Chapter Three: Humanity's Saviors
"Wow, the view up here is beautiful..."
"Yeah, the breeze feels nice."
Sakura and Karin stood side by side and faced the setting sun in the distance. They, along with the others including Corporal Levi, and Commander Erwin were standing on Wall Rose. They were the only ones up there. The sun was setting in the distance, it was absolutely beautiful. Karin felt like she'd never been so high in the air before. The walls were certainly big.
It had taken the group awhile to run up the side of it while Corporal Levi and Commander Erwin had used those odd devices at their hips.
Karin had changed out of her prisoner clothes and into some new ones that the woman named Petra lent her. Petra was a bit shorter then her, but they were the same in size. Karin was a bit more muscular though, compared to Petra's petite frame that is... She was dressed in a long grey, plane skirt, brown boots, and a white button up t-shirt. Her long hair had been up in a ponytail, but she got tired of it and decided to let it flow free.
She wasn't the only one that had changed clothes either, Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto also changed. Sasuke had flat out refused to change out of his clothes, but he did catch a shower. The girls wore things similar to what Karin was wearing, long skirts and button up t-shirts, and boots. Naruto was wearing tan pants and a white button up t-shirt, his headband gone.
It made him look kind of handsome.
Karin looked away fro him upon that thought, her eye wandering over to where Erwin and Levi were standing, watching them, observing their reactions, probably.
"So, what's your reasoning for bringing us up here?" Karin questioned them both, leaving Sakura's side to walk over to them, "I'm sure it wasn't just to let us enjoy the view, now was it?"
Levi gave her an interested look, "Quite a observant one you have there," he commented.
Sasuke nodded mutely. He already knew about how smart Karin was, even though she didn't act like it all the time. Though she's been a bit more behaved since they got here. Maybe because it was the shock of ending up in a world like this.
Last night, he pulled her aside and told her everything that Levi told him. Though she seemed reluctant to believe him, she also was curious about these "titan" things. Sasuke couldn't provide her with much information, only what Levi had told him himself, and Karin wanted to know more on the spot, and Sasuke had to agree with her.
So they managed to slip into the library they had there and read up on these titans. They stayed up all night together reading books, discussing theories. It was so much to take in, but... Pretty interesting as well. And he kind of enjoyed being in the company of Karin, he was glad that she'd forgiven him for betraying her a while ago...
Not that Sasuke would ever admit to that.
"We wanted to show you guys how much land we lost thanks to the titans," Levi stated and gestured outwards the the land of what used to be the inner wall of Wall Maria, "We suffered greatly thanks to those titans, so many people died thanks to the colossal titan."
Karin blinked her eyes and adjusted her glasses, looking out into the distance again. She could see a few of those monsters, some running about, some just wandering aimlessly around without any knowing of where they were going. She could even hear a few of them groaning like some sort of fucked up animals...
"Disgusting," Karin muttered and looked at Levi again, "But that's also not the real reason why you invited us up here, is it?"
Hinata and Sakura took interest in the conversation now, and they moved closer to hear what they were saying. Naruto and Sasuke had been listening the whole time of course, but had nothing to say at the moment.
"Again, you are right," Levi stated, his expression not changing, "I wanted to ask you kids something."
Sasuke twitched in slight irritation at being called a kid, and he was about to say something but Levi continued.
"You all have super human abilities, Naruto, you can do much more then that trick you showed us yesterday, am I right?" Levi prompted and looked over at the blond, who wore a confused expression on his face before he nodded in confirmation.
"And Sasuke, you can do much more then what you've shown me yesterday, your bodies can take a lot of damage right?"
Sasuke nodded.
"What is the point in all these questions?" Sakura demanded, and Levi shot the brat glare for butting in on what he was trying to say.
"As I was saying," Levi continued on, "Humanity is practically under eh control of these titans. It won't be long until they manage to break all these walls down, and wipe us out for sure," he allowed those words to sink in for a moment. He didn't really believe that would happen, but decided that he had to exaggerate a bit to convince them.
"We both think," he shared a brief look with Erwin, "That if we had you on our side, fighting for us, then maybe we'd be able to win against them. They wouldn't stand a chance against two powerful opponents like you two." he stated and looked directly at Naruto and Sasuke. He looked at the girls, seeing how they seemed offended by being left out, he added, "I am not sure how skilled you girls are, but if you two are anything like them, then you'd be a help as well."
Karin scoffed, "Please," she stated before Sakura or Hinata could try to reply, "We aren't nearly as strong physical wise like they are. With the exception of Sakura, but I doubt that Sakura's strength can match Naruto and Sasuke's, no offence," she added at the end and looked back at the pink haired girl.
