"Naruto-kun, should we take her with us now?"
Sakura glanced at the unconscious Ajisai, feeling somewhat wary.
"No, her stealth skills are pretty good."
With that, Naruto stepped forward and took the sealing talisman from Ajisai's hand. His chakra reached into it.
"Found it."
The moment he spoke, the space around the sealing talisman rippled, revealing an earth-toned barrier. Naruto placed his hand on a nearby tree, channeling nature energy into it. The ground shifted as roots stirred, forming a shallow pit. Lifting Ajisai, he placed her inside, covering her with the earthen curtain before sprinkling soil on top. Within moments, the ground seamlessly blended into its surroundings.
"Let's go. We have both the Heaven and Earth scrolls. Now, we just need to reach the central tower."
Sakura hesitated, stealing a glance at the lifeless bodies of Oboro and Mubi nearby.
"Naruto-kun… this Chunin Exam… the mortality rate is too high."
She had only just entered the exam, and already, two people were dead by her hands. With so few candidates, Anko's words about half of them being eliminated seemed more than just a warning.
Sasuke, having recovered slightly, scoffed.
"Like Naruto said, a few deaths mean nothing."
"The Chunin Exams don't have real rules, Sakura. Even if you win, becoming a Chunin isn't guaranteed. In the end, it all depends on what the higher-ups think."
"Hmph. A bunch of disgusting old men who don't even follow their own rules."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, more bodies littered the ground—victims of Gaara.
"Ahhh—!!!"
Three genin were bound by his sand, their terrified sobs filling the air.
"Goodbye~" Temari teased, smirking.
Compared to other methods of execution, Gaara's way was relatively merciful. At least his victims didn't suffer.
"They feel no pain..."
"Because I'm strong enough that I don't need to make them suffer." Gaara replied indifferently, blood dripping from his sand-coated hands.
Not far away, Team 8 silently observed the scene.
"I've never seen an attack like this before," Kiba muttered, sweat beading on his forehead. "Damn it… Akamaru's too scared to move."
Shino remained composed, hands in his pockets. "Naruto-kun said we might run into them. If we do, we leave."
"Hinata, that guy with no eyebrows… can you handle him?" Kiba asked hesitantly.
"We already have both scrolls. There's no need to engage them." Hinata shook her head.
At that moment, Gaara raised his hand, his sand snaking across the ground toward them.
Although Gaara often targeted outsiders, there were times when he killed his own allies. Those under his command weren't safe just because they refrained from provoking him.
"Oh no!"
Kiba's body stiffened as Gaara's sand curled around his ankle.
Shino didn't panic. Instead, he spread his arms, releasing a swarm of kikaichu.
Temari's eyes narrowed, and she reached for her iron fan.
"Rotation!"
Hinata spun in place, unleashing Kaiten. The spiraling chakra disrupted the advancing sand, sending it scattering.
Her Byakugan activated, and twin lion heads formed around her fists.
Gaara's eyes flickered. After a moment, he withdrew his sand, letting it return to his gourd.
"Let's go."
Kankuro and Temari, who had been ready to attack, froze in shock before scrambling after him.
Hinata frowned.
"Hahaha! Did I scare them off?" Kiba laughed nervously.
Akamaru whimpered.
Shino, however, turned to Hinata. "Hinata, what's wrong?"
"I saw an evil chakra inside him. When it surged just now, he stopped."
Unable to understand it fully, she decided to consult Naruto later.
Despite her strength, Hinata wasn't impulsive. Since Gaara chose to leave, she saw no reason to pursue him.
This version of Hinata was stronger than the older sister she had seen in her dream.
This was a Hinata who had been nurtured.
"Let's go. Naruto-kun is probably already at the central tower."
"Gaara, why did you—"
"Shut up."
"Uh… I-I wasn't questioning you…" Kankuro stammered under Gaara's glare, sweat dripping down his temple.
Gaara narrowed his eyes. The moment he had prepared to attack, Shukaku had stirred.
The demon whispered in his mind, urging him to kill Hinata for a peaceful night's sleep.
Hinata carried the lingering presence of the Nine-Tails' chakra—most likely due to her close association with Naruto. Shukaku had sensed it immediately.
But Gaara refused to listen.
"That woman… is strong."
"What?!"
Kankuro and Temari gaped at him.
Very few people ever earned that acknowledgment from Gaara.
"Her eyes… they can see the monster inside me."
That revelation left them even more stunned.
Gaara had actually chosen to explain himself.
