Naruto ran a hand gently across his wound. It was healing faster than a normal person's rate, but even so it wasn't fast enough to get him to tip top condition for the battle with Zabuza. He was currently walking in an open field alone.
"Genjutsu Kai," he muttered as his hands formed a seal. Instantly the illusion dropped, revealing the true form of Naruko. She decided to sit under a tree in the middle of the field. The shade it provided was comforting, also the breeze gently blowing by; making her hair fly slightly was very relaxing. She dozed off in a minute.
Naruko opened her eyes a while later when she heard some ruffling sounds. She looked to see a black haired figure, bent down and picking some wild herbs and placing it in the basket that was beside the person.
"A fine day, isn't it?" Naruto asked, hoping to start a conversation with this person. The said person turned around, showing her soft feminine features as she smiled.
"Yes it is," the newcomer replied. "My name is Haku."
"I am Naruko," the blonde responded in kind. "It's good to meet you."
Haku smiled and sat down beside Naruko, who took a good look at the person. Her hair was straight down to her shoulders- it looked as smooth as silk. She was almost tempted to run her hands through it just to see how it felt like. Her skin lived up to her name- 'Haku' meaning white. It was white as snow, as if she never seen a day of sun in her life. It made her glow with a soft gentle beauty. Naruko could see under the blue flowery kimono that was slightly loose that her breasts were very nicely shaped, slightly smaller than her own. Her sash was tied around her tiny slender waist tightly, giving her breasts more assent. Her legs for the most part were hidden, but parts of her calves were revealed as she sat down. It was the same as her face- white as snow. She was a beautiful woman.
"You are very pretty," Naruko complimented, earning a small pink blush from the black haired girl.
"Thank you," Haku said. "You are very pretty yourself."
Naruko could only smile. Haku turned to see the Konoha headband that Naruko possessed.
"You're a ninja," Haku commented. Naruko nodded.
"My team is on a mission from Konoha," Naruko answered. She then lay down on the grass, looking up at the clouds through the holes that the tree's leaves didn't cover.
"I thought ninjas train a lot in their free time," Haku stated. Naruko responded by lifting up the green tee shirt she was wearing. It revealed a heavily bandaged torso under her black sports bra.
"I was stabbed," Naruko answered. "By a giant sword that belongs to a powerful enemy. I can't train until the wound is healed."
Haku saw the battle that day. She had recalled that the one stabbed was a blonde boy, but somehow he had turned into a girl seconds after.
Haku half thought about killing the blonde ninja now to save her the trouble of a future battle. She held back when she saw the blonde's relaxed smiling face as she stared in to the sky through the leaves. Instead she got down on all fours and leaned close to the blonde's face. Naruko turned her head slightly to meet her soft gaze.
"Your eyes," Haku stated. "They are so pretty, like the endless sky."
Naruko smiled again. She took a deep breath. She could smell Haku's scent. It smelled like cool mint. Naruko liked that smell.
Naruko motioned for Haku to lie beside her, which Haku happily did. For that one moment, Naruko felt like she was in heaven. Everything was perfect. She didn't know why but it felt nice being with this girl. Something connected them together.
"There's something about you, Haku," Naruko stated. "I feel so relaxed around you."
"I feel the same thing about you too," Haku replied. "It's hard to explain."
Naruko pondered on what she said. It was true. While she could feel some sort of connection, it was unexplainable. Coupled with the fact that they have only just met, this was something Naruko have never experienced before. She liked this new experience.
"Naruko," Haku called, earning a muffled hum from the blonde as a reply. "How do you get strong? Why do you want to become a ninja?"
Naruko sighed.
"I became a ninja because I had to," she answered. "There are people whom I don't know, but are hunting me for something I have no control over."
Haku turned to her side to face the blonde.
"I become strong because I have to," Naruko continued. "I have to become strong to protect those I hold dear to me. My precious people who I hold close to my heart, I have to protect them with my life."
Haku reached out a hand to play with Naruko's long blonde hair, which was spread beside her.
"I hold a power that people fear greatly, and there are people who would see me dead just because of it," Naruko stated. Haku's smile disappeared.
