Author's Note: What's good guys? Here's the 2nd version of Elastic Heart. I've noticed my errors in the original. The rebounds relationship was too fast for the both of them and I just wrote a Lime scene moments after Naruto rejected Hinata so I fucked up there. Also, I had a lack of motivation and when I have no motivation the story won't go as perfect as planned and just be lazy writing. Also I'll be borrowing some ideas from other fanfics I know which I'll just merge the ideas together. Or just improve the original and add extra to it.
Disclaimer: You know damn well I don't own Naruto so shut the hell up.
Heads-up: The Timing of Team 7's arrival on the bridge had been swapped. Naruto and Sakura swapped timing so Naruto will show up at Karin's 'final moment.' And the Sakura's scenario is different.
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Chapter 1: The Burden
[Post Five Kage Summit Arc:
"Sa-Sasuke. W-what was I… too you?" Was all the victim can say. She gasps and coughs out blood. She lays on the ground, barely moving. No matter how hard she tried to move away from her soon to be killer but failed. She looked at him and saw no regret or sorrow in his eyes. Just cold in his eyes. "W-Why would y-you do this… to me? She was a red spiky hair and crimson eye kunoichi.
The killer, who she called Sasuke, answered. "Why? Karin, you're just as annoying as her." A certain pink haired kunoichi came to mind. "You let yourself get caught and depend on me to save you instead of saving yourself. You're just a burden." He channeled his viral lightning jutsu. The Chidori. "No point in lying there and waiting for death. I'll just end your suffering."
"Goodbye. Karin." She was heartbroken. The guy she grows to love is going to end her. She let out a few tears, she was going to die. She didn't get the future she wanted, but instead it was just wishful thinking. She was slipping away. She closed her eyes, waiting for her last moment.
Instead of feeling the same jutsu through her, she felt warm chakra headed towards them. It's just an illusion. She's on death's door. That chakra isn't real. Right?
"SASUKE!!!"
Sasuke turned to the direction of his name being called, canceling the chidori. "If it isn't the dobe himself. Come to beg me to come back again? Huh Naruto? Did Sakura's lap dog was send to come and get me?" He mocked that last one.
Karin opened her eyes slightly, wondering who interrupted her execution. Her vision is still blurry and all she can spot is an orange and yellow figure. Then she realized he said his name. 'Naruto? His old teammate?'
Naruto is at the other end of the bridge in the aftermath of the 6th Hokage candidate's death. "WHY!? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!? YOU'VE GOTTEN YOU'RE REVENGE SO IT'S OVER! HOW MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE YOU HARMED GOT TO DO WITH ITACHI!? WHAT MORE CAN YOU TAKE AWAY FROM EVERYONE!" He shouted.
"The entire leaf village." Said Sasuke, shocking Naruto. "That pathetic village is the reason why my brother suffered. They manipulated him, forcing him to choose the Leaf over his family. They'll pay. I'M BURNING KONOHA TO THE GROUND!" Sasuke shouted that last part.
Naruto was in disbelief. Both him and Sasuke knew the truth about Itachi, but Sasuke views it the wrong way. He's going to kill everyone, even children. "You bastard I'll-." Naruto then noticed a pool of blood next to Sasuke. He sees her red hair and the Akatsuki coat. "Who is she?" He asked.
Sasuke then looked back at Karin, remembering she's still alive. "She's just my teammate. She means nothing to me anymore." Sasuke then turns to Karin. "After I finish her off. You're next." Sasuke channeled his chidori again.
Naruto's eyes widened. Sasuke is going to kill his teammate. He wasn't going to let that happen. Naruto dashed towards the other side of the bridge and made a hand sign for shadow clones. "Shadow clone jutsu!" He shouted. Three clones appeared and charged at Sasuke. Sasuke easily dispelled them, thus giving the original Naruto some time to grab Karin and widened the distance between them.
Naruto looked at the victim. "Stay with me ma'am, you're going to be alright." Naruto knew that was a lie. If he doesn't find her a medic soon to close that wound, she'll die from blood loss.
Karin, who toned out the argument between Naruto and Sasuke, slightly opened her eyes, feeling that same warm chakra she felt earlier. Now she got a closer view, she realized that this was the blur she was seeing. 'It's him. Naruto. He's saving me.' She was starting to get comfortable with his chakra. If she's dying, she'll die in his arms and not Sasuke's. "Thank… you." She said weakly before passing out.
Naruto looked down at Karin after she thanked him. "No need to-." He then noticed Sasuke charging at them with a chidori. "Shit!" Naruto said. With Karin in his arms he can't fight Sasuke. Naruto turned his back and tried to run, only to get cut on the back by Sasuke's chidori. "KKYYAAHH!" Naruto lets out a roar of pain. Though the cut wasn't deep enough, it still hurt like hell.
