Hey guys! I hope you enjoy and read and review! Also, cue oblivious Naruto and fairly oblivious Itachi, neither of whom realize they have giant crushes on one another. At least Sasuke and Karin are self aware even if they've not made any moves.
The next day passed in a blur, Naruto didn't leave Fu's side, she stayed in the hospital with the Ex Jinchuriki.
Tsunade did formally make the announcement about her own retirement as the Hokage and the fact that she was passing on the hat to Naruto-she had planned to make it the day after Naruto was informed about her soon to be promotion but, what with the attacks and Fu's capture that had been shoved aside for a time.
Now though she'd made it, and Naruto had more than one person visit her in the hospital with Fu to congratulate her on her new rank.
Thankfully it didn't take Sakura long to befriend Fu-she spent the best part of her day popping in to check on Fu and Naruto, so come the second day Fu was willing to let Naruto leave her side, and to let Sakura spend some time with her.
Naruto had to admit she was incredibly grateful for that if only because of the fact that it was that day that Karin woke.
It didn't take Naruto long to get there when she was told of course, and when she arrived Karin was sitting up in the bed, pale and weak looking, but smiling faintly, and Sasuke was sat on the edge of the bed, clinging to the red haired girls hands-not that either of them seemed to have noticed that little fact, Naruto noticed with just a sliver of amusement.
Karin's head turned to look at Naruto when she walked in, a suddenly guilty look on her face, "Naruto-chan I'm sorry I couldn't-"
"Don't apologize." Naruto shook her head, "Kami Karin-chan please don't apologize. I'm the one who should apologize. What the hell even happened?"
"I sensed Obito." Karin shook her head, "I was stupid, I went rushing off to try and stop him, he was near Kabuto so I thought.." Karin shook her head, "Sai followed me. By the time we arrived Kabuto was already out of his cell."
"Doesn't matter. We'll deal with that bastard when the time comes." Sasuke said swiftly, "You shouldn't have risked yourself Karin-chan. Obito is.. he's something else."
"I tried to use my chains on him." Karin's brows furrowed, "He knew what I was going to do though. He was too fast for me, one second he was in front of me with Kabuto and the next I was getting hit from behind over the head. He said he was glad I came. He..." she swallowed hard, "He didn't want me getting in his way with my chains again."
"Fuck." Naruto shook his head, "Kami Karin-chan I am so sorry that must have been terrifying."
"It was." Karin nodded, shifted slightly in her spot, "I.. it does tell us something though." she gave a hesitant smile, "Because I wasn't entirely sure before-if they really did hold him or if he just let me do it because he wanted to see Rin-san. But now we know right? If I'm using my Chakra chains he can't get away otherwise he wouldn't have wanted to get rid of me like that."
"As useful as it is I'd rather he never got anywhere near you again." Sasuke spoke up with a scowl. "He could have killed you with a blow like that. Sakura-chan said that the only reason it didn't is the fact that you're and Uzumaki and Uzumaki's have insanely strong life force or whatever."
"I'll be fine." Karin's voice was soft, reassuring, "I am fine Sasuke-kun. I'm awake and I'm recovering now. It's gonna be fine you can stop fussing over me."
"What part of 'you nearly died' is fine?" Sasuke grumbled the words, and Karin rolled her eyes, a long suffering look on her face that made Naruto want to laugh.
Sure none of this was ideal and Naruto hated the fact that Karin had been hurt, but it was almost painfully easy for people to see how much Sasuke cared about Karin now-though she had a feeling that neither of them had admitted anything like that yet.
She resisted the urge to snicker when-after noticing the way Karin rolled her eyes Sasuke's own eyes narrowed and he glared at the red haired girl.
"What are you rolling your eyes at me for! I'm right! Naruto-chan tell your idiot of a cousin than I'm right and nearly dying does not add up to fine!"
"I mean," Naruto laughed, "She is an Uzumaki, let's face it nearly dying is something we do more often than we probably should so really it's all pretty much standard for us-"
"Thank you Naruto-chan." Karin laughed, a smile lighting up her face, helping to chase away some of the weakness that had been visible just moments before. "See Sasuke-kun-"
"Oh don't think I've forgotten your near death experience." Sasuke scowled, "That was not a fun day, I literally thought you died. Kami help me I don't know what I did to have to deal with two Uzumaki idiots in this lifetime but I'd like to apologize because it must have been bad." that made the two girls laugh at his expense and his eyes twitched.
"I hate you both."
"Nah, you love us really." Naruto declared lightly before sobering up somewhat, "So how long will you have to stay in the hospital Karin-chan?"
"A few days." Karin shrugged, "Sakura-chan said I'm recovering well they just want to keep a close eye on me for a few days to make sure I don't take a sudden turn. So it's not too long."
"That's good. It'll be nice to have Sasuke-kun come home willingly-"
"Shut up." Sasuke glowered, "I swear dumbass I will kick your ass if you don't shut up-"
"Awe. But Sasuke-kun I thought you loved me." she dodged the pillow that got thrown at her head and it thumped against the wall behind her before it dropped to the ground
"How the hell is a dumbass like you gonna become the stinking Hokage?" he grumbled the words, "You're an idiot!"
"Excuse me I'm not an idiot!"" Naruto defended with a grin, "I'd like to see an idiot pull off the rescue mission we did-"
"Oh! Sasuke-kun said about that." Karin tilted her head, a worried look on her face, "How is your friend Naruto-chan?"
"She's not great but she's alive, given what she's been through that in itself is a huge achievement." Naruto's smile slipped somewhat, "She's gonna need a long time to recover but she will recover."
"That's good." Karin nodded, "I'm glad you managed to save her."
