Akai Kami

by Missy the Cat

Since the first time they met, Sasuke has cared for Karin and now enemies and mysterious things started appearing. Will he be enough to protect her?

14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14.

Please review.

No Flames.

---

2 days later.

Day Time.

An unknown Village.

From right to left Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton, in their usual outfits, were walking through one of the dirt roads of the Village as from right to left was Ino, Karin, and Sakura, in their usual outfits, were walking behind them. Sakura was in her old usual outfit that had the sleeveless quipao.

They were staying in the Unknown Village for awhile and their belongings were in the Hotel they were renting. Tsunade and Shizune were taking Ino, Karin, Sakura somewhere to begin their training. As all of them continued walking through the road, Tsunade stopped and turned to the left side as Shizune, Ino, Karin, Tonton, and Sakura did the same.

"Here we are." Tsunade said smiling, looking up.

Shizune, Ino, Karin, Tonton, and Sakura looked up at a medium sized brown and green building that had the kanji for Library.

"A library?" Sakura asked confused.

"Why are we here?" Ino asked.

"I'll explain once we're inside." Tsunade said then walked up the stairs with Shizune, Ino, Karin, Tonton, and Sakura following her.

Tsunade opened the right side of the door with her right hand and walked in as Shizune, Ino, Karin, Tonton, and Sakura were right behind her. When they made it in they followed Tsunade, who was walking through hallways of books.

"As you 3 are now my apprentices, you need to learn information of being a medical ninja." Tsunade said. "That is why we're here."

"What kinds of information are we looking for?" Sakura asked.

When they made it to the back of the Library, Tsunade and Shizune, and Tonton stopped walking making Ino, Karin, and Sakura stop as well.

"See for yourself." Tsunade said, folding her arms together.

Ino, Karin, and Sakura walked ahead of Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton and looked at the end of the Library to see it was a little dark and lots of books were on the shelves.

"Which books do we have to read?" Ino asked.

"All of them." Tsunade said.

Ino, Karin, and Sakura looked at Tsunade.

"Huh?!" Ino and Sakura asked shocked.

"Yep." Tsunade said.

Ino, Karin, and Sakura looked forward again.

Sakura spreaded her arms out. "We have to learn... all of this?!" she asked.

"Yes, every single one." Tsunade said.

Ino closed her eyes smiling, her right hand on her face. "You can quit if you don't like it!" she said.

Sakura turned around and looked at Ino angrily, growling, making Ino laugh a little bit.

Tsunade turned to Shizune. "We should let them get started." she said.

Ino and Sakura ran and stopped at one of the bookshelves.

Shizune looked at Tsunade. "Hai." she said.

Karin looked around at the books and scrolls as she recognized all of them. Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton were about to turn around and walk away until they heard Karin speak.

"Tsunade." Karin said.

Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton stopped as they looked at Karin.

Karin turned around and looked up at Tsunade. "I already know all of this information..." she said.

"Huh, all of it?" Tsunade asked.

"Hai..." Karin said.

"So how did you learn it?" Tsunade asked.

"Mom and Aunt Kushina taught me and I've read every book about this..." Karin said.

"So what did you revive?" Tsunade asked.

"A fish and octopus..." Karin said.

Tsunade unfolded her arms. "I see.. so Uzume and Kushina were right about her, she's a fast learner and is really smart." she thought. "Okay, how about I teach you something new that they haven't taught you yet somewhere else?" she questioned.

"Hai..." Karin said.

Tsunade turned to look at Shizune. "Shizune." she said.

Shizune looked at Tsunade. "Yes, Tsunade-sama?" she asked.

"Watch Sakura and Ino while I train Karin somewhere else." Tsunade said.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Shizune said then turned around to see Ino and Sakura, who were reading 2 of the books on the shelves.

"Let's go." Tsunade said then turned around and walked away.

"H-hai..." Karin said, following Tsunade.

When they made it to the Library entrance, Tsunade stopped walking, making Karin stop as well.

Tsunade turned around and looked down at Karin, serious. "Why do you want to become a Ninja?" she asked.

"... So I can help others..." Karin said.

"Listen Karin, you have to toughen up and stop being shy, especially on missions." Tsunade said. "The enemies won't go easy on you."

Karin's eyes widened a little at what Tsunade just said to her.

"Your mother was shy but on the missions she did she was serious." Tsunade said. "People will walk all over you. But I know you'll surpass both your mother and your father."

"I will...?" Karin thought confused.

"Now then, let's get started." Tsunade said.

"H-hai..." Karin said.

---

1 month later.

Night Time.

Fish Market.

Karin was walking to the back of the Fish Market as she was done training for today. She and her outfit was slightly dirty from training by herself. Shizune and Tonton were at the Hotel sleeping.

When Karin made it to the back of it she saw Tsunade standing next to a green couch but was not facing it while Ino and Sakura were each standing in front of a table. Ino's table had a small brown octopus and Sakura's table had a red fish. Each of the animals had a small green scroll under them. Everyone noticed that Ino's ponytail was now at a shoulder length.

Karin stopped walking when Tsunade was done explaining to Sakura about the fish, watching the scene.

"This thing?" Ino and Sakura questioned.

"Usually, the way to resuscitate a creature that has asphyxiated is to stimulate the heart or brain with chakra." Tsunade said.

Ino and Sakura looked up at Tsunade.

"Octopi generally have 1 systemic heart and 2 branchial hearts. And separate from the brain, they have 8 nervous systems in their arms." Tsunade said then unfolded her arms. "It has many organs vital to resuscitation. In other words, it has a lot of parts that need to be taken care of."

"Oh..." Ino and Sakura said, looking down at the octopus and fish.

Tsunade looked at Ino and Sakura as they started to use the Mystical Palm Technique with both hands on the octopus and fish.

Karin started to walk forward again as she saw that Ino and Sakura were working.

Tsunade looked to see Karin walking towards her. "So you've returned." she said.

Karin stopped in front of Tsunade. "I've finished my training for today." she said.

"Very good, but you should rest for awhile." Tsunade said.

"Hai." Karin said then turned around to look at Ino and Sakura. "I suppose they'll be doing that for awhile."

"For about 3 months." Tsunade said.

Karin looked at Tsunade again. "I'd better head back." she then turned around and walked away.

...

Night Time.

One of the Hotel Rooms.

Karin was sitting one of the 4 hotel beds, whose bedsheets are grey, and was writting on a beige scroll with her right hand, writing to her relatives.

"Dear Aunt Kushina and Uncle Minato, everything is going great. Tsunade's teaching me new Jutsus but Ino and Sakura are now learning the Mystical Palm Technique, which Tsunade said 'it would take them 3 months to learn' while it took me 10 days. It would take awhile for the 3 of us to physically train together but I would still be ahead of them. However, I miss you guys and also Oniisan but I hope you write back soon.

From, Karin."

Karin wrapped the scroll with both hands before she stood up from her bed and walked over to the window and opened it up with her left hand and held it up outside for a moment before a brown bird landed on it. She put the scroll in it's black pouch with her right hand.

"Off you go." Karin said.

The bird flew away from Karin and into the air. She lowered her left hand as she watched the bird flew off into the sky before she closed the window with both hands before she walked over and sat back down on the bed.

"What are you doing now, Oniisan?" Karin said to herself.

---

3 months later.

Day Time.

Fish Market.

Karin, now 13 years old, was standing next to the pillar next to the stairs, Tsunade was standing a few feet away from the couch and folding her arms, and Ino and Sakura were standing in front of their tables with their octopus and fish with the green scrolls underneath them. Ino and Sakura weren't wearing their Forehead Protectors on their bodies.

Karin heard that Tsunade poured water on Ino when she was exhausted and laying on the floor and hit Sakura on the head with a fan when she tried to fall asleep and also Karin came here one morning to find Tsunade, sleeping on the couch and Ino and Sakura were sleeping on the floor where many ripped scrolls were on the floor as well.

Ino and Sakura started to remember something.

...

Flashback.

2 months ago.

Night Time.

Ino was using the Mystical Palm Technique with both hands on the octopus until the scroll below ripped into pieces, making her stop and close her eyes as she backed away a little.

"That happens because your chakra is too rough." Tsunade said, sitting on the couch.

Ino opened her eyes then turned around as she looked at Tsunade.

Tsunade raised her left hand. "You have to fine-tune your method, or the octopus would be ripped apart." slashing the air with her left hand. "Control your chakra more delicately!"

"H-hai!" Ino said nodding.

Ino walked over to where the pyramid of scrolls were and grabbed one of them with her right hand and carried it with both hands before she walked back over to the table. She placed the new scroll on the right side of her on the table before she picked the octopus up with her right hand and placed the ripped scroll on the ground and rolled out the new scroll before she placed the octopus on it and placed her hands a few inches above it before she used the Mystical Palm Technique again.

...

2 months ago.

"I'll never lose to you!" Ino and Sakura yelled.

Flashback ends.

...

Ino, Karin, and Sakura were looking at Tsunade.

"It's 3 months today." Tsunade said. "Try it, Sakura."

"Hai!" Sakura said.

Sakura turned towards her table and put her hands on the fish before she did the Mystical Palm Technique on it. Everyone watched for a minute before Sakura stopped doing the Technique as the fish flopped around as it was now alive. Sakura turned to Tsunade as she smiled at her.

Tsunade turned to Ino. "Now it's your turn, Ino." she said.

"Hai!" Ino said

Tsunade, Karin, and Sakura watched as Ino turned towards her table. Ino made a hand sign before she put her hands on the octopus before she did the Mystical Palm Technique. Karin saw Sakura made her hands into fists before she looked back at Ino.

Ino yelled before the octopus started to move, she stopped doing the Mystical Palm Technique as she smiled when it was now alive, turning a little pink on her face.

"You did it!" Sakura yelled smiling as her hands were in the air, her eyes closed.

Tsunade and Karin watched as Sakura ran over to Ino.

Ino looked at Sakura before Sakura hugged her from behind and stopped hugging her and grabbed both of Ino's hands with her hands, laughing.

"H-hey, Sakura!" Ino said as Sakura was twirling her around.

Sakura stopped laughing and smiling before she released Ino, putting her hands near her. "You took too long, and made a lot of pointless errors." she said then closed her eyes and turned around, folding her arms. "While it took me 3 months too, I was able to complete it more smoothly."

"Shut up!" Ino yelled angrily, making her hands into fists. "You broke my concentration since you kept peeking over at me!"

Sakura unfolded her arms as she turned around to look at Ino, making her hands into fists. "What did you say?!" she asked yelling.

"What yourself!" Ino yelled.

Karin noticed that the octopus was now spraying ink on Ino and Sakura, making them open their eyes and be quiet. The octopus slowly moved away.

"They argue like Oniisan and Sasuke." Karin thought sighing.

