A/N: This chapter ended up being longer than I thought (story of my life since I've started this fic, LMAO), and it actually was shaping up to be a 12k chapter, but I don't have that in me right now, haha (plus, I had a few epiphanies while writing it that hopefully will lead to a better story overall), so hopefully you guys don't mind that I broke this chapter up and shuffled some things around!

Important Notes for medical ninja!Karin in this AU: Karin uses medical ninjutsu to heal Sasuke in Shippuden episode 208, "As a Friend" (anime-only, apparently, but *shrugs*), and I've always loved the idea of her being a medic-nin, it can work so well for her character, so I'm keeping it and making it my own! It will be explained in its entirety next chapter and very relevant in the future! Just FYI! ;D

Karin Uzumaki is an enigma, a conundrum, and a flat out brain-teaser all wrapped into one.

Or at least, that's Inoichi Yamanaka's conclusion thus far.

And that's pretty impressive, he thinks, given how many years he's been playing this game. ('Game' being Shikaku's word for it, not his. He supposes, in a way, it is like an incredibly intricate game of hide-and-seek or shogi, just with information instead of people or pieces. Of course Shikaku 'Battle Master' Nara would think like that…)

When Kakashi first brought Karin to them two months ago, she was on the brink of death, a hole shot straight through her chest. Ibiki was certain she'd die, had demanded to know why Kakashi brought her to him instead of the hospital. (Contrary to popular belief, even someone as hardened as Ibiki Morino would prefer not to have children die on his doorstep, thank you very much.)

But Kakashi, paler and more somber than Ibiki could recall in recent memory, just nodded toward her on his back. "She asked me to." Ibiki narrowed his eyes. A request like that wouldn't normally be anywhere near enough to make Kakashi defy protocol. But luckily for him, Ibiki respected Kakashi more than enough to sweep this under the rug and hear him out. Just this once. He raised an eyebrow, and Kakashi shrugged. "Plus, I know the Intel Division has a med-bay, even if it's mostly for emergencies, so I figured making use of it for once couldn't hurt."

With a hum, Ibiki turned his attention back to Karin to take her in fully, meeting bright red eyes that matched her hair. For a moment, he was struck by the sudden reminder of another redheaded woman he used to know. Karin shivered under his stern scrutiny, ducking slightly behind Kakashi, fingers tightening in his vest.

But that's not what immediately caught Ibiki's attention.

No, it was the green glow surrounding the hand at her chest, the bites hard enough to leave marks she gave her arm every ten seconds or so. The glow itself looked weak, but with the fact that she's dying taken into account…

Sharp eyes flicked back to Kakashi. "An Uzumaki? And a medical ninja?"

Kakashi glanced her way. "So it would seem, and quite a skilled one at that. She says all she needs is time, and she'll be fine."

The determined stare Ibiki found in coming back offered another dose of déjà vu, a certain loudmouthed blond added to the mix this , he smirked. Perhaps bullheadedness was a family trait. "G-give me…a safe place…to heal—" she coughed blood into her hand, "—a-and I'll tell you…a-anything…you want to know..."

Frowning, he crossed his arms. "And just what makes your intel so valuable?"

Karin opened her mouth to reply, but she only ended up spewing more blood. Kakashi's hold on her tightened, and he cut a look Ibiki's way. They needed to wrap this up quickly or it would be the end of her. "She was with Sasuke and a masked man, part of the Akatsuki. She was there when Sasuke killed Danzo." A beat. "Sasuke was the one who did this to her."

Ibiki's eyebrows shot clear past his bandana, and his attention snapped back to her, searching hard. Kakashi recognized that glint in his eye, the one that wanted—hell, needed—to glean every last scrap of intel he could from her. If it were any other day, Kakashi might have chuckled. Nothing else enticed or motivated Ibiki Morino like his insatiable thirst for knowledge. It's exactly what made him so damn good at his job. Privately, Kakashi's always compared him to a bloodhound that way, relentless on the trail of endless information.

Eventually, his dark eyes slid back to Kakashi's and stayed there for a long, drawn out moment. Kakashi met him head-on, though there was definitely a more subdued quality to his fire today. Ibiki was almost sure it was because his kid was in surgery after getting into it with that Uchiha traitor.

Clenching a fist, he took a deep breath. Kakashi knew exactly what he was doing when he brought this girl here, and they both knew it. They also knew that Ibiki could still easily turn her away, but with the shape she was in…and to lose all that precious intel…

With a defeated sigh, Ibiki scrubbed a hand down his face. Kakashi had better appreciate this…

Tightening his gloves, as he was wont to do in times like this, he conceded, "All right, Kakashi, you win." He held up a finger toward Karin. "You have one week to heal, and then I expect you to prove yourself useful. We'll set you up in one of the medical unit's rooms where you can recuperate. You'll be under heavy guard," he narrowed his eyes, "and if even one red hair slips out of line, I can and will kill you. No second chances." He cracked his knuckles. "You're our enemy. Kid or not, I have no qualms about it. You hear me?"

Even at death's door, Karin wasn't stupid. With a more violent shudder, she shrank back behind Kakashi again, but nodded nonetheless. Kakashi narrowed his eye. A reaction like that is learned, usually as a survival instinct. Something about it felt…familiar. It almost reminded him of—

Ibiki huffed, effectively throwing off Kakashi's train of thought as he swiveled on his heel, turning his back to them. He clenched a fist. "I want results. I run an elite operation here, not a charity. If her intel turns out to be false or if it turns out she's no good to us…" he met his friend's gaze over his shoulder, "…it'll be your head, Kakashi."

