Hotaru sat up fast, her leg, arm and forehead bandaged but aching all the same. She had no idea where she was nor did she know what happened to make her fall. It was dark out, her window spilling moonlight into the room. Soft hissing got Hotaru's attention as two thin little shadows slithered to her.
"Jin! Shin!" Hotaru whispered as the green-eyed and blue-eyed little black snakes stopped by her and rose to have ½ their bodies off the floor mats. "I thought I left you in your carrier tanks in my room. I'm glad you came. I need a favor of you both."
Jin nodded once and slithered over to her. Green designs glowed on the little black snake's dark scales as it curled up her arm. Shin slithered to her leg and curled around her limb, blue designs now glowing on its scales. Both snakes pulled their heads from her body and opened their mouths. Sharp fangs dropped from the roof of their mouths. Hotaru closed her eyes and bared her teeth as the snake struck with deadly venom.
Hurriedly, Hotaru formed hand signs with her left hand then slammed her palm into her chest.
SERPENT REVIVAL JUTSU! Her purple chakra flowed from her hand and wound around her arm and leg. Her leg muscles tensed and her arm muscles stiffened as her fingers curled into a fist. Jin and Shin pulled their fangs out of her flesh and her chakra was soaked in through the puncture wounds.
"Not many can do what you can do, Genin Tomonora." The voice needed no introduction. It was the 3rd Hokage. Hotaru looked down at her still clenched hand. Her arm and leg had relaxed but it wound be a moment or two before her fist uncurled.
"Sorry but my surname is 'Tomoe'." Hotaru told him, scratching Shin and Jin under their chins.
The Hokage laughed a little. "I forgot that you're taught to deny, deny, deny when your life is on the line. That's why you taught yourself to use one hand and to use your mental voice rather than your physical." He walked into the room and sat down in a chair that was obviously in the room. The wood creaked as it was sat upon. "Your mother would be proud. She never mastered what you have. Most of the Kekkei Genkai you know were the very few your ancestors documented for the future Tomonora Shinobi."
"I told you my surname is 'Tomoe'." That only got a smirk from the aging man.
"Kakashi told me about your chase of the Sorakage. He felt something leave him as you brushed one another's skin." He contradicted. "After that, your eyes went out of focus but you continued on your path. Kakashi followed you to make sure you weren't hurt. You not only caught up to the Sorakage but you passed her and then wounded her with such a fluidity that only the Sanin had in their youth." He held up a hand. "She's fine. The holster you carried held non poisoned kunai. We, however, were more concerned with you. Kakashi had you chase him instead. When you did, he barely had time to dodge your attacks. It seems you used the Sharingan Eye with the Byakugan Eye, in your left and right respectively. You stopped the flow of his chakra in his body, pooling it in his heart."
"But how did I get on the fence?" Hotaru asked. "What does this have to do with my surname?"
The Hokage gently waved at her questions. "I'm getting to those very points. Please, let an old man tell his tale." Hotaru giggled at his pun. "You were soon distracted yet again and took off towards whatever caught your attention. Somehow, you came to your senses and that's when you fell." Hotaru lightly clutched her injured upper arm. "As for your surname, it's quite obvious. Kakashi couldn't remember our discussion that other night after you two had contact. It returned to him just moments after he brought you here, to my home. I know that you know what clan you come from."
Hotaru looked down at her two little snakes coiled in her lap. Her hand was beginning to relax but she still had a while to go. Usually she was holding a kunai, just in case she was attacked.
"Did…did the Tsukikage really imprison the Tomonora clan…my clan?" Hotaru asked not looking up at him.
"I'm afraid it was a joint effort of the entire Kage Council. The head of the Tomonora Clan became the Shizukakage but then the Outcast Massacre happened." The 3rd Hokage bowed his head. "You're a very lucky girl, Hotaru. Your mother loved you enough to sacrifice everything to ensure your life."
"So, I'm really Hotaru Tomonora, the last Genjutsu Shinobi." Hotaru stroked her two snakes lovingly. "I'm not surprised…I'm still the last."
The Hokage sighed, knowing the girl had a point. The elderly man got to his feet and walked over to Hotaru. He put his hand on her head like a grandfather would. She looked up at him curiously and soon found her doll dropped into her lap.
"Stay here for the night. In the morning, you're allowed to leave but if you do, you'll miss out on a very enlightening experience."