Haku was confused.
This wasn't a new situation in Konohagakure no Sato, a lot about the village confused the former mercenary ninja. However Haku was recently confused by Sakura Haruno, Naruto's pink haired team mate.
The young girl had seen it, Haku knew the girl had seen Naruto overwhelm a jonin level enemy who had multiplied his chakra with magic water. Sakura had definitely seen the red chakra coming from Naruto, yet the girl had not asked about it.
Haku decided he needed to be certain about this, "Has Sakura asked about that?" he asked Naruto straight out while cooking dinner, it was hard to get Naruto to eat anything but ramen, so his vassal was cooking ninja udon in an attempt to at least get nutrients into the ramen.
"Asked about what?" Naruto asked without stopping his sit ups, the boy wasn't even counting he was just doing it until he was sore or Haku finished cooking. Haku guessed he would be finished cooking first.
"Your red chakra." Haku answered patiently.
Naruto stopped doing sit ups and frowned. "No, why? Did she say something?" he asked, concerned by the idea of Sakura finding out about his jinchuriki status.
"That's the problem, she hasn't said anything." Haku answered, "She definitely saw you use it in Taki." he added, to explain why he was bringing it up. The vassal ninja was unsure why Naruto was still so concerned about people knowing. From what he'd gathered many in the village did know.
Given how much of the village treated Naruto, Haku supposed he could just blame them for the blonde boys paranoia.
"Maybe she just assumed it's an Uzumaki thing." Naruto said hopefully, sitting up to watch Haku cook, then frowning as he noticed what was going into his ramen.
Haku sighed, "Even then, you're her team mate. She should want to know what you're capable of so you can work together." the boy said, lecturing the girl who wasn't even there as he hid the rest of the ingredients beneath the noodles, adding a bit more salt as he did.
Naruto didn't have a response for that, and went back to his sit ups.
Haku continued to be confused, as Sakura made no attempt to learn about the red chakra. Haku wasn't allowed to explain it and would be forced to lie if questioned about it anyway, but Sakura's lack of curiosity was concerning.
The pink haired girl put in some effort during team training, but didn't seem to get better with any real speed, especially not in taijutsu. Haku had originally assumed the girl was a genjutsu or support type, but hadn't displayed such skills to give that theory weight.
Meanwhile, Sasuke had actually approached Naruto and Haku while they were training and asked Haku to spar with him.
"You want to spar with me?" Haku was confused again, he did not enjoy how much this was happening.
"You beat me on the bridge with those mirrors." Sasuke explained, "I want to see if I've gotten stronger."
Haku took some pleasure that at least this mystery was easily solved, "Oh is that what it is? Well the mirrors enhance my speed as you seemed to notice, someone who is trapped in there isn't supposed to get out." he explained, frowning as he remembered it wasn't unbeatable anyway, "Besides, you were doing fine against me until I used it, and when your eyes changed you were able to keep up with me in there so you have no doubt already surpassed me." the boy said honestly.
Naruto frowned, he didn't like how humble Haku was being, it was dangerously close to Haku insulting himself.
Sasuke frowned for a different reason, "Probably, but I want to see how far my eyes have come. If I can escape your jutsu without the dead last, then I'll leave you two to train." he negotiated, rather poorly.
"Alright." Haku agreed, not too bothered by helping Sasuke see how far he'd come, using a Sharingan wielder as live accuracy practice was probably good for something at least.
Naruto decided to sit and watch the two, Haku stepped out onto the surface of the river that ran through the training ground he and Naruto frequented. The water flowed below his sandals as he stepped to the middle. Sasuke stopped at the edge of the river.
"Oh, you aren't up to this yet?" Haku asked, Sasuke frowned, "It's okay, I've only recently started Naruto-kun on water walking, he needs the extra chakra control training with his reserves." the boy continued as he made the hand seal for his Makyo Hyosho.
The mirrors rose up around Sasuke, who activated his Sharingan with a smirk. Haku smiled at the other dark haired boys confidence as he stepped into his own mirror.
"Sasuke, spar with me next!" Naruto demanded with a grin, Sasuke sighed at the interruption as Haku giggled at the attention seeking blonde.
"Control your boyfriend." Sasuke bantered, eager to start the challenge.
"We're not gay!" Naruto insisted hotly.
