Disclaimer: Does it look like I own Naruto? Didn't think so.

Hey guys I'm loving the feedback and I hope you're all satisfied with this chapter. Personally, I like this one better than the last. Also just to note if I ever make a plot mistake I promise you I'll try to add something to fix it and make it believable.

On with the story!

"Yeah." Naruto answered excitedly.

After three days passed Naruto and Haku both stood strong in training ground seven, senbon in either of his shoulders. Standing opposite Haku had one arm outstretched towards him with one senbon left in hand.

"You see what happens now?" Haku said, "When using senbons in a fight you can effectively incapacitate them with a flick of the arm and a point to the right spot. This can either damage them severely as all weapons do, or enable them unconscious without series damage which most weapons don't do."

Haku gently took the senbon from his shoulder, eliciting a pain-filled grunt. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I asked for it, anyways." Naruto said putting his free hand on her shoulder. Haku just nodded and removed the other, but quicker this time. She observed his wound swiftly.

When she'd launched her senbons into his shoulders her initial response was to take out her herbs and clean it until she took out her first senbon and saw what was happening. The punctured flesh, by her eyes, was knitting itself together, faintly glowing a red hue. She could even hear it sizzle if she tried.

Next she removed the second senbon to get a more in depth version. After seeing the response again she looked up into Naruto's eyes. Did he know that he could...regenerate like that? His brows shot-up in confusion.

Perhaps not then.

"Naruto."

His eyes locked with hers.

"You know you heal quickly right?"

"Yeah. One time I got a cut on my arm and it healed in under a minute," Naruto said scratching his head. "I asked Jiji about it but all he said was that I was special, or something. He had one of his medics from ANBU come and examine me just in case, though."

Haku's eyes widened. "What did the ANBU say?"

"She said that I healed really fast, but she didn't go into detail." He shrugged. "I'm just glad I have it."

Haku's eyes lit up and her thoughts spiraled. If what the ANBU said is true than that means a whole paramount of options opened for him...

"Hey Haku, can we start again. I want to try and see if I can throw one too!"

Broke from her thoughts she nodded and smiled gently. Those kind of thoughts could wait. "Alright, Naruto what you need to know first is that the body has many points at which these senbon can be rendered dangerous or even lethal." Haku pointed out.

Truth be told this was the first time he'd ever been taught one-on-one before, and believe it or not he enjoyed it. The way that a teacher would pay special attention to him. Valuing every little thing he did as if it were the most important thing in the world. It was a feeling that he'd never thought he'd feel. He'd seen it with families, but not so much as it was with how Haku did it. He couldn't explain it.

She brought her hand up to his neck. "Here is one place where a person can be killed easily, obviously. But one thing to remember about the neck is that it's the access to the brain, the spine, and your oxygen supply. Given enough practice you could put someone into a death like state or kill them swiftly or slowly." Haku said, "There are many options."

Next her hand lowered to his heart. "Here is the most obvious place that someone could be killed at along with the lungs, liver, or stomach." She said pointing to each organ.

Naruto nodded, "Alri-"

"I want you to understand that even though I am a kunoichi, I don't like to kill." Haku said pointing to his neck. She moved her hand slightly. "I like to incapacitate if I can."

The boy her finger was pointed at gripped her wrist before pulling her into a hug. Naruto looked down at Haku's downcast look. "You know something Haku." Naruto said softly. The girl in his arms looked up briefly. "I don't think anyone does. You're just better because you can admit it and not turn off your sense of morals."

He brought his hand to stroke her hair when she kissed his forehead, a smile on her face.

"Remember what I said about what makes one strong?" Haku said clutching him tighter.

Naruto nodded gently. "Of course. You're strongest when you have someone precious to protect, otherwise there is no reason to fight at all."

She nodded as her clenched eyes let out two small tears. "That's right, and remember Naruto. You'll always be my precious person."

"And you will be mine, Haku."

"No more crying, k?" Naruto said wiping away her tears.

"When did you get so mature?"

Naruto smirked. "You can't say that I couldn't have matured since your arrival!"

"No, but I was quite surprised with how many pranks you used to pull." Haku chuckled.

Haku backed away. "Alright. What do you say? Time to go home for the day?"

Naruto nodded quickly before putting on his mask and grabbing her hand.

The next day Haku and him weaved through the streets like before with barely anyone giving more than a second glance before turning back. All-in-all Naruto preferred it this way. He felt more accepted rather than completely hated—even if false. It was definitely more preferable to the scouring looks of the villagers or the uncertain looks in the sympathetic, or even the more heated looks the children usually game him. It was nice.

Or it was nice until a purple haired kunoichi appeared in front of him. Haku went to grab him but by then it was already too late. Naruto crashed into the taller girl, knocking her over with him. For a moment Naruto sat dazed until he pushed himself up to see the girls face. Even in a scowl Naruto thought her to be cute. And if he remembered correctly he must've seen her somewhere before.

