Hi again, and welcome back :D
--Jonohex
Naruto
With his hands in his pockets, Naruto Uzumaki followed the lonely, lamp-lit, Wave Country streets to the bridge that carried his name and from there on to the forest-bounded shoreline road that lead back to Tazuna's house. Twice the yellow-haired boy was stopped by civilian constables, curious as to what a kid that young was doing alone and at such a late hour, but was quickly and happily sent on -- one group recognizing him as a guest of Constable Okame's while the other recognized him for who he was, those officers having been a part of the hastily-formed militia that had faced down Gato's gang of killers at the first battle at the bridge.
This place is alright, Naruto mused, summing up his experiences as he took a deep breath of the night air. Yeah, I think I see why Haku likes it here. Kinda wish I could stay longer.
The young ninja's thoughts turned then toward his new friend who was actually the very first friend he'd ever had despite that they hadn't met under the best of circumstances. Naruto had lots of friends, now anyway, but he hadn't had any then and none since like Haku – someone he could just hang out, go places and do things with. Haku was just so…so different too. Not just in the obvious ways like with the way he looked, acted, or having been Zabuza's apprentice, but that he didn't get mad at all the things Naruto did and said that usually made everyone else mad. Really, it was even a little bit scary how well they got along. But with him, it was like the young ninja didn't have to be anything but who he was…which was a good feeling and kind of nice for a change.
The boy's shoulders shook as he snickered, remembering their sparring match. Haku, with his speed, cleverness, experience and bloodline, certainly had a style that would test just about anyone. Rock Lee, Naruto's usual training partner, never failed to put up a spirited fight that always left the blonde's body bruised and aching. But sparring Haku had left his BRAIN aching!
I wonder if that means I'm getting smarter? Naruto wondered, yellow brow lifted in thought. Maybe I'm taking after him. But then again, the ninja's blue eyes narrowed craftily, the way he hit me with a snowball, maybe HE'S taking after ME.
Naruto chuckled at the idea. Who'd have thought!
After their match, Naruto had joined Haku for dinner over at the Tezukas' humble, slightly ramshackle house and was astonished at just how many of them there were – five brothers (with Chuuya the youngest), Mari the only sister, their parents and then two little babies they were taking care of. It took awhile for the young ninja to believe that Haku was really living here among them; almost as long as it took for them to believe that he was THE Naruto Uzumaki from eight months ago, the hero of the first battle at the bridge.
What's wrong with people here anyway? considered Naruto, piqued and scowling with indignation. How come they always think it couldn't POSSIBLY be me when they meet me?!
But Haku's adoptive family was all nice enough, except for Jimon maybe. He was kind of a douche but maybe it was just the way he came off. Some people were like that.
Retiring to Haku's basement room later on after dinner, Naruto galloped down the stairs only to stop short and gasp.
"HEY! You got your own bunny-rabbit!" he exulted happily at the sight, blue eyes sparkling. The boy rushed over and pressed his excited, peach-colored, whisker-marked face against the placid creature's cage. "That's so COOL what's his name can I pet him?!"
The taller ninja was more than happy to indulge his guest, then later introduced Naruto to a simple game played with tiles called 'dominoes' which, Haku explained, had recently become popular in Wave Country.
"So," ventured Naruto as they began to play, squinting as he looked around at the bare wood joists above, the freshly painted concrete-block walls then the odd personal touches that livened the otherwise Spartan accommodations – stacks of books arranged neatly in homemade shelves, calligraphic scrolls and some surrealist paintings which, Haku had explained, had been given to him by Mari's uncle. "You really live here now, huh?"
Haku glanced at the boy then smirked at the obtuse but conversational question as he lay down his tile. "I told you I did."
"Well, yeah, but, I mean…I guess I always took you for more of a loner type or at least not the kind who'd live with so many people."
The slender shinobi nodded, conceding the point. "I suppose I would be if the choice had been mine and fate had not thrown me into the Tezukas' company."
Naruto played his turn then rested his cheek on a palm, only half-attentive to the game. "I've lived alone all my life; that's pretty much what I'm used to," he muttered softly. "But, including you, there's like a dozen people here!" The young ninja leaned forward with wide-eyed curiosity. "What's it like?"
Haku hummed as he thought about it, smiled tightly then rolled his slate-colored eyes. "A constant battle," he droned half-jokingly.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I said."
"But a battle over what?"
"You name it and they --," he paused, "I suppose I should say we now, have fought over it at one time or another," explained the teenager with a grin, "time, space, food, quiet, the shower, the toilet, attention, hurt feelings, words poorly chosen…or poorly timed. You'd be amazed. I'm only a border here, a paying guest basically, but even I find myself involved in the never-ending dramas and conflicts. It's as if I were a sixth brother sometimes."