"It's not fair," she stated.
Naruko smiled. "I have people who care about me, and I care about them."
"Naruko," Haku said, causing the blonde to look at the beautiful black haired girl. "You will become very strong."
Naruko smiled as she tore her gaze away from Haku's mesmerizing black eyes and sat up. She gently pushed Haku down to the grass and leaned in over her, blonde hair falling like golden rain onto Haku's face. Her hand found its way to Haku's cheek, caressing it softly. Haku moaned softly and leaned into the touch. Naruko took this moment to lean in and catch her lips in a soft kiss. Haku was shocked at first, but kissed back. Naruko's tongue gently pushed her way into Haku's mouth, feeling her give way to Naruko's demands. She met Naruko's tongue with her own, twisting and twirling around each other like entangled vines. Naruko wrapped her hands around Haku's slender waist and pulled her closer. Haku's hands instinctively went to Naruko's neck, and held her in a gentle hug. Naruko's hands went from Haku's waist to her face, cupping it as she released the French kiss that connected them together. A trail of saliva hung in between them before it broke off a second later.
Naruko looked at Haku's blushing face. It was very cute. She smiled.
"That was-" Haku started, but Naruko silenced her with a finger to her lips. Naruko then leaned in again and kissed her, this time more passionately than before. She could feel Haku's body melt into the kiss and she released it after a few minutes. Haku was panting like a school girl. Her face was warm and pinkish from blushing and she had a small stain of saliva at the sides of her mouth from making out with the feisty blonde.
"You are beautiful," Naruko whispered into her ear. Haku blushed even harder. Haku's mind was racing. Her heart was pounding. She had just made out with a complete stranger. What was worse was, she enjoyed it. She enjoyed how her lips were soft and sweet, how the blonde's tongue battled hers for dominance in her mouth, how Naruko held her tightly as if she was someone important. She loved how Naruko kept complimenting her. It made her feel wanted and un-abandoned. On the other hand, they knew nothing about each other, besides their names. Haku opened her mouth to excuse herself, but one look at Naruko's smiling face dismissed the thought.
Haku closed her eyes and enjoyed the comfort of the pretty blonde that was currently wrapped around her body. It was very relaxing, she had to admit. And it was like this the duo spent the entire day, in each other's company out on the vast green field, with the warm sun and the cool breeze that blew through it.
Kakashi stood in a defensive stance with two of his students around Tazuna. Sakura and Sasuke both had a kunai in their hands placed in front of them. A mist surrounded them. It was an ominous mist. Kakashi could feel it in his bones.
"Kakashi," a voice called out from the mist. "It seems we meet again."
Kakashi narrowed his eye as he recognized the voice. Kakashi heard a metallic swing to his left, to which he wisely blocked with his kunai. A metallic impact was heard a fraction of a second later.
Sasuke and Sakura scanned their surroundings as best they could, but the mist prevented them from seeing anything. Suddenly they heard a light swoosh. Both shinobi wisely blocked two incoming senbon, aiming for their eyes with their kunai.
"There's more than one enemy," Sakura confirmed with Sasuke.
"Your students are shaking, Kakashi," Zabuza taunted from the mist. "Is he afraid of death?"
Sasuke looked at his hands. They were trembling horribly. Sakura was no different. They both smiled.
"We aren't trembling in fear, you blind bat," Sasuke said as he blocked an attempt to stab him with a senbon by the second assassin.
"We're excited," Sakura finished.
"Domu no jutsu!"
Sakura's hands immediately turned brownish black. She caught the attempt by the newcomer assassin to stab her, and punched the assassin in the gut, causing the assassin, who was masked, to fly back. The assassin landed beside Zabuza.
"Zabuza-sama," the assassin began in a feminine voice, but was silenced when Zabuza glared at her.
"It seems your students have gotten stronger," Zabuza commented. "But they are still no match for my friend here."
Kakashi revealed his Sharingan.
"Sakura, Sasuke, protect him from the second assailant," Kakashi instructed. As both of his students nodded, he charged off into the mist. Kakashi's Sharingan saw through the mist immediately, and in an instant he was face to face with the Demon of the Mist, body tensed for battle. He trusted his students to take care of things with Tazuna. His priority was to keep this A- ranked missing ninja away from his students.
