The Boy With The Lightening Shaped Scar
Warning!! May Contain Spoilers!!
(Mixture of Japanese and English … I hope I get everything right, but if you see something that isn't right, please let me know so I can change it!!)
Disclaimer:: I don't own Naruto or Harry Potter, simple as ^_^
Own Character:- Hotaru Uchiha.
(Author's note:- This is my first fan-fic, so I hope you enjoy it. I'm not very good at summaries, and as my summary would probably be too long winded anyway, I'll just try and explain everything in the story as I go along. So please bare with me, and if you have any tips or suggestions, please let me know ^_^ Positive reviews appreciated!! Arigatou gozaimasu ^_^!!)
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Chapter 1:: A Distant Memory
Sasuke hesitantly glanced sideways at his older brother, and then fixed his older sister with a steady gaze; who was sat opposite them. Itachi, who was six years older than Sasuke and Hotaru, who was only three years older, had been glaring at each other ever since they sat down at the diner table. Sasuke, who was only seven, noted that their eyes were cold, uncaring. What had happened between them? They never used to be like this … although, ever since that day, Itachi had changed and Hotaru had become more wary of him. With a conscious effort Sasuke pushed that memory from his mind, and glanced at his father, who clearly had no intention of interfering.
Sighing, Sasuke averted his gaze so that he was staring down at his empty bowl, while he desperately thought of a way to break the tension, but nothing came to him.
"Why don't you just come out and say it, Hotaru-chan. It's obvious you don't like me." Itachi said in a soft voice.
Sasuke, his heart pounding, focused his attention on his older sister. That's not how he would've tried to lighten the atmosphere …
"No, you're right, I don't like you." Hotaru replied, her voice cold.
"Like I care …"
But before Itachi could finish his sentence, Hotaru leapt to her feet and slammed her fist on the diner table, denting it slightly. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Itachi nii-san!" She yelled at him. At least she was still calling him 'nii-san' which had to count for something, Sasuke thought hopefully. "I don't know why father forgave you," Hotaru continued, "but I'll never forgive you for what you said that day! In my eyes, you're no longer an Uchiha!"
Sasuke's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. Had Hotaru really just said that? Perhaps there wasn't any hope for them. Sasuke stared at his older sister for a moment before glancing sideways at Itachi.
"What happened that day, is none of your business," he replied calmly.
Sasuke then averted his gaze back to Hotaru. "Of course it's my business!" She snapped.
"Really? Just because you're a member of ANBU Root now, doesn't mean you can go around Konoha like you're the Hokage and poke your nose into other people's business."
"What did you say?" Hotaru asked through gritted teeth.
"You heard me …"
Sasuke's eyes darted back and forth, as the argument between his two older siblings raged on, his vision becoming rather blurred. He felt as though Itachi and Hotaru were playing table-tennis, with his head …
"I can't believe you just said that! I'm not getting involved because I'm a member of ANBU Root, I'm involved because like it or not we're still family," Sasuke relaxed slightly, relieved that Hotaru had said that after saying that she no longer thought of Itachi as an Uchiha. "And I want to know what's got into you." She finished, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and sadness. "Becoming a member of ANBU Black Ops changed you, and to be honest, I don't think you can be trusted anymore and quiet frankly I don't know why your not under surveillance!"
Itachi hesitated a moment and then lowered his head slightly, "because, unlike you, I can be trusted."
"Why you …!"
"It seems like Danzou-dono has already brainwashed you. I wonder who you'd follow if it came down to it, Danzou-dono or the Sandaime?"
"How dare you! Danzou-sama hasn't brainwashed me! And how dare you imply that Danzou-sama would try and usurp the Hokage! I know they don't see eye-to-eye, but Danzou-sama would never go that far!"
Itachi raised his head and glared at Hotaru, before smiling slightly. "You're pathetic. You're already his doting little pawn …"
"How dare you talk to me like that!" She yelled. Sasuke had never seen Hotaru this angry, and it frightened him.
Itachi and Hotaru glared at each other for a moment, before Itachi got to his feet. "Let's take this outside …"
"No-one's going anywhere …"
Sasuke quickly glanced across at his father, and smiled slightly. He hadn't been prepared to interfere while they were arguing, but he obviously didn't want them to fight. But then, as Sasuke turned his head slightly to avert his gaze back to his older brother, Hotaru lunged towards Itachi, her right fist clenched tightly. However, Itachi merely raised his right hand, and caught Hotaru's fist.
"Is that the best you can do …?" He asked softly.
