Hello again! I know, surprise surprise, another chapter out so soon. I have no self control. Truly, I don't. I just wanted to say now, those of you who read the fourth chapter, I updated it earlier, and added stuff to it, so if you have not yet read it, you can go back and do that, it's towards the end. I woudn't say it was extremely important, but meh. And of course I wanted to thank those who have favorited, followed, and or reviewed. You guys are great!

And to go ahead and kind of answer your review KassieJean, Hotaru wouldn't exactly get annoyed with them, because it is something she is used to, plus she saw it in the show. So she is going to be more patient with them, when it comes to their flirting with him. She just interferes for Sasuke's sake. I don't know if I really explained that well enough, it's late, and I have been writing all day, so my brain is a bit fried. Anyways, I really hope you enjoy this chapter! Please R&R (:

-Updated chapter! Please let me know if you feel I should change it again, and please tell me why. Even if you're a new reader.

The morning of graduation was an exciting one. Mostly for Lee, who practically dragged me out of bed.

"Come on Hotaru! You're graduating today!" Lee yelled, jumping on my bed.

"Maybe. If I can pass the test." I mumbled.

"Of course you can! You can do anything!"

I rolled my eyes, but smiled.

Lee and Gai both walked with me to the academy, before they went to the training grounds to meet up with TenTen and Neji, to train. About halfway there they both convinced me to race them, which I did, only to amuse them. They won of course, but I wasn't exactly trying.

"Good luck today Hotaru! I know you can do it!"

"Yes! You are so smart and youthful, you're going to do great!"

Lee and Gai both yelled, striking their nice guy pose. I noticed some people start to stop and stare at them. I groaned.

"Come on you guys, stop it." I whined.

Lee got tears in his eyes.

"My baby sister is growing up so fast!" He wailed as he grabbed me in a bone crushing hug.

"You're only a year older than me Lee!" I practically growled.

At that point Gai joined in on the crying, saying how youthful we were.

i sighed. I could deal with Lee no problem, but when you threw Gai into the mix, well I usually got a pounding headache. I loved them both though. Lee being my brother, and Gai really just a more intense grown up version of Lee and Naruto.

I was still a bit worried about Naruto, he was supposed to come over for dinner last night, but he never showed up. I couldn't remember if there was a reason why in the show or not. It seemed lately I was starting to forget a lot of things, which really worried me.

After having to fight with Lee to let go of me, I made my way to class. I saw that Naruto was there, so I went to sit in the empty seat next to him.

"You never showed up for dinner last night." I said, trying not to sound hurt. Naruto's eyes widened in realization.

"Crap, I'm so sorry Hotaru! Iruka sensei made me clean up all the paint from the Hokage heads, and then took me out for ramen. I guess I kinda forgot." He said sheepishly.

It dawned on me. That's right. That's what I forgot. I forgot that Iruka sensei would take him to get ramen. I sighed.

"It's okay Naruto."

"Are you sure? I really am sorry."

"No, you're fine." I said, giving him a bright smile. Now that I knew, it really didn't bother me anymore.

Iruka sensei finally came into the classroom.

"Alright class, we will now start the final exam. When your name is called proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on, the cloning jutsu."

I cast a look at Naruto, I knew he had trouble with that jutsu. I knew he was freaking out.

"Lee, Hotaru." Iruka sensei called my name. Great, I guess I was first.

I stood up, and went to the testing room with Iruka sensei. It would be him and Mizuki who would watch us do the clone jutsu. I will admit I was a little on edge with Mizuki in the room. I hoped that didn't interfere with the jutsu. I had to get it together.

"Alright Hotaru, you can begin." Iruka sensei said, giving me a reassuring smile. He could probably see I was nervous.

I took a deep breath, and got into the stance for the jutsu, and made the hand sign.

"Clone jutsu!"

I could feel my chakra shifting, and the pull of it as it made the clones. I looked next to me, and sighed in relief as I saw three perfect clones of me.

"Good job Hotaru! You pass." Iruka sensei said, with a proud look on his face. while Mizuki just smirked. I shuddered.

"Thank you sensei."

Iruka sensei handed me my headband, and asked me to inform the next student to come to the testing room.

Naruto was the last one to take the test, and I was a nervous wreck. I was sure I was starting to get on everyonne's nerves, probably with constantly tapping my foot, and shifting in my seat.

"Would you calm down, I'm sure he's going to do fine." Ino finally snapped at me.

I ignored her though, and didn't stop, which made her groan.

Finally I stopped. But it took me a moment to realize that I didn't voluntarily do it. My head slowly started to turn by itself to look behind me. My eyes landed on Shikamaru. I glared at him.

"If I let you go, will you stop?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"I guess."

That seemed to be a good enough answer for him though, because I gained control back over my body.

Ino snickered, and I glared at her.

Iruka sensei finally came back to class with Naruto. My heart sank. He looked to be on the verge of tears. He didn't pass. I expected it, but it didn't mean it made me hurt even less.

"Congratulations to all who passed, you are now ninja. You will be meeting your sensei's here the day after tomorrow. You are now dismissed."

