Kimimaro, Keep Fighting

The center of Kusagakure.

Inside a mud-brick house, a sturdy Grass Ninja stared at a red-haired woman and a red-haired girl wearing glasses.

His gaze burned with excitement.

A wounded ninja from the Land of Grass bit into the red-haired woman like a starving ghoul.

Something miraculous happened. Before long, the wounded ninjas had recovered and were able to keep fighting.

The red-haired woman's face was utterly pale. She looked so exhausted she might collapse at any moment, yet no one cared about her condition.

More and more wounded ninjas rushed in, then bit into parts of the red-haired woman's body that didn't yet bear teeth marks.

"Karin, are you hungry? There's still a little food by the bed. You can eat it."

"Mom, are you tired?"

"Yes, Mom's so tired. No matter where we go, we never have a home. Our home is gone."

Worried about her mother, Karin rushed forward and tried to push away the person biting her. "My mom needs to rest. Stop biting her!"

She was too weak to move these starving ghouls.

"This little girl has the Uzumaki Clan's ability too. Even without your mother, she can heal us. Do you want to take your mother's place right now?"

The red-haired woman hurriedly pleaded, "She's still little and doesn't know how to heal. I can keep going."

She didn't want Karin to endure this pain.

"Hmph! As long as you help us drive back the Kaguya Clan, you and your daughter can live safely in the village."

"Yes. The village will definitely win." The red-haired woman had no other choice.

The Uzumaki Clan had once been extremely powerful. But that strength wouldn't last forever. Fearing the Uzumaki Clan's power, the ninja villages joined forces and destroyed the Land of Whirlpools, where the clan had lived. The surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan were left to live under other people's roofs, always afraid they might be killed!

Karin lowered her head and sobbed quietly, afraid of losing her mother.

"It's so bloody out there, yet you people take turns biting a woman in here. It's disgusting." Naruto had spent more than half an hour searching Kusagakure. Only after catching someone who knew what was going on had he found the Uzumaki Clan members.

Naruto wasn't as conspicuous as the Kaguya Clan, and he'd deliberately hidden his tracks, so his appearance was rather sudden.

Besides the members of the Uzumaki Clan, four Kusagakure Chunins were inside the house. They all stared at Naruto in surprise.

"Who are you? You're not from the Kaguya Clan. How did you get here?"

The Grass Ninja village's leader shouted, both excited and terrified.

This needed to be dealt with quickly.

Naruto sneered. "Evil deeds bring their own punishment. Those with power should have kind hearts, but they should also stand up for what's right. I won't take your lives, but what happens to you in the end will be left to time."

"Eight Inner Gates, Gate of Life—open!"

A vast surge of chakra burst from Naruto, clinging to his body like green flames.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Like a blue beast, Naruto's feet moved too fast to see.

In the blink of an eye, he took down the four Chunins inside the house.

"Now that felt good."

Naruto let out a satisfied cry.

He had gained a clearer understanding of his current strength. He certainly wasn't going to wait around for the enemy to finish their Hand Seals and launch a ninjutsu, then foolishly console himself that he'd fought with honor.

The Eight Inner Gates unleashed the body's limits. As long as he kept burning through chakra, he couldn't afford to fight a drawn-out battle with the enemy.

Naruto flashed to the red-haired woman's side. "Ma'am, what's your name? Come with me."

The red-haired woman was too weak to stand. "There's still fighting up ahead. How can you get us out of here?"

Naruto could tell the woman still had some misgivings about him, but he didn't want to explain. To fulfill the conditions of his sign-in task, he needed to get the Uzumaki Clan members somewhere completely safe.

Returning to Konoha was the best choice.

Kushina Uzumaki was the Fourth Hokage's wife and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Konoha both feared and valued her. With Kushina Uzumaki's protection, these two surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan should be able to live in peace.

Naruto didn't give them a chance to refuse. He first carried the red-haired woman on his back, then picked Karin up with one hand. "Karin, I'll be moving very fast in a moment. If you're scared, close your eyes. Whatever you do, don't scream."

Hearing Naruto's gentle voice, Karin replied without much fear, "Okay, big brother."

"Don't worry. When I came in, I familiarized myself with the surroundings and routes around Kusagakure. I've already figured out where the fighting is, so getting out will be easy."

Naruto spoke softly as he sped away without slowing down, darting through the flames and avoiding the others' attention as he left Kusagakure.

Kusagakure couldn't escape its fate of being completely wiped out by the Kaguya Clan.

A mountain spring flowed down from the peak, forming a small lake at its base.

They were already far from the main battlefield and were about to enter the Land of Fire.

Whoosh!

A bone bullet shot toward Naruto's head at high speed, nearly hitting him.

"Damn!"

Karin's blood stained Naruto's hand.

"Ma'am, Karin, something's happened. This enemy is tough. Stay to the side and protect yourselves. I might not be able to keep you safe when I go all out." Naruto looked at Karin with concern. "Karin, I'm sorry you got hurt. If you want to cry, you can."

Karin wasn't like ordinary children. She didn't cry or fuss. Instead, she smiled and held her arm. "Big brother, I won't cry. And it doesn't hurt."

"Good. I have a task for you: protect your mom." Naruto gave Karin three Shuriken, though he didn't know if she could use them.

Karin helped her mother hide behind a big tree.

"Karin, we can't get away."

"No, Mom. He'll definitely save us."

The wind stirred the surface of the small lake. On one bank stood Naruto; on the other stood Kimimaro of the Kaguya Clan.

"My friend, we're not from Kusagakure, and we have no conflict with you," Naruto said calmly. "Let us leave, all right?"

Kimimaro wore worn-out clothes. He had white hair, emerald-green eyes, and two red dots between his brows. "You came from Kusagakure. Maybe you're not from there, but the people you rescued definitely are. I can't let them leave."

Naruto didn't know how strong his opponent was. Their previous exchange had been brief, so he had no idea whether he could win.

"But I have to take them with me."

"Sorry."

There would be no resolution without a fight.

Tap, tap, tap.

Kimimaro watched Naruto's movements and charged at him. The chakra beneath his feet sent the water rippling across the lake, and he controlled his movements with incredible precision.

Naruto sneered.

Trying to stop me? I'll kick you into the ground.