The night air carried a faint chill, but Naruto didn't mind. The darkness suited him. It was quiet, undisturbed, and free from unnecessary distractions.
He stepped outside, stretching his arms above his head, the fabric of his shirt tightening over his well-built frame. His sharp eyes flicked toward the moon, a smirk curling on his lips.
Tch. A hero, huh?
That word left a bad taste in his mouth.
He had never been the type to play hero. He had never wanted to. That wasn't how he operated.
The world wasn't black and white. It was full of lies, schemes, and betrayals.
He wasn't some naive kid running around screaming about justice. No. If he wanted something, he took it. If he had an enemy, he crushed them.
That was how he lived. That was how he thrived.
But tonight… this wasn't about him.
This was about that brat—Inari.
That kid had given up on life before he even started. Crying, whining, drowning in his own self-pity. It was annoying. It was pathetic.
And yet, Alex understood it.
When people lose something precious, they either grow stronger… or they break.
Inari had broken.
Fine. If you need proof, then I'll give you proof. I'll be the hero you don't believe in, just to shut you up.
Not because he cared about being a hero.
Not because he wanted recognition.
But because it bothered him to see someone give up before even fighting.
His smirk widened as he disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
----
The Next Day morning
The soft rustling of leaves and the gentle chirping of birds filled the morning air. Sunlight peeked through the gaps in the thick canopy, casting a golden glow over the dewdrop-covered grass.
A young man, dressed in black pants and a red T-shirt, lay peacefully on the forest floor. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, muscles relaxed, sleeping soundly with no care in the world.
Naturally, it was Naruto.
Nearby, a figure in a pink kimono knelt among the wild plants, carefully plucking herbs and placing them into a woven basket. Their slender fingers moved with practiced ease, selecting only the freshest leaves and roots.
This figure was Haku, on a simple mission: collect medicine for Zabuza's wounds.
Yet, as Haku turned, their gaze fell upon the sleeping blonde. His presence alone was enough to send a jolt of unease through them.
This boy… Haku thought, recalling how Zabuza had fallen in a single move.
It wasn't just brute strength. No, this blond-haired shinobi was something far more dangerous.
A monster in disguise.
Without realizing it, a faint killing intent seeped from Haku's body. It wasn't much—just a subtle, instinctive reaction to a perceived threat.
But for Naruto, it was enough.
His body reacted before his mind fully registered what was happening. Years of combat experience, honed instincts, and heightened senses took over.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Haku found himself flat on the ground, a solid weight pressing down on him. His basket tumbled to the side, spilling the carefully gathered herbs across the grass.
His breath hitched.
Naruto was on top of him, pinning him down with ease.
Golden hair tousled from sleep, sharp blue eyes still heavy with drowsiness, and a grip firm enough to make escape impossible.
Haku's body stiffened in shock.
Impossible! He was asleep! How did he—?
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then, Naruto blinked.
His senses, still caught between sleep and reality, finally adjusted to the situation. His gaze traveled down…
And what he saw made his stomach drop.
Soft, delicate features. Long brown hair tied into a neat bun. Fair skin, smooth and flawless.
And most of all—the pink kimono, slightly open from the struggle, revealing slender collarbones.
His breath hitched.
I just tackled a girl… and now I'm sitting on top of her.
"Shit."
Naruto immediately jumped off, retreating with a speed that would put teleportation to shame.
"Sorry, Sis!" He raised both hands in surrender, his voice a mix of panic and forced innocence. "I didn't do that on purpose, I swear!"
Haku, still on the ground, blinked at him blankly.
Silence.
Alex internally screamed as he recognized the person he had just tackled.
Damn it! I forgot Haku's a dude!
Still, he kept up the act, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Really, I was just sleeping! I didn't even know you were there!"
Haku continued to stare at the blond-haired boy with quiet astonishment.
How did he react so quickly?
Even trained Jōnin wouldn't have been able to respond so instinctively to such a faint trace of killing intent. A normal sensor-type ninja would have needed at least a second to recognize it, process the threat, and then make a move.
But this boy?
He reacted immediately—not after sensing danger, but as if his body already knew what to do before his mind even caught up.
He's more than just strong… he's experienced. A veteran?
That thought alone sent a slight chill down Haku's spine.
Yet, despite his sharp instincts, Naruto's face remained relaxed—almost playful.
Is it confidence? Arrogance? Or something else entirely?
Haku quickly masked his surprise, shifting back into a calm demeanor.
"Oh! Don't worry," He said, his voice light and gentle. "I just wanted to wake you up. You might catch a cold if you sleep out here too long."
Naruto blinked, then stretched with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Ahh, I see… Thanks, sis," He said casually, playing along. "So, what're you doing out here?"
"I'm gathering medicinal herbs," Haku replied, kneeling down to continue picking them.
Naruto watched for a moment, then, with a shrug, crouched beside him and started plucking some herbs as well.
It wasn't that he cared much about gathering plants, but he wanted to observe Haku a little longer. That moment of instinctual reaction—the small glimpse of surprise in Haku's eyes—had intrigued him.
Did he attack me on impulse, or was it a test?
Either way, Naruto wasn't the type to let an interesting encounter go to waste.
"You've got it rough in the mornings, sis," He said, tossing a handful of herbs into the basket.
Haku smiled softly. "You too… What were you doing out here so early?"
"Training," Naruto replied easily.
Haku paused, looking at him with mild curiosity. "Could it be that… you're a ninja or something?"
Naruto grinned, puffing his chest out a little and raising his thumb toward himself.
"Yup! I'm a ninja!"
Haku tilted his head slightly, a genuine look of admiration crossing his features.
"Heehhh… No kidding, you must be great then."
"Hahaha…" Naruto chuckled, waving off the praise with an amused smirk.
But Haku wasn't done yet. He looked at Naruto more intently, his voice shifting to something more curious.
"But why are you training?"
At that, Naruto's playful demeanor dimmed just a little. His grin faded into something more serious, more determined.
"To protect my friends," He said, his tone carrying an unexpected weight.
Haku observed him carefully. There was no hesitation in his voice.
No arrogance, no bravado—just a quiet certainty.
"But you already look strong," Haku pointed out.
Naruto smirked, shaking his head. "No, no! I want to get even stronger."
Haku's curiosity deepened. "What for?"
Naruto leaned back slightly, gazing up at the sky through the trees.
"To protect the people I love and care about," He answered.
Haku blinked.
That answer was simple, but there was something profoundly genuine about it.
For a moment, Haku felt… warm. It was rare to meet someone with that kind of resolve.
His smile softened.
So, he's that type of person, huh?
This conversation had just become much more interesting.
---- ✦ ✦ ✦ ----
Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 125: Encounter with Haku (2)
Chapter 126: A Looming Threat
Chapter 127: Inari's Awakening
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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