Chapter – 346 A Name, huh?

After quietly taking away Katsumi's dead body out of Kusagakure along with Karin, the two buried Katsumi on top of a cliff in the land of Fire where people seldom venture.

Standing in front of the tree under which Katsumi's body was buried, Karin looked down silently.

Kuroto caressed her head and lightly said, "It's okay to cry it out…"

While choking and resisting tears, Karin shook her head, "Oka-san said that strong Kunoichi does not cry… I can't cry I… I have to become strong like Oka-san…"

Kuroto said lightly, "It's okay to cry today…"

As said before, weakness is a sin in this Shinobi World… but crying and mourning someone's death is not a sign of weakness…

Kuroto knows exactly what Karin feels, after all, he too lost his parents at an early age and had to rely only upon himself to survive.

It was Yui who taught him that crying is allowed… if we are sad… if it is hurting… then crying eases away our pain… it's never a sign of weakness…

For a little girl who is only about six years old, it is natural to cry after losing the only person who cared and loved her to death…

Kuroto said gently, "It's okay to cry today, I am giving you the permission."

With Kuroto's permission, Karin could no longer resist, and tears that she has been trying to resist for so long broke out at once.

And she cried, she cried hard, she vented out all her sadness and loneliness, all this while, the Uzumaki symbol behind her neck glowed and spread an unknown warmth in her heart.

Karin remembers this warmth, it's what she felt with her Oka-san by her side… and this warmth reassured Karin that even if gone, her Oka-san was still with her.

Kuroto curiously looked at the symbol, and he could perceive what was happening… but he did not speak anything. That Uzumaki Clan symbol stores Uzumaki Katsumi's Chakra as well as life force, and perhaps even a shard of her soul which is why she can perceive Karin's emotion and act on it.

After a while, when Karin had finally calmed down, she said to the stone tablet between the giant roots of the tree, "I will become the strongest Kunoichi in existence… and I will make you proud Oka-san… Until next time…"

Leaving this sentence she turned around and spoke to Kuroto, "Let's go Kuroto-sama."

Kuroto nodded while secretly glancing at the elusive image of Uzumaki Katsumi standing before the tree he was able to perceive.

He did not tell Karin about this because Katsumi signaled him to keep quiet, to which he nodded.

With Karin finally was ready to go, Kuroto took her to the Ancor Vantian.

Karin was honestly very surprised by looking at Ancor Vantian… it was like from those fairy tales… floating castles… it just that the appearance of the castle looked quite shabby… but she did not mind…

Karin repeatedly asked many questions from Kuroto, he did answer the ones that he was okay to let Karin know at this point… and did not answer the ones that he was not okay with.

The arrival of Karin surprised Gaara, and he was quite nervous now.

In Suna, Gaara's situation is similar to Naruto's, Gaara does not have any friends… he has always desired for others to acknowledge his existence and befriend him but unfortunately never have been.

So when Karin arrived at Ancor Vantian, Gaara was nervous about whether she will treat him the same way he was treated at Suna.

Karin obviously did not have any prejudices against Gaara. Besides, she was able to feel that Gaara's chakra gave her a protective feeling… And since Shukaku's chakra was completely sealed and since Karin is not yet proficient enough to sense such hidden chakra so she was unable to sense the evil chakra of Ichibi.

As such, she stared at Gaara curiously… but if you ask her, she was more curious about the Kanji character on Gaara's forehead than Gaara himself.

Kuroto said looking at the two children, "Alright both of you introduce yourselves…"

Karin was the first one to speak, "I am Uzumaki Karin, I want to become the strongest Kunoichi, nice to meet you…"

Karin's cheerful attitude towards him surprised Gaara and after a bit of hesitation he finally bowed and introduced himself, "I am Gaara, Jinchuriki of Ichibi, Shukaku… my dream is to become a strong Shinobi worthy of Kuroto-sama's recognition…"

Karin nodded, then asked curiously while tilting her head, "What's a Jinchuriki? And what's Ichibi?"

Gaara suddenly came to halt, he was not sure whether he should inform her of Shukaku… for that reason, he looked at Kuroto who has already started to walk somewhere.