"Sorry, I'm not at that end of the leash." Haku said, surprising Naruto, and even Sasuke was thrown off balance. Unfortunately for Sasuke, that was the intention and Haku threw the first handful of senbon. Sasuke still had his eyes and saw the attack coming, narrowly dodging the volley.
Haku continued to dash between mirrors throwing senbon at the Uchiha, who couldn't dodge them all but dodged better than their first match. Eventually, as predicted, Sasuke managed to escape through a gap in the mirrors after throwing Haku off by catching him with a kick to the chest in midair. Haku was impressed that Sasuke's taijutsu had reached that point.
"My turn!" Naruto declared, taking up a stance.
"Another time," Sasuke began, ignoring Naruto's groan, "your girlfriend actually got me good with a few-" the Uchiha tried to explain.
"He's not my girlfriend you ass!" Naruto shouted,
"-senbon." Sasuke finished, deciding that ignoring Naruto would get a way more fun response. He was right, Naruto was fuming.
"I'm still a guy." Haku corrected after waiting for Sasuke to finish.
Sasuke shrugged as if he didn't believe that or didn't care and walked away, "We can spar next time." he said with a wave.
Haku was, once again, confused. It was becoming a pattern.
A young girl, about Naruto's age, with pale eyes and short dark hair, was glaring at him. It was only when he wasn't looking but he was sure of it now.
The vassal ninja had gone grocery shopping, it was a waste of money to send Naruto out and the boy preferred to train anyway. Haku had noticed the girl looking away from him as his gaze passed over her by chance. Over time he'd ascertained out of the corner of his eye that she was glaring at him when he wasn't looking. He'd confirmed it by glancing at a reflection in a window.
Haku had no idea what he'd done, and the girl didn't seem fit to approach him. He really didn't want to be assassinated at this point, he was still useful.
With that rather unsettling reason for wanting to live in mind he approached the girl with a smile, "Excuse me," he began pleasantly, "but do you have a problem with me?" he asked in the same tone without dropping his smile.
The girl shivered, "Uh, I, um, n-no, i-" she also had trouble speaking, "I-I'm Hinata Hyuga." she finally collected herself. Haku raised an eyebrow without dropping his smile, "Have a good day!" Hinata said with a bow, running away.
Now Haku dropped his smile, he needed information. The strange girl hadn't even answered his question, he hadn't even asked for her name yet actually.
"Hey do you know someone called Hinata Hyuga?"
"Who?" Naruto would be no help in this matter.
"Do you know someone called Hinata Hyuga?"
"Yes, she went to the academy with us, graduated on Team 8, and she's the heiress of the Hyuga clan." Sakura was good for this kind of thing, "Strange girl, never wears make up and cuts her hair so short, I have no idea how she expects to attract a nice guy like Sasuke-kun." Haku was starting to realize what the problem was with Sakura.
"Why are you asking?" Sasuke asked, sounding like he didn't actually care and just wanted Sakura to stop talking.
"Why don't I remember her from class?" Naruto was confused, at least Haku wasn't alone.
"I caught her glaring at me while I was grocery shopping." Haku explained, the group was at the small bridge Kakashi usually had the team meet him, waiting for Kakashi himself.
"Hinata? Glaring?" Sakura asked, crossing her arms in disbelief, "That's-" she began then stopped and stared at Naruto in sudden shocked realization, "You need to tell her you're a boy and that you aren't doing anything with Naruto." she said, swiftly turning to Haku.
"I do lots of things with Naruto-kun," Haku began with a smile, "Like training, and eating," he listed off, Naruto smiled and nodded in agreement, Sakura let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, "and sleeping." Haku finished. Sasuke wondered if he was just getting used to Haku, he hoped not, even if it did make him better at pretending he didn't say the things he said.
Sakura and Naruto did not fair much better, Naruto realized this embarrassment was his own fault, so he couldn't even get mad, so the shamed blush on Naruto's cheeks gave Sakura the wrong idea.
"What!?" Sakura yelled,
"Just sleeping, Naruto-kun only has the one bed, and as his vassal he is expected to provide lodging for me." Haku explained after giving Sakura a moment to have her panic attack.
"Sorry I'm late there was this green monster with caterpillar eyebrows."
"LIAR!"
Haku decided he'd have to have a talk to Hinata in the future, it sounds like it wasn't a good idea to tease the girl like he enjoyed teasing Naruto's team.