"Really?!" the blond guest piped then barked a laugh. "HA! That's so funny – you a big brother!"
Haku shared Naruto's mirth then hesitantly put down a domino as if only because he felt that he'd left it neglected for too long. "Oh, they were all quite well-behaved towards me for a few days after they'd first learned I was a ninja, except for Jimon of course, but after that I was just some guy wearing a headband," he intoned with melodramatic heartbreak, "standing in line to use the bathroom with everyone else."
A smile spread over Naruto's face and he cocked his yellow-haired head. "So maybe being an orphan's not so bad after all."
"There are advantages, I think." The teenager's face tilted in thought before he ventured: "But living here has been a great comfort to me too and something of an education." His calm eyes drifted toward Naruto's then down to the tiles. "The first seven years of my life were spent as an only child in a desolate little Water Country village. The next eight were as Zabuza's disciple – an almost monastic life to be sure. My days were filled with training and study, with only intermittent contact with anyone else, tutors mostly.
"To be honest," the black-haired ninja reflected, "after my master's death, I have no doubt that it was a great benefit for me to be surrounded by so many distractions and not left to dwell. Alone, I might have been content to languish until my wounds took me. Forsaking food, I might have starved."
Haku took up another domino and flipped it distractedly but expertly between his dexterous fingers. "That's not to say," he continued, gesturing smartly with the tile, "that being an 'honorary Tezuka' is easy, especially for me. Without exaggerating I can tell you I've seen them all act selfishly, cruelly and even violently towards each other at times in ways that, to my solitary upbringing, I find quite shocking. To be honest, I myself have had my patience and temper sorely tested. But I've also seen how they care for and look after each other." Haku paused and looked up thoughtfully then waved away an unvoiced notion before he concluded in a wistful tone: "For whatever reason, their expressions of love tend to be more subtle."
Alone on the road back to Tazuna's seaside home, Naruto stopped as he remembered those resonant words. With them, the image of his former teammate came unbidden to mind.
"Sasuke," he muttered plaintively though he hadn't meant to.
He'd often heard it said that faces fade in people's memory over time, but everything about HIM was still clear – the sneer, the hair, the arrogant attitude and, of course, the eyes. The idea of the Uchiha being in Orochimaru's hands -- being his disciple, being the sannin's future body burned inside the young ninja.
As Naruto thought about it, Haku's remarks about his new family sure described how he and Sasuke used to get along / used to NOT get along.
'Listen, Naruto,' the blond remembered Shikamaru (of all people) saying once, pointedly and frankly, in a rare moment where he'd seemed to feel obligated to dispense personal advice. In its immediate aftermath, the failed mission to retrieve Sasuke had left him a little shaken up. 'You should forget about him. I don't like Sasuke joining Orochimaru either but he's made his choice.' The pony-tailed chunin could be awfully serious sometimes when he wasn't slacking. His ebon eyes flickered then as if he hated the sucky chore of having to be the one to explain this: 'Sasuke went willingly, with his eyes open. You know that, right? He wasn't kidnapped; he wasn't tricked. He knows exactly what he stands to gain and --.' The ninja had broken it off there, not that he had to say the rest – that Sasuke knew what he would lose too.
It doesn't matter, Naruto resolved just as determinedly now as he had then. He would never give up on getting Sasuke back. Maybe our bond IS broken, but it doesn't matter. The ninja's sapphire eyes rose toward the path ahead. That it ever existed in the first place still means something to me. And that's enough!
Earlier that night in Haku's room, with their comically-slow game of dominoes still unfinished even after hours, Naruto yawned, looked up at the black that waited beyond the high, shallow, basement windows then sighed and hung his head.
"Aw, MAN!" he lamented and gave Haku a pained, mournful look. "I better get going."
The taller ninja nodded charitably. "I know," he replied, himself tired, "you have to leave for Konohagakure in the morning." Haku gave his friend a fond smile. "I got the impression that it is most unwise to keep Lady Tsunade waiting."
Naruto almost gagged at the extremity of the understatement then made a face. "Yeah, THAT'S for sure. Granny'll KILL me if I'm late."
The two trudged upstairs then out onto the porch where the young genin squirmed awkwardly in the cool, night air. "Sorry," he muttered, unable to meet Haku's eyes, "it's just that…I really, really HATE goodbyes."
The black-haired shinobi nodded with understanding. "It doesn't have to be right now. Why don't we put it off until the morning?" he offered. "I'll come by the bridge and see you off then."
