A/N: This is the updated chapter, edited by my wonderful absolutely darling new beta Emily Nash, who seems to have found a way to make sense of my crazy writing and terrible grammar and transform it into an actual fabulous fanfiction. I am very grateful to her! :)

On another note, this story takes place a bit in the future and as I'm the author I reserve the right to change certain things! Ha! So I may end up shifting certain things that did happen in the anime/manga and make them unhappen here! Also, My Sakura may seem OOC but I purposely did so. My Sakura is more mature and closed off around all others except perhaps Team Kakashi/Yamato. So be prepared!

Disclaimer. I do not own anything but the plot!

The years teach much which the days never know. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

For some reason unknown to Sakura, animosity was emanating from the red haired woman before her. A snarl ripped its way through tightly pressed lips.

"You!"

Raising a kunai in front of her, hands shaking faintly as she gripped the cold metal tightly.

"You're that bitch!"

Sakura stood rigid, eyes gazing at the slightly taller woman in front of her, her face blank.

"Who are you?"

She found that her words lacked bite, considering how angry she should have been – would have once been – but then again, it's been many years since she has found anything strong enough to effect her the way it should have.

"That doesn't matter," she spat, her eyes clamping shut in raging anger. "Leave! Go away from here."

She sounded almost desperate, and Sakura shook her head slowly.

"I don't take orders from you," she said quietly.

She pressed a finger lightly to the headset in her ear, static welcoming the hurried voice of her best friend.

"Sakura, I found one," she nodded even though he couldn't see her. "He's got Zabuza's sword." Sighing, she pushed the small button that allowed her to communicate with him.

"Do what you can. I'll be there soon," she whispered, her gaze wandered briefly over the agitated kunoichi in front of her, gauging the likelihood of an attack.

It was only a moment before his rapid "Hai, Sakura-chan," was carried over on a wave of static. Sakura focused her attention back to the proud woman in front of her, whose trembling fingers gave away her panic. Her red eyes spoke something of desperation.

"You must be from Team Hebi," she said with a careful voice, soft but not tender, holding out her hand, "I am under orders from the Hokage to take you to Konoha where you will await trial. It would be wise not to resist," She spoke quietly, making the other woman flinch.

In a voice so quiet that Sakura almost didn't hear it, the red headed woman spoke. Her gaze was trained on the ground as if she were afraid look at Sakura in the eyes.

"I won't leave Sasuke."

Sakura observed the girl for a moment further before she smiled slightly.

"Good."

Karin could only react by looking up with wide eyes at the standoffish girl before her, green orbs holding her red ones in an intense gaze.

"What?"

Placing her arms across her chest, the pink haired woman kept her very small smile, one that didn't match her cold eyes before turning away.

Karin balked for a moment, before flinging her kunai at the woman, who easily avoided it.

"Don't!" She said, biting her lip, "Don't walk away from me!"

The woman let a weak laugh escape her lips.

"Why? You aren't going to fight me, I'm not going to waste my time here."

Karin felt hot rage surge through her chest.

"If you want a fight, that's fine by me," she spat back.

Reaching into her pouch she quickly withdrew a handful of senbon needles. Blinking momentarily, she hurled them with deadly precision. The space however, where the other kunoichi had stood, was now vacant.

Karin felt her heart beating heavy in her chest as she sent out locating chakra, moving to concentrate the stream, she realized she couldn't move.

"Damn it," she hissed past numb lips.

She winced as she looked around, the forest appeared different, much less dense. In front of her stood none other than Sasuke Uchiha. His name left her lips on reflex, he turned towards her and she gasped. It wasn't the same Sasuke Uchiha she knew. This was a boy.

"Sasuke?" She breathed, "Is that you?"

Clearly she was caught in a genjutsu, however, she couldn't bring herself to release it.

The Uchiha boy smiled, a small smile that she hadn't seen in a very long time, and never one so sincere. This image faded and a new scene took its place.

He sat with his two old teammates, eating ramen together; they seemed to enjoy each others company – even Sasuke.

Another scene where the woman with pink hair leaned over a wounded Sasuke. A chaotic battle raged around them.

She experienced several more brief but frustratingly poignant moments between Sasuke and his old team, it made Karin feel sick.

Rapid the environment transformed again, another forest, a young Sasuke was fighting someone. She felt her chest seize up, unable to even gasp as she recognized his opponent. It had been what seemed like years since she had seen him. Since she had last laid eyes on the corrupted sanin.

Extending the long spiral of his neck, Orochimaru's fangs sunk into Sasuke's neck; in a yowl of pain Sasuke sunk to his knees, eyes wide, gripping his shoulder.

In an instant Orochimaru was gone, Karin heard Sasuke breathe a name, before his pink haired team mate returned, cradling him in her arms.

"Sasuke…"

She appeared younger, innocent and more sincere.

Karin then stood before Konoha village, watching as Sasuke with hands shoved in his pockets, backpack slung on his shoulder, headed for the exit.

She observed painfully the pink haired kunochi's chase, from her aspect she saw him wince, as if he knew what was coming.

"It's the middle of the night," he said softly. His voice was different, still harsh, but it lacked the cold and unfeeling undertone she had come to expect. "What're you hanging around here for?"

She watched dejected as the scene unfolded before her; Sasuke took a few more steps towards the exit with his eyes downcast.

"Why Sasuke?"

These words pierced her resolve. She had always wanted to ask him the very same thing. Why?

"Why won't you ever tell me anything?"

She listened as Sasuke defended himself, his dark eyes unblinking, still trained on his feet. Karin found herself, as she often did, unable to glance away from his face. Sasuke's eyes remained motionless, no shade of emotion tinting his face.

"I love with all of my heart! …I promise…you'd never regret it…I'm begging you don't walk away. I'll do anything I can to help," the girl yelled, her hand clutched to her heart. "If you can't stay, then take me with you."

Karin felt tears of her own stinging her eyes.

It was the first time she'd ever seen real emotion play across Sasuke's face. His eyes immediately closed and his eyebrows shot down, like he was in pain. In an instant, it was gone, and he gave a smile that was somehow, very sad for Sasuke Uchiha.

He disappeared, coming to stand behind her, his eyes soft for only a fleeting moment as he whispered her name so gently.

"Sakura…"

Karin could hardly breath as she watched him, so very un like the Sasuke she knew.

"Thank you for everything."

Karin stood, facing nothing but the wind.

"Are you…" she breathed. "Are you still here?"

Expelling her chakra, she easily found the woman. She was allowing herself to be found, hardly masking her chakra at all.

"Why would you show me that?" she demanded.

The familiarity of the pink haired woman's piercing green eyes caught Karin off balance. She mentally cursed her.

"You are a fool," the woman said. Karin's skin prickled as the harsh, bitter words fell from the mouth of such a small, almost fragile being.

"Why because Sasuke loves me?" She spat, suddenly feeling utterly helpless.

The woman looked completely unphased.

"I have shown you my most precious memories."

Karin registered that there was no hostility on her voice, her words seemed sincere.

"What are yours?" She asked, this time with a tinge bitterness.

Before she could answer, her mind met black.