Already Fallen for Him?

"Hey, little redheaded beauty."

Son Goten's voice came from above her head, carrying a hint of teasing.

"Not that I mind holding you forever. You do feel pretty nice, after all, soft as a freshly steamed bun."

"But could you loosen your grip a little first? You're about to tear my clothes."

Only then did Karin come back to her senses.

She finally realized she was clinging to him like an octopus, both hands clutching the boy's lapels so tightly that her knuckles had gone white.

"S-sorry!"

Karin frantically tried to let go, only to find that her legs were as limp as noodles. She couldn't stand at all.

The moment she released her grip, she slid down Son Goten's chest.

Son Goten reacted swiftly, catching her around the waist and lifting her back up.

The two pressed tightly together again.

This time, they were even closer.

Karin could even smell the pleasant scent on the boy, a unique blend of sunshine and some kind of food.

Her face instantly flushed scarlet, and a wisp of steam even rose from the top of her head.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, so fast it felt ready to break through her ribs.

Was this the legendary... love at first sight?

No, more accurately, this was a severe case of "chakra poisoning."

"Looks like you got quite a scare."

Son Goten didn't push her away. Instead, he adjusted his position to let her lean against him more comfortably.

"Those guys from Kusagakure really are something, leaving such a cute girl here all alone as bear food."

"If it were me, I'd cherish you every single day."

That casual bit of flirting pierced straight through Karin's already fragile defenses.

No one had ever spoken to her like that.

In Kusagakure, she was merely an expendable blood bag, a tool for restoring stamina.

Whenever her teammates got hurt, they would roughly grab her arm and bite it, not caring at all whether it hurt her.

At the thought, Karin involuntarily trembled.

A servility etched into her bones and a habit of appeasing others made her react.

Trembling, she held out her fair arm and offered it to Son Goten's mouth.

"Um... if you're tired..."

Karin didn't dare look up into Son Goten's eyes, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"You can... take a bite..."

Her sleeve slipped down.

Her forearm, which should have been smooth as jade, was densely covered in horrifying bite marks.

Some had already scabbed over, while others were still dark red, fresh wounds layered over one another like an ugly tattoo, ruining its original beauty.

The smile on Son Goten's face froze.

He stared at that arm for a full three seconds.

Their surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Karin's heart leaped into her throat.

Would he be disgusted?

After all, her arm looked so ugly, covered in scars.

Or would he look at her greedily and bite down without mercy, just like those Grass Ninja?

While her thoughts ran wild, a large, warm hand covered her arm.

Son Goten gently brushed the pads of his fingers over the uneven bite marks.

His touch was unbelievably gentle, as though he were wiping dust from a precious piece of porcelain.

"Tsk."

Son Goten clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"Who did this?"

"With teeth that bad, they still went around biting people? Look at these uneven bites. What an absolute waste."

Karin froze.

She raised her head blankly and met Son Goten's clear black-and-white eyes.

There was neither disgust nor greed in them.

Only utter displeasure and... concern?

"Such a premium ingredient... no, such a beautiful arm is meant to be admired and played with."

Son Goten curled his lip, his tone unreasonably domineering.

"To bite it up like this. What a waste."

"Listen up, redhead."

Son Goten lowered his head and leaned close to Karin's ear, his warm breath brushing over it.

"Don't let anyone else bite you again."

"I might love food, but I don't eat human flesh."

"And..."

Son Goten twitched his nose and leaned closer to sniff the side of Karin's neck.

"You really do smell nice. It's a very refined sweetness."

"I'm the only one allowed to smell that scent. Understand?"

Boom!

Karin felt her mind buzz.

That domineering possessiveness didn't frighten her. Instead, it made her go weak all over.

In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, being "possessed" could sometimes offer the ultimate sense of security.

Especially when the one laying claim to her was such a powerful, warm, sunlike man.

Tears welled helplessly in her eyes.

Karin sniffled, buried her face deep in Son Goten's chest, and nodded hard.

"Mm..."

Even if she died in this embrace, she would have done so willingly.

Just then, rustling footsteps came from the bushes behind them.

"Goten! Why were you running so fast?"

Naruto's loud voice shattered the lovey-dovey atmosphere.

"Whoa! Is that a bear? It's huge!"

Sasuke and Sakura followed close behind.

As soon as the three emerged from the bushes, they saw the enormous bear planted headfirst in the ground and the boy and girl standing beside it.

Or rather, a pair in which one person was doing all the clinging.

Hearing them approach, Son Goten didn't release Karin.

Instead, like a child showing off a new toy, he tightened his hold on her and waved to his teammates.

"Yo, you're just in time."

Son Goten grinned, showing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.

"Sakura! Come look!"

"I just picked up a real treasure!"

Panting, Sakura braced her hands on her knees and looked up.

The redheaded girl was pressed against Son Goten with a blissful expression, looking as docile as a tamed kitten.

Then there was Sakura herself, dusty, dirty, and utterly bedraggled.

An inexplicable pang of jealousy rose in Sakura's heart.

"Son Goten!"

A vein pulsed twice at Sakura's temple, and her fists clenched.

"We were working ourselves to death chasing after you, and you ran off here to pick up girls?"

"These are the Chunin Ninja Exams! Not your matchmaking party!"

Son Goten blinked innocently.

"I couldn't help it."

"She ran into me herself. I guess that's just my personal charm."

He looked down at the blushing Karin in his arms and gave a mischievous smile.

"Since I found her, she's mine."

"And this bear is too big for me to finish alone anyway. We're having an extra dish tonight!"

"As for this redhead..."

Son Goten pinched Karin's springy cheek.

"From now on, she's our unofficial member, specifically in charge of warming my bed... ah, no, I mean showing us the way!"

Sasuke coldly glanced at Karin's Grass Ninja forehead protector, his brows drawing together slightly.

"She's a ninja from another village."

"Bringing her along will only be a burden."

Son Goten waved a hand, looking utterly unconcerned.

"That was before."

"Now, she's my spoils of war."

"If anyone has a problem with that, they can ask my fists first."