Haku

We began our training while Tazuna dedicated himself to the bridge's construction. Seeking a suitable place to practice, we headed into the forest, focusing solely on taijutsu. Given the small area, using ninjutsu could lead to unintended destruction, so we decided to engage in a three-way battle using only our physical skills.

As the day wore on, Sakura tended to Kakashi, healing him after his earlier exertions. He needed a moment to rest while we continued our sparring. We fought intensely, pushing each other's limits until nightfall when we were interrupted by Inari, Tazuna's grandson.

"I'll be there in a moment," I called back, choosing to head in a different direction while Sakura and Sasuke went off for dinner. I reached my desired spot, a quiet clearing that provided a perfect view of the stars twinkling overhead. I waited patiently, my mind wandering until I spotted a girl about my age approaching me. Her presence felt both familiar and intriguing, and I couldn't help but wonder what brought her to this secluded area in the forest.

"I didn't know there was a beautiful girl like you in this village," I said with a playful smile. She turned to look at me, recognizing me instantly. I could sense a hint of attraction in her gaze, but she remained silent, focusing instead on picking herbs commonly used for medicinal purposes. She also gathered a few flowers as she moved.

"Are you from the village?" I asked.

She paused before answering, "No."

"Are you a shinobi or a doctor? I see you're collecting medicinal herbs—useful for treating wounds," I observed.

"You could say I know a little bit about medicine," she replied, her voice calm. "What about you? Are you a doctor?"

I shook my head slightly. "No, I'm a shinobi. But I do know a bit about medicine."

"With that little knowledge, I think I can help u", I said.

" Why are u so eager to help me", she said with some curiosity.

"Why not? I don't need a reason to help someone, especially when that someone is as beautiful as you," I said. My words seemed to catch her off guard.

"Are you saying I'm a beauty in your eyes?" she asked, her expression a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

"Yes, you could say that," I replied. "I've been surrounded by beautiful people from childhood, but my mother is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. No one could ever take that place." She giggled at first but stopped when I mentioned my mother, and her expression darkened, as if touched by a painful memory.

An uncomfortable silence fell between us, and I finally broke it by asking, "Do you love your mother?"

Her face tightened, and without responding, she quickly said, "I have to go now. It was nice meeting you."

"The pleasure is mine. May I know your name? I have a feeling we'll meet again," I said.

"I'm Haku. And you are?" she asked, glancing back at me.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Then, goodbye," I said, waving.

She waved back, her voice soft as she walked away. "Goodbye, Naruto. See you again."

"See you again, Haku," I echoed, watching her disappear into the forest.

As Haku walked away, her thoughts lingered. "He's different. If we had met under different circumstances, we might have been friends. But now... we're enemies, destined to face each other on the battlefield."

Meanwhile, I made my way back to Tazuna's house, where we were staying. As I entered, I was met by Sakura, who was waiting near the door with an angry expression.

"Naruto, why are you so late?" she demanded, her voice filled with frustration.

"Sorry, Sakura. I had some things to take care of," I replied, offering a sincere apology.

"Do you know how worried I was? I thought something had happened to you," she said, her tone softening but still holding a trace of concern.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't mean to worry you," I said, trying to ease the tension.

I noticed Kakashi and the others in the background, watching us with amusement. They seemed to be enjoying the little drama unfolding, and it was starting to annoy me, though I knew better than to let it show in front of Sakura.

"Did you eat yet, Sakura?" I asked, quickly changing the subject. Thankfully, it worked.

"No, I didn't. Do you think I would eat without you?" she replied, a hint of a smile appearing.

"I'm glad," I said, grinning widely.

She looked puzzled and asked, "Why are you smiling like that, Naruto?"

"I was just thinking... this must be what it feels like to have a wife looking out for you. Some people aren't even lucky enough to experience that," I said, casting a teasing glance at Kakashi and Sasuke. I could see the irritation forming on their faces.

Sakura's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink at my comment.

"Come on, Sakura, I'm starving. Let's eat!" I exclaimed, eager to move on from the awkward moment and satisfy my hunger.

"Okay, Naruto. Let's eat," she agreed, her tone cheerful.

With that, we sat down to enjoy our meal together. "Itadakimasu!" we said in unison before digging in.

After dinner, we settled down for the night, sharing the same room for sleep. It was comforting to have Sakura by my side, and as I drifted off, I couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these.