Karin felt fury swelling in her developing bosom. Her chest was tight and heaving faintly as she sat alone. Her knees were curled into herself as she moped without a peep.

Hurt by Naruto's idiotic callousness in Tsunade's office, Karin wanted as much distance from him as she could make. The girl knew her boyfriend meant no true offense, but it didn't stop the pain. She didn't cry, instead dwelling on the aching.

"Stupid jerk." She mumbled. "Stupid, gorgeous, Mist-born bitch." Karin wanted to plant her sandals firmly up the asses of the Blond and the other Redhead. They were going to pay for making her heart throb in agony.

"I finally found you!" Naruto exclaimed. His girlfriend's ruby eyes squinted at him. The young teen already knew he messed up back in Tsunade's office. He assured himself he wouldn't make that mistake again. "I'm sorry about what I said."

Karin had evaded Naruto like the plague after leaving the Hokage's office, making use of her sensory ability to spot and track him. It seems in her self-pity, she'd gotten lazy and let the boy find her.

Maybe I wanted him to find me.

"Do you think you can just apologize to me and think I'd be happy? You hurt me, Naruto." Naruto shrunk under his angry girlfriend's gaze. "Am I not enough for you?"

"No!" Naruto exclaimed without thinking. He hurriedly corrected himself: "You are! But Mei-"

"What about Mei, Naruto‽ You don't even know her!" Retorted Karin. "And you're just gonna bring her into your life without thinking!"

"What am I supposed to do?" Naruto was sincere in the question. He understood his maybe-soon-to-be-not girlfriend was upset and why, but if she could just see that he wasn't just lusting after the older girl... "I can't just let her be left in that Kiri. You heard her dad, that place sucks!"

"I don't care! She isn't our problem!"

"She's a part of our family, Karin! We can't let anything bad happen to her! I never let anything bad to you, did I?"

"You hurt me." The girl choked out. "I told you Naruto, I don't need anybody but you in my life. When you said you'd accept Mei, it hurt so much." Her eyes became bleary. The tears she cried reflected brightly the setting sun.

"I know it's selfish deep down to want nothing more than to keep you to myself, but it's what I want."

Naruto thought pensively for a moment, then spoke.

"That's not healthy."

"Nothing about me is healthy. My skin is pasty, bottom teeth are crooked, diet consists of cup noodles and I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses."

"Karin." Naruto's voice was uncharacteristically low. "I know your old life wasn't good, but you aren't living it anymore. You have a new life away from Kusa and here in Konoha. Nobody here is as cruel as those bastards in the Grass."

The girl just stared back, uncaring about the tears and snot dripping from her red face.

"That's why I want to help Mei. To give her the same chance as you, far away from the violence in Kiri. I don't care about the whole concubine thing, I don't even fully get it."

It brought a sense of swelling hope to Karin when he said that last sentence. He was too simple to be a full-blown lecher like Jiraiya and she finally internalized it emotionally. She knew already of Naruto's reckless altruism but now she was on the other side of it. All he wanted to do was help and this was his way of doing just that. Emotional turmoil ate at her.

Mei was just like her in a way. And if she could be delivered from her pain, why couldn't anybody else? That question never ceased repeating in Karin's addled mind. She grew tired of hearing it.

Naruto embraced her. Karin felt the warmth of his chakra envelop her body. She lusted for the sensation, even now with her mounting frustrations. It was comfortable, plain and simple.

"Please, Karin, let me help her."

"I...just can't. I'm sorry."

For a moment, that comforting blue tide became a swirling vortex of carmine rage threatening to pull her under. And as soon as it came, the stilled azure waters returned. The pit didn't have time to swell.

"Okay Karin." Naruto said with a smile.


The air of the apartment was thick that night. The small TV flickered in black and white, breaking the darkness of night as some old movie played out. It was nearly silent, the television's volume set at a low number.

Karin hardly watched the movie, staring blankly at the box. She was too preoccupied with her heavy thoughts. She wondered if she'd just condemned another person's life for her own selfish desire. It wasn't much of a question, already knowing the answer. But she couldn't stop.

I am a terrible person.

