Chapter 101: Haku's Past

Naruto stretched his arms behind his head and yawned with a casual air, like he'd just ended a D-rank mission, not brokered peace between enemies.

"Okay, okay. They both apologized. Let's not turn this into a drama special. Forgive them already. Let's move on," he said, waving his hand like he was brushing the whole mess off a table.

The tone—so Naruto—broke the tension like a glass shattering.

Tazuna grumbled something about "brat being too soft," but he didn't argue further. Tsunami gave Haku a small, reassuring smile. Inari, still unsure but looking up to Naruto with stars in his eyes, nodded slowly.

One by one, heads nodded, the heavy weight in the air lifting like mist in the morning sun.

And just like that… the atmosphere shifted.

Karin leaned against the wall, smirking. "Finally. I thought I'd have to set up a therapy circle with tea and cookies."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Tch. That'd be a nightmare."

Kakashi, ever the cool observer, flipped a page in his book. "Actually, that doesn't sound half bad."

Zabuza blinked, clearly confused how things had gone from "deathmatch" to "dinner party" in five minutes.

Then Naruto elbowed Haku playfully. "See? You're part of the squad now. Just don't expect me to go easy on you during training."

Haku chuckled through the remnants of her tears. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Laughter followed. Warm, real, awkward in some corners, but genuine. The kind of laughter that comes after the storm. A shaky, hopeful sound. A sign of healing.

Even Zabuza, in his own gruff way, smirked.

With apologies exchanged and tensions eased, life in the village slowly returned to its rhythm.

Tazuna was back to doing what he did best—guiding the bridge to completion, hammer in hand, vision in heart. Inari stuck by his side like a little shadow, wide-eyed and full of questions. The old man grumbled, but everyone could see the fondness behind it.

The remnants of Gato's crew—bruised, broken, and humiliated—had been rounded up by the villagers. For once, those who had once lived in fear were the ones holding the ropes. They were locked away somewhere deep in the village, far from causing any more harm.

This time, Naruto didn't join the work.

He stayed behind—with Haku.

Zabuza, on the other hand, took to his punishment like a grumpy old dog learning new tricks. He kept a close eye on Gato, occasionally muttering about how even a Genin had managed to beat him. Every so often, he'd sneak off to train—secretly determined not to let that happen again.

Sasuke, ever the perfectionist, was off in the clearing, working through drills with a silent fire in his eyes. Kakashi, amused but impressed, had joined him—offering insight into kenjutsu, adjusting grips and strikes between pages of his novel.

Karin? She'd found her place in the kitchen, helping Tsunami. It wasn't glamorous shinobi work, but she didn't seem to mind. The scent of warm food, soft laughter, and shared glances gave the house a different kind of energy—one that didn't need missions or battles to matter.

And Naruto?

Naruto was outside, leaning back against a tree, the breeze tousling his hair. Haku sat beside him, their shoulders barely touching, their words carried away by the wind.

"Then… what are you planning to do now?" Naruto asked, glancing sideways at Haku, the breeze still dancing between them. "We'll be leaving soon after the bridge is done."

Haku paused for a moment, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I don't really know," she said softly. "But… I think I should stay with you. You forgave me, gave me a second chance… I'd like to spend it by your side. Repentance… in the form of service, I guess."

Naruto blinked. A beat of silence passed.

'Oh no… not again.'

He slouched back against the tree, eyes narrowed slightly in mock exasperation.

'First, Karin's out here learning to cook like she's about to become a housewife, now Haku's talking about lifelong service? What am I, a chick magnet in a ninja headband?'

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

'Maybe I really am too handsome for this world…' His internal narcissism was glowing brighter than a Rasengan.

But outwardly, he kept his cool. "Alright, alright—let's table the whole 'serving me for life' talk. I'm not starting a fan club here."

Haku tilted her head in confusion, blinking innocently. "Fan club?"

"Nothing. Inside joke." He chuckled and stretched his legs out. "But hey—I do want to know more about you. The real you."

"The real… me?" she asked quietly, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

"Yeah," Naruto said. His voice softened. "How'd you meet Zabuza? And what happened before that? I want to hear it from you."