Naruto, his somber mood instantly illuminated, grinned widely as if that was the best thing ever said. "Sounds good!" he cheered then hopped down the steps to the short walkway that emptied out onto the street. "I'll see ya' tomorrow!"
Haku followed him, a strange sort of concern evident on his face.
The blond looked at him askance. "Don't worry about me. I know the way back to Tazuna's."
"Maybe I should go with you," the teenager all but insisted.
"Huh?" grunted the blond. "No way, you'd just have to come all the way back."
The older ninja paused for kind of an unusually long time before he acquiesced. "Alright then," Haku allowed then added: "but be careful though, won't you? Despite our best efforts, the streets can be quite dangerous at times after dark."
The boy's blue eyes widened a little at the strange warning but he answered with a flash of self-assured grin, "Aw, come-on, Haku. I'm pretty sure I can handle myself. It'll take a lot more than a couple of bandits to take ME down, y'know?!"
The teenager regarded him uncertainly for a moment but nodded. The two then exchanged warm smiles and a brief wave before Haku headed back inside.
Haku
Pausing behind the closed door, the black-haired teenager tapped his chin lightly with a forefinger then went downstairs to his room where he stripped off his clothes and changed into mist-ninja fatigues with businesslike deliberation, making sure his quivers of senbon were full and the rest of his equipment secure and in place.
Grabbing his jutte and a paper lantern, Haku sped up the stairs but was brought up short by Mari who was making her way down.
"Are you," the freckle-faced girl queried in disbelief, "are you going out again…now?"
The ninja only smiled sheepishly.
"Another fight?"
While Haku searched for a delicate way to phrase his answer, Mari rolled her eyes in disgust, stepped out of the way and gestured grandly for him to pass. "Ninjas!" she blurted disparagingly.
Naruto
Y'know, things really turned out alright for Haku, considered Naruto as he strolled slowly and looked up at the moon glowing brightly through the trees. He's got a job, friends, a family, even a real girlfriend.
Although that last part made him chafe a little at his own relative lack of success in regard to Sakura, Naruto was genuinely happy for his friend, knowing what he'd been through since Zabuza's death. The young leaf-ninja had seen enough in his short life too to know that things didn't always turn out that way and not all stories had happy endings.
Continuing on, hoping he wouldn't get back to Tazuna's house TOO late, Naruto gasped suddenly in surprise as a surge of hateful intent impinged upon his senses, driving into his consciousness like a spike. The calming, ambient sounds of the forest at night that had accompanied him on his walk thus far ceased sharply. Coming to a stumbling stop, blurs of motion like flitting insects whirred right in front of the young ninja's face, flashing deadly silver in the moonlight.
"Ow!" the boy winced, feeling the sting as one of the flashes cut him across the bridge of the nose.
At a building pressure in his mind, Naruto dropped down, rolled backwards, pushed off his hands, landed then sprang high into the treetops' concealing foliage. Unseen motion whizzed after him, nicking his skin and cutting through the leaves around him, the hem of his t-shirt, the rolled-up cuffs of his pants and through his crown of yellow hair. In desperation the genin leaped, scrambling evasively from branch to branch in the darkness, then used his chakra to latch on to an older tree's thick trunk and swung himself behind it as a staccato rhythm of harsh impacts followed in his wake.
Risking a peek to try and catch a glimpse of his assailant, Naruto could see nothing but the inky shapes and shadows of the forest at night…nothing but a trio of gleaming senbon sticking from the face of the tree.
The blonde's sapphire eyes went wide with shock as the sick feeling of betrayal pulsed in the pit of his stomach.
Haku? he thought reflexively at the sight, teeth and fists clenching. NO! It couldn't be; it just couldn't be!
Summoning shadow clones and sending them scattering in different directions, the genin vaulted higher into the tree canopy but a fusillade of senbon brought him to a stop. All around him his clones vanished in bursts of chakra, having been stitched by wave after wave of steel needles. Naruto dropped back down to a thick branch, sent a pulse of chakra into his feet then launched himself towards another tree as more senbon whirred past. All the while, impinging upon his consciousness, his attacker's hatred for him seemed to radiate from the darkness like the rays of a black sun.
Still in mid-flight, scant inches from the next tree, long needles pierced into his shoulder blade, arm and hand, drawing a grunt of pain from the ninja who missed his landing then went plunging – down into the dark and, with it now, the swirling, enveloping embrace of a jutsu-conjured mist.
This -- this CAN'T be Haku, thought Naruto as he fell, moisture beading on his face and seeping into his clothes; the wind whipping through his golden hair on his way to the ground. Haku's my friend!
As the mist swallowed the young ninja up, a fearful part of him answered: You mean like Sasuke? Wasn't HE your friend too?
