Hello again! Here we are with another chapter (: Now to answer your review from chapter 10, that I forgot to do in chapter 11 Dekuton. When Hotaru, and Naruto fight Kakashi does see the whole thing, but he wants them to work it out themselves. He doesn't feel he should interfere in their little fight.

And KassieJean, you are right. I honestly wasn't thinking about that when I wrote it, though I have no idea how I can change it.

Also just in general, thank you Dekuton, KassieJean, and AmanecerAzul for your reviews! I appreciate them all!

Last thing. Chapters 1-6 I have added things here and there to each chapter, attempting to make it at least a little better. I plan to do it with the rest of the chapters as well, aside from chapter 11, and this chapter. I wouldn't say it is too important, so it is your decision to read it or not.

Anyways, I love reviews, they really motivate me! And a big thank you to those who have favorited and or followed my story! You guys are awesome!

After the book incident I convinced Kakashi sensei to let me borrow the other Icha Icha Paradise books, much to his amusement.

I was slowly getting better with my chakra thread. I was able to hold it for a little over a minute now, and it didn't take as much chakra, but still quite a bit. I continued working with moving my teddy bear, and last night I was finally able to move it. I accidentally woke Lee up with my loud cheering. I also found my chakra element, which was earth. I was pretty excited when I discovered it, with the help of Kakashi sensei. Though it just another add to 'Things I needed to learn.' Naruto and Sasuke and I continued our training. I taught them how to walk up trees, and they were still continuing to work with chakra thread. They were both getting better with it, each time they worked with it. Sasuke a little more so than Naruto, much to the latters frustration.

I was well aware that we were probably getting closer to the mission where we would be escorting Tazuna back to the land of waves. I had been planning out everything for weeks. Well everything I could remember. I knew there were things I was forgetting, I just wasn't sure what. I hoped it was nothing too bad.

My nightmare of Gaara killing Lee came back as well. It was when Lee left for another mission. I realized that when Lee was here I wouldn't have it. I wasn't exactly sure why though. Maybe it was because I was always worried about him, and when he left the village there was no way for me to protect him. Not that I could really do much. But still.

I met up with Sasuke and Naruto at the Hokage's tower. Of course sensei wasn't there yet. I swear he better not be late again! I couldn't exactly do anything, so it was pretty much an empty threat. But eh.

I noticed Sasuke and Naruto were a bit tense. I raised my eyebrow.

"Uh, you guys okay?"

"Oh, yeah. Of course. Why do you ask?" Naruto asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Are you sure? You don't really look like you're okay."

"Did Lee come back from his mission yet?" Sasuke suddenly asked.

I suddenly realized why they were so tense. They were scared that I would be angry again today. I didn't even notice how well they were suddenly getting along since Lee left. Was I that bad? I groaned.

"Yeah he came back yesterday."

Sasuke and Naruto sighed in relief and relaxed.

"I'm sorry you guys. For being so grouchy lately."

"So the nightmares you've been having. They're why you're so grouchy?" Naruto asked.

I noticed Sasuke looking at me. I almost forgot I told him what my nightmares were about. I was glad that he didn't tell Naruto though. I knew Naruto meant well, but he would just go back and tell Lee, and I didn't want that.

"Yes. I didn't realize I was being so mean to you guys, and I really am sorry." I said, hanging my head. Grouchy or not, I had no right to treat everyone the way I was treating them.

"Don't worry about it Hotaru. We're just worried about you, is all."

Sasuke nodded his head in agreement.

I smiled. "No need to worry guys. There will be no more grouchy Hotaru. Promise.

Naruto seemed convinced, but Sasuke didn't. I sighed.

Kakashi sensei finally decided to show up.

"Hello my cute little students. Sorry I'm late. I got distracted by a cute little lost puppy. I just had to find its owner."

I could feel my eye twitching. I wanted to say something so badly, but glancing at Sasuke and Naruto, I saw they were waiting for the same thing. I was usually the one who called him out with something snarky.

