Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Groaning as the sun's rays intruded her shelter for the night exactly over her eyes like it had perfect aim, she shot up immediately, looking around her and feeling for her katana that she kept next to her.

Good.

Everything was just how she left it.

Looking down at her bandaged hands, she recalled the previous night's events. She had found a small hut in the middle of this dense forest. Who would want to live here she had no idea, but there was no one in, so she "let" herself inside, you know, to "borrow" some supplies. After grabbing what she needed, she had felt strange and multiple chakra near so she made a mad dash out of there which was good because there was a sudden burst of large amounts of chakra meaning someone was fighting, training –which would explain a hut in the middle of nowhere- or just pissed off. She couldn't have cared less at the time though, she had bigger problems and so she searched and found a small cave for shelter for the night.

Trying her hands, they weren't shaking anymore meaning she had gotten enough rest, she still had some food from her little raid of the hut and her wounds were healing nicely. But she still needed more time to heal her ribs if she wanted to be in top condition.

Her mole- which she had summoned the day before- arrived with no news of her partners whereabouts. Only that there were copious amounts of blood near the outskirts of the forest, next to a small clan that was known to keep to themselves. The blood looked like it had been there for weeks.

So, basically…

That place would be as good a spot as any to start looking.

Hotaru though mad and would never admit it was still waiting for her "master" to come back. Instead, he leaves her with a bunch of ninja from Konoha.

'They probably don't even know what they're doing' she thought bitterly.

Quickly making an excuse and running away from them with no intention of ever actually returning, once she reached a small clearing, she was ambushed by Akaboshi and his group of men.

Minako coming back from that stupid massacre scene her mole hadn't described to her, he had said blood, just blood not splattered corpses, while irritated couldn't deny the fact that those were Kirigakure nin, so it was him.

Seeing a shadow pass, she readied her katana and peeked down from above a tree to see a large group of burly looking men stopping some harmless looking girl with blonde hair, she was dressed nicely, robbing her, perhaps? Her mole did say there was a small clan here.

She'd help, but she didn't have enough time.

She needed to find him.

Getting up, she was about to leave when she noticed a man walk into the clearing. She would recognize that blue robe and orange sash, the very same as her own, anywhere. So, he had time to help random strangers while she was out searching for him? Growling slightly under her breath, she listened intently to what they were saying; Akaboshi was surprised about him surviving some kind of technique. Nothing important.

Making sure to completely mask her chakra as best she could in her irritated state of mind, she would have to come out and meet him later, no matter how badass of an entry she could make here, she still had yet to heal her ribs and any sudden fights or bursts of chakra may attract the Hunter-nins to this general direction. Watching as Utakata escaped via bubble with the girl that either loved or looked up to him, she had yet to decide, she quickly followed in their direction with every intention of coming out and breaking that calm and collected facade of his.

Minako felt that they landed quite a distance away from her. About a ten minute sprint, the sun was already setting low in the sky. She had been searching for him for weeks and she finds him doing nonsensical things. He was not good for her stress meter.

Damn that Utakata.

Jumping down from the trees near the clearing, the image she saw was not at all what she expected. There was the blonde girl with half her shirt down and Utakata was averting his eyes but when he finally looked at the girl his eyes widened in… disbelief?

That was it, Minako lost her cool and threw her katana like a kunai aimed straight for Utakata's head, it would have hit its mark too but he had dodged just in time muttering "what the hell" under his breath.

The surprised and stunned girl let out a sharp cry and pulled her shirt closed but not up, making her look like stuffing that just wouldn't fit. Utakata not at all amused and back in his normal calm but serious voice said with all authority "Who are you? Come out."

Hotaru watched carefully as an exceptionally beautiful woman with long, dark hair covering her left eye and with the same robe and sash as her master's except in a smaller version stepped out. She was wearing black shorts underneath and her legs were covered by that thin see-through chainmail shinobi wear. Her sash was only tightly tied around the waist making her huge bosom look like they would spill out at any moment from her robes. It was as if Hotaru was seeing practically a girl version of her master. Except for the difference in eye color, face and height, she practically would be.

