Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto
Zabuza's Seven
Chapter 4: Empathy for a Demon
"Are you sure you can't come back? You'd always be welcome here."
This was the scene outside Tazuna's home. He and his family just finished their dinner, with team seven and another guest. As far as anyone knew, it was a young girl who met Naruto and wanted to know more about him.
"No thanks, I really need to get back to my uncle. He must be getting worried about me."
The first question came from Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami. The reply was from a girl who identified herself as Chisato.
"Alright then," Tsunami answered, "but why don't you have Sasuke escort you home? Even with Gato gone, it still might not be safe out. Besides, it's just common courtesy to escort a lady home."
Sasuke grunted in response, not liking what he was being volunteered for.
'At least she's not fangirling over me. She's the first girl I've met who hasn't. I guess she and Naruto hit it off. Too bad he died the day after he met her.' Sasuke thought regarding the situation.
"Umm, no thank you, I'll be fine. I'm tougher then I look. I'm sure I'll be okay." Chisato said, a bit nervous.
"Nonsense, I wouldn't feel right if something did happen to you. Besides, these ninja were hired as bodyguards, so that's what they'll do." Tsunami said insistently.
"Actually, I hired them to protect me." Tazuna spoke up, but was ignored.
"It'll be fine. Go ahead and walk her home Sasuke." Kakashi ordered his student.
"Hn." Sasuke grunted, still not too pleased with the order.
"Alright, I suppose it'll be okay." Chisato said, acquiescing to the escort.
Sakura, realizing that Sasuke would now be alone with a beautiful girl, suddenly spoke up.
"I'll go too. You never know what might happen. You could need back-up."
Inwardly, everyone was rolling their eyes, knowing exactly why Sakura wanted to accompany Sasuke and Chisato. Whether she was still in a fangirl stage, or simply wanted to stay close to her remaining team-mate was unknown.
"Okay, we should be on our way now. Thank you again for the lovely dinner, and good-bye."
Chisato bowed in thanks, then walked away with her impromptu escorts.
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Haku currently had mixed emotions regarding his current situation. He had just ate a lovely, home cooked meal with the bridge builder's family and the rest of team seven. It was the best meal he had in quite some time. Now he was headed back for Zabuza's secret base.
Unfortunately he now had company. Tsunami had insisted that Sasuke escort "her" home, and it would look too suspicious to refuse. Not only that, but Sakura insisted on joining them.
'I should have just told them I was a boy. Then she might not be so jealous. Then again, I've gone to some hard lengths to prove my real gender.'
Just what exactly Haku has done to prove his masculinity, or rather his true gender, is better left unknown. Suffice it to say, he has quite indeed gone to really hard lengths to do so.
'At least master Zabuza will be waiting for me near the hideout, so I won't have to reveal it's actual location.'
They agreed to meet up nearby, in case Haku was followed back.
'I bet it would be funny to see me walking with two of the Leaf ninja. That would make them pretty bad trackers.'
The best tracker on team seven is actually Naruto. With his shadow clones, transformation and stealth skills, he would be best suited for it. Too bad no one has picked up on that, yet.
'Hmm, now that I think about it, Naruto would make a good tracker. I wonder what else he could do? So much untapped potential, all gone to waste. I hope we can convince him to join us. The Leaf Village doesn't deserve him.'
Haku was now lost in thoughts concerning Naruto. He almost did not notice when Sakura, who had been trying to keep Sasuke's attention on her, asked him a question.
"So, how long will you and your uncle be staying in Wave Country?"
Haku was quick to answer, as he had been the rest of the evening. He gave the Leaf ninja and Tazuna's family a slightly altered story of his past, so was technically not lying to them. While he was there, he also learned much of Naruto's past, or at least what his team-mates knew of him.
"Just until my uncle's convalescence is over. We shouldn't be here too much longer."
Sakura seemed pleased by that.
