Hello again! It's been awhile... sorry about that! I had some serious writers block, and was honestly a bit unmotivated, and lazy. But finally this chapter is done, if not a bit short. Sorry about that as well. Also before I forget, I rewrote the fight scene in chapter 13, so you might want to read that one again. Thank you again for making me aware of that Dekuton. And please this goes for everyone, if you see me treading into mary sue territory PLEASE let me know. That is honestly the last thing I want for my precious Hotaru! I do accept critique, but please for the love of all things cute and cuddly please do not be mean or rude about it, that does not help me become a better writer.
And now to reviews, my favorite thing! :D
Neopolitanteamrwby: I will actually consider Sasuke, I have been thinking about it quite a bit. Though I still don't know when any romance will be included.
And a big thank you to you, and everyone else who reviewed. Girl-luvs-manga, Scarlett rose white, Dekuton, and Dark Rose Charm, and to everyone who has followed or favorited my story, I love you all!
Reviews make me happy! Review and you will receive one free unicorn! :D
Update! If you would like to see what Hotaru looks like please go to my DeviantArt Slytherin429, I will be posting her on there right now.
The week seemed to go by very quickly. It was filled with training, and guarding Tazuna. I worked on my earth element a bit, but it was mostly my chakra thread. Kakashi sensei even taught us water walking. It didn't take Sasuke and I very long to learn it. Naruto was another story though. It took him a few days before he got it. He would work at it the whole day. I had to go out late at night to drag him back inside, cause he didn't want to stop until he got it. Finally he did it though.
Inari was still being a brat. I tried a few more times to get through to him, but they were all failed attempts so I just gave up. Though him and Naruto kept getting into arguements, about how Naruto was going to show him what a hero really was.
Our week was finally almost up though, and Kakashi sensei was feeling better, and didn't have to use a crutch. Me on the other hand. I felt terrible, but I told no one, but I was sure Kakashi sensei knew. He said nothing though. It took everything in me not to limp when I walked, and I had to take really shallow breaths so I didn't aggravate my ribs too badly. I couldn't show anyone that I was weak. I didn't want anyone to worry, anymore. So I kept all of my pain to myself.
I sighed, as I continued looking for Naruto. He wasn't there at breakfast this morning, so it meant he was out training himself stupid again. Just because he mastered water walking, didn't mean he wouldn't push himself to train harder for something else. He was probably passed out somewhere.
I finally decided to try to sense his chakra. Though when I did, I stopped, because I could feel someone elses chakra. I wasn't sure who it was though. I started to feel panicked, because I didn't know if he was being attacked, so I ran as fast as I could to him.
Once I was in the clearing he was in, I stopped when I noticed him perfectly fine, and sitting on the ground with a pretty girl. Wait, girl? She seemed familiar but I couldn't put my finger on where I had seen her before.
"Oh, hey Hotaru! What are you doing here?"
The girl looked over to me and smiled. So I smiled back, before turning to Naruto. "I was actually looking for you. I knew when I didn't see you in the room, or at breakfast this morning, you had to be out training."
Naruto chuckled sheepishly, before the girl spoke up. "So you're the Hotaru, Naruto was just telling me about. He thinks very highly of you."
"Huh? You do?" I asked, now looking at Naruto.
He laughed. "Of course." I just smiled at him, before something else caught my attention. That voice. It sounded very familiar. Where have I heard it before? I thought back to Haku, after he 'killed' Zabuza. My eyes widened, and I looked at the person who I now knew as Haku.
"Hey, Hotaru are you alright?"
I shook myself out of my thoughts, and laughed sheepishly. "Oh, yeah I'm fine."
"Well I will not keep you any longer Naruto. It was very nice meeting you. You as well Hotaru. Goodbye, we'll meet again sometime." He grabbed his basket, and started to walk away, before he stopped. "By the way, I am a boy." Naruto stiffened, and I started to laugh.
"You thought he was a girl?" I asked, now teasing him, even though I had originally thought he was a girl as well. But oh well, they didn't know that.
"Sh..shut up Hotaru!" Naruto yelled. But I just continued to laugh.
I extended my hand out to him. "Come on, get up. The others are waiting on us."
Naruto chuckled and grabbed onto my hand. "Right."
It was a quiet walk back to the house, which let me think. I knew Haku could have killed Naruto easily, but he didn't. I wasn't sure why though. What made him not want to?
"Hotaru?"
I was pulled out of my thoughts by Narutos voice. "Huh?"
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Sorry no."
"I asked if you wanted to train later on?"
"Oh, uh sure. You should at least take a nap first after you eat."
"Nah I'm fine. I already got some sleep in the forest."
