Disclaimer: I don't own anything besides my Oc

Arc 3, Chapter 3

As Haku sat gawking at the woman seated across from him with a small motherly smile, he had the gut feeling that she didn't like him. No, that she wanted him dead.

Why?

Because of the now cold cup of tea, she had so graciously given him two hours ago...

When he had taken the drink with a grateful smile he paused right before the steaming hot drink could reach his lips.

He smelt something strange fuming from the tea. It was faint, almost invisible, but after another whiff, he realized that it was in fact poison.

He was suddenly grateful for his time with Zabuza that involved him learning herbs and plant life to heal the man.

"You want to kill me?" His question was more of a statement.

Mikoto brought her hand up to her mouth and muffled her laugh.

"Why yes I did try to kill you, I'd be a bad mother if I didn't at least try to kill the shinobi who left my youngest son in a near-death state."

Haku nodded now understanding that she was Sasuke's mother. The knowledgeable thing to do now would be to bow and beg for forgiveness, but he had the sneaking suspension that Mikoto Uchiha wasn't the type of woman to easily forgive.

"What do you want?"

Again, Mikoto brought her hand up to her mouth and laughed, this time her eyes drifted across the room to a door. The door Ken was fast asleep in.

"If you want me to harm or hurt Ken then I won't."

She lowered her hand from her mouth revealing that her smile had turned into a smirk.

"No, I don't want you to hurt the young Senju, I want you to convince him to stay in Konoha so that he won't be harmed or killed outside. It is to my clan's benefit that he lives here in Konoha after all."

Haku glared at the woman for even implying that Ken would die. They had been traversing the Land of Fire without problems before, what was different now.

Mikoto sighed and shook her head at the dismissive look Haku was sending her way.

"Once the Chunin Exams are over the entire world will know of Ken's heritage, and more so of his bloodline. I wouldn't be too surprised if some villages already know."

Haku's glare faltered at her words.

That's what was different now. Ken would be officially recognized as the First Hokage's true heir. But there was no way he could even convince Ken to stay…

Suddenly he thought of the Hokage's easily excitable daughter.

"I... I can try, but I will not guarantee results."

"Hn, just remember whether Ken lives or dies depends completely on you young man. Assassin's, kidnappers, plotting villages, and people who wish to use him will all be targeting him should he leave Konoha."

Haku's eyes went downwards, locking onto the spiked cup of tea.

'If Ken was served this I doubt he would have picked up on the poison.' He allowed that thought to be thrown out just as fast as it had come.

"I will not allow Ken to die as long as I am around."

"Then not only does he need to grow stronger, but you as well."

Her eyes drifted back to the door Ken was in before she developed a blank look for a brief second.

"We don't have much time left to speak. When Ken wakes back up please tell him that the Uchiha clan will always back him and that if he ever wants information on Danzo Shimura then he is welcome to pay me or my husband a visit."

There was a knock on the door just as she finished speaking.

Haku watched as the Uchiha matriarch gracefully rose from her seat and drifted over to the door which was concealed by a wall. He was surprised when his newest sensei, the man who killed his previous master entered the room with an eye smile.

"Yo, Haku."

"Yo…"

Haku awkwardly raised his hand in greeting. Kakashi was an aloof man, but the way he spoke gave of the opposite approach.

"This is a lovely home Mikoto-sama, which room will I find my cute little student in?"

Mikoto smiled an honest smile at the Hatake.

If her husband was present Kakashi wouldn't have even been able to enter the house let alone the clan compound. While many of her clanmates despised the silver-haired shinobi for using their dojutsu, she understood and respected her distant cousin's wish to gift Kakashi his Sharingan.

Obito was such a wonderful shinobi. Before she was backing her husband in the race to the Hokage seat, she was cheering on the optimistic little Uchiha running around proclaiming that he would someday be Hokage. She truly wished that he was still around, perhaps he could've become Hokage and given her clan back the honor they had lost during the Kyubi attack.

