what kind of creature it was though it kind of looked like a ninja hound like Akamaru but with wings and a serpent tail maybe.

After two more hours, I finally reached the top of the hill and saw the lime green and slightly yellow herb I was looking for.

"There it is, the herb to heal my father's injury," I said, walking over to the herb. "Thank you so much. Now I can heal my father from his condition," I said, picking the herb and putting it in a scroll for safekeeping until I got back to the hideout.

"I don't know what you are but thank you," I said one more time before I started making my way down the hill. I noticed my little friend following me.

I sighed. "I take it you want to come with me, "I said, looking at it.

The winged creature nodded, and I shrugged, picking up my friend so we could travel faster by body flicker back down the hill.

***

After I finally made it back to the hideout. I headed straight to Kabuto lab.

"Kabuto, I'm back," I said, knocking on his lab door.

"Come in it," He said.

I opened the lab door and took out the scroll, opening and releasing the herb.

"You found it, I see," Kabuto said, taking the herb and looking at the creature in my arm.

"I see you brought back a pretty rare creature as will, He sated. " A dragon ninja hound baby as well. From its appearance, it's going to become a strong adult hound one day."

"A dragon ninja hound?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you can find information on it in the library," He replied. "I get started on the medicine, so it is ready before we leave for the Hidden grass hideout for the upcoming plan."

"Alright, if it's not, you always got me as a backup to handle Sasori," I said, walking out of the lab with my new dragon ninja hound as Kabuto nodded.

"Yes, of course, we haven't forgotten how much you have grown," He said.

Chapter End!

I hope you all enjoy the fourth chapter of The Rouge Senju- Serpent. In this chapter, Kaiya found the herb of life thanks to her mysterious friend and arrived back to the lab after successfully creating her mission. Next, in the chapter, we should finally get into the cannon of the teuchi bridge mission arc. Feel free to let me know what you think of this story so far.

Word Count: 1248