Naruto and Karin still had no idea that before they had even set foot inside Kusagakure, Soji had already arranged everything for them!
Not only that, Kusagakure's higher-ups had set a trap specifically for them!
They were simply waiting for Naruto and Karin to enter Kusagakure's sphere of influence. Once Karin was alone, they would capture her and use her to threaten Naruto.
Compared to the help Naruto's Jinchuriki Chakra would provide in opening the "Box of Paradise," Karin's ability to serve as a walking spring was not particularly valued by Kusagakure.
After all, if Kusagakure's plan succeeded, a mere walking spring like Karin would not be worth their notice!
Furthermore, the mission Soji had assigned Naruto and Karin—to go to Kusagakure and steal the "Box of Paradise"—had never had any chance of being completed.
That was because the "Box of Paradise" had always been under the control of Hozuki Castle's lord, Mui. It was not stored in Kusagakure at all.
Even if Naruto and Karin turned all of Kusagakure upside down, they would never find the Six Paths Tool known as the "Box of Paradise" there.
All that could be said was that Naruto and Karin had become Soji's employees.
As for all this, the two poor kids remained completely in the dark.
Of course, with Soji controlling the overall situation from behind the scenes, he would not let Naruto and Karin come to harm.
After all, besides obtaining the "Box of Paradise," Hozuki Castle's lord Mui was also one of Soji's targets!
Well, mainly because Mui's abilities made him perfectly suited to be a prison warden!
And Soji happened to be lacking someone with that kind of talent.
Even if he did not lure Mui to the Land of Snow and instead let him remain the lord of