Chapter 10: Additional Intel

The forest was quieter than it normally was, given the hour. They hadn't been in Wave for long but the forest life hadn't taken notice of him since Haku had first wandered about, keeping to himself. Just as he'd learned to years ago. It was part of being useful when Zabuza was involved.

The quiet still made him want to linger for a while longer, and for the first time that week he was able to. Zabuza hadn't fallen asleep until late, drinking and cursing Gato's name for insisting they stay to fight the Konoha nin.

It was never a pretty sight when someone attempted to change things at the last minute but they needed the money if they were going to get back to Kiri. Tensions had been high lately and there was a chance they could fit into Kiri's new order at the end of it. It wasn't a big one but it was there. Haku had first noticed how things were changing last year, even with Zabuza's attempts to keep signs of unrest away from him. Zabuza couldn't stop him from hearing the whispers of revolt.

But at the moment, a drinking Zabuza meant a Zabuza who wouldn't be awake until afternoon, one who wouldn't miss Haku's presence. This would give him the time to collect herbs for a salve to put on Zabuza's wounds. It was just one way his mentor wouldn't be able to survive without him.

His gaze fell on a patch of flowers across the clearing.

Oh.

That was the reason for the quiet than.

One of the shinobi Zabuza had gone up against. The blond one who'd demanded to know who he was. The more important question might be what the shinobi was doing here now, fast asleep in the grass. It was obvious to him now in a way it hadn't been before that this shinobi was young, maybe only a year younger than Haku at the most, but also younger in the ways it counted. Knowing this Konoha shinobi had the luxury to be young was oddly gratifying.

He'd grown up fast due to necessity, after all. And so had Zabuza, if his mentor's stories were as genuine as Haku believed. Still, it would have been nice to grow up as normal child might have.

The shinobi twitched and Haku stood still, watching. There was little chance of the shinobi recognizing him. He'd taken the usual precautions, after all, and the two situations were too different for an untrained eye to make a connection. Even if Zabuza didn't practice this sort of subterfuge himself, there was a reason Haku had learned it.

Except that didn't have to matter. Except he should kill this boy before he became a problem later. He'd watched the battle between the Konoha nin and Zabuza. It had been more difficult for Zabuza than any other fight had been since Haku had joined him. If he got rid of this shinobi now than it would splinter the rest of the team and they would leave both Gato and this country sooner. It would be easy, even. They didn't normally stumble over their enemies sleeping in a forest.

All he had to do was wrap his fingers around the boy's neck and squeeze. It would take a couple minutes and the boy would struggle at first but the suddenness of the action and the boy's own sleepiness would offset that. Most of all, it would be relatively painless. Haku had seen much worse ways to die, had administered them himself.

It was supposed to be easier this way.

The shinobi woke then, his gaze fixating on Haku almost immediately. Haku waited for the sleep to fade from the blond's eyes but as soon as it did, the shinobi's cheeks started to burn a bright red.

"Good morning, shinobi-san." Haku greet with a small smile. "You shouldn't sleep in a place like this, you'll catch a cold."

Killing this boy would still be so simple as he stared up at Haku, utterly oblivious to the danger he was in. There were senbon needles lined in the deceptively soft clothes he wore, if he didn't want to deal with the trouble of strangling him. Or he could take advantage of one of the many pressure points the shinobi left open. The handle from his basket could even be torn off and used as a noose. The boy would barely notice before he was dead. And Zabuza would be proud.

The shinobi quickly sat up as he adapted to the situation in stride.

"Who… are you?" the shinobi asked, misplaced awe bleeding into his voice.

"Haku. And who might you be?"

A grin, wide and undeterred by things like pain, spread across the boy's face. "Uzumaki Naruto! Remember it, cause one day I'm going to be the Hokage."

It was then that Haku knew he couldn't kill this boy. He'd killed people before, young and old, more times than he cared to remember. So, it wasn't that Naruto was too innocent or that Haku couldn't bring the final blow to someone off the battlefield. Zabuza had trained him better than that. But there was something about Naruto's blind optimism. Haku didn't know if he could put it into words if he was asked to. If Zabuza knew about this, any of it, than his mentor would look pained again.

Haku carried on the conversation, knowing Naruto would soon take off to relieve his teammate's worries. It was a natural conclusion. Being away from Zabuza for too long always bothered him, he never knew just how much trouble Zabuza could get it while he wasn't around.

But Naruto stuck around.

Haku mentioned a sick friend being the reason for him walking around the forest and Naruto offered to help him pick the herbs he needed. It was odd. Most people would have just wished his "friend" luck and then left. And the longer Naruto stayed, the higher chance there was that he'd realize Haku was a shinobi. Hiding that was nearly impossible and yet Haku still failed to ask him to leave.