"Naruto-kun, where are you going?"
Sakura asked as Naruto gently pushed her aside.
Sasuke also stopped, alert. "More enemies?"
Naruto chuckled. "There shouldn't be any more threats along the way. I'm just going to find someone. Keep moving toward the tower—I'll be back soon."
"Then we'll wait here, Naruto-kun!" Sakura said cheerfully.
Sasuke nodded slightly, forming several shadow clones. "I'll get us some food."
Sakura, now adept at handling supplies, pulled a spatula from her storage scroll.
"Got it."
With that, Naruto vanished from sight. His target? Karin.
As one of the last remaining members of the Uzumaki Clan, Karin's potential was exceptional—even by shinobi standards. But just like Naruto and Hinata in the original timeline, she had suffered from malnutrition.
Her life in Kusagakure had been even harsher than Naruto's in Konoha.
Despite that, by the time she turned sixteen, she had awakened all three of the Uzumaki Clan's most powerful abilities:
Kagura's Mind Eye
Physical Healing through Chakra Biting
Adamantine Sealing Chains
Without these abilities, Sasuke would have died countless times.
More importantly, despite being labeled as love-struck, Karin was far superior to Sakura in many ways. Her infatuation with Sasuke wasn't shallow—it stemmed from gratitude. Sasuke had saved her once, and she never forgot it. Even when he later tried to kill her, she still refused to hate him.
Even Orochimaru acknowledged her talent.
Right now, Karin was separated from her teammates. If they had remained together, they would have walked straight into Team 8's counter-trap.
At just twelve years old, she had only awakened her healing ability.
For now, in this Chunin Exam, she was still just a weakling.
Of course, she hadn't been discovered as a walking chakra battery yet. With plenty of chakra still in her body, she wouldn't be killed instantly.
Naruto found himself speechless at Kusagakure's wastefulness.
No wonder it remained just a minor village.
It wouldn't be long before Kushina and Nagato wiped them out entirely, reducing them to nothing more than a footnote in history.
"Naruto-sama, she's just ahead. She's weak—she's been running from wild beasts for a long time."
Receiving the information from the surrounding trees, Naruto sped up.
When he found Karin, she noticed him immediately.
Unfortunately, that brief moment of distraction caused her to trip over a tree root.
The beast chasing her seized the opportunity and lunged.
"Naruto-sama, I tripped her! Go and save her like a hero!"
"Hahaha, I finally did something for Naruto-sama! I'm so happy~"
Naruto: "..."
"AH—!!"
Karin screamed.
The giant bear roared.
Terror drained all color from her face. Her legs gave out beneath her, making escape impossible.
'He's coming... Will he save me?'
A flood of desperate thoughts filled her mind.
'Mom, I'm sorry... I don't think I can make it back...'
In that instant, countless vines surged forward, wrapping around the giant bear.
Naruto stood atop the beast.
It died without so much as a final cry.
Naruto redistributed the absorbed nutrients to the surrounding plants, letting the forest flourish from the sacrifice.
He then turned his gaze to Karin, who was still trembling in fear, and gracefully leaped down from the bear's back.
"Are you alright?"
His voice was gentle.
Karin snapped back to reality, warmth flooding through her at the presence of the young man before her.
His chakra, his very blood—it felt familiar. Safe.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating Naruto as he bent down, offering her a smile.
Karin's breath hitched.
He's... so handsome.
She remained frozen, dazed, until Naruto helped her up. Only then did she regain some composure.
"What? Were you scared?"
"Ah... I... I'm fine."
She lowered her head in embarrassment, unable to meet his gaze.
"Th-Thank you for saving me."
Naruto chuckled. "You're welcome. But tell me, why didn't you run?"
"You have a massive chakra reserve. Even if you didn't want to fight, escaping should have been easy."
Karin's face turned an even deeper shade of red.
"I... I forgot..."
Naruto could feel it now—a faint sense of kinship. The blood of the Uzumaki clan ran through her veins, just as it did his.
Raising a hand, he gently ruffled her hair.
"It's okay. Come home with me."
Home?
Karin's mind blanked.
She had no real knowledge of teleportation jutsu, likely only the most basic Academy techniques. If she was lucky, she knew the Three Basic Jutsu—if not, even those might be beyond her grasp.
Why would Kusagakure bother training their personal chakra battery?
"I... I got separated from my teammates... I..."
Karin could hardly process what was happening. No one—not since her mother—had ever spoken to her with such kindness.
She stammered, unable to form coherent words.
