Harbinger

by tigerowl

Naruto's friendship with his teammates Gaara and Haku is put to the test as they prepare to deal with the threat of the Akatsuki. The secrets Jiraiya has kept come to a head, and Naruto must shoulder the responsibility of protecting much more than the Leaf Village. Continuation of Forlorn. AU NaruHina, GaaSaku, NejiTen, ObiRin, OCs *Taoism, Self-Indulgent World Building, longfic

7. Distance

Chapter Soundtrack: "Farewell" (Nujabes Tribute) by Witness

Chapter 7- Distance

Sasuke felt more alive when he fought on his own. The rational shinobi would have recognized that fighting off the bulk of a local clan on one's own was foolish, perhaps useless. Yet he was an Uchiha, exceptional in every right, and expected to be so. These people were united as the Shin clan, one of the few actual families to have first settled the Rice Country. Orochimaru wanted them out.

They cast Genjutsu with their instruments, flooding the air with eerie music alongside screams of pain. His Sharingan nulled their jutsu, piercing through illusions of fog and reversed surroundings. Sasuke gripped a kusanagi sword in his right hand and a man's throat in his left. His blade howled down, splitting just below the rib cage and spilled his opponent's guts. His foe had stood nearly a foot above him, looking menacing with a gisarme in hand, but he fell faster than he attacked.

The Uchiha moved like wind across a footbridge; furious members of the Shin charging at him from the opposite end. They attacked unwittingly, their sound jutsu futile and their efforts more so. He crossed the bridge quickly, leaving a wake of fallen enemies. The majority had fallen back to the far end, where they had been forced to retreat from their small village. The town sat in the distance, far from the forest-staged gauntlet that was leaving its inhabitants massacred.

Sasuke could see it in the way they crumpled by his sword, and how they floundered away from throngs of constricting snakes; the extent of his power. He was barely exerting himself. His potential, he thought, was rapidly being realized if foes that should have outnumbered and overwhelmed him could hardly raise a hand against him. They were ineffective and slow. He could see it as they ran and scattered. They saved their speed for escape and not for attack: the first mistake. He could catch them, if the occasion called for it, but it was the leader that needed to fall.

The leader's real name was Ongakare, but he was a pompous, middle-aged man who had taken the name Shin instead, intending to personify the whole of his clan. As the strongest, certainly the swiftest, he was the pinnacle of all his underlings could hope to be. His name was their entirety. He resembled Orochimaru, somewhat, in appearance. Maybe that was what had really offended the Snake. Sasuke caught sight of Shin up ahead, suddenly less motivated. Killing the man would not merit him much.

Shin had not even approached to fight him. If no one was willing to make the effort, why meet in battle at all? All of his followers had fought bravely and uselessly. He was extremely fast, but that may have been Shin's sole admirable quality. His ribbon-dart technique could not compare to anything his lone adversary was capable of, so he sent more grunts ahead to attack. Sasuke didn't bother to defend, and let a huge black serpent lunge ahead from beneath the bridge, which had been dawdling nearby, waiting for an opportunity since it had been summoned.

Those that avoided its jaws turned around, fleeing, Shin leading the front of the escape. The clan had been reduced to less than half of their original attendance, Sasuke estimated. There was no doubt they would never return to the Rice Country again, after the humiliating and complete defeat they had suffered. Orochimaru would be glad that one other task had been eliminated from his agenda, but the list went on and on. Sasuke would have other projects to fulfill.

A dead shinobi laid face down on the dirt road, and Sasuke ripped a piece of the man's cowl off to clean the blood from his kusanagi. He noted what a mess he had made. The woodland showed clear signs of a disturbance, trees toppled and the undergrowth savaged. Plant life had a thin coating of blood in some areas. It would not be difficult to decipher what had happened here. He sheathed his sword, turning to the giant black viper coiled near him on the roadside, "Group them together, Aoda."

The serpent moved out to the path, dragging the bodies closer to one another with his teeth, aided by a few kindred. The snakes were dismissed after completing the task, and Sasuke incinerated the pile of corpses quickly with an intense but brief fire jutsu. Ignoring the stench, with the assignment carried out fully, Sasuke passed by the mound of cinders. He headed back in the direction of the village, which would be little more than a ghost town in the upcoming months. It would be up to Orochimaru whether or not the village would be resettled or destroyed. Either way, the Shin clan's home was at the mercy of the Otokage.

Koinyu stood at the center of the footbridge, watching Sasuke approach. He had been observing the battle for a while from a distance, waiting for the former Leaf ninja to finish his work. He regarded Sasuke with keen, golden eyes. The Uchiha was as level and impassive since the day he had first been introduced to him. Koinyu imagined he had not always been that way, because young people were naturally...more lively, if memory served. Koinyu supposed Sasuke's outlook had been shaped by his life in Sound. 'Hollow existence describes it a bit more accurately, I think.' He corrected himself, 'A creature so drab and consistent as this is not something that is living.'

One feature that was unfailingly stunning about the stuffy teen was his Kekkei Genkai. The Sharingan still burned in his eyes, penetrating, red, clear. Such eyes were deeply coveted by Orochimaru, Koinyu could understand, but he also had to credit the doujutsu of other clans. The level of Sasuke's blood limit had great potential to escalate, yet others had evolved eyes as well; achieved even outside decades of picky breeding and wars.

In Koinyu's opinion, a ninja's eye technique was only as permanent as the organic material it originated from. 'I could blind that kid in his sleep, and then what would Orochimaru think?' He hummed to himself, 'Something that lasts...that is the truest pride of one's clan. A genetic trait can easily die out of existence if conditions sour. Now if I were to present Orochimaru-sama with Susumajin...how it is untouchable, unable to retain damage...he would lust for such a creation of unbounded power!' He could not get his mind off of the hidden treasure rumored to be slumbering within Leaf.

Sasuke's eyes faded from ruby to onyx and he stopped a short distance away from Koinyu, wearing a dissatisfied expression. "What was the point of fighting fools as weak as them?" He snorted, assuming Koinyu had the answer, "It was a waste of my time."

"Your time, maybe, but not Orochimaru-sama's." Koinyu answered pointedly, "The Shin were not loyal to him, and that made them unfit to be Sound shinobi. It was only befitting that they were chased out, anyway. That clan may be small, but their unique ninjutsu may have become a nuisance to us."

Sasuke's countenance was a mild scowl, "That's a load of proprietary garbage. There isn't an excuse that covers for how pathetic they were, and would've been if they'd been ignored."

"So maybe it's the land he wants." Koinyu tried to sound indifferent, "It's not like they were going to hand assets over to Orochimaru-sama in any event. Running them out could have been a demonstration...a flexing of the muscles: yours, in fact." He smirked, "But what do I know? I'm just a Rock ninja hired to keep things organized around here."

They passed through the empty town, Koinyu keeping the silence at bay with reminders of their respective itineraries. The Iwa nin led the way north, through a dense tangle of forest, past farmland, and again into overgrown jungle. By midafternoon the hideout, discrete as it was, came into sight. A new experiment Orochimaru had commissioned would need Koinyu's attention soon. The violet haired man was rather looking forward to it.

"This is where we part, Sasuke-sama." Koinyu stopped outside of the entrance, "I have a special assignment that requires I travel to the Water Country and collect our lost lamb; Haku."

"Bringing him here would be a waste of energy." Sasuke observed stolidly. He had said it before and he was tired of repeating himself. The fact that Haku had survived his assassination technique was bizarre, Sasuke noted, and attempting to recruit him into Sound in any fashion was effort worth saving. Taming a horse so steadfastly docile was a moot point.

Koinyu was laughing at Sasuke's annoyed face and assumption. "Bring him back?" He simpered at the idea, "Oh no, Sasuke-sama...I won't be doing that." He bid the Uchiha farewell before setting out east to follow the coastline. Koinyu was a seasoned hunter and he would find his wayward quarry swiftly.

Sasuke descended the stairs, slightly curious of Koinyu's intentions. He had pointed out what was quite apparent in that Haku had proven to be a worthless investment. The water nin avoided persuasion, capture, and all-around need to be involved with Orochimaru and his games. Sasuke, on a minute level, was envious of such oblivious talent. Perhaps Haku had not struck Orochimaru with enough aggression or ambition to be valuable any longer. The curse mark had been wasted on the boy.

'If he won't bring him back,' Sasuke concluded, 'He'll kill him.' He was not about to stop Koinyu either. It was only tying a loose end, after all.

---

Rin wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her wrist. She was kneeling between two rows of soil that would soon house artichokes. The garden was kept in excellent condition thanks to her fastidious work and attention to seasonal changes. Every now and then she would drop off some of the organic spoils to the garden's previous owner, Char, who was now too old to cultivate the land on his own.

The sun beat down on the plot and the only shade Rin could take comfort in was that of the straw hat she had brought with her. She worked scrupulously, planting wiry tufts of seed in the ground with bare, calloused hands. She trembled a little while she worked. Though it was an occasion that was ritual almost every two days, her tending to the garden, she found the stillness of the mountain was intimidating.

