Hotora and Hinata hastily changed into their swimsuits. As they dashed to the pool, Hotora ran into Ino. "What do you think you are doing, baka?" Ino questioned rudely.

"Why don't you leave us alone?" Hinata asked crossly.

"I wasn't talking to you," Ino snapped.

"I've got some interesting news for you Ino. You are out of NIN."

Ino was taken aback. "I am the only girl that can sing."

"Not anymore," Hinata affirmed gesturing toward in the direction of Hotora.

"Did you inform Sasuke of this injustice?"

"Oh yeah, it was his choice. By the way, he would never help you."

Ino looked as though she was going to collapse. She glowered at Hotora as if it were her fault, and then sprinted away. "Was that really necessary?" Hotora asked Hinata.

"You have no idea how long she has tormented me," Hinata answered.

"Oh," was Hotora's only reaction.

They walked the rest of the way to the pool. The bell sounded just as the opened the door. "Sasuke and Hinata start Hotora on those swimming lessons," Inuyasha insisted.

"Okay," they said together.

Sasuke walked to the shallow end, and got into the water along with Hinata and Hotora. "Do you know any ways of swimming?" Sasuke asked.

"None, but I think it would be easier if you just swam and I mimic you," Hotora responded.

"What do you mean, Hotora?" Hinata asked questioningly.

Hotora beamed and said, "When I was younger, I uncovered the capability of doing things after I see them done by another just once."

"So you will be able to swim without any real problems, right?"
"Yep," Hotora replied.

"Okay watch me," Sasuke said, feeling like a child while doing so.

"Okay," Hotora replied as she watched Sasuke started to swim.

-----

The bell rang and they walked to their final class of the day. "I am certainly glad you learn be seeing, and quickly too," Sasuke stated with a chuckle.

"Yeah, it sure would have taken a while otherwise," Hinata interjected.

They promptly entered the classroom and took their seats. The sat down just as the bell rang. Yami stood up, and said, "The office wishes to know who in this class is going to be in the talent show. Raise you hand if you are going to, but those in a band don't because we already have you down."

Hotora looked at Sasuke. "Yami, Hotora is taking Ino's place in NIN," Sasuke informed him.

"Okay, I will inform the office."

Yami took down the students names with their hands raised. Then the students got to work.

-----

Sasuke accompanied the girls to Hotora's house. When they walked into the house, they smelt a delicious aroma. "Nobody is supposed to be here, right," Hinata asked.

They all walked into the kitchen and were greeted peculiar sight. Kakashi was standing at the stove cooking something. "Why exactly are you here?" Hotora inquired kindly

"Your brother asked me to cook you dinner, and I have information for you," Kakashi responded as he stirred the food.

"So you have talked to Gaara?" Hinata asked optimistically.

"Yes I did, and he apologizes for having to leave so soon. He also helped us out by sending us as much information on the assassination a possible."

"So what is being done about it?" Sasuke questioned.

"They are sending you genin on an A rank mission to try and stop the attempt. You will be briefed on the situation after you eat."

"I thought the jonin were going to do it," Hotora stated.

"We are, but Gaara informed us that Sunagakure no Sato is sending genin to throw us off. Therefore the Hokage has decided to send genin against their first wave, and the chunin and jonin against their main force."

"Well that does make sense," Hinata said as she help Kakashi serve the food.

"They will never expect a counter attack to their second wave," Sasuke suspected thoughtfully.

"Exactly," Kakashi said and they sat down at the table to eat. "All of the jonin who are on missions have been called back to protect the village."

"When will the attack be?" Sasuke questioned as he dished out the food.

"Tonight," came Kakashi's reply.

Hinata's eyes widened. "That soon?"

"Yes Hinata-chan," Kakashi responded.

-----

The genin of Konohagakure no Sato stood in front of the Hokage. "The attack will be coming very soon, so we must speak quickly," the Hokage stated.

"First off the sand genin will attack from the north, while the sand jonin will attack from the south. You genin will have to hold your own against these ruthless attackers."

The Hokage looked solemn as he continued. "Some of you may loose your lives today, but know that you shall not die in vain. You will be remembered for years to come. For you are not even chunin yet. In a normal situation, we would never ask this of you. Go now shinobi, and make this village proud."

