Haku hesitated. Although she had once believed that her life's only purpose was to serve as a tool, the longer she stayed in Hoshigakure, the more she grew to love its quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Deep down, she even began to wish she could stay there forever.
"Star Village may seem prosperous," Chen Xing said softly, gazing into the distance. "But in reality, it's just a small, fortified settlement in the barren Land of Bears — nothing more than a buffer zone between the Wind and Earth Countries. Without special methods to accelerate growth, it's nearly impossible for a minor nation like ours to rise. And the great nations would never allow Star to develop unchecked."
His calm voice carried a weary resolve that made Haku's eyes widen. She had never thought of things that way. Until now, she hadn't realized how much Chen Xing had been carrying on his shoulders — fighting, almost alone, against the overwhelming power of the Five Great Nations.
"Chen Xing-sama…" she murmured softly, her voice trembling.
For a moment, she saw not just the calm and confident young man before her, but someone burdened by the weight of leadership and survival — someone far more mature than his age. All of her lingering doubts and resentment toward him faded away.
"White," Chen Xing said, his tone suddenly gentler. "You don't need to call me that."
"But… I am only a tool," Haku replied quietly, shaking her head. "If Zabuza-sama was my master, then now you are the one I serve. A tool doesn't have the right to call its master by name."
Chen Xing's expression hardened slightly. "Don't say that again. You are not a tool. You are you, Haku."
Haku's eyes lowered. "If I was no longer needed by Zabuza-sama, then my life would have no purpose. A tool without a master doesn't deserve to exist."
Slap!
"Ah!"
Haku gasped, clutching her side in surprise and embarrassment as her cheeks flushed crimson. She glared at Chen Xing, her eyes wide with disbelief and anger.
"You… why did you hit me?!"
Chen Xing frowned, his tone firm but not cruel. "Because you keep calling yourself a tool."
"I–I'm not wrong, I—ah!"
Slap!
Another sharp sound cut through the air. Haku winced, holding her hip as she glared up at him again, her lips trembling.
"You—!"
Slap!
Chen Xing didn't let her finish. His face was calm now, but his eyes carried a quiet authority.
After several more strikes — not in cruelty, but to break her stubborn self-denial — Haku's defiance finally melted away. Her shoulders trembled as tears welled up in her eyes, glistening like falling snow.
Chen Xing sighed quietly, knowing that she finally understood. He hadn't wanted to play the villain, but it was the only way to make her see herself as more than just a disposable weapon.
That night, the group landed near a quiet clearing. Red Star and Iron Star, tired from the journey, noticed Haku's flushed face and slightly awkward gait. Both exchanged puzzled glances, but one look from Chen Xing silenced any teasing questions.
After a quick meal, the others turned in early.
Chen Xing approached Haku's tent, holding a small jar of healing salve. "Hey, little one," he said lightly, crouching near the flap. "Here, use this. It'll help with the soreness."
"...Hmph." Haku's voice was cold, and though she didn't look at him, she reached out and took the ointment without a word.
"Come on, don't be stubborn," Chen Xing said, smiling helplessly. "If you don't apply it properly, I'll have to do it myself."
Her face went crimson again. "J-Just go away!"
He chuckled softly and withdrew. "Alright, alright. I'll be up in the trees if you need me."
When his footsteps faded, Haku looked down at the ointment in her hands. The coldness in her expression softened as her eyes grew misty.
"…Idiot," she whispered, her lips trembling into a faint smile. She wasn't stupid — she knew what he was trying to do for her.
As she gently applied the medicine, she realized that for the first time since Zabuza's death, someone cared not because she was useful — but because she was herself.
Chen Xing, resting on a high branch under the stars, didn't know that his strange method hadn't earned her hatred. If anything, it had left a deeper impression on her heart.
If he had known that, he probably would've laughed.
The next morning, he caught a few pheasants, roasted them over an open fire, and filled the camp with a mouth-watering aroma.
"Whoa, Chen Xing-nii, you're amazing!" Iron Star said, stretching and yawning.
"Come eat," Chen Xing replied, smiling faintly. "We'll need our strength if we're going to reach the Land of Fire today."
Red Star grinned, teasing, "You go wake your little girlfriend. We'll handle the food."
Chen Xing sighed, shaking his head with a small smile.
He walked to Haku's tent and called out, "Hey, sleepyhead. Time to get up."
"I know!" came her cold reply from inside.
Chen Xing laughed quietly. Still holding a grudge, huh? he thought, amused. But he didn't regret his actions — not one bit.
After breakfast, the team set out again. Chen Xing carried Haku as they flew through the air, his chakra-formed wings gleaming violet under the morning sun.
"Still mad?" he asked with a smirk.
Haku turned her head away sharply, glaring at the clouds. Her lips were pursed in a stubborn pout.
"Call me an idiot one more time and I might drop you," he teased.
"Hmph! You wouldn't dare," she muttered coldly, though her cheeks betrayed her with a faint blush.
Chen Xing chuckled softly. "I'd never drop you."
The wind whistled past them, carrying the sound of her quiet sigh.
For the first time, Haku realized that maybe — just maybe — it was okay to live for herself.