---
Karin stared at Menma, bewildered by the sudden gentleness in his demeanor.
"Huh?"
Menma chuckled softly. "I felt the same way, which is why I didn't attack you. I'm Uzumaki Menma. And you?"
"Karin. My name is Karin," she replied, her voice laced with uncertainty.
The atmosphere shifted unexpectedly, leaving Karin momentarily at a loss. She had braced herself for the red-haired boy to dismiss her claims entirely. After all, it would make sense—two strangers from different villages meeting for the first time, with nothing to prove her words. Everything she said must have sounded like a lie. Who would believe her?
If Menma hadn't trusted her and had chosen to attack instead, it would have been the expected outcome. She was used to things like that.
Karin knew better than anyone the horrors of her past—how her mother had died, and how she herself had been treated like nothing in Kusagakure. She feared she would end up like her mother, forced into a life she didn't choose, used until her death. That kind of future terrified her. So, she had decided to take a gamble, even though the odds were slim. She was willing to risk everything.
Now, it seemed like she had made the right bet, but doubt still lingered in her mind.
Does he really believe me?
Menma watched her closely, his expression softening as he noticed the bewildered look on her face. A memory stirred within him—a distant moment from when he first arrived in this world, twelve years ago.
'Menma, I'm sorry for leaving you with such a heavy burden. But you're the older brother. You need to protect Naruto. Stay with him, eat well, rest well, and don't pick up any bad habits from Jiraiya-sensei. And… and… I'm sorry, Menma. I'm sorry… Naruto… I'm sorry…'
A red-haired woman's tear-streaked face flashed through his mind.
For twelve years, that image had been engraved in his memory. Although his connection to his parents in this world was faint, the life he lived now was undeniably a gift from them. He wasn't devoid of feeling; he wasn't heartless.
'Father, Mother, we may not have much of a bond, but you gave me this life. For that, I'm grateful. But the path I've chosen will inevitably put me at odds with Naruto.'
Menma took a deep breath, his gaze hardening with resolve. Without thinking, he reached out and gently patted Karin's head. Startled, Karin flinched, pulling back instinctively before forcing herself to stay still.
Noticing this, Menma quickly withdrew his hand and smiled gently.
"Karin? That's a nice name. So, what are your plans now? I doubt you want to return to Kusagakure, right?"
He studied her reaction carefully. Although he had already formed his own plan, he was curious to hear what she had in mind.
"Me? I don't know... I've lived in Kusagakure my whole life. My mother passed away a few years ago. I don't really have anywhere to go," she admitted, her voice tinged with bitterness.
For a girl as young as her, with no home and no one to turn to, the future seemed grim.
"Then…"
"Can I come with you? Maybe join the Hidden Leaf Village? I'm a sensor and a medical-nin. If I talk to the right people, I might be able to get in, right?"
Menma was taken aback by her bold request. She wasn't just asking for his trust—she was willing to stake her future on him. Was her intuition really that strong, or was she simply desperate?
'Does she really have no other option?' Menma thought.
People clung to hope when they had nothing left. But joining the Hidden Leaf? That was no small feat, especially since Menma himself was planning to leave Konoha soon.
After a brief silence, Menma nodded. "You can come with me, but are you sure you trust me?"
Karin blinked in surprise but quickly nodded, her voice more confident this time. "Yes! I trust you!"
"Alright, then. Stick with me, and I'll make sure you have a future."
Whether out of personal conviction or genuine sympathy, Menma was determined to help her. It felt right, both emotionally and logically.
Karin, though still uncertain of his true intentions, understood the essence of his words. Hesitation, fear, and confusion lingered, but she chose to believe in Menma. It was her best option.
"Yeah!" she nodded firmly, determination taking hold.
"Let's go."
Menma extended his hand toward her, and without hesitation, Karin placed hers in his. With a swift leap, the two vanished from the clearing, leaving behind the lifeless bodies of two Kusagakure ninja, their blood pooling beneath them.
This was just another scene within the Forest of Death.
After all, killing was a ninja's way of life.
---
"Is that all you have? The son of the Fourth Hokage and the last Uchiha? I must say, I'm disappointed," Orochimaru taunted, his voice dripping with malice. Disguised as a Grass ninja, he licked his lips, his gaze fixed on Naruto and Sasuke, both battered and struggling to catch their breath.
Naruto and Sasuke stood side by side, tense and wary, knowing they had little energy left for words. Their chests heaved with exhaustion, their faces grim. In stark contrast, Orochimaru remained untouched, his smile twisted with amusement. The gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
Unbeknownst to Naruto and Sasuke, Orochimaru wasn't fighting seriously. He was merely toying with them, testing Sasuke's potential. If he'd wanted to, he could have ended the battle in a heartbeat.
Naruto forced a grin and glanced at Sasuke. "Heh, looks like this is it for us, huh? But hey, at least Sakura will be safe. That's something, right?"
"Shut up, idiot!" Sasuke barked, his frustration boiling over. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. The thought of dying here, in the Forest of Death, filled him with rage. He had a mission—to avenge his clan and kill Itachi. He couldn't afford to die, not here, not now.
Sasuke felt a surge of chakra within him, something primal awakening. His vision sharpened, and a faint red hue appeared in his eyes—one tomoe in each iris.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Sasuke! Your eyes… they look like Kakashi-sensei's!"
Sasuke's hand instinctively went to his face. The clarity, the power—he knew what it was.
The Sharingan. I finally awakened it.
Confidence surged through Sasuke, replacing his earlier fear. He could feel his strength rising.
Orochimaru, observing from a distance, had nearly given up on Sasuke's potential. So he hadn't awakened the Sharingan yet… not like Itachi. The lack of the Uchiha's signature ability had been disappointing. But now, seeing the single tomoe in Sasuke's eyes, Orochimaru's excitement reignited. He does have the Sharingan!
Suppressing his growing anticipation, Orochimaru licked his lips and lunged forward, his form blurring with speed. Naruto and Sasuke barely had time to react before they were forced into another exchange. The sound of their clash reverberated through the forest.
Despite their newfound resolve, Naruto and Sasuke were still no match for Orochimaru. Even with Sasuke's Sharingan enhancing his reflexes and precision, the gap in skill remained overwhelming. Orochimaru methodically wore them down, testing Sasuke's limits.
From a hidden vantage point, Menma watched the scene unfold, his eyes narrowing as Naruto was thrown into a tree, rendered unconscious by Orochimaru's blow. Sasuke, meanwhile, was held firmly in Orochimaru's grasp.
Good. I'm not too late, Menma thought, staying in the shadows. He knew he couldn't intervene, not yet. If Sasuke saw him, it would ruin everything. As for Naruto… Menma's gaze briefly flickered toward his fallen brother. He didn't care whether Naruto lived or died. To Menma, Naruto was a stranger who shared his blood but not his ideals.
Orochimaru, unaware of Menma's presence, tightened his grip on Sasuke, his eyes gleaming with hunger. "Not bad, Sasuke-kun. You're quite impressive for your age. But compared to Itachi, you're still far behind."
"Itachi? How do you know about Itachi?" Sasuke gasped, his eyes widening, his struggles intensifying. The mention of his brother's name stirred a violent anger within him.
Orochimaru smirked, relishing the fury in Sasuke's eyes. "Yes, that's it. Remember this feeling, Sasuke-kun. I'll leave you a gift today. If you ever feel powerless, come find me."
With that, Orochimaru's neck stretched unnaturally long, his mouth opening wide to reveal sharp fangs. He bit down on Sasuke's neck, marking him with the Cursed Seal of Heaven—Orochimaru's "gift."
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