Naruto's emotions were a tangle of anger and joy.

He was furious about what Karin had been through.

But at the same time, he was happy because at last, he had found someone from the Uzumaki Clan still alive in this world.

After crying for a long time, Karin finally stopped. She lowered her head in embarrassment and whispered, "I'm sorry… I must look pathetic to you."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, smiling with his usual innocence. "Hey, what's there to apologize for!"

He gave her a big thumbs-up, his grin full of warmth.

"Besides, you're one of my people. There's no need to say thank you between us."

"Mm."

Karin nodded firmly. A sense of peace she had never known before welled up in her chest.

Seeing the two of them finally move past their sadness, Sasuke spoke up, his tone calm as ever. "Naruto, we should be thinking about how to pass the exam."

After all, they were still in the middle of the second round. If they wanted to advance, they needed to collect the required scrolls quickly.

"That's right!"

Naruto slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering. He hurriedly pulled the Earth Scroll from his jacket and held it up.

Karin reached into her clothes as well, carefully taking out her own scroll and showing it in the palm of her hand.

As expected.

Both scrolls bore the character for "Earth."

They had two Earth Scrolls, but no Heaven Scroll. Which meant they had no choice but to keep hunting down other teams.

Sakura frowned. "We still need a Heaven Scroll."

"Hmph. It's just another scroll," Sasuke said, arms folded, his lips curling into a confident smile. "We're fast enough. We'll definitely run into other teams before time runs out."

Naruto clenched his fist with enthusiasm. "That's right! No matter how many battles it takes, I'll make sure we pass this exam together, safe and sound!"

He turned to Karin, grinning wide. "So don't worry. Just stick with us!"

Karin looked at Naruto's confident smile, and her heart warmed even more. "Mm," she murmured softly.

In this short time, she already felt a trust in Naruto so strong it was almost dependence.

Maybe, just as he said, she wasn't alone anymore.

Just as Team 7 was about to move out to hunt for another target, Karin's expression suddenly changed.

"Wait a second!"

She snapped her head toward the depths of the forest, her red eyes narrowing in sharp vigilance.

"Someone's coming!"

Even before she finished, the sound of branches rustling echoed through the trees. Heavy footsteps closed in fast.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance and instantly moved to shield Karin and Sakura.

In the next moment, three dark figures leapt from the canopy, landing on branches around them in a V-shaped formation.

The leader wore strange gray-and-black clothing, with a forehead protector from the Hidden Sound Village tied around his brow. His face was almost completely wrapped in bandages, leaving only one cold, glaring eye exposed. A strange device was strapped around his right arm, giving off an unsettling presence.

He looked down at Sasuke and said flatly, "Uchiha Sasuke. That's you, isn't it?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He raised his head, meeting the man's gaze. "Who are you?"

The bandaged ninja let out a chilling laugh. "Hmph. Remember this name Dosu Kinuta! The one who's going to kill you!"

The tall, thin boy on the left branch snorted impatiently. "Dosu, stop wasting time with them."

Zaku grinned, his voice sharp with malice. "We're here to hunt Uchiha Sasuke!"

If Team 7 had encountered the Sound Trio earlier, the three of them might have stood a chance at a different outcome.

But now…

They had run straight into "Angry Naruto" and "Angry Sasuke," both still seething after hearing Karin's tragic story.

Before Zaku could even finish his sentence, Naruto and Sasuke moved almost in unison.

The fury they had been holding back for so long burst forth all at once. Against such challengers, neither had the slightest intention of restraint.

The fight or rather, the one-sided crushing was over in ten seconds.

The three Sound ninja collapsed to the ground before they even realized what had happened. Their eyes rolled back, bodies limp, completely unconscious and stripped of their ability to fight.

"Hmph. Pathetic trash."

Sasuke brushed the dust from his hands, his expression cold but satisfied. The swift, overwhelming attack had vented some of his anger. He felt lighter now.

"Don't waste any more time on them, Naruto."

Sakura hurried forward, crouched, and began searching the Sound Trio's pouches.

Karin snapped out of her daze and rushed over to help.

"Found it!"

Sakura's delighted cry cut through Karin's thoughts. She pulled a scroll from Dosu's gear pouch and unrolled it. The bold character for "Heaven" was written across the cover.

"The Heaven Scroll!"

"Perfect!" Naruto beamed. He carefully tucked the scroll away beside the Earth Scroll in his jacket.

Now, they finally had a complete set one Heaven, one Earth.

"Haha! That means we don't need to fight anyone else!"

Truthfully, the nonstop battles had drained him. The fierce attack just now had taken its toll, and as the adrenaline faded, exhaustion settled into his muscles.

"Alright, Sasuke, Sakura, Karin, let's head for the tower!" Naruto shouted with renewed excitement. "Let's finish this exam!"

Sasuke gave a curt nod. "Let's go."

He was more than satisfied with how smoothly they'd secured the scroll. The sooner they reached the central tower, the safer it would be.

Especially now they had one more person to protect.

The four of them wasted no time. They sprinted away at full speed, leaving the defeated Sound Trio lying unconscious in the grass.

Far from the Forest of Death, Kakashi strode quickly through the dim corridors of the Hokage's residence, three ANBU silently flanking him.

