Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Positives and Negatives

Positive numbers have a value greater than zero. While negative numbers are less than zero. Zero is the perfect middle ground where it is neither positive nor negative. Positive and negative numbers have their own rules. Zero is the only number that's spared.

5 + 4 = 9

(-12) + (-5) = -17

(-10) + 5 = -5

20 + (-7) = 13

6 – (-7) = 13

(-8) – (-8) = 0

0 + 9 = 9

0 – 9 = -9

It was dark and a sea breeze set in by the time Naruto joined me. His face was twisted in a discontented scowl as he entered the clearing with slumped shoulders and his hands jammed in his pockets. Other than blinking at him in the dark, I didn't move. Legs crossed in front of me with my hands relaxed on my knees, I kept my breathing even; counting in for seven and out for five.

Naruto scuffed the ground with the toe of his sandal. He stared at his feet before looking up at the branches over our heads. "I cleaned up like you wanted", He said; voice gruff as he finally looked at me.

In for seven. I closed my eyes. Out for five. I waited. There had to be more, right? I mean, why would I respond to something that shouldn't involve me? It wasn't my kitchen floor he threw up on. It wasn't my food he wasted. There was no reason for me to say thanks for something that should've been avoided. In for seven. My shoulders rose and my chakra hummed.

"Heroes are real! And I'm going to prove it!" Naruto yelled. His voice bounced off the surrounding trees and startled the birds trying to nest for the night.

Out for five. My shoulders fell as I opened my eyes. Naruto had one trembling fist near his face as his knees quaked with pent-up energy. Even in the dark, I could see determination gleaming in his eyes. How much of that was the Kyuubi, I wondered.

"Good for you", I said in my best-bored voice. I was many things, but a cheerleader wasn't one of them.

Breathing deeply, I probed at my chakra. How does one probe their chakra anyway? Chakra was a spiritual force, but it took physical discipline and mental control to manipulate it… Well, there's a new thought that would keep me awake at night.

Still, my chakra felt warm as it circulated throughout my body. It was a force I've been conscious of since unlocking it at the academy. At first, it tingled as if I had a thousand ants crawling under my skin. But now it was like white noise. I could pay attention to it or tune it out as needed. It was such a comfort. Like finding a friendly face. And now, as I focused on it, I… how much did I have?

Meditation, training, self-care… nutrition. All those things were supposedly capable of maintaining and boosting healthy chakra systems and their development. I had gotten a late start compared to some of my peers. But Shibi made sure I caught up. Meditation was kind of a Sunday morning tradition in his household. One I used to despise because it always ended with either him or Shino yanking me from my bed as soon as the sun started to rise.

Now, as I sat in this forest, exploring my chakra like I was an academy student all over again, it felt… more. As if it grew from a mist to a fog. From a trickle to a stream. Was this why I deflected that kunai knife? The answer wouldn't tell me how I'd done it. But maybe testing this question would lead to the results I wanted.

"And you're going to help me!" Naruto declared.

My eyes snapped open. Naruto hadn't moved from his spot. But now he stood akimbo with his shoulders back and jaw set. "No", was my immediate response. Why would I do that? Why would I want to do that?

Naruto wasn't deterred. "But you promised!"

"When?" I lost my even breathing.

"You said if I threw stuff at you, you'd help".

My left eye twitched. Those were my words but paraphrased and incorrectly applied. "With tree walking", I corrected lowly. Never once did I promise to challenge ideologies with the blond.

"But… But…" Naruto started to disagree. And then he was off; talking about Inari and his dead step-father. He waved and gestured with his arms as he told their story. Inari believed in the man. Man stood up to Gato. Gato is a monster. Blah. Blah. Blah.

As Naruto went on and on, I gave up on meditation. Unfolding my legs, I climbed to my feet and impatiently waited for Naruto to finish his tale of woe. Around us the night air swirled through the forest; chilling exposed skin.

"And now Inari doesn't believe in heroes. So, we got to prove him wrong!" Very passionate in this stance, Naruto sounded almost desperate as his eyes bore into me.

Unlike others Naruto would meet, he wouldn't have an easy time swaying me. "The kid's not wrong. Heroes don't exist. All there is are people with agendas". The light in Naruto's eyes dimmed ever so slightly. "Get on the winning side and those people get to call themselves heroes. But that doesn't mean they are one".

Naruto's upper lip curled back; almost growling. "We're ninja. Ninjas help people. And that's what heroes do!"

Placing one hand on my hip, I leaned most of my weight onto my left leg. "Ninjas kill people. We lie and deceive. Sometimes we steal things. Other times we trespass into places we're not welcome. Ninjas do anything their mission dictates. What about that is heroic?"