It's NOT HIM! Naruto reaffirmed in his mind almost desperately as he turned blindly in mid-air, landed on all-fours then bolted away barely in time to avoid another barrage of razor-pointed spines which he heard pepper the ground and stick hard in the bark of the tree behind him.
Just like from his match with Haku, Naruto was forced to shut his eyes and reach out with his chakra through the mist-choked darkness. Almost immediately he sensed the man rushing toward him, completely silent in the blinding fog. Ducking down, the genin heard and felt the wind lash over his head as his assailant's weapon swept by – a sword maybe, or a staff.
"You're quicker than I remember," a voice of pure arrogance noted fiercely, barely inches away. "But it won't save you."
Though the blond only barely recognized it, the threat arrived in the young ninja's ears like a miracle – a choir of angels! It was definitely NOT Haku…which made a lot of sense when he thought about it because, when it came to senbon, Haku would not have missed.
Inspired by the relief he felt washing over him and using the very techniques Haku himself had shown him about fighting someone while blind, Naruto dodged again then rolled away as powerful swipes sought to connect. The boy jumped as the stranger he was just starting to place swung at his knees, then spun aside as the man thrust. Blocking hard, the genin felt his tensed forearms connect with what he guessed now was the ninja's umbrella – metal struts wrapped in fabric around a stout, wooden pole.
"You DO remember me, don't you?"
Naruto sprang, clearing the man's next swing, then ducked as the following attack transitioned high. "I remember," growled the blond. "You're that guy, that TRAITOR who tried to kill Idate."
"Assuredly, I would have," countered the voice in the misty darkness, "had I not trusted too much in that worthless Raijin Sword. I should have realized that Konoha's artifacts would be no better than its shinobi."
Naruto might have spat out a laugh if he weren't so insulted as well as under attack. "That's how YOU remember it, huh?"
Wary for the rain-ninja's move, the genin reached through the mist until his fingers found rough-textured bark. When next his adversary swung, Naruto stepped aside to let the tree intercept the blow with a resounding crack. Stomping down on the weapon, trapping it momentarily and using it as a springboard, the ninja leaped off and kicked through where he sensed the man's head was then leaped away.
Though he felt the reward of impact through his foot and heard his enemy grunt from the blow, Naruto remembered this guy wasn't exactly slow.
Gritting his teeth, the boy landed then put his hands together for a jutsu but a blast of wind struck him before he could complete it, sending him flying over the forest floor until the interruption of a tree stopped him hard; branches shook and leaves scattered into the air at the bark-splintering impact. Crying out, Naruto fell stunned and breathless to the ground, unable to rise when he tried to push himself up on trembling limbs.
The surge of wind had parted the mist down a ragged channel, the edges of which glowed ghostly in the moonlight. In the center of it, conspicuously athletic in a blue and grey skin-tight bodysuit, a tall figure stepped; open umbrella in hand. The ninja folded it smartly then rested it over his shoulder as he approached.
"My failure to secure the Todoroki Shrine Race was an unendurable humiliation," he sneered. "Your village's 'fabled' weapon failed me, as did my worthless subordinates. So I left Amegakure to find my path elsewhere, and who should I find along the way but YOU."
As the man's dark shape paced forward implacably, Naruto's eyes rose toward Aoi Rokusho's imperious face. Though much was the same from the last time they'd met in the Land of Tea, many of the particulars had changed. His hair, the color of green flagstone, was longer now and not as well-kept. His handsome, almost pretty, face was leaner and bore the haggard edge that came from hard living, and though his clothing, more of a dive-skin than anything like typical ninja fatigues, was the same deep blue split with grey down the center, it had faded at the knees and elbows and was marked by cuts and punctures in places that had required mending.
All-in-all, it didn't seem as if the life of a fugitive mercenary had been very kind to him.
"You were lucky before, brat! And I have no doubt that you profited from my misfortune," hissed Aoi in petulant abandon; his ringed, violet eyes blazing. "But it looks like destiny has favored me with the opportunity to put an end to you once and for all for your interference. Look around, Uzumaki," he gestured wide, "this forest is where you DIE!"
Aoi
Casting his umbrella high into the air, the jonin's hands flew through a series of seals. "Ninja art," he cried, "Thousand Sprinkling Needles!" As it continued to rise, Aoi's weapon snapped fully open and began to spin faster and faster until it was just a blur. Senbon flashed then by the hundreds, sinking into Naruto's body from head to toe.
The renegade ninja's face lit with glee as he cast mad laughter to the heavens…until the blond ninja vanished suddenly in mid-collapse, revealing in its stead a gnarl of fallen branches.
