Chapter One: Life in the Mist

The streets of the Hidden Mist were bustling with eager shoppers scurrying about, enjoying the pleasantly cool temperatures and slight warmth of the noon sun. Most buildings in the Mist, regardless of size or importance, were cylindrical in design. Naruto, despite his years living here, still had not managed to piece together why. Regardless, the lush flora that often sprouted from these buildings were lovely, vibrant accessories to otherwise dull concrete. From within the village, you could see the surrounding mist constrict itself like a shroud over the perimeter.

Naruto and Haku strolled along the busy streets of the Hidden Mist, enjoying the sights and sounds of the shopping district. Naruto was amazed by the variety of shops and stalls that sold everything from weapons and scrolls to clothes and souvenirs. He had been down this district a hundred times over, and yet every time he always managed to find a new shop. Naruto's orange and black jacket was open and loose, his sleeves rolled to his elbows, allowing him to enjoy such a nice day. He even chose shorts cut at the knees, just so he could maximize contact with the crisp air.

Naruto followed Haku's lead with a lazy smile, happy to see him so excited and curious about what most would consider mundane things. Haku had grown up in a harsh and cruel world where he had to hide his true self and his abilities. By the time of their first meeting, the loneliness and isolation had eaten him into a shell of what he could've been. Now, he was free to go wherever his curiosity guided. Haku's shirt was a thin, silky thing that exposed the soft skin of his shoulders, accented with little frills, with sleeves ending at the wrist. The ankle-length pants matched both the wave patterns and material but were loose instead of clingy. Naruto was proud of this outfit—it had taken weeks to make it from scratch.

As he eagerly swiveled from shop to shop, Naruto appreciated his form. Haku was an androgynous beauty with a face disarmingly delicate and a soul sweeter than honey. His long but neatly kept hair was tied high into a satin ponytail—so thick it required multiple bands to hold together— slung over his shoulder, roping all the way down to his waist. Haku's preference for crossdressing dumbfounded many men and women alike; the revelation that the pretty little thing in shorts or a skirt was a man always caused the most hilarious reactions. Sasuke himself had been fooled on their first meeting, a fact he had begrudgingly admitted when they were all drinking one night. Contrary to what some might think, passing for a woman was never the goal—he simply enjoyed the fashion. The fact that he could pull it off better than a lot of women was just a product of lucky genetics.

Haku pulled him from his leering with an excited wave of his hand before pointing in the direction of a shop. He was practically buzzing on his feet with excitement, like a puppy. "Hey, hey, look at that!"

The shop seemed modestly sized, with the same circular architecture as most buildings here, but it was the grand opening sign that caught attention. Naruto chuckled at the sheer enthusiasm. "Lead the way, Hyacinth." Hyacinths; beautiful flowers of white, blue, purple, and more. He was the only person in the world who had the privilege of calling Haku that.

Inside, there were rows upon rows of goods spanning almost every category one could want. There were a myriad of mugs, keychains, stickers, magnets, hats, scarves, gloves, and more. Standard fair, but then there were the oddities. Fake swords, musical instruments, random bits of armor, some costumes, and stuffed animals—the place had everything. Naruto thought some of the stuff was cute or quirky, but he didn't have much interest in novelties. Still, he was curious if he could find something for Sakura or Sasuke here.

Haku, on the other hand, felt a surge of emotion as he saw the merchandise. He looked around the shelves and racks with starry eyes. There was something about sheer abundance that always left him giddy. When he was growing up, the life of a poor farming family up in the snowy North was wrought with scarcity, of having little and being grateful it wasn't less. After being taken in by Zabuza, the bare necessities had been met, and there was often enough to treat themselves to something superficial every couple of months, yet that still had not been a home. They had been vagabonds at the best of times.

Even after living here with Naruto for three years, even being what many would consider relatively wealthy, there was always something special about seeing things he could buy and keep. It was like he was nostalgic for a time he had never lived. The only sections he skipped over were the clothing ones; he had Naruto design and make his wardrobe. It's been years since he's had to pay money for anything other than shoes.