I snorted. "Of course you did."
Once we made it back to the house Tsunami made a plate of food for Naruto. He literally inhaled it. I shook my head, but smiled.
Right after Naruto was done eating he wanted to start training again, so we went back outside.
"So, what do you want to do first?" I asked.
"Are you able to move people, with your chakra thread yet?"
I blinked. "Uh, kind of."
"Do it."
"Um, okay?"
I connected my chakra thread to Naruto, and concentrated. Slowly I lifted one arm up, and then the other. I could start to feel the strain of it, but I kept going. I attached more thread to his legs, lifting one leg, moving it in front of the other. I went to lift the other leg, but by then it was becoming to much. I had to let go. I started panting. Winching each time because of my ribs.
"That was great Hotaru!" Naruto praised.
"Thanks." I panted out. "But why exactly did you want me to do it.
He giggled. "Because, I was practicing using chakra thread the whole time I was training. I wanted to see if I could make people move as well. Could I?"
"Oh, yeah of course."
To my surprise he connected chakra thread to me. He really was practicing. I could feel my left arm lifting up, and then my right. Then my legs. I started to walk towards Naruto. My eyes widened. I have been practicing for months, and Naruto could do this after a week. I didn't stop until I was right in front of Naruto, who was grinning so big it honestly looked like it should hurt. I grinned as well.
"Naruto, that is awesome, you did it!" I yelled. I knew most people would have been mad or jealous, but Naruto worked so hard for everything that he did, I was honestly so proud and happy for him.
"I did!"
I playfully hit him in the shoulder. "I need to step up my game. You're getting stronger than me. And we just can't have that." I said playfully.
He frowned. "You're not.. ya know, mad at me?"
I snorted. "Why would I be mad at you?"
"You've been working so hard with your chakra thread. And you know." He trailed off, rubbing the back of his head.
"Naruto, how long have we've been friends?"
"Like four years?"
"Four years for you to realize that I don't get upset about stupid things like that." I said, pointing my finger at him.
"Are you sure?" He asked quietly.
I rolled my eyes. 'Yes Naruto. This is why we always train anyways. To get stronger."
"I guess so." He said, still looking and sounding unsure.
"Come on, I want to try it again."
Naruto grinned. "Alright!"
I connected my thread to him again, this time starting with his legs. I got a few steps in before I had to let go.
I panted. "Again."
I continued it for about an hour. Each time getting a little bit better, because of my new found competitive side, wanting to beat Naruto. Wanting to be able to control it better than him. I was vaguely aware when Sasuke and sensei found us. I wasn't planning on stopping just yet though. Instead of having Naruto walk to me, I made him turn around and walk towards them. One foot in front of the other, he walked. He was getting closer and closer to them. I was panting and sweating, and in extreme pain. But I didn't want to stop. Not until he was right in front of them. He was so close. Just a few more steps.
I felt a sharp pain, that made me gasp loudly and let go of Naruto, my thread disappering. I grabbed my side and fell to my knees.
"Hotaru!" Naruto yelled, running to me.
My head was spinning, and I was trying so hard not to pass out.
"Hotaru, can you hear me?" I thought I heard Kakashi sensei ask.
I shakily got up, and nodded my head. I regretted that though, because my head started to spin even more. I was starting to feel nauseous.
"I'm fine. One more time Naruto." I said, trying to focus on said boy.
"Hotaru, you're still hurt, and you have been pushing yourself too hard. You need to stop." Kakashi sensei said, from somewhere near.
I had to stop myself from shaking my head. "I'm fine." I argued.
"You're not."
I ignored him, and attempted to make some chakra thread. The moment I tried though, I just couldn't stay awake anymore. I tried to not let the darkness overtake me, but I just felt to weak and tired to fight it very hard, or for long. So I relaxed and let it overtake me.
Once I came to I could hear a jumble of voices. I tried to clear my head to make them out.
"Are you sure she's going to be okay sensei?" I heard Naruto ask.
"She should be if she doesn't overdo it again."
I slowly opened my eyes. "Taru, you're awake!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto, I love you but please shut up." I croaked out.
Sasuke scoffed, and sensei sighed. Naruto just laughed quietly. "Sorry."
"What happened?" I asked. I felt like I had been hit by a train.
"You have three broken ribs. You have been pushing yourself too hard, and putting too much strain on them. Especially with your chakra thread earlier. You should have said you were hurting Hotaru." Kakashi sensei lectured me. I sighed.
"I'm fine I swear." I tried to get up, but cried out when I did.
"Instead of allowing your ribs to heal, you have done nothing but aggravate them the whole time. You will not be getting up. Understood?"
