Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto or the pic

There is a fire in his lungs, and blood burns in the back of his throat. He thinks it would be beautifully ironic if the host of the nine tailed fox were to die deprived of the oxygen that fuels the flames the demon controls. But if there is one thing he's learned in all his time it's that he isn't easy to kill.

Chakra floods his lungs, swallowing the flames and leaving embers smouldering behind. It still hurts but it's bearable now, only just.

Panic had his heart pounding in his ears as his attention was pulled two ways, Kurama was rapidly healing the tissue that had been damaged while at the same time trying to figure out what was going wrong. He had thought they had already ironed out most of the physical problems time-traveling would do, evidently he had been wrong.

Haku was looking increasingly distressed and seemed like he was about to call for backup, which was a Bad Idea. So Naruto decided to deal with the more pressing matter, choking down the terror he spoke "Ahh, sorry about that I suffered some lung damage a few months ago. I thought i was healed but-" Naruto made sure to shrug sheepishly inwardly lamenting on how easily the lie came to him. This lie was going to be annoying partly because he was going to have to act the part and partly because he was going to have to remember it- there was a reason he preferred half truths and white lies.

Haku didn't look particularly convinced but was willing to let it slide. He smiles slightly "is your profession a dangerous one?"

Naruto smiled self deprecatingly "only about as dangerous as yours". Haku's eyes sharpen, steel-strong intelligence shining in gentle brown eyes. It was an interesting contradiction but one he didn't feel like facing. Instead he shrugged and flopped further on the ground sending 'I'm, sort of, harmless!' vibes. As he struggles not to pant, all he knows at the moment is that his lungs are having problems with the air. So gulping in mouthfuls wouldn't be a good idea, no matter how much his body screams for it.

They stared at each other for a moment before Haku nods. Naruto relaxed slightly, if Haku had wanted to hurt him there was little Naruto could do at the moment. He was lucky Haku was kind, most other ninja would have already killed him.

Thinking quickly he offered "Mumei Rei". When Haku only looked mildly confused he elaborated "my name is Mumei Rei"

"Nameless Ghost or is it Actor? how odd", Haku murmured. "Is there anything i can help you with?".

"No-" Naruto took a careful even breath. "thank you"

"Well you seemed starved, would you like to join me for dinner?"

Naruto knew well enough that it wasn't a suggestion and so smiled and bobbed his head in agreement.

Haku never lost his smile and he told him to rest for a bit while he finished picking herbs. Grateful for the chance Naruto focused inward to talk to Kurama.

"What is it with you and attracting trouble". Naruto flinched slightly in surprise, the fox's voice had never sounded so close before. Usually it was as if the demon was on his shoulder and talking in his ear now it sounded as if the Kuram's voice was an extension of his own thoughts in a different voice. It was disconcerting and most likely a side effect of the change in the seal.

"H-Hey! It's not like i'm the only one it could just be you, you know!". The Fox only snorted before turning sombre, red-yellow eyes focusing on his own. "It's hard to say but the only thing that comes to mind is that this time line is rejecting us"

Naruto grimaces both at the abrupt change in conversation and the meagre explanation offered. However it made a certain amount of sense. Even if the universe had all the things he needed to live if it didn't want him here it might react like a body would a foreign organism, mainly make it really difficult to stay. It was probably only Naruto's affinity to the wind and the fox's healing power that he is able to breathe at all. There also wasn't really anything he could do about this either except hope that his body would adapt to the timeline. Dammit even in the past there were more things he couldn't fix than he could. It was aggravating and frustrating but he can only work with what he has. Or, opening an eye and looking at Haku, he can use what other people had. At the very least he was used to working with the cards stacked against him.

Haku eyed the man curiously for a moment as he watched him get up. He was a little reluctant to bring him to Zabuza, knowing his teacher would probably oder the man killed, but he wasn't stupid enough to trust this man either. The asma attack nonwithstanding Rei gave off the air of someone dangerous.

When he had first stumbled upon him he had thought the man dead, blood had seemed to pool around his head and run in rivers down his sides. It was only upon closer inspection that Haku realized what he had thought was blood was really hair of the same shade.

Only the Uzumaki's had hair in that shade and peaceful of not it had taken the combined efforts of three major ninja villages to take them down. He would have to be careful.

He wasn't surprised that Rei didn't say he was a Uzumaki, these days they were quickly either killed for their fabled strength or snatched up for their knowledge of the sealing arts And although there was no mistaking it with that hair it was smarter not to bring attention to his Uzumake heritage.

Metal glinted off of sunlight as Rei picked up the bells that had preivously been out of reach. Haku cocked his head curiously as the man stared down at them with something like meloncholy on his face. His eyebrows rose when the ribbon around the bells were used to tie the red in a braid. It was foolish for any ninja, the man's refliection were to good to be anything but, to wear something that would so easily give away their position. But it wasn't his place to say anything, besides the bells would make the man easier to hunt down if he was considered a threat.