Naruto ran out, and I immediately chased after him. When I found him he was sitting on the swing near the school entrance. I kept having to maneuver through classmates and their families to get to him. But before I could actually get to him Mizuki was there, so I stopped.

"Hotaru, you passed!" I turned to see Lee running my way. I had my headband clutched in my hand, and not on my head like the other kids. Lee stopped once he was next to me, and looked to where I turned back to look at Naruto and Mizuki.

"I see. Naruto didn't pass." Lee said, a bit sadly.

"No." Was all I was able to say.

Lee and I decided to walk home, and not stay around. I was pretty upset still, because I felt like a horrible best friend, for not only letting Naruto fail, but hoping he did, so he could learn the shadow clone jutsu. But it also meant that Mizuki would tell him about the nine tails, and how it was sealed inside of him. Stupid Mizuki. Stupid me.

"He's going to be okay. Naruto is very strong, and very determined." Lee said, finally speaking up.

"I know."

And I did know, but I still felt horrible.

Lee and I finally made it home, and Lee unlocked the door and held it open for me. The moment I stepped foot inside the door, the lights turned on, and Gai and TenTen popped up from behind the couch, while Neji just slowly got up.

"CONGRATULATIONS!" Gai and TenTen said loudly.

I just blinked at them in shock at first, before a smile started forming on my face.

"Where's your headband?" TenTen asked, starting to panic a little.

I help up my headband, and relief washed over her face.

Gai was on me in a second. Picking me up and spinning me around.

"I knew you could do it! You are so youthful like Lee, there was no possible way you could have failed!"

"My little firefly, a ninja now." Lee said, with tears in his eyes, and his fists cleanched in front of his face.

After Gai composed himself and put me down, he turned to Neji.

"What do you have to say to Hotaru, Neji?" Gai asked, knowing very well Neji didn't congratulate me.

I cocked my head to the side, and gave Neji an innocent (evil) smile.

He glared at me, and I could see him clenching his fists. But finally he gave in. Probably not wanting to face Gai in a youthfullness lecture.

"Congratulations Hotaru." He said calmly, but his fists were still clenched.

I smiled even bigger. "Thank you Neji."

I knew very well Neji wasn't here by choice. I knew Gai didn't really give him a choice not to come.

Apparently we were going to go out and eat at one of the Akimichi's many restaraunts. With Gai paying for us all. That was really nice of him.

We all had a good time, well except for Neji who I knew wanted to do nothing more than to leave. I sighed. Maybe I should cut him some slack. He wasn't mean to Lee anymore, so there was no longer a need for me to keep fighting with him. It was pointless now.

"Neji."

He looked over to me with a raised eyebrow, telling me to continue.

"I'm sorry. You know for always fighting with you, and getting under your skin, and I hope we can start over." I said sincerely.

Neji nodded his head. "Apology accepted, and I am sorry as well. I would like to start over as well."

I smiled, but the moment was ruined as soon as Lee and Gai started freaking out over how youthful Neji and I just were.

After my apology Neji was less tense, and we continued talking and having a good time. Multiple times I tried to get Gai to tell me who my sensei would be, but of course he refused. Then again maybe he didn't know. But it didn't hurt to ask.

Soon we were all finished, and we parted ways. Everyone, including Neji congratulating me once again.

Lee and I started home. I felt exausted. So I ended up begging Lee to give me a piggyback. Which he didn't put up a fight anyways, he never did. So I jumped on his back, and he carried me home. Once home I got a hot shower, and went to my room after bidding Lee a goodnight.

I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I was starting to hope I was put on team 7. I didn't get to think about for too long though because I soon fell asleep.

"Hotaru! It's time to get up!"

I gasped and quickly sat up, slamming my head into Lee's

"Ughh my head! Lee!" I whined.

"Sorry" He said, laughing. He didn't even act like his head was hurting.

I laid back down. And held my hand up to Lee.

"I'm getting up. Get out."

Lee complied, and left me to get ready.

I got dressed quickly, wanting to get my picture taken for my ninja ID out of the way as soon as possibe, so I could find Naruto. I grabbed my headband, tying it around my arm over my jacket and ran out of my room and to the kitchen, to grab an apple. I ran past Lee on my way to the door.

"Going to go now, love you!"

I ate my apple as I ran to the place I was going to have my picture taken at. It took me just a few minutes to get there.

The process wasn't long, so as soon as I was out of there, I tried finding Naruto by trying to signal out his chakra. It wouldn't be hard to find since he had so much.

I was so focused on finding Naruto, I didn't even realize I was about to walk right into someone, until it was too late.

I grunted as I landed hard on my butt. I looked at the person in front of me.

"Oh, Shino, I'm so sorry!" I quickly got up, and helped him up.

"It's alright. But may I ask what had you so focused, that you couldn't see right in front of you?"

I felt my face heat up. "I was uh, looking for Naruto." I explained, laughing sheepishly.

"I see. If it helps I just saw him near the Hokage tower. He was with a little boy."

Konohamaru.

"I see, thank you Shino. Again, sorry I bumped into you."

He nodded his head, and continued walking.

