SUMMARY: Three Genin and one Sensei leave, four children and three adults come back.
Zabuza and Haku accompany them back.
They don't wear their headbands of course.
They haven't survived as Missing Nin for so long without having some brains after all.
The five get formally introduced to Zabuza's sword: Kubikiribocho.
It has regenerative abilities, using the iron in the blood of its' victims to repair itself.
It is a truly marvellous blade.
It's also huge.
Taller than a person.
They don't know how Zabuza manages to pick it up - the man has to have some muscles.
It is no wonder that the Seven Swordsmen of Kiri are so well known if this is similar to the other blades.
It is absolutely terrifying.
And Samedaha is meant to be the scariest.
They are so glad talking worked.
Sneaking the two into Konoha is simple.
Disturbingly too easy.
Honestly, is their security that bad?
Zabuza and Haku go first, dressed like merchants.
The border guards let them through.
Sumire's seals do their job.
No one even thinks to look for them.
They never find out that Kubikiribocho is stored in a seal in his pocket.
They never notice that he is wearing a disguise supported by a chakra stealing seal.
They are only too happy to allow, 'The big gruff man and his beautiful little daughter through."
Fools.
The five of them don't know whether Haku is a boy or girl but honestly they don't care.
He could be neither.
Or both.
They aren't going to judge.
They are however, all going to tease Naruto.
Ru has been looking at Haku for quite a long time and it doesn't seem like innocent curiosity.
Ru is still at the stage of being embarrassed by things.
Romance and sex don't faze Ra.
Depending on her mood, Re is either blushing or absolutely unbothered.
It is weird.
They are weird.
"So Orochimaru's little apprentice has figured out how to Shunshin?"
"Yes Danzo-sama."
"And you bothered me for this, why?"
"Danzo-sama-".
"You never bring me anything important, do you? Get rid of him."
'Still, it can't hurt to note this down.'
"You!"
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
"Fetch me Mitarashi Anko's file."
Zabuza doesn't like things.
He's not allowed to.
He cannot, will not admit he is attached to his Apprentice.
It will get them both killed.
Then three Genins and their Sensei(s?) make a deal with him.
And Haku stays with them for an entire week.
A week away from him.
He gets purple in exchange though, so it's not as bad as it could have been.
He (likes) tolerates purple.
He can see the kindness in her, can see the will in her eyes.
The determination.
But she's small.
Not in body - she's fairly tall for a Kunoichi.
But she isn't a Kunoichi, is she?
She is a Shinobi.
But she's something else before all that and he wants to know what.
When he does, he wishes he didn't.
Somewhere in his old, shriveled heart, he hates them all.
Hates all the monsters who've made children become killers.
Who are behind the knowing and wise glances all of his current companions have.
He likes them and he knows it.
How could he not?
But he has to be careful.
That makes him vulnerable.
He cannot show it.
But those knowing eyes are looking at him.
They know anyway.
He hates it.
Kurenai is proud if nothing else of her Genin.
Her Genin who managed to evade a fight and walked out unscathed with minimal input from her.
She chose to watch the situation, to see just how they've grown since she first met them.
Zabuza does nothing but send her an approving grin when she insists on placing herself between her Genin and him.
He doesn't begrudge her it.
Kurenai is more than teacher, a true sensei and she won't let any harm come to her students if she can help it.
But really, do they have to put themselves in these kinds of situations.
Zabuza wouldn't have hurt Sumire but it didn't stop her worrying.
Why do her kids have to be such trouble magnets?
Really.
She's so caught up in her thoughts that she doesn't catch sight of Asuma and bumps right into him.
He might have caught her and she would have let him.
But now...
She has responsibilities.
Namely three kids and a friend who is actively avoiding her.
She can't go back to the way it used to be.
She can't expect Asuma to catch her all the time - he is the Hokage's son.
She had a crush on him once upon a time.
Not anymore.
She can't afford to.
So even if it makes her feel heavy, hurts her, she treats him as she always has.
They are good friends.
Nothing else.
It is not to be.
It hurts but Kurenai will manage - for the other four's sake if not for her own.
She has to.
So she will.
Anko doesn't say much.
Normally, she would be out there, terrorising the (kids) brats in the name of training.
But she knows someone is watching her, can feel it.
She distances herself from the other four.
They understand.
Soon she will be able to drop her tail and she can come back.
Until then, she needs to convince everyone that nothing had happened.
That she's not shaken by their drive for peace - to the extent that Sumire agreed to spend a week with a man who could easily kill her and that she didn't know.
That she didn't trust.
She has seen their flinches.
Knows what that must mean.
When she can see them again, she's going to beat Sumire for being so self-sacrificial.
Soon.
Haku thinks he likes the three children and two women he meets.
They don't ask him what he is.
They are polite.
They don't hurt him.
Yes, he likes them.
As much as a tool can, anyway.
He is and always will be a tool.
"I had a meeting with the Hokage today."
"About the mission?"
"It will be recorded as an A-Rank but we are not going to get the pay."
"Cheapskate."
"Just because he is well off..."
"That's not all."
"Hmm."
"You are going to be entering the Chunin exams."