As it turns out, Hinata was not easy to find. Who knew finding a ninja in a ninja village would be a challenge. Haku had assumed talking to the young genin would be easy. He supposed she could be on a mission, then who knows when he'll be able to straighten this out.
Haku wasn't actually sure what the this he was straightening out was. He guessed from the way Sakura had worded things and the pointed look she'd given Naruto that the blonde was some oblivious object of the pale eyed girls affections and Haku was viewed as a love rival. Haku really hoped he was wrong.
Haku liked Naruto well enough, and he'd certainly felt a tad more strongly for Zabuza than he'd probably been strictly allowed to, but he wasn't actually acting on anything. Actually now that Haku thought about it he loved feeling wanted and useful, which was probably why he'd loved Zabuza so much and might explain his actions more recently. The bearer of the Hyoton Kekkei Genkai decided that introspection was dangerous.
"Oh hey, Haku, right?" A voice called out and Haku turned to face Naruto's old academy sensei, Iruka the scar faced chunin. Another source of confusion. Naruto was clearly fond of the man, and as far as Haku had learned the man did not actually sabotage Naruto. Iruka had been in charge of ninjutsu and grading papers. Haku had tried teaching Naruto regular bunshin, it was still impossible.
Haku had tried helping Naruto with his reading too, assuming sabotage in that area. Naruto just had difficulty reading for some reason.
"Yes, Iruka-san, right?" Haku asked politely, he'd learned that Iruka was generally nice to him because he and Naruto were friends.
"Yes," Iruka confirmed with a polite smile and nod, "how have you settled in?" he asked.
"I've settled in quite well thank you." Haku said cheerfully,
"Into Naruto's bed?" Iruka asked with that same polite smile but a much lower tone.
Haku did not like where this was going, "Naruto-kun insisted," he began by deflecting blame, "I noticed he only had one bed and made the mistake of trying to sleep on the floor. When I tried to refuse the bed he threatened to just sleep wherever I lie down." he explained, slowly realizing that when he put it like that it made Naruto sound down right clingy.
Iruka raised an eyebrow for a moment, then sighed, "Alright, I believe that." he said after a moment.
Haku sighed in relief, "Iruka-san, who originally taught Naruto-kun taijutsu?" he asked after a short pause, deciding to get to the bottom of it while he had the man in front of him.
"Mizuki." Iruka spat the name like it was poison.
"Would it be too much to hope from your tone that this man has gone missing nin and I may get a chance to punish him for sabotaging Naruto-kun?" Haku asked in a cold tone, surprising Iruka.
"Mizuki is imprisoned in T&I." Iruka answered, happy Haku was looking out for Naruto, although a little concerned at the fervor. He assumed it was a vassal thing.
Haku and Naruto were training the next time Haku was confused. Naruto was getting better at water walking, he still fell in but he could sort of stand on the surface.
So Haku couldn't figure out what Kakashi was teaching them. From the group training he'd noticed they did warm ups and team work drills. Sasuke was clearly improving, and so was Naruto. However Haku had never seen Kakashi give Naruto one on one training. This thought made Haku aware of how much time he spent with the younger boy, he shelved that thought for now.
Naruto had actually asked to learn the jutsu that had struck him by accident back in Nami, on the bridge. Haku suppressed a shudder at that, admiring Naruto's resolve. However the only instruction Kakashi had given was to focus chakra to your hand.
Haku knew Kakashi was deadly in combat, but he wondered if the man actually couldn't teach, or maybe he was one of the ones who wanted to sabotage Naruto. The pale boy knew he couldn't confront the man openly, Kakashi was powerful. Still the boy was confused.
Sasuke was approaching, Haku noticed the boy walking towards them on the training ground. Haku realized he could find out now and smiled at Sasuke.
"Greetings, Sasuke-san." Haku said as politely as ever.
"Sasuke! Fight me!" Naruto demanded before he fell into the water again. That had been a new record.
"Yeah yeah, that's what I'm here to do." Sasuke agreed, taking up a stance. Naruto grinned and climbed out of the river, taking his own fighting stance.
"No holding back!" Naruto began,
"Hold on, yes holding back." Sasuke said, surprising both Haku and Naruto, "I'm sparring with you, not the kitsune." he explained.
"Of course I'm not going to use that!" Naruto yelled, offended Sasuke would even bring it up. Haku was surprised too, that would be like using an assassination technique in a spar.