The tract of land was situated in a wide field, with high visibility from either side of the clearing. An enemy ambush was often a possible danger, and her keen senses were not always able to detect Rock ninja skulking close by. That was why, in the absence of her husband and son, she had asked Sesshu to come along with her. Her blonde ninken sat majestically at the bottom of a hill just behind the garden. He was alert for any altercations Rin should be aware of.

Sesshu's ears pricked suddenly, and Rin's eyes darted over to the dog whose muscles were taut for action. She waited a moment, expecting a report, but he then relaxed and sat back down. "It's just birds." Sesshu concluded with a sniff, "They get awful fussy sometimes."

"Don't scare me like that..." Rin sighed, setting back to work, "For a moment there I thought I'd have to jam this hoe in someone's neck."

She stood, proceeding a bit farther down the row. Her basket was half full and more labor was required to successfully sow the remaining seeds. Rin's mind was stuck on her family all the while. Obito and Yuma were not due to return for a few more days. She had faith they were perfectly safe, and it was only because she knew her husband so well. His abilities had far exceeded what she could have ever expected, and she also admired how he was brave enough to act like a buffoon in front of dangerous nukenin on a regular basis.

'I really did marry a genius. Maybe he wasn't in the same category as Kakashi...but honestly...who could endure that kind of strain and anxiety so frequently, and still be a loving father and...' She sighed, wiping her forehead again, 'I miss him. I always miss him...and I'm beginning to wonder if there will ever come a day when I won't ever have to miss him again.'

Rin shook her head; her neck was uncomfortably damp with perspiration. 'No. I can't think like that. I have to remember how hard he's trying...helping Jiraiya-sama. He risks so much– I should be grateful for the time we do have together.' She thought, but it still did not feel like it was enough.

She had lost him once, and after finding him again there was no way she was settling for anything less than forever.

---

Rin had left Konoha as quickly as possible, and traveled through the night well into the day. Her fear was that her clan, sociable and wild as they were, would come looking for her after realizing she was missing. Of course, Tsume would pass it off as another early morning mission she had disappeared on, and Rin believed her sister would not suspect her to be in peril until she failed to show up the following evening.

'Hopefully sensei will cover for me.' She thought. She didn't care what he told her family so long as it prevented them from tracking her down. For three days she traveled with Sesshu, exhausted, unsure if her head start had been enough. On the fourth day of traveling northeast and not meeting any interference from Leaf, she assumed that she was not going to be intercepted at all. It helped Rin relax a bit, but she was still wary due to the fact that her travels would take her out of the territories of the Land of Fire.

After passing into the deeper reaches of the Grass Country she finally stopped to rest. Sesshu had gathered during their flight that they would not going back home any time soon, if ever, and was not pleased about it. "Why didn't you talk to me about it first?" The dog huffed, pacing across the floor of their room, "I'm going to miss them all..."

"If you had said goodbye they would've suspected something." Rin reminded him, rolling over on her futon, "Now go to sleep. If you keep whining you'll wake up everyone in this hotel..."

She had prepared for the stormy weather in the days that followed. They were warned to steer clear of mudslides and areas that flooded. Rin had known Sesshu was uncomfortable traveling in such incessant rain, but was surprised he had not once complained about it. Her poncho didn't offer much cover anyway, and she was essentially just as soaked as her furred companion.

Rin recalled the terrain faintly, from back when she and her team had passed through years before. They had successfully destroyed the bridge they had targeted, but lost a friend. No one had been the same since then. The site of Obito's death was not far from the trail she was following, but she wondered how she located it at all in the pouring rain, obscuring her sense of direction and smell. There were just some things she knew innately.

They came upon a collapsed rock formation in the thick of the forest. It was where she had been held prisoner in a cave by Rock ninja, which was long since filled in. 'Why was I so weak back then?' She lamented, furious with herself, 'If I hadn't let my guard down he'd still be alive...' Rin stood silently, gazing at the tall heap of stones that had claimed a wonderful person long ago.

"Is this where it happened?" Sesshu asked her quietly.

"Can't you tell?" She replied glumly, "I wouldn't have stopped here if this wasn't it."

"Are you sure? It's just that..." The dog hesitated, "There are scents here that are stale and damp, but...they're different. Others have been through here."

Rin looked at him oddly, "What are you jabbering about?"

Sesshu crossed through the muddy bank, clambering up onto a wet boulder. She had wanted to yell at him for making light of her teammate's grave site, but she gave up since she was cold and wet and crossed over to see what had thrown off her ninken's judgment.

They moved up the hill to get a different perspective, and it was then Rin understood what had confused Sesshu. The agglomeration of stones and debris, on the opposite side, had been excavated. At first she was speechless, unsure of what the intrusion meant. The dog slid down the incline cautiously, picking through to the burrow that had been ripped open. He entered it, briefly, sniffing frantically, and then pulled out again. Sesshu looked up to his partner from the bottom of the heap, "There's no body in here! Someone took it, Rin!"

Her heart withered a bit. The uncertainty she had felt turned into unabridged rage. Who had the audacity to invade a grave of a fallen shinobi? This ground, though abandoned, she believed consecrated simply because of the tragic end; the abrupt loss of friendship. No decent person would dare trespass and disturb this place. Her chest swelled with fury, and Sesshu clambered up the slope again, his belly-fur slick with mud.

"Whoever did this I'll— I...I can't believe–!" She was shrieking into the dark woods ahead, "They have no respect...he was so brave and he didn't deserve any of it...this isn't fair." She looked at Sesshu, "I won't accept this!"

"It's done already, Rin, settle down." He advised, pressing his muzzle against her clammy palm, "Let's get out of here now. I think the rain's starting to get to you. We'll find a place to rest and figure this out."

They passed through the forest, taking the long way around the ravine, and took refuge at a small inn on a hilltop. They dried off and relaxed, but even then, there was no way to comprehend it. There were no measures she could take to investigate who was responsible for the intrusion. Rin slept restlessly, and in the morning decided the only way she would feel better about the ordeal was to let it go. The worst that could have happened was that Iwa nin had discovered her teammate's body and tried to steal secrets from the corpse, but she highly doubted they had achieved anything from it. 'Scoundrels...all of them.'

Her passing into the Land of Earth was a distinct reminder of her hatred for the war. The environment was rugged, windy, and people she encountered were nearly all antisocial and impatient. She preferred the rainy Grass Country to the dreariness of the arêtes. Her luck improved when she had circumvented the Hidden Rock Village, going a bit further north, and discovered a tiny but comfortable town nestled in the side of the mountain. It helped that she remained safely anonymous, having thrown away her headband back in the Land of Fire.

It was her good fortune to meet a compassionate pair of elderly people in a restaurant she had been eating at. They were old and curious, and when they asked about her background, Rin found herself spilling her guts, desperate to find someone to connect with. Connect she did. They were pleasantly surprised to hear she was a kunoichi, and declared Sesshu was the most handsome dog alive. He thanked them humbly.

The husband, nearing his seventies, was Mirin Topatsu. Topatsu's wife, Anzu, offered for Rin to live with them until she had settled into their village. She was deeply grateful for their kindness, and found that it was not only her benefit to live there, but the community's benefit. They had gone without a doctor for months, and a trained medic nin was a welcome addition to their town.

She came to understand, after living with Topatsu and Anzu for three months, that their village was floundering. Iwagakure imposed heavy taxes on outside villages to pay for war expenses. Townspeople could barely afford the cost of living, and certainly could not afford medicine when their loved ones fell ill. Thankfully, Rock didn't check in often on the puny village on the mountainside. Had there been a scout, one might have noticed the medic who had taken it upon herself to heal the village. Diseases that were easily curable were nearly eliminated in the first month. Thereafter, Rin was the greatest success the town had even seen in the field of medical science.

Word traveled from her new village, Nashi, to a neighboring town on the opposite side of the valley called Shincha. There was a desperate need for a physician for a village elder. Topatsu knew the man who was suffering, and urged her to hurry to his friend. Rin left for Shincha that morning with Sesshu by her side, determined to help anyone in need.

The sister village of the valley was a bit lower on the slopes of the mountain. It was a poor agricultural community, and the people there quickly directed Rin to her patient. "I wish someone would tell me what he's come down with." Rin complained to her ninken as they crossed to the far side of the city, "I don't know what to expect."

"Still, I'm sure you'll handle this just as well as the others." Sesshu assured her with a yawn.

Upon arriving at the correct address, just before noon, they found the cabin, a bit worried by the dimmed lights inside. Rin knocked on the side door hurriedly, wanting to get to work as soon as possible. Sesshu sat beside her calmly, putting on his most innocent puppy face so he would be invited inside too. A man answered the door a minute later.

Rin would've acted friendly and reassuring then, had it not been for the fact that her first impression was shot down. He didn't look sick, so she assumed he was the caretaker. Then again, she couldn't judge whether he was ill at all, because he was wearing the most ridiculous mask she had ever seen. Other than that he was dressed normally, and she waited to be guided inside but it didn't happen.