I took a slow deep breath. Inhale. Exhale, and repeat.

Once I was calm I gave Kakashi sensei a bright smile.

"That's alright. I hope you were able to find its owner?" I asked, trying so hard not to grimance.

"Uh, yes I did." He said after a moment of shock, that I was being so pleasant.

"That's good. Well we should go see what our mission is for today." I said, continuing with being overly cheerful.

I walked past Sasuke and Naruto, who just stared at me. Probably waiting for me to turn around and go off on Kakashi sensei. Well not today.

"Now. For squad seven's next mission. We have several available tasks. Among them, babysitting the chief counselor's three year old. Helping his wife to do the shopping. Digging up potatos." The third Hokage listed off before Naruto interupted him by yelling.

"No! Come on! Can't we get a cool mission now? I'm tired of all these stupid and boring missions, I want something exciting, Right guys." Naruto asked, turning to Sasuke and I.

I really wished he didn't drag us into this.

"Hn." Was Sasuke's only response. So Naruto focused solely on me, waiting for my answer.

By now I had literally everyone's attention. I was going to Kill this boy, I swear.

"Well I wouldn't mind a C rank mission. But I am perfectly fine with just doing D ranks for now. Missions are missions."

The third Hokage and Iruka sensei gave me approving nods.

"Okay, she was the wrong person to ask, don't listen to her!" Naruto yelled.

Oh that was it! I glared at him and raised my fist.

"Oh come on Hotaru! I was just kidding!"

I stopped myself mid punch. You know what, I could just scare him. Make him think that I am going to hit him when he leasts expects it. I put my arm down. and grinned.

"You know what Naruto. It's okay. But you better watch your back, because I will get you. It could be an hour from now, weeks, months, but just know I will get you." I said, grinning the whole time.

Naruto looked scared. I could hear someone laughing, and saw that it was the third Hokage.

I smirked. That should teach Naruto not to make me mad. I hoped. Probably not though.

"Hn, idiot." Sasuke scoffed.

Naruto growled and crossed his arms to pout.

"What happened to not being grouchy anymore, Hotaru." Naruto mumbled.

"I could hit you now, if you'd like." I said casually.

He started to panic. "Uh, no I was just kidding ya know!"

Kakashi sensei cleared his throat. "Okay now kids, that's enough."

"Naruto, it seems you do not understand the tasks you have been given." The third Hokage started.

Naruto focused his attention on him. We all did.

"Listen. Many different kinds of requests come into our village everyday. From babysitting to asassination."

I stiffened, at the assassination part.

"These requests are carefully recorded. Analyzed. Then ranked, A, B, C, or D. Depending on their difficulty. We ninja are also ranked by our ability. Hokage at the top. Jonin, chunin, and genin at the bottom. At the highest level we select the missions and assignment of the ninja who have the appropriate skill and experience. And if the mission is succesful, then we recieve a fee that supports our village, and our work." He paused for a moment to take a puff from his pipe.

"Since you are untried genin, just starting down the shinobi path." He opened up a scroll. "You are given D level assignments of course." He stopped when he saw Naruto sitting in front of Sasuke, Kakashi sensei, and I.

"So I had this Kantatsu ramen yesterday, and I'm thinking miso ramen today."

I could literally feel a vein buldging. Okay, now this was it! I grabbed Naruto off of the floor and held him up into the air, and started shaking him.

"Would you just pay attention for one minute! The Hokage is talking and you're being rude! I swear if you do this one more time I am going to beat you into a bloody pulp! Do you understand me Naruto Uzumaki!" I yelled.

"Yes, yes I understand!" He yelled back.

I dropped him, and he scooted as far away from me as possible.

Iruka sensei dropped his head onto the table. Likely embarrased because of Naruto.

The Hokage sighed, and shook his head.

"I just want it to be known, that I'm not the same little brat that used to pull pranks all the time anymore. I am a real ninja now, and I want a real mission!" Naruto finally yelled. He then stiffened and looked at me.

