Karin glared at the ugly creature that starred back at her in the mirror. It was ragged, with eyes stained with tears, and hair that was even more of a mess than it normally was. Somehow after two days in bed eating proper food she was in worse shape than she had been trying to survive out there. With Naruto. That was the difference.
She should probably do...something. Anything. Even just going outside would be more than she'd done since Naruto left. She should probably do that, it'd be good for her. That and she was out of food. The ramen cups were piling up around the bed. Naruto was right, they really were the best food, cheap, quick, easy, filling, and tasty.
Naruto. She gripped the counter top. That stupid idiot! How the hell could he just leave her here all by herself in the middle of Konoha! She didn't belong here, she belonged with him! Even if he was a stupid jerk bastard! Just thinking about him made her so - her hands fell from the counter, and she leaned forward her head pressing against the cold surface of the mirror. Apparently she was wrong, she still had more tears left. "Stupid jerk."
"Come home safe, and fast." Just about three years left before he came back. She could live without him for three years. She did it for like thirteen before she even met him. And she only knew him for like a month. So maybe after a month she'd stop missing him. A hand clutched at her heart. "But… I don't want to stop missing him."
Such a thing felt impossible, even as her happy memories of their time turned bitter sweet.
What would people say if she went out like this? Nothing but a mess, wearing her one set of clothes, that hadn't been washed properly in days, and her hair was a wild grease covered mess filled with split ends. Did she even care? Not really.
There was a knock on the door loud enough to make her jump and snap out of her thoughts. Her minds eye sparked to life and she felt Konoha, all the warmth and joy that came from being within a true ninja village was open to her. The range closed in, masses of chakra became motes, motes became people. And people became familiar.
It was Sakura, and one of Naruto's other friends. Female, strong, confidant. It must be the blond girl. What the hell did they want? Sakura knew that Naruto was gone… probably. The girl spent a lot of time around the Hokage doing something and she was close to Naruto so she had to know he was gone.
Why the hell was she here?
There was more knocking, louder this time. "Karin!" it was a muffled through the door.
Great they were after her. Maybe if she just didn't move they would leave.
More banging. "Karin! I know you're in there! Open the door or I'll knock it down!" Violent woman.
"Fine!" Karin growled stomping out of the bath and slamming door - hopefully loud enough for Sakura to hear - and marched towards the front door. The house shook when she threw open the front door, likely leaving a mark on the wall. "What the hell do you want?"
"You look like shit," The blonde girl said.
"Ino," Sakura chided, smacking her friend in the chest lightly. "Be nice."
"Again, what the hell do you want?" Karin growled running a hand through her tangled hair. "I'm a little busy."
"Doing what?" Sakura asked, smiling like a lion before a cornered rat. "Moping around because Naruto left you to go on a training trip?" Sakura took a step forward. "Well you're not the only one you know, I just got him back for maybe a day and then he's gone again. Him and Sasuke both left me here alone and do you know what I'm doing?"
"Threatening to break down people's doors?" She really should try to be nicer to Sakura. She was Naruto's friend and teammate. But the girl just had a really, really punchable face.
Ino snorted.
Sakura huffed and folded her arms. "Well you weren't answering, and you really need to get out of the house. Two days is long enough to mope around that Naruto left. Especially because we know that he'll come back."
She did have a point. "Fine, but what do you want."
"Well," Sakura scratched the back of her head blushing slightly.
Ino elbowed Sakura in the side offering Karin a wink. "Your boyfriend asked her to make sure that you feel at home and Sakura feels guilty."
Oh so that's how it was. Part of her was happy that Naruto was still trying to look after. The rest of her was filled with fury. She slammed the door shut, but it was stopped by an imposing foot.
"Hey, look, just give it a shot okay, besides Master wants to speak with you later." Sakura was pleading, trying to stick her head in through the door. "I'm really trying to be your friend here."
"Tsunade said that if we could have the day off if we spent it with you." Ino said from behind the door. The girl was starting to grow on her.
"Ino!" Sakura shouted turning her head back. "You're not helping!"
With a sigh Karin opened the door, allowing Sakura to stumble into her apartment. She met Sakura's green eyes with her own. "Why does the Hokage want me?"