"Hey, nice speech, Aoi!" Naruto's brassy, sarcastic voice echoed from the treetops behind as the former rain-ninja's eyes went wide. "But now let me see if I got this straight," the genin continued, this time from ahead. "You BETRAYED the Leaf Village because THEY weren't good enough for you. Then you ran away from the Rain Village because YOU weren't good enough for THEM! You say the sword you stole was worthless and so was your team but I guess it's MY fault TOO what happened to you. Well guess what – I think you're right!"
Aoi cast his eyes frantically for the leaf-ninja as his umbrella floated back down to his awaiting hand which snatched it out of the air. But he didn't have to search any longer than that for his opponent as Naruto leaped down to a lower branch to face him.
"Oh, but the BEST part is," cried another Naruto who the rain-ninja whirled to confront, "now you're here in Wave Country, three months later --."
"Without your fancy lightning sword --," said a third, leaning against a tree.
"Without your teammates --," continued a fourth, sitting with arms folded on a high branch.
"No village and no friends --," supplied a fifth.
"Using the same tired jutsu you used last time --," mocked a sixth.
"And SOMEHOW you expect to beat me now --," barked a seventh who was part of a much larger group taking position.
"When you couldn't beat me then?!" concluded the last of a contingent of several dozens scattered all around.
As Aoi snarled, his expression boiling at the leaf-ninja's taunts, Narutos burst from the depths of the dark treetops and attacked in a seemingly-endless stream of yellow-haired fury. Rather than retreat, the mercenary made a stand and flailed away at the ninja army, using his umbrella as a staff. Despite the truth of what Naruto had said, the man was still a jonin. Aoi's weapon whirled and slashed, smashing through three and four of the leaf-ninja's shadow-clones at a time.
Seeing a window of opportunity and popping his umbrella open, the former rain-ninja made to fly off but was quickly grounded as mobs of blond ninjas grabbed his legs to weigh him down. Dispensing with them in droves with furious swipes of his weapon and waves of senbon, Aoi unfurled his umbrella again and blasted a swath through the swarm with a summoned wind. Clones flew in every direction, with scores of them bursting apart from the force.
Aoi spun then, looking around hatefully into the ring of ninjas that surrounded him still. "You see!?" he observed lordly. "I don't need any Raijin Sword, any teammates or anyone else to get in my way. Though it's a pity I don't have any more of Amegakure's special poisons, I'll still smash my way through however many clones you can make and THEN take my time making sure you get the slow and painful death you deserve."
A rising breeze stirred the night air and the lone ninja straightened at an unpleasantly familiar sound. Turning around, Aoi saw that one of the Narutos had stepped forward from the others, concentrating, in the palm of his hand with the assistance of one of his doubles, a sphere of racing wind and bright, blue chakra energy.
Naruto
"You asked me before if I remembered you," said Naruto, glaring angrily. "Oh, I remember, all right. I remember how much you like to HURT people; how they mean nothing to you."
Aoi rested the end of his umbrella on the ground and gave the boy a disdainful smirk. "Do you really imagine I'll let you get close enough to use that technique on me again?" he asked with apparent calm but then screeched suddenly, frothing, face reddening with choleric rage: "DO YOU THINK I LEARNED NOTHING FROM LAST TIME?!"
With a bestial roar, Naruto surged toward the jonin, his Rasengan ready while Aoi brought up his weapon, ready to strike. As the racing genin drew near, the one-time rain-ninja sidestepped and lashed out but the boy leaped fully away at the last moment.
A dozen clones seized their opening then, pouring on punches and kicks at the distracted Aoi in an all-out assault.
"You're going to do it all alone, all by yourself!" shouted Naruto in a mocking tone as he ran around the clearing where Aoi battled the leaf-ninja's doubles. The blonde's Rasengan, and with it all the destructive powers of a hurricane compressed into the palm of his hand, bit through a tree with a shower of splinters and bark as he sped past. "Maybe that was me too, ONE time, but I've learned to depend on my friends and learn from them like they learn from me," he continued loudly, cleaving through two more. "I work my ASS off training and my friends help me along the way. These last three months I've only gotten stronger; I think I actually got stronger TODAY."
Aoi, still surrounded, struggled to try and keep track of the original as the racing figure circled wide in a blur of motion in the darkness.
"What have YOU done every day in the last three months since we met," the question rang through the night, "besides complain and blame everybody else for your problems?!"
The former ninja of leaf and rain startled as the trees all around him lurched then started to fall. Naruto's clones, all as determined as their master, prosecuted the attack even harder heedless of the danger either from Aoi or the tons of lumber careening down at them. Unlike Aoi, they had no lives to lose.