The man stood in the doorway for a long while, scrutinizing her through the single eye-hole in his mask. It was not a comforting greeting. After being stared at and thoroughly unnerved, the weirdo who had answered the door spoke up. "Ooh! So this is the doctor? Great!" He sounded a bit unsure, but his voice was high pitched and goofy so she didn't care, "Char-san really needs help. You can call me Tobi, and you are Miss?"

He backed up a bit and Rin walked in, frowning and distrustful, "You don't need to know my name. I'm sure this won't take long." She walked in, aware of how she was acting like a jerk, but it was all in her own defense. Sesshu padded in after her and Tobi closed the door behind the dog.

Rin found her patient, Char, on futon in the living area. She kneeled down beside the old man; glad that he was awake. She ignored Tobi's comments and observations, and asked Char himself to explain his symptoms. Sesshu laid quietly beneath a potted plant watching Tobi. After assessing Char's soft-voiced descriptions and performing a physical examination, Rin near instantly knew what she was dealing with.

"You have pneumonia, sir." Rin told him gently. A bowl of cold water was set beside the futon, probably from Tobi's attempts to bring his friend's fever down. Rin wrung out the cloth after soaking it in the frigid water, and replaced it on the man's blistering forehead.

"I'll need to run a test to see if this is a viral infection, so please bear with me." She added, rummaging through her bag.

Tobi waited anxiously from beside Char, watching her draw out a hypodermic needle, "I-Is there anything I can do, Miss? I sure am worried about Char-san...he's so frail and exhausted–"

"You want to help? Get him some water you air-head, he's dehydrated!" She snapped, cutting off his rambling "Do you even know how to treat someone with a fever?"

He shook his head, "Well no, see...you're the doctor–"

"Get a move on!" Rin barked, and Tobi quickly scurried out of the room to fetch water. She swiped a spot on Char's arm before pricking an evident vein with the syringe, "Just relax now...this will only take a moment."

By the time Tobi had returned with something for his friend to drink Rin was already tapping a vile full of blood. His obnoxious chatter resumed again as he sat the old man up to sip the water, and Rin could only pray she could tolerate him for a few hours more. After a brief wait, she inspected the test's results. "Good, it's not viral." She sighed, then added, "Antibiotics are needed to kick a bacterial infection though, and..." She stared at her lap, "I don't have any."

"Where can we find some then, eh?" Tobi inquired noisily, "Poor Char-san! We can't just sit around and do nothing!"

"They're hard to come by. The only place I can think of would be in Iwagakure because their hospitals would carry a mandatory drug like that..." Rin theorized anxiously, "Except...I have no idea how I can go near that place without being found out."

"Found out?" Tobi turned his head to the side, "They won't arrest you for requesting nice drugs like that. Now if it were some leaf you could roll up and smoke they might say–"

"No! I mean that I'm a Leaf shinobi...or...was. But whatever! I'm sure they have me on record for a few of the missions I've taken in the past." Rin stood up, stowing away the used needles, "It's a few days longer to get to Grass but their medical supply is just as good."

"But how can we gamble that he'll last that long?" Tobi asked worriedly.

"I'll have to gamble, because if I get killed in the field he'll die anyway." She retorted impatiently, "I can't risk it on my own."

"You don't have to! I'll go with you, Miss!" He offered, "I have people in Rock who know me. If I go with you they won't suspect anything– you'll be fine!"

Her brow furrowed, "I'm having a hard time believing that."

"It's true..." Char rasped, wanting to interject, "Tobi-kun is a brave warrior who is known all through this land. I trust him with my life. Please, Miss, I must insist that he travel with you...for your own safety..."

Rin looked from Char to Sesshu. The dog's tail wagged briefly, "He's good, I can tell." She sighed, not liking the idea, but relented. She and her ninken followed after the lunatic who was prattling the whole way into the surrounding stone-jotted woodlands. As Shincha faded from view, Rin decided to rely more on her own instincts than her guide's experience. She and Sesshu tested the air frequently for any new scents.

While they picked their way through the treacherous landscape, Tobi did his best to start a conversation, "So...er, Miss...you said that you left Konoha, right?"

"I did say that."

"Why the heck would you do that? I heard the food is awesome there!" He chirped brightly, "Don't you miss it even a little? If not your friends, at least the chow?"

She glanced sidelong at him, "You are so damn weird. No. I miss my sensei a little and my big sister, but the food was mediocre at best."

Tobi gasped, "Ooh! Now you're just being spiteful."

"Shut up already..." She groaned, "Why are you so casual like that? Show more respect, be bit more dignified, why don't you!" She paused, looking at him again, "Come to think of it...you remind me of someone."

Again, a gasp, "Really? Who?"

"Someone I knew." She walked on ahead, "He was annoying too."

Tobi deflated a bit, "Ah well, looks like all the annoying people are drawn to you. Even if you are terribly snobby and mean, Miss Whoever-you-are, I can tell you're a wonderful person. Might I add–"

Rin had plugged her ears with her index fingers, wondering why she had arrived here of all places after leaving her birth village. 'What a dumb idea that was.' She thought sourly, 'I don't mind helping people, it's just that chattering idiots aren't exactly my type...'

Tobi's monologue was cut short, and Sesshu gave a warning growl as a team of Rock ninja passed by. The squadron inevitably halted to inspect the strangers. The team leader spoke up, "I'm sure you're aware of how close you are to the Hidden Rock Village, which is perhaps your destination."

"Iparachi-san!" Tobi knew the man, "Sorry if we startled you. This lady here is a doctor and we're on our way to pick up some medicine."

"You don't have clearance to do that, Tobi." One of Iparachi's teammates sneered, "Besides, this outsider you have with you looks suspicious."

"I'm a doctor." Rin clarified again, indignantly.

"How often do doctors keep such monstrous dogs with them?" Iparachi pointed out.

Sesshu quailed a bit beside her, his ears flattening. Rin could feel Tobi tense a few feet away, realizing that the Iwa nin were onto them. Another one of the Rock ninja spoke up, smirking, "You know what I've learned throughout this war? It's that Leaf is all too obvious! We have a spy here, and not just any spy– an Inuzuka, fwo ho!"

Rin cringed inwardly, hoping to avoid a fight, but Sesshu was already bristling, "Well? We shouldn't disappoint them!"

The talking dog was all the confirmation they needed. The Rock ninja charged together, hoping to overwhelm the kunoichi. She was ready for them, and counterattacked with Gatsuuga, barreling through the line of reckless enemy ninja. They hurtled back from the blow, and those who did not recover quickly enough got a face-full of teeth from Sesshu. Earth jutsu were initiated, and Rin soared to the edge of the hillside to evade, ripping through what incoming rock and debris she could. 'I'm not going to win this...if I can slip in a substitute I could get away just long enough to–' A stone slammed into her back, knocking her out of her attack stance.

Tobi was frantic, "Iparachi-san! Please don't do this– she isn't a spy! We're only trying to help someone!"

Iparachi paused to look at the masked man, perched on a fallen log, "The way I see it, Tobi, Leaf ninja are all vermin– medic nin and ANBU alike. As long as they bleed anyone will do!"

He leapt down into the fray where his team was closing in on the Inuzuka, and Tobi followed, knowing he had no other choice. At the risk of his own reputation, he attacked, "Katon: Dragon Fire jutsu!" A pythonic jet of flame lashed out at the line of Rock ninja, forcing them to scatter. One of the ninja did not escape in time, and was crippled on the ground with fatal burns.

Rin looked up at her companion, shocked that he was capable of such a technique. Apparently, her enemies were taken aback by it as well. "What the hell are you up to?" Iparachi demanded furiously, "You should know better than to attack an officer in your own homeland!"

"Maybe I should." Tobi shrugged, "But the Miss is my friend and I won't let you get in our way!"

They told him he had poor taste in friends. The remaining three Iwa nin attacked again, one filing off to distract Tobi while the lingering pair faced Rin again. Tobi knew his opponent from a past encounter, a man named Oiyamu, and he had a devilish temper to begin with. Fighting him on his own would be a challenge, so Tobi resorted to creating an Earth clone to help trounce his foe.

Further ahead on the slopes, Sesshu had transformed into the likeness of Rin, and aided her in one of their most lethal attacks. The two moved like a blur of teeth and claws, corralling Iparachi and his partner in a vortex of wind. The sheer speed was untraceable, and Iparachi only thought to look up as Rin and her doppelganger were jack-knifing down in a twin helix of chakra, "Diving Twin Fang!"

Iparachi rolled to the side, getting cut up by the ring of wind, but managed to narrowly avoid the attack that sliced his teammate into literal pieces. Rin hoped it would not be immediately obvious to her surviving adversary that she was paralyzed. The attack was a kind of taijutsu with effects similar to that of the Lotus. Her muscles were screaming with agony from the exertion, and she could only hope Iparachi would need as much time to recover as she would. She glanced to her left, where Sesshu laid in his normal form, also waiting for mobility to return. Her hands and face with coated with blood.

