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The noon hour passed, but Haku didn't nap.
He spent it diligently studying how to upgrade his storage space.
He tried stuffing it full, wondering if it could be forced to expand. Nothing worked.
Once the space was packed, nothing else would go in.
Haku had no leads at all.
Seeing the time was getting late, he hurriedly pulled out all the random junk he'd shoved in for testing, neatly arranged his essential ninja tools, and packed some snacks.
The storage space was convenient. All he had to do was focus, and he could retrieve things directly.
"Uncle, I'm leaving."
Haku pushed the door open and called towards Takenouchi's closed bedroom.
"Be safe."
Takenouchi's voice from inside sounded choked up.
Tough guy showing his soft side.
Haku's step faltered. His mouth twitched. He left.
Xiao Qing coiled on a tree branch, hissing sadly.
Haku could leap across rooftops now. A few jumps, and he was at the Hokage building.
Hizashi Hyuga was already waiting.
"Hizashi-sensei."
Hizashi's eyes held a flicker of amusement. "You're early."
Haku smiled. "Shisui and Juri will be here soon, too."
He was just casually throwing shade at the ones who'd arrive later.
Of course, the moment he said it, Shisui and Juri landed at the base of the tower.
"You really are in sync," Hizashi said, pleased to see them getting along.
In sync, my ass!
Haku's eye twitched.
Shisui and Juri's ears both turned slightly red. Where they came from, "in sync" was a term used for⊠couples.
Hizashi suddenly realized his blunder, spotting a dangerous dynamic between the three. He changed the subject. "Alright. Let's go see the Hokage."
"Yes!"
Shisui and Juri snapped to attention immediately.
Haku noticed Shisui's favorability had just ticked up a point. Weird.
"Allow me to announce you," one of the two ninja guarding the door said.
"Thank you," Hizashi replied.
A moment later, the ninja returned. "The Hokage will see you now."
Hizashi led the three inside.
This was Haku's first time seeing the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the flesh.
Yep⊠exactly like in the anime.
Just a bit younger.
He did look⊠kind of sketchy. Especially when he smiled.
Right now, the Third was smiling, his gaze fixed on the three children behind Hizashi.
"Hokage-sama."
Hizashi led the bow.
"No need!"
The Third waved it off, beckoning the three forward. "Come, let me have a look!"
Haku's instincts screamed trouble.
This version of the Third made him want to tune out immediately.
Sure enough, the brainwashing began.
"What fine children!"
"As your Hokage, I am so proud of you!"
Step one: The direct sugar-coated bomb.
"Whether as a ninja or as Hokage, I feel regret. I cannot let you grow up carefree under the sun."
Step two: The disarming moment of self-blame.
"But I believe, as geniuses of Konoha, you will overcome the hardships of growth and become outstanding shinobi!"
Step three: The PUA begins.
Haku realized his time with Madara Uchiha had made him fluent in rhetoric.
"The battlefield is cruel. But your efforts will spare much bloodshed, many lives."
"You are the new leaves on Konoha's great tree. You bathe in its light. You are the true inheritors of the Will of Fire."
The Third's expression was grave.
He looked at them not as fresh genin, but as pillars of the village.
Haku glanced at Shisui and Juri from the corner of his eye. Sure enough, a faint light burned in their eyes.
Tsk.
These poor kids.
Time for him to step in.
"Hokage-sama, you are so right."
This heartfelt exclamation came from Haku.
The Third's brainwashing train derailed. He blinked at the little girl.
Shisui and Juri, still caught in the glorious world the Third had painted, were jolted back by Haku's passionate, dramatic outburst.
"Please, do not blame yourself!"
"Heaven bestows great responsibility! It first tests the will, hardens the body!"
"War will temper our resolve! Sharpen our skills! We will not disappoint you, Hokage-sama!"
Haku took an emotional step forward. Even a hint of tears shimmered in his blue eyes.
The Third was stunned.
He murmured, lost, "Heaven bestows great responsibility⊠tests the will⊠hardens the body⊠How true! How profound!"
He decided right then to have that quote added to The Collected Sayings of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
[Ding! Favorability with Hiruzen Sarutobi: 65!]
"Hokage-sama, my goal is to become a shinobi as great as you! I will strive to become Hokage! To bring love and peace to the world!"
There, Haku thought. I've laid my cards on the table.
Don't blame me later for not giving you a heads-up.
The first part of the flattery left the Third feeling utterly pleased.
As for a kid wanting to be Hokage? He didn't take it seriously. It was childish admiration. He, Hiruzen Sarutobi, understood completely.
But that last partâbringing love and peace to the worldâmade him inwardly marvel at the child's grand ambition.
A talent worth molding!
[Ding! Favorability with Hiruzen Sarutobi: 70!]
"Good child!"
The Third sighed heavily, his appreciative gaze settling on Haku. "Child, I believe in you."
Haku smiled earnestly, declaring like taking an oath: "I will not let you down, Hokage-sama!"
He meant every word. He'd make them happen.
He just hoped the Hokage wouldn't curse when the time came.
[Ding! Favorability with Hiruzen Sarutobi: 71!]
"Shisui and Juri are my dear friends. I believe they will be my strongest allies as we work towards our goal."
Haku looked at Shisui and Juri with hopeful eyes.
Still reeling from the Third's speech, then hit by Haku's master-level sugar attack, they blurted out in unison: "Of course!"
Hizashi watched from the side, his expression soft.
Their favorability with him shot up too.
The Third felt something was⊠off. But he couldn't pinpoint it.
