Chapter 9.
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Afternoon.
Classroom.
Sasuke, Naruto, Karin, Sakura, Shigeri, and Hiroki, in their usual outfits, were waiting patiently for Squad 7 and 9 Jonin Leaders to arrive. Sasuke and Karin were sitting together at their desks, Shigeri and Hiroki were sitting in their seats, and Naruto and Sakura were standing up on the floor separately.
"Do you sense anyone coming Karin?" Naruto asked, looking at her.
"Not yet, Oniisan." Karin said, looking at him before turning forward.
"You'll do great out there." Sasuke said.
Karin blushed lightly. "Th-thank you, Sasuke..." she said shyly.
Karin stopped blushing and her eyes widened in shock as she suddenly a familiar chakra.
"Karin, what's wrong?" Naruto asked.
"That's the... same man from... years ago..." Karin thought.
Flashback.
7 years old.
Karin was walking through the hallways she sensed another chakra coming towards her. She looked up to see a man, who had fair skin, black hair that was at a shoulder length and was combed back, grey pupiless eyes, wide but built up body, a huge forehead, wearing a grey Konohagakure forehead protector on his forehead, dark brown-grey kimono like shirt with cream outlines, long black pants, a large white rope tied around his waist, black socks, and black sandals, was walking towards her. She could see that he had an angry look on his face, which frightened her. The man was now in front of her, Karin looked up to see that he was looking down at her more angry than before now.
"S-sorry." Karin said shyly.
"All of you Uzumakis are weak." the man said.
"Huh?" Karin asked confused.
"You all are nothing but a disgrace to The Hidden Village." the man said before he continued moving forward. "Should stayed in Uzushiogakure."
The man left, leaving Karin alone in the hallway by herself and tears began forming in her eyes.
Flashback ends.
"Is he going to become mine.. or Oniisan's Sensei..?" Karin thought shocked.
"Karin. Karin!" a male's voice said.
Karin was pulled out of her thoughts to see Naruto standing next to her on the right and Sasuke looked at her. They were both staring at her worriedly.
"What's the matter, Karin." Sasuke asked.
"I just.. sensed someone coming to the classroom..." Karin said, her eyes unwidened.
Naruto looked at the classroom shoji doors curiously. "Is it going to be Squad 7's or Squad 9's Leader, dattebayo?" he asked.
"I hope it's neither..." Karin thought.
After a minute one of the classroom shoji doors slid open to reveal the man that Karin encountered 5 years ago, in his usual outfit.
"Hurry up Squad 9." the man said.
"N-no... No!" Karin thought.
"Let's go, Shigeri." Hiroki said, standing up and walked towards the door.
Shigeri stood up and walked behind Hiroki.
"I'll see you later, Oniisan, Sasuke.." Karin said.
"Okay." Sasuke said.
"Alright." Naruto said.
Karin stood up and walked down the stairs before going to the classroom shoji doors with Shigeri and Hiroki. They stepped outside of the classroom, Karin looked at Naruto and Sasuke one more time before she closed the door behind her with left hand.
Outside.
Shigeri, Hiroki, and Karin walked towards a field as their new Jonin teacher walked ahead of them. Karin looked at the man cautiously, not sure to trust her new Jonin. When they were now in the field the Jonin suddenly stopped making Karin, Shigeri, Hiroki stop as well and look up at him.
The Jonin turned around as he stared down at his 3 new Genins.
"I'm now your Sensei, the only thing you guys need to know about me is that my name is Zosui..." the Jonin said. "You guys will say your names and nothing else..."
"Well my name is Shigeri." Shigeri said.
"Mines Hiroki." Hikori said.
"Um my name is Karin.. Uzumaki..." Karin said shyly.
"You 3 will meet back here tomorrow in the afternoon for a test to see if you can work as a team.." Zosui said. "If you pass you all will be assigned missions.. but... you all fail you're going back to the Academy..."
Shigeri, Hiroki, and Karin looked at Zosui surprised at what he just said.
