Naruto did not step forward but remained hidden in the shadows, silently observing Karin.
Seeing that her call was ignored, Karin sighed inwardly, then began formulating a way to evade the watchful eyes of Kusagakure's shinobi and escape the Hidden Grass Village safely.
Forcing her way out was impossible. Her striking red hair, a symbol of her Uzumaki lineage, made her an obvious target.
She was merely a student at the Ninja Academy, incapable of besting even a single trained shinobi in direct combat.
That left only one option—disguise and infiltration. However, sneaking out of the heavily guarded hospital presented the greatest challenge.
After some contemplation, Karin's gaze fell upon the lifeless body of a high-ranking Kusagakure official, an opportunity presenting itself in an instant.
First, she manipulated the corpse to create the illusion of life, then transformed it to resemble herself using a detailed application of the Transformation Jutsu. Finally, she disguised herself as the deceased official, her best chance at bypassing security and leaving the medical facility undetected.
After ten meticulous minutes of preparation, Karin, now in the form of a Kusagakure elder, slung a heavy sack over her shoulder and walked confidently out of the infirmary.
She attracted the attention of numerous Kusagakure shinobi along the way. Some even noticed the empty medical ward, their suspicion momentarily piqued.
However, upon seeing the elder's face, the shinobi quickly averted their eyes. It was not their place to question the actions of a superior, especially when it came to the village's most valuable captive. Losing access to the Uzumaki girl's healing abilities was unfortunate, but such matters were beyond their control.
Once she exited the hospital, Karin swiftly navigated through the village's outer districts, reaching the outskirts with surprising ease.
Dropping the heavy corpse, she panted lightly, turning back to glare at the village that had brought only suffering to her and her mother. The ease of her escape felt surreal.
Had she truly broken free from this nightmare so effortlessly?
But deep down, Karin knew better. It was impossible for the Kusagakure shinobi not to notice her escape. The only logical explanation was that someone more powerful had intervened from the shadows, suppressing their efforts.
Activating her formidable sensory abilities, she scanned the surroundings, searching for the mysterious ally.
Her chakra perception quickly pinpointed Naruto perched atop a nearby tree. A smile of relief and excitement spread across her face as she called out, "You finally revealed yourself! Thank you for your help. You must be from my mother's clan."
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "What makes you think that?"
"Because your chakra feels warm," Karin answered without hesitation. "No one in Kusagakure, aside from my late mother, has ever radiated this kind of warmth."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Even at her young age, Karin's sensory abilities were already this sharp?
Still, he maintained his calm demeanor, smiling faintly. "You're right—I'm from the Uzumaki clan. I was passing through Kusagakure when I sensed a fellow clansman's presence and came to investigate. Do you want to stay here, or would you rather leave with me?"
"I'll go with you!"
Karin didn't need to think twice. After killing a high-ranking official, staying in Kusagakure meant certain death.
Her decision to follow Naruto was effortless. She recognized his strength and knew that sticking with him was her best chance at survival. Along the way, she learned his name—Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto, however, was unfazed by formalities. He had grown accustomed to being addressed as "Mienma-sama." He was, after all, a key figure in the reborn Uzushiogakure.
Still eager for answers, Karin asked, "Master Mienma, are we heading straight to the Land of Whirlpools, or will we be traveling elsewhere first?"
Naruto shook his head slightly. "We're going back to Kusagakure first—to reclaim what's rightfully yours. And to enjoy a good show."
Karin blinked in confusion. Retrieving her mother's keepsakes made sense, but what did he mean by a 'good show'? Would there be a battle?
Naruto, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant Kusagakure stronghold.
---
Within Kusagakure's central building, the village leader and the elder council gathered for an emergency meeting.
Like most shinobi villages, Kusagakure was split into factions—the War Hawks, known as the "Grass Blades," and the Pacifists, called the "Grass Petals." The former sought dominance over the ninja world, while the latter aimed to maintain stability.
Despite their opposing views, both factions relied on Uzumaki Karin's unique abilities.
Growing impatient, the village leader scowled at the war faction elders and demanded, "Where is Uzumaki Karin? Don't tell me you're keeping her for yourselves."
The War Hawks' elders exchanged tense glances, their expressions grim. One of them finally replied, "There may have been an unforeseen delay, but let's focus on more pressing matters—such as Iwagakure's recent troop movements along our border. We must act first before they strike."
A leading elder of the Grass Petals faction interjected, "Iwagakure outmatches us tenfold. We need alliances, not reckless retaliation. The last Great Ninja War proved that we only repelled Iwagakure with Konoha's aid."
The War Hawks' elder scoffed. "And what did we gain? We won the war but lost two-thirds of our country's territory."
"Besides," he continued, voice laced with disdain, "can Konoha even protect us now?"
The pacifist elder sighed. "Then war is inevitable?"
Sensing weakness, the War Hawks pressed their advantage. "We have already secured assistance from the Akatsuki. If Iwagakure makes a move, they will intervene. Their leader wields the power of the Five Kage combined!"
One of the pacifist elders narrowed his eyes. "And what if Akatsuki betrays us?"
The War Hawks' elder smirked. "You forget—we have the Box of Ultimate Bliss. With enough chakra, we can grant any wish. Uzumaki Karin is an ideal sacrifice. We can even use Akatsuki's own members as offerings if needed."
A hushed tension filled the chamber.
The proposal was reckless—balancing on a knife's edge. One wrong step could doom Kusagakure to oblivion.
At that moment, an Anbu operative entered and whispered into the village leader's ear.
The leader's expression darkened as he rose to his feet. "This meeting is adjourned. Uzumaki Karin and the shinobi assigned to guard her have disappeared. Someone has infiltrated our village and taken her."
Silence fell over the council.
The elders exchanged wary glances.
They doubted an outsider could have pulled this off. The likelier explanation? An internal coup—one meant to weaken a rival faction.
And if that was true, Kusagakure's troubles were just beginning.
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