Thank you Kami no Sennin for your review! Yes it seems kinda rushed, but it is intentional. You will see. And yes I'm sure there are quite a lot misspellings and backwards verses here and there as I don't understand how the beta read works, so no one is correcting my horrid mistakes! This is my first fic and everything is new for me. So bear with me a little please J

Regarding the topic of the shared "blood" of family that they may have… I didn't want to go there as there are many fics that start that way. I think they are not related at all, at least they are not closely related… Well at least I like to think about it in that way as for example the senju clan is made of different families and so on, so I think they are maybe related when one say that they are from the same clan, but not the same family

I'm very sorry for the long hiatus, but I have a new job that leaves me without time or energy to write…, but I think I'll be finding more time in the next couple of weeks to keep posting other chapters.

Please R&R!

OLD FRIENDS

"So… tell me something, how is your Lil love Sasuke doing? Did he finally note your existence? Hahahah"

Karin frowned and with a quick movement she jumped and hit him hard on his fish face. That took him by surprise, falling to the ground and ending as a puddle of water.

"And you… still the same with your usual ugly and dumb fish face"

"Well I have to admit it... you're stronger now…" Suigetsu said whilst he rubbed his face turning solid again.

"It's been four years now, what do you think that was going to happen pffff, that I would turned in some kind of softy like you?" Karin said crossing her arms while she looked at him over her shoulder with smug smile on her face.

"Hehehe easy now witch, I come in peace" he said standing up and fixing his clothes. He could observe that Karin was looking at him curiously.

"So… what's up, what… have you've done these years…, of course if you are in liberty to say…" a hesitant Karin kinda asked.

"Well lil Karin, now I'm part of the village hidden in the rain. After you decided to follow Sasuke back to Konoha…" Suigetsu stopped when he noticed the stare that Karin was shooting at him. "Sorry, sorry, I sometimes forget" An amused smile crept on his lips. "After you decided on your own to leave to Konoha, I lived with Juggo for a while… but you know how he is" Suigetsu looked at Karin lifting one of his thin eyebrows , telling with his eyes what he didn't with words.

"Is he alive?"

"I think so, yes. After he tried to kill me whilst I slept I decided that the best for my future and my safety was to be as far away from him as possible" Suigetsu lifted his sword Kubikiribōchō placing it over his shoulder in remembrance of the time he spent after the war with his old pal Juggo. Karin meanwhile stood there, her arms unfolded now, watching him with curiosity.

"It's a miracle that you didn't try it first on him, you know kill him while he slept. Maybe he did it thinking that it was better to get ahead of things…" Karin was trolling him now.

"Karin, Karin, couldn't be more wrong. In this world friends are precious. I imagine that I should not have to explain this to you… additionally he was a really nice guy… except when he went mad and wanted to kill everything that was on his way. Anyway, that's how it went."

"So, why didn't you returned to Kirigakure? After all you are one of the new, maybe the only, legendary swordsman left. I think they would not refuse someone… with your qualities."

"I thought about it. I even spent two months in Kiri. Ha!" He spat on the ground. "But I could not accept its conditions. At all times I was under the insecure Chojuro big brother's eye, assigned to harder or dangerous missions, no rest, I even thought they were thinking in killing me… like the good old days, you know? Haha those bastards… They couldn't trust me at all, so I got sick of his stupid distrust. I mean, what were they thinking, that I would turn mad like Kizame and kill my team mates? Although… it was not like I didn't want it you know, but that would only probe them right…" Suigetsu's attention directed to Karin as she suddenly turned serious. "What? It seems that it sound familiar for you".

Karin, dignified and untrusting, looked at him, but didn't answer. And that it was an answer already.

"And… why Amegakure? Is not the same as Kiri?" Karin broke the short and uncomfortable silence that was created by her non-response.

"No, as you know since that Hanzo guy died… or better since he was murdered by Pain, no leader has been elected in that village. A lot of clans had fought with each other for power without success, as their heads keep dying in strange circumstances, victims of complots and coup de stat. currently it's ruled by an old dude's assembly. Among all that disorder and distrust, Amegakure has tuned in the most attractive village for people like us"

"Hey don't count me in. I'm doing all right in Konoha, ok? Otherwise I would be long gone" Karin lied.

