Several hours ago...
The Zetsu clones invaded the recovery tent relentlessly. One by one, sensing their defeat near, they changed tactics and attacked the wounded. They drudged up from the soil, swinging ghost-white arms in the air blindly thrilled in every cry of pain that they gained. Most shinobi died with agony still etched onto their faces. Others had much more dignity, and swallowed their final scream with a solemn expression, appearing to die peaceful.
Sakura cocked a fist and pummeled a Zetsu clone that aimed for the ninja she just healed. A clone caught her leg and flipped her upside down before another slashed her face. She screeched in pain and yelped finding her whole world speeding by her, knocked through the tent and her back making contact with a tree. She slid down the tree, looking up blearily at her tent deflating. The patients! She thought mortified. Shaking off an ache that crept within, the pink-haired medic pushed off the ground and headed back into the fallen tent. Upon reaching her destination, she scurried towards the lumps in the tent fabric, desperate to pull out the many shinobi buried beneath them. Hold on, please hold on! In their weakened state they'd suffocate easily. She needed to act fast. Hopping back and off of the tent, she gripped its edges and used her strength to pull it off like tablecloth. Upon lifting, she faced multiplying swarms of Zetsu piling onto what had been the medical refuge. Oh...my...god.
Before anymore thoughts could reach her, she heard a sickening crack against her skull as Sakura sailed through the air from a Zetsu clone's cheap shot. Bastard! Sakura slapped her palm to the ground, balancing herself. She swung on her arm and implanted chakra to her feet shooting herself at the several heads of her enemy.
"Shannaro!" She shouted, enforcing a bloom of chakra into her fist, smashing into the clones like dominoes. They flew in numerous directions, yet in the distance she saw more clones approaching. Landing on her feet, she panted. The aches from the earlier hits she took, on top of her pulsing all of her chakra into her own attacks got to her. Straightening, she stood adjusted her gloves and rotated her shoulder.
"I need to survive."
Sakura slowly closed her eyes, and smiled woefully. She gave her last soldier and blood pills to the few shinobi who remained on the frontline. She was too isolated to even think about calling for reinforcements as she knew she could not outrun the many clones that were closing in on her. She sensed the last of her chakra. Given the circumstance, the most Zetsu she could take down was give or take a few dozen. Still, she is a Konoha kunoichi, a member of Team 7. She chose not to shy away or hide. She will stand and fight to the end despite her oath as a medic-nin. She did what she could and prayed her comrades wouldn't think too ill of her choices.
Sakura gripped her fist and readied her stance.
Thrilling shocks of wind, ablazed with molten fire.
No longer were those elements on opposite sides. They thrashed the enemies, mowed them down without mercy. Their partnership, unstoppable. They were two energies, unmatched by both passion and strength. A volatile rage and will to protect escalated their prowess. The two needed their anchor.
She stood there. Short tendrils of bright pink whipping her cheeks and neck. She watched, a gentle spirit. Much weaker than the forces she observed, her presence was healing, rejuvenating. Eyes spectated, glossing with unshed tears. Bubbles of light dancing upon bleary emerald eyes. Her soft pink lips, turned in a set frown. She always stood. She always watched. The cutting wind drew strength from her suffering, the will to protect feeding his untapped power. The blazing fire singed the edges of her soul, the ever growing flames of his passion heightening with every touch to her precious heart. Both forces always stood in front of her.
Always kept in front like a shield.
She was their anchor. She was their purity.
She was Sakura.
"S-Sasuke-kun..." Karin stammered.
"What happened?" His leveled voice betraying his inner turmoil.
"S-she..." ...left you… Karin almost said.
"Sakura!"
A flutter of blonde ponytail dived to the pink-haired kunoichi. She wailed, shaking her head at the reality, her best friend was dying. She shoved Sakura's vest apart further reaching Sakura's vitals. Ino looked at the battered innards of her best friend. Her medic's eyes found slowed blood flow through the girl's body. Her internal system was shutting down. My god, Sakura's-she's losing time!
Strengthening her determination, she sucked in the tears that desperately wanted to flow. Ino quivered trying to recite the order in which each organ needed repairs. Memories of Sakura reprimanding her for her mistakes twirled in her head. She couldn't hold back, a sob escaped. Ino grit her teeth and pushed her tired hands into work. There were multitudes of internal bleeding. Why didn't she call for help? She rebuilt veins, reconnecting them to a stilled heart. Nerves reacting to the renewed connection, upon reaction, Sakura's body twitched, startling Ino.
