So for some reason it doesn't show that I updated my story, which I don't understand, hopefully it doesn't do it with this chapter.

This chapter Hotaru does not do much. It won't be until the next chapter that she lets loose, and gets her time to shine! So in all honesty this chapter might be a bit boring. Sorry about that heh heh...

Also Hotaru has been posted to my DeviantArt, and I also made her the cover photo of this story, so everyone can now see what she looks like! There are also two more pieces I am waiting for of her. One of them should be done some time next week, so I'll let you all know then (: My DeviantArt is Slytherin429 if you would like to check her out there!

And last but not least, thank you to Dekuton for reviewing! You get a unicorn! :D And to everyone who has favorited and followed I love you all!

Time seemed to go slowly as the Zabuza clone swung his sword down on Sasuke. But Sasuke easily cut each clone that surrounded us in half, making them turn to water.

"Oh, so you could see that they were water clones, huh? The brat's improving. Looks like you got a rival, Haku." Zabuza said, slowly walking into our view with Haku.

"So it seems."

I tightend my hold on my spear.

"Well, well. You were right Hotaru. It was all an act. With the cute little mask." Kakashi sensei taunted

Sasuke scoffed. "Big phony."

"So I guess all that about being a tracker ninja, protecting his village was all just a bunch of bull." Tazuna practically spat.

"They look pretty chummy to me. I'd say they've been pulling scams like that for a long time."

"That's it. I'm talking them out." Sasuke suddenly said, staring Haku down. "Who does he think he's fooling? Hiding behind that mask like some sort of clown."

I walked next to Sasuke and put my hand on his shoulder. "Whatever you do, don't take him lightly. We don't know his full power." I whispered the warning. He glanced at me, and nodded.

I could vaguely hear Zabuza and Haku speaking to one another. I gasped when Haku suddenly started spinning around, making himself into a small tornado. He was going straight for Sasuke. I stepped back, to be by Tazuna again. This was Sasuke's fight right now.

Sasuke easily deflected Haku's attack with a kunai.

"Hotaru, don't leave Tazuna's side, and stay close to me." Kakashi sensei instructed. I just nodded my head.

Sasuke and Haku continued to fight. Water suddenly lifted into the air, and then turned into needles. My eyes widened. It must have been one of Haku's attacks. They started to close in on Sasuke. I felt my heart drop when they actually hit him. Haku slid back, and I sighed in relief when Sasuke wasn't there, but in the air. He started throwing shuriken at him, but Haku dodged each one.

Sasuke suddenly appeared behind him. "You're not as fast as you think. From this point on, you'll be the one defending against my attacks." He said a bit smugly.

They started to fight again. I knew Haku was very strong, but so was Sasuke. I had faith in him, but that didn't make me any less scared for him. But it seemed at this point, he had the upper hand.

"Thought you were quicker huh? Now what else are you wrong about?"

"You made a big mistake insulting these ninja, and calling them brats. That's just guaranteed to bring out their attitudes. Sasuke is the best young fighter of the Hidden Leaf Village. And Hotaru here is our most stubborn one, you don't even want to get her started. And last but not least, our number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja is Naruto Uzumaki." Kakashi sensei pretty much bragged. I grinned.

Zabuza started to laugh. "Haku, if we keep going like this, we'll be the victims instead of them. Get on with it."

"Right." Haku said, getting up. Chakra started to surround him.

"What's that?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm sorry it has come to this." Haku apologized.

"The air is so cold now." I whispered, pulling my jacket tighter around myself.

I watched as Haku made a hand sign. Ice suddenly started to surround Sasuke. it then turned into mirrors.

"What is that? How does it work?" Kakashi sensei said in a bit of awe.

"Sensei nows not the time to be fawning over a jutsu that Sasuke is in." I snapped. He ignored me though, as we watched Haku literally absorb himself into one of the mirrors.

Kakashi sensei growled and ran to the mirrors. Zabuza cut him off though.

"If you enter this fight, you fight me. Your boy has no chance against that jutsu. He's finished." My eyes widened. I wanted to help Sasuke so badly, but not only was I guarding Tazuna, but I was hurt as well. I would just slow him down. I really wished Naruto was here.

I suddenly heard Sasuke's gasps of pain. The fight has started again. "Sasuke!" Sensei and I yelled. Wasn't there something I could do? Anything? His kunai landed in front of me. I looked down at it. I could still hear his gasps of pain. What do I do?

