Training montage #4: Haku is perfectly fine


The month continued.


"So that's ten nirnroot leaves over five days, one in the morning and one before bed. If the headaches stop partway through continue to take the medicine; but if they're still there by the end don't hesitate to let us know."

The teenager across the counter picked up his prescription and smiled warmly. "Thanks a lot. Hey, when do you get off shift? I wouldn't mind meeting and hanging out sometime."

Haku blushed and shook his head, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, but I'm not interested in that sort of thing right now. Please, have a nice day."

The guy shrugged good-naturedly and walked towards the door.

This was not the first event of its type to happen in the past few weeks, or even days. Zabuzza had remarked, once or twice, that Haku looked like a girl (and it still stung to think about his old master) but he hadn't thought he looked like an attractive one.

He looked up to scan the shelves around him, and spotted a very familiar face. "Naruto?"

The blond looked up, saw him, and smiled. "Haku!"

Haku had already leapfrogged his counter before the ban on indoor parkour crossed his mind, running across and enveloping Naruto in a hug.

The teenager at the doorway gave him a dirty look before leaving.

"Good to see you too." Naruto got out through clenched teeth. "You can, uh, let go now."

"Sorry!" Haku released his death grip, patting down his apron. "It's just been a while. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you!" Naruto laughed. "What are you doing here?"

"Working." Haku explained. "This is my job."

"You work in a shop?" Naruto wrinkled his nose up. "I thought you'd be out there being the coolest ninja around. Except my team, obviously."

"It's a pharmacy." Haku corrected. "And they didn't exactly trust me with missions for the village; I was a missing-nin. But this is linked to the ninja hospital. The way things are going they'll take me on as a medic-nin pretty soon, and eventually they might let me take the chunin exams, become a legal Konoha ninja." He chuckled to himself. "But I'm still being followed daily. They can't seem to decide whether to throw me in a jail cell or throw me at a crowd of girls."

Naruto blinked, clearly not understanding.

"I have a bloodline limit." Haku extrapolated. "Like your teammates. It's how I'm able to combine water and wind release into ice release, and it's very valuable." He smiled wryly. "My previous master's sword wasn't the only trophy you stole from Mist that day. If they restart the Yuki clan in leaf, that's another superpower to add to their armed forces. But that would mean I'd have to..." he made a finger motion.

"Ew." Naruto surmised.

"Indeed. So, why did you come to see me? I...had hoped that if this were a social call you would have come sooner." He tried to keep the hurt out of his voice. He failed.

Naruto scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, that's the thing. I was going to go see you as soon as I could but they told me it would be, like, bad for you? I don't know what it was, they said some stuff I didn't really understand about 'Stockholm syndrome' and 'dependance' and basically banned me from seeing you."

"Oh. Right." Haku winced. "I promise I'm not that bad-"

"They actually told me you asked about me like three times a day for the first month, and had five, (six?), six separate breakdowns," Naruto continued, oblivious, "which, if I'd known, I would have come to see you sooner, but whatever right?"

"Ahaha, right." Haku couldn't meet his eyes. "That...doesn't bother you?"

Naruto laughed. "You aren't even the craziest ninja I've met today. Don't worry about it."

"Right." Haku felt a weight lift off his chest and smiled. "So what made them let you come here? They've doubled my patrol for today, so I assume you didn't just break the rules."

"No I asked Kakashi and he said he'd sort it out with the old man. Basically..." Naruto paused for a moment, then fell to his knees. "Please train me!"

"...eh?" Haku replied, eloquently.

"You know how to use wind release, right?" Naruto asked. "Hinata said that you used it against her in the woods. I...really need a teacher. Barely anyone in the fire country actually uses wind, 'cept gramps of course, but he's too busy. I thought the only option was Temari, but she's the sister of the person I'm supposed to fight, and then I remembered you!"

Haku was genuinely shocked. "Yes I have an affinity for it, and I do know a few strong wind jutsu, but...I'm your best option? Will the Hokage even agree to this?"

"I guess if it's not allowed they'll stop us." Naruto paused.

