Son Goku and his companions traveled for several more days, taking in the varied customs and landscapes of the shinobi world. Eventually, they arrived in Kusagakure, the Land of Grass, which bordered their starting point, the Land of Fire.
In a lavish inn, the women relaxed together, chatting animatedly about their recent experiences. Goku, unable to insert himself into their conversation, simply sipped his sake in silence, his gaze drifting out the window to the bustling street below.
His eyes settled on a small, grimy alley. There, a girl in tattered clothes sat on a stone step, her gaze locked on a nearby steamed bun shop. She sniffed the air, catching the faint, savory scent, and swallowed hard.
Goku's attention sharpened instantly. What drew him was the girl's vibrant red hair and a face he recognized all too well.
Uzumaki Karin. I didn't expect to find you so quickly. It seems fate is on my side. A smile touched his lips. He could recognize every notable kunoichi from the stories at a glance. Moreover, a key reason for his detour to the Land of Grass had been to find her.
"That hair… is that crimson red… Could she be from the Uzumaki clan?" Unnoticed, Kushina had moved to stand beside him, following his gaze to the alley. Surprise washed over her features—the distinctive red hair was a hallmark of their nearly extinct lineage.
"Only one way to find out," Goku said with a slight smile. "I'll go invite her up. Wait here." Without another word, he vaulted smoothly over the windowsill and down to the street below.
Kushina's expression turned skeptical. "Why is he so eager? Is he up to his old tricks again?"
Mikoto joined her at the window, looking down with a knowing pout. "What else? With his personality, he's probably taken a liking to that little girl. Planning to coax her home and raise her as his own personal 'loli,' no doubt."
Yuriko chuckled. "You've come to understand Wukong quite well, Mikoto, even though you haven't known him long."
Mikoto's cheeks flushed slightly. "His intentions might as well be written on his forehead. It's impossible not to tell!"...
Down in the street, Goku purchased two steaming meat buns from the shop and walked calmly toward the alley.
Karin noticed his approach. As he drew near, he allowed a wisp of his immense chakra to brush against her senses. Her eyes widened, then half-closed in an expression of profound relief and intoxication. "Your chakra… it smells wonderful. So warm… so secure. I've never felt anything like it."
"Is that so? You're the first to compliment me like that," Goku said, his smile gentle. "Are you hungry? Here, have these." He offered her the buns.
"Thank you!" She accepted without hesitation, taking a large bite. Her eyes lit up. "This… is the most delicious thing I've ever tasted."
The simple, heartfelt statement tugged at something in Goku's heart. He was a man who could eliminate enemies without a second thought, yet he had always possessed an innate gentleness toward those he wished to protect.
"Come with me," he said, gently ruffling her dirty but vibrant red hair. "I'll introduce you to a good friend. And there are plenty of kind sisters, too."
"Will there be more food?" Karin asked, looking up at him with large, hopeful eyes.
"Of course. You can eat until you're full," Goku laughed, his tone warm and genuine.
"Okay. I'll go with you. Your chakra… tells me you're not a bad person." Karin took another determined bite of the bun and stood up, placing her small, grimy hand in his.
"Naturally. I'm always kind to girls," Goku chuckled. In the next instant, they vanished from the alley, reappearing instantly beside the women's table in the inn.
"Wow! That was… amazing! We moved in a flash! Are you a ninja, big brother?" Karin stared at Goku with awe.
"What's so amazing about that?" chirped Arisu, skipping over immediately. She took Karin's other hand happily. "Let me tell you, Goku-nii is even more amazing! He can punch a whole planet to pieces! Hi, I'm Arisu! What's your name?"
"Ka… Karin," she whispered softly. As she sensed the chakra of the women surrounding her, a genuine, happy smile spread across her face for the first time in what felt like forever. "Their chakra… it's so warm, too."
"What an adorable girl! Your name is Karin? Your hair is as beautiful as Sister Kushina's!" The women quickly surrounded her, introducing themselves one by one.
In no time at all, they were all fast friends. The speed at which women—especially kind-hearted ones—could bond was already remarkable, but with a vulnerable child like Karin, it was nearly instantaneous.
---
Another three days of travel brought them to the mist-shrouded Land of Water. Perhaps drawn by fate, a heavy snow began to fall on the very day they arrived, forcing the group to seek shelter in a local inn.
By morning, a thick, pristine blanket of snow covered the ground. On such a bitterly cold day, the streets were nearly deserted. Undeterred, Goku took Arisu, Karin, and the others to a large stone bridge in the village to build snowmen.
As time passed, Goku kept a subtle watch on the path leading to the bridge. Just as he was beginning to wonder, a small, solitary figure appeared in the distance, trudging slowly through the snow toward the stone structure.
The child noticed Goku's lively group from afar and paused, a fleeting look of longing and envy crossing their delicate features before being suppressed. They shook their head slightly, walked onto the bridge, and sat down alone, gazing out at the frozen river.
After all this waiting, you finally appear, Goku thought, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. His inquiries and detours had all led to this moment, to this lonely child: Yuki Haku.
Sensing Haku's uniquely gentle and refined chakra signature, Goku's smile widened. Just as I hoped. Haku is a girl. It would have been such a waste if someone so beautiful was a boy.
"Arisu, Karin," he called out to the two little girls who were enthusiastically patting a large snowball. "Go invite that child on the bridge to come play with us."
The two looked up, saw the lonely figure, and immediately felt a pang of shared understanding from their own past hardships. They nodded vigorously. "Okay, Goku-nii!" they chimed, then ran hand-in-hand toward the stone bridge.
Goku watched as the three children conversed at the head of the bridge. After a moment, they began walking back together, Arisu and Karin holding Haku's hands between them. A wave of contentment washed over him.
"Goku-nii! Come quick!" Arisu called, pulling a slightly hesitant but curious Haku along. "We made a new friend! This is Yuki Haku! Haku, this is Goku-nii! He's the best, strongest, kindest big brother in the whole world! And this is Saeko-nee… and this is…"
As Haku, with initial shyness that soon melted away, joined the women in building an elaborate snow fortress, Goku watched with a soft expression. This way, Haku's tragic destiny has been altered by me as well.
"Brat."
A cold, gravelly voice cut through the peaceful air from directly behind him. "That girl is a tool I have my eye on. It would trouble me if you took her away."
Goku turned slowly, unsurprised. He had been expecting this. Standing there, a massive sword slung over his shoulder, was the missing-nin known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist.
"So you finally showed up," Goku said, his voice calm. "Momochi Zabuza."
---
Like it? Me too! Gimme Power Stones! d=(^o^)=b