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It was, after all, a major life decision. Faced with an unknown and forbidden power, Karin harbored all sorts of misgivings. She didn't readily accept the eyes, only saying she would consider it seriously. Orochimaru didn't press her.
Later, Kabuto buried Hidan's head, while Sasuke called Orochimaru alone to the rear mountain.
Late at night, her mind too troubled for sleep, Karin left her quarters and walked through the forest, bathed in the hazy, pale-blue moonlight.
She was the only unscathed girl to survive the destruction of the Uzumaki clan. She and her mother had fled to Kusagakure.
Kusagakure took her in because of her unique healing ability. That same ability subjected her to cruel treatment in the heartless village. Until… her mother died protecting her. To survive, she chose to seek refuge with Orochimaru.
Karin's unparalleled sensory abilities quickly won Orochimaru's favor, earning her important responsibilities.
But what truly made Karin choose loyalty to Orochimaru… was hearing about his 'obsession' with Sasuke.
During her time as a Kusagakure ninja participating in the Konoha Chunin Exams, she had gotten separated from her teammates and was attacked by a bear. A passing Sasuke, fetching water, saved her. Their first meeting was the beginning of the only true feeling in her heart, in this life or the last.
If she served Orochimaru… perhaps one day, she would reunite with her beloved Sasuke?
The heart of a lovestruck girl is that pure, that heavy.
Unlike her past life, in this one, Karin reunited with Sasuke during the chaos of the Northern Base attack.
She had no memories of that past life… no knowledge of the brutal future Sasuke had endured.
But that didn't mean she didn't understand him.
On the contrary, from Orochimaru's accounts, she knew his tragic origins inside and out.
The Sasuke she'd imagined was a boy consumed by bitter hatred, living only to avenge his brother, Itachi.
But Sasuke's chakra… it wasn't the chakra of a cold avenger. It was profound, sorrowful, suppressed, yet brimming with a fierce, rising hope.
She had also sensed the change in Orochimaru… A few months ago, Orochimaru was still a madman who scorned life for the sake of research. But upon meeting again, he seemed like a different person.
Now, Orochimaru clearly revolved around Sasuke. It was obvious the change stemmed from him.
And… the way Sasuke looked at me… it was like he'd known me for a long time.
Just what is going on?
Distractedly, Karin kicked a pebble into the lake. As ripples spread, she saw two figures standing side-by-side on the distant mountainside: Orochimaru and Sasuke.
Normally, Karin would be cautious, especially around Orochimaru.
But her desperate need to understand Sasuke overruled her caution. She followed.
Sensing and concealing chakra were her specialties. Orochimaru wasn't in Sage Mode, and Sasuke's sensory abilities weren't highly developed yet. Besides, this was the isolated Azure Moon Island. Constant vigilance wasn't necessary. Neither noticed Karin nearby.
Their voices carried on the night air.
"Orochimaru, honestly… I don't want Karin to inherit those eyes."
"Oh? Why is that? Do tell, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke gazed at the shimmering moonlight on the lake below, slowly sitting down. "In my past life… I owed Karin too much."
"Past life…!?"
The single phrase contained such immense meaning it rooted Karin to the spot.
Sasuke's voice continued, low and complex. "In that life, I used her. I hurt her. Yet she followed me without complaint, without regret. In the end… she even chose to live out her days alone, for my sake. That debt of affection is too heavy. I can't, in good conscience, let her walk that same path again. After being reborn in this era, I've thought a lot. Besides protecting the ninja world from the Otsutsuki… I want to do everything I can to atone for the regrets of that past life."
"Itachi's regrets. Jiraiya-sensei's regrets. Obito's. Madara's. And of course… Karin's."
Orochimaru listened intently. "And how do you choose to atone for Karin's regret?"
Sasuke said, "By making sure she doesn't become attached to me. I don't know why she fell for someone like me in the first place. But if we never interact, she shouldn't have a reason to. Yet history somehow repeated itself. Because of our actions against the Akatsuki, they moved against the Northern Base. I couldn't just let her die. So we met again. But at least… the feelings aren't deep yet. It's probably not too late to steer her heart away. Don't let her get any more involved in my affairs."
The words struck her. Karin hugged her shoulders tightly. So… that's how it is?!
Orochimaru's vertical pupils gleamed. "Sasuke-kun… I'm afraid Karin's feelings for you are not as simple as you think."
Sasuke's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Let me tell you a secret," Orochimaru said. "One you never knew, even in your past life."
"A secret?"
"Do you know why Karin chose to pledge her loyalty to me?"
"Isn't it… because she couldn't survive in Kusagakure?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "That was the trigger for her seeking my shelter. Not the reason for her loyalty."
He then recounted the hidden incident from the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams.
The story left Sasuke visibly shaken. "You're saying… what?"
He closed his eyes, focusing, straining his memory… and a faint recollection surfaced. It was true.
"You see now?" Orochimaru said. "That seed was planted far earlier. Whether you reunited this time or not wouldn't have changed her heart. Unless you were sent back to a point before the Konoha Chunin Exams—a time when your paths had truly never crossed. But even then, for you to grow, you would inevitably cross paths with me. By the time of the exams, guided by my past-life memories, I would have told you about Karin's impending danger. Sasuke-kun… at that moment, would you have chosen to stand by and do nothing?"
Sasuke shook his head. The answer required no thought.
"No… I would have saved her again."
Orochimaru smiled. "Precisely. The bond between you and Karin cannot be severed under any circumstances."
"So, Sasuke-kun, your chosen method of atonement… is fundamentally flawed."
A wave of frustrated helplessness washed over Sasuke. He let out a bitter chuckle and covered his face with his hands.
After collecting himself, Sasuke spoke more firmly. "At the very least… don't let her inherit those eyes. She would undoubtedly throw herself into danger for my sake. I can't bear the thought of her fighting powerful enemies using that near-self-destructive method."
Orochimaru's gaze grew distant. "Sasuke-kun, there's a saying: 'Concern breeds confusion.' You may be inadvertently repeating the same mistake Itachi once made. Imposing your own will upon someone else for their supposed good. Itachi's spirit was undoubtedly great… but there was a better way."
Sasuke lowered his head.
"Before his death in your past life, Itachi surely realized this," Orochimaru continued. "That's why he apologized to you, sincerely. You, having been through it… do you really want to repeat Itachi's mistake?"
"The fate of those eyes is not for you or me to decide. It rests on Karin's own will!"
A heavy sigh escaped Sasuke. "If… if Karin refuses, don't force her."
Orochimaru's smile held a new warmth. "Of course. I, too, am resolved to walk a path utterly different from my past."
"…"
Around the corner, Karin had heard everything. Tears were already streaming down her face.
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