Karin looked at Tsunade and now noticed that she turned around and was secretly laughing.

"You 2 pass!" Tsunade said. "Tomorrow the 3 of you will be training together." then walked away.

...

Sunset.

On top of one of the Village's Buildings.

Tsunade went to a Casino to gamble while Shizune and Tonton went with her to try to talk her out of it.

From left to right, Sakura was sitting down, Karin was sitting down, and Ino was standing as they were looking at the sun.

"What made you start learning Medical Ninjutsu, Sakura?" Ino asked.

Sakura looked up at Ino. "Huh?" she asked then looked forward and looking a little down then closed her eyes, smiling a little bit. "I wanted to create... a place where I belong."

Ino and Karin looked at Sakura.

Sakura opened her eyes. "Naruto... and Sasuke-kun fought many times before they decided to go train to become stronger... I was always in the back, following them... But I'm a member of the team too. I wanted to walk shoulder to shoulder with them." then closed her eyes again. "So I promised myself..." then opened her eyes. "That from now on, I would."

Ino looked at Karin. "What about you Karin?" she asked.

Karin looked forward. "To help many people and also Oniisan." she said.

Ino looked forward as well as she started to think about what her father and Choji said to her.

...

Flashback.

"It's so you can keep up with them... and in order to protect the Ino-Shika-Cho tradition, and our clan's tradition... That's why I must pass on our Secret Ninjutsu to you." Inoichi said.

"After all, together we're the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Do your best too! Okay, Ino?" Choji said.

Flashback ends.

...

Ino looked up into the sky. "Team 10 is where I belong. And... I also want to walk shoulder to shoulder with them. But..." she thought then thought of her father.

...

Flashback.

"Without a doubt, it will take several years to master the Secret Ninjutsu." Inoichi said.

Flashback ends.

...

Ino looked down. "Maybe I was running and taking the easy way out..." she thought then looked to the left side and suddenly noticed that Sakura's left hand was injured.

"Hey, those wounds!" Ino yelled, making her hands into fists.

Karin and Sakura looked up at Ino.

Sakura looked down at her left hand, smiling. "Oh, I guess I hurt it earlier. This is nothing." she said.

"That's not good!" Ino said, crouching down.

Karin back away as she saw Ino grab Sakura's left hand with both of her hands and used the Mystical Palm Technique.

Sakura stopped smiling. "Ino..." she said.

Ino smiled. "Thanks, Sakura... very soon I'm going back to the place where I belong..." she said.

"I guess, they're becoming friends again." Karin thought, smiling to herself.

---

4 months later.

Another Unknown Village.

Day Time.

The 6 of them moved to another town that was more than 200 miles from the previous one. Shizune and Tonton were looking up information somewhere. Tsunade, Ino, Karin, and Sakura were in a clear grass area but trees were surrounding it. Tsunade were training Ino, Karin, and Sakura in combat. Over the past few months, Karin was almost completely unshy. Ino, Karin, and Sakura's hair have grown, Ino's was at a mid-back length and it was back to it's original length but it was slightly longer, Karin's was almost at a mid-back length, and Sakura's was back to a mid-back length. Ino and Sakura weren't wearing their Forehead Protectors.

Tsunade had her hands on hips, from left to right Sakura, Ino, and Karin were standing a few feet away from her and also facing her.

"Listen you 3, for Medical Ninja once combat ability is secondary. Have you 3 any idea why?" Tsunade asked Ino, Karin, and Sakura.

"Hai, Ma'am." Sakura said smiling then closed her eyes, raising her right index finger. "Medical Ninja are in the Unit to offer support, we're there to tend to our comrads in battle so it's our healing ability that's the most critical."

"That's wrong." Karin thought.

"I agree with what Sakura said." Ino said.

"No, it's not!" Tsunade yelled.

Sakura opened her eyes as she stopped smiling, putting her right fist near her chest. Ino and Karin looked at Tsunade.

Tsunade looked at Karin. "Karin, it's your turn." she said.

"Mastering evasion." Karin said.

"Correct." Tsunade said.

"Really?" Ino asked.

"Just dodging then?" Sakura questioned.

Tsunade looked at all of them. "A Medical Ninja must never be hit by an enemy attack." she said.

"Why is that Mi'lady?" Sakura asked then lowered her right hand.

"Yeah?" Ino asked.

Tsunade closed her eyes and put her head down, sighing.

"It's really obvious." Karin thought.

Leaves blew past them for a moment before they stopped.

Tsunade opened her eyes as she looked at Ino, Karin, and Sakura. "Who will heal the Unit if the Medical Ninja dies?" she asked.

Ino looked in shock while Sakura gasped in surprise then closed her mouth.

"Now I'm come at you 3 hard. You're job is to avoid what ever attack I throw at you 3. This is for real." Tsunade said. "You think you 3 are ready?"

"Hai!" Ino said.

Sakura made a serious face. "H-hai, Mi'lady!" she said, distancing her feet from each other.

"Ready." Karin said.

Ino, Karin, and Sakura stood like that for a moment before Tsunade disappeared. The 3 of them looked up in shock to see that Tsunade was in the air and was going to do her Heavenly Foot of Pain on the ground with her left foot.

Karin quickly backed away but still kept her eyes on Tsunade.

When Tsunade's left foot hit ground it break apart, Ino gasped as she jumped from rock to rock backwards watching from behind and back at Tsunade. Sakura yelled for a moment as she jumped backwards then closed her eyes and her hands were covering her face as small rocks came at her. Tsunade looked at Ino, Karin, and Sakura before she decided to run over to Sakura because her eyes were closed.

"Do not close your eyes!" Tsunade yelled.

Sakura landed on the ground before Tsunade ran up to her and punched her in the stomach her right hand.

Ino and Karin watched as Sakura opened her eyes and removed her hands from her face as she was flying backwards until her back hit a tree, which split in half and fell to the ground and made a dirt cloud, and fell to the ground hard on her stomach then closed her eyes.

"Sakura!" Ino yelled.

"Amazing! When Tsunade did that attack when chakra was built up in her left leg and when she punched Sakura as chakra was built up in her right hand. I have to know them." Karin thought astounded.

"Why would you close your eyes in the face of the enemy?!" Tsunade asked yelling.

Sakura slowly started to get up, her face a little injured, as her hands were on the ground and lifting herself up and slowly placed her left foot on the ground before she looked at Tsunade.

Ino and Karin looked at Tsunade as well.

"You're to watch their every move! Before their attack, during their attack, and after it! You 3 must not let the slightest distraction escape you 3!" Tsunade said. "If you 3 are any of Shinobi then you girls probably learn this already, but every person has a dominant hand and leg, as well as underlying habits and in that movement patterns are revealed! At Chunin or Jonin level though, a Shinobi has work to reduce those habits to better hide their intentions from the enemy's eye but it's never eliminated completely, there are still moments when 1 can find out the enemy's weak spot!"

Ino and Sakura looked shocked.

"Interesting." Karin thought.

"The enemy's weak spot?!" Sakura questioned.

"You must discover these flaws as quickly as possible! It will improve your ability to dodge their attack!" Tsunade said. "Now are you 3 ready to continue?"

"Hai!" Ino, Karin, and Sakura yelled.

...

Night Time.

The 4 of them were walking on a dirt path, from left to right Karin, Ino, and Sakura were walking together while Tsunade was a few feet ahead of them. Over the hours that they were training, Ino was hit twice and mostly dodged the attacks, Sakura was hit 5 times and mostly dodged the attacks, and Karin was able to dodge all of the attacks but was sometimes barely able to dodge.

Ino and Sakura had injuries while Karin had no injuries but she has a little bit of dirt on her clothes.

"Those attacks really hurt." Ino said.

"I know but we must focus. After all Tsunade-sama said we need to practice to find the enemy's weak spot." Sakura said, looking at Ino.

Ino looked at Karin. "How is that you weren't hit by her attacks, Karin?" she asked.

"Oh, I was trained to dodge them when you 2 were still practicing the Mystical Palm Technique." Karin said. "But you 2 will get the hang of it."

Ino looked forward then closed her eyes. "I hope you're right." she said.

Sakura looked at Karin. "Karin, can I borrow your scissors?" she asked.

Karin looked at Sakura. "Sure but why?" she asked.

"I want to cut my hair again." Sakura said.

Ino looked at Sakura. "What, why do you want to do that?!" she asked.

Sakura looked at Ino. "Because it's going to get in the way and enemies will grab at it to get me." she said.

Karin watched as Ino and Sakura talk to each other before she looked up at the star lite night sky.

---

1 month later.

Clear Grass Area.

Day Time.

Ino and Sakura, who's hair was now at a neck-length, were sitting near one of the trees as they watched Tsunade train with Karin.

Tsunade tried to punch Karin with her right fist only for Karin to jump behind her, then Tsunade turned around and tried to kick Karin with her left leg only for Karin to move to the right. When Tsunade was in front of her, Karin tried to kick Tsunade with her right leg only for Tsunade to block it with her left hand. After a few seconds, Tsunade released Karin's right leg, who placed it on the ground, and Karin took a few steps back from Tsunade.

Tsunade folded her arms. "Your movements have improved greatly." she said.

"Thank you." Karin said.

Tsunade looked at Sakura. "It's your turn, Sakura." she said.

"Hai!" Sakura said, getting up and walking over.

Karin walked over to one of the trees and sat down next to one Sakura walked over to Tsunade and began training with her.

As a few minutes past, Ino looked to the right side at Karin. "So what are going to doing after this?" she asked.

Karin looked to the left side at Ino. "I'm not completely sure, but I am going to be traveling." she said. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna go back to Konoha to learn my clan's techniques and help with the Ino-Shika-Cho tradition." Ino said.

"Good luck on that." Karin said.

"Thanks." Ino said.

Karin and Ino looked forward to see the training of Tsunade and Sakura.

Tsunade tried to kick Sakura with her left only for Sakura jump behind her. Tsunade turned around and tried to hit Sakura with her left hand but Sakura ducked and moved to the right side, which Tsunade followed her.

Sakura made her right hand into a fist. "Take this, Shannaro!" she yelled, raising her right fist as she tried to punch Tsunade, who immediately blocked it with her right hand.

Tsunade placed her right hand down as Sakura placed her right hand down as well before she took a few steps back.

"Your movements are getting better." Tsunade said.

"Thanks, Tsunade-sama." Sakura said smiling.

Tsunade turned to look at Ino. "Ino, it's your turn." she said.

"Okay." Ino said then stood up from the ground and started to walk over to Tsunade.

"This is going to be a long day." Karin said.

...

20 minutes later.

Tsunade had her arms folded as from right to left Sakura, Ino, and Karin were standing a few feet away from her.

"Very good today. By the way, do you remember the first thing I taught you 3?" Tsunade asked.

"Of course Ma'am. Medical Ninja must never get themselves killed thus must never force their way forward in combat." Sakura said smiling.

