Hotaru Shidou was a strong warrior. She knew many ways of fighting. She was a samurai, a fire priestess, and a ninja. She is ranked Jounin, an elite ninja. Hotaru trained the ways of the ninja at the Village Hidden in the Leaves. She soon left the village after one mission didn't go so well. Her childhood was a mystery to everyone in the village, and to everyone she met. Hotaru was known as the "Quiet One" to everyone. One day, Hotaru will see an old face she hasn't seen since the day she left the village.

Naruto Uzumaki, a Genin ninja wanting to become the greatest Hokage, along with his comrades Sakura Haruno, a strong girl who has a huge crush on Sasuke, Sasuke Uchiha, the top ninja in his class and one of the last people of the Uchiha clan, and Kakashi Hatake, their sensei and also known as the "Copy Ninja," are on their way to escort a bridge builder named Tazuna to his home. They all thought that it was a simple C-rank mission. But after being ambushed by two Chunin ninjas from the Village Hidden in the Mist, the mission has turned into a high rank mission. But, their real troubles lie ahead of them.

The five of them make it to the Hidden Mist Village, but are soon ambushed by a ninja. This ninja was named Zabuza Momochi, also known as the "Demon of the Hidden Mist." Zabuza was also a jounin ninja. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were ordered to protect Tazuna, while Kakashi fought Zabuza. Hotaru was near them. She was watching them from a tree. But when Zabuza did his Hidden Mist Jutsu, she could hardly see anything. She quietly jumped down from the tree, and waited until Zabuza appeared. Kakashi focused his chakra, and waited for Zabuza to appear.

"Don't let your guard down," Kakashi said. "He can appear anywhere. This is his Hidden Mist Jutsu. He kills his enemies like this. So be on your guard."

All of a sudden, Sasuke was shaking. To him, he couldn't control himself. Something was troubling him, and tightened his grip on his kunai knife.

"Sasuke!" exclaimed Kakashi. "Calm down. I won't let my comrades die. I'll protect you with my life. I promise."

Kakashi smiled at him, and Sasuke calmed down. Then, Zabuza appeared behind Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto. Kakashi turned around, and started to head towards him.

Out of nowhere, a kunai knife hit Zabuza. Blood didn't come out of him, but water.

"A clone!" exclaimed Sakura.

"But who threw the kunai knife?" asked Sasuke. "I didn't see Kakashi throw one. And none of us attacked him."

"Sorry for my surprise."

Kakashi turned around, and saw Hotaru Shidou standing there. Hotaru had her ninja uniform on, along with the leaf headband on her forehead, and a samurai sword.

"She's a ninja from Konoha!" exclaimed Naruto.

"I'm Hotaru Shidou. A Jounin from the Hidden Leaf Village," she said.

"How did you know we were here?" asked Sakura.

"I was traveling until I heard Kakashi's voice. I thought I would say hi, but I saw that Zabuza was with you," said Hotaru. "Good thing I followed you. Except now, he used a water clone. Be on your guard."

"You fell for my trap," Zabuza said.

Zabuza then appeared behind Kakashi, ready to attack.

"Kakashi-sensei! Behind you!" yelled Naruto.

Kakashi turned around, but couldn't defend himself from Zabuza's attack. Zabuza cut him in half with just one swing. But, Zabuza was surprised that he didn't kill him.

"The Water Clone Jutsu," he thought. "He copied my jutsu. He saw right through my illusion."

Kakashi then appeared behind Zabuza, and held a kunai knife at his neck.

"It ends now," said Kakashi.

"I'm not a fool," Zabuza said.

Zabuza then turned into water, meaning that Zabuza made another water clone. He appeared behind Kakashi, and tried to slice him with his sword. Kakashi ducked, and avoided Zabuza's sword. Zabuza then dug his sword into the ground, and kicked Kakashi. Kakashi was sent high into the air.

"Kakashi!" yelled Hotaru.

Zabuza took his sword, and started running to where Kakashi would land. Hotaru took out her samurai sword, and swung it at Zabuza. Zabuza blocked her attack, and they came into a deadlock.

"Get out of my way!" exclaimed Zabuza.

"You know I won't," Hotaru said with a smirk on her face.

"Hotaru Shidou. The fire priestess samurai ninja," Zabuza said. "Your fire attacks won't work on me."

Hotaru smirked, and took a deep breath. Zabuza knew what she was going to do next. At the second Hotaru opened her mouth, Zabuza jumped back, and went into the water.

"Damn. He knew my attack was coming," she said.

"Kakashi-sensei...To be kicked into the air like that," said Sakura.

Then, Kakashi appeared out of the water.

"This water isn't normal," he thought. "It's dense. Heavy."

"You fell for it. Water Prison Jutsu!"

"No!" exclaimed Kakashi.

The water imprisoned Kakashi, and Zabuza stuck his hand in it.

"Escaping into the water. Bad idea," said Kakashi.

"This prison is stronger than steel. It's inescapable," said Zabuza. "I'll finish you later. Now, I'll deal with your friends. Water Clone Jutsu!"

"Damn. I knew he was good, but not this good," he thought.

Zabuza's water clone appeared, and looked like it ws ready to attack any second.

"You are a ninja when you have crossed the barrier between life and death," said Zabuza. "But genin like you aren't worthy to be called ninja."

Then, the water clone disappeared into the mist. The clone then appeared in front of Naruto, and attacked him. Naruto got sent back, and his headband came off. Zabuza then stomped on it, crushing it.

"Listen! Take the bridge builder, and leave!" yelled Kakashi. "He's using all his power to keep me in this water prison! He can't leave. If his clone gets far away from his body, he can't control it! So run!"

"Even if we run, he'll still catch us, and destroy us," thought Sasuke. "If we do a Manji formation, he'll wipe us out at once. If we separate, he'll kill us all. The battle was over the moment you got caught. We have to fight him."

Naruto was motionless. He was thinking of retreating. But, he felt pain coming from his left hand. The pain reminded him of his oath of pain. He promised that he wouldn't run away from battle, and that no one will save him.

Naruto then charged at the clone.

"Naruto! No!" yelled Kakashi.

"Naruto! What are you doing?!" yelled Sakura.

Naruto tackled the clone, but got knocked back.

"Naruto! What were you thinking, tackling him by yourself?!" yelled Sakura.

Naruto took deep breaths, and sat up. He was holding something.

"His headband? That's what he wanted?" thought Sakura

"Hey. You with no eyebrows," said Naruto. "Put this in your bingo book. The ninja who is going to be the next Hokage of the village Hidden in the Leaves is me. Naruto Uzumaki."

With that said, Naruto tied his headband back on his head.

"Sasuke. You listening?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah."

"I've got a plan."

"Now he has a plan?" thought Sasuke. "Alright."