Chapter 2

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Back to Konoha - Hours Later - Naruto's Apartment

Naruto held the ice pack over his swollen eye. After the ordeal between Naruto and Sakura. Naruto was to blame for it. The headmaster didn't care if Sakura hit him first. In fact the headmaster grinned at the girl for putting the 'demon' in his place.

When Sakura's parents arrived at the office Naruto didn't get the chance to explain what really happened. But the headmaster beats him to it. 'This brat put his hands on your daughter for no reason, only he hated her pink hair and called her fivehead'.

Bullshit.

Before Naruto calls him out on his bullshit, blue eyes meet momma bear's fist. Naruto was punched by Sakura's mother. Naruto hits his back to the wall and falls on his knees. 'DON'T EVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON MY DAUGHTER AGAIN, YOU BRAT!' Said Sakura's mother. Naruto held his eye and just nodded. There's no point in telling her what really happened anymore. Naruto ran out of the academy and just went home.

Naruto have had it. He was done with Sakura. He was done with the headmaster. He was done with the academy. Most of all, he was done with this village. The longer he stays, this village will be the death of him. He knew he would never have a happy life here.

Then his stomach growled. Naruto sighed. "At least a good bowl of ramen will ease my day." He left his apartment, unaware he's being watched.

Meanwhile - Outside of Konoha

"Welp, this is the place, girl." Said Zabuza. He noticed there weren't any chunin guarding the gate. "Hm, either Konoha is low on shinobi or they're arrogant in their own strength. Pitiful."

"Zabuza-Sama, something didn't seem right about the client. I don't trust him." Said Haku.

Their client, Mizuki, had been acting fishy since they met. He didn't give them any specific details or why he wanted the target dead. He was vague with the details and the reason. And that was a red flag.

'That demon shouldn't be born. He did nothing but bring evil to this village. Do us all a favor and get rid of him.' That was his reason. Red flag.

'He's a false image of the yondaime, the one who sacrifices himself to save this village. And mocks us, reminding us he killed him.' Another red flag.

Zabuza looked at Haku. "This is not the time for you to go soft on me Haku." He groans. "Come on, we need to make this as quick as possible, before we're caught."

Haku sighed and put her mask on. "Okay." They both split up and used shunshin.

After they left, Mizuki came out of the woods, watching them. He gave a sadistic grin. The 'demon' is going to die, and no one will suspect it's him. Yep, his plan will work.

Back with Naruto

Naruto had a bad feeling. Scratch that, everyday he had a bad feeling. Although the festival of the nine tails' defeat is over, it's still fox season to the villagers and they still think it wasn't enough for him. Yet, nothing is never enough to the villagers.

As he heads to his favorite restaurant, or as he calls it 'his safe zone' a few glares were shot towards his direction and once they got a look at his eye they smirked. 'Serves him right.' One villager said. Naruto ignored it and just kept walking.

Still unaware of his followers.

Minutes Later

"Thanks Ayame-chan, Teuchi-san. I needed that." Naruto said with a cheeky smile and left. When Naruto entered the small restaurant, Ayame was stunned to see Naruto with a swollen eye and quickly aided him. Naruto told them what happened and Ayame was furious. Teuchi gave a sigh of disappointment of how the headmaster can be such a bastard to Naruto. As usual, Teuchi gave Naruto ramen on the house, hoping to ease his day. Luckily, it did.

However, not for long.

As Naruto heads towards the direction to his apartment, suddenly his ankle gets caught in a rope. "What the-." Before he could try to take the rope off, he was dragged down an alley in the red district. As he attempted to get up he felt a hand grab his shoulder and yank him down.

"Just where do you think you're going, demon?"

"You think you can just roam around our village that YOU DESTROYED!?"

"You killed our friends, family, Lord 4th. And worst of all, you mock us by appearing as the man we deem as a hero you murdered."

"We'll make you regret coming to this village."

The mob surrounded Naruto, ready to end him and all he can do is close his eyes in fear, bracing himself for the death they'll bring him.

Haku's POV

Haku jumped from rooftop to rooftop, looking at every shinobi and civilians that fit Mizuki's description. She found a blonde but this blonde was a girl and she was fighting with a pinkette who had a swollen cheek over a guy who doesn't look like he gives a damn about the girls

Haku sighed. 'Girls like them are the reason why we kunoichi can't be taken seriously.' She thought to herself.

Elsewhere - Dango Shop

A woman with purple hair tied to a ponytail, wearing a trench coat and fishnet shirt smirked and chuckled.

"What's so funny Anko-chan?" Her raven-haired and red-eyed friend asked.

"Just thinking there may be a few kunoichis that thinks like us." Said Anko.

Back to Haku

A shout of agony reached Haku's ears and made her stop her pace. She turned to the direction of the scream and was horrified at the sight of mobs beating up a boy who looked a bit younger than her. Then she was furious.

She admittedly sprints towards the chaos, attempting to save the boy.

