Naruto's brief exchange with Karin left him in high spirits.
A blood relative.
And she was willing to accept him.
The two of them, both desperate to have a home.
It felt wonderful.
Naruto didn't bother dealing with the two Grass Ninja.
He left them to accompany Karin and remain in the Hidden Leaf Village. As for the excuse of "unlawful detainment," Naruto came up with a solution.
He took care of the two Grass Ninja and issued a formal mission request for Karin, allowing her to stay in the village and assist him with various tasks.
That village which treated her as nothing more than a "blood bag" was a hell she should never return to.
Karin absolutely could not go back to the Grass Village.
The only pity was that the scroll those two had was the same "Heaven Scroll" that Team 7 already possessed. They'd have to hunt down other teams.
But before they even began the search, their prey came to them.
Three ninja from the Hidden Sound Village appeared, declaring their intent to hunt down Sasuke and kill him on the spot.
Big words…
But their strength did not match their arrogance.
Naruto used a Binding Spell to immobilize one of them.
He let Sasuke and Sakura take on the other two alone — a fair fight.
Sasuke easily dispatched his opponent, using his two-tomoe Sharingan, multiple Fire-Style jutsus, and his incredible shuriken-throwing precision. Among this generation of genin, he was undoubtedly top-tier.
As for Sakura...
She struggled quite a bit to win her fight and sustained a number of injuries, but she didn't lose — and that alone made her very happy.
Luckily, the Sound Ninja squad possessed the "Earth Scroll."
No need to go searching for other opponents anymore.
When Naruto went over to heal Sakura, she hesitated. Karin's earlier words still echoed in her ears. She instinctively wondered whether she should bite Naruto — her hands were dirty with blood and soil, not very clean…
But the glow of healing chakra made it clear: she was overthinking.
No need to bite Naruto!
Once Sakura was healed, they immediately set off toward the central tower.
Meanwhile—
In the Hokage Tower, two Anbu escorted a weakened Anko Mitarashi back and reported everything.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows knit tighter and tighter. He took a deep drag from his pipe, and soon the smoke filled the room.
The news left him deeply shaken.
Orochimaru had infiltrated the village and even fought with the Jinchuriki.
What was he after? Could he be targeting the Jinchuriki?
Jinchuriki were of the utmost strategic importance to the village. Did Orochimaru really have the resolve and power to covet such a thing?
From what Hiruzen knew, that wasn't Orochimaru's style.
And yet, Anko said his true goal was Uchiha Sasuke.
Still... how reliable was that intel?
The most troubling and unbelievable part was Naruto.
He could enter Tailed Beast Mode — and a controlled version at that — even releasing four tails without losing himself.
How did he do it?
When did he gain that control?
And why had no information reached him?
Just then — bang! — the door was flung open.
Danzo entered, scanned the room, and waved his hand. "Leave us. I need to speak with the Hokage about something important."
The Anbu and Anko didn't move.
Only after Hiruzen nodded did they withdraw.
"The Jinchuriki has lost control!" Danzo snapped the moment the door closed, unable to restrain his agitation.
Hiruzen shook his head. "No, he hasn't. He still retained his sanity."
Danzo sneered, snapping, "Right under our noses, he learns to enter Tailed Beast Mode — and we only find out because Orochimaru forced him to use it? How long would we have remained in the dark?"
"If this doesn't count as 'losing control,' then what does?"
"Do we need the Nine Tails to escape and decimate the village again before it qualifies?!"
"Konoha cannot suffer a second catastrophe!"
"We had only one Minato Namikaze — and he's dead now."
His agitation boiled over. He stamped his foot angrily, his voice rising further.
"I told you — you should have handed the Jinchuriki to me!"
"You don't know how to use him properly!"
"A Jinchuriki out of control is the greatest threat to the village!"
Hiruzen interrupted, "Just because we lacked information doesn't mean Naruto has lost control!"
"Don't exaggerate the danger."
Danzo's exposed face twisted into a mocking grin. "So naive, Hiruzen."
"Don't forget Naruto's recent changes."
"We couldn't figure it out before, but now it's obvious — it was the Nine Tails influencing him!"
"They've probably been communicating for a while now."
"He likely knows who he is — that he's the Fourth Hokage's son."
"He's standing on the edge of unleashing the Nine Tails."
"It could happen any moment!"
"Maybe today, maybe tomorrow…"
"Give him to me. I guarantee he'll become the strongest Jinchuriki."
Hiruzen squinted, eyes sharp. "Is that what you're hoping for, Danzo?"
"I truly regret ever letting you act unchecked."
"But I don't believe Naruto is what you claim. He's a good child."
"He won't be tempted by the Nine Tails."
"He proved himself in the Mizuki incident."
That mission report still sat in the drawer of Hiruzen's desk.
"Naive. So naive. I told you back then — the Jinchuriki is dangerous!" Danzo's face darkened. "You letting him run loose is the real reason he's 'losing control.' Give him to me! He shouldn't be—"
He repeated that demand — "Give me the Jinchuriki" — over and over, unable to say anything else.
Even now, the revelation that Naruto had entered Tailed Beast Mode hit Danzo like a hammer.
His mind was in chaos. His emotions volatile.
Hiruzen cut him off: "That's the Hokage's decision."
Danzo froze.
Again with this.
He clenched his fists, voice harsh. "Hiruzen, let me remind you — you're only acting as Hokage temporarily."
"The Emergency Executive Council has the authority to remove you."
"This situation is special. It concerns the Jinchuriki. Koharu and Homura won't support you this time."
Hiruzen had been the Third Hokage. He'd stepped down when the Fourth was appointed.
But after Minato's death, the village lacked a suitable successor.
Orochimaru had defected, Jiraiya and Tsunade were away, and Kakashi was only 14 at the time.
So Hiruzen resumed his duties as a "temporary Hokage," waiting for the next generation to grow up.
But that "temporary" status had lasted twelve years.
Hiruzen remained calm, as if Danzo's words were no threat. "Oh? Is that so?"
"But for now, I'm still the Hokage, Danzo."
"And my order is this — Naruto will not be handed over to you."
"I'll handle this, and give everyone a proper explanation."
Danzo gritted his teeth. "You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
He stormed off in rage.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe. Smoke filled the air, obscuring Danzo's retreating figure — and everything else.
He was lost in thought.
Naruto…
How did you do it?
How did you master the power of the Tailed Beast without anyone noticing?
After a long moment, Hiruzen set down his pipe and opened a drawer, taking out a scroll and slowly unrolling it.
Danzo's method wasn't one he could accept.
Nor did he feel he had the face to confront Naruto directly.
Then it was time to ask for help.
Whether it was dealing with Orochimaru or Naruto… they needed him.
A name was written on the scroll.
Three hastily scrawled kanji: Jiraiya.
(End of Chapter)