The sword returned to its sheath. Naruto was still the same Naruto. The ominous power had not altered him negatively. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, while Sasuke raised his head, his tone heavy and filled with desire.
"Naruto, what kind of power was that just now?" Sasuke asked, his gaze locked on the sword at Naruto's waist. "What's the story with that sword?"
He wanted to possess it too. As he spoke, his eyes lingered on the other blade hanging at Naruto's waist, which paired with the dark red sword. It likely held similar power, if not greater. Naruto had only wielded it after transforming into that ominous, more powerful form.
Naruto placed a hand on his abdomen. "Have you heard the rumor?" he asked.
Sasuke froze, while Sakura immediately recalled. "Is it about you?" she asked.
Naruto nodded, his voice calm. "I have a beast sealed within me, called the Nine-Tails. The power I just used was from it."
Both Sasuke and Sakura opened their mouths but found nothing to say. Power was the source of childhood tragedies. Words of comfort? Naruto seemed not to need them. And with that attitude, Sasuke realized he could never express, in such a detached tone, the pain that had haunted him for so many years.
Naruto lifted his head, glancing toward a nearby tree. "Let's go. That man probably won't return. The exam doesn't seem to be stopped."
His gaze fell on the enormous tree crown, lush and green, concealing two masked Anbu.
"He's discovered us," one of the Anbu murmured.
"The Jinchuriki has an incredibly strong sensory ability; that's no surprise," the other replied.
"Those eyes, truly commanding; even from this distance, they send chills down my spine."
"First, find Anko, then report to Lord Hokage."
"What a hassle."
A serious incident had erupted during the Chunin Exams. The S-rank rogue ninja Orochimaru had infiltrated the village. Compared to another issue—"the Jinchuriki unknowingly grasping the power of the Nine-Tails"—the latter would undoubtedly cause even more chaos for the village. They would even have to express their gratitude: "Thank you very much, Lord Orochimaru." If it weren't for him, they wouldn't have known this information.
The undercurrents swirled but hardly affected the Chunin Exams. The "Forest of Death" had turned into a bloody hunting ground. The strong acted without restraint, yet the weak had their survival methods as well.
Behind a tall rock face, three Grass ninja sat huddled together.
"It's really too slow!" one complained while gnawing on grass roots. "We agreed to meet after entering; where are those three?" He referred to the genin from their village.
The person next to him frowned. "They wouldn't have already been taken out, would they?"
"Not impossible," the one chewing grass sighed. "Others should be fine, but if they encountered that red-haired brat from Sunagakure, it would be a disaster."
"Forget it, let's not wait for them. We'll change our tactics. Waiting like this is just wasting time."
"Karin!" he called out.
The red-haired girl responded nervously, "Yes, I'm here."
The Grass ninja took out a scroll marked with the character for "Heaven." "Take this."
Karin froze, letting out a small sound of confusion. Such an important item—why would they trust her with it? She didn't want to accept. Abnormality was rarely a good sign.
"Go out and act as bait," the man ordered coldly. "If others see you alone with the scroll, they'll definitely come after you. We will hide nearby to ambush at the right time. We will surely meet with great success!"
Karin pouted. They talked so grandly of "great success." If they encountered weaker teams, she might just get injured. But if they faced a formidable opponent, they would definitely abandon her without a second thought.
"Hurry up!" The Grass ninja urged impatiently, shoving the scroll into her hands.
Reluctantly, Karin raised her hand. Just as her fingertips were about to touch the scroll, a voice sounded by their ears.
"A bit troublesome; just let us keep it safe."
In an instant, light flashed before them as a boy of average height appeared silently, snatching the scroll away. The three Grass ninja were taken aback.
How quick! Damn. This was clearly a strong enemy they could not handle. All three froze, hesitant to move. Following Naruto, the other two members of Team Seven landed.
Sakura looked at Karin. "Is she the girl you were looking for?"
Girl? Was she talking about herself? Karin raised her head, her red eyes meeting Naruto's over her glasses, confusion flooding her. Why would a strong ninja from Konoha be looking for such an ordinary Grass Genin?
"What's your name?" Naruto asked.
"Karin, from the Uzumaki clan," she answered honestly.
"Just as I thought," Naruto said with a bright smile. "I'm also an Uzumaki. Naruto Uzumaki! We must be related."
Related? "But your hair—" Karin started to point but couldn't finish her sentence. Then a look of fear crossed her face, and she instinctively warned, "Be careful!"
Her two teammates suddenly attacked. They didn't dare confront an enemy of this level head-on. But now, the blonde guy had his back to them. How arrogant! Did he truly look down on them?
One grabbed a shuriken and leaped up, aiming a thrust at Naruto's throat, shouting excitedly, "You arrogant brat, die!"
Yet by the time he landed, the shuriken hadn't even grazed Naruto's body. It was halted by a single finger. A tiny sphere of chakra solidified at Naruto's fingertip, impossibly tough, blocking the strike.
"Binding Technique Number Eight: Repulse."
A jutsu that defended against physical attacks.
"It's very rude to interrupt a reunion between clansmen." Naruto tossed the scroll to Sakura, raising his left hand to point at the forehead of the Grass ninja. "Stay still."
As soon as he spoke, the technique activated simultaneously.
"Binding Technique Number One: Seal."
The Grass ninja's hands ceased to move of their own accord, brutally twisting and binding behind his back. He fell in terror. The other Grass ninja was also swiftly subdued by Sasuke. With these two nuisances dealt with, Naruto turned his attention back to Karin.
"What was wrong with my hair?" he asked.
"Our Uzumaki clan typically has red hair," Karin said, glancing at her subdued teammates nervously. "But yours is golden."
Naruto patiently replied, "My hair color is like my father's. So, my mother's hair must also be red," he continued. "It must be beautiful."
Knowing that Naruto was complimenting her hair, Karin couldn't help but blush. Just as she started to speak, Naruto's tone suddenly turned somber.
"What happened to your hands?" he asked, noticing the numerous bite marks on her hands, varying in size and age; clearly, they weren't self-inflicted.
"Naruto, you're in Konoha," Karin said, her gaze falling on his forehead protector. "It's different from my experience in the Village of Grass."
She paused, preparing to share her story. "After the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki clan lost its homeland. The surviving clansmen scattered across the world to escape the war. My mother was one of them, taking me to settle in the Village of Grass."
The unique physique of the Uzumaki clan was why they were accepted in the Village of Grass but also the source of all their suffering. As long as they were bitten, chakra could be replenished and wounds healed. Medical ninja were a rare resource, and thus, they were exploited. Karin's mother had been literally bitten to death by the villagers of the Village of Grass.
Having listened quietly, Naruto took a deep breath. "Is this how the Village of Grass treats you?"
Karin didn't look back; she lowered her head, her spirit dejected.
"I will rescue you from the Village of Grass," Naruto declared, eyeing her red hair. "I promise!"
Karin looked up, gazing at him. He smiled at her. "Just hang on a few more days until the exam is over. You'll be free from that cage."
Karin found herself lost in thought, her gaze steady. She felt that Naruto seemed to be shining, the color of his hair radiating throughout his being, golden and dazzling.
(End of Chapter)