I heard a loud noise making me open my eyes but the brightness blinded me making them shut again.

"I guess I'm not dead, it looked like I'm in a motel room." I thought as I tried to roll over onto my back but cried out in agony as searing pain traveled up the back of my body. "What the hell happened?... Right, Deidara's explosion...how did I survive?"

I heard a door open, so I managed to open my eyes seeing Karin entering the room. When her eyes met mine a small smile formed on her lips. "You're awake!" She exclaimed with relief.

Karin walked over to a chair that was beside the bed taking a seat. She reached over pulling up the blankets making a breeze blow on my skin causing me to shiver.

"How long have I been out?" I questioned then looked at what she was doing seeing that I was naked and covered with bandages. "And why am I naked?"

"Uh well, you've b-been out for a f-few days and your clothes...burnt off." She explained timidly acting as if I was going to attack her.

"And you didn't put me in new clothes?"

"Your w-wounds were too severe; I have to change them every f-few hours so clothing would be a hassle." She told me while she changed the bandages again. "Here," she said while holding out her arm which had the sleeve rolled up revealing various bite marks. "I can't give you much since I healed Sasuke but at least it's something." Karin finished sounding more confident.

"So I uh just bite you?" I questioned feeling a bit awkward.

"If you w-want to be healed." She replied going back to being timid and looked away.

"Is she stuttering because she's embarrassed or because she's scared of me?" I wondered as I looked back down at her scar covered arm.

Eventually I bit into her arm for a few moments feeling her chakra course through my body mostly towards my back.

"Why are you scared of me?" I questioned her after I pulled away. I caught her off guard with my question by her expression then looked down at the ground.

"Uh well my sensory abilities are sensitive," she started then looked up from the ground to my right arm which was propping my head up.

"That mark on your arm, it feels like Orochimaru's chakra is coming from it." I followed her gaze looking at my curse mark making that dreadful day pass through my mind. I avoided looking at it not wanted to be reminded of the worst day in my life. I can't lie though, it made me happy knowing that a part of Father was still with me.

"Hm, is it only in that area or does it spread?"

"Feels like it's all in that area, is that a curse mark?"

"Yeah, Orochimaru's parting gift." I said with an unintentional sad voice. "How did Sasuke and I survive that blast?" I questioned wanting to change the subject which Karin understood.

"He actually the one who saved you. But you were injured more from it." She explained as she grabbed the covers pulling them up more to cover the top of my bare shoulders.

"Yeah, my dumbass thought shielding him would save him. How'd he get us out of there? That blast must've been huge." I finished which made me feel worried as I thought about Kitty, I was afraid the blast had gotten him too.

"He used a summoning and the snake took the damage." She answered which made my eyes widen.

"Which one? What did the snake look like?"

"Uh big and purple?" She answered most likely unsure of how else to describe it.

"It had to have been Manda...but it better not have been." I thought feeling a bit angry and clenched the sheets beneath me.

Voices caught my attention as did Karin's. We looked towards the door hearing Suigetsu's big mouth.

"I did hear them talking." I heard him say from down the hall.

"Don't let them in here while I'm naked."

Karin nodded and headed for the door slamming it shut followed by her screaming at Suigetsu. I activated my eyes seeing him trying to stand up for himself but it didn't last long since he ran back into the room the boys shared. I could see Sasuke resting on the bed but exchanged a few words before kicking Suigetsu out. Karin came back into the room with a sigh then went back to her chair. I deactivated my eyes.

"Let me see your back," she said as she reached for the bandages unwrapping them.

"Looks like they've healed nicely but you still need to be careful, I'm not sure about internal damage so take it slow."

"How long have I been out?"

"Day and a half," she answered. "We did run into a few Leaf and Sand ninja on the way here though." Karin mentioned which caught my full attention. "They seemed pretty worried about you. The blonde thought we kidnapped you." She finished with a small chuckle.

"Of course he would," I thought rolling my eyes.

My mind then drifted to Kitty imagining him worried. I was glad he was alive but was sad I didn't get to see him, who knows if there will be a next time. I kinda hoped to see him all worried.

"Are you okay?" Karin questioned drawing me back into reality.

"Are there any clothes for me to wear?" I asked wanting to ignore her question. The outfit was a grey t-shirt with grey sweatpants. "I'll look like a man wearing this thing. Even if I see Kitty again, I hope it's not when I'm wearing this."

"Oh uh I bought more this morning, hold on." She answered then went out of the room.

"Kitty, why are you plaguing my mind?" I sighed as I tried to forget about him but he kept coming back.

When Karin returned, she put better clothes down on the chair.

"If you don't mind, I want to stay so I can examine your wounds better."

"Whatever, you've already seen me naked." I commented which made Karin embarrassed. Seeing her flustered face and uncomfortable posture made me chuckle. When I got up I groaned with pain feeling how sore my body was.

"You good?" Karin questioned with concern.

"Just sore, why do you need to look at my wounds? You're not a medic."

