This Naruto is too easily persuaded.

The center of the battlefield.

After confirming that Orochimaru's aura had completely disappeared from his perception range, Naruto's tense body finally relaxed.

He slowly stood up, his chest heaving violently.

He adjusted his breathing, which had become somewhat disordered due to the intense battle.

"hiss……"

A burning pain shot through my neck.

Although the Heavenly Curse Seal has been forcibly suppressed by the Vajra Seal.

But that malevolent chakra remained like a persistent, irritating nerve.

Naruto expressionlessly took out his black-rimmed glasses from his spatial pocket and put them back on.

The moment the glasses were put on the bridge of the nose, the lenses obscured the color in the eyes.

The lingering coldness and sharpness in his eyes vanished instantly.

He transformed back into the composed and peaceful Konoha genin he once was.

Naruto casually tidied his somewhat disheveled clothes and hair.

The curse mark and sealing spell on his neck were completely covered up.

"that……"

A soft, timid footstep came from behind.

Naruto didn't turn around; he had already sensed it.

Karin cautiously emerged from behind the rock where she was hiding, and hesitated for a moment when she saw Naruto's slightly pale face.

Then it was as if he had made up his mind.

Karin walked quickly to Naruto, rolled up her already torn sleeve, revealing a fair arm covered in teeth marks.

She closed her eyes, placed her arm near Naruto's mouth, and her voice trembled slightly:

"Bite...bite me!"

"My constitution is very special... as long as someone bites my skin, they can recover chakra and injuries."

After saying that, she instinctively shrank her neck, as if preparing to endure the pain.

"Oh?"

Naruto looked at the arm, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"No hand seals, no medicine, just a bite to heal injuries?"

Naruto definitely needs to recover now.

He is now depleted of chakra and mentally exhausted.

If we don't recover quickly, it will be difficult to cope with any unforeseen changes that may occur next.

But when Naruto saw the dense teeth marks on her arm, his brows furrowed.

Some of those scars have faded, while others are still reddish.

It looked like it had just been bitten recently; the bites were dense and shocking.

That was proof that she had been used carelessly as a consumable in the past.

tool……

Looking at the overlapping wounds, he seemed to see a reflection of another version of himself.

One is "medicine", and the other is "weapon".

Naruto didn't speak; instead, he took a half-step back.

"What's wrong?"

Karin opened her eyes and looked at him with some panic, as if she was afraid of being abandoned.

"Put your hand back."

Naruto's tone was calm, yet it revealed a hint of pride:

"You are a member of the Uzumaki clan, not a disposable item."

"Now that I've saved you, I won't treat you like a piece of merchandise, just like those grass ninjas did."

Karin was stunned.

These words struck her like a heavy hammer, hitting the softest spot in her heart.

From childhood to adulthood, her only value was being bitten.

Even just now, she subconsciously felt that this was the only way she could repay Naruto for saving her life.

But the boy in front of him refused.

It wasn't out of disdain, but to uphold her dignity as a human being.

"But...your injury..."

Karin was so anxious she was almost crying; she could sense Naruto's weakness.

So he desperately tried to bring his arm to Naruto's mouth, "Just one bite, just one bite..."

"...What a stubborn guy."

Naruto sighed helplessly.

He reached out, gently pushed away her scarred arm, and then took her hand in his.

"Let's use this one."

Under Karin's astonished gaze, Naruto pinched her slender index finger and gently bit it.

"Hmm~"

The sensation from her fingertips made Karin's body tremble violently, and her cheeks flushed red.

This time, there was no rough biting, only a slight stinging sensation.

As a trickle of blood seeped out, pure life force surged into his body, causing Naruto's pupils to dilate slightly.

The burning sensation from the cursed seal on his neck quickly subsided, and his depleted chakra recovered at an astonishing rate.

"This recovery speed...it's simply amazing!"

Naruto was secretly amazed, and at the same time gained a new understanding of the Uzumaki clan's physique.

"Even I can't match the purity of this physique and vitality."

"With such immense vitality, if properly utilized, she is far more than just a medical ninja."

Sensing that Karin's breathing was becoming increasingly rapid, Naruto released his breath at the opportune moment.

"This has been a huge help."

Naruto looked at her, his tone sincere.

"N-nothing..."

Karin withdrew her fingers, holding them in her arms as if protecting some precious treasure, her heart pounding.

This is a feeling of being respected that I've never experienced before.

"Judging from the wound on your arm... you haven't had a good time in Kusagakure, have you?"

"Having a treasure mountain but being powerless to protect it will only attract greedy wolves."

Naruto looked at the disheveled girl, adjusted his glasses, and said seriously:

"If you don't want to go back to that hell, I can arrange a new option for you."

"I can arrange a new identity for you, allowing you to live like a normal person, or..."

Naruto paused, then extended his hand to her:

"You can come with me if you want."

"I will teach you how to use this power, so that you will have the ability to protect yourself."

"Huh? Following...following you?"

Karin stared blankly at the hand reaching out to her, her heart pounding wildly.

There was no coercion, no threat, only an equal invitation and reassuring strength.

At that moment, she felt that her wandering and aimless heart had finally found a place to rest.

"I...I do! I want to go with you!"

Karin nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly red.

Naruto smiled slightly and nodded.

"Then stay close and don't fall behind."

After regaining his chakra, Naruto formed hand seals.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Two shadow clones appeared and quickly ran towards the unconscious Sasuke and Sakura, beginning to provide them with basic treatment.

After doing all this, Naruto turned to look at the bushes in the distance, his tone calm:

"You've been watching for so long, aren't you going to come out and say hello?"

The bushes swayed.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino from Team 10 exchanged glances before finally stepping forward.

Having witnessed the battle just now, they were filled with shock.

"Um... Naruto..."

Ino looked at the surrounding forest, which resembled ruins, and swallowed hard.

"Did that monster really leave?"

At this moment, their attitude towards Naruto was more one of awe than fear.

Although Naruto is powerful, his strength is still within their understanding of power.

It's just a combination of various ninjutsu, explosive tags, and shadow clones.

Only the enormous amount of chakra surprised them slightly.

Orochimaru's endless stream of underhanded tricks, his bizarre snake-style ninjutsu, coupled with his sinister and evil aura,

That was the real source of their terror.

"Yeah, they got chased away."

Naruto brushed it off lightly, not wanting them to get too involved.

He looked at the three disheveled figures before him, then fixed his gaze on Shikamaru:

"But the water here is already murky, and the real danger is probably just beginning."

"Shikamaru, as a friend, I have a suggestion for you."

"That means...giving up on this exam."