Seeing that Uzumaki Naruto had directly revealed his identity, Haku couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
After all, he had witnessed Naruto's strength and speed firsthand. Even someone as powerful as Zabuza had been caught off guard and had several ribs broken by Naruto.
Even now, Haku thought, Zabuza still needs my help just to sit up at night...
Thinking of that, a faint blush rose to Haku's cheeks.
Zabuza glanced at him suspiciously. "Haku, why are you blushing all of a sudden? People might get the wrong idea."
Haku gave a calm smile. "Mr. Zabuza, I don't think anyone would think too much of it."
Senju Hashirama chuckled. "Ah, this is what we call tender intimacy."
Might Guy gave a thumbs-up. "As expected, true love between comrades is the strongest! Kasi~!"
Kakashi sighed, "Daaa..."
Yahiko commented wistfully, "If I were still alive, I'd be the one helping Nagato get up at night."
A random woman: "???"
Terumi Mei blushed slightly. "That's beautiful! This is the kind of love I long for!"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Honestly, I can relate to Haku. When Lord Orochimaru needs help with anything… I'm always the one to assist him."
Kabuto quickly added, "Of course, Lord Orochimaru and I are completely innocent!"
Orochimaru: "Kabuto… you talk too much."
Haku: "..."
---
Last time, when Zabuza had launched a surprise attack, Naruto had done more damage to him than even Kakashi had managed. That alone was enough to make Haku wary.
But Naruto didn't make any aggressive moves.
"Don't worry," Naruto said calmly. "I'm not here to fight."
Haku stiffened at the unexpected words.
Naruto continued, "We're not sworn enemies. The only target you were hired to kill was Tazuna."
"We're Konoha ninjas, assigned to protect the client. You're an assassin hired by Gato, tasked with killing him."
"So if Tazuna isn't present, there's no need for us to fight."
Hearing Naruto's reasoning left Haku stunned. The boy standing in front of him looked to be about the same age—but his understanding and clarity were far beyond his years.
He's right…
If it could be avoided, Haku didn't want to fight either. Killing had never been his first choice.
And Gato... Haku's expression hardened as he remembered.
Just earlier, Gato had visited Zabuza during his recovery—mocking him and making sarcastic remarks. If Zabuza hadn't stopped him, Haku might have cut off Gato's head right then.
Even someone as calm and kind-hearted as Haku had lines that couldn't be crossed.
Especially when it came to Zabuza.
Naruto noticed the conflict in Haku's eyes and made a guess about what was going through his mind.
He wasn't good at lecturing or persuasion.
So instead, he said, "How about I help you gather herbs?"
"Eh?" Haku blinked in confusion at the sudden suggestion.
Naruto sighed. "Hey, I know you're a guy. You don't need to keep pointing that out."
"..."
Naruto looked a little exasperated. What kind of person did Haku think he was?
"Relax, I don't have any hidden motives," Naruto said. "I've been in this forest for a while. I'm pretty familiar with the terrain. I can help you find the herbs you need more quickly."
Haku stared at him for a long moment. Despite everything, he felt genuinely moved.
After all, not long ago, Zabuza had been trying to kill Naruto and his team. Now Naruto was offering to help, with no expectation of anything in return.
If I were really a girl, Haku thought with a smile, I would definitely repay him with my body.
Jiraiya: "Who says boys can't do that? Haku is delicate and elegant—he'd look amazing in women's clothing!"
Tsunade: "Jiraiya, your tastes are getting worse!"
Jiraiya smirked. "Anyway, compared to Orochimaru in a dress, Haku is a much better sight!"
Kakashi: "Agreed, Master Jiraiya."
Ebisu: "+1."
Zabuza growled. "Haku is mine. Show some respect!"
Haku smiled gently. "It's alright, Zabuza-sama. I believe no one here means any harm."
Zabuza looked away, a little flustered. "Haku… you little…"
Hashirama wiped a tear from his eye. "This boy Haku is a good kid. If only he had been born in Konoha!"
Madara scoffed. "Naive as always. Do you really think he wouldn't be ostracized in Konoha? As long as there are ninjas, there are conflicts of interest. Haku possesses a rare Ice Release Kekkei Genkai."
Tobirama nodded reluctantly. "Much as I hate to agree with Madara, he's right. Brother, don't underestimate the greed in human nature. Haku could only survive safely because he stayed by Zabuza's side."
Orochimaru chimed in, "Nonsense. I have many subordinates with rare Kekkei Genkai, and I've never treated them unfairly."
Kimimaro stepped forward proudly. "Lord Orochimaru has always been kind to us. I will follow him forever."
Shikamaru shrugged. "Didn't you all just get wiped out, though?"
Kimimaro: "Then I'll follow him in the next life!"
Hiruzen frowned. "Tsk tsk. You let your own subordinates die. Impressive, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru sneered. "If not for reinforcements from the Sand Village, your precious new generation of Konoha ninjas would have been dead long ago."
Hiruzen calmly responded, "That only proves how strong our alliance is. Even though you tried to sow discord, we came together."
Orochimaru: "Are you telling jokes from hell now?"
Hiruzen: "…"
---
As they picked herbs together, Haku suddenly asked, "Naruto... is there someone you want to protect?"
Naruto had his hands behind his head. He tilted his head back and looked up at the sky.
Through the branches and leaves, the blue sky and white clouds peeked through.
He remembered the days he spent lying on the Hokage Rock, staring at the sky above Konoha.
It looked the same as this sky. But something was different.
"No," Naruto replied after a long pause. "There's no one I want to protect."
He said it slowly and calmly, like it was a truth he'd long come to accept.
For now, whether for himself or Konoha, there was nothing he particularly wanted to protect.
Much of what he did now was simply what he felt needed to be done.
But none of it could change his future plans—especially his determination to eliminate Konoha's corrupt leadership.
"The Will of Fire… to be honest, it's just a convenient lie."
"If there's anything I want to protect," Naruto said, "it's my determination to grow stronger."
Haku listened quietly. He could tell this boy carried a heavy burden—one not so different from his own.
---
Haku had been born in a small village in the Land of Water. Despite poverty, he had lived a happy life with his parents.
He had inherited his rare Ice Release Kekkei Genkai from his mother.
His mother tried her best to hide his bloodline. But one day, his father discovered his power.
That rare bloodline—beautiful and dangerous—meant misfortune to their humble family.
His father cried... and made the heartbreaking decision to kill Haku with his own hands.
Overwhelmed by confusion, fear, and sorrow, Haku's instincts took over—and in the chaos, he killed his entire family.
His snow-white hands were stained with the blood of his parents.
After that, he wandered alone.
He had no purpose, no understanding of life. He only fought to survive—competing with stray dogs for scraps of food.
And just when he was about to give up on life...
Zabuza appeared.
Recognizing Haku's potential, Zabuza took him in.
From that moment on, Haku smiled again.
He had found his one and only family in the world.
Even if he was nothing more than a tool to Zabuza, Haku had made a vow:
To protect Zabuza—no matter what. Even at the cost of his own life.
Because Zabuza… was everything to him.