Chapter 32

You're not a monster

Isaribi watched as Naruto and Haku headed off back into town. Suddenly she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She tensed for a second before hearing a familiar voice "how goes the intel gathering." Asked Yoroi Akado.

"slow. I will need at least another two months" I saribi replied. "you have one" and with that the voice and presence faded.

Isaribi sighed "Haku Yuki, your way of thinking that people need to understand each other is flawed. Humans will NEVER understand one another." She frowned before heading back to her shack.

Xxx

The next day

"… and that's all we got." Naruto sighed. "so all we know is that this girl, Isaribi, was "Spirited away" as known to most, or more accurately, kidnapped by one of Orochimaru's subordinates, a guy called Amachi. They did some sort of experiment on her, and likely all the others kidnapped. Chances are it had to do with something to do with water or at least the sea, considering that Isaribi always escaped through it and we could never chase after her." Haku continued. "She said she was taken to an island called Demon Island."

"so that's where we're most likely to find the answers and complete this mission" Fu finished. "but we can't just barge in there without a plan. Give it a few days, if only to gather a little more intel, maybe there is something we overlooked." Mei pointed out.

Haku nodded, "true. Very well then. We look around for the rest of the week. In five days time we will go to Demon Island, everyone is to gather here by 7 am and leave by 7 :10 am. Report your findings of each day here at seven pm sharp. We don't want to spend too much time here and risk getting found out. If anyone is later, assume they ran into trouble. If they aren't here by morning, assume them incapacitated or killed and act accordingly. If they turn up later, verify them before you allow then within 5 meters."

Mei looked at him, "he is cautious," she thought "and quick too. Thinking of a plan and back-up plan on the fly like that" she smirked "not bad"

Xxx

As planned, the group met at 7 am in the morning and again at 7 pm in the evening. However, on the third day, Haku didn't show up. The atmosphere that evening was tense as they hoped that he was just running late or is spying on the enemy. After an hour passed, they decided to start without him. By the time they finished, he still hadn't returned so they went to bed early, still hoping that he was just spying and running late and would be back in the morning.

Unknown to them, they were half right. Haku was indeed spying on the enemy, but he wouldn't be returning that night.

Xxx

Earlier that day

Haku hid behind a building and peered through the glass. "… first said we must keep a watch out here, now he says we must head back toDemon Island. Sheesh, would he make up his mind? Flush." There was a sound of something soft hitting the table. "what can we do? He had already completed his tests and perfected the … whatever he did. What I don't get is why he won't let us play with the girl. He has no use for her anyways" a few more shuffling "and you lose, royal flush"

Haku ducked behind the building again. That confirms it. They were definitely doing something on Demon Island, and whatever it was this guy did, Haku assumed it was Amachi, he is likely leading Isaribi to believe he hadn't finished it yet. This was all the proof they needed.

Haku turned around to leave, but as he turned, he saw a large man with pitch black sunglasses and a cloth that covered the bottom of his face. His build was larger than average but not large enough to hinder his movements.

Haku's eyes widened and jumped back just in time to dodge a swing from the man's large hands. Seeing the man chasing after him, Haku spun on his foot and jumped up the nearest building, leaving an ice mirror to slow him down. Judging by the loud crash and some of the shards heading in his direction, it wasn't very effective.

He made a beeline for the sea, jumping across the rooftops as quick as he could, but no matter how fast he jumped, the man always seemed just behind him. Finally, arriving at a cliff, Haku turned around to face the attacker.

Panting slightly, Haku discretely moulded his chakra and slowly brought his hands together into a seal. "ice style: coming of wi-" before Haku could finish his jutsu, the man dashed forward and punched at Haku forcing him to lose his concentration and bring up his hands to block. The man threw another punch that Haku deflected. The two engaged in an intense taijutsu match that the ice user could barely keep up with. After a few minutes, the other man jumped back. Thinking that the man was preparing a jutsu, Haku dashed forward with three ice senbon in each hand. Just as he was about to reach him, the man disappeared in a burst of speed and grabbed Haku in a full nelson from behind, forcing him to drop the senbon. It was only then that Haku realized his chakra was being drained at an incredible rate.

"I see you finally noticed" the man said "yes, I have been draining your chakra this whole time, now it's only a matter of moments before you have no chakra at all" Haku's eyes widened as his struggling increased, but as time went on, his body felt heavier and heavier as more and more chakra was drained. Finally, his movements ceased altogether.

"Hn. Now, to remind those idiots that happens when they're not careful with their tongues." The man muttered, throwing Haku over the cliff and watched him sink beneath the waves before walking away.

Haku watched helplessly as the bubbles escaped around him "so this is how it ends? It seems I had accomplished nothing. I failed you, father." He thought. Suddenly a figure appeared out of nowhere. It's hair, or what Haku assumed to be hair, flowed out all around her head. From the little light that reached him, Haku faintly made out a face that was half covered in scales moving closer to him. The last thought that crossed his mind was "Isaribi?" before darkness overtook him.

