Chapter 32: What if the tool gets rusty? Naruto's words instantly freeze Haku's smile."It's not just about food."Naruto grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth."I want to give them a world where they 'don't have to rely on hatred to survive.'""Maybe I don't have the ability to handle the entire Ninja World right now.""But I can start by practicing on the Land of Waves.""Bring light into one corner, and there will be one less corner of darkness.""As long as they are fed, clothed, and have money to earn,""who would be bored out of their minds enough to become a Rogue Ninja? Or go around assassinating people?""Everyone will be too busy counting money to have time to hate this or that."This theory was too fresh.It was so fresh that Haku felt his worldview was being restructured.Weren't Ninja created for the sole purpose of slaughter?Weren't they just living to complete missions?In this young man's blueprint, Ninja seemed to have become...Some kind of knight that maintains order?"Give them food?"Haku froze in place.The wind blew through the treetops, whipping up a few withered yellow leaves that struck his pink kimono.This answer was too simple, even a bit vulgar.In the world of Ninja, people talk about Chakra, Ninjutsu, Bloodline Limit, and the power struggles between nations. No one has ever elevated something like "eating" to the level of changing the world.But upon closer inspection, it was unassailable."What? Think it's vulgar?"Naruto noticed Haku's astonishment and spat out the dogtail grass he was holding. "Vulgar is exactly right. People live for these few pieces of silver, to fill their stomachs. The so-called Ninja Way, the will of fire—those are just things thought up by people who are full and have nothing better to do.""When you're starving, nobody cares if you're the Hokage or the Mizukage; whoever can give me a steamed bun is like a father to me."Haku remained silent for a long time.He looked at the young man in front of him, who was a few years younger than himself.Despite his devil-may-care appearance, his words were like heavy hammers, smashing the hard shell of his original perception piece by piece.This dimension of thinking completely surpassed a Genin, and even surpassed Mr. Zabuza."You... are truly special."Haku lowered his head, resting his clasped hands on his knees. His tone carried a hint of heartfelt respect. "I never thought there could be such a way to solve problems. If the Land of Waves could really be like what you said, perhaps there would be far fewer tragedies.""Don't just stand there praising me."Naruto waved his hand, plopped down onto the tree root beside Haku, and crossed his legs without any regard for his image. "I already know I'm excellent; there's no need to repeat such obvious truths.""Let's talk about you."Naruto turned his head, his gaze landing on Haku's delicate face. "Since you think my dream is too grand, what about you? What is your dream?""Continue being that eyebrowless uncle's follower? Or find a place where no one knows you and live your whole life wearing women's clothes?"The flush on Haku's face had just faded, only to be brought back by Naruto's words.But he didn't retort, nor was he angry.He just smiled gently.The smile was very clean, like the first drop of water melting on a snow-capped mountain, revealing a purity that made one's heart ache."Sorry, I've made you laugh."Haku reached out his hand to catch a falling snowflake—it was something formed by the Ice Style Chakra he had subconsciously released."Compared to your grand ambition of reshaping the world, my dream... is really small.""So small that it can only hold one person."Haku looked at the snowflake in his palm, his tone becoming exceptionally gentle. "I only want to protect the person who is important to me. As long as I can stay by his side, as long as I can eliminate obstacles for him, I feel very satisfied.""That is my everything.""Isn't that pathetic?" Haku turned his head, looking at Naruto with some embarrassment. "Will someone with no ambition like me make you feel bored?"Naruto didn't answer immediately.He looked at Haku.Naruto put away his devil-may-care expression.He reached out, and before Haku could react, he pressed his hand onto the other's head.He ruffled his hair.It felt great.Smooth, soft."Who says you have to do big things to be considered successful?"Naruto said nonchalantly while recklessly ruffling Haku's originally silky long hair into a bird's nest. "Do not neglect a good deed just because it is small. Dreams, this sort of thing, don't distinguish between big and small, only between true and false.""If you want to protect someone, then go protect them. As long as you do it earnestly, even if it's just handing that person a tissue or blocking a stone, that is your Ninja Way.""Only those losers who shout about saving the world all day but can't even protect the people around them will be laughed at."Haku was stunned.The temperature coming from the top of his head was very warm.The action, which he considered rude and impolite, now carried an inexplicably soothing power.Since he was a child, apart from Mr. Zabuza, no one had ever affirmed his existence like this.Everyone said he was a monster, or Zabuza's killing machine.Only this person said his dream "doesn't distinguish between big and small.""Thank you..."Haku's voice was a bit choked up.He sniffled, forcibly suppressing the urge to cry."Actually..."Haku seemed to be infected by this atmosphere and started to open up. "I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. I think that for someone like me, what's most important isn't a dream, but 'being needed.'""Being needed?" Naruto's hand stopped."Yes."Haku nodded, a near-devout expression appearing on his face. "Just like Mr. Zabuza needs me. To me, my greatest value is becoming a tool that is useful to him.""Even if it's just as a blade for killing, or a shield to block blades.""As long as I can feel that 'I am needed,' I can feel that I am still alive."Haku turned his head, a certain morbid light flickering in his clear eyes. "This is the reason I become stronger. To become a more perfect tool, so as not to be abandoned by that important person."The air suddenly went quiet.The chirping of birds in the woods seemed exceptionally harsh.Naruto slowly withdrew his hand.That warm tactile sensation disappeared, replaced by a suffocating low pressure.Haku keenly sensed that something was wrong.He looked at Naruto with some trepidation, not knowing if he had said something wrong."A tool?"Naruto repeated the word.There was no gentleness or teasing in his tone anymore.Only a mockery that was cold to the bone."You think being a tool is glorious?"Haku opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but was directly interrupted by Naruto."Then let me ask you."Naruto stood up, brushed the dust off his hands, and looked down at Haku, who was still sitting on the ground. "What if one day, this tool gets rusty?"Haku's heart skipped a beat."What if one day, this blade gets chipped, can no longer cut people, and might even hurt the one holding it?"Naruto bent down.His handsome face drew close to Haku, carrying a nearly cruel sense of oppression."What if the person holding the blade finds a better, sharper, and more obedient blade?"Haku's face instantly turned deathly pale.It was just like the ground after a fresh snowfall, without a trace of blood color."No... that won't happen..."Haku subconsciously retorted, but his voice was trembling. "Mr. Zabuza wouldn't..."