He nodded at Haku, praising her firm will and spirit of unity.
Haku smiled benevolently.
See?
I'm recruiting right in front of the Hokage. Don't call me sneaky later.
I have the Third's stamp of approval.
"Good, good, good!"
The Third looked at them with satisfaction. He raised a scroll. "This is an escort mission. I entrust it to you."
Hizashi took the scroll. "You can count on us, Hokage-sama."
They bowed and left. Watching their retreating backs, the Third smiled, pleased.
At the base of the tower, Hizashi quickly read the mission scroll and passed it to the three.
Since they were greenhorns, the mission was simple: transport supplies.
From the Land of Fire to the Land of Grass, which lay between Fire and Earth.
The mission was safe. And dangerous.
The shipment was large. Other Konoha ninja would be assisting. They didn't know who yet.
"Alright. Clear on the mission?" Hizashi asked. "Time is short. We head to the rendezvous point now."
"Yes," Haku nodded.
The mission started the moment they accepted.
Four figures leaped across rooftops, arriving swiftly at the rendezvous pointâKonoha's main gate.
A group of chuunin and supply carts were already there.
"Hizashi-senpai."
The speaker was familiar.
Silver-haired Kakashi Hatake. Bowl-cut Might Guy. Spiky-haired Asuma Sarutobi.
Kakashi's gaze swept over Haku.
[Ding! Favorability with Kakashi Hatake: 20!]
Haku immediately checked Kakashi's previous rating.
What? Seriously?
It dropped five points just from seeing me?
Am I that ugly?
That can't be right.
I get dizzy from my own handsome face every morning.
Hizashi nodded at the three teens, signaling them to introduce themselves. Knowing your teammates reduced risk.
"Kakashi Hatake." Kakashi kept it brief.
"Kakashi-senpai?" Shisui sounded surprised. Kakashi's genius was the stuff of Konoha legend.
Juri looked taken aback too.
"Hn." Kakashi gave a curt nod.
"Ha! That's just Kakashi for you! I'm Might Guy! Nice to meet you, youthful comrades!" Bowl-cut Guy threw an arm around Kakashi's shoulders, grinning widely, a thumbs-up pointed at his own chest.
"I'm Asuma Sarutobi. Hello." Asuma was considerably more composed.
The trio introduced themselves in turn.
As the only jonin, Hizashi took command.
"To avoid ambush, we take the long route. Stay alert."
"Yes!"
This was Haku's first time on a new map. He felt a thrill.
The ninja world, unpolluted, was beautiful. Even an ordinary forest felt more vibrant than anything in his past life.
The long procession moved through the woods. Only the creak of cartwheels and rustle of leaves broke the deep forest silence.
Hizashi led, periodically activating his Byakugan.
Kakashi and Guy guarded the rear.
Asuma and Juri took the left flank of the middle column. Haku and Shisui took the right.
"Shisui. Dried fruit?"
Haku's hand went into his ninja pouchâactually retrieving it from his storage space. They'd walked half a day. Needed sugar.
Shisui nodded.
Haku passed him a bag of pineapple slices.
Juri, on the left, heard. He stretched out a hand. "Haku. Me too."
Why give it only to Shisui?
His eyes held deep resentment.
"Sure."
Haku tossed a bag over casually.
Then, inexplicably, a soft chime in his mind: Shisui's favorability had dropped a point.
Haku: ?
Asuma frowned at their antics, clearly wanting to say something. He held his tongue, looking away.
They walked. And walked. Dusk approached before Hizashi called a halt.
"Rest here."
Campfires sprang to life in the forest.
Ninja sat around them.
The tense silence of the day finally eased. Smiles appeared. Low conversations began.
"Missions are boring," Juri muttered, sitting next to Haku.
He'd expected thrilling fights. Instead, a whole day of walking.
Not a single enemy ninja. Not even a rabbit.
"This is a mission. Not a game," Asuma cut in, his tone sharp. He clearly disliked their casual attitude. "It's wartime. Any mistake is fatal."
Juri snorted coldly.
The air turned frosty.
Shisui and Haku exchanged a look. Here we go.
"Rest. I'll take first watch," Hizashi said, emerging from the trees, a slight smile on his face.
Haku's hand went to the Divine Spear at his waist. He offered a kind smile. "Sensei, you rest. I'll take watch."
Juri immediately shook his head. "Haku, you rest. Shisui and I will watch."
Shisui nodded. Haku was the only girl. She should rest.
Haku looked at Hizashi, shook his head, and stood, walking towards him.
"I insist," Hizashi said, a dark glint in his eye. "I can't let you watch alone. How aboutâ"
His words cut off.
A beam of pure white light pierced his chest.
Blood dripped from his lips. His bulging eyes turned horrifying.
"You⊠you⊠howâŠ"
"Haku!"
"Haku!"
Several ninja stood, shocked.
The Divine Spear was too fast. The man couldn't dodge. His heart was pierced in an instant.
POOF!
White smoke billowed.
Haku withdrew the spear. His hand trembled faintly.
No one saw. All eyes were on the man on the ground.
The fallen man's form shiftedâa stranger.
"Transformation Jutsu!" someone gasped.
Shisui and Juri rushed over.
"They waited for Hizashi-sensei to leave. No one was around to see through the disguise," Shisui said, kneeling to examine the corpse. He frowned. "No headband. Can't tell whose side."
His gaze drifted to the clean, precise hole through the heart.
Instant penetration.
The target hadn't even reacted.
"Haku," Shisui asked, his voice low. "How did you know?"
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