"Well to make it fair, I won't use my Sharingan." Sasuke said with a smirk.
"Cocky asshole." Naruto grumbled, making the sign of confrontation. Sasuke returned the sign and then Naruto made the tiger sign and a pair of mizu bunshin formed from the water sticking to his soaked jumpsuit.
The three Naruto rushed Sasuke as the original performed kage bunshin, blending a pair of them with his mizu bunshin. Sasuke widened his eyes as jumped back and tossed shuriken at the five blondes. One Naruto used shunshin, probably the original, two others used henge to take the shape of fuma shuriken and the final two grabbed the new weapons and jumped over Sasuke's attack, returning fire with the fake fuma shuriken.
Sasuke frowned and jumped back further, dropping the wires he connected to the shuriken and pulling out a pair of kunai as he landed. The fuma shuriken followed him, the dark eyed boy jumped and destroyed the mizu bunshin pretending to be weapons with the dual wielded kunai. He was surrounded before he landed and was on the defensive in a taijutsu battle with Naruto for a moment, until he grazed Naruto's arm with a kunai and dispelled one of the kage bunshin in the same way. Sasuke jumped and tossed the kunai down.
Both of Naruto dodged the kunai by jumping back and to Sasuke's concern they both started running through hand seals. Sasuke quickly ran through his own on the way down, unleashing a Gokakyu no Jutsu on the ground beneath him before he landed, flash boiling the water into steam and dispelling the final bunshin before he landed in the steam.
Naruto powered through the heat, finished his hand seals and struck his palm out at Sasuke. The Uchiha moved to dodge and found the steam around him condensing and cooling rapidly, he was trapped in a bubble of water before he knew it.
"Got you! Steam is water too! " Naruto laughed, proud of his victory. Sasuke couldn't believe he'd gotten caught by the dead last, he also couldn't believe he hadn't considered Naruto using the steam as a source of water. Sasuke suspected Haku had something to do with it, which was a fair assumption as Naruto had caught him in a Suiro no Jutsu.
"Sasuke-san, does Kakashi-san give you one on one training?" Haku approached, figuring now was a good a time as any, but also to stop Naruto needlessly gloating.
"No, why?"
Haku blinked at the response, smile faltering, "I thought he was neglecting Naruto-kun's training, or leaving it to me, but it seems he just doesn't..." the boy had to pause and find a polite way to say it, "give individual training." he decided.
"I can train myself." Sasuke said confidently, the fact the boy was sitting in a suiro no jutsu did nothing to shake his self belief. It was admirable in a way.
After some extra gloating from a proud Naruto and banter from Sasuke about how he'd have won if he had used Sharingan the boys separated.
Sasuke Uchiha was confused, which didn't happen often. Sasuke had noticed that Naruto was getting better with assistance from Haku, and now that he knew the boy was a living weapon he felt no shame in testing himself against the blonde.
It still bothered Sasuke to lose in their spar. Sure he hadn't been using his Sharingan and he knew logically when it came to battles of ninjutsu the blonde boy would have even Kakashi beat for stamina. Actually from what he heard Naruto might have more chakra than the Hokage himself even without the Chakra no Bakemono, from what Sasuke had needled out of Kakashi it was a mixture of being an Uzumaki and a Jinchuriki that gave Naruto such obscene chakra reserves.
Despite this Sasuke was still confused, because Naruto hadn't beaten him with stamina, the orange clad genin had actually just outmaneuvered Sasuke with numbers. Apparently kage bunshin were a kinjutsu due to how much chakra they cost, but Naruto could throw them at his enemy like most people threw shuriken, and thanks to Haku's instructions Naruto was getting better at throwing shuriken which meant his bunshin were getting better at throwing shuriken too.
Naruto had two solid bunshin but couldn't perform the academy basic version, on top of this Naruto's taijutsu had improved somewhat, his shurikenjutsu was getting better too, and the rate he learned suiton ninjutsu from Haku had Sasuke convinced Naruto must just have a natural water affinity.
The other options were that Haku was just that good of a teacher or that Naruto was secretly some kind of genius. Sasuke discarded the latter idea, he'd gone to the academy with Naruto.
Sasuke had copied the kage bunshin, but hadn't tested it yet. Kakashi had mentioned that chunin or even jonin could die of chakra exhaustion just trying to learn it. Sasuke could be reckless at times, but he wasn't suicidal.
