Zenko; Guardian

Ultimatum #2

Uzumaki Karin didn't know what to make of her luck. Just when she thought that she will die, she somehow survived. And not because of dumb luck. Fate seemed to have decided that she deserved some slack in the form of her cousin; Uzumaki Naruto. Well, he claimed to be Uzumaki but she had heard from her mother that all Uzumaki have red hair like ripe tomatoes. Or blood, depending on who she ask. But Naruto have a head of gold locks. Also, what was up with the mask? It felt like it was an amalgamation of seals.

She was somehow given a nice enough accommodation after appearing at the Tower. It was certainly miles better than the closet sized 'room' that Kusa graced her with. She didn't even know if her so called 'teammates' survive the Forest of Death after leaving her for dead, and she couldn't find it in her to feel a teaspoon of care. Also, Naruto had mentioned something about Uzumaki being welcomed in Konoha. She wondered how to change village. Surely she wasn't worthy of being kept in Kusa? If she appeal to the Hokage using her clan's name, maybe the soft looking leader will help her escape that hell hole?

Karin stepped out of her room for breakfast on the 4th day, hungry. She didn't expect to see Naruto again so soon. Also, who was that girl with the pale eyes? She saw them around Konoha a lot so she must be from one of those fancy clans. As she spied, Naruto seemed to be a mix of fluster and bravado. She knew this. Karin liked to fancy herself well versed in human behaviour and it seemed that her blond cousin were carrying something of a crush on the pale eyed girl. And from what she can see, with the way the girl fidget and the blush on her cheek, she reciprocated his feelings. Yet it seemed like they have yet to come forward with each other.

She slyly watched from behind the wall, eager to see the unfolding drama before her...

"...glad that you listened to me about Gaara. I don't know what I'll do had Kiba decided to go through and got your squad killed," Naruto's expression darkened from the downward twist of her lips. He looked at her, "Did you get any injuries?"

Hinata shook her head, "S-Shino's allies are very g-good at weakening o-our targets, so K-Kiba and Akamaru easily subdue t-them," She then added, "Ah! B-but I also did my p-part!"

Naruto grinned, patting her head, "I know. You used those pretty peepers to look at their scrolls before planning the attack, right?"

Hinata blushed but enjoying his attention, "Y-yes..."

Karin wondered who Gaara was but two boys who wasn't that far from her seemed to know the girl as the boy with the white puppy grumbled, "Look at her...being all coy and spoiled with Naruto. Watching her like this is so weird,"

The boy with the shade said, "It cannot be helped. The reason why is because Hinata is in love with Naruto,"

Puppy boy rolled his eyes, "Tell me something I don't know, Shino,"

Shino thought for a moment before saying, "Boys inherit most of their traits from their mothers while girls inherit many of theirs from their fathers. Basically, if your penis and testis are big, then you should thank you mother,"

What?

Puppy boy, who must be Kiba, pulled a face at the other boy, "That's not what I meant when I said tell me something I don't know!"

Shino pushed his shades up, "But this fact is something that you don't know,"

"You-!"

Karin hid a snort of amusement. That boy with the shade, Shino, was funny. Also, he knew that wasn't what Kiba was talking about but he trolled puppy boy with a monotone voice that it didn't sound like he was joking at all. The boy with glasses seemed to notice her as he looked in her direction. Karin blushed and dashed away.