"Just try to help him, and I'll kill the other two in a heartbeat." Zabuza threatened. I growled.

I couldn't get Haku with my chakra thread, because he was still in the ice. Even when he was out, he was still too fast for me. I couldn't touch him. I looked back down at the kunai.

"Tazuna."

"Yes?"

"I have to leave you for a moment. I am sorry."

"I understand."

I yanked the kunai out of the ground, and ran towards the ice mirrors where Sasuke was.

"Hotaru!" Kakashi sensei yelled. I ignored him, and threw the kunai towards the mirrors. Haku caught it, just like I wanted him to, and the attack on Sasuke stopped. Now that a part of him was out, I could connect my thread. I quickly grabbed onto him. Before I was able to pull on him a kunai came out of nowhere and hit him. Making him fall out himself. It must have been Naruto, thank god. I let Haku go, and he sat up. Hopefully Naruto can stay hidden. They won't know it's him, that could possibly help us.

Naruto suddenly appeared in a big explosion. I inwardly groaned. Or not.

"Number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja." Haku said, now standing up.

The dust cleared, showing Naruto. "Naruto Uzumaki is here. Yeah, believe it! Now that I'm here everything will be alright. You know how in stories, the hero usually shows up at the last minute and then kicks butt? Well, that's what I'm gonna do right now! Believe it!" Naruto yelled.

I sighed. If he would have stayed hidden, he could of helped us better. Now they know he's here.

"Naruto you're an idiot." I said, shaking my head. He deflated at my comment. It didn't last long though.

"All right. You're history! Shadow clone jutsu!" He yelled. But before he could finish it Zabuza threw shuriken at him. I gasped.

"No! Naruto move!" Kakashi sensei yelled.

Naruto didn't move though. I went to attach chakra thread to him, ready to move him myself, but before I had the chance a few senbon needles that Haku uses deflected Zabuza's attack, saving Naruto. I stopped what I was doing. He saved him?

"This is a battle not a talent show, don't let your opponent see you jutsu! The shinobi's art is deception. Always keep the enemy guessing. Even when executing a single jutsu. One must distract their opponents attention, catch them off balance and outmanuver them. You just turned yourself into a human target, when you enter a battle like that." Kakashi sensei lectured him big time. He was right though. He was very lucky this time, but next time he might be be.

Naruto started freaking out. "I'm sorry! I was just trying to rescue everybody!" He yelled. I sighed. You honestly just couldn't be upset with him for very long.

"But there's another mystery here." Sensei said, looking at Haku. Everyone turned their attention to him. That's right, he just saved Naruto, even though he is the enemy, and his partner tried to take him out, but he stopped his attack.

"Haku, what are you doing?" Zabuza asked.

"Zabuza, this boy. Let me fight him my own way. Please." And there it is.

"Bring it on." Naruto growled.

"Naruto shut up!" I growled. I swear I could strangle him.

"Hm, so you want me to leave this to you. Is that it Haku? As usual, you're too soft." Well ouch.

Haku put his head down. "Forgive me."

"I'm warning you, one way or another, I'm going to rip off that mask, and take you apart!" Naruto yelled, pointing at Haku.

"Don't even think about it." Zabuza warned, stepping in front of Kakashi sensei. "You know the score Kakashi. If you go after Haku, I go after the bridge builder."

I could tell that sensei was really conflicted. I knew that if I wasn't as hurt as I was, I could maybe have a small chance fighting Zabuza if I tried hard enough. But I was hurt right now, so sensei didn't want to leave me defenceless if he helped Sasuke and Naruto.

"Relax Kakashi. Sit back and enjoy the show. Let's see how they do. One on one."

"That mask and your bogus story. You were with Zabuza all along! You think you can get away with a stunt like that?" Naruto yelled. Oh Naruto shut up.

"I'm sorry." Haku said, Actually sounding a bit ashamed. "But as your sensei said, deceiving your opponent, catching them off guard. That is the art of the shinobi. Please don't take it personally.

Before Naruto could say anything back, Sasuke threw a kunai at Haku, which Haku easily dodged.

"I haven't forgotten about you. Not for an instant." Haku looked over to Sasuke. "Some warriors accept defeat gracefully. They know when they are beaten. Others do not. So be it. Let us finish our battle then. To the death!" Haku said, yelling the last part, and walking back towards Sasuke. My breath hitched in my throat.