"Well, I think she wants to train you along side me and Ino." Sakura gave a nervous laugh. "I think she might have been a little drunk. Still it's technically my first day off so what do you say?"
Ino snorted like a pig. "Puh-lease forehead, you're the one that's been working your butt off days off or not."
"Forehead?" Karin asked. Enjoying the annoyed look on Sakura's face.
"Just a nickname because of how big her forehead is." Ino waved it off like it was nothing.
Karin stared at Sakura's forehead. It was rather large, especially with her bangs parted like that. "Yea, I can see that."
Sakura growled, knuckles cracking as her hands formed into fists. She grabbed Ino by her shirt growling like a bear roused from a nap. "Gee thanks Ino-pig, I appreciate you telling everybody about that embarrassing nickname!"
"So, is she Ino-pig because she oinks when she laughs?" Or maybe it was just because of her name, wasn't Ino a word for pig? That seems like a cruel name.
The two girls stared at her, Ino's face was red. And Sakura looked to be fighting down a storm of giggles. Then she exploded, grabbing at her sides to keep the giggles inside her. "Yep that's pretty much it!"
"Can it Four-eyes!" Ino shouted, glaring at Karin, before turning to Sakura. "And laugh it up Forehead, I'll get you back!"
Four-eyes huh? She had been called that many times in the past mostly by her own peers as they pushed and shoved her. But this felt different. There was a joy in it that brought a smile onto Karin's face. Her first smile since Naruto left. "As fun as this is, what did you have in mind?"
The two girls shared a smile that would have swallowed either one of them whole, their bickering all but forgotten.
"Considering how you're new to town, and don't really have any clothes." Sakura began grabbing onto Karin's hand. She had really rough hands for a girl. "We're going to take you out shopping."
Spending money. One of her favorite activities, right next to fighting, watching paint dry, and getting bitten.
Ino grabbed her other hand and they both began to pull her out the door. "But first, a trip to the spa for a much needed bath and makeover!"
XXXX
She didn't stop missing him. Just twenty more months until he returned. Not that she was counting or anything. It was just constantly at the back of her mind like a calendar behind her eyelids. Sometimes it helped her focus, other times it made it impossible.
Still it didn't hurt so much anymore. Just bitter disappointment whenever she woke up and didn't feel his chakra nearby.
Ino let out a groan, collapsing onto the couch like a dying star. "I don't know how you two can do this all day! I'm starting to see medical texts when I blink."
Karin looked up from her latest medical text about the application of healing missing tissue using hair as a medium. She met eyes with Sakura, a few blinks later and the two just shrugged. "It's like you say Ino, Sakura has a giant Forehead so she has lots of room up there, and I'm a four-eyed nerd that likes to read."
"Bitch," Ino groaned, opening one eye and flopping down onto the floor. "So how are you guys doing with that seal thing?"
Sakura's hand flew to her forehead, rubbing at the same spot where Karin felt hers. It felt like there should have been more ceremony regarding one of Tsunade's most powerful techniques. Starting it was easy, a bit of paint on the forehead and some instructions to never stop syphoning chakra to that location.
"It's doing fine," Sakura said with a smile giving a weak laugh. "It's just a bit draining, I didn't have all that much chakra to begin with."
From the ground Ino flailed, scrambling up to resume her spot at their table. "What about you Karin?"
Karin felt her cheeks warm. "Well, the seal was originally designed by Uzumaki so it might be a bit easier for me."
"Wait, what do you mean? I thought Master made the seal." Ino asked, grabbing at the bland crackers Shizune had given them.
"It was in the Advanced Medical Seals book Ino." Sakura dug through the text pulling out a boring yellow book that looked just like the rest of their books. "It was developed by Mae Uzumaki, but its most famous user was Mito Uzumaki."
Ino groaned onto the table. "Both of you are able to do all of this so easily!"
"Oh come on, you're doing just fine," Sakura said.
Karin bit her lip, it wasn't that Ino wasn't trying. But, the girl's passions resided elsewhere, like she was only here so that Sakura wouldn't beat her. Not that Karin had room to talk.
"No I'm not, I already failed to keep the seal going twice now!" Ino whined.
"So?" Karin raised an eyebrow. "Shizune couldn't do it either and she's still a great medical ninja."