Hotaru was now stood on the diner table, in front of Itachi, who still had hold of her fist and was forcing her to lean towards him. Even though Sasuke had only just started his ninja training in the Academy, he knew that Hotaru was very vulnerable, and if Itachi decided to fight back, she'd be unable to block him. And then Sasuke noticed that she was crying, her tears silently trickling down her cheeks.
"When I joined ANBU Root …" Hotaru began softly, Itachi still holding onto her fist, "Danzou-sama said that our bonds and emotions only make us vulnerable. He said that, no matter how kind we are, in the end those bonds turn to ones of hatred and anger dominates all other emotions we once felt. I think I understand what Danzou-sama meant, but still, even though I said that in my eyes you're no longer an Uchiha, even though I don't trust you and think you should be put under surveillance, I'm still your little sister, and no matter what, I could never sever the bond between us as brother and sister, so please Itachi …"
"I don't care." Itachi replied just as softly, interrupting Hotaru. "Bonds only make you weak …" And then Itachi closed his eyes and after a moment opened his eyes to reveal the Sharingan eyes he possessed. And then, in the blink of an eye, he clenched his left fist, and punched Hotaru in the stomach and sent her flying backwards. She slammed against the wall opposite Itachi and slid down the cold wood, the wind knocked out of her.
"I … Ita … chi …" She groaned, grimacing as she struggled to get to her feet.
"Itachi! You went too far!"
Sasuke, glanced sideways at his father and then looked at Itachi who was still glaring at Hotaru. Itachi continued to glare at Hotaru, as she struggled into a kneeling position, and then he somersaulted over the table and stood directly in front of her. In the blink of an eye, he reached down, grabbed a handful of her hair, and lifted her to her feet. And then, he slammed her head against the wall.
"Itachi nii-san!" Sasuke cried out.
Itachi hesitated a moment and then let Hotaru go. However, he didn't step away from her. Instead, he leant forwards and whispered something in her ear. Sasuke couldn't quite hear what he said, but after he'd finished his sentence, her eyes widened and she started to tremble.
"Like I said before," Itachi said, raising his voice slightly so everyone could hear, "you're pathetic."
Hotaru continued to tremble for a moment and then, she took a steadying breath. She glared at Itachi, who still hadn't moved, before closing her eyes. A moment later, she opened her eyes to reveal the Sharingan eyes she possessed.
"I wouldn't underestimate me, Itachi nii-san …" She hissed. Sasuke watched as Itachi somersaulted out of the way of Hotaru's attack. He landed a safe distance away from her, but not one to give up, Hotaru charged at him. However, this time, instead of her attack being blocked by Itachi, her attack was blocked by a member of ANBU Root.
"Hotaru-senpai," the young boy said softly, and Hotaru, recognising the voice, took a deep breath and resumed a more casual stance.
"What is it, Kizuna-san?" She asked, sticking her hands in her pockets. Sasuke could tell Hotaru was frustrated about being interrupted, but he was glad that the young ANBU Root had interrupted her. Deep down, even though he didn't want to admit it, he knew that if Itachi had wanted to, he could've killed Hotaru.
"Sumimasen, Hotaru-senpai, but Danzou-sama has a mission for you and he ordered me to come and get you."
Hotaru stared at her fellow ANBU Root member for a moment, and then sighed. "Give me a minute, Kizuna-san. I'll meet you outside."
"Hai, Hotaru-senpai," and he disappeared in a swirl of ink …
Hotaru glared at Itachi for a moment, and then sighed and lowered her head. "I'm sorry about everything, otou-san, okaa-san." And then she looked up, her eyes falling on Sasuke. "See you later, little brother …" And she vanished in a cloud of white smoke.
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A moment later, Hotaru reappeared in her bedroom. Her backpack was already packed, so all she needed to do was get changed. She was already wearing a short-sleeved grey top and black trousers, so all she needed to find now, was her black jacket and ANBU mask. She quickly scanned her bedroom, but it became painfully clear, that she'd have to turn her bedroom upside down to find her jacket and ANBU mask.
However, she'd just finished deciding where she should start looking, when an idea came to her. Smiling slightly, she made a hand-sign and then called out, "kage bunshin no Jutsu!" Ten solid replicas of Hotaru appeared, all surrounding the original. The original Hotaru sighed and then gave each clone an area to search before giving the order to start looking. However, even with the extra help, she still couldn't find her jacket and ANBU mask. With a sigh, she flung herself onto her bed. "Hey, that's not fair!" One of clones exclaimed. "Like I care," she replied, closing her eyes, "just keep looking for the jacket and the mask."