Even admitting that, the True Uzumaki didn't like facing what she'd done.

Naruto was in his bed, trying to sleep with a blanket over his head. The light from the TV wasn't bothering him. He wanted to make Karin happy, and he'd done just that. Yet, he couldn't shake the piddling nagging on his shoulders.

Today was the first time we really fought.

Finally, as he was about to dive into the black ocean of slumber, he heard the Kyubi speak to him.

Remember this, boy. What you want may not be what she wants.


Tsunade leaned back in her cushioned recliner, taking a sip from the cold sake in her glass. She wanted to rest and let this day become a memory as soon as possible. It was an exhausting day from the minute she woke up.

The Hokage was grateful the Kusa dignitaries and Karin's citizenship were dealt with and finalized. She wasn't looking forward to the flood of complaints and petitions to the office about reinstating at least some of the debts.

Wouldn't be unreasonable. That debt I cleared wasn't entirely public funds. I just wiped away free income for some of the minor clans and guilds.

Lady Tsunade would live with her decision, unwilling to upend them in the least bit. The people of Konoha, both commoner and noble alike, needed to know she was in charge. Nothing was going to change that. If she had to suffer the mountainous paperwork and hear the pathetic grievances between clashing egos of men and families alike, her word would be law.

The only luxury I really have.

The house she lived in was provided to her by virtue of her ascension, but it was from another time. Though quaint by modern standards, the home was a museum in itself. Anachronisms in design and out-of-style etchings marked this house as a holdover from the earliest days of Konoha.

It reminded her of her grandfather and granduncle. She chuckled, remembering the sorely out-of-date armor they insisted on wearing all the way to their graves.

Grandma Mito always got on to them for that.

Turning her thoughts to Mito Uzumaki, she wondered when it would be opportune to tell Naruto and Karin of their relation. No doubt the two, Naruto in particular, would be ecstatic about having another relative. She also expected to have ear screamed off about why she kept it a secret but would cross that bridge when she got to it. Karin no doubt would be the more reasonable of the two.

Her lips uncurled at the thought of that girl's recent actions.

Not that she didn't understand the girl or her tantrums, but Tsunade couldn't help but feel her blood simmer. The mature woman knew Naruto wanted nothing more than to help the Terumi, Mei in particular, but Karin stopped him. Out of jealousy, or a sense of possessiveness, Karin reigned in Naruto's selfless nature. And he let it happen.

Whatever the connection between the two, it was stronger than mere infatuation. They were still young, barely teenagers fresh out of childhood and sent into battlefields where lives could be ended in a fleeting moment. They were clinging steadfastly to each other having lived rough lives and thrust into violent, inhumane military careers as little more than child soldiers. They had survived thus far through the Forest of Death, against a psychopathic Jinchuriki and defeated the student of Orochimaru.

They were strong enough to avoid Nawaki and Dan's cruel fates.

The pain of their memories still lingered in her chest, but Tsunade could think about them now, about the happy times she spent with them. And about how she couldn't have brought herself to do so without Naruto to redeem her.

Lady Tsunade decided she would talk with Karin and rout out her stinginess. It would be a lot of work, but Tsunade was more than capable enough to break the young kunoichi down. After she was broken down, she could be built up again and stronger.

And hopefully better.


The Terumi Delegation were despondent as they marched on down the main Fire Country road. None said a word nor made any peep, letting the almost unnoticeable steps make the brunt of the noise.

Naoki was beyond furious at his Lord and Lady. They rejected his Mei, damning his daughter to return home where she would be far from safe. He stared forward at the rolling, grassy hills before him. Nearly unable to quell the howling beneath his exterior, the man chose to keep himself quiet, ball his fists and stew as his family trekked home. It would be a long walk home and he would have plenty of time to think. To scheme.

Yuya, while displeased, was not shocked in the least. Alone, the elder gentleman tried to convince his son that it was a fool's gambit after learning of Lady Karin. His son persisted despite his father's protestations. Now, they all walked home, no victory for anybody except Lady Karin. Even that seemed to be hollow. When the pair returned much later in the day, there was an aura of dejection around Lord Naruto that could not be mistaken.