I sighed, and waved my hand, signaling, that I just didn't care anymore.

He crossed his arms and pouted from the floor.

I shook my head, but smiled. I swear he was going to drive me up the wall one day.

Kakashi sensei sighed, and rubbed the back of his head.

Iruka sensei lifted his head up from the table, and smiled after a moment along with the Hokage.

"So be it." The Hokage said, after a moment of silence.

Naruto, and Sasuke's heads perked up, and I just wanted to groan

"Since you are so determined, I am going to give you a C ranked mission. You'll be body guards on a journey."

Naruto turned his head around to look at the Hokage with a big smile. "Really?"

"Really?" I said right after, with a groan. I had just realized I had said that out loud. Opps.

I heard Sasuke snort, and I turned to glare at him. I could see that he had a small smile on his face.

"Yes! Who, who, who are we guarding?" Naruto asked, springing up, from his seat on the floor.

"Are we guarding a princess, or some counselor?"

"Don't be so impatient. I will bring him in now. Send in our visitor." The Hokage called to someone.

We all turned around to see who it was. Though I was pretty sure I already knew.

The door started to slide open, and in came Tazuna, drunk. Freaking great.

"What the? A bunch of little snot nosed kids?" Was the first words to come out of his mouth. Rude.

He took a long drink of his beer. I had to try so hard not to grimance.

"And you. The little on, with the idiotic look on his face. You really expect me to believe you're a ninja?"

Naruto started to laugh loudly. "Who's the little one with the idiotic look on his face? Naruto asked, still laughing.

Wow, now that I looked at him, he really was short. I was even taller than him.

"You." Sasuke and I said at the same time.

Naruto suddenly glared at the drunk Tazuna.

"Ahh, I'll demolish you!" He yelled, as he tried to run at Tazuna, but Kakashi sensei grabbed onto the back of his jacket, and held him into place.

"You can't demolish the client, Naruto, it doesn't work that way." He said, rather calmly.

I turned to Sasuke. "It looks like the Hokage's speech from earlier went right over his head." I whispered.

Sasuke nodded his head, agreeing with me.

Tazuna took another nasty drink of his beer.

"I am Tazuna, A master bridge builder. And I must return to my country. I'm building a bridge there to change our world, and I expect you to get me there safely. Even if it means giving up your life."

I supressed a glare at Tazuna. He was lying about the rank and danger of this mission, and just putting our lives into danger, like we were nothing. But a part of me understood why. It didn't mean I had to agree with him, or even like him for that matter though.

After we were dismissed from the Hokage, we all had to go home and pack, and then meet at the gates.

"Lee, are you home?" I yelled, once I was in the door.

"Yes." He said, as he walked into the living room.

"I have a mission outside of the village, and we are to start immediately, so I have to pack. I thought I should let you know."

His eyes widened. "A mission, outside of the village? Isn't it a bit soon for that?"

I scoffed. "Yeah, you can blame Naruto for that one." I said, as I walked to my room, to get my things. Lee followed me.

"How long will you be gone?" He asked, I could tell he was starting to panic.

"A month maybe."

"A month!" Lee yelled.

I sighed, as I put all of my weapons, including my spear into a scroll TenTen gave me awhile back. "It's just an escort mission Lee. It's fine" I tried assuring him. I don't think it worked though.

"No, it is too early, for you to be going on a mission like that right now!"

I stiffened. "Why? Is it because I am too weak?" I asked, quite bitterly

Lee froze. "No, no of course not."

"Then, what's the problem?" I growled.

Lee had a pained look on his face.

"Because you're my little sister, and this is a cruel world. I can't protect you out there. If I lost you. I... I don't know what I would do." Lee said, getting quiet.

I froze for a second, and then sighed.

"Lee that is exactly how I feel, each time you leave the village for a mission. Plus we both know that my team was going to be sent out sooner or later, it just so happens to be sooner, rather than later. Again, you can blame Naruto for that one. I promise I will be careful, and I'll be home before you know it." I said, doing Lee and Gai's signature pose. Good god what was I doing.

