Last chapter!

Hi, everyone, and thanks so much for reading. It's been fun writing.

-Jonohex


Mizukage – Continued.

The Mist Lord's Excursion to the Land of Waves – Record of His Encounters and Conversations There and the Results Thereof

.

As the ship pulled along the Wave Country dock, Lord Hirai's marines and sailors jumped out to lash it down. The new Mizukage scanned the shoreline and was taken-aback in surprise at first when he spied the two figures who awaited him upon the pier. It was a much, much smaller reception than he'd expected, without the customary fanfare but this was interesting none-the-less. His guards went forward at once to search them, froze in their tracks when they saw who the taller of the two was then looked back toward their master for guidance.

"No need for any of that! We're old friends," Hirai called out cheerily, waved them away then descended the gangway and went to meet the two young shinobi. Though he supposed he should be angry at them, for some reason the feeling failed to take hold.

Haku bowed deeply, politely, looking quite smart, slim and capable in his tailored constable's uniform and cap – feminine grace braced with a masculine edge. Naruto, with hands in pockets and eyes narrowed to slits, dressed in a baggy, glaringly bright orange, high-collared jacket, matching fatigue pants, and blue, toeless boots, with a blue-banded hitai-ate of the Hidden Leaf Village over his brow, grimaced but followed his companion's suit.

"Mr. Uzumaki," said the ninja-patriarch to the genin with easy cordiality, then greeted the boy's taller companion, "Lord Aramata. Thank you for receiving me. It's unfortunate that you saw fit to leave Kirigakure as you did." He flicked the edge of his wide-rimmed, veiled hat, upon it painted the character for 'mist'. "You'd be wearing this now if you'd stayed."

"My apologies, Lord Mizukage, I regret any difficulties that my abrupt departure may have caused but my place is here and I'd been away too long. Besides, I'm nowhere near ready for a position like that. As honored as I am to have been considered, the committee clearly made the best choice and I have no doubt that the Hidden Mist Village will fare admirably under your stewardship."

If Haku stooped to sarcasm it was too subtle for even for the old ninja-lord to detect. Hirai nodded his compliments.

"Thank you for exonerating me, by the way," the constable added smoothly. "It's a great relief to finally be able to live under my own name even with the burdens it carries."

"You earned it. And I did promise you. You saved Kirigakure, both of you, it's the least I could do." The tall patriarch surveyed the pier, the other ships more-or-less organized into passenger, cargo and fishing fleets, all the sailors and merchants coming and going, the more distant line of stalls, stores and warehouses lining the shore in equal parts order and chaos. "But where is my great-great granddaughter, Orimi? I had expected her to come."

Haku nodded. "Lady Hirai sends her profoundest regrets. Something urgent came up. She awaits you in her offices at the Governor's House."

"Ah, very well then," said the Mizukage nonchalantly but his steely eyes narrowed. "It's nothing too serious, I trust?"

"She said that she would explain when you arrived."

"Very well," Hirai agreed, setting aside his suspicion as he fell in between the two boys for the walk into town while his own troop of mist-ninja took ranks before and behind them to form a procession, giving the three a respectable distance. After all, there were few things in this world that the ninja-lord, armed with his jutsu and Dao magic, in command of the shinobi garrison here could not overcome.

"How are things in the Mist Village?" offered Haku conversationally, hands clasped behind him.

"Disordered, as I'm sure you can appreciate, but we're rebuilding in earnest. The ninja-world is a dangerous place for Hidden Villages. They're always under attack. A few, like the Hidden Leaf, have even been completely destroyed a time or two but we're a resilient people," he noted nobly. "We'll rebuild, better than before in time."

Haku's expression turned thoughtful. "I realize it's no longer any of my business but I have to ask about Councilor Inoue, I mean, I was quite surprised that..."

"That she's still Councilor, that I haven't had her whisked off to face justice for her various transgressions," the Mizukage completed the teenager's query. "Such a thing must seem truly alien to your constable's sensibilities. It is a fair observation on the face of it but one that ignores a wide range of political consequences to putting her on trial, in prison or even quietly disposing of her. Her family and connections for instance, and then Kirigakure's in such a delicate state at the moment. There's a certain necessity for continuity over change just now. Properly managed, as an ally, she's positioned to be an invaluable asset in our restoration efforts."