However as luck was he'd been sitting there studying her face for far too long for the kunoichi's tastes. The woman grabbed Naruto at the top of his shirt and dragged themselves to a standing position where she hung him, a scowl still pressed on her face. "You do realize who you just ran into right?" The woman bit out.

Still seemingly staring Naruto shook his head and gestured to Haku behind him. "No, I don't, sorry but me and my best-friend are try to get to the academy." Haku nodded to her to confirm.

The kunoichi seemed to accept it because she dropped Naruto back on his feet where he stumbled a little into Haku's waiting arms.

"I hope you both know that you just ran into Mitirashi Anko, Snake Mistress of Konoha!" Anko said rubbing her hands egotistically down her sides in a sweeping manner. Now that Naruto was released and could see Anko fully he started to remember.

He turned his head to Haku shortly after Anko's presentation and whispered, "I remember her now. She's the one who we found last year in that alleyway, Haku." She tipped her head. "Ya know, the one who we let stay with us for six months."

"I remember now." Haku said softly, touching her chin.

"Do you think we should let her know?" Naruto asked.

Haku nodded.

By now Anko was getting frustrated by the two's whispering. It wasn't often that she'd meet two people who would completely ignore her after her usual introduction.

"Anko." Haku said. The woman raised her head from her momentary frustration and gave the girl her full attention with a loud sigh.

Both of the kids brought their hands up to reveal their faces ,with warm welcoming smiles. Anko's eyes widened in recognition. "Naruto? Haku?" Anko whispered. The two nodded slowly before Anko came to wrap the two in her arms.

A few months after Haku had been taken in by Naruto they'd found Anko sitting back to a wall in an alleyway during a thunderstorm. If Naruto remembered correctly she'd worn a brown trench coat, with fishnet body armor along with a very short brown skirt. Her hair was matted to her head and she'd looked like she'd been crying for quite some time, judging by her puffy red cheeks. However what made the image almost unbearable was the sight of a few bottles of alcohol lying next to her.

From what Anko had told she'd been suffering from severe depression ever since Orochimaru had left when she was younger, and in order to cope Anko had taken to alcohol and her snake mistress mask. When the two had picked her up and let her stay the next day she'd told them about how the village treats her like some piece of traitorous garbage, but only after Haku had restrained her.

A nine year old taking down a thirteen year old. If it mattered in any way to Anko she didn't let it show, but after that Anko had stuck around at Naruto's insistence, and from what they could tell now, Anko had prospered from it.

The kunoichi looked down at the two hugging her. She never told them, but if they hadn't convinced her otherwise she would've slit her throat the next day. So, in essence... Naruto and Haku had saved her life. Even after her telling them about how she was previously the student of Konoha's most famous traitor they still stuck by her. Whether that was from childish innocence or not they still did what some shrink couldn't.

Anko petted their heads. They were the only one's she'd ever show that kind of gentleness to. "Alright guys." Anko said.

Breaking the hug shortly after a faint bell could be heard not too far away causing Naruto to groan and even causing Haku to sag her shoulders. Shaking her head Haku looked up at Anko and said, "Sorry Anko, we have to go now. We're late for the academy."

Taking Naruto's hand in hers and putting on their masks again they dashed off. Though just before they traversed through the entrance Anko caught them by placing a hand on either of their shoulders. They turned to ask why she was stopping them to receive a soft smile and gentle hands taking their own. Anko lead them through the halls and into their class after asking where. When Anko opened the door she put on her mask to and scowled furiously.

Each student sat with wide eyes at her before Naruto and Haku followed in. Anko tightened her grip on them before looking at Iruka. "Don't punish these two for being late. I held them up." Anko said simply. Iruka nodded quickly. He never had a masochistic streak, and he wasn't going to start.

She turned to the two kids behind her and smiled again as she hugged the two.

Shortly after breaking up Haku spoke up, "We'll see you later Anko?"

She nodded. Naruto grabbed her hand and held it for a moment to what she supposed was to analyze it quickly. He nodded and gave her one more tight hug before waving and walking to his seat following Haku. She gave a fond look and left, but not after one last glare to the rest.

When Anko exited the academy she opened her palm and found a picture. It was of the time when they spent the day celebrating her birthday. A real heartfelt birthday filled with laughter and childish joy. And it was captured in time, just for her. Anko looked to the sky.

Thanks Naruto.

"Hey Haku." Naruto whispered. "Thanks for teaching me that one trick."

Haku raised a brow in questioning. "Remember when you taught me how to hide a senbon and then bring it up in your hand for combat?"

Haku remembered alright. It had taken him quite a time to be able to pull it off to a satisfactory level. Though she wondered why he'd bring it up now... Haku gasped into her hand after she figured it out.

"Naruto, what did you give Anko?" she whispered back.

Naruto smiled knowingly. "Just a picture."

Did you enjoy it? At all? It couldn't have been that bad?

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