Team 7 trudged toward a clearing beside the bridge, following the determined bobbing of a head crowned with yellow hair, where two figures rested. Haku's arm hovered over Zabuza, who was seated on the ground at his feet, his chakra reserves exhausted from the battle. Both of them were covered in blood, making it hard to discern whose it was. Crimson streaks trailed from Zabuza's mouth, remnants of the blows exchanged with the thugs. I exchanged an uneasy look with Sasuke as we moved slowly at the back of the group. Our approaching footsteps alerted Haku, causing him to straighten up. He regarded Naruto with intense curiosity before scanning over the rest of us. They lingered on the crumpled form still attached at my side before returning to Naruto's approach. Sasuke's grip on my shoulder tightened, and my hold on his wrist remained firm.

Naruto called out both of their names. Zabuza's head snapped around, his dull eyes locking onto the blonde as he struggled to push himself up to a standing position. Haku's once-hovering arm encircled Zabuza's waist, aiding him in finding his balance before retracting to rest by his side.

"We're not here to fight," Naruto held up his hands, his tone earnest, staring directly at Zabuza. "I just want to talk."

I wasn't entirely certain why we were here, but I held hope that it indicated Naruto had spoken with Zabuza earlier. Kakashi observed their interaction with mixed feelings, appearing receptive to the young blonde's attempt at camaraderie yet prepared to step in if necessary.

"Why should I, a missing-nin, believe a word from a Konoha shinobi?" Zabuza's tone carried a hint of sarcasm despite the scowl on his lips, revealing the sharp edges of his teeth. Naruto's fists tightened.

"Because I saved him," I retorted with exhausted finality, casting a pointed stare at Haku as the words spilled out without a second thought. "Kiri isn't an ally of Konoha's, we have no interest in what made you defect a place like that. We were only enemies for as long as Gato kept his leverage."

Haku's face softened, a glimmer of surprise lingering amid the fading uncertainty. He had seen firsthand the lengths to which I had gone to protect him, and it left an indelible mark on his perception of our motives. I couldn't help but think back to that moment on the bridge, the fierce determination that had welled up within me, the feeling of urgency that had drowned out all fear. My stare turned to Zabuza, who appeared fixated on the jagged pattern of burns crisscrossing my exposed arm. His features seemed to speak of a deeper understanding, a recognition of the sacrifices made on both sides of this conflict. It was as if he could see the struggle and turmoil etched into my very skin. He shifted his weight, shoulders slumping ever so slightly, a sign of the weariness in his stance that mirrored his own desire to put an end to our conflict. We were no longer just enemies on opposing sides of a battle. We were individuals who had faced the truth of their choices, their actions, and the consequences they bore. Perhaps some understanding and respect had begun to form amidst the chaos and bloodshed.

"Thank you- both of you," The silence hung heavy, broken only by the distant, thunderous cheers of villagers celebrating their newfound freedom and victory, their voices echoing through the surrounding air. Zabuza glanced between me and Naruto, his eyes beginning to glisten with emotion. "For sparing Haku."

CRASH!

Sasuke's muffled curse reached my ears, and I turned to find his arm curling around his midsection. His fingers were clutching the edge of the counter so tightly his knuckles turned white. I quickly tucked the drying cloth I'd been using into my back pocket, concern flooding my mind. Squatting down, I carefully gathered the large fragments of the shattered plate strewn across the floor, cradling them in my bandaged hands.

"Dammit, teme! I told you not to worry about the top dishes..." Naruto griped at the Uchiha boy as he squeezed fistfuls of Tsunami's pink apron to dry his wet hands, darkening the fabric. Sasuke remained quiet, his expression unreadable, as Naruto grabbed a broom tucked away in the crevice between the refrigerator and the wall, beginning to sweep the smaller pieces into a pile. I tossed my gathered pieces into the trash can, turning in time to see Sasuke exiting the backdoor. A knot of worry tightened in my chest as I exchanged a silent glance with Naruto. Our furrowed brows and shared concern said more than words ever could.

"Mind finishing up?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the back door once more.

"Go ahead." Naruto replied with a sigh, bending over to sweep the glass into the dustpan. I stepped into my sandals and knelt down to secure their buckles, watching as he emptied the shards into the trashcan and returned to the sink.