"Yea." Sakura joined in. "Come on Ino, you can't give up now."
"I'm not!" Ino shot back up, slamming her hands onto the table. "I'm going to see this through and be more useful to Choji and Shikamaru!"
That was why those two were here. They were tired of feeling useless. Ino for Shikamaru and Choji. Sakura for Naruto and Sasuke. Compared to them, Karin was just kind of there. Sure, she wanted to help Naruto, but she already had a powerful healing ability in the raw transfer of life force. And aside from the scars she received it was arguably one of the best ways to heal someone.
And in Konoha, she wouldn't be forced to use that ability. Still as a medic she wouldn't be expected to fight. For now, this was the best path forward.
XXXX
A year and a half was all that separated her and Naruto's return. The other half shouldn't even been that bad. She had lots to keep her busy, between Tsunade's training picking up, work at the hospital beginning, and her still trying to find her role in Konoha.
Ino now only joined the training and study sessions half as much as she used to, focusing on her other skills instead. Sad thing was that she was still probably one of the better field medics in Konoha.
Karin, hummed as she walked down the winding hallways of the Hokage tower, arms full of reports that only needed to be signed with a quick note, after a brief read. The new system she had suggested was working out great, speed was up and overall paperwork was down.
By the time Naruto became Hokage she should have everything running at maximum efficiency.
Using her back to push open the door Karin spun into Tsunade's office. "I brought the-" her voice died in her throat. She knew there was another person in here. She could feel their chakra, it was strong, and familiar. She should have remembered his chakra. She should have waited, instead of letting her status as the Hokage assistant get the better of her judgement.
The Head Jounin of the Village Hidden in the Grass turned to face her. Dull lifeless eyes staring at her with all the contempt he could muster as the corner of his mouth twisted upwards into a snarl. "Ahh, Karin it is good you're still alive." He turned back to Tsunade. "I'll be taking my ninja home as well."
No, please no. She dropped the reports. She had been careless. So careless, she should have known he was coming the moment he stepped inside of Konoha, she should have remembered that violent chakra that made her want to vomit. His cruelness froze her to the bone.
"Excuse me?" Tsunade asked raising an eyebrow. "We don't have any Grass Ninja held captive, nor any living within the city."
He walked over to her grabbing her by the wrist, holding it above her head like she was some prize he had just won. "Ahh so she's been lying to you, this is K-"
Tsunade slammed her hands on the table making the man jump. "That is Karin Uzumaki, last queen of the Uzumaki, a loyal ninja of Konoha, and protected under the Third's proclamation that all Uzumaki refugees will be welcomed inside of Konoha."
"You can't be serious, this girl is a-"
The sound of Tsunade's heels tapping against the floor drowned out all sound. With a deliberate slowness that could freeze water, The Hokage walked in front of the tall man glaring up at him. Despite her diminutive stature Tsunade's confidence made her appear as a giant. "That girl is my apprentice, my queen, and my ninja, now unless you want to risk war I suggest you unhand her."
For a moment Karin wondered if the man would do it. Or if Tsunade really would go to war for her. Then the Jounin dropped her.
"Very well Lord Hokage." With that he bowed and left. His face was full of fury and his chakra was a fire storm of anger.
Karin placed a hand over her heart, feeling it beat violently against her chest. She felt ready to pass out at any moment. "Thank you."
Tsunade placed a hand on her shoulder and brought her into a hug. "Don't worry about it brat, that jerk was pissing me off anyways. Besides, even if he wasn't such an ass I doubt Naruto would be to keen if I let his fiance get taken away so easily."
"Fiance?" Karin smirked. "What happened to girlfriend?"
The older woman clicked her teeth and released her from the hug. "Well you don't react when I call you that, dammit part of the fun of watching young love is teasing them about it."
"Sorry for spoiling your fun."
"Bleh, anyways, I have some things I want to talk to you about."
Karin began to scoop up some of the scattered papers. "Oh, such as?"
"Both the Intelligence division, and the T&I division have accepted your request." Tsunade walked over to her desk, grabbing a pair of scrolls. "All you have to do is choose."
AN: Beta'd by xxTerror33xx. I decided to do a chapter of Karin in Konoha. Might do another, maybe not. Now, to resist the urge to make a Karin x Sakura spin off.