Tsunade closed her eyes, tilting her head down. "Yes, that is true." she said, opening her eyes and looked down at Ino, Karin, and Sakura, serious. "But at the same time, that does not excuse you girls from learning how to fight on the front line."

Ino, Karin, and Sakura looked at Tsunade curiously.

"And what I'm teaching you 3 right now, keep it in your hearts as you 3 continue training, got it?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes." Sakura said serious.

"Hai." Karin said.

"Of course." Ino said.

---

2 months later.

Clear Grass Area.

Day Time.

Ino was learning something from Shizune today and Sakura was learning a special technique today. Karin was sitting under the shade of one of the trees as she declined Tsunade's offer to learn the special technique because she was an Uzumaki, while Ino declined the offer as well.

Karin listened in on the conversation of Tsunade and Sakura, whom were standing a few feet apart from each other.

Tsunade had her arms folded. "Next, I'm going teach you the Jutsu to revive all of the organs, the entire system. It's called the Ninja Art: Mitotic Regeneration Jutsu." she said.

"Ninja Art... Mitotic Regeneration?" Sakura questioned curiously.

Tsunade nodded. "This isn't a Jutsu that revolves around healing skills. It's the same kind of regeneration jutsu that the First Hokage used. The First Hokage had such enormous chakra that he could active it without weaving signs." she said.

"I don't have that kind of immense chakra." Sakura said, sweating on the left side of her face.

"So... there's 1 more Jutsu I will teach you." Tsunade said. "It's called 'The 100 Healings Jutsu'."

"The 100 Healings Jutsu?" Sakura asked confused.

"Even I don't have the kind of chakra that the First Hokage had. So I developed this Jutsu. By using it, you can keep a huge amount of chakra in reserve. By combining these 2, the body will continue to regenerate and you will not die during that time." Tsunade said.

"A-amazing..." Sakura said.

"However, there's a problem with The 100 Healings Jutsu. Not only does it require extremely delicate chakra control, you must amass chakra for 3 years." Tsunade said.

"3 years...?" Sakura questioned.

"You have to have a constant amount of chakra infused. Well, you must maintain that state for 3 years!" Tsunade said.

Karin just stared at Tsunade and Sakura.

---

10 days later.

Day Time.

Library.

Karin was walking through the one of the many bookshelves to find a book that her Aunt Kushina wrote her about. She just finished learning the 'Heavenly Foot of Pain', 'Chakra Enhanced Strength', and 'Cherry Blossom Impact' after a few weeks.

Ino was writing to her parents before she would come to the Library. Shizune and Tonton were gathering information again.

"It should be around here somewhere." Karin said, looking around.

Karin stopped walking as she looked to the left side to see a brown book on one of the books elves, she was looking for at her level.

"There it is." Karin said, walking over to it then grabbed it with her right hand.

Karin suddenly looked up as she suddenly sensed 2 familiar chakras in the Library. "Oh, I almost forgot that they were here." she thought then walked to the end of one of the bookshelves to one pillar on each side, 5 large windows, 1 pool of water on each side, Sakura sitting down on the floor, who had her eyes closed and making a hand sign with both hands, and a large brown desk behind Sakura.

Karin sensed that drops of Sakura's chakra were going to her head and she saw that Sakura was was breathing, sweating, and exhausted before she closed her mouth. Tsunade, who had her arms folded, was standing on the left side of Sakura where the pillar was at.

"I have to maintain this condition for 3 years?!" Sakura thought.

"All right. That's pretty good." Tsunade said.

Sakura opened her eyes and looked up at Tsunade smiling, blushing a little.

---

4 days later.

Another Unknown Village.

Day Time.

Forest.

From left to right, Tsunade had her hands folded, Sakura, and Ino were standing on the ground while Karin was standing in front of a rock and had her left fist up in the air as she was building up chakra in it to use the Chakra Enhanced Strength Technique.

"Ahhh!" Karin yelled before she hit the large rock with her left hand, causing the rock to break and some of it to collapse before she backed away from it.

"Excellent work, Karin." Tsunade said.

Karin looked up at Tsunade then smiled a little.

Tsunade turned to the right side to look at Sakura. "It's your turn, Sakura." she said.

Karin noticed that Sakura's chakra was extremely low.

Sakura made her hands into fists before she walked over to the rock and made a stance as she raised her right fist. Sakura yelled before she closed her eyes and fell on the rock panting as she slid down it.

"Sakura!" Tsunade yelled.

"Sakura!" Ino yelled before running over to Sakura.

Sakura continued to pant in exhaustion.

...

6 hours later.

Hotel Room.

Sakura was laying awake on one of the 4 beds and under the red covers as Tsunade, Shizune, Karin, Tonton, and Ino were sitting on their own beds.

"Due to the effect of The 100 Healings Jutsu, your normal chakra level has become extremely low. This will only be a hindrance during healing and in battle. At this rate, I can't allow you to perform any surgery or go out into the battlefield." Tsunade said.

---

2 days later.

Day Time.

Forest.

Karin and Ino were training with Tsunade as they were trying to attack her together while Sakura was mediating under a large tree that had a lot of shade and also building up chakra in her head again, her eyes closed.

"The 100 Healings Jutsu creates a smaller secondary dam in order to store the chakra reserve... If I keep 2 dams of chakra and make sure I use each of them for their specific purpose... I should be able to perform surgery as well as fight in battles!" Sakura thought.

---

1 year later.

Day Time.

Karin, now 15 years old, her hair was at a waist length, and in her new usual outfit, brown narrow glasses, a lavender long sleeved uniform shirt that exposes her navel and some of her stomach with the Uzumaki crest on the back, short black shorts, long black thigh high stockings, black shuriken holster with white tape around her left leg, a medium sized grey backpack on her shoulders, and black sandals, was walking on a dirt path to another Village to find books and scrolls about Fūinjutsu as she wanted to learn more about it.

It has been 2 years since Karin left Konohagakure with Tsunade and Shizune to train and learn more abilities. And 10 months have past since the 3of them stopped training with Tsunade. When their training was completed, Ino left 2 months before Karin and Sakura so she can go back to Konohagakure to train with Shikamaru and Choji for the Ino-Shika-Cho tradition and learn the Yamanaka clan's techniques, Sakura also went back to Konohagakure 5 months after Karin left and started working at the Hospital but still trains and works on the 'The 100 Healings Jutsu'. Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton went back to Konohagakure so they could help Minato and others.

As Karin continued to walk she noticed that she was a few feet away from the Unknown Village and sensed many chakras up ahead, and a few minutes later she walked into the crowd of people. She started to look around to spot any Hotels to stay for the night then she spotted a yellow and orange Hotel that had brown roofs. She walked over to it and entered inside to see a fair skin slim woman who looks to be in her early 20's had shoulder length brown hair, blue eyes, wearing short sleeved red uniform shirt, long sleeved red uniform pants, and black sandals, at the front desk.

"May I help you, Miss?" the woman asked smiling.

Karin walked over to the front desk. "Yes, I would to stay in one of your rooms for the night." she said, stopping in front of the desk.

"Well there are 4 rooms available." the woman said.

"Is there an available room on the second floor?" Karin asked.

"Just one." the woman said then looked down as she slid open one of the desk draws with her right hand and pulled out a silver key that had a beige tag around it that had the numbers '205' on it in red colors with her right hand. "Here you go, Miss."

"Thanks." Karin said, grabbing the key from the woman with her left hand.

Karin walked over to the stairs before walking up until she saw a sign that said '200's' then walked to the right side and stopped when she saw the room 205. She lifted her left hand and placed the key into the hole and twisted with her right hand before she took it out and opened the door and stepped in before she closed it shut and locked it with her left hand.

Karin took off her sandals near the door before she walked over to the single bed that had blue bedsheets on it. She took off her backpack with her right hand and laid it on the left side of the floor before she laid on the bed on her back then stared up at the cieling for awhile.

Karin closed her eyes as she started to remember her older brother, Naruto.

...

Flashback.

2 years ago.

Day Time.

Konohagakure Gate.

From left to right: Kushina, Karin, and Minato, in their old usual outfits, were standing a foot away Naruto who was wearing a grey backpack on his shoulders and Jiraiya standing on the left side of him. After hearing that Sasuke went on that mission Naruto decided that he wanted to train with Jiraiya on the road. Karin also sensed 4 familiar chakras coming towards them.

"You didn't have to see me off." Naruto said smiling, his eyes closed.

Kushina leaned forward with her hands on her hips. "Now that won't do, dattebane!" she said.

Naruto opened his eyes as he stopped smiling and became scared and nervous when he saw her scary face.

"Now listen carefully, Naruto. The 3 Prohibitions of the Shinobi must be strictly observed!" Kushina said then closed her eyes. "Jiraiya-sensei tends to be too lax." then opened her eyes again. "Don't you dare imitate his bad habits!"

"The bad habits they keep mentioning..." Karin thought.

Minato smiled nervously as his eyes were closed. "I'm sorry... She insisted on seeing you off." he said.

Karin moved backwards as Kushina moved towards Minato, who turned to Kushina's direction and held up his hands midway nervously.

"That goes without saying, dattebane!" Kushina said then made a worried face as she held up her fist near her face. "What if Naruto picks up bad habits while accompanying Sensei on his Intel gatherings?!"

Minato lowered his hands.

Kushina unfisted her hands. "I worry enough about his antics and recklessness." she said.

Naruto closed his eyes as he smiled nervously.

Jiraiya folded his arms as he closed his eyes. "Don't worry. If he gets in my way, I'll just transport him away to Mount Myoboku or someplace." he said.

Naruto stopped smiling as he opened his eyes and looked up at Jiraiya. "Mount Myoboku?" he questioned.

Kushina stopped making a worried face as she lowered her hands and moved to where she was standing. Karin moved forward to where she was standing.

Everyone looked at Minato, who had a gloomy cloud hanging over him.

"No matter what kind of food you're served, just hang in there." he said.

"U-Uh-huh." Naruto said, nodding.

"Hey..." a familiar boy voice said.

Jiraiya, Minato, Kushina, Naruto, and Karin turned to see Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, in her usual outfit, and Sakura were standing a few feet away from them.

"Be careful on your journey." Shikamaru said smiling his right hand in his right pocket.

Naruto stepped a little towards them. "You guys!" he said.

"Just don't go overboard. If you try too hard, you'll make us look like we're slacking off." Choji said.

Ino quickly looked at Choji. "What're you saying?! We're going to work hard too!" she said then turned forward and crossed her arms as she closed her eyes. "I refuse to be a genin forever!"

Shikamaru, Choji, and Sakura looked at Ino.

Sakura closed her eyes and placed her right hand on her right hip as she turned to the right side, smiling. "I'll have you know, I'm on the track to go straight to the top." she said.

