Rescuing Karin and Gaining a Valuable Ally

"Hinata, can you see what's underground?"

Naruto landed in a thicket of trees with Hinata on his back and signed the question to her.

Hinata obediently activated her Byakugan and looked beneath the ground.

A minute later, Hinata deactivated her Byakugan and signed back to Naruto:

"There really is an underground base! A lot of people seem to be locked up, but I didn't see Sakura, Orochimaru, or Sasuke."

Naruto thought for a moment.

Sakura had probably met Orochimaru, who had taken her deeper into the base or somewhere shielded from detection.

So, should he go in and bring Sakura out?

Of course not!

What did it matter to him whether Sakura followed Orochimaru, lived, or died?

She had found her true love and was happily staying by Sasuke's side. Why should Naruto be the villain who dragged her away?

More importantly, fighting Orochimaru on his own turf would require Naruto to use his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Its Visual Prowess was far too precious to waste on something that would bring him no benefit.

As for Tsunade's mission? To hell with it.

It wasn't their fault. Blame Danzo! He was the one who had sent Root ninja to stop them.

With his mind made up, Naruto put Sakura out of his thoughts. He had an old acquaintance to see.

First, though, he needed to leave Hinata somewhere safe.

Carrying Hinata, he vanished on the spot. Ten seconds later, he appeared alone inside the underground base.

It was a ten-square-meter cell. A red-haired girl sat silently in one corner, hugging her knees.

The dim cell mirrored the darkness in her heart.

When Naruto appeared, she slowly raised her head, revealing a beautiful but numb face.

The instant she saw him, disbelief crossed her face. Then light returned to it, seeming to brighten