"You're telling me! Back when Karin's mother was still around, the Uzumaki Clan's incredible healing constitution was so useful. Whenever anyone in the village got hurt, they'd go to her for help and recover in no time."
"Now that the Uzumaki Clan has been wiped out, that healing ability will probably disappear for good."
"If we could find another orphan with pure Uzumaki blood someday, Kusagakure would really have struck gold."
Another man laughed and chimed in, casually explaining:
"That's easy! The Uzumaki Clan is the easiest to recognize. They all have long, bright red hair. The purer and more vivid the color, the stronger their bloodline and the more powerful they are."
The men chatted and laughed, relaxed and at ease.
Just then, one ninja happened to glance aside, and his words abruptly cut off.
"Huh? Look over there! That kid has red hair too, and the color looks especially pure. Why doesn't she look familiar? I've never seen her before."
At his words, everyone sitting around the bonfire immediately followed his gaze.
Crouching in the shadows at the edge of the bonfire was a little girl who looked no older than ten.
Her red hair was tied in a cute bun, and her round face made her look sweet and adorable. She was so young that she seemed completely harmless.
At that moment, she was busy devouring the roast meat and fruit on the table, her cheeks stuffed full. She looked carefree and utterly absorbed in enjoying her food, like any ordinary, playful child.
But her dazzlingly vivid, pure red hair stood out strikingly in the firelight, impossible to miss.
Most importantly, her hair was an even more vibrant blood-red than Karin's had been!
The ninja who had spoken first teased her with a laugh:
"Hey, little girl,