Naruto: The Prince of Lust

Chapter 275 - 275

"Even I don't know what this is," Tenten answered, which isn't completely true, but Tenten wants to hear what more Haku will say in front of their supposed master.

"I don't know if you've observed this yourselves," Haku continues. "But I've come to believe that much of the education a shinobi gains comes well before they first pick up a kunai or mold chakra. It's hard truths. In many, if not all, of my encounters with strong shinobi, the painful education one receives from life's negative experiences, often leads them down the path of greatness, whether good or bad. My childhood was far from ideal, as was Zabuza-sama's, and Naruto-sama's, and many other exemplary shinobi."

Feeling blindsided, a confused Tenten demands to know, "that's what you're basing this on?" Even if she didn't know all the shinobi in the village, she knew of one eternally youthful shinobi who's exceptionally strong. With fierce brown eyes, Tenten declares, "my sensei didn't have a horrible past and he's one of the strongest shinobi in all of Konoha, rivaling Kakashi-sensei. There! Your 'observation' is wrong!"

Haku didn't seem bothered. Instead, he was surprised and that bothered Tenten before he asks, "you're his student and yet you don't know his past?"

Confused, Tenten cautiously asks, "know what?"

"Your sensei may be flamingly optimistic, but his past is no exception to my theory," Haku calmly claims. "Sometime after the Third Shinobi World War, the Seven Swordsmen of the time, Fuguki Suikazan, Jinin Akebino, Kushimaru Kuriarare, Raiga Kurosuki, Jūzō Biwa, and two others, cornered a Konoha team in the forest; your sensei among them. A young Might Guy and his team were rescued by Might Duy—his father—who fought all seven swordsmen by himself using an unknown, yet substantially powerful technique. Out of seven, only Fuguki, Jūzō, and Raiga survived and not without heavy injures."

"Wow," Naruto sounds. "I didn't know Guy-sensei's tou-chan was so strong."

"While Guy-sensei and his team ran, his father fought to protect them and died," Haku educates Tenten.

Defensively, Tenten questions, "how could you possibly know that?"

"Before Zabuza-sama," Haku starts. "Kubikiribōchō belonged to Jūzō Biwa, who suffered lasting damage from his battle with Might Duy. Before Jūzō lost his sword and his life to Zabuza-sama, he confessed what had happened and the name of the lone man, with steaming red aura, who nearly wiped out the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. It's not hard to imagine what leaving your father to die while you flee for your life might feel like, Tenten; how that might push a person like the eternally spirited Might Guy."

Tenten takes several moments to absorb this revelation, absentmindedly asking for the sake of speaking, "have you told Guy-sensei?"

"I've been debating if I should," Haku muses. "I wouldn't want to cause him needless pain."

"I think you should," Naruto proposes. "If it was my tou-chan, I know I'd want to hear it."

The sheer measure of empathy Tenten feels for her sensei only adds weight to Haku's point and Tenten isn't sure how she feels about that. Not only because she can't measure up in that category but also because she can't think of another strong shinobi who hasn't experienced horribly traumatic experiences. Defensively, she asks Haku, "is that really the same as being forced to kill your parents or practically being enslaved by your own family, or being an orphan in a village that hates you, or the orphaned survivor of a massacred clan?"

"To each their terrors," Haku plainly replies. "I can't say without speaking to Guy-sensei, but I wouldn't be surprised if his father meant the world to him. Nor have I spoken with Hyūga Neji or Uchiha Sasuke about their pasts but I'm certain they've matured drastically due to their experiences. In your case, your father's an idiot, but he's still alive. I cannot say anything about your mother, but even if I knew her story, I don't believe it's a driving force for you."

"Maybe," Naruto hums in deep thought. "I can't say my past doesn't push me every day to prove everyone wrong but it's a tough thing to prove."

"I'm certain there are exceptions," Haku acknowledges. "Geniuses and truly talented shinobi may not need a traumatizing inciting incident to drive them. My theory is ongoing but I've yet to meet someone who disproves it."

"Well, it's hard to live in our world without tragedy," Naruto proposes with a shrug, making Tenten wonder how true that is and if she qualifies. Naruto continues, "I still don't understand how I can help Tenten-chan."

"Misfortunes are owed in large part to the inexperience and naivety of youth," Haku begins to answer the both of them. "Trained in challenging truths, laborious grit, and the hard work we put into the day, even Tenten-chan can learn the theory of success. To put it simply, I feel Tenten would benefit from stoic maturity. So, while I train her in her physical abilities in every way I know, I'd like you to help her experience that maturation."

Looking stunned and amused, Naruto asks with disbelief, "help with maturity? From me? That's a new one, but, okay. How do you guys want to do this?"

"Tenten," Haku asks.

Hesitantly, Tenten struggles to answer, "...doing... a-adult... stuff." She can already feel her body temperature rise to prickly hot around her armpits, neck, and forehead.

Squinting his sky-blue eyes suspiciously, Naruto repeats, "adult stuff," before asking, "like what?"

Swallowing audibly, a fidgety Tenten blushes as she hesitates to answer, "full... bodied... massages... would be nice."

With a tone that's thick with accusation, Naruto asks, "Haku?" Tenten feels a spot of hope when Naruto questions, "why's it sound like Tenten's not up for this?"

'Maybe...' Tenten's mind wishes, hoping to get out of this.

Without a hint of guilt or culpability, Haku offers, "I suggested murdering a few homeless people, but she refused-"

Surprised, Naruto calls, "murdering homeless! Haku!"

"It was just a suggestion," the captivating boy insists.

Turning to Tenten, Naruto begs, "I know you want to get strong, but please don't murder anyone."

Calmly, Haku remarks to the blond, "Naruto-sama, you already know I don't care for killing. I simply want to train Tenten-chan to the best of my ability."

"There are other ways," Naruto argues, to which, Haku agrees.

"I'm sure there are," Haku voices as calmly as ever. "But I can't guarantee Tenten the true strength she herself desires using those passive methods."

Seemingly frustrated with Haku, Naruto turns to the bun-haired maiden and assures her, "Tenten-chan, don't do anything you don't want to."

To which Haku casually comments, "yes, because the path to greatness never encounters anything you don't want to do."

Rotating toward his friend, Naruto frustratingly calls, "Haku-"

But the blond is interrupted when Haku bows to Naruto, voicing just as respectfully as he always does, "I know what you intend to say, Naruto-sama, and I admire you more for it. What I'm attempting to explain is, you already fit the theory, so you can't know what it's like without that drive. Not everyone is ready to accept greatness without conquering the adversity necessary to build that confidence. If Tenten graduated the Academy in Kiri, it means the girl before you would've already killed peers she's studied with just to survive. I don't mean to say Konoha needs to be like Kiri. I only mean to say they expose their ninja to life and death early and often to mold only the best. As a genin, your fight with Zabuza-sama brought you to the line between life and death." Turning to Tenten, Haku confirms to her, "I can't give you that because you are still a Konoha kunoichi and there would be ramifications that would affect Naruto-sama. But I'm giving you the next best thing I can think of. So for the last time, choose."

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