Shikamaru took his right hand out of his right pocket as he, Choji, and Ino looked at her.

Sakura turned forward. "I already have a place to train." she said.

Ino looked at Sakura surprised. "Huh?! When did this happen?!" she asked.

Sakura opened her eyes and looked at Naruto. "I'm not going to lose to Naruto." she said.

Naruto smiled at Sakura. "Roger, dattebayo!" he said, closing his eyes.

"Hey..." Jiraiya said.

Everyone turned to see Jiraiya walking out of the Konohagakure Gate.

"It's about time to leave." Jiraiya said.

Naruto had both fists near his stomach. "Right! I'm ready!" he said then lowered his hands before he followed Jiraiya then turned to look at everyone one more time. "Okay! I'm off, dattebayo!" he said waving his right hand before he lowered it and continued to follow Jiraiya.

Flashback ends.

...

Karin sighed. "Oniisan.. I wonder what you're doing right now?" she thoughtt then started to remember something else of the past.

...

Flashback.

2 years ago.

Uzumaki clan compound.

Karin's (Ryo and Uzume's) house.

Karin, in her old usual outfit, was reading a book at the kitchen table and sitting in one of the chairs. She was about to read more until she suddenly sensed a very familiar chakra was quickly heading towards her house.

"I wonder why is he coming here...?" Karin thought, closing her book with both hands.

Karin stood up from her chair and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. She slid one of the shoji doors open with her left hand to see Sasuke, in his temporary outfit and a green backpack on his shoulders, looking at her.

"Oh hello Sasuke..." Karin greeted shyly.

"Karin, I'm here to say goodbye." Sasuke said.

"Goodbye...? Are you going somewhere...?" Karin asked confused.

"I'm going to be shadowing other Uchihas in the Police who are going on a mission to the Feudal Lord's office that is a long term mission." Sasuke said.

"Then what about Team 7...?" Karin asked.

"I asked my father to transfer me off of Team 7 so I can shadow other Uchihas that are going on the Feudal Lord's mission." Sasuke said.

Karin became shocked but didn't say anything before she said something else. "W-w-well... do your best out there..." she said shyly.

"I will but what are going to be doing?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm going to be traveling with Tsunade in a few days..." Karin said.

Sasuke smiled. "That's great, Karin. You'll be great." he said.

Karin blushed furiously as she looked down at the floor. "Thank you, S-sasuke..." she said shyly.

"I better get going they're probably waiting for me." Sasuke said then started to turn around.

Karin looked up as she stopped blushing. "W-wait..." she said.

Sasuke turned around to look at Karin again. "What is it?" he asked.

"I want to give you something... Please wait right here, I'll be right back..." Karin said before she quickly went back into the house.

...

2 minutes later.

Karin came back out of the house and with an object in both of her hands. Sasuke looked down at the object in Karin's hands to see a small rock that was bright orange but was crimson red at the center. He'd never seen a rock like it before.

"I-I want you to have it, Sasuke..." Karin said.

"Where did you find this rock?" Sasuke asked.

"2 months ago I found it near the lake..." Karin said.

"Are you sure that I can have it?" Sasuke asked.

"H-hai..." Karin said.

Sasuke slowly took the rock from Karin's hands with his right hand before he looked at the stone up close before he placed it in his right pocket. "Thanks." he said.

"You're welcome..." Karin said shyly.

"I also have something for you." Sasuke said.

"Huh...? What would that be...?" Karin asked confused.

"This." Sasuke said before he stepped forward and kissed Karin on the left side of her face.

Karin blushed furiously as her eyes widened.

Sasuke pulled away before he smirked. "Goodbye Karin." he said before he disappeared.

Karin stood there for a few moments before she placed her left hand on the left side of her face, sensing that Sasuke was moving away from her location. "W-why did he do that...?" she thought shocked.

Flashback ends.

...

Karin quickly opened her eyes and rose up her upper half, touching the left side of cheek with her left hand. "W-wait.. W-why did I suddenly remembered that..?!" she thought shocked.

Karin's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she heard a few taps, she looked to the right at the window to see a brown bird outside of it.

"Someone sent me a message? I already accepted a scroll from Aunt Kushina hours ago." Karin questioned, removing her left hand from the left side of her face.

She stood up from the bed and walked over to the window and slid it opened with her left hand and took a brown scroll from it's red pouch and unwrapped the scroll with both hands before she started to read it.

"Dear Karin, I was wondering if you would like to participate in the next Chunin Exams that's being held here in the Konoha and The Sand Village in a few days? Sasuke-kun and Naruto aren't going to be entering in the Exams because of their training, so I thought that me, you, and Ino could enter in together as a team for awhile."

From, Sakura.

Karin looked at the opened scroll for a moment. "I can't join the Exams, I have to keep searching. And Oniisan and Sasuke are not even entering just like I'm not. I'll enter some other time." she thought, wrapping the scroll back up with both hands and placed it on the bed with her left hand.

Karin walked over to the left side and opened her backpack with her right hand and pulled out a light blue scroll and red colored pencil before she closed it back with her left hand then sat back down on the bed as she opened the scroll with both of her hands before she started to write with her left hand.

Dear Sakura, I'm sorry but I can't enter the Chunin Exams because I'm still searching for information and I'll enter next time with 2 others. Even though I'm not entering why not ask Choji and Ino to enter since Shikamaru became a Chunin in the last Exams?

Karin.

Karin wrapped the scroll back with both hands again and walked over to the window and placed the scroll in the bird's pouch with her right hand before it started to fly off. She watched as the bird flew high into the sky.

"I wonder how everyone will do in the Exams?" Karin thought then slid the window closed with her left hand.

---

3 and a 1/2 months later.

Day Time.

Near Konohagakure.

Karin, with her backpack on her back, was a few feet away from the Konohagakure Gate, she took a deep breath as she was little nervous going to The Hidden Leaf because it had been 2 and 1/4 years since she left the Village to train.

"Okay, you can do this Karin, you've faced difficult challenges than this. It's nothing." Karin thought to herself.

As Karin reached the Gate, she noticed 2 Konoha Shinobis, Kotetsu Hogane, a 28 year old man that has light brown skin, long spiky black hair, black eyes, little black beard on his chin, wearing his usual outfit, the Konohagakure flak jacket uniform, a white strip of bandage running across the bridge of his nose, a blue Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, and black sandals, and Izumo Kamizuki, a 28 year old man that has light brown skin, chin length dark brown hair that that covers the right side of his face, black eyes, wearing his usual outfit the Konohagakure flak jacket uniform that went up to his chin, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, and black sandals, were in front of it.

"Halt." Izumo said.

Karin stopped a few feet away from them.

"State your business here." Izumo said.

"I'm from here." Karin said.

"Do you have any proof of residence?" Kotetsu asked.

Karin reached into right pocket with her right hand and pulled out a small cream colored card that had her information on it. "See." she said, holding it out to them.

Kotetsu took the card from Karin with his left hand before he and Izumo looked at Karin's information then he handed back to her.

"You may pass through." Izumo said.

Karin placed her card back into her right pocket with her right hand before she walked forward into Konohagakure. When she made it she saw that the food places were deserted and a few people were sitting or either leaning against some of the buildings.

"What happened here?" Karin asked shocked, looking around. "These places used to be filled with people when I left."

After a few minutes of walking, Karin was now walking through the wooden fences area.

"I wonder how much everyone has changed in the last few years?" Karin thought.

Karin saw a fair skin old man that was bald but has little white beard, wearing a green kimono like shirt, long beige pants, and grey sandals, was pushing a medium sized cart with both hands, seeing that it was filled with bag wrapped candy. She looked up when she suddenly sensed 6 chakras were coming to her location.

"Excuse me, Miss. Would you like to buy some candy?" the old man asked smiling, stopping a few feet away from Karin.

"Sure." Karin said smiling before walking over to the old man a little bit then stopped. "How much for 2 bags?"

"4 ryos." the old man said.

Karin reached into her left pocket with her left hand and pulled out 4 coins. "Here." she said, handing him the money.

"Thank you." the man said, accepting the coins with his right hand and put them in his right pocket before he grabbed 2 bags with both of his hands then gave them to Karin, who took them with both hands and placed them in her backpack.

A few seconds after Karin placed the bags into her backpack, she suddenly saw 6 male ninja landed a few feet away from her and the old man.

The 1st one looked to be 16 years old, had light brown skin, slim, long green hair tied up in ponytail that reached his back and 3 bangs, black eyes, a black high collared short sleeved shirt that has the Military Police Force's emblem on the back, black short, brown belt with a sword on the back, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, grey shin guards, brown gloves, blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead which was mostly covered by his bangs, dark blue sandals, the 2nd one looked to be 17 years old, had light brown skin, buff, neck length black hair, black eyes but they were closed, wearing his usual outfit, a grayish blue sleeveless shirt that had the Military Police Force's emblem on the back, blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around forehead but over his hair, brown elbow protectors, brown belt that had sword on the back, grayish blue shorts, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, grey sandals, and grayish blue sandals, the 3rd one looked to be 16 years old, fair skin, chubby, mid-back length beige hair, black eyes, wearing his usual outfit, a blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, a sleeveless greyish blue shirt that had the Military Police Force's emblem on the back, grey elbow protectors, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, grey shin guards, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, brown belt with a sword on the back, black gloves, and grey sandals, the 4th one looked to be 15 years old, had fair skin, shoulder length dark brown hair, black eyes, wearing his usual outfit, a blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead and over his hair, beige elbow protectors, greyish blue short sleeved shirt that has Military Police Force's emblem on the back of it, greyish blue shorts, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, brown belt with a sword on the back, grey shin guards, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, and grey sandals, the 5th one looked to be 17 years old, had fair skin, neck length light brown hair, black eyes, wearing his usual outfit, a short sleeved greyish blue shirt that had the Military Police Force's emblem on the back of it, greyish blue shorts, brown belt with a sword on the back of it, white tape wrapped around his arms, hands, and lower legs, beige elbow protectors, grey shin guards, blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead but was covered by his bangs, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, and grey sandals, and the 6th one looked to be 16 years old, had fair skin, shoulder length black hair, black eyes, wearing his usual outfit, a really long sleeved greyish blue shirt that had the Military Police Force's emblem on the back of it, greyish blue pants, brown belt with a sword on the back of it, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, grey shin guards, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, and grey sandals.

Karin looked to see that the old man was starting to get scared before she looked back at the 6 male Ninjas.

"Hey you! Who gave you permission to open up to sell those?!" the 1st one asked yelling as he and the other 5 boys started walking them.

"I'm sorry, but I need the money to help my family." the man said, sad and scared.

"That's still no excuse." the 1st one said as he and the other 5 boys stopped near them. "Never mind that. Come with me." then reached for the old man with his right hand only to be grabbed by Karin's left hand.

