5

"Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka turned to see an orange figure rush up to him. He didn't need ninja skills to know it was Naruto. Only one person of his acquaintance was as noisy as his former student.

"Hey, Naruto!" he greeted the blond shinobi. "You're back from your mission early."

"Yeah, it was peanuts. Those losers didn't stand a chance! Dattebayo!" Naruto bragged in a loud voice.

Iruka couldn't help but smack Naruto on the head. "Shut up! Don't go bragging like that! You should always take your missions seriously."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Sheesh, sensei! I was just telling the truth." Then he mumbled, "Didn't know old people could be touchy like that..."

"You were saying something?!"

The blonde shinobi stepped back. "Eh? Oh-nothing, nothing..."

Iruka decided to let it pass, since last time he checked, he was the adult here and not Naruto. He looked at his former student. He may have grown as a shinobi, but as far as maturity is concerned, Iruka's afraid Naruto's still a long way back.

"Sensei?" His voice broke Iruka's reverie. "I'm kinda hungry. Let's go to Ichiraku's!"

Iruka smiled. "Sure! Akira will be meeting me there anyway. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."

The blond's face immediately lit up. "Oooh great! I haven't seen her in a while. That'd be awesome!" The pair began to walk towards the famous ramen stall. Naruto continued his rant.

"How is she anyway? Is that wolf of hers still huge? I haven't gotten around to visiting the Academy. Is she alright?"

Iruka heard the concern in Naruto's tone of voice. His concern for Akira has always been genuine and went deeper than friendship. They are after all, "kindred spirits".

"Yeah, she's the same as usual," Iruka replied, choosing his words carefully. "She's with the Hokage at the moment though, discussing some stuff..."

Naruto's carefree expression sobered. "Yeah, that stuff. With the wolf and the kid..." He saw Iruka's surprised face and Naruto shrugged. "I heard it while I was walking towards here." He shook his head lightly. "The villagers are mad again, are they?" When Iruka remained silent, Naruto sighed. He may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but Naruto knows how jinchuriki are treated. After all, he's a jinchuriki too.

Iruka sensed the blond shinobi's change in mood, and he knew how the village's treatment of Akira affects Naruto. The two are close friends.

'But now he's different,' Iruka thought as he and Naruto walked along the street. 'Slowly, he has gained friends and people who respect and recognize him. Over the years, he had proven slowly that he's not only the 'nine-tails kid' but Uzumaki Naruto...I just wish it could be the same for Akira.'

Iruka sighed. "Well, cheer up Naruto! It wasn't that bad. The Hokage had sorted it out, so there's no problem." He smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "Akira's with her now, probably just discussing some minor matters. Besides, we know how that wolf roll, she's a tough one."

That seemed to lift Naruto's mood. "Oh right! Heh, I bet Granny's tearing her hair out at Akira right now."

Iruka chuckled. "You bet. Hey, how about this, I treat you and Akira to Ichiraku?"

Naruto's blue eyes grew wide as saucers. "Really?! Alright! You really are the best Iruka-sensei, dattebayo!" He ran towards the stall, excitement evident on his face. "C'mon Iruka-sensei I'm starving!"

Iruka grinned as he followed his student to their favorite ramen stand. When it comes to Naruto, nothing beats ramen to get him back on track.

~~~~~~~~

Akira left the Hokage building feeling like she climbed a mountain and back. Whatever strength she mustered a while ago had vanished. Now, she felt like she was nothing but a shell. It was already afternoon when she and the Hokage finished talking.

Beside her, Yuudai watched with worried eyes. It kept nudging her arm lightly, as if urging her to speak. But after today's events, Akira was too tired to even think.

"I'm sorry, Yuudai," she whispered to the wolf. "I just...don't know anymore". She looked around her and stood watching as the villagers milled around, doing their tasks. Some threw her spiteful glances. Some pretended to ignore her. Others openly frowned at her.

She leaned against Yuudai for support. "I guess, it's just the two of us, eh?" She forced a bitter smile. "It has always just been the two of us..."

Yuudai growled and transformed into his Alpha form. He now stood taller than Akira, and looked more vicious than usual. His fur grew thicker with streaks of silver, his teeth sharper and his wolf features more defined. He sat on his haunches, offering his back for Akira to ride on. She obliged.

Exhaustion crept up to her as she rode Yuudai and buried her face in his thick fur. "Thank you, Yuudai." she whispered to his ear. Yuudai stood up. He knew where to take her.

With that, the wolf let out a long howl, before dashing off into the forest.

Naruto was already on his second bowl when he heard a howl from a distance. Both he and Iruka looked up from the direction it came from. They knew it didn't mean good.

"That sounds like Yuudai," said Naruto, frowning.

"Yeah," Iruka agreed. "And that didn't sound right."

