Chap. 4. I don't own anything but my OCs and this plot.

Chapter 4 settling in

Hotaru took in the sights of Konoha's bustling streets with wide eye delighted rapture. She couldn't believe this would be her home. It was so pretty and wonderful and friendly. Best of all, it had her two favorite people in the world, the two most wonderful people in the whole world! She couldn't believe they had adopted her. She looked between them as they walked hand in hand with her around Konoha. Kiba held her left hand in his big warm right one while Natsuhi held her right in her gentle left hand. She was the luckiest girl in the world to have such caring guardians. She jumped and swung. Kiba and Natsuhi smiled down her as they swung her back and forth as they walked. She giggled.

"I take it you like Konoha?" Natsuhi asked.

"No. I love Konoha!" she squealed.

"It's pretty great." Kiba said. "Let's get some sweets."

"I have never had any sweets. What are they like?" Hotaru asked.

"You'll see." Natsuhi told her. "The best things come to those who are patient."

Hotaru tried to be patient but she couldn't help it but feel excited and wondered about what sweets tasted like. She had heard all about them in her old village but she never had the money to buy any (not that she could anyways…the villagers avoided her like she was the plague and barely fed her). She couldn't believe her luck.

They walked into a shop called Dango and sat down a table. A waiter came and brought a large tray with tea and colorful round sweets on sticks. They did look sweet. Hotaru thought. She was shock when Natsuhi handed her a stick and smiled. "Go on. Try it."

Hotaru ate one and her eyes watered as the taste assaulted her senses. It was like she had just fallen into a utopia of wonderfulness. Natsuhi and Kiba laughed at her expression as they drank their tea. "Take it easy Hotaru. It's not going anywhere. It's best enjoyed slowly and with the company of sweet tea." Kiba told her.

She complied and slowed down. She watched Natsuhi delicate manners and tried to mimicked (she failed as she spilt the tea when she realized it was hot). Natsuhi laughed, "Hotaru, hold the cup like this and slowly drink a little at a time. Try it."

She once again complied and found that it work and Kiba was right. With the tea, the sweets seem gentler and lasted longer. She savored the tasted and thanked her lucky star for bringing her to two wonderful people.

Natsuhi wrapped the rest of the treats up and handed one more stick. Kiba paid the man and told a confused Hotaru, "We have to get home. It's getting dark."

"Ok." She yawned. She hadn't realized how sleepy she was. She tried to stay awake as she wiped her eyes. She didn't want to miss anything about her new home.

Kiba plucked her off the ground and held her close to him. Hotaru feeling the normal safe warmth surround her, cuddled closer to Kiba. She looked up at Kiba then over to Natsuhi who smiled back at her. "Thank you."

They walked through the streets in a compatible silence. Natsuhi looked at the little girl and smiled. It was because of her that she got over her fear of dogs. Hikari was right. It was a stupid fear. She was glad that she got to know Kiba better. She knew he was loyal and protective of his friends. She also knew he had a gentler side because he was rarely anything but gentle to her or Hotaru. He was a wonderful person. She smiled at the irony when she realized that she was falling fast for the tall man next to her.

"We're here." Kiba said as they saw the one story townhouse. It had a very pleasant look to it with its red roof, cream walls, and white windows. They entered and Natsuhi fell in love with it. The walls were a very pale orange cream with white muslin curtains on the windows. The furniture was all made of plain dark red wood that offset the wooden floor nicely.

"I'll put her to bed and you feed Akamaru." Natsuhi said. Kiba nodded. Man and dog walked to find the kitchen.

Natsuhi found a small room that looked like it was intended for a little girl. The walls were decorated with pale lilac butterflies over a field of creamy pink. There was a bed with matching cover, a small desk under the window, a dresser and a tall mirror. She changed Hotaru into comfortable sleeping clothes and tucked her in with her (very tattered but newly fixed) bear before turning the nightlight on and leaving.

She found Kiba in the kitchen talking to Akamaru who was happily eating his meals. "Hey, you two." She said dropping a kiss on the top of Akamaru white head when he perked up.

"Hey yourself." Kiba said and pushed a bowl to her. She accepted it and began eating.

"There are five rooms in this house. There are two bedrooms, the kitchen, the bathroom, and the living room. I put Hotaru in the smaller of the two bedrooms which leaves one room. What do you propose?"

"I'll sleep in the living room and you can have the room." He said automatic.