"So am I." Naruto gave her cousin a grateful little smile, "I just wish I'd gotten to her sooner and saved her the pain of being parted from Chomei y'know?"
"Not many would have been able to even do what you did Na-" Karin paused, tilting her head slightly before she spoke, "Itachi-san is in the hospital. He's probably here to see one of you two." she glanced between Naruto and Sasuke. "He'll probably be up here in a few minutes."
"I'm surprised it's taken him this long to come in." Sasuke shrugged, "He hasn't seen Naruto-chan or I since before the rescue mission. And Itachi is a worrier."
"Of course he worries about you." Naruto laughed, "You're his baby brother."
"I'm not the only one he worries about." Sasuke muttered the words, rolling his eyes at Naruto's confused expression. "Don't you strain yourself trying to figure it out Naruto-chan it'll just give you a headache."
"I feel like that's an insult." Naruto pouted-and was Karin sniggering at her? That was just rude!
She didn't bother turning her head when the door opened, too busy glowering at her cousin and brother. "Itachi-san you're brat of a little brother is being mean."
There was a long moment of silence and then- "Do I even want to know?" Naruto could practically see the raised eyebrow even if she wasn't looking at the Uchiha.
"Naruto-chan's just being an oblivious idiot Itachi-nii." Sasuke's voice was far to amused for the blonde's liking. He was teasing her she just knew he was.
"Hmph." Naruto turned her head and grinned at Itachi, who was stood in the open doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest, an amused glint in his eyes. "So Itachi-san, what brings you to the hospital."
"Just checking in on you two. And Karin-san it's good to see that you're awake and well."
"Thank you Itachi-san." Karin grinned slightly, "Sasuke-kun's been looking after me. Just watch this. Sasuke-kun?"
"Karin." Sasuke gave her a disbelieving look, "What-"
"Can you get me a glass of water please Sasuke-kun?"
"I-" Sasuke glowered at the red head, but Naruto had to suppress a giggle when after a long moment an intense battle of wills, the Uchiha threw his hands up and grumbled loudly, "Fine. But only because you need to be staying hydrated."
Naruto and Itachi exchanged somewhat amused knowing looks as Karin gave a very smug grin.
"Why thank you Sasuke-kun."
"Have I ever mentioned that I hate you Karin-chan because I really really hate you." there was no heat in his words though, even as he grabbed a glass from the table and moved to grab the water jug, which he used to fill the glass before shoving it at Karin, some of it slopping over the edges due to the harsh motions.
Karin dissolved into a fit of giggles at the disgruntled look on his face, and Naruto joined her, pressing a hand to her mouth.
Even Itachi, as stoic as he seemed to always try to be was clearly struggling to stifle his own laughter at the sight of his little brother so annoyed at being called out for caring.
"You know Sasuke-kun caring isn't something-"
"I will stab you with a rusty kunai Itachi-nii, big brother or no." Sasuke ground out-which set Naruto off again-and to think she'd only just managed to stop her first fit of laughter.
Sasuke gave her a very dirty look before turning his gaze to Itachi, "Can you get her out of here before I commit an act of treason and murder our soon to be Rokudaime?" he requested, "Because I will, I swear on my damn eyes but I will murder her-"
"Rude!" Naruto had to yelp the word because Itachi was moving, grabbing her arm and towing her out of the room as she flailed. "Betrayal! Treason!"
"I'm simply preventing you from getting maimed by Sasuke-kun and preventing my brother from getting in trouble for maiming our future Kage." Itachi declared perfectly calm, "If you stop flailing like an idiot I'll treat you to some Ichiraku's." that worked, Naruto instantly stopped her
over dramatic screeching and flailing, straightening up and pulling her arm out of Itachi's grip, a gleam in her eyes.
"No take backs?" She asked suspiciously, "You'll pay for my Ichiraku's today?"
Itachi almost shivered, eyeing her wearily for a long moment before he let out a long suffering sigh. "Maximum of four bowls." he decided, "But yes. As long as we can go home so I can get my money first, I get the feeling I'll need it." the last remark was said with a certain wry tone, and Naruto gave the Uchiha an evil grin.
"You're the one who offered." then she was flashing through the handsigns and focusing her Chakra-and she grabbed onto Itachi's arm.
A moment later they were home in Naruto's bedroom and Itachi moved swiftly, leaving the bedroom and heading through the hall to his own room, Naruto following him eagerly-almost like an excited puppy as he grabbed his coin pouch.
"Do you want to get changed before we go?" Itachi raised an eyebrow, "I know you've not had much chance to wash up, what with spending so much time at the hospital."
"Good suggestion." Naruto grinned, "Thanks Itachi-san." she darted back to her bedroom, taking a few minutes to clean herself up-the good thing about being so skilled with wind justu-she could use them to do things like dry her freshly washed hair quickly-or at least make sure it was dry enough that it didn't make her clothes wet.
It did feel good wearing fresh clothes and being clean-she'd made do with just washing her face since their little excursion to interrupt Fu's extraction but it wasn't properly clean.
In any case it didn't take her long-after all Shinobi had to be able to clean up quickly if they were on missions and things, and soon enough she was clean and dressed, her hair still slightly damp, was pulled into a messy bun, a few stray strands framing her face as she skipped out of her room, pulling her coat on. "Hey Itachi-san, you ready to go."
"Of course." Itachi nodded, giving her a warm smile as he held out his arm, Naruto slipping her hand through it without a moment of hesitation, half dragging him down the stairs and out of the house, eager to get some Ichiraku ramen. She'd needed something to perk her up, it had been an incredibly unpleasant stressful week, she'd have to thank Itachi for this later.
And if she'd have chanced to look back she'd have noticed a soft fond smile on Itachi's lips as he let her drag him along.
