AN: Sorry it's been so long guys... I've been super busy because I moved almost 1,000 miles away transferred to a new school and got a new laptop meaning I also had to transfer all my files over. Sorry that this chapter is shorter than all the rest, but I thought I'd at least put something up for making you guys wait so long.

I woke up early the next morning, mostly out of habit. Kogane was beside me holding my headband in her mouth, and I suddenly remembered Zabuza taking it. I took it and patted Kogane affectionately. I snuck out of the house so that I could take Kogane on her morning walk. Plus it was nice to explore the new territory.

My walk ended abruptly when Naruto came crashing through the forest thinking I must have been kidnapped. When we arrived back at the house I realized why Naruto was so worried, breakfast was already on the table, and it looked like it was getting cold. And it also looked like they were waiting for me before they ate. I apologized quietly and sat down to eat.

After breakfast Kakashi sensei began to wake up. "Um sensei…" I began while sitting down. "What did that boy do with Zabuza?"

I thought I saw his eye widen for a fraction of a second before he answered, "That's a good question. Hunter-nin are supposed to deal with the body right now so there is no room for error."

"But…" Naruto scrunched his face up in thought, "That guy took his body away."

"That's right, but why? He should have worked on his body right away. And think of the weapons he used for the takedown."

"Throwing needles." Sasuke's eyes widened in clarity, "No way."

"Yeah," Kakashi confirmed, "It's just what you're thinking."

"But he can't be, Kogane didn't smell killer intent or anything." I looked at her and she crawled into my lap.

"What are you guys talking about?" Tazuna asked.

"Zabuza is still alive." Tazuna and Naruto recoiled at sensei's words.

"But… we saw the body!" Naruto protested, "You said his heart stopped and everything!"

"His heart did stop, but that was just a temporary state to simulate death." Kakashi sensei explained, "The weapon that ninja used were called senbon, although they pierce deep they rarely kill unless they hit a vital organ."

"Maybe you're just thinking too much." Tazuna suggested.

"No, once a ninja feels that there is something weird, he must prepare before it's too late. It's one of the ninja's iron rules."

"But sensei…" I gestured to him lying in the bed, "You can barely move."

Kakashi sensei chuckled, "I can still train you. You were the ones that saved me when I got in trouble. Naruto, you've grown the most."

"Hehe, so you've noticed. Things are going to get interesting from here on out!" Was Naruto's excited reply.

"No they're not." We all turned to see a kid standing in the doorway.

"Who're you?" Naruto demanded.

"Oh Inari!" Tazuna spoke up and the kid turned to him, "Where were you?"

"I'm home, Grandpa!" He replied running Tazuna's open arms.

Tsunami walked over to him, "Inari, say hello to these ninja. They escorted grandpa here." She scolded.

Tazuna patted Inari affectionately, "It's alright. Right, Inari?"

Inari stared at us for a few minutes before looking at Tsunami, "Kaa-chan, they're going to die. There's no way someone can win going against, Gato."

"What did you say you brat!" Naruto jumped up, "Listen up! I'm a super hero that's going to be a great ninja known as the hokage!" He clenched his fist determinedly, "I don't know who this Gato is, but he's no match for me!"

"A hero? How stupid." Inari looked at Naruto, "There's no such thing as a hero!"

I gasped, and Kogane jumped in front of Naruto and growled, as if to protect him. "What did you say!" Naruto lunged toward Inari, but I jumped up and grabbed his jacket.

"Naruto…"

He calmed down, but Inari wasn't done. "If you don't want to die, you should go home."

As Inari walked toward the sliding doors he was stopped one more time by Tazuna, "Where are you going Inari?"

"To look at the ocean."

The minute I let go of Naruto he walked out the door, only to come back the next minute with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "When do we start training! ?"

Kakashi sensei took us to the same part of the woods I had been walking that morning. "So, um, what are we doing here?"

"You'll be climbing trees."

"That's too easy!" Naruto complained.

"Let me finish," Sensei scolded. "You'll be climbing trees, with no hands."

"How're we supposed to do that sensei?" Naruto asked.

Sensei sighed, "just watch." He proceeded to climb the tree vertically and I heard Naruto gasp beside me.

"Um, sensei. Nee-chan already taught me how to do this." I blushed under Naruto and Sasuke's gaze. "Sh-she said it was important for my medical training."

"Wow, you're amazing imouto!" Naruto cheered.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted beside me.

"Ah, that's alright Ashi, I wanted to test something anyway."

"O-okay."

I waited patiently while Kakashi finished explaining treewalking to the boys before walking back over to me. "Alright, I'm going to go out to the forest and make a few clones. When I come back I want you tell me which of me are clones and which one is the real one. Alright?" I nodded.

When he came back there were three of him. I sniffed a little, it was harder to differentiate when they were so close together. "U-um, you're all clones. Sensei's still in the forest."

The three Kakashis in front of me vanished and the real one emerged through the smoke. "Very good Ashi."

"Is it strange that I can do that sensei?"

"Hmm, while I've heard of the Inuzuka clan's dogs being able to smell chakra I've never heard of the ninja being able to do it." He smiled and ruffled my hair, "I wouldn't worry too much Ashi, you can speak to your mother about it when we get back to the village."

"Alright."

AN: I hope you guys liked the chapter... I have the next chapter started so hopefully it wont be as long a wait. See you guys next time :)