Karin (Part 5)

"To knock or not to knock?"


For the first time since the past few weeks, Karin stood in front of Sakura's office with the fear of having her entire being turning into shattered pieces. She swore she didn't want to be a part of the pink-haired woman's casualties after witnessing her capability of producing broken fragments of various sizes through just one of her fists during the war. Cringing at the possibility, she backed away from the door and paced back and forth once again in the hallway.


It wasn't that Sakura had reasons to attack her; she just really didn't want to hit a nerve for she knew how utterly preoccupied the head medic was with a project recently. All that she wanted while they were temporarily residing in Konoha was to be a great help, not a nuisance, but something about her current assignment made her decide to appeal to her senpai (she would never let anyone know that that's how she saw Sakura now) for a relocation of some sort.


Working under Sakura's care in the hospital was at first, nerve-wracking for Karin as she observed every detail of the head medic's responsibilities, but eventually, it turned out to be stimulating. It was as if she finally found her purpose for this season which helped in veering her away from the tendencies of postpartum depression.


It took her a month before fully recuperating from her high-risk labor with Suika. But after getting the clearance from Sakura that she was already fit to work, she was offered the job to assist in the hospital since she is also adept in medical ninjutsu. Much to Sakura's surprise, the redhead suddenly threw her arms around her while tearing up after receiving the part-time position (though Karin insisted that it was only due to the post-pregnancy hormones).


That's when their dynamics started to change. Suigetsu accompanied Sasuke on daily missions and Karin assisted Sakura in the hospital in any way possible while their daughter stayed in the hospital's nursery.


A part of her was happy that she could help her husband in earning for their small family while they were still in Konoha, but a major part of her was undeniably ecstatic about the fact that she'd finally be useful to people other than Orochimaru. Taking care of hideouts and some experiments (which were gladly not humans anymore) wasn't something that you could find fulfilment from so she couldn't help but feel grateful to Sakura for seeing potential in her despite being a former criminal and a foreigner to the village.


That day, she firmly announced that Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha were officially Suika's godparents. And nope, they couldn't say no. Sakura giggled and felt honored, while Sasuke only "Hn"-ed (but she knew that was better than nothing).


So now, it was a little troubling for her to enter the den of her daughter's godmother. She felt like it could break their flourishing friendship if she ended up getting under the head medic's skin.


Karin stopped once again right in front of the same door with a hand on her hip and then voiced out her thoughts, "To knock or not to kn—?"


"You could just come in, Karin."


"E-eh?!"


She heard a long sigh. Biting her lip as she slowly came in, her assumptions were proven correct when she saw Sakura immersed in mixing various chemicals on a makeshift lab in her office with a procedure mask that covered half of her serious face.


There were a few beats of silence as she stared at her senpai in awe. She has never seen someone as dedicated as her in the medical field and it made her desire to strive even harder to be like even just half of who Sakura was.


"What's up?" Sakura asked without removing her gaze on the purple liquid she was transporting to another vial.


Karin gulped. "Well, Sakura, uh..."


"If it's for another relocation, I don't think I could give you that."


"But...but Sakura!" She almost whined as she paced closer to the pink-haired maiden. "You assigned me to the East Wing where there's a kid who calls me names and doesn't even believe me that she could be healed faster once she bites me! Sakura, I'm telling you, that kid's going to be the death of me!"


Sakura stifled a laugh. "You said the same thing the other day about the old woman whose room is at the North Wing, though."


Grumbling, Karin crossed her arms on her chest, careful to put much pressure there since it was still vulnerable due to the effects of post-pregnancy. "Then just assign me to the West Wing."


"Don't you think it's practice in dealing with Suika? That kid, I mean. Suika could be like that for all we know. Or Sui. You once mentioned that Sui's a handful." This time, Sakura released a chuckle.


Karin gripped her hair with both hands, clearly not amused. Can't this doctor understand that there are patients who aren't likeable – scratch that, bearable – at all? "Please, just today, perhaps? Or until that kid is out of the hospital."


"Out of the hospital."


"Yes."


Sakura frowned as she finally looked at her subordinate. She gave Karin a sympathetic look, yet one that wasn't meant for her. "But Saichi and Granny Riyo would stay here for a longer time, Karin."


"Oh." She blinked twice, astounded with the fact that despite having hundreds of patients in the hospital, Sakura knew the names of the patients and where they were staying. It wasn't the first time that she mentioned some patients' names as if they were close friends or relatives. And that look? Karin wasn't used to seeing something as genuine like that.