"I see. As a tool she has her uses even though she tried to kill you and your family, burn down your house and destroy your village."

Hirai smiled delicately, not surprised that the teenager could parse his doublespeak but only that he would restate it so bluntly. It really wasn't a matter of intellect so much as acclimation.

"As you say," said the centenarian, irked that the teenager would equate Inoue's intrigues or his with common crime. "Order requires sacrifice. Shinobi and constables understand this better than anyone," he illuminated then added with just a touch of edge, "at least most do. One learns such things by experience."

"And then there's the Yotsu Triad. They're a pernicious bunch even here, I've found, but hiring the Akatsuki to destroy Kirigakure – that's pretty bold even for them."

Hirai returned a bland look. They'd talked about this before back in Kirigakure and there seemed little point in bringing it up now. "Did that explanation seem overly farfetched?"

"Preferential to the alternatives as you've explained, part of the necessary illusion. In fact, and this is just a thought, one might almost suppose that the Yotsu Clan were useful tools of yours as well, allowed to operate within the Mist Village just so they would be on hand to take the blame if some catastrophe ever fell." Haku turned towards him, gave a genial grin. "No one would ever suspect them of being innocent."

"Dear boy!" said the Mizukage with affected shock, though inwardly he couldn't help but be as pleased at the young shinobi's canny observation as he was vexed by his unvoiced disapproval of such a basic tactic, "so cynical and at such a young age. Surprising, since your master was an idealist."

The constable quietly conceded.

"You seem uncharacteristically reserved today, Master Uzumaki," Hirai added after a time, then prodded in a tone verging on playful, "I had no idea you could be so circumspect."

"Yes, sir," the yellow-haired boy agreed tensely.

This time it was Hirai who conceded. He could hardly blame Naruto if the youngster was still miffed over his two attempts to abduct him. It hadn't been personal, of course. One day the boy would understand just how valuable he really was, or rather how valuable the demon fox spirit inside him made him. The ninja-lord used the following silence to look around the dockside at what would soon be his, at all the ships with their ropes, flags and furled sails swaying slowly in the breeze against the backdrop of blue sky. Wave Country was just a protectorate now but would be a part of the Land of Water, occupied by soldiers as well as mist-shinobi by the end of the week if all went well.

A growl reached his ears: "What was it all for?"

The old shinobi noticed that Naruto had turned slightly toward him, a scowl darkening his whisker-marked face.

"Pardon?" Hirai asked, one silver eyebrow arched.

"Killing and banishing your own citizens for their blood-gifts, trading your jinchuuriki to the Akatsuki, creating monsters like Kisame and those Nephilim in a lab somewhere to be your soldiers, making forbidden weapons, what was it all for? Ninjas are supposed to protect their people, all of them, not use them as tools, as pawns," the genin's gravelly tenor rose. "What were you protecting all these years? What were you -?!"

"Naruto," cautioned Haku sharply, cutting him off, but where everything he'd said before had sounded measured these words broke with sympathy. That the teenager had waited so long to interrupt made his alignment with the leaf-ninja's sentiments clear enough – more even than if he'd said so. "Lord Mizukage is our guest," he explained in a gentle voice. "It's not suitable to broach such indelicate matters even though I did open the door to them." The constable turned toward the former Councilor. "Apologies, Lord Hirai."

Naruto snorted, the muscles of his jaw quivering tensely, then fell silent with an expression that both was and wasn't hard to place.

No, not simply anger or indignation as he'd assumed. Disappointment? Disgust? Hirai wondered and even more that it would bother him at all how Naruto felt. But the way this boy from a rival village had saved him during the Fire-Tongue Fleet's attack on his family's estate, saved his clan at great risk to his own young life even after Hirai had captured him, imprisoned him, moved the new Mizukage in a way he hadn't felt for quite a long time, stirring sensibilities he thought he'd lost or cast aside. For the first time ever perhaps, Hirai wondered if the world didn't lose something profound when people outgrew those seemingly childlike qualities that Naruto held in such unapologetic, overflowing abundance.

