Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Naruto, pulling Karin along, ran excitedly to the two of them, his face beaming with happiness. "Listen to me, Karin is also from the Uzumaki clan, she's my family! But..."

His tone suddenly dropped, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes as he recounted Karin's ordeal in Kusagakure in detail.

Kakashi listened quietly, his half-drooping dead fish eyes slightly darkening when he heard about Karin's mother's ordeal.

"...That's it!"

After Naruto finished speaking, he looked up at Kakashi with an almost pleading gaze, "Kakashi-sensei, you must have a way, right?"

"Let Karin stay in Konoha, and never let her return to that terrible village!"

Karin nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, lowered her head, and dared not look Kakashi in the eye.

She was afraid, afraid to hear a rejection from this Jonin.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then finally raised his hand and gently placed it on Karin's bright red hair.

"Do not worry."

His voice was calm, “The village will handle your identity issue.”

"A small village like Kusagakure doesn't even have the guts to question Konoha for the sake of a mere genin."

"Really?!" Naruto cheered instantly.

Karin also suddenly raised her head, her eyes behind her glasses filled with joy.

"Great, Karin!"

Naruto excitedly grabbed her shoulders and shook her vigorously, "From today onwards, you are a Konoha ninja, and no one can bully you anymore!"

"Mmm, mmm!" Karin was dizzy from being shaken so much, but she still nodded vigorously.

Looking at the two people cheering and jumping for joy in front of him, Sasuke's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment.

"That's all?"

A cold voice rang out without warning.

Naruto and Karin's cheers abruptly stopped, and the two looked somewhat helplessly at the black-haired boy who had been leaning against the wall the whole time.

Sasuke slowly straightened up and walked step by step to them.

He didn't look at Naruto; his gaze was fixed on Karin.

"Those people who killed your mother, those scum who used you as a tool."

Sasuke's voice was soft, yet chilling, "You're just going to let it go like this?"

Karin's body stiffened abruptly, and the joy on her face vanished instantly.

"Don't you want revenge?"

revenge?

This word left Karin completely stunned.

She thought about escaping, about seeking refuge, but never about that word.

That's too far away and too extravagant.

"I..." Karin opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

"Sasuke! What are you saying?!"

Naruto finally realized what was happening. He stepped forward, stood in front of Karin, and loudly retorted to Sasuke.

"Karin finally escaped that place with great difficulty; now the most important thing is to start a new life! Revenge and all that..."

"Shut up, you idiot."

Sasuke's eyes turned cold as he glanced at Naruto. "You don't understand anything at all."

He looked past Naruto and once again at the red-haired girl who was trembling all over.

"I'm asking you."

Sasuke's voice carried a hint of disappointment, "Isn't hatred a natural emotion?"

"Having your loved ones taken away and your dignity trampled upon, shouldn't you wash away this humiliation with the blood of your enemies?"

"Or should I say..."

Sasuke's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You've become so used to being used like livestock that you've even lost the will to resist?"

"No, I didn't!" Karin suddenly raised her head and cried out in protest.

"Then prove it to me."

Sasuke's voice remained cold, "Escape and seeking refuge will only earn you pity."

"Only power, only by trampling all those who have hurt you underfoot, can you gain true dignity."

His words tempted Karin to confront the repressed hatred deep within her heart.

"Sasuke, that's enough."

Kakashi's voice rang out at the right moment. He walked to Sasuke's side, put his hand on his shoulder, and stopped him from continuing.

Sasuke glanced at Kakashi's hand, then snorted coldly and said nothing more.

The entire lobby fell silent.

Karin lowered her head, her body trembling slightly; no one knew what she was thinking at that moment.

After a long silence, it was Naruto who broke it.

"Although I don't understand all those grand principles you're spouting..."

Naruto's voice was somewhat low, but he still raised his head and looked directly at Sasuke.

"But family is meant to be protected!"

He turned to Kakashi, then looked at Sasuke, took a deep breath, and made a suggestion that no one would have expected.

"Kakashi-sensei, please let Karin join our Team 7!"

"Huh?!" Kakashi and Karin were both stunned.

"Our class was already missing one person, wasn't it?"

Naruto grinned, "Now that Karin's here, it's perfect! The three of us make the perfect team!"

He looked at Sasuke, his eyes filled with seriousness.

"I will protect her and make her stronger."

Naruto paused, his tone carrying a hint of challenge, "Until one day, she no longer needs to run away, but can solve all of this herself!"

"As for now, what she needs is a home, a place where she can feel at ease, instead of being consumed by the flames of revenge."

These words caused Sasuke's pupils to contract almost imperceptibly.

Kakashi looked at his disciple, who seemed to have grown up in an instant, and then at Sasuke, who had no further objections.

"Sigh, I just can't do anything with you guys."

Kakashi scratched his head helplessly, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

"Ok."

He looked at Naruto again and finally agreed, "I will discuss this with the Hokage."

"However, Karin's own wishes are also important."

Karin slowly raised her head, her eyes welling up with tears again beneath her glasses.

But this time, it wasn't because of sadness.

She nodded emphatically.

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage Building.

He had just had a falling out with Danzo over the debate about who should be the Jinchuriki, which had taken a toll on his already limited mental energy.

He rubbed his temples wearily, unable to concentrate on any of the mountains of documents piled on the table.

Orochimaru...

The disciple who went astray actually sneaked back to the village.

He even fought Sasuke, and Sasuke's strength exceeded his expectations.

What does he want to do?

Was it because of those eyes that they targeted Sasuke, an orphan?

Or is it...?

An even more unsettling thought came to mind.

Was Orochimaru's target Naruto from the very beginning?

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, picked up his pipe, and took a deep drag.

He is old.

Neither my mental nor physical strength allows me to have the same firm control over everything as I did when I was younger.

The other villagers were even less capable of dealing with an opponent of Orochimaru's caliber.

After thinking for a long time, the flame in the pipe gradually went out under the ash.

Hiruzen Sarutobi placed the cold pipe on the table and took a scroll from the drawer.

Whether it's Orochimaru or Naruto...

Letting him come back to handle it is the best option.

The ink spread across the scroll, eventually coalescing into a few hastily written characters.

Jiraiya!

Chapter 68 A Belated Protection

Dark as ink.