"So I suggest you prepare for it tonight..." Zosui said.
"So.. this test is the real Graduation.. not the Graduation test we took a few days ago..." Karin thought.
"You 3 are dismissed.." Zosui said then turned to Karin. "Except for you."
Karin became confused as Shigeri and Hiroki started to walk away. When Shigeri and Hiroki were far away from them, Zosui glared at Karin, making her scared.
"You especially should be prepared.. you're not going slow your team mates down.." Zosui said glaring.
Karin put her hands together near her chest.
"I never wanted a filthy and pathetic Uzumaki as my students but they assigned you me..." Zosui said harshly. "You should've have just died with half of them years ago."
Karin gasped at what Zosui just said to her.
Zosui just walked away, leaving Karin by herself. Karin looked down as she put her hands down and started to cry, remembering something from the past.
Flashback.
"All of you Uzumakis are weak." the Zosui said.
...
"You all are nothing but a disgrace to The Hidden Village." the man said before he continued moving forward. "Should stayed in Uzushiogakure."
Flashback ends.
"W-w-why? W-why does he have Uzumakis?" Karin asked, tears streaming down her face. "I-I don't... understand..."
Night time.
Uzumaki clan compound.
Karin's (Ryo and Uzume's) house.
Karin was sitting on one of the couches with her forehead protector on the table as she had a medium sized light brown pouch on her lap as she was checking inside of it to prepare for the test tomorrow. She looked in it to see shurikens, kunais, and other supplies that will help her in the afternoon tomorrow. Naruto told her awhile ago that his new Jonin leader, Kakashi was going to be testing Team 7 early in the morning tomorrow and couldn't have breakfast because of something he said.
"I guess.. that's everything.." Karin said, closing it up.
Karin closed her eyes and sighed before she opened her eyes again and looked to the right to see her decreased parents pictures were sitting on the small table 1 lighted candle and white rose in a blue vase and purple vase on each side of them. She placed the pouch beside her on the right before she stood up and walked over to a small table and closed her eyes and bowed her head before she sat in the seiza position next to it, she bowed her head again as she prayed for her mother and father.
Karin opened her eyes as she was done praying to the picture of her decreased parents, she stared down at the pictures sadly.
"Daddy.. Mommy.. I'm now on a team of 4 with Zosui as our Jonin leader... He really hates Uzumakis.. I don't know why he dislikes us so much... but.. tomorrow I'm going to be taking a test in the afternoon to see if I'm truly qualified.. to be in a team... just like you 2, Aunt Kushina, Uncle Minato, and many members of our clan were..." Karin said. "I'll... I'll make you all proud."
Karin slowly stood up from the table and turned to the right side to look out of the window to see a crescent moon. "I wonder how Oniisan, Sasuke, and Sakura are going to be doing on their test...?" she thought.
"I have to go sleep in a little bit to be well rested tomorrow..." Karin said looking away before she walked away.
Tomorrow.
Daytime.
Afternoon.
Shigeri, having some white tape wrapped around his right leg along with a black shuriken holster, Hiroki, having a sword on his back, and Karin, having a medium sized light brown pouch wrapped around her waist, were standing together in the clear Forest waiting patiently for their new Jonin Zosui to arrive. Shigeri was standing on the right, Hiroki was standing on the left, and Karin was standing in the middle. Karin sensed Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were together in another part of the Forest far away waiting for Kakashi, who she sensed was walking towards their location.
"That's strange... Oniisan said that Team 7's test would begin in the morning.. b-but.. it's the afternoon right..." Karin thought confused.
Karin was about to think some more when she quickly looked to the think to right as she sensed Zosui coming towards them. The 3 of them looked at Zosui as he walked over to them. After a minute Zosui finally made to Shigeri, Hiroki, and Karin, and was now standing in front of them.
Zosui stared down at them serious. "Listen you 3 will come at me try to defeat me." he said.