Haku had, for his part, left his home in Wave Country, abandoned the peace he'd found after spending half his life in Zabuza's service and then two years as a fugitive to protect the village that had always dealt with him cruelly and prosecuted the extinction of his clan, facing demons Kirigakure itself had birthed.

When Hirai had exonerated Haku, pressed his case before the public and all the lords of Water Country that this peculiar teenager should become the next Mizukage, his words had come almost too easily, too passionately. Could the ninja-lord ever be completely sure that it was not just because it had suited his own purposes but that, maybe, somewhere in the century-old attics of his soul, he really believed it?

Naruto and Haku. There was a strange pair – the cross-dressing disciple of one of the Mist's most notorious and bloodthirsty traitors, and the Leaf Village's jinchuuriki yet they surely, by their actions, carried in them a touch of the divine.


As the procession made its way through Wave Country's new, orderly streets and into the central square, Hirai's face lifted in shock at finding it packed shoulder to shoulder with troops all lined up in formation, split down a wide aisle, awaiting them. On one side, mist-shinobi expeditionary and constables – Orimi's forces, on the other, an entire regiment from the Village Hidden the Leaves captained by their preeminent jonin - 'Sharingan' Kakashi, Might Guy, Anko Mitarashi, Shikaku Nara, Shibi Aburame, all names and faces he knew or had read the files on along with many he didn't - a kunoichi with a mane of black curls and vivid crimson eyes, and another who stood just as confidently at the head of a huge pack of wolves and ferocious-looking wild dogs. Behind them, all at attention, stood rows and rows of zodiac-masked ANBU, what might be the Leaf Village's entire contingent.

What are they doing here? he hissed furiously to himself. This put a serious wrinkle in his designs. He'd counted on seizing Wave Country without a fight.

Past them, forming more of a mob than a parade rank, waited the survivors of the blood-gifted clans' enclave, scion of the Nikai, Kaguya, Serizawa and Tsujita, accompanied by a crowd of militant-looking Wave Country civilians. At the fore stood an older man, broad-chested and shaggy-haired, accompanied by an especially lean and dangerous-looking Kaguya. None were happy to see the new Mizukage and, unlike the shinobi of the leaf, though they remained mostly silent, weren't shy about not keeping it secret. They waited with postures defiant, arms crossed or fists clenched, some openly muttered curses as they passed. Worse were their stares – extracts of purest hatred.

So this is where they went.

"It's a good thing I have you as my escort," Hirai quipped acerbically to Haku and Naruto. "Even so, do you think I'll make it the rest of the way alive?"

The blond snickered at his discomfiture.

"They've pledged restraint, Lord Mizukage," returned Haku with a coy, reassuring smile, "but if you should develop a cough, I wouldn't put off seeing a doctor."

Haku lead the way into the former Customs House which was all a-bustle with activity and people coming and going, down a corridor, up two flights of stairs to another hallway. There, Hirai's great-great granddaughter rushed up to him, flush-faced, dark eyes wet with tears and wide with panic, trembling hands clutched at her breast.

"Grandfather!" she blurted in a breathless sob, following alongside as they walked. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say. She just-just showed up with her army and what could I do?"

Though she was a blood relation, he hadn't seen her for years. Even before then it had only been here and there, a few minutes at a time on special occasions though he was sure he recalled her being a much more phlegmatic and disciplined sort. Heaven and Earth! Hadn't she been in the ANBU? The old man cursed his luck. Having her in charge here was supposed to make his annexation of the country easier, not harder.

"Ah, that's alright, Orimi. I'll take it from here," he soothed. "But who are you talking about; who showed up?"

Haku ushered them into Orimi's office where a statuesque, light-haired woman reclined in her chair with both feet up on the desk while she perused a ledger. As they entered, Tsunade Senbu, the Fifth Hokage of the Village Hidden the Leaves set the document aside and appraised the new Mizukage with a flash of amber eyes. "Well now! You didn't say he was handsome!" she remarked to Orimi and promptly sat up. By her shoulder stood a younger, dark-haired woman, her assistant, who held in her arms, strangely enough, a small, pink piglet.