"Ino..."
The blonde forced Sasuke's pained voice out of her head, focused on nothing but the revival of her best friend.
"Ino-pig! Veins are delicate thread, stitch 'em wrong then they're dead!"
Sakura's singsong voice reverberated Ino's thoughts. Hearing her best friend root for her made a grief-stricken smile stretch her shivering lips. She recalled the jutsu Sakura taught her in order to keep track of the patient's condition. She wanted to curse Karin. Sakura still had a chance.
"Sasuke-kun... Like I told you when you found me, Naruto's on his way here-looking for Sakura...don't let him see her like this..." Ino hissed through controlled breathing. She didn't face him as she spoke, eyes never leaving Sakura.
"I won't give up-try to keep him away from here."
Sasuke grit his teeth. Again he was being sent away-from Sakura. She was hanging by a thread and it seemed that everyone wanted him away from her-even Sakura herself. He felt he could not atone for what he did or was about to do while in his darkness. He wanted to speak to her. He wanted to see her. Not like this.
With a tight fist, Sasuke leapt away going towards Naruto's chakra presence, leaving Sakura to fight on her own.
"The war is over."
"Villages are at peace."
"What's more, we can truly unite the villages!"
"We haven't to fear anything!"
Roars and catcalls erupted in the sea of shinobi. They all ventured forth towards their respective villages. No more will they look at one another with contempt, rivalry sure, but as the first Hokage intended, a peace spread amongst shinobi.
A tanned hand wrapped securely around a pale hand. Soft squeaks of pants sounding with deeper pants. Long flowing lavender hair whipped side-to-side, short bangs tickling her covered forehead. White eyes glistened, a flowery blush spread along her pale face. A content smile tipped her lips, as love of her life led her the way to his best friends.
"This way, Hinata-chan! I can sense Teme!"
"I'm right behind you, Naruto-kun!"
Her face enflamed as her eyes met those of Naruto's deep blues. Her heart raced pumping through her entire being, witnessing a handsome grin breaking through his features.
"I prefer always beside me, Hinata-chan."
Hinata bashfully beamed, head turned away from Naruto's penetrating gaze.
Naruto halted their sprint. He was face-to-face with his goal. The whiskered teen eyed his best friend warily. The air around Sasuke disheartened Naruto but feared for the worst and resisted from even asking.
"T-Teme...?"
Sasuke's jaw tightened. Sadness ghosted over the Uchiha's face. A whirl of despair remained in Sasuke's presence.
"Sakura-"
Hinata's free hand shot to her mouth at the mention of their comrade.
A howling wind brushed past the three ninjas. Sasuke murmured softly, slightly frightened and just enough for the other two to hear his status report. Naruto's face melted from shock easing into pure rage and horror as his cry sounded in the dry plains of the battlefield.
"SAKURA-CHAN!"
Karin leaned back, gripping the dirt below her. She clutched the soil, unsure of what to do next. Ino's body wracked with sobs curved over the unmoving form underneath her. She wrapped Sakura's body in her arms, burying her face in her beat-less chest.
"Sakura...! Sakura...!" She whined hoping the repetition of her name would summon the girl's spirit back into her body. "Please open your eyes! The war is over...S-Sasuke-kun's back! Team Seven's mission is accomplished-please...!"
Karin turned away. A gnawing ache trembled in her chest. As Sakura had once spurned Karin to cry, this girl too tempted her as well.
"SAKURA-CHAN!"
Ino's head shot up from Sakura's form, horror clear on her tear-struck features. I-I told Sasuke-kun not to...!
Naruto leapt down the hills above them racing straight towards the clearing approaching the three kunoichi fast. Hinata kept up with him, their joined hands never once separated.
"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!"
Naruto blinked, disbelief swimming through him. With one hand he held a seal and chanted, "Kai!" With no change. His bottom lips shook violently. Shaking his head he refused to accept this.
"I-Ino-chan...is this a trick...?"
Ino looked away from Naruto, closing her eyes tight, and away from Naruto's delusion.
