This time, her voice sounded perfectly normal, and it alerted Sasuke and Karin, who were resting inside the Tree Hollow. Karin soon rushed out, gripping a kunai with an angry look on her face.
"Is she another survivor of the Uzumaki Clan?"
During the First Exam Arena, Naruto hadn't spoken much with his companions because he was acting as an examiner. Now that they were meeting up close, Kushina finally asked.
Minato and the Nine-Tails then each explained Karin's background.
Minato described how Naruto and the others had met Karin in this life, while the Nine-Tails explained what Karin's circumstances had once been.
"Poor child."
Kushina's maternal instincts immediately overflowed.
Seeing Karin look as though she were facing a formidable enemy, Naruto suddenly felt like teasing her.
But remembering the audience inside him, he decided business came first.
"Ahem, I'm an examiner. I'm here to investigate what just happened."
Hearing Naruto say that, Karin grew intensely nervous and suddenly hurled her kunai at him!
"?"
Naruto casually flicked the kunai aside with a finger, but he was still surprised that she had suddenly attacked.
"Hinata, there's something wrong with him! The examiners already investigated this. How could he not know?"
Karin shouted the warning, though it was unclear whether she meant it for Hinata or Sasuke, who couldn't move inside the Tree Hollow.
Hinata thought about it and decided Karin had a point. She assumed a fighting stance and moved a little closer to Karin, looking apologetically at Naruto—
Her expression practically said, "Sorry, you really are suspicious right now, so I have to pretend I don't know you."
"...Has it occurred to you that I was hiding from you in the forest earlier, so I wouldn't know?"
Naruto's mouth twitched.
"Oh, that does make sense."
Karin paused, too.
Seeing