Author's Note: I've always been fond of the Zabuza/Haku pairing. It was actually my first Naruto 'ship, long before Lee or Temari or Shikamaru entered the picture. However, not wishing to rehash past ideas, I avoided the pairing until now, not thinking I had anything to add to it. However, this isn't exactly Zabuza/Haku. Haku is only a child, Zabuza in his early to mid teens, and they met each other only a week ago. This is just a fic about them.

"You're finally ready to take on a genin cell, then?"

Zabuza had to refrain from rolling his eyes. "My decision to take on an apprentice isn't a resignation from the ANBU corps, Mizukage-sama. And I have no desire to baby-sit an additional pair of brats."

"You can't honestly expect to bring a child with you on your missions."

The young assassin remained silent. He was neither an orator nor a diplomat. Any decision the Mizukage made was not likely to be positively influenced by his words, so he spoke not at all, just stood and waited.

The old man sighed, for old he was, beyond his years, graying at an age when most were beginning to realize the strength and stamina of their youth was behind them. He was weary with the weight of his responsibility and years of service. Zabuza had always been a trial to him. Rather arrogant. Unnaturally talented, but disinclined to listen to advice or even orders when it suited him. Outsiders thought him bloodthirsty, mostly for his rather grisly childhood and his enlistment in the assassin corps at an age when his contemporaries were just starting to consider the possibility of entering the chuunin exams, though in comparison to many of his associates the young man rated rather low on the sadism scale. Misanthropic to a disturbing degree. He was the youngest person the Mizukage had ever met who could go months without speaking and never notice the lack of companionship. And now he wanted an apprentice. An unforeseen occurrence. One that could be very beneficial to the Mist, or rather troublesome. It all depended, on Zabuza, in his training on the boy, and on himself, on how closely he watched the development of this new relationship. He pondered. And he made his decision.

"How old is this boy, again?"

"Six."

Six. Young. Too young, really, barely old enough to enter the academy, much less participate in A-ranked assignments. Mizukage briefly wondered what Zabuza was thinking, before determining that it really didn't matter. The assassin was barely out of childhood himself. Skilled, but not a threat. Not now.

"Very well. I will grant your request," and the Mizukage strained to see a reaction, any reaction to his words, getting none, "On one condition. This boy of yours, he must be. . . gifted, to catch a hold of your attention, yes?"

A barely perceivable nod, though the young ANBU's eyes narrowed slightly at his words.

"Good. I will give you, hm, one year I believe, to put your apprentice through some training, get him up to speed. You are off the ANBU duty roster for that year. If he is as talented as he must be, that will be enough. You may then resume your duties."

"Do you believe that is necessary?"

"One year exclusive training from you will make this boy a valuable tool for the Mist, more than worth a year's worth of service from one of our best assassins. An even trade, I think." The Mizukage gestured towards the door, an obvious dismissal, and turned back to his paperwork. There was a slight pause before the young assassin gave the customary bow, but he gave it nonetheless, slow and reluctant as it was.

"Thank you, Mizukage-sama."

-

"Did you get all that, Haku?"

The boy nodded, smiling cheerily. "The Mizukage wants you to train me until I am strong enough to survive on assassination assignments."

"Very good."

It was perhaps premature to begin the boy's training before he had gained the approval of the Mizukage, but he had known the old man wouldn't pass up the opportunity to evaluate his effectiveness as a teacher, even if only out of curiosity. No one took notice of the ragged boy (not as thin perhaps, as he had been a week ago, when Zabuza had found him, and certainly not as filthy) sitting near the entrance to the Mizukage's tower, eating a bun full of cooked pork. They certainly didn't recognize the small pool of water in the Mizukage's office as anything resembling a threat, here in the land of the Mist. The unique ability to transmit (teleport, really, though Zabuza hesitated to label it that so soon) sound through water was a distinctly unique ability, one the assassin had never seen before. It reinforced his own belief that the boy was likely a descendent of one of the advanced bloodlines mostly wiped out in the last war. A fortunate discovery, especially so considering Haku hadn't looked to survive no more than a few days.

"Zabuza-san?"

The assassin's attention focused again on his apprentice. A funny thought, that. Never before had he met a child worthy of his time, but this one might very well be.

"What is it, Haku?"

"One thing Mizukage-sama said. . . it confused me, a little. He said that I was going to become a tool for the Mist. But I thought I was your tool, Zabuza-san."

"For the time being, Haku, my interests and the interests of the Mist are the same. When you serve the Mist, you serve me. But keep something in mind, Haku. That will not always be the case."

The boy nodded, satisfied. "I am your tool, Zaubza-san."

The assassin smiled slightly, almost unseen through the bandages. "Correct."