"Karin, don't be afraid."

Naruto noticed the tension in her expression and patted the back of her hand to reassure her. Then, puffing his chest out proudly, he turned to Kakashi with a grin.

"Teacher Kakashi! Team 7 was amazing this time, right? We got through the Forest of Death so fast! Hey, are we the first ones to finish the second round?"

Before Kakashi could respond, the Third Hokage burst out laughing.

Stroking his beard, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in a drawn-out, playful tone. "Oh? Quite confident, aren't you? But what a pity…" He shook his head with mock regret. "You were excellent, but not the first."

"What?!"

Naruto and Sasuke froze at the same time.

Naruto's eyes went wide. "There's someone faster than us?!"

Even Sasuke's brows furrowed, surprise flickering across his face.

Kakashi explained with a smile, "A squad from the Hidden Sand made it here earlier. They arrived half a day ago. It only took them ninety-seven minutes to cross the Forest of Death and reach the tower."

"Ninety-seven minutes?!"

Naruto's jaw nearly hit the ground. His voice rose in disbelief. "How is that even possible?! They must've been flying!"

Sasuke's expression hardened instantly.

Completing the exam in such a short time… That was no ordinary genin.

His fists clenched at his sides, and a sharp glint lit up in his eyes. His fighting spirit had been fully roused.

"Damn it!" Naruto's shock quickly shifted to frustration. He stomped his foot, scowling. "If we hadn't run into that scoundrel on the way and wasted so much time, we would've been first for sure!"

His lips twisted, his whole face showing indignation.

"Scoundrel?"

Both Sarutobi and Kakashi looked startled.

Kakashi's lone eye narrowed. "Naruto… don't tell me you ran into Orochimaru."

"That's right!"

Naruto nodded without hesitation, rubbing the tip of his nose with exaggerated pride.

"And Sasuke and I drove him off together!"

The moment the words left his mouth, silence fell.

Sarutobi and Kakashi glanced at one another, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Ridiculous… Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, being driven away by a handful of children?

Kakashi fell silent, then slowly turned his head toward Sasuke.

"…Sasuke. You explain."

Naruto froze, his smug grin stiffening into outrage. What's with that tone?

Kakashi-sensei clearly didn't believe him at all! He thought Naruto was making things up!

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's sleeve angrily and shoved him forward. "Tell him, Sasuke! Tell Kakashi-sensei we chased Orochimaru off! We even smashed him right in the face!"

Sasuke shot Naruto a withering glare and yanked his sleeve free. "Idiot. Orochimaru wasn't beaten away."

Straightening, Sasuke turned to the Hokage and Kakashi with a serious expression. Calmly, he recounted the events in detail, without embellishment or exaggeration.

Listening carefully to Sasuke's steady account, Kakashi and Sarutobi's faces gradually shifted from doubt to grim concentration.

By the end, Sasuke concluded with a thoughtful frown. "It seemed like Orochimaru had some other purpose. That must be why he left in such a hurry. Otherwise, we wouldn't be standing here right now."

When Sasuke finished, the Third stroked his beard in silence, sinking deep into thought. Follow current novᴇls on NovєlFіre.net

Kakashi, however, quickly pieced things together. Comparing times in his head, he realized that Orochimaru's retreat had coincided exactly with when he, Anko, and the ANBU arrived on the scene.

"I see…" Kakashi exhaled slowly, a trace of relief in his voice. "So that's it. Looks like we spooked him off when we showed up. Naruto, Sasuke you two barely escaped a disaster."

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh of relief. He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and spoke with gentle gravity.

"Anyway, I'm just glad you're all safe. This time was truly dangerous. You must be exhausted after making it here, so go inside the tower and rest. Once the other genin arrive, further tests will await you."

The three members of Team 7 answered in unison.

Indeed they were worn out and in need of recovery.

Naruto was about to guide Karin inside when he suddenly stopped, a thought striking him. He spun around sharply.

"Wait! Grandpa Third…"

He drew in a deep breath, gathering his courage, then pushed Karin forward so she stood at his side. His expression turned uncharacteristically solemn.

"I have a request! Please let Karin stay here, in the Hidden Leaf Village!"

The words froze the air.

Karin's eyes went wide. "Naruto, you "

She had never imagined Naruto would make such a request openly in front of the Hokage himself.

Her gaze darted nervously toward Sarutobi Hiruzen. The old man looked slightly surprised, his brows knitting as his eyes fell on her.

Karin's heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst from her chest.

Will he really allow it? Could I… actually stay in Konoha?

After a long pause, the Hokage finally spoke, his tone gentle but resolute.

"Naruto, this girl is a shinobi of Kusagakure. We cannot simply allow a ninja from another village to remain in Konoha. No matter your intentions, such an act could stir conflict between our villages."

His words were kind, but the rejection rang clear.

Naruto froze. "W-why…" he murmured, stricken.

Karin stood rooted in place, her face draining of color until it was pale as paper.

Her lips parted, but no sound came. The Hokage's refusal had crushed the fragile hope she'd only just begun to hold.

Her eyes grew red and her nose stung. Her fingers twisted at the hem of her clothes in despair.

Visions of Kusagakure flashed through her mind her dead teammates, her own survival, and the punishment that surely awaited her return. She knew without doubt that what waited was cruelty and torment.

Her body trembled. Despair surged from her chest like a tide.

"Grandpa Third!" Naruto suddenly cried out, his eyes brimming with tears.