"I hope you could extend more patience to them. And really, I understand how some patients dislike or disrespect us. But you have to show them compassion still." Sakura cocked her head to one side with a smile behind her mask that reached her eyes. "You might be the only friend they could meet while they're here. So please give them a chance. Don't give up on them."


Karin once again stared at her in wonder. The longer she got to know Sakura, the more she realized how great of a woman she is. And then, her lips then slightly twitched upwards as a certain man entered her mind. I'm glad I've learned to let go of him. He'll never find a woman like Sakura. She's totally the best one for him.


She then huffed, resigned but still tough in pretense. "Fine, then. I'll try. But if it doesn't work out this week, I'd request for a transfer next week."


"Alright, we'll see." Sakura cackled and returned to her task, her smile not faltering as she inspected the vial in her hand. "I'm sure you'll do well. You have unique abilities, Karin. And I'm also pretty sure they'll appreciate that as they learn to like you after quite some time."


Karin's heart fluttered at that, not expecting the compliment and motivation.


For a moment, a desire to work in Konoha Hospital forever was born inside her, but it could only be a fleeting dream since she would have a new home in a different village with her husband soon. And if they'd still assist Orochimaru in one way or another, they surely wouldn't be within the borders of Konoha anymore. It was surprising to her how she even considered such a desire.


Yet, she couldn't deny how temporarily staying in this foreign place has made her feel a belongingness that someone like her shouldn't even experience, and a level of significance beyond being a mere tool for a certain mission's accomplishment. When Sakura offered her to be one of their medics, it occurred to her that she still has a value, not only to Suigetsu and Suika, but also to many others, including her now senpai and her former leader in Taka.


"T-thank you, Sakura," she muttered before she exited the head medic's office.


A smile appeared on her lips as she stared at the now familiar walls of the place where she had given birth. Who knew what could've happened if Sasuke didn't bring her to Konoha and if it wasn't Sakura who helped her deliver her baby?


She promised to herself that one day, she would do anything in her willpower to repay those two for everything they've done for her and her little family. And for a fraction of a second, she smirked as an idea of a specific possible way to repay them flashed in her mind. These two better move fast or we'll never get to that though.




"So how was it?" Sakura asked by the end of the week while they were pacing towards the hospital's front doors after their shift for the day. "I hope your patients didn't antagonize you or anything anymore." She giggled.


Karin almost rolled her eyes as she adjusted Suika's position in her arms. "Well, it actually – thankfully – didn't reach that point."


To her surprise, Saichi, the patient that Karin disliked with her entire being, became unnaturally cooperative on her next visits. Originally, the kid has an even worse attitude than what Sasuke had during their Team Taka days. But miraculously, albeit reluctantly, she finally agreed to bite Karin's skin to quicken the improvement of her condition. Karin smirked victoriously at that.


"Really?" The head medic grinned, delighted and not really astonished with the news.


"Yeah."


"I'm glad, then. Great job, Karin!"


And then Karin's lips twisted to a smile at the realization that Sakura was right for believing in her. It made her more excited than ever to visit her patients and try to get along with them on the next few days knowing that someone trusted her enough to handle things. All thanks to the woman beside her.


"Oh, they're here!"


Karin whipped her head in the direction that Sakura was pointing. And true enough, two men were standing right outside the double doors of Konoha General Hospital. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of the white-haired man that stole her heart. Moments later, she was already beside him, passing their sleeping daughter to him while shifting her gaze to the other people with them.


Pushing her eyeglasses upwards, she bit her lip to suppress a grin from appearing on her face.


There was no more mark of stress on Sakura's features as she stood in front of Taka's former team leader. It was almost envious how the head medic could have that sudden glow on her face despite her intense workload in the lab hours ago.


And then there's Sasuke, whom Karin didn't even bother to greet. After all, his attention was wholly fixated to her senpai since the moment they stepped out of the hospital, mismatched eyes locked on emerald ones as if the rest of the world came to a blur.


While they were in Taka, she wouldn't have imagined seeing such a small genuine smile on his too beautiful face. But now, her dream of seeing him smile once again finally came true, and she now knew the only reason – person – that could make that happen. Her lips soon formed a beam upon the realization.


Until she heard a familiar voice that suddenly became too deep.


"Karin Hozuki." There was a weird emphasis on her surname that made her flinch. "What the hell are you staring at? Don't tell me you've rekindled your feelings for your former—"


"Stop being ridiculous." She snorted, turning her head to her husband whose purple eyes were narrowed directly at her. That look was something she knew full well, and she almost laughed boisterously at how adorable it was to see it again.


Suigetsu huffed and rocked Suika in his arms when the little bundle began to move a bit. His wife, however, returned her gaze to Sasuke. "Seriously, Karin, you are married."