"Wha..Hey, where are you going?" Naruto yelled.

"It's alright Naruto. We'll have our fight next." Haku said, walking into one of his ice mirrors.

It was quiet for a moment before Sasuke started to gasp, and groan in pain, as Haku attacked him with his senbon again. I could feel my eyes start to water. If I could just.

"Hotaru, no." I froze halfway to Sasuke. "Your job is to protect the bridge builder. Sasuke will be fine." I could feel my blood start to boil. I knew he was lying. He didn't want me to interfere because I was too weak. I couldn't do anything but get hurt. I could now feel the hot tears on my face.

"Sasuke, Naruto think! You need to attack from the outside, and the inside at the same time!"

Since I was so busy wallowing in self pity I never saw Naruto sneaking into the mirrors where Sasuke was until it was too late.

"Naruto?"

Sensei groaned. "Naruto, you sneak up on your enemy, not your ally."

I seriously felt like slamming my head into the ground repeatedly. Not only did I have to worry about Sasuke, but now I had to worry about Naruto too.

"You are a complete loser! You're a shinobi, think carefully before you move!" Sasuke yelled.

"What the heck's your problem? You should thank me for coming in here to help you!" Naruto yelled back.

"Naruto, if we're both inside here... Ugh! Forget it! I've had it with your mistakes!"

"And I've had it with your attitude! You're worse than Hotaru!"

I gasped. "Hey! Take that back!" I yelled.

They ignored me though. "That's it, I'm going to destroy these mirrors right now!" Sasuke yelled. "Fireball jutsu!" Sasuke blew fire at the ice, hoping to melt it. But it didn't work.

"That didn't do anything at all!" Naruto yelled.

Both Naruto and Sasuke screamed this time as they were pelted with senbon. I clenched my fist. Damn it! There had to be something I could do. Yet again I could think of nothing.

I heard Naruto yelling, as he made shadow clones. But they just did not help. Haku quickly popped them.

"These mirrors only reflect my image, allowing me to transport myself at light speed. Through my eyes, you appear to be moving in slow motion."

Kakashi sensei gasped. "I knew it. It's a bloodline trait. Kekkei Genkai."

Zabuza started to laugh.

"Kekkei Genkai. That's like the Sharingan, right sensei?" I asked, trying to ignore Zabuza's creepy laugh.

"Yes. You can't learn it. It has to be in your blood. In your genetic code, passed down from generation to generation within a single clan."

"Meaning you can't even copy that jutsu?" I asked.

"That is correct. It's impossible." I frowned.

"I couldn't break through. So what? He's not going to stop me. I'm not giving up, and I'm not going to lose here. Because I have a dream, and no one's going to take it away from me. Some day, I'll be respected in my village. That's my dream. To be the greatest Hokage!" Naruto yelled. I smiled softly. They will be okay. He will be okay.

"It was not my desire to be a shinobi." Haku said quietly. I had to strain my ears to hear him. "It's painful. I don't want to kill you. But if you advance, I will have no choice. Then I will kill the kindness in my own heart and fully embrace the shinobi way. And there will be no mercy. No turning back. This bridge will be the battlefield where our dreams collide. Now I must fight for my dream just as you fight for yours. Please do not blame me. I fight for someone who is precious to me. I live for him, and face death for him. So that his dream may become reality. That is my dream. And for the sake of that. If I must, I will act as a shinobi and take your lives."

I felt bad for Haku, I truly did. I knew he was a kind person. But Naruto and Sasuke are my teammates. My best friends, so if he does actually really hurt one of them I would kill him without thinking twice.

"Your village has become complacent. Your trainees never learn the most important lesson of them all, to kill the feelings in their own hearts. To crush an opponent mercilessly. To destroy with no emotion or regret." I glared at him. As much as I hated to admit it. He was right. Though like I said if Haku hurts either Naruto or Sasuke, I will crush him. No matter if I died in the process, I would do everything I could to take him out with me.

I looked over at sensei to see that he was lifting up his headband.

Zabuza laughed. "Sharingan. You're no fun Kakashi, using the same old trick." Zabuza took a kunai out, and ran towards Kakashi sensei. Sensei didn't move though, so Zabuza stabed him in the eye, where his sharingan was. I flinched, it had to either be a clone or a substitution jutsu. I knew there was no way he would just let Zabuza get him like that.

