If Only Things Were Different

Chapter 4

Karin was clearing her head on top of the Hokage stones, looking through the perfect view of Konoha and some of the Land of Fire areas. She closed her eyes, imagining what her life would be if Shisui and her could live peacefully inside the village with Itachi and him going on missions together and Sasuke trying so hard in order to keep up with his brother and to get his attention. They were so alike.

She remembered stalking her brother and watch him train with Itachi. She would get so jealous that she started copying the things they do but before she could steal some of his kunai to train with, Shisui caught her and scolded her. It was the first time Shisui has done that but instead of getting mad, and sad, and teary, she was happy. At a young age, she was happy with the affection her older brother has shown her. That's when Shisui would let her watch their training from afar to keep her away from troubles.

"Oi, Lee," Karin slowly opened her eyes from the noise she heard.

"Yes, Gai-sensei?"

"I want you to do 100 laps around the village for losing! You still have a long way to go, Lee."

The student, that looks exactly like him but shorter, stood straight and salutes.

"Right away, Gai-sensei!"

Karin's brows furrowed from what she had witnessed. She watched them enthusiastically walk with their bare hands, going down to the village to the training they agreed on just a while ago.

"Are they trying to kill each other?"

After saying that, a voice echoed through her mind. 'Train hard my dear sister. I'm not always here for you. I know you can do better, surpass me.' Shisui's voice.

She hated how he was right. How he won't be with her for always, that's someday, she'll be left alone and Shisui can't come when she needs him.

Tears left her eyes but quickly brush it away as soon as it escaped from her eyes.

"You cry too?" A familiar voice said.

"Yes, Hatake. I am a human after all."

"Hmm," he hummed and sat right beside her, "doesn't seem like it if I were to judge."

"What you think of me doesn't matter, Hatake."

"Kakashi," he said, confusing her, "just Kakashi. 'Hatake' was too formal."

She didn't respond, she just let her eyes wander over the village.

"What's a peaceful village like?" She asked, surprising him.

"Konoha?" He said, unsure of his answer.

"This is peace..." She said. Trying to look for a reason why he considered this as peaceful.

"Well, there has not been an attack for years now."

"Do you wish for any to other villages?"

"No."

"I thought so."

"Do you?"

"No one likes war," she looked at the sky and scrunched her nose as she squints her eyes to the blaring sun. He joined her.

"Kakashi," she said. "Why do you keep following me? Is this your mission?"

"Well," he was thinking of what to say, "I kind of made myself a mission."

"And that is me?"

"Yes," he admitted. "Say," she looked at him, "why not train with me?"

"Can you keep up to half-blood Kikuchi and half-blood Uchiha?"

"I'll try." He stood up. "Plus, I have Sharingan." He smiled down to her.

"Maybe I'll give it a go. Just please promise me not to blame myself if something would happen."

"That's a big responsibility but, sure."

"Deal then."

"Deal."

Kakashi and Karin would train every after Kakashi train his students. Sometimes, Karin would join Kakashi in training them and at the same time, she is fulfilling her mission slowly. She never forgets to remind herself to never put her guard down and to not use all of her technique. She would always think of Shisui to get her job done inside Konoha.

Kakashi sparring Karin made him feel different, he couldn't get himself to be brutally serious with her on training. Scared that he might hurt her or himself, get hurt badly, knowing her capabilities. Although most of the time she made it hard for him that he's forced to use his Sharingan, she's too fast for him to keep up. As fast as Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, but without the jutsu he uses always.

With the two constantly training together, Kakashi softens towards Karin. He would sometimes tell her a little something about his past. But he couldn't bring to share how Rin died, his nightmare.

Kakashi watches the female Uchiha who is currently washing her face at the nearby lake. He was swoon by the way the water drips from her now rose-colored-cheeks. The way her hands move gracefully reminded him that she's indeed a lady despite her terrible temper. He has completely forgotten the side of Karin that makes him quiver from fear. She is quite a ninja herself, he noted. He kept reminding himself not to mess up with the Kikuchi.

"Karin," he called.

The female looked at him as a response, wiping the water off her face.

"There's something I want to tell you."

"Hm," she hummed, waiting for him to continue.

"Is there a possibility for you to leave the village?"

Taken aback by his words, Karin mentally noted to be careful around the copy-ninja.

"Why?"

"Can't you just answer it?"

"Yes," she admitted.

"Why?"

"Hatake, I believe you should answer my question now."

"Oh," he scratched his nape, "well, because I don't want you to?"

"Don't want me to leave?" She wanted him to be specific.

"Yes. I don't want you to."

"Depends. If I found the reason to stay, if not, I'm back to the Sand."

"Were you sent to the Sand after the assassination?"

"Days after, yes. There are still Kikuchi in the Sand."

"Why did you leave?"

"I just want to," she lied.

"That's all?"

"Let's go. I wanna rest."

Karin started walking, wanting to go home to avoid Kakashi's questions. It is her job to gather information, not the other way around.

It is then that Kakashi started getting mixed feelings about her. He wanted to know more but she won't let him, he sensed it. He thought of digging more, he craved for something more and he didn't know what, or why, and how he will satisfy himself with something he can't put a finger on.

'What are you, Karin Kikuchi?'