That's why she needed Ken.

No that's why the Uchiha's needed their greatest ally, yet strongest enemy back with them. A shinobi with the heart and soul of Hashirama Senju.

The man who had brought them peace even when their leader tried to kill him. And now his true heir was here it was an opportunity that the clan couldn't miss out on.

"Just the door to your right Kakashi, I expect that you're not holding back on his training like you did my Sasuke-chan and that blonde trouble maker?"

"Yes, ma'am I am taking his training as seriously as I can. Although I have minimum experience in Mokuton I will make him proficient enough in everything to not have to rely on it."

Mikoto nodded, taking his answer for what it was as he entered the room Ken was in.

After a minute he exited the room with Ken fastened on his back.

"Thank you we'll be going now Mikoto-sama."

Kakashi did a slight bow to the woman before shifting his one-eyed gaze at Haku expectantly.

"Thank you for your-"

Haku paused and looked at his cup of tea.

"Hospitality?"

Mikoto finished for him with a small knowing smirk.

Haku nodded and got up from his seat following Kakashi and Ken out of the door with a single thought on his mind.

'I must help Ken grow stronger for the future.'

XxLine BreakxX

Konoha Hospital

Ken opened his eyes to blinding white lights that reflected off white walls. Glancing around after his eyes adjusted to the bright light, he squinted when he noticed some weight on both his right and left arms.

"What the?"

Although both of his arms were hooked up with needles poking out of them linking up into a bag slightly above him, there on his right arm using his arm as a pillow was Haku…

And on his left, and much to his disgust was a drooling Naruto, she too using his arm as a pillow.

"Surprised that they didn't kill each other?"

Sakura peeked her head in through the slightly ajar door with Kakashi standing behind her opening the door wider.

Not questioning why she had a doctor's coat on he nodded and sneakily removed his arms from both of his sleeping friends.

"It took a while, but after Sakura defended Haku by saying that he wasn't the one to leave you like this, our blonde spit-fire managed to calm down."

Kakashi said while waving his book at Ken and the two sleeping teens.

Not knowing how to respond to such a weird comment Ken sighed and leaned back in his bed. He was glad that they managed to bury the hatchet… hopefully.

"Where's Karin."

He felt bad for leaving her there like that, not that he had much of a choice.

Sakura piped up at the comment and entered fully into the room with an angry frown. She was clearly upset by the mentioning of the redhead.

"She totally ditched Naruto hmph, some cousin. She said something about having to speak to her mother about, I think you and Haku."

Ken sighed with heavy eyes.

He had no clue that Naruto was the cousin that Karin wanted him to meet so badly. Must've been on her mother's side. If he had a cousin as cool as Naruto, he'd introduce her to everyone too.

He did wonder who that redhead punk was that he saw last night was then. Another cousin perhaps?

"Kakashi-sensei… I want to become stronger, and I thought I did… but I'm still so weak. I hate this feeling of always having to rely on others."

Ken's eyes drifted over to Naruto's peacefully napping face.

Kakashi snapped his book closed making a loud noise that echoed off the hollow white walls. The air grew thick as Kakashi slowly made his way over to the bedridden boy.

Gulping at the glint that he had dubbed, Sensei mode, Ken shuddered and positioned himself in a more upright position.

"I never want to hear you say such inconsiderate words again Ken. There is nothing wrong with relying on friends for help. Especially when that friend cares about you as much as Naruto does. And that applies to Haku as well. I will never make someone who thinks and acts for himself stronger. Sakura what was the first lesson that I taught you, Sasuke, and Naruto?"

Sakura fidgeted under Kakashi's rigid gaze and raked her mind desperately for what their first lesson was. She frowned when all she could think about was the bell test…

The bell test!

"Those who break the rules are trash."

Ken looked questionably at the masked ninja after hearing Sakura's absurd answer. No way that was their first lesson.

Right?