It didn't take long for Haku to pick up on the way Naruto had turned quiet for the first time as he searched through a small patch of flowers. He should ignore it. Whatever was going through the shinobi's mind wasn't his business.

"Is something the matter, Uzumaki-san?" he asked instead.

Naruto frowned at the ground. "Nah, it's not important."

"Are you certain? You seem to be thinking a lot about something that's not important."

Naruto stopped for a moment, leaning back to look at the pieces of sky hidden between branches. "My cousin is a real jerk. He thought he could stop me from coming to Wave, even though it was only for a couple weeks! He even tried to go to the Hokage and offer himself for my mission. Who does that? He's so weird!" He huffed loudly and then fell the few inches to the ground.

Haku couldn't stop himself from laughing, softening, even when Naruto turned his glare from the sky to him. It was far too similar to the way Zabuza had acted the first time he had to go on a solo mission without backup. An assassination contract, one where Zabuza's lack of subtlety would have ruined the entire thing. And they'd been in dire need of money at the time.

His mentor had done nothing but fret in his normal, gruff manner, critiquing every measure Haku made in preparation. He hadn't realized until weeks later that it was because he'd been worried. Not because he really thought Haku would be stupid enough to poison himself if Zabuza wasn't there holding his hand.

"It's not funny! I'm strong enough to handle a few enemies. And, heh, this mission is actually a lot harder than it was supposed to be but I can still do it!" Naruto protested.

Haku's laughter slowed and he smiled over at Naruto. "It sounds as if he care about you a lot."

"No way! If he cared then he would've known how strong I am."

"He probably does," Haku refuted gently. "But I know my important person worries about me getting hurt even though he knows how competent I am. Perhaps this is also true of your cousin?"

"But - ah!" Naruto exhaled loudly, scowling up at the sky once more. "I didn't ask him to be worried about me."

"No one asks to worry about someone either."

There was a contemplative silence as Haku carefully uprooted a couple more herbs, placing them in his basket with the others. Naruto had to work this out for himself.

"You really think he just didn't want me to get hurt?"

"It's a possibility."

Naruto stayed like that for a few more minutes as Haku considered a couple extra herbs he'd found. They could be used in a tea to take a bit of Zabuza's pain away but they'd also make his mind foggy in the meantime. It was a chance Haku didn't really want to make while they were staying in a building full of Gato's men. Maybe if he made sure to be with him the entire time. Just maybe.

"I really don't understand him," Naruto admitted suddenly.

Haku glanced up. "Your cousin?"

"Yeah, Rin. He just showed up out of nowhere about a month ago. And he hasn't left yet, even though apparently he has friends outside the village. He doesn't even know anyone in Konoha, not outside of me and Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan and Sasuke."

"His name is… Uzumaki Rin than?"

"Uzumaki Rin from who knows where," Naruto muttered bitterly and then he frowned. "Do you know him?"

"No, I just thought I recognized the name. There's no need to worry yourself, Uzumaki-san."

"Okay?"

"It was nice to meet you, Uzumaki-san, but I need to get back before my friend begins to worry about me." Haku stood abruptly, ignoring the look Naruto was giving him. He'd spent too long talking to an enemy already and he wouldn't be thanked for it but he hesitated, something holding him back. "I'm sure your cousin considers you to be one of his important people as well, just as my friend is mine."

Naruto nodded slowly and sat up again. "Okay. I hope your friend gets better soon, Haku-chan!"

"Thank you but I'm sure he'll be fine." Haku held back a laugh as he turned around and started back towards Gato's. But he couldn't resist pausing and calling over his shoulder, "Oh, and I'm a boy, Uzumaki-san."

Confused exclamations followed, most in reference to him being prettier than someone named Sakura. Haku allowed himself a brief smile but most of the pleasantness faded the closer he got to Gato's base. Most people hadn't been trained to make connections outside of the circumstances they expected them to happen in but Haku had. And he should have made the connection between Uzumaki Rin and Uzumaki Naruto.

He hadn't lied to Naruto about his cousin. He'd never actually met Uzumaki Rin and neither had Zabuza. They hadn't had to. Instead they'd seen him fight and that had been enough, even from a distance. Fire had played at the man's fingertips, blown to unimaginable heights with his natural wind affinity. His opponent hadn't stood a chance. Zabuza had called him feral, said he recognized the look in his eyes.

It had happened years ago but Haku could still remember the destruction afterwards, the way the village had been filled with the scent of burning grassland and the way Zabuza had dragged them from the village. They'd abandoned a job mid-way through without getting paid.

