The Chūnin Exam elimination rounds, held after the Forest of Death phase, were about to begin. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, a mix of excitement and tension at the unknown. The genin stood watching as the match schedule was posted by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Kaien, quietly beside Akari and Tsunade, observed every expression, every energy flow with his Eyes of Infinity.
As the matches were about to begin, Kaien sensed a familiar energy signature—distant but unmistakably resonant with his own. He turned to see a young girl with flaming red hair and glasses standing with a team from the Hidden Grass Village. She exuded a strong Uzumaki chakra, tinged by frustration and loneliness.
It was Karin Uzumaki, a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, like Naruto.
"Mom," Kaien whispered to Akari, his voice curious. "Look. She has the same colors as us. She seems sad and a little lost."
Akari's eyes widened. "An Uzumaki… with hair like ours," she murmured.
Tsunade, alerted, observed Karin too. "Interesting," she said. "Her chakra… it's unusual. She has detection and healing abilities."
During a pause in the announcements, Kaien, guided by intuition, stepped toward Karin. Akari and Tsunade followed quietly.
"Hello," Kaien offered with his usual gentle smile. "Your hair is beautiful. It's like mine and my mother's."
Startled by his direct approach and the purity in his gaze, Karin stepped back defensively. "Who… who are you?" she asked, wary.
"I'm Kaien. This is , Akari. And Tsunade is family too."
Akari smiled warmly. "We're from the Uzumaki clan," she gently explained, showing her own red hair. "Like you, it seems."
Karin looked stunned. "The... clan was destroyed," she stammered, disbelief etched on her face.
"No," Kaien said with his trademark honesty. "Not entirely. Naruto is an Uzumaki too. He's got blond hair, but he has the same strong heart as us."
Karin glanced at Naruto, who was arguing loudly with Kiba. A spark of hope kindled in her eyes. The conversation flowed, with Kaien asking about her journey and sensing her loneliness and desire to belong.
"You don't look happy here," Kaien observed kindly. "You seem tired. Would you like to stay with my mom and me? We have a big home. You'd be safe."
Karin was stunned—no one had ever offered her such a thing. Tears welled. "But… my team…"
"They're using you," Kaien replied frankly. "You're a flower that deserves a garden, not a cage."
Akari placed a comforting hand on Karin's shoulder. "Akari is right. We can give you a home. A place where your gifts will be valued."
Tsunade added pragmatically, "Your team's leader, Shigeru, is a bully. You'd be better off here. We can arrange your transfer."
Overwhelmed, Karin nodded, tears of relief streaming down her face. Karin Uzumaki chose to stay with Kaien and Akari. She felt a connection she'd never known before.
Meanwhile, Sasuke prepared for his match against Yoroi Akado. Since Kaien's intervention in the Forest of Death and the revelation about Itachi, Sasuke had changed. His hatred had evolved into a colder, more calculated determination. His evolved Sharingan gave him extraordinary clarity, enabling him to perceive weaknesses and intentions like never before.
Before the match, Kaien approached him. "Sasuke," he said softly, "you're stronger now. Your heart is lighter."
Sasuke looked surprised. "Thanks to you. I… I see differently now. Hate… it was poison."
"Yes," Kaien agreed. "Hate blinds you. You can be strong without it."
Sasuke paused, then spoke with calm conviction: "I won't abandon my vengeance. But… I won't let it control me anymore. I'll only face Itachi if he truly deserves it. And when I do, it won't be from hate—it'll be to end his burden."
Kaien smiled, his cosmic eyes luminous. "That's a good path, Sasuke. You're a phoenix reborn. You can do good with your strength."
Sasuke Uchiha chose to abandon pure hatred. His quest for vengeance remained, but now tempered by deeper understanding—no longer a consuming inferno. He was ready to confront Itachi not with blind rage, but with the clarity of a warrior seeking truth.
After the preliminary trials, as the teams rested, Kaien approached Akari and Tsunade.
"Mom, Tsunade," he began, his Eyes of Infinity fixed on them. They drifted into a private space, insulated from the arena's bustle. "Sasuke is so sad for his mother. I can bring her back. He deserves her."
Akari was taken aback, tears welling—she had herself been revived by Kaien and knew what it meant. "My dear… That is a huge power. But… it's a monumental decision."
Tsunade placed a steady hand on Kaien's shoulder. "Bringing someone back is not trivial. There are consequences. But… for Mikoto Uchiha… she was a good woman. And Sasuke has suffered so much."
Kaien nodded assuredly. "I know. I see the consequences. But her soul is whole. She's not broken. She's just… absent." He looked at his mother. "Mom, if you agree… I can do it."
Akari saw the purity and resolve in his eyes. She recalled her own resurrection and the gift it represented. "Yes, my love," she said tearfully. "I agree. Do it."
Tsunade nodded after a contemplative pause. "This is your decision alone, Kaien. If it's for Sasuke's good, I agree too—but it must remain an absolute secret."
With their approval, Kaien prepared. He led Sasuke, Akari, and Tsunade to an isolated spot: the Uchiha clan cemetery. Before the gravestone of Mikoto Uchiha, Kaien closed his eyes. The Infinity energy resonated from him—not explosively, but as a gentle yet infinitely powerful pulse, a melody of creation echoing through life and death itself.
The ground quivered. Soft light engulfed the grave. Gradually, a form materialized—made of light and stardust. Mikoto Uchiha appeared, whole and intact, her eyes fluttering open.
"Sasuke…?" she breathed, voice tender and amazed.
Sasuke, stunned, took her into his arms, crying tears of pure, untainted joy.
It was a reunion beyond imagination—a miracle orchestrated by the Heir of Infinity.
Mikoto, comprehending the truth, embraced Kaien, Akari, and Tsunade, her gratitude boundless. She welcomed Sasuke's new, purposeful path and became a renewed pillar of strength for him.
The final stages of the Chūnin Exams loomed, but Konoha had already been forever changed by Kaien's arrival. With Karin living alongside them and Mikoto Uchiha restored, the threads of fate were now reshaped under the gentle influence of the red‑haired child with Eyes of Infinity. The light of the Infinite continued to spread—transforming hearts and fates alike.