"Uh, Hotaru-senpai …"
Frowning slightly, Hotaru opened her eyes and sat up, to find Kizuna standing in the middle of her clones. "Didn't I tell you to wait outside?" Hotaru snapped, releasing the kage bunshin no jutsu.
"Sumimasen, Hotaru-senpai, but you know Danzou-sama doesn't like being kept waiting."
Hotaru studied him for a moment and then sighed, "I know, Kizuna-san." And then she smiled slightly and tilted her head to one sighed, "you don't have to wear your ANBU mask all of the time, you know?"
Kizuna hesitated and then sighed, "I know, Hotaru-senpai, but I …" However, he decided not to finish the sentence. Hotaru had been trying to get Kizuna to open up ever since they'd become team-mates, but like so many others in Root, Danzou had turned Kizuna into an unemotional, socially clueless shinobi. However, Kizuna made up for his lack of emotions and social skills by being the second most gifted shinobi in ANBU Root. Naturally, Hotaru was the most gifted shinobi in ANBU Root, but that was only because of her Kekkei Genkai. Without it, Kizuna would've definitely surpassed her.
And then Hotaru sighed, "well, seeing as though how you're here, you can help me look for my ANBU jacket and mask."
"Eh?! That's not fair, Hotaru-senpai …"
"That's an order Kizuna-san."
"Hai!" And then, with his right hand, he reached behind him, into his ninja tool bag, and pulled out an unused scroll, a brush and a small pot of black ink. He then opened the blank scroll, dipped his brush into the ink and started to draw. After he'd finished, he made a hand-sign before saying in a soft voice, "Ninpou: Choujuu Giga." Almost instantly his drawing came to life, leaping out of the scroll he'd just drawn on. The animated ink rat then scoured Hotaru's room. After a moment, it dashed under her bed and didn't come out.
"Kizuna-san, do you think it's found my ANBU jacket and mask?" Hotaru asked softly.
"Why don't you take a look, Hotaru-senpai?" He replied simply.
Sighing, she got down on her hands and knees and then, with another sigh, led down on her front so that she could search underneath her bed. Her eyes scanned the darkness, until she found the animated rat. The rat was sat on top of an old box. Frowning slightly, Hotaru reached out, grabbed hold of the box, and pulled it out from underneath the bed. She hesitated a moment, before she got back onto her hands and knees. Sighing, she then manoeuvred herself into a sitting position, grabbed the old box and placed it on her lap, before opening it. Inside was her ANBU jacket and mask
"I don't remember putting them in there," she muttered under her breath. However, as she pulled out her jacket to put it on, a fiery red pendant fell to the floor. She quickly slipped her jacket on and then picked up the pendant, studied it for a moment and then, her eyes widening in realisation of what it was, slipped it on around her neck.
"A present?" Kizuna asked, looking down at Hotaru.
"Uh … hai. From my father."
Kizuna studied her for a moment and then sighed, "well, now that you've found your ANBU jacket and mask, shouldn't we get going?"
Hotaru smiled slightly. Anyone else would've noticed Hotaru's sudden change in mood, but not Kizuna. However, for once, she was glad that he was socially clueless. The pendant, which had been passed down through the generations, had once belonged to Madara Uchiha, and should've gone to Itachi. So why had father given it to her? Perhaps he too, no longer thought of Itachi as an Uchiha. Hotaru stared at her ANBU mask for a moment and then picked it up and put it on. She then got to her feet, turned and walked towards her bedroom door, picked up her backpack and ninja tool bag, before turning to face Kizuna.
"I'm ready now, so let's go."
"Hai!" And they teleported out of her bedroom at the same time.
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"You're late," Danzou said softly, when they arrived in the dark basement where Danzou met all of his ANBU Root members.
"Sumimasen, Danzou-sama," Hotaru and Kizuna replied in unison.
Danzou studied them for a moment and then sighed, "well, at least you're here now. Did Kizuna-san tell you I had a mission for you, Hotaru-san?"
"Hai, Danzou-sama. May I ask …"
"I'll get to that in a minute, Hotaru-san," Danzou interrupted her. "Now, what exactly happened between you and Itachi-san?"