"What's wrong with you, harrassing an old man?!" Karin said before she pushed the 1st one's right hand away with her left hand.

"What, who are you?!" the 1st one asked.

Karin turned to look at the old man. "You can go now." she said.

"Are you sure?" the old man asked.

"Of course." Karin said. "Please get going."

The old man glanced at Karin for a moment before he started to move his cart away from them with both hands.

"Hey!" the 1st one yelled.

Karin blocked the 1st one from going anywhere to the old man. "So, these people are the reason why the streets are mostly deserted. But who's command are they under? Is it Fugaku or someone else in line?" she thought.

"Out of our way!" the 1st one said.

"That's not going to happen." Karin said before she suddenly sensed a very familiar chakra coming towards them. "Why is he coming over here?!" she thought.

"We're taking you into custody along with him." the 1st one said.

"Try it!" Karin said.

The 1st one grabbed Karin's right hand and pulled her harshly towards him. Karin raised her left hand and used Chakra Enhanced Strength on the 1st one's stomach, sending him and the other 5 boys backwards and crashing into the wooden fences.

A few seconds after Karin lowered her left hand, the very familiar chakra landed a few feet away from her. Karin's eyes widened when she saw it was Sasuke, who was now 15 years old, had become taller, his hair has gotten a little longer especially his bangs which hung below his chin, wearing his Military Police Force uniform, a long sleeved light blue shirt which was a little rolled up at the sleeves with the Konoha Military Police Force symbol on the shoulders, light blue pants, grey shin guards, black Konohagakure flak jacket, grey open-front apron with orange diamonds on the bottom, blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, Military Police Force's armband on his left shoulder, sword on the back of him, and grey sandals.

"So you're the one who's breaking-" Sasuke said but was cut off when he recognized who it was. "Karin!"

"Sasuke!" Karin said.

They stood there for a few seconds staring at each other that seemed like hours.

"So, he's the lieutenant that caused the streets to go deserted." Karin thought. "What changed him? Also his chakra is stronger than the last time I saw him but his chakra is thick."

Sasuke watched Karin. "She's become even more beautiful than the last time I saw her." he thought then looked past his left shoulder a little to see his team slowly getting up and grunting in pain from the broken. "And from the looks of it, has gotten really strong too."

Sasuke was about to say something to Karin until his team walked up behind him.

"You are under arrest!" the 1st one said before he walked forward but Sasuke put his right hand up to block him.

"No Taiko. Leave her alone." Sasuke said, looking at the 1st one.

"But she just-" Taiko said but was cut off by Sasuke.

Sasuke lowered his left hand as he turned around to face his team. "That's an order. Just continue your rounds." he said.

Taiko and the other 5 Police Force turned around and started to walk away. After a few seconds, Sasuke turned back around to see Karin was no longer there.

...

5 minutes later.

Karin was walking to the Uzumaki clan compound to see her Aunt Kushina after 2 and 1/2 years of traveling. "I can't believe Sasuke has become that kind of person after almost 3 years." she thought.

As Karin continued walking, she suddenly sensed 12 familiar chakras nearby, 11 were humans and 1 was a dog. She walked to the left side and kept walking until she made it to the Training Grounds to see Naruto, now 15 years old, his hair has gotten a little longer and spikier, in his new usual outfit, black and orange jumpsuit that had the Uzumaki clan crest on the back of it, orange jumpsuit pants, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, small beige pouch on the back of his pants, black mesh shirt, black Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead which was long and reached a little behind his back, a white swirl and tassel on the left side of his jacket, Sakura, now 15 years old, hair was at a neck length, in her new usual outfit, a red qipao shirt that was similar to the dress she wore when she was 13, green shorts, black open toed low heel knee high boots, black gloves, red Konohagakure Forehead Protector which she was wearing as a hairband, pink elbow protectors, short pink apron skirt, grey medical pouch, and kunai covered by a green clothed, Shikamaru, now 15 years old, in his new usual outfit, the Konohagakure flak jacket uniform, silver stud earrings, Konohagakure Forehead Protector plate sewn into the left side of his sleeve, green lined mesh armour on his wrists and ankles, Kiba, now 15 years old, in his new usual outfit, an armour plate, black fishnet undershirt, long black pants that reached his calves, black Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, black form fitting black jacket which zips over the chest and sleeves, and black sandals, Akamaru, now 7 years old, now the size of a full sized adult large dog breed, Tenten, now 17 years old, in her new usual outfit, a long sleeved high collared blouse with maroon edges, puffy hakama style maroon pants with the exposed parts covered in bandages and the black shuriken holster removed, black fingerless gloves, black low heel sandals, and a black Forehead Protector wrapped around her forehead, Hinata, now 15 years old, developing a womanly figure, large breasts, her hair at a lower back length and 2 strands at a shoulder-length, in her new usual outfit, a loose fitting lavender and cream colored jacket with lavender cuffs, mesh armour shirt, long navy blue pants, black Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around her neck, black low heel sandals, and black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around her right leg, Lee, now 17 years old, in his new usual outfit, a green jumpsuit, orange leg warmers, Konohagakure flak jacket, black sandals, white tape wrapped around his forearms to his fingers, a red Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his waist as a belt, Ino, now 15 years old, her ponytail was at a waist-length and her bang now covered her right eye which was at a shoulder length, in her new usual outfit, a high collared purple blouse which exposed her midriff, purple skirt, silver stud earrings, mesh armour on her thighs, elbows, and knees, a red hair clip on the left side of her hair, and black sandals, Shino, now 15 years old, in his new usual outfit, a grey long sleeved high collared shirt, long beige pants, black sunglasses, long sleeved hooded beige jacket which covered his head, a small beige bag on his jacket, and grey sandals, Choji, now 15 years old, his spiky hair was at a waist length, in his new usual outfit, a red Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, a red suit with silver plated armour on his torso, arms, and upper legs and having the kanji for 'food' on the front, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, silver stud earrings, and grey sandals, and Neji, now 17 years old, hair was at a waist length and strands at a shoulder length, in his new usual outfit, a white kimono like shirt with long loose sleeves, long white loose pants, black Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, a navy grey apron tied around his waist, and black sandals, were talking to one another. She decided to listen on the conversation for a moment.

"What a drag... Everyone's so uptight in Konoha because of the Police Force..." Shikamaru said.

"The Village used to be such a lively place filled with food stands!" Choji said. "But now they're so strict about regulating everything... it's so deserted..."

"I know. I want to know what Sasuke-kun's thinking..." Ino said then closed her eyes and held up her hands midway. "But he's so unapproachable these days."

"Can we at least try to talk to him?" Tenten asked, placing her right hand on her right hip.

Ino opened her eyes and lowered her hands.

"It's impossible right now." Neji said.

"But we have to at least try." Lee said.

"Maybe we use Shino's insects to do it or maybe I can-" Naruto said was cut off.

"It wouldn't work and he wouldn't listen to you anyway." Shino said.

"What should we do?" Hinata asked worried.

Sakura rosed her left hand up to her mouth, looking worried. "Do you think it will ever go back to how it was?" she asked.

Karin sighed before she stepped out and walked over to them.

The 12 of them stopped talking when they suddenly heard footsteps, they turned around to see Karin walking towards them.

"Karin!" Naruto said, smiling brightly.

"Hi, Oniisan." Karin said smiling then stopped a few feet away from them. "It's been awhile."

"When did you get back?" Sakura asked.

"I thought you were still traveling." Ino said.

"I've decided to stop for awhile since I haven't seen the Village for quite some time." Karin said then walked over to Naruto and hugged him. "But I missed you, Oniisan."

Naruto hugged Karin back. "I've missed you as well, dattebayo." Naruto said.

Karin broke away from the hug. "I sensed that you've gotten stronger." she said.

"Well Pervy Sage has been training me all this time and taught me many of his Jutsus, dattebayo." he said.

"And I see your Chunins now." Karin said, looking at the others.

"Hai." Shikamaru said, opening his flak jacket with both hands before he closed it.

"But don't worry Naruto and Sasuke aren't Chunins either." Kiba said.

"I've heard." Karin said.

"Hai, dattebayo." Naruto said, a little sad.

"So, can someone explain to me why the Police Force have made the Village deserted?" she asked.

Naruto stopped smiling as he and the other 12 stayed silent, some of them making sad faces.

"Isn't anyone going to tell me?" Karin asked.

"Well.. you see.. when Sasuke-kun came back to the Village, he was almost immediately placed as the Lieutenant of the Military Police Force." Sakura said sadly.

"Then he started regulating everything and told people to get permission to open their shops." Shikamaru said. "And if you don't follow the rules, they will arrest you."

Karin closed her eyes, sighing. "I see, so that's why they were trying to do that." she said.

"Huh, what do you mean by that?" Naruto asked confused.

"When I arrived here I bought some candy from an old man, they tried to arrest me and him." Karin said.

The 12 of them looked at Karin, shocked.

"Did something else happened, dattebayo?!" Naruto asked, shocked.

"When I told the old man to leave, I punched one them, which sorta resulted in all of them crashing into a fence." Karin said. "Then Sasuke showed up."

"What?!" Ino asked shocked.

"What did he do?!" Sakura asked shocked.

"He told them to continue paroles somewhere else." Karin said.

"Huh?!" Ino asked shocked.

"He left you with a warning?" Shikamaru asked.

"I left when he was still speaking to them." Karin said.

"You must be really lucky." Choji said smiling.

"Or maybe Sasuke-kun really likes you." Tenten said smiling.

"No, he doesn't and it's not like that." Karin said annoyed.

"Why else would he told them to let you go." Kiba said teasing.

"We're just friends." Karin said.

"Kiba, Tenten stop asking Karin these questions, dattebayo." Naruto said, looking at them.

"He could be your new brother-in-law." Kiba said.

Naruto turned around, annoyed. "What?!" he questioned.

Karin suddenly saw that Ino and Sakura were looking at her suspiciously. "What's there problem?" she thought.

...

20 minutes later.

Uzumaki clan compound.

Karin was walking to her Uncle Minato and Aunt Kushina's house, when she made it to the front door she raised her right hand and knocked on the door few times before she lowered it. She heard footsteps before she saw her Aunt Kushina, in her usual outfit, opened the door with her right hand.

Kushina almost immediately smiled when she was Karin, letting go of the door knob. "Is that really you, Karin?" she asked.

"Hai, it's me Aunt Kushina." Karin said smiling.

Kushina almost tightly hugged Karin, who immediately hugged back. Kushina and Karin broke away from the hug to look at each other.

"It's been so long since I've seen you." Kushina said. "And you've changed your appearance."

"I've missed you, too." Karin said.

"Please come inside. I already made tea." Kushina said, grabbing Karin's arms with her hands and pulled her inside.

...

5 minutes later.

