A/N: Please enjoy. Sorry it's been a while. School's finally caught up and I'm soo busy. There's gonna time skips around... cuz this'll take forever if I keep going at a pace of zero. Wheee! I bring in yet another OC!
Disclaimer: I think people have enough common sense to know I DON'T OWN NARUTO! So... damn you disclaimer! Damn you to hell!

Chapter 7: Training

She kept training at every chance she could. Work lessened her time, the wounded animals increasing due to harder and harder missions ever since the Sand invasion. She had got somewhat stronger, stressing her muscles so pain would not be a handicap.

She continued to train, as Kiba went on a mission to rescue Uchiha Sasuke.

She knew they could not bring the boy home. It would be a failed mission, and Kiba would risk his life. She knew of Sasuke's goal, of what he wanted. She knew what he had lost, and who had stolen it. She had accepted the fact that Sasuke would go to Orochimaru to attain his goal.

She could not stop him, Kiba could not stop him, and even Uzumaki Naruto could not stop him.

She had been informed that Kiba left, she requested a solo A-ranked mission.

Fighting for her life kept her mind busy from Kiba's.

She had returned weary and tired, and Kiba was not home. It was a very large percentage that Kiba would not come back alive. He may not even come back at all.

Inuzuka Hana wiped her eyes fiercely, her fists stained with blood. Slamming her knuckles into a training log did not stop her heart from breaking. Her muscles were on the verge of giving out, but she did not stop her movements, fearing that if she stopped, she would break down again.

Hana could not afford to be weak anymore.

She lifted her head up, eyes red from tears scanned the area.

She reached into her weapon pack, using her nose to pinpoint the intruder and threw it very close towards the one major organ she could pierce... the heart.

There was a rustle, and the intruder stepped out.

Hana stared at him, her eyes wide and more tears formed behind her eyes.

The intruder smelled like Kyoshi.

He had long dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, with dark bangs that framed his face. Olive green eyes gazed into her tear stained ones, and a smile was on his face. He wore an ANBU uniform, the mask of a dog pulled upwards on the top of his head. A large katana was strapped on his back, his hands gloved and holding the kunai she had thrown.

He was not Kyoshi. Kyoshi was not an ANBU, he did not have olive green eyes, and was too ordinary to be the startling man in front of her.

Hana stared at the stranger, and her three dogs bristled besides her. A dark wolf appeared by the man and Hana gasped.

"You're... an..."

"Okamisora," he finished; his voice a deep baritone.

Hana suddenly felt self conscious, blushing as she straightened.

"Gomennasai..."

"It's fine..." he shrugged off the attack as if it was nothing. It probably was.

Hana looked away. She was crying... how was she a ninja? And this... person... was related to Kyoshi.

Okamisora Kyoshi. He died to save her alive. He was incinerated by Itachi... and Hana had given in to his murderer. Hana had fallen in love with his murderer.

He watched the girl hold back tears. She knew who he was, as he knew who she was. She was guilty for Kyoshi's death.

"You're Inuzuka Hana, right?" he said tentatively.

She nodded.

"I'm..."

"Kyoshi's brother," she murmured.

He gazed at her.

"Right."

"Well..." she sighed, refusing to meet his gaze. "I should be going now."

She turned. He watched her shoulders shake slightly, and he couldn't see her so guilty. He had loved his brother all his life... but this girl should stop blaming herself!

"It's not your fault."

She did not look back, but she stopped walking. She spoke softly, her voice barely audible.

"He died, and I'm alive. He was strong, and I'm weak. He didn't want to go, and I wanted to. Who deserves to live?"

"Your intentions were good, noble shinobi ways. Do you think Kyoshi wants you to be sad?"

Suddenly, her temper flared.

"No he doesn't! I know he doesn't! He wants me to keep living and to stop grieving like a weak pathetic idiot!" she screamed turning back around so he could see the tears she cried, the emotions she wanted to release. "But can't anyone see? It hurts to forget!"

She shivered visibly as her voice lowered. "I'm scared... I hate it..."

Was this the famous Inuzuka Hana he had heard Kyoshi talk about so long ago? His deceased brother told him about the strong girl who could not fall, who could not cry. He was told tales about a girl who was beautiful and tough, a girl who protected the weak and beat the strong, a capable kunoichi, and a dusty goddess.

"No one is blaming you for Kyoshi's death."

Hana refused to meet his gaze. Her three dogs growled, glaring at him.

"He was supposed to die somehow."

She looked up, confusion in her eyes.

"What?"

"He's always been the weakest. He was supposed to die young."

"How can you say that?" she growled.

He looked at her gravely and continued in a serious tone, "It was good that he died protecting someone. And since you're still alive and that he actually hurt Uchiha Itachi, a monster who leading Jonin could barely scratch, he died with highest honors."

"I'd rather have him alive."

"So we all. It's the way life works, the way fate leads us."

"You did not see him die. No one deserves to die the way he did."

"Incinerated by black flames."

She nodded, her eyes reliving the trauma. There was another long awkward silence.

"My name's Seiko."

The girl looked away, her dark eyes cast downwards. She did not move, and neither did he.

"I... could help you train, if you want."

"No... thanks," she answered quietly.

Seiko was silent, watching her. She didn't fidget or even look nervous under his gaze.

"I smell like him, don't I?"

Hana nodded. He sighed, and disappeared in a flash without another word.

A/N: Another OC, eh? I really don't like them... since I tend to veer towards Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu so I prefer using concrete characters that already have flaws and it's a hell lot easier to write. Ah well... please review... I knpw it sucks... but I don't have much time. Thank you all for your patience! –bows gratefully-

Need to take a vote. Please review and tell me if you want a happy or sad ending so I can start planning. Thanks! And no, it won't end so soon.