Some fifteen minutes later, he was randomly walking down one of the aisles, finding himself flanked by hundreds of stuffed animals, when he spotted something that made his heart skip a beat. It was a plush of a penguin, big enough to be used as a pillow. It was soft and fluffy, with thin black and white fur and yellow feet and beak. It had round eyes that sparkled with innocence and joy. It looked so cuddly and cozy that Haku wanted to hug it right then and there.

He has loved penguins ever since he was a child. There was something he admired about the little creatures. They were adorable things, sure, but it was something deeper than that; they lived in cold and snowy places like his homeland, but somehow managed to thrive while he and his parents barely scrounged by. Admiration and envy, all wrapped up in a fascinating little bird. Growing up, he had always dreamed of seeing a real penguin someday, or at least having a toy or a plush of one, but that sort of thing had never been possible, either too poor or with no home to keep it safe.

He reached out his hand to touch it, enjoying its smooth texture. His nails, meticulously lacquered an icy blue, were a vibrant contrast to the fields of black and white. He felt a warm sensation in his chest, as if the plush was radiating all the happiness of his childhood. He smiled involuntarily.

He quickly snapped out of it, realizing what he was doing—in a public setting, no less. He pulled back his hand, feeling ashamed and embarrassed. He hoped no one had seen him act so foolishly. He glanced around nervously, hoping there would be no eyes to avoid contact with.

He and Naruto had stayed relatively together as they wondered about the store. He was standing nearby, at the very end of the aisle, looking at some of the weirder plushies. Naruto seemed oblivious to Haku's behavior, too fascinated by a stuffed brain with a mustache and monocle. Haku decided it was best to leave the shop as soon as possible, before any more absurd urges surfaced.

Walking to his most important person in the world, Haku cleared his throat and said, "Hey, Naruto... I'm going to wait for you outside. I need some fresh air."

Naruto turned around, disturbed toy dangling between his fingers. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah!" He said it with more enthusiasm than he intended. "Umm, just not a fan of the air in here. Take as much time as you want." He waved and walked out of the shop quickly, leaving behind the plush that had captured his heart.

Naruto watched him go with a smirk on his face. He had seen everything that Haku had done in the shop, including his reaction to the penguin plush. He had noticed how Haku's eyes had lit up when he saw it, how he had touched it gently with his fingers, and how he had smiled softly with delight.

Naruto thought it was adorable and endearing how Haku liked such simple things so much. He also felt sorry for him, knowing how hard his life had been. Even after breaking out of the chains of his old life, their weight still tried to tug him down, back into that depressive mire. He wanted to do something nice for him, something that would make him happy. This would be true even if they weren't dating; Haku deserved every little bit of happiness he got.

He was going to buy the penguin for Haku as a surprise gift. He deserved it more than anyone. The plush was snagged from the shelf and taken to the cashier.

As it turned out, the guy behind the counter was not just the cashier—he was one of the two owners of the place. At least, according to the picture of him and the woman cutting the red tie. He was an odd, weathered man, gray hair balding, with half of his front teeth missing. He was a young man at heart, his excited smile and mannerisms belying his advanced age.

When he saw Naruto, his magazine was forgotten on the counter, and he jumped up from his chair with genuine joy. "Find something to peak 'ur fancy!"

"Yeah, I found a good gift." Naruto placed the penguin, half as big as his torso, on the counter. He also slid a wad of bills next to it, the price shown on the tassel hanging off the plushie's foot.

"You got a kid?" He asked, checking the money before tossing it into a nearby lockbox. "This stuff's all the rage with the little ones nowadays." He snipped the price tag off the foot.

Naruto waved his hands. "Gosh, no, no kids! I'm actually getting it as a gift for the guy who just left. He was trying to be sneaky about it, but I caught him admiring it," he laughed.

Mid-bagging, he stopped. "Wait, what? That pretty little thing that just waltzed by was a dude!" The shopkeeper started cackling, full and hearty ones. "Well, holy shit! Here, I thought I had seen it all! Hahaha!"

Naruto laughed the reaction off. He was used to this sort of thing. However, the strange seriousness that took over the owner was a jarring switch-up. He adjusted his circular glasses. He had an almost accusatory look on his face now. "Hey, you not a cradle robber now, are 'ya?"

