Uncertain

[2 months later]

A heavy set of footsteps could be heard approaching the stools accompanied by a cry of "Sis!"

I momentarily stopped taking inventory to give my 'sister' my attention. I blinked in confusion when she gently guided a red-haired child in front of me as she beams. "Look who I found!"

"Uhuh" I replied, blinking in uncertainty. I smiled gently when I saw the redhead fidget uncomfortably. "And who's your friend?"

"This..." she grins. "is Karin"

"Hello," The child shyly says with a timid bow.

"I see..." And just then that I remembered that Naruto's distant cousin lived in this village before Orochimaru got his filthy hands on her. Smiling still, I introduced myself. "My name is Rae" I gestured them to the stools and both kids helped each other to climb them. "Would you two like some chocolate drink while you tell me how you two met?"

Grinning, both of them nodded (though my sister shouted in joy).

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"What was that?" I asked when we were finally at the safety of our apartment and Karin was safely brought to the orphanage.

"What was what?" She asks, feigning ignorance.

"Karin" I frowned. "Why did you make friends with her?"

"What's wrong with that?" She asked in defense. "She was alone when I saw her! What's wrong with befriending a lonely girl?"

"You..." I trailed off as I realized something. "You sought her out, didn't you?"

She didn't answer for a while before she said, "So what?"

"YOU!" I burst out. " Why would you do that?!"

"What's wrong with what I did?!" She shouted back. "I only gave a friend to a child in need of it!"

"We're not here to make to-!" I was cut off when she shouted back.

"WE'VE ALREADY CHANGED THE PAST!" I was greatly relieved that I had placed privacy seals beforehand. "You've already changed it the moment you stepped up to take me away from the orphanage"

"I understand" I replied, containing myself. "But I don't mean to change everything" I sighed. "Our existence and impact on the story as a whole here is the only thing that I am altering."

There was silence and I realized that things had gone too far.

"I'm sorry" I apologized, head bowed in shame. "I just didn't want to change things as much as possible."

"But that's not living" She points out, voice low and matching my own. "Can't we just live and do what we want just for once?"

"I..." I couldn't think of anything to counter that.

"This is a new life" She points out, almost begging me to hear her out. "We're not living a book, we're living our lives"

"But this is a book!" I pointed back. "This is a manga series! An anime; a story written out by another human"

"It stopped being a mere story when we started living it out" She grinds. "We choose our own decisions, not because of someone else's will. It's ours."

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Breakfast was a quiet affair, just like dinner the previous night had been. My younger self and I didn't talk or even glanced at each other the whole time. I cooked the meal for two but I didn't have the appetite to eat. So I went to work earlier than my normal schedule. Thankfully, Aki-san has no qualms in me doing overtime and welcomed me in the pub with a smile.

I immersed myself in work and just when I was starting to forget my problems, cold dread envelopes my spine as shivers run up and down on it. I know what that is, and my experiences told me to listen to my instincts.

Looking around the pub, I could spy a pair of sketchy individuals. Looking closely, one of them was dreadfully familiar. With his distinguishable long silver hair and round glasses, I could not mistake that for any other else.

It was Kabuto. And if my assumptions are correct then the other person with him must be Orochimaru.

Are they here for Karin?

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"Welcome! What can I get you?"

Smile....

"Sake and dango"

Smile and pretend that you don't know them.

"Coming right up!"

Serve them as they ordered.

"I found someone interesting, I plan on taking her with me back to the hideout"

"A new experiment?"

"Possibly"

Observe and listen.

"I'm interested to meet her then"

"And you will, Kabuto-kun"

*Coin clatters

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"Thank you for coming! See us again!"