White Snow

I will never understand the weather here in the Land of Water. Sometimes a torrential downpour of rain evolves into a light snowstorm, all the while, a thin mist surrounds the area. Since Haruka and his family grew up in this land, I suppose it's habitable, but I definitely wouldn't want to stay here forever. No wonder the Kiri shinobi are always so bleak and depressing.

As I ponder to myself about the weather patterns of the island nation, I see the town in the distance coming up. The night is falling and it would be better to find an Inn or place to park the carriage and feed the horse, who I recently named George. Why? Well, the old horse at the farmer's market when I was a kid was called George, so I decided to name this little guy after him.

As I lightly pull on the reigns to bring George to a complete stop, I look into the wagon of the cart and begin fiddling around with some of the items. I decide to place all of the scrolls, most of the food, and all of the valuables in my [Inventory] while leaving the pottery and clothing that my parents used to trade in the wagon in case the upcoming town guards search the carriage.

Rob had apparently thought ahead and had a creative way of giving me the jutsu scrolls she promised. In the context of the lore, these scrolls were the treasures of the Kaguya Clan that they hid away in the secret warehouse that my family raided from the nearby town. But despite this, I still had no time to learn the techniques inside them while rushing to find Haku.

Thankfully, my father wasn't a total idiot and had taught me a variety of low-level jutsu as well as basic Chakra Control so that I could protect myself from bandits and other vagabonds before I had awoken my memories, so I used the Transformation Jutsu on myself to appear as an older version of myself as I was reaching the checkpoint.

The guard there was a disgruntled middle-aged man with short brown hair and a beard that was half-way between a five o'clock shadow and a full beard, making him look particularly disheveled. He looked at me strangely as I rode up. Apparently surprised to see a new face around these small parts.

"Heya bud. Imma need your name and reason for visit'n" He spoke. His accent was a little country-esk, but I didn't mind. I decided to follow along to not raise suspicion.

"Here fer Sleep'n an Feed fer this girly" I said, putting on my most authentic southern accent I could achieve.

"Ight', that'll run ya 500 ryo" he said, easily buying my BS.

I reached into my pockets while selecting 1500 ryo from my [Inventory] to make it look like I had fetched it from my pocket. Giving it to him, he looked at it for a second before looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Ba yerself sommun ta drink. It be cold out here" I said. Sometimes a little bribery can go a long way, as his face lit up immediately and he waved me along without asking anything else. I'm pretty sure he should have asked me what I had in the cart or my destination, but due to the frigid cold and snowfall, along with the rapidly setting sun, he must have just been happy to close the gate for the night. As I made my way into the village's main street, I looked over to a stall selling warm Dango and alcohol. I stopped the carriage and made my way to the stall. After purchasing a dozen sticks and a kettle of warm tea, I made my way to my target.

There she was. Sitting at the end of a cold and dark alleyway, crouched down hugging her knees sat the girl who I would... wait a second! Girl! HAKU IS A GIRL!?!

For a brief moment, I stared in shock at the young lady before recomposing myself. 'No Rob said that she would change some things due to my wishes for the Otsutsuki to be dead and for the Uzumaki to be in Konoha. It's probably just a butterfly effect of that. Right? Haku wasn't always a girl was she?' I think to myself as I dismount once more. I figure I should just stay dismounted since I'm in the Village already.

Although Haku seemed to be thinking to herself and trying to rest, the sound of approaching footsteps snaps her out of her stupor. She instantly looks up and stares at me in the eyes.

In the Naruto world, there seems to be a theme surrounding a person's eyes. Everyone makes memes about the Uchiha and the different Dojutsu of the Naruto world, but even those without Dojutsu but who have suffered greatly are said to have a certain type of eyes. Gaara, Haku, Naruto before he met team 7, as well as others, were all at one point or another described as having the same 'eyes'. I never knew what they were talking about before, but now I do. The eyes of the girl in front of me remind me of the eyes of my mother's corpse after I woke up. Haku's eyes, although a dark brown as opposed to my mother's off-white, look like the eyes of a person who's dead.

I immediately undo my transformation with a *Poof* as I approach Haku. She stands and readies herself in a stance, but even I, someone who has never fought before, can see the holes in her defenses.

I sigh once to myself before extending my hand with the Dongo.

"Eat. I'll be needing you strong if you are to serve me" I say. While I'd rather have a more cordial and friendly relationship with Haku, I know that what she desperately wished for, more than anything else, was for someone to need her. So I chose my words carefully when I approached her.

Haku stares at me for a moment as her tears swell within her eyes. She silently takes the Dango sticks from my hands and looks at them for a brief moment. Her hair covering her eyes.

"Yes" She says meekly. She stares at the food for only a moment before she begins to eat it ravenously. I had held out 4 sticks in my hand, each with 6 pieces of Dango per stick, and I watched in pity and anger as she ravenously began to devour them.

'This world is cruel, even a young girl like this is starving on the streets due to the actions of her father, betraying her mother and daughter. I must take care of her well from now on because if I don't, I'm afraid she will break and never recover.' I think to myself. I return to my cart and grab the kettle of warm tea and a simple cup and bring it to her.

There, in the middle of a dark alley at twilight, a 7-year-old boy, stood, staring at a 7-year-old girl feast on cheap Dango and tea as though they were the only meal she had ever eaten.