Xxx

Haku woke up some time later, judging from the bright lighting it was maybe around midday. He slowly opened his eyes to see Isaribi putting a cloth on his head. "sleep. You are still weak" she said and softly closed his eyelids

The next day

Haku slowly opened his eyes and looked around him. He slowly sat up before feeling something drop onto his lap. He stared blankly at the piece of folded cloth as he tried to remember the last thing that happened.

"you are awake" said a voice from the doorway.

Haku slowly turned around and for the first time, got a proper look at the room. It was a very simple, room. Just a few baskets on the sides and his clothes drying by the window. In the middle of the room sat a pot of soup cooking over a fire. "you saved me" he stated.

"so it seems" Isaribi answered, walking in and sitting next to the pot. She laid her basket down and threw in some herbs from the basket and started stirring.

"why?"

A simple word that questions a lot. As simple as the question is, the answer is much more complicated. Why? If Isaribi was honest wither herself, even she didn't know why. She just did. Isaribi stopped stirring the pot and placed the lid back. "Make no mistake. I only saved you because you saved me" she said, referring to when he deflected the rock the boy had thrown at her, "no other reason."

"I see"

The two sat in silence for a long time. Each lost in their own thoughts while the soup boiled. After what seemed like eternity, but was likely only about half an hour, Isaribi got up and walked out the room. A few moments later she returned with two bowls. She opened the lid before fulling up the bowl and walking over to Haku.

Haku reached out a hand to grab the bowl but dropped it as soon as he saw how shaky it was. "it's times like this I wish I was like Naruto" he sighed. Isaribi sat down next to him and dipped the spoon in the soup before blowing on it and holding it up to Haku "what do you mean?"

Haku opened his mouth and swallowed the soup "he has an unnaturally fast healing ability, I've never seen anything get him down for a long period of time. It's almost like regeneration. By the way, this soup is amazing"

"Thank you"

Before long the soup was finished. Isaribi collected the bowl and walked out to wherever she got them while Haku laid back down on the bed. Isaribi walked back into the room again and started eating herself while Haku stared at the roof. "This is peaceful" he remarked after a while, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

The spoon paused halfway to Isaribi's mouth. "it is. But it wont last"

Haku frowned "and why not?"

"It just won't. Your idea of peace is just a fools hope! There will never be peace!" Isaribi shouted, the bowl falling from her hand and the wooden spoon held tightly in her other. She took a deep breath before bending down and picking up the bowl. "get some rest" she said before walking towards the doorway. "I know you're working with Amachi" Haku called after her, those words stopping her in the doorway "and I still trust you. I trust that you won't hurt me while my guard is down, and I trust you to know the difference between what's right and wrong. Amachi has already completed whatever he was doing and is only leading you around aimlessly. I know this because I heard them talking about it that day. What you said that day, about you being a monster. I don't believe a single part of it. If you were a monster, you wouldn't have saved me. If you were a monster, you wouldn't have let those children throw rocks at you."

Isaribi put the bowl down on the table next to her and turned around and pulled off her bandages in one fluid motion, exposing her scales and fangs "Look at me. LOOK AT ME! Tell me you don't see a monster" she dared.

Haku looked her in her eyes "I don't see a monster, but if you continue to do this, continue to do as Amachi says, you will become one"

Isaribi looked at him in shock. Snapping out of it, she turned around and ran out the house.

Haku watched the spot she stood for another minute or so before lying down on the bed again. "you aren't a monster" he thought before falling asleep.

AN: woo writers block is a pain! This chapter is mostly Haku's POV. Besides that, nothing much to say. Just the same things as last few chapters.

(if you received a second notification that was just me changing the names from kikai-jima to Demon Island- nothing really important)

Trivia question: who was the man that attacked Haku

On a completely unrelated note…. My app for watching and downloading anime has been taken down *cries* if anyone knows of an app that allows you to download and watch anime offline(on the play store for android) I'll be very grateful

Reviews:

Nexus2200: because school, writers block and laziness

Zeus501: oh that explains the missing 1 mil prototype kittens that malfunctioned. Your hostage kittens are a little out of date "god of the sky"

As for the leaf… I don't plan for them to learn anytime soon…. Likely maybe in 40 chaps?

Thor94: yes. Yes they did

Noahendless: thanks

Dinohuntsmen: ? I understood none of that except you might be drunk….

Jacklvmage12: no she's not a Jinchuriki, just an experiment. And she feels like she deserves it cause she believes she is a monster.

Nah, I know we look alike, but no, I ain't my grandson Chaos. Of course, I do question what made you lose it. To be both my son Heliex and grandson Order? Maaan how do you deal with them? Just one galaxy destroyed gives me a huuuge ton of paperwork, now if you add the domains of those two? That's some impressive paperwork there!

Don't both of those require wifi or something to set up? From what I've been told the games need to be updated regularly and I don't think I can get the internet for that…