A solemn nod. "Understood."

A heartbeat.

"Just watch…" Both men glanced over at Karin's ravaged voice. Kakashi's relieved to see a small smirk on her face. Good, she has some fire in her yet. Hopefully, that's a good sign she'll be all right. "I'll be…the best damn source of intel…you've ever had…"

Something about that smirk and those fierce words felt familiar, too. It reminded Kakashi of…not only Naruto…but even more of Kushina, he realized. His eye widened, breath caught in his throat. Ibiki, however, merely huffed out a smirk of his own and let his eyes smolder. "Careful, girl. I'll hold you to that."

Karin's grin grew the slightest bit, even as her grip on Kakashi tightened. Somehow, she expected nothing less.

After that, things moved along pretty quickly. Ibiki did everything just as he said he would, ordering any guards not currently on assignment to Karin's room. In the following week, she kept to and healed herself, not trusting the medical staff to help her. The few times she had to, with bandages and washing, she'd reluctantly accepted, and she was immediately struck by how…genuinely concerned and kind they all seemed. Even the guards were willing to help her if she needed it. She was definitely still wary, but…a tiny bit less so as the days passed.

Once the week was up and her wound was fully healed, Karin made good on her word.

She gave up every last detail she had on Orochimaru, the Akatsuki, and Sasuke without hesitation. Members (living and dead), abilities, maps and coordinates to and layouts of Orochimaru's hideouts and what few Akatsuki locations she was privy to during their stint as active members, what prisoner experiments were conducted and when, prisoner numbers detailing how many and where, anything and everything. Ibiki and his subordinates went over all of it with her a thousand times, just to make sure there were no holes in her story. It was exhausting, and by the time Karin was done each day, she thought her tongue might fall off, but in the end, there wasn't a single letter out of place.

Of course, that wasn't enough for Ibiki Morino. Of course not. Again, even more so than before now that she knew him a little better, Karin expected nothing less.

Once Inoichi used his Psycho Mind Transmission to confirm her intel's accuracy once and for all, they put it all together, drew up plans, and dispatched a meticulously-chosen team to verify it, starting with the most immediately viable option of the three: Orochimaru.

With her flawless intel, they were able to pinpoint all of Orochimaru's hideouts, the same ones that had evaded even Master Jiraiya for so many years. By the time they arrived, they were abandoned apart from some leftover prisoners and half-done experiments, Karin forewarning them that with Orochimaru dead, Kabuto probably took what he wanted and fled. But the information they were able to gather and the people they were able to save (missing-nin and runaways, even some abductees) made it all worth it.

Verifying the rest was increasingly more difficult and dangerous, what with nearly all of the Akatsuki dead, too dangerous to take on (Pein), or drowning in unknowns (Sasuke and the supposed Madara Uchiha), and with the Leaf's numbers spread rather thin at the moment, they resolved to do the best they could as they were able.

All that took a month and a half, and by the time it all came to a close, the entire Intel Division was blown away. Ibiki himself wasn't too proud to admit that Karin was right: her intel truly did prove invaluable. It was some of the best they'd gotten in all his years. Hell, the few times Kakashi saw him in passing, Ibiki was glowing the way he only did when he'd hit an information goldmine, an absolute treasure trove of intel. Kakashi couldn't remember the last time he'd seen him that happy.

That said, for all of Ibiki and the Leaf's gratitude (Tsunade, especially, was eternally grateful for the information on Orochimaru), Ibiki was suspicious and untrusting by nature, and he found it more than a little unsettling that Karin was so ready and willing to betray her former comrades and benefactor. (To be fair, they betrayed her first, but still.)

Therefore, it made sense that he would want Inoichi to try to make sense of her angle from a more emotional standpoint. Where Ibiki can't, Inoichi can had become something of an Intel Division mantra over the years, and it had nurtured no small sense of camaraderie between the two men.

At least, that's the story Ibiki relayed to Inoichi in turning Karin over to his care.

And now that she's been with him for just shy of three weeks, well...things have been interesting, to say the least.

To be perfectly frank, she's the most cooperative prisoner of war they've ever had. In all of Inoichi's years, along with Ibiki's, he's never seen a captive, child or not, so done with everything and everyone who's ever done her wrong. Honestly? He's thankful as hell he's not one of them, and he also makes a mental note to do his best to never get on her bad side.

Of course, in combing through her memories and talking to her at length about her past, he thinks he understands her reasons. When he first asked about her life before, she was surprised and confused about why he'd want to know, and he understood. Ibiki was never the type to care about a person's past. All he ever wanted was what he could use, here and now. But Inoichi was different, always had been, and that was exactly why they made such a good team. In his mind, a person's past shaped their future. If he knew what brought a person to him, he could understand their mindset and motivations and see where they were headed. Once he explained that, Karin was happy to share, to talk about something more than any intel she might have, even if it was far from a happy story. He got the impression she hadn't been able to talk about her mother, especially, since she lost her. He was almost sure Orochimaru never asked, probably couldn't have cared less.

