Chapter 52.15- Gamer of the Desert

Her head felt like she’d used it to test the solidness of a frying pan- a dozen frying pans, she amended as she tried lifting it up from the pillow. Where was she?

“…to see you awake, Karin” a voice rang out. Not a voice she recognised. Not even a name she recognised. Who’s Karin? She felt a hand on her head and then something at her lips. She obediently opened them up. The liquid that passed down her throat settled a pain she hadn’t even noticed. She felt her head begin to lighten over time as she kept drinking. She was Karin Uzumaki. And that voice. It was familiar. Different and stronger, but she knew it.

“Cousin Nagato” She tried to say but only ended up choking on the water that was still flowing into her mouth. There was laughter around her. She felt some of the water splash on her body. She also felt chakra caress her for a second before she was dry as ever.

She opened her eyes to see her cousin’s eyes staring right back at her. Not through a puppet this time. He was standing right above her. Standing on his own power. She tried to commit as many details about him to her memory. His red hair. Oh how much it looked like ours. She wanted to touch it. She did. It felt so silky smooth and perfect. Part of her was jealous. She laughed. He laughed with her. What a ridiculous thing, To be jealous of how soft his hair felt.

She noticed it then. His laughter. Not stopped by coughs or short and raspy, but long and deep and full. She decided that it was the most beautiful thing she’d heard in the whole world. What would she not give to protect that laughter.

“It worked” She said. The smile in her voice was audible even to her own ears. He smiled back. She loved how full his cheeks looked. She had to remind herself that she hadn’t known him her entire life, but it did feel that way. He wad family. And she’d helped him. She couldn’t help mum but she helped Nagato.

“It worked” He agreed with a smile. She couldn’t tell you what started it if you asked. She had no idea. All she knew was that between one moment and the next, she’d burst into tears. She felt his hands wrap around her and she just enjoyed the feeling of sobbing into the hands of family.

XXXXX

“So what do you plan on doing next?” She asked him. They were in the library now. It had been a week since she healed him and it still brought a hitch to her throat, being able to see him alive and well. Walking under his own power. He looked so much like her mother. Looking over at him, he was so calm. So stress free in a way Mother never got to be. He was reading a treatise on Uzumaki barrier techniques. It had gone way over her head when she’d tried to peek in on his reading, but for him it was light reading.

“We will work on acquiring the remaining tailed beasts. As much as possible. The plan must continue as scheduled. The war between Mist and Kumo will be to our benefit in this.” He said.

Akatsuki. That was who he referenced when he used the word, ‘We’. A collection of rogue ninja all as strong as Orochimaru was.

A/N; Will pick up here tomorrow. Something’s come up.