Hotaru's eyes widened behind her mask, and her mouth opened slightly in disbelief. Had Danzou been keeping an eye on Itachi without telling her? Or had he been keeping an eye on her? However, Danzou's curious eyes made her quickly regain her composure. She then tried to make it look like she'd hesitated because she was thinking of a suitable response. "It was just a family dispute, Danzou-sama …"
But then Danzou smiled slightly, "do you honestly think you can fool me that easily?" Hotaru sighed. He'd always been able to see right through her. "So why don't you just be honest, Hotaru-san? Right now, you're angry with me because I had Itachi-san followed without telling you. And, I know all about that little incident the other day …"
Hotaru gritted her teeth, "please stop, Danzou-sama," she interrupted him.
Danzou's eyes widened slightly, and then he sighed. "Forgive me, Hotaru-san, I didn't mean to upset you."
Hotaru took a deep breath, then inclined her head slightly. "Sumimasen, Danzou-sama, I didn't mean to interrupt you. However, I'd rather not talk about Itachi nii-san right now if that's alright with you?"
"Of course." And he reached into his kimono and pulled out a scroll. "This scroll contains the details of your mission." At that moment, Kizuna appeared beside Danzou. The young ANBU Root then took the scroll from Danzou, disappeared and a moment later reappeared next to Hotaru.
"Arigatou, Kizuna-san." She said softly, taking the scroll from him.
"You're welcome," he replied just as softly.
Hotaru then opened the scroll and started to read. After a moment her eye's widened behind her mask, "nani?!"
"Hm, I admit, it's a rather unusual request …"
"A rather unusual request?!" She exclaimed, looking up at Danzou. "Danzou-sama, not only will I be away from Konoha for seven years, but I'll have to learn how to use magic in four years!"
Danzou sighed, "I'm well aware of that, Hotaru-san, but I'm afraid it has to be you."
Hotaru stared at Danzou for a moment, and then sighed and inclined her head. She pretended to reread the scroll, but she was in actual fact trying to think of a suitable reason why she couldn't carry out the mission. However, after a moment spent wracking her brain, she still hadn't come up with a suitable excuse. She sighed and looked up at Danzou, who smiled slightly.
"I expect you know what I'm about to say, Danzou-sama …"
"Hai. You'll accept the mission but only on one condition."
Hotaru nodded, "and that condition is that I have a member of ANBU Root accompany me."
Danzou hesitated a moment and then inclined his head, "I'm afraid I can't honour that request, Hotaru-san."
"Naze? Please Danzou-sama, I mean I know you'll want to keep Kizuna-san here, but I'm sure there are other ANBU Root members available …"
"Hotaru-san," Danzou replied, raising his voice slightly.
"Sumimasen, Danzou-sama. When do I leave?"
"Shortly. You'll be travelling by Port Key."
"Port Key?" Hotaru repeated, frowning slightly.
"Hai. A Port Key is an object which has been enchanted to escort whoever touches it to a designated location."
"Sou ka …? Uh, Danzou-sama, should I take my ANBU mask off before I use the Port Key?"
"Hai." Hotaru placed the scroll, which contained the details of her mission on the floor in front of her, removed her ANBU mask, and, holding her mask in her left hand, she took hold of the right strap of her backpack, pulled it off her shoulder and placed the backpack in front of her. She then stowed the mask in the backpack, before returning the right strap to her shoulder.
"Uh Hotaru-san," Danzou said softly after a moment.
"Hai, Danzou-sama."
"I wouldn't normally ask this, but considering the state you family is in at the moment, do you want me to give your parents a message?"
Hotaru stared at Danzou for a moment, and then smiled slightly, "that'd be nice, Danzou-sama. Could you tell my parents that I'm sorry for the way I acted and that I'll sort everything out when I come back. And could you give this to Sasuke-kun?" She hesitantly removed the pendant her father had left in the old box, amongst her ANBU jacket and mask, and gave the pendant to Kizuna. "And tell Sasuke-kun not to let Itachi nii-san find it."
"Wakatte," Danzou replied softly, "anything else?"
Hotaru frowned slightly in concentration and then nodded, "hai. Tell Sasuke-kun, that he can't keep the pendant, as I'll be back for it in seven years time."
"Wakatte, now it's almost time for you to be on your way."
Hotaru nodded, and then glanced sideways at Kizuna, "take care, won't you?"
Even though his face was hidden behind his ANBU mask, she knew he was frowning. "Uh …" He faltered as he tried to quickly think of a response.
"You're supposed to say I will, Kizuna-san," Danzou interrupted with a sigh.
"Oh, I will Hotaru-senpai. Take care …"
Hotaru smiled slightly, at least he'd tried. And then she nodded, "I will. Arigatou Kizuna-san." She then averted her gave back to Danzou. "So where's the Port Key, Danzou-sama?"