Shigeri, Hiroki, and Karin now looked at Zosui shocked and confused, gasping a little.
"That's means all of you.." Zosui said, looking at Karin serious.
Karin looked at the ground sadly.
"Begin." Zosui said.
Karin immediately looked up as she, Shigeri, Hiroki jumped a few feet backwards away from Zosui. She looked to the right to see was Hiroki was pulling out his sword with his right hand and looked to the left to see Shigeri was pulling out a shuriken with his left hand from his shuriken holster, she quickly reached into her pouch with her left hand and pulled out 6 shurikens and put half of them in her right hand.
Shigeri, Hiroki, and Karin watched as Zosui pulled a kunai with his right hand from his kimono like shirt. Hiroki quickly ran over to Zosui and swung his sword at him before he dodged it easily. Hiroki kept trying to strike Zosui, who only continued to dodge the attacks. Hiroki strikes Zosui again once more only for Zosui to block it with his kunai. Zosui raised his left hand and punched Hiroki on the left side of his face.
Hiroki fell down to the ground in pain before Shigeri ran over to them and threw his shurikens at Zosui, who easily deflected them with his kunai. As Shigeri was now in front of Zosui he tried to throw a punch at Zosui's face with his right hand only for Zosui to catch it with his left hand, Shigeri tried to break free from Zosui's grip but no luck. Zosui threw his kunai to the ground and punched Shigeri in the stomach.
After a few seconds, Zosui let go of Shigeri's right hand as Shigeri now crouched down in pain. Hiroki slowly got up and ran over to Zosui again as he swung his sword repeatedly again while Zosui immediately kept dodging the attacks.
Karin watched the whole scene before she softly swallowed and was about to step forward until she suddenly heard the loud scream of a girl. She looked up at the right as it came from that direction, knowing who's voice that was a second ago.
"T-that.. t-that must've be Sakura screaming..." Karin thought. "I wonder what kind of test is Team 7 doing..? I-I hope they're okay..."
"Hey you!" a man's voice yelled.
Karin immediately turned forward to see Zosui looking at her while fighting Hiroki with kunai in his right hand.
"You better fight too or you're going back to the Academy!" Zosui said seriously.
"H-hai..!" Karin softly stuttering before she threw her shurikens 2 at a time at Zosui.
Zosui pushed Hiroki with his left hand and deflected all of Karin's shurikens with ease. Shigeri slowly got up, as the pain he received from Zosui punching him in the stomach had worn off, and ran over to Zosui again. Hiroki ran over to Zosui again as well and swung his sword again. Zosui dodged both of Shigeri's and Hiroki's attacks. As Shigeri and Hiroki continued to attack, Zosui held Hiroki from attacking him with his kunai and Shigeri from attacking by grabbing his neck with his left hand. Shigeri used both of his hands to get out of Zosui's grip but no such luck. Hiroki tried to lean in more to strike Zosui but he was still held in place.
Karin was about to step forward with her right foot until Zosui quickly released his left hand from Shigeri's neck and punched him in the stomach again but the only difference is that a loud crack can be heard, Shigeri yelled loudly in pain before falling down to the ground backwards landing on his back clutching his ribs with both of his hands. Zosui turned to Hiroki and stopped holding Hiroki's sword with his kunai and sliced his right arm with it leaving a medium sized wound. Hiroki dropped his sword as he crouched down yelling in pain as he held his right arm with his left hand, blood was slowly flowing from the wound. Shigeri and Hiroki were both closing their eyes tightly.
Karin covered her mouth with both hands as her eyes widened, watching the scene in horror at what Zosui just did to Shigeri and Hiroki. Zosui jumped a few feet backwards from Shigeri and Hiroki before he stared at Karin seriously.
"So.. now it is your turn to fight me." Zosui said.
Karin looked at Zosui sadly and scared before she turned to look at Shigeri and Hiroki again, who were still in pain, she lowered her hands as stared at them in worried and sadness.
