Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

Karin, who was secretly imprisoned, knew little about the commotion at Hozuki Castle.

But the sudden departure of Wuwei, who had been monitoring her, was enough for Karin to notice something was amiss.

Are you telling the truth?

Karin was somewhat skeptical, but under Naruto's prompting, she spoke again.

"Your perception range is quite wide, why don't you try to sense it and you'll find out?"

Karin simply shook her head at Naruto's suggestion.

Naruto, of course, knew what was going on.

Karin's chakra was also imprisoned by Wuwei using "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison".

"it is true."

Naruto then answered Karin's question with a very confident tone.

Upon receiving the answer from Naruto, Karin first showed a happy expression... like a disheveled dog, its fur soaked in the rain, suddenly discovering the joy of not being abandoned in the face of an empty house.

Karin then suppressed her joy and expressed concern about the crisis Longshe was currently facing.

Karin's expression had already answered Naruto's earlier question in words.

Chapter 6 Winning Over

It seems that agave and kaolin have a good relationship.

Indeed, in the original work, Ryuzetsu could have directly killed Naruto, whose chakra was imprisoned by "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison," thus fundamentally preventing the Box of Elysium from being opened.

However, he rejected the act with the naive reason that "killing at will is the same as doing nothing."

Karin is also a naive girl. Her mother died at the hands of Kusagakure, and she herself was treated as a tool.

Yet he was still willing to obey Kusagakure. Even after being taken away by Orochimaru in the original story, he didn't harbor much hatred towards Kusagakure.

Even if Sasuke wanted to kill her, she would still easily forgive him.

All of this is related to her experiences; she was someone who had never had anything.

After wandering with her mother to Kusagakure, she finally had a "home".

Later, he learned about the abnormal "bond" in Kusagakure.

For Karin, her concepts of "home" and "bonds" were wrong from the very beginning.

How can we expect her to make the right choice?

But that's exactly how it is.

Naruto didn't need to spend too much time thinking about how to win Karin over to his side.

"So you were also someone Sister Longshe found to save me?"

Karin suddenly asked.

She was actually more curious about why Naruto, a ninja from Konoha, would be here.

However, Karin also understood that there were priorities in the questions.

It's not surprising that Karin had the idea that Naruto and Ryuzetsu were infiltrating Hozuki Castle together.

Hozuki Castle was entrusted to Kusagakure by the five great nations.

Karin is also a Kusanagi ninja.

Naruto, a ninja from Konoha, wants to know information about Karin's whereabouts in Hozuki Castle.

Naturally, this information would only come from Ryuzetsu, who is also a Grass Ninja.

The "floral" faction of Longshe also suffered a severe blow from the "practical" faction.

It's only natural for "Flower" to bring in foreign aid.

Furthermore, upon hearing the name Ryuzetsu from Naruto's mouth, Naruto showed no hostility towards Ryuzetsu.

Unfortunately, Karin's "reasonable" guess was wrong.

It was just wishful thinking on her part.

"It's true that we both came to Hozuki Castle to save you, but Ryuzuki and I are not on the same side—we are real enemies when it comes to how to deal with you in Hozuki Castle."

Naruto's words startled Karin.

"I need your power. If anyone tries to stop me, I will kill that person."

Naruto looked at Karin and said, "I don't care what you think. If you refuse to give me power—I'll try any means to get you to come with me, whether it's genjutsu, coercion, or torture.

"But relationships built through violence and deception are not stable. I prefer long-term partnerships."

"If you can cooperate with me, I can guarantee that I won't treat you like those guys from Kusagakure who just use you as a tool."

“I’m not like your two useless teammates from the Chunin Selection Exams… I will become your partner.”

"And all you've given me is... whatever help you can provide."

Karin could hear in Naruto's long string of words that he yearned for the power she possessed.

"You...you also have a special constitution that affects me..."

Karin couldn't understand what Naruto saw in a ninja as weak as her.

The only reasonable explanation is that Naruto was concerned about her physical condition and special abilities...

"I have no interest in your special 'physique' that can restore chakra and injuries."

Naruto emphasized the word "physical constitution".

"What I need is a 'whirlpool'."

"But I won't..."

Karin knew her background; the Uzumaki clan's characteristics were too conspicuous in the ninja world.

An extraordinary amount of chakra, and various powerful sealing techniques.

However, Karin had not learned any sealing techniques.

"You don't need to worry about that."

Naruto has his own methods, but there's no need to tell Karin right now.

Just like Naruto said earlier, Naruto didn't care about her thoughts.

Naruto was willing to patiently talk to Karin only because he hoped that Karin would take the initiative to go with him.

However, Naruto will not give Karin to Ryuzetsu no matter what.

Karin looked at Naruto.

"I see."

I didn't expect Karin to be so compliant.

"You're quite the student who puts your knowledge to practical use."

Naruto looked at Karin's obedient demeanor and said.

I just taught Karin the skills of "playing along" and "delaying time".

Karin is already using it on him.

“I won’t go with you, Sister Longshe…”

"How about we make a deal?"

Naruto interrupted Karin.

"Like you, Ryutsuki was also subjected to 'Fire Release: Heavenly Prison' by Wuwei."

Naruto kept an eye on Karin's emotional changes while also keeping a watchful eye on the dark corners outside the cage.

"This is all to rescue you from the Ghost Lantern Castle."

"Wuwei just left your side. Where do you think he went?"

Karin stared wide-eyed at Naruto.

Having been subjected to "Fire Release: Heavenly Prison", Ryuusei had no chance against Wuwei.

"You should belong to the 'pragmatic' faction in Kusagakure, right?"

Naruto still remembered the information that Ryusei had given him.

Kusagakure is now under the control of the pro-war "Hana no Mi" faction.

Since Karin was able to participate in the Chunin Selection Exams, and given her experience of being used as a tool...

Karin can only belong to the "pragmatic" faction.

Naruto then recalled how he had previously probed Karin about her relationship with Ryuzetsu.

Karin and Ryusho, those two naive souls, had already forged a bond.

"As a member of the 'Flower' faction... Ryuzetsu is fighting so hard not only for 'flowers' but also for you... Ryuzetsu is probably your only remaining connection in Kusagakure, right?"

"And the Dragon Tongue is now facing death... to die for you."

Naruto looked directly into Karin's eyes and spoke to her painful, heart-wrenching words.

Karin looked away, unwilling to meet Naruto's gaze.

“I can…save the tongue.”

This is Naruto's bargaining chip in the deal between Naruto and Karin.

Karin, on the other hand, also needs to pay the corresponding stakes.

She turned her head back and looked into Naruto's eyes: "I will... go with you."

"Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation in the future."

Naruto smiled at Karin.

Even now, Naruto is still in disguise.