"Oh, well if you want to come by again just come to Mr. Tazuna's house in the evenings. We guard him during the day while he's working on the bridge. It would be nice to have another girl to hang out with."
Haku could tell why Sakura really wanted him to come by.
'It seems she's accepted I'm no threat to any possible relationship she may have with the Uchiha. That seems to make her genuinely interested in a friendship with me. Given her rivalry with the Uchiha's other admirers alienated her from her female friends, and the loss of her own admirer, she must want to try to make more.'
Too bad Haku had no sympathy for her.
'It's her own fault she has no friends. She's the one who chose to pursue a boy who has absolutely no interest in companionship over a strong friendship. Not only that, but she constantly spurned the affections of someone who had been giving her the attention she obviously craves. What is wrong with her?'
Haku cleared his throat, calmed himself, and replied to Sakura.
"No thanks, I need to keep watch over my uncle. I've been gone from his side for too long today already."
Sakura was disappointed by that.
"Oh, okay, then."
Sakura looked despondent for a moment, then slowly began another one-sided conversation with Sasuke.
'She must be bi-polar, to be able to switch moods like that. What did Naruto ever see in her?' Haku thought of Sakura.
Having decided he definitely did not like her, and never would, Haku turned his thoughts to Naruto's other team-mate.
'From what I've learned, Naruto thought of him as a rival, but the Uchiha saw him as nothing but an annoyance, much like his fangirls. They're both alone, but where Naruto is alone by circumstance, the Uchiha is alone by choice.'
Even Haku had heard of the Uchiha massacre, and knew of Uchiha Itachi from Zabuza's bingo book.
'He has, and had everything Naruto, or even I, could have wanted. Yet, instead of accepting the affections he's given, he spurns them in favour of pursuing his vengeance. That will only lead to his death one day.'
Haku, from experience, knew what Sasuke's fate would be if he continued his path of self-destruction.
'If Sasuke does kill Itachi, then Itachi's allies will kill him. Then Sasuke's friends, if he still has any, will avenge him. The cycle will just continue endlessly. The only way to end it would be either kill everyone ever connected with Itachi, and spend the rest of his life seeking them out, or forgive Itachi, and move on with his life.'
What path Sasuke took was no concern to Haku. One thing was sure though. With Sasuke's determination, obsessive as it was, he would either go far, or die trying.
'Then there's Naruto's former sensei. I've never seen someone so apathetic before in my life. He's supposed to be the son of the White Fang and the only surviving student of the Yellow Flash, yet master Zabuza and I could have killed him easily. The only reason we did not do so was to avoid incurring the Leaf Village's wrath.'
It would not be good for them to have another village out for their blood, though it was unlikely Kakashi would forget his defeat anytime soon. Actually, thanks to the sharingan, it was impossible.
'I suppose he can be forgiven for expecting better of his students since he was a jonin at their age, and it is his first time being a sensei. Still, given Naruto's condition, and his potential, I can't forgive him or anyone from the Leaf Village for letting it go to waste.'
The idea that Naruto was the one wasting his talents never occurred to Haku, who began to gather his thoughts of Naruto's former team.
'Overall, the Uchiha is not as bad as I thought he would be. He's hardly spoken at all, so I can't tell if he is as arrogant as I imagined. Naruto's death must have affected him more then he's letting on.'
Sasuke had been brooding the entire time, even more so for him. Sakura was trying her best to cheer him up, with no success.
'The girl is what I expected her to be. She is pretty shallow, and not concerned with her training at all. If she was able to became a ninja, the Leaf Village must have very low standards.'
Haku obviously did not like Sakura at all.
'Hatake is aloof to the point of annoyance. From what I could tell, his students disapprove of his tardiness, choices of literature, and how he always wears a mask.'
If Haku had seen Kakashi without his mask, he might understand his need for it.
