Third Person: (OOC: Does writing for kid-Haku count?) His legs burned from exertion, shaking ever-so-slightly under his weight. Ten laps had become twenty, and then thirty. At some point he had lost count and the blur of passing trees and ragged breathing just melded together into nothing. Still, he forced himself forward. He had to.
Zabuza had left him alone to train, that had been hours ago. It was the first time that he had ever been left on his own, and he was going to prove that the trust placed in him was well placed. He would not slack for even a second, lest he be caught in such a situation. No one would want a tool that lazed about the moment they turned away. Even if Haku’s feet bleed he would not stop.
It was only the image of rare praise that kept him going.
Even that didn’t seem to be enough. The little boy woke up hours later, tucked away in a futon that he had no recollection of crawling into. Haku blinked away the sleep that clouded his vision, the dilapidated cabin they had taken as their own feeling out of place after falling asleep with a cheek in the dirt. Someone had plucked his exhausted body out of the dirt. That someone had also left a sternly worded note tucked under lukewarm tea to the effect of “Sleep. You’re useless if you’re exhausted.”
It was stupid to cry. Not fitting of a ninja, and going against every bit of training he had ever endured. Yet here he was, dripping tears over a note that was terse and emotionless, because it meant the world to him. He was still wanted. Even after showing weakness a purpose remained.
He made the mistake before. And it would be made again. Each and every misstep would be followed by the fear of losing it all, and one day he truly would, but it was those small signs that he was still needed that made his life worth living. He drank his tea, nose scrunched at the tepid and unsweetened drink, but swallowing each drop down because it had been made just for him. Today was for sleep, but tomorrow he would prove himself useful.
{ [Canon] Haku || Naruto || No reserve || 3 of 3 }
His legs burned from exertion, shaking ever-so-slightly under his weight. Ten laps had become twenty, and then thirty. At some point he had lost count and the blur of passing trees and ragged breathing just melded together into nothing. Still, he forced himself forward. He had to.
Zabuza had left him alone to train, that had been hours ago. It was the first time that he had ever been left on his own, and he was going to prove that the trust placed in him was well placed. He would not slack for even a second, lest he be caught in such a situation. No one would want a tool that lazed about the moment they turned away. Even if Haku’s feet bleed he would not stop.
It was only the image of rare praise that kept him going.
Even that didn’t seem to be enough. The little boy woke up hours later, tucked away in a futon that he had no recollection of crawling into. Haku blinked away the sleep that clouded his vision, the dilapidated cabin they had taken as their own feeling out of place after falling asleep with a cheek in the dirt. Someone had plucked his exhausted body out of the dirt. That someone had also left a sternly worded note tucked under lukewarm tea to the effect of “Sleep. You’re useless if you’re exhausted.”
It was stupid to cry. Not fitting of a ninja, and going against every bit of training he had ever endured. Yet here he was, dripping tears over a note that was terse and emotionless, because it meant the world to him. He was still wanted. Even after showing weakness a purpose remained.
He made the mistake before. And it would be made again. Each and every misstep would be followed by the fear of losing it all, and one day he truly would, but it was those small signs that he was still needed that made his life worth living. He drank his tea, nose scrunched at the tepid and unsweetened drink, but swallowing each drop down because it had been made just for him. Today was for sleep, but tomorrow he would prove himself useful.