Lord Hirai frowned, lowered his silver brow. "See here, Lady Tsunade, what is the meaning of this? You know very well that Wave Country is a protectorate of Water. Sending leaf-shinobi here is unacceptable, a deliberate act of -."

"Please, Lord Mizukage, calm yourself," she urged with palms upheld. "We'd heard some very disturbing news coming from here – dangerous ninja clans massing, criminal gangs running amok, even rumors that the Mist were going to annex the country. Of course the Leaf had to investigate these as immediate threats to Fire Country. Surely you understand that? Happily," the Hokage went on in a careful, diplomatic tone, "none of it turned out to be true. I see now that the ninja clans are merely refugees seeking asylum, the gangs are quite under control thanks to your granddaughter's efforts," she gestured toward Orimi, "as well as those of her constabulary," and acknowledged Haku, who bowed, "and those rumors of a Mist annexation – just that, wild rumors."

Hirai's expression shifted with suspicion. That Tsunade would respond with the full force of the Leaf Village even to the supposed threats she'd listed seemed drastically disproportionate. "So you'll be withdrawing your forces."

"Absolutely."

"That's fine then."

"Except for a," Tsunade shrugged vaguely, "small team of observers. I have to leave some to make the folks back home happy, it's all politics, you understand. Hardly anyone will notice. And they'll be operating under Haku's strict oversight."

The silver-haired shinobi paused as his mind hung on that curious word. "Oversight?"

The teenager interjected delicately, "I'm still a constable but I've also been asked to serve as liaison between Orimi, that is to say, Lady Hirai's garrison, our guests from the Leaf Village, and the newly formed Wave Country Volunteer Defense Advocacy. I was the natural choice since I've established good relationships with all three. I think it should prove to be a valuable learning experience."

Naruto, leaning against the wall behind Haku with his arms folded, nodded seriously.

Hirai looked at the constable askance. "The Wave Country…?"

"Volunteer Defense Advocacy. It's a mouthful, I know. Unofficially we're calling ourselves the Village Hidden in the Surf." His eyes lit with a flash of youthful vigor that Hirai couldn't tell if it was affected or not. "We have patches, see?" Haku turned his shoulder to display the design on his uniforms sleeve. Around the 'great wave' emblem of Orimi's constabulary circled the words 'Posterus Ero Meus Epitaph' – The Future Will Be My Epitaph.

"Pithy," the old ninja-lord scoffed with distaste. "And I suppose you and your 'Advocacy' believe yourselves capable of securing Wave Country from a world teeming with dangers?"

Zabuza's apprentice looked at him sagely. "I don't see why not. We don't face any major threats at the moment. The Yotsus have fled. They just signed an alliance with Lady Tsunade as they intend to do with you, the current Mizukage, as well. Until then they have a treaty in hand sealed by the Mist Village's former, provisional head, Mei Terumi."

"That is in no way binding," the Mizukage objected but the young ninja pressed on.

"You've seen for yourself their defense forces, oh, and they've also just recently acquired their own navy. It's small but highly effective," Haku intoned with particular emphasis.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? A navy? No kidding."

Hirai's jaw tightened. The Fire-tongue Fleet! Even a single ship could lay waste to a city. Haku could be talking about half a dozen or more that the blood-gifted clans had commandeered after the failed attack on their enclave. And if proof ever came to light that the Mist had developed forbidden weapons in defiance of their treaties it could mean war with the rest of the Elemental Countries. Tsunade might know this already. For all his youth, strange tendencies and schoolgirl looks, Haku had not only escaped him again but held him now solidly in check.

How? he thought furiously. How is it possible?!

"Listen, Lord Hirai," Tsunade began, "may I call you Kissohamaru? Allow me to sum up if I may. Kirigakure is a mess; I've read the reports. And my village - we're still cleaning up from the Sand and Sound's invasion. Fire Country won't tolerate Water having an uncomfortably large military presence in Wave; I'm sure the same is true the other way around and the home team here seems pretty serious about being left alone. Both our forces are beat up so neither of us can pull off a war right now. Or rather, we could, but then our friends in the Hidden Stone, Cloud, Rain, maybe even the Grass Villages would come down on us like the vultures they are and can we really trust that Oniki, A, Hanzo or whoever's in charge of Rain these days would pass an obvious opportunity?"