"But those who abandon their friends are worse than trash."

He watched as Kakashi patted Sakura's head and give her congratulatory thumbs up. That explained why the blonde was always so pushy about helping him.

Because they were friends.

"If you want to learn anything else from me, Ken, then I want you to apologize to Naruto for using her as a scapegoat for your feelings of uselessness."

With that said, Kakashi threw up a peace sign as he guided himself and Sakura out of the room.

XxLine BreakxX

Ken couldn't go back to sleep.

He had so much on his mind. How to become stronger, his necklace, and how he should apologize to-

"You don't have to apologize if you don't want to Ken. I was just trying to help is all Dattebane."

Ken didn't bat a lash when Naruto opened her blue eyes. She was still leaning against him with her head lying on the side of the bed. Did she hear all of that?

"Dattebane again? Still doing that?"

Naruto blushed slightly and rose her head sending a conflicted glance at Haku before regarding Ken with a dazzling smile.

"Yep I am. Hey, I want to see some of my friends one more time before I leave, wanna come?"

Ken couldn't refuse. Not with the way her big blue eyes were looking at him, and with how close she got.

"Yeah, just give me a second."

He carefully took out the needles from his arms and sent a grateful smile at Haku before gently getting out of his bed as to not wake his stoic friend.

Standing next to Naruto with a ready smile, he was caught off guard when she grabbed his hand and zoomed out of the room, dragging him behind her.

After what felt like an eternity of running and being dragged they stopped outside a door with a glass window displaying the inside.

Laying down on a bed, with some flowers situated in a vase on a desk next to it was a sleeping lavender-haired girl with bandages wrapped firmly under her hospital pajamas.

"That's my friend Hinata-chan. She isn't feeling all that well right now and since I won't be able to spend time with her I want you to!"

Ken awkwardly scratched his head.

He didn't want to spend his time looking out for a girl he didn't know. She looked nice and was bound to be a nice person since she was Naruto's friend but, he needed to focus on his training and goals.

"Why don't you ask Sakura or even Karin. Kami knows that she needs more female friends."

Naruto stomped on Ken's foot and huffed at the mention of Karin's name. Sakura would pity Hinata, and Karin would creep her out with all of her perviness. It had to be him.

"Her favorite snacks are cinnamon buns, oh and she likes pressing flowers so make sure to bring tons."

Irritated by her stomping on his foot and for ignoring his reasonings, Ken grabbed Naruto by her shirt effectively jacking her up to his eye level.

"I don't even know her so why should I bother. She's fine here in the hospital, isn't she?"

"I didn't know you did I?"

Ken froze at the hurt tone in Naruto's voice and felt pained by the way she looked at him.

"No Naruto I didn't mean it like that. Of course, I'd help her if she was in trouble I just wanted to get my point-"

The door cracked open and Hinata shyly peeked her head out from the crack. Scanning the halls she pondered if she should activate her Byuakugan before letting out a tired yawn and closing the door.

"I thought I heard Naruto-chan."

Ken stared at the hand that was clasped over his mouth. It was so soft and comforting despite being prone to violent activities usually centered around knocking some noggins.

"Pfew that was close wasn't it?"

Ken mutely nodded and gently took Naruto's hand off of his mouth.

"Look what I meant back there wa-"

He was interrupted by Naruto clutching his hand and grinning brightly at him. The grin spoke for itself, 'I know.'

"Come on let's go meet my other friend Lee, he's awesome you'll love him."

Again Naruto dragged him through the hospital's empty hallways, however, he didn't notice that his fingers were wrapped happily around her hand.

They came to a stop right outside a door just like Hinata's. Inside was a sleeping boy who was tossing and turning in his sleep, while…

"Is he lifting weights in his sleep?"

"Yeah That's Lee alright," The blonde laughed while letting go of his hand to scratch her cheek.

"He's all beaten up right now, but he's one of my rivals. He's not all that good at anything but Taijutsu, but for someone who came from nothing he's right on his way to the top."