They pushed open the doors of the office at the top floor, dropping to one knee in unison before the figure in the red-and-white robes behind the desk.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood at the window with his hands clasped behind his back. Smoke curled lazily from the pipe at his lips as his gaze swept over the sprawling darkness of the Forest of Death.

Hearing the footsteps, he slowly turned.

"Orochimaru has been confirmed inside the forest," Kakashi reported, his tone steady and clear.

Sarutobi's brows furrowed, deep lines forming the kanji "川" across his forehead as he took a long drag from his pipe.

Kakashi continued, "Hokage-sama, with the current intel, it's likely Orochimaru intends to test the strength of two Jinchūriki. To avoid the risk of a rampaging Tailed Beast, I recommend suspending the exam immediately and isolating Naruto and Gaara."

"Cancel the exam?" Sarutobi murmured, then shook his head. "No."

"Hokage-sama, if Orochimaru succeeds "

Sarutobi raised a hand, cutting him off. His voice was firm, his eyes grave. "This exam is not just Konoha's concern. The Kazekage of Sunagakure is here, and both the Daimyo of Wind and Fire are watching closely."

"The exams will proceed. And this matter…" His gaze sharpened. "Must remain secret. If we mobilize forces openly, word will leak, and panic will spread unnecessarily."

He took another puff of his pipe. "Besides, the Kazekage and I are both in the village. With two Kage present, nothing will happen that we cannot contain."

"But "

Kakashi opened his mouth to press again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen set his pipe aside and spoke in a calm but firm voice. "Do not worry, Kakashi. I will personally oversee the Forest of Death until the second exam ends. From this moment on, nothing that happens there will escape my eyes."

He tapped the desk lightly for emphasis. "You and the ANBU need only maintain the perimeter. Leave the rest to me."

Kakashi gave a wry smile behind his mask. "Yes, Hokage-sama."

Meanwhile…

As the sun dipped low, the forest was bathed in a golden-red glow. The light stretched the shadows of Team 7 as they bounded swiftly through the dense trees.

Naruto ran at the front, his voice brimming with cheer as he turned to shout, "Tonight, we're gonna sleep like babies!"

"Hmph." Sasuke followed close behind, his tone cool even as his posture relaxed. "Don't get careless. Stay sharp."

Still, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter. With their mission complete, he could finally let out a breath of relief.

Karin, running alongside them, felt her exhaustion fade as well. With a goal to chase and hope in her chest, even her sore legs seemed lighter.

Along the way, she focused her Uzumaki sensory ability. Detecting several chakra signatures at a distance, she quickly warned the others. Thanks to her, Team 7 avoided multiple encounters and reached their destination without another fight.

The sky deepened to twilight by the time they arrived. Before them, the central tower loomed tall and imposing, its silhouette lit by the fading sun. Banners fluttered at its peak, while bright lanterns burned at the entrance, casting the plaza below in a warm glow.

Naruto steadied the slightly weary Karin and stopped at the open square beneath the tower. Grinning, he pointed up at the structure. "Heh, bet we're the first ones here!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

A deep, familiar voice drifted from the entrance.

The doors creaked open, and two figures stepped out.

Leading the way was none other than the Third Hokage himself, Sarutobi Hiruzen. His kind smile was framed by the pipe at his lips, the red-and-white robes of his office flowing softly around him.

Half a step behind him was Kakashi Hatake, who raised a hand in greeting, his single visible eye curving in a cheerful arc.

"Well done," Hiruzen said warmly, nodding in approval. "Team Seven has done an excellent job, passing through the Forest of Death in just one day."

"Hokage-sama!"

Sasuke and Sakura recognized him at once, halting to bow respectfully.

Naruto, however, beamed brightly. "Grandpa Third!"

Kakashi stepped forward and nodded at his students. But when his gaze shifted to the red-haired girl standing beside Naruto, he froze for just a moment.

"Karin?"

A flicker of surprise crossed his eye, though it soon softened into quiet relief.

He had expected this. With Naruto's nature and with that strange dream lingering in the back of his mind it was inevitable he would search for her. And now, seeing her standing at Naruto's side, Kakashi felt a wave of genuine happiness.

For Naruto, who had grown up so alone, Karin might be the only surviving member of his clan in this world. To have a bond of blood so close at hand… it was something beyond precious.

Naruto stood proudly at her side, while Karin, though appearing relaxed, leaned ever so slightly toward him. Her trust was plain to see.

Kakashi's eye curved in a subtle smile, and he nodded silently.

On the other side, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze had already fallen on Karin as well. That vivid scarlet hair was too striking to overlook.

But the Hokage betrayed no surprise. He knew Naruto's heart better than anyone mischievous, reckless, but fundamentally kind.

It wasn't strange for him to bring along a lonely girl he found in the Forest of Death.

Karin, meanwhile, was stunned. She never would have guessed that the amiable old man before her was the Hokage of Konohagakure itself.

Awkwardly, she shrank back a step, peeking from behind Naruto with wide, cautious eyes.

So this is the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village?

He seemed so kind and approachable nothing like the thuggish, domineering head of Kusagakure.

Her heart tensed instinctively, and before she realized it, she leaned closer to Naruto, seeking comfort in his presence.

....

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