But still, after a little, even he starts to get suspicious. Captives always fight. They have to be bribed, interrogated, tortured in any number of ways to get them to talk. But not this girl. They never had to do anything to her. She just gave it up, everything she had, spat it out like it was the worst thing she'd ever tasted and wanted nothing to do with it ever again.

Finally, he just has to come out and ask.

"Karin…why are you helping us? Why aren't you fighting us, even a little?" A small huff of a laugh escapes. "You have to understand, what you've done, all you've given us…it just doesn't happen. Not in our line of work."

And she just looks at him, chin in her hand, and gives this tired, but genuine smile. "Why would I fight when I have nothing to fight for?" Inoichi blinks. His breath stops. "There's nothing left for me anywhere. My homeland is gone, my clan is scattered to the winds, my mother's dead. The only thing I had was working for Orochimaru, and hey—" she laughs wryly, raising an unimpressed eyebrow from behind her glasses, "—I might have done his dirty work, but I'm not stupid. I know he didn't care about me, only what I could give him," she sighs, "and he's dead now, too. If I slunk back to Kabuto or Sasuke after all this, I'd be killed in a second flat," fingers curl in her shirt over her healed chest wound, voice turning to a low growl as she glares holes in the metal tabletop, "not that that's anything new..." Red eyes move back to his, and her fist and expression relax. She looks even more tired than she did before. "So, really, I can't go back to them either. Or at least, I don't want to."

Leaning forward to rest her head on her arms, she sighs. Her expression is sad and far away at once, almost wistful. "So far, my life has had no real meaning to it. When Kakashi first captured me, I was too devastated and in shock about what Sasuke did to really care, but..." she shrugs, "…I don't know. Maybe it's the exhaustion talking...but I started thinking, maybe I can start over here, in this village. For real this time, in a way I've never been able to before."

Sunlight peeks out from behind clouds out the smallest window to the side, and it reminds her of something. A boy... His hair was like the sun, his eyes were like the sky...and his chakra signature... It was faint, she could barely sense it from where she was on the bridge that day, but...she felt something...warm there... Inviting, like if sunshine were a person. Right now, more than anything, she'd like to feel that again.

She looks over at Inoichi, a new vitality in her he doesn't miss. "Am I...able to make a request?"

He raises an eyebrow. Well, this is new. She hasn't asked for a single thing since she got here. "You've been obscenely helpful so far, so I don't see why not. Still, it'll depend on what it is, and no matter what I say, the Hokage can still overrule it."

She nods. She figured as much. "That's fine."

She purses her lips, feeling a little nervous. She's not an idiot, after all. She's heard stories about Naruto from Sasuke, and even a few from Orochimaru that at least mentioned him. She knows the Fifth Hokage only became such because of the same boy she wants to see. She knows it might not be possible, but...still... She wants to try. For the first time in a long time, she feels…hopeful.

"Would I...be permitted to meet Naruto Uzumaki?"

SLAM!

"Absolutely not!"

Everyone in the room flinches.

"Under no circumstances do I want that girl anywhere near Naruto!"

It's dead silent for a long few moments until,

"With all due respect, Lady Tsunade, is it...really up to you?"

Tsunade cuts a glare Shizune's way. Her assistant's never been afraid to speak her mind, sure, but honestly, she's a bit surprised. "Excuse me?"

Shizune holds her head high, but still squeezes Tonton for good measure. "I'm only saying, milady. You know she's an Uzumaki, and we both know that once Naruto finds out, and he will, nothing will stop him from meeting her somehow, no matter what precautions we put in place. Knowing him, he's probably already found out everything he can. That's just how he is."

It doesn't escape Shizune that Kakashi suddenly finds the clouds outside incredibly interesting, and inwardly, she snorts. Seems her and Lady Tsunade's suspicions were right on the nose. Sheesh… He's such a sucker for their boy (not that they're ones to talk).

Tonton, who's just as accustomed to Naruto's antics as the rest of them, nods decisively. Oink!

Shizune squeezes her in thanks before finishing her piece. "But more than that, Lady Tsunade, I think your feelings for Naruto are…well…"

Tch. "Clouding my judgment, is that it?" There's a resigned note to Tsunade's smoother voice and softer expression, a small smirk playing. Relaxing, Shizune nods. Tsunade sighs through her nose, resting her chin between threaded fingers. "Well...you may be right on that one..."

Honestly, this whole thing has her on edge. She's not surprised by this development, of course. She saw this coming the moment Karin was brought to the village. It was an inescapable inevitability. But that doesn't mean she's not worried, that she's just going to trust blindly. No way in hell. This is her boy they're talking about, and this situation is incredibly complex. It's not even like she meant to keep it a secret from Naruto, not really. If things panned out, she was going to tell him and let them meet eventually. It's just…up until this point, they weren't sure if they could really trust Karin. And if Tsunade's being honest, given the girl's background, it's hard to be entirely sure even now.

But she also has to admit that Karin's proven herself, at least in the sense that her intel has been flawless and her word practically gold. So, Tsunade doesn't quite have that to fall back on anymore.

And yet…

Inwardly, she sighs.

Out of all of this, there are two things that scare her the most.

One: Karin's an Uzumaki. One of the last ties Naruto might have to the parents he never got to know and, however distant, one of the only blood relatives he has. But that's not necessarily a good thing. After all, there's another Uzumaki who's rocked her and Naruto's world in the worst way possible. All the Uzumakis she's known, Naruto included, tend to have darkness on their heels, and Karin, however briefly, let it in.