Lee grinned, seeming to be a little more relaxed.

I finished packing, and Lee and I said our goodbyes, before I left for the gates.

I was the last one to the gate. Damn, even Kakashi sensei was here before me.

I had to admit, I was pretty excited to leave the village. Seeing as I have never left it before. There was a whole new world out there for me to see, and I was excited to see it.

As we left the gates, Naruto suddenly turned around.

"Yeah! All right!" He yelled.

"Excited to finally be leaving the village?" I asked, smiling.

"You betcha! Are you?"

I nodded my head. "I am.

Naruto and I looked at Sasuke.

"Hn."

I grinned. "That's a yes for Sasuke as well!" I yelled.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but smiled.

Tazuna turned to Kakashi sensei.

"Hey, am I supposed to trust my life, with these damn kids?"

I glared at him.

"You're asking that because we are happy to leave the village for the first time? Just because we are happy, does not mean we aren't capable of protecting you. Anyways, what is the worst some stupid bandits can do with us around? Unless, you are worried about something else?" I asked. I raised an eyebrow when he started to fidgit. I knew Kakashi sensei caught it too.

I almost stiffened, when I felt two chakra presence's. It was the ninja's I forgot we would run into soon. They were already here. I turned to Kakashi sensei.

I stretched my arms out behind me, in a way pointing to the two ninja. "Anyways, Kakashi sensei is a jonin, so either way you can't really complain about us kids, when you have him." I said, looking Kakashi sensei straight in the eye. I knew he knew they were there.

"Hotaru is right. Everything is going to be just fine, with me around." Kakashi sensei said with a smile.

"So, are you ready to go, or do you have any other insults for us?" I asked Tazuna.

"Uh, we can go." He said finally. Though now he was more guarded.

We started walking. I was on edge the whole time, because I knew those two ninja were following us. As we walked Kakashi had us randomly form a protection triangle around Tazuna. With Kakashi in the back, Sasuke in the front, and Naruto and I on either side of Tazuna. I was sure the others besides Kakashi sensei and I were oblivious to it. But I felt like that was a good thing. We couldn't let those ninja know that we were onto them.

We walked for a few hours. It was rather hot today. I started to silently grumble to myself until I saw that one stray puddle, on this oh so hot day, even though it hasn't rained for like a week.

I glanced over at Kakashi sensei. He caught my eye, and smiled. He knew.

I was trying my best to act casual as I walked right by it. Kakashi just ignored it, as he walked by it as well. We only got a few feet in front of it before they attacked. Like I already knew, there were two. Both of them had some sort of spiked chain, that they attacked Kakashi sensei with, wrapping it around his body, until it was tight around him, and they pulled, literally ripping his body apart, blood flew everywhere. I knew I had to keep calm, because I knew he was still alive. Plus we had to protect Tazuna. I got out my scroll as quick as I could and got my spear and other weapons.

I stood in front of Tazuna. I noticed Naruto frozen in fear, and shock, because of what happened to Kakashi sensei.

One of them laughed. "Now it's your turn. He said as he got behind Naruto.

"Naruto snap out of it!" I yelled. He wasn't listening though.

I threw some shuriken at the ninja, trying to distance him from Naruto, without having to move, because I had to protect Tazuna as well.

"Naruto!" I yelled again. Still, nothing. I growled. Damn it!

I quickly looked over at Sasuke to see he had the upper hand with the other one. Good. I put my attention back to Naruto.

I threw more shuriken at the ninja, until his focus was no longer on Naruto, but me. Well fuck.

He was fast too, I barely had enough time to deflect his attack. I was able to push him back, a bit. The only thing I could really do at this point was pelt him with weapons, but I was starting to run out, and I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer. I squeazed my spear, and attached chakra thread to it. If I could just do some sort of damage to him, I could maybe have some time to snap Naruto out of his shock.

