I do not own Naruto. If I did then Haku would have been definitely female (even though I have a feeling that she actually was), survived and been the pairing for Naruto. And Naruto would kick ass. Repeatedly.

Second week into the Wave Mission

They were in pain. Not physical pain, but emotional pain. Eyes are always said to be windows to the soul, and as they stared at each other from the small gap, they could clearly see the reflection of all the suffering they each endured.

The Ice and the Maelstrom. That's what they were. Two strong Shinobi, unwanted by the world, and clinging to hope by a thread. In the end it shouldn't have mattered, but it did, to them, who lived so far apart, came together for one special moment, one special time where only they existed, where only they mattered. And the pain started to lessen. Smiles began to show on their faces, and their eyes started to show happiness and acceptance. They knew each other, from the deepest parts of their souls. Without their knowledge they bonded completely, and without any pause they unknowingly pledged their souls to each other.

Naruto Uzumaki, demon spawn, hell child, monster, murderer. That is what he was called. He worked hard to get where he was. He always refused to back down. At age 10 he believed his own life to mean nothing. To have no need for existence, and so he attempted to journey out of its realm, and into the next one. Where he was healed by his tenant, whom he met, and, in his still knowing of his need to end his existence, he attempted to release the demon. To no avail. His rage grew however, and he thrust his 'hanger-on' into the cage of the thing he had defeated a decade previous. And the seal removed, and his hate was stopped. The abuse he had suffered through, the pain and the neverending loneliness of his life was quenched, if only for a minute. He survived the extraction. He conquered his fears and pains, and used his new found will to take the power of his demon. Yet, he still suffered.

Haku Yuki lost her childhood. Her mother murdered in front of her eyes, and she herself killed the murderer. He own father. Lived on the streets, hunted, starving, cold. And rescued by a man of hate and violence. Yet she was a gentle flower, who refused to accept pain, who refused to commit acts of violence when unnecessary.

These two beings of pain, held each other close in the misty woods. Their faces centimetres apart, staring into each other's eyes as they slowly and surely began to realise what that feeling in their chest's was trying to tell them. They began to realise what they meant to each other. Love, of a purest kind, connecting their own souls to each other. Refusing to let go. One week was all it took for them to come to terms. The next day would bring pain for the both of them, this they knew. Because they were actually enemies, bred to hate each other, but unable to do so.

Their eyes closed, they leaned in and realised each others wishes, for the last time that day, they would see with their souls. Their eyes opened to see the other, and a pain erupted through them. Two kindred spirits locked to each other. And one began to whisper to the other, and their tears mingled together, and the pain began to grow once more. Their knowledge mattered not for once, and only instinct took over.

And in those misty woods, a pure act was undertaken, and the two souls were forever bound. Forever bound to the other, and together they did not care.

1 week earlier

"Stupid little…" Naruto was not happy, the family that he and his team were staying with were very kind and helpful to all of them, but a few hours previous the small child called Inari decided to be a complete brat and claim that no matter what they did they would never win against Gato, the tyrant of the region. Naruto and his team attempted to dissuade him, by telling them that they would win. However it didn't matter to the child because, in his anger, he claimed that they would never know what true pain was.

Kakashi Hatake, team 7's Jounin sensei had suffered pain, losing his father to shame, losing his best friend, his other teamate and his sensei in the end.

Sasuke Uchiha, losing his entire clan in a night of blood and death.

Sakura Haruno has never suffered in life, yet she believed that because of the fact that she cant get Sasuke to like her then she suffers.

And finally, Naruto Uzumaki. An orphan from birth, suffering from an eternal loneliness and hatred from within his own home. Suffered the pain of abuse, both emotional and physical from the day of his birth.

They knew pain, but it was Naruto that couldn't take it and when Inari left, then so did he, because if he didn't blow off some steam then he might lose it in front of them all. And it was in the forest nearby that he was using jutsu after jutsu to change the landscape to something more fitting for his anger. A wasteland.

"Damn it" he muttered, before he collapsed from exhaustion.

When he woke up he looked over to his left, where he saw the most beautiful sight that he had ever seen in his life. It had the face of an angel to him, and he smiled slightly at it.

"You know, if you stay out here then you could catch a cold" she said.

Naruto didn't know what to do, he was speaking to an angel he thought. "No need to worry."

But she did worry, and she didn't know why, but then she focused on his eyes when they locked, and saw the pain reflecting within them, pain akin to her own, she knew why. She had found a kindred spirit within the boy and she let out a soft smile.

"My name's Haku."

"Naruto."

Haku and Naruto just stared at each other in confused content, not knowing why they felt so comfortable.

"So, tell me Naruto-kun, do you have someone precious to you?" asked Haku.

"Precious to me?" Naruto looked down, thinking hard. 'Do I have someone precious to me? I don't know, I never really thought about it. Maybe the Sandaime and Iruka, but do they really care? I don't know.'

Haku could see the turmoil in Naruto's eyes as he tried to think, and she felt a pang in her heart as she witnessed the emotion rage on his face. Confusion, contemplation, distress, then anger and finally sadness.

"No" he whispered. "I have no one."

"Surely you must have someone. You come from Konoha right?" He nodded, "Well I heard that it's the most peaceful and tolerant of all of the Hidden Villages, and that they would protect a comrade with their lives. So why cant you say the same?" Haku was genuinely confused now, she had read up on Konoha, and wished to one day go there, because of it's beauty and its acceptance.

"I wouldn't know" said Naruto snapping Haku out of her stupor, "They may be tolerant to others but I have never seen that. They may be peaceful but I've never seen that either. All I saw, was a place of hatred and pain."

"But I read about it in a book and," she paused.

"Zabuza told you about it" Naruto finished,

"Wait, but how?"

"Your chakra is the same."

Haku then went into detail describing why she followed Zabuza, about how she suffered because of her bloodline and why she believed in protecting those precious to her makes her strong. When she looked at Naruto afterwards he just stared at her with understanding, which Haku didn't understand. She grew into a place of hate, so how could he understand?

"We're the same Haku" whispered Naruto, before picking up and speaking normally. "I too have known pain and hate. Konoha isn't as great as others make it out to be." He looked directly at Haku and said "I was cursed upon my birth, and forced to live a life that few others can comprehend let alone relate to. Only those like me could understand, and it appears that you have that connection. For you see, on the day of my birth, the Nine Tailed Fox attacked my home, and it was defeated by the Yondaime Hokage." Haku nodded, hearing the story before. Minato Namikaze was someone who gave his life to protect those he cherished and should be honoured for it. Or so she thought. "He didn't kill the Kyuubi, I don't think anything can." Again Haku looked at him in confusion. "There is only one almost foolproof way of defeating it, and that is to seal it away into something, and that something had to be an infant."

Tears welled up in their eyes, and Haku ran into Naruto's arms, and they wept, holding on to each other, as their pain came rushing forwards, as a connection began to build, and an unknowing love began to form.

I just wanted to do release this before I do anything else I think. I think that I will continue with this, but it going to be quite short. I just wanted to do something while I wait until I can get back my laptop that's been taken from me until I can finally have it back next week. So expect the next chapter of a few things to come soon. I had this on my computer somewhere and I thought, why not just do this one, so here it is.

Til next time.