And two: Karin was with Sasuke. And working through letting him go or not, she knows what that would mean to Naruto. That fact alone would make him all the more determined to meet her, never mind the fact that Sasuke was the one who tried to kill her. Knowing Naruto, he's probably heard about that already and wants nothing more than to comfort and empathize with her over it. And while a part of Tsunade loves him and his selfless heart all the more for that, that doesn't mean she's okay with what could happen if—when they start talking about it. She knows better than anyone alive how Orochimaru can get into your head and twist what he finds there to suit him, and God knows what Karin might have learned from him during their years together. She doesn't want to risk getting Naruto hurt, setting him back, making things worse for him, when they're finally looking up.

She glares holes in her desk and squeezes her fingers till they collapse in a shaking, white-knuckled tangle against her chin.

Damn it, sue her. Call her a Mother Hen. She doesn't care. Ever since she met Naruto and even more since losing Jiraiya, he's been hers. She's the only one he calls Granny. He's the only one who's earned her precious necklace, the only one whose forehead she christens with that sacred kiss. He's the most important person in her life besides Shizune. Those two are all she has left, absolutely everything, and she couldn't live with herself if she put him in unnecessary danger, particularly emotional. God knows he's been through enough of that for several lifetimes.

The very last thing she wants in all this is for Naruto to get hurt, for his heart to be broken while he's still piecing it back together. She'll do anything to prevent that. Whatever it takes.

That said, when it comes down to it…Shizune is absolutely right. She knows, no matter what she does, no matter what measures she takes, Naruto is Naruto. He'll find a way to meet Karin, come Hell or high water. It would be easier for all involved to just let it happen…

But that doesn't mean she has to like it. Doesn't mean she trusts it, not fully. She still has her doubts, plenty of them, and she isn't entirely sure she knows what the right course of action is. Hell, if there's a fully right one at all…

Hence why she's called reinforcements.

Looking up at them all, she takes a moment to consider who to call on first. Ideally, she would have liked to have Ibiki here, too, but apparently, there were some things even the Hokage couldn't pull him away from. Oh, well. Luckily, his second-in-command is just as skilled and twice as personable.

But someone else beats her to the punch.

"Isn't it Naruto's right to know his heritage?"

Tsunade blinks at Kakashi. He looks like he'd been holding that in a while. "Because Karin's an Uzumaki."

He nods. "There are only so many left in the world, Lady Tsunade. You and I know that better than most." She winces. He's right, but that doesn't make being reminded any easier. She knows it hurts him, too, though. She can see it in his eye, hear it in the low, sad timbre of his voice. "Karin seems to be one of the few who hasn't completely fallen into darkness, and even what she's dabbled in, she only did so out of necessity. She never let it consume her, and with all she's given us, with everything Inoichi's learned about her and what she wants, I think it's safe to say she's done with it, that she never wants anything to do with it again."

He reaches to point out the Uzumaki symbol on his upper arm and turns around to jab a thumb at the larger one on his back. "The Uzumaki clan crest on every Leaf shinobi uniform is a symbol of friendship and solidarity between our two nations, a marker and tribute in one. When the Hidden Eddy village was destroyed, Lord Third, your sensei, sent a message to all villages that any Uzumaki survivors would be given sanctuary in the Leaf. " Turning to face her again, he sends Tsunade a charging look. "The way I see it, we have one such survivor here now, and it would dishonor our allies' memory—your grandmother Lady Mito, Kushina—to turn her away without giving her at least a shot at what she's due."

Tsunade closes her eyes with a quiet, tired sigh through her nose. She's honestly wondered more than once what her grandmother and Kushina would have to say about all this. Knowing them, they'd be thrilled to bring another Uzumaki into their fold (but they could also keep Karin in line if she tried anything). They'd also completely agree with Kakashi, and really, after everything Karin's done for them, the closure with Orochimaru she's given her, Tsunade's nearly inclined to agree. She just wishes she could fully trust that it won't end badly.

As it is, though, she knows Kakashi's not done, so she opens her eyes and gives him the go-ahead.

He takes it gladly.

"I think it could only benefit Naruto to learn whatever he can about his mother's people. He'll be thrilled to know more about his family's culture and history, and if he learns enough, depending on what Karin knows, he might even find that he has an innate talent for sealing like Kushina, which could help him down the road. Most likely, this will be the only chance he has. I think talking about it all could really help Karin, too." At his side, Inoichi can't help but agree. With how happy it made her to talk about her mother for just a few minutes, he can't imagine how it would make her feel to be able to tell Naruto everything she knows, things she's probably never gotten to share. A small, happy smile flits across Kakashi's face. "I know it would make Kushina and Lady Mito very happy, too."

Tsunade hums thoughtfully. She actually hadn't considered the potential in that aspect. Learning what he can of sealing and, if he's able, perhaps even unlocking his own Adamantine chains could be useful should the Akatsuki come knocking.

"You make good points, Kakashi. Any others?"

Kakashi just grins, and a chill runs down Tsunade's spine. Oh, boy... "A few, actually!"