'He didn't even take it off while eating! No one even noticed him clear his plate. At least master Zabuza takes off his wraps while eating. I've seen his handsome face, I bet the Leaf ninja can't say the same thing about Hatake.'
Had Naruto remained in the Leaf Village, a father and daughter duo at a ramen stand would be able to do so.
'That brings me to the big problem. As much as I dislike them for their past treatment of Naruto, should he rejoin them, they might improve and treat him better. Still, that would not change the opinions of the rest of the village.'
Nothing short of saving the village from destruction would instantly change the Leaf Village's opinion of Naruto overnight.
'There is no guarantee that if he does return to them, that they will change for the better and remain so. However, if Naruto does join us, we would definitely give him the companionship and training he needs.'
Between Zabuza's tutelage and his and Kimimaro's friendship, Haku was sure that Naruto would do well as part of their team.
'Not only that, but we haven't done anything to hurt him in the past. Aside from almost killing him, that is.'
Naruto is the kind of guy who would forgive someone for that anyway.
'I've decided now. I will do whatever it takes to convince Naruto that his place is with us now. His dark past in the Leaf Village is over now. His bright future with us, and someday the Mist Village, will begin soon.'
Having made up his mind concerning whether to keep Naruto or let him go, Haku happily smiled for the first time since leaving Tazuna's home. Looking forward, he saw Zabuza, in disguise, approaching them from a distance.
The former swordsman was now dressed in merchant's wear. That is to say, baggy, dark coloured clothes with many pockets and a large coat. He did not wear his face wraps, but had a straw hat covering his hair and downcast over his face, keeping anyone from looking into his eyes.
The Leaf genin soon noticed Zabuza, as he was not trying to conceal his presence. It would be suspicious for a merchant to hide from trained ninja, even inexperienced ninja.
"Oh, hello uncle Sano." Haku called out to Zabuza, using his alias.
"Hello Chisato," Zabuza replied, "who are your friends?"
Sasuke and Sakura stood beside Haku now, trying, and failing, to get a good look at Zabuza.
"They are the Leaf ninja who are guarding Mr. Tazuna as he finishes construction of the bridge. They escorted me back in case of any danger" Haku answered.
Zabuza nodded in reply before responding.
"Alright then, thanks for watching my niece. Come along now Chisato."
Haku walked forward, then bowed slightly to Sasuke and Sakura.
"Thank you for accompanying me back. I'll be fine now with my uncle to take me the rest of the way."
Sasuke grunted back. Sakura let out a mild sigh at Sasuke's lack of speech, then addressed Haku.
"You're welcome Chisato. It was nice meeting you, good-bye."
Sasuke then turned away, and quickly set a fast pace back to Tazuna's residence. Sakura followed as best as she could.
"Farewell." Haku called out to them.
"And Good Riddance." He muttered under his breath.
With the Leaf ninja gone, Zabuza and Haku left for their hide-out in silence. Haku would inform Zabuza of what he learned once they were back.
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Back in the safety of their base, Haku and Zabuza began to discuss the new knowledge they had of their patient.
"So, what else did you learn tonight?" Zabuza asked Haku.
Haku sighed, which Zabuza correctly assumed meant that what Haku learned was not pleasant.
"Simply put, from my observations of Naruto's former team, and the details of his past they revealed to me, I can honestly say that I hate them."
Zabuza was quite taken aback by that. From the ill concealed look of disgust and dislike on Haku's face, which did not look good on him, he was telling the truth.
'I've only ever seen Haku that angry when someone threatened me. To think, he already considers Naruto to be as important to him as I am.'
Zabuza cleared his throat, getting Haku's attention.
"What exactly drew you to that conclusion?"
Haku switched himself into "rant mode."
"First, his former sensei is aloof, apathetic toward teaching, and openly perverted. If it wasn't for the danger level of this mission, I doubt he would have shown them the chakra exercise they performed for quite some time."
Zabuza agreed with that.
