Kidnapping Karin

"What are you trying to do?" Muto said to Tahm, putting on a bold front despite his fear.

"Nothing." Tahm tried hard to force a sinister, arrogant grin, but due to the limitations of his species, it came out looking extremely ferocious. "I just want to talk about Karin."

"Karin? What does she have to do with you?"

"Karin isn't a ninja of the Hidden Grass Village yet, is she?" Tahm asked.

Muto sensed that something was wrong, but still braced himself and said, "No."

"Good. Then I'll take her with me." Tahm said it casually.

"What! How can you do that?" Muto was overcome with fury, but he didn't dare provoke Tahm and Kakashi, so he could only suppress his anger.

Tahm ignored him. Without caring about Karin's startled cry, he scooped her up in his arms and asked softly, "Karin, are you willing to come with me?"

Hopeful light instantly filled Karin's bright red eyes, only to fade in the next moment. Her throat moved slightly, but in the end, she didn't dare say anything. Instead, she cautiously turned her gaze toward Muto. Seeing her pitiful appearance, the only thing Tahm could think of was the enslaved monkeys in a circus. Even after being set free, they wouldn't dare take a single step. The thought sent a stab of pain through Tahm's heart.

But Muto only made things worse. "Karin, you'd better think carefully! If the Hidden Grass Village hadn't taken you in, you would have died in the chaos of war long ago!" His words caused the light in Karin's eyes to completely fade, and her head drooped weakly.

"You talk too much!" Tahm's fury reached its limit, and he set Karin down.

The next second, Tahm swiftly activated his skill: Alpha Strike!

Tahm's enormous body vanished from everyone's sight in an instant, then transformed into streaks of light that shot toward Muto. Although Muto was a jounin, he was far weaker than Kakashi. On top of that, he had never expected Tahm to attack without warning and was completely unprepared.

Thus, despite being a jounin, Tahm was cut by streak after streak of light in full view of everyone, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Each streak left a ghastly bloody mark on his body.

The streaks of light faded, but before Tahm's figure had even reappeared, he activated another skill in an instant: Devour!

In the blink of an eye, when Tahm's figure appeared before everyone, Muto had vanished, as though he had been erased from the world. Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He had experienced Tahm's Alpha Strike himself and could already say that it was a killing move that even ordinary jounin couldn't withstand. Yet now, it seemed that the move had a follow-up?

Tahm, however, was suffering in silence. The cost of his ability to swallow people was related to his target's strength. This was his first time swallowing someone at the jounin level, and the instant Muto entered his body, Tahm felt as if he had become several times heavier and could barely move. His chakra was also rapidly diminishing.

But Tahm endured without moving. Only when his chakra was nearly depleted did he decide to spit out Muto, who was already barely clinging to life.

Tahm calmly opened his huge mouth and spat out a black mass in an utterly unscientific manner. The shadow crashed heavily onto the floor, covered in corrosive liquid. Its skin had been burned nearly to the point of peeling off, making it look horrifying.

Had he eaten him? When had he swallowed him?

Everyone was stunned by this bizarre series of attacks. After a long while, the daimyo forced out a few dry laughs and said, "Hahaha. As expected of Sage Tahm, your methods are truly impressive."

Tahm no longer paid attention to the salted fish lying on the floor, apparently dead or alive. He simply faced Karin and said, "What about now? Are you willing to come with me? Don't worry. You don't need to be afraid in front of me."

Karin truly wasn't afraid of Tahm at all. It was as if the entire world had been enveloped by light in an instant, and Tahm was that light.

Shy yet excited, Karin rushed into Tahm's arms and hugged him tightly. In a girl's youthful voice, she said, "I'm willing! I'm willing!"

A system notification immediately echoed through Tahm's mind:

Character Uzumaki Karin's favorability with the host has reached 80: Bosom Friend.

Obtained eligibility for a Level 2 reward draw.

Skill drawn: Time Warp: Upon use, reduces the cooldowns of the host's other basic skills by 10 seconds!