Neither the two jonin tailing Haku or the pair following Naruto moved from their hiding spots.

"That's that then. So?" Naruto asked him.

Haku shook his head in disbelief, before smiling at the still kneeling Naruto. "Sure. I'd love to. Now get off the floor; it's weird seeing you like that. Hot, but weird."

"What?"

"Nothing."


Kankuro idly moved one of his pieces. "So how can I be sure you won't just possess me and start playing the game for me?"

Across from him, Shikimaru moved one of his own pieces, seemingly at random. "You're thinking of Ino. I can move you, but you'll know it's happening. I've been told it's painful."

Kankuro raised an eyebrow, even as he tried to decipher his opponent's maddening strategy. The Nara had foregone all traditional methods of properly playing shogi, in favour of seemingly moving whatever he felt like in no particular order. "Aren't you afraid of giving away information?"

Shikimaru shrugged. He had challenged Kankuro to the game in the first place, but was being oddly reticent. "I fought your sister, and I had to give away most of my usual tricks to pull that win off. You already know all the practical applications of my clan techniques."

"You don't seem worried." Kankuro moved another piece.

"Not about the fight, no." Shikimaru replied.

Kankuro reacted with carefully concocted confusion. He's probably just smack-talking. He doesn't know anything.

"It's funny." Shikimaru continued. "My friends wont stop talking about these exams. It's filled their heads. People always struggle to stay objective at times like this. They don't just want me to give it my all, they expect it. Any other uses for all that effort and chakra don't even factor into their minds."

"Do you expect to need your energy for something else?" Kankuro asked, carefully.

"Do you?" Shikimaru countered.

Still might just be smack talk. No reason to get suspicious.

"I see your point." Kankuro replied, continuing the game. "I'm only really here to escort my brother and sister. If you want I could forfeit? Give you a free pass?" He finally spotted it. Shikimaru's apparently random movements had been setting up a trap. Kankuro smugly moved to dismantle it.

"Thanks, but that would still leave me fighting either Hinata or Sasuke." Shikimaru replied. "I've got this bad feeling about the second day."

...okay, he might know something.

"Naruto's fight?" Kankuro replied, sweating under his black clothing. "I get it Konoha isn't too fond of the nine tails."

"...Sure. Something like that."

Fuck he definitely knows something.

"What do you think you'll be able to do, anyway?" Kankuro tried not to sound threatening. "There isn't much a regular ninja can do against a tailed beast."

"There's more than one way to skin a tanooki." Shikimaru replied with a smile, and wasn't that a suspicious alteration on the phrase. "I win in four turns."

Kankuro looked down at the board. Frowned. Played back the moves in his head, then went pale. The sneaky shit, he had...how had he even...

Kankuro looked up. Shikimaru still had that lazy smile on his face.

"I guess I lose then." He stood up hurriedly. "I hope you're this interesting to fight in our real match."

"We'll see, I suppose." Shikimaru started clearing up the game pieces.

Kankuro internally marked him for assassination, smiled, and left. Quickly.


Hinata finished her warmup with Gai.

"Spectacular as always, my young pupil! Are you ready to begin the real training?"

"Actually, Sensei..." Hinata had been thinking about how to broach this subject for a while. "I was wondering if there was something else you could teach me."

Gai laughed and made a humble hand wave. "I'm afraid that most of my skills lie in taijutsu and physical training. If you think you need other techniques, you'd be best off returning to Kakashi."

"That's not it." Hinata shuffled. "I meant...the gates."

"I see." Gai's face went solemn. "I would not usually teach those to any genin. While the training to prepare for it should be undertaken early, attempting to actually open them should not be done until one's body has matured."

"You taught Lee." Hinata pointed out.

"Lee is an exception." Gai sighed. For the first time, it seemed like he was dropping his persona. "He is...well, he hates the phrase 'disabled', but it isn't inaccurate. His chakra coils are stunted. He is not just untalented at ninjutsu and genjutsu, they are completely beyond him. The gates are his only means of progress." He gestured for Hinata to sit and did so himself. "The eight gates are eight chakra points along your network that limit your body to prevent self-destruction. Their power is great, yes. Many ninja have said that opening the eighth gate increases your power by a hundredfold. This is an underestimation."