She can't help but snort and grin right back. She really shouldn't be so surprised he's thought this through so thoroughly. He's Kakashi Hatake, after all, and this is for Naruto, his precious student. When it comes to him, he won't hold back. Not unlike her, in that regard. "All right." She rests her chin in her hand. "Then, let's hear them."

Standing a little straighter, Kakashi takes this chance for all it's worth. "Naruto and Karin have known nothing but hardship and suffering almost their whole lives. Loneliness, starvation, acute isolation, being shunned and hated and constantly assaulted for abilities they were born with." Tsunade curls tight fists, and she swears Kakashi's doing the same with his hands in his pockets. "If Iruka hadn't opened his heart to Naruto that night four years ago, Naruto could very well have turned on us and the Leaf, maybe even fallen in with Orochimaru himself or become a bloodthirsty killer like the old Gaara. I'm sure he's reflected on that countless times and considers himself very lucky.

"As for Karin, after everything she fought tooth and nail to survive, of course she'd go with the first person to offer her anything of substance – in her case, Orochimaru. I don't think it's fair to blame her for that. If she'd had an Iruka of her own back then, I'm sure she'd have turned out fine, like Naruto is now. She's a victim of her circumstances and nothing more."

Tsunade nods. None of that has been lost on her. She's seen the crazy amount of parallels between Karin and Naruto's histories, how they branch off into darkness and light at nearly the same point. Karin may not have a demon fox sealed inside her, but her special abilities and Uzumaki blood might as well be their own demons. She also knows how manipulative and self-serving Orochimaru can be better than anyone. She was as much a prisoner as the captives she held.

"Believe me, Lady Tsunade, if I thought she posed even the smallest threat to Naruto," his voice drops to a low, steely growl, "nothing on this Earth could convince me to let her near him." Tsunade doesn't doubt it for a second. She's never questioned how far he'd go for that boy. Taking a breath to calm himself, he reassures, "But I don't. When I captured her, she didn't resist. She never fought or threatened, not once. She hasn't since with any of us or anyone in the Intel Division," he recalls the way she shrank into him at Ibiki's harsher advances, "even Ibiki, who definitely frightened her at first. She's been nothing but helpful and given us more than we could ever hope for."

Unable to keep silent any longer, Inoichi steps forward to offer his support. "Kakashi's right, Lady Hokage." Tsunade raises an eyebrow. "I've been at this job a long time, so it's easy for me to tell when someone's lying or just pretending so we'll let our guard down." Tsunade nods. Of course. Inoichi's not head of the Analysis Team or Ibiki's right hand for nothing. She knows better than to question his judgment. "I've been keeping an eye on Karin this whole time and spent the last three weeks with her, all day, every day, and even though life has beaten her down at every turn, she couldn't be more real. She's almost absurdly honest with a much kinder heart than one would expect from someone with her past. You should have seen the look on her face when she talked about the possibility of living here and meeting Naruto. I've never seen a child talk about a good future like it was some impossible dream." It was almost painful, honestly, like those were the best prospects at a future she'd ever had within her reach—and knowing her backstory like he does, he knows just how true that is. "She's a good kid, Lady Hokage. She just needs the chance to prove it."

He lets that sink in. "And as for whether she's a threat," a smile sneaks onto his face, "the fact is, my Ino loves Naruto, milady, and if she thought for a second I knowingly put him in danger, she'd probably never speak to me again. Now, I'm not the type to risk my relationship with my daughter for anything," Tsunade nods; she pities the poor bastard stupid enough to think so, "so please believe me when I say: we can trust Karin."

While Tsunade takes a long moment to consider all that, Kakashi sends him a grateful smile, something that startles Inoichi a moment before warmth settles in his chest. Gai was right. Kakashi really has opened up more since his heart-to-heart with Naruto. It's so good to see.

By the time Tsunade looks at Kakashi again, sensing he has more to say, he's a bit more solemn than he was before. "I have one other reason I think you should hear, Lady Tsunade. It's about Sasuke—or rather, Karin's connection to him."

Tsunade knows Kakashi better as an adult than she ever did as a child, yet she still doesn't know him as well as she wishes she did after three years. But that doesn't stop her from trusting him with everything she is. He loves Naruto and always wants what's best for him, just like her. She could never question that, and she won't start now. "I'm listening, Kakashi."

It takes no small amount of strength to start, and that combined with Kakashi's more somber tone tell Tsunade he's been thinking on this for a while—hell, maybe since he brought Karin to the Intel Division. It makes sense. After all, it's no secret that anything involving Sasuke, particularly how it affects Naruto, weighs on him, too.

"The circumstances may be different, but if you think about it, Karin is going through the same thing Naruto is with Sasuke right now. She didn't know him as long, but she had perhaps an even deeper connection to him than Naruto did. From what I understand, she and Sasuke were, at least to some extent, actually friends and comrades at one point. And just like with Naruto, Sasuke did his best to kill her in the same cold blood—would have, if not for her Uzumaki vitality and her exceptional talent as a medical ninja."

He lets that hang in the air between them. "That's why I believe she can help him with Sasuke. They can help each other. I think they might be the last piece each other needs to finally be able to heal and move on." A heartbeat. "To be honest, Lady Tsunade, I think they might be the only ones who can."

Intrigued even as this new angle makes her stomach roll with memories of Orochimaru, she takes a deep, slow, steadying breath. She can't deny the similarities here either. These two Uzumaki knuckleheads really do have a scary amount in common, don't they?

