Actually, Naruto had arrived long ago.
He had just been hiding nearby, concealing his presence completely.
The purpose was simple: to give Karin some actual combat experience.
It was also to test whether Karin could remain calm when facing danger.
These guys were just third-rate goods. The only jutsu they could use was basic attack ninjutsu like Water Confusion Wave.
No matter what happened, Naruto was confident he could protect Karin's safety.
And Karin had truly given Naruto a pleasant surprise.
At the moment of life and death, Karin, having awakened her potential, had actually used Adamantine Sealing Chains.
This was much clearer than those dry written records.
Naruto immediately grasped the key to this secret technique and released the same Adamantine Sealing Chains the next moment.
But compared to Karin's four slender little chains, each chain Naruto released was as thick as a calf.
Using it for the first time without much experience, he seemed to have overdone it, releasing dozens of chains at once.
If it were any other Uzumaki clan member, instantly releasing such a massive scale of Adamantine Sealing Chains would drain their chakra and consume their life force.
But for the current Naruto, it didn't matter.
Not to mention his chakra that had expanded again as his body grew, even if it consumed life force, with his current physical strength, he could afford it completely.
The countless chains summoned by Adamantine Sealing Chains shrieked through the air, catching Hidan mid-flight and driving him straight down into the ground with the force of a giant's palm.
This scene not only left Karin somewhat dumbfounded but also made Kurama, who was watching from inside Naruto's body, unable to help but complain.
How does this brat get to use the same technique that held me captive for so long?
He looked at Naruto's Adamantine Sealing Chains, which had become thick and dense due to chakra enhancement, then recalled the chains that Kushina Uzumaki had used to bind him years ago.
He felt that mother and son were each more outrageous than the last.
This secret technique called Adamantine Sealing Chains seemed to have some kind of bonus when dealing with tailed beasts, with both duration and sealing power far exceeding what it showed against ordinary ninja.
Perhaps this was also intentional by the Uzumaki clan ancestors who created this technique.
Retracting the chains, Naruto was about to say something to Karin when he suddenly turned back to look at Hidan, who had been smashed down.
"Ha... ha, so painful! It really hurts! How wonderful..."
Several of his bones seemed to be broken, and his whole body was convulsing as he straightened up again, with an excited, bloodthirsty smile on his face.
Karin felt a chill, but the well-traveled Naruto just stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Ah... so that's his deal. One of those freaks who gets stronger when they're in pain. Masochism, wasn't it? Honestly, the Grand Line's full of weirdos like that.
"Don't discriminate against such people, Karin."
This comment left Karin stunned, and before she could react, the guy opposite started screaming loudly first.
"I'm immortal! Haha! I've decided! I'll sacrifice you to the evil god first!"
With that declaration, Hidan yanked hard with his palm, and the metal rope connected to the scythe handle quickly retracted, pulling back the bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe that had been casually thrown on the ground.
This guy held his head with both hands, and after his bones made crackling sounds for a while, he actually recovered completely.
This guy's vitality is no weaker than that old snake's.
Naruto observed Hidan lunging at him again, silently evaluating him in his mind.
His combat ability is just a bit lacking.
Chains shot out again, this time with controlled numbers, just a few.
But these few chains were enough to prevent Hidan from fighting back effectively.
Hidan's physical abilities seemed far superior to ordinary people, but he didn't seem to have mastered any ninjutsu, or at least he hadn't used any in this battle.
His attack methods were wide open, and Naruto didn't even need to use Observation Haki to clearly predict his opponent's movements.
It could only be said that what the opponent was currently displaying was even inferior to those bounty hunters who had pursued them.
Clang!
In Naruto's hands, Adamantine Sealing Chains seemed to completely become an offensive jutsu.
Hidan in midair was whipped around like a spinning top by several chains. He barely managed to block the chain attacks by holding his Triple-Bladed Scythe in front of him.
But the next moment, several other chains shot from all directions like venomous snakes, instantly piercing through his chest.
This time Naruto didn't block Karin's eyes.
Earlier he had treated her as a child, but now he realized something important.
Since Karin would eventually need to survive independently, facing such scenes was inevitable. Better to let her adapt now.
Contrary to Naruto's expectations, Karin seemed to have no significant emotional reaction to the pierced Hidan.
Right, this time Naruto hadn't thought it through properly.
Living in Kusagakure under endless exploitation, what scenes hadn't Karin witnessed? She herself was often bitten until covered in wounds.
"Bastard! It hurts so much!"
At this moment, Hidan, suspended in midair like some twisted puppet, still roared with full vigor.
It seemed the blood flowing from his body hadn't weakened him much at all.
Hidan even had the strength to throw the ritual spike he held in his other hand downward.
Of course, that thing was directly caught by Naruto and thrown back along the same path.
This time it pierced straight through his neck.
Strangely, Hidan just pulled out the ritual spike and still showed no weakness, continuing to curse loudly.
This time really surprised Naruto.
He lowered the opponent's height and, not caring about potential friendly fire, walked closer to observe carefully.
Not a substitution, not a puppet, and not some kind of illusion.
The opponent had truly withstood these injuries with his physical body.
"Interesting..."
Seeing that his enemy not only wasn't afraid but was boldly walking into his attack range, Hidan immediately showed a bloodthirsty smile.
"I told you, I'm favored by the evil god! I'm immortal!"
He shouted loudly but at the same time swung his Triple-Bladed Scythe rapidly toward Naruto's head with his other hand.
Got him!
Even if he couldn't kill Naruto directly, as long as he could obtain a drop of the opponent's blood, Hidan was confident he could force him to die using the secret technique "Death Controlling Possessed Blood."
Karin in the distance saw this scene and almost exhausted her chakra to release Adamantine Sealing Chains again.
But the next moment she stopped.
Clang.
Naruto didn't even dodge. When the Triple-Bladed Scythe's blade hit his temple, it was blocked by his solid Armament Haki.
Of course, to Hidan, who couldn't see Haki, it looked like Naruto had withstood his attack with just his skin.
Not even a drop of blood came out.
What kind of... monster is this?
For the first time, Hidan experienced the kind of helpless feeling that others had when facing him.
Naruto didn't care how much shock his opponent's heart had received.
After confirming that Hidan really wouldn't die from fatal injuries, an experimental idea suddenly appeared in his mind.
"From now on, we'll be spending quite a while together."
Naruto's face showed a smile as brilliant as sunshine.