Why did he save her? He could have simply killed her, right?
No. he couldn't. he killed for a reason. Orochimaru's subordinates tried to kill him so he killed them back. He killed Orochimaru because…well…he was Orochimaru, he didn't even have to explain himself! Not to mention it was the mission.
Sasuke was a stupid stupid mistake that doomed him in a cycle of-
*Thwack*
"Told you to watch out for the tree."
"Ugh. Yeah. Thanks Ten."
He scratched his nose and continued his musings. Certainly, he had no convincing reason to kill her as she didn't try to kill him. Well she did but that was after he killed the love of her life.
On the other hand, she was working with Orochimaru. Worst part was that now, she was his responsibility and he had absolutely no idea what to say to the kage. But just then, at the pit of despair, he found the answer.
"Karin!" he almost shouted.
"What?" she replied in a higher-than-normal pitch. She was clearly not expecting the gusto he had put in saying her name.
"How do you feel about living with me?"
She sighed in defeat. Why did she have to be captured by him of all people. Just when she thought things would proceed normally in a humanly fashion, this freak of nature had to say something like that.
"Did you hit your head too hard?"
'Shit…I did something stupid again.'
His grin died on his face as realization dawned on him. He wasn't like this. Ever. He would never be so wrapped up in something like this. The teen had a certain way of life. To always stay focused. Yet now, he was in shambles. His mind was wandering to places he didn't think existed.
'Really? You really wanted to ask her to live with you? Maybe I did hit my head too hard.'
For the rest of the tree-jumping, he kept his quiet.
It was pretty damn hard to ignore it now. One question was causing everyone to burn with curiosity. What was wrong with Naruto?
Snake Den
"I see ten in the room up ahead."
"Good work Hinata. Lee. Go with TenTen. Help her out if things get messy. I repeat. IF things get messy. I need you in top condition."
"Yes sir."
"Yes sir."
All was going according to plan. TenTen was a great asset for clearing out the small fry with her far and wide attacks. He intended to keep the rest of his team in top form to face the Sannin and his pupil.
Now
They all looked at him carefully. TenTen genuinely thought that Naruto was hit too hard in the head and his growing simplicity was due to a brain trauma.
"Naruto. Do you remember your-"
"Yes. My brain's fine. I didn't go retarded because I was pounded."
'Yeesh…glad to know some of him's back.'
Indeed. He was returning to his usual self. The foreseeing, analyzing and practical leader. He was beginning to see the fine line between his personal business and his professional business. Why he had mixed things up, he would think about it later but for now, he needed to regain his composure and lead them back safely home.
After a while, Karin decided to get closer to him. The fact that none of the teammates showed any interest meant two things.
One, they were certain she was no match for him.
Two, they were themselves also curious as to what she had to say.
"Hey uh…listen. I know you were trying to be nice and take care of me but-"
"Just stop it. I let my emotions get the best of me in the middle of a mission. I'm just glad I didn't cause any casualties with my idiocy."
"Whoa. What happened to the guy who wanted redemption?"
"my guilt and conscience are of secondary concern. Right now, I need to lead this team back home safely."
"Don't worry about a thing. Who cares if it's Raigakure? I will lead us all to victory without a single casualty!"
She could not believe what was happening. Again! He was as unpredictable as Kirigakure's weather. The same guy who stared into her eyes as she beat him bloody with her bare hands was now taking charge and putting her in her place. Right now, she truly felt like a captive. Suddenly, she felt worried about what was coming. She was so lost in her emotions that she had completely forgotten that she was being taken to Konoha, the country that her master invaded. Suddenly, the odds did not seem in her favor.
"don't even think about running away."
"Eh?!" she blurted. It was amazing how he knew.
"How-"
*Thwack*
"That's how. You're distracted. Now that you've remembered what situation you're in, I guessed that you're realizing the worst is about to befall you and…well…the tree just proved me right."
While she groaned in pain as TenTen and Hinata took a closer look at her face, he also pondered.
How was it that they were in sync like this? The connection between them was upsetting to say the least. She seemed to have an effect on him and vice versa. When she was upset, so was he. Now that he's thinking straight again, so is she.
Naruto was all too familiar with "Fate" to pass this as a simple coincidence. He could have easily ignored her pain and killed her. But he didn't. he could have easily dodged her fists. But he didn't. something inside him was keeping him on a certain track of actions and consequences. At first, he thought it was guilt but now…now he was seeing the pattern.
It was an accumulation of so many choices that it reignited his headaches.
He knew that he would die by her hand. One day, he had to give her the opportunity, the same opportunity that he had, and let her decide for herself.
She would have to choose to let him live or die. That was his redemption for his mistake.
The beauty of this "Fate" was the synchronicity of feelings he had with her. If there was a god, this was his way of letting Naruto know if he would die or not when he would give her the knife. He would know if he had succeeded or failed before her knife of hatred found his heart of guilt.
He smiled bitterly as the realization materialized within him.
'I have to die…and I get to know and feel everything.'
Curse. Gift. It didn't matter how you saw it. In the end, good and bad are merely a disposition of the human towards the fact. Naruto's foresight was simply a fact. He always liked to find patterns and see how things would end. How was he to know this pattern?