As I stepped out the backdoor, my eyes swept across the property in search of the runaway Uchiha. The grounds were still littered with the remnants of my battle, a mess of tree debris, heaping mounds of dried earth and scattered stones. It was a project we planned to finish tackling before leaving the Land of Waves. There were no signs of the thug's blood anymore, thanks to Kakashi's thorough cleanup. Nor of the dark-haired boy I was now seeking. I began my ascent up the mountain at a measured pace, giving Sasuke the time and space he clearly needed.

Where could he have gone?

Sasuke hadn't been himself since the near-death experience he endured last week. While he'd always been withdrawn, this prolonged quietness was unusual even for him. The ceaseless bickering with Naruto had... ceased. The bite of his cynical observations during dinner conversations were absent. He had fallen into near-complete silence since the battle, avoiding maintaining eye contact with both Naruto and me. Even as we helped him move around the house during those initial days of recovery. When I rewrapped his wounds and asked about his pain or the tightness of the bandaging, his responses were limited to grunts or simple headshakes. Naruto took it upon himself to break the silence, frequently trying to provoke Sasuke into fights. Sasuke's usual sharp retorts resurfaced during these moments, effectively silencing Naruto's attempts at pestering him into an argument.

Naruto's behavior around me had taken an unusual turn, too. It was to the extent that I eventually pulled him aside, leading him down to the docks where I promptly told him to spill it and tell me why he'd been avoiding me. He told me that he still felt guilt for my hair being cut. Strangely, he was also shouldering some responsibility for the burns on my arms. Naruto couldn't bring himself to confront Haku as the mask slipped off his face, just as the original timeline foretold. He felt responsible for my intervention when I had to push Haku and Zabuza out of the way of Kakashi's lethal attack. I had believed them to be mere first-degree burns, but Kakashi's assessment of them proved otherwise. He instructed me to keep the wounds bandaged for a month, and Tsunami provided a salve composed of soothing medicinal herbs to apply during bandage changes.

We had a long talk that night as we sat with our legs dangling over the edge of the dock, toes dipping into the surface of the ocean water. I could tell Naruto still felt bad about everything that happened, but he was getting back to his normal self around me. He wasn't staring at me with guilt anymore.

I squinted my eyes in the sunlight, scanning the empty cow field. Following the faint traces of Sasuke's chakra, I ventured further out, beyond our usual training spot by the pond. It was then that I spotted his distinctive spikey black hair swaying amidst the tall grass, standing out against the pale bark of a blooming cherry tree. Rows of cherry, plum and peach trees alternated across the field.

Sasuke's gaze flickered up as I parted the tall grass to approach him. Our mouths opened in unison.

"Can we-?"

"Can I-?"

"Hn." My lips quirked up when he grunted and gestured at the ground beside him. I accepted his invitation, sitting down and letting my hands glide over the soft petals scattered on the grass around us.

"I didn't know there were fruit trees here."

After a quiet pause, Sasuke's voice broke the silence, his tone rigid. "I didn't know it was your birthday last week."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Kakashi told you?" I groaned, tilting my head back against the trunk of the tree. "I asked him not to tell anyone..."

Sasuke shrugged, his eyes fixed on a fallen blossom he held in his hand, his expression clouded.

"Why, are you a fan of birthdays?" I joked, hoping to break the growing tension.

"That's not my point." He scowled, unintentionally crushing the delicate blossom as his hand clenched into a fist. I watched him carefully, wondering what was going through his mind as he released a deep breath and relaxed his grip.

"What is your point?" I asked, curious but hesitant, my thoughts drifting back to that day.

It was Sakura's birthday.

The day Sasuke almost died.

Not mine.

The day of my first kill.

Sasuke's eyes remained fixed on the crushed flower in his palm, his voice low as he spoke again. I leaned in closer to hear him better.

"I know what it's like to spend them in loss." He muttered, turning his palm so that the blossom fell to the ground.

Oh.

"You suspected Tazuna's family would be targeted and it happened. You shouldn't have been alone. If one of us had stayed behind, maybe you wouldn't have had to..." Sasuke finally lifted his gaze to mine for the first time since I sat down beside him, and a flux of emotions appeared over his face before his jaw set, squashing them back down. A glimpse of pain, regret and a reluctant openness.

