;;' C.h.a.p.t.e.r.0.2';; Meet
Naruto shuddered in his sleep, burying his head into his pillow further.
"My little son, Namikaze Naruto. I'm going to watch you burn, and I'll burn too. We'll all burn."
He let out a muffled scream and buried his head further into the pillow. Why did he have nightmares of that day so often? It was so long ago, so painfully long ago. Otou-san and Okaa-san died… left me alone. He felt tears prickle his face, but he kept the same look on his face. Otou-san… Otou-san…
"Naruto-kun? Is something wrong?"
He looked up to find Haku towering over him. The brown eyes male's eyes only narrowed at Naruto's shaken state. "Haku… I'm scared. It's… it's as if Otou-san is telling me to go away," Naruto mumbled. Haku's hand quickly fisted, showing his distaste for Naruto's fear.
"I'm tired of this, Naruto-kun. I'm tired of you sounding so afraid… we're leaving our village, tomorrow."
Naruto looked surprised. He sat up, about to protest, but the look on Haku's face told him to shut up.
"We're going to your real village, Konohagakure no Satou."
--
"I'm leaving…"
Kabuto had seen it coming. The same actions from before. But how did he not remember Orochimaru, Kimimaro, or even Konohagakure?
This Sasuke, heir to the Uchiha Clan, was the same Sasuke, yet he was twelve years younger, twelve years inexperienced to Sasuke of the old. This Sasuke was him, yet he wasn't. "I appreciate your letting me go. But remember, chase after me, and you'll die, Kabuto," Sasuke said, calmly.
A twelve year old Sasuke, so scary and threatening. He had the same tone, same harshness. How long, I wonder, till he returns to Konohagakure? He noticed it all. Each detail of the old Sasuke was in this boy. He had yet to receive his Sharingan. But from the way the old Sasuke had received it, he will only receive it when he sees the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Uzumaki Naruto has died… there's no chance of him returning.
So, the question remains… will he ever have his Sharingan? How exactly is Sasuke back?
He didn't get a chance to wave goodbye to Orochimaru's apprentice.
Maybe, once he sees Haruno Sakura or Hatake Kakashi… but for certain, Uzumaki will never catch his eyes again.
--
"What's with the weird look, Haku?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow when Haku smiled over at him. The boy's angelic beauty was quite fascinating. But Naruto had never seen Haku actually fight someone, or wear anything except that pink dress-like thing. He's too feminine. Haku reached for a key that he kept hidden from Naruto (or so Naruto assumed). Naruto silently prayed maybe the boy was about to pull out a bag of ramen. Anything to make him happy.
The key slid into a closet door that Haku never opened, causing Naruto to raise an eyebrow in question. Something Haku never looks at. I wonder why?
Naruto's mind went reeling when Haku reached in and pulled out a very familiar white mask. A scar along the front, then eyes, and four strange markings in the center top. What is this? Why does my head hurt? Why is my heart beating so fast?
Haku quickly slipped his other hand in, pulling out a green outfit that only made Naruto sicker. It was as if he had seen this before. Some sickening memory accompanied these items. But Haku never wears them. What is this? "Naruto-kun, I am going to change, wait here for me," Haku spoke, calmly. When the boy walked into a bathroom, Naruto fell to his knees, shaking from head down.
There's something wrong with Haku… what's he doing?
The door reopened, and Naruto immediately stood up to say something to Haku. But what he saw made his hand reach for his kunai, too easily, and his other hand stand in fighting stance. A masked ninja wearing that green outfit. He threw the kunai, expecting to hit the ninja, but the person only caught it between their index and middle finger. So skilled.
"It is me, Haku. Go and get your stuff, Naruto-kun. Today, we go to your country."
Naruto stared, amazed, at how different Haku was in this new attire. Haku is a real ninja… an actual ninja.
He didn't know why, but some part of him knew that mask, the costume. Some part of him knew everything about Haku, yet nothing.
--
Naruto groaned as he leapt through the trees. He felt cold. Haku was beside him, leaping quicker and faster. Haku was quick; a completely different Haku from the one Naruto had spent seven years with. Naruto was certain the boy had more experience than he could ever imagine. I wonder why he keeps saying I had a second life. I'm just Naruto, Namikaze Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, we're approaching the border. If you find anything unusual, do not confront it without me. Enemies may attack here," Haku spoke. Naruto trusted Haku with his life. But this new way Haku dressed, it was a new person.
