A Song of Mist and Blood
Chapter III: The Ashes of Isana
Available Here: AO3
Even if they are a stark reminder of Haku – a reminder of her own youth, trained with ruthless intensity, barely a child of seven when Zabuza had plucked the kunai out of a deceased shinobi’s flak jacket and had placed upon her palm, helping to curl her fingers over the cooling surface of the blade.
“I’m not always gonna be here for you, brat.”
He had informed her in a tone resembling a command for her with all of the gruffness that a child of eight years could conjure in all of his power. Though he had not been unkind in his explanation, with fingers that rose to ruffle the dirtied curls of her hair.
“So I’m gonna teach you to defend yourself, okay?”
“R-right. . . Especially ‘cause I want to learn to protect you too.”














