Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Naruto the anime or the manga. I am just a fan of the series/manga.
Pairings: Sasuke Uchiha & Karin Uzumaki
Naruto Uzumaki & Hinata Hyuga
M Note: This story is AU. It's 'bout their future, but not really, more like what would happen if Sasuke returned to Konoha with team Hebi (Hawk) and Itachi being still alive. How their paths and lives change, break away or reconnect with time because of circumstances and their choices.
Naruto remembers waking up. He had not been able see or feel anything beyond his fingers and even that had been a struggle.
This place is dark. There was no way he could see the outline of his hand and it was real close to his face as it is.
He had felt blood dripping from his nose even though some was well on it's way, already crusting on his face and shirt
Naruto took shuddering breathes. His throat ached but the thought laid forgotten when he had heard his cousin's voice calling out to him.
Or thought he had because it had been weak. Perhaps ridiculously far away. He had instantly felt a sense of relief at the thought of not being alone even though he knows it was a selfish thought and they had to find a way out.
Having attempted to stand had been a fail. Epic in its own right. He had fallen to his knees twice because is had seemed that his weight had been a lot for him to handle at the moment.
And they hurt now but honestly that was the least of his problems or priorities.
The thought had crossed his mind, he wondered if he was somehow poisoned. Had Louis been a part of it? He had thought her a kind lady, even now still does.
He had just wanted nothing more than to find Karin and be sure that she was alright.
After having done shifts in between what falls somewhere near both walking and crawling for what feels like hours he stumbles upon something wet and cooling.
He stepped on something that made a crunching like crack noise and he mentally was like 'oh shit I hope that isn't what I think it is' as he bent down for the object.
They were glasses. Karin's. He put them on his head and took a deep breath. There is blood on his shoes and the ends or hem of his pants.
It had terrified him like he thought nothing could since the war when the world as he knew it was crumbling, coming down around him.
"Karin?" He remembers calling her name. Begging her, shaking her with trembling hands as his fingers tarp her shoulders and he could feel the tips of her hair.
She is his family and he will not lose her because of some dick move on someone's part that led to their 'kidnapping' or whatever the hell this is supposed to be.
"Wake up!" He had said it enough time to the point where he had passed the point of sounding hysterical what felt like a long time.
She had registered the sound of crying more like ugly sobbing torwards the end there but she still thought it uncalled for.
Karin had remembered calling out to him then nothing, she is assuming that she passed out at one point and he found her.
At least he's safe and she is alive so that's a win in her book.
She had called him an idiot and tried to laugh it off but it didn't work out so she had shut her eyes.
Her whole body ached. No, it hurt and she wondered if one of her organs ruptured because her stomach hurts.
Where did all this blood come from? She hadn't remembered being on her period but it had been irregular for the longest time so she doesn't know why there is blood or why it is still pooling around her legs and she feels disgusting and embarrassed but mostly screwed, not to mention scared.
Because she doesn't have extra clothes and is risking infection then there is the whole minute where her life is flashing before her eyes and she thinks she regrets not providing heirs to her bloodline, not getting married or restoring her clan to it's previous fame.
Surpassing it herself like Naruto or Sasuke. With her old team or her new one.
She had not known where her glasses were. If Sasuke and Hinata were more or less okay.
Or even here. What if they were in danger? They would be able to protect themselves but they are still separated and have to Colin's eachother if-on the off chance they can't or are injured themselves.
Wherever she is clearly isn't where she wants to be but the thought that Naruto is with her seems to calm her nerves by a lot even though she knows it was so damn selfish and she does not want him to get hurt.
"B..." Her voice comes off raspy and she has to try again. "Bite me." She didn't know if he was looking at her because everything is dark around them and she has to stay calm even and because she is in so much pain.
"No. I shouldn't. You have to save your strength." He had known that she was probably worse off than himself currently because at one point he had displayed god-like powers and his body is ridiculously resilient.
Compared to her he is pretty sure he is not all that weak right now. They are both Uzumaki and carry it's blood so maybe they just should have to sit here a while to at least try to regain there strength.
"This really isn't the time to be stubborn..." She had attempted to persuade him while giving it even more concentration than should have been necessary to sit up.
Had been surprised that his movement was automatic as one of his hands held her in place. One of them near her lower back while the other was on her shoulder to help her.
Sometimes, well at times like this she can't help but think of his as a brother instead of just a ninja or the 7th Hokage because at this point that is basically what he is even though he just required this last mission to make it official.
He had been able to feel her warm breath near his mouth and his face heated up because Sakura and Hinata had been the only ones to be this up close to his face.
