9. Exploration

'So guys, I think this is a good place to put up our camp!'

'Yeah!' Konohamaru shouted.

After two days of traveling we finally had arrived on our place of destiny. The borders of the hidden village of grass…

'I think that's a good place for the girls tent and we will set up the men tent over there!' Ebisu-sensei told us when he pointed to some random spots.

'No, Ebisu-sensei, its our time to choose now!' Moegi said, 'This time we want our tent under the tree, in the shadows. Right Hanabi-chan?'

'Yeah' I said, although I didn't really care.

'But I'm your sensei!'

'So?' Moegi glared at him.

Ebisu-sensei sighed. 'Konohamaru, it seems like we are stuck with TWO bossy ladies! I hope we survive this mission!'

'Yeah!' Konohamaru replied.

Moegi and me decided to ignore their whining and put up our tent under the tree.

The men seemed to give in and put up their tent as well.

After our tents were put up we decided to scout the area and start our search for the Fungus Pellucida.

'Sensei?' I said.

'What is it, Hanabi-chan? Are you scared already?' He laughed.

I glared at him. 'What I wanted to say is that I brought a book of my cousin, about fungous, there's also a piece about Fungus Pellucida.'

'Is there? Can you show us?'

'Sure.' I said as I took the book out of my bag.

I looked up the pages about the Fungus Pellucida and showed it to them.

'So… to summarize the whole lot' Ebisu-sensei said after he read it, 'It grows on moist spots, close to lakes and we have to watch out for the Fungus Paleatus, since its kind of a like, but is poisonous.'

'Yes' I replied. 'The difference is with the color of the dots. The Pellucida has red dots and the Paleatus has purple once…'

'Good. Thanks Hanabi-chan for bringing this book! And be sure to thank your cousin too!'

I nodded.

'So we have to find places with water nearby, then let's go over there!' Konohamaru said as he walked off to some random direction.

Why didn't he ask me to scout that area with my Byakugan?

Ebisu-sensei poked me 'Hanabi-chan can you tell me what's over there?' He whispered. Apparently he didn't forget my bloodline gift.

'Sure' I said as I activated my Byakugan.

'Hmm, a lot of bushes and trees, but no water or something…' I reported.

'Thanks, Hanabi-chan' He said to me, 'Konohamaru-kun, come back! There's no water over there!'

Konohamaru looked back. 'And how do you know that for sure!' His gaze was aimed at me now. 'Oh yeah, of course, I forgot! You have those eyes' He said as he walked back to us. How could he forget that?

'Which way do we have to go now?' He asked me.

'Haven't checked yet…'

'Then do it!'

I glared at him. I was not taking comments and especially not from him!

'Uhmm, I didn't mean it the bad way! Believe me! I'm sorry!' He apologized.

I glared some little longer before I checked the area again.

'That way' I said as I pointed to the spot where I spotted a lake.

'Is the way up to there safe? Or are there any hidden booby traps?'

I checked some more, but I didn't see anything suspicious.

'It looks safe'

'Okay, let's go then!'

I picked up my bag and leaded my team to the lake. The weather was nice. The sun was shining through the leaves and warmed my face. I liked missions like this. Not much fighting, but still being outside and do something in favor for the village. Though I wondered why this mission couldn't be done by genins. Was the situation with the Grass that bad?

'It's the lake!' Konohamaru-kun exclaimed. 'Well done, Hanabi-chan!' He said, as he patted me on the shoulder.

'Is it okay to drink from it?' Moegi asked, 'I'm a bit thirsty.'

'Let me investigate it…' Ebisu-sensei said as he walked to the lake. He putted some of the water in a tube and poured some kind of fluid in it. The water in the tube turned blue.

'It's okay'

Moegi and Konohamaru ran to the lake and drank graciously from it.

'Don't you want some Hanabi-chan?' Actually I was not thirsty at all, but I followed their example.

'Hanabi-chan? What's in your bag?' Ebisu-sensei asked as he looked to my bag.

I stood up and unpacked my bag.