"Hiroki... Shigeri..." Karin thought sadly as she started crying.
Karin quickly ran over to Shigeri and Hiroki. "Shigeri! Hiroki!" she yelled.
She crouched down next to Hiroki and grabbed his right arm with both of her hands. "Please hold still, Hiroki.." she said softly.
Hiroki tried to move out of Karin's grip.
"Please Hiroki... I want to heal you and Shigeri quickly..." Karin said sadly.
Hiroki stopped struggling and yelling as he allowed Karin to help him, now grunting in pain. Karin slowly took a deep breath and exhaled before she released Hiroki's right arm and hovered both of her hands over the wound and started to the Mystical Palm technique, a green glow was now appearing from her hands. After a minute, the wound on Hiroki's right arm stopped bleeding and started to heal. Hiroki stopped grunting in pain as he slowly opened his eyes to see a green glow coming from Karin's hands to his right arm.
"Huh?" Hiroki asked confused.
The wound continued to heal until it was not there anymore. Karin stopped doing the Mystical Palm technique before she uncovered her hands away from Hiroki's right hand, who was shocked and was now examining right arm, and turned to Shigeri.
"Shigeri.. please remove your hands I want to heal.." Karin said sadly.
Shigeri removed his hands from clutching his chest so Karin to put her hands on himand did the Mystical Palm technique. It took her a few minutes but Shigeri was opening his eyes and was no longer grunting in pain. When Shigeri was fully healed Karin stopped doing the Mystical Palm technique and removed her hands from his chest before she sat down and closed her eyes and sighed in relief.
Shigeri raised the upper half of his body before he looked at his chest in shock before he and Hiroki looked at Karin in surprise.
"You know how to use this Medical technique..?" Hiroki asked shocked.
Karin opened her eyes and looked at Shigeri and Hiroki. "I-I've k-known how to use the Mystical Palm since I was little girl..." she said shyly.
"Well, thank you for healing us." Hiroki said, smiling.
"Yeah, we would've been in a worse condition if you didn't." Shigeri said smiling.
"I-I'm just you 2 are okay now..." Karin said shyly, looking down.
Karin's eyes widened and she became scared as she sensed Zosui behind her. She turned around quickly and put her hands together near her chest as Shigeri pulled out a kunai from his right sleeved jacket and held it in his right hand while Hiroki picked up his sword with his right hand before he held it with both of his hands. Shigeri and Hiroki stood up as they glared at Zosui.
"Put your weapons away." Zosui said.
"Why should we?" Hiroki asked suspicious.
"Because all of you 3 passed the test." Zosui said.
Shigeri and Hiroki stopped glaring as the both of them and Karin looked at Zosui confused.
"Huh?" Shigeri, Hiroki, and Karin asked together.
Shigeri put his kunai away back in his right sleeve and Hiroki put his sword back in his sword holster with his right hand. Karin slowly stood up from the ground.
"You're first mission as Team 9 starts tomorrow morning at 10:00, we meet up at the Konoha Gate don't be late, understand..?" Zosui asked serious.
"Yes." Shigeri and Hiroki said.
"H-hai..." Karin stuttered shyly.
"That especially means you.. Karin.." Zosui said, looking down at her.
Karin looked at Zosui, feeling more scared.
54 minutes later.
Ichiraku Ramen
Karin was sitting at the first stool as she had her hands together in her lap, looking down sadly at the table. She was remembering something earlier that Zosui told her after Shigeri and Hiroki left the Forest.
Flashback.
Karin was standing in front of Zosui, looking sadly up at him.
"Your fighting skills on this test was weak, your team mates were trying to defeat me but you merely stood far away and watched." Zosui said. "You should have been sent back to the Academy right now."
Karin looked down sadly.
"However.." Zosui said.
Karin looked up at Zosui again.
"The only reason I've passed you 3 is because you know how to heal your team mates, which would be good for The Hidden Leaf." Zosui said.
Karin continued to listen to Zosui as he talked.