Ken widened his eyes. He was just like him then. Reaching for the top while starting from nothing.

"I think I'd like to train with him one day."

Ken decided that he wanted to meet Lee again, although under better circumstances.

"He would like that I mean alot!" she stretched her arms out for emphasis. "Both him and Bushy brow sensei in fact!"

Ken nodded and merely stood with Naruto as they peered through the glass window at the sleeping and exercising Lee. He didn't know when or why but the atmosphere grew awkward.

"Hey Naruto," Seeing her turn her head towards him he continued. "I'm sorry for not telling you what happened to me earlier today. If you still want to know then... I'll tell you."

Naruto was shocked. He seemed so adamant about keeping it to himself earlier. Having awoken from the commotion Kakashi made earlier she questioned if it Kakashi's speech that got him to open up to her?

"I'll let it go this time, but next time I won't, got it mister!?"

She exclaimed while grabbing and forcing his forehead onto hers. She ignored his whispering complaints about "Stupid headbutting blondie," and stared into his violet eyes.

"I'm your friend Ken, so I'll help you whether you want me to or not. I'll fight the entire world if it meant saving you from some jerks."

Ken took a step back rubbing his stinging head and then nodded; he was speechless. He never knew that a whisper could be so full of strength and compassion.

"Do you want to train before I have to leave with Ero-Sennin?"

"Ero-Sennin? Do you mean Jiraiy-"

Before Ken could answer she grabbed his hand tightly and sprinted down and out of the hospital, dragging him through Konoha's empty streets with a blush just as big and bright as his own.

XxLine BreakxX

Training Ground Seven

"Make the gaki strong enough to protect himself from whatever or rather, whoever beat his head in Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded to show that he had heard the Sannin's words, not looking away from his tiny orange book. Settled right across from him on an adjacent branch was Jiraiya; he too not looking away from his own book.

Deep down Jiraiya wanted to be the one to train Ken because throughout his career as a ninja he has trained special shinobi from generation to generation, Nagato, Minato, and now Naruto. He wouldn't mind squeezing another one in especially one as special as Ken Senju was.

To bad Kakashi asked Minato first.

"You're going to stay and watch me wash the exam's floor with the Teme's face right?"

Kakashi's eye wandered down below the tree he and Jiraiya were situated in, locking onto his two students. Naruto was standing triumphantly over a lying down and exhausted Ken with her hands on her hips.

He wondered if the blonde had forgotten that Ken was injured earlier today.

"…Yeah I'll definitely be watching your fights, but before I leave Konoha I've got some other stuff to deal with like-"

"Like getting your necklace back?" She tilted her head cutely.

Ken grinned at her and sat up leaning his back against the trunk of a tree. She was right, that, and get some well-deserved revenge against that old bastard Danzo.

"So what's the wife of the Fire Daimyo like? She's the one who has it right? My necklace I mean." Ken asked with a sour expression. He already had her husband on his: Shitbag list right alongside the Earth Daimyo and Gato.

He'd be happy to add the hag to the list too.

Naruto nodded and sat down next to him stretching her legs out as far as possible. Letting out a yawn she said, "You don't wanna know, trust me you're not missing anything. She comes here, loses her cat, makes us find it, insults my dad, and then loses it again. She's the worst."

Ken deadpanned, he guessed she really didn't like her.

"Even Minato undoubtedly the strongest Kage has to deal with their shit…? I guess Naido was right- The Daimyo's really can say and do anything they like. I… I'm going to take my necklace back from them Naruto, and I don't give a damn about the consequences."

Although excited about his fiery and upbeat attitude, Naruto couldn't support his plan. The Fire Daimyo was her dad's boss in a sense. She didn't want to make any more problems for him, especially after the situation with Kikiyo and Ken's necklace which ended in her cutting the old lady.