Kakashi had been convinced to teach Sakura and Sasuke water walking after Sasuke informed the man that Naruto was learning it from Haku. Haku had seemed genuinely surprised that they hadn't already started on it, and agreed to assist teaching them without any complaints.
Sasuke looked at the targets he'd set up in his clan training ground, the same style that man had used to practice deflecting shuriken off of each other. Sasuke still couldn't hit the bullseye on the hidden targets, but he was hitting the targets at minimum.
As the Uchiha prepared to go through the shurikenjutsu practice again he decided he didn't need extra training from Haku, he was already better than the older boy in a straight taijutsu fight, and his suiton ninjutsu were ill suited to Sasuke anyway. He'd ask Kakashi for coaching instead, the man might as well teach them something, even if Haku was better at giving instructions for water walking.
Sakura Haruno was confused. The young girl couldn't figure out how her team mates kept advancing so quickly. Sasuke getting better and better was only expected to her, but Naruto of all people surpassing her was shocking. She wondered if Kakashi was leaving her out of some secret training only for boys.
The young girl was also confused by Naruto's new 'friend'. Haku was nice enough, but the way he worded things sometimes just gave her goosebumps, that or flustered her with the implications. Sakura didn't have a problem with Naruto and Haku being close, she wondered why they insisted nothing was happening still. Naruto hadn't asked Sakura on a date in ages after all.
Sakura was also pretty sure Haku didn't like her, which was a shame since he seemed so nice and polite. Sakura wondered why the older ninja wouldn't like her, they hadn't fought on the bridge back on their first C rank, they didn't really interact outside of team training and missions, and Sakura generally returned Haku's politeness with her own.
Sakura could only assume it wasn't a big deal, maybe she just reminded him of someone distasteful and he needed to get to know her better to open up. The young kunoichi was confident this must be the case, Haku was clearly only interested in Naruto so they couldn't be love rivals for Sasuke.
Kakashi was impressed with his team. Naruto had made leaps and bounds in almost all aspects of his ninja training, and Sasuke was steadily improving on his own and had even asked for instruction on water walking, which meant the boy was starting to swallow his pride about asking for help. The jonin was proud of most of his team.
Sakura still hadn't asked for help or even seemed interested in training on her own time, Kakashi had checked. Spying on his genin was fun, and thankfully he hadn't caught Naruto and Haku doing anything they should not be doing, he'd have to have words with Haku if he did.
Naruto seemed to be in denial, and Haku didn't seem to be the type to initiate such things. Kakashi knew the relationship wasn't exactly healthy, Naruto was trying to be a good friend, but was clearly socially oblivious. Haku didn't seem to mind, but he seemed devoted to his role as vassal. Kakashi personally thought Haku's idea of a vassal was most peoples idea of a housewife, but with ninja training.
Kakashi was not the most stable ninja in the village, he knew he had issues, but he got the job done. The man recognized that Haku was also not quite stable, the boy had an obsession with being useful to Naruto. Kakashi could tell that Haku's loyalty was to Naruto, not Konohagakure no Sato or the Hokage. Should Naruto become Hokage that wouldn't be an issue, but should something happen to Naruto it could become a massive problem.
Kakashi was most proud of Naruto however, despite his confusion over being attracted to another boy the blonde genin handled himself well these days. Still easy as ever to fluster, but his skills were improving and he seemed surprisingly well suited to having a vassal. To be fair he treated Haku as a friend first and a subordinate second, which was a trait many found admirable in a superior officer, but Kakashi knew that Naruto might be too soft of heart for more difficult decisions.
"Sorry I'm late, I had to escort a drunk snake to her home."
"Stop making up weird excuses!"
Kakashi smiled at his students, he was proud of them, well most of them. Sasuke was even asking for extra instructions regarding his Sharingan when they finished training lately. Kakashi had given him some pointers, Sasuke seemed ungrateful. The jonin was definitely most proud of Naruto.
Haku had finally caught up with Hinata, the young girl was apparently stalking himself and Naruto on their way back from training. Haku took a moment to be proud of Naruto, he had ridiculous chakra and stamina, the boy threw kage bunshin at just about everything and was getting better at being tactical with them. Today he'd even used a kage bunshin as a battery to go and make mizu bunshin while he engaged Haku in taijutsu.
The vassal ninja smiled at the memory and turned suddenly, causing Naruto to stop in confusion, "I'll meet you at Ichiraku's, Naruto-kun." Haku said, keeping his smile up.