Akamaru whined in protest. Both human looked at him and realized that the dog wanted the living to himself.

"You don't have to do that!" Natsuhi protested. We're both ninjas and adults. There's no need for you to be uncomfortable in the living room. Besides it seems Akamaru doesn't want to share the small living room. I doubt the two of you would fit."

"It is very small but me and Akamaru has been through worst."

"We can share the room. The bed looks more than large enough for the both of us."

"No. I'll be fine with Akamaru."

"There's not enough room for Akamaru as is. The living room is tiny. The bedroom is big enough for us to share. Kiba you know I don't bite."

"I know that but what about…" he left off.

"My virtue? Kiba you are so honorable but I'm a kunoichi, virtue has never been one of my highest priority. We're sharing that room. It won't be too bad."

"If you really ok with it."

"I'm fine with it." She assured him as she washed the dishes. By the time she was done, Akamaru had already settled his large form in the living room on a large dog bed that Kiba had gotten delivered. She made sure all the doors were locked before heading to the bedroom while trying to calm her nerves. She changed into a large t-shirt and long pants before heading into the room. She found Kiba was already fast asleep when she crawled under the covers. He looked handsome with his wild brown hair and muscular built. Yes Kiba had grown into a man that any woman who wasn't a fool would desire. She realized she was no fool. She snuggled into its warm as she settled herself.

Kiba woke up a little while later to see he was wrapped around a sleeping Natsuhi. She was beautiful in all her glory. Pale gold curls spread out around and delicate features with creamy white skin that didn't seem to tan under the sun. She was beautiful inside and out. Intelligent, caring, and wonderful. Yes, this was a woman he wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life with. He thought. He smiled when he realized she was cuddling closer to him. He held her tight to him and fell back to sleep feeling content.

Natsuhi woke to find herself wrapped in a safe warm cocoon. She looked up to find that she was wrapped in Kiba's strong body. A girl could get use to this. She pulled away and did her morning business. She went into the kitchen began making breakfast after she let Akamaru out into the small backyard.

The smell of food woke Kiba's stomach. He dragged himself to the restroom. He peeked into Hotaru's room to find that she was waking up as well. He helped her to do all the morning things like brush her teeth.

After she was done, Kiba carried the excited girl on his shoulders as he followed the wonderful smell into the kitchen where Akamaru was eating and Natsuhi was setting up the table (which was already covered with steaming food).

"Morning you two. Did you have a good night?" She smiled.

"Yes" Kiba and Hotaru said although Kiba had other reasons entirely.

"That's good. Kiba put her down and let's eat." Natsuhi told him.

"Ok."

Hotaru found that her first home cook meal was as delicious as she thought. Once again she couldn't believe how lucky she was to have such wonderful people in her life taking care of her.

"After breakfast, I am going to start your training ok?" Natsuhi said.

"Will it be hard?" she asked.

"All training is tough but if they weren't it wouldn't be training." Kiba told her ruffling her hair affectionately.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine." Natsuhi reassured her. "You need to learn to control your powers."

They went to training field seven. Natsuhi sat down on the grass and beckoned Hotaru to sit with her.

"All right I'm going to explain a few things to you." Natsuhi told the little girl who nodded. "Inside of all of us is something called chakra. It's the source of all ninja techniques and it travels through a system that flows through the entire body called the chakra systems. Through training you can control it and utilized it wisely. Follow me so far?"

"Yes." Hotaru nodded. "I have chakra and it flows through the chakra systems."

"Not quite." Kiba told her. "I have a chakra system. You are like Natsuhi. You two don't have a chakra systems. It's your Kekkei Genkai."

"Kek-what Gen-what?"

"Kekkei Genkai or bloodline limit. It's traits that are passed down from a parent to a child." Natsuhi said. "Whether or not your mother did live to tell you who your father is, your father was a member of the Ayame Clan. My clan."

"What do you mean?" Hotaru asked.

"Have you ever wondered why my eyes are the same as yours? Or why your eyes turn red?" Natsuhi asked. Hotaru nodded. "It is because you inherited them from your father. The Ayame clan is famous for our purple eyes that turn red when we use our Ket Tan, which is our bloodline limit."

"Ket Tan?"

"Let's back up a little bit." Natsuhi told her. "Ok. You have chakra that doesn't flow in a chakra system. It is loosely called wild chakra. In other words we, you and me, are essentially a large vat of chakra that flow in whichever direction it wants. This is why you need to train to control it. If you don't, it will go rampant. This wild chakra is called Ket Tan. Ket Tan is our bloodline limit. With me?"

