Shi Xiu heard Haku's question and felt a slight jolt. Only then did he suddenly remember that Haku seemed to have come from a remote village in the Land of Water, one that was blanketed in snow all year round.
In that village, frequent wars had left the villagers fearful and resentful of anyone with a Kekkei Genkai.
Haku's mother, however, possessed a Kekkei Genkai herself, and she knew that this special ability could bring disaster upon her family.
So she carefully buried the secret deep in her heart, guarding it for many years.
Time passed as peacefully as still water, and Haku's family continued to live a quiet, carefree life.
But the gears of fate were turning in secret. As time went on, Haku grew older, and the Kekkei Genkai hidden within him began to awaken.
Then, one day, the power could no longer be concealed. Haku had inherited his mother's Kekkei Genkai!
Haku's father accidentally noticed something strange about his son. After testing him, he was shocked to discover that his wife possessed a Kekkei Genkai.
Fear and greed immediately took hold of his heart. He was afraid it would bring disaster upon the entire village.
Driven by fear, Haku's father gathered a group of ignorant villagers and stormed toward their home.
It was a dark night, with howling winds and torrential rain.
When Haku's mother saw her husband charge into the house with a group of people, her heart sank.
Before she could explain, those people, having lost all reason, mercilessly raised their weapons and cruelly killed Haku's mother.
Blood stained the floor, and the air filled with a nauseating stench.
The bloodthirsty mob didn't stop there. They turned their attention to the young and helpless Haku.
Just as Haku's father swung his blade, ready to strike him down, Haku, gripped by terror, unleashed a power unlike anything he had ever known.
His eyes widened, and a bone-chilling cold radiated from his body. In an instant, countless sharp icicles appeared out of nowhere and shot toward everyone there like lightning.
Screams rang out one after another as those once-ruthless people fell into pools of blood. Not one of them survived.
In the blink of an eye, Haku had killed all his enemies with his own Kekkei Genkai. But at the same time, he had lost the parents he loved most forever.
Overnight, Haku went from a beloved child to an orphan with no one to rely on.
Afterward, Haku wandered aimlessly through the streets and alleys of the Land of Water, barely clothed and starving. He could only scrape by through begging, until he eventually met Zabuza.
Haku gazed quietly at Shi Xiu. When he saw that Shi Xiu had fallen silent in thought after hearing his question, a glimmer of hope slipped uncontrollably into the depths of his eyes.
Just then, Shi Xiu finally came back to himself.
Shi Xiu's lips curved into a faint smile. He gently reached out, stroked Haku's silky hair, and spoke softly.
"Don't worry too much about what other people think. If you come across anyone who says cruel things, just kill them. People like that only learn to behave once they're dead."
Haku was slightly taken aback by Shi Xiu's unexpected answer.
Even he hadn't expected Shi Xiu to say something like that.
But before Haku could react further, Shi Xiu had already taken his small hand and, still smiling, said,
"Don't pay any attention to other people. Remember, since you've chosen to become my blade, you can't be so sentimental."
Haku lowered his head slightly, his expression respectful and his voice firm. "I understand, sir!"
Then Shi Xiu led Haku toward the Furo Bathhouse, the largest bathhouse in Konoha.
Shi Xiu smiled and gently led Haku inside by the hand.
A staff member in a neat uniform noticed the customers and immediately broke into a warm smile as he hurried over to greet Shi Xiu and Haku.
He first looked at Shi Xiu and gave him a polite nod, then turned to Haku.
But unlike the melodramatic scenes so common in novels, the staff member showed no contempt or disdain at all for Haku's somewhat dirty appearance.
Still, when the staff member learned that the person who looked so delicate and adorable, like the girl next door, was actually a boy, a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes.
That surprise disappeared in an instant, quickly covered by his professionalism.
Shi Xiu then led Haku to the changing room. Once inside, Shi Xiu casually took off his coat and hung it on a nearby rack, then began undoing his clothes.
At the same time, Shi Xiu turned to tease Haku, his voice tinged with amusement. "Haku, you're so deceptive-looking! Nine out of ten people who've seen you would take you for a girl!"
