Everyone lay still on the floor. Hana could hear her own heartbeat and Sasuke's heartbeat thump together at almost the same pace. She swallowed back some saliva, her breathing shallow. She was so frightened. What if Takahashi sensei and Kakashi sensei got hurt, or worse, killed? They would not be able to fend for themselves. They were definitely not this advanced.
"S-Sasuke.." she stumbled out. He looked at her "it's okay". She knew he was lying. It was not okay. His racing heart told her otherwise. He was older than her, perhaps only by one year but he was also wiser. Though all the same, he shielded her with his own body - ready to die for her. She had not felt this much affection from him in such a long time, it made her heart tingle.
"Alright!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly. Suddenly, the mood was lifted, and Hana felt safer. Sakura and Nari started to giggle, though everyone froze, even Kakashi, when Zabuza started to laugh darkly. "Finished? You really don't get it, do you?" he chuckled "your technique is nothing but a crass imitation. I'll never be defeated by a mere copycat ninja like you". Kakashi grunted angrily. "You are full of surprises, though. You had already copied my water clone jutsu when you made your little speech. Very skilfully executed. You made your clone say those words to draw my attention while you hid in the mist. Waiting for me to make my move. Nice try!". With that, he appeared behind Kakashi once again! "I'm not that easy to FOOL!".
The clone disappeared in front of Kakashi. Hana let out a small screech as Naruto yelled "that was a clone too!". He swung his sword at Kakashi, who dodged it by swooping down onto his knees. Takahashi grabbed onto the sword, but Zabuza yanked it away and swung for him instead. Takahashi dodged it by jumping away, so Kakashi was once again his target. He knocked Kakashi into the air with one, swift movement. With that, he knocked Takahashi sensei out by kicking him in the head. Hana screamed, but everyone else remained silent - shocked.
"Sensei!" Naruto yelled, and everyone stood watching in shock - even Takahashi. Nobody could believe he was able to knock him through the air like that. Sasuke helped Hana to her feat "stand behind me". "Sasuke" she mumbled "I don't want you to be hurt because of me". He turned his head slightly "I said...stand behind me". She obeyed, standing behind him and clinging onto the back of his shirt.
Zabuza jumped into the water, and moments later Kakashi emerged, only to be trapped in a water prison. Zabuza's next target was the six of them! Hana gripped on tighter to Sasuke's shirt. "Stay behind me!" he yelled to her, causing Zabuza to laugh darkly "you won't be able to save her, not when you're dead. Water clone jutsu!". They prepared themselves as six clones emerged from the water, before a thick fog came into the air, and then they disappeared.
Hana gulped "t-they disappeared again". Naruto then let out a whimper as he was kicked across the way, his headband coming flying off. Sasuke whipped out a kunai "come at me! But leave my sister alone!". Another dark chuckle. "She's next" Hana heard someone whisper in her ear, before she screamed loudly. Sasuke went to turn around, but it was too late. The clone had taken Hana by her raven hair, throwing her against a tree - and knocking her out cold. The last thing Hana remembered was hearing Sasuke call her name, before darkness consumed her.
Hana's eyes fluttered open hours later. It took her a moment to remember what was happening around her, and she startled, sitting up and almost bumping heads with Sasuke. Sasuke jumped back out of the way just on time "it's alright, Hana" he said calmly "we're safe now". "W-what happened?! Where's the assassin?" she questioned, gazing around the small room she was in. "A guy came and killed him for us" he said to her "he just sorta popped out of nowhere. Don't worry, though. We're safe. Kakashi passed out but we managed to get him back here alongside you". She looked down "and everyone else made it, right?". "Yes" he nodded "everyone is alive and well, Kakashi-sensei is awake now too".
The door slid open to reveal Takahashi-sensei. She smiled upon seeing him, weakly but she smiled nonetheless. She felt so weak...was she even strong enough to become a ninja? "I'm glad to see you are awake" Takahashi grinned "we were worried about you. You were out longer than Kakashi". "Is she awake?" she heard Sumi asked, before she stepped into the room. She rushed to Hana's side "you had me so scared!". Hana reached a weak hand up and patted Sumi's shoulder "I'm okay. Just feeling a little weak is all".
"I'm glad you're okay" Sumi said. "You need to rest more" Takahashi said "Kakashi wants to see the others right away". "Can't I come?" Hana pouted. "No, it's best that you sleep some more. You are very weak right now" Takahashi told her. She nodded, settling back down onto the mattress. Everyone left, Sumi giving Sasuke one last glance before she left the room. There it was again - that feeling. Hana shrugged it off.
