"Hoshi!"

"What?!" He complained.

I ducked, just missing being hit with his kunai.

He laughed nervously, "Hehe… sorry, cripple-sensei…"

I sighed. Would he ever grow out of that name? "You need to throw with more force. When I was your age, my kunai would have had enough force that I wouldn't have been able to dodge that."

"But you're faster than me."

"And so is Yamako. And Keikanoo will be soon. Which is why you need to improve at least your strength."

"Can't you just help me with genjutsu?"

"You can't only rely on genjutsu, Hoshi. I want you to be able to defend yourself in hand-to-hand combat."

He sighed.

"Hoshi. You can do this. You just need practice."

"Yeah yeah."

"I will use you as target practice, Hoshi," I threatened.

He gulped before going back to practice.

I recognized Kakashi's chakra coming into the training ground and turned around. I smiled seeing him. "Hello there."

"Yo."

Hoshi turned, "Neh? Hey Kakashi-san!"

I tossed a kunai in his direction and heard him give out a small scream. "Get back to work." I turned to Kakashi. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

I raised a brow. "What's going on, Kakashi?"

He smiled, "Just come with me. There's something you should see."

"Hey, hey! Can I come?!"

"No!" I yelled as Kakashi nodded.

"Kakashi-san is my favorite!"

I glared at him.

"I-I mean… uh… I love you… Sorami-sensei…?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, come along, Hoshi."

He gave a whoop and followed behind Kakashi and I.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Well, you're going to go get dinner. Then meet me at home."

I frowned, "I thought you were going to show me…"

"Nope. You'll see on your own."

I glanced back at Hoshi. "Hoshi! Am I buying you dinner as well?"

His face brightened. "Sure, Cripple-sensei!"

Kakashi coughed, trying not to laugh and I smacked his head.

"What do you want?" I asked Kakashi as we reached the main road.

"… Ramen sounds good, right now." He kissed my cheek. "I'll see you back at the house. Hoshi, you're not invited over tonight."

"Awe man. You guys are going to be having sex, aren't you?"

I blushed. "H-Hoshi! Shut up, you punk. You're fourteen! What do you know about that topic?!"
"Just that the two of you are loud," he snickered.

"HOSHI!"

"Neh?!" His eyes widened and he took off towards Ichiruka's as I chased him through the streets.

"Get back here, you little punk! I'm going to kill you!"

"Oh look! Witnesses! Protect me!" He yelled diving into the stand.

I dove in after him and grabbed him by the back of his neck, "Hoshi!"

"Ane-chan?!"

I spun my head to see Naruto and Sakura sitting on the bar stools. I released Hoshi and pulled Naruto too me, hugging him tightly. "Naruto! You're back! When did you get back?!"

He smiled, "A few hours ago!"

I hugged him again, "I missed you! How was your training? What did you learn? You have to tell me all about it!"

"Neh… don't you have to be getting back to Kakashi-san?" Hoshi said from behind me.

"Why would you have to get back to Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.

I hit my head against the counter. "Hoshi, I hate you."

"I know," He pouted.

"Why don't we discuss that tomorrow, eh, Naruto?" I ordered my food.

"… Alright…So who're you?" Naruto asked Hoshi.

"Hoshi Nagawa. I'm her favorite student."

"You wish, punk. I'd pick Keikanoo over you any day."

"Neh?! You're so mean to me, cripple-sensei?!"

"Cripple… sensei…?"

"Don't even ask, Naruto."

Ayame handed me the bowls of ramen.

I hugged Naruto again. "I'll find you tomorrow, Naruto. Goodbye, Sakura."

"Bye, Sorami-san."

"Hoshi!" I called. "Come on, let's get you home!"

"But senseeeiiii."

"Hoshi!"

"Fine. Coming, coming. Later, Naruto-kun, Sakura-san."

"Bye, Hoshi," Sakura said.

I stopped in the doorway seeing Kakashi laying on the bed reading. "That's a new book."

"Yes. Yes it is."

I smiled, "Are we-"

"Yes. Yes we are."

I bit my lip, walking to the bed and straddling his legs. I pulled the book from his hands gently and set it on the table, kissing him.

His hands resting on my lower back as he pressed his lips into mine.

"Kami, I love you…"

I growled as someone jumped on the bed and peaked open one eye. I groaned rolling onto my stomach and glancing at the clock. "Hoshi, it is 6 in the morning. What do you want?"

"Yamako came back from her mission!"

"That's great. We'll go see her later. She's probably asleep."

"Nope, I just saw her walking home!"

"So why didn't you say hi and let me say hi later."

"Because you're her sensei," He whined.

I buried my face in my pillow. Maybe if I tried hard enough I'd suffocate and not have to deal with Hoshi.

"Cripple-senseiiiiiii!"
I rolled back over, silently wondering where Kakashi was and why he didn't stop Hoshi from barging into the room. I rarely got a full night's sleep and when I did, I didn't want to be woken up by Hoshi. Or anyone. But especially not Hoshi. "How about this, you let me sleep, and tonight when Keikanoo's shift is over at the hospital, we'll all go get some food. It'll be just like old times."

"Really?!"

I nodded.

"Okay! I'll go tell them!"
"Mmkay, have fun with that." He started to run out the door and I sat up, "Hey, Hoshi, where's Kakashi?"

"Um, I dunno. I think I saw him heading towards the stone!"