Haku stared at him, uncertain, then slowly nodded. She turned her gaze toward the sky, her expression distant, yet peaceful.

And then, for the first time, she began to speak—of snow-covered villages, of war, of loneliness… of the day she met Zabuza, and the path that led her here.

Haku's voice was quiet at first—almost as if she was afraid that speaking it aloud would make the pain real again.

"I was born in a small village in the Mizu no Kuni," she began, her gaze fixed on a spot far off in the distance. "It was always cold there. Snow blanketed everything. At first, I thought the world was supposed to be like that—quiet… still… lifeless."

Naruto didn't speak. He just listened. Really listened.

"I lived with my parents. We weren't rich, but… we had each other. Until the day my kekkei genkai awakened."

Her hand reached toward her chest, almost instinctively, as though to hold something broken there.

"My mother had it too—Hyoton. But she hid it from everyone, even from my father. She was terrified. And when she found out I had inherited it… she told me to never use it. Never show it. Never speak of it."

Her voice began to tremble. "I didn't understand why… not until my father found out."

Naruto's fists subtly clenched.

"He called us monsters. Said we were cursed. I watched as… as he killed my mother right in front of me. Then he turned to me with the same eyes."

A cold gust passed between them, but it wasn't the wind that made Naruto shiver.

"I don't remember what I did. I was so scared. I just… reacted. Ice erupted everywhere. The next thing I knew, my father and the others were all… frozen. Still. Like statues made of death."

There was a pause.

"I ran," she whispered. "For days. I was a child, all alone, surviving on scraps in alleyways. People looked at me like I was filth."

Naruto glanced at her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes were glowing with something fierce.

"And then," Haku continued, "he found me. Zabuza."

Her expression shifted. There was a strange softness when she said his name.

"He didn't look at me with fear or pity. He saw something useful. A tool. I didn't mind. At the time, it felt better to be a tool than a monster. He gave me food. Purpose. And I decided I'd be his weapon. If that's all I could be… then I'd be the best."

She looked down, fingers curling into her lap. "But you… Naruto. You shattered that. You looked at me like I was human. You got angry at me. You didn't hurt me when I tried to kill you. But then… You forgave me. You made me feel like I wasn't just a blade someone sharpened."

She turned to him now, eyes damp but not overflowing. "I don't know who I'm supposed to be. But if I'm going to find out… I think I want to do it by your side."

I see… You really did a great job, Haku," Naruto said gently, reaching out to ruffle her hair like she was a little kid who'd just finished a tough mission. "You didn't betray the person who gave you a reason to live, who helped you when you were at your lowest. That takes strength."

At his words—and that warm, familiar touch—Haku's eyes widened slightly. Then, without warning, tears began to fall, silent and soft, like melting snow.

Naruto noticed the tears and immediately panicked like a man who just broke something fragile in a store he couldn't afford to be in.

"Wha—Haku?! No, no, no! That was a compliment! Not an insult! Are these happy tears or sad tears? Do I need to punch myself? Blink twice if it's emotional damage, I repeat—blink twice!"

But Haku just smiled, even through the tears.

"They're... happy tears, Naruto," she said softly, brushing at her cheeks with her sleeve. "No one's ever said that to me before. That I did great..."

Naruto blinked, then puffed up his cheeks. "Well, obviously no one with good taste, because I say you did amazing. You stayed loyal to the one person who gave you a reason to live. That's not weak. That's not pathetic. That's strength."

Then, in typical Naruto fashion, he stuck out his pinky.

"And now I pinky swear to you—your story doesn't end in the snow. It starts here. With us. With Team 7. With ramen, training, and people who've also been through crap and still wake up in the morning anyway."

Haku stared at the outstretched finger like it was a lifeline.

"You really think I deserve that?"

Naruto grinned. "I know you do. And I don't lie."

Haku let out a soft laugh and hooked her pinky with his.

"Then... I promise to do my best. To move forward."

Naruto gave a thumbs-up with his free hand. "Attagirl."

And with that, the tension faded like fog in sunlight—leaving behind only the warmth of a shared promise, and the hope of new beginnings.

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[A/N: As promised, 3 chapters per day would be published from now on.]