"Teme...did...did...did you say anything to her..."
Sasuke's face enshrouded in darkness, Karin took note of his behavior.
"Sakura-chan..." His call brought no reaction to her. He fell to his knees, hand tightly gripped the teary-eyed Hyuuga. "This isn't fair...Teme's back...the promise..."
Sakura's distant voice lingered upon his ears.
It had been weeks before, in Sakura's tent.
"This war- when it's over- Ichiraku?"
"You read my mind, Sakura-chan."
She smiled brightly. Their ramen will taste especially great after winning the war.
Naruto's thoughts trailed to the moment Sasuke joined the battlefield.
"Teme. I oughta deck you,"
"Hn."
"After I beat your ass, you bastard-Ichiraku. No choice, you're going."
Smirk.
"Fine by me."
The adrenaline rush, the unfiltered joy when he realized his dreams were coming true. The team would reunite; his family whole. As he watched his sister's body, unmoving as the ground beneath her, his family, became out of his reach. Naruto bowed his head, barely noticing the tickle of dark hair as Hinata kneeled beside him, holding him to her breast. She let him fall apart in her arms. He couldn't ask for more.
Ino couldn't watch Naruto's breakdown and collapsed onto Sakura's while rubbing their foreheads together. She whimpered. The war ended. Everyone picked themselves up and carried themselves home. They were supposed to celebrate victory and move on with their lives. Call for Naruto and praise his never-ending faith. She and the girls would cry on each other, especially TenTen, who would mourn for the loss of her brave teammate. She and Sakura promised to go shopping for new clothes. Prepare for a fresh new start. Sakura planned to teach Ino more medical jutsus, even ones she only teased her, like increasing bust-size.
Ino had planned to mourn for the many shinobi she never met in her life but gave their lives for this bloodshed. Never once had she planned to mourn for her best friend. Sakura's forehead against her own felt unnaturally chilly. The rough texture of dirt and dried blood sank into her flesh. Tears flowed freely, spilling onto her best friend's face. Some of the salty trails brought with it some sediment, carrying all the way to the ground beneath them. The ground, where Sakura's new home will be. The thought made a whole new wave of sadness wash over the blonde kunoichi.
"You look porkier when you cry, Pig."
Cerulean eyes flashed open, bringing her head up and away from Sakura's, Ino gasped when she spotted a sliver of green spill through tired eyelids. Sakura shut her eyes tight, regaining her focus. After a while, she opened them again and absorbed the scene before her. Ino sat frozen above her, while behind her stood a pained Naruto with an equally distressed Hinata clinging to him. She barely made out the blurry figures, a pair of spiky hairs in the distance. She ignored their presence and focused whatever strength Ino had recovered for her to breathe. Her lungs ached and her entire body felt on fire. Sakura didn't want to think about trying to move any of her limbs and when she managed to get a steady rhythm going with her breathing, she relaxed letting her vision do the same.
"F-Forehead...!" Ino slowly sat up straight, quaking hands rising to her face. Curling her fingers she felt unsure whether to rub her eyes or slap herself. It felt unreal. Seconds ago, the girl below her hand no vital signs. Ino had basically prepared herself body and mind that she lost her best friend and wanted nothing more than to hate the world. Things were barely falling into place, her once-deceased best friend spoke to her.
"Forehead!" She screamed rushing back down to hug her tightly. Squeezing her wavering life force, Ino refused to let go, shaking her head side to side against Sakura's warming cheeks. She ignored Sakura's whispered protests and kept her grip on her. Against her blonde friend's babbling, yet happy sobs, Sakura smiled, leaning her head forward. "Silly...little Ino-pig, who would you gossip with if I died?"
Ino hugged her harder as more happy tears poured shamelessly.
Naruto pulled Hinata with him as he rushed Sakura's slowly recovering body.
"Sakura-chan, don't scare us like that! I would've chased you down in heaven and brought you back!" He wanted so much to push Ino away but opted to just hug them both.
"Ngh, Naruto, your breath smells a-awful..." Sakura wheezed, alerting Ino to lighten her grip.
"Sorry Sakura-chan, I'm waiting until we can all eat!" Ino pulled back and let the two embrace.
She softened, watching Sakura's arms regain strength to slip her arms up Naruto's back.