"The Port Key is the scroll in front of you."
Hotaru, frowning slightly, inclined her head and stared at the scroll Danzou had given her for a moment and then she looked up and met Danzou's gaze. "Danzou-sama, if it's enchanted to transport someone to a designated location when it's touched, surely when you took it out of your kimono it should've transported you to wherever it's supposed to go."
"Well at the moment, it's still a scroll, it hasn't become a Port Key yet."
"Nani?"
"Let me try and explain. That scroll has been enchanted to transport anyone who touches it to a designated location, but only at a particular time. Because so many Witches and Wizards use Port Keys, where you're going, they have to make sure that if anyone does by chance pick up the enchanted object, they won't get transported to somewhere they shouldn't. That's why that scroll in front of you hasn't activated yet. It'll only activate and become a Port Key when the time comes."
"Sou ka … So, Danzou-sama, do you think I should pick it up now? I mean, just in case it activates and I'm not holding it?"
"I would."
Hotaru, taking a deep breath, nervously picked up the scroll with her right hand and held it tightly. She stared at it, as if it were an exploding tag about to go off, and then, all of a sudden, Hotaru felt like a hook, just behind her navel had been suddenly jerked forward. Her feet left the ground, and she sped forward in a howl of wind and swirling colour. She'd never experienced anything like this before, and her heart started to pound against her chest. In a matter of seconds, the colour had been completely drained from her face, a feeling of nausea consuming her. However, even if she'd wanted to let go of the scroll, it was impossible. Her hand was stuck to it, as though an invisible force was binding her hand to the scroll. And then, her feet suddenly hit the ground and, unable to gain her balance in time, Hotaru fell flat on her face.
"Oww … that's going to leave a mark …" she groaned, and then she sensed someone standing in front of her. In one fluid motion, she grabbed a kunai and manoeuvred herself into a kneeling position. "Who are you?" She asked, raising her voice slightly. Even though she had her eyes fixed on the figure in front of her, she knew that they were in the middle of no-where. It didn't really matter to her where they were, but in all honestly, she felt a little uneasy. However, even though the light was poor, as the moon was obscued by dark, ominous clouds, she could see that they were surrounded by trees, which offered her some comfort.
"I'm Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School."
Hotaru studied him for a moment, and then lowered her guard. "Sumimasen, Dumbledore-sama," she said softly and stowed her kunai back in her ninja tool bag before getting to her feet.
"Uh … Uh, don't take this the wrong way, but would you mind translating what you just said for me?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Professor Dumbledore. I was only apologising for the way I reacted."
"You don't have to apologise," he replied, smiling slightly, "you were only defending yourself, what's wrong with that? But, I must say I'm rather impressed. I hadn't expected you to move that quickly."
Hotaru's cheeks turned a bright red colour, "uh, thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she muttered under her breath.
"I am surprised though. I mean, you don't look that old."
"I'm ten years old."
Dumbledore's eyes widened, "what?!"
Hotaru lowered her head slightly, "where I come from, it's not unusual for kids my age to be as skilled as I am. In fact, I know there are kids younger than me in Konoha, who are at least four times stronger than I am."
"So would I be right in guessing that I haven't seen your full potential yet?"
Hotaru lifted her head and smiled slightly, "uh huh."
"Well, at least I know Harry will be safe with you around."
And then the clouds parted, allowing rays of moonlight to illuminate them and Hotaru could see Dumbledore clearly for the first time. The Headmaster of Hogwarts was tall and thin, and judging by his silver hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt, he was rather old. His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkled behind his half-moon spectacles, and Hotaru also noticed that his nose was rather long and crooked, as though it'd been broken at least a few times in the past. However, it wasn't his appearance which made her stare at him, it was his clothes. His long robe wasn't the problem, it was the purple cloak and high-heeled buckled boots which made him stand out.
"Uh …" She faltered, desperately trying to think of something to say to break the silence.
"I guess my attire isn't quite what you're used to," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare," she replied softly. However, her inner self was screaming: there's no way you're getting me to wear anything like that!
"It's alright," Dumbledore replied just as softly.
And then, fighting down her inner self, Hotaru frowned slightly, "you said a moment ago that, at least you'll know Harry's safe with me around, right?"
"That's right," Dumbledore replied, the clouds obscuring the moonlight once more.
"So, who exactly is Harry and why do you need me to protect him?"
"Ah, good question. Well, it's a long walk back to Hogwarts, so why don't I explain everything on the way?"
"Alright …"
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Chapter 2 coming soon!!