"I know a but, I just want to check your legs too. Your whole back side was singed. I couldn't give you a lot of chakra so it's still healing." She said as I picked up the red top with a buttoned down shirt but the whole back was exposed making me sweat drop. When I looked over at the shorts, they were extremely short.

"Uh Karin, you know I'm not a whore right?" I questioned giving her a look then looked back at the clothes. I heard Karin stifle a laugh at my comment before responding.

"I needed to get something that would give your wounds some air."

"Pft, you better have some back up clothes for when I'm healed." I scoffed then put on the clothes she got me. "Not those grey things either."

As I was finishing up putting on the outfit, I saw Karin quickly get up heading for the door as if she had to get out of the room. When she opened the door, Sasuke was standing there staring down at her with an empty look but she still had hearts in her eyes. He then gave her a glare which made her take a step back.

"I-I'll leave you guys alone," she said then walked out.

My eyes met Sasuke's and even before he could speak I asked him a question.

"Why did you save me?" I asked which caught him by surprise.

"Hmph, a life for a life. You saved me back at the Land of Waves." He answered with a disinterested tone.

"Hm and I thought you cared." I mocked. "Which snake did you sacrifice?" I questioned the Uchiha who still had a blank expression.

"Manda," he admitted making me clench my fists.

"Why him? Why kill the king of all snakes?!" I questioned trying to mask my anger but it didn't work well.

"Why do you care?" He scoffed. "He saved our lives."

"He meant a lot to me, when I summoned him for the first time...I saw some recognition from Orochimaru. I showed him that I was worthy to be his daughter."

"You didn't need to prove your worth to anyone but yourself." Sasuke spoke which shocked me but I kept a straight face.

"Tsk, you should know how it feels. I know coming from a powerful clan and being the sun of the clan leader had its pressures." I responded harshly.

"I do know what it feels like but I learned you have to live up to your own expectations. Everyone you've met or faced has acknowledge your power. When we first met I could sense your power and you've always been what Naruto isn't, an equal."

I was at a loss, I've never thought those words would come from Sasuke. "Wow Sasuke, that must be the nicest thing you've said in your life," I teased unsure how I was supposed to respond in this situation. He only scoffed in response which I guessed he wasn't sure what to do in this situation either.

"How are your injuries?" He questioned eyeing the outfit Karin got for me which made me feel a bit embarrassed.

"Karin said I'll be weak for a few days, but I'll push through it." I answered feeling relieved that the subject was changed.

"We're leaving at dawn, get some rest." He said before leaving and let Karin back in who was right by the door.

I looked over at the window seeing that the sun had already started to set so I headed back to the bed. I was in the mood to train and get my body back into shape but I knew Karin wouldn't approve. "If you don't mind, I'm going back to bed." I told Karin who only nodded then looked over to the bed.

The bed was about a full which was plenty of room for more than one person. I raised a brow at her expression but realized that there were only two rooms in this little place we were staying in. I looked at the other side of the bed seeing a pillow and blanket; she slept on the floor last night. "Did you want to share the bed?"

"What? Uh n-no that's alright." She stammered.

"Sleep on the bed Karin, you need at least one night to sleep comfortably. We probably won't be in another motel for weeks." I reasoned as I got into the bed making myself comfortable.

"Uh o-okay," she responded.

It was silent between us for what felt like hours. I couldn't sleep and neither could Karin; I could feel her resposition herself many times.

"Karin," I spoke up, "when the Sand and Leaf were chasing us, was there a boy with purple face paint?"

"Hm, yeah there was, seemed pretty worried about you but looked relieved also, why?"

"No reason,"

"Ko, I can read chakra, I know you're lying." She pointed out as she flipped over to her other side to face me.

"I was curious if he did care and you confirmed it." I said then scolded myself for asking her that question.

"What is he to you?"

"During the Chuunin exams, Orochimaru had him train me." I vaguely explained not wanting to delve on the details. "Just a friend, well I don't know what we are. What I want to know is why you're infatuated with Sasuke."

"I'm not infatuated with him, I'm in love with him!" She corrected.

"Why?"

"How could you not? He's so handsome, smart brave, and incredibly strong. Just his chakra alone makes my knees weak." She swooned.

"Eh maybe, but he's not a nice person. He shuts everyone out and is rude also selfish." I responded as I thought of my experiences with Sasuke over the years.

"Doesn't seem like it since he saved your life." She snapped.

"Only because I saved his years ago."

"Well, what he said to you was pretty nice." She said with a softer tone. She was right but I'd never admit it, I knew she had a smirk on her face.

"Goodnight Karin," I said to her wanting to end my conversation with her.

She took the hint and didn't reply but she still chuckled at my stubbornness. Once she turned back around, I waited a few moments before holding up my arm up staring at the curse-mark. I've waited so long to be granted with Father's curse-mark and now that I have it, I feel nothing but sadness when I look at it. I looked at the coiled snakes envisioning Father's chakra flowing through them.

"You're still with me Father but, I wish you were here physically." I thought as my vision started to get blurry from the tears forming. If you were here, you'd show me how to control this power; I always lose control." I thought sadly before putting my arm back down. "I wish you'd come back."

Edited: 2/21/2021