~~~~~~~~

Akira was barely aware of her surroundings as Yuudai bounded across Konoha's deep forests. The trees blurred past and the wind blew in her face. The wolf's heavy paws left deep indentations on the soft ground. Up in the distance, Akira saw their destination and soon Yuudai slowed into a halt.

He padded gently towards the small clearing and when he neared a small bench, he lowered himself down and allowed Akira to alight.

Akira got down from the wolf's back and sat down on the white bench. Her eyes took in the scenery before her. The sight of the familiar trees, the cool wind on her face and the quiet sounds of the forest seemed to lift all her pent-up emotions. This was her favorite training ground. Her very own sanctuary. She patted Yuudai's snout and gave him a grateful smile.

"Thank you Yuudai," she murmured. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Always my pleasure, Akira-hime."

Akira smiled and watched as Yuudai reverted to his usual form. He shrunk to his regular size, he unbared his fangs and his thick white and gray fur lost its silver streaks. His face lost its vicious growl and was instead replaced by his usual tame look. His intelligent gray eyes looked less sharp. Yuudai sat on his hind legs and looked up at his master.

"You know you can just call me Akira, without the honorifics," she said while patting his head. Akira grinned. "Oh Yuudai, I don't know what I'll do without you."

The wolf gave a low chuckle. "You won't have to do without me, Akira-hime. This is what I live for."

Akira gazed at her wolf fondly. She had spent her entire life with him by her side. He was her guardian, friend and brother. Their lives are twisted together in a way that nobody can grasp. Their relationship was more than master and pet. Theirs is a lifetime partnership.

Yuudai is no ordinary wolf. He is no ninja hound either. Yuudai comes from a lineage of ancient and powerful wolves that have made a pact to protect the Satsuna clan at all cost. Although Yuudai originally belonged to Satsuna Inoue-Akira's grandmother- he had pledged to protect her with his very life when Akira was born. Every Satsuna born was gifted with the ability to tame and form a bond with wolves. It is a mutual relationship: the wolves protect the Satsuna, and the Satsuna protect the wolves.

Satsuna Akira is no ordinary shinobi either. Aside from being jinchuriki of a creature nobody knew existed, she came from a clan that has the unique ability to summon, tame and control wolves. No other clan can exercise power over the wolves as they can. It is in their blood.

The said clan is also renowned for their special Kenjutsu. Kenjutsu is the ability to use ninjutsu with weapons, but the Satsuna took it further. All Satsuna clan members are excellent swordsmen and Akira was gifted with the unique affinity to all five chakra natures. This, in combination with her advanced Kenjutsu skills, allow her to infuse any type of jutsu on any weapons at her disposal.

"Akira-hime?"

Akira woke up from her reverie when Yuudai spoke. "What is it, Yuudai?" she asked.

"You may not permit me to see into your thoughts but I can always tell when you are troubled," Yuudai said. "What are you thinking of, Hime-chan"?

Their pact with the wolves allows them to read each other's' thoughts and communicate with their minds, but Yuudai and the rest of the Satsuna wolves cannot read Akira's thoughts. The bijuu in her prevents them from doing so.

Akira sighed deeply. She took off the hitaite from her arm and gazed at it, her green eyes reflected on the silver metal that bore Konoha's symbol.

"I was thinking...If I were to leave Konoha, would that make things easier for everyone?"

Her question hung in the forest air as birds chirped and leaves rustled around her. Suddenly, the small and peaceful clearing wasn't so peaceful anymore. The chirping of the birds suddenly ceased to sound merry to Yuudai's ears as he pondered over the meaning behind Akira's question.

"What do you mean, Hime?"

Akira gave a mirthless laugh. "Clearly, I am not welcome here," she said softly, pain lacing her voice.

"Do you mean...Are you planning...to really leave Konoha?"

Yuudai's gray eyes met with Akira's green, sad ones, and with that he knew. His master never says things she doesn't mean.

The wolf stood and placed both of his paws on Akira's lap. Though he'd gladly follow Akira anywhere she goes, leaving the village doesn't seem to be a wise choice.

"But, Akira-hime, if you do that they will see you as a missing nin! You'll be in their wanted list and they'll go after us. It would be very unwise and a very dangerous thing to do."

"It may be dangerous, but I see no other way." She stood up and started pacing. "Have you not seen the way the villagers look at me? The way they speak about me, the way they regard us? I've had enough. I was never welcome in this god-forsaken village, whatever grandma used to tell me. I am a jinchuriki, for crying out loud! No matter how you sugarcoat it, Konoha doesn't want me here!"

Akira closed her eyes and sighed. "I just...I just wish things were different." She opened her eyes, and Yuudai saw sadness in them.

The bitterness in her voice echoed in the empty forest. Yuudai is well aware of how her master feels, after all, those hateful glances and words thrown to her applies to him as well. Nobody wants a wild wolf prancing around the village. Especially the vicious kind like him.

