Lin Ze walked up to Karin and her mother, the Mangekyō in his eyes already gone, leaving ordinary black pupils.
"It's all right now."
He spoke softly.
Karin's mother stared blankly at Lin Ze, seemingly still unable to recover from what had just happened.
Lin Ze looked at Karin's mother and continued:
"You're survivors of the Uzumaki Clan, aren't you? I'm Lin Ze from Dragon Release Village. If you're willing, you can come with me. There, you won't be forced to serve as medical tools, and no one will hunt you down again."
Karin's mother finally came to her senses. She stared intently at Lin Ze, her eyes full of wariness and suspicion.
The name Lin Ze meant nothing to her, though she had heard of Azure Dragon.
"Dragon Release Village? I've heard of it... but why would you help us?"
"Because I'm also a member of the Uzumaki Clan, even though my hair is white."
Lin Ze said frankly, "Besides, I need your abilities. Of course, this isn't compulsory. You can choose for yourselves."
"If you don't want to, I can give you some money and send you somewhere safe to live. But if you're willing to come with me, I promise you'll have a real home."
Karin's mother fell silent.
She looked at Lin Ze, then lowered her gaze to Karin in her arms.
Years of life on the run had exhausted her, and Karin was still young. She shouldn't have to keep living in fear like this.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and made her decision.
"We... are willing to go with you."
Though Karin, just over a year old, had no idea what was happening, she looked at Lin Ze's face and smiled too.
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
Outside the Uchiha Clan's New