Naruto's body tremored; anger, maybe disappointment, bubbling under his skin. It doesn't feel good to have your delusions challenged by ugly truths. Most people don't accept them and instead double down on their own beliefs and reject, ignore, or slander anything that doesn't align with their ideals. Naruto wasn't really the type to slander others. So, I stood and waited for the rejection. Or maybe he'd ignore everything I said and continue on about heroism. Honestly, I was hoping for the first option. At least that way I might actually make some progress tonight in figuring out my chakra.

Except, the next thing Naruto said had my thoughts screeching to a halt. "But you are a hero!"

My muscles tensed and my eyes blinked owlishly. "I'm a what?"

"A hero!" Naruto repeated; his voice echoing off the trees that surrounded us. "You were the only one that was able to help Kakashi-Sensi fight that Zabuza guy".

Once my brain started operating again, I snorted as my hand fell from my hip. "Yeah, but only to guarantee my own survival". And only after it became abundantly clear that team seven wasn't going to run away when told.

"And… And Anzu said you're a hero". Heat rushed to my face as Naruto pointed an accusing finger in my direction. Anzu, why? I complained in my head. Why would she say something so embarrassing and uselessly sentimental? "She said that you're her hero. You're a ninja even though you don't want to be. You made yourself stronger for her sake. You came back for her when you didn't have to!"

The beginnings of a headache throbbed behind my skull. Raising a hand to my face, I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Naruto", I groaned in my most annoyed tone. "You're not describing a hero. What you are describing is family". Besides, Naruto wasn't aware of the full story. Sure, I love Anzu. She was the best thing about this version of myself. I'd have found a way to her out of her old life eventually; ninja or not. But becoming a ninja for Anzu… was an obligation. That was settling a debt. "I wouldn't do that for anyone else". After that statement, it was a struggle not to think about Shino. It was a thought I quickly smothered. Shino didn't need me. I reminded myself. He had a whole clan. Anzu only had me.

"What about me?" Naruto challenged; flapping his closed fists like they were wings.

Again, I was thrown for a loop. What about him?

"You let me hang out at your apartment whenever I want. You share your food with me. And you'll eat ramen with me".

Sighing, I lowered my hand. Yeah, I do. But only when he's paying.

"You don't call me names or tell me to get lost", Naruto kept going. And… what he was saying started to make sense. "Sure, you messed with me all the time in the academy. But after Iruka-Sensei made you sit with Sasuke and me, you never ignored me like everyone else!" Naruto sounded so hopeful as his emotions forced him to take a step closer in my direction.

"Naruto" I sighed. Almost wishing I didn't have to say it. But this was an important realization too. "Being a hero and 'not being an asshole' is not the same thing". I mean… how far would Naruto get in life if he truly believed everyone who wasn't a jerk to him had good intentions. Hadn't he learned anything from his experiences with Mizuki?

Naruto stilled as he stared at me for a long hard moment. When he was done, something sparked in his eyes. A new determination. "I'm gonna prove it to you too!" He declared. "Just wait, Rion! I'm gonna make you believe in heroes too!"

My left eye started to twitch. Had Naruto listened to anything that came out of my mouth? Had he considered any of my shared thoughts? "Looking forward to it", I said in a sardonic drawl. At this point, I'd play along if it meant Naruto would let the subject drop.

Satisfied, and apparently immune to sarcasm, Naruto nodded. "Alright! Now, help me with tree walking stuff". I sighed again.

Naruto was asleep. Sprawled out on the forest floor in sweat-soaked clothes and a kunai still gripped in his hand, Naruto was asleep. Standing over him, I thought about waking him and making the trek back to Tazuna's house. Naruto had made it to the top of his tree. He earned a rest in his bedroll rather than sleeping rough. But… I didn't want to. Let him wake up with a sore back and a cold. He deserved it after making me listen to all that hero crap.

However, I also didn't leave him in the forest on his own. With him asleep, I could go back to meditating. And there was something I wanted to confirm. So, I climbed a tree. One with branches thick enough to sit on. I breathed in for seven and out for five. And I waited.

I waited until the sun rose. By then the forest had already started to stir. With Naruto and I being so still, the birds felt safe to come out. They hopped and fluttered all around us in the search of breakfast. Some even decided Naruto made a comfortable landing spot as they curiously turned their heads as they stared at the blond. Trying to figure out what this strange creature was.