Naruto was thick-skinned; he didn't offend easily. That, however, was pushing his tolerance. "Wha—absolutely not! He's like, three years older than me!" The nerve of some people!

Whether it was because the man realized his mistake or if he believed him and was only sorry after the fact, his tone changed quickly. "Alright, alright, I trust 'ya; just had to be sure. I've been at this business for a few decades, seen all types of folk, and in my experience, guys who are that pretty tend to be young."

Stuffed in an oversized bag, the plushie was now Naruto's. He handed it off, his face now soft. "Sorry 'bout that, hope you can forgive an old fool for jumping to conclusions."

Naruto had always been forgiving. One look at the old man's falling face, and whatever offense he had evaporated. "Nah, we're good, pops. But, jeez, just try not to be so forward in the future." He grabbed the bag and said his goodbyes.

The owner called out to him as he exited through the door: "You two have a good one now!"

There was a lady at the front of the shop, whom he assumed was the wife who had also been in the picture. She was sweeping away random debris and litter from the entrance when Naruto approached her.

"Excuse me, I hate to bother you, but I'm looking for someone. Long, black hair in a ponytail, petite, cute face..." He struggled to find good descriptors. He had never actually thought of how he would describe Haku to somebody before.

Her face was wide and her hair long, dressed in an apron with the store logo stitched into the front. Naruto couldn't help but critique it as he laid eyes on her outfit. The threading was botched in several places around the hems, and it looked like it was made of a softer material not suited for manual labor. Even the stitching pattern seemed a bit too shaky for his taste.

"Yes," she replied, but she had this weird look on her face. "He asked if they had cleaned up the fountain recently and then headed off towards it."

"Okay, thanks!" There was a pause, and neither moved. As the awkward silence stretched out, the jowls on her face became hardened with a grim expression. After five seconds, Naruto broke. "Something wrong, lady?"

"Why is something like you with him?" She bluntly stated.

His head tilted, almost daring her. "Pardon?"

She pointed the pommel of the broom at him. "I've been in the presence of the tailed demons before; their chakra makes my hair stand on end, and you have been touched by them. I can feel it. That boy is sweet and caring, but you…you are something much darker."

Naruto was biting back a sneer. Instead of engaging in this, he spun on his heel towards the fountain at the center of the village. "Well, you got something right, crazy old bat. Haku is purer than snow—a much better person than I'll ever be."

She lobbed another insult, but he ignored her. He wasn't about to start arguing with some random old lady in the middle of the street, no matter how right she may have been. He had more important things to do today.

In the heart of the Village Hidden in the Mist, nestled near the Mizukage's office, stands a majestic fountain. Its large circular basin, carved with intricate designs of waves and sea creatures, reflects the village's deep connection to the ocean. At the center of the basin, a towering pillar supports a statue of the First Mizukage, the village's founder. His mighty sword raised high, he symbolizes the village's strength and resilience. From the tip of his blade, a jet of water shoots skyward, creating a misty spray that envelops the statue and the surrounding area.

The water then cascades back into the basin, flowing through a series of channels and pipes that connect to different parts of the village. The fountain serves as a vital source of freshwater for the villagers, as well as a place for training and relaxation.

On a nice fall day like this, villagers gather at the fountain to cool off and socialize. Children are laughing and playing in the water while the adults chat and catch up on the latest news. Genin are training nearby, as they often do, in the gentle mist. The fountain is a beloved landmark here, a symbol of the village's history, its culture, and its people.

He found him sitting on a bench near a fountain, enjoying the breeze and the sound of running water. Haku looked calm and peaceful, but Naruto could sense a hint of sadness on his face, the slightest touch of regret etched into his brown eyes.

He approached him with a smile, avoiding a couple of kids playing tag, and called out, "Hey, Haku. I'm done shopping. Ready to go?"

Haku looked up, noticing the paper bag in his hand. A big one at that. "Already? I said you can take however long you need."

He snorted. "When you find the right thing, you find the right thing." Naruto sat next to him. "Speaking of which, I have something for you."

Haku tilted his head. "What? I thought you were looking for something for your team."

"Meh, couldn't find anything—though I was tempted to grab Sauke a book on 'The Importance of Humility' hahah!" Naruto handed the bag over to Haku. "Here, for you, my sweet!"