"But we are strong in other aspects as well," Karin stated, "Sakura and I excel mostly in our healing abilities."
"Healing abilities?"
"Yeah," Sakura spoke up and took a few steps forward, placing a hand on Karin's shoulder, "We are easily the best kunoichi in the hidden leaf village when it came to healing."
'So, they're both medics?' Levi thought to himself, but shook the question off for now.
"What do you guys say?" he asked and directed his gaze over to Naruto and Sasuke, "Will you aid humanity in defeating the titans?"
Naruto looked at Sasuke, who seemed to be deep in thought. The question seemed to be directed at all of them, but Levi was looking at both Naruto and Sasuke, so he guessed that Levi assumed they were the leaders of the group?
Naruto shuffled over to Sasuke and murmured softly, so that only the two of them could hear each other, "I think we should do it."
Sasuke looked at him, "Why do you think that?"
"Because," Naruto says and sighs softly, "I feel like, we're obligated to, you know. They did save us and give us a place to stay, the least we can do is help them. They seem like they really need the help too. Levi sees like a very proud man, I don't think he'd ask us for help if he, hell, humanity really needed it."
Sasuke kind of agreed with what he said, but he was still unsure, "What about the war? Obito? Aren't you concerned?"
"Of course I am!" Naruto hissed, still keeping his voice low though, "But there's not much we can do while we're in another world. Anyways, we might as well do it while we're here, until we can figure out a way to leave or until the titan situation is handled. Besides, Obito was at the end of his rope when we left, I'm sure the four kages and everyone else will be able to take him down."
Sasuke shrugged in agreement and muttered, "Fine. I'm only agreeing to this because I don't want to sit around bored all day."
Naruto looked at the girls, "What do you guys think?"
"I- I'll do anything y- you decide to do, Naruto-kun."
Naruto had been half expecting that from Hinata. He gave her a nod before looking at Sakura, "Sakura-chan?"
Sakura sighed and shrugged a bit, "I think they need help, and I'm willing to if you two are."
Sasuke looked at Karin. She was his teammate, he should be the one to ask her, "Karin?"
Karin bit her inner cheek lightly, "I think it's dangerous," she stated truthfully. After what she read last night, she wasn't sure if she'd be good enough to fight these... Titan things. It should be easy for Sasuke and the rest of them, but she was unsure if her skills would be able to help her. But... She'll go along with anything that Sasuke decides to do. Damn her and her undying devotion towards the Uchiha...
"But I'll go along with whatever you decide to do, Sasuke."
Sasuke gave her an approving nod and walked over to stand in front of Captain Erwin and Levi, "We will fight with you," he promised and gave him a short nod, "We will all do our best to save humanity."
Levi gave him an approving smirk, "Welcome to the Recon Corps."
"Before you guys can officially join the Recon Corps, you'll have to go through training," Petra Ral was saying to the shinobi's at the dinner table that night, receiving a few confused looks from said shinobi.
"Training?"
"Heh, we don't need training!" Naruto boasted and folded his arms behind his head, leaning back in his seat a bit, "I can defeat any titan, at any time!"
Levi, Petra, and Erwin exchanged glances, small smile teasing the corner of their lips. They certainly liked Naruto and his confidence in himself, but that could get him killed while in an actual fight with a real titan.
"We know, Naruto, but you'll also need to learn how to use 3DM gear though. There's a lot you need to know about titans in order to take them down properly. Their bodies can regenerate no matter how hard you hit them, and it's important to know where their weak point is. You have to go through training to be officially part of Recon Corps," Petra explained.
"What a waste of time!" Naruto complained.
"Shut up, idiot, and deal with it," Sasuke scolded Naruto from where he sat. There was a disinterested expression on that handsome face of his, his arms crossed over his chest, "We're in their world now, so we will follow their rules."
"I know, bastard!"
Petra bit her lower lip softly, her hazel eyes were now on Sasuke, and she was getting a bit of a dreamy expression on her face. Sasuke of course, didn't seem to notice her, but Karin sure did, and she definitely didn't like it.
"So, Petra," Karin spoke up, sipping her tea, "When does training start then?"
Petra stopped staring at Sasuke to look at the red head, "O- oh, about a week," she replied and gave her a smile, "I figure that's enough time to get you used to our world, meet some people, maybe even train a bit to get ready for when you guys are being recruited?"
"Yeah, I guess," Naruto sighed softly and looked off to the side, "Man, this world is kind of odd. Where are the ramen stands around here?" he wondered out loud.
Levi gave the kid a confused look, "Ramen stands?"
"Yeah, ramen stands! Instant noodles in a bowl?" Naruto prompted and gave the man a 'duh' expression.