Kushina and Karin were sitting on the couch, Kushina was sitting on the left side and Karin was sitting on the right side, holding their cups of tea with both hands.

"So, what happened during your travel with Tsunade-Sensei?" Kushina asked.

"Well, it was tough and a little hard, and you were right about Tsunade's gambling habit." Karin said, taking a sip of her tea.

"I knew you were going to say that and your mother was the strongest out of her previous students." Kushina said.

"I know, you always say that." Karin said.

"Oh, sorry." Kushina said. "But it's true."

"When you, Mom, and Shizune were training with Tsunade, have you 3 ever decided on learning 'The 100 Healings Jutsu'?" Karin asked.

"No, because me and your mother were Uzumakis, who had large chakra preserves, and Shizune wasn't able to learn it because she wasn't powerful enough to learn the Jutsus Tsunade-Sensei taught us, but she was strong non the less." Kushina said.

"Oh, okay." Karin said.

"While you were away, I took care of the house for you." Kushina said.

"Thanks." Karin said.

"And your Mother and Father would've been very proud of you for making your own decisions." Kushina said.

Karin stopped smiling as she continued to look at Kushina then looked at the ground. "Hai." she said. "I wonder what they would think of me if they were still alive?" she thought.

...

1 hour later.

Karin was walking back to her house after 2 and 1/4 years. As she was walking, Karin saw Naruto speaking to Konohamaru, his hair became longer, now 11 years old, in his new usual outfit, a short sleeved beige shirt, a light grey long sleeved zip up jacket with dark grey edges, long black pants, blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, a long blue scarf, and black sandals, Udon, now 12 years old, his hair has gotten a little longer, in his new usual outfit, a short sleeved blue shirt, a black long sleeved zip up jacket, long light blue pants, blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around his forehead, black shuriken holster and white tape wrapped around his right leg, and blue sandals, and Moegi, now 12 years old, her pig tails have gotten longer, in her new usual outfit, a blue Konohagakure Forehead Protector wrapped around her forehead, a violet short sleeved t-shirt, a sleeveless purple vest, a beige layered skirt, and dark purple mid-thigh boots.

Karin continued walking until she made it to her house. She inhaled and exhaled before she slid open one of the shoji doors with her right hand and stepped in and slid it closed behind her. She looked around to see that everything looked the same as she left it but their was no dust in sight. As she was pulled off her sandals with her left hand, she looked down at the small to see that her mother and father's pictures were still there, the candles were orange instead of white, and the vases were now light grey instead of blue and purple but the white roses were still inside.

When Karin was done, she walked over to one of the couches and pulled her backpack off and placed it on with both hands before she walked over to the small table and sat down in front of it in the seize position and closed her eyes and bowed her head as she placed her hands together.

"Mom.. Dad.. it has been years since you've died. I came back after training with Tsunade for a few years. Tsunade said that I was great and was her top student. I finally came out of my shell after you 2 tried to. Many things have happened since I've came back but I'm still going to help many people in Konoha like you 2 did. Kushina said in 4 days she going to help me strengthen the barrier around our clan's mask storage temple. I miss you and I will make you proud unlike in the past." Karin thought.

Karin opened her eyes and looked up as she pulled her hands apart and stood up from the floor, looking around the living room.

"In a little while, I think I'll go to the store to buy new stuff to decorate." Karin said.

---

5 days later.

Morning.

Karin, in her night clothes, a lavender pajama long sleeved shirt long pants, was sleeping in her bed. She replaced her old bedsheets with a dark brown one and her pillow with a baby pink one.

As Karin continued sleeping, she suddenly woke up when she sensed Sasuke coming towards her house. She rubbed her eyes with her right hand before she grabbed her glasses from the night stand with her right hand and put them on then looked at the clock.

"It's 5:01 in the morning." Karin said to herself. "Why is he coming over here?"

Karin pulled the covers off of her with her left hand before she stood up from the bed and walked over to her door and opened it up with her right hand and stepped out before she walked down the hall and down the stairs.

She walked into the living room and over to the shoji doors and waited until she heard a knock on the door before she slid it open with her left hand. Karin looked to see Sasuke, in his Lieutenant outfit, standing in front of her.

"What do you want?" Karin asked, taking her left hand off of the shoji door.

"I see your sensory skills have improved." Sasuke said. "And I came to talk to you."

"It can wait for a few hours." Karin said, placing her left hand back on one of the shoji doors and tried to slide one of them closed only for Sasuke grab it with his right hand.

"Karin, please listen." Sasuke said.

Karin looked at Sasuke for a moment, seeing the desperation in his eyes. She sighed. "Fine, come in." she said, moving to the right side to let Sasuke in, who walked in and took off his sandals.

As Karin slid one of the shoji doors closed with her left hand and turned around to see Sasuke was sitting down on the couch. She walked over to the couch.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Karin said, sitting on the right side of the couch next to Sasuke.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry for what they did." Sasuke said.

Karin didn't say anything as she started to stare at the ground.

"But I also haven't seen you in a few days." Sasuke said.

"Maybe it's because the streets are deserted because of your regulations." Karin said then looked at Sasuke.

"It's so that people can't break the rules anymore." Sasuke said.

"And also letting your team beat up people for small crimes and threatening an old woman for trying to open up her shop." Karin said.

"She didn't ask permission to-" Sasuke said but was cut off.

"What happened to you, Sasuke?" Karin asked.

Sasuke didn't say anything but only stared at Karin.

"I remembered when we were kids that we used to visit the shops and the streets were full of people, but now the streets are deserted and all of the Villagers keep saying that you and your team are using harsh methods." Karin said. "How do you expect people to make money if you keep doing that?"

Sasuke looked down at the ground as he heard what Karin just said, then he started to remember all of the times he and Karin explored the shops in the streets.

...

Flashback.

3 years ago.

Day Time.

Karin, 12 years old and in her old usual outfit was walking back to the Uzumaki clan compound. She was thinking about at how most of her classmates laughed at Naruto.

"Why are they so mean to Oniisan like that?" Karin thought sadly. "What did he do make them treat him like that?"

As Karin continued to walk she suddenly sensed Sasuke quickly coming towards her location. She stopped and turned around to see Sasuke, 12 years old and in his old usual outfit, running towards her.

"S-sasuke..." Karin whispered.

Sasuke stopped right in front of Karin. "Karin, I want to talk to you about something." he said.

"Um.. okay.." Karin said shyly.

"Let's go to the Dango Shop first." Sasuke said.

Karin blushed furiously as her eyes widened."As in.. a date?!"she thought. Her blush lessened, knowing is not like that, and she thought about something.

"B-but Sasuke... you don't like sweets." Karin said shyly, looking down at the ground.

"I'll just drink tea and I know it's your favorite place to eat." Sasuke said smiling.

"H-hai." Karin said shyly, looking at him.

Sasuke and Karin walked for less than 5 minutes and they made it to the Dango Shop. Sasuke and Karin walked inside and looked around. There were a few people sitting at some of the seats. Sasuke and Karin walked over to an empty table with Sasuke sitting on the left side and Karin sitting on the right side. Karin always loves coming here because the dangos here are great.

Suddenly a skinny lady with fair skin, who looked to be in her early 20's, had brown hair that reached a waist length, orange eyes with no pupils, wearing a short sleeved white shirt, long red pants, brown sandals, and a black apron, was holding a cream colored note pad and a pencil.

"Okay, are you 2 ready to order?" the woman asked.

Sasuke looked at Karin. "Karin you order first." he said.

"H-hai." Karin said shyly then looked up at the waitress. "Um.. I would like the tri colored dangos and green tea please."

"Okay." the woman said, writing Karin's order down and turned to Sasuke. "And what would you like?"

"Just green tea." Sasuke said.

The woman wrote down Sasuke's order and looked at them.

"Your orders will be ready in a little while." the woman said then walked off.

"So.. u-um... what did you want to talk about Sasuke?" Karin asked shyly.

Sasuke turned to Karin. "It's about the graduation, it's coming up soon." he said.

"H-hai." Karin said.

"How is it going to be organized?" Sasuke asked.

"Well... Aunt Kushina told me that everyone will be placed in a different room than our usual one and we will be called alphabetical order to take the test alone." Karin said.

"Do you know what we'll be doing?" Sasuke asked.

"Aunt Kushina only said that the last thing we'll be doing was the clone jutsu and she didn't say anything else about the graduation test." Karin said.

"I see." Sasuke said.

Less than 10 minutes later, the waitress came back with a brown circular tray that had their orders on it.

"Here's your Tri-colored dangos and tea." the woman said carefully placing the 5 tri-colored dangles sticks on a plate and a cup of green tea in front of Karin.

"Thank you, Miss." Karin said smiling.

"And here's your green tea." the woman said, placing the cup of green tea in front of Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't say anything.

"Enjoy." the woman said then left with the tray in her right hand.

"What will happen after the graduation?" Sasuke asked before he grabbed his cup of tea with his left hand and sipped some of it.

"We will be taking graduation pictures of being genins and a few days later we'll placed into teams of 3." Karin said.

Sasuke put down his cup of tea and said nothing.

Karin looked down. "I know you'll do great in the test Sasuke... unlike me..." she said.

Sasuke looked at Karin.

"You've excelled in many of the subjects over the years and I've.. always was.." Karin said.

Sasuke stood up from his seat and walked over to Karin and sat next to her on the left side. Karin looked at Sasuke and blushed softly at how close he was to her.

"Karin, you're great in the Academy for many years." Sasuke said smiling.

"Huh?" Karin asked shyly.

"When all of us were running out of chakra, you still had yours." Sasuke said. "And I've always knew since the beginning that you were going to be a great student. You've made higher grades than me in some of the subjects."

Karin blushed furiously before turning away from Sasuke.

"You'll do great in the graduation test." Sasuke said.

"Th-thank y-you, um Sasuke." Karin said shyly.

"I-I should have more confidence in myself like Oniisan and Sasuke..."Karin thought.

Flashback ends.

...

Sasuke sighed. "You're right." he said.

"Huh?" Karin questioned confused, looking at Sasuke.

Sasuke stood up from the couch. "What happened?" he thought.

"Sasuke." Karin said.

Sasuke stopped thinking as he looked down at Karin, who was looking up at him.

"Are you okay?" Karin asked.

"I'm fine. I have to go." Sasuke said before he walked over to the door.

Karin watched as Sasuke put on his sandals and stood up and placed his left hand on one of the shoji doors.

"I'll see you later." Sasuke said, opening the shoji door and walked out before sliding it closed behind him.

"What was he thinking about?" Karin thought, standing up from the couch.

...

A few hours later.

Karin, in her usual outfit, was walking towards the streets of Konoha to buy more supplies for her house. She was thinking about what Sasuke did a few hours ago.

"Sasuke left in hurry but why?" Karin thought curiously.