Sasuke was engaging the second assailant, while Sakura was keeping watch over their client. Sasuke was having a hard time against his opponent, for while he had improved, he was barely able to keep up with his enemy's superior speed. Haku was trying to force him to err, by swiping once at his vital organs with her senbon, forcing him to block with his kunai, then quickly disappearing and reappearing behind him in another attempt to kill him. Sasuke had always been able to block both, much to Haku's annoyance. He was keeping up with her speed, but just barely. She needed to up her game. She swiped again, forcing him to block again. Her free hand quickly ran through some seals.
"Sensatsu Shuishou!"
Vapor from the mist suddenly condensed and formed into many floating needles surrounding Sasuke. He jumped just as they flew towards him. As soon as he landed, Haku was in front of him, attempting another swipe. Sasuke flinched- he was not going to be able to block this strike.
"Suiben!"
A whip seemingly made of water caught Haku's arm in midair. Sasuke followed the whip back to the source. It was Sakura. The whip was hers. She had stopped the assassin's attempt.
Sasuke, taking this moment, quickly delivered a heavy roundhouse kick to the assassin's head, sending her flying a few feet away. She flipped and landed on the ground. Haku quickly performed hand seals and slammed her hands on the ground.
"Hyourou no jutsu!"
Blocks of ice appeared from the ground, travelling from Haku to both Sakura and Sasuke at insane speeds. Sasuke dodged by jumping, while Sakura tackled Tazuna to the side. The ice missed her by a couple of inches.
"Tazuna-san, please find Naruto," Sakura instructed hastily. "He will be able to protect you."
Tazuna nodded and ran to find the blonde ninja. Sakura watched as he disappeared in the mist.
Sasuke-kun, I'm ready," Sakura firmly stated as the Suiben appeared in her hands. She gave it a strong swing, causing the whip to smack the ground with a loud bang. Sasuke nodded.
"Take point, Sakura," Sasuke instructed. "I will back you from behind with my fire jutsus."
Sakura nodded.
"Be careful," Sasuke warned. "She is fast and deadly."
Sakura nodded. She gave the Suiben another swing, and charged towards Haku. As she approached, she swung her Suiben towards Haku in an attempt to bind her, but she easily dodged the attempt by jumping.
Sasuke saw an opening and quickly ran his hands through a series of seals.
"Katon! Gokakyuu!"
He blew a giant fireball towards the airborne Haku, who twisted her body to escape being scorched. She landed on the ground with a heavy click on her ninja sandals, and immediately Sakura pounced. She leapt into the air, and swung her Suiben strongly towards Haku. Haku dodged the attack by leaping to the side. Sasuke was already in front of her, squatting to sweep her feet from underneath her. Haku had no time to respond, and was caught in the move. She fell to the floor on her back, groaning. Immediately Sakura stabbed her in the heart with a kunai. Haku didn't move for a few seconds. Sasuke and Sakura were about to relax when the Haku disappeared in a poof and was replaced by a broken senbon.
They cursed.
"Suiton! Mizurappa!"
Sakura and Sasuke turned their heads in the direction of the voice, a decision which proved to be poor. A violent jet of water smashed into the two Konoha ninjas, sending them both flying into one of the bridge's beams. The attack knocked the wind out of both of them.
"I will show you," Haku stated with a hint of ice on her voice. "The extent of my powers."
Tazuna had reached his house. He knew Naruto was resting on the upper floor. He rushed through the front door, only to stop dead at the sight he saw. His daughter was tied up, and on the ground, while his grandson had a kitchen knife in his hand. Two thugs with katanas were attacking them. It seemed to be happened just a few moments ago, because any longer the thugs would have dispatched both of them with ease.
"DO NOT TOUCH MY MOTHER!" Inari screamed at the top of his lungs. Tazuna looked at his grandson. He had a determined look on his face. He smiled as he thought about how similar Inari was to his son-in-law.