"And what's more," she meets Kakashi's eyes again at his soft, thoughtful voice that holds so much faith, it actually hurts, "if what she told Inoichi is true, I think Naruto could be just what Karin needs to truly be able to turn her life around in this village."

She studies him for a long moment. "You truly believe that, Kakashi?"

He nods, no hesitation. "I do. There's no one better."

She has to crack a smile at that. She can't argue with him there. After all, she herself is a product of one of Naruto's miracles, isn't she?

Taking a breath, she mentally prepares herself. She prays she's making the right decision.

Then, she looks up at Inoichi, Shikaku, Kakashi, and Shizune. "All right. They can meet. But only under my strict conditions under my chosen's watch." She fixes her gaze on Shikaku. "Shikaku, is your boy up to looking after Naruto on his own?"

Shikaku blinks, then laughs before he can stop himself. He waves placating hands at Tsunade, clearing his throat. "F-forgive me, Lady Hokage. It's just that my son hasn't been home since Naruto was admitted to the hospital. I doubt the devil himself could pry him away from that boy's side, let alone go into potential enemy territory unguarded."

Tsunade smirks something fierce. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

A few hours later, Naruto's hospital room door slides open.

"Granny Tsunade!" Naruto instantly cheers.

"Lady Tsunade," Shikamaru greets, offering a polite nod and warm smile.

A soft smile crosses Tsunade's face, and the few nerves still tying knots in her stomach ease. Taking a seat on Shikamaru's side of the bed, she reaches out to ruffle Naruto's hair, making him laugh and lean into it like always. "Evening, boys!"

These interactions are small, but they're relaxed and happy, familiar and predictable, and that's exactly what she needs right now. Her smile melts a little more.

Naruto can tell she's not just here to check in, that there's something more going on, and he knows Shikamaru's noticed, too. He wants to help, if he can, but for now, he's more than happy to indulge her. She'll tell him about whatever it is once she's ready.

After another minute or so, Tsunade takes a slow, deep breath. This won't end or go anywhere if she doesn't get started. Fixing her gaze on Naruto, she says, "Naruto, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's important."

His ears perk at her quiet, serious tone, and his full, undivided attention zeroes in on her even more than before. Shikamaru is listening just as raptly at his side, ready for anything she has to say. "All right, Granny. I'm listening."

She takes another breath before diving in. "I know you've been hearing about the red-haired girl Kakashi picked up, the one who was with Sasuke the day you two fought." Naruto winces, Shikamaru stiffens, and she chuckles despite herself, shaking her head. "Don't worry, no one's in trouble. Honestly, I already guessed they'd tell you whatever they could. Even if I were to threaten them with treason, any punishment I could give would be nothing compared to seeing you unhappy." Naruto flushes and blinks bewildered eyes, while Tsunade and Shikamaru can only chuckle and soften. He has no idea just how many people would gladly burn the world for him. "Anyway…" she sighs a bit, "…after heavy deliberation, I've decided you two can meet."

Naruto gasps, blue eyes wide, and he brightens like the sun bursting through clouds. "Are you serious, Granny?! For real?!" He bounces in his seat, curling excited fists in his sheets. "When, when?"

She can't help but laugh. He's so cute. "I'm serious, Naruto. You'll be able to meet her whenever you're ready. Tomorrow, even, if that's what you want. If he's up for it, I'll have Shikamaru escort you," she looks his way, and he nods without a moment's hesitation, determination in every line of him, and she can't help smirking; she expected nothing less, "and he'll stay with you the whole time. She'll be under heavy guard that I personally hand-picked on top of several other precautions, so theoretically, everything should go smoothly. But honestly, you never know," she sends Naruto a fond-exasperated look, "especially when you're involved."

Shikamaru snickers as Naruto rubs the back of his head with a sheepish laugh. A moment later, he's grinning up a storm again. "That sounds awesome, Granny! Thank you so much! I've been meaning to ask you about her to see if we could meet, but I never found the right time!" Plus, in his defense, he's been busy as hell lately, and by the time Granny Tsunade gets to visit, he's asleep, all the sparring and physical therapy sessions tiring him out. He's so glad the idea of them meeting came up somewhere else! That makes things so much easier! All the same, he tilts his head to pin her with a concerned stare. "But…us getting to meet is a good thing, right? So, I don't get it. Why do you seem worried?"

Running a tired hand through her hair, she does her best to steel herself. "A few reasons. Kakashi and Inoichi mostly managed to sway them with Shizune's help, but…" her eyes flick back up to them, "…well, we'll see what you two think."

A beat. "Reason one: you might have already guessed by her red hair, but this girl, Naruto…she's an Uzumaki."

All at once, Naruto goes very still, blue eyes widening as light fists curl in his sheets. She's right, he did have a sneaking suspicion based on what Kakashi-sensei told him, but…guessing something and having it confirmed are two very different things. "You mean like…" his voice is low and the slightest bit raspy, "…like my mom…?"

Tsunade nods. "Yes. Exactly like Kushina." Naruto's heart beats faster. "Her name is Karin, and she's a survivor of the destruction of the Hidden Eddy village. She's only a little bit older than you are, closer to seventeen." She half-shrugs. "I don't want to tell you too much because I'd like you to talk to her yourself…" she bows her head, "…but I do want to apologize for not telling you sooner. I'm sorry, Naruto. I just…wanted to make sure it was safe."