"Your point is?"

The woman held out her arms and grinned. "We're going to come to an understanding. All that's left are the details. Am I right?"

Hirai grimaced.

"Oh, don't be like that. This could be a great thing! Think about it," she pressed, "you, the newly crowned Mizukage, could return home with fresh treaties with us and Wave Country, a huge diplomatic breakthrough. Plus, the Mist needs medical assistance badly; I'm GREAT at medical jutsu and more than happy to lend whatever you need in the spirit of goodwill, mutual cooperation and all of that."

"And in return for such generosity?"

"I'm sure we can work something out," the woman ventured disarmingly. "Like I said – details."

Tsunade gave a dangerous smile and came to her feet. "You know what, I got up way too early this morning; I've been cooped up in this office all day with my ears full of reports and my eyes full of documents. It's too stuffy in here and way too crowded. I got to get some air. Come on, Kissohamaru, let's grab something to eat, you and me. We'll sort the rest out over lunch. Anko tells me there's a place nearby with great dumplings. And then, maybe," her voice lingered on the word, "we'll go get a couple of drinks."

Hirai made to object but Tsunade strode over to him and offered her arm which he could hardly, as a gentleman, refuse.

"Shame on you, Lord Hirai," quipped Haku with a trace of sly humor in his contralto voice to the two on their way out, "carrying on with a woman half your age. Scandalous."

Lightning quick, the Hokage's hand shot out, closed around the teenager's neck and hoisted him from the ground. "What's that?" she demanded.

Naruto strolled up beside her, grinning Cheshire cat-like, and put a calming hand on her iron shoulder. "Oh, he meant much less than half, gra-, um, Lady Tsunade."

"Yes," Haku agreed in a rasp and nodded as best he could, "more like a th – a quarter!"

"That's better," she observed, dropped him then gave the young constable a reassuring pat on the arm. As she and the Lord of the Mist Village went out the door Tsunade announced to the room, "If we're not back in an hour, wait longer!"


Haku

Hirai's guards stared at each other uncertainly then made as if to sprint after them but Haku urged them off, rubbing relief into his neck. "Better if you didn't," he creaked.

Naruto nodded, hands on tummy as he held back laughter. "Yeah, guys, take the hint."

After the guards had left to find somewhere out of the way to wait, Orimi came up to Naruto and Haku. "I'm gonna call it a day. All that 'helpless female' stuff wore me out."

"You did it well," said Haku, appreciating her part in this. For her to feign incompetence couldn't have been easy. "I don't think your great-great grandfather ever doubted you. Thank you."

"That's quite alright. I didn't set out to be governor here but now that I am I'm sure not going to let this place become a battlefield. And all this stuff going on, with you and Tazuna talking in my ear like I see that Nara character talking in Tsunade's, I can see that somebody smart went through a lot of trouble to make it all work out the way it did and with plenty of hell to pay for anyone who didn't get with the program. My great-great's Mizukage now, and I respect him but even the best of us have be shown the right path sometimes. Besides, you're quite the big-shot too these days, y'know." The woman adopted a look of great reverence and gave her underling a ridiculously florid curtsy. "How could I, a mere chunin, say no…to the Angel of Kirigakure!"

Haku, slightly aghast, felt his pale face flush as he waved off her expression.

"For a former fugitive arch-criminal, you turned out ok." The governor turned to Naruto and chuckled. "Leaf-ninja aren't so bad either."

"Sir!" Daigo interrupted them, disrupting the mood. The young genin – tall, broad-shouldered, straight postured, conspicuously handsome, could have been a recruiting poster for the Mist's Martial School. One of Haku's first tasks once he'd returned was to sit down with his squad and, as a matter of courtesy, let them know where he'd been and who he really was, the whole unvarnished story, before word of events in Kirigakure reached the Land of Waves.