Tobi had managed to gain leverage on Oiyamu after his clone had gotten tangled in the foe's dagger-chain. Tobi made hand signs, attacking his replica and enemy with a relentless electrical attack that channeled through the chain. The earth clone dissipated, and Oiyamu was stunned by the hit that thoroughly fried his nerve endings and stamina.

Tobi rounded about just in time to observe Iparachi staggering to his feet. Rin was on the ground, also desperately trying to stand. 'Come on!' He thought pressingly, 'You can do it! Just get up and shred him!' He did not realize how seriously impaired she was. Tobi watched in horror as Iparachi clobbered the slow moving kunoichi with a point-blank earth jutsu. The rock assault sent the young woman flying, and Rin landed on the far side of the plateau like a rag doll.

He ran, seeing Sesshu was also not moving, and he could only wonder what the hell they had done to incapacitate themselves. Iparachi would reach her first. Tobi felt his guts wrench with fear, knowing his companion was not able to fight back. A follow-up earth justu was seconds away from crushing her. 'She has to get up...she won't, but she has to!' Tobi picked up speed, hurling kunai, buffering Iparachi, but not by much.

"Get up, Miss!" Tobi skidded in front of Iparachi, wrestling with the stronger man. Rin was crumpled on the ground still, and the Rock ninja spat on his foe's mask, livid.

"You're with them, eh? The blockhead decides to join the enemy!" Iparachi hurled the smaller man aside, "You'll see just how wrong that decision was!" Hand signs followed.

"Rin!"

The kunoichi looked up, wondering if she was hearing things. Her eyes went to Sesshu, a ways off, but he couldn't have spoken while he was still limp. Rin stared ahead at Tobi, who dove in front of Iparachi. It was a surreal moment, watching Iparachi's every hand sign be mimicked to the point of mind-reading, and have the same jutsu thrown back at him. Rocks caromed off of each other, canceling, and Rin then picked up on the urgency of how she had to get up and defend herself.

Her knees were quaking violently but she struggled out of the way. It was not as if she was in dire peril anyway. She could not fathom how Tobi, dense as he was, was fighting with more ferocity than any other ninja she had seen, 'Sensei included...'

From what she could gather, Iparachi was floundering around because he was trapped in a genjutsu he had not yet detected. 'Genjutsu? That's it, but...Tobi isn't...he– is capable.' Confirming it was strange, and she observed as Tobi darted ahead, and finished the last Rock ninja with a brutal blow to the temple. He toppled over like a crumbling wall. Rin shuddered, wondering if she need be afraid of her comrade. She hobbled over to Sesshu just as the dog was tottering to his paws.

"You're hurt." Sesshu observed sadly, "It's my fault...I should've gotten up sooner to help."

"Hush up." She sat beside her ninken, running over her scrapes and cuts with a basic healing technique. Her skin sewed back together but she was still unbelievably dizzy from the beating she had taken. She found that after taking care of herself and her dog, she couldn't find the will to stand up again. Rin balked when Tobi walked up to her, promptly hoisting her to her feet. Even though she could not see his expression, she could tell that he was hiding immense concern behind his mask, "Are you going to be okay?"

"I...I expect so." Rin wiped the last of the blood from her face on her sleeve. They continued on in silence, partly bewildered by the battle but mostly tired. It was fortunate they reached the inner sanctum of the Rock Village without further resistance. The real problem was locating the hospital, which took longer than it should have, and after pestering nurses for assistance, a kind hearted physician stopped to listen to what they had to say.

"I think straight up cephalosporin will do." Rin informed the doctor, "Please tell me you have some available, because that infection is just going to keep spreading unless I contain it."

"Yes, we have a wide range of that in stock, it's just that..." He sighed, "It's illegal to distribute medications like that to non-citizens. I could put in a request with the administrator, or you could go directly to the Tsuchikage for permission–"

"Ah, no." Tobi said bouncily.

"We can't even wait for an appeal. He'll die." Rin pressed the matter, "Please help me."

The doctor paced around in his office. The antibiotics were so close– just inside a glass cabinet on the wall, and still, they were unreachable. Rin waited anxiously for his decision, "Miss...I'm so sorry, truly I am. But if you had brought him here he could have been treated immediately. There's no way to solve this on your good word alone." She did not want his sympathy.

"Bring him here? This village is draining his home every day of resources and money, and the medical bill he'd pay here afterwards would only cut him down more!" Rin shrieked, fuming, "This place is killing its own people just to fuel the war! Bring him here? Feh! I work for free!"

She stormed out, and Tobi apologized for her outburst before following her out of the office. Rin stormed through the lobby, ignoring the strange looks she was getting from passers-by. Tobi followed after her, "Hey, wait up, won't you?"

"He will die, Tobi. I should've...just gone to Grass." Her voice broke, "Why did you insist? We shouldn't have come here...why did you–?"

He held up two bottles of a clear liquid that made her watering eyes widen. "This is it, right? Cephalo-whats-it, yeah? I grabbed it while that no-good monkey was dealing with you." Tobi handed her the medicine, "Never take no for an answer, okay? Bust some heads!"

Rin had only just made it past the front entrance of the hospital before she broke down in relieved sobs. Tobi tensed at the sight, unsure of how to comfort her. He looked down to Sesshu, who only wagged his tail in a manner equivalent to a shrug.

He took a step forward, wrapping his arms around her small frame in a chaste hug. "Shh, it's okay, Miss. I did get the right one, didn't I? If that's not it I'll go back, I mean– I have slippery fingers!" His voice lowered a bit, "You...you're crying. You really wanted to help Char-san that badly?"

"Yes." She squeaked, "That's what I do. I save people. I save them to atone for all of the others I couldn't save."

He was silent after that, thinking about what she had said. They left the village, following a different route back to Shincha in order to avoid any confrontation from Iwa nin. They moved quickly and nervously, and Rin could not get her mind off of the battle they had fought together.

"Hey." Rin muttered abruptly, "You know my name...so ...who told you?"

"Nobody." He answered simply, skipping over an upraised tree root, "Nobody told me, Miss."

"Call me by my name." She smiled at him, "I think you've earned it."

"Ooh! I've earned it!" He giggled like a schoolgirl and she sighed, but was beginning to suspect such behavior was all for show. 'The way he was fighting back there...' She thought to herself, 'It was unreal...'

It was twilight when they finally got back to Char's home. Some neighbors had stopped in to keep watch over the old man, and left upon seeing Rin had things under control. She administered the antibiotic to her patient, and waved off his whisper of thanks. "That's it, then. I'll just have to monitor him for a few more days to make sure he gets the proper dosage." She looked to Tobi, "You'll help me, won't you?"

"You want me to? I'm flattered." He twittered from his place on the floor where he was rubbing Sesshu's belly. Rin took his answer as an affirmative response, and then turned back to Char. His fever had lowered significantly, and Rin usually was a believer of the 'elderly people have no stamina' theory, but she was surprised by how he was pulling through. She kept her ears trained behind her. Her suspicion of Tobi lingered even though Sesshu seemed to trust him.

The golden dog rested his head lazily on Tobi's knee, having never experienced such a satisfying scratch behind the ears. "We will be good friends..." Sesshu yawned, almost inaudibly.

"Oh...we were." Tobi mumbled, "You've just gotten so big."

Such an observation did not compute with Rin. 'He is crazy, maybe he's just prattling again.' She thought, then amended, 'But it's a sham. He means everything that he says, no matter how weird it sounds.' Rin asked Tobi to move Char back to his room for some rest, and when the masked man returned she was leaning against the wall; arms folded.

"You're kind of creeping me out." He admitted.

"You can't be as silly as you try to paint yourself to be." Rin thought aloud, "I just cannot buy into it anymore, though...after watching you back there, against those Rock shinobi..." She stared straight at him, "That kind of versatility doesn't just happen. You're trying to hide your abilities by acting like an idiot."

"Well...not really. After all, I am naturally this goofy." Tobi corrected, "Perhaps I embellish a bit too much?"

She nodded, suspecting that was it. "Whatever your real aim is...I have to thank you, sincerely." Rin added at length, "You saved his life."

"Hey, don't praise the messenger. I just delivered, you're the one who's not afraid of needles here." He laughed at the thought, "I'd do anything for Char-san. He was one of my first real friends."

Tobi studied her face for a moment. Her eyes were stuck on the floor just past her feet; twin pools of emotion that were making his stomach do loops. How could she still be sad after they had succeeded? Nothing he said seemed to help. Maybe her problems, no, not maybe; her problems went beyond this place, and originated somewhere beyond his reach of assistance. Maybe not.

"If it wasn't the mediocre food...why did you leave your village?" Tobi asked, breaking the silence.

She answered softly, "I was heartbroken. It's tiring to be that powerless, really– I needed something to hold onto again..." A sigh, "Nothing there could ever make me happy again. Anyone or anything..." She looked nostalgically to Sesshu, who had fallen asleep on the rug near the foyer.