Naruto takes a moment to let it all sink in. Karin, huh…? It's a pretty name. Reminds him of his mom's. So, Sai was right. She really is just a kid… He has so many questions, wants to know so many things, even more than he did before. He was so afraid he'd never get this chance, thought Granny Tsunade would fight tooth and nail to keep them apart. But thanks to whatever Kakashi-sensei, Shizune, and Mr. Inoichi said, it looks like he'll get to sate his curiosity and empathize with Karin as much as he wants! He'll have to remember to thank them somehow! He's so excited! He can't wait!

Reaching forward, he rests a hand on Tsunade's and squeezes gently. "You don't have to apologize, Granny. It's fine, I promise." His smile grows. "I really appreciate you looking out for me! You're the best!"

Tsunade breathes a laugh, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. Thank goodness. She was almost sure he'd understand, but still. "Of course, Naruto. Always. Thank you so much."

Naruto nods, then lets his curiosity take over again. "So, what're the other reasons?"

Tsunade rests her chin in her hand as she thinks about how to word it. She won't mention the Sasuke aspect of her worry. Frankly, she doesn't think she needs to. She saw the intense empathy in his eyes when she told him about Karin, and that can only mean he already has that covered. What she needs to warn him about now is more important.

The eyes she fixes Naruto with are dead serious. "Before Karin joined up with the Akatsuki, she worked for Orochimaru." Naruto's breath catches, and Shikamaru bites back a curse. Damn it, what's with that guy? Why do so many people that become important end up connected to that bastard? "And while she had her reasons for joining up with him, I'm sure she learned at least a few manipulation tactics, and that's being optimistic. I just want you to keep that in mind and be on your guard." Her eyes flick to Shikamaru, who nods. Of the two of them, it's no secret he'll be more likely to pick up on such things.

That settled, she goes on without missing a beat. Might as well get this out of the way, like ripping off a bandage. "And more importantly: Karin is an Uzumaki, yes," she gives him a long, hard stare, and he doesn't dare look away, "but so was the man who killed Jiraiya."

Naruto flinches, hands clenching into tight fists. He's dead serious now, too, voice dropping to that particular register. "You're talking about Nagato, one of Pervy Sage's old students from the Hidden Rain, right? The head of the Akatsuki who goes by 'Pein'?"

She nods. "The very same."

Shikamaru feels like all the breath's been knocked out of him. What the hell?! When did all this come to light?! He realizes it's top-level knowledge that was most likely only shared between those on a heavily-restricted need-to-know basis, but still… Damn…! He is absolutely asking Naruto to fill him in later!

Naruto's heart feels like a lead weight in his chest. It makes it hard to breathe, but he still does his best to take a slow, deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth, then again, then once more for good measure. Her warning is definitely something to think about…but call it intuition, wishful thinking, whatever…he really doesn't think he has much to worry about. He just…has a good feeling about Karin.

Looking back at Granny Tsunade, he smiles somewhat sadly. "But…my mom was an Uzumaki, right? And I am, too. So…isn't the risk kinda the same with everybody, no matter who they are?" Tsunade tilts her head and raises an eyebrow, while Shikamaru just waits patiently. They know he'll explain. "There are people like Sasuke and the other Akatsuki from other Hidden Villages who fall into darkness, and there are people like us who stay in the light. There are even people who've lived in both, like Karin and Gaara. Just because she's wrestled with where she fits in the world, it doesn't mean she's a bad person. I used to wonder why I was here, why I was alive, too, all the time. I could have ended up just like her if things hadn't looked up for me. Hell, eventually, I probably would've lost it and become a bloodthirsty killer like the old Gaara."

"Naruto…" Tsunade whispers. Despite his own reservations, Shikamaru can clearly see the truth in what Naruto's saying. Leave it to him to put things into perspective…

"Granny, I've been hearing about Karin for months now, and more than anything, all I've wanted—no, needed—to do is let her know she's not alone. She needs to know she's not the only one who's fallen in with Orochimaru, that—" he squeezes his eyes shut and curls a fist in his hospital gown, "—that she's not the only one Sasuke tried to kill. I don't want her to think there's something wrong with her or that she's—" he glares down at his fists, not even realizing he's getting emotional until his vision blurs with pinpricks of tears, "—broken somehow. I know what that feels like, and I don't want her to feel like that ever again, not if I can help it!"

Shikamaru and Tsunade both wince, hearts smarting in their chests, and Tsunade can only nod. Her goal isn't to deter him, not really, but even if it were, in the face of all that empathy, she wouldn't stand a chance. His love really knows no bounds…

Swiping his wrist across his eyes, Naruto gives her a more determined grin. "You don't have to worry about a thing, Granny. I appreciate the warnings, and I'll keep my head up, but I need to do this. For me." He chuckles. "Besides, I'll have Shikamaru with me, right?" He beams and flashes a thumbs up. "Then I'll be just fine!"

Caught off guard, Shikamaru blinks and flushes brightly before he barks a touched laugh and gives Naruto a blinding smile. "You heard the man, Lady Tsunade!" He winks at her, as arrow-straight as Tsunade's ever seen him. "Don't you worry, I've got him. I promise you that."

And really…what can Tsunade possibly say to that? Geez… These boys will be the death of her.