If Uzumaki Naruto had even a quarter of the power his cousin had then Zabuza was in much more power than Haku had thought. Maybe, just maybe, if he brought it up than his worries wouldn't be ignored and they'd leave Wave entirely. But things like supposed strength had almost never deterred his mentor before.

It almost certainly wouldn't this time either.

Rin paced the hallway outside the Hokage's office. It had been almost a week since Naruto had left and he couldn't stop replaying their confrontation.

It wasn't that Rin regretted what he'd said. If he had the chance to do the mission in place of Team 7, he would have taken it in an instant. But somehow in the grand scheme of things, he'd managed to forget just how bad things were. His memories of Konoha before the Chuunin Exams were fuzzier than the rest separated from time.

There was also a good chance he hadn't wanted to remember them in favour of the better times.

On top of all that, there was no way to know if anything had changed, either because of his argument with Naruto or because of something else entirely. Perhaps his presence in his reality had upset things. It was just another thing he hadn't thought through properly. It was easier to plan for the bigger things - for stopping Madara - than it was to consider the other effects his actions might have had.

Like if Naruto and the rest of Team Seven were killed by Zabuza. If Zabuza was killed by them. If Gato decided to push a bit harder to make sure the bridge wasn't completed. Or if, by some miracle, Zabuza and Haku weren't in Wave at all.

The possibilities were far too endless to consider. And yet he'd barely managed to get anything accomplished over the past week, such as finding out more about Madara's actions and just how Danzo tied into it all. It had been a relief when he got word that the Hokage wanted to meet with him.

The door opened and a genin team filed out, Kurenai following behind them. Rin stared at them, his steps coming to a definite stop. For a moment, he was standing in the waiting room during the Chuunin Exams, bickering with Kiba about who knew what.

And then came the much more overwhelming image. Kneeling beside Hinata with the heavy smell of blood and iron in the air as Sakura told him there was nothing else she could do, even as her own hands were shaking from chakra deprivation. But Kiba and Shino continued down the hall without paying him any notice and Hinata's gaze curiously flitted towards him before she joined them.

"You must be Uzumaki-san," Kurenai commented and Rin was wrenched from his memories. He hadn't even noticed she'd lingered behind.

He grinned, more automatic than genuine. "And you're Yuhi-san."

"Did Hatake actually mention me?" she asked, incredulous, then stopped as she answered herself. "No, of course not. Kakashi wouldn't have even thought to mention any of us."

"I won't defend him when it's true," Rin agreed, easily.

Kurenai paused oddly, the quip missing its mark. "You were just recently promoted to jounin, weren't you? I figured I should let you know about the discounted drinks down at the bar for jounin on Thursday nights. Fair warning though, newbies have to challenge Gai to a drinking contest."

The offer was far more genuine than Rin was expecting. Not that he was sure what he'd been expecting. Perhaps more of the same type of evaluation he'd received with Asuma or Gai's joyous enthusiasm. But Kurenai's offer appealed to him and not just by fulfilling the vague hopes he'd had of one day becoming friends with the jounin.

It had been months since he'd talked to someone his own age, outside of Kakashi.

"I should go before they decide food is more important than our mission. Have a good day, Uzumaki-san."

"You too, Yuhi-san," Rin parrotted back. "I'll make sure to be there next Thursday."

"Great. Don't worry if you want make it though, everyone understands."

She continued on after her team and Rin walked into the Hokage's office feeling a bit like someone had just run him over. He sat down immediately, perched on the very edge as if the chair would bite him if he leaned back.

The Sandaime was already watching expectantly as Rin sat there, his emotions a whirlwind. It had felt a bit like he had frayed at the edges ever since Naruto had left. And instead of leaving loose ends alone, something kept tugging at them and unravelling him further. There wasn't even a respite in sleep these past few days between the nightmares and the migraines he'd wake up with. It had been well over a year since he'd felt like this but Rin wasn't sure if stress could cover the reasons why it had come back.

"Thank you for responding with such haste, Uzumaki-san," the Hokage said.

"Are they okay?"

"I assume you're referring to Team 7." Rin nodded firmly and the Hokage sighed. "They should be fine. A brief missive informed us of a couple complications but it seems Kakashi bore the brunt of the damage, leaving the genin only shaken. And determined to fight back, I'm certain. They'll be staying until the bridge between Wave and the mainland has been constructed."

Nothing had changed then. Rin hadn't cause some sort of ripple effect, at least not in this. If everything went to plan than he would only have the luxury of his knowledge for a little longer.

"I have to admit, I didn't think you'd look relieved," the Hokage commented.

Rin managed a shaky grin. "Would you believe I'd imagined something much worse?"

"It seems so."

"Will Kakashi be okay?" Rin asked, just to be sure.