The shinobi stood at attention, and stated in unison, "Yes Hokage-sama."

-----

The genin were at their post. Hinata was shaking, so Hotora asked her, "Are you okay?"

"What if something happens to us, or...or Gaara?" Hinata asked in a shaky voice.

"We are shinobi, that is the risk we take," Sasuke stated.

Hotora shook her head in agreement. "Do you guys truly believe that?"

"Yes I do," Hotora replied. "If the enemy was advancing, and no one was willing to sacrifice themselves to save those who cannot fight, then the village would be lost. Don't dwell on what might happen, just do it without fear."

"Okay Hotora, I will try," Hinata muttered just loud enough for the two to hear her.

"Sand shinobi are approaching," one of the other shinobi announced.

As the sand shinobi descended, Hotora, Sasuke and Hinata got separated. Hinata did a hand seal, and said, "Byakugan."

At that moment, Hinata knew that many would fall. She saw that the sand genin were much stronger, but she was going to do as she had told Hotora. She was going to try her best to over come, and out wit the enemy no matter how strong they are.

-----

Hotora had stood her ground the best she could, but the sand genin were starting to over power her. She was also rapidly running out of chakra. Amidst the battle, she ran into Shikamaru and Choji. "How are you guys holding up?" Hotora asked as she stabbed a guy in the throat with a kunai.

Hotora ended up getting covered by the splattering blood. "Seeing as Shikamaru is a great strategist, we are holding up just fine," Choji replied as he killed the guy that Shikamaru's shadow was connected to.

"Can you figure in another person Shikamaru?" Hotora implored.

"Of course, the more the merrier," Shikamaru riposted.

-----

In the midst of battle, Sasuke saw a familiar redhead. Sasuke made his way over to Gaara. When Sasuke reached Gaara, he said, "So you are fighting your own people?"

"Hn," was Gaara's only reply.

Two guys descended on Sasuke. Sasuke killed the one in front of him, but he didn't notice the one attacking from behind. Just as the guy went to attack, sand flew up, and encased the guy. As Gaara closed his hand, the sand around the shinobi tightened. Gaara increased the pressure, and the sand imploded. "Thanks Gaara," Sasuke said as she wiped some of the blood off his face.

"I really don't care if you live or die, but my sister would cry if you did," Gaara replied a little coldly.

-----

The battle seemed as though it went on for hours. The leaf genin were holding their own against the vicious sand genin. As Gaara crushed one guy with his sand, another guy stabbed him in his stomach. Blood poured out of the wound, and Gaara fell to the ground. While all that was happening, Hinata was making her way over to the boys. When Gaara collapsed, a look of horror played across her face. "Gaara!" Hinata shrieked as she dashed to his side.

"Gaara are you okay?" Hinata asked hysterically.

"Does it look like I am okay?" Gaara returned.

"Sasuke, can you help Gaara up? We need to get him to a more experienced medic nin."

"Okay," Sasuke said as he put one of Gaara's arms around his should, and lifted him off the ground.

They started to make their way through the battle field. A guy jumped in front of them and asked, "Where do you think you are going little one?"

"Hinata get back!" Gaara ordered. "That's Baki...a jonin."

Hinata stumbled backward. Baki went to strike, but before his sword landed on Hinata, a gust of wind blew Baki away. The small group looked to where the wind had come from and saw a blonde with four ponytails. Hinata new immediately that it was Gaara's sister, Temari.

"Gaara, how the hell did you get hurt?" she asked loud almost angry voice.

"He got stabbed," Hinata replied unsteadily for Gaara.

"I can see that," Temari snapped angrily, and then she calmed down a bit. "What I want to know is how the hell he could get injured."

"That shouldn't have been able to happen," Hotora informed them as she approached the small group. "Choji! Shikamaru! Come here!"

Baki returned after his little flying lesson. "You little bitch!" Baki screamed at Temari. "You have orders, follow them!"

"The only orders I will be taking are from the team leader," Temari said in a snooty tone.

"Then get..." Baki started.