"I have Ket tan which wild chakra that doesn't follow in a chakra system. It just goes which ever direction it wants. This is the bloodline limit of the Ayame Clan which I got from my father." Hotaru repeated.

"Basically." Kiba told her.

"Yes. Whoever your parents are, it is without a doubt your father is an Ayame because Ayame women don't die in childbirth. Thus you are Ayame Hotaru." Natsuhi told her.

"Ok. So what is the Ayame clan?" Hotaru asked.

"The Ayame clan is one of the eight founding clans of this village. We are a relatively small clan but we're very powerful and we're the most mysterious." Natsuhi told her. "The other seven clans also have their own Kekkei Genkai. Kiba is from one of them."

"Really?" Hotaru asked.

"Yes. The eight clans are Aburame, Ayame, Akimichi, Hyuuga, Inuzuka, Nara, Uchiha, and Yamanaka. Each clan has their own Kekkei Genkai. I'm from the Inuzuka clan. Every one in our family has a canine partner. Mine is Akamaru. That's our Kekkei Genkai." Kiba inform the girl.

"So does every Ayame have a voice?" Hotaru asked.

"No dear. That is what makes you special." Natsuhi told her. "That voice is another set of chakra that only you and a few others have. You are called a jinchuuriki. You can only use that set of chakra only when your first set of chakra runs out."

"So Naruto is a jinchuuriki?" Hotaru asked yet another question.

"Yes. Listen, Hotaru. There are many people, bad mean people who want that set of chakra that you have. You must always be careful. Never tell others about it or harm could come to you." Kiba told her and pulled her into his lap. "Understand Hotaru? Don't tell people about it."

She nodded. "I won't tell."

"When you can't talk to me or Natsuhi, you can always turn to Naruto. He will never turn you away. As is, neither of us can help you in that area as well as him. He is like you in that aspect. But that doesn't mean, we can't help you at all. We'll always try our best to help you." Kiba continued.

Hotaru nodded and hugged the man hard. "Thank you."

"We're only trying to look out for you. All right?" Natsuhi asked. The little girl nodded. "Good let's start with lesson number one."

Hotaru nodded and sat on the grass in front of Natsuhi. "Ok, I'm ready!"

"All right, one of the very basic ways to control your Ket Tan is to understand it." Natsuhi told her. "Close your eyes and dig deep down until you find a large ball of purple chakra."

Hotaru dived inside herself and found the large ball of purple chakra. "When you find it, go with it and try to understand it. Tune everything out and concentrate on it. That is your Ket Tan."

Hotaru flowed with it as it embraced it. It was very gentle waves but she knew it could be very fierce if she calls on it to be. She really understood what Natsuhi was trying to tell her. Control comes from understanding. She submerged into it deeper. She knew to control it is to work with it. This would be her greatest weapon if she could perfect it.

She opened her eyes to see Natsuhi looking at her. "My Ket Tan, it's gentle and fierce."

Natsuhi nodded. "Yes. As you continue to train, you will understand it more. Now, you have to build up your physical strengths to sustain using your Ket Tan. If you don't have the physical strength and mental ability for it, your Ket Tan will never be strong."

"How?" Hotaru asked.

"Kiba will help you there." Natsuhi smiled. "I'll go prepare lunch. I'll see you then." She walked home.

"Looks like it's just you and me squirt," Kiba said standing next to Hotaru and ruffled her hair.

"Ok, I'm ready."

"all right squirt. I want you to wear these around your ankles and wrist. They're weights. We'll start small. Each of these is two pounds each so total you are wearing eight pounds. Eventually you'll get to over a hundred pounds." Kiba told her.

Hotaru blanched. "OVER A HUNDRED POUNDS?"

"Yes…don't worry it won't be for awhile yet." Kiba smiled down at her. "Now I feel like a little run. Come on, I'll go slow."

Hotaru soon realized what "little" meant. It meant a FULL lap around Konoha TWICE. She almost twitched when Kiba told her he felt like a few push up. By the time they finish with their HUNDRED push ups, she was ready to kill Kiba.

He saw her expression and laugh. "How about a little break?"

"Please!"

"Tell me, Hotaru, what do you want to do when you grow older?" He asked her.

