Sapphire09: A new chapter! Hope you'll enjoy this!

CHAPTER IX
Memento Vivere

A prayer that disappeared
In the wind, stirred up
Still, the light is continue
As I am tangled many times
By the hand that getting cold

-- Suna no Oshiro by Kanon Wakeshima (translation)

I went for a walk around the forest, my everyday routine every early dawn. As I went out from Zabuza's hideout, I saw a young girl—no, boy. I noticed him as Zabuza's subordinate. The first time I noticed him was last night, when Gatou and his bodyguards came and demanded the bridge builder's head. I hid myself, so that no one noticed my presence, especially Gatou. I remembered that Zabuza asked this young boy earlier, just before I left, to find some medicinal herbs for his two other subordinate, the Demon Brothers, and for himself too.

Even though I did interfere, that Konoha Jounin did do quite a number on them…

I ignored him and went on my way, to a clearing deep inside the woods. I noticed that the atmosphere around the clearing is very soothing and calming. The humidity around it only complemented the calming atmosphere. As I went closer to the middle of the clearing, I noticed a figure lying there. It looks like that person was sleeping.

I recognized the figure as Naruto.

I frowned when I realized it and I was about to go to her, but then I remembered I didn't wear my mask. I don't want to reveal this…weird similarity to her just yet. I want to know the answer first before I can tell her anything. That's why I hurriedly jumped up to the tree branch on one of the tree that's surrounding the area and hide. I did it as silent as I could. I can't have her waking up on me.

Besides… she looked so relaxed in her sleep, and I don't want to disturb it. She deserved to have a peaceful sleep once in a while.

As I hid myself behind the branches of the tree, I sensed another chakra signature is coming closer to the clearing. I noticed it as the signature of the young boy I saw earlier. If I remember right, his name was Haku. From my position, I can clearly see everything that's happening beneath me.

That young boy, Haku, went over to Naruto and woke her up gently. Slowly, I can see her eyelids rose, revealing a pair of blue eyes, which—I gravely noticed—isn't much livelier than yesterday. I see those blue orbs slowly glancing towards the young boy.

"You'll catch a cold if you sleep here," the young boy said gently.

"Ah… right," Naruto replied softly before she slowly straightened herself. The Haku boy smiled as he watched her.

"If I may ask, what's a young girl like you doing, sleeping in the middle of a forest like this?" he asked when Naruto positioned herself in a sitting position. From her expression when she turned to the boy, I can see that she is surprised.

"…I could ask the same for you," she retorted with a small frown. Somehow, I sensed that she was refraining from asking how he knew her gender, when those who knew him for more than a year couldn't even figure that out. Haku let out a soft chuckle upon hearing her reply.

"I'm looking for medicinal herbs. Would you like to help me?" he asked, smiling. Naruto didn't answer right away, but soon enough she asked, "What kind of herb?"

Haku then showed her a picture of the herb he is looking for from a medical book that he had brought. After inspecting it and memorize the details, I heard Naruto asked, "Where does this usually grow?"

I listened in as Haku began explaining about where to find the herb and showed her a sample of it, using the one he picked up earlier. Soon enough, I notice them going on separate ways, splitting up in search of the herb. It was also then I noticed that Naruto isn't good at memorizing things, but after a few trials and errors, she remembered it.

Around twenty minutes or so, they returned to the clearing and put all the herbs they had found in the basket that Haku had brought. Finished finding the herbs, both of them then sat face to face, chatting.

I noticed with slight delight that Naruto's eyes brightened a bit. She was having fun.

"I forgot to ask this earlier. What is your name?" Naruto asked with slight enthusiasm, which I'm glad to notice.

At least that means she really put the suicide thought aside.

"Oh, how rude of me. My name is Haku."

"No last name?"

Haku shakes his head negative. I could hear the mirth in his voice. "No."

"I'm Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto."

"So, Naruto-san," he started, "You don't mind I call you that, do you?"

Naruto shook her head, silently saying that she doesn't mind. Haku then continued, "Are you a ninja? From the headband around your head, I guessed you were from Konoha."

Naruto nodded slowly. "Yes, I am. I'm a ninja from Konoha. Last night, I practiced here."

"I see… So is that why you were sleeping here?" the boy asked for confirmation. Naruto nodded then, slightly.

"Mmm… Did you train because you wanted to be strong?" Haku asked again. To my surprise, I saw both ends of Naruto's lips lifted around two millimeters, creating a very small smile.

