Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 11

Clutching her injured arm, Mori's red eyes narrowed as she watched her friend and Zabuza circle each other. It felt like two alpha males fighting for territory and the right to rule the pack. These battles sometimes led to the death of the opponent. She bit her lip, watching this confrontation.

Zabuza suddenly created a clone, and as fast as they could blink, the clone appeared in front of Naruto. The clone raised his fist and smacked the child down. A snarl exploded from Mori's chest as she watched the child bounce once and skid on the ground, coming finally to a stop. Her wolf clawed its way out, the need to protect thrumming through her veins. A curse sounded from behind her as she lunged towards the clone, fangs bared. She would protect the Genin with her life.

She caught a brief glance at Kakashi, and her eyes narrowed when she saw that he was trapped in a water circle. So she would be the one to protect the Genin...

Mori jumped to the side as the clone brought down its sword, barely missing her side. Her right front leg was useless as she held it up, but she still had three other useful limbs. A growl rumbled deep from her throat as she glared at the clone. Her ear twitched as she heard Naruto getting to his feet, but she still kept her eyes on the clone. The clone let out an evil cackle, causing Mori's hackles to rise. She snapped her jaws at the clone, daring it to come any closer.

She turned her head to check on the Genin as Kakashi shouted at them to run. A shadow loomed over her and her red eyes widened as the Zabuza clone lunged at her, sword raised. She tried to jump to the side with three working limbs as the sword swung, but was too slow.

The blade sliced into her side, causing a high pitched yelp to come out. The momentum sent her flying into a tree and she hit the tree with a loud 'thud'. Mori crumpled to the ground, blood gushing from the slice in her side. It felt like fire was racing up and down her side, and a quiet whimper escaped from her throat. Her ear twitched slightly when she heard her name being called, but darkness began to quickly consume her mind. It was a fuzzy and comforting feeling, and Mori let herself float away into the darkness.

Her leg twitched after a few minutes of blackness, bringing her back to consciousness. Her eyes opened slowly, and then widened when reality came crashing back. The Genin! Tazuna! She had to protect them.

Lifting her lip in a silent snarl, Mori raised her head. She lifted her three useful paws under her body and lifted herself up. Blood continued to drip steadily from her wound, staining her white coat to a deep red. She steadied her limbs and with a snarl she jumped at the clone.

Her jaws latched onto the clone's neck, and it exploded with a 'splash'. Mori swished her tail in a short moment of victory. Her ear twitched when she heard Sakura call out her name, and she winced when her wound flared when she turned her body towards Sakura.

A 'clang' caught her attention, and she turned her head to see that Kakashi had escaped his water prison. Her eyes widened when she saw Naruto in the water, and connected the dots. A short bark echoed from Mori in a wolfy laugh. Naruto would be a wonderful alpha one day.

She limped heavily towards Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna as the battle with Kakashi and Zabuza continued.

"Are you alright?" Mori asked, panting from the pain.

Sakura nodded and hurried to her side, green eyes bright with worry.

"We're okay! Naruto had a good plan to get Kakashi-sensei free, and it worked! Are you okay Mori? It looks pretty bad" Sakura said as she knelt down to look at Mori's wound.

"I'm fine, child" she rumbled, and sat down heavily.

Her side flared, and she bit back a whimper. It felt like lava was being poured into her side. A roar suddenly sounded, and Mori's gaze snapped up. Her red eyes widened when a wall of water was rushing towards them. In a blink of an eye she shifted back to a human and flung her arm around Sasuke and Sakura, doing her best to shield the Genin from the worst of the cold water. The current slammed into her back, and she let out a small cry as the water tugged at her injured arm and wounded side.

When the current finally weakened she fell to her knees, her energy and adrenaline depleted. Her side flared again, and she pressed a hand to her wound with a hiss.

"Mori!" Sakura cried as she knelt down beside Mori.

"I'm okay Sakura, just tired that's all" she said with a weak smile.

"No that's not it at all! You're really injured!" the young girl said stubbornly.

Mori gave her a small smile. Just as stubborn as a pup. Her train of thought was interrupted when a yell of pain echoed through the clearing. Turning her head, she blinked when she saw Zabuza pinned to a tree with multiple kunai. A silent snarl etched on her lips when her leg tingled with the memory of being a personal pin cushion. As soon as Kakashi was about to deliver the killing blow, a whistling sound suddenly sounded. Mori's eyes widened when Zabuza was embedded with senbon needles.

A growl rumbled from her chest when she looked around the trees. She shakily stood up, placing herself in front of the Genin and Tazuna. The wolf inside of her snarled; even though she was injured she could still fight to protect them.

She looked into the trees and blinked in surprise. A boy no older then the Genin was standing there in the trees. Another flare of pain caused Mori to flinch and press a hand to her side. Panting lightly, she leaned her body against a tree as her vision began to spin. Blinking rapidly, Mori looked up when the boy, along with Zabuza's body, disappeared in a whirl of leaves. Mori gazed down at her hand when she lifted it, barely blinking when her hand came away wet with her blood. She ripped the hem of her shirt and tied it slowly around her waist. It was difficult to staunch a wound with one hand, but she managed.

"Kakashi-sensei!" she heard Naruto shout, and her gaze snapped up.

She heaved a sigh when she saw her friend lying on the ground, unconscious.

"That's what happens when you use the sharingan for long periods of time" Mori muttered.