Partners in Crime
Zabuza wasn’t used to peaceful living, but with how injured he had been he didn’t have much choice when the Konoha nomad offered asylum. Haku while deadly might not have been enough to keep the ANBU off them while Zabuza recovered. Zabuza was hoping he healed and was able to escape the village before the white haired sage came back for him. He wasn’t stupid enough to think this help was offered freely and he had little more than himself or Haku to bargain with after that last fight. While selling the kid might bring a hefty price he was too valuable to Zabuza to just throw away like that. He had put too much into him at this point. Food, cloths, skills, and blood from all the training. Zabuza knew he would never obtain such a perfect weapon again if he let the kid go.
Haku seemed more suited to this slow and easy life they currently lived. The kid had been befriending elderly people, and had obtained a trail of young stalkers whenever he left the house. It was honestly concerning to Zabuza how much attention the kid brought to himself. This was the first time Zabuza considered telling Haku to change how he dressed, but thought better of it. Keeping Haku moderately happy was half the game of their dynamic. Zabuza paid for all of the delicate, colorful material the boy wanted to make his yukata’s out of and Haku killed whoever Zabuza pointed at. This method hadn’t failed him yet, so Zabuza didn’t want to go changing it now and risk angering or upsetting the kid. Zabuza just hoped Haku didn’t start asking for the expensive ass make-up he had started eying lately. Hopefully Zabuza could convince him the nin paint would be enough to obtain whatever he was considering doing to his face. For now the excuse of ‘you’re too young’ seemed to be working, but who could tell how long that would last. Sitting on the back porch watching the sunrise as Haku took down the laundry from the day before Zabuza considered convincing the kid to just steal the make-up he might want. It hadn’t worked when he suggested it with the fabrics, but it was worth a try. He’d have to shelf the idea for a few years until it became a pressing matter. Zabuza figured he might have another two to three years before he honestly had to start worrying about it.
“We’re out of food again.”
Haku said as he passed where Zabuza sat propped up against the house. Without any money Haku had been bargaining for anything they obtained in Konoha. Now that he was awake and more coherent than he had been the last couple of days Zabuza knew he would have to hand over the wallet of money they had for food. He had been eating only broth and plain rice while recovering and was genuinely hungry now.
“You’ll have to go to the market if I give you money. I don’t think your little old friends will take money from you for meat.”
There was breathy laughter from Haku as he wondered back to Zabuza with fresh bandages and started unwrapping the ones around his torso and stomach.
“That’s farther than usual. Will you be okay without me?”
The innocent smile was a fucking lie and Zabuza knew it. The kid was calling him weak, and the proof was in how he swabbed the still tender flesh with burning antibiotic cream. Smacking the offending little monster hands away Zabuza grunted and finished wrapping his own stomach.
“I’m sure I’ll manage to not fall on my own sword while you go get some actual food.”
Haku sat back and watched as Zabuza wrapped himself up. The smile turning into something more genuine instead of his sadistic little grin.
“I can bring take away for lunch, and what to make for maybe a weeks’ worth of meals if we stretch it.”
The kid had already counted how much they had, of course he had. If Zabuza had died instead of healing, he had no doubt Haku would have taken the money and left his dead body to be found by the nomadic nin.
“Should be good enough to travel in three days.”
Haku nodded in understanding and leaned back on his elbows to gaze up at the lightening sky.
“From what I’ve heard the market opens around this time.”
He was talking more on purpose, both of them having sensed the new chakra signature making its way to their temporary housing. The Hokage, Zabuza assumed, had been sending a single Konoha ANBU agent to watch them every day. They showed up at the crack of dawn and left four hours before the next sunrise. From what Zabuza could tell this was the same ANBU from the last two days. Haku let him know that before two days ago the ANBU watched in shifts with various people, but something seemed to have changed since then. Now there was only the one for the last forty-eight hours and counting as they arrived once more. Zabuza had allowed Haku to get close enough to the ANBU’s hiding spot to try and catch a glimpse of them but the kid failed. Whoever it was, was skilled enough to evade the talented preteen and that only served to make Zabuza more nervous about their presence. If the Leaf ANBU was going to attack them, they would have done so by now though. And not even the great Sanin Jiraiya knew Haku was a weapon. He had assumed the kid desperately asking for help was nothing more than what he appeared to be. While the nomad had reported Zabuza as dangerous he put Haku down as a potential immigrant if the kid wanted.
“You should get going and beat the crowds. I don’t need you drawing more attention than you already have in this compound.”
Haku laughed for real this time and the sound always made Zabuza remember sometimes he kept the kid around for company more than death dealing.
“I cleaned Kubikiribocho for you.”
Yes, Haku made a great accomplice. Smiling under his face bandages Zabuza almost joined the kid in laughing. Whoever was spying on them now knew who he was and would hopefully be hesitant to approach while Haku was gone. Not that Zabuza was in any condition to actually wield his prized possession the spy didn’t need to know that.
“Good work. Don’t spend all of the money.”
Haku plastered on that fake innocent smile as he got up from where he had sprawled out on the porch and Zabuza knew he’d be lucky if the wallet came back with anything in it for that statement.
“Brat.”
He grunted as Haku practically skipped away into the house. He reemerged, face washed, hair pinned up, and wearing a dress Zabuza didn’t recognize.
“When did you have time to even buy that one?”
He asked exasperated with the kids shopping addiction.