Although, nevermind. There had also been Sasuke and that one time with Shikamaru because they had been drunk and wanted to try it.
He had felt awkward but got over himself quickly and smirked against her neck when he heard her gasp and felt goosebumps on her arms.
Both couldn't help but think their position in this act was completely unnecessary but neither withdrew or really mentions anything on the subject once it was done.
She feels herself gasp in surprise when she begins getting better as he is seemingly healing her while taking her chakra with some type of jutsu he probably learned from a medical ninja.
After a moment he retracted his teeth and mouth from her person then had spoken quietly for some reason.
"You are one of the strongest woman I know. Sasuke even said you are it for him. So for him to say such a thing..."
Naruto's words were muffled as he rested his head against her hair while he hugged onto her tightly then backed up a bit while making it easier to understand what he was trying to say.
He had been reassuring her because he can still still feel the blood as it soaks into his clothes and he knows that it isn't his own and he is scared, terrified actually but there is no way he wants to admit it because if he does he will start to panic and crying again.
He has to be strong here, reassure them both that in time they will get out of here.
"..and he acknowledges no other above you. You just saved us from dying now and you are doubting yourself. That's not right. Believe i-" His voice was breaking and he's glad he has an excuse to shut up when she puts her hand on his face.
She gulped for a second because even though her mouth tasted metallic and she was thirsty but that couldn't be helped because she had left her food supplies scroll with Sasuke.
Karin had put a hand over what she guessed was his mouth because he shut up as she laughed quietly then leaned against him for support in standing.
He had a point.
One she can't even try to deny. She is seriously freaking amazing and even Suigetsu had acknowledged that.
She thinks of Itachi then Jugo and all of ANBU. Would they be looking for them? A more pressing question, once found how would they get out.
.
"I don't know how much time we have spent here. I lost track of it when I started crying. That didn't help by the way. I just feel worse now." Karin had let the despair get to her and it wasn't pretty regardless of the lack of light but Naruto hadn't said anything and just held on to her for support.
To give or take she was not sure but didn't care enough to question.
She had to pull herself together.
"I can't summon a contract with the ravens and you can't summon your toads so I don't know what to do now. It is difficult for me, I can barely move at a quicker pace as it is and even though complaining about it isn't helping at least we have got the situation straight. "
She pulls at her glasses. Putting them on. They must have borken on her way here because the glass is cracked on both sides and some of its pieces are missing.
Having them near her brings her comfort as stupid as it sounds to her. She is still glad, grateful that Naruto had found them nonetheless.
"I can faintly sense your chakra and you are standing right beside me."
" I know but look on the bright side. Sasuke is looking for us. Hinata won't give up either. They'll find us, someone has to otherwise we'll rescue ourselves and that'll just put the village ninja to shame. Sakura and Ino will fix us up just wait a little longer, okay."
He is trying to give her hope to have her understand that they shouldn't give up because their friends are looking for them.
Naruto is certain of it, he has faith in them and giving up is not something he is going to do no matter how dire the situation is now.
How bad it gets is a different story but they will cross the bridge when they get there.
"We've survived the third shinobi war. I don't see things getting that bad but I don't want to jinx it. I mean we ended up here. Where rasengan doesn't work and I can't reach Kurama. I think it pointless to say that clones are out of the question. You have a point, here we are basically sitting ducks and our friends might be running into a trap.."
"No chakra use then." She pulls off her glasses and wipes at them with her shirt. Not that it does much, she can't see further than before.
"You think we can get back, in one piece I mean. Once we regain our strength." Karin grabs at her hair. Bunching it up on her hand and uses a few a few strands of it to knot it around her like a makeshift hairband.
"They'll find us. Sasuke, Hinata, Sakura. Your team. They won't give up. Neither should we." He doesn't stop walking, unknowing his destination but putting in the effort because it's all he has left.
"I know it's hard but we have to stay calm."
"I was thinking back on the war. Sometimes doubting that I could have been happy, it was difficult to get accustomed to. Now I know better but it was nice while it lasted. The journey rather than the ending. Sasuke should be able to live without me, Suigetsu and Jūgo on the other hand..eh? I'm questioning it. They'd miss my bossiness."
She laughs loudly as her cheerful voice does nothing to contradict it but he is standing close enough to tell otherwise.
He takes a deep breath before speaking again, his voice deadly serious but she can hear the sorrow interlacing the words when he asks.
"Karin, were you pregnant? Is there a chance you are still?" He feels her stop walking and the tension in the space around them.