An unfinished chapter of "What an Icebreaker" that I started on soon after I posted the first. Since I'm not gonna really work on either Icebreaker nor Pinwheels until I'm finished with Is this Reality, this is probably going to be the only thing for a while on that one.
"Do I hate anybody? Not really. I've only ever truly hated two people, both of which are dead, so it doesn't really matter." -Sasuke(Is this Reality)
Itachi POV
Itachi woke up to the sound of… glass breaking? No, ice? "MADDIE-DADDY ON A POGO STICK!" a yell startled him into action, and was met with the sight of his Kohai trying to make a small building out of pieces of ice. He blinked, once, twice. Haku caught sight of him and grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Did I wake you up Senpai? Sorry… I was just tryin' to…" he gestured to his sad excuse of an ice castle. "It's harder to make shapes and structures… but I've got the ice mirrors and needles down." the feminine boy puffed his chest out proudly, planting his hands on his hips. "I can't wait to show you what I can do with my Ice powers."
The Uchiha inclined his head, sighing in exasperation, "That's…" Haku hung onto every syllable, practically giving him puppy eyes. "-Acceptable." the young boy preened under his praise, practically vibrating with happiness. "Yes! Ok, ok, I wanna show you the Ice mirrors jutsu." Itachi agreed hesitantly but made Haku wait until he had breakfast- which consisted of a couple of ration bars and tea he brewed by the fire. Haku watched intently as he prepared the green tea, seemingly stashing away the information for later. Once the water had reached a high temperature, Itachi placed the tea leaves in the water and took it off the fire. He strained the tea and poured the liquid into two cups that Haku retrieved for him.
Haku blew on his tea, then began gulping down the scalding liquid unflinchingly, which was slightly concerning. Itachi took a small sip from his, before he asked, "Haku-sa-" -Haku gave him a look- "-Kun, where is Kisame?" The ice user set his cup down and let out a relieved sigh before answering. "He went off to get some stuff from this shop on the side of the road- it's more like a rest stop really. He trusted me enough to let me watch you sl- guard you while you sleep." Itachi didn't miss that slip-up, but instead chose to ignore it, and nodded to show that he heard. He steeled himself and decided to ask another question, "What was that curse you shouted?" he asked softly, taking another sip of his cooling tea. Itachi had to admit he was a little curious, but dreaded the answer considering the person he was asking.
Finishing off his tea, Haku tugged on a strand of hair- a habit he noted that the boy did when he was thinking. "I feel like shouting the first thing that comes to mind is the most genuine response. If you're gonna yell about something for the whole world to hear, then at least make it interesting." he paused, pursing his lips, "Also I have a very active imagination." he hopped up from his spot next to the Uchiha on the ground, shifting from foot to foot. "The ice mirrors thing is really cool- I'm gonna do it… over here!" the last member of the Yuki clan ran to the other side of the clearing, then stood and closed his eyes, clasping his hands together in a chakra gathering hand sign.
"Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors!" the air around the clearing grew cold, the water droplets in the air freezing and forming mirrors of ice. He drew more on from puddles littering the area- Kisame's work- to complete the technique. Haku stepped forward and phased into one of the mirrors, his image being projected onto the ice surfaces. All of the images waved towards Itachi, Haku's voice ringing out with no discernible source. "The enemy is supposed to be inside so they'll be surrounded by the mirrors-" he started explaining enthusiastically. Ninja don't show strangers their techniques- much less someone they just met yesterday. 'That light in his eyes… Was just like Sasuke's when he was younger.' "-yeah so that's how ice jutsu works. I'm actually pretty sure that someone without ice release can recreate it? Maybe if someone had really good control and was able to use water and wind release?" Haku questioned more to himself. He shrugged and stepped out of one of the mirrors, dispelling the jutsu and watched as the mirrors fell and shattered, melting into water. Turning to Itachi and skipping back over, he waited for a response from the quiet Uchiha, face full of optimism and anticipation.
Itachi inclined his head, "Ice release can be a powerful weapon to be reckoned with. I'm sure you will master it." he offered, feeling a soft chuckle bubble up inside of him at Haku's elation. "Yes! The great Itachi has approved!" he cheered, fist-pumping the air with a large grin. Ah, that reminds him… "How did you know my name when we first met?" Haku paused, then without skipping a beat replied, "Cause' you're famous? Plus you're easy to recognize from the pictures I've seen." he was being truthful, which made Itachi relax a bit. The boy was too open to be a spy or Anbu; that or he was a flawless actor.
The Uchiha refrained from asking about the sword- especially since the boy unconscious clutched the scroll when he broke down last night. It makes him wonder if he was the owner's apprentice, but died sometime recently? His gaze settled on the back of his head while Haku tried to make more things out of ice, thinking back to what the boy had claimed. 'No one just 'comes back to life.' Perhaps he thought he died along with his master? Seems the most likely, given how eccentric the boy is.' That scar indicates a fatal injury- enhanced healing kekkei Genkai? Something like that would be valuable should anyone find out. Deciding to keep quiet until his theories were confirmed, he settled on watching as the boy failed the most intricate creations with amusement. "Why. don't… you. Form." Haku hissed and threw the failed sculpture into the woods- hitting the returning Kisame in the face.
"Whoops."
Haku POV
After a slightly peeved Kisame had settled down and stopped trying to stab me in the ass, Itachi and I packed what little we had left out, and just like that we were on the road. Apparently we were waiting around in fire country for some reason Senpai and Kisame-sama won't tell me, though it's probably to wait for a signal to try and yoink Naruto away. Hmm, that happens directly after the chunnin exams… and the chunin exams happen… in a couple of months maybe? I"m not actually sure... they happen twice a year… yeah, I'll just wait for the signs of the chunnin exams being prepared. The failed Naruto preemptive strike thing wasn't the only, nor primary reason I want to know this.
'I wanna sneak into the chunin exams.'
"Hippity hop, hippity hee, get the fuck out my tree!"
"The gender-neutral term for sugar daddy is glucose guardian."
Ho ho ho