“I grew some over the last few weeks and hadn’t noticed until we got here. Luckily I was able to trade three of the ones that no longer fit me for this one. The woman said her daughter needed them and that she might be able to give me more if we’re still here after tomorrow.”
The hopeful eyes Haku gave him made Zabuza aware that no matter how much being under surveillance irritated him he would have to make sure they stayed for Haku to get the clothes he wanted from the trade woman. Now that he was looking at the kid, Haku did seem taller. The downside of traveling with someone so young was that he ate them out of pocket and grew faster than they could replace clothes most of the time.
“Then don’t come back with any new fabrics unless you stole it.”
The excited nod as Haku took the money was childish and another of those rare moments Zabuza saw Haku as more than the weapon he sharpened the young man to be. With all the killing they both had done, moments like this reminded Zabuza he too was human. Even though the beginning of their conversation was a cover for the ANBU watching them the rest had just been whatever they would have normally talked about. Food, supplies, Haku’s terrible personality rubbing Zabuza the wrong way.
It all felt very domestic in a way Zabuza had never really had with anyone but Haku.
“She never really leaves your side, does she?”
The ANBU who approached just as Haku’s presence faded further than the gates of the compound was no surprise to Zabuza. Kubikiribocho was propped up on the wall of the house behind him, cooling tea and salted crackers on a plate nearby that Haku put out before he left.
“The kid does what he wants. I can’t control how far he goes.”
Keeping his suspicion concealed behind his bandaged face Zabuza watched closely as the newcomer walked up to the porch. The dog masked ANBU tilted his head in acknowledgement of the subtle correction. Haku did enjoy his feminine clothes but had always preferred to be male presenting. When someone assumed he was female Haku would correct them so out of habit Zabuza had started doing the same. It was a strange tick to pick up, but he figured there were worse habits he could have gotten from the kid.
“Did you need something?”
The ANBU had stopped with their shins touching the wooden boards of the porch in front of Zabuza. They were of similar build to Zabuza, making him nervous, and the silver hair calling to mind someone infamous. The ANBU didn’t don the tan cloak most of the ANBU from Leaf Zabuza had seen before, but the red tattoo on their bicep proved their Leaf affiliation for now.
Kakashi was surprised with what he had seen over the last two days. After asking Gai to watch Naruto for a few days and start packing up the dorm, he had started his slow approach of the Mist rouges. He knew they would be skittish, and he knew how dangerous Haku could be especially with Zabuza too injured to defend himself. This morning was his first glance at the Mist swordsman since he started his surveillance. So far all he had seen was Haku making himself at home in the compound. Never far enough away from the house that Kakashi could risk going inside without being detected. The young man looked no older than Itachi and had a fan club of small children who brought him food and medical supplies from all the grandmas in the area. Kakashi did see the dress trade the two missing Mist had talked about and realized Zabuza made a lot of consensus for the kid. Haku obviously wanted to stay through to the end of the week at the least, while Zabuza wanted to leave within the next three days. From the comment Zabuza had made about buying fabric he concluded that Haku had gotten what he wanted in the end.
Now Kakashi just had to convince Zabuza to stay longer.
Taking off his ANBU mask, Kakashi walked over to the executions sword casually propped up against the house and rested his tanto sword and weapons pouch next to it. He sat down on the other side of the snack tray Haku had placed out as if they were old friends visiting.
“Kakashi Hatake, nice to meet you Zabuza Momochi.”
He introduced as he took one of the crackers from the tray. Kakashi saw bandaged shoulders tense and then the jerk of pain that went through Zabuza from the action.
“You’re living in my house so it would be a waste for me to get blood all over my nice bamboo floors.”
Clenched hands looked like they wanted to be closed around a sword, or Kakashi’s neck possibly. But from the others lack of actual action Kakashi hoped this was a good sign.
“I hear Jiraiya put you up here while you heal.”
“The Sanin did offer Asylum, yes.”
The grunted response was another good sign. Zabuza was hot headed but smart, smarter than most of the Bingo Books gave him credit for from what Kakashi had learned about him.
“I would like to offer you work as well as Asylum.”
Kakashi placed the uneaten cracker back on the tray and faced Zabuza.
“I’m not really in working condition Hatake.”
Kakashi smiled, letting his eye crest so the other could interpret the expression for what it was through his mask.
“No, and I don’t think your apprentice would take kindly to me forcing you to work in your condition either.”
Zabuza said nothing in response and Kakashi was a little disappointed. He had seen a lot of humanity in how Zabuza treated Haku. While gruff he still obviously cared for the young man but was able to mask any reaction if he had it to the mention of Haku’s abilities.
“The actual job wouldn’t be for another year, but I need you to stay in Konoha until the time comes.”
Some of the tension in Zabuza’s form relaxed slightly.
“I have plans of my own and a year is a long time.”
Kakashi nodded in agreement of the statement.
“The coup yes, I’ve heard of it. I hear you are looking for work as a rouge to finance your second attempt.”
There was sharp mocking to Zabuza’s tone as he spoke.
“And what would the infamous Kakashi of the Sharingan want with a Mist coup?”
Kakashi smiled once more, trying as much as possible to come off non-threatening. It was hard to pull off while also trying not to appear weak to the Mist swordsman.
“Nothing, what happens villages away from me is none of my concern. I am worried about the coup taking place in my own home. One that is not as just as the one you fight for, and that I could pay you a hefty price for helping me avoid.”
“I’m listening.”
It was all the response Kakashi needed and he started to explain with as little actual information regarding the Uchiha uprising and downfall as possible.