"Not you!" Temari stated angrily. "I only take orders from Gaara. Hotora, would you dispose of this little nuisance?"

Hotora nodded, and then said, "Bye-bye Baki," as Baki burst into flames.

Baki shrieked in misery. "Gaara!" Hinata yelled as Gaara collapsed once more.

Hinata rushed over to him, and checked his pulse. It was faint, but there nonetheless. "He isn't doing so good," Hinata notified them. "We have to get him to the medic nin's post."

Sasuke hauled Gaara off the ground. They made their way through the battle field as swiftly as possible.

-----

When they finally made it to the medic nin's post, Gaara was worsening at a steady pace. A few medic nin rushed out of the tent, and helped Sasuke put Gaara on a table. "Hyuga-chan, what is the situation so far?" a medic nin asked.

"He was stabbed in the stomach," Hinata replied gazing at Gaara. "His pulse is faint, and there is the chance of infection."

The medic nin pulled aside Gaara's shirt, and gasped "Hyuga-chan, I am going to need your assistance!" the medic nin exclaimed.

"It's that bad?" Hinata asked quietly.

The medic nin nodded her head yes. Hinata put her hand over her mouth, and just stood by Gaara's side.

-----

It was two hours later, and the grueling battle was finally over for the weary genin. What was left of the genin roamed the battle field in search of wounded shinobi. Hinata and the medic nin were still taking care of Gaara, and Hotora and her other friends were searching for the jonin.

When they arrived at the south battlefield, they saw only another gruesome battle field. The group's expressions fell. "Come on let's search for our sensei's," Hotora ordered.

As Sasuke searched the battle field, he came across his old teacher collecting wounded. "Iruka, do you know where Kakashi is?" Sasuke asked.

"No," Iruka replied. "I haven't come across any of the genin team senseis. Knowing Kakashi though, he is probably just fine."

Sasuke thought for a second and then said, "Yeah, you're probably right."

Sasuke turned to leave, but Iruka said, "Uchiha Sasuke, will you take grave news to your friends?"

Sasuke turned back around and nodded his head yes. "Inform the other genin that the sand shinobi succeeded in their mission. The third Hokage has been assassinated."

"How?" Sasuke asked. "All the attacks were stopped."

"It seems there was another village assisting them."

"Who?"

"Otogakure no Sato."

"The newly formed sound village?"

"Yes."

-----

Sasuke finally made it back to the group of friends who were waiting for Hinata. When Hinata finally came out of the medic nin tent, Sasuke gathered them together.

"I must be the messenger of ill news," Sasuke stated forlornly. "Many genin, chunin, and jonin have died in vain."

The group looked at Sasuke questionably. "The assassination attempt was a success," as Sasuke said those words, he looked sad. "Hinata-chan, how is Gaara doing?"

"They are going to move him to the hospital, but he is going to be fine," Hinata replied.

"Let's head to the main part of the village and see if we can find our senseis," Sasuke suggested.

"Okay," the group responded.

-----

The group finally found their senseis. Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Gai were sitting outside a shop cleaning their wounds. Hotora jumped on Kakashi and knocked him over. "Well it's nice to see you, too, Hotora," Kakashi stated.

"Gomen, Kakashi-sensei," Hotora said. "When we came across the battle field, we were worried."

"Have you seen Naruto, Kakashi?" Sasuke asked helping Hotora up off the ground.

"He went back out to help with clean up," Kakashi responded. "Why don't you guys go home and get some rest? You guys did great."

"Is my dad okay?" Shikamaru inquired.

"Yes," Asuma confirmed. "He went home. Choji, your dad is at home as well."

The small group of genin headed to their houses. Hotora and Hinata gradually made their way to their home.

-----

"Hotora, are we going to go to the hospital early tomorrow?" Hinata asked before the girls entered their rooms.

"Yes," Hotora replied. "Good night Hinata-chan."

"Good night Hotora."

----------------

Thanks for reading. I hope the battle scenes didn't suck that bad. If you have any suggestions on how I should fix it, please do not hesitate to inform me. I always appreciate good constructive criticism.

Remember, if you want to know anything about the story or me, just ask. I will be glad to answer any questions.