Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 362 Karin

Kusaka Village, a secluded place.

Inside a small, domed wooden cabin.

"don't want."

The sharp sound filled the small room.

The little girl, wearing glasses and with bright red hair, looked like she was about to cry: "We just went there last time, why do we have to go again this time?"

The woman with crimson hair smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mom will be alright, Karin."

"But..." The little girl, Karin, bit her lip, her expression full of worry.

His mother's voice sounded weak and listless, clearly indicating that she was not in good condition, a situation that even a small child like him could easily perceive.

"Hurry up."

A third party's voice rang out in the air, cold and ruthless.

Before I knew it, a robust middle-aged man was already standing at the door.

The man had a square face and cold eyes.

Karin recognized him; this man was Kameda Nishimon, an elite Jonin from Kusagakure.

At these times, the man would take his mother away to work in a special medical field.

Karin's mother reached out and touched Karin's cheek: "Use your abilities to help everyone; this is the condition for staying in the village."

"But……"

"Stay home and don't wander off. Mom will bring you food."

After comforting her daughter, Karin's mother left with Kameda Nishimon.

Before leaving, Kameda Nishimon glanced at Karin, his gaze filled with ill intent.

Under that gaze, Karin trembled with fear.

By the time she came to her senses, the two had already left the house.

Karin cried out for her mother and ran outside, but she could no longer see her mother's back.

Karin slumped to the ground, tears welling in her eyes, her eyebrows drooping, looking utterly helpless.

Her mother's health has been deteriorating recently, and she is very worried that one day she will never see her mother again.

Tragically, she could do nothing but watch helplessly as her mother grew weaker day by day.

With the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, they lost their homes and became refugees, forced to live as dependents. They had no other choice.

Karin knelt with her knees together, her little head buried deep in her knees, her lonely figure resembling an abandoned cat.

As the sun sets in the west, the sky seems to be drawn with a curtain, and the surrounding light becomes dim.

"When is Mom coming back...?"

Karin mumbled something, praying in her heart that nothing would happen to her mother.

As if the prayers had been answered, a faint sound of footsteps could be heard ahead, and the sound was getting closer and closer.

They live far from the center of the village, and hardly anyone comes back there.

"Mother……"

Karin's face lit up with joy. She raised her head, and her slightly swollen eyes reflected a young man with white hair and blue eyes, wearing a gray cloak.

When she realized it wasn't her beloved mother, Karin's trembling eyes revealed a look of disappointment.

Aokiji followed the winding path to a small wooden house and immediately spotted a girl with bright red hair.

People with this hair color are undoubtedly from the Uzumaki clan.

We finally found it...

Aokiji's lips curled up, revealing a pleased expression.

"Who are you--!"

Karin looked at the stranger in front of her, her slightly trembling eyes revealing a wary expression.

Aokiji noticed Karin's swollen eyes from crying, narrowed his gaze slightly, and knew that her life as a dependent must be miserable. He smiled with pity: "How pitiful it is for a ninja to lose his homeland."

Karin stood up and took a step back: "You're not from the village, are you?"

Aokiji's lips curled up: "He may be a brat, but he's quite clever."

"What are you trying to do... I'm warning you, if you dare to do anything reckless, everyone will be here right away."

Karin said, her voice sharp but her tone inwardly calm.

That's what they say, but in reality, even if she died on the spot, the villagers wouldn't give her a second glance.

As an outsider, her status within the village was even lower than that of a dog.

"Would you... like to become my partner?"

Upon hearing this, Karin's eyes widened in surprise.

Aokiji's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes closing as he smiled, giving him an innocent and harmless appearance.

However, this seemed to frighten Karin even more. She shrank back, looking at the mysterious boy who had appeared before her, and timidly said, "I don't understand what you mean."

"What, haven't I explained myself clearly enough?"

Aokiji shook his head and sighed, "In the end, he's still just a brat."

He added, "To put it another way, I want to do some things that are difficult to accomplish alone, so I need some partners to do them for me."

Karin looked at the other person, puzzled.

It wasn't that she couldn't understand what was being said, but rather that she didn't understand why Aokiji would target a kid like her.

Suddenly, she seemed to understand something, her eyes widening. This person, like the people of Kusagakure, was lusting after her body.

Aokiji continued, "Of course, in exchange, I won't let you do things for free. I can help you fulfill certain personal wishes."

"desire……?"

"That's right." Aokiji said kindly, trying to persuade him.

Karin sensed that the guy in front of her wasn't a good person, but thinking of her mother whose fate was unknown, she gritted her teeth and said, "In that case, I want you to help me rescue my mother."

"Mom...?" Aokiji asked with interest.

Karin, with a mournful face, told Aokiji about the tragic history and experiences of her Uzumaki clan.

After finishing her statement, she continued, "You want me to do things for you, isn't that why?"

Aokiji did not deny it: "That's true, but there are some other reasons as well."

"Other reasons?"

"Let's deal with the smaller fry around us first before worrying about this kind of thing."

Aokiji glanced around.

"Miscellaneous fish?"

Karin didn't quite understand.

Suddenly, several dark figures darted out in unison, dressed in identical uniforms and headbands; they were ninjas from the Hidden Grass Village.

Aokiji smirked dismissively, his gaze returning to Karin's astonished expression. He smiled and said, "Looks like you're not as unpopular as I thought."

The Hidden Grass Village did not disregard the mother and daughter; on the contrary, they valued them highly. They were exploiting the mother and daughter by not intending to belittle them.

Otherwise, so many people wouldn't have gathered so quickly after Aokiji and Karin had only been in contact for a short time.

"Kid, who do you think you are?!"

The leader of the Kusagakure ninjas pointed at Aokiji and questioned him sharply.

Although he looks like a kid, he was able to sneak into their village without anyone noticing, so he was obviously no ordinary person. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gathered so many people before making their appearance.

"Kid?"

Aokiji's face turned cold: "You really dare to say that."

The next second, as if he had thought of something, Aokiji's expression returned to calm: "But never mind, in a way, I am indeed a brat, and besides, I don't need to bother with a bunch of dead people."

"What did you say...!?"

How dare a brat spout such nonsense? There are so many of them here, are they afraid of him?

A ninja from the Hidden Grass Village quickly formed hand seals, and the chakra gathered in his throat was expelled, forming a blazing fireball.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

This technique originates from the famous Uchiha clan, and it has a large attack range and destructive power, as well as a long distance.

Facing the oncoming fireball, Aokiji stood still, like a scarecrow, enduring the attack.

With a loud bang, the grass ninja had even imagined the enemy being burned by the scalding flames—but this scene was completely blocked by a suddenly appearing ice wall.

All the Kusagakure ninja present, including him, widened their eyes in shock: "This is Ice Release..."

(End of this chapter)