Naruto snored. I waited. And waited. My chakra ebbed and flowed as I directed. It seeped out of my skin when asked and returned when called. It had taken all night, but I think I have the mechanics down. The 'why' still eludes me having never heard of any technique like this before. But it was still something.

I waited and then… Good morning, Haku.

It couldn't be anyone else; long black hair, the settings and circumstances, and the expression of deep pain and anger once his eyes found Naruto. So, Zabuza really was dead then. Probably lost in grief, it appeared that I remained undetected as Haku's face twisted in grim determination. He stalked forward in steps that were limited by the type of clothes he wore. As he got closer to Naruto, I slipped a finger into my kunai holster and hooked it through the circle part of one's handle. Withdrawing it, I was ready.

When Haku crouched with his lips pressed together and his hand reaching for the kunai resting in Naruto's hand, I released mine. Haku sprang back as my kunai embedded itself in the ground where Haku had been a few seconds later. With sharp acumen, Haku's eyes immediately found my tree. He was staring at me before I was able to fully rise to my feet.

"I'd appreciate it", I called down; standing on the branch. "If you left my sleeping teammate alone. He's kind of annoying when awake".

Haku's brows wrinkled in a calculating manner as recognition filled his face. Oh, he knew me. Meaning, he had been at that fight with Zabuza. But then… Why hadn't he intervened? I blinked and in the next second, Haku's face smoothed. Once again, it was the perfect disguise to hide who he really was. "He'll catch a cold if he sleeps out here", Haku said; referencing the oblivious blond still snoozing away.

"Fingers crossed", I said; finding another Kunai to twirl around. Haku stared up at me, his face composed into the believable expression of a confused civilian. Only his hands gave him away. Balled into fists as they were and held tight to his body. "Why are you here, Haku?" I asked. Immediately, Haku let his façade fall as he broadened his stance and lowered his center of gravity. "If we really did kill Zabuza, why stick around?"

"You know me?" Haku said in a deeper voice. It sounded like a statement, but the context pointed in the direction of a question.

"Ninja", I answered. "We have to know threats". If Haku really pressed I could make something up about bingo books. Who's to say Haku hadn't done something to be seen or recognized as Zabuza's tool? Whose to say the Hidden Leaf didn't have enough intel to put him into one of our bingo books? However, it would be better if I didn't have to play that card. Haku wasn't from Konoha, after all. Sharing my status as a T&I grunt to make Haku believe me wouldn't be worth the potential consequences.

"You were there that day", I kept going; paying more attention to Haku's body language than his face. "When Zabuza died. Why didn't you step in? Maybe you could have saved him". Haku resembled a mouse trap ready to be sprung. Why? Because I'm an asshole. Should I stop? Probably. "Then again, there's not a whole lot someone can do against electrocution".

Snapping, Haku used chakra to leap into the air; hurtling like a cannonball in my direction. I barely had time to raise my kunai knife before metal clanged against metal. Haku came into focus. Now on the same tree branch as myself, he held a kunai close to his face; poised and ready to be impaled into my chest. The only thing stopping it was my own blade. Was this Naruto's kunai? I wondered as Haku glared and I tried to prevent my knees from trembling. Or did Haku have weapons on his person? He wasn't really dressed for weapons… I guess I'll find out.

"Hmm. So, he is dead", I confirmed. "Good to know. And now you are alone? Or are you still working for Gato?"

Haku didn't answer. I wasn't expecting one. Instead, Haku kept his kunai engaged with mine so I was limited as he dropped, kunai holding arm raised, and swept my legs. Stumbling backward, I used my momentum to hook my knees around the tree branch and attempt to swing around to the other side. Though the branch was a little too thick for me to make a whole rotation. Unfortunately, that left me open.

When I was past the underside of the branch, Haku's shin rammed into my ribs and I was flung into the tree trunk. Air was forcefully knocked from my lungs as I fell a few inches before finding my feet and using chakra to stick me to a different branch. A lower branch.

"You are too weak to be mocking others", Haku glowered down at me; spinning the kunai in his hand until he held it in an offensive position.

"On the contrary", I started; chest straining to reclaim its stolen air. "Mocking others is the trademark of the weak". Haku's nostrils flared as I briefly glanced down at the forest floor. Naruto was still dead to the world. I needed to be careful. Haku was right. Compared to him, I was weak. And if he caught me in his mirror jutsu, I'd die. My chances revolved around two possibilities:

Haku wasn't carrying any senbon with him in that pink kimono he was wearing.

The mirror Jutsu wasn't as useful, or maybe even impossible, when off the ground.

