A/N: A new fic!!! This is actually my first time in writing a Naruto fic, so please leave a constructive/story criticism review… I'll accept everything, even flames, so please read and review! Just so you know, this is Haku/Zabuza… I also don't know much about Naruto coz I stopped watching it after this arc coz I was only interested in Haku, so please correct whatever errors I have made.

The Pursuit for True Happiness

Prologue: The Victorious but Bloody Battle

"Ha! It seems like you weren't like the person I heard you were, Hatake Kakashi. It was a great battle, but it seems like you are far weaker than I am… Train, and come with the intent to kill me if you want to defeat me!" Zabuza, The Demon of the Hidden Mist, shouted in triumph. He had defeated Kakashi when he was able to block the Chidori attack, thus draining him of his chakra. This also allowed enough entrance for him to give a strong blow, thus making him collapse on the ground. The silver (or white) haired ninja lay down pathetically on the ground, looking like he was about to die. He also killed Tazuna by now, with the old man's dead body lying very still in his own pool of blood.

"I wouldn't kill you just yet, Hatake Kakashi. I want you to become stronger and one day, defeat me!"

Meanwhile, Haku was performing his techniques, trying to kill the now possessed Naruto. Naruto's rage had awakened the Kyuubi when Haku almost killed Sasuke; he almost killed Haku, but when he saw his face when he broke the mask, that made him hesitate, delivering only a critical punch to the boy's still beautiful face.

"Na… Naru… to… Please…. Kill…. Me…. I… am not…. Useful to Zabuza-san…. Anymore…..I am… a weak…. Person… and Zabuza-san… has no need or….. Use…. For…. A pathetic….. Shinobi….. Like……………….. Me….." Haku almost inaudibly whispered with great effort.

Just as Naruto was about to kill him, strong powerful hands encircled the blonde boy, making him pass out from the power and pressure that almost took away his breath. When he was done, Zabuza went to sit by Haku's side and cupped the fragile face of the dying boy into his hands.

"Haku… I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you…" Zabuza softened when he saw Haku's disheveled figure.

Haku gently touched Zabuza's face with his bloody hands. "Zabuza-san…. You're…. all right…. I am…. Happy…. I'm….sorry… I…. wasn't able to protect you… I have… proven myself… useless… are you… going to… throw…. me away?"

"No Haku, I won't. For now I have to get you to the nearest medical Nin and have you treated."

"Zabuza-san… What about… Your reward?"

"Yes, Haku… We earned it, and we are going to get it." With that said, Zabuza gently lifted Haku into his arms and went to the hideout of Gatou. Haku was touched too, because instead of using the word 'I', he used 'we'.

When he got there Gatou was waiting for him. "Ah, very well done, Zabuza-san. Here is your reward. Please LOOK at it carefully." Gatou handed a briefcase to him. Putting Haku down, he went to see what was inside the case. Bags and bags of real money flowed out; he had enough, even more, to pay for Haku's hospitalization. As he was preparing to get out, hundreds of men circled around him. "What's this?" Zabuza asked angrily.

"Did I say you can leave with the money? I said just look at it!" He said with a smirk.

"You greedy cheater! We killed Tazuna and we deserve this!" With that Zabuza got his cleaver out and chopped hundreds of men with one swipe. After he was done with all of Gatou's men, he was really exhausted. Luckily he had not earned too much wounds on his battle with Kakashi. He went to Gatou with the intent of killing him.

"Fine, fine! Take the money and get outta here!" The frightened Gatou screamed. Sensing he might be a nuisance, Zabuza went and killed him anyway. He took the money and other precious items he found around and went to some medical ninja who could help in treating Haku.

"Zabuza-san….. You….. Should not….. Have bothered…… to take me….." Haku said with great effort. It's even lucky that he was still alive!

"Shush, Haku… we're nearing the next village…"

Haku fell unconscious due to the multiple blows he received, so he gratefully did just that in Zabuza's arms...

End of Chapter

A/N: So how did you like it? Please read and review and tell me if I should continue writing this crap… And this is my first time, so flames are completely acceptable, but make sure it can be of some help to me, not merely saying it was horrible because you hated the pairing or something like that… Also please put suggestions on what village they might stumble upon next, maybe even tell me what the village next to Kirigakure is… Please? I really have no idea coz I stopped watching Naruto after I saw Haku killed, so I don't really know much about it…