I sighed. "Okay. Don't forget we have a mission report to turn in! Come back here in a few hours so we can go deliver it!"

"I will! Bye, cripple-sensei!"

I rolled my eyes, lying back down in bed. I laid there staring at the ceiling for several minutes before giving up on finding sleep and getting up. I still had to write the mission report anyway. I yawned, prepping up a pot of tea for myself. I slowly wrote up the report from the mission.

My genin had grown up in the past few years, all had been made chunin within the first year of their training. Keikanoo had started training at the hospital a few months after making chunin though he still went out on missions. Yamako surprised all of us. Since she was so quiet and shy we never expected her to become one of the best fighter's on our team. She was deadly in speed and aim although she could still get into trouble because she never planned anything. Hoshi stayed by my side as I gave him special training to help with his kekkei genkai. We still went on missions as a team but they were becoming increasingly rare. Now, for me, it was usually solo missions or something with Hoshi. Once in a while I went out with Mamoru as well.

I yawned again, finishing up the report and chugging down the rest of my tea. I rinsed the cup and put it away before walking up to my room to put on some real clothing. I packed up my kunai and shruiken. After Hoshi and I dropped off the report, I planned on training some more with my own kekkei genkai.

"Neh, cripple-sensei!"

I frowned. "Hoshi! I told you to leave me alone for a few-"

"It's already 10 though…"

"Oh… Okay, I'll be down in a minute." I tightened the cloth around my waist and readjusted my mask before heading down the stairs. Hoshi was standing impatiently by the door.

"Finally."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't be such a punk."

We walked out the door and Hoshi walked backwards down the street. I could sense his chakra spreading out around him as he used it to be sure he wouldn't run into anyone or anything. "So are we going to train today? You promised you'd teach me Akiyo's go to genjutsu."

"No."

"But senseiii…"

"I need to work on my own kekkei genkai today. I'll help you later. Besides, we're leaving tonight on another mission."

He groaned loudly as we reached the tower and walked in. "Pleeeeaaaase, sensei?"

"No. You're not the only one who needs to train, Hoshi. Why don't you work on your kunai throwing?"

"Because I already have. For the last week."

"And you still need practice. Until you can throw with enough force to not give me time to block, you'll keep practicing."

He frowned, "Why do I need kunai when I can use the bow and genjutsu."

I smacked him, "Because what happens when you're stuck in hand to hand combat."

"I knee the guy in the nose, slam my elbow into his spine and the punch his stomach and break his neck."

"Good luck doing that without getting stabbed."

He stuck his tongue out at me. "Anyway, what's our new mission?"

"Simple recon. Just have to check out some stories of bandits causing trouble."

"Seriously? I'm putting my training on hold for that? I might as well be a genin again."

"It's an important mission, Hoshi. Maybe we'll work on some things during the journey."

"I bet I could take out the bandits with my genjutsu and bow, cripple-sensei."

"I bet I could take you out with a kunai from half a mile away, punk."

"Blah blah blah blah blah!"

"Hoshi!" I yelled as he sprinted down the hall, "Self control! Kami, how many times do I have to tell you!" He ran into the Hokage's office. "Hoshi!"

"The door was open!"

I smacked his head.

"Hoshi and Sorami, your mission is temporarily on hold. You will join up with Team Kakashi, as well! Leave immediately!"

Naruto practically sprinted out of the room, followed by Sakura. Kakashi and I transported back to the house, bringing Hoshi.

"Kakashi, explain. What's going on?" I asked, stuffing kunai into my belt and clipping my katanas on my back.

"It seems Akatsuki has taken the Kazekage. They're requesting the leaf's help."

I stopped, half way through sorting my bag. "Akatsuki… is it really a good idea to send Naruto then?" I asked.

"They need immediate help. There's no time to be picky."

"But if they're hunting jinchuriki, as they certainly are if they've taken Gaara, it's like we're just handing them what they want."

H kissed me through our masks as he clipped his belt on. "He'll be okay. Let's go." He walked out of the room, calling for Hoshi.

I sighed, making sure I had my new storage scroll. I placed it against my forehead for a moment, "Please don't make me need this…"

"Time to go, Ami!"

I grabbed my backpack and ran down the stairs, tugging my gloves on and the three of us took off towards the gates. Lady Tsunade, Iruka, Naruto and Sakura were already there.

"Ready?" Kakashi asked them.

"Okay, we're off now."

"We'll be back, Lady Tsunade," Sakura said.

"Right."

"Naruto, good luck!"

"Thanks."

We didn't take more than three steps before Jiraya appeared in front of us all. "Hey! Are you off on a mission now, Naruto?"

"That's right!"

"Oh, more importantly. Tsunade, I've got some information for you. The Kazekage of the hidden sand…"

"I know. I'm just about to send them off to the Sand now."

Naruto nodded and Jiraya turned to Tsunade, whispering to her before walking back towards us, "Naruto, come here for a second."

"Hm?"

Jiraya walked back towards us after a few moment, whispering to Kakashi and I, "Kakashi, Sorami, keep an eye on Naruto and make sure he doesn't do anything too reckless. I'm counting on you two, okay?"

"Okay," I said and Kakashi smiled and nodded.

"Kakashi-sensei, Ane-chan, Sakura, Hoshi, let's go," Naruto called.

"H-Hey! Wait up!" Sakura and Hoshi ran after them and I started walking.

"Well, we're off," Kakashi said.