"I think that you should maybe let it go Ken. She's really stubborn and doesn't care about anyone else's opinions…"

She hoped he would drop this, nothing good would come out of it; she just knew it. She sighed when he shrugged and mockingly rolled his eyes at her.

Clearly, he wasn't taking her seriously.

Ken leaned far to the right much to Naruto's confusion before rocketing towards her, shoving his shoulder into hers. Knocking the surprised blonde down he quickly leaned over her and flashed a cocky smirk.

"Since when did you become a scaredy-cat Sense-"

He was cut off by Naruto suddenly kissing him on the cheek. Her lips impacted him fast and they retreated even faster, but regardless, he could still feel it. That electrifying feeling of lightning striking him- his heart.

He stared dumbly at Naruto as she navigated her way around him and said nothing when she pushed him against the tree with a shy frown shaking as though she had something difficult to say.

"Spit it out blondie."

She playfully hit him in the chest before gaining a determined look.

"It might be selfish, but... I don't want you to be apart of Karin-baka's harem!" She winced when she received a flick to the forehead.

"I haven't signed up to join any harem Naruto, I'm Karin's friend, and so is Haku that's it. Just frien-"

Again he was caught off guard by Naruto kissing him although this time on the lips and more passionately; at least with however much passion a twelve-year-old without any experience could. Melting into the sudden kiss he shakily wrapped his arms around her, hugging her closer to him.

"Should I stop them Jiraiya-sama?"

"Nah, Naruto's a good girl so she won't do anything stupid, plus I think the kid could use this. It might just convince him to stay regardless of whatever happened to him earlier."

Jiraiya stood up on the branch and did a few stretches before looking at Kakashi who was also standing. They both disappeared in a flutter of leaves leaving their two students under the night sky.

XxLine BreakxX

"Wake up Ken, you would've missed training had you not fallen asleep at the training ground... Is this where you ventured off to. What if something happened again?"

Ken groaned and tuned out Haku's bothersome nagging. Since when did he get all sat and caring on him?

"Don't blame me blame Naruto."

Naruto.

He glanced at the tree trunk they had fallen asleep on. She was gone. Gone for an entire month. He inhaled deeply before sighing depressingly. 'I hope she didn't feel like this when I had left.'

"Hmph figures Naru was to blame for your kidnapping last night," Karin mumbled with her arms crossed under her not existent chest.

Ken sighed deeper and longer. What was Karin doing here? She was bound to just bother him and Haku during their training with all her cheering and crying whenever one of them got hurt.

"I didn't expect you to apologize to Naruto so quickly Ken. Karin and Sakura will be joining us every day for the next month so that you two will have some reliable healing whenever done with my next level of training."

Sakura revealed herself from behind Kakashi's leg with a kind-hearted smile directed at Ken.

Ken slumped his shoulders already knowing that the pinkette was about to say or do something.

"Hi Ken, are you feeling better? Did you and Naruto make up? D-Did you two do anything… naughty last night? Achk Hey!" Sakura yelled after firing off question after question, as she was pinned to the ground by a sobbing and hollering Karin.

"But he's apart of my harem, not hers! Naru-chan swore that she wouldn't try anything! She didn't do anything right Ken-kun?"

"Gulp…"

"What do you mean by 'Gulp' Ken-kunnn!?" Karin continued sobbing but chose to hug Sakura rather than shake the poor medic.

As the Karin hugged and used Sakura as a comfort pillow Ken looked back at Haku who had pulled lightly on the sleeve of his shirt. Sending a glance and gulping at the sight of Kakashi approaching them while simultaneously stretching his arms Ken nervously waited for Haku to speak.

"I need to inform you of some stuff regarding the Uchiha clan and a man named Danzo."

Ken had no time to express his surprise or interest due to Kakashi sprinting towards them intent on begging today's torture err- training session.

Arc 3, Chapter 3

An: Not much to say this chapter besides expect a certain blonde Senju to show herself the next chapter. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.