"Yes, I did."

"May I know why?" Haku asked again. Truthfully, I never knew about her wanting to be strong. All I know is that she is like me, an orphan. She had wanted acceptance from her village, and she was abused beyond belief. So, I listened intently, wanting to know her reason. Why did she want to be strong?

The thought of her wanting to exact revenge on the village vividly crossed my mind.

"I… wanted to be a Hokage, the strongest person in my village, so I could gain the village's acknowledgement. So I won't be looked down upon. So …I can be proud of who I am."

That sentence makes my eyebrows rose considerably. I was surprised that she still wanted to be the Kage of a village that shunned her like that. A village that makes her lost her innocence. Even after everything that has happened to her, she still wanted to be strong for the same village that made her life a living hell?

I was even more surprised that she still wanted that village to acknowledge her. I don't know if I should deem her an idiot or a just very, terribly, awfully, forgiving.

I didn't have such kindness, and it was proofed by my master.

"That's good, then," I heard Haku said, encouraging her and giving her a smile. If I don't remember that I'm not wearing my mask, I'll scream to them, "No, that's not good! Why do you still want that damned village's acknowledgement?! You'll only hurt yourself like before!!"

"Do you have a precious person, Naruto?" Haku asked again. Naruto nodded. I know that she was thinking of a brown-haired teacher, the first person ever to acknowledge him, and the old Hokage, who took care of her since she was small.

"Do you know what makes you stronger?" Haku asked. Before Naruto can answer, he continued, "When you have a precious person, so precious that you're willing to give up your life for the sake of protecting that person, it was then you'll truly becomes strong."

After those last words, Haku bid his goodbyes to the still stunned Naruto. I don't know what she was thinking then, but I know it has something to do with Haku's last sentence. I jumped from the tree where I was hiding to another tree away from Naruto's position.

It's not that I don't like it, but seeing Naruto's determined smile after she was no longer stunned, I get a feeling that she'll do something that will hurt her in the end.

I have to get my mask back from Zabuza's place…

"Leaving so soon?" I heard Zabuza's voice asked from the opened door behind me. I put my mask back at my face before turning to him.

I noticed the boy from earlier is standing beside him.

"Something happened," I said simply. I then strapped my sword at my back, before I took a pair of black, fingerless gloves that reached my mid upper arm, which matched perfectly with the sleeveless turtleneck shirt that I'm wearing.

"Oh? What was it?" he asked again. His tone lacked concern, only curiosity. I didn't answer, as I know that the Haku boy is listening.

He didn't know about me, or how I looked like without my mask. All he that he knows is that I'm a friend of his master. The only one knew about me and Naruto is only Zabuza, and I intend on keeping it that way.

Zabuza and his companion stood aside when I passed the door. After I passed by them, Zabuza seemed to notice a small bundle, wrapped in red, ragged cloth, on the washed-out cloth I used to wrap my belongings before.

"Oi, you left something there," Zabuza said as a matter of fact. Casually, he went over it and grabbed the pouch, opened it out of curiosity. Meanwhile, I watched him out at the corner of my eye.

"Whoa, you're rich. You even have more than twice of what Gatou paid me for this mission. Don't you glad that I noticed?" he said, and I could practically feel him grinning. He then held out the pouch to me. From the heavy jingle, it does seem plenty.

"Take it if you want," I said as I turned my head to see him. I feel no need of bringing another heavy weight with me but my sword. I usually put the pouch in the sleeve of my kimono top, but since I've lent it to Naruto, I have to put them in between my belongings.

It was a hassle.

I saw Zabuza raised his eyebrows in surprise, along with the boy, who walked to him to see the pouch too. I ignored their looks as I walked away from them.

For me, knowing why that child wanted acknowledgement from the very village that makes her life hell is more important than a few ryo.

Glossary:

Memento Vivere : Remember to live (to the opposite of Memento Mori, I guess...)

Sapphire09: There you have it! Please give me your opinion of this story :)

Even a comment of how I'm progressing this story, or the flaws for the grammar, will be very appreciated. I need to know what I did wrong. (and for those who (maybe) wanted the chapters to be longer, I'm planning on it. It won't be a drastic change, though. Maybe from average 1,200 words to average 2,300 words, and it'll be gradually, not sudden. I'm working currently on it.)

Please review!!