Chapter 135 Danzo Must Support It

Meeting those blue eyes, Karin felt a sense of being firmly chosen and protected for the first time.

A warm current slowly nourished her already dry, cracked, and scarred heart.

Naturally, seeds of various emotions, including longing, dependence, and trust, began to sprout in Karin's heart.

"Wash your face, it's all smudged from crying."

Hinata took Karin's small hand and led her to the river, using a handkerchief to clean Karin's smudged face. Taking this opportunity, Ino Yamanaka quietly asked Naruto, "Naruto, is it against the rules for us to take in a Ninja from another Hidden Village without permission?"

Naruto replied with a smile, "Why would it be against the rules?"

"Strictly speaking, Karin isn't an outsider. She's an orphan of the Whirlpool Clan, and you must have learned about the Whirlpool Clan's ties to Konoha Village in history class, right?"

Ino Yamanaka paused slightly.

Konoha Village's short history of a few decades was clearly recorded in history books.

Most of the famous figures were, of course, also introduced.

For example, Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was also the Land of Fire's first Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.

During the Battle of the End Valley, Uzumaki Mito, to assist Senju Hashirama who had obtained the Nine-Tailed, sealed the Nine-Tailed within herself, becoming the first Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed. From then on, the Nine-Tailed also became Konoha's Tailed Beast.

Minato Namikaze's wife—Uzumaki Kushina, the Land of Fire's second Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.

Konoha Village has only had four Hokage in total, and two of their wives were members of the Whirlpool Clan.

Both logically and emotionally.

No one would criticize Naruto for taking in Karin or raise any objections.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and even Danzo and other Konoha higher-ups would even highly praise Naruto's actions, perhaps even hoping that they would marry in the future and continue to produce pure-blooded descendants of the Whirlpool Clan.

The best candidates for Jinchuriki, naturally thick Chakra, and various sealing techniques, etc. With the Whirlpool Clan's talent, for small Hidden Villages, it might be a curse, but for powerful Hidden Villages, it's a genuine treasure.

As for the Grass Hidden Village's opinion.

Hmm...

Does it matter?

Konoha Village naturally expresses gratitude to the Grass Hidden Village for painstakingly sending the Whirlpool Clan orphan back to Konoha Village.

Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dare to keep Karin, it would be too easy for Naruto to protect someone.

The most direct method would be to give Karin an Underground City team badge and send her into the Goblin Slayer World to live peacefully in the Water Capital.

With Naruto's reputation and influence in the Goblin Slayer World, it wouldn't be difficult to have the Human Capital confer a noble title upon Karin and allocate territory to her.

"Swish swish swish"

At this moment.

The rapidly moving afterimages in the forest suddenly increased significantly.

"Who are they?"

"Judging by their movements and attire, they don't look like Genin taking the exam."

Ino Yamanaka asked curiously.

Naruto nodded, "Of course not. They should be the proctors outside the arena who discovered dangerous individuals and dispatched elite squads to apprehend them."

Although he didn't explicitly say it, Naruto knew in his heart that these were Anbu Ninja, entering the Death Forest to search for Orochimaru and his group's whereabouts.

As Orochimaru's disciple, Anko Mitarashi knew Orochimaru's terror better than anyone, so she requested enough Ninja from the Anbu.

"Dangerous individuals?"

"Who is it—"

Ino Yamanaka crossed her arms, humming confidently and proudly, "That's because they haven't met me yet~"

"With my Mind Body Switch Technique, followed by a Timed Explosive Tag Curse Seal, who can withstand that?"

Previously, the Mind Body Switch Technique was at most a control skill, plus information gathering. Ino Yamanaka lacked true means to defeat enemies.

After Naruto taught her the Timed Explosive Tag Curse Seal, the terrifying extent of the Mind Body Switch Technique increased dramatically.

Even if she encountered a master and could only control them for a brief two or three seconds, as long as Ino Yamanaka planted a Timed Explosive Tag Curse Seal on their neck, heart, face, or other places, low-health, squishy Ninja would die.

This caused Ino Yamanaka to become extremely overconfident now.

Don't look at Hinata's significant increase in strength, cultivating the Hyuga Gentle Fist and Rasengan, making her extremely fierce in close combat, but in Ino Yamanaka's view, if there was an intelligence gap, she could instantly defeat Hinata.

Naruto saw through Ino Yamanaka's smugness and secretly shook his head.

Mind Body Switch Technique + Timed Explosive Tag Curse Seal.

Sinister!

It was indeed sinister enough.

"It seems the Anbu entering to search for Orochimaru means the higher-ups temporarily have no intention of stopping the exam."

Naruto's thoughts stirred, and he said to Hyuga Hinata, Ino Yamanaka, and the other girls, "Let's continue the exam and head to the high tower in the central area of the Death Forest."

"As for you, Karin—"

"If you want to live openly in Konoha Village in the future, you'll need a proper identity."

Naruto casually formed a "Ren" hand sign, and a puff of Chakra white mist rose beside him, creating a Shadow Clone.

"Karin, my Naruto's Shadow Clone will take you to our Konoha Village's Third Hokage."

"Okay!"

Karin was a little timid, afraid that the Hokage wouldn't accept her, but she chose to trust Naruto.

So, the group split into two paths.

Naruto, Hyuga Hinata, and Ino Yamanaka headed to the high tower in the Death Forest.

The Shadow Clone led Karin out of the Death Forest.

Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing a straw hat and holding a pipe in his mouth, had his hands hovering over a crystal ball, performing the Telescope Technique to search for Orochimaru's figure.

"Orochimaru, you dangerous fellow, you defected from Konoha back then. Why have you returned today, and what is your true objective?"

"I will absolutely not let you wreak havoc in the Village!"

"Even if—I have to stake my old life!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged, sunken eyes glowed with astonishing light as he stared intently at the crystal ball.

The transparent crystal reflected the dense forest of the Death Forest.

At this moment, a knock sounded at the office door.

A Ninja entered, bringing Naruto's Shadow Clone and a timid, somewhat nervous Karin.

"Naruto?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was in the midst of tracking Orochimaru, looked up and froze when he saw the Shadow Clone.

"Aren't you participating in the Chunin Exams? Why are you here?"

"That's right—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head slightly, muttering in sudden realization, "You were eliminated, weren't you?"

"No, Hokage Grandpa, I'm just a Shadow Clone. My main body is still in the Death Forest participating in the exam."

"A Shadow Clone?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi crossed his arms and turned to look at Karin.

Red hair?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils slightly contracted, and his aged face couldn't help but become a bit more serious.

"So your purpose is to escort this Grass Ninja girl to me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took off his pipe and casually opened a drawer, pulling out a roster from inside. He casually flipped through it and found Karin's registration form and data sheet.

"Is your name Karin?"

"Karin, roll up your sleeve and let this old man take a look."