Hinata gulped.

"Even the first gate, the gate of opening, allows you to use 100% of your muscles' power rather than 20%, and they are exponentially stronger over time. However, every gate has its dangers. They push your body beyond what it is supposed to accomplish, Hinata. The first can be used by a young, fit individual with no damage other than soreness. But the fourth will leave you immobile for hours. The sixth; days. The seventh risks permanently crippling your body anytime you use it, and the eighth will kill you. Just as it killed my father."

Hinata looked him dead in the eyes. "I've sparred with Lee. Opening the gates unblocks tenketsu."

Gai grimaced.

"I understand the dangers of using them. But surely there can be no harm in having them? Having one? I am not one for unnecessary shows of power, Sensei. Being crippled and winning is better than being killed."

"That may be so, but perhaps it will give you greater confidence in your abilities." Gai shot back, deadly serious. "Perhaps you will take on conflicts that you would originally never have dared to, fights you are not ready for. Like a man attacking the seven deadly swordsmen of the Mist as a genin! Placing your life in a technique that tears your body apart is not a wise course!"

Hinata grit her teeth. "I know what it's like to lose a loved one, Sensei." She reminded him. "But your father died a hero. Mine was slaughtered in his bed. How many lives would have been lost if Dai hadn't had that power? What might have happened if Hyuuga Haishi had?"

Gai looked at her sternly for a few seconds. Then he relaxed. "That is the issue, Hinata. A few days ago I asked you to understand your overarching motivations. Eventually, you admitted your goal was to defeat your brother. But there is a deeper level to even that." He leaned in closer. "Do you want justice? Or do you want revenge?"

He leaned back and put up a hand as she began to speak. "Don't answer. The truth of your desires is for you alone to understand. Just as your life is yours to live, and if you so choose, yours to give. But I will not teach you this power if you intend to take it down a path of rage and death."

Hinata looked to the floor. "Lee has a rule. He will never open the gates except in defense of his ninja way."

Gai nodded, silently.

Hinata looked up, and spoke. "In my life, I will fight. Probably many, many times. I will fight for many reasons; for my friends, for my country, for myself, and I'm sure sometimes I will fight without even knowing why. Sometimes I will fight certain of victory, but most of the time in the murky realm of probability and doubt. And sometimes I will be forced to fight an opponent who I believe is beyond me. And when I look down the paths of the consequences of defeat, and see that the world will suffer for it...then and only then will I open the gates. This I swear, on my heart and on my name."

The wind whistled through the clearing.

Gai looked at her, long and hard. "One month is too short for most to even learn the basics."

"Tenketsu are my specialty." She replied.

Gai stood up. "Your vow is satisfactory. Hinata, I will teach you of the eight gates. One day, I hope you prove that promise true."


"Good morning Lee." Said the pretty nurse, walking into the room with a smile. "How does the leg feel?"

Lee gave her a thumbs up and a grin. "Intense pain, miss! But I push through!"

"I'm a-sure, that's good." The nurse seemed to grapple with something, before sighing. "Have you done your stretches this morning?"

"Indeed! I have gone through the stretches three times in order to triple the improvement rate!"

"That's not how...you know what? Great!" The nurse looked to the doorway and leaned in, glint in her eye. "And what about the exercises I suggested?"

"Those were harder, but seem to have had more of an effect!" Lee replied. "Why did you prescribe a different workout?"

"Because most of these doctors, for all their much touted experience, have no idea what they're talking about." The nurse bit out, before muttering to herself, "They can survive five weeks in the wilderness with a broken leg and then tell me my methods are 'brutal' and 'violate safety protocols.'"

Lee nodded enthusiastically. "I also enjoy ignoring what people consider medically ethical! Thank you for your expertise, miss nurse!"

"No problem." She smiled. "And call me Haku. Please."

