A/N: Ugh, instead of feeling nothing but sheer bliss from chapter 627, I feel angst. What's wrong with me!? Haha.
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Hope you enjoy!
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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor make any money from the writing of this story. Characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Karin saw her first.
All alone in a clearing of the battlefield, a tuft of pink hair stood out among the gritty rubble. The red head raced towards the seemingly battered body. The girl that would've killed Sasuke-kun. I-I can finish her off, take revenge for trying to hurt him!
As she reached the motionless kunoichi, Karin bit the inside of her cheek. This girl didn't have to heal her. She could've let her bleed to death from Sasuke's blade. She owed her to at least try. She picked her brain remembering the girl's name.
"Sakura-san!" Karin drew shaky hands onto Sakura's body and had her facing up. She flinched at the sight of dried blood and garish bruises marring her skin.
"Shit. Sakura-san can you hear me!?" She gave Sakura a once-over and gasped finding an dimming chakra. The pink-haired girl did not have much time.
"Karin."
Ruby eyes widened and stared onward. Before her, stood the dark-haired Uchiha; his attire dirty and torn in several places. He stepped with a slight limp and she wondered briefly if he sought Karin out to be healed. His gaze was blank no doubt exhausted. With the amount of shinobi cheers ringing out, the war had finally ended.
"Sasuke-kun..."
She watched the handsome shinobi pant and stagger over to the fallen woman. He gave Karin a hard stare signaling her to move over. The red-head watched on as gently Sasuke slipped his arms underneath Sakura holding her to his chest. He surveyed the small body in his arms. Her chunnin vest much more ripped barely able to close over her chest. The scratches that littered her exposed arms looked to be healed in some places and neglected in others. He felt her light breath fan his neck as he brought his ear down to her chest. A heartbeat.
Sasuke lifted his head away from her body and ran his hand along her cheek feeling the rough texture of the scars. He paused his action, eyes widening.
Cold. She was getting cold.
"Sasuke-kun, her chakra...she-"
"Give me your arm."
"But I saved it-for you."
"Karin." He pressed warningly.
"It's not enough for her injuries, believe me."
"We have to try."
Karin bit back a gasp hearing the desperation in Sasuke's voice. But she tried to kill you. She wanted to scream. Reluctantly, she rolled up her sleeve bringing her bare arm to the fainted kunoichi.
Sasuke carefully tilted Sakura's mouth to Karin's flesh whispering weakly demanding she bite.
"...no..."
A dry plea escaped Sakura's lips.
Sasuke's grows furrowed, "Sakura. Bite her. She'll heal you."
"N-No...Sasuke-k-kun... Karin is right..." Sakura wheezed not noticing the red-head stiffening at her name. "You need to first."
"Don't be stupid. You're the one downed."
"I am a medic. I-I will not deplete hers."
"Sakura...I will force you to bite her."
Sakura laughed weakly. "G-Get me...I-Ino...please..."
"There isn't enough time for that. Do as I say." His frustration building raced in time with her fading life force.
"I-I'll be fine..."
"Sakura..."
"...hm?"
"The war is over."
A tiny smile graced her dry lips.
"I need to tell you something."
Her mouth hung open, acknowledging his request.
"But after you've healed…"
She closed her mouth.
"Everything will be okay."
"..."
"I promise from now on, I'll give my life to protect you."
Once more, her lips fell open at his confession.
Karin's eyes dimmed.
"My life is yours, Sakura."
Sasuke leaned forward, tightening his hold on Sakura's frail body. His spiky locks lay limp on her face, concealing the leaking tears escaping from the girl's eyes. Sasuke couldn't leave her. He wasn't entirely sure but he had a feeling Sakura's best friend was, too, a medic-nin. Despite time constraint, in order for Sakura to survive, Ino was her chance.
He lifted his face up, glanced at Karin who looked uncomfortable, shyly rolling down her sleeve and away from the scene before her. Sasuke was sure Karin didn't know who Ino was.
"K-Karin-san... y-you remember I-Ino-pig. Can you...find her chakra..?"
Mute, red-head nodded. During her time in Konoha, she involuntarily acquainted herself with a few of the villagers. As Sakura had to bounce between the village and the battlefield, Ino became her valuable correspondence, stationed in the heart of Konoha. At that time, Sakura checked up on the blazing haired kunoichi ensuring her physical progress. Karin met Ino during one of her check-ups.
"Sh-she's not too far. Thirty-miles due east."
Sakura quivered a smile, her eyes were closed since before Karin found her. There was a lifting relief from the girl Sasuke noticed the weak female lose tension in her muscles. He tilted his head to observe her further.
"Sasuke-kun... I-I don't think K-Karin-San is fast enough to reach her..."
His lips thinned knowing what Sakura was implying. Something dark swelled within him at the thought of leaving Sakura. He shook his head at himself. She needed Ino.
"Watch Sakura. I'll be back."
In a flash Sasuke was gone.
Karin stared off in the direction of Ino's chakra. She released a breath she didn't know she held after she sensed a second powerful chakra appear. She cringed, Sasuke was pushing himself even though he fought in the war with all he could. The red-head glanced at Sakura's body. Sasuke did it for that girl.
"Karin-San..."
Her face rounded, gazing at the pink-haired medic fully.
"Take care of Sasuke-kun."
"Wh-what?!"
Silence.
In a breath, Karin surveyed Sakura's being heart trepidating finding no chakra signature. Crying out in protest, the Taka member reached for Sakura's face, opening her chapped lips unleashing her teeth. Scrambling to roll up her sleeves once again, Karin pressed her forearm to the motionless lips. Weakly, she tried pressing Sakura's teeth into her arm, blood freezing cold at the lack of reaction. Dredging up any and all of her chakra reserves, she attempted to pump chakra into Sakura's body.
Sakura did not respond.
"Wh-why did you do it, Sakura-San? You idiot, stupid pink-haired- why did you send Sasuke-kun away from you?! You kn-knew you had nothing left-! Why?! Sasuke-kun's going to hurt! Stupid medic! Wake the hell up!" Karin screeched putting all she could into her healing jutsu. It was nothing like Sakura's.
"He's...you're going... He's never going to forgive you for leaving him..."
Sakura lay there. The strain that once etched onto her delicate features show no longer.
"You goddamn idiot!"
The two women sat in the center of a clearing. The clang of kunais no longer sounded in the battleground. The whisper of dry wind danced in the air, rebellious leaves catching on for the ride. On hillsides, shinobi of different villages, nations, cheer and celebrated victory. Upon a mob of young ninja, rode a blonde brightly grinning man. His blue eyes shimmered in delight. He ripped off his hitae-tae and swung it above him. Below him, a dog-like man, the lazy strategist and the green beast hollered in the blonde's success. His name chanted throughout the dusky, battle-worn lands.
Naruto halted his excited cheers and looked around. Crystal blue eyes washed over to target a particular set of pink and black hair.
Finding none, he chirped, "where's Sasuke?"
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"I did it! Sasuke-kun is back with Naruto!"
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"Naruto didn't have to lift a finger. I did it! So great!"
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"...though, wish I could've rejoined the team. Let it be like old times..."
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"Maybe...just maybe-in another life."
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A/N: Part 2 coming up quickly!