"Ichiraku sounds so good right now..." Sakura moaned. She felt the vibrations in Naruto nodding his head as an enthusiastic response as well as catching a very faint, familiar chakra signature near her. Her heart thudded in her chest, recognizing the owner.
Karin witnessed the reunion silently. She used her peripherals regarding the man who stood still, his bangs shielding his eyes. She frowned deeply, her bottom lip threatening to shudder. Sasuke did not move from his spot. His sore eyes absorbed the picture in front of him. People reunited from his old village; his comrades from his old team gathered themselves as an unbreakable chain. He narrowed his eyes feeling a stab to his chest, a sinking feeling erupting inside of him. He wanted to leave. He wanted to pretend he and Karin never found Sakura; he craved to abandon this heartfelt portrait and let them be. Yet, his feet plant themselves deep in the soil refusing him cowardice.
"Sasuke-kun..." His cobalt eyes wandered up from his dazed stare, to a face cupped in the apex of Naruto's neck. "You said...you needed to speak to me...?"
Ino gaped at silent hero, "th-that's right- I still don't understand-why is Sasuke-kun here? Did I miss something?"
Karin cast her eyes to the ground, so I'm not alone in this confusion.
"Teme has a lot of explaining to do before he can talk to you, Sakura-chan." Naruto lifted himself away from his teammate granting her a toothy, yet exhausted grin. "It's settled! To Ichiraku!" He sprung up, and headed in Konoha's direction, tugging a blissful Hinata after him. Sakura took this freedom to carefully drag herself off of the ground, and pulse healing waves of chakra throughout her body. Just before she drained herself again, she stopped and lost control of balance only to be hefted into the air by strong arms.
"Wha-wha-?!" She chirped. Sakura instinctively wrapped her arms around the neck of her lift, discovering it had been Sasuke. "Sasuke-k-kun?"
Ino felt a stinging blush realizing the man had picked up her best friend bridal style. She caught herself before she let out a reactive 'whoop!'
"Save your strength from walking. I'll take you home."
"Just because you saved me-bringing Ino here- doesn't mean I forgive you- for everything!" Desperately she fought the blush that nearly spilled onto her skin. A need to slap herself sounded appropriate for her as she displayed a relapse into her fan-girl, twelve year old self. "I oughta deck you." Her eyes narrowed, appearing deadly serious.
Not at all bothered by her threat, Sasuke's eyelids lowered and followed Naruto's lead towards the village. Ino stood by in horror realizing the group dispersed and swiveled her head seeing Karin remained also. "Hey you guys, don't leave us!" She got up immediately and set off after the couples. Karin's mouth hung open, unsure if what had happened were real. She shook her head and smiled grimly. Only kind folk like Sasuke's team would accept him back so easily as if nothing ever transpired in the past. And only kind folk accept other kind folk. She mused looking at her thighs, decorated with scratches and splotches of back staring up at the sky, she waited, wondering if she could accompany Suigetsu and Juugo to become Orochimaru's lackeys once more.
That's where I belong, I suppose.
"Hey, Karin-san! What're you doing?! Let's go before Naruto devours the village's ramen!" Ino scampered back and without letting the red-head reply, pulled her up and dragged her away.
She allowed herself to be taken away towards the village she, not too long ago, was imprisoned in only to be taken out of by Sasuke. She made noises towards Ino intending to protest, but fell mute. Ino turned to look at the red-head every so often giving Karin an infectious grin. She couldn't hear what the blonde girl chattered on about, as she felt too focused on trying to understand the events that transpired. After a few beats, Ino let Karin walk in her own pace, the two women side-by-side.
"I know you didn't like the village all too much…"
More of the blonde's dialogue faded as Karin's attention fell away.
That Sakura…I know that she loves Sasuke-kun too…
Sasuke's dreadful, guarded face flashed through her memories as Sakura held on by a thread, Ino pushing herself to the ends to revive her.
Sasuke displayed more emotion in those few minutes –to that pink-haired girl- than he did for any of us- his teammates!
A twinge of jealousy swam up within her. She, Suigetsu and Juugo helped him with his goal, yet the pink-haired girl he nearly tried to kill gets to ride off in his arms. Karin did not enjoy fate's sense of humor. She gritted her teeth.
