Naruto: The Abstract Strategist of the Akatsuki

"Do you really have a grudge against Sasuke?"

Karin was still somewhat suspicious, feeling that Naruto was lying to her.

"real!"

Naruto nodded vigorously. "If I'd known you also had a grudge against Sasuke, I wouldn't have pretended. Tell me where Sasuke is, and we can go and take him down together!"

"evidence."

"what?"

"I'm asking you to produce evidence that you and Uchiha Sasuke are enemies."

"..."

Naruto hadn't expected Karin to be so cautious.

He certainly hadn't prepared any evidence.

This idea was something he came up with on the spur of the moment after learning that Karin actually had a grudge against Sasuke.

"Wait here for a moment, I'll go back and get the evidence."

After saying that, Naruto ran out and found Minato Namikaze outside.

To help Naruto find Sasuke within seven days, Minato Namikaze is now Naruto's personal teleportation portal, responsible for taking Naruto to various parts of the ninja world using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Therefore, his arrival in Kusagakure was instantaneous, and his return to Konoha was also instantaneous.

Naruto experienced the thrill of using a Flying Lightning Formation teleportation array in the real ninja world.

Upon returning to Konoha, Minato Namikaze remained standing in the same spot, waiting.

He can't wander off, lest Naruto can't find him in a crucial moment.

This was a rather grueling job, but fortunately, before he left, he went to the bookstore and bought a few of Jiraiya's novels so he could read them when he was bored.

Unfortunately, Jiraiya's novels are still too bland, completely incomparable to his usual chaotic battles. One can only read Jiraiya's Imperial Books as essays to cultivate one's mind.

Naruto went to the temporary Hokage building that Yamato had painstakingly built and found his mother, Kushina.

"Mom, help me quick! We've found a lead on Sasuke!"

Naruto shouted urgently.

Naruto then told Kushina that Karin didn't actually have a crush on Sasuke, but rather that she had a grudge against him, and that Sasuke, being a Fury fanatic, had beaten Karin up and saved the bear.

Then he talked about his clever way of dealing with the situation.

After listening to Naruto's words, Kushina had a complicated expression on her face.

"Naruto, how did you know? Who did Orochimaru and Jiraiya resurrect using Edo Tensei?"

"?"

Naruto was about to speak when these words made him swallow his words again.

What does that mean?

What does he know?

Naruto didn't react for a moment.

He originally came here to ask his mother for a photo of Sasuke's mother, to have a professional in the village edit the photo, or to let her see what Sasuke's mother looked like so he could use his transformation jutsu to take another picture.

Before he could even finish his sentence, his mother's words seemed to reveal something.

"But I just made that up on the spot!"

Naruto answered weakly.

"Oh, I understand."

Kushina remained completely calm about it, showing no shame whatsoever for "exposing herself."

This left Naruto both puzzled and somewhat impressed.

"This might be your talent. Just like I can sense whether a person is loyal or not, so I saw through Obito's conspiracy the moment I saw him and started to formulate a countermeasure plan."

Naruto, you may also have a similar talent, but you didn't actively use it when you were a child. You just hid this memory in your subconscious, which is why you told this story.

This isn't actually a story; it's something that truly exists in your memory.

Kushina analyzed Naruto's situation with a serious expression.

That makes a lot of sense. Naruto said that if he hadn't come from the real ninja world, he might have actually believed it.

The problem is that he has no memories of his past life in this world, so he had to spend a long time memorizing information in the library.

How could he possibly have any subconscious remnants from his childhood?

And isn't his special ability to see bullying value?

"Forget about that, let's not talk about it anymore. Here's the stuff, the important thing is to find Sasuke as soon as possible."

"By the way, your plan is to team up with Karin to bring Sasuke to the brink of death. Have you prepared an explanation for Sasuke afterward? Don't let the two of you clash again."

Kushina took out a scroll from her person, took out various items from it, and began searching through it, while also giving Naruto a few reminders.

"Well... why don't we just tell Sasuke that I'm helping him obtain the Six Paths Master's inheritance?"

Naruto scratched his head, puzzled.

"Naruto, you're too naive. Do you even know Sasuke right now? Do you know why he left the village? Are you sure he'll calm down and listen to your explanation?"

Unless Sasuke has a bond with you, why would he trust someone who once "killed" him with their own hands?

Remember, if you don't have any other reason, you must use some ambiguous statements beforehand to prepare him mentally and lay the groundwork for your subsequent explanation.

"Alright, that's enough. Grab the things and go. Bring Sasuke back quickly."

Kushina taught Naruto how to operate the device until she found a photo, threw it at Naruto, and then told him to leave.

"Yes, everyone, wait for me to come back. I will definitely change everything."

Naruto grabbed the photo and made a solemn promise.

Naruto was then teleported to Kusagakure by Minato Namikaze, where he found Karin, who had been waiting for him.

"photo?"

Karin took the photo and her eyes widened in surprise.

—Isn't this a bit too much to ask?

Naruto noticed Karin's expression and suddenly became very curious about what exactly was in the photo.

He left in such a hurry that he didn't have time to look.

But he couldn't show any curiosity now, since according to the plan, he already knew what was in the photo, and it wasn't something he had to cram for at the last minute.

"This photo definitely looks like it's from over ten years ago. Didn't you even bother to take a new one to fool me?"

Karin put the photo away and looked at Naruto with disbelief.

"I certainly wouldn't lie to you, we have Sasuke as a common enemy—wait, can I have my photos back?"

Naruto watched longingly as Karin put the photo away. He was waiting for it to be returned to him so he could see what was on it.

"Even if I keep this, I still can't be sure you're not lying to me. If you turn against me later, I can show this to Uchiha Sasuke and completely sever your relationship."

Karin refused Naruto, a smile playing on her lips. "Of course, as long as you're truly committed to cooperating with me. Our goal is to eliminate Uchiha Sasuke anyway, so his hostility is completely meaningless to you. You don't need to worry at all, right?"

"Uh, yes, that's right, I don't care at all."

Naruto suddenly realized something was wrong.

He could indeed continue pretending, letting Karin act as his accomplice, and together they would send Sasuke to see the Sage of Six Paths.

But what happens after Sasuke wakes up?

Even if he leaves a hint beforehand as his mother suggested, what if Karin takes out that photo when she sees that the two have resumed their relationship?