Karin has never felt love and care from anyone but her mom.
From as long as she can remember, people always came to her house to bite her mother. And since the war between Kusa, the village in which she lived, and Taki started, the frequency of such scums had skyrocketed.
Her mother was often called taken to the hospital to be bitten by those scums, and returned the house with a pale face, yet a reassuring smile for her.
Then one day, a kind ninja saved them from the hell. He promised to save her mother's life, and took them to Konoha, the biggest shinobi village, which actually has medical ninjas so that her mother won't be required to let herself bitten.
Well, that's what she is being told by the Third Hokage.
"You have a cousin in the village-"
"Really!?"
"Yes. His name is Naruto Uzumaki."
She wasn't very sure how to feel about this. Should she be excited? Or worry?
How is this cousin of hers as a person? Is he bad like all the others? Or is he good, like her mother?
"Don't worry. He is a good kid. I will give you an apartment in the same building as him and Shiori."
"Who is Shiori?"
"She is the same age as you two. She will take care of you, so if you need anything, you can tell her."
Speaking of taking care...
"Where is Mom?"
"She is currently in hospital. Don't worry, she will be fine with some treatment."
Karin's mom is barely alive. Even if Tsunade was here, she can live for a year at most. And Tsunade isn't here.
Her vitality is drained to the point of no recovery.
"Can I see her?"
"Yes. Follow me."
Hiruzen took her to the hospital, and Karin was worried by seeing her mother.
She looked so frail that she could die at any moment.
"Karin... you are here?"
She slowly opened her eyes, and looked at her daughter.
"M-mom! Are you okay!?"
"Ha ha ha... I am..."
Karin's mother died.
"Mom? Mom? MOM!"
Karin started shouting and screaming, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Hiruzen felt bad for her. He didn't want Karin's mother to die in front of her daughter.
He thought that she will live for 2-3 more days. And wanted Karin to talk to her one last time peacefully.
But, it seems that Karin's fate is truly tragic.
She couldn't even say goodbye to her mother properly.
He sighed. Perhaps meeting Shiori will change that.
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(Shiori's PoV)
As I was busy trying to make a seal for souls, while taking inspiration from the Nue's notes, I heard a knock on my door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
Recognising Hiruzen's voice, and watching from keyhole, I opened the door.
And I saw Karin in front of me.
"H-hello?"
She cautiously greeted me, and I looked at her arms. She is wearing full sleeves.
"Come in."
Both came inside, and I quickly pulled up her sleeve.
"H-hey! What are you doing!?"
I saw some bite marks on her arm.
I see. Perhaps the Blood Prison should be opened by 'accident' and the heinous criminals will destroy Kusa.
Thankfully, there aren't much, and they look a bit recent. Maybe the marks will disappear overtime.
"You are my sister-in-law. I promise you, I will never let this happen again!"
Am I angry?
Yes.
Because how much Karin must have suffered?
...No. I am angry because those scums have drained Karin of some of her vitality.
That's definitely it.
Definitely....
She started crying in my arms, and I tried to sooth her.
"There there... you are safe now. Welcome to the Uzumaki Family."
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