With clones hanging off his shoulders and hips, the ninja tried to jump away but collided headlong into a tangle of branches, boughs and curtains of leaves. Clones burst all around as the falling trees crashed down in a riot of snapping, splintering wood but mobs of fresh Narutos swarmed up from the sidelines or leaped down from the remaining trees, having waited for this moment. Hands grabbed at Aoi's arms and legs, locking him in place as the real Naruto sprang at him, that orb of wind and chakra clutched in his tensed hand.
"You're THROUGH, Aoi!" roared Naruto as he struck, "RASENGAN!"
Staring hard down the tunnel of destruction the passage of Aoi's body had created during its explosive expulsion from the battlefield, Naruto gathered himself, wiped his sweat and dew-drenched brow with a bare arm then sat crouched on his heels amidst the forest's carpet of leaves. When the blond boy's panting breaths had calmed and his heartbeat slowed, all was quiet once again.
After a few moments, the ninja rose and took stock of his surroundings. In all the commotion, he'd pretty much forgotten which way the road was and was more or less lost…in the woods, alone, at night, with no compass, flare, food, water, flashlight or equipment of any kind.
"Aw, great!" he moped in the darkness, throwing his cerulean eyes toward the star-speckled heavens then letting them fall. "Just great."
Naruto glanced around uncertainly, searching for direction, squinted and was surprised, or rather, mystified, to find a faint, warm glow beckoning from not too far away. Curious and cautious, the genin set toward it then emerged after only a few minutes walk back onto the shoreline road where a slender, uniformed figure awaited carrying a paper lantern slung from a long pole.
"H-Haku?!" the boy marveled in a squeaky voice, blue eyes widening as he stared at the constable. Naruto shielded his eyes as he came closer into the pool of the ninja's lamplight. "What – what are you doing out here?"
The black-haired teenager rested the butt of his lantern on the ground and remarked with a sanguine lilt, "What kind of constable would I be if I didn't go on my rounds, Naruto."
The young leaf-ninja blinked, nonplussed. "I, uh," he stuttered at last, "I guess that makes sense."
"What were you doing out there in the forest?" returned Haku with interest, eyebrow raised inquisitively as he noted the boy's minor wounds; his damp and punctured clothing. "Any trouble?"
"No," said Naruto after a moment of fruitless thought, "no trouble; nothing I couldn't handle." Regaining his confidence, the young leaf-ninja's expression returned to his usual carefree grin. "Just a stray dog is all."
The constable regarded him with a concerned, professional air. "Oh, sorry about that," he offered. "I'll tell animal control about it tomorrow. In the meantime, Tazuna's house isn't far. You can make it the rest of the way, can't you?"
"Sure…I; sure."
Haku smiled then bowed politely, swung his lantern around and walked slowly away, headed back towards town.
Naruto stood and watched the ninja go, expression puzzled as it occurred to him just how very, VERY unfathomable and unlikely it was for Haku to just happen to show up like he did when he did.
The genin's eyes narrowed to slits as he started to think about it. Did he KNOW Aoi was going to try and kill me? he wondered, breath quickening, frown deepening. Was THAT why he was acting so weird when I left his house?
Amidst the murmur of the forest at night and the wind's soft rustle through the trees, Naruto crossed his arms and brooded – a statue standing in the darkness in the middle of the road.
So why didn't he help? his simmering thoughts condensed suddenly around the single, crucial question but then, in a flash of insight, so did the answer: 'Cause he knew you didn't need any, stupid.
Naruto's expression blanked as all the remaining pieces fell comfortably into place. "But he came anyway," the yellow-haired genin muttered to himself in a reverent voice then swallowed breathlessly, "just to make sure."
There was something about the strange subtle complexity here, an elusive nuance he might just as easily have missed that touched him deeply.
"Hey! Okame!" he cried at the constable's back, expression quivering. "You're still coming tomorrow, you know, to see me off, right?!"
Haku turned, lantern swaying as he did. "Of course," the ninja chimed firmly in reply then grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world."
Naruto, warmed by the sound of his friend's voice, his simple, encouraging words, returned a wide smile, turned then sprinted away.
Haku
"So you ended up NOT getting in a fight last night," Mari summarized as she walked beside Haku on the way to the Great Naruto Bridge, her fingers playing absently with the jade ring necklace from Konoha the ninja had given her. The idea struck her as almost alien and her expression showed it. "That's gotta be a first."
"Indeed," offered Haku in a casual air, "Naruto was able to deal with the ninja stalking him just fine without my assistance."
The freckled, black-haired girl nodded then hummed insightfully. "I can see why you like him. The little guy's kinda weird but he's a lotta fun too; he kinda grows on you after awhile." She cast an approving upward look. "I'm glad you guys finally got a chance to hang out."
