Huddling Together for Warmth

Karin's body trembled. She did not want anyone to see her like this!

Naruto was extremely sensitive to emotions. The girl before him who shared his surname...

She was terrified, panicked, and heartbroken...

What had she been through?

Looking at Karin, Naruto felt the compassion he had buried since his first mission begin to overflow. His heart ached for her!

"Can you tell me what happened to you?"

"For the sake of us sharing the same surname!"

"Don't worry!"

"We won't hurt you!"

Naruto's voice was gentle, his sky-blue eyes filled with concern!

Karin's perception was exceptional to begin with. She could sense that this person whose chakra felt incomparably evil was being sincere!

Karin hesitated for a moment before finally nodding lightly and beginning to recount her past!

"Ever since I could remember, I've lived in the Hidden Grass Village..."

As Karin spoke, recounting one incident after another that she had endured...

Naruto grew intensely agitated. For the first time, he wanted to kill someone—he wanted to slaughter the entire Hidden Grass Village, just like his teacher had!

Anger and killing intent gradually consumed his heart, and the chakra around him began to rage!

"Naruto, stay conscious!"

"Naruto, remember what Sensei said!"

"If you can't control that power, Sensei said he'll take it back!"

Sasuke and Sakura noticed Naruto's abnormal state and anxiously spoke up from the side!

Every sentence mentioned their teacher. After what had happened in Classroom 301, they both knew this was the most effective method!

"Se... Sensei!"

Sure enough, Naruto immediately regained some clarity and began trying hard to control his emotions!

He mobilized his own chakra to suppress that rampaging power!

"Kid..."

"Are you angry?"

"Do you want power?"

"Why resist me? Accept my power, and I'll give you strength so great that you'll fear nothing!"

"Go kill. Don't suppress it!"

A voice in Naruto's heart kept tempting him!

"Get lost!"

"Fear nothing?"

"What a joke!"

"You can't even do that yourself. Don't think I don't know—you're afraid of my teacher!"

"Every time he's around, you behave yourself and don't dare act out at all!"

"What gives you the right to grant me power that fears nothing?"

"If you don't go back, I'll definitely tell Sensei about this!"

"I think... Sensei can definitely destroy you with ease!"

Naruto roared inwardly. After just a few words, that voice suddenly fell silent!

It stopped tempting him, and the violent, evil chakra began to recede!

Sensing this, Sasuke and Sakura let out long sighs of relief. Sure enough... their teacher's name still worked best!

Naruto had recovered, but he had no time to think about that voice in his heart!

Nor did he want to think about it. As long as Sensei was around, it would be resolved sooner or later!

"Karin!"

"Be my little sister!"

"Believe me. One day, I'll take you back and help you get revenge!"

"I'll avenge your mother too. I'll help you kill everything there!"

Karin's miserable past struck a deep chord within Naruto. Wasn't he the same?

They were both wounded souls, and Naruto wanted to take good care of Karin so she would never have to live like that again or be bullied again!

Once, Sensei had said that Naruto could not even take care of his own life, so he had no right to care about others!

But... Naruto had become strong now!

Naruto was confident. Confident that he could take care of himself, and take even better care of Karin!

Back in Konoha, he was still unwelcome, but after the first time he had struck back at those who cursed at and hit him!

Even if they were unhappy about it, that kind of thing had never happened again!

Since neither of them was welcome, they could huddle together for warmth!

"But..."

"I'm from the Hidden Grass Village. Once the exam is over, I have to go back. They won't let me go!"

Karin was somewhat moved by Naruto's words, but she did not want to bring trouble to anyone else. Those people would not let her go!

"Don't worry!"

"I can protect you!"

"Even if I can't, I have my teammates!"

"If their help isn't enough, our teacher is incredibly strong!"

"Even the Hokage is afraid of him. I can go beg Sensei. If he steps in, he can definitely solve it!"

Naruto looked at Karin and pointed at Sasuke and Sakura. It was the first time they had seen Naruto so determined to do something!

Even when facing the teacher he had always feared, he was willing to consider begging him for help!

All three of them knew that their teacher hated trouble the most. Because he did not want trouble, he always dealt with enemies completely!

So neither of them objected. They merely nodded lightly at Karin. Naturally, they would help Naruto.

No matter what they would face, no matter how dangerous it was!

The three of them had come this far together, sharing life-and-death trials countless times. They had long become as close as siblings!

"See!"

"I told you they'd definitely help me, and Sensei too!"

Seeing Sasuke and Sakura nod, Karin spoke softly beneath Naruto's expectant gaze!

"Big brother!"

"Ah!"

"Haha... Sasuke, Sakura, I have a little sister now!"

"Don't get happy yet. Think about how to arrange things for her first!"

"It's fine for her to stay with us, but what happens after we leave the Forest of Death?"

"That's right, Naruto. The ninja leading Karin's group here this time will definitely come looking for her."

Sasuke and Sakura's words brought Naruto back down from his excitement. He looked at Karin's worried expression!

"You two, help me think of something!"

"You're both smarter than me. There definitely won't be a problem!"

Naruto said this bluntly to Sasuke and Sakura, tossing the problem right back at them!

Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto, but he still seriously began considering a solution!

"Actually, the simplest solution is something you just mentioned, Naruto..."

Sakura suddenly spoke!

"Go find Sensei. No one is more suitable than him!"

"If we go to someone else, Karin was a ninja from another village before, so even if she doesn't return to the Hidden Grass Village!"

"She'll definitely be investigated by Konoha. I don't know the exact process, but I imagine it won't be easy!"

"Like you said, as long as Sensei is willing to step in, no one will dare say a single word!"

"There'll still be an investigation?"

"Yes, definitely. And Karin will be monitored until all suspicion around her has been cleared!"

After hearing this, Naruto did not want Karin to suffer that kind of treatment again!

Karin's special physique could not be revealed to anyone again. Otherwise, some people would inevitably be tempted!

"I'll go find Sensei!"

"Be careful not to let anyone spot you. Use Shadow Clones!"

"Okay!"

Naruto immediately created four or five Shadow Clones and sent them racing toward the outskirts of the Forest of Death!

"Alright, it's getting late!"

"We happen to have ingredients, so let's get ready to grill some meat!"

"Naruto!"

"Get to it. This is your specialty!"

"Hey!"

"I'm telling you two, can't you learn how to do it? It's always me!"

"But... for Karin's sake, I'll put some real effort into it today. You two are in for a treat!"

"Really, Naruto? So you were just half-assing it for us before?"

"Aha... no!"