ＮｅｇｌｅｃｔｅｄＮａｒｕｔｏ Ｕｃｈｉｈａ Ｓｅｎｊｕ

Chapter 23

In the Forest

Zabuza Hideout

"It appears we're out of healing herbs," Haku sighed. The hunter ninja returned to Zabuza's room after closing the pantry.

Haku approached the bed and stared down at him. "You were far more hurt than I imagined. We've used up all of our herbs."

"What's your point?" Zabuza grumbled.

"My point is, I need to go out and fetch some more for you," Haku said, slightly irritated by Zabuza's nonchalant attitude. "I'll come back about noon, and I should be capable of fetching you enough to complete recovering."

"Whatever," Zabuza grumbled, attempting to alter his position in the bed despite the intense pains he was experiencing as he moved.

Haku turned to face the Akuma brothers. "Look after him while I'm gone. If I find out, you let him push you into letting him even sit..."

"Don't worry, Haku, we won't let him push us into anything," Gouzu, the oldest brother, said in response to the implied threat.

"You said that last time, too," Haku shrugged. Haku exited the room without waiting for a response.

Haku hummed a minor melody as he walked through the forest, searching for the plants the fake hunter ninja had discovered a few days before. Haku found the plants after passing by an incredibly massive tree and leaning over to pick one up before hesitating, having noticed a person lying on the ground a short distance away.

Haku cautiously approached the prone person, knowing the blond who had developed the plan and nearly killed Zabuza with the collaboration jutsu. The hunter's breath caught in his throat as she thought about what should be done.

Kneeling, Haku examined the figure. The boy's coat and garments were torn, revealing the blonde's shockingly muscular figure beneath. There were also kunai and shuriken strewn about him, dried blood on his clothes and the ground, and a sword in his hand.

Haku reached a hand out to the blonde's throat. The boy hindered Zabuza's plan; the best option would be to remove him before he could cause a problem. However, Haku paused midway to Naruto's throat, sighed, and gently began to shake the blonde's shoulder.

"Hey, wake up. You'll catch a cold if you sleep out here," Haku said.

Naruto stirred; stifling a groan, he opened his eyes. And the first thing he saw was...

"Tenshi?" he asked as he saw a beautiful girl with a heart-shaped face and chocolate brown eyes. His slightly groggy and sleep-addled mind came to what he obviously thought was the correct conclusion.

Haku blushed at being called an angel, "I'm afraid not. If I were, you would have to be dead for us to meet."

Naruto blinked slightly as the haziness in his eyesight faded. He sat up and extended his arms above his head, yawning loudly. Naruto turned to face the person who had woken him, lowering his hands and leaning against them.

It was a young woman who appeared to be a year or two his age. Her hair was long and dark brown, and her eyes were chocolate brown. She was dressed in a pink yukata with blue flower motifs. Her neck was adorned with a little black choker. She was now beaming a kind smile at him.

Naruto blushed a bit, "Um...sorry. I just um..." he said, unsure what to say.

Haku giggled a bit, "That's perfectly all right. You should be more careful; if you stay out here all night long, you may catch a cold and die. Then you really would be seeing angels."

"How is that?" Naruto asked, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't know colds could kill. And I've never been sick a day in my life." He paused as he looked over at Haku, tilted his head, and expressed curiosity, "So what about you? What are you doing this early in the morning?"