Pro SasuKarin, Anti SasuSaku
Part of the reason I like SasuKarin is because, unlike Naruto and Sakura, Karin UNDERSTOOD how important Itachi is to Sasuke. Sasuke, who was willing to abandon everything so that he could kill Itachi and finally put his mind to peace, because he can't just "forget" about the Uchiha honor and family. Killing Itachi would resolve everything and make Sasuke at peace again. Karin understood that, and she didn't give a damn about the romantic fantasies/happy lifestyles- even Sasuke doesn't want it, so she doesn't force Sasuke into living a lifestyle he does not want. She didn't get in his way, she didn't hold him back, unless what he was doing was out of a lapse of judgment that he'd regret later. Then she voiced her opinion BOLDLY and commanded him to rest and he listened. Karin didn't try to stop him (though she did try to stop him from killing Sakura, that was pro judgment, shows she can weigh priorities on a scale. She sees the grays instead of viewing the world as black/white like the rest of Team 7.)
Naruto and Sakura, even Kakashi, just don't understand that; they tried to stop him and chased him and tried to kill him, bring him back to Konoha- did whatever they could to prevent Sasuke from achieving his lifelong goal (which didn't even sabotage Konoha's safety.) Even when Sasuke sacrificed his old life and safety at Konoha, they still fail to see that his goal was his lifeline, thinking Sasuke was in darkness, that this isn't the old Sasuke--
even though Karin KNEW Sasuke was NOT in darkness. She SAW his chakra, and SAW that he had a lovable, cool chakra, and she hugged it. She instantly knew that Sasuke wasn't all evil.
It was after he found out the truth, that Konoha wronged Itachi, that Sasuke started sobbing in front of her and Team Hebi, and activated his Mangekyou Sharingan.
As Karin watched the last of his brightness and warmth flicker out, and frigid blackness take its place.
I think a woman who's been there, is better than someone who just hears things by the rumors; and Oh, there's that too.
Karin knows the truth behind Itachi, because she was THERE.
Kakashi and Naruto only know the truth because Obito said so, and they decided to keep it a secret from Sakura. In canon, Sakura NEVER finds out that Itachi's good. (unless SasuSakus assume that Sasuke told Sakura behind the scenes, during the timeskip, about Itachi. But that's kinda different from being THERE with him: in that case Sasuke wouldn't have to tell Karin because he knows Karin understands him. And there's also that, Sasuke never told Sakura.) During the time Sasuke went wild hating on Konoha, Sakura only saw him as a crazy maniac, while Karin (and Naruto later on) understood his motivations.
Naruto Uzumaki made Sasuke "turn good again." Not Sakura...
And Karin Uzumaki understood Sasuke. Sasuke can try to hide his emotions, but Karin can read chakra and know what he's feeling. But I don't think Sakura UNDERSTOOD Sasuke's feelings; she knows what's good for Sasuke but she doesn't know what Sasuke's feeling. Unlike Karin, she's never suffered from losing a clan or village (Naruto had to lose Jiraiya to even begin to understand Sasuke's pain of LOSS.) Karin understood Sasuke from the start. And...
Imagine being at Orochimaru's hideout. EVERYONE is out to get you. You have those jealous subordinates bitter about you being Orochimaru's favorite "pet," you have Orochimaru waiting to claim your body, you have Kabuto keeping a hungry eye on you, you have no supporters and no friends. Then there's Karin, his only ally. (Jugo saw Sasuke as Kimimaro's reincarnation after Oro's death, and Suigetsu only started liking Sasuke after traveling with him.)
The only Sasuke supporter.
She reads Sasuke's chakra and instantly understands who Sasuke is, and likes him. She's not out to get him, if anything, she's there to help him, in his most dangerous situation.
I know Sakura is prettier than Karin, she's more popularized, she's a self-insert for many females who think Sasuke is cool (or guys who self insert as Sasuke find her less "creepy,") she has less creepy habits, she "knows what's good for Sasuke" a.k.a. it's best for Sasuke to get married and have kids and GIVE UP on your life goal-
But I believe "understanding Sasuke" is more important than all of the above.
If I were Sasuke I would feel a bond and more trust for an ugly, unpopular person who understands me (been with me through my worse years) over a pretty, popular person who does not, (and doesn't know what I went through- and the few people in the know, keep it a secret from her because they don't trust her with the secret.)
Admiration is the furthest thing from understanding. :\