"I want to be a strong girl like Natsuhi. I want to be beautiful but I also want to be a powerful ninja." Hotaru pointed to the mountain where all the past and present Hokages' faces were carved. "I want to be up there so no one will ignore me!"

"A worthy dream but you'll need to be able to survive training to get there. Being a ninja is hard but being a kunoichi is even harder. You'll have to work twice as hard." Kiba told her. "You'll make an excellent kunoichi."

"Really?" her eyes were shining with hope.

"Yes with hard work, determination, and a little help here and there, we'll turn into a pretty darn good kunoichi." Kiba told her. "Now, let's get back to training. Let's go for a little jog before we go to lunch."

Hotaru groaned but went anyways.

A month went by and Konoha weather was turning colder as they approach winter. The holidays were fast approaching and Hotaru was excited. It was her first Christmas in Konoha (one without the cold snow which she doesn't miss at all). By now, Hotaru carries ten pound weights around her wrist and ankles. She has master most of the basics like transformation and shadow clone jutsu. She also is getting the hang of using most basic weapons like kunai and shurikens.

Even at her early age, she has demonstrated excellent control of her Ket Tan. Her chakra control was unbelievable for someone her age. Natsuhi and Kiba quickly realized that Hotaru was definitely an heir to the Ayame's Kekkei Genkai. Natsuhi grew worried about it. Besides from Hikari the only other true heir to the Ket Tan was a rouge ninja, Hikari's older brother, Masaru. Even then, Hotaru's mastery of her Ket Tan was great and if she really tried at it she could even surpass Hikari. She was quickly approaching a mastery of most of the basics. She was also quickly mastering the ability to release huge amount of chakra (her punches and kicks were well on their way to give Tsunade a run for her money).

Training her had also brought Kiba and Natsuhi closer together (which also led intensified attraction to the other). They had come to a silent understanding that they were happy with the way things were. Their feelings were mutual and they decided when everything settles down, they would think about it then. It quickly became a common site to see them together with Hotaru swinging between them. The three went everywhere together. The Hokage was careful to only send one of the two away because Hotaru was still too young to be left alone not with the threat that someone is after her. Carefully kept from them, was a betting pool on when the two would get together.

It had gotten to a point that most villagers and ninja thought that Hotaru was their child (which resulted in a stammering Natsuhi and a red Kiba to try to explain other wise).

"Katon! Dai Endan!" Hotaru formed the hand signs and pull the tiger seal and took a deep breath. She exhaled a small fireball. She looked disappointed into her small fireball. Kiba rest a hand on her small shoulder. She looked up to his smiling face.

"Don't worry. It's a hard ninjutsu. It takes time and practice. Come on. It's getting late. Natsuhi would kill me if we're late for dinner." Kiba told him.

"Ok. I will get it right." Hotaru said. "Up please?"

He chuckled and swung her up on to his shoulders. "You know you're going to be five in another month. Don't you think you're getting too old for this?"

"Never!" she told him. "Besides, I'm small for my age."

He laughed. "Well you are a runt but I love you all the same." Hotaru giggled and hugged his face. "I love you too!"

In the past month, Kiba and Natsuhi has fallen in love with the little girl and openly showered with all of their love. She gladly accepted it and returned it with all the love she could.

"Let's get home before Natsuhi kills me for being late. Then we'll go enjoy the festival."

"OK!"

Kiba knew they were late when he saw Natsuhi standing in the front door waiting for them. He knew he was in trouble. He did try. If looks could kill he would be six feet under already. Natsuhi plucked Hotaru off Kiba's shoulder and glared at him one last time before going into the kitchen. He sighed and closed the door before following her.

"Hotaru, eat quickly if you want to go to the festival." She said. "When you're done, come into my room. I've got your new kimono laid out for you. It's got lilies on it."

Hotaru shoved her food as quickly as she could. She loved lilies and new clothes. She never had the luxury of new clothes and she sure wasn't turning it down. "Hotaru, slow down, it's not going anywhere. Chew!" Kiba told her.

She glared at him and finished her food. She rushed out to get fitted into her new clothes. Kiba chuckled and ate.

It took him ten or so minutes to get into his kimono (a simple dark maroon one with a white one under it). So he sat in the living room with Akamaru grooming the large dog while he waited. Hotaru bounced out in her lilac color kimono with bright color lilies of different colors. Her hair was pulled into two pigtails with lilac ribbons. She pounced on Kiba. "What do you think?" she asked.