Daigo, who'd never liked Haku, could hardly contain his admiration. He'd brimmed with such zeal that Haku wondered if maybe his Tenge Clan had been secretly on Zabuza's side during the coup d'état. Chizuzu, always bubbly and previously well disposed toward her senior, had been mortified. She'd asked for a transfer shortly afterwards. And Utako, the stolid one, remained so. Surprised as they all had been, she hadn't registered an opinion one way or the other.

"There's a child here from the Leaf's delegation who wishes to speak with you."

The junior ninja's newfound respect was a little off-putting. "Uh, very good, Daigo, I'll see him now."

A boy no older than ten paced in, plainly uncomfortable. With his sad, Basset Hound eyes and chestnut hair, Haku felt sure he'd seen him before.

"Udon!" piped Naruto who went to greet him. "What brings you here?"

"Hi, Naruto," he replied in tone so melancholy it was funny without meaning to be. He turned to Haku, bowed and presented the shinobi with a scroll case, dabbing at his leaking nose with a handkerchief. "This is for you, sir."

As Haku opened the message and looked it over, Naruto snickered. "Wow, Udon, there's no need to be so formal and stuff."

"Or maybe there is," Haku added then looked up. "This is a transfer document - Cadet in training under the Advocacy."

"What? Is that true, Udon? I thought you liked it in Konoha."

"I do, Naruto, sir, a lot. It's just that…I have the Tsujita bloodline and their gift. And I've hurt a lot of people because I didn't…I couldn't, I mean, I didn't even know..."

Haku calmed him, remembering the feeling all too clearly. "I see; I thought you seemed familiar. I can certainly put you in the right hands. Don't worry, Udon, it shouldn't take long to master the basics of your kekkei-genkai. I managed alright without any of my clan around to help me but it would have been a lot better if I'd had."


Haku

.

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again

Some sunny day

.

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

'Till the blue skies chase

Those dark clouds far away…

.

Vera Lynn - We'll Meet Again

.

The day had come for Naruto to return to the Hidden Leaf Village. Haku had known it would but now that it was finally here he couldn't help but be subdued, gripped by the idea that he wouldn't see him again or at least not for quite a long time. That Lady Tsunade had allowed him to stay this long owed to the woman's unexpected surplus of good humor or perhaps that she understood the value of friendships, the importance of time spent together. Life, inevitably, was a journey through beginnings and endings, changes good and bad but all Haku could think about were all the things that he and his hard-earned, miraculously-acquired and amazing friend wouldn't get to do, hadn't had time for, and what he should say now that he might not get a chance to later. It all came together to clog his brain somehow, all but ensuring that nothing but a sporadic trickle of thought leaked out as the two walked into town.

"Everyone still likes you," ventured Naruto, smiling but strangely reticent himself, with his orange jacket slung over one shoulder.

Haku gave a modest shrug. As before, the citizens of Wave Country greeted the constable with smiles and waves, many bowed even though he was off duty and out of uniform. Most were newcomers who'd never heard of Zabuza Momochi or his girlish apprentice except as local legends and to who their constable's name change from Hiroo Okame to Haku Aramata and those wild, likely exaggerated stories of his exploits in Kirigakure were nothing more than that. "I'm lucky. A lot's happened to me here: our battle at the bridge, me coming back, the second battle, and now I'm back again. I've become something of an adopted son."

Naruto nodded then frowned. "Mari didn't look too happy."

"She's not," the taller ninja admitted, feeling a twinge. Even Naruto had noticed the strain between them and Haku couldn't blame him for being concerned. "She's not and she's right not to be. I hurt her terribly, Naruto, rushing off to risk my life for strangers. As much as I…as I care about her, I left anyway."

Naruto noted the gravity in his tone and turned to him again. "She'll forgive you, right?"

Haku looked away, smiled nervously. "I don't know."

"She knows you had to go, I mean, you're a ninja."