Inari glared at the two assassins as hard as he could. In truth he was scared that he was in between them and his mother. He was half tempted to surrender but he remembered what Naruto told him.
Flashback
Naruto was outside, watching Sasuke do the tree climbing exercise. Sakura was beside him, trying to perform the Suiben but to no avail. Inari watched from behind a tree near them as they trained for the upcoming battle.
"I can't seem to hold the water," Sakura complained as her attempt failed for the umpteenth time.
"Sakura," Naruto began explaining in a slightly annoyed tone. "After you gather chakra into your hands, you must be able to visualize the whip. Think of it as a wet leather rope that you can smack your enemies with."
Sakura nodded and returned to training.
"WHY DO YOU ALL TRY SO HARD?" Inari screamed at the top of his lungs. "YOU WILL ALL DIE ANYWAYS! WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE WHETHER YOU TRAIN OR NOT?!"
Naruto frowned. He got up swiftly, ignoring the glaring pain that came out from his wound as a result of reckless movement. He walked over to the child that was glaring at him, and proceeded to slap him hard in the face.
"You are disgrace to your father's name," Naruto stated.
Sasuke and Sakura gasped.
"Naruto..." Sakura began but Naruto stopped her with a sharp look.
"Your father died protecting his family and home," Naruto continued. "While you stew in your own filth, ignorant of your father's legacy."
"YOU DIDN'T KNOW MY FATHER!" Inari screamed. "YOU DIDN'T SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM!"
"I know of men like your father!" Naruto hissed angrily. "He sacrificed everything he had to ensure you and your mother's survival. Even your grandfather, an aged man who is supposed to enjoy his last few years of life, is doing something for his home. You are a spoilt brat who cannot do anything. You are not worthy of your father's name and blood."
Naruto took off his shirt and reveled the bandaged torso. The bandages had blood seeping through.
"I took a giant blade to the chest for your grandpa," Naruto stated. "It nearly cost me my life."
Inari gasped.
"If I had known I would be protecting people like you, I would have just turned back and stopped wasting my time," Naruto said icily.
"Naruto," Sakura finally interrupted. "He's a kid."
She put her hand on his shoulder and ushered him to the house where the first aid kit was. The bandages needed changing. The wound had reopened when Naruto stood up swiftly.
"Inari-san," Sakura called softly. "Please forgive Naruto. He's had a hard life where everything he has is the result of his hard work and determination."
Inari ran back to his room crying. He held a picture of his father as he cried into the pillow. Naruto's words rang in his head. His mind was racing with thoughts. Was he really useless? Was here really a disgrace to his father's name? Was he unworthy of his father's name and blood?
He looked at his hands. The blood of my father flows in these hands, he thought. He sat up. He had come to a decision. He would stop brooding. He would NOT be useless. He would be worthy of his father's name and blood. He was going to follow in his father's footsteps in defending his family and home.
Flashback end
Tazuna gasped as the two thugs ignored his presence and closed in on his grandson and daughter.
"Inari, run!" Tsunami instructed. "Leave me!"
"Never," the child answered defiantly. "I will not let my family down anymore."
"Endan!"
The two thugs turned to the direction of the voice, but gasped to see a fireball burning its way towards them. They flinched as the fireball was suddenly in front of them, and could only scream as the inferno engulfed them, sending them to their painful deaths.
Tazuna sighed in relief as Naruto walked down the stairs, clutching his wound over his tee shirt.
"Naruto-san, your teammates are in trouble," Tazuna blurted out. Naruto frowned.
"This is bad," Naruto stated. "I am in no condition to fight anyone."
"Now what?" Inari asked.
"I have no choice but to fight," Naruto answered firmly.
"Your wound…" Tsunami began, but Naruto interrupted her.
"My teammates are in danger," Naruto said. "I have to go."
Tsunami nodded. "Be careful, Naruto-san."
Naruto nodded and departed for the battlefield.
Jutsu Translation
Endan – Fireball
Goukakyuu – Grand Fireball
Suiben – Water Whip
Domu – Earth Spear
Hyourou – Ice Prison
Mizurappa – Violent Water Wave
Sensatsu Suishou – Death by a Thousand Flying Needles