Haku smiled back then returned nods and greetings from some passers-by.
"So, ok," ventured Mari, "I know I keep bringing this up but I still don't get how a shrimpy little ninja like him beat YOU eight months ago, beat that jonin wack-job he fought last night and got to be such a big deal."
"Few of his virtues are apparent at first glance," the teenager attempted to explain, his fair-complexioned face almost glowing in the rays of the morning sun. "But you have to understand, Naruto works very hard, has inexhaustible resolve as well as a deep commitment to his dream of being Hokage. He's also had some excellent teachers, good friends," he donned then an expression of extreme cleverness, "and some opponents who've brought out the best in him."
Mari made a face right back then bumped his shoulder. "Oh, ha-ha," the girl answered then fell serious. "But there's something else too," she added knowingly, "isn't there."
The constable drew in a cautious breath. Being that you could only talk around a subject for so long before the act in itself shined a spotlight on it, her question was a long time in coming. Haku treasured her and trusted her enough to tell her almost anything, which made those few descriptive gaps in his narratives stand out that much more. The Kyuubi was most definitely one of those gaps.
"It's not for me to reveal his secrets, even to you," he answered frankly as he knew she preferred. "But I will tell you that Naruto has received a…a special sort of gift, making him possibly the most powerful ninja I have ever met."
Mari's eyes widened. Gradually, she reigned in her expression as she mulled over Haku's answer. "I was going to say 'you GOT to be kidding' but I guess you're not." The girl glanced at him. "Really?" she couldn't help but question anyway, "The most powerful ninja you ever met'? Naruto?"
Haku nodded then looked out towards the docks and beyond them to the sea channel beyond which lay the shores of Fire Country. "I'm Sorry, Mari. I know you're skeptical about most everything that relates to my profession, and my explanation, such as it was, was more than a little vague."
The girl shook her head. "Since we started hanging out I've seen some pretty unbelievable things. And you've already told me probably like a thousand times that things aren't always what they seem. Still, it's hard to imagine that little blond kid being THAT powerful – I mean," she gestured dramatically, "he's no older than Ryuunosuke!"
"Despite that, I worry for him," said Haku in a distant voice, remembering Naruto's vow to free Sasuke; his grudge against Orochimaru. "These are dangerous times for Konoha, and Naruto tends to act so, so rashly."
Mari shot him a sideways look then blew out a breath. "THIS morsel of wisdom from the guy who tried to kill the Mizukage."
The ninja shrugged, forced to acknowledge her point. Looking up at Wave Country's cityscape, the bustling work crews, construction scaffolds and towering cranes, he ventured weakly: "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Heh!" piped Mari who was not about to let the boy off the hook. "You mean because Zabuza told you to," she chastised then folded her arms. "It's ridiculous that you'd let anyone have THAT kind of power over you…unless it's ME of course."
Haku couldn't help but smile at her teasing. "I exist to be a tool in your hand," the teenager replied smoothly, "a weapon at your side to use as you see fit, Master Mari."
"OoOOoo," she chimed with delight and slid an arm around her boyfriend's waist, "I never thought I'd say this but there might actually be something I like about all this ninja stuff after all!"
Drawing closer to the portals of the Great Naruto Bridge, Haku's eyes searched out the familiar shapes of Naruto, Inari and Chuuya, along with Tazuna and Tsunami.
The visiting leaf-ninja noticed them at once and started waving, bouncing up and down like a blond lemur. "HEY, HIROO! MARI!" Naruto's pealing, excited cries split the air.
Mari leaned toward Haku, whispering: "You did say 'the most powerful ninja you ever met' didn't you?"
Haku grinned at the apparent discrepancy and nodded subtlety in confirmation. "You may not believe this," he whispered back, "but I don't think that power could be in better hands."
Again, Mari shot him a look.
All together at last, everyone exchanged greetings and talked for awhile until no one could escape the fact that it was well past time for Naruto to go. Gathering into a semblance of a line, Tazuna and Naruto were the first to exchange bows then the old engineer thumped the boy solidly and reassuringly on the arm.
"Take care, Naruto," he offered in his growling baritone. "It sure was great to see you again."
"You too," answered the genin who couldn't resist adding with a good-natured snicker: "old man!"
Tsunami too said her goodbyes then and kissed Naruto on the forehead at which the blond blushed shyly.
Naruto moved next toward Inari, who, like last time, heroically held back tears. The genin started to bow but the bridge-builder's grandson dispensed immediately with the formalities and went right into a hug, throwing his arms around the departing ninja. Naruto's expression melted as he returned the boy's embrace. After they parted, the blond bent over slightly to look Inari in the eyes.