"Stop gawking and put on your shirt, Hotaru" Utakata said, but still not taking his eyes off of the beautiful woman in front of him.

"You should listen" The woman said briskly "No one wants to see that unflattering body of yours." Hotaru felt like a rock had just been thrown at her head, no a giant boulder and she quickly fixed her shirt and turned towards her master more than embarrassed and peeved at the woman for insulting her. She was going to be the head of her clan! And she'll grow in a few more years…

"Minako" Hotaru heard her master's voice grow softer, fonder? "What are you doing here?"

"Well, you kept me waiting and women don't wait forever" Minako said haughtily though not condescending, almost as if… teasing "So, I go through all the trouble of finding you because I thought something happened and I find you being not only a pervert, but a pedophile." She shook her head as if disappointed in him and sighed dramatically.

"I got held up" Utakata defended "And this is NOT what you think."

"Oh, really?" Minako raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "We're being chased, I haven't had a nap in God knows how long and you get held up by a little girl? What's next we have to fight a Jinchuuriki?"

"Well, actual-"

Utakata was cut off by Hotaru saying "Master, who is she?"

"And you found yourself a student?" Minako glared daggers at him, voice rising to a pitch like tragedy had just occurred.

"I never agreed to be her master!" Hotaru was surprised to hear Utakata yell as if fed up with the whole situation. Utakata took a deep breath to calm himself then said under his breath "God, I almost forgot how much of a bitch you can be."

"Tsk, makes me wish I never found you, slug bastard" Minako insulted.

"Drama Queen"

"Slime ball"

"Okay, okay… that's enough" Hotaru tried to make the bickering pair stop, but she was just ignored as they stopped on their own and went into their own conversation.

"So, why is a little girl undressing before you?" Minako asked eyeing Hotaru up and down. Hotaru pulled her shirt closed a little tighter, suddenly very self-conscious.

"I'll explain everything to you later" Utakata waved the topic aside complete with hand motion, then picking up her sword he held it up for her to take. She took agonizingly slow and almost seductive steps towards him, Hotaru couldn't say a word; it looked as if the two in front of her had their own world. Minako grabbed the katana from Utakata's hands as she replaced it back in its scabbard inserted in her sash behind her.

Hotaru watched as her master ran a hand along the right side of Minako's robe covered body straining her ears to hear the soft spoken words that escaped her masters lips "You're hurt." He searched for her eyes, staring into the gray irises "How'd that happen?"

"Yesterday." Minako shrugged it off though and went onto more important matters "We need to leave."

"I know, but don't worry too much, when we split a few weeks back; I took out the whole team of Hunter-nin."

Minako gave a small shake of her head in the negative "It's not just a squad, they brought a platoon with them, and they've been chasing me since we split up. I've taken out 2 scout teams and a patrol unit, but I'd say they still have enough men to form three or four complete teams." Minako placed a hand on his cheek "It seems you've been safe though, that's good; are your wounds all healed?"

He gave a small nod and closed his eyes thinking what would be the best course of action to take when Hotaru suddenly spoke up, pulling them out of their little world and back into reality.

"U-ummm Master" Utakata shot her a fierce glare, but she didn't seem to waver in the slightest "Who?" She left the question hanging, feeling awkward and still waiting for an answer.

Minako stepped away from Utakata for a bit and faced the young girl she had heard Utakata call Hotaru "Well, Ms. Self-Proclaimed Student" Minako gave her a small grin as if the thought of Utakata being a master amused her.

"I'm his wife."

A/N: Please Review.

Here's two chapters, I'd love to hear what you guys think.

If anyone is interested in Bleach, I will be posting a story about Ichimaru Gin within the next two weeks; so, if you're interested please read it.