HAKU
Despite the restrictions placed on him, Haku had been planning for the past three days to severely attack a well-established citizen and retired shinobi of Konoha.
Since the initial warning alert from Naruto's Finjutsu security during their lunch after the first test of the Chnin exam, the beautiful former hunter-nin has been playing possum throughout his day, acting as gentle bait to draw out the would-be thief.
Haku's strategy was simple, carry Kubikiribch in the open and practice with the great executioner's blade before sealing it in a flashy orange and blue sealing scroll.
Haku will then visit Iruka-san in the hospital and end his day by picking herbs in the vast fields and forests of Konoha before mixing medicine alone in the Umino residence.
On the fourth day of subtly surveilling his surroundings for the thief, Haku is pleasantly surprised to find Kakashi-san waiting by Iruka-san's front door. Leaning heavily against the house wall is an exhausted red-haired girl with glasses.
While a lovely and vibrant color, the girl's hair is haggard, her shoulders sag, and she looks like she hasn't slept in days.
It all makes sense when Kakashi explains about the girl's time with the Torture and Interrogation department, but what's deeply shocking about her emigration to Konoha, is her relation to Naruto-kun.
"Pleasure to meet you," Karin states with an exhausted bow. "I'm Uzumaki Karin."
Haku bows as well, returning the greeting and introducing himself before inviting them in and taking a seat at the dining table. While Haku prepares an herbal remedy to help Karin with the dehydration, malnutrition, and accumulated anxiety, Kakashi explains how this state of affairs came to happen.
As Naruto is the only person Karin-chan knows and feels safe with, she naturally wanted to stay with her cousin, and it doesn't surprise Haku one bit Naruto offered Karin a home.
Haku serves them both as Kakashi-san further explains to them, "as I told you, Haku-kun, this village is not without its black-ops.
I still believe they wouldn't attempt to recruit you until you've established your allegiance to Konoha to their satisfaction, but Karin, with your unique chakra, they might make an exception. So, be careful," he warns her.
Rubbing her throbbing temple, Karin nods lazily, informing them, "I have no intention of joining any shadow organizations. I'm going to help Naruto restart our clan in Konoha and that's it."
Kakashi simply nods before stating, "you may want to look into the requirements.
From my understanding, Uzushio and Konoha were close allies, much like Suna and Konoha are allies, only closer, but I don't know if Uzumaki can simply apply for clan status in the same way other clans already residing within Konoha can.
For example, a clan from Suna wouldn't simply be able to restart their clan in Konoha, but, Suna is still around. It'll be tricky, to say the least."
"Since Naruto-kun is a member of this village," Haku points out before asking, "can you say if it'll be easier or harder for him to establish his clan in Konoha?"
"Will you be assisting the Uzumaki," Kakashi first asks Haku, who answers, "of course. I am Naruto's tool to bring about the world he wishes."
"The mistake is a magnificent weapon like Kubikiribch being in the hands of children," Dny-san retorts. "Hand it over and I promise not to kill you."
"Not only is it not mine to give," Haku simply begins, "but you are far too weak to wield it. It would wither under your ownership."
"I tried to be civil about this," Dny-san claims with an aggravated huff. "I even offered that demon ryo, but I'm out of time and you're in the way.
If you don't hand it over now, your death will be on that boy's conscious," Dny-san declares, however, before he can even take a step, a completely silent long sword effortlessly moves from behind Dny-san's and around the man's neck in nearly an instant.
The man suddenly behind Dny-san is unrecognizable to the unsuspecting eye; wearing a black hospital face mask, his black hair is longer, slick back and under a monk's hat, larger eyebrows over pale-blue eyes and wearing a traveling monk's disguise with many beads around his neck, but Haku saw through it all in an instant.
By the man's height, his shoulder to hip ratio, skin tone, and even fingernails, Haku can recognize the Demon of Hidden Mist, Momochi Zabuza anywhere.
"Causing trouble, Haku," Zabuza casually asks in his deep voice. Zabuza's large hand grips Dny's shoulder and squeezes painfully hard until Dny drops his swords. "You know that's always been my job."
"Wh-wh-who are you," Dny-san asks before Haku sends two high-velocity senbons into the man's throat, temporarily paralyzing him and knocking him unconscious.
"Still haven't crossed that line, I see," Zabuza claims. "Not that there's any opportunity too in such a boring country."
"I would prefer to question him, Zabuza-sama," Haku claims, stepping up to the unconscious body on the grass. "He mentioned being out of time and I'd like to know what that meant."
"He's probably referring to the group I traveled with," Zabuza tells his long-time companion. Kicking the body on the floor, Zabuza informs Haku, "apparently this trash reached out to a friend of his; told him he was in possession of Kubikiribch and wanted to sell.
Mei heard about it through little Chjr and considering the war she's waging against Karatachi, she thought having another of the seven swords in her forces would give her an extra boost."
"Mei-san is here," Haku repeats with clear surprise in his lovely voice.
"Along with three from Kumo," Zabuza adds. "They're around your age, maybe older. Except for the busty blond, the other two are fodder; Chnin, at best."
"And they're all here for Kubikiribch," a concerned Haku realizes aloud. Recalling the open challenge between Naruto and Zabuza, Haku cautiously asks his seemingly recovered special person, "should Naruto-kun be worried?" However, what he meant to ask is, 'should I be worried?'
Understanding the question in Haku's heart, the Demon of Hidden Mist smiles sinisterly before he asks, "I'm here, aren't I? Of course he should."
This chapter was incredibly difficult to write; More than any other chapter I've ever written. Part of it was because I felt VERY rusty when I returned to writing, but on top of that, I just couldn't get the technical aspect of what I wanted with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
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