"Only when you have someone to protect, will you truly be powerful."
He froze at the voice. It was Haku's, that was for certain, but it was a lot, rougher. "Haku, did you say something?" he asked. The male only shook his head, or so it seemed. I keep hearing things. Like Haku's voice, and other ones. He shrugged it off and continued forward, he least expected a tree to come in his way. Warninglessly, he hit the three and fell back, landing on his behind.
H-Haku, wait… w-wait for me!
But when he sat up, the green clad male had disappeared from his view. I-I'm all alone. He felt his body shudder, as he stayed still.
Don't move, don't confront. Haku will come back, I know he will.
--
Sasuke frowned as a feel of familiarity crossed over him. He was headed to god-knows-where, and he felt that again. He knew the presence. It was embedded deep into his skin. Like he knew from birth he would eventually see it again. But he had to go on. I'm supposed to go to Iwagakure by tomorrow. It's the only village next to some other few I haven't seen.
"Nnng… H-Haku, w-wait!"
He froze at the familiarity of the voice. I know it, I know that voice. His mind told him he had heard it once before, in fact, he had known it too well. I should go see… for my own curiosity. He regretted it, because he immediately sensed the presence of more than one other ninja. If this moron faces them he'll get killed…
He raced on, his body willing him forward. He knew this kid might get killed. What do I do? What do I do? He instantly felt something activate within him like a switch, just as he caught sight of three Otogakure ninja racing for the blond boy lying in the grass with shock on his tanned face. Move it, dobe!
He tackled the blond to the side, landing, roughly, with the boy in his arms. He was almost certain the blond was dead, were it not for the gentle breathing on the nape of his neck. The dobe was afraid.
"I won't let Orochimaru have you! Even if it means breaking each bone in your body and dragging you back!"
His eyes narrowed as he noticed the blond's breath getting shorter. "Ha-Haku..? Is that you? Wh-where did you go?" he whispered, questioning him. Sasuke didn't understand who he was referring to. He quickly pushed the blond to the ground and focused on the enemies. "You two, get lost. This isn't an enemy of ours," he snarled. The two shook their head.
"H-how can you not recognize him, Uchiha-san? He was your teammate?"
Sasuke looked back at the blond, only to find him gone. His eyesight was suddenly stronger. Something about him had changed, drastically. All at meeting the blond boy. "Sa-Sasuke-sama, you have the Sharingan!" the other ninja gasped. Sasuke twitched at the word. Sharingan, me? Then… then that means, I accomplished it. My clan's bloodline limit…
His eyes narrowed at the only part of the puzzle that truly puzzled him.
From saving a complete stranger?
--
Naruto nodded, though his heartbeat had sped up. He was in a complete strangers arms. He had been saved from an enemy. But he couldn't stay. He had to run from them. The situation itself was a mystery. He was scared to death of not being near Haku, who was, in a sense, family to him. His only true family.
He groaned as his chest was hit by a flinging branch. D-damn. That will leave a scratch. He focused forward, praying Haku might just pop up. But he was sure he had lost the male long before. I'm scared. Where are you, Haku? His noticed, while running, that someone was chasing after him. Haku had taught him chakra patterns were a deep part of recognizing a shinobi as your teammate or enemy. Naruto knew Haku's chakra like the back of his hand. He could tell, that this chakra pattern was not Haku's.
It's the guy from before. The one that saved me.
He saw no need to confront the guy. He was already in enough trouble without an actual ninja chasing him down like a lost pet. Speed up, Namikaze! You can make it to Haku, you can! Instantly, his foot caught a wayward branch, causing him to lose footing and fall.
Just as he thought he might have broken bones (more painful ones than the ones Haku caused), someone, once more, caught him. His eyes widened at the same stranger. With remarkable red eyes and deep black hair.
"Those times weren't completely meaningless. You became my… best friend."
"Stop following me, you teme!" he shrieked. The man seemed highly surprised by his undignified shouting. Instantly, a foul look of distaste came over his graceful features. "I'll keep in mind not to save your prissy ass next time, dobe," the male grunted. Naruto only stuck his tongue out at him, before leaping away from him.
Haku should have realized I got left behind. I need to find him.
"What do you want from me? I owe you, I know that."
"I want to know why I saved you. Why I even thought of helping a moron like you," the male said. Naruto, grudgingly, held himself back from beating the crap out of the teme. "Oh, shut up, teme! How would I know? I'm the great Namikaze Naruto, soon-to-be—"
--
"I'm the great Uzumaki Naruto! Soon-to-be Hokage of Konohagakure!"