"I'm sorry, then. I didn't know things were that hard in Leaf." He did not pursue the matter.

Rin looked up at Tobi, wondering how the hell he did it; got her to open up with such ease like no one else could. Maybe it wasn't really him, she thought. It could be that all the things she had never gotten off of her chest had piled up over time, leaving her brimming. At the first chance to relieve some pressure, she found herself overflowing; revealing her most precious, secret thoughts to someone who she didn't know, but swore she did anyway.

That orange whirlpool was unbearable. It was an affectation, hiding someone underneath who she was almost certain would be her best friend if he was only willing to open up the way she did. 'But he won't,' She thought, 'He's been obscuring himself. Pretending to be stupid and hiding himself.'

She had not been much different, acting the way she had earlier. Rin had come across as an overbearing snob who wanted to appear to be in control, but really was flying by the skin of her teeth. She was just as much of a fake. Then, a sudden thought, 'What if...what if he's brimming too? What if he has a lot to say that's been locked up? Could there be anyone out here harboring as much pain as me?' She was willing to bet on it by then.

"Could you please take off that mask now? It's kind of oppressive." She approached the matter casually, "I'd be nice to see your face."

"...nice." He repeated the world almost bitterly, "No, it wouldn't. I'm quite ugly."

That had taken her aback because he sounded completely serious. Rin wasn't sure how to handle the situation delicately. "I don't care what you look like, really." She smiled, "I thought that after all of the things that happened today...I could use a new friend."

He took a step back, distrustful, "You left all of your loved ones behind in your village. What makes you think I'd be that easy? You might throw me away."

"N-No!" That struck a chord, "I wouldn't. Do you think I would've worked this hard today if I didn't really care about people? What happened back in Konoha was my business, anyway, you can't judge me!" Maybe yelling wasn't the right method, but she couldn't take it back.

He relaxed a bit after that. Even though her reassurance had come in the form of a shout, it was still an affirmation. Tobi waited with his back against the opposite wall, not trying to flee when she approached. He swallowed hard when Rin stood in front of him, standing a few inches shorter, but it felt as though she towered above him.

His reluctance now seemed like avoidance, 'It's as if he's afraid I'll be offended.' A ridiculous notion, 'That won't happen. He seems so familiar, and so, I wonder...' Rin did try to string together everything she had witnessed up to that point. She did consider how his outgoing nature was out of place in a country full of stingy people. If he really was from Rock, it couldn't explain the odd jutsu he possessed, 'Or how he knew me, somehow– and knew Sesshu.'

A possibility remained, but it was such a long shot that she refused to get her hopes up. The intrusion; she could not deny that she was praying the disturbance in the rock pile accounted for something other than a grave robbery. The idea was preposterous though, 'It's so futile...' Like bombarding a stone with feathers, nothing could come of wishing. But her most natural reaction was to believe, to beg for the unthinkable, just then. She had run away from a place she had a clear future, and left all of her opportunities forfeit.

Here she found nothing was definite or limited. Even when she was certain she would lose Char, she had found success. Her despair seemed almost unnecessary. 'What's the worst that could happen if I raise my expectations right now?' And even though she knew better, she got her hopes up.

Rin's hands moved steadily up to his face. He tried to bat them away, evidence of leftover apprehension, but her voice was soothing, "It's alright...if it really is you, then I was meant to be here." Deft, porcelain fingers traced over the mask before hitching against the sides, lifting carefully. There was a quiver then, but no immediate answer.

She took in the sight of his face, troubled when no recognition took place. She had expected to know instantly if it was anyone she knew. Perhaps she had expected too much from herself right away. Her estimations were about right as it was. He was a young man about her age, pale-skinned, with spikes of ebony hair. Her hands hovered aimlessly on either side of his face, uncertain. Something like recognition, or at least appreciation did kick in after she felt his hands steady themselves beneath her elbows.

He was not ugly, but he was a mess. Half of his face was etched with scars, faint and faded, but looked to have been excruciating. His right eye was black as night, but his left eye remained closed. After a moment she understood he had no left eye. Rin suddenly acknowledged that her only memory of him had been of a young boy in goggles with a loud laugh and wide smile. In her naivety she had expected the same person. Time was cruel. This was who he was now, had been, and would be for all she knew.

"Obito." Her voice cracked. She pulled her hands to her chest; lowering her chin sadly.

He smiled, somehow, the same smile he had when he had been younger, "Yeah...they used to call me that."

He blanched when she began crying, soon hysterically, and her knees gave out like they had wanted to back on the battlefield. He hooked his forearms around her before she could hit the floor, and lowered her down slowly. "See? I knew this would happen!" He laughed softly, "When I first saw you I was so happy, but if I let you know who I was I knew you'd be upset..."

Obito's back was still pressed against the wall as he sat on the floor, Rin curled against his chest sobbing. He sighed, hoping she would recover from the shock quickly, but was content to keep his arms secured around her trembling shoulders. Words had failed her, and she was frustrated she had no way to communicate– no way to convey to him how she felt beyond crying. His left hand rose up, gently collecting the tears from her cheeks. He said nothing all the while, just keeping up with the small droplets that were all for him.

"I-I...I'm...not upset..." She choked out, "You're alive."

She leaned into him, knowing she could trust the way he held her. Even though she was sure he was real, she had no way to justify it, "How...did you-?"

"Live?" He smiled again, "Oh, it wasn't so bad. Sure, at first I was miserable because I wasn't dying fast enough, and let me clarify it was god awful because half of me was in the free air while the other half was crushed and mangled." He blinked when he felt her fingers return to his face, tracing the marks, "I have…a lot of scars…and many more from the surgeries."

"What?" Now she was lost, "But you were-!"

"Finished, I know." He agreed, "I guess we weren't paying attention to the Grass ninja who had been watching us the entire time. I mean, we were in the Grass Country so it was only reasonable, but..." His voice lowered, "His name was Zetsu and he saved me. I'm not sure how he dug me out but he did. I blacked out and..."

She was staring at him with such intensity he broke into a sweat. She seemed to notice how uncomfortable he was so she backed off a bit. "The next thing I know I'd woken up, and Zetsu was telling me all sorts of things. I wasn't bleeding anymore, and then he was talking to other people." Obito tilted his head back to think, "I was awake for some parts of the operation. Two people were fixing me up. Sewing, hacking, whatever it was I don't really care to remember..."

He raised up his right hand, which was artificial, "See? Sasori-sama and Orochimaru-sama gave me this. My leg is the same. I was completely crushed so there was no use in trying to salvage living tissue."

She was stuttering like an idiot, "Y-You're...k-kidding...right?"

"I know Orochimaru-sama is the scum of the earth, no one has to tell me that." He affirmed.

"But...Sasori...of the Red Sand? That Sasori?" She checked, "He's a nukenin, Obito."

He raised his eyebrows, "I know. They all are."

"They?"

"The people I work for, Rin." He told her, "Let me get on with it please, and then it'll make more sense. Where was I?"

"Your...a-arm."

"Right! So I wake up and...you've got to understand when I blacked out, there was some internal bleeding or something in my head, so they thought I wouldn't make it." He clarified, "I woke up and I...I didn't know who I was. I wasn't me. I was nobody who just happened to be severely injured, recovering in this dark room with Zetsu-san. He told me that I worked for him, and that my name was Tobi."

"You let them name you?" She growled, "Wait...if you had amnesia...how–?"

"Hold on," He interrupted, "I figured this out all on my own later because while I lived with them, wherever we happened to be, I was learning all over again. Some things I remembered inherently like how to fight and use my Sharingan..." Obito let out a deep sigh, "My Sharingan...sheesh. Orochimaru thought I would be useful until he realized I only had one eye. He told me I was worthless, witless trash and the ass-end of my clan." He smiled, "Good thing for me, because back then I didn't know he could steal bodies."

Rin made a gagging sound of disgust and he continued, "So I got stronger, browsed through a few different countries, and ended up learning how to fight like a maniac. I copied things from all sorts of places...made a few friends...lost most of them." His voice was somber, "And...as time passed, I would have memories that weren't mine. I'd wake in the night talking to people in the Leaf village. My mom and dad visited me in dreams and I didn't have a clue who they were...but I learned eventually."

"Your memory came back." Rin said, knowing that much was apparent.

"It just popped back one day during a fight– it almost killed me too because I was so overwhelmed." Obito told her, "I managed to get away and just cried for days on end. I was so pathetic and lost. I couldn't tell Zetsu that I remembered everything otherwise I'd be taken advantage of...when I was a blank slate I was safe."

"Why didn't you come home?" Rin demanded fiercely, "You would've been alright! Don't you realize how much Kakashi has been suffering without you? And me?"

"Years had gone by, Rin. It would've been too much of a shock, and the truth is..." He closed his eye, "I'd rather be remembered as a heroic friend who died in battle...not the broken failure that I really am."

Her brow furrowed, "No...you aren't...if you could only see what I'm seeing...you just don't get it." Rin felt her chest aching, "Kakashi's distress is more than anyone can repair. You could help him, Obito!