Whatever transpired between the two left a mark on Lord Naruto.

Mei didn't know what she felt. Relieved, in a sense, that her romantic life wouldn't be settled before it could start properly. Despairing as her life then on would be lived in the enclave, never being able to walk freely among the trees and flowers of Konoha. Shame at failing the mission she was molded into completing since childhood and, by extension, failing her family. Jealousy, having been rejected by a boy who, by all accounts, she should have had wrapped around her finger because of his attachment to his girlfriend. More jealousy, able to see the handsome man waiting to grow up from his short, scrappy body that she could no longer have.

The age difference between herself and Karin and Naruto was less than half a decade. To some, it may have been creepy, but in the world of shinobi politicking, where generations of families could be slaughtered in a few hours, it was common. Pairing with someone a little younger didn't bother Mei, however, stares she might have gotten probably would've stayed on her mind. Images of the three of them walking together with their arms linked flowed forth like a fount. Naruto always a had big, dumb grin on his tomato red face.

What could have been?

Forlorn that she might have lost out on something special, Mei pressed on, silently cursing her ancestors. They made the contracts, the stipulations and weaved the fate she suffered now. She swallowed, feeling her throat begin to constrict softly. She clenched her fists, then released them, trying to cope with the swelling sadness in her chest. The older teenager sighed, nearly a sob, accepting everything.

Karin, I hope you understand just how good you have it.


Sasuke lay on his bed, alone in the dark Uchiha complex. Same as every night when he tried to sleep. But tonight, it wasn't a waking nightmare of obsession with his kin-slaying brother or quest for more powerful jutsu. It was an almost blissful elation. Tonight was the first excursion with friends that didn't involve shinobi missions.

And it was great.

To forget his past for a little while and relax was relieving beyond even what he thought. The food tasted better than the plain, unflavored rations stockpiled in his pantry. He stocked his kitchen with the MREs a long time ago, having decided that learning to cook would distract him from his training. Sasuke seriously regretted that mistake. That barbecue pork was sweet and tender beyond anything he'd eaten in the past ten years.

While Ino and Sakura argued about who would sit next to and feed him, the lone Uchiha found everyone great company. The two girls did grate on his nerves a little bit but he wasn't alone in that respect. Shikamaru looked ready to tear Ino's short ponytail off and Choji nearly shoved a fork full of beef into Sakura's mouth to shut her up. He couldn't help but smile then.

He laughed about it to himself. It felt good to laugh in earnest again.

A creak of wood put Sasuke on alert. Immediately he ceased his laughter, drawing the kunai he kept under his pillow. Tucking said pillow under the dark blue blanket, he took cover behind his bed, keeping his onyx eyes locked squarely on the bedroom door. It was the only way in and out of his bedroom save the window. The window was squarely behind him, covered by darkly hued curtains. Even with the moon being full on this cloudless night, Sasuke cast no shadow.

He thought himself mostly invisible.

The door creaked open. Stepping through were several people, all dressed in the same gray and black ropes. The hiding boy couldn't make out much more than their clothing as their distinguishing features were obfuscated by the lack of light.

"You sure this is his room?" A distinctly feminine but rough voice asked. "I ain't aboutta walk through this whole damn house lookin' for him. It's like a maze in here."

"Intel said so." Easily the burliest of the group answered. "Never been wrong before."

"Quiet you two." A thinner, more conniving member ordered. "We can't have him waking up. It'll make our job a whole lot harder."

Sasuke ran through a set of seals, a physical recitation he'd known for a long time. The whistle of the chakra caught the group's attention.

"Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

As the last of the three fireballs left his mouth, Sasuke leaped through the window, shattering the glass. His historic home was probably ignited by his jutsu and would burn substantially in the intermediate time after, but he couldn't focus on that right now.

I couldn't have beaten them. He assessed. While The Uchiha were not renowned for their sensory capability, Sasuke knew the group was on him and he didn't want to look back. I need help, now!


I wrote about 75 to 80% of this just today. Sorry for the slower update, still going to be like this for a while. This whole past month and a half has just been a gauntlet of bullshit.