["This... Naruto went out just to find her?"]
[Sasuke's brow twitched.]
[He looked at the young girl who returned with Naruto... no, to be more accurate, she was carried back in Naruto's arms.]
[Sakura's eyes also widened.]
[Oh no!]
[Just by not paying attention for a moment, how did another one show up?!]
["Naruto-kun... who is she?"]
[Sakura's expression was strange.]
[After seeing the red-haired girl in Naruto's arms clearly, she felt a bit jealous.]
["Karin."]
["Uzumaki Karin."]
[As he spoke, Naruto looked down at the girl in his arms.]
[He wondered if she had fainted, just like Hinata used to when she was hungry.]
[Or perhaps she had replenished too much and her body entered a dormant state to better absorb it... or maybe his arms were truly just that warm and comfortable.]
[At this moment, Karin was sound asleep, with a sweet curve still lingering at the corner of her mouth.]
["Karin?"]
["Uzumaki Karin?"]
[Sasuke and Sakura were startled.]
[That surname...]
[Then, Sasuke suddenly frowned and said with some uncertainty, "Naruto, I think I saw her during the first exam."]
["She should have been wearing a Kusagakure forehead protector, right?"]
["Yeah, but I've already thrown away that shameful forehead protector."]
[Hearing this, Sasuke didn't ask any further.]
[He could vaguely sense that although Naruto looked the same as usual, his heart was not at peace... it was like the prelude to a volcanic eruption.]
[Sakura carefully reached out and touched Karin's beautiful long red hair.]
[The moment she touched it and saw it clearly.]
[Sakura's expression changed slightly.]
[Even Sasuke could sense that something was wrong.]
[Let alone Sakura, whose heart had long since been devoted to Naruto?]
["Uzumaki... the same surname as Aunt Kushina and Naruto-kun... is she a survivor from the Land of Whirlpools?"]
["Yes, I felt a connection through our bloodline during the first exam... I went out just now to find her."]
["She is indeed one of the few survivors of the Uzumaki Clan."]
[Kusa Ninja...]
[Sakura and Sasuke thought of Orochimaru almost at the same time.]
[Because Orochimaru had previously been wearing a Kusagakure forehead protector.]
["Let's go, to the Central Tower."]
["I'm taking her home."]
[A gentle smile hung on the corner of Naruto's mouth.]
[But Sakura and Sasuke felt a chill down their spines.]
[They had never seen Naruto this angry before.]
["Mm-hmm!" Sakura nodded quickly.]
[Sasuke silently went to carry the prey they had hunted.]
[The two were very taciturn and didn't ask what had happened.]
[However, they didn't expect Karin to wake up so quickly.]
[Perhaps out of fear of losing everything, she slept very lightly.]
[She woke up with a start while the three were talking.]
[With a soft moan.]
[The eyes of all three were drawn to her.]
[As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw that handsome face.]
[Karin dazed for a moment, then turned her gaze away shyly.]
[As she looked away, she happened to see Sakura and Sasuke beside Naruto.]
[For a moment, the air seemed to go silent.]
["Karin, they are my partners."]
["Sakura Haruno, and Uchiha Sasuke."]
[Naruto took the initiative to break the awkwardness.]
["Um... hello."]
[Karin nodded timidly.]
[Then she struggled slightly and looked at Naruto with wide eyes.]
[Although she was very reluctant, for now... she should get down and walk by herself.]
[Naruto chuckled.]
[After sensing and confirming that Karin was in good condition, he set her down.]
[Those rosy cheeks, combined with that beautiful red hair, were incredibly cute.]
["Aunt Kushina will definitely like you, Karin," Sakura took the initiative to speak.]
["Is... will she?" Karin raised her head, looking at Sakura earnestly and with some anticipation.]
["Of course!" Sakura immediately gave her assurance.]
["You are a member of the Uzumaki Clan, and you have beautiful red hair just like Aunt Kushina."]
["And you're so cute and pretty, how could anyone dislike you?"]
["Th... thank you~" Karin lowered her head slightly, her face flushing red.]
[Seeing this, Sakura, who originally had a natural trace of hostility, couldn't help but be dazed for a moment.]
[In Karin, she seemed to see a shadow of Hinata.]
[So she increased her efforts.]
[She took Karin's slender hand and said softly, "Everyone will definitely like you."]
["Otherwise, Naruto-kun wouldn't have carried you all the way back."]
["Naruto-kun..."]
[Sakura whispered a few words.]
[Visibly, Karin's face heated up, quickly becoming as red as her beautiful long hair.]
[Sakura's eyes lit up.]
[As expected, she hadn't guessed wrong!]
[Looking at the steam rising from the top of Karin's head.]
[Sakura instinctively touched Karin's forehead.]
[So hot!]
[Just like Hinata... she's a girl who gets embarrassed very easily.]
[Suddenly, Sakura understood why Ino always liked to tease Hinata.]
[This is so fun~]
[So cute~]
[Seeing this, Naruto shook his head helplessly.]
[No matter how much the two lowered their voices, he could hear everything clearly.]
[Looking at the backs of Karin and Sakura.]
[Naruto's mind suddenly recalled Karin's strange behavior from before.]
[He felt... something wasn't quite right.]
[Should he stop Sakura?]
[However, seeing Sakura laughing so happily and Karin not resisting at all.]
[Naruto felt it was better to let nature take its course.]
[Perhaps this would help Karin move out of the shadows and unlock the shackles on her heart faster.]
Mei Terumī: "Intuition tells me that once Karin lets herself go, Black-framed Naruto-kun might regret his current decision."
Kurotsuchi: "Pfft~"
Kurotsuchi: "Letting herself go... Black-framed Naruto-kun will regret it? Surely it won't come to that?"
Mabui: "It absolutely will."
Samui: "In my opinion, Karin... well... will go crazy."
Ino Yamanaka: "Heehee~ How should I put it, I feel... Karin will become the type who's bad at it but loves to play."
Sakura Haruno: "Like you?"
Sakura Haruno: "The type who only dares to talk big?"
Ino rolled her eyes at Sakura.
In fact, except for Red Bean, no one could really talk about anyone else.
But... Anko is truly fierce.
[Noon.]
[To take care of Karin.]
[Team 7's speed was not fast.]
[And the Forest of Death was not small.]
[Looking at the sky and the increasingly clear Central Tower in their field of vision.]
[Naruto decided to rest for a while.]
[Mainly to take care of Karin.]
["Let's eat first."]
[Hearing this, Sasuke without a word brought out all the prey.]
[Then he skillfully went to start a fire.]
[In fact, both Sasuke and Sakura were already hungry...]
[Watching the busy Sasuke and Sakura, Karin felt a bit lost.]
["It's okay, just leave it to them."]
[Rustle—]
[As soon as the words fell, several thick tree roots burst out from the ground.]
[Then they transformed at an extremely fast speed.]
[Soon, a simple dining table and chairs appeared before the two of them.]
[Wood Release: Furniture Technique.]