Lee was about to respond when suddenly Haku was gone, blurring so fast he hardly saw it. In a moment she was stood by the foot of his bed, and since when had she had senbon in her hands? Then he looked at the doorway, and gulped.

"Good morning." Said the monster, with a smile.

Gaara did not radiate killing intent, period. But there was something about him that set on edge anyone in his presence, as it clearly had Haku. Lee hadn't noticed it, at first, until he had had to fight the sand genin. He glared and tried to push himself to his feet. "Have you come to finish what you started? You'll find I am not as infirm as I look!"

"If you try to attack my patient." Haku warned. "You'll find he is the least of your worries."

"Not at all." Gaara didn't even seem to notice their aggression. "I came to wish this one a fast recovery."

"...huh?" Lee blinked.

"You were a powerful opponent." Gaara continued. "And it would be good to test myself against you again. I came to remind you that you must grow stronger until you are able to fight me again, and perhaps then I will tear your insides out. Naruto was not clear on what happened after the rematch."

Lee's training only left him with one response to that. "Very well! I will overcome all adversity to become the strongest taijutsu master in ninja history, and then I shall defeat you!"

"Good." Gaara replied. "I would also like to remind you that should your village be hypothetically obliterated, you must survive that for the rematch to occur. Goodbye." He turned away.

"You know Naruto?" Haku asked him as he was leaving.

"It seems like everyone important knows Naruto." Mused Gaara. "You interest me too, child of ice. We should try to kill each other sometime. I believe it will be beneficial." With that, he left.

"...I need to stop being surprised by weird people." Haku sighed to herself, hiding her senbon.


"You wanted to see me Sensei?" Sasuke asked, walking into the clearing.

"Yes I did." Said Kakashi, snapping his orange book closed. "I know I said that I have to be impartial, but really, you're my favourite."

"Really." Sasuke deadpanned.

"Really!" Kakashi defended. "Here, watch, I've got a kickass new lightning jutsu I can show you to prove it-"


"You wanted to see me Sensei?" Hinata asked, walking into the clearing.

"Yes I did." Said Kakashi, snapping his orange book closed. "I know I said that I have to be impartial, but really, you're my favourite."

"Really." Hinata deadpanned.

"Really!" Kakashi defended. "Here, watch, I've got a kickass new lightning jutsu I can show you to prove it-"


Dinner had just finished in the Uchiha household, and it's patriarch had been silent throughout the entire meal. "Sasuke." He said, eventually. "A word alone."

Sasuke nodded and handed his plate off to his mother with a smile, sitting back down. His father waited a moment before adding, "Alone, Itachi." Sasuke looked behind to see his older brother lounging in the doorway, though he glared and left at Fugaku's urging.

Sasuke's father looked at him from across the table. "Your first battle is tomorrow."

"Yes, father."

"I look forward to witnessing it."

"You're...coming to watch?"

"Of course. My son's ascension to chunin isn't something I'd miss."

Sasuke's heart soared. "I...thank you. I promise I'll make you proud."

"Of course." Fugaku replied. "I understand you are facing the Hyuuga heiress."

"Yes."

"Your teammate."

"Yes." Sasuke tried to figure out where this was going.

"Your mother convinced me that having her on your team would spark rivalry and convince you to better yourself, and I am glad to see it has succeeded." Fugaku continued. "However, it must now end."

"It...what?"

"Even if you both are promoted, your team will be officially dismantled. That girl is no longer your teammate. She is your enemy, and must be treated as such."

"...I understand, father."

For once, Fugaku smiled. It was a hard smile. "I know you do. Make me proud, son."

In the other room, Itachi was glaring furiously at a family portrait. With a flick of his will, it 'accidentally' caught on fire.


Le plot thickens.

I should probably mention that no, Itachi did not just Amaterasu a picture. It was a regular fire jutsu.

People are getting new powers, Kankuro and Shikimaru are both getting suspicious, and Haku is still best boy. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about him.

Next chapter...well, it's the fight you've all been waiting for.

White vs Red, Owl vs...hawk? Sasuke doesn't know any summoning-

It's Hinata vs Sasuke, guys.

Place your bets in the reviews as to who wins!