Athena was perched up on a tree branch, hidden from sight. She was eyeing the three clashing ninja. Naruto and Sasuke were doing their jobs and leading Kakashi straight to her trap. She could feel Hinata's chakra nearby but she couldn't see her. That was good. As it was, Athena was relaxed. She had her short swords strapped to her back, ready to be used. She had her special kunai. Her shuriken. All her seals and even her medical supply. Of course she also had her drawing pad safe in her back pouch. She just had to wait.

Kakashi had to take the boys serious. How were they working together so well? They just met the other day. He wouldn't be surprised if Athena and Naruto showed impeccable teamwork, but he was not expecting what he was faced with. They went together perfectly. When it wasn't Naruto, it was Sasuke. He wasn't offered any time to breathe. They were always there.

Kakashi had to make some distance when Sasuke was a bit too close for comfort. The boy was already throwing handsigns and he knew what was coming. He didn't see Naruto so he needed to be very careful. He couldn't see any kunai nearby either. Where was the blonde?

"Fire style: Fire ball jutsu"

Kakashi saw it coming and managed to get away. The second he did he spotted Naruto above him. He didn't use any handsign but he was readying a jutsu. He's Minato's son alright. What he planned on aiming at him was unknown, and that made it dangerous.

Kakashi made to make distance again. He used substitution jutsu to dodge the group of shuriken Sasuke sent towards him. He sighed in relief when he landed on a tree branch. That didn't last long because Naruto was suddenly behind him and grinning brightly.

"Wind style: Air Pocket Bursts"

Kakashi was pushed back by a burst of wind near him. He almost lost his footing on the branch and decided to land on the ground. He was right back where he started and Naruto was nowhere to be seen. There was no sign of Sasuke either.

Athena was smiling. Perfect. They pushed him right back where he began. Right on her trap. With a silent jump she landed behind the ninja. He didn't notice her right away, but when he did, it was too late.

Athena had her fingers dug into the ground as she activated her trap. She sent chakra through the earth and straight to her apple seeds. She hummed happily when she saw wood suddenly burst out of the ground. It was fast enough that Kakashi couldn't get away. The growing trees took hold of his legs and quickly climbed up his body, keeping a tight grip on him.

Kakashi looked to Athena and met her eyes. She was smiling, but she wasn't moving. Kakashi's hands weren't restrained yet, so he could still try to get out with a substitution jutsu.

Athena took a deep breath as she focused on finding Hinata's chakra. Once found she held onto it.

Hinata ignored the wave of nausea she felt once she was quickly brought to another location. She had to focus on stopping Kakashi from getting out and quickly retrieve the bells. She activated her Byakugan. If she blocked the right chakra point she could successfully stop him from succeeding.

Kakashi knew what was coming. If he didn't perform the justsu quickly Hinata would disable him.

Damn.

Hinata hit the right spots and put an end to Kakashi's plan. He could do nothing. He sighed and gave in. Hinata looked at him cautiously. He didn't move so she reached for the bells. Just as she did everything around her changed. She was suddenly falling. She could feel the wind whistling in her ear and could see the fast approaching ground.

A genjutsu.

It was broken the moment she realized it.

Kakashi sighed. It was worth a try. It was also his way of testing her skills. Hyuga's can easily detect and break out of genjutsu, for obvious reason.

"I guess you guys win" Kakashi resigned to his fate and let Hinata take the bells. She was smiling happily as she did. "Good teamwork. "

"Thanks"

"I'm assuming you sent Naruto and Sasuke to lead me here. You trapped me and Hinata was supposed to do the rest? "

Athena nodded proudly. "Someone had to move in immediately and I knew that your hands wouldn't be restrained immediately. You're very skilled but you still need to make signs. Sooo, Hinata was the best person to send in because she could mess with the flow of your chakra, thereby making you unable to successfully pull off your jutsu"

"Very well done"

Naruto and Sasuke soon appeared on the scene. Naruto seemed very proud of himself. Athena pulled her fingers out of the ground, but Kakashi was still tangled in multiple, still growing, apple trees.

"We passed "

"Yes you did"

"Good" Athena smiled and turned to go get lunch. "You stay there until noon"

Kakashi widened his eyes in shock and struggled to get free of his constraints. The trees were still growing, although it was slower than before, it still made him worry. On Top of that Hinata had blocked off some important chakra points so he could perform no jutsu anytime soon.

"Athena don't you dare! "