"If that is true it means that Sasuke finally fall for your tricks, congratulations bitch!" Suigetsu couldn't help it.

"GODDAMM SUIGETSU! SASUKE MEANS NOTHING TO ME!" Karin threatened with violence, yelling at Suigetsu with her arm pumping the air with her eyes full of rage.

"Uouhhh chill Karin, something can pop in your head and then I'll be blamed for your death. I don't want to be responsible for a diplomatic incident hehe"

Karin relaxed a little, crossing her arms again.

"Well if is not Sasuke, then you must have some good reasons… If it is something similar as the way I lived in Kiri then those got to be some gooood reasons… to put up with that" He said mischievously.

"Is obvious that I've got a different treatment, you fool fish face, who could trust you with that face of yours? Hahaha" Karin was trying to convince herself of what she said. Suigetsu had been observing her taking note of her eye bags, filthy clothes, and disheveled demeanor, as if she had been on the road for ages… she looked kinda pale too.

"Hate to say it… but, you would be a good addition to Amegakure, Karin. Is always good to have sensors, there are not many you know? Besides no one will ask you about your past or doubt you because of it… as they all have one. A lot of people did a lot of nasty stuff there; you know that the third war was ruthless with those people"

"Well Suigetsu, if you worked for Amegakure Tourism Department, they would kick you out in a week! Hahaha, a village without leaders, full of renegades, where it always rains and the sun never comes up. "

"Hehehe you may have a point there Lil Karin." Responded an amused Suigetsu. "But all of that gives you more freedom. Nevertheless the assembly takes its job of keeping the peace quite seriously. The renegades have to start from scratch, come on Karin you know the feeling, don't ya?"

Karin reflected and remembered why she had decided to live in a village, rejecting Suigetsu and Juggo's idea to roam the world. She always acted in behalf of third party interest, never knowing what was what she really wanted or where she was coming from thus not knowing what she wanted to be or do; Karin had decided to be part of Konoha as a Kunoichi because she wanted to be part of a community, to be part of some meaningful history and finally found something about herself, doing something that she and no others wanted. She didn't know quite well after all, if after those four years she was considered one member of that community. She stared intently to his old friend, Suigetsu, and rapidly decided that she needed to get back to Konoha and really think things through, especially why she was still there after all those mistreatments.

"Well Suigetsu, I don't have much time to waste as I'm sure you do so…" Karin doubted a little but continued "if everything goes wrong in Konoha I'll be knocking at your door, and you better answer!" She gave him the scroll and started to get ready to head back to Konoha. She was tired so she didn't want to keep the conversation with his former teammate going… in spite of her telling him without wanting it about her life till that moment.

"Say hi to Sasuke for me"

"Why don't you say it to him personally? He'll be marrying in a couple of months with the youngest Hyuga"

"Well… if he invites me, I'll be there. Although I'm not counting with that happening, you know, people like you, in large and dignified villages like Konoha, will try to earn the trusts of its members no matter what… so you'll have to negate all your past and the people that fill it. But come on, don't give me that look Karin, you know is true, don't you dare to think that it bothers me, not at all" With a sly smile, Suigetsu turned, grabbing the scroll and started walking back to Amegakure.

Karin turned around as Suigetsu, taking the road that lead to Konoha.

"Hey! Fish face!" Suigetsu stopped, turning his head slightly so she would notice that he was listening. "I'm…" Her voice cracked a little "I'm glad you're ok"

"Well witch…, ditto".

Smiling at each other like when old friends meet, both took different roads back to their villages. Karin was tired. She felt somewhat nostalgic after seeing his stupid old partner in crime. She could tell that he didn't have it easy but it was not something to worry about, he could be a humanoid fish but it was a very clever humanoid fish. She on the other hand didn't know if the path she had chosen was the right one. She took a look at herself and saw that it was not a quite dignified Konoha ambassador or even messenger. She was beaten up due to the recent battle and her clothes were full of dust. She couldn't run or walk fast as her strength and chakra had diminished to very low levels. How the hell did she end up that way?