"If it's just an old trick, why did you stop me?"

Zabuza laughed. "Let your opponent see your jutsu too many times, and he'll find a way to use it against you."

"Then count yourself lucky. You're the only man alive who's seen my sharingan twice. Show's over. There won't be a third time."

"Even if you did defeat me, you'd have no chance against Haku. When I found him, he was just a street kid. But I trained him in the most advanced ninja techniques. I taught him everything I know. Plus, he had special abilities that he refined on his own. The boy developed quickly. Soon he could face the most powerful enemy, out numbered, in total darkness. It didn't matter. He could strike with perfect accuracy. He cared nothing for his own life or the lives of others. He'd become a unique fighting machine, a shinobi. In the end, his power surpassed even mine. His bloodline trait, Kekkei Genkai, can not be defeated by anyone. I've created a tool that can destroy anything that stands in my way. Unlike the useless punks who follow you around."

I tried ignoring what Zabuza said, as I heard Naruto try to use shadow clones again. And again Haku popped them all. But he just did it again. Only for it to fail yet again.

"You think those genin punks together can beat Haku? He's the ultimate, a battle tool of destruction."

"Is that really all he is to you?" I asked quietly.

"Hm?"

"He is fighting for you, willing to die for you, and you just call him a tool?" I finally yelled.

Zabuza just laughed. "Listen brat, it's what he wants. Who am I to stand in the way of that, hm?"

I growled, and went at him, but Kakashi sensei stopped me. "That is enough Hotaru."

"You should listen to your sensei girl. Because I won't hesitate to kill you. Did I not beat enough sense into you the last time?"

I clenched my fists. It took everything in me, not to be stupid and charge at him. Yes I was willing to kill Haku, but that didn't mean he deserved to be treated like that. No one did.

"Are you done bragging yet? You're starting to put me to sleep. Lets finish this, now." He said, lifting up his headband. Damn sensei.

"Fine. But there's one more thing you should know. A little more bragging, as you say."

"Hm?"

"Did you really think our last battle was just win or lose? That I took your attacks like some rank genin? Haku was there, hiding. Watching every move you made. Studying your sharingan. Haku can see a jutsu once and immediately devise a leathel counter attack. It's one of his gifts. I've been waiting to see the look on your face when you realize your sharingan has become worthless. You once said, the same jutsu won't work on me twice. Well, now I'm telling you that."

"Huh?"

"Ninja art. Hidden mist jutsu."

I stiffened. Mist started to surround us, and Zabuza disappered. The mist just getting thicker.

"Sensei."

"Hotaru, stay with Tazuna."

"Yes sensei." I got closer to Tazuna and looked around. "Don't you leave my side. He could be anywhere."

"Alright, I'll stay right behind you."

I really hoped Sasuke and Naruto would be okay. i looked around again when I heard metal clattering together. I could barely see the outline of Kakashi sensei. I gasped when it looked like he was being throw back by some force. I still couldn't see Zabuza. I had no idea what was going on.

After what felt like a lifetime I started to get a really bad feeling. So I turned around. Zabuza was right behind us! My heart started to beat faster. This was it. My make it or break it. The chance I had to prove that I wasn't weak, or useless. Zabuza ran at me, and I ran at him, both of us had our weapons up.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion as I saw Kakashi sensei appear. But it was too late. I swung my spear at Zabuza, and he swung a kunai at me. He was faster than me though. I never even felt it as he cut right below my collar bone. At this point Kakashi sensei stepped in. He moved Zabuza away from me. I looked down to see that my once green shirt was beginning to be soaked in blood. My blood. My eyes widened. He cut me.

I started to feel dizzy. Seeing my blood gave me flashbacks to that man I had killed. All the blood. It was everywhere. I could feel myself start to panic

"Kid. Hey kid!" Was that Tazuna? I turned towards the voice. It was. He looked worried.

I needed to protect him. This wasn't over. I had to get ahold of myself. I just told myself I wasn't going ot be weak, and here I was freaking out over what was probably a small wound. Everything started to become clear again, as I tried to pull myself together. I looked down at it, it was a bit deep, and blood was still coming out of it. I ripped the bottom corner of my shirt, and applied some pressure to it. This wasn't going to stop me. Not by a long shot.