"But sensei."
"Understood Hotaru?"
I sighed. "Understood." I said, giving up. Not wanting to fight with or disobey Kakashi sensei.
"Good. Now get some more rest."
Kakashi sensei left the room, but Naruto and Sasuke stayed.
"You really worried us Hotaru." Naruto whispered.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
"Why would you push yourself so hard?" Sasuke asked, gaining my attention.
"I don't want to be weak anymore." I whispered.
"Hotaru, you're not weak!" Naruto argued.
"Naruto is right, you're not weak." Sasuke added, agreeing with Naruto.
"Zabuza hurt us all, but who came out with the worse injuries? Me. It wouldn't have happened if I were stronger. I am tired of being weak. Of getting hurt."
Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other for a moment.
"Well then, we'll just get stronger together. We all have a long way to go, but we can do this as long as we help each other." Naruto finally said.
"Naruto is right. As soon as you're better we'll start training again. We'll be stronger in no time."
I smiled at them. "Sounds like a plan. Both of you be prepared for me to kick your butts." I said playfully. Naruto laughed, and Sasuke smirked.
"Sounds like a plan." Naruto said, holding his fist out to me. I smiled, and bumped my fist with his, and we did the same thing with Sasuke. "Everybody better watch out, cause team seven is on a mission. A mission to kick ass, believe it!" Naruto yelled, throwing his fist into the air. Naruto and I laughed while Sasuke just smiled.
It was a long two days of resting. Sensei would only let me get up for a shower, or to use the restroom, and even then he made either Sasuke or Naruto help me. To say I was annoyed was an understatement. I felt like I was going crazy. I was beyond bored, even when Naruto or Sasuke would keep me company. They were still training half of the time.
The morning we would all be escorting Tazuna to the bridge, Kakashi sensei was very reluctant to let me go. But Naruto had pushed himself to his limit and wouldn't be waking up anytime soon, so I jumped at the chance to take his place. Though Kakashi sensei said he didn't want me fighting unless it was completely necessary, so I was put on guard duty. I couldn't really complain though, cause after my little stunt the other day, I was lucky sensei was letting me get up at all.
"Okay, I leave Naruto in your hands. He's pushed his body to the limit, overdoing it as usual. Seems like it's what this team likes to do best." Kakashi sensei said, glancing down at me, at the last part. I just chuckled and shrugged my shoulders. Which made him sigh. "Anyways, he may not be able to move at all today."
"What about you and Hotaru? You look like you're both still recovering yourselves." Tsunami said.
"Why? Do I look wobbly? I'll be okay. As for Hotaru, she'll be fine as well as long as she doesn't push herself too hard again."
I narrowed my eyes at him. I feel like there was a hidden warning there somewhere.
"Come on, let's go." Tazuna finally said, ending the conversation. I looked at him, and crossed my eyes.
"Aye aye sir!" I yelled, spinning around to walk ahead of everyone.
"Oh boy." I thought I heard sensei mumble.
The first ten or so minutes were filled with silence. Until I got bored and broke it.
"Sasuke, what are your favorite foods?" I asked.
Sasuke thought for a moment before he spoke. "My favorite foods are rice balls, skipjack tuna, and tomatoes."
"How about you sensei? What's your favorite foods?"
"Hm, well." He paused for a moment. "I really like boiled saury, and miso soup with eggplant."
"Tazuna?" I asked, looking past sensei at him.
"I don't actually have a favorite. I'll eat about anything really."
I nodded my head. Sounded like Lee. I swear if it is edible he will eat it.
"What about you?" Sasuke asked.
"Hm, I really love Dango, and well anything spicy really."
A few minutes later I almost ran into Kakashi sensei when he suddenly stopped. We were at the bridge.
"Hold on, what the heck is this?" Tazuna asked, shocked.
All of the men were either knocked out (I hoped) or groaning.
"What happened? Someone was here. Someone got to them!" Tazuna yelled.
We all looked around. Whoever it was we knew was hiding. Mist suddenly started rolling in. Shit, right. Zabuza.
"Sasuke, Hotaru, get ready." Sensei suddenly said, getting into position behind Tazuna. Sasuke and I followed his action. I grabbed onto my spear.
"Sorry I kept you waiting, Kakashi. I see you've still got those brats with you. That one's still trembling. Pitiful."
Was I trembling? No. I looked over at Sasuke. He was trembling. Suddenly multiple Zabuza clones surrounded us.
Sasuke suddenly let out a small laugh. "I'm trembling with excitment."
Sensei turned to him with a smile. "Go on, Sasuke."
One of the clones by Sasuke lifted up his sword. This was it. The fight has begun.