Naruto smiled as he reassured her. "I said, after this exam, come home with me."
"Your mother will be here soon."
"Huh?"
Karin stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Her mind struggled to keep up with his words.
"You must be starving. Let's eat first. Then we'll head to the Central Tower."
"I..."
Dizziness overtook her.
Naruto didn't push her. Taking her small hand in his, he gently led her forward.
Too much information. Years of oppression had left her fragile, and she needed time to process everything.
As they walked, Naruto gave her a brief explanation of the situation.
Karin remained in a daze.
If not for Naruto holding her hand, she might have simply stood there in a stupor.
"M-My name is Karin... I'm a Genin from Kusagakure..."
The moment she introduced herself, she unconsciously mirrored Hinata's nervous mannerisms.
For the third time, she repeated the same line without realizing it.
Naruto turned and smiled warmly. "I know. My name is Uzumaki Naruto."
"Your name is Uzumaki Karin."
She didn't refute him.
Instead, she lowered her head and took a step closer to him.
Her shy demeanor was on par with Hinata's.
Of course, Naruto knew her true nature wasn't like this. Karin, much like her mother, had a fiery temper and an indomitable will.
She just hadn't been given the chance to express it yet.
Kusagakure had suppressed her for so long, leaving her in a suffocating existence.
"Do you remember your last name?"
"We are among the few remaining survivors of the Uzumaki Clan."
"My mother was also rescued when Uzushio fell."
"It's possible she knew your mother."
"..."
Karin nodded softly, looking unexpectedly obedient.
Naruto couldn't resist teasing her. "Maybe you'll start calling me 'big brother' soon."
Buzz—
Wait.
Naruto's senses sharpened.
Holding Karin's hand, he extended his chakra perception.
Severe malnutrition.
His expression darkened.
Lifting her sleeve, he found it—
A fresh bite mark on her arm.
"So... they really were using you like that."
Karin lowered her head, feeling inferior and not daring to meet Naruto's gaze.
Naruto frowned, observing her carefully. He noticed the bite mark on her arm—it was faint, as if the person who bit her had been gentle. It had to be her mother.
But even a shallow bite mark wouldn't fade so quickly. If Karin returned to Kusagakure and found that her mother was gone, the village's ninjas—having lost their "mobile power bank"—would surely inspect her. They would notice the bite mark and realize what had happened.
"Something's not right," Naruto muttered to himself.
He realized he had been too naive. Since Karin was brought here for the Chunin Exams, it was likely her situation had already been exposed. It was just that few people knew the full details.
"You did great," Naruto said, gently patting her head. "Without you, your mother wouldn't have lasted as long as she did."
Naruto felt a deep sense of sympathy for the poor girl.
As they walked, Naruto secretly transferred nutrients into Karin's chakra-deprived body. Her pale complexion slowly turned healthier, her cheeks taking on a rosy hue. She felt warmth spread through her body and heart.
From time to time, she would sneak glances at Naruto, who walked ahead, still holding her hand.
"So warm…"
A flustered feeling bubbled inside her, and she felt as though steam was rising from her head.
Of course, she wasn't oblivious—she could feel the energy Naruto was passing to her. For a moment, she felt dazed.
"Mom... I think I've found the reason to keep living."
"Hmm?" Naruto asked, glancing back.
"No... it's nothing!" Karin quickly stammered, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.
"We're here," Naruto announced.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Sakura and Sasuke appeared in front of them.
Both of them widened their eyes.
Sasuke got straight to the point. "Naruto, is this the person you were looking for?"
Sakura, ever perceptive, noticed Karin's hair color. "Her hair is the same as Aunt Kushina's... Naruto, could she be—?"
"Yeah," Naruto confirmed with a chuckle. "Her name is Uzumaki Karin. She's one of the few remaining survivors of the Uzumaki clan. After the exam, I'll take her home."
"Hello… hello… hello!" Sakura's eyes lit up.
She was adorable—just like Hinata! No wonder Ino had always loved teasing Hinata when they were little. It all made sense now.
"Aunt Kushina will definitely love her," Sakura thought aloud. "She's so cute!"
As soon as she said it, Karin, much like Hinata, practically turned into a steaming kettle, overwhelmed with embarrassment.
"Th-Thank you," she murmured, head still lowered.
Sakura took her hand warmly. "No need to be shy. Come sit with us."
Sasuke glanced at Naruto before saying, "Naruto, I'm hungry."
Naruto smirked. "Oh? Are you really hungry?"