"Hey, Inari," he advised supportively. "You've gotten really, really strong since last time. Keep it up, keep training and you'll be a real ninja in no time!"
Hardly able to speak, the black-haired boy in teal overalls bit his lip and nodded.
Looking around slyly, Naruto took Inari closer and whispered into his ear. The ninja rose then and the two bowed with admirable formality.
Chuuya, next in line, squirmed restlessly as Naruto stepped towards him, more upset at the genin's leaving than Haku, or anyone else probably, had thought. The former Demon's Apprentice watched the two exchange respectful bows right before the youngest Tezuka bowed even lower then pitched forward to deliver a surprisingly hard, mountain-goat-like head-butt to the blonde's tummy.
Naruto gasped and staggered back, deflated literally and almost doubled over, while Mari and Inari rained down abuse on Chuuya who rocked with laughter.
"What?" countered Chuuya, clearly hurt and misunderstood. "That's just how I say goodbye!"
"Oh, yeah?" Mari remonstrated fiercely, "well THIS is how I say you're an idiot!" Quick as a snake, the girl blasted her brother in the shoulder with a punishing one-knuckled punch that scraped straight down his arm after the initial impact.
"OW!" screeched Chuuya like he was on fire then tried to find sanctuary in Haku's shadow.
The shinobi sighed, shook his head then gave the boy a reproving look. "Manners, Chuuya," Haku offered wearily. "How do we say goodbye to people?"
Chuuya looked up blankly at his sensei, rubbing his arm. "Um," he started guiltily, "by not head-butting them?"
"Correct," replied Haku who finger-flicked the boy behind the earlobe.
"OW!" cried Chuuya again as he flinched away and clutched the side of his round head.
Mari went to the recovering Naruto and patted his shoulder. "Uh, sorry about that, Naruto," she offered tentatively, clearly embarrassed at her brother's antics. "Chuuya's a little silly sometimes."
"No…no problem," rasped the ninja as he slowly straightened.
"But it was really nice to meet you at last."
The young leaf-ninja gave her an awkward smile. "And you too, Mari. Hey, try and keep Haku out of trouble, will you?"
The black-haired girl rolled her eyes. "It's a full time job, but I'll try."
At last, Naruto arrived before Haku. His blue eyes flickered as he fidgeted. "Here we are with 'goodbye' again," the blond noted sadly.
"So it seems," said Haku with a smile. He bowed to his friend who promptly returned the courtesy; the two then clasped hands.
Feeling the warm strength of his friend's hand in his, Haku was struck by the moment and understood what Naruto meant last night. It WAS hard to say goodbye, to know that someone you care about is leaving and that maybe you won't see them again. The ninja's grip tightened slightly, involuntarily, not wanting to let Naruto go -- as if it would be just that simple to prevent his return to Konoha. Just KEEP him here!
It was a ridiculous idea, the teenager knew, but still couldn't help how he felt. Naruto had his own life to live and his own dreams to achieve, just as he had his. That meant they had to go their separate ways.
Haku risked a look at Naruto's face, wondering if the sight would bring tears to his eyes like the ones Inari was trying to hide. "You'll come back," he asked hopefully, not caring if the question was unfair or not, "won't you?"
Naruto's smile trembled. "You bet!" answered the genin, forcing cheer. "It's a promise. And you'd better visit me in Konoha too! I'll beat the crap out of anybody who tries to keep YOU out!"
Haku nodded and the two let go.
"Goodbye everybody!" Naruto managed then waved, turned and headed away, setting a brisk pace down the pavement of the bridge that bore his name; headed back the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
"That kid's sure one of a kind," remarked Tazuna who concluded with a rumbling laugh.
Turning away himself to the demands of a new day, Haku spared a look back at the small, yellow-haired figure. A smile dawned over the constable's face, assured by a feeling of almost prophetic certainty that he'd see him again before too long.
Thanks for reading! I really do appreciate your patience and putting up with the many flaws in my storytelling.
This concludes Snow Angels, the second arc of Kirigakure's Shore. The next chapter will begin a *new* story arc called Complicated Shadows, so I hope you'll come back for that. Here's the synopsis:
While a powerful ninja lord from Kirigakure visits the Land of Waves, the patriarchs of Water Country's bloodline clans search for Haku.
--Jonohex
Hey, I'm looking for some good fanfiction to read and learn from, and I'd like your suggestions. So if you had to recommend one, and only one, story; one that really, really, REALLY blew your mind, touched your soul, made an impression and changed who you are as a person for the rest of your life TELL ME...what would it be? Mail me and let me know! Thanks! ^^,