Meaning, I had to stay in the trees for the second and pray for the first. Haku moved first. I flung my kunai at his charging form before rapidly forming hand signs. Tiger. Boar. Ox. Dog. Snake. Haku deflected my kunai with his own as if it were child's play. His trajectory never changed. But right as he reached impact, there was a puff of smoke and all he made contact with was a misplaced chunk of tree.

"Do you really want to do this?" I called from a different branch of a different tree. As the smoke cleared, Haku stood tall and in my direction. "Everything I know about you hints at a dislike for fighting".

I blinked and Haku flickered out of existence. This time… I didn't have any time. I couldn't form hand signs. I couldn't jump. I couldn't move. Shoved against the tree trunk, Haku's kunai dug into my right shoulder. Blood seeped out and stained my shirt, Haku placed his feet so one was keeping my feet apart while the other caged me in. His free forearm, the one not responsible for the kunai injury, pressed harshly against my collarbone until my head smacked into the tree trunk. Effectively, I was pinned.

Forcing myself to exhale through my nose, I tried not to get distracted by the building burning and aching feeling in my shoulder. Remember Anko's favorite lesson, I told myself. Pain (in most dosages) can only be used against you if you fear it. Breathing a little steadier, I stared Haku in the eyes as he claimed, "You left me no choice".

And that would be the grief talking. Chakra running under my skin like a rushing river, I pushed. All that practice, thinking, and tinkering paid off. As Chakra was expelled from my person as one mass, Haku was forced to retreat. He took his kunai with him; yanking it from my shoulder. Again, making me think it was the only weapon he had on him. Good news… I suppose.

Once free, my left hand flew up to press against the wound on my shoulder. Haku was on the far side of the branch and I pulled my chakra back. Half of it returned to me. Half of it dispersed. Damn it! That was more chakra than I was hoping to use. If I make it out of here, I'm going to have to work on increasing my reserves if I want to make this new chakra trick a part of my repertoire. "What were we supposed to do?" I asked between breaths. But fast enough that Haku couldn't attack before I finished. "Let Zabuza kill us?"

In dreaded acceptance, or maybe it was resignment, Haku readied the kunai again; my blood dripping off the blade. He also hiked up his kimono a bit, giving himself more range of movement. "Shinobi kill. Shinobi die", he spoke darkly. "That is our purpose".

Just like Ibiki taught me, I thought as I planned my next words. Read his cues. Find his tells. However, Haku moved again before I could say anything else. Charging forward, he threw his kunai at me. Inhaling, I swiped my good arm through the air in front of me. My chakra extended from my person and met the incoming kunai before it could make contact; sending it somewhere else into the forest. With luck, it wouldn't hit the still sleeping Naruto.

Haku was too fast. I may have deflected the kunai, but there was nothing I could do to block him. A roundhouse kick knocked me out of the tree. Curling into a ball, I tried to protect my shoulder as I bounced off one tree trunk and landed on another branch. This one was lower. Much lower and directly over Naruto.

"It sucks losing your precious people", I yelled as Haku charged again. Bending my knees and shakily raising my hands to be ready, I kept going. "If you let me try, I bet I help you find more". Haku was upon me. His blows were precise as he jabbed at my liver and kidneys. At my ribs and nose. There was a loud crack. Or at least it was to my ears as there was a swelling pain, I tasted blood, and suddenly it felt impossible to breathe unless I had my mouth open. "The people of this land", I rushed to say before it became too difficult to talk. As such; blood splattered out of my mouth with each word. It was flowing so fast from my broken nose that it was pretty much coating my lips and tongue. "If you ruled over them instead of Gato, wouldn't that make them precious?"

Another blow to my ribs, this one deployed by a well-aimed kick sent me sailing. Head first and at a point and distance where I couldn't save myself, my bruised and worn body crashed into the floor. Once. Maybe twice, my body rolled. Each time the pain in my nose reignited when it was forced to press against the ground. Great, I thought when I finally stilled; Naruto was only a few feet away. Time for the ice mirrors.

Haku flickered into existence; standing over me with his feet uncomfortable close to my head. I blinked up at him as I spat out blood and my chest heaved. "Help us get rid of Gato". It was a strain to keep talking. But I made myself do it. Half wishing my words would work. Half wishing Naruto would finally wake up. Seriously! What kind of Ninja would sleep through a fight… that wasn't a Nara? "Help this land rebuild. And live with people whose purpose isn't to kill or die".

Haku blinked. It was completely quiet all around us. We'd been too violent, too loud for the birds to stay. The only sounds to be heard were my labored breathing and Naruto's light snoring. "There was only one person that mattered to me", Haku said. He sounded wistful. As if he was speaking more to himself than to me. "It was my purpose to protect and serve him. My life has no meaning without Zabuza".