"You look very pretty." He told her and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. He lifted his head to see a very elegantly dressed Natsuhi come out. He gasped. She took his breath away. Natsuhi had piled all of her curls on the top of her head in an elegant yet messy up do and had applied a little makeup to her face. She wore a cream white kimono with bright flowers of different shades of red, orange, and yellow.

"Wow, Natsuhi…you look beautiful." Kiba complimented her. He kissed her on her cheek (looking please with himself).

She blushed and smiled, "You look handsome too. Now come on!"

Together the four (counting Akamaru), they walked down to the festival. Hotaru had one hand in Natsuhi's and the other in Kiba's as they walked. "Let's go to Dango. I think it's been awhile since we last had some sweets." Kiba said.

Hotaru nodded enthusiastically. She like Kiba had a very sweet tooth.

Before they could a voice called, "NATSUHI!"

Natsuhi turned to see Hikari and Hitomi rushing to her. Natsuhi rushed over to them and hugged them closed to her.

"I've missed you SO MUCH!!" she told them when they let go.

"We've missed you too." Hitomi said but Hikari notices Hotaru holding Kiba's hand as they patiently (well the little girl wasn't so patient) wait for Natsuhi.

She turned an accusing eye, "Natsuhi have you been naughty?"

Hitomi and Natsuhi looked at her confused. She pointed to Hotaru. Natsuhi and Kiba colored bright red. Hitomi gasped at the little girl before turning mischievous. "Natsuhi…do you have something to tell us?"

"Like you and Kiba got together and produced this adorably cute little girl?" Hikari asked.

Natsuhi still bright red stammered, "No…no…it's not –"

"Don't be shy!" Hikari and Hitomi said.

"Girls…" Natsuhi protested but the other two burst into fits of giggles.

"How about we explain it over Dango's sweets?" Kiba mustered.

"It's your treat!" Hitomi said and dragged them all to the sweet shop.

They sat down. Hitomi and Hikari sat on one side and Kiba, Hotaru, and Natsuhi sat on the other side with Hotaru sitting between them.

Hotaru looked as fascinated with the two girls as they were with her and openly stared at them. Hitomi ordered as Hikari asked, "Ok explain."

"Well when we got to the village, we found her. She's turning five next month on the 24th. It turns out she is a jinchuuriki and her Ket Tan had already activated. So to take her here, Kiba and I adopted her. Since the compound was damaged because the twins were restless, we've been living in Sakura's townhouse with Hotaru, that's her name, so we could train her. Not to mention as her guardians she has to live with us." Natsuhi explained.

"Kiba, who are they?" Hotaru asked tugging on Kiba's sleeve.

"They're Natsuhi's teammates and your fellow clan members." Kiba said. "The one with the pony tail is Hitomi and the other is Hikari. Hikari, Hitomi, please meet your youngest clan member, Hotaru."

"Hi." She said almost shyly. They smiled down at her.

"So if I remember Sakura's townhouse correctly, there are only two bedrooms. Do you share with Akamaru in the living room or do you share with Natsuhi in the master bedroom?" Hikari asked mischievously.

Natsuhi and Kiba went redder than Kiba's robes. Hotaru confused asked, "Of course they share the room where else would Kiba sleep? The living room is too small for both him and Akamaru."

Natsuhi groaned as her two teammates grew mischievous wide smiles. Hitomi snickered. "Here we were worrying over Natsuhi's fear of all things canine but looks like she got over it…well over it!"

"I know…Natsuhi, we are invited to the wedding aren't we?" Hikari asked.

"Whose wedding?" Hotaru asked as Natsuhi and Kiba were tongue tied and red.

"Don't you know? Natsuhi and Kiba!" Hitomi said. "You're probably the flower girl!"

"Really?" Hotaru turned to asked Natsuhi and Kiba. "Do I get to be the flower girl"

"Welcome back!" Naruto said walking into the shop. Hinata and most of the shinobis their age stood behind them in various kimonos.

"Thanks Naruto." Hikari said as they sat down. "We're going to get barbeque but we heard your voice. So we thought we join."

"That's cool." Hitomi said. "Boy there's no place like Konoha."

"That's true." Sasuke told them. "If you guys are done, you guys want to come with us to get barbeque." He looked meaningfully. Kiba and Natsuhi exchange a look before looking down at the little girl who looked confused.

"We're done here. So we might as well head out." Hitomi said. They all got up and walked together.