"How could I help him if you couldn't?" He asked quietly, "You love him."

There was a silence that was contemplative. It was a good point. It may come as a shock to Kakashi, but there was no guarantee it would cure him of his bleak attitude. Minato-sensei could handle most of his pupil's emotional baggage, and they would have to have faith in that. As it was, Rin doubted Obito would be physically capable of returning to Leaf...just as she now found herself incapable. There was one issue she wanted to address, however.

"Listen to me." She said softly, "I can't be in love with someone who...who has always seen me as a burden. The most he ever did to demonstrate his friendship with me was give me Sesshu, who, by the way," She smiled, "Arrived on my doorstep thanks to you. Do you remember that? Kakashi couldn't bear to face me in person, so he sent you. You almost didn't hand him over because you loved him so much."

He smiled weakly, "I do remember that. He was a just this tiny puppy...now look at him." They glanced over to the snoring hound, "He's a big, furry lug!"

Rin sighed, resting her cheek against his neck. Obito was a bit confounded by her suddenly clingy behavior. Of course, he wouldn't complain if she wanted to be close to him, the same could be said for himself.

"I'm sorry things didn't work out..." He was referring to Kakashi, "You know...one of the first people I thought about when I remembered everything was you." He told her gently, "Even though years had passed I still felt the same. See...I always knew your face and your smile. I would think about you even when I couldn't recall anything. I cared about you and it was horrible because I didn't know who you were. When it came back to me, it was kind of a relief...but I just...I thought I'd never see you again."

"...same here." She agreed, her voice hushed.

She wondered why she was okay with him kissing her hands and jaw so frantically. Rin figured it should have startled her, but she felt no emotional barrier there that was worth enforcing. He was distraught and she didn't blame him. Even when it was not so innocent he was chaste, and eventually got a grip on himself and ended the contact. She looked at him again, and saw that he was the one who was crying this time. He always used to cry when he was younger, but now it was different.

Rin watched him sigh, conflicted with his own feelings, and it was then a new emotion came to her. Regret. Sure she had left her village because she was unhappy, but it could not have been any clearer how Obito had suffered ten times more than she had. He had lost so much, and his grief had probably been pushed to the wayside for ages. In the end, the only thing she could think to do was blame herself. His eye had been removed by her own hands– bequeathed to Kakashi, 'God...what was I thinking when I said yes? I'm sick! I've practically destroyed the Hippocratic Oath...I've torn him apart...broken him.'

"I did this to you." She said lowly, running a fingertip feather-light above his left eye, "No amount of apologizing will ever fix it, I know, but...I'm sorry."

"W-What?" He was shocked for some reason, "Sorry? I told you to do it, Rin! Don't start thinking like you hurt me or something, because you haven't."

'Liar.' She thought, 'Maybe I didn't harm you physically, but you'll never bring up how horrible you felt every time I sided with Kakashi...every time I swooned for someone else when it was you who had always stuck with me. I took you for granted, said harsh words, berated you...but you still chose to be my friend.' Her eyes closed, 'You should have run away the instant you saw me at the door...'

"I'm fine...so...please don't worry?" Obito added softly.

Rin wondered how their arms were still so fantastically tangled. She wondered when they would ever break the embrace, because pretty soon they would have to check on Char. She pushed the thought from her mind, making her decision aloud, "Obito...I'm staying here. If you can't go back to Leaf then I can't either," Gratitude shown in his eyes, and she added, "This time I promise...I won't ever let anything harm you again."

---

The memory was still fresh in her mind along with so many others. Rin let out a breath she did not know she had been holding. A glance down at the basket showed only one artichoke seed remaining. She planted it carefully, with reverence for the past. The day she had found Obito again was the day her life had started over. She was reborn into someone she was sure was a stronger person.

Sesshu lifted his burly head again, scenting the air, "Guess who's back, Rin."

"Already?" She stood up, dusting the soil from her knees and spotted Yuma scurrying out of the tree line.

His father was right on his tail, also competing in the footrace to see who could 'get to mommy first.' It was a bit odd how Obito wasn't wearing his mask today. And yet, those were two smiling faces she would always be happy to see.

---

Haku woke from a comfortable sleep, gazing at beams of sunlight that filtered through the window of his room. For a moment he had no idea where he was, but his memories returned quickly. Zabuza's hideout was situated on the top floor of an abandoned building, and thankfully had not been occupied since its last inhabitant. It was a surprisingly spacious place, and Haku settled into it well, glad to have a semi-permanent shelter in Nanakusa.

He stretched the sleep out of his limbs and dressed. He was admittedly a bit disconcerted about how his life suddenly consisted of only two alternating routines. The first being modeled around their lawless lifestyle, in which missions were nearly always fatal and the training was unforgiving. The second was fairly new, in which Haku discovered that Zabuza was an astoundingly lazy person. Haku couldn't say he was surprised that after seeing his partner work so hard for months he was apt to sleep for days on end.

This new lax approach to their survival landed Haku with mundane tasks straightaway. While Zabuza enjoyed a period of rest, Haku was on active duty surveying the city, cleaning, completing chores, keeping inventory, shopping, and all other female-dominated tasks. He was not in the habit of complaining, but he did sometimes wonder if Zabuza had ever scrubbed a dish in his life before he came along.

Habit reasserted itself and Haku left his room, moving down the hallway in silence. The floorboards, though old, did not make a sound as he passed, and the dark haired boy finally stopped outside of Zabuza's room. The door was left open for fresh air, and the nukenin, apparently, was still asleep. Haku couldn't help but think about how any hunter in the Land of Water would salivate at the chance to catch Zabuza at his most vulnerable. It had become customary for the demon to let his guard down around Haku. 'I am a fundamentally trustworthy person.' He thought to himself, 'But all that could change at a moment's notice, I suppose.'

He wondered if Zabuza even understood what a risk he was taking in trusting another person that way. Haku could imagine that, after collecting enough evidence on his clan, he could finish the nukenin off and save the hunter-nin some trouble. It was a wicked notion that unnerved the dark haired boy and he promptly pushed it out of his mind.

He entered the room unnoticed, picking up discarded garments in exasperation. The laundry they had accumulated would have to get done later. It was another reminder of how mortal they were even as they were slaying other ninja in the field. Haku looked to his left, not really meaning to, and caught sight of the missing nin. His face was unwrapped at the time, and asleep he looked almost like a normal person. Zabuza would probably sleep until noon if left undisturbed, Haku wagered.

The dark haired boy walked out, venturing down a flight of stairs and dumped the dirty clothing in a pile outside the washroom. 'If his outfit didn't change so frequently this wouldn't be a problem...' Haku noted in annoyance. Zabuza was mainly to blame for his workload. He rarely ever kept up the same appearance more than a week. Even if it was an effective strategy it was a troublesome one.

The kitchen was small, but thanks to Haku, adequately supplied for the time being. He made breakfast ritually and left it out, knowing his partner would seek food later. With the free time he had been blessed with, Haku decided to pay a visit to his overweight neighbor. He left the hideout via window (because all the doors in the building had been boarded up,) and set out down the street in the early morning light.

Hiroshi's teashop already had occupants, more specifically, Tomo and her children. Haku smiled on reflex, already fond of the chatty little family. Tomo greeted him, "Good morning, Haku-kun! I don't think we finished our introductions yesterday, what do you think?"

"I agree, Tomo-san." He watched the three youngsters line up on command, "Why don't you tell me your names?"

A girl with mint green hair, who stood a few inches taller than her siblings, spoke up, "I'm Nagisa and I'm the oldest. I'm going to be seven in two weeks, Haku-san!"

He laughed and the immediately younger sister cut in, "Oh yeah? Well, I'm Hotaru and I'll be seven in a few more months, but I will be as old as you, Nagisa!

Haku looked to the youngest, a boy with ginger hair and watery eyes, who was obviously too shy to speak up. Tomo patted her son's head affectionately, "This little one here is Katsu...he's our quiet lamb." He smiled uncertainly at Haku.

"They're adopted." Tomo mouthed near inaudibly, "I'm too young to have children myself since I just turned eighteen, but orphans around these parts are always welcome under my roof."

"Oh...I see." Haku said quietly, "After observing the...range of hair color in this family I was wondering if their father was a rainbow..."

The children laughed in unison with their mother, even though they didn't get the joke. "Hiroshi is in the back preparing food." Tomo added at length, "I really should be there helping him right now, so why don't you wait here with these knuckleheads? I'll bring you some tea, Haku-kun."

He thanked her before she left, and he took a seat at the table with the children. Nagisa and her violet haired sister pestered Haku with questions for a long while, but he was very gracious and well-spoken and answered them to the best of his ability. It was not long before they were fawning over the good looking ninja, and were twittering amongst themselves who was allowed to marry him. Haku gently suggested they finish their breakfast, to which they immediately complied.

Katsu, all the while, stood soundlessly beside Haku. He stared at him, as if some other-worldly understanding had dawned on him. "Is something wrong, Katsu-chan?" He asked softly.