Naruto POV

Naruto is on his knees coughing out blood. Same thing as yesterday, he was stabbed and burned again, except this time he wasn't taken advantage of. He tried to get up but failed, they broke his leg so he wouldn't try to run away. The mob snickered at his misfortune.

Naruto gave them a pleading look. "What have I done to deserve this? You say I'm a demon, you say I have killed your friends and family and you say I destroyed this village, but I haven't done any of that. I wouldn't-." Before he could finish, he was slapped to the wall.

"Enough of your lies, demon. You know you enjoyed it. You love making us miserable, you sick fucking demon." The man raised his pitchfork. "And if Lord 3rd won't do anything about you, then we-." Suddenly, the man was cut off.

Naruto, who had his eyes closed, waiting for his final moment. Until he heard a few thuds. He was too scared to open his eyes, imagining the worst.

"You can open your eyes now, they won't harm you anymore." He heard a soft, soothing and feminate voice. He kept his eyes closed and arms in a defensive position, the last person told him that ended up backstabbing him. Literally.

"I promise you, I won't hurt you." The voice got closer. Naruto hesitated, then opened his eyes and got a sight of his beautiful savior. "I'm Haku. What's your name?" She greeted.

"Na-Naruto." He replied. "Naruto Uzumaki." Then he noticed the mob and widened his eyes at the sight of them lying on the ground, senbons embedded in them. "You… killed them."

Haku smiled. "No, they're not dead. I only put them to sleep. They should wake up in an hour."

Naruto nodded. Sleep or not, he's glad he didn't suffer the same pain as them.

"Why did they attack? Who would hurt a child?" She glared at the mob with hatred.

"Because, they think I'm a demon." He said.

That made Haku's eyes widened in horror. Then she looked at him closely. Blue eyes. Blonde hair. Exact replica of the Yellow Flash. This is the guy they're hired to kill. He's just a kid.

Naruto continues. "They accused me of killing their friends and family. They beat me, stabbed me, even I was taken advantage of by a lady and said 'if she spawns a demon infant, she'll kill both of us."

Haku seethe at that last part.

"I hate this, I hate everyone, I hate this village, I hate my life. I WANT TO DIE!" He sobbed.

Haku's tears flowing. She couldn't believe how cruel this village can be. She's just like him. Those in the mist village with kekkei genkai are to be executed on sight. Demon or not, Naruto didn't ask to be born and he wasn't harming anyone.

Her thoughts went back to the client and she seethed. 'I knew it. I knew he was evil. He's just an ignorant bastard like all the others.' Then an idea popped in her head. 'This can benefit both Zabuza-Sama and Naruto-kun.'

Naruto sobbed until he felt arms wrapped around him and a chin on top of his head. Haku is hugging him. "You're not a demon and no one can tell you that. You are you, Naruto." Comforted by Haku's words, he hugged her back.

"Do I need to ask what you're doing?" Both looked at who spoke.

"Zabuza-Sama. He's the one." Haku said.

Both Naruto and Zabuza looked at her confused. "What the hell are you talking about? He's a kid? Did you just went from soft to twisted?" Zabuza asked.

Haku nodded. "He fits the description." Zabuza looked at Naruto and his eyebrow twitched. He was hired to kill a kid who doesn't look like he's Ten yet. Zabuza does a lot of things, but killing kids isn't one of them, especially if they're aren't shinobi yet

Then it clicked in Zabuza's head.

'Demon.'

'Yondaime.'

'Reminding us he killed him.'

The pieces came together. This kid is the Jinchuuriki of the nine tails. It makes sense why Mizuki wanted him dead. He's just a blind, ignorant bastard.

And it didn't take him that long to guess that the villagers did a number on him and Haku stepped in and saved him. "C'mon Haku, we wasted our time."

"Wait, Zabuza-Sama." Haku called. "I got an interesting idea." Zabuza raised an eyebrow. Haku came to him and whispered.

Naruto looks at them, curious about the conversation.

"What? Hell no!"

"What makes you think I'm okay with this?"

"Oh he does huh?"

"...Good Idea." Zabuza grinned and looked at Naruto. "Hey gaki, so you want to leave this hellhole of a village don't you?"

Naruto nodded. Not knowing where this is going.

"Naruto-kun, you can come with us." Haku said. "You don't have to suffer anymore. Zabuza-Sama will protect you."

Naruto looked at Zabuza with hopeful eyes. "I can come with you mister?"

"Yeah sure." Zabuza said. "Just don't expect compassion from me."

Naruto smiled. "Thank you mister." Then he remembered. "Mister, my leg is broken."

Zabuza sighed. This will take awhile till his plan comes into motion. "Haku, pick him up."

Haku nodded and picked him up, piggyback style. "Hang on Naruto." Zabuza shunshin all of them out of the village and covers their tracks with the mist.

And just like that, Naruto is free to start a new life.

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Chapter Complete: Aug 7th, 2022