Sasuke launches for a second strike, until a silver-haired jonin grabs his arm and redirects the jutsu. 'No. Not again. Sasuke, how far you have fallen.' The jonin thought to himself.
With the same minimum speed, Sasuke shoved his chidori through the tree near them. Sasuke seethe. He was interrupted to kill the thorns on his side. "Damn you. Kakashi."
The jonin named Kakashi glared at Sasuke. "Naruto, are you alright." He asks with worry, not taking his eyes off Sasuke.
"I'm good." Naruto responded. "Kakashi-sensei, let me deal with Sasuke. I can take him out."
Sasuke sneered. Kakashi looks back at Naruto. "No Naruto, I'll deal with Sasuke. You're leaving. Find Sakura so she can heal the girl and both of you go back to Konoha." Kakashi ordered.
"I'm not leaving, I'm-." Naruto was interrupted by Kakashi.
"That's an order, Naruto. Now it's not the time to have your rematch with Sasuke. That girl is going to lose her life if we don't aid her soon. Go. Now." Kakashi demanded.
As much as Naruto wanted to fight Sasuke, he knew it wasn't the right time. "Okay." He held on to Karin tightly and gave Sasuke one last glare only to get a glare back.
"Naruto." Sasuke called. "After the leaf. You're next."
"Sasuke-kun!?" A familiar voice shouted.
Sasuke sighed, knowing who's voice it was. "Sakura. I'm not even surprised you're here as well. Another Team 7 reunion huh. Naruto and Kakashi didn't bring cake or balloons so I assume you have them." He said with sarcasm.
Sakura looked at Naruto and Kakashi, she put her head down in shame. She wanted to do this when the two weren't around, but she wasn't going to back out now.
"Sakura!" Naruto shouted. "Please help her. She needs healing."
Sakura looked at the girl in Naruto's arms. She can see she's wounded. She ignored them and focused back on Sasuke. "Sasuke." She takes off her headband. "I'm coming with you. I'm not a part of the leaf anymore." She threw her headband in the water.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow while Naruto was stunned. "Sakura? Why?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke wasn't convinced. If it was anybody else he would have killed them with no hesitation. But coming from Sakura, she'll do anything for him and she tried leaving the village with him. "Is that so? Then you shouldn't have a problem destroying the Leaf Village with me and kill the people you care about. Friends. Family. You'll give them all up for me? Right Sakura?" Sasuke said.
Sakura's eyes widened. He's going to destroy the village. He's going to kill everyone she cares about. She looked down. "If it means being with you, then yes. I'll do anything for you. Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke still wasn't convinced. "Okay, if your loyalty is with me, then kill Kakashi. I'll face Naruto and finish off Karin." Sasuke said.
Naruto held Karin tightly. "You're not touching her." He seethe.
"Well? Sakura?" Sasuke looked at her.
Sakura walked up to Kakashi holding a kunai. Kakashi looked at her with disappointment. Sakura clenched her eyes to keep the tears from falling. "Sorry Sasuke." She turned to Sasuke, attempting to stab Sasuke with the poison covered kunai.
Only to get his hand on her throat. "Big mistake." Sasuke said.
"Sasuke… please… don't. " Plead Sakura.
He grabbed her kunai and planned to end his ex-teammate. Then a hand appeared on his shoulder. "Let her go Sasuke, she's not worth killing." A figure with an orange spiral mask appears behind Sasuke.
Sasuke groans in annoyance and lets Sakura go. "Fine" both Sasuke and the figure disappeared in a vortex.
Sakura gasps for air and Kakashi and Naruto run to her side. "Are you okay Sakura?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm fine." She rubs her throat and wipes her tears. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him."
"It's fine Sakura. Our concern at this point is healing his ex-teammate." Kakashi said, looking at Karin.
Naruto looked at Sakura. "Please, heal her." Plead Naruto. He didn't know the girl but felt sorry for her.
Sakura nodded. As Naruto lay Karin down gently she noticed she was gripping on to Naruto's jacket. 'Not even going to ask.' Sakura started the healing process and noticed it's not completely healing her. "I-I can't."
Naruto's eyes widened. "What do you mean you can't?" He said. Fearing that she wasn't going to make it. He didn't care if he didn't know her, he wasn't going to let someone else die by Sasuke's betrayal.
Sakura looked at Naruto. "She lost a lot of blood and her chakra is almost drained. My chakra isn't large enough to keep her alive."
Naruto clenched his fist. 'DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! If only I was faster, I could of saved her.' he thought to himself. Then he came up with an idea. "Use my chakra."
Sakura's eyes widened. "Naruto, are you sure?" She asked.
Naruto nodded. "I have a large amount so I should give her enough to live."
Sakura looked at Kakashi, asking if it's okay. Kakashi nodded. And so the healing process began and Karin's colors are coming back.
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Chapter Complete: Aug 3rd, 2022