Haku's hands paused as he was taking off his clothes.
After a moment, Haku slowly lowered his head and replied in a low voice, "You're teasing me again, sir..."
Shi Xiu slowly took off his clothes and picked up a clean, soft bath towel, expertly wrapping it around his waist.
Then Shi Xiu picked up a wooden basin, gently stroked Haku's silky hair, and said with a smile, "I'll head inside first. Hurry up and join me!"
Haku's gaze involuntarily fell on Shi Xiu's bare body. Beneath his broad, firm shoulders, his waist was lean and defined, and his abdomen was marked with a clearly visible six-pack.
Haku discreetly looked away and turned his head slightly as he replied, "All right, sir!"
Shi Xiu gently pushed open the half-closed door. A thick cloud of steam immediately billowed toward him.
Without hesitation, Shi Xiu strode straight toward the hot spring and soon stepped into its warm water.
He had been busy running around for the past few days. Though he hadn't been through many intense battles, Shi Xiu still felt exhausted in body and mind.
At that moment, all he wanted was to soak in the steaming hot spring, enjoy this rare peace and comfort, and completely relax his taut nerves.
Just then, Haku also slipped quietly into the room.
Shi Xiu merely glanced at him, and couldn't help but reflect.
There was no denying that Haku was very thin. Add his small frame to that, and it was no wonder people often mistook him for a girl.
Haku slowly approached Shi Xiu and eased himself into the warm spring water.
In an instant, an indescribable sense of comfort surged through him like a tide, sweeping over his entire body. It felt as if countless gentle hands were softly stroking every inch of his skin, leaving him intoxicated and unable to tear himself away.
Haku couldn't help letting out a soft moan. Shi Xiu, who had been resting with his eyes closed nearby, was startled by the sound. He abruptly opened his eyes and turned toward Haku, his face full of surprise.
Haku seemed to realize that he had let himself go a little.
He hurriedly lowered his head, unable to meet Shi Xiu's eyes. Gripping the edge of the pool tightly with both hands, he looked rather uneasy.
The atmosphere turned unbearably awkward. The two of them sat in the hot spring in silence, neither saying a word.
Time passed second by second. Apart from the gentle sound of flowing water and the occasional birdsong, there was no other noise.
After quite a while, Shi Xiu was the first to break the silence.
Shi Xiu stood up, stretched his limbs, and smiled at Haku.
"Had enough of a soak? How about I scrub your back, and then we go buy you some new clothes?" With that, Shi Xiu walked toward Haku.
Only then did Shi Xiu come to his senses. He should have taken Haku to buy clothes before bringing him to bathe. But what was done was done, and all he could do now was make up for it.
After a long while, Shi Xiu and Haku emerged from the Furo Bathhouse, both blushing.
Shi Xiu took Haku by the hand and headed straight for a nearby clothing store.
The shopkeeper was sharp-eyed. The moment he saw customers enter, he hurried over with a beaming smile.
"Welcome! Are you two here to pick out some clothes? What kind of styles are you looking for?"
Shi Xiu didn't answer the shopkeeper. Instead, he pointed at Haku beside him and said, "Could you help him pick out two outfits?"
The shopkeeper followed Shi Xiu's finger and looked at Haku. His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help exclaiming, "Wow! What an adorable little girl!"
At the shopkeeper's blunt compliment, Shi Xiu couldn't help bursting into laughter.
Shi Xiu quickly reached out to gently stop Haku, who was about to explain. Smiling, he said, "That's right. Why don't you pick out a couple of pretty dresses for him first?"
After saying that, Shi Xiu turned to Haku, whose face was full of shock, and continued in an expectant tone, "Just wear them this once. Let me enjoy the view, just this once."
Haku's beautiful eyes were now filled with a tangle of emotions. He simply stared silently at Shi Xiu, as if time had stopped.
After a long while, Haku finally sighed softly, then slowly opened his mouth. "If that's what you want... then as long as you're happy, sir."