"…you know what I mean?"
"What…?"
Ino blinked, unsure if she should feel offended that Karin didn't hear a word she said.
Sighing, she repeated, "I don't think…the village will take too kindly to Sasuke-kun's fickleness. Despite him helping the war, he did more harm than good to us." Especially his most precious people…she wanted to add.
"Hmph. They can't deny Sasuke-kun. He's a strong asset." Karin chose her next words carefully, feeling a pang and a rapid beat in her heart just thinking about her words. "Besides, he has that Naruto and…Sakura-san to protect him. Your village deeply treasures that blonde guy."
Ino smiled, though it was far from Karin's purpose. "We'll just hope for the best."
Karin remained silent. The voice within her cried out, I can be the best for Sasuke-kun.
If he let me
She thought back to the glimmer of joy on that pretty pink-haired medic's face as Sasuke raced away with her.
He doesn't need the best.
I could be the best.
But he doesn't want the best anymore.
Sakura's tired smile broke through Karin's thoughts.
He needed hope. Stupid little faith.
Naruto's cheeky grin brightened her frustration.
He had hope in those two, left them behind. Protected.
She thought of all the times she and the other members of Taka risking their skin for Sasuke.
We were the best, as he had chosen us. He put us on the front line with him. He put our lives on the line; surely, he never wanted us to meet with his fragile little life back in Konoha.
"Everything will be okay."
Darkness or not,
"I promise from now on, I'll give my life to protect you."
Words he never spoke to me hurt worse than his betrayal.
"My life is yours."
Karin wore her bravest face.
It had been weeks after the end of the war. She was always an audience to the glee of Konoha villagers as they put their home back together. She saw shinobi relaxed, not an ounce of hate or bitterness, just relief. She resented this false-tranquility. She found it to be fake, a front, as if mocking her for thinking otherwise. Worst of all, she had been forced to accept Sasuke's more outward affections for the pink-haired medic. His confession upon Sakura's last breaths, were actually all anyone would hear about Sasuke's feelings. Sakura, unusually kept mute about whether or not he sought her out to explain. When asked about Sasuke's feelings, Sakura would just smile and say not to worry about them. Her blood would broil at Sakura's humility. If she were in Sakura's position, not only being rescued like a damsel in distress but given Sasuke's entire soul on a plate, she'd be elated announcing to every jealous onlooker. She'd advertise that Sasuke was hers and no one could touch him. She'd take pride that she held the Uchiha's heart, not secretive and shy. It aggravated Karin how breezy Sakura was about it. Soon, Sakura's sweet countenance came off as a target to Karin, wanting so much to pummel the medic's face in when she smiled.
Sakura got on her nerves.
It wasn't jealousy.
Or at least that's what she let herself believe.
Nothing happened like she and Ino discussed. Sasuke faced reprimand, yes, the softer sentencing was not due to any influence by Naruto or Sakura. The Hokage herself felt the strongest urge to forgive the remaining Uchiha. However, she did not admit to anyone the satisfaction from seeing her favorite apprentice glow at her decision. So as Karin made her way towards Ichiraku, she swallowed her nerves and chose her stool. She kept her face forward, and mumbled her order to Ayame. To her left sat the pink-haired medic chuckling lightly at her blonde teammate.
Sakura rounded, greeting the silent red-head at her arrival, "Karin-san! I'm glad you joined us."
Really did not want to. "Yeah, well, didn't have anything else to do."
"Naruto and I were just talking about the plans our Yamato-sempai made about rebuilding the northeast portion of the village. Feel up for it?"
You kidding? Why would I care about this dinky village? She bit her tongue, "Nah."
Sakura's energy faltered. She looked to Naruto's offended face and spoke before he had the chance to, "w-well you know, this is going to be your new home, Karin-san. Might as well find ways to get to know it."
Karin's ruby eyes narrowed, again to this kind woman she fought the urge to snap back, "I'll find it my own way thanks."
"Would you stop being so rude to Sakura-chan?! She's trying to be nice but you're just whipping it back in her face! What's the deal?" Naruto burst.
"Naruto it's fine—"
Karin gripped her fist, "she's not the only one trying-!" She stood up from her stool glaring down at the pair, "she stole Sasuke-kun from me and I have to put a big grin and accept it? Hell no I won't!"