"Sasuke! You Will Fucking Pay For This I Swear!"
This was the biggest pattern of his life so far and it showed his demise. To be honest, he had higher expectations for himself. Dying by his own mistake…was too ironic and unforeseeable a demise for him to ever imagine.
"if you're done, I'd like to get a move on. I don't want to be out in the woods when it's dark."
"But-"
"No Shino. I don't even want to guess how you're going to relate forest nights and insects." He groaned as he rubbed his eyes in frustration. Oh how he enjoyed that familiar feeling of frustration. It meant he was back on his seat. The high seat that allowed him to see everything.
"Hmph. Good to have you back, Naruto."
"not really. Now I feel that stick up my sleeve again. But hey. Misery loves company, right? Sorry I kept you waiting"
'…I take that back.' Neji thought solemnly.
Two Days Later
She stretched and breathed in the fresh air of her home village.
"Good to be home. Hey Hinata. Wanna grab some sweets to celebrate?"
"Right. Thanks for volunteering to report in, TenTen." He groaned tiredly. He had stayed up all the nights on their way. He just couldn't let anyone else be in charge.
"Oh come on. You know you have to do it personally this time." She said as she gestured to the redhead.
"Right, Right." He said as he looked at her.
"Oh. Finally." She said with mock suprirse.
"Hm?"
"Oh? The great seer cannot see into the future and guess why I'm surprised?"
'because I've been ignoring you for the past two days?'
"Nope."
"It's because you've been ignoring me for the past two days. And the first thing you say to me is that?! A half-assed acknowledgement of my existence?!"
'…I was half right.'
"I'm sorry but I needed to stay professional."
"Hah. There's a euphemism for being a dick."
"*Sigh*…such words are unbecoming of you." He said as he turned around and motioned her to follow him.
She mocked him silently as she walked behind him.
"Do you think they'll be alright?"
"I don't care, Lee. I'm going home to shower."
"Yosh! Shino-"
"No."
"Awww…"
Hokage Office
"Greetings, Hokage-sama."
"Ah. Naruto-kun." He smiled as he looked up from his paperworks. A small, curt smile graced his wrinkled lips.
"So good to see you…with a girl nonetheless." He finished with a different, more playful tone.
"Did you fall in love mid-mission?"
"oh god I'm gonna gag…" she muttered to herself as she looked away. It had been a while since she had seen some humane interaction. The blonde murderer was like a log for the rest of the trip. She could get used to this kage.
"Alright then. Mission Report."
And just like that, she kissed normality goodbye. The kage was no better than the Ninja. They were both mercurial creatures.
"Yes sir. Using the insects planted in the teapot, we managed to locate the hideout with Shino's help. With TenTen's help, we managed to keep the assault team from any fatigue as she took care of the less dangerous individuals."
"I see. Go on."
She was indeed impressed. This person seemed to have planned every single step of the plan.
"Yes sir. After finishing the hostile individuals, we located Sasuke Uchiha."
He paused at that and glanced at Karin. She didn't show it but he knew her core was vibrating with emotions.
"After a few moments, our target showed himself. I managed to drive him away…and I assume Jiraya-sensei finished the work."
The kage chuckled with amusement.
"You're right as usual, Naruto-kun. Go on."
"yes sir. After driving the Snake Sannin away…" he looked at Karin. The redhead was looking at the floor. Sometimes, the lack of an action is in itself, proof of something. The fact that she wasn't showing any changes meant she was trying to control herself. Had she lashed out at him or at least twitched an eyebrow, he would have had an easier time with the next words.
"I killed his pupil and my ex-teammate, Sasuke Uchiha. I also decided to take this woman captive."
"Oho? How unusual…"
"Hey! What do you mean unusual?" she finally lashed out. Once again, Naruto was grateful that he could keep his emotions in control…most of the time. He could already see the outcome of her demise.
'She's gonna say something about her importance.'
"I can have useful information you know!"
"About a deadman?" the kage deadpanned.
"W-well…uh…I'm The Last Uzumaki Alive!" she almost blurted. She knew she had to prove her importance if she wanted to stay alive. That's how it was with her mentor. Why should it be any different in the real world?
It took a few moments for her to realize. The room had grown silent. Too silent. The atmosphere was almost heavy now.
"What…did I say something?" she said nervously before looking at Naruto.
The way she looked at her scared her greatly. It wasn't a fearsome look. It was more like he had seen a ghost. His eyes were totally fixed on hers and she was finding it hard to gather herself.
"Come on…what? Is it the Uzumaki thing? I should let you know, my clan died out long ago but it still held great powers in its blood."
The glare in his eyes turned colder and colder by the moment. It was borderline unbearable now.
The kage's laughter finally broke the tension. He lightly tapped the tabletop with his palm before he gave the order that would make her realize exactly why Naruto was staring at her like she was a ghost.
"You killed everyone she knows and you forgot to introduce yourself. Oh my, Naruto-kun. How unexpected of my perfect pupil."
"I apologize Hokage-Sama. No. Danzo-sensei. Karin…I'm Naruto Uzumaki. You and i…share the same blood."
"…eh?!"