"Don't expect me to teach you anything, train under someone else. As far as I'm concerned your only duty on the team is to heal your 2 team mates." Zosui said. "If you don't heal them properly your status as a Ninja will be terminated permanently, I don't care if you're the Fourth Hokage's niece."
Karin looked down at the ground sadly again. "Hai." she said.
Flashback ends.
Karin sighed softly. "He's right.. I am weak, the only thing I am good for is healing..." she thought.
"Hey, Karin!" a man's voice said.
Karin quickly looked up as she was pushed out of her thoughts to see Teuchi, in his usual outfit, was staring down at her. Ayame, in her usual outfit, was making ramen for a man on the third seat.
"Oh, hi Teuchi.." Karin greeted shyly and politely.
"Is everything alright?" Teuchi asked concerned.
"N-no it's nothing important.." Karin said.
"Well you haven't ordered anything yet and you're staring off." Teuchi said.
"I'm waiting for Oniisan to arrive so we can order." Karin said.
"What's taking him so long?" Teuchi asked.
"I guess he's still taking his test, I hope he is okay..." Karin said, a little worried. "Did he.. fail?" she thought.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll pass just like you did." Teuchi said.
Karin looked down sadly. "I hope you're right..." she said.
After a minute, Karin perked her head up and turned to the right as she sensed Sasuke, Sakura, and their Jonin Leader, Kakashi, which confused her.
"That's strange if they're finished.. then why isn't Oniisan with them..?" Karin thought confused. "Did they fail?"
Karin turned back to Teuchi. "I'll be right back." she said before getting up from the stool and left Ichiraku Ramen.
Karin walked through the crowd of people as she was trying to get to the 3 chakras. After almost 2 minutes, she was now standing in front of Sasuke, who was standing on the left and had a dark blue bag that was wrapped around him on his right shoulder, a small round light brown pouch on the left side of his pants, and a black shuriken holster on his right leg with some white tape wrapped under it, his hands in his pockets, Sakura, who was standing on the right side had a light pink bag that was wrapped around her on her right shoulder, a dark blue shuriken holster on her right leg of her pants with some white tape wrapped under it, and a small light brown pouch on the left side of quipao dress, and a tall pale skinned man that looked to be in his late 20's, had spiky silver hair often oriented to his left-side, dark grey eyes, and typically a relaxed, heavy-lidded expression, wearing a dark blue mask that covered the lower half of his face, his dark blue forehead protector was covering his left eye, Konoha flak jacket uniform, dark blue finger-less gloves with metal plates on the backhands and is seen with a chain necklace underneath, a small light brown pouch on the left side of his pants, white tape wrapped around his right thigh and lower legs, who stopped a few feet from Karin.
"Hi Karin." Sasuke greeted.
"Well hi Karin." Sakura greeted smiling.
"So you must be Karin, the Fourth Hokage was talking about. Nice to meet you." the man greeted.
"Hello to you um, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi." Karin greeted politely.
"Guess what, Squad 7 officially became a team and we start our mission tomorrow." Sakura said bragging.
"That's wonderful." Karin said.
"Did you pass your test Karin." Sasuke asked.
"Hai." Karin said.
"That's great." Sasuke said.
"Um do you know where Oniisan is if you're done with your test?" Karin asked concerned.
"Oh we decided to leave him tied to a stump in the Training Ground." Sakura said.
"W-w-what?!" Karin stuttered sadly. "That was mean of all of you!"
Karin quickly ran passed them as Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura watched her run off.
"She really is attached to Naruto isn't she?" Kakashi questioned.
"Karin is always with him." Sakura said to Kakashi.
Sasuke started to walk into the direction Karin ran off to.
"Sasuke-kun where are you going?" Sakura asked, turning to look at him.
Sasuke stopped in his tracks. "I have to go do something." he said before he walked away again.
"I wonder where he's going?" Sakura thought.
Forest.
8 minutes later.