Sakura flinched. "I didn't steal Sasuke-kun from anyone—he's not even mine! What are you talking about Karin-san?"
"Don't you give me that, you melodramatic medic freak!" Karin's temper flared illogically mirroring her insults. She bit her tongue too long and while she fought the urge to kill Sakura at her weakest, now that Sakura was in highest bill of health, she did not miss an opportunity to snap at the girl's unfailing kindness. Quit acting like you're the better choice for Sasuke-kun! You're not! You're in the past! "I don't understand that after all I went through for him, he just up and abandons me for a safe little girl like you!" Karin points her finger at Sakura antagonizing her. "I was with him through the hardest times of his life, you were with him during his childhood—like anyone really cares what happened in the past! The future is what's important and that's me, alright?!"
Awe-struck at Karin's confession, Sakura's brows furrowed. She felt Naruto lift a hand almost to reassure that should anything escalate, he was down for a quick brawl. She shook her head once, her hard emerald gaze met ruby. "I don't want to fight you, Karin-san. That's never my intention. I want to make peace with you. For Sasuke-kun."
Disgusted, Karin lifted a hand cocking her hand back targeting Sakura's cheek.
The crack of palm to flesh never happened.
Karin's tiny wrist was held suspended in the air by a pale hand. Karin turned and met the dark, penetrating gaze of Sasuke. His expression showed less than pleased at Karin's intentions.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"S-Sasuke-kun…"
"Sasuke-kun, it's not her fault. I guess I provoked her with smiling…"
"What?" Both Sasuke and Naruto gaped at Sakura at Karin's defense.
She daintily placed her hands on her hips glaring at the dark-eyed shinobi, "I understand Karin-san's feeling. If she and I switched places-if the girl that had your heart smiled at me all the time, it'd piss me off endlessly."
"Hn."
"You can let go now…" Karin whispered, dejected. If she didn't leave now, she'd witness more of Sasuke's fall into public affection. He released her and she gripped her wrist with her other hand. She tossed her hair over her shoulder retaining her dignity and sauntered off forgetting she already ordered and paid for ramen.
"What was that!?" Naruto screeched.
"A jealous girl. The scariest kind of girl." Sakura watched Karin's retreating back. All of her words were true to the red-head. She did really want to make peace for Sasuke's sake. It bummed her hoping one day they could perhaps befriend one another. She peered at the dark-haired former avenger who took his seat next to Sakura. She swallowed softly, seeing the strong neck muscles tense, knowing eyes wore boring into them. She wondered what else tensed. Internally she hit herself. It wasn't the time to be thinking of that.
"Sakura, your ramen's getting cold."
"Feed it to me, Sasuke-kun, I'm still recovering."
Karin's stomach rumbled. She now remembered the creamy broth that was her shoyu ramen she left behind. With them. With the cutest couple in Konoha. She sighed, a whine coursing through her nostril. She kicked a pebble, letting it clatter along her path. She wished she could not think of Sasuke and just move on. She was in a new village, a seemingly new life. She didn't want to think about the promise he made Sakura while she barely held on to life. Not think about regretting her childish behavior to the medic that saved her life from Sasuke's blade. Never even glimpse a thought at the fact that the team she had with Sasuke was temporary, not permanent like what he had with that infallible Team Seven.
She kicked a bigger rock.
Expendable.
Simply expendable.
"Four-eyes…"
"What do you want fish-face?"
"This village is too sugary sweet with their Snow-White-Seven-Dwarves villagers working together to rebuild the homeland of hope. It's giving me cavities."
"What do you want, Suigetsu? You're wasting my time as usual!"
"You're frustrated. I am frustrated. I think there's only one solution."
"Oh?"
"You and me. No one else, let's spar, specks. Got a lot of leftover energy from that war and seeing your face just reawakened it."
"Ha, if I didn't know any better I'd say that's a compliment."
"If the compliment were, 'you-look-like-Zetsu-if-he-wore-glasses' then yeah, first ever compliment I'd ever given you."
"YOU SONUVA—"
The rest of that day, Sasuke never crossed her mind.
A/N: I really don't hate Karin! As I reread this, I felt as if I were attacking her. Soooo not my intention. I need more writing practice.
Part 3 Coming soon!