21 Turning allegiances *Wave part 7* (1/2)
”So you're a ninja?” she asked. ”Yeah, I am. Was it the headband that gave it away?” he asked ”Maybe a little. That and the clone you made,” Haku said with a smile. ”So why did you decide to be a shinobi?” Naruto took a moment to think as he grabbed a herb, he shook his head and pulled it out. ”I became a shinobi so I could avenge my parents and show Konoha that I am to be respected!” he said enthusiastically, ”I plan on becoming the strongest ninja to ever grace the elemental nations!”
Haku raised an eyebrow as Naruto put his hand over his stomach. ”I see…that's quite a grand dream,” Haku paused for a second before plunging on. ”So what's a ninja doing out this early in the morning?” ”Erm…” Naruto blushed a bit as he remembered his Disney princess session with flowers blooming around him, ”Training!” He answered. Can that really be counted as training though?
Haku noticed the lie but let it slide, ”So why are you training?”
”To become stronger,” Naruto said with a grin that stretched across his face and closed his eyes, making him look like a fox. Haku looked the redhead up and down, noticing the tightly packed muscles underneath Naruto's clothes, ”You seem plenty strong now.” Naruto shook his head, ”Maybe, but I'm not strong enough. I have to become stronger.”
”To fulfill your dream?” asked Haku. Naruto nodded, ”Exactly.” ”Are you doing this for someone else? Or yourself?” asked Haku.
Sitting back down Naruto looked at her curiously. ”Er…huh I don't know. I know who killed my parents and I will avenge them so I guess myself?” was his rather unintelligent reply as he scratched the back of his head. Haku noticed the look and covered a hand to her mouth as she released a giggle. ”Oi...” Naruto growled, a blush adorning his face at the sound of Haku's giggle, ”What's so funny!”
”Nothing,” Haku replied with a smile, ”So do you…have someone who is important to you?”
”Someone…important,” Naruto repeated as a smile graced his face ”Yes, I do, and they mean the world to me. He spoke with a smile.
Haku nodded, remembering the day Zabuza had come and given her a purpose. ”When a person has something important to protect, that's when they become truly strong.”
Naruto paused in his herb picking as he looked up at Haku. Listening to those words, Naruto remembered Iruka-sensei protecting him from Mizuki and allowing him to graduate afterward.
His mind flashed to Hokage-Ojisan who had been with him ever since he had been kicked out of the orphanage. And he remembered the Ichiraku family, who owned the only restaurant (AKA food stand) that did not kick him out, though not his memories, they, in a way were a part of him. Now that he was here, in this body, in this world. All these memories were so much more impactful than through a screen.
More images played through his head. They were all people who he had grown close to. He would easily fight to protect them. ”I know exactly what you mean,” Naruto said solemnly, his cool demeanor diminished.
”You'll get strong,” Haku said, seeing the understanding light enter Naruto's eyes. Standing up Haku looked at Naruto. ”By the way…I'm a boy.”
Naruto froze as he remembered his words waking up, hell, he had even forgotten Haku was a guy!