The boy hesitated only for a moment, "Are you a ninja for real?"

Haku nodded in confirmation, "I am...is there...something you want me to explain?"

"No, it's just...if you are a ninja you have to come with me right now." Katsu pulled insistently on his sleeve, "Will you please?"

Having no reason to object Haku followed the small boy out of the restaurant, after being promised their trip would be brief, and crossed the road to Tomo's home. Katsu lead him through a grid of narrow hallways before arriving in a back room of the house. He pulled Haku closer to a table by his sleeve, gesturing to the cage that sat on it. The dark haired boy was at a loss.

Katsu looked at Haku with all seriousness, "Listen, Haku-san! My daddy and me lived in the Mist village and he was a ninja there. He used rabbits to help him fight sometimes or go do things for him, but he died a while ago." His face brightened, "But I got to keep one of his rabbits, see? She had babies!"

It was a bit much to take in all at once. Haku watched in confusion as Katsu opened the cage and scooped up a tiny fluffball from the pine bedding. "They don't drink milk anymore." He said, stroking the animal, "They do eat the straw I give them, so I think I'm doing something right."

Haku then abruptly noted how it really did make sense, 'These animals are raised specifically to serve ninja. That means...the mother must already be trained.' He cleared his throat, "Um, Katsu-chan, where is their mother right now?"

"Sachirame picked the lock and ran away! She's really smart." Katsu told him, "She likes it better outside, but she comes back a lot to check the babies."

"Ah." Haku wondered how that could be, "So she comes by often?"

"Yep." Katsu handed Haku the tiny white creature he had been holding, "This one is most like Sachirame. Her name is Pua, and since you're a ninja I want you to take care of her and teach her tricks."

"I really don't think I can, Katsu-chan, though it's a very nice sentiment." Haku chuckled incredulously. In truth, training animals was probably the last thing on his agenda. He barely knew how to take care of the lump of fur he had been given, but deep down, Haku knew that there was no way he could contest the irresistible charm of an innocent little bunny rabbit. After Katsu insisted again, Haku finally relented, holding the small animal to the warmth of his gi.

They left the house, Haku very uncertain of what to expect from raising a rabbit. It stung a little that he was so doubtful even after Katsu was complaining the whole while about how absolutely no one would believe him. Before they could close the front door, a blur of white dashed inside, and there was a moment in which Haku had to decide if what he saw was real. "Oh...she's back again..." Katsu sighed, shutting the door, "Sachirame won't listen to a word I say...I told her she has to go in through the back..."

That moment was all the affirmation he needed, and Haku tucked the snoozing bunny in his gi, following Katsu back to the teashop. Tomo was a bit surprised that they had left, "Where did you two go, huh?"

Haku sat down, accepting the tea she offered smilingly, "Just for a short walk."

Things progressed from there in an unusually pragmatic way for Haku. A week rolled by, hardly noticed to him as his life quickly changed from 'AWOL Leaf shinobi,' to the kind of 'nukenin undercover serving tea who also babysits.' He could only assume he preferred the lifestyle, and since Zabuza was asleep ninety percent of the time he didn't hear much shit about it.

He had gotten the scare of his life in the middle of the week when Zabuza awoke in the afternoon, sniffing around for food, and spotted tiny Pua on the kitchen counter top in her makeshift home (a shoebox.) She was nibbling peacefully on a stalk of celery, and Haku walked in just in time to see the nukenin eyeing his precious pet. "Is that a rat or dinner?" It was a very blunt question with a tangible edge of hunger behind it.

Haku did gather the audacity to throw a wooden stool at him, and by some miracle, chase him out of the kitchen before the bunny met harm. He wasn't surprised that his immediately negative answer had only prompted Zabuza to go back to sleep for the rest of the week, thank goodness. With time he could see the rabbit begin to grow at a rate that was probably not common of its species, 'Or maybe are they just bred this way? Shinobi interference with animals can create strange...results.'

He worked in Hiroshi's teashop as a server, and when he had time off he loafed around with Tomo's children and Pua. In a period of three weeks, there were two occasions Zabuza decided to wake up and take a mission. Haku left Pua in Katsu's care when he was off with his partner, and always returned home weary with bloodshot eyes. Haku never could muster the courage to tell them what exactly he did, not willing to crush their idealist views of what a ninja was.

After that Zabuza remained lax for the most part and Haku trained on his own. Pua took up a surprising amount of time. He was told that it was only natural for young rabbits to dash around and chew on everything in sight. There was an added problem in that Pua was highly impressionable and could remember the best areas to play. Such places included under dressers, hiding in piles of clothing, and the occasional couch crevice.

Her heightened intelligence did help with command recognition. She responded to 'stay, sit, stop, cute, eat, don't eat, and look' in the first four weeks. She had quickly imprinted on Haku and responded to his voice with a bounce. He spent more money on oat feed than he would've liked to, but since his money wasn't being put to much better use he spoiled her rotten. After two months the shinobi part of Pua's breeding became evident.

Haku had to observe Sachirame on a regular basis to understand how the rabbit brain functioned. She was a vigilant mother who delivered food to her babies when Katsu was idle, and was also an effective destroyer of all the local gardens. Enemy number one of all agriculturalists in the area was none other than the blasted ninja rabbit. Haku was fascinated by how Sachirame had unbelievable reflexes, jumped buildings unthinkingly, and demonstrated super-speed to avoid her murderous gardening pursuers. Pua was capable of that and so much more, he thought, so long as he trained her properly.

By two and a half months she was already accustomed to action, often going with Haku on missions but sitting out of fights. The more she learned the more her personality mellowed out, and Pua was comfortable sleeping on Haku's lap when she wasn't rushing around with a kunai in her mouth. Adulthood was at about six months, but by three the white rabbit was equipped with an arsenal and unexpected abilities that even Zabuza couldn't sniff at. "But if you were really going to get a pet it should've been a wolf or something." He complained stiffly.

One afternoon, Haku finished with another one of Inagawa's missions and went straight to the teashop to unwind. Hiroshi seemed a bit stunned for some reason when he walked in, and Haku could only guess it had something to do with the Rottweiler-sized toad that was sitting at a table smoking. Haku saved the poor man the trouble and went to it himself, faintly recognizing it. "Er...Gama...Gamakichi?" Haku asked quietly, "You...got big."

The toad swelled with pride, "Oh! So ya noticed, Haku-kun! Here, I have something for you from the boss. It took me forever to find you!"

Haku accepted the slightly battered scroll the toad tossed to him, "How is Naruto-kun? I guess I've waited too long to send something to him-"

"Will you just read it already? Then you can ask questions." The toad complained, adjusting the pipe hanging from his lip. With a sigh Haku took a seat at the table to read what Naruto had to say, but not before assuring Hiroshi the toad was a good friend. The fat man was grateful no customers were present, so he figured he would keep the 'closed' sign up on the window until their amphibian guest was ready to leave.

There was a magnitude of information conveyed in the blonde boy's sloppy handwriting. Haku wasn't all that surprised that he was learning complicated techniques from Jiraiya, 'It has happened before...' And the people he had met seemed most interesting, including a masked spy and another jinchuriki. Naruto expressed his concerns briefly, among those Gaara's stresses of being a teacher, 'A Jounin? Maybe Sand was the best choice,' Hinata on her own, 'But she isn't really, we have plenty of friends in Leaf,' and finally, a warning. There was something about a Rock ninja who had been sent by Orochimaru to track him.

'How perfectly lovely.' Though Haku might have done well to show some apprehension; he felt he had improved vastly and could take on any enemy, 'In this country, I am very much in my own element. I'll be on my guard but I won't worry myself sick about it.'

After that it was mostly well wishes and challenges for the future. Haku decided to foreshorten the things he had gone through in the past months in his reply. Meanwhile, Hiroshi served the friendly toad some tea while Haku wrote back. By the time Gamakichi was finished and thanking the fat shop manager, Haku handed the message back to the toad. "Thank you for coming here, Gamakichi." He said sincerely, "Though, I wonder if I could ask a favor."

"Well...uh...I dunno." The toad answered, "What did ya have in mind?"

With a short whistle, Haku summoned Pua who rushed in from the back room. "She's nearly full grown now so I want her to attempt some independent projects." He told Gamakichi, "Take her with you so she gets a feel for the countryside, and after that I'm sure she can make it back on her own."

"Ya know those mountains up North are ridiculously dangerous, so this isn't a strict liability case if something happens?"

"I...suppose not. There are some things beyond your control." Haku agreed.

"Alright, I'll escort her up to the boss then!" The toad agreed, "Have a good one, Haku-kun!" The toad left the shop out of the side door, Pua following obediently as her master had instructed.

---

A few days later, in some backwater valley, Naruto was enjoying ramen in a street side bar. Jiraiya had promised to be back in a short while about three hours ago, so he didn't wait up for the Sage when it was lunchtime. 'That pervert...he's probably at that bathhouse we passed by earlier and taking notes on the female form.' He thought sourly.

