(After a few weeks)

Haku sat in the dimly lit kitchen of his family's small, shabby house, listening intently to his parents' conversation.

The room was modest, with rough wooden walls and a dirt floor. A small fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

The scent of the snow-covered village outside seeped into the room, making him feel peaceful.

His father, a burly man with calloused hands and a weathered face, leaned forward, his voice low but intense. "Did you hear about the child, Naruto Namikaze?" he said, his tone tinged with both awe and disdain. "They say he single-handedly killed 600 assassins from Kumogakure."

Haku's mother, a slender woman with kind eyes that seemed tired beyond her years, nodded slowly. "Yes, it's hard to believe. A child of only five years old," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Haku, who had been idly sipping hot water from a chipped cup, perked up at this revelation.

He stared into the steaming liquid, his mind racing. A five-year-old child, capable of such power? Could he ever become that strong?

His father continued, his voice growing harsher. "That boy, Naruto, he's an Uzumaki. You know what that means. Those chains of theirs... they're kekkei genkai, just like the ones we despise."

His village had just emerged from the ravages of war, and the hatred for those with kekkei genkai ran deep. His own father harbored a particular disdain for the Uzumaki clan, believing their chains were a form of kekkei genkai.

Haku's mother nodded again, but if one looked closely, they could see the hesitation in her eyes. She agreed, but her agreement was hollow, a mere echo of her husband's sentiments.

Haku turned his gaze to the small window beside him.

The view was bleak, snow-covered fields stretching out as far as the eye could see. He took a deep breath, savoring the warmth of the hot water before setting the cup down.

"I'm going to play outside for a bit," he announced suddenly, rising from his seat.

His father's eyes narrowed. "It's too cold outside. Stay here and help your mother."

"I won't be long," Haku insisted, already moving toward the door.

His mother reached out a hand, concern etched on her face. "Haku, listen to your father."

But Haku was already out the door, his feet crunching on the fresh snow. He didn't look back, despite the protests that followed him.

The cold air bit at his cheeks, but Haku hardly noticed.

He made his way to a small pond at the edge of the village, a place he often visited when he needed to think.

The pond was frozen over, its surface a smooth, reflective sheet of ice.

Haku crouched by the edge, watching his breath mist in the air.

He had seen shinobi perform incredible feats with their jutsu, and he had always been fascinated.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

He made a hand sign he had seen them use, focusing intently on the pond before him.

Nothing happened at first. Haku gritted his teeth, groaning in frustration. He tried again, and again, until finally, the water beneath the ice began to ripple.

Slowly, it rose up, transforming into a jagged kunai made of ice. Haku's eyes widened in awe and excitement.

He had done it.

He had created something magical.

"Look at this!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the stillness.

But his joy was short-lived. His mother appeared, her face pale with fear. "Haku!" she screamed, running towards him. "What are you doing?"

Before he could react, she slapped him hard across the face. "Never do that again!" she scolded, her voice shaking. "Do you understand?"

Haku's eyes filled with tears. He didn't understand why his mother was so angry. "But... I made it," he said, his voice breaking.

She glanced around, her eyes wide with panic. When she saw that no one else was around, she sighed in relief. "I'm sorry, Haku," she said softly, pulling him into a tight embrace. "But you must promise me, never use that power again. It's dangerous."

Haku nodded, though he was still confused and hurt. "I promise," he whispered.

Unbeknownst to them, Haku's father had been watching from behind a snowy bush. His face was twisted in a mixture of hatred and guilt.

He had seen everything, and he knew what he had to do, despite the heavy weight of his decision.

As Haku and his mother made their way back to the house, the small village seemed even colder and more oppressive than before. Haku couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't yet understand.

.....

...

...

(Later that day, at night)

(Haku POV)

Why?

Why is this happening to me!?

"Father! What are you doing!?" I scream, confused. Why...why is Father stabbing Mother?

"Damn, I totally forgot there was the child too," said a villager.

"Fuck! Kill that small monster as well!" shouted another villager.

"Leave none of those kekkei genkai monsters alive."

"Yes, kill them all!"

"KILL!"

"KILL!"

"KILL!" "KILL!" "KILL!" "KILL!" "KILL!" "KILL!" the villagers chanted in unison.

"Haku...run..." My mother manages to say before she collapses, stabbed multiple times by a knife.

"Mother!" I scream and run towards her. But my father gets in between us and tries to slash me.

I manage to dodge it at the last moment by a hair's breadth.

"I'm sorry, son," My father—this monster—says as he tries to cut me again.

"We were a happy family...WHY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT ACCURSED POWER?" He screams and lunges at me.

Realization finally dawns on me. This was all because of what I did today. This happened because I created ice.

I never stopped to think if what I did was the result of kekkei genkai.

As I try to back off as he lunges towards me, I stumble and fall on my back.

The monster who had lunged manages to land right above me.

"You! Get off me!" I wail and try to push myself further away.

"GAH!"

He slams his foot on my chest to stop me. I taste iron suddenly.

"Please...let me go," I say weakly, grabbing his leg and begging.

I don't want to die.

He says nothing and cries while putting a knee on each of my arms, sitting on top of me, preventing me from moving.

I don't want to die.

"Don't kill me...father." I call the monster Father once again in hopes that he will remember that I was his son once.

"I'm sorry," he says.

That's all he says?

He grabs the knife with both hands and raises it above his head, ready to drive it through my skull.

I close my eyes and sob.

No no no no.

Please, someone save me!

Please!

I don't want to die.

*Slash!

Huh?

I suddenly feel my father's hold on me disappear all of a sudden.

I open my eyes only to have them flooded with blood all of a sudden.

"Argh!" I grunt and immediately throw my father to the side and get up, trying to see properly.

"Ah, sorry about that. I should have paid attention to it. Look this way, I will clean your eyes," a deep voice says. It sounds sarcastic and full of ego, as if he is making fun of me, but for some weird reason, I can't help but turn his way.

It looks like he saved me.

He grabs my face, and this time my whole face is drenched in water all of a sudden.

Thankfully, the water is warm.

I turn around and use my cloth to dry my face. I then look around to see where my father and the rest of the villagers are. I don't know what this man did, but they still posed a danger.

But they are all lying on the ground, blood spilled all over the place.

Did he kill them all?

I turn back to finally see the man.

"Who are you?" I ask the pink-haired man. He is tall and muscular. He has this uninterested look on his face, as if he is someone who lives above everyone.

"Sukuna Ryomen."