This skill from the Chronokeeper Zilean became even more godlike in Tahm's hands. After all, Tahm had a full five other basic skills, all of which had cooldowns of varying lengths. With this cooldown-refreshing skill, Tahm could use his basic skills repeatedly within a short period. It could be said to have doubled the combat power of Tahm, who relied on skill effects to make a living.

Tahm was overjoyed, but he couldn't help thinking awkwardly, Karin's favorability rose way too easily, didn't it? She isn't even my summoning contract partner, and we've known each other for less than half an hour!

He didn't understand Karin's thoughts. She was different from Hinata. Although Hinata had a weak personality, was bullied by others, and was neglected by her father, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Hyuga clan. She had lived a comfortable life and had never suffered.

But Karin? She had once received her parents' love, only to lose everything in the chaos of war. She had been displaced and suffered every kind of hardship. After finally being taken in by the Hidden Grass Village, she was treated merely as a living medicine source. Every day, people bit open her skin and drank her blood. Her living conditions could only be described as hell.

And she was only seven years old. Until today, she had never truly met anyone who cared about her, someone who wouldn't make her bleed but would instead heal her wounds.

Even though Tahm wasn't human but merely a toad, that was enough for him to become a heroic savior in her heart.

Tahm comfortingly stroked Karin's head without saying anything, letting her snuggle happily against his chest.

After a while, the daimyo's men returned. Several of them cautiously carried a small chest, while a few ninjas who were clearly skilled stood guard around it.

"What's this?" Tahm asked, somewhat puzzled. Could the chest contain bank cards?

The daimyo took out a finely crafted scroll and said, "Sage Tahm, this sealing scroll contains your payment for this time: one billion in cash."

Tahm suddenly understood. This world had Storage Scrolls. No wonder that although its civilian technology was no worse than that of his previous life, he had never seen anyone invent bank cards. No one had thought of using such methods to replace Storage Scrolls.

Tahm took the Storage Scroll and circulated his chakra, probing inside with his mind. Sure enough, a full billion in cash was piled inside like a small mountain, creating a magnificent sight. Even Tahm, who had pretended to be an otherworldly expert for so long, couldn't help being moved.

The daimyo beside him keenly noticed the change in Tahm's expression and couldn't help feeling delighted. As long as he likes money, things will be easy. As long as he has desires, there will be opportunities to make use of him.

The daimyo warmly took Tahm's arm and said cordially, "It was all thanks to you, Sage, that my son survived this crisis. This small token of gratitude is nothing. If you have the opportunity in the future, I hope you won't hesitate to offer us your guidance." After witnessing Tahm's godlike healing ability, the daimyo had immediately decided to befriend this sage. After all, no one knew when they might suffer an injury or illness. A divine doctor was someone no one could afford to offend.

"Of course, of course." Tahm's mind had been nearly knocked senseless by the billion he had received, and he merely smiled and agreed.

Having received the answer he wanted, the daimyo smiled as well. For a moment, host and guest were both delighted.

Outside the daimyo's residence, a small snake emerged from the shadows and quietly crawled onto the hand of a long-haired, snake-eyed man. It flicked its tongue lightly, as though whispering something.

Orochimaru sighed softly. "It seems we'll have to make a move."

"Oh?" Sasori narrowed his eyes. "Does Kakashi really have the ability to bring that dead man back to life?"

"Not Kakashi. That toad he brought with him." Orochimaru's face once again wore his signature sinister smile. "A very interesting toad. He looks like the best experimental material I've encountered so far."

Sasori's cold voice came from the side. "I'll give you the toad's corpse. No one is to interfere with my battle later."

"Whatever. Just get the money for me." A trace of excitement showed in Kakuzu's eyes.

Orochimaru turned his gaze toward the daimyo's residence and suddenly sighed with emotion.

Mount Myoboku? A stubborn white-haired figure broke into his memories.

Tahm: With the story progressing like this, are you planning to build a harem for me?

Author: Don't even think about it, fat toad. I'm only using this to pad the word count.