This time, Karin released a cackle. "I didn't say that I'm not."


Glaring, Suigetsu waited until Karin turned to look at him again. "Then why are you ogling at Sasuke like you're gonna eat him alive?" He hissed.


"What?" She slapped him lightly in his arm with a mischievous grin. He suspected it would've been harder if only he wasn't holding their daughter. "I'm not ogling at Sasuke! But look! Can't you see how happy they actually are?"


Suigetsu then glanced at the subject of their conversation, who was still gazing at Sakura for who knew how long, and then he furrowed his brows.


He found it totally normal.


Then Karin groaned in disbelief. "Sharkface, you're too slow as always!"



It was only recently that he started to notice something entirely different.


The Sasuke he used to know was someone who was rather impulsive yet focused on his chosen path, which always consisted of battles upon battles, and anything that would allow him to gain more power.


It's always been like that, Suigetsu figured. Because he understood how having no family to go home to and spend time with – thirst for revenge and madman declaration of a village's destruction aside – could make you want to immerse yourself in nothing else but the usual life of a shinobi. For a time, Suigetsu could relate to that, although it was a mere trace of the past for him now due to the presence of Karin and Suika in his life.


But for Sasuke, he wondered what happened. He knew the Uchiha survivor had just returned from a journey of redemption, but he believed there was no drastic change in his life yet other than being a newly reinstated Konoha shinobi with a credibility to polish in the eyes of the other nations, a fighter and defender without any time for trivial things above all else.


That's why Suigetsu couldn't put a finger on his observations with his former leader. Recently, Sasuke would always go for any method that would make their mission quick, and any direction that would make going back to Konoha – like he never hated the place and its people at least once – a lot faster.


As if there was something more important to the former avenger than the missions he had been doing.


He was glad, however, that it would result to him returning to his wife and daughter immediately. But what didn't make sense to him was how Sasuke oftentimes became slightly hotheaded whenever they didn't get to accomplish their missions until almost dinner time.


Like today.


Their trip home from Ame became much longer than necessary due to the group of bandits that suddenly decided to attack them. Vaguely aware of the increasing irritation of his partner, Suigetsu took his time in trapping some of the bandits into his water jutsu before binding their hands behind them and giving them a talk-no-jutsu like how he witnessed Sasuke doing it to some of their random enemies lately.


But then, he heard Sasuke huff. "Make it quick, Suigetsu. It would take us a little longer to report these men to the local authorities."


"Easy, Sasuke." He snickered. "It's not like it's the end of the world," he replied while tightening the rope around the wrists of his last opponent, only to receive an intense glare from the Uchiha.


"Let's go," Sasuke growled.


And Suigetsu immediately followed suit, not wanting to have a sudden meet and greet with the Susanoo.


The rest of the travel back to Konoha was rather silent. There was visible tension on Sasuke's shoulders as he kept on glancing at the sky, probably to estimate the time based on the fleeting presence of the sun. All the while, Suigetsu was keeping up with the swiftness of his movements.


By the time they reached the now familiar gates of Konoha, he heard him sigh, probably in relief; on the other hand, Suigetsu panted in exhaustion, with his legs feeling jelly as if he sprinted alongside a horse and not a human.


He glared at his mission partner. "Wait up, Sasuke!" What's up with Uchihas and their speed?! He almost yelled at him as his one hand fell on his knees while the other rummaged through his backpack to get his water bottle.


Sasuke gave a blank stare to the water ninja and merely said, "We better hurry in sending this mission report to Kakashi."


"You've been in a hurry the entire day." Suigetsu rolled his eyes, apparently aggravated with this absurd version of Sasuke.


It's not like the Hokage has a daily timer for shinobis' missions, right?


But if anything, he didn't want to resolve to attempted murder any time soon. After all, he owed this changed man the life of his wife and his daughter, and the fact that he has a temporary source of income despite the apparent tinge of mistrust on the faces of the other shinobi in the village.


He then sighed in resignation. He might not fully understand Sasuke and his ways, but he would always have some sort of reverence and appreciation for him.


"Do you have a date or something?" He suddenly quipped, but Sasuke quickly turned away from him and started striding towards the Hokage Tower. "Oi! You really can't wait, huh?"


"I don't know how Suika would survive having you and Karin as her parents. You're both a loudmouth."


"Heh. At least I got myself a good wife. Thanks for rejecting her all the time back then, by the way."


He didn't receive a reply after that, and for a moment, he wondered, will Sasuke eventually have the opportunity of having a family again? Or will he remain a wanderer?