Perhaps it was because Kuroto felt Gaara's gaze, he suddenly came to a halt and said, "It's up to you Gaara-Kun… if you feel like it, then you can otherwise you don't have to."

Gaara was silent, meanwhile, Karin turned towards the fourth person standing in the room and asked him, "What is your name Ojii-san?"

Asked by Karin, the fourth person who has been silent until now, tilted his head in confusion and said lightly… "I do not have a name…"

Karin was confused, "Why not?"

Gaara was also confused, he has yet to recognize who this person is even though he feels that this person is familiar.

Kazekage puppet was confused and after a while of silence, he said, "I was never given a name…"

"Why not?" – Karin asked again.

Kazekage puppet said, "I do not know, perhaps Kuroto-sama may know…"

"Why would he know? Don't parents give names to their children? He is certainly not your parent, so how can he know?" – Karin was getting more and more confused as she talked with this Ojii-san.

Now even Gaara was looking at the conversation of the two… he was also very curious.

While Kazekage Puppet looked at Kuroto for answers and explanations… he was too late as Kuroto had already left the room and gone somewhere else.

…

On Kuroto's side.

After having left the room to give some time to the two kids to befriend each Kuroto was now thinking of the training plan for the two.

Because of the early awakening of Sand Release within him, Gaara's starting point can be said to be second only to Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Shisui of the same generation. Even if Kuroto does not interfere, it wouldn't be wrong to say that Gaara can naturally grow into a very top-tier Kage Class shinobi on his own.

But since Kuroto has taken Gaara under his wing, so obviously Kuroto is unsatisfied with anything below top-tier Super Kage Class.

After all, anything below the level of Super Kage is pretty much useless during the fourth great shinobi war. And Kuroto obviously needs Gaara to at least be on the level of Senjutsu enhanced Kurama Mode Uzumaki Naruto, below that is pointless.

With that intent in mind, and taking Gaara's fighting style in mind... Kuroto has to formulate a training plan.

After thinking a little, Kuroto decided not to go with any fancy training plans but instead started with training Gaara's basic Taijutsu skills with minimum reliance over Sand Armor…

Regardless of the natural abilities brought by Kekkei Genkai, two factors are what actually determine the strength of a shinobi.

One is fighting wisdom, the ability to fully display their own strength. Many people have the first ability, and yet not everyone has the ability to fully display their strength in a battle.

Take Hiruko as an example, even with five Kekkei Genkai, he lost and had to sacrifice his legs and hands, meanwhile, Yondaime-sama single-handedly with his Hiraishin no Jutsu and Rasengan became the most feared shinobi of the third great shinobi war.

So just having strength is not enough, training fighting wisdom is much more important.

The second factor is none other than Chakra control.

Chakra is the root of all Jutsu, so the better and finer Chakra control, the better a shinobi will be at all forms of combats.

And since Gaara has always been strong since early childhood, therefore, he does not have appropriate fighting wisdom. Gaara sure can overwhelm others with his superior strength, but when to put against someone of the same age and similar strength, there are very high chances that he will be the one to lose.

This is clearly displayed from his panic and shock when fighting Rock Lee, and Uchiha Sasuke. Although Gaara did not lose, when he was on the verge of losing as he was seriously overwhelmed.

Especially against Uchiha Sasuke, when Gaara was on the verge of losing control in the canon.

As such, Kuroto planned a physique training plan for Gaara.

Besides, Taijutsu combat is the best method to beat in fighting wisdom within someone. In a fast-paced taijutsu fight, one must learn to predict the opponent's next move, learn to use fakes, mislead others, look for gaps and opportunities, and also learn to figure out traps and all, so combat experience increases readily.

As such, Taijutsu is the best.

After Gaara's training plan was decided, the next up is Karin. And Kuroto plans to not train Karin for the time being.

This is not because Kuroto couldn't think up a training plan for Karin, but it is because while Karin lived in Kusagakure, she did not receive appropriate nutrition. As such, even though she is an Uzumaki, he physique is still quite weak.

Before starting to train, Karin needs to recover and come to a normal point otherwise there will be a negative sequela.

Of course, Kuroto isn't going to keep her free while she recovers.