It's like he's... trying to apologize?

"It was my recommendation to let you sleep in today. So don't blame yourself, or Kakashi."

Does he blame himself? Does he think I blame him?

"I shouldn't have..." Sasuke trailed off, unsure of what to say as he broke eye contact once again. He placed his palms on the ground and leaned further back against the tree beside me, our shoulders nearly touching as he stared out at the grass. It flowed like waves as a strong breeze swept past us. It caused the fringe of Sasuke's hair to float and tickle at his face.

"I didn't want to make a big deal about my birthday during a mission." I finally replied, seeing that my attempt at comfort fell short by the way his expression remained the same. "Besides... I know you don't like cake."

I watched the confusion spread over his face, brows furrowing as he registered what I said.

"How do you know I..." He trailed off, staring at me.

"You prefer pink tomatoes over red ones." I shrugged, heart pounding in my chest as I broke the eye contact this time, looking up at the blossoms above us.

I wonder how many birthdays he spent in loss?

Taking in a deep breath, I placed my bandaged hand on top of his. I could see in the corner of my eye that his head jerked towards our hands as my thumb rubbed over the top of his hand, my voice bringing his attention back to me.

"Don't bear the weight of that blame, Sasuke. I'm alive." I spoke softly, my fingers leisurely interlocking with his until they knitted together, despite the twinge of pain I still felt in them. It reminded me that I was alive.

"And you, not dying that day? Well, that's the first time my birthday wish has ever come true..."

I missed the burst of emotion across his face this time as his grip finally reciprocated, squeezing my fingers lightly. There wasn't a word spoken or so much as a twitch as we fell into a comfortable silence. Despite the uncertainty of the physical comfort, it was a peaceful moment. One we both needed after the chaos of the past few weeks. It was when the sun began to set and its rays cast a golden glow over the field that Sasuke slowly untangled our fingers. My eyes followed him as he stood.

"Let's head back." I nodded my head in agreement, pushing myself up off the ground. As I straightened up, I found Sasuke stepping closer to me. Heat rushed up my neck and over my face as he leaned in.

To my surprise, he brushed a loose lock of hair back from my face with his pointer fingers, hand holding a blossom with a longer stem, which he tucked into my hair just above my ear.

"Wear this, it..." He trailed off as his onyx eyes flickered from the blossom to my own. My breath caught in my throat, and I nervously waited for him to finish his thoughts.

He's gotten a bit taller.

Sasuke turned towards the path back to the house and began to walk away. I stared blankly into the space he had been standing moments before, shaking my head when I heard the sound of the tall grass shuffling.

"They want to, what?!" Naruto yelled, clamoring up from his seat on the floor. He tried to grab Kakashi by his jacket in his disbelief.

"Hey now..." Kakashi sighed, grabbing Naruto's wrists and holding him at arm's length. "They didn't quite put it like that. Haku wanted to express his gratitude to us and they offered to teach you each a new technique, starting today." He finished, releasing his grip as Naruto finally backed off him.

"Seriously?" Sasuke scoffed, his voice dripping with skepticism as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Training with them."

"This is the Demon of the Mist. On top of that, the user of an ice style kekkai genkai that we've never heard of before. You're not interested in that, Sasuke?" I teased, the young Uchiha scowling back at me.

"I thought we were supposed to leave tomorrow," Naruto frowned, looking over at our bags. "How are we supposed to master them in a day!"

"We have three more days before we have to head home. The Third Hokage has already cleared it. Make it count." Kakashi instructed, smiling behind his mask as the worry melted off Naruto's face.

"What are we waiting for?" The yellow-haired boy grabbed Sasuke's wrist and my hand in each of his, causing us to stumble as he dragged us behind him towards the door with a strength that surprised me.

"Let's go!" Naruto shouted, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Naruto, you don't even know where we're going!" I exclaimed, fumbling for the knob to close the door behind us before we crossed the threshold.

"Where we met them!" Kakashi said loudly, allowing me to hear him over the door slamming shut.

Sasuke quickly shoved the boy's hand off his wrist, glowering at him. When we made it to the clearing, it looked... Messy. Limbs and fallen trees scattered it, leaves once green and flourishing now brown and crumbling in the heat of the spring sun. Evidence of our fight with Zabuza when we first arrived at the Land of Waves. Haku and Zabuza stood by the water, talking to each other quietly.

