"Bro! I'm here!"
Golden light flared in the distance. Five enormous, dazzling chains thrashed about, parting the forest as though brushing aside hair, and Karin made her glittering entrance in the middle of the golden light.
"Huh? Where is everyone?"
Karin scratched her head. That wasn't right. She had sensed people here earlier, so how had they all disappeared in the few minutes she had spent sprinting over?
"Could it be that Itachi already came by?"
Naruto looked at the glowing Karin, his mouth twitching.
Meanwhile, the man and fox inside the Sealing Space shuddered, as though they had thought of something unpleasant.
"Hey, Hashirama, don't tell me..."
"Kurama, I dunno."
They looked at each other and fell silent for a moment.
"Huh? Karin has such big chains at her age?"
Kushina looked at Karin in surprise, finding it inexplicably familiar.
"Ahem, maybe she's exceptionally gifted?"
Hashirama gave a forced laugh, trying to divert her attention.
"Mm, our Uzumaki Clan has a worthy successor!"
Kushina nodded in satisfaction. Though this was quite unreasonable, could it be more unreasonable than her own son?
After all, Hashirama had merely borrowed Naruto's body just now and brought out Naruto's full strength.
In other words, Naruto's body could already enter Sage Mode, and his chakra reserves were astonishingly large.
By that comparison, Karin really couldn't measure up to Naruto.
That's my boy.
ღ(✞╹◡╹✞)ற
"It's already over. Let's head back."
Naruto stretched his body. He ached all over. Hashirama had used a little too much force and strained his muscles, but they would probably heal in a minute.
"Hey, Sasuke, where's Itachi?"
Naruto looked toward the somewhat dazed Sasuke, but saw no sign of Itachi.
"He... went back."
Sasuke's lips moved, and he finally squeezed out those words.
"I see. Come on, let's head back