Without Warning (Naruto Fanfiction)

Chapter 20: The Beloved One

WITHOUT WARNING CHAPTER 20

THE BELOVED ONE

It was all a blur to her. 

One moment, Karin had three people standing around with her in the middle of the damaged Uchiha compound central square, then the next they were all scrambling to leave the premises to go to the hospital.

"Tsunade-sama, please hurry! It's Hinata!" Kiba pleaded, holding onto the pillar at the entrance to the compound. He had run so fiercely from the hospital, it seemed to Karin, for the sake of calling over the best medical nin known to the shinobi world. Kiba filled them in on the details.

"We were attacked on the outskirts of the Konoha border. I was with Sasuke and Hinata, now Sasuke's in pursuit of the ninja who attacked us. Hinata was hurt badly, she's lost a lot of blood. Ino can't do much for her." Kiba explained in clipped sentences but it was all enough to drive the village leader to rush to the hospital barking orders as she went.

"Sakura! Tell Hiashi-san about his daughter's state, inform him that I will personally handle her condition." She commanded.

Then Tsunade's honey-colored eyes turned to the newcomer. "Kiba, you are coming with me to explain all the details of the attack and the description of the ninja who attacked Hinata."

"And Naruto," Tsunade turned her head to look the Jinchuriki eye to eye. "Follow Sasuke and assist him in pursuing the attacker. But your main task is to make sure he comes back alive. Capturing the attacker only comes in second priority in this. He is the last Uchiha, we need his existence in this village."

All three simultaneously straightened in attention after receiving their orders then filing out together to do their individual tasks. Tsunade listened to Kiba's narration of how he first noticed the trespasser's unknown and unearthly chakra before the attack ensued. He had left out the part where he had taken Hinata to that part of the forest in order to confess his feelings. His stomach twisted with unease at the thought that his confession plan had put her in harm's way.

"What were the three of you even doing out there? Why had you taken Hinata there in the first place?" Tsunade asked rhetorically.

Tsunade paused before Kiba could speak further, looking back towards the red-haired woman who still stood in the middle of the central square, seemingly stunned into silence.

"Karin, make sure you rest up. You've been through a lot today. I know of your self-healing ability, so there's no need for me to assist you with that."

Karin had the ability to heal and share her chakra with others. Being an Uzumaki, her chakra reserves were great -- rather similar to that of Naruto's capacity, excluding his access to Kurama's chakra. She can also bite herself to gain instantaneous healing and recovery. Such is why Sasuke had initially considered her to be an asset to the Hebi/Taka group he had formed in the past, along with Suigetsu and Jugo. And Tsunade was well aware of all these information.

With that Tsunade turned once more to a waiting Kiba who hadn't even gotten any curiosity towards the redhead stranger in their midst. All he had in mind was how quickly Hinata needed help. Karin felt utterly irrelevant at that moment. "Let's hurry, Kiba. Hinata needs us."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama," He acknowledged and they both rushed towards the hospital.

In just a matter of seconds, the entire Uchiha compound that had been alight with battle and emotion fell into silence. Karin, now alone, slowly walked towards the house she stayed in within the compound.

She only hoped she could find rest amidst her mind being swarmed with thoughts of the Hyuuga Hime as everybody's beloved person.

It made her green with envy to see someone so sought after without even trying. But she would never admit it to herself.