I threw my spear, attempting to aim for his abdomen area, but apparently my chakra and spear had other ideas.

It took me a minute to realize why he just suddenly stopped. Blood splurted from his neck, as it came open. He fell to his knees, and started to choke and gurgle on his own blood.

My eyes widened and I froze. I cut his neck open. He was going to die. I just killed somebody.

I heard a scream of agony, and then someone screamed my name. But I couldn't look away as I watched the man slowly lose the life in his eyes. I was never aware of his partner coming at me with the intent to kill me, until Kakashi sensei showed up, and stopped him. Knocking the man out.

I felt water running down my face. Was it raining now?

"Hotaru." Kakashi sensei said softly, putting his hand onto my shoulder.

I was able to tear my eyes away from the now dead man, to look at Kakashi sensei. I saw that the sky was blue behind him. It wasn't raining? I put my fingers onto my check. Tears. I was crying.

I looked back at Kakashi again, to see he was talking to the others now. I couldn't hear what they were saying though. I had to tear my eyes away when I started to feel sick. I could feel the bile making its way up to my mouth. I turned away at the last second and threw up everywhere. I could faintly feel someone holding my hair back.

I threw up until I was dry heaving, and crying even more. I had just taken someones life. I was a killer now. I felt dirty. Disgusting. Yes, I knew that their intent was to kill all of us, but I wasn't like them. I was a ninja yes, but I had never killed anyone before. Never taken someones life from them. Never watched someone die right in front of me, from something that I, myself caused, and I honestly couldn't handle it. I knew I must have looked really pathetic right now, but I could care less at the moment.

After a few minutes of freaking out, I knew I had to calm down. We still had a mission to do, and we couldn't do that with me freaking out, crying, and throwing up everywhere.

I wiped the excess bile from my mouth with my jacket sleeve, and turned to face everyone.

Naruto and Sasuke looked worried, Kakashi sensei was a little tense, but his face was blank, and Tazuna looked like he was going to be sick himself.

"I am sorry about that." I finally whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry about Hotaru. But you." Kakashi sensei said, turning to Tazuna. "We need to talk."

I knew Kakashi sensei was mad, he wasn't hiding that fact.

"Ugh I'm going to kill that little bitch!" The tied up ninja yelled, as he woke up. He started to struggle. I felt sick again.

"Shut up." Kakashi sensei said, gaining the angry mans attention.

"They're ninja from the village Hidden in the Mist. Their speciality is relentless attack. They keep fighting no matter what the sacrafice." Kakashi sensei said, filling us in on the information he had gathered.

I flinched, and Naruto gently put his hand on my shoulder. I relaxed a little.

"How did you know about our ambush?" The now lone ninja asked.

"A puddle, on a clear day. When it hasn't rained in weeks." Kakashi pointed out.

"In that case, why did you leave it to the genin to do the fighting?" Tazuna asked.

"I could have taken them out quickly. But then I would have learned nothing. I had to know who their target was." Kakashi sensei said, giving Tazuna a look. "And, what they were after.

"Hm? What are you getting at?" Tazuna asked Kakashi sensei, clearly on edge.

"This. I wanted to know if they were after us, ninja attacking ninja. Or, if they were after you. The master bridge builder. When you put in your request, you asked for standard protection, from robbers and highway men. You didn't say there were ninja looking for you. Hunting you down. If we knew this, it would be a B rank mission, or higher. Our task was simply to get you to your destination. And protect you while you finished building your bridge. If we knew we'd be fielding attacks from enemy ninja, we would have staffed differenly, and charged for the cost of a B mission. Apparently you have your reasons. But lying to us is not acceptable. We are now beyond the scope of this mission. But then again." Kakashi sensei turned to me. "What do you think Hotaru? Are you up for continuing?"

My eyes widened. Of course he was asking me, because I had just killed someone, and didn't take it very well. I knew this was an important mission, and I couldn't bring everyone down with me.

"I am." I said, with a firm nod.

He gave me a small smile. "Very well then, we will continue the mission.