He was genuinely surprised when Gamakichi showed up, clearly worn out. "You okay?" Naruto asked him, "You look...kind of horrible."

"Just a...little tired, Boss." The toad rasped, handing him Haku's reply, "We kind of ran into some wild dogs at one point...and then a lion..."

"Jeez, well, here! Pull up a chair and I'll get you something to eat!" Naruto offered, and the toad dragged himself up onto a stool. Naruto belatedly added, "Did you say we?"

The toad gestured on the ground to where a sleek, white rabbit sat expectantly. A moment later she leapt up, settling on the counter beside Naruto. The blonde boy regarded the bunny and the bandana it was wearing. The characters on the blue cloth read simply 'white,' and Naruto quickly understood it was Haku's way of inconspicuously starting his own mailing service.

"Oh! Cuuu-te!" He picked the rabbit up, stroking her ears, "You belong to Haku-kun, don't you then? Sweet little bunny!" The rabbit twitched her nose in satisfaction, glad her looks could earn her such adoration. "Did you catch what his name was, Kichi?"

"It's a she." Gamakichi sighed, "She told me her name was Pua."

"Right, right. Since you're a toad you understand animal speech."

"Not really." The toad replied honestly, "She talks."

Naruto stared at the toad, "No way, but she's like...an actual rabbit."

"Your friend has some tricks up his sleeve, then. Go ahead and ask her something." Gamakichi dismissed it, and called out to the cook for some miso soup.

Naruto watched the rabbit he was holding for a minute, trying to think of something to say that would get a response. Only one thing came to mind, at the time, "Do you...want some ramen, Pua-chan?"

"Ramen." She parroted.

Naruto pulled the rabbit to his chest, overcome with bliss from such an adorable squeak. "She's the second cutest thing ever! I love this bunny!" Naruto decided (Hinata was number one, to him,) and set Pua down on the stool to his left. Gamakichi was having a hard time getting the cook to cooperate since she apparently, 'didn't serve frogs.'

"Hey! Don't talk like that to a customer!" Naruto snapped at the old hag, "You want the money or not?" Shortly afterwards Gamakichi was slurping up noodles without further hassle. The toad also explained how Pua's intelligence aided in combat, including the use of smoke bombs and other clever devices to ward off pests...lions included.

Naruto ripped down a menu flyer from the siding of the bar, and on the blank side scribbled down more current news for his friend, and to congratulate him on surviving Zabuza's training and finding Hiroshi. While ideas spilled down on the paper, Jiraiya at last showed up, flushed from his research. He lifted up Pua and took her place on the seat beside Naruto, patting her soft head in greeting, "Hm...cute rabbit, squirt."

"She belongs to Haku-kun." Naruto mentioned, still busy writing.

"You don't say?" Jiraiya blinked down at the bunny, "I bet you're a vicious little sucker underneath it all, in that case. Aren't you?"

Gamakichi paid Jiraiya a brief hello and goodbye after finishing his meal, and then left to go home and rest. Out of curiosity, the Toad Sage also read the note Haku had sent. Even though he was displeased with the boy's rash actions, he couldn't help but crack a smile at how remarkably well he was doing. Perhaps it was best they all split up in the end, he thought.

He wasn't feeling hungry, so after Naruto had finished with his reply he informed him they would be leaving, "We have a lot of ground to cover, Naruto. Where we're going next is one of the more treacherous countries we'll pass through."

"Sure, just give me a second." Naruto waved off his concerns, and tied his reply onto Pua's bandana, "You have a safe trick back okay, cute little bunny? Don't go picking fights with lions anymore." Pua ran off dutifully, having the route home partially memorized and leaving the rest up to her sense of smell.

After that they left the restaurant and Jiraiya continued, "Listen good, squirt Roushi warned me that there has been some shady activity in the Bear Country, which is just beyond the border here. A few Leaf shinobi have gone there responding to reports about thieves and other paranoid complaints, but it seems they haven't encountered any problems. We're going to check it out."

"Have you ever been there before, Ero-sensei?" Naruto asked, "Or are we flying by the seat of our pants again?"

"I've visited a few times. The village there is very secretive and kind of pretty." He smiled at the memory, "Though the people are cranky, talented bastards."

---

It was a two days journey across the country border before they entered the Land of Bears. Naruto observed how there were no bears to be found, probably because of the geologic peril that threatened local wildlife. Steep cliffs carved an intricate network through the mountains, and fuming out of every crag was a noxious, yellow gas that obscured the ravine bottom.

"That's poison gas in that canyon." Jiraiya warned his pupil as they strolled along the edge of the cliff, "It spews up from vents along a dormant volcano, and it'll kill you easy if you breathe it in, so...do me a favor and be careful?"

Naruto nodded, "I can do that."

It was a cautious hike west across the lip of the gorge, but eventually the tension subsided and Naruto had his mentor snorting in barely controlled laughter with some very rude jokes. Not until recently Naruto had absolutely refused to endorse the filthy books Jiraiya wrote, but as adolescent inquisitiveness got involved, the blonde boy was gradually being educated. He was surprisingly detached when reading Jiraiya's work. His teacher was almost offended that Naruto was so physically impervious to what he was reading about, or if he had absolutely no clue what any of it meant.

Periodically there was the awkward question or observation that did come up. One of the more recent ones happened to be, "Ero-sennin...squeezing a lady's boobs isn't going to make her fall to the floor howling for more. You're delusional and gross."

"It's for dramatic effect, kid." Jiraiya said, partly defensive, "What hurts me most is that you pass off my work as garbage when...who knows? You may need inspiration and draw on my techniques one day for that special someone-"

Such speculation earned the Sage an immediate and painful black eye.

Those thoughts evaporated, however, when a stranger appeared on the opposite side of the divide. He was moving fast after catching sight of the trespassing Leaf ninja, and his face was obscured by a gas mask. He drew out a crossbow that fired an arrow across the gorge, and after it sunk into the bark of a tree, he ran across the rope attached to it. Jiraiya stopped in his tracks, "Oh...looks like the welcoming committee has arrived."

Naruto assumed he was being sarcastic, "I'll take care of it then, Ero-sensei. It's been a while since the last brawl!"

He sprung off, maybe a bit too excited, and somehow avoided the incoming shuriken. He sent a shadow clone in first, who exchanged punches with the attacker before detonating. The foreign ninja flew backward, slamming against a tree trunk, the wind knocked out of him. Naruto disappeared, employing his Body Flicker ability, and sailed past the opponent before hurling a brace of kunai. The other shinobi floundered, forming hand seals, "Kujaku Myoho!"

A tail of violet chakra fanned out behind the stranger, and snapped forward, deflecting the kunai. Naruto balked at the counter, 'How could he block with only his chakra?' A spare shadow clone that had been hiding in wait ambushed the unknown ninja, barreling into him unexpectedly. The blow sent the stranger crashing towards the cliff's edge. Conscience kicked in and Naruto dove ahead, seizing the unknown shinobi's wrist before he plummeted to his death.

The stranger, back on his feet, tore his hand out of Naruto's grasp. His voice was lacking gratitude, "What do you think you're doing so close to the Hidden Star Village?"

"Hidden...Star Village?" Naruto mumbled, glancing over to Jiraiya, "Are these the cranky people?"

The Sage patted his pupil on the head, "Settle down, Naruto." He looked to the stranger, "No need to be so impolite, kiddo, attacking my student like that. I thought I'd drop by to have a chat with Akahoshi."

The stranger removed his gas mask. He was about Naruto's age and had a very serious face. His olive hair was braided and thrown over his shoulder, and the intensity in his chestnut eyes made Naruto take a step back. "You know Akahoshi-sama?" He asked.

"Pft! Kid, do you know who you're talking to? I'm the Legendary Toad Sage, Jiraiya, and you ought to show more respect!" Jiraiya snapped impatiently.

"Oh! Forgive me, Jiraiya-sama." He apologized finally, "My name is Sumaru and I would be happy to take you to my village."

"He comes too." Jiraiya tapped Naruto's shoulder.

"Yeah, sorry about earlier..." Naruto smiled at the other boy, "I guess I was itchy for a fight, but if you're so protective of your home it must be a great place right? I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"

Sumaru relaxed visibly, and a small smile dawned on his face, "Nice to meet you, Naruto-san." He led them down further along the cliff to where a conveniently placed rope bridge had gone unnoticed. After crossing it safely to the other side, Sumaru walked ahead of them, keeping watch for other intruders as he led the Leaf ninja to the sanctity of his home.

"I didn't know you were familiar with the Star Village, Ero-sensei." Naruto commented quietly, "Actually...I didn't know about this place period."

"As you've seen, I've got connections." Jiraiya told him, "Though honestly, I've only ever spoken with Akahoshi once back during the war."

"Huh. So...what are we doing here anyway?"

Jiraiya's voice lowered, "It's always nice to be welcomed to a shinobi village with food and a warm bed...but something fishy has been going on down here and we're going to get to the bottom of it."

---

Next: Chapter 8- For Your Consideration