"So, what are we learning today?" Naruto said, practically skipping the distance between them, leaving me and Sasuke to approach on our own. Sasuke stepped closer with a slower caution, his sharp eyes locked on them as Naruto casually threw an arm over Haku's shoulder in greeting.

"Play nice." I muttered under my breath, offering a nod to Zabuza before glancing at Sasuke. "Don't you feel Kakashi's chakra in the trees?"

Sasuke snapped out of his focus on the two Mist ninjas, eyes scanning the tree line. Kakashi was resting on a lower limb, back against the trunk, reading his favorite book.

"Figures." Sasuke huffed, his shoulders finally relaxing as we stepped up to the group. Kakashi's presence had a calming effect on him.

"Sakura-san, I realized I haven't had the chance to thank you properly for saving my life." Haku began, reaching out to take my hand. I blinked, fidgeting nervously as he leaned down to kiss the back of it. "Thank you."

"I-It was nothing." I laughed nervously, pulling my hand from his light grasp. My cheeks felt hot as I glanced around at the others. Naruto's mouth dropped open in surprise and Sasuke's eyes dropped to the ground before they could meet mine, a slight frown pulling his lips. "We can call it even if you teach me a new water style jutsu."

"You will each be taught a water style jutsu." Zabuza huffed, the bandaging around his mouth still absent. The shark-like smile that grew on his lips felt... foreboding.

"I'm a fire style user. I don't think that's going to work for me," Sasuke retorted, shoving his hands in his pocket with a disdainful look on his face.

"I'll teach you something better. Haku, why don't you show Sakura that trick you picked up during our time in the Valley of Hell."

"Yes, Zabuza." Haku nodded, offering me a warm smile. I thought back on Haku's abilities, a sense of excitement building within me. "I think you will pick it up in time after I show you how it works, considering the technique you used on the bridge."

"Hey, don't forget about me!" Naruto pouted, crossing his arms. I pressed my lips together to stifle a laugh as a Zabuza clone tapped him on his shoulder, causing the boy to jump in surprise.

"Come over here, kid." The clone ordered, leading Naruto further down the water.

"You know how to use a sword, kid?" I could hear Zabuza asking Sasuke as they walked towards the middle of the clearing.

"I will be teaching you the Hydration Technique today." Haku began, taking a seat on the ground in front of me. I sat across from him with my legs crossed, curiosity building as I watched him hold a hand out in front of him.

"You are already attuned to water as an element, and your chakra control seems to be near perfect. This will help speed up the learning process, but you'll also need to sharpen your senses and develop a finer perception of chakra. It's like sensing the subtlest change in the air, the flow of energy around you." As Haku spoke, water began to bead on his outstretched palm, shimmering like liquid jewels.

"You'll learn to detect the flow and characteristics of chakra within the water molecules suspended in the air, almost like feeling the rhythm of a hidden dance. Once you sense it, you can begin to manipulate it. By honing your control and concentrating your chakra into these water molecules, you can condense them, forming droplets. It's like coaxing dew from morning grass. And it works even in environments where natural bodies of water are scarce or nonexistent, given the right amount of humidity."

"What... just happened?" I questioned, my eyes widening in amazement. I could feel a shiver of anticipation tingling down my spine as I watched the water disappear into Haku's skin.

"Water transports energy as it naturally cycles in the environment around us. Can you feel the energy it carries within?" Haku asked quietly as the water finished soaking into his skin.

Is he saying that he's... absorbing energy from the water?

I could only continue to watch in wonder as Haku closed his eyes and water began to form, like droplets of rain suspended in the air around us.

"Close your eyes," Haku instructed, his voice soft and soothing. "Focus on finding the natural flow around you."

That was the start of three long days of training.

By the end of it, Sasuke learned a form of Kiri swordsmanship to practice, Naruto could produce a single water clone, and I learned enough about the Hydration Technique to put me on the path towards mastering it.

A/N: I hope y'all enjoyed, thank you for your patience as I try to find inspiration to write during these trying silent depression times. I'm on vacation so that helped a lot. Another chapter will be posted in the next few days, featuring none other than our favorite Sensei! :)