"That explanation doesn't go very far with her. And the thing is - I didn't 'have' to go, I chose to. If it was a mistake or misunderstanding, I could beg for forgiveness, she'd probably give it, but with this I can't just apologize and say I'll never do it again because the truth is that I would. She knows it too. That's what makes this so hard." The teenager looked down the street at the place he dared think of as home, at peace amidst its familiarity. It was truly startling how much the place had changed in just a couple of years and he along with it. "Mari knew right from the start what I did for a living, got caught up in it; she understands very well why I went but understanding something doesn't stop you from being hurt by it. She's a civilian too, her whole family – civilians. I'm the first shinobi she's ever known. To her all this," he gestured vaguely, "stuff we do and surround ourselves with: taking on dangerous missions, incessant training, jutsu, the weapons and weird costumes are all just so much nonsense and it's hard to say she's wrong. It's too easy for us to ignore anything outside our little world.

"On the other hand," Haku went on, drawing a breath of the sea-scented air, "if somehow I could give it all up to become, I don't know, a student or something, take a regular job, something more conventional, less dangerous, I don't know if she'd like me like that."

Naruto's face pinched into a pained frown. "So complicated."

"This one's simple," clarified Haku with a gentle shake of his head. "When you care about someone you risk being hurt. Think about how your friends must have felt when you ran off to help me, or you when Sasuke left Konoha to train with Orochimaru. Or…or when you put it together that I knew I'd have to fight Itachi alone and didn't tell you?" Now that he'd said it, Haku wondered if he should've. He tossed his head, exasperated at his tactlessness. They had precious little time left together and he was going to waste it revisiting this? "I am sorry about that by the way. I didn't mean to keep it from you. Things were happening quickly and I made what I thought was the best choice at the time."

"It's alright. I guess it's one of those things that's bound to happen." Naruto mugged a look, fell silent but then blurted: "Hey, I never did anything like that, did I?"

"Who, you? Never!" Haku assured him teasingly and tried to let it lay, avoiding his friend's look but both new he was stalling. "Ok," he pushed on, "you might have implied, once or twice, that those who run from fights are cowards."

"I said that?!" the genin squawked in alarm.

"You don't remember?"

Naruto flushed. "I didn't meant it, not like that! I didn't mean everyone."

Haku put him at ease. It seemed like such a small thing now anyway. "I know you didn't but it took me a little while to understand it like that. Ever since Zabuza's revolution, running and hiding were about all I did. I couldn't help but take it personally."

"Well, I am sorry. And I really hope it works out between you and Mari. She seems nice!"

"Thanks, she is and I very much hope so too. Speaking of forgiveness," a relieved Haku pivoted lightly and nudged him, "I hope Kiba will forgive you as quickly as I did." His girlish face brightened and he gushed out laughing as he remembered, covering his lips with his fingertips. "Oh, poor Kiba! He trained so hard, went all the way to the Mist Village just to challenge me. That's really incredibly flattering now that I think about it."

"AND to get ME back too don't forget!" Naruto added then made a horrified face. "I kinda ruined that, didn't I? Maybe I should stay here!"

"I would if there was a huge werewolf mad at me."

No matter how slowly they walked, Haku found himself dismayed at how quickly the distance passed. He'd supposed at first to say his final farewells to Naruto at the center of town close to the Customs House that served as Orimi's headquarters. When they'd reached it, he'd decided that maybe the entrance to the Great Naruto Bridge would be more fitting, and then again at the middle span where they'd first fought. Now he'd accompanied the genin almost to the bridge's far end. If he went any further he'd probably find himself walking Naruto all the way home, back to the gates of the Leaf Village. It was time and there was no avoiding it anymore.

"I've gotten so used to you being around, Naruto," he said finally, inadequately, slowing to a stop as they neared the shores of Fire Country, feeling ridiculous at how bad he felt. "I'm really going to miss you."

Naruto smiled sheepishly. "I'm not far away. I'll visit! And if you need me, just get into trouble again."

"Great idea," said Haku, cheered by the thought. "That shouldn't be too hard though I'll never be as good at it as you."

Out of the blue, the young ninja remembered that Chuuya had slugged Naruto upon their parting last time and it dawned on him now that the gesture had not been mere little-kid randomness, there'd been an actual point to it. The idea flashed that he should do the same. In his mind, he pictured himself rearing back, gritting his teeth and head-butting the shorter ninja just as hard as he could, right to the forehead with a great, percussive bone-on-bone CRACK! Then Naruto, dazed from the unexpected blow, staggering backwards, tumbling headlong over the bridge's guardrail and plunging into the sea below, very surprised.