Karin stopped thinking as she sensed many people a few feet ahead. When she made it to the streets she saw that all of the shops were open and many people roaming, smiling and talking to each other.

"What happened?! It wasn't like this in the past." Karin thought then she suddenly remembered Sasuke's attitude when he left her house. "So that's what Sasuke meant. But why all of a sudden?"

---

2 days later.

Day Time.

Hokage Mansion.

Karin was walking through one of the hallways to get to the Office to see her Uncle Minato, who summoned her by bird for some reason. As she was almost to the Office she sensed a dark but powerful moving away from her Uncle's chakra. She looked to see a frail looking old man coming out of the Hokage's Office, he looked to be 72 years old, had short black shaggy hair, black eyes, an X scar on his chin, wearing his usual outfit, a white long sleeved kimono like shirt, a long black robe that covered his right right, feet, and over his right shoulder, white bandages wrapped around his forehead and right eye, a purple shash wrapped around his waist, and black sandals, was holding a brown cane in his left hand. She continued to walk forward as she and the old man passed each other.

Karin stopped walking and looked a little behind her on the left side to see that the old man was walking farther away from her. "Who is that man?" she thought.

Karin turned forward and walked over to the Hokage Office then she turned the door knob with her right hand before she opened it and entered in, closing it behind her.

"It's nice to see you, Karin." A man's voice said.

Karin looked forward to see her Uncle Minato, in his usual outfit, was sitting at his desk as he was smiling.

"It's nice to see you as well, Uncle Minato." Karin said smiling, walking up a little bit to the desk before stopping. "You wanted to see me?"

"Kushina said that you wanted to start your missions again?" Minato asked.

"Hai." Karin said.

"Do you also want to get back with your team?" Minato asked.

"No." Karin said.

"What kind of rank mission do you want to start with?" Minato said.

"I think I'll start off with an C-rank since I just got back a few days ago." Karin said.

"Okay, your first mission will be is to deliver a scroll to Fugaku." Minato said.

"Deliver a scroll to Fugaku... in the Police Force building with Sasuke and those idiots he calls a team...?!" Karin thought annoyed.

Minato looked at Karin confused. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"Of course not." Karin said.

Minato looked down as he reached into the left side of his desk and pulled out a brown and beige scroll and held it up with his left hand. "Here it is." he said.

Karin stepped forward and took the scroll with her right hand from her Uncle Minato before she looked down at it and back at Minato. "Okay, I'll go deliver it." she said turning around and walking towards the door. "Please excuse me." opening the door with her left hand and walking out, closing it behind her.

"Great, now how I'm going to deal with those idiots?" Karin thought annoyed. "Then again I've faced people more annoying than them."

...

10 minutes later.

Karin looked up as she was standing in front of Konoha Military Police Force building, which was a large beige building that had the Police Force emblem on top of it. She sensed Fugaku's chakra inside but she also sensed Sasuke's, Taiko's, and the other 5 Uchihas. She sighed before she walked up the stairs and opened one of the doors with her left hand and closed it behind her.

Karin started to walk through one of the hallways as she sensed that Fugaku and Sasuke were down one of the hallways but also sensed Taiko and the other 5 boys chakra a few feet ahead of her.

"You can do this." Karin thought.

Karin walked by a room to see Sasuke's team were sitting on a couch and talking to one another about something. They stopped talking and turned to the entrance to see Karin walking pass the their door.

"What's she doing here?" Taiko said.

"She must be here to cause us trouble." the 3rd one said.

Taiko and the other 5 Uchihas stood up from their couch and walked over to the entrance and stepped out to see Karin was continuing to walk away.

"Hey!" Taiko yelled.

Karin stopped walking.

"What are you doing here?!" Taiko asked, yelling.

Karin turned around to face them, looking annoyed. "I'm here to deliver a message to Fugaku." she said.

"Then we'll take that to him." the 4th one said, holding out his right hand.

"I don't think so." Karin said.

"Like we're going to let you endanger our leader that was probably sent by the Hokage." Taiko said.

"Nothing is wrong with this scroll." Karin said.

"Then hand it over." the 4th one said.

"No." Karin said.

The 6 of them started to walk over to Karin, who folded her arms as she glared at them. They looked like they were about to start a fight until Karin suddenly sensed Sasuke coming towards them. The 6 of them stopped walking when they saw Karin looked to her left before they looked over to where she was staring at to see their lieutenant, Sasuke was walking towards them.

"Damn it!" Taiko thought.

"What's going on here?" Sasuke said, stopping a few feet away from them.

Karin sighed, closing her eyes. "Nothing, I'm just here to deliver a message to Fugaku." she said then over to the hallway Sasuke was at.

Sasuke watched as Karin walked past him, turning around to see her walking to his father's office.

"Sasuke-san! Why did you let her pass?!" the 4th one asked. "She's delivering a message that was from Hokage."

Sasuke turned around to face his team, serious. "Because she's doing nothing wrong and there's nothing dangerous about that scroll." he said.

"But Sasuke-san-" the 5th one said but was cut off.

"Enough! Go parole the streets." Sasuke said.

Taiko and the other 5 started to walk away to the exit. Sasuke turned around again to see that Karin was closing the door with her right hand.

...

20 minutes later.

Karin was walking towards the exit building as she completed her mission of delivering the scroll to Fugaku. She talked with him for awhile before she decided to leave to go somewhere else.

As Karin made it to the door, she opened it with her right hand and stepped out before closing it with her right hand. She walked down the steps and suddenly stopped, closing her eyes.

"What do you want?" Karin asked.

Sasuke suddenly appeared behind Karin, who turned around to face him.

"I wanted to talk to you again." Sasuke said.

"Just like when you appeared on my doorstep a few days ago and suddenly had to leave?" Karin questioned, folding her arms.

Sasuke stepped closer to Karin. "I had to think about what you said to me." he said then stopped.

Karin didn't say anything.

"You were right, I shouldn't have set so many regulations on people." Sasuke said.

"Is that the reason why the streets are so lively now?" Karin questioned.

"Hai." Sasuke said.

Karin stayed silent for a moment. "So.. what did you want to talk about?" she asked.

"Can we talk somewhere else?" Sasuke asked.

"Um, Sure." Karin said.

Sasuke started to walk forward then Karin turned around and followed after him.

...

1 hour later.

Sasuke and Karin were sitting on the clear grass area of the training grounds, which was deserted. Sasuke was sitting on the right side and Karin was sitting on the left side. They were telling each other about their events of 2 and 1/2 years and in the present. A few minutes ago, Sasuke told Karin that his team members are, the 1st one was named Taiko, the 2nd one was named Haruto, the 3rd one was named Reo, the 4th one was named Kaito, the 5th one was named Riku, and the 6th one was named Asahi.

"So training with Tsunade was a little difficult." Sasuke said, looking at Karin.

"Yeah but it wasn't bad like Aunt Kushina said, as for Ino and Sakura it was for them. Even Sakura is still learning a new Jutsu from her." Karin said, looking up at the clouded sky.

"By the way, you've trained with the Uchihas for how long?" Karin asked, looking at Sasuke.

"A year." Sasuke said.

"Where did you go after that?" Karin asked curiously.

"I've been learning new techniques while traveling." Sasuke said.

Karin sensed something wasn't right, she sensed that Sasuke was telling her half the truth and half a lie, but she decided to skip it for now.

"Well at least you're living your dream." Karin said.

"What dream?" Sasuke asked.

"When we were kids, you always said that you wanted to become part of the Police Force some day." Karin said.

"Oh." Sasuke said. "But it's not that anymore." he thought. "What was your dream? You've never told me." he asked.

Karin looked down at the ground. "I want to help people." she said. "That's one of the reasons I've decided to become a Kunoichi."

"Really?" Sasuke asked, interested.

Karin turned away from Sasuke.

"No I didn't mean it like that I meant that it's great." Sasuke said.

Karin looked at Sasuke again.

"Also I have to ask you something." Sasuke said.

"What is it?" Karin asked.

"Would you like to-" Sasuke said but was cut off.

A loud bird song came from the air, Sasuke and Karin looked up to see a brown bird circling around them.

"Well that's my Uncle Minato calling me back so I better go." Karin said, getting up.

"But I still haven't told you." Sasuke said, looking up at Karin.

"Don't worry, you can tell me next time." Karin said then ran off. "See ya."

Sasuke watched as Karin ran off. "I almost asked her out." he thought.

---

12 days later.

Night Time.

Forest.

Over the past almost 2 weeks, Sasuke and Karin have been hanging out and so mostly unshy when they were kids. Sasuke tried to ask Karin out a couple of times but it never happened.

Karin was hoping from tree to tree as she was meeting with Sasuke on an A-rank mission. Minato said that the prison from the jail mysteriously escaped and entered the forest. He wanted them to round up each and every one of them before they leave Konohagakure or head into the Village.

When Karin mad it she stopped on a tree branch and placed her left hand on the tree as she saw Sasuke standing on a tree branch a few feet ahead of her. She stared at him for a moment before she disappeared and reappeared on a branch of a tree behind Sasuke, her right hand on the tree.

"I was sent by Uncle Minato to help you out in this mission, just tell me what you need." Karin said.

"Just over 2 hours ago, 118 prisoners escaped from jail." Sasuke said then looked up a little. "Given that time frame they couldn't escape into the Village or leave it yet."

"Uncle Minato said we must capture them alive." Karin said.

"That's right." Sasuke said.

Karin took her right hand off of the tree. "Well then we should get started right away." she said.

Sasuke turned around as he looked at Karin.

Karin closed her eyes as she began using her Mind's Eye of the Kagura, the wind blowing in her hair. "50, 60... 70, 80, 90, 100..." she thought then opened her eyes. "Found them." she said, the wind stopped blowing in her hair.

Sasuke was astounded at Karin.

"I'll take care of the closest ones." Karin said, looking at Sasuke. "1 is back 50 meters. 4 are in the front at 10 o'clock."

Sasuke quickly jumped off of the tree branch.

"He's become in more fast!" Karin said to herself, astonished.

Karin saw Sasuke landed into the trees and saw movements before 4 prisons landed on the ground with grunts of pain. Her mouth was slightly opened as she continued to look at Sasuke, who moved past her and jumped into another tree and hit a male prisoner in the stomach with his right hand and making him fall to the ground in pain.

Sasuke turned his head to the right side a little bit to see Karin in the back. "Can you keep up?" he asked.

Karin spreaded her arms a little. "Of course, it's my mission, you know." she said.

"Karin, you will be my eyes." Sasuke said.

Karin unspreaded her arms. "Hey, don't tell me what to do!" she yelled angrily then closed her eyes again. "3 are located at 1:30... From there, 5 more are preparing to ambush from 9 o'clock."