With Karin's talent and her Uzumaki descent, Kuroto is of course unsatisfied if she ends up being just part of the support and logistics department. She has to be someone of the same level as Gaara. Someone who can fight alongside Gaara at the same level while also restrains him should Shukaku get out of control.

For this purpose, Kuroto is going to start her teachings in calligraphy and train her calculation abilities, which are extremely essential for Fuinjutsu.

Karin is an Uzumaki, so teaching her Uzumaki Fuinjutsu is obvious. But Fuinjutsu of course requires many things, which have to be taught to her.

Training her calculation abilities will not only be helpful in Fuinjutsu but also make a base for her when she starts learning biotechnology, as she will be Kuroto's assistant so that is a necessity.

With everything decided, Kuroto summoned the Kazekage puppet and instructed him on everything, who nodded ever so respectfully.

And with everything is taken care of, Kuroto was about to leave, just then Kazekage puppet suddenly spoke, "Kuroto-sama… why do I have no name?"

Kuroto was surprised by the sudden question, and asked curiously, "Why the sudden interest in a name?"

Kazkekage puppet narrated Karin's and Gaara's questions a while ago and then spoke after thinking a little, "Everyone has a name, Gaara-sama, Karin-sama, Itachi-sama, Shisui-sama, Pakura-sama, Shinichi-sama, only I don't, why is that?"

Kuroto was surprised, 'Suddenly asking for a name, huh? I wonder what will be the next change.'

Kuroto honestly never expected that the Kazekage puppet would suddenly ask for a name, it almost seems that he is turning into a living form…

After thinking a little, Kuroto said, "Now that you mention it, you do need a name… hmm, let's do it this way, since the two of them asked you, how about I entrust them with this… let the two of them work on a name for you… this will be their first challenge in their Shinobi path."

Kazekage Puppet nodded and then left to tell Gaara and Karin their first challenge.

With that out of the way, Kuroto smiled and started walking towards the exit of Ancor Vantian.

This time for the plan of bringing subordinates, Kuroto went on with his Sensei's approach. Intervening and helping the children when their hearts were most vulnerable and they were in the most critical situations of their lives.

Kuroto being their savior naturally earned him all of their trust, so Kuroto believes that as long as both of them are properly brainwashed, and treated with care either of the two will not hesitate to give up their lives if Kuroto asks. Which is the kind of undying and unquestionable loyalty Kuroto wants.

Satisfied, Kuroto walked flew out of Ancor Vantian, and went to the meeting place agreed on with Shisui.

In the past few days, everywhere Kuroto went, he used the Tenseigan Chakra Mode, so not many days have passed. As such Shisui, who was coming normally from the Land of Wind obviously did not reach Konohagakure yet.

After meeting with Shisui, both of them went to Konoha.

…

A few days later.

Konohagakure, Hokage Office.

When Kuroto and Shisui returned and passed on Kazekage-dono's scroll to Hokage-sama they also learned about the mission of Kakashi and Guy.

Both of them had already returned two days ago with the agreement from Raikage. And Raikage had obviously agreed to join the raid.

While Sandaime read the report, he was surprised by the act of Hyuga Kuroto and Uchiha Shisui of saving Sunagkure from Ichibi's rampage, as well as the execution of Ichibi Jinchuriki.

While Sandaime chose to not pay much attention to the execution of Suna's Jinchuriki, Sandaime especially commended Shisui and Kuroto for their decision to interfere to stop Ichibi's rampage. This will improve relations between Konoha and Suna to some extent, which is exactly what is needed at this point in time.

Next, Sandaime concluded the mission.

With that out of the way, put away both the scroll and then ordered the four shinobi of the Anbu team-11, "In the upcoming secret meeting, Team-11 will accompany me as my guards, is that clear?"

Sandaime has already attached great importance to eliminating Akatsuki, and because of the unclear identity of the spy, he has made sure to keep this raid a secret even from the other three elder advisors.

After all, Akatsuki has too many rogue-nin of Konoha, there is no guarantee who is a spy, it is better to only keep the people with the least number involved in the entire raid.

Sandaime can not ignore, the likes of Uchiha Shinichi, Hiruko, and Orochimaru to be part of Akatsuki.

In regards to Sandaime's order, neither of the four of Team-11 had any objections and they nodded at the same time, "Yes Hokage-sama!"

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