A demonstration like that really wasn't Haku's style though. He acknowledged as much when he slowly, awkwardly attempted to explain it all to his puzzled, dandelion-haired friend after the genin asked him about the strange look that had crossed over his face.

"What?!" squeaked Naruto, shocked. "Why would you want to do that?"

Haku smiled timidly; it was a terrible idea, just terrible, but: "How else can I make sure you won't forget me?"

"Don't be stupid," Naruto objected angrily, flinched once with indecision then took Haku into a fierce hug. "Of course I won't forget you."

Haku squeezed back, fighting a tide of emotion, and still didn't know what to say.

Walking back all the way from the far end of the Great Naruto Bridge, the distance seeming so much greater now than it had coming the other way, Haku sniffled. All in all, things had gone so much better than he had any right to expect. He'd embarked on a dangerous adventure and survived it, Naruto too. Together they'd saved the Mist Village, or as much of it that could be saved. He'd learned a lot about his family, reclaimed his true name, escaped the Akatsuki then thwarted Lord Hirai's machinations, establishing independence for Wave Country as well as a refuge for the Mist's outcast clans for a time, however long the balance would hold.

He'd done so much, learned and accomplished so much. Why shouldn't he be overflowing with happiness and gratitude? Why then the sense then that he'd wagered and lost more than he'd gained? Life was not a perfect thing, was never going to be. Probably nobody ever won on all fronts all at once, but how he felt was how he felt. He couldn't help it.

"Go for a walk?" a familiar voice called to him, breaking Haku from his mood.

He looked over to find Mari waiting for him, leaning against the guardwall. She pushed away to join him. "I…sure," he answered, momentarily startled. Not knowing if this would be bad or good, the teenager felt his heart rise in his chest.

Smiling cleverly, the black-haired girl straightened, adopted a very serious look, put her hands together and moved her fingers smoothly through a series of seals. There was no chakra in it, but the signs were all correct.

"The Hidden Mist Jutsu?" Haku marveled as a smile spread over his face. That was about the last thing he'd expected. "Where did you learn that?"

"Watching my stupid little brother. He practices constantly; so annoying. I couldn't not pick it up."

"I thought you hated 'ninja shit'."

"I do but it's not that hard, see?" She proceeded right through Water Clone, Cannon Fist then Transformation.

Delight lit the ninja's expression; he shivered with laughter. "You've mastered the whole cadet curriculum."

She shared a look with him and he knew she was turning to the issue at hand. "I know better than to tell you 'never again.'"

That was how it was and Haku didn't see any way around it. There were so many things he was good at, so many problems he could solve easily, yet with this he didn't have much.

"I'll give you 'never again'," he ventured, "if I can help it." It was pitiful but that was the truth.

Mari was kind enough not to keep him in suspense for too long. "Deal," she said with a smile though she'd surely settled for less than she wanted and much less than she deserved.

Pain was a hard thing to set aside from someone you hate and many times harder from someone you love. This was her sacrifice for him and it was no small thing. Haku, again surprised, wasn't at all sure he was worthy of it but for this, for this, he was grateful.

As Haku and Mari walked home in the light of the mid-morning sun occupied in each other's company, they passed a small street-side shrine fronted by vivid orange columns. On its altar flanked by flowers, candles and sticks of burning incense sat a brass Buddha, scarred, scratched and worn with age, with one hand raised to Heaven, the other lowered, beckoning Earth. Though most Buddhas sat cross-legged, this one was odd, being blind and with no legs to cross, having been cut short just above the knees.

The young couple walked by but then Haku, noticing it, stopped, walked back then stood before it, astonished. After a moment a knowing smirk crossed his face, he took a coin from his pocket and tossed it into the offerings bowl – a token for Wave Country's new patron deity.

"What was that all about?" said Mari, retaking his arm. "I didn't know you were superstitious."

Haku smiled at her, held her closer and gave the shrine another look, thinking of the future. "I'm not…but we need all the help we can get."

.

-THE END-