Haku took the bag and opened it. He gasped as he saw what was inside: the penguin plush that he had seen in the shop. He couldn't believe it. He felt a surge of emotion as he recognized the plush that had made him feel so happy.

He looked at Naruto with wide eyes. "Naruto… you…?"

Naruto nodded and grinned. "Yeah, I did. I saw how much you liked it in the shop. I thought you deserved to have it; a gift from me to you."

At that moment, Haku was overcome with jubilation, but it wasn't just the plush—it was the fact Naruto had bought it for him that turned this otherwise simple gift into a symbolic gesture of love. Haku was on his feet in an instant, bag forgotten on the ground, plushie in his hands. The inside was stuffed with something that felt like a mix of sand and marshmallows—pliable, fluid yet solid, soft yet not vapid fluff. He nuzzled into the penguin's belly, almost giddy at the silky feeling brushing his cheeks.

"I think I'll name you…Little Naru! It fits perfectly!" He hugged it to his chest, blushing with excitement. Why had he been so worried? He mentally kicked himself. With Naruto at his side, the world was nothing like his childhood.

Naruto's smile caused soreness in his whiskered cheeks. "I swear, I think I just bought my own competition." He faked pouting.

Haku laughed. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that. As soft as this cutie is, I'm willing to bet sleeping on you is still a much better experience." Haku sat back down, hip-to-hip, with Naruto, his new favorite toy clutched in his lap like a precious child.

For a while, the two just sat there, snuggling up to each other. This was the difference between intimacy in the movies and real life. True intimacy is the ability to be content with the one you love without the need for smothering words to distract from the silence. The two leaned on each other, Haku absorbed in his new friend, and Naruto simply enjoyed Haku's giddiness—that was all they needed.

Naruto wished this little moment could last a little longer, but pain killed that hope—a tight pressure against his head and eyes. It was a throbbing gong, a constricting tightness, and it spread across his head in waves like powered glass shredding through his veins. He hunched over suddenly, pinching the bridge of his nose, though he couldn't say why.

Haku saw this shift in demeanor and leaned in, placing a gentle hand on his back, worriedly upstaging his earlier happiness. "Hey, hey, is everything alright?"

Naruto groaned with a thin breath. "Just…another headache. Should pass…soon."

Haku took stock of their surroundings. A group of kids were playing, couples were walking around the fountain, genin were doing exercises. Everywhere he looked, people were talking, having fun; no one was paying attention to them.

He gently guided Naruto by the cheek. "C'mon, I got you." A second later, Naruto was lying on Haku's lap, legs laying straight out on the bench, the penguin acting as a nice cushion. It really was nice.

A glow of chakra enveloped Haku's hand. He was well versed in medical ninjutsu, and though he wasn't as naturally inclined to it as Sakura, he was still far above the average ninja medic. In truth, that was the role he felt most at home with—to save lives, to help and heal, and to bring comfort—but destiny had a thing for irony. No matter what he wished, the truth was that he was simply too powerful to be used as just another medic—such has been his life since before even meeting Naruto that fateful day in the forest.

Still, at least his skills had purpose; what's more, they were able to bring comfort to the person he loved most. He gently brushed some hair from his face before placing it on Naruto's forehead.

The relief was instant. It was a sensation like blood pooling in his head, but with it came unparalleled release. It was like something sharp and crystalline had gotten lodged behind his eyes, but Haku's cold yet soothing chakra flushed it away in an instant, allowing healing blood to flow as normal. He sighed, resting further into Haku's lap, facing his stomach, his eyes reflexively fluttering even closed.

"I got you," Haku whispered, his voice obscured from intruding listeners by the running water.

"I got you."

(End of Chapter One)

Author's Notes: So, funny enough, I hadn't planned on doing another chapter so soon, but, during the week, I kept getting this scene stuck in my head—just Naruto and Haku walking around and being cute together, and it just would not leave me alone. So, instead of working on something else, I went ahead and wrote this to get it out of my system, and, since I was at it, I sprinkled in some setup for future chapters for if I decide to continue this.

So, technically, my question from the last chapter still stands: what are your thoughts so far?