Karin's resolve, the secrets of the Uzumaki Clan!

Blue Moon Island.

After learning everything that night, Karin sought out Orochimaru in the early hours of the following morning. She chose to have the Ketsuryūgan—the eyes that housed the Evil God—transplanted into her!

No one knew why Karin had changed her mind.

But... Sasuke and Orochimaru had already agreed that the fate of those eyes was not theirs to decide. It was Karin's choice.

Kabuto Yakushi performed the transplant.

Sasuke and Orochimaru waited outside, a complicated expression on Sasuke's face.

"This is Karin's choice. Respecting it is the only thing I can do. But now I owe her even more. How am I supposed to repay her?"

Orochimaru patted Sasuke's shoulder and left him with a meaningful remark. "Perhaps you needn't let the bonds of your previous life constrain you too much, Sasuke-kun. That person you cherish in your heart—are they someone from your previous life, or this one? Think that question through, and many things will fall into place..."

While Sasuke was pondering the deeper meaning of Orochimaru's words, Karin emerged from the tatami room with Kabuto after completing the transplant.

Without being "manifested," the Ketsuryūgan did not change Karin's appearance or demeanor!

Orochimaru smiled. "Your eyes were red to begin with. These Ketsuryūgan suit you surprisingly well!"

Karin kept her eyes half-closed. "For some reason, I don't seem to feel any strain from these eyes, or that supposed power of the Evil God..."

Orochimaru explained with authority, "That's because of the seal. Once you actually begin using these eyes, the seal will loosen, and the strain of the Evil God's power will increase along with it. But that isn't entirely a bad thing. At the very least, your Uzumaki Constitution will develop faster as it adapts to the strain these eyes impose!"

"Is that so..." Karin sank into thought. "The Uzumaki Clan... I know I'm descended from them, but I know very little about the clan itself. Orochimaru, do I really have as much potential as you say?"

Sasuke had no doubts whatsoever about Karin's potential, but he was equally curious about the Uzumaki Clan.

Seeing that the time was right, Orochimaru shared the results of his future research into the Uzumaki Clan.

"Everyone says the Uzumaki Clan are distant relatives of the Senju Clan. That isn't wrong, but it isn't the whole story. As far as I know, the Uzumaki Clan are indeed a branch of the Six Paths lineage. Unlike the Senju Clan, however, the Uzumaki's extraordinarily powerful life force doesn't come from the Sage of Six Paths himself, but from—the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"

"The Demonic Statue... of the Outer Path? What's that?" Karin asked, bewildered.

But Sasuke clenched his fists, stunned by that shocking revelation.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path... he knew it all too well. It was the husk of the Ten-Tails!

Orochimaru continued his explanation. "The Sage of Six Paths was once the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki, and the statue is the Ten-Tails' husk. As the vessel that kept the Ten-Tails sealed for many years, he naturally absorbed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's genes into his own. His second son, Asura, carried those genes in a dormant state. They did not manifest in him, but emerged in his descendants as they were passed down. Those descendants who inherited the Outer Path's genes later became—the Uzumaki Clan."

"It was precisely those genes from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path that gave the Uzumaki Clan their overwhelming tolerance for and affinity with tailed beast power. They were even better suited to serve as vessels for tailed beasts than the Senju Clan, who inherited the Sage of Six Paths' body!"

Understanding dawned on Sasuke. "I see! So that's how it was!"

Orochimaru smiled. "So, no matter how powerful the Evil God's oppressive presence may be, it cannot surpass the Ten-Tails. You needn't doubt your abilities at all, Karin. The day your Uzumaki Constitution fully awakens, you'll be able to wield these eyes' power perfectly!"

Without many crucial pieces of information, Karin still didn't quite understand, but she had confirmed at least one thing.

In this life... she could do more for Sasuke!

"Heeheehee..."

Karin took her glasses from her pocket and perched them on her nose, then leaned playfully against Sasuke's shoulder. Her eyes were soft and alluring as she coaxed, "Hey~ Sasuke, do you think my new eyes look pretty~❤?"

Sasuke grew flustered, his gaze flickering. "Uh, well, they're... they're all right, I guess..."

Heeheeheehee~!

Karin watched Sasuke's reaction with a hint of mischief. She already understood the hidden circumstances. Without doubts or questions holding her back, she could face her true feelings more honestly.

Sasuke, thank you. In this life, I don't need you to repay me for anything. All you have to do is be yourself.

Yet no matter what, she couldn't bring herself to say those heartfelt words aloud.

They rested on Blue Moon Island for several days.

Early one morning, after breakfast, Orochimaru took out the scroll Kakuzu had left behind before his death.

"It's time we claimed the fortune Kakuzu left behind."

Sasuke had never been interested in wealth, in either his previous life or this one. But since it determined whether Orochimaru's latest "experimental equipment" could be put into operation smoothly, he asked curiously, "Where did Kakuzu keep his fortune?"

Orochimaru replied playfully, "You'd never guess, Sasuke-kun. Why not give it a try?"

Sasuke swirled his teacup and answered without thinking. "The Land of Lightning?"

"No," Orochimaru said.

Sasuke tried again. "The Land of Earth?"

"Still wrong," Orochimaru replied.

Sasuke shook his head. "How am I supposed to know how someone like him thought? Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me already!"

Orochimaru revealed the answer. "Kakuzu hid the wealth Akatsuki accumulated over more than a decade—a fortune rivaling a nation's—at the far end of the desert in the Land of Wind, the most resource-poor of the Five Great Nations!"

Sasuke took a small sip of tea. "I see. There really is a touch of dark humor to that."

Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses. "That works out perfectly. Our task of conveying Sasori's final wishes to Granny Chiyo was delayed by the attack on the Northern Hideout. We can take care of it along the way."

"Let's set off without delay," Orochimaru said.

"I have to go too?" Sasuke asked. "Can't you handle something like this yourselves?"

"The Third Match is still twenty days away, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said. "Keeping your body and mind tense for too long will only hinder your growth. Think of it as a chance to get out and unwind. What do you think, Karin?"

I'd really love to stay on this island with Sasuke, heeheeheehee❤... But Orochimaru is doing this for Sasuke's sake, right? Besides, as long as I'm with Sasuke, I wouldn't mind going to the ends of the earth!!

So Karin looked at him pleadingly. "Sasuke, let's go..."

"Sigh... I really can't say no to you people."

Resigned, Sasuke drained his tea in one gulp.

At that moment, none of the four imagined that this journey to the Land of Wind in search of Kakuzu's legacy would lead to a major incident that would change the course of the Land of Wind, Sunagakure, and even the entire Shinobi World!