Chapter 20 – The Uzumaki Blood
Naruto's shadow clone moved silently through the dense forest, his senses locked onto a familiar chakra signature. Within moments, he spotted Karin Uzumaki moving with a small group of Grass ninja.
Without hesitation, the clone acted.
A storm of shuriken cut through the air.
Before the Grass ninja could even react, the projectiles struck with deadly precision, eliminating them instantly. The forest fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.
Karin blinked in shock as her entire team collapsed around her.
She looked at the bodies, then at the empty forest around her, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Fear slowly crept into her heart.
Who… did this?
She didn't know whether to feel grateful for being saved or terrified of the unseen attacker.
Karin let out a quiet sigh.
Instead of running or preparing to defend herself, she simply stood there with lifeless eyes. She didn't even activate her Kagura Mind's Eye.
It was as if she had already given up.
Naruto's clone watched her silently.
A faint frown appeared on his face.
It's not like I didn't want to save you earlier…
But his situation had never allowed it.
As a jinchūriki, he had always been monitored closely. Even after becoming a ninja, Kakashi kept him constantly occupied with missions and training.
And there was always that "monkey old man" watching from the shadows.
Naruto exhaled softly.
Then he moved.
In an instant, he appeared in front of Karin.
A Fuinjutsu barrier spread beneath his feet as intricate markings glowed across the ground. At the same time, a golden chakra cloak formed around his body.
Without a word, Naruto placed his hand on Karin's head.
A massive surge of pure Yang chakra flowed into her.
Karin's eyes widened before slowly closing.
Warmth spread throughout her entire body, healing her from within. The exhaustion and pain she had endured began to fade rapidly under the gentle yet overwhelming energy.
For the first time in a long while, she felt… safe.
Karin slowly opened her eyes and looked up.
The boy standing before her was wrapped in a radiant golden glow.
Instinctively, she activated her Kagura Mind's Eye.
What she sensed made her breath hitch.
His chakra felt like the sun itself—vast, warm, and endlessly life-giving.
Naruto smiled slightly.
"Yo, fellow Uzumaki."
His tone was casual, almost playful.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. Nice to meet you."
Before Karin could respond—
Space distorted slightly.
In the next moment, both of them vanished.
---
Elsewhere in the forest, Orochimaru—disguised as a Sound kunoichi—was moving silently toward Sasuke's location.
Suddenly, he stopped.
His golden, snake-like eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh… how interesting."
His tongue flicked out slowly.
A group of Naruto's shadow clones surrounded him from all directions.
One of them stepped forward.
"Yo."
His tone carried a hint of mockery.
"Mind telling me why someone with chakra comparable to the Hokage is participating in the Chunin Exams?"
Orochimaru let out a low, amused laugh.
"Fufufufu…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"You have quite the nerve, brat."
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"And I don't make a habit of answering children."
Without warning, he attacked.
Multiple snakes burst from his sleeves using the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands Technique, striking toward every clone at once.
Naruto's clones reacted instantly.
They formed hand signs in perfect synchronization.
"Wind Style: Shredding Wind!"
Blades of compressed wind sliced through the air, cutting the incoming snakes into pieces.
The battlefield fell quiet for a brief moment.
Orochimaru's smile widened.
"Fascinating…"
He licked his lips slowly.
"To have mastered nature transformation at such a young age… and to this level."
His gaze sharpened.
"Aren't you a genius?"
Then his expression shifted into obsession.
"But no matter how talented you are…"
His voice dropped.
"You can never match the power of the Sharingan."
Naruto felt a slight shiver run down his spine.
Yeah… that obsession is just as creepy in real life.
He kept his Six Eyes hidden, deliberately using hand signs like a normal shinobi.
Better to stay low-key for now…
Then a random thought flashed through his mind.
Still… hearing him talk like that makes me want to say it…
Naruto suppressed a grin.
"Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one."
He shook his head slightly.
Yeah… maybe later.
For now, his focus remained locked on Orochimaru.