Erwin narrowed his eyes a bit, "There are none of those around here," he says bluntly.
Silence.
The silence that met Erwin's words lasted for only a few moments before Naruto finally burst out, "Wait. WHAT?! NO RAMEN? I WON'T BE ABLE TO LIVE!"
While Naruto bent his head and started melodramatically sobbing into his hands, Sakura let out a small laugh and patted Naruto's back, "You'll be just fine. Maybe you'll stop reeking of ramen all the time now."
"That's so cruel, Sakura-chan!" Naruto wailed and cried harder.
"What the hell..."
"There was this type of food back in our world. It was called 'ramen'. Naruto was completely obsessed with it. He'd eat that crap every day. It's going to be fun to watch him whine and cry about not being able to eat it," Sasuke explained and smirked softly, Naruto made a quiet whine of protest from where he sat but he was too busy drowning in his own tears to retort.
"I'm going up to my room," Karin stated and stood up from the table, pushing a strand of dark red hair out her eyes, "But first, I want to shower. I haven't bathed since..." she tried to remember but she couldn't.
"I need a bath too, I'm still pretty dirty from the battle, and I was too tired to shower yesterday," Sakura says and stands up as well, "You coming, Hinata?"
"Gross," Levi said and made a face of disgust, he couldn't stand filthy things, "Petra, show the girls to where they can shower."
Petra nodded and stood up, "Um..." she said a bit shyly, looking at Sasuke now, "Sasuke... Your clothes will make you stand out too much if you leave the castle. M- maybe you should let me get you some new ones?"
Sasuke stared at her for a moment, "Fine," he sighed softly and stood up from the table, "Let's get this over with, I'm tired, and I want to get some sleep."
Petra nodded, "Y- yes, okay."
Sasuke got up from his seat and followed her, and the other girls, out the room.
"It's a good thing that you're about the same size Naruto," Petra was saying as she held up a white shirt to Sasuke's torso, "I'll have to get you and the others more clothes, it would be better for you all to blend in... Uh... Take off your shirt, please."
They were in Petra's room, the girl had went and asked around for some clothes for Sasuke, and managed to track down some that was around his size. It was considerate of her, but Sasuke felt a bit more tired thanks to walking around with her. He could practically feel the bags under his eyes, he guessed he should've gotten some sleep last night instead of staying up and researching with Karin...
Sasuke removed his shirt without any further question, his expression apathetic as usual. Petra felt a flush come to her cheeks upon seeing the muscular build of the other, but tried to shake it off as she approached him and handed him the shirt. He took it and slipped his arms through the sleeves, buttoning it up in the front.
"H- how does it fit?"
"It fits fine, " Sasuke stated blandly and tried to fix the collar, but it was twisted in the back and he didn't really notice it.
Petra turned around and giggled softly, "Here," she murmured and stepped up to him, her slim hands traveling to the back of his neck and untwisting it. That fixed him easily enough, and she gave him a smile as she stepped away from him, "I have some pants that might be your size as well," she turned away and picked up the pants that were folded on top of her dresser, walking over to him, she handed him the pair of pants before turning her back to give him privacy.
Once he was changed, he said, "They feel comfortable," and Petra turned around and tilted her head to get a better look, approaching him as she did so.
"They look pretty loose around the waist," she commented and tugged on the waist band lightly, they were too loose for her liking, but it should be fine.
"They're fine, you've done plenty for me and my group already."
Petra blushed a bit, "it's no biggie!" she said quickly and looked off to the side, "J- just being polite. U- um, I have some shoes you can try on. Take a seat on my bed and try them on. After that, you're free to go and get some sleep."
Sasuke nodded mutely and took a seat, sucking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a brief moment. Petra sucked in a breath to calm her beating heart before she stepped over to her dresser and picked up the dark brown shoes on top. She turned around and opened her mouth to say something, then she noticed something off about Sasuke.
He was breathing soundly, shoulders moving with every breath he'd suck in and let out. His body seemed completely relaxed, was there something wrong with him? Petra went over quickly, waving her hand in front of Sasuke's peaceful expression she realized that the other male had fallen asleep, sitting on her bed.
Petra let out a small laugh and set the shoes down. She gently laid Sasuke down and pulled her white covers over him, allowing him to sleep in her bed for the night. It was no big deal, she could just sleep in one of the many vacant rooms they had in the castle. A tender smile came unto her face as she leaned her chin on her hands, her elbows propping on the mattress as she merely gazed at him for a few moments.
'He's so handsome, when he's asleep.'
Petra then got up and left the room, glancing back over her shoulder at the man in her bed before she left, closing the door behind her and heading down the hall.