"I concur. I was not impressed by Hatake's performance, or the skill level of his students. They should have been more experienced. Then again, I do have higher standards for those under my command."
Having heard Zabuza's opinion of his reasons for disliking Kakashi, continued his rant.
"Not only that, but I can't stand his team-mates. The girl is utterly shallow. She's only concerned with her looks, and is obsessed with the Uchiha."
Haku looked like he going to pull his long, silky hair out. He began pacing around the room to calm down.
'Didn't Naruto have a crush on that girl?' Zabuza thought to himself. 'Could Haku merely be indignant on behalf of Naruto for the girl's treatment of him? If so, Haku's become quite empathic with him.'
While Haku was a kind and gentle soul, who would never hurt anyone unless he had no choice, the boy now looked like he was planning on assassinating most of the Leaf Village. Not that he would ever do such a thing. Zabuza on the other hand…
"What about the Uchiha? How bad is he?" The swordsman in question, well, questioned Haku.
"He's one of the worst people I have ever met! Sure, he lost almost his entire family, but at least he had one! Now, instead of being thankful he's alive, he's trying to kill himself by seeking out strong opponents to 'test' himself against."
Haku was now yelling in anger.
'I've never seen him act like this before. Hmm, Naruto was such a happy, energetic kid, but it seems like his life was very rough. Could Haku have developed a bond with Naruto so strong in such a short time that he's expressing all the anger Naruto has suppressed?'
Zabuza was no psychologist, but his assumption seemed accurate. Meanwhile, Haku was continuing his outbursts.
"Not only that, but he has just about every girl in the village throwing themselves at him, and he brushes them off like they're nothing to him! People try to be nice to him, and want to be his friend, but he just acts like a smug bastard the whole time!"
Zabuza decided he heard enough, and knew he had to step in.
"Haku," Zabuza said while grabbing onto the boy's shoulders and holding him in place. "Calm down, this isn't like you."
Haku breathed deeply for a few seconds, then began breaking down. Throwing his arms around Zabuza, he began to cry.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Haku said through choked sobs, "I don't know what came over me."
Zabuza continued to hold Haku until he calmed down, glad no one was around to see them. It would hurt his image. After some time, Haku had relaxed.
The boy took a seat while Zabuza leaned against a wall, opting to put some distance between himself and Haku after his uncharacteristic comforting of his apprentice. Soon, Haku spoke up.
"What happened to me?" Haku asked Zabuza.
"As near as I can tell, you've developed some kind of empathic bond with Naruto. You feel what he does. That outburst just now must have been caused by the pent up rage in Naruto. Your sudden mood swing from anger to sadness could be attributed to it as well"
Haku accepted Zabuza's explanation.
"So, what I felt was Naruto's own anger towards his sensei for not instructing him, the girl he liked for spurning his affections, and the Uchiha for rejecting his friendship?" Haku asked, and partially stated, to Zabuza.
Zabuza nodded back.
"Also, when I started crying, I remembered how the bridge builder's grandson told me that Naruto didn't cry, no matter had rough his life had been. I must have been expressing the sadness he kept to himself as well." Haku explained further.
"Yes, that sounds right. For now, it might be best if you let me keep an eye on Naruto. Don't interact with the Leaf ninja either. This will just be until we've figured out what caused this." Zabuza instructed.
Haku was disappointed he would have to avoid Naruto from now on.
'I won't be able to help him recover, not that there is much that can be done now. I suppose it's for the best.'
"What should I do until then?" Haku asked his master.
Zabuza put his hand to his chin in a thinking pose. After a few moments, he gave Haku his new orders.
"We still need the supplies we commandeered from Gato sorted. It would be best to wait until Naruto wakes up so he can help us with his shadow clones. Otherwise it will take us quite some time to do so."
Zabuza and Haku not only pilfered Gato's coffers for all his funds, but drove away his workers and stole all the goods his ships were carrying.
