Yeah! Second chapter! I feel bad for not working on my other stories but I'm fresh out of ideas for those! Sorry guys! Well, once again, I do not own Naruto. If I did, Shikamaru would get more screen time! XD
Night fell but Itachi refused to stop walking. Haku's feet dragged and his gaze never left the ground beneath him as he followed behind him like an obedient dog. His hand was clenching around Zabuza's sword tightly as he tugged along behind him, not having the will to hold it properly.
"You're slowing down. Are you tired?"
The question implied that Itachi cared about him. The tone got rid of all such thoughts.
"Sorry. I'll speed up," Haku whispered.
"Don't push yourself. Rest if you need it," Itachi ordered. "I'll wait."
Haku stopped, still not looking at him as he sat down. He slipped off his mask and set it down on the ground next to Zabuza's sword and then finally looked up at Itachi. Itachi's gaze had not changed in the slightest.
"Why are you taking me with you?" Haku asked.
"I already told you. I need a new partner," Itachi answered. And because you remind me so much of my brother. I didn't mean to hurt you Sasuke…maybe this will make up for it. If only you knew…
"But why me?"
"You're strong. You have no where else to go. Why wouldn't I pick you?"
"I…" Haku broke off, having no idea what to say.
"Exactly. So shut up and go to sleep so we can get going."
Haku flinched at the harsh tone and Itachi immediately regretted it. But he didn't apologize. Itachi Uchiha did not apologize. Haku curled up on the ground, keeping his back to Itachi as if he were afraid to look at him. Which was probably true.
Haku's fingers lightly danced over the hilt of Zabuza's sword, lost in thought. Tears blurred his eyes but he didn't let them fall for fear of displaying weakness to one of the most feared ninjas ever. I miss you Zabuza. Already even though it has only been a few hours. I feel your loss like a hole in my heart…Unknowingly, he had begun to cry. This fact was brought to his attention when a hand gently touched his shoulder.
Haku flinched away from it, curling up even tighter if that was possible. Itachi sighed and drew away. The one time he tried to comfort someone and he was instantly rejected. What a self esteem booster, he thought, staring as Haku shuddered. He's not going to go to sleep anytime soon like this.
Quickly, Itachi did several hand seals before activating his chakra. The sleep jutsu waved over Haku and he uncurled, asleep in seconds. Itachi leaned up against a tree trunk, thinking as he watched Haku's still figure.
I still haven't seen him fight. Tomorrow I will test the full extent of his powers. If he isn't strong enough then I'll just kill him. I can't have weak members in Akatsuki. It would make everything fall apart. I'd rather take my chances with Zetsu than have a weakling for a partner.
IHIHIHIH
Haku rubbed his eyes as he awoke. It was already daylight and Itachi was standing a little ways away from him, hat off, arms folded. Haku stood up quickly.
"Um…I'm sorry for delaying you," Haku apologized quickly.
"Forget it. I'm testing your fighting ability right now so come at me with all that you've got," Itachi ordered.
Haku was stunned for a second before picking up his mask and slipping it on. Behind the mask he was not Haku. He was a deadly ninja who would not hesitate to kill and he would put all of his power into each attack. Haku grabbed the water skin attached to his waist and sent the water splashing onto the ground around them.
What is he doing? Itachi thought as Haku circled towards him.
Itachi activated his Sharingan and then ran towards Haku, drawing a kunai as he did so. His kunai was stopped by a needle and suddenly a hand was grabbing tightly onto his arm. Stunned, he watched as hand signs flashed before his eyes with Haku's one free hand.
"Secret Jutsu: One Thousand Needles of Death!"
Ice needles suddenly sprung up all around them and sliced through the air towards Itachi. Easily, Itachi leapt back. Haku slid in the water, putting a hand down to steady himself before rushing forwards again. He vanished seconds before he reached Itachi and reappeared behind him, aiming for the pressure point on his neck.
Itachi whirled around, catching his wrist and then sending his foot straight into Haku's stomach. Haku bit his lip and then lashed forward with his other fist. Fighting still? Itachi thought as he knocked the fist away before twisting his body and sending Haku flying into a tree. To his slight amazement, Haku caught himself on the trunk of the tree before bunching up his muscles and springing right back at him. Itachi darted to the side and kicked Haku's back as he passed. The Haku there suddenly vanished into a splash of water. Substitution jutsu.
"Hidden Technique! Crystal Ice Mirrors!"
The voice came from behind him and Itachi whirled around, angry that he wasn't able to catch the seals and copy it. His shock increased when ice suddenly grew from the water around him, crackling as it became the shape of a dome made of mirrors. Wearily, Itachi eyed them as reflections of Haku appeared all around him.
He saw the movement seconds before it happened. Itachi dodged the onslaught up Haku's attacks though he was impressed at the speed Haku was able to perform them. He was only just able to keep up with them. But avoid them he did and by the end of the onslaught there wasn't a scratch on him.
He's amazing, Haku thought as he got ready for another attack. He dodged every single one of my attacks like it was nothing.
Again, Haku attacked. Like the time before, he didn't manage to get one scratch but Itachi found his chakra draining from overuse of the Sharingan. I shouldn't be using it so excessively when I'm already low on chakra, he thought. Let's see if I can dodge without it.
Haku stopped again, surprised to see the Sharingan flicker once before Itachi's eyes returned to the stony onyx color. Without hesitation, he attacked again. Itachi nimbly dodged the first five attacks before suddenly slipping in the ice. Damn it! Why did I do something so stupid!
His minor slip up was immediately taken advantage of. Haku attacked him with renewed vigor, every hit landing, blood splashing across the ground and painting the water red. Itachi hissed before activating the Sharingan once more, turning on his heel and catching Haku in the throat as he darted by.
Fear zipped through Haku when he saw the sheer, raw, unbridled anger in Itachi's eyes. I angered him. Stupid. Itachi's hand tightened considerably and Haku joked, lashing out with his foot in an attempt to free himself. The anger died as did the Sharingan and Itachi abruptly dropped him to the ground.
Haku coughed and fell to the ground, holding his throat gently. Itachi didn't say anything and didn't offer to help the gasping boy. When he was finally able to regain his composure, Haku slipped the mask off, looking up at Itachi.
"Am I strong enough?"
There was no hope in Haku's eyes, no despair. The only emotion there was the need to please.
"Yes. You're strong enough."
A sigh escaped Haku's lips and he stood up. "Then I am yours to use as you see fit."
"Everyone is equal in Akatsuki. No one reigns over the other except in Pain's case. I will not use you. I don't use people," Itachi replied sternly.
"I…"
Realization dawned on Itachi. "You don't know what to do when you aren't being ordered around, do you?"
"Zabuza was my master in every sense of the word. Whatever he wanted or needed, I took care of. Without his orders, I did nothing," Haku answered, not at all ashamed by the fact as Itachi thought he would be.
"Well it's about time you learn to act on your own reasons," Itachi said before turning on his heel. "Let's go."
