Chapter 10: Reunion
Rain felt warm sunlight on him. He slowly opened his eyes and found himself in a grassy sunny field. There wasn't a single person or thing in sight, just endless meadows. He slowly got up, feeling confused about his surroundings. "But, I lost my sight…" said Rain to himself. "Kin! Kin, are you here? Kin, please answer!" cried Rain as he looked around. There was no answer. "Drat! If anyone is there, answer me!" "Don't shout so loud Raincloud, I'm right here" said a voice to the right of Rain. He gasped and turned toward the voice. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Haku…" His long lost friend stood in front of him wearing a white robe. He smiled that nostalgic, toothy grin. "Haku…" said Rain again with tears welling up in his eyes. He ran to Haku and embraced him tightly. "Haku…" cried Rain while Haku returned the embrace and put his head on Rain's shoulder.
"Haku, where am I? Did you bring me here?" asked Rain as both young men walked side by side. "You are in the realm between life and death. I brought you here so we could talk a bit" replied Haku. "Life and death? You mean…" "No, not yet. Right now, you're body is resting by a shallow pool of water near the village of Konoha. You are passed out and half dead. Your life is currently leaving your body." "I'm dying? I can't die yet! My village…Kin…" gasped Rain. "Don't worry about the mission Raincloud" assured Haku. "The village has already sent out tracker ninja. They found Zin's grave. Both you are Saito were not found and are presumed dead. Currently, those tracker ninja are still looking for you two to finish disposing of your bodies. "Zin? Haku, is Zin here too?" asked Rain. "Zin has already passed on. He's happy Raincloud. He wanted me to tell you thank you and he is proud of his big brother" "He said that huh?" replied Rain. "I'm going to die. Am I right Haku?" asked Rain after a long silence. "You are going to survive Raincloud. You have no need to die now" said Haku. "But why? My body has drifted into another village's territory. The Leaf ninja are among the kindest ninja, but that doesn't mean that they won't kill me off anyway or interrogate me. Besides, I've lost my sight. Even with my senses, it will be hard for me to fight off enemies or even get back home." "Is my Raincloud giving up? I don't remember such words being in the Dream Ninja's vocabulary" said Haku as he took Rain's hand in his. Rain looked at Haku again. Just like before, he was so pure, so innocent. Why did he have to be taken away from him? "How long?" asked Rain. "What?" replied Haku. "I mean…how long have you been…" "Oh, that. Long enough Raincloud. I'm already forgotten and gone. You still have to live Raincloud, for mine and Zin's sake." Haku let go of Rain's hand and turned away. "It was in a battle with Konoha shinobi that I and Zabuza lost our lives. Four of them: Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto. If you meet these ninja, please don't be mad at them. Those four helped me and Zabuza find peace. Even Zabuza found redemption. Maybe they can help you too" "I don't understand Haku. What do you mean?" asked Rain as he fell on all fours, frustrated by Haku's enigmatic words. "I just need you to do one thing for me" asked Haku as he knelt down and embraced Rain again. "I need you to wake up. Return to the world of the living" At those words, Rain's reality was becoming distorted and fuzzy. He knew he was coming to back on Earth. "No, wait! Haku!" pleaded Rain. "It was wonderful to see you again, my friend. I'll see you someday" "HAKU!!!" yelled Rain right before the world went black all over again.
Suddenly, Rain was choking. He thrashed and rose above the water, gasping for breath. He was washed ashore, but he once again couldn't see where he was going. He sensed a young girl working out near the beach. Rain slowly crawled toward her. She seemly had not noticed him yet. He reached out blindly and found her leg. "Help me" pleaded Rain weakly before he collapsed.
Hinata Hyuuga looked down with shock and saw the beaten, empty eyed body at her feet and screamed her loudest. Within moments, her teammates Shino and Kiba, as well as their leader, Kuranai came to her aid. They were just as surprised as Hinata at the find.
Miles away, Saito was still searching for Rain like a madman. "Where are you?!" he cried to the wind. "You couldn't have that far. I'll find you. You cannot squirm your way out of this one." Saito continued to sweep the area, latterly leaving no stone unturned. A group of ninja noticed Saito on his search. It was the tracker ninja from the Mist Village. "Saito? We thought you were dead. Where's Rain?" asked the leader as they joined Saito down on the ground. "I'm searching for him myself. I plan to destroy him as soon as I set my sights on him" answered Saito as he stood still. "What are you talking about?" asked the leader again. "Rain's already dead. He just doesn't know it yet. You however, are about to leave this mortal coil!" roared Saito as he turned around. All the ninja were shocked at his monstrous appearance. Black stripes covered Saito's body and he was emitting an aura filled with malice. "Saito! Wait!" pleaded the ninja, but to no avail. Saito slaughtered them without mercy. "That mark of yours does good work Orochimaru" said Saito with an evil smile as he continued his search.