Chapter 152: Epiphany

Konoha Hospital

Sakura gently pulled away from Karin's embrace, slipped on her clothes, and restrained Karin, who was about to pounce on her again.

"Lie down. I'm going to examine you," Sakura ordered, her tone slightly exasperated.

"Okay~," Karin replied, sounding almost coquettish.

Sakura watched as Karin obediently lay down on the bed, waiting for the examination. But for some reason, Sakura felt a strong sense of incongruity.

"Did... did something happen to you, Karin?" Sakura asked carefully, examining her as she spoke.

"No, I'm fine. I'm really okay, Sakura," Karin replied with a cute, obedient expression.

"Uh... but I feel, um... you're a bit different from before," Sakura said, choosing her words carefully.

"..." Karin finally fell silent, her eyes dimming.

"Uh, it's okay. I think you're pretty good like this. I actually prefer the way you are now," Sakura said quickly, seeing Karin's reaction.

Karin's transformation was likely related to the genjutsu she had experienced. Had Karin seen something else? Shouldn't she have just fallen unconscious after 'dying' in the genjutsu...?

"Sakura, I just want to be myself," Karin said, her eyes becoming moist, biting her lip. "The person I was before wasn't me."

Sakura had a moment of realization as she watched Karin's tearful expression. Karin's past and her abilities had forced her to put up a façade to protect herself. Perhaps the experience of 'death' in the genjutsu had led to a profound awakening. Was Karin now releasing her true nature?

"This is good. I was actually worried you might have been suffering from depression. I'm happy for you that you've become more cheerful, Karin," Sakura said sincerely.

The old Karin spoke very little and appeared timid around everyone, like a second Hinata. This had worried Sakura. She remembered that the original Karin was quite a lively girl, carefree and outgoing. The fact that she had become so meek had been a source of concern for Sakura for a while.

Now, it seemed that, no longer burdened by the worries of life, Karin's original personality was emerging.

"Hehe, Sakura, I love you so much," Karin said, wiping away her tears and smiling at Sakura.

Sakura's lips twitched slightly as she heard Karin say she loved her. She knew Karin meant it in a sisterly way, not romantically, but influenced by the literature of her previous life, the words still felt a little awkward.

"Yeah~ yeah~ I love you too. Lie still and don't move," Sakura replied perfunctorily, goosebumps instantly rising on her skin. Indeed, such sentimental words made Sakura feel very uncomfortable.

"Hmph, you're obviously just brushing me off," Karin grumbled quietly, pouting.

Sakura ignored Karin's complaint, quickly completing the examination. She withdrew her chakra and said, "You're fine. You can be discharged today."

"Yeah, I told you I was feeling okay. By the way, what about Naruto? And Sasuke? What about our mission?" Karin remembered her other two teammates.

"Let's go see Naruto. He's in the hospital too," Sakura said, opening the door and heading out.

"Huh? Naruto was injured too? Is he badly hurt?" Karin asked, concerned. "What about Sasuke? Is Sasuke injured?"

"Naruto wasn't injured, just a little exhausted. Sasuke's arm was fractured, but I've already treated it," Sakura said patiently, recounting the events of the battle to Karin.

"Is that so?" Karin fell silent for a moment. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I was useless."

"No, no, don't think that way. Those two enemies were incredibly strong. Even I couldn't have won. It was because they were careless that we were able to escape," Sakura quickly explained.

Karin could sense whether someone was telling the truth or lying, and she knew Sakura was being sincere. "Sakura, please train me more rigorously."

"Oh," Sakura glanced at Karin. "It's good that you're thinking that way, but you're better suited for sealing techniques and medical ninjutsu."

"But sensei is the Hokage. Isn't the Hokage supposed to be the strongest person in the village?" Karin asked.

Sakura understood Karin's meaning. She turned her head, pointing to the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead. "Master Tsunade became Hokage as a medical ninja because of this."

"What is that?" Karin asked, reaching out curiously to touch it.

Sakura slapped away Karin's hand. "It's called the Yin Seal. It's used to store chakra. Don't worry about that for now. Focus on learning medical ninjutsu from me. When Master Tsunade thinks you're ready, she'll teach it to you."

Sakura wouldn't dare teach the Yin Seal to Karin without permission. Although Tsunade had given her permission to teach on her behalf, she felt it was best for Tsunade to teach her unique techniques herself.

After asking for Naruto's room number, Sakura led Karin to find him.

Sasuke was also in the room. The makeshift splint Sakura had made for Sasuke's arm using tree branches had been replaced with a plaster cast.

"Sasuke, Naruto hasn't woken up yet?" Sakura asked, seeing Sasuke lying on the bed.

Seeing Sakura and Karin, Sasuke got out of bed. "It's you two. Naruto hasn't woken up."

"How are you feeling, Sasuke?" Sakura asked, noticing that he seemed preoccupied.

"I'm fine..." Sasuke said, then fell silent.

The atmosphere in the room became quiet.

"Sasuke, you should rest for a while. Your arm probably won't heal anytime soon," Sakura said, looking at Sasuke's plastered arm.

"It's not necessary," Sasuke replied.

"Don't push yourself, Sasuke."

"I think my arm is almost healed," Sasuke explained.

"Hm? Really? Let me see," Sakura said, beginning to examine him.

A moment later, a surprised expression appeared on Sakura's face.

"It really is almost healed. How could it heal so quickly?" Sakura pondered.

"It's probably because of this," Sasuke said, touching the curse mark on his neck.

"Oh!" Sakura realized. The curse mark could forcibly draw out the body's potential, essentially overdrawing on one's life force. That seemed to be the case.

"You shouldn't rely on that thing as a cure," Sakura said. "Using it too much will deplete your life force."

"I understand."

"Good. I hope you won't become too dependent on it," Sakura cautioned.

Sakura then checked on Naruto. He didn't have any major problems, he was just sleeping.

Looking at the sleeping Naruto, Sakura shook her head and said, "Karin, take care of these two for a bit. I'm going to report on yesterday's mission."

"Okay," Karin replied.

They hadn't received the commission for yesterday's mission yet. Even a D-rank mission paid 200 ryo, which would be 50 ryo each after splitting it evenly. That was enough for a few bowls of Ichiraku Ramen.

Usually, only Genin took on D-rank missions, and the pay was barely enough to make ends meet. Those with any ability aimed for C-rank or B-rank missions.

At the mission assignment desk, just as Sakura received the newly acquired commission and was about to leave, the ninja who had issued the mission called out to her.

"Wait, Haruno Sakura, I almost forgot. The Fifth Hokage came by this morning and instructed that if you came to turn in your mission, you should go to her office," the Chunin said to Sakura.

"Hm? I understand," Sakura replied.

"I'll go see what Master Tsunade wants first. I already explained everything clearly last night," Sakura muttered to herself.