The soft murmur of water filled the early morning air, accompanied by the occasional rustling of leaves as the wind swept across the quiet clearing. The pond's surface reflected the pale dawn sky, its stillness disturbed only by the occasional ripple of a passing fish.
Near the edge, two figures rested—one lying motionless against the damp ground, the other kneeling beside him.
Haku's gentle fingers carefully reached for the tape wrapped around Zabuza's body, prepared to remove it when a sudden grip on his wrist stopped him.
Haku's eyes widened slightly, his head snapping up to meet Zabuza's gaze.
The man's slitted, shark-like eyes barely fluttered open as he spoke, voice still hoarse but carrying its usual bite.
"It's all right... I'll do it… myself…"
Haku watched as Zabuza, with a low grunt of exertion, forced himself upright. The motion was slow, painful, but undeniably resolute.
Haku blinked in mild surprise. "What... You're still alive?"
A low, rough chuckle escaped Zabuza's throat as he reached for the needles still embedded in his neck, the skin around them red and irritated.
"Both you and that brat are really rough," He muttered as he yanked one free, tossing it carelessly to the ground.
Haku sighed, exasperation slipping into his tone. "You too, Zabuza. Don't pull them out carelessly—you might actually end up dead."
His words held concern, but Zabuza merely snorted, continuing to remove the rest of the needles with blatant disregard for his own condition.
As the last one fell to the ground, he finally exhaled, rolling his sore shoulders. His entire body ached, his limbs sluggish from the false death state Haku had forced upon him, but even through the lingering numbness, his mind was sharp.
His gaze darkened.
"That kid surprised me."
Haku, who had been reaching into his pouch for some bandages, paused. "That blonde haired?"
Zabuza's sharp grin returned, though it lacked its usual cocky amusement. This time, there was something else in his eyes—an acknowledgment.
"He's even more dangerous than Kakashi."
That was a statement Haku hadn't expected. His fingers stilled, his usually calm face showing a flicker of curiosity.
Zabuza leaned back against the tree behind him, staring into the morning mist with a contemplative expression.
"Surely… what is feared most in this world is the unknown."
Haku considered his words carefully. He had also noticed something strange about the blond-haired ninja. There was an air of unpredictability about him, something that didn't quite fit the mold of an ordinary shinobi.
But before he could voice his thoughts, Zabuza attempted to push himself up further—only for his muscles to protest violently.
"Tch." A sharp breath escaped his lips as pain shot through his arms.
Haku shook his head, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "You're still weak from the needles I shot you with. A normal person would take a week to recover."
He smiled lightly, a small tease slipping into his voice. "But knowing you, you'll probably need less than that."
Zabuza smirked but didn't argue. He knew his own limits well enough. His body had been through worse.
For a moment, silence settled between them—only the sounds of nature filling the gap.
Then, Zabuza's expression softened, something rare, something almost imperceptible.
"You are so innocent, smart, and untainted…" He paused, observing the genuine warmth in Haku's smile. "That's what I like about you."
Haku didn't respond immediately, his lips curving into a gentle, almost knowing smile.
"I'm still a child, after all."
The mist curled around them, a quiet veil of secrecy.
Zabuza let out a low chuckle, closing his eyes briefly. "Hah… a child, huh?"
But both of them knew.
That wasn't quite true.
----
Back at Tazuna's house
"You haven't left yet?" Inari asked upon seeing Naruto
"Haha... I am not leaving until my mission is over, kid. This Gato or Sato whoever he is, I'm not worried about those guys at all!"
"Mission? Ridiculous, you will not even be alive for that..."
"If you don't want to die, better hurry up and go home," Inari said as he ran to his room.
Naruto did not mind as he sat down to have breakfast with the others.
"We are all going to the forest for training" Kakashi announced at the breakfast table.
After finishing the team went to the forest.
Kakashi then turned towards the trio and said "We are going to do tree climbing without hands…"
Two hands were raised at the same time,
"Sasuke first!" Kakashi said.
"Is it the one in which you focus the chakra to the feet and climb?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto and Sasuke nodded to each other tacitly as they raced to the top, leaving Sakura at the bottom who also quickly followed, easily finishing the exercise without blinking an eye.
"Hey, at least give a head start before running ahead like that," She complained.
"But I wanted to…." Kakashi stared at Sasuke, no longer surprised at Naruto.
As for Sakura, he already knew that her chakra control was insane.
"How about walking over water?….." Kakashi suggested to which Sasuke and Sakura agreed, while Naruto headed towards the bridge to take the first watch.
----
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the half-constructed bridge that stretched across the vast ocean.
The rhythmic sounds of hammering and clanking metal echoed in the distance as workers toiled away, their efforts focused on completing the bridge that would free their country from Gato's grip.
Naruto walked alongside Tazuna, his hands lazily resting behind his head. His bright blue eyes squinted slightly under the sunlight as he observed the older man carrying a long iron bar on his shoulder, his aged yet sturdy frame showing no signs of slowing down.
Tazuna, ever the gruff and outspoken man, turned to Naruto with a questioning look.
"What happened to the stuck-up boy and that useless girl?" He asked, his voice laced with his usual bluntness.
Naruto's eyebrow twitched at the comment, but he quickly shrugged off the insult with an amused expression.
"They're in the middle of water-walking training," he replied, shaking his head as he recalled Sasuke's determination and Sakura's frustrated attempts to maintain her balance. Then, narrowing his eyes at Tazuna, he added, "And that girl is not useless, old man."
Tazuna raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden defensiveness in Naruto's voice.
Naruto, sensing the disbelief, smirked and continued, "She'll become one of the best medical ninjas in the world."
Tazuna let out a gruff chuckle, shifting the iron bar slightly on his shoulder.
"Hoh? You have so much faith in her?" He teased, casting a sideways glance at the boy.
Naruto's smirk only grew wider. His voice carried a rare certainty, unwavering and full of conviction.
"Yep. Because I know her skills the best."
For a brief moment, Tazuna was silent. He had seen many young men in his time—some full of arrogance, others full of self-doubt.
But this boy… he was different. There was no hesitation in his words, only pure belief.
"Tch," Tazuna scoffed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're an interesting brat, you know that?"
Naruto grinned, his fox-like features lighting up with mischief. "Yeah, yeah, I get that a lot."
Tazuna shook his head in amusement, adjusting his grip on the iron bar as he kept walking.
"Anyway, let's go and finish the bridge."
Tazuna blinked, a bit taken aback. "Hah? You don't have to do that."
Naruto frowned, tilting his head slightly. "What are you talking about, old man? Guarding you is my mission!"
Tazuna paused mid-step before letting out a sigh, realizing Naruto had a point.
"Ah! That's true." He nodded while shifting the iron bar. "Guess I shouldn't complain about extra hands, huh?"
Naruto just grinned, pumping his fists. "Yep! Now let's get to work!"
As the two continued walking toward the construction site, Tazuna couldn't help but steal another glance at Naruto.
This kid… he's something else.
---- ✦ ✦ ✦ ----
Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 123: The Tragic Story of a Hero
Chapter 124: Encounter with Haku
Chapter 125: Encounter with Haku (2)
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
🚨 Want to read chapters before anyone else? Head over to Patreon for early access and exclusive perks!
📖 If you're enjoying the stories and want to help keep them coming, your support means everything. Join us and stay ahead!
👉 Patreon: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
☕ Or support directly: buymeacoffee.com/myth_valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