"I'm the great Namikaze Naruto, soon-to-be ramen cook of Konohagakure!"
Sasuke flinched. I hear two voices, both similar. But… but something seems wrong. Ramen cook and hokage?
"Naruto-kun… You should be careful," a voice spoke, startling Sasuke. A masked ninja jumped between them, surprising Sasuke. A young ninja, but. A Kirigakure ANBU mask. The dobe has an ANBU as his friend? "Haku! Thank god you came! That bastard was interrogating me to death!" Naruto grinned. Cheerfulness as optimistic as the sun on a bright morning.
"We should go. We're far behind," the ANBU spoke. So bright and indulging that even I felt intimidated to help him, to keep him safe. The blond turned and quickly raced off, the other male behind him, leaving Sasuke to think over why he felt so, tranquil near him. Like we've known each other for too long. A part of him wanted to just hold the blond back, stay with him. But another part warned him not to follow. He wasn't meant to follow to that place.
I'm just thinking too much.
--
"That bastard is always popping up wherever I go! It's like he's insane or something!" Naruto shouted, to nowhere in particular. Haku only continued to walk forward in eerie silence. For some reason, this was unusual, to Naruto. Silence always aggravated him, and it was uncomfortable to be following Haku while he was wearing those weird clothes.
"We are approaching a village now. We'll rest up, and head to Konohagakure tomorrow morning," Haku spoke. His voice was a bit deeper too. Naruto knew, for sure, that something would happen today. Haku's preparing for something I can't imagine. I want to help too, but. I'm not even strong enough.
"Stupid. My body just… moved on its own…"
His eyes widened at the brief words echoing through his mind. I'm just imagining things. That didn't sound like that bastard's voice. "Naruto-kun. That boy you met, earlier," Haku suddenly said, out of the blue. Naruto looked to Haku again, raising a golden eyebrow in question. "You do know him. Maybe not in this life, but in your past, you two were good friends, possibly even more," Haku spoke.
Naruto stopped, hastily shrieking for affect.
"Me and that teme? In hell!"
--
As soon as Naruto was in his own separate room, Haku began walking outside. He had to think, long and hard. This morning had been unexpected and may have altered Haku's plan on getting Naruto to remember everything. The blond had seen Uchiha Sasuke, spoken to him, even. But still, no memories surfaced.
Haku had, on the other hand, seen the look of shock in Sasuke's crimson eyes. Sasuke had seen ribbons of his past, so Sasuke must have known something was between him and Naruto.
I still don't know how they died. But as soon as I know, I'll chase the cause myself.
He was fully prepared to take anything down. Because Haku had his memories back since he was four or five, after having seen a photograph of Momochi Zabuza, his memories had come rushing back. Even his death. It was then that Haku realized Naruto had a demon within him, and that demon had killed Haku. Naturally, Haku's thoughts only coincided with his past life thoughts. He had no bitter feelings to Naruto, or any of his teammates. But his curiosity arose as to what Naruto might be doing.
He had only come upon Naruto by chance, and upon seeing his too-young form, he knew the blond had died. Haku had helped raise him, and taught him simple jutsu of the leaf he had picked up on. But he knew Naruto's true nature would only be revealed upon return to Konohagakure. And at that time, we'll both head out to find his killers, and, bring his friend back to his side.
Haku stopped at the feeling of wind on his mask. A short smile came over his face, as he reached up to place a hand where the wind had touched his mask.
Zabuza-sama, I promise, I won't let you down.
--
"Rise and shine, Naruto-kun. We need to leave, now."
Naruto yawned, loudly, and sat up. He stretched his arms in the air, before blinking lazily. Haku was, once more, sitting on the edge of his bed with the mask and green outfit on. Naruto shrugged. He didn't want to wake up. But if he wanted to be a ramen stall owner in Konohagakure, he had to wake up.
He stood up, once more stretching. He then walked over to the couch on one side of the room and picked up his turtleneck sweater. "Alright, Haku. Just give me a minute to get my clothes on," he said. Once more, Haku nodded, and calmly turned away from him.
As soon as Naruto had his shorts and sweater on, the two went towards the exit of the room.
"Hey, Haku? I like you better this way."
A short grin from Haku, deep within his mask.
"I do too, Naruto-kun… I do too."
--