"You don't understand what Karin suffered in Kusagakure! Because she has the power to heal wounds with her body, they treated her like nothing but a tool! Since she was a child, she's been bitten and scarred over and over! If she goes back, they'll torture her all over again!"

His voice cracked with fury and pain.

"Karin is one of my clansmen! I can't just watch her be dragged back to that hell! Please let her stay in Konoha!"

Sarutobi's eyes widened slightly at Naruto's words. "Clansman? Naruto, how do you know she is of your bloodline?"

How could he be so certain?

The Hokage turned to Kakashi, suspicion flickering in his gaze.

Kakashi stepped closer, lowering his voice. "This too came from that dream… the strange vision. Through it, Naruto learned about his mother's origins, and of his connection to this girl."

Hiruzen's pupils contracted sharply. His expression darkened with unease.

"The information… from the dream?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind flashed back to the strange "dream" Kakashi had spoken of. His gaze settled once more on the tearful, red-haired girl standing beside Naruto.

Looking closer, his eyes glimmered with recognition.

That vivid crimson hair… it was unmistakable. She looked so much like Kushina.

And the ability Naruto described healing through bites was clearly a mark of the Uzumaki clan. The girl's bloodline was undoubtedly pure.

After his momentary shock, the Hokage's face darkened. His voice carried anger.

"What?! The Hidden Grass Village treated her so cruelly? To abuse a companion and use her body as nothing but a tool…"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Sakura quickly seized the moment, stepping forward to speak. Her voice was urgent. "Karin is truly pitiful! Her body is covered in scars. If she goes back to Kusagakure, she'll only suffer more abuse!"

She reached out and clasped Karin's arm, her eyes pleading. "Please let her stay here. Team 7 will take good care of her!"

Sarutobi was silent for a long moment. Finally, he gave a slow nod. "…It seems we cannot send this girl back to the Hidden Grass."

His expression softened, and he turned to Naruto with a faint smile. "Very well, Naruto. I will grant your request. Karin may stay in Konoha."

Naruto's joy exploded. He leapt three feet into the air.

"Yes!"

He whooped and grabbed Karin in a tight hug, spinning her around as he shouted, "Did you hear that, Karin?! Grandpa Third agreed! You can stay in Konoha!"

Karin stood frozen for a second, overwhelmed. Then, as the words sank in, happiness burst out of her like a flood.

Her eyes brimmed with tears of joy. Trembling, she hugged Naruto back, her face buried against his chest, soaking his shirt with tears.

"Thank you… Naruto… thank you, Hokage-sama!" she whispered over and over, unable to say anything else.

It felt like a dream so bright, so unreal.

Sakura jumped for joy as well, clapping her hands. "That's wonderful!"

Even Sasuke, though stoic, allowed the corner of his mouth to curl upward. Relief stirred quietly in his chest.

Kakashi let out a rare, genuine smile, his single eye soft with quiet satisfaction.

The Hokage chuckled, his voice full of warmth. "Good. Now, all of you, go inside and rest. As for the Grass Village, leave that to me I will speak with them myself."

"Yes! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"

Sasuke and Sakura bowed deeply. Naruto danced around like a child, unable to contain his joy.

The four entered the tower, leaving only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi behind at the entrance.

When the door closed, the Hokage's kindly smile faded. His expression grew solemn, weighed down by thought.

He descended the steps slowly, Kakashi following at his side.

After a stretch of silence, Kakashi finally spoke. "Hokage-sama… will there truly be no issues with Kusagakure? The Land of Grass is still formally allied with the Land of Fire."

Though he had supported Naruto in front of the students, his tone now carried quiet caution.

"Allies?" Hiruzen gave a cold snort and drew on his pipe. "They're nothing but opportunists. Fence-sitters. They bend with the wind, chasing strength wherever it lies. Hardly worth worrying about."

The Grass Village had long survived in the cracks between greater powers, without pride or principle.

The Hokage waved a hand dismissively, cutting the topic short.

Stopping at the open plaza beneath the tower, he gazed toward the shadowed expanse of the Forest of Death. His face darkened, heavy with thoughts unspoken.

After a long pause, his low voice broke the silence. "Compared to Kusagakure, there is another who troubles me more."

Kakashi's lone eye sharpened. He knew exactly who. "You mean… Orochimaru appearing before Naruto and the others?"

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Yes. That boy… he sought them out deliberately. Naruto, Sasuke… from the very beginning. What is his goal?"

Kakashi fell silent, then shook his head slowly. "There's too little to judge for now. Still… there's no need to worry too much. Both Jinchūriki have already reached the tower. They're safe here, under your watch."

He exhaled softly, glancing at the tower. "With the Hokage himself guarding this place, Orochimaru won't be able to act, at least until the second exam ends."

The Hokage nodded, his brow easing slightly.

But then his expression shifted again, his voice quiet but sharp. "By the way… any word from Kabuto?"

"The ANBU have been tailing him. He separated from his squad before nightfall. The latest report says Yakushi Kabuto is moving alone toward the entrance of Exam Room 12."

A glint of concern flickered in Kakashi's eye. "I suspect he's looking for Naruto and his team."

Hiruzen's brows drew together, cold and sharp. "That boy… indeed suspicious. Orochimaru… just what are you planning?"

Smoke curled from his pipe, rising into the night air as the weight of unease pressed heavier upon him.

....

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