"However, he might awaken faster if we had better medical supplies. Try to find something that might wake him up. You can wait until morning to start though. You'll need all the energy you can get."
Haku accepted his new mission, and the order to rest.
'I feel too emotionally drained anyway. Tomorrow I'll start looking through the shipyards and try to find all the medical aid I can.'
"What about the people of Wave? Should we share anything with them?" Haku asked Zabuza.
"That might be a good idea. We're already on their bad side for trying to kill Tazuna, but killing Gato may have got them over that. Still, if we offered them some of the medicine and money we liberated from Gato, that would go a long way towards making them an ally in the future."
Haku's mood perked up now. Helping people always did that for him.
"Still, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. We can either keep most of it to ourselves and give up what we don't need, or we can work with the people of Wave, and hopefully count on them for help with the Mist's rebellion." Zabuza explained to Haku.
The two pondered their situation for a moment. Zabuza considered the political benefits of an alliance with Wave Country.
'If we help with Wave's restoration, it'll help my reputation. Not only that, It'll be a good way to work on how I'm going to help restore the Hidden Mist Village and Water Country. Once the rebellion is over, and both countries are stable, we'd be able to forge a trading alliance that would be very profitable for both nations.'
Haku was thinking along different lines.
'The people here have been suffering for so long. If we can help them, we should do so.'
Zabuza looked down at his first apprentice, and could tell what he was thinking by the look in his eyes.
"Alright, we'll wait until the Leaf ninja have left, then contact Tazuna about making some deals. The long term benefits are definitely worth it. Until then, keep searching for medical supplies. Keep what you think will help Naruto, and anything ninja-related, if there is anything like that. Give the rest to the villagers."
Haku was glad they would be helping the people of Wave Country, they needed it.
"I have one question though. Why would we wait until the Leaf ninja leave to contact Tazuna? Wouldn't he be more comfortable, thus more willing to negotiate with us, having them around?" Haku asked Zabuza.
"Could you stand to be in the same room as them?" Zabuza asked back in reply.
"No." Was Haku's simple response.
While having dinner with Tazuna's family and team seven, Haku learned that Sasuke was rookie of the year. That meant that Sasuke, who Haku beat with ease, could be the best to expect from the Leaf Village.
"If their team was any indication of the Hidden Leaf Village's standards, I'd rather have nothing to do with them at all."
That statement was made by Haku, but the sentiment was shared by Zabuza, for the most part.
"I agree with you on that. Don't forget though, Naruto's situation most likely makes him the exception, not the norm. Had he not been the host of the nine-tailed fox demon, he might have been treated like a normal person. Who knows what his life would have been like."
There was no point in wondering "what if?" Zabuza and Haku had both learned that the hard way.
After an uncomfortable silence, Zabuza spoke up.
"Alright, it's late now, and we have a lot to do tomorrow. Get some rest. I'll keep watch over Naruto. I'll let you know if there's any changes in his condition."
Zabuza then returned to the infirmary to check on Naruto. Haku, emotionally drained, retired to his quarters for the night. Before going to sleep, he swore he would do whatever it takes to help Naruto recuperate, and give him a better future.
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Author's Notes: I hope it didn't look like I was bashing team seven here. From the point of view of someone who emphasizes with Naruto though, it's hard to keep them in a good light.
Haku's current empathy toward Naruto isn't the result of anything serious or sinister. It's just the start of his new relationship with Naruto. I'm going to make him seem like an overprotective big brother from now on.
Just to let you know, I'm somewhat inspired in this story by "Reflection of Demons" and the one-shot it was based off, "Mirrors." Both are in my favourites.
Another good story with Naruto travelling with Zabuza and Haku is "Naruto: Demon's Path." It's also in my favourites.
For good Mist Naruto stories, there's "The Yellow Flash of Kiri", another of my favourites, and Mizukage, by dragon6, which is the one of the highest reviewed Naruto fanfics.