Sasuke jumped off of the tree branch and Karin followed after him. When Sasuke saw one of the prisoners standing on a tree branch, Karin landed on a tree branch nearby as she watched Sasuke take down the prisoners.

"He really has become even faster since 2 and 1/4 years of not seeing each other." Karin thought astounded.

...

10 minutes later.

Sasuke and Karin were standing on a tree branch together back-to-back, she was facing the tree while he was not.

"How much?" Sasuke asked, looking at Karin a little on the left side.

"That last one was 84." Karin said then looked at Sasuke a little on the right side. "Your speed has increased but you're too naive when it comes to it."

"I'm not naive. You know there's only one thing I'm trying to reach."

"Reach?" Karin questioned then sensed Sasuke's chakra once more then became amazed again. "What?!" she thought, her eyes widened a little as turned around to face him, seeing his chakra. "His ... This chakra... He's really... awesome." stepping forward and wrapped her arms around his chakra as she closed her eyes, relaxing.

Karin was snapped out of her daydream by a male voice.

"Karin." Sasuke said.

Karin opened her eyes as she pulled her arms apart. Sasuke and Karin both looked up to see 4 prisoners were in the trees above them. Sasuke jumped up as the prisoners tried to attack him in mid-air but he easily defeated them. Karin was so concentrated on Sasuke fighting that one of the prisoners landed on her head, making her lose her balance and slip off the tree branch. One of the prisoners slowly got up and held a knife in his hands as he looked up at Karin. The prisoner that hit Karin landed on the ground with a thud.

Karin turned her head a little bit to the left as she saw the prisoner with the knife looking up at her. "So, he wants to kill me. That will never happen." she thought, making left hand into a fist as she was preparing to use her Cherry Blossom Impact.

Sasuke jumped down from a tree branch he landed on recently. "Karin!" he yelled, quickly going over to her.

Karin was about to turn around until she was Sasuke suddenly appeared and wrapped his arms around her, making Karin surprised as she unfisted her left hand.

The prisoner with the knife became surprised when Sasuke pulled out his sword with his right hand. Sasuke sliced the prisoner with his sword before the prisoner fell dead on the ground. Sasuke placed his sword back behind his back before he and Karin landed on the ground and Sasuke released her but Karin suddenly had her right hand on the left side of Sasuke's waist and her left hand on Sasuke's chest. Sasuke and Karin looked down at the dead prisoner.

"You did that... for me?" Karin asked, looking up at Sasuke.

"I need you, Karin. You're important to me." Sasuke said.

Karin blushed softly as her eyes widened for a second before she snapped out of it then she took her hands off of Sasuke and turned around, folding her arms. "Well we must find more of the prisoners before something happens." then slightly turned to the right to look at Sasuke, who was staring at her.

...

20 minutes later.

Hokage Mansion.

Office.

Sasuke and Karin were standing in front of the desk that Minato was sitting in the chair under and his hands together on the desk.

"You 2 done a great job. 117 prisoners have been returned to jail." Minato said. "But 1 prisoner was dead."

Karin's eyes widened a little.

"He tried to kill Karin so I killed him." Sasuke said.

Minato sighed. "I see." he said.

Karin started to think about what Sasuke earlier.

...

Flashback.

"You did that... for me?" Karin said, looking up at Sasuke.

"I need you, Karin. You're important to me." Sasuke said.

Flashback ends.

...

Karin looked down at the floor. "Why did he..?" she thought.

"Karin." a male voice said.

Karin snapped out of her thoughts as she raised her head up to see Minato staring at her concerned.

"Are you okay?" Minato asked.

"No, nothing's wrong. I have to go." Karin said then turned around and walked over to the door and twisted it open with her left hand. "Please excuse me." walking out and closing the door with her left hand.

Karin took a deep breath and exhaled before she started walk to the left side of the hallway. As soon as Karin was a few feet away from the office, she suddenly heard a door opened up and closed, fully sensing who it was. She heard footsteps quickly coming towards her until she felt a hand on her right shoulder. She stopped and turned to see Sasuke had his left hand on her.

"What is it?" Karin asked, turning fully around as Sasuke released his left hand from her right shoulder.

"I wanted to talk to you about what I said during our mission." Sasuke said.

Karin suddenly felt her heart was beating fast. "And?" she questioned.

"I meant what I said and also I was wondering." Sasuke said.

Karin's heart beat even faster.

"If you would like to.. go on a date with me?" Sasuke asked.

Karin felt her heart stop when Sasuke said that to her. "A-a date?" she asked.

"Hai." Sasuke said.

"W-w-well.. okay." Karin said nervously.

Sasuke smiled when Karin said 'yes'. "Great. Meet me at the Training Grounds tomorrow." he said.

"H-hai." Karin said.

...

Tomorrow.

Day Time.

Training Grounds.

Karin, in her casual outfit, a long sleeved beige shirt with the Uzumaki crest on the back, long lavender pants, and beige sandals, was standing alone as she sensed Sasuke coming to her location. She could barely fall asleep as she was thinking about her date with Sasuke.

"Okay Karin, you can do this. You've faced bigger challenges than this.. going on a date with Sasuke." Karin thought to herself then she gulped. "This is going to be harder than I thought."

Karin now sensed that Sasuke was a few feet behind her.

"Karin." a male voice said.

Karin turned around to see Sasuke, in his casual outfit, a long sleeved high collared grey shirt with the Uchiha crest on the back, light grey pants, white tape wrapped around his lower legs, and grey sandals, and she was becoming a little more nervous.

Sasuke walked over to Karin. "You look beautiful." he said, now in front of her.

"Um thanks." Karin said blushing lightly, looking away to the left side. "You too."

Karin slowly looked up at Sasuke before they decided to walk together with Sasuke on the left side and Karin on the right side. They walked for awhile as they were now walking on a dirt path.

Sasuke looked at Karin, who was looking down at the dirt path, then looked forward to see a fair skinned, brown spiky haired man that looks to be in his early 30s, skinny, black eyes, in his usual outfit, a long sleeved kimono like shirt, long black pants, and black sandals, was coming towards them as he was pushing a wooden cart with both hands that had steam coming out of it. He looked at Karin again to see that she was smelling the air and he looked forward and smelled the air that had a delicious scent in the air that was coming from the man's cart.

"Do you want something from the cart?" Sasuke asked.

Karin looked up at Sasuke. "Hai." she said.

When Sasuke and Karin were standing in front of the man's cart, they stopped.

"What are you selling?" Sasuke asked, staring down at the cart.

"Onigiri, steam buns, dangos, and plenty others." the man said.

"I would like 4 Onigiris and 2 dangos." Sasuke said.

"Okay." the man said, pulling out some food from the cart and wrapping it up in dark purple cloth. "That will be 17 ryo."

Karin was about to reach into her pocket with her right hand until Sasuke stopped her by grabbing her with his left hand. She looked up at him to see that he was looking down at her.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it." Sasuke said.

Karin looked up at Sasuke for a moment before she put her right hand down.

Sasuke released his left hand from Karin before he reached into his left pocket pulled out the amount the man asked for, who took the money from him with his right hand.

"Thank you, come again." the man said, handing the clothed wrapped food to Sasuke with his left hand.

Sasuke grabbed the clothed wrapped food with both hands before he and Karin walked past the man's cart.

...

15 minutes later.

Sasuke and Karin were sitting on a clear grass levee, he was sitting on the left side while she was sitting on the right side and the open cloth was sitting in behind them as 1 dango laid on it. Sasuke was chewing as he was finishing up an Onigiri while Karin was eating a tri-colored dango stick with her left hand as she was looking down at the grass, thinking about something before she placed her dango stick down on the cloth.

Karin swallowed her dango. "Sasuke." she said.

Sasuke swallowed the last of his Onigiri before he looked down at Karin.

"There's something I want to ask you." Karin said.

"What's the matter?" Sasuke asked concerned.

"Do you remember when you said 'goodbye' to me before you left to train?" Karin asked.

"Hai." Sasuke said.

"Why did you kiss you me?" Karin asked.

Sasuke's eyes widened for a moment before they returned to normal and he looked forward. "It's because I love you." he said.

Karin quickly looked up at Sasuke with her eyes widened.

"I've always wanted to do that. Ever since I've known you, I've always had this warm feeling that I like and when Itachi tried to kill you I was anxious to save because I didn't want him to take you away from me forever. When you were sad after your parents passed away I wanted to comfort you. You're one of the reasons why I left to train." Sasuke said.

Karin's cheeks blushed furiously.

Sasuke looked down at the ground to see that Karin's left hand was covering his right before he looked at her.

"D-did.. you really mean that, Sasuke?" Karin asked before she slowly looked at Sasuke in the eyes.

"Hai." Sasuke said, looking at Karin's eyes.

Sasuke and Karin turned towards one another as they continued to looked at each other for a moment before Sasuke decided to lean in towards Karin, who gasped, and kissed her on the lips. Karin blushed the color of her hair as her eyes widened to Sasuke kissing her. After a few seconds, Karin slowly closed her eyes as she kissed Sasuke back, placing her hands to his shoulders as he placed his hands on her back and pulled her closer.

They kissed for a minute before they pulled pulled away panting, looking at each other in the eyes. Karin looked away to the right side before Sasuke placed his left hand on her chin, carefully making her look at him. Karin saw that Sasuke was smiling softly at her.

"Karin, I love you." Sasuke said.

"I-I love you too, Sasuke." Karin said.

Sasuke hugged Karin, who hugged back equally.

...

Tomorrow.

Day Time.

Wooden Fences.

Karin, her usual outfit, was walking through as she still thinking about what she and Sasuke did on their date.

"I sensed that Sasuke meant what he said yesterday.. but can me and him really continue dating?" Karin thought.

Karin snapped out of her thoughts as she suddenly sensed 2 familiar chakras coming towards her.

"Not right now." Karin thought annoyed, stopping in place.

2 people landed a few feet away from where Karin was standing as it was Ino, in her casual outfit, a short sleeved orange shirt with green edges and Yamanaka crest on the back, long white pants, and blue sandals, and Sakura, in her casual outfit, a short sleeved cream colored shirt, a vest that looks very similar to her usual outfit shirt, blue skirt, and black open toed knee high boots.

Karin saw that they were staring angrily at her.

"What do you 2 want?" Karin asked annoyed.

"We've heard that you went on a date with Sasuke-kun?!" Sakura questioned.

"So? It's none of your business. Karin asked.

"What ever Sasuke-kun's doing is our business!" Ino said.

"I can't believe you asked him out on a date?!" Sakura asked.

"I wasn't the one who asked him, he asked me." Karin said.

"What?!" Ino asked shocked.

"You lie!" Sakura said.

"If you don't believe me, ask Sasuke." Karin said, walking forward and and past Ino and Sakura, who were still fuming at her. "They're so annoying when it comes to Sasuke." she thought, opening up her eyes.

---

End of Chapter 14.

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