Haku (Don't Be Too Strict About Gender in Fanfiction)

"The words you plagiarized don't seem very useful. That brat still hasn't come around," Nine-Tails' voice echoed in Naruto's mind.

Naruto immediately retorted, "Who says they weren't, Kurama? Didn't you see the changes in Inari? And as for plagiarism, who in this world has ever said those words before?"

"Pah..." Kurama rolled his eyes in the inner world and spat viciously.

Time passed slowly through training. After Sasuke learned that Naruto used Shadow Clones to train alongside him, he also created Shadow Clones to train. However, Sasuke did not have as much chakra as Naruto, nor was his physique as extraordinary, so he could only maintain ten Shadow Clones at most.

With the help of his Shadow Clones, Sasuke mastered tree climbing and began water-walking training. Sakura's chakra control was excellent, and she quickly learned to walk on water as well. Then, despite her reluctance, Kakashi assigned her to guard Tazuna at the bridge.

One evening, Naruto went out to train again. Excitedly, he shouted in the woods, "I did it! I did it! I mastered the Rasengan!"

After lying down on the grass, his consciousness entered the inner world. He excitedly showed off to Nine-Tails, forming a Rasengan between his palms. "Kurama, look! I learned the Rasengan!"

"Mm." Nine-Tails was still watching a movie on a projection screen made from his own chakra.

Naruto felt like he had made a fool of himself. Nine-Tails' indifferent response doused all the excitement in his heart.

Passing through the iron gate and entering farther inside, Naruto found that Nine-Tails was actually watching Dragon Ball.

Seeing this, Naruto also drew upon Nine-Tails' chakra to create a light screen.

Noticing that his chakra was being used, Nine-Tails glanced at Naruto and grinned, revealing his sharp teeth. Naruto was watching Ultraman Nexus.

"That human, Jun Himeya, didn't die, so you can relax. And that vice-captain you hate will become Ultraman too. The male lead doesn't transform until more than halfway through the final episode!" Nine-Tails directly spoiled it, leaving Naruto dumbfounded.

Naruto paused the show and glared at Nine-Tails angrily. "Hey, Kurama, what are you doing? Can you stop spoiling things and let me watch it bit by bit? Watching it on a screen is much more interesting than seeing it through Awen's memories."

Kurama said smugly, "This is payback for the last time you spoiled something."

"That happened ages ago, Kurama. I didn't do it on purpose. Didn't I realize I was wrong afterward? I changed too. Spoilers really do ruin the experience. I was wrong." Naruto looked like he was begging for mercy.

Nine-Tails continued, "Heh... pause it first. Haven't you noticed that the anime, novels, TV dramas, and movies in Awen's memories might be helpful to us too?"

Naruto nodded in agreement. "That's true. I plagiarized Jun Himeya's words, and Inari really changed a lot. At least he no longer thinks Gato is unbeatable. He's even secretly visiting other villagers to persuade them, just like his grandfather Tazuna, trying to change the Land of Waves."

"That's not what I mean!" Nine-Tails raised his voice. "Naruto, have you ever considered that chakra in the Shinobi World has many more possibilities? Take the Flying Thunder God Technique, for example."

"The Flying Thunder God Technique uses chakra markings to produce an effect similar to reverse summoning. Naruto, you should know techniques like spatial movement and Instant Transmission, right?"

Nine-Tails' words made Naruto's eyes light up. Naruto asked excitedly, "Kurama, are you saying I can achieve spatial movement?"

"The Flying Thunder God Technique still has no limit to its potential. Awen's memories gave us a deeper understanding of the elements. Wind is not merely destructive; it also involves airflow and motion. Water is the source of all things, embracing everything while constantly flowing. Naruto, with these two attributes, perhaps one day your Flying Thunder God Technique can move with the wind and remain still with the wind. When that time comes, your Flying Thunder God Technique will surpass your father's."

Unlike Naruto, Nine-Tails had been passing the time in the inner world with light screens, so he had gained many insights. He hoped Naruto would become stronger.

Naruto's eyes gleamed. Although he did not fully understand it, it sounded incredibly cool. Once they returned to Konoha, he had to give it a try. Maybe it really would work!

"Mm, someone's coming. Naruto, wake up. That girl named Haku is coming over." Nine-Tails had not forgotten the situation outside. Ever since Naruto entered, he had been monitoring the outside environment.

Naruto froze. "What? A whole night has passed already? Wait, Kurama, did you say Haku is...?"

Nine-Tails said, "Mm. My judgment was right after all. Even if she deliberately wears things like that black choker to conceal it halfway, she's a girl. Her breasts are quite full, and her figure is pretty good too. By human standards, she's built for easy childbirth."

"Kurama, what kind of nonsense are you educating me about?!" Naruto shouted as Nine-Tails directly kicked him out of the inner world. The image on the light screen paused as well. Nine-Tails was ready to watch the show, only lacking sunflower seeds and soda.

Zabuza had also suffered serious injuries, while Kakashi needed to recover his strength. Haku changed out of her ninja attire, put on a pink kimono, let down her long black hair, and came into the woods to gather medicine.

While gathering herbs, Haku noticed Naruto, who had finished training and entered the inner world with his consciousness, leaving his body seemingly asleep.

Seeing Naruto like this, Haku instinctively revealed a trace of killing intent. She lightly placed her right hand on Naruto's neck. With just a little force, she could snap his neck. But after struggling inwardly for a moment, she abandoned the idea and shook Naruto's body.

"Wake up. You'll catch a cold sleeping here."

Naruto's consciousness was sent out by Nine-Tails, who was waiting to watch the show.

Naruto yawned, rubbed his eyes, and asked, "Who are you?"

Haku revealed a gentle smile. Naruto instantly sobered up, his face turning bright red. From Awen's memories, he knew Haku. In Naruto, she was considered even cuter than Sakura, and that was no exaggeration at all. Words like breathtaking beauty and unearthly elegance suited Haku perfectly.

Naruto had never seen anyone more beautiful than Haku. More importantly, Haku was a girl. Haku in this world was a girl! Naruto's heart stirred with first love, and in that moment, he forgot all about Sakura and even Hinata, his future destined wife from Awen's memories of Naruto.

"Big sister, y-you woke me up? Are you gathering medicine? Oh, right, what's your name, big sister? I'm Naruto, the man who will become Hokage in the future!" Naruto was like an innocent young boy at that moment, full of lofty ambition, and Haku smiled.

"Wow, you really have dreams." Haku's tone was like she was humoring a child, making Naruto feel very embarrassed. He was clearly serious, and he had always been working toward that goal. What made him even more unhappy was that Haku actually treated him like a child.

(Author's note: In the original story, Naruto knew the Sexy Jutsu, often read beauty magazines, and later even helped Jiraiya write Make-Out Paradise, so he was somewhat different from someone like Luffy. Yet even Naruto blushed when he saw Haku and said she was even cuter than Sakura Haruno. You should know that Naruto liked Sakura at that time.)

(So I think Haku's appearance definitely ranked among the very top tier in Naruto. After all, no later female character made Naruto blush and fall for her at first sight. So it feels like such a waste for Haku to be male. Since this is fanfiction, there is no need to be too strict about the gender of a special character like Haku. Besides, Haku came long before that character named Hideyoshi.)