Naruto lay on the ground, his soul metaphorically floating above him after Haku's revelation.
In his mind, a thought sparked to life, pinging the only other being who could possibly explain this chaos.
"Aurora, how the hell did Haku turn into a girl? Wasn't she supposed to be a guy?" he asked internally, his thoughts sharp and confused.
A familiar, slightly amused voice echoed in his head:
[Who knows? You're the anomaly here—maybe your presence caused a few… adjustments.]
Naruto blinked. "That doesn't make sense. She's older than me! You even told me that. I wasn't even born when she was."
[And yet… you're the glitch in fate's code.]
"…So, this is because of me?"
[Think of it like this: Alternate Universe. AU. Simple. You're in a different flavor of reality.]
Naruto groaned. "So you're saying logic doesn't apply here?"
[Bingo. You existing here bends the original script. Haku being a girl? Just part of the rewrite.]
"…That's terrifying."
[Welcome to fiction.]
Naruto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Karin tilted her head, watching him. "You good, or did Haku's answer just fry your last brain cell?"
He quickly sat up, waving her off. "All good! Just... reevaluating reality."
Karin grabbed Naruto's arm and yanked him up to his feet. "Don't forget the deal, loser."
"Yes, ma'am," Naruto said, mock-saluting her with a grin.
She dusted off her hands and added, "Let's head back. Starting tomorrow, you're officially Tazuna's apprentice, remember?"
Naruto's eyes lit up like someone had just told him he unlocked Sage Mode. "Right! From tomorrow, I'm gonna work!"
Without warning, he sprinted ahead, practically bouncing.
"C'mon, Karin! We gotta sleep—we've got a bridge to build!" he called out, his voice echoing through the quiet forest.
Karin rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, watching him run ahead like an overexcited fox cub.
With Haku
She quietly returned to the small, hidden spot in the woods where Zabuza was resting.
During her time with Naruto and Karin, her face had stayed composed, almost unreadable. But now, away from their eyes, a small smile crept across her lips.
She had made... friends. Her first ones.
Inside her mind, a soft battlefield was playing out—an angel and a devil, both like miniature versions of herself, perched on either side.
The angel spoke first, gentle and hopeful."Those two... they're kind. Do you really have to fight them?"
The devil scoffed, eyes sharp and voice biting."Are you forgetting Zabuza-sama? He saved you. Gave you a place. A reason."
The angel wilted slightly, but held her ground.
The devil crossed her arms and pressed on."You're being naive. You trust them just because they smiled at you? A short conversation doesn't make someone good. Did you forget Zabuza-sama's warning?"
The inner debate raged on.
The angel, radiant with hope, said,"They're your friends... I can feel it. They laughed with you. They helped you."
The devil, cold and unflinching, shot back,"One meeting doesn't make someone your friend. You know better than that."
"But they were kind—"
"Kindness can be a mask." The devil's tone was sharper now. "What did Zabuza-sama teach us? Trust leads to pain."
Their voices clashed and curled inside her like mist in a storm.
But the moment her eyes found Zabuza—resting silently beneath the canopy, bandaged and vulnerable—the entire world within her went quiet.
The debate froze. The smile vanished. Duty took its place.
Without a word, Haku sat beside him.
She carefully pulled out the gathered herbs, but the medicine balls Naruto had given her stayed hidden, buried in her pouch. She couldn't risk using something she hadn't made herself—not when Zabuza had drilled that lesson into her heart.
Crushing the herbs slowly and precisely, she created a thick paste, her fingers moving with practiced grace.
Then, gently, she began unwrapping the bandages from Zabuza's wounds. The moment the old gauze came off, the scent of blood and earth filled the air.
She didn't flinch.
With quiet care, Haku applied the fresh medicine, working slowly, ensuring each stroke was even and clean.
This was her world. The one Zabuza had built for her.
Even if, for a moment, another world had smiled at her.
Once she was done applying the medicine, Haku reached into her pouch again.
This time, she pulled out a compact ration ball—an old shinobi staple from the war days, dense with nutrients, meant to keep a ninja going when food was scarce.
She began to grind it carefully with a small mortar and pestle until it turned into a thick paste. Then, with quiet precision, she lifted Zabuza's head and slowly fed it to him in small spoonfuls. He didn't stir, but his breath was steady. That was enough.
She took a small portion for herself—just enough to stay awake if needed, but not enough to weigh her down.
After cleaning everything, she moved away and found a quiet corner beneath the trees, folding herself into the shadows like a whisper.
She sat in silence.
That's when it began again—the tug-of-war inside her soul.
The angel reappeared, gentle and wide-eyed:"You could meet them again... see if they mean it. See if they truly want to be your friend."
The devil leaned forward, arms crossed and eyes narrowed:"That's naïve. Don't let warmth distract you from the world you live in. One meeting doesn't make someone your ally."
"But one meeting... is a beginning."
They went back and forth like waves against the rocks, neither side truly winning.
As dawn painted the sky with soft light, a decision settled into her heart—not quite a conclusion, but a step.
"I'll meet them again," Haku thought."If they still smile at me… if they still care… then maybe, maybe I'll believe them. Until then, I won't decide."
She rested her head back, eyes fluttering shut.
The battlefield of her heart quieted… for now.
While with Naruto's group, training never took a break—even with a roof over their heads. Morning drills still kicked off like clockwork. Sweat flew, fists flew harder, and determination? That was the air they breathed.
After their usual early morning training—because, let's face it, even a rest stop is just a disguised boot camp for this crew—the trio finally wound down.
Tsunami, the MVP of the household, had breakfast ready by the time they returned, sweaty and satisfied. The smell of warm rice, grilled fish, and miso soup filled the air like a hug from home.
They didn't waste a second. Plates were emptied, bowls polished clean, and stomachs content.
Once the last grain of rice was devoured, Naruto grabbed his pouch, slung it over his shoulder, and stood beside Tazuna, ready for bridge duty.
But just as they were heading out the door, two unexpected figures blocked the path.
"…Karin, why are you coming along?" Naruto asked, already suspicious while double-checking the tool kit.
Karin, hands on hips, tilted her head like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Because you'll probably do something dumb, and someone's gotta keep you alive. Might as well be me."
Naruto gave her a side-eye, then turned and blinked at the second surprise guest. "Wait, Inari? You too?!"
Inari grinned sheepishly, adjusting the tiny satchel strapped to his back. "Yeah! I wanna help Grandpa! And maybe… maybe watch some ninja stuff too."
Naruto paused. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "This is turning into a field trip…"
Tazuna just chuckled. "Well, the more hands, the faster we work."
Karin smirked. "Exactly. Let's get going before you start slacking."
Naruto sighed dramatically but couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips. Deep down, he liked this oddball group. Felt a little like family.
"Alright then, Team Chaos—let's move!"