Spitting out more blood, I pushed. "Protect and serve the Land of Waves". I mean, it was perfect really. There was even enough water around for his ice jutsu. "Let that be your purpose. And you won't have to kill anymore unless you choose to".

Haku moved. I flinched and fought the urge to close my eyes. No sense in staring death in the face. But all Haku did was adjust his kimono until it settled around his legs like he had worn it before he used me as a punching bag. Slowly, as if not believing he was doing this, Haku neatly smoothed his clothes as he knelt next to me. With a slightly shaking hand, he applied pressure to my stab wound.

Gasping at the influx of pain, I nearly missed the lone tear that trickled down Haku's cheek. "What would Zabuza say about this?" He asked himself.

"Weapons don't disappear after their users die", I wheezed out. "I'm sure Zabuza knew that".

Haku closed his eyes as he applied more pressure. Groaning at the pain, I tried not to fidget too much. It could be worse, I told myself. But, at the moment, that was kind of hard to believe. There was a loud yawn from my other side. When Haku opened his eyes, all signs of tears were gone. "Ahhhh… W-w-what?!" Naruto panicked as he came into consciousness. "Rion!" he yelled as he jolted into a sitting position. "What happened? Who are you?" He demanded to know.

"Your friend is inured", Haku informed him. Not sounding the least bit responsible in the slightest. "Will you help me get her back to your lodgings so she can heal?"

Naruto was on his feet in an instant. Shifting his weight anxiously, Naruto gripped my uninjured arm and helped haul me up into a standing position. "What happened?" Naruto asked again as I leaned most of my weight on Haku as he helped me hobble out of the forest.

Should I be putting this much trust in someone who just beat me to a pulp? No, defiantly not. But I don't think I have a choice. I tried to smile at Naruto; however, all I managed was a bloody grimace. "Training accident?"

Naruto led the way. Though he kept looking back and scurrying closer to Haku and me whenever he got too far ahead; his blue eyes wide with concern. "How did you get stabbed by training?" he asked; gesturing to the stain on my torn shirt.

"I was holding a kunai and accidentally stabbed myself when I fell".

Scrunching his face in disbelief, Naruto asked another question. "How did you break your nose?"

My eyebrow twitched as Haku wisely kept his mouth closed. "I ran into a tree trunk".

"That's a load of bull!" Naruto yelled.

"Perhaps this can wait until after we get your friend help", Haku gently interjected.

Taking in Haku's long black hair, his pink kimono, and kind smile, Naruto blushed. "Uh…" He stammered. "Y-yeah. Thanks for helping, I guess". Naruto scratched the side of his head. Probably trying to figure out where Haku came from and why he hadn't woken up. "It's lucky you were here, lady".

"Naruto, this is Haku", I introduced as we continued forward as a group. "Haku is a boy". Naruto's jaw dropped and only a confirming head nod from Haku kept him from not believing me.

When we made it back to Tazuna's house there was a very awkward ordeal of explaining who Haku was and why I was such a mess. If it wasn't for Haku offering his help and me promising he was… no longer a threat, I'm not sure Kakashi would've let him in. Still, as I sat at Tazuna's table with Sakura treating my injuries, Kakashi and Sasuke kept their eyes locked on Haku without bothering to hide their suspicion.

Luckily, Haku performed wonderfully. He told them everything. From his history with Zabuza, his messed up philosophies involving his existence to what he wanted to do next. "If you'll let me, I would like to help you defeat Gato and stay here to serve the Land of Waves".

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Haku. While Kakashi decided to narrow his eye at me. Sakura kept looking around at everyone in the room as if waiting to form an opinion. Only Naruto seemed excited by the prospect of a new ally. However, it wasn't until Tazuna threw his head back and laughed with great relief that a decision was made. "Glad to have you", he said as he clapped Haku on his shoulder. "The more the merrier to get rid of that guy". Standing up, Tazuna took Haku with him. "Come on, I'll show you the bridge and introduce you to the others. We'll need to find you different clothes. Can't go to a construction site dressed like that".

Still, suspicious Sasuke trailed after them. Still enthused by a new friend. Naruto followed. And then it was just Sakura, me, and Kakashi at the table. Wincing as Sakura tied the bandage around my shoulder too tight, I stared at Kakashi who was staring back at me without blinking. "I fell out of a tree like you wanted me to, Kakashi-Sensei".

Letting out an exasperated and long-suffering breath, Kakashi disagreed. "No, Rion. You really didn't".