Naruto frowned, "Why not just come with me?" he asked, Haku was reminded he was a vassal.
"I saw a nice yukata." Haku decided on, he technically had, but he was just using it as an excuse now. To his surprise Naruto shrugged, pulled out his frog shaped wallet, and tossed it to Haku.
"I'll need it back when you catch up." Naruto said with a grin and a wave as he hurried off to get his favourite food. Haku blinked, he knew Naruto trusted him with grocery shopping but the boy hadn't even asked about a price.
Haku decided to think about it later and approached the hidden stalking girl, "Hyuga-san," he began politely, earning a startled sound from the hidden girl, "I have been asking about you and determined that you need to hear something from me." he finished diplomatically, avoiding implicating Sakura.
Hinata stepped out from behind the telephone pole, looking as nervous as ever despite Haku's assurances.
"I am a boy," Haku began, ignoring Hinata's strangled yelp, "Naruto-kun considers me a friend, and a condition of my entry into your village was that I become his vassal." he explained, although he stretched the truth a little. Technically the Sandaime Hokage had merely suggested that having a loyal local ninja sponsor Haku would make it easier to be accepted and Naruto had accepted the responsibility without even thinking about it.
Hinata was clearly flustered at this news, "B-but he calls you 'Haku-chan', and you sleep in the same bed, and you cook for him, and you're always together, and-" the girl rambled and the boy wondered how she had learned about the cooking thing, Naruto's team wasn't even aware of that.
"We are simply very close friends." Haku tried, "So you are free to romantically pursue Naruto-kun if you wish." he said, meaning it to be teasing and not thinking about how much saying so bothered him.
Hinata stuttered and stammered for a moment, trying to state some form of denial before giving up and fleeing the conversation. Haku smiled, he decided Hinata seemed like a nice girl, she would be fun to tease. With that thought in mind he purchased the yukata, an indigo one with a swirling pattern design, and hurried to catch up with Naruto at the ramen stand.
Haku found Konohamaru and his two friends, Moegi and Udon, to be a little odd. He liked that they seemed to look up to Naruto, he wasn't fond of how they treated being ninja. It could be supposed that they were still academy children, but he knew he'd been better at that age. Haku wondered if the academy was actually pretty terrible, or if Zabuza was just that good. He decided on the latter.
"Hey boss, hanging out with two pretty girls, huh?" Konohamaru was also a bit of a brat, and seeing Naruto with Haku and Sakura had him grinning with mischief clear as his intent, "So which one is, you know?" he asked, and twitched his pinky.
"I'm a boy." Haku never got tired of the reactions he got from that, Konohamaru was shocked, and Udon suddenly seemed ashamed of himself, but Moegi was concerning with her wide grin.
"So both!?" Moegi was definitely a concerning young girl, Sakura was disturbed, Naruto was flustered, and even Haku was surprised.
"No!" Sakura yelled indignantly, "I have nothing to do with those two! Not like that!"
"Hey! I'm not like that with Haku-chan either!" Naruto denied, his choice of honorific making it seem like a lie.
"It's okay boss, I can understand being confused, the boy is prettier than the girl." Konohamaru said, unknowingly agreeing with the blonde himself and angering Sakura, "A cute pale brunette is definitely more appealing than some big forehead with a temper." he added petulantly.
"Konohamaru-kun, you should run." Haku warned kindly, alerting the young ninja-in-training to Sakura's rising ire.
"Fool." Udon said, albeit sympathetically. Moegi had no words to offer.
Konohamaru took off, Sakura turned her glare on Naruto, "What did I do?" the blonde asked, he hadn't even done anything wrong to his knowledge. Sakura couldn't think of an answer and gave chase to Konohamaru.
Naruto decided he'd follow to make sure the kid didn't die, Udon and Moegi followed to carry the foolish child to the hospital if needed, and Haku followed because Naruto did.
It was a short chase, Konohamaru ran into a boy, slightly older than Naruto and slightly younger than Haku, who was now holding the grandson of the Hokage by the front of his shirt. Haku figured this was probably an awkward situation.
"This punk ran into me, he should apologize."
"I'm sure he's sorry." Sakura tried to defuse the situation.
The blonde girl, taller than Haku even with his sandals giving him an extra 5cm, frowned at the kabuki painted black clad boy, "Just drop it, Kankuro." she scolded.