...

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...

'This room is rather nice for what I paid for it' I thought. I had expected a cheap traveler's inn to not host such a high quality of living. I didn't expect that such a place would have a bath in the room, especially since this whole town seems to be in the feudal era. Then again, the elemental nations were named after the chakra nature most of their citizens possess.

'I guess water is plentiful in the Land of Water, especially since even civilians can use their meager amounts of chakra to fill tubs for bathing.' I think.

Haku is standing behind me with her hands in front of her in a servile posture as I scan the room. I am not sure where she got the idea to behave like that, but I guess when I asked her to be my servant, she thought I meant it literally.

"Haku" I say to her. She jumps slightly as I mention her name. "I want you to fill the tub and take a bath. I will take one after you"

"N-no sir, please! I will fill the tub but you should take your bath first, I insist. I will even... I will even wash your back for you!" She says. It is clear she is extremely nervous and probably wishes to impress me so that I won't abandon her.

"It's fine. I have something to do before my bath." I say looking at my [Inventory].

"Y-yes sir" She says as she leaves to close the door to the bathroom. I can feel her begin to use chakra, even though I cannot see it. It seems Rob wasn't kidding when she said I would become a sensor nin.

As I look through my [Inventory], I began taking out multiple things. A senzu bean for Haku's scars and minor injuries, a scroll with various ninjutsu and taijutsu techniques written on it, a child's kimono, and a few senbon that I purchased at a stall where Haku and I asked for directions to the inn.

After setting out everything I need, I walk up to the rather dull mirror in the corner. The Naruto world always amazed me. Most of the world is set as though they were in the middle of the 16th century in japan, though they use modern lighting, have refrigeration, and even have television, though it seems those are few and far between. As I approach the mirror, I take a good look at myself for the first time in my new body.

I'm around 122 cm (~4ft) tall, with long ash-blonde hair and white eyes. I'm a rather thin and lanky kid with no real muscle development, though I suppose with being in the body of a child, I can't exactly expect to be in peak physical condition.

My face is rather angular, with a little baby fat around my cheeks, but I can make out that I am a pretty good looking kid and will probably be quite handsome once I grow up.

As I am admiring myself, Haku seems to have finished bathing and is walking out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel, courtesy of the inn. I turn to her and gesture to the Girl's Kimono.

"That's for you. I can't have you wearing rags all the time while following me around" I say. I may sound a little cold, but I feel it is appropriate for the time being. I never was great at talking to girls anyway. That's probably half the reason I was so antisocial in my previous life.

"Th-thank you, sir" She says.

I ponder for a moment before realizing I've made a mistake. 'I never gave her my name! Furthermore, I never asked her what her name was! I'm glad she is just a child and didn't pick up on it when I talked to her earlier!' I thought, slightly panicking.

I clear my through before continuing "There is no need to call me sir, my name is Haruka, please call me that from now on."

"Y-yes Haruka-sama. I am Haku, please take care of me" She says as she bows to me.

As I walk past her and towards the bathroom I look back and say to her "Make sure to study those scrolls. I will need you to master all of the Jutsu you see in them over the next few days. We will be picking up a few more people before reaching our final destination". After saying my peace I leave to take my bath.

...

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...

The next morning, I wake up early and see Haku is still fast asleep in her own bed. I sneakily open the door to my room and walk down the hall to the main tavern. From my memories of these places, the spring and summer months are the busiest for small taverns like these, as that is when the majority of travelers pass through. It's early into fall and most traveling merchants are tending the fields at some homestead or have moved south for the annual fall festivals in Kirigakure and the other big towns, so we are one of the only guests here right now.

I look to the rather large woman sitting behind the bar and raise my hand, gesturing towards her to get her attention. She looks up from her Reverse Icha Icha novel and waves me forward.

"Hello young'n! What can this old lady do for ya!" She says gleefully.

"Oh noth'n much, ma family and I er headed for tha Land of Hot Water soon and I was sent to ask 'bout where to catcha ferry 'round here." I lie. I know the only ferries in the Land of Water lead to the Land of Fire or the Land of Lightning, as they are far closer, but if I say that I am going to the land of Fire, it may sound suspicious due to Kiri and Konoha being not too friendly with one another, though the Land of Hot Water is a tourist spot that welcomes travelers all year round to their main attraction, Hot Springs.

"Ah, well if ya want ta get there, yer best bet is to head down south to Kishinami Town. They do all the ferryin' round these parts" She replies.

"Thank ya" I say, sliding her 100 ryo.

"Oh yea, yer breakfast's ready. I'll bring it to ya" She says as she heads to the back to get the meal.

As I collect enough food for six people, I make my way back to my room and place the four extra meals in my [Inventory]. Now I've got enough spare lunch for a few days of travel in addition to my rations.

As I open the door to the room, I see that Haku is still tuckered out, sleeping heavily.

'Poor thing, she must not have slept in a proper bed in months.' I think to myself as I place the food on the nightstand and head to take another bath.

'Oh wait. Even though I have Water Chakra Affinity, I don't have any jutsu. How am I supposed to fill the tub?' I say, completely naked in the bathroom.

'Haku. Please wake up soon...'