Naruto, now having white tape and a black shuriken holster wrapped around his right leg, was struggling to get out of the large brown stump he was tied to with rope.
"Hey! Anybody out there!" Naruto yelled loudly. "Untie me!"
"Oniisan!" a girl's voice yelled.
Naruto looked forward to see Karin was running towards him. He started to smile.
"Karin, thank goodness you're here!" Naruto said. "Can you untie me?"
Karin stopped in front of Naruto. "Okay, Oniisan." she said before she looked at the rope that tied Naruto and walked behind it see a knot.
Karin immediately started to untie the rope with both of her hands carefully. "I can't believe they didn't even try to get you unloose." she said sadly.
"They did this on purpose." Naruto said annoyed.
As soon as Karin was done untying the knot the rope fell to the ground freeing Naruto, who moved forward from the stump and stretched out a little. Karin walked from around the stump and in front of Naruto.
Karin hugged Naruto. "Congratulations on you and your team passing the test Oniisan." she said.
Naruto hugged Karin back. "Thanks, Karin." he said then pulled away. "I'm sure your team passed there's as well."
"Hai." Karin said.
"That's good news too."Naruto said.
"Do you think that Uncle Minato and Aunt Kushina know already?" Karin asked.
"They'll figure it out later but first let's go eat at Ichiraku Ramen." Naruto said.
"Hai." Karin said.
Not far away, Sasuke was standing on a tree branch watching Naruto and Karin walk away from the stump.
3 and a half weeks later.
Daytime.
Konohagakure Gate.
Kushina, in her usual outfit, and Karin were standing in front of Naruto, Sasuke, who has replaced the dark blue bag around him with a gray backpack, Kakashi who was now wearing a brown backpack, Sakura who was now wearing a cream colored bag that only had the left shoulder on it, and an old brown skinned man that had spiky grey hair, a large grey beard, black eyes, wearing green glasses, a light brown pointed hat on his head, a dark brown sleeveless v-neck shirt with a brown obi, long brown pants, a pair of brown sandals, white towel around his neck, a brown backpack on his shoulders, and a beige mat rolled up above it, was standing near them. The man was named Tazuna.
Karin was holding a cream clothed wrapped bento box that had the Uzumaki clan crest on it with both hands.
"How long will you all be gone Oniisan?" Karin asked.
"I don't know but we'll be back soon, dattebayo." Naruto said.
"Naruto, I know you and your team we'll do great, but don't do anything reckless, dattebane." Kushina said.
"Hai." Naruto said.
"Oh here's your lunch." Karin said, handing him the bento box with both hands.
"Thanks Karin." Naruto said, grabbing the bento box with his right hand.
Kakashi turned around around. "Okay let's go." he said before walking away from the gate.
Sakura and Tazuna turned around and walked behind Kakashi.
"See you later." Naruto said.
"Goodbye Karin." Sasuke said.
"You too, Naruto and Sasuke." Karin said.
Naruto and Sasuke turned around and walked after Kakashi, Tazuna, and Sakura.
Karin sadly watched Team 7 and Tazuna walked away from the Konohagakure Gate.
"Be careful in the Land of Waves Oniisan please..." Karin thought worried.
Karin suddenly felt a hand on her left shoulder, she turned to the right to see her Aunt Kushina has her right hand on her left shoulder, smiling down at her.
"You don't have to worry, your cousin maybe goofy but I'm sure he can handle himself." Kushina said.
"I hope you're right Aunt Kushina." Karin said as she looked watched Team 7 and Tazuna continued to walk away.
"It's been a while since I've taught you a technique since you've started Team 9, how about I teach you the Tree Climbing Technique." she said.
Karin looked back at her Aunt Kushina. "Huh, really?" she questioned.
"Of course, Karin-dear." Kushina said standing up straight, releasing her right hand from Karin's left shoulder. "Let's get started okay."
"H-hai." Karin said smiling softly, nodding.
End of Chapter 9.
Please review.
No Flames.