"You… what do you want, little brat?"
The two Genin from Kusagakure had noticed Naruto some time ago. But because he still looked like a child and wasn't wearing a Konoha forehead protector, they dismissed him as irrelevant.
After all, how strong could someone be if they were hanging around with trash like Karin?
It was thanks to these two that Karin was even able to take part in the Chūnin Exams.
In their eyes, Karin had only one purpose: to serve as a blood pack—a tool to restore Chakra and stamina.
---
Terumi Mei: "I never expected even weak villages like Kusagakure to have such an ugly side."
Fourth Raikage: "Hmph. The weaker the nation, the more corrupt its internal affairs are. I've seen this too many times."
Ohnoki: "That's why small villages keep rising and falling. If they can't even maintain order internally, how can they defend themselves from external threats?"
Fourth Kazekage, Rasa: "Indeed. I agree completely."
Orochimaru: "Isn't that because you Five Great Nations divided the tailed beasts among yourselves?"
Ohnoki: "Ahem…"
Deidara: "What's the matter? Did the old man choke?"
Uchiha Madara: "Hashirama, this is all your fault.
I told you not to hand over the tailed beasts.
If anyone dared to oppose us, I could've just sent my Susanoo on a stroll through their village.
But no—you had to beg each of them personally.
This soft-heartedness of Konoha has been passed down through generations!"
Senju Hashirama: "(ಥ _ ಥ)"
Senju Tobirama: "Big Brother, can you be more assertive for once? Why do you always let Madara push you around?"
Hashirama: "It's Madara, after all..."
Tobirama: "..."
---
Back in the Forest of Death...
On a dark screen, Uzumaki Naruto stood silently in front of Karin.
Looking at his back, Karin felt something unfamiliar rise within her—a sense of being protected.
Ever since the Uzumaki clan was wiped out, she had been looked down upon wherever she went. It was as though her red hair alone brought misfortune to those around her.
---
Uzumaki Kushina: "I was treated like that when I first came to Konoha too. Why is there so much prejudice against red hair?"
Minato: "Kushina, don't say that. I always thought your hair was beautiful."
Konan: "Nagato, I think your red hair looks good too."
Nagato: "Really?"
Konan: "Yeah, really. Oh—and I need to stock up on more Explosive Tags later."
---
"You… you're not actually thinking of fighting the two of us, are you?"
The Kusagakure Genin sneered in disbelief. They were hailed as the strongest of their generation.
Within Kusagakure, they had almost no equals.
But Naruto didn't say a word. His cold stare said everything.
"How dare this brat look down on us!"
"Kage-Shadow Explosive Palm!"
The two charged at Naruto from both sides.
"This is our Kusagakure's most powerful taijutsu technique! Die, you little runt!"
Seeing Naruto remain still, they grew more confident.
"This kid must be frozen in fear. Once we beat him up, he'll never dare raise his head again!"
But the next second—
Whoosh!
Naruto's figure vanished!
Their attacks missed completely, nearly causing them to crash into each other.
"Where is he? Where did that little devil go?!"
Then, Naruto's voice came from above.
"Your taijutsu is quite interesting."
The moment they looked up, Naruto had already descended, landing a powerful punch on each of them.
BOOM!
The sheer force of the strike caused the earth beneath them to collapse.
With a single move, both Kusagakure ninjas were incapacitated—every bone in their bodies shattered.
"D-Damn it… Karin… hurry… save us…"
They were still alive—not due to their strength, but because Naruto had spared them deliberately.
Now, the choice was Karin's to make.
"You… what are you standing there for? Hurry up and heal us! You want to stay in Kusagakure, right? Without us, you're nothing!"
"It hurts! Karin, bite me! I'll heal if you let me bite you!"
Karin lowered her head in silence. No one could tell what she was thinking.
"You deaf, you piece of garbage?! You're just like your useless mother!"
"You want to end up like her too?"
Karin's head slowly lifted. A strange smile spread across her lips as she began walking toward the two.
"Yes, that's more like it. If you help us, we'll vouch for you back in the village!"
"Come on! Hurry up! I'm dying here!"
Karin stopped right in front of them. But instead of crouching to help, she stared down coldly.
"What's with that look? Don't forget your place in Kusagakure!"
"Oh…"
Karin finally let out a laugh. She pushed her glasses up with one hand—the only thing her mother had left behind.
Her mother had only managed to remain in Kusagakure by serving as a living pill, allowing anyone to bite her and restore their Chakra.
In the end, Karin's mother died—her Chakra drained one too many times.
"You disgusting scum… even the way you beg is arrogant."
"What did you just say?!"
One of them finally sensed something was wrong—but it was too late.
"Go to hell!!!"
Karin drew upon all her strength and punched down.
This time, the latent power of the Uzumaki bloodline fully awakened!
BANG!
The head of the Kusagakure ninja burst like a watermelon—yet Karin's expression remained unnervingly calm.
She stared at the blood on her hands, disgusted.
"Disgusting. Just thinking about being a human pill for you makes me nauseous."
"W-Wait! You're right. If you kill me, your hands will be stained. Don't do it!"
The remaining ninja trembled in fear, his body betraying him as yellow fluid leaked from below.
The proud prodigy of Kusagakure… reduced to nothing but a terrified wreck.
"You're right," Karin said quietly. "I shouldn't dirty my hands."
Seeing her hesitate, the ninja felt hope surge.
If she doesn't kill me… the patrolling Konoha ninjas might find me and save me!
CRACK!
His hopeful fantasy ended with a final stomp from Karin.
His head smashed into the ground—his life snuffed out.
"You're right," she said coldly. "I shouldn't have used my hands."
Karin's entire body trembled—not from fear, but from the weight of her own decision.
Her hatred for Kusagakure had been fully unleashed.
She exhaled deeply… as though she had finally let something go.
"Thank you, Naruto."
"Huh? Thank me? There's no need."
Naruto looked curiously at Karin.
As a fellow member of the Uzumaki clan, he couldn't help but wonder—why didn't he have the same healing powers?
Driven by curiosity and scientific spirit, Naruto tilted his head.
"Hey… Karin. Can I try biting you once?"
"???"
"Oh, don't worry—I don't like biting places other people have bitten. Is there a spot that hasn't been used?"
"Shut up! You idiot!!!"
Karin's shriek echoed through the Forest of Death.
Yet, despite everything that had happened… the air between them was strangely warm.
---