"It's hard to know." The Sandaime leaned back in his chair, his gaze not leaving Rin. "He has a history of concealing the extent of his injuries in order to finish a mission. Regardless, we'll have a have a medic ready for him when they arrive."

The creeping fear Rin felt wasn't what he expected, not when he knew this was how things were supposed to happen. It was difficult to remember when he'd first seen that Kakashi wasn't as invincible as he'd thought. What was easier to recall was the countless times afterwards, returning from missions and seeing him confined to a hospital bed because he'd pushed himself too far. There had always been a fine line between what Kakashi had survived and what almost killed him, and Rin didn't have another back button.

"However, I did not ask you here so we could talk about Team 7. I have a proposition for you, Uzumaki-san."

This was a conversation that needed his entire attention then. Rin forced back his thoughts about Naruto and Kakashi and Haku. If this was anything like the last proposition the Sandaime had for him than it would be in his best interest to at least listen. And he had a feeling it was, especially as the Hokage glanced behind him and the door shut with a firm click.

"The ANBU have requested your service," the Sandaime began, "and had you been a graduate of Konoha's Academy, I would have simply extended this offer to you. However, I find myself in a difficult position, one that doesn't leave me much room to act.

"Despite outward appearances, this village hasn't been peaceful for a long time, longer than I care to admit. Most would and have contributed this to external factors. After all, there is little I can do to stop bijuu from attack or high-ranking shinobi from going rogue and killing their families. Unfortunately, these are just two well-known examples and the more I think on it, the more extensive it seems and the less I attribute to coincidence.

"Under normal conditions, I wouldn't be able to investigate into these matters too deeply without upsetting others in power and risking my own role. I fear those who would replace me would exert much more of their influence over the village. But these are not normal conditions. You came here, perhaps with differing goals, and there's a chance you can save Konoha from itself. So I wish to give you a counteroffer, one that won't be written down."

"The kind of offer I'd have to hide from others," Rin countered, frowning.

The thought of hiding more from people made him feel sick to his stomach. There was already so much, starting and ending with his origin. But what would one more secret be at the end of all this?

"Yes, otherwise the arrangement would be doomed from the start. I believe you understand that."

"What is the offer exactly?" Rin asked and then continued on without pause. "Before I sign on, I'd like to know what I'm getting into."

"You still have the choice to say no, Uzumaki-san. You're a shinobi of Konoha, no matter how long you've held that title for, and I refuse to force my shinobi into a decision they don't want to make, so long as I continue to have that luxury."

Rin grimaced, shifting awkwardly in his seat. "That doesn't really assure me. I've seen people bypass that line to protect what's important to them, even when people's lives were at stake. A lot of people's lives."

The Hokage stared at him and Rin knew his words rung true even without context. It hadn't just been Madara who was willing to destroy the entire world for his version of peace. Not just Obito either. Rin was even willing to bet the Sandaime knew of a few people like that himself. And sometimes, it was more difficult than expected to stop himself from becoming like them. That he hadn't even thought to save Haku and Zabuza prior to Naruto approaching him about his mission was only a testament to that.

"Interesting. Just what sort of life did you lead, Uzumaki-san?" An awkward silence filled the office as Rin set his jaw stubbornly. Finally, after a moment, the Hokage sighed. "No, don't tell me. I have no intentions on going back on our agreement. If you accept my proposal, you would act directly under my orders while investigating the day-to-day affairs of certain individuals."

"So, if I get caught, you don't have to take responsibility," Rin breathed out, the pieces falling together. Of course most anyone qualified wouldn't be suitable. "You can say I acted alone and then not deal with the repercussions."

"Precisely."

Rin hesitated. "Do I have to respond now?"

"Of course not," the Hokage replied quietly, "this isn't an easy decision. However, I have to ask that you give me an answer by the end of the week, regarding both my offer and the ANBU. As expected, there's also a need for secrecy."

"It'll be between you and me."

The Hokage watched as Rin left the office without another word, barely noticing when the guard stepped back into the office. Thoughts of Wave still lingered, if anything Rin was thinking about it more now. If he took off to try and fix things there then he didn't have to deal with things here.

There were too many things to consider, more than just the Hokage's proposal. Such as how it would affect everything if he got caught and was blamed for everything the Sandaime would undoubtedly pin on him. Naruto would be hurt to who knew what extent. And everything he didn't want to happen still might if he was locked away in some cell. More than that, Rin couldn't stand them thinking that he only came to Konoha as a spy.

But these were likely things Rin planned on doing anyways. It might even be better if he held the Hokage's ear when it came to the things Danzo was doing, especially when he managed to find Sai and the rest of ROOT.

In the meantime, as Rin walked back to his apartment, he noticed there wasn't a single ANBU following him.