"...Good morning, big brother. Did you wake me up?"
Facing Haku, who was a few years older than him, Naruto still used a respectful address, asking naturally.
Hearing the accurate address of "big brother," Haku was visibly stunned. Because of his overly delicate and beautiful face, almost everyone who saw him for the first time would subconsciously call him "little girl" or "big sister." It had been a long time since anyone could accurately identify his true gender at first glance.
Haku's gaze lightly swept over the forehead protector on Naruto's forehead, which symbolized a Konoha Ninja, then he revealed his usual gentle smile and replied, "Mm, good morning. Get up quickly. It's not good for your body to sleep in such a damp place."
Seeing that Haku had clearly recognized his identity as a Konoha Ninja through the forehead protector, yet showed no hostility and instead maintained his kindness, Naruto returned a sincere smile: "Mm, thanks for the reminder. By the way, big brother, what are you doing here so early?"
"I came to pick some herbs," Haku slightly raised the small bamboo basket he was carrying, "to pick some herbs that can cure illnesses and heal injuries."
"I see, having to come out to pick herbs so early in the morning, that's really hard work," Naruto sighed.
Haku just shook his head and didn't say much. These herbs were all for treating Zabuza... For him, as long as it was to protect Mr. Zabuza, who had given him meaning and a home, no matter how hard or trivial the task, he was willing to do it.
Afterward, Naruto voluntarily offered to help, and together with Haku, they searched for the necessary herbs in the morning forest and bushes. Haku was a bit surprised at first, but seeing Naruto's enthusiastic and serious demeanor, he accepted the kind offer.
After working for a while, when the bamboo basket was full of the required herbs, Haku stopped and turned to Naruto, revealing a grateful smile. "Thank you so much for coming to help. It's getting late, so hurry back. Otherwise, the people who are worried about you will be anxious waiting."
"Mm!" Naruto nodded and said cheerfully, "Then, until we meet again."
Haku smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, then turned around, preparing to leave.
Just then—a few strands of Haku's long black hair on his forehead and temples were suddenly lifted. Haku subconsciously tilted his head slightly, looking around with some confusion...
Was it the wind?
But what he couldn't see was that in the instant the wind swept past, a golden figure appeared before him.
The next moment, the golden figure quickly retreated, merging into the receding back of Naruto, who was waving goodbye to him not far away, and disappeared.
——————
"Naruto! Naruto—!"
In the morning forest, an anxious figure was quickly moving through, constantly pushing aside dense branches and leaves, her voice filled with worry and urgency.
Satsuki loudly called out Naruto's name while nervously looking around. When she woke up this morning, she found Naruto's futon empty!
Although Kakashi deduced that Naruto had likely gotten up early to train as usual, Satsuki's heart couldn't settle down. She didn't even have the appetite for breakfast and immediately ran out to search.
"Um... Excuse me, are you looking for someone?"
A gentle voice came from the side, stopping the anxious Satsuki. Satsuki immediately jumped down from a tree branch, landing in front of the owner of the voice.
It was a "girl" with long, straight black hair, a delicate and beautiful face, and wearing a simple kimono—at least on the surface. It was Haku.
"Yes!" Satsuki nodded eagerly, "Have you seen a boy with golden hair, blue eyes, wearing a Konoha Ninja forehead protector, and about this tall?"
"Mm," Haku raised his hand and pointed in one direction of the forest, "I saw him. He's in an open space not far from there. He seemed to have fallen asleep directly on the grass because he was too tired from training."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Hearing the definite news, half of Satsuki's anxious heart finally settled. She hurriedly thanked him, then immediately turned and ran with all her might in the direction Haku pointed, her figure quickly disappearing into the forest.
Haku stood silently in place, watching Satsuki's unmasked anxiety and rapidly receding figure, a complex and knowing look flashing in his eyes.
It seems... this girl and I are the same kind of people.
He slightly lowered his eyelids, understanding in his heart. The next time we meet... we will probably be enemies standing on opposite sides, right?
Although a faint hint of melancholy crossed his mind, Haku's face remained expressionless. He silently turned around and left quietly, carrying the basket full of herbs.
——————
In the following days, perhaps because Gato had no new moves for the time being, many of the bridge workers who had been scared away gradually returned, and the construction site became busy again.
Watching the bridge's framework extend day by day towards the opposite shore, this bridge, which carried the hope of driving Gato out of the Land of Waves, would soon be completely finished.
Sakura's mood also lightened considerably. In the past few days, when she followed Tazuna to the market to purchase supplies, she truly witnessed the miserable state of the common people in this country under Gato's oppression, which made her understand the significance of building this bridge even more.
Now, the terrifying Hidden Mist rogue Ninja had not appeared to attack again, and the bridge was nearing completion. Everything seemed to be progressing towards a successful conclusion.
Out of caution, in the following days, Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura did not continue to train in the forest. Naruto even left a Shadow Clone at Tazuna's house, just in case Gato sent people to attack their home.
Their main bodies, however, followed Kakashi to the bridge construction site, constantly vigilant against possible attacks from the sea or the thick fog.
However, watching his students diligently and responsibly help keep an eye on their surroundings, Kakashi revealed his true colors. He actually, in plain sight while on guard duty, brazenly pulled out his orange-covered "Make-Out Paradise" and began to read it with relish, completely immersed in his own world.
Sakura's speechless glances, and Satsuki secretly leaning into Naruto's ear, softly admonishing him in a tone of disappointment, "Never learn such a lax attitude from Kakashi-sensei," could not stop this Jonin from being immersed in the ocean of "literature."
Thus, in a strange atmosphere combining tense vigilance and Kakashi's leisurely style, a few days passed peacefully.
Until this day—
From the depths of the sea fog, a faint sound of water could be heard. An inconspicuous small wooden boat quietly pierced through the morning mist, slowly approaching the underside of the bridge.