Suigetsu used to think that it would never be possible for someone as infamous as him to find love and build a future anymore. But when he witnessed Sasuke's drive to have a new life, he had seen a glint of hope. It just so happened that he kind of sped past Sasuke in having his own family, to which he smirked. Although he kind of wished Sasuke would arrive to that point any time soon.


It might not seem like it, and he wouldn't desire to show it, but somewhere at the back of Suigetsu's mind, he deeply hoped for all the best for his former leader too because he knew that he deserved it after all that he's been through.




"Thanks, Sasuke and Suigetsu. Well done," the Sixth Hokage mentioned after they relayed their mission update.


Suigetsu could only shake his head when Sasuke was already at the door once more before the Hokage could even talk more.


"We'll go now. We still have to pick up—"


"Wait a second, Sasuke," but Kakashi called out.


Suigetsu's gaze transferred from the scowling Sasuke to the stern Hokage, confused with whom he should follow. But as a sign of respect to the highest authority in the village, he moved a bit closer to Kakashi, making his partner reluctantly do the same.


"What's the matter?" Sasuke asked with a grimace.


Kakashi didn't seem to mind, probably due to the fact that he knew the Uchiha – both his powerful and stubborn side – full well. He then dug through a pile of papers on his desk while explaining to them something that made Sasuke's shoulders slump in what Suigetsu assumed was shock and disappointment.


Despite this, after few more instructions and recommendations, he found him agreeing with gritted teeth to the Hokage.


"Let's go, Suigetsu." And then Sasuke bolted towards the door.


Giving a quick bow to the Hokage, the water ninja immediately followed suit and stared at Sasuke's back in puzzlement with only one thing in his mind:


Since when did the former avenger dread missions?


He didn't even bother voicing out the query anymore, because with the way Sasuke darted across the street with his single arm gripping the sword hanging on his waist tightly, he wouldn't even be surprised if their surroundings would turn into sliced fixtures and black flames.


Thankfully, he reached the hospital and came home to his small family unscathed. He barely noticed the Uchiha the moment Karin approached him and planted a kiss on his cheek.


"Welcome back, Sharkface. You're just in time," his wife said as he caressed the tiny head of the baby girl in her arms. "How was your mission?"


"Easy. Sasuke almost got on my nerves, though."


Karin chuckled. "Ha. Are you sure it wasn't the other way around?"


Suigetsu only rolled his eyes and shifted his gaze to the subject of their conversation. However, he was stunned with what he witnessed.


Where was the Sasuke he was with a few moments ago?


He almost wanted to look around, because this Sasuke a few meters away from them was now completely relaxed...at the sight of Sakura.


And then he overheard his soft voice that was totally contrasting to the one he has heard all day, saying, "Have you eaten dinner?"


Suigetsu's eyes widened. That's when it all clicked. As he stared at his former leader and recalled a few instances that he merely brushed off, it finally made sense to him...


How Sasuke momentarily – discreetly – halted on his tracks whenever he caught sight of a Sakura tree during their travels with Taka, before squaring his shoulders and walking again as if nothing happened.


How he couldn't even give more than half a second of a glance to any other woman who audaciously threw themselves at him back then, including Karin.


How he visited the hospital daily when Karin and Suika were still confined although he didn't pay much attention to them despite them being the patients.


How he still chose to join him in picking up his wife and daughter after their missions, only to go in their separate ways afterwards – the Hozuki family to their apartment, then Sasuke and Sakura to who knows where.


And how he valued the ticking of the clock just so they'd be able to return to the village by dinner time every single day.


Have you eaten dinner? The question rang in his head again.


"Now you get it, huh?" He suddenly heard his wife who was smirking at him.


Suigetsu shut his eyes and shook his head at the realization, his lips forming a small smile. Despite how annoying Sasuke was becoming recently, he now understood where he was coming from. His heart swelled with genuine excitement for he knew that this change in the former avenger was a positive one. Besides, based from experience, ever since Suigetsu learned that he's in love with Karin, all he ever wanted was to become the better version of himself in preparation for their future together.


Surely, Sasuke's on board to that same journey by now.


He then cackled and scratched the back of his head. "You're right, Four-eyes. I guess I'm slow indeed."


Never in his wildest dreams has he ever imagined seeing such a smitten Sasuke Uchiha.




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Hey guys! It's been a while. I hope you're all doing well! It's a tad difficult juggling everything that's going on with my work, personal life, plus writing. But here ya go! This story always surprises me, but I'm glad with how it's turning out. We're down to three more chapters before its end! What do you think about it so far? :D


Thanks & God bless!


- A

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