Slumping with the force of her relieved sigh, she feels like a massive weight's been lifted from her shoulders. She knows she'll feel even better once she hears how their meeting goes tomorrow, too. Thank goodness this turned out so well!

"Thank you, Naruto." Pulling him into a tight hug he's quick to return, she tells him, "Good luck, and be careful. I hope you have a good time."

He nods into her shoulder. "I will. I'll tell you everything as soon as I can."

Snorting, she ruffles his hair in pulling back. "Oh, don't worry! I'll come hear all about it tomorrow!"

While Naruto cheers, Tsunade turns her attention to Shikamaru. He's prepared for further instructions—but is thrown instead when Tsunade pulls him in for a hug this time. For a moment, he's frozen. She's…never hugged him before. Hell, he's never seen her hug anyone except Naruto. This is…new. Definitely not unwelcome, just…new.

"Thank you, too, Shikamaru. This…" he can hear the hesitation, fear, and ultimate relief in her voice even as it drops lower, and it snaps him out of his shock enough to gently wrap his arms around her, "…really means so much." She chuckles. "Naruto's right. You really are the best."

He's blushing a pretty pink when she pulls away, but he just gives her a shy smile. "You're welcome. You don't have to thank me, though." Looking over at Naruto, he warms and sharpens at once. "I'd do anything for this idiot."

Naruto squeaks and turns bright red, and Shikamaru throws his head back to laugh out loud. Watching them fall into a familiar dance of teasing and sheer adoration, Tsunade feels like she can finally breathe.

Her gaze moves to the darkening sky.

Tomorrow, huh?

A/N: Milestone note: With this chapter, this fic has officially broken 150k words! Woohoo! Thank you all so much for sticking with me! I appreciate it so much! I couldn't ask for better readers! You guys are the best!

Important Notes for Naruto and co knowing Pein's identity, abilities, etc, in this AU (TL;DR at the bottom): I've put a lot of time and thought into this, so please hear me out! So, realistically, on the surface, Jiraiya thinking his students, the Rain Trio, as I call them, all died in the Salamander's betrayal is fine. I can buy him believing they're dead. But I can't believe for one damn second that he wouldn't go looking for proof, just to make sure! Those are his kids, damn it, and he's a master infiltrator! The narrative telling us he just went with it makes no sense, at least IMO!

But okay, you know what? For argument's sake, operating on the assumption that he did do that, maybe it was the grief talking. Maybe he thought if he talked about his kids being gone, even to Tsunade or Naruto or even the Toad Sages, it would make it real. Maybe he thought that by talking about it, he could be endangering someone - perhaps even the Rain Trio if they were actually alive ('cause I mean, even if he didn't look, I'm sure he would have held out some hope, come on). (After all, he almost never talks about Minato or Kushina (unless it's 'Fourth Hokage' talk, which seems like distancing himself to me), despite being very close with them, so that could be grief, too. But that could also be because of the Third's decree and/or wanting to protect Naruto. *shrugs*)

But if part or all of that wasn't it, then...it doesn't make sense for him to not talk about his first students! Especially to the Toad Sages! They're family to him, and if there's one thing we know about Jiraiya, he can be affectionate and praise the hell out of his students (Naruto) to anyone who will listen, and he'll warn people he cares about based on mistakes he's made (telling Naruto to give up on Sasuke based on his Orochimaru mess) - including, I would think, with the Rain Trio.

He'd brag and boast and love on his Rain students to his mentors, the Toad Sages, tell them all about them and stories and how proud he is of them and how much he misses them! And I can't imagine he wouldn't tell Naruto that stuff, too, years down the line, especially while they're on the road! I mean, I'm sure Naruto, being Naruto, would pick up on the fact that he clearly knows what he's doing as a teacher (like with the breaking genjutsu training), so he'd probably ask if he'd had any other students. And then, knowing Jiraiya, he'd share everything he could about them, late into the night, and I'm sure Naruto would ask other times, other questions, too, so soon, he'd know all about them. And I'm sure Jiraiya wouldn't be shy about gushing about them to Tsunade, too.

Plus, even if Jiraiya didn't tell Naruto about the Rain Trio (assuming the grief and/or protectiveness were too much), I bet the Toad Sages would have. While they were training him (for longer in my fic than in canon, remember, so he has time to master Sage jutsu completely), Naruto was grieving, so he would have probably wanted to know more about him, so he asked them if he had any other students (please note that I'm ignoring that 'child of prophecy' bullshit 'cause I hate prophecies, especially when they come out of left field like this one), and they tell him everything they can about the Rain Trio!

I don't know, like...at least in my head, especially with what I have planned for this fic? Everything makes so much more sense and fits so much better together if they (Naruto, Toad Sages, Tsunade) just know, you know? lol. If this huge change seems weird or TOO big, don't worry, I promise things will make sense in time! Hope that's okay with everyone! :D

TL;DR: Naruto, Tsunade, and Toad Sages know all about Pein because either Jiraiya is an affectionate blabbermouth only too happy to share about his past students and/or (if the grief/protectiveness over Naruto were too much) the Toad Sages told Naruto everything they knew (who were told by Jiraiya years earlier via the same gushing before the grief/protectiveness took over)! 'Cause things just make a lot more sense if everyone knows! I promise this huge change will pay off! lol.

Thanks so much for reading!