'Some food, a first-aid kit, my cousin's fungous book, gloves and a small shovel.'

'Small shovel? Damn! I forgot mine!' Moegi said. 'It's still at the tent!'

'I didn't bring one at all!' Konohamaru shouted.

Ebisu-sensei turned red. 'You're not the only one Konohamaru-kun!'

'You forgot to bring one too?' I asked.

'Um, yeah! Even your teacher can forget things!'

'Do you think I have to get mine?' Moegi asked.

'Yeah, I think it is better that you don't go by yourself. I will go with you.' Ebisu-sensei answered.

'Thanks!' Moegi said.

Ebisu-sensei watched Konohamaru and me. 'You both can get along for a while?'

'Sure!' Konohamaru responded. I nodded.

'Fine' Ebisu-sensei said as he left with Moegi.

'Shall we start searching for the Pellucida then?' I asked Konohamaru as I put on my gloves.

He was staring to the lake.

'No, I think we need to talk first…'

'About what?' I whimpered. I really had no idea.

'About what happened to Hinata-chan… We hadn't really a change to talk before, since Moegi-chan and sensei were around…'

I sighed. It really bothered him. I walked towards him and sat down on the ground. I gazed to the shining water. It looked nice. Konohamaru sat down next to me.

'You know… Naruto-niisan, is more to me than just a friend, he is like my brother, so it got me to…'

'I know…'

'When did your sister receive the seal?'

'The evening before we left for the mission…'

'I see. That's why Naruto-niisan didn't tell me yet.'

'He was very mad…'

'Of course! I would be mad too! He really cares for Hinata-chan! Knowing him he would not leave things with this!'

'You mean he would do something to our clan?'

'Yeah!'

'Then why didn't he hurt me that evening, when I brought her back home?'

'How was Hinata's state when you brought her home?'

'She was like a doll. She had a blankly gaze and didn't move on her own.'

'I see. He was probably worried about her and wanted to take care of her first. And besides he always liked you, as opposed to your father and cousin.'

'Did he?'

'Yeah… He told me that you were one of the few Hyuuga's who were really nice.'

I felt the tears filling up my eyes. Naruto had trusted me, but I let him down.

'It's not your fault Hanabi-chan' Konohamaru said, 'You couldn't have done anything against it. Your family is very strict aren't they?'

I nodded.

'Sometimes I'm proud to be an Hyuuga, but sometimes I wished I was not involved.'

'You're the successor of the clan, so I guess you have to learn to live with the hardships of it. And I'm quite sure you can take it. And as soon as you are their ruler you can change those stupid rules, right?' He said as he watched me. Sometimes he was very annoying, but he could be very kind too.

I smiled. 'That's true, but I won't be an autocrat. So it's not that easy'

'At least you can try…'

I stared over the water again and thought back of home. We were indeed very strict and that didn't have to mean it was bad, but when I thought back to my sister and how she had suffered, than things should surely change…

'At least I can try…'

I looked at him again, but his eyes were aimed at something from behind me. Does this mean something was coming from behind?… Then my blind spot…!

'Watch out!' He said as he pushed me to the ground. For a moment I was breathless. It was like everything had frozen. Konohamaru was bending over me. His right hand was resting on my left upper arm and his left hand was resting right below my breast. His head was very close to mine. Both of us were blushing. I had a very light feeling in my head. But suddenly everything started moving again. A kunai was floating over, Konohamaru suddenly let go of me.

'I..I'm sor..sorry! He stuttered 'Someone attempted to hit you!'

He got up to his feet and pulled me up.

'Yeah… I think my blind spot…, I couldn't see it! Thanks!' I said still a little shocked.

I shook my head, I had to focus on the surroundings again and had to find out who was trying to kill us…

Author's note: And this was already the 9th chapter. The 10th chapter will have a fight. I don't know when it will be up, since a friend of mine will be writing it :-). (I can't really write good fighting scenes myself)

Anyway leave a review if you like! I would really appreciate it (, even if it is negative.) It only encourages me to write more ;)Thanks to everyonewho has reviewed so far!

Till next time!