"Get some rest" Sasuke said to her, standing up and moving to the bedroom door. "Sasuke?" she called softly, closing her eyes. "Hm?". She could tell he was looking right at her. She felt so sleepy and weak "you are the best big brother I could ever ask for". A small silence filled the air. "Sleep well" Sasuke mumbled, but she could hear the smile in her voice. She giggled, and then heard him close the door behind him.
When Hana awoke a few hours later, Sumi informed her that Zabuza was still alive. Hana felt weak at the thoughts of fighting him again, but she was determined fo him not to get her this time. She clenched her fists, looking into Sumi's eyes "where is he?". "We don't know" Sumi said, raising her eyebrows "why do you ask?". "I'm tired of feeling weak" she said to Sumi, who was kneeling beside her as she sat on the mattress "I'm tired of not making Sasuke proud!". "Why do you feel the need to do that?" Sumi asked her. Hana pursed her lips. She wasn't exactly sure. "I guess it's an Uchiha thing" she lied. "Yeah, right!" Sumi chuckled "the Uchiha thing is being dark and sexy, not making each other proud. What's the real reason?".
Hana rolled her eyes "I don't know, okay?". Sumi looked surprised for a moment, before she started to giggle "I have a question". "What's that?" Hana asked, kicking the blankets off herself. "Is Sasuke your biological brother?" Sumi asked her. "Yeah...why?" Hana asked suspiciously. "I mean - if he was your adopted brother I'd feel less weird about it" Sumi said, tapping her chin. "W-what? About what?" Hana asked curiously. "You being in love with him" Sumi winked, then started to laugh loudly. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU IMPLYING?!" Hana yelled over Sumi's laughter. Sumi stopped laughing seconds later, but she was still smiling "it's okay, Hana. I'm joking".
Though for some reason - Hana's heart was beating super fast, and she felt her cheeks heat up "d-don't be so silly in future". "Of course, of course" Sumi said, standing up and helping Hana to her feet "we have to train for this fight with Zabuza. He will definitely attack again". "When do we start?" Hana asked her. "Tomorrow morning at dawn. You know how Takahashi-sensei is". Hana sighed "agh! I just want to go home...but I know this is what we have to do". "That's right!" Sumi said to her "let's go get some dinner".
Hana followed Sumi into the dining room, where everyone sat around waiting for food. Tazuna's daughter served them up some ramen, and everyone dug in - feeling extremely hungry. Hana glanced up at Sasuke, who was chomping down the ramen hungrily. He glanced up at her too, and their eyes met for a split second - but Hana quickly looked away. For some reason, her stomach flipped but she kept eating quickly.
After dinner, she sat out on the porch alone. Everyone was inside laughing and joking and playing board games, but Hana wasn't in the mood for that. She heard footsteps behind her, and turned her head to see Sasuke leaning against the back door. "What are you doing out here alone?" he questioned her "it's dangerous. You might be attacked". "I don't think so" she said, shaking her head. "What makes you so sure?" he asked, blinking a few times. "I just know it" she shrugged. He smirked, taking a seat on the porch beside her and leaning back on his hands "you are not weak Hana". Her head snapped to look in his direction "wh-what do you mean?".
"I know that's what you have been thinking" he said to her. She looked up at the stars, which were shining brightly in the night sky. Sometimes, she liked to imagine that the two brightest stars were her parents looking down on her proudly. Though that night, she felt they were disappointed in her. "I couldn't fight him" she said to him "I cowered behind you". "You are still young" he said to her "so am I. You have plenty of time to work on your fighting style. You are only starting out, it's normal to freeze up. Especially around someone so advanced and dangerous as Zabuza".
She looked back at him, smiling brightly "thank you, Sasuke. It means so much to me that you would say that". "It's just the truth" he told her. Hana leaned her head on his shoulder. Sasuke tensed up for a few seconds, but he soon relaxed, resting his head on hers. After a few seconds silence Sasuke spoke up "Hana? I'm proud of you". Hana felt her heart tingle, her cheeks heat up and her soul soar. "I am proud of you too" she whispered. For the first time in a long time, Hana felt happy...
...and in that moment as she gazed up at the stars lining the night sky, she could have sworn she felt a small shock throughout her body. This was her tiny spark...yet she did not even know.