I ran to the Hokage tower, hoping to find Naruto. But of course, I didn't. He was nowhere in sight. I groaned. Where was he? I tried using my chakra to find him again, while also trying to keep an eye on where I was going.

It took me almost an hour before I finally found him, in the forest with Ebisu, and Konohamaru. There were clones everywhere, and him and Ebisu were both in fighting stances. I stayed hidden and watched. I couldnt remember what would happen.

Then Naruto transformed, using his sexy jutsu. The one that he used on Iruka sensei the day before. Ebisu's reaction was absolutely priceless. Naruto then had all of his clones surround Ebisu and cling onto him. He flew back with blood pouring out of his nose, and then landed on the ground and started to twitch.

Naruto turned back, and his clones disappered. It took everything in me not to bust out laughing.

"Got him. With my Harem Jutsu."

"Oh man, I couldn't beat that snobby trainer of mine! I want to be Hokage so bad but I keep messing up! Why can't I do it?" Konohamaru yelled, clearly upset.

I felt pretty bad for him.

"You really think it's that easy?"

"Huh?" Konohamaru said, turning to face Naruto.

"To be the Hokage you have to be the gratest of all ninja. You have to prove yourself so that everyone believes in you. Look at me. I've been through a lot already. I've been ignored, pushed away, and been treated like I had the plague or something. And after all that I found 3 people who believe in me. To find those 3 people I had to get knocked down a lot. My best friend, Hotaru, she believed in me since day one. Her and her brother, they welcomed me into their home. They treated me like family. Without them I wouldn't know what to do. So you need to be ready."

"For what?"

"For lots of sweat, and tears, while you're learning to be a ninja."

I smiled at Naruto. There was no doubt that I believed in him.

Naruto turned around to look at Konohamaru, and smiled.

"By the way, there is no easy way to becoming Hokage. Believe it."

Konohamaru was quiet for a moment, before he turned away from Naruto.

"Heh. Who do you think you are giving me a big lecture like that? That's it. I'm not going to be you apprentice anymore." He went quiet again for a moment and turned back to Naruto. "From now on, we're rivals." He said with a laugh, now grinning at Naruto.

Naruto chuckled. "Well I can't be your trainer anyways, because tomorrow I start my advanced ninja studies. But I accept your challenge, and someday we'll fight for the title of Lord Hokage. So lets both look forward to that day Konohamaru."

Naruto then turned around and started to walk away. Raising his hand in a farewell gesture as he left.

I followed Naruto, and decided to scare him. I started running through the trees, and when we were far enough away from Konohamaru, I jumped down, and landed silently next to him.

"Hey Naruto."

He jumped, pulling out a few kunai, until he realized it was just me. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Oh Hotaru, it's just you. You kinda scared me." He admitted, laughing nervously.

"I know." I said smugly. He pouted at me, before grinning again.

"Hey guess what?"

"What?"

"I passed! I'm a ninja now!" He said, throwing his fist into the air.

I grinned. "Iruka sensei let you take the test again?"

Naruto laughed nervously again. "Well no, not exactly."

"Then how?"

Naruto looked around, to see if we were alone. Then leaned closer to me. "If I tell you, you can't tell anybody. It's top secret." He whispered.

I just nodded my head.

He then told me about everything that went down with Mizuki, and Iruka sensei. He told me about how he had the nine tailed fox sealed inside of him. And about how he learned a new secret jutsu called the shadow clone jutsu.

"So after I beat Mizuki with the shadow clones, Iruka sensei gave me his headband." He finished, looking quite proud of himself.

I smiled. He then suddenly stopped.

"Naruto?"

"This isn't going to change anything is it? I mean you still want to be friends. Right?" He asked, looking panicked.

"Of course I still want to be your friend. Don't be silly." I assured him.

He sighed in relief. "Good. I'm glad."

It was silent for a minute, before Naruto decided to break it.

"Hey Hotaru?"

"Yes?"

He seemed a bit hesitant at first, before he spoke. "Could I ask, what happened to your parents?"

I stopped.

He started to panic. "I mean I was just wondering, you don't have to tell me."

"They fought, during the attack with the nine tailed fox." I said quietly.

Naruto stiffened.

"I'm sorry."

"You have no reason to be sorry. You didn't kill them."

He looked up at me in shock.

"But the nine tails." I cut him off.

"The nine tails killed them. Not you. Even though it is sealed in you, you have nothing to do with my parents death. Whatever Mizuki said to you, about you. It's a lie."

Tears started to well up in Naruto's eyes.

I grabbed his hand. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving, and Ichiraku ramen sounds really good right now."

He smiled. Tears still threatened to spill over, but he just wiped them away.

"That does sound really good."

"Then stop being a slow poke, and lets go."

He laughed. "Okay, okay."

"I'll race you there. And whoever loses has to pay the bill."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Not much money."

"Okay then ramen on me, but whoever loses the race has to hop 15 laps around the village on one foot."

I spent way too much time around Gai and Lee.

"Deal!"

I smirked.

"Okay. Ready. Set. GO!"

I ran full speed to Ichiraku, leaving Naruto behind me.

"Hey, wait up! Hotaru!"