"No way, Temari, I want to hear him say it, come on punk." Kankuro demanded, lifting Konohamaru higher up.
"Screw that, you should apologize!" Konohamaru shouted and Haku wondered how often this small boy would put his own foot in his mouth.
"Put him down!" Naruto demanded, stepping towards the ninja wearing a Sunagakure symbol and carrying a large bandaged object. Kankuro smirked and twitched his finger, Naruto was tripped up at the motions. Haku did not take well to Naruto being under attack and had his right hand around Kankuro's right forearm, the one that wasn't holding Konohamaru, then held a senbon up to the younger shinobi's neck with his left hand.
Kankuro shivered, intimidated by the speed of the older boy, who he assumed was a guard of some kind from the response, "Alright, chill, I'm putting him down." the kabuki painted teen placated as he lowered Konohamaru to the ground.
Temari had tensed up as well, looking concerned for Kankuro's safety, but relaxed when Haku let Kankuro go. Her tenseness returned when Kankuro reached for the bandaged object on his back, Haku tensed too, gripping another trio of senbon in his right hand.
Kankuro didn't get far, a rock struck his hand and they all looked up to see Sasuke sitting in a tree, "Why are you foreign shinobi causing a hassle in our home?" he asked in an accusatory tone.
"I'm not causing a hassle, just teaching punks some discipline." Kankuro defended himself.
"Kankuro, shut up." That was a new voice, gravelly. They all looked and saw a red haired boy with no eyebrows, black circles around his green eyes, the kanji for 'love' tattooed on his forehead, and a big gourd leaking granules of sand stood upside down on the branch opposite Sasuke.
Sasuke was surprised, since he hadn't detected the boy. Haku was concerned and stepped back to be between Naruto and the newcomer.
"Gaara!" Kankuro was clearly scared of the younger boy, "I, we, Temari and I were just-" he tried to excuse his actions with an explanation.
"Shut up or I'll kill you." Gaara was not having it, Kankuro took the threat seriously and stopped. Haku shivered at the actual intent behind those words, that hadn't been a lie.
There was a sound of rushing sand as Gaara moved to stand by Temari and Kankuro with a suna shunshin. Haku remained tense and sweat broke out on the back of his neck. Sakura didn't seem to realize the danger, and Naruto was just frowning.
"Wait a second." Sasuke jumped down, apparently not sensing the danger either, "You didn't answer why you were here." he said expectantly.
"Yeah," Sakura agreed eagerly, "we may have an alliance with Sunagakure no Sato, but what are you guys doing here?" she asked.
Temari decided to risk answering after glancing fearfully at Gaara, "We're here to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams." she answered.
"What the hell is that?" Naruto asked, Haku honestly felt like he could blame Naruto for not knowing this one, but honestly he didn't get the point either.
"The Chunin Selection Exam is a biannual competition among genin from all the hidden villages, hosted by a cycling selection of the hidden villages." Sakura explained, quite knowledgable for someone who hadn't realized it was coming up. Also the explanation didn't really help Haku understand any better, he figured field promotions were more important.
"We're leaving." Gaara clearly had lost patience for his team mates and they moved to follow him, terrified expressions clear on their faces. Team 7 watched them leave with varied expressions, Sasuke with an odd confident eagerness, Sakura with concern, and Naruto was just glaring.
"I got lost!"
"You already used that one!" Sakura still wasn't used to Kakashi being late all the time. Naruto didn't like it either. Sasuke didn't seem to care, but he did glare a little.
"So I did," Kakashi agreed, "anyway here are some forms required for entry into the Chunin Exams." the man powered on, handing out three pieces of paper, "I nominated you three, but it's ultimately up to you as individuals if you feel you're ready." he explained, "Oh, sorry Haku-chan," he added and Haku's eyebrow twitched as a minute tell of frustration, "I can't nominate you, you'll have to wait until Naruto-kun has jonin authority to nominate you for promotion." he finished apologetically, but he didn't sound sorry.
Haku simply nodded his understanding, "Well I definitely have to take it then!" Naruto declared.
"As if I'm backing down from this." Sasuke agreed confidently, eager to prove himself. Sakura didn't look too sure of herself but smiled nervously and nodded. Haku suspected the girl just didn't want to be left completely behind by her team, he just hoped she didn't get Naruto hurt during the exams somehow.