The solid wooden chair scraped against the floor at his sudden movement, letting out a piercing squeak.
He stood ramrod straight, almost stiff, a turmoil of complicated emotions churning in his aged yet still sharp eyes.
Shock, disbelief, profound nostalgia, a sudden surge of grief, and a faint flicker of excitement and hope that even he had not immediately recognized.
His gaze moved between Naruto and Karin before finally lingering on Karin's vivid red hair, as though he needed that color to confirm some impossible truth.
She was indeed a child of the Uzumaki Clan, and she looked very much like Kushina when she had first arrived in Konoha.
The air in the study seemed to freeze.
Only the thin smoke rising from the pipe on the desk continued to curl lazily upward.
Standing by the door, Asuma understood his father's violent reaction and sighed inwardly.
Even his father, who had weathered countless storms, had lost his composure. That alone showed how great a shock this sight had delivered.
Naruto, of course, knew what had shocked the Third.
He stepped forward, still holding Karin's hand tightly, and met the Third's stunned gaze. His voice broke the silence, clear and solemn:
"Grandpa Third, this is Karin."
"I found her among Kusagakure's team taking part in the Chunin Ninja Exams."
Pay attention! Take notes!
This was not recommended in practice. It depended heavily on the setting, execution, looks, and the other person's experiences.
First, state her name, granting her the most basic recognition as an individual.
Then, identify where she was found and the event involved, explaining her origins while hinting at a possible dispute.
Finally, deliver the crucial piece of information, the one most likely to touch the old man's heart:
"...She's a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan."
The word "survivor"