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"I told you I would collect"

~~~~~~~

"Oh yeah, we passed! "Naruto was doing a little dance as the group made their way through the village. His dance was awkward but very amusing. "We are official Ninja! "

"Even so" Sasuke had his hands in his pocket as he stared ahead. "We are but genin. We will be assigned missions but nothing dangerous. Just chores around the village"

"We get higher ranked mission when we prove to be strong enough, right? "Hinata questioned, avoiding eye contact. She had zipped her jacket all the way to her turtle neck just to hide her face. She may have learned to get over her stutters with the group, but she was still the shy Hinata.

"Yeah, eventually " Athena nodded. She was adjusting her arm warmers. They doubled as weights. She took to wearing them after her training with Guy. It was good practice and kept her grounded enough. They were heavy. No one really noticed, however. "Maybe sooner than one would expect"

Her friends nodded. Nothing else was said. Athena let out a sigh when she heard Kurama yell at her in her head. She hadn't let him out in a few days, he must be pissed. It only made her chuckle. He could hold on. He spent five years trapped in a dead man. He could spend a couple days in the forest Athena had created in her mind for him. So ungrateful, that guy.

"When you made those trees grow" Sasuke drew her attention. "That was wood release wasn't it? "

"Yes, I'm very skilled with the technique "

"You really are a Senju" Sasuke sighed. "You must be related to the first"

"I'm his great granddaughter. My mother is his grandchild" Athena revealed. At the mention of her mother her mind wandered. She missed her. She already spent a year away from her. Tsunade must miss her as much as she did her. She should write to her. She could come to the village could she not? She got over her fear of blood. She had to because Athena developed the same fear and she could not be there for her if she feared the same thing. She had to get over it for her daughter. Another sigh left Athena's lips as she stared at the ground. The good thing is that she got over her fear as well. She had to. She couldn't be a ninja with that fear. But it wasn't completely gone. She never liked to see the blood of those she loved.

It was the one instance where she feared blood. And if it was caused by someone else, that fear would turn into anger. She remembered the time she almost killed a man because he had the balls to make Shizune bleed. Tsunade had to stop her before the man was lost to the world.

Hinata glanced at Athena. She could sense a shift in her mood. What was she thinking about? Her amusement from before was gone. Now she felt as if whatever she was thinking about made her a bit sad.

Naruto and Sasuke sensed it as well. Sasuke looked to the boy with raised eyebrow. Naruto said nothing. He had a feeling she was missing her mother. She didn't miss Jiraiya as much because they can go visit him at Mount Myōboku.

Hinata felt Naruto nudge her and looked to him curiously. He motioned to Athena with a look in his eyes.

"Cheer her up"

"Me?"

"Yes" Naruto nodded and looked to his distracted sister. "Yes. You. "

Hinata was hesitant and Naruto noticed. He sighed and gently pushed the meek girl towards Athena. She bumped into her and received a questioning look. Naruto nodded proudly and rested a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"How about we leave them be"

"Are you trying to set them up or something? "

"No. I just want Athena to cheer up and Hinata always makes her smile"

Sasuke couldn't disagree. She did tend to be more cheerful around the innocent girl.

"She likes her, doesn't she? "

"No" Naruto draped an arm over Sasuke's shoulder and directed them in the opposite direction. "She is completely in love with her"

"I see, well the Hyuga likes her as well"

"Oh yeah, I know. I don't know is Athena knows. If she does she probably doesn't want to do anything about it yet"

Sasuke hummed and let Naruto guide him to Ichiraku.

"Is ramen the only thing you eat?"

"No. I eat other stuff, I just like Ramen"

~~~~~~

Hinata was almost as red as the jacket Athena had on. She couldn't help but laugh a bit. Hinata suddenly bumped into her and struggled to apologize without stuttering at every word. Athena had reassured her but she still tried to mutter an apology. She noted that Naruto and Sasuke were gone.

That's rude. They didn't even say goodbye or anything.

"Stop trying to apologize it's OK"

"B-b-b-"

Athena chuckled and took the girl by the hand. She was adorable. She started pulling her as she continued through the village. Hinata was silent as she follwed. She was so embarrassed, she could just disappear.

"Um.. Athena? "

"Hmm? "

"What were you thinking about just now? "Hinata asked as she fell into step with the other. "You seemed kind of sad"

Athena said nothing for some time. She just continued walking and looked to the ground. Hinata was worried the question had bothered Athena and was about to apologize when Athena gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I miss my mother" Athena admitted. "I haven't see her in a year. We had been apart for three years before that and only spent time with each other for a day before I had to leave with Naruto. And now I really miss her"

Hinata could only listen, for she knew not what to say. Athena wanted her mother. Sometimes Hinata forgets that Athena is just a kid like they all are. She doesn't tend to show too much emotion, but they are there and sometimes she lets them out.

"Where is she? "

Athena shrugged. "Everywhere. She doesn't stay in one place for too long. She could be anywhere right now"

"Will she come to the village? "

"At some point. I just wish she was here right now"

Hinata could understand the feeling. She missed her mother as well, but she could not get her back. She had come to terms with that, but at the moment she too found herself missing her absence.

"Hinata? "

The girl looked up from the ground.

"Want to spend the night at my place? "

Hinata didn't react for a moment. I was as if she was trying to process what Athena had asked her. When she did blood rushed to her face.

She found herself nodding without even thinking things through. She would have to ask her father. She doubt he would mind. He actually likes Athena.

"Great" Athena smiled brightly.

"I need to go get clothes"

"Don't worry about that. You can wear some of mine. I have the perfect pajama for you"

Hinata nodded. She already knew she is was going to be very embarrassed in whatever outfit Athena had for her.

~~~~~

Athena sat on her bed with a big smile. Hinata was fidgeting in front of her. Her face was very red and of course Athena found it very adorable.

"Um Athena this is um... Is.. "

Athena was very proud of herself. Hinata looked so cute in the oversized hoodie she had given her to wear. The sleeves hid her hands which made Athena so happy. She just looked so cute and innocent. Athena could just hug he. The hoodie reached her mid thigh and hid the pair of shorts she had on.

"You are the cutest thing"

"I um.. But this is embarrassing "

"But it's so adorable. You are so adorable" Athena pulled her down into bed with her. She could cuddle with her forever . "Precious"

Hinata made a sound of embarrassment when Athena's arms slipped around her waist and pulled her closer. She ended up as the little spoon and it didn't seem as if Athena planned on letting go anytime soon. She held her tightly and nuzzled the back of her neck.

"I might ask your father if I can keep you" she mumbled.

Hinata could say nothing for she was sure nothing intelligible would pass her lips. She could only shut her eyes tightly and try very hard to calm her racing heart.

"You wouldn't mind being kept, would you? "Athena whispered and chuckled when she heard Hinata yelp.

"N-n-no"

Athena hummed very happily. She liked the sound of that.