Well… the conditions to have the "distinction" of being a Konoha kunoichi, that was how. Mission after mission, very few rest, dangerous missions, carrying messages to wherever, and the most frustrating thing, not been part of a settle ninja team. That was the worst, as she couldn't have lasting friendships as the rest of the shinobi force. Untrust and odd stares by the villagers was what she got, very little freedom, the obligation to report every little move she did, even if she was hurt so they could be certain that she didn't scape and a long etc… it was really worth it?, all that sacrifice just to be a part of the village?, and after all, what did she have to show after all that time?, what did Konoha have given to her up till then?

Those were Karin's thoughts as she walked slowly back to Konoha.

It was late at night and Karin was nowhere to be found. Sasuke and Naruto's mission as ANBUs was quite unpleasant. Sai had arrived to Konoha first with the Feudal attackers and they were immediately interrogated by Ibiki's team. Nevertheless they had reserved the dirty work of kicking the truth out of them to the ANBU team who were on shift, and that would be Sasuke and Naruto. After they finished with that, Sasuke returned to Konoha whilst Naruto decided to wait by the main gate for Karin to return. He had not been quite attentive of her and he even knew why, he even knew it had a name –Sakura-. He was mad at himself and wanted to make up for his inattentive ways.

"Godammit, why is she not here already?" Naruto thought to himself, reclining against an entrance door beam. Going through his actions that day, Naruto thought that he definitely was not attentive to her. He didn't want to admit that he indeed was much more worried about Sakura, his security and wellbeing and their precious chat than Karin's. So, in order to avoid or even cancel those worrisome thoughts, Naruto decided to make up to her in some way. He only had to wait for her to return. But what the hell, she was taking her time now.

He started to get worried; maybe something happened to her on the way, maybe some kind of ambush from which she could not get away from. Preoccupation started to increase and he decided that he could no longer keep waiting like a fool there.

Jumping up to the threes and through the forest he quickly got away from Konoha's main gate and followed the path that connected the village with Amegakure's border. It didn't take long before he could see a silhouette walking slowly on the other direction that he was on. Suddenly he saw as the shadow tripped falling to the ground heavily, ending up on its hands and knees. It was Karin.

She was very tired and couldn't keep going. She realized it when she could not gather enough energy to pick herself up after tripping for the third time in the poorly lighted path that led to Konoha.

"Maybe the best is… to rest some" She told to herself aloud, while she considered a tree with a slight concave base where she could rest.

"Maybe the best is to rest in your bed"

Shocked as she didn't felt the presence or strangers ahead, Karin looked up, her eyes meeting a tall shadow approaching her.

"Naruto!"

Naruto placed Karin on his back in a piggyback position. Even if she had thought otherwise about it, she didn't have the strength to fight him, so she accepted the help that he was giving to her.

"How was your mission?" Naruto asked while he walked back to Konoha.

"Good, the messenger turned out to be fish face Suigetsu" Karin said with a sleepy and tired voice.

"Who?"

Karin could feel the warmth of Naruto's back, his muscles and his special and unique scent. She remembered some old stories about the scent of the loved ones. It was something very pleasurable and exquisite for the other half to smell and be near them; she thought that Naruto's scent fitted perfectly in that description, as for her it was almost addictive.

Even though Konoha hasn't been nice to her, she definitely had to acknowledge that living there allowed her to meet someone like Naruto. His concern about her, his humor, the way he was with her, uncomplicated and joyful, his touch and caresses, filled her life in a way she never thought it could be. That definitely was the good that Konoha had given to her, that made her stay there. She relaxed and breathing deeply, she fell asleep failing to respond to his question.

"Suigetsu who? Eh? Karin?" Naruto turned his head to find that she had fallen asleep. Her hair brushed her face in a disorderly but still charming way. She looked beautiful. Naruto watched her for a while longer trying to remember every little shadow and every line and crevice that composed her face, feeling that every detail was been recorded in his heart. There were not words in his dictionary to describe what he felt there and then but it he knew them, he didn't feel capable of expressing them. However what he did know was that what he was feeling it for the first time, not even with Sakura he felt that way. He felt that things were meaningful when she was with him, that everything will be alright and that she kind of understood him. From now on he thought, he would be there for her. Naruto hurried so they could be home in Konoha fast. He had to take her to rest and… he had a pending talk with Tsunade.