But still, leaving the village seems not worth it, no matter how cruel it was to them.

"I hope you forgive me for saying this, Akira-hime," said Yuudai as he trotted over to where Akira was standing. "I don't mean any disrespect. But...I believe, leaving Konoha is not worth it..."

Yuudai flinched at the anger and sadness well mixed in her eyes. He continued, "I know the pain you bore for so long, Hime-chan. It may have been cruel to you, but...Akira-hime...no matter how you feel about it, Konoha is your home. You can't just turn your back on it."

Akira resumed her pacing. Yuudai was afraid that the sole Satsuna heir was angry at him, but seeing that she was silent meant that she's listening to his words. The loyal wolf followed his master as she continued to pace.

"It may have treated you unfairly, but you can't forget that Konoha served as a haven for Inoue-sama and Kimiko-sama when they were fleeing. At the very least, it gave you security. A place to call home."

Akira looked into Yuudai's gray eyes and saw the wisdom in his words. It is true that Konoha isn't exactly a wonderland, but she can't deny that in a way Yuudai is right. It is her home, no matter how dysfunctional it is.

But when she weighed it in her heart, she could still not erase the fact that it had treated her unfairly, and that it gave her more reasons to hate it than feel otherwise. Seventeen years' worth of pain, disgust, and anger all bottled up have finally surfaced.

'Konoha already has its hands full of one jinchuriki. It doesn't need another one.'

She looked up at the sky. 'They won't have to worry about another jinchuriki now,' she thought. Akira squared her shoulders. The very idea she had been toying with for the past years is now firm in her mind. She will leave.

"I've made up my mind, Yuudai," she addressed the wolf, her piercing emerald eyes meeting his grey ones. "I've had enough." Akira gripped the katana in her hand tightly. "I'm leaving Konoha."

Yuudai growled and barked his protest. "But Akira-chan!"

"No, Yuudai listen to me! This isn't home. Home is where you're supposed to be happy, feel secure, safe and loved." Akira felt tears welling up in her chest but she stopped herself. "Home is where you're content, knowing that no matter who or what you are, you will be accepted." Her stare was steely, looking past the wolf, as if every painful moment in her life is playing back in front of her. "All the pain, all the lost opportunities for a normal existence that it withheld from me simply because I was born different...you think it's fair? The way they treated grandma, is that how you treat a person in your home? How we were shunned during the lowest points in our lives?" She shook her head. "I've had enough." she whispered.

She slung the katana on her back. She had made a choice. It was final.

Akira looked at the wolf that had stood by her side all her life. She knew how he felt. She approached him and kneeled in front of him. "Yuudai," she said gently. "I'm sorry if this hurts you, but I've made my decision. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to. Just tell me and I'll set you free." Akira took a scroll from her pouch. Freeing Yuudai meant that she will never see the wolf again and will never be able to summon him anymore. It will sever the bond that was formed upon her birth.

Yuudai whimpered and bowed his head. Akira felt guilty for having to make him choose, but she doesn't have it in her heart to force Yuudai to follow her if he doesn't want to.

"How about Inoue-sama"? He asked in a low voice.

Akira sighed, remembering how her grandmother loved this village as if it was her own. Satsuna Inoue always told her granddaughter that no matter how the villagers treat her, in her heart, she will always come home to Konoha.

"Well, grandma's dead now, and if she's listening to me, I'm sorry but it can't be helped. I have no one to stay for." For a moment, the thought about her grandmother almost made her decision to waver, but she suppressed it quickly. She has to leave all emotions if she were to leave the village for good.

"Akira-hime," Akira looked at Yuudai. "I will go with you." He regarded her with seriousness in his sharp eyes. "I made a pact to be at your side always. Regardless of what you decide, it is my duty to protect you."

His unwavering loyalty moved her to tears. "You know you don't have to, Yuudai."

The wolf gave a bow. "But I want to, Hime-chan."

Akira hugged her friend, her heart overflowing with gratitude. "Thank you, Yuudai."

"I will do whatever makes you happy, Akira-san. And if it means leaving Konoha, then I'll gladly follow you."

Akira stood up and so did Yuudai. She dried her eyes. They had been out for too long, and the forest was beginning to darken as evening approaches. When the moon finally took its place in the sky, Akira knew that it had sealed the decision she just made.

'Goodbye Konoha.'

~~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

EDITED: 2/15/17- this is where a plot point has been changed. In the earlier version, it was said that Akira's Kekkei Genkai is her ability to use all five chakra natures. I edited this out in this new version. Her affinity to five chakra natures is not her Kekkei Genkai, nor is her advanced kenjutsu skills. I've often received reviews about Akira being too overpowered, and I agree, which is why I am scrapping that part out. She will not have a kekkei genkai, only a beast, and because she's jinchuriki to this creature, she shares the same powers with it as well.

Thanks for understanding!

~Akira