Under the heavy canopy of the dense forest, the air was thick with mist and tension. The team had taken shelter beneath the arched roots of a massive ancient tree, its hollow base forming a natural cave. Rain began to fall, soft at first, then steady — masking distant sounds and making the atmosphere eerily quiet.
Naruto stood just outside the entrance, arms crossed, his vibrant orange jumpsuit dulled by the mud and shadows. He looked to the others — Sasuke was silent, watching the rain. Sakura was huddled, arms wrapped around her knees, occasionally glancing at Sasuke.
"I'll go catch some fish," Naruto said, already forming the hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu."
A clone poofed into existence and nodded, sitting back near the group to stand watch.
Naruto moved into the forest, his chakra carefully suppressed.
By the River – Moments Later
The babbling of the stream echoed softly in the trees. Naruto crouched by the riverbank, his hands steady as he watched fish dart between stones.
Just as he was about to strike, Uzuhiko's voice echoed in his mind.
"Naruto. I sense something... an Uzumaki chakra signature. Young. Nearby. It's faint, but it's definitely ours."
Naruto froze. His eyes narrowed.
"Where?"
"Northeast — roughly 300 meters. Hurry."
He stood instantly, vanishing with a silent Body Flicker.
In the Forest Clearing
The scene was almost too late.
A massive bear, easily twice the size of a man, snarled and lunged forward.
In its path was a young girl — no older than eight, maybe nine. Her vivid red hair tangled and matted with mud and leaves, her eyes wide with fear. She held a small kunai in her hand — trembling.
Naruto didn't think.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
A burst of wind slammed into the bear, pushing it off its feet and crashing it into a tree.
The girl collapsed in fear. Naruto landed in front of her, kunai drawn, his eyes cold.
"You alright?" he asked, never turning his back on the beast.
The girl stared at him, breath shaking. "W-Who are you…?"
"Uzumaki Naruto. You?"
She blinked. "Uzumaki…? I'm… I'm Karin. Uzumaki Karin."
Naruto's chakra flared briefly. Uzuhiko was silent for a beat, then:
"There's no mistake. That's real Uzumaki blood. You've found another one, Naruto."
Naruto smirked, crouched low, and charged forward.
Naruto's eyes widened as he knelt beside the red-haired girl, his chakra still softly humming from the jutsu he'd just unleashed.
The girl rubbed her tear-streaked face against her arm, trying to appear strong despite the trauma. Her violet-red eyes locked with his as she sniffled, clearly not expecting someone to care.
"What's your name?" Naruto asked gently.
The girl hesitated, then replied in a soft, broken voice,
"Karin… I-I'm from Kusagakure. My team… we came for the exams. But…"
Her voice cracked.
"The bear… it killed them all. I ran… I thought maybe if I could hide long enough, someone would find me."
She tried to stand but her knees buckled. Naruto caught her easily before she hit the ground. She looked up at him in surprise.
"You did good surviving this long." Naruto said, steadying her.
"Let's get you patched up, and I'll contact the proctors to send you back to Kusagakure—"
"No!" she suddenly shouted, grabbing his sleeve with a desperate grip.
"Don't send me back there! Please!"
Naruto stopped, his face turning serious.
"Why not?"
Karin bit her lip hard, trying to suppress her emotions.
"They don't want me. They only let me in because I can heal people. I'm a sensor, I can sense chakra like no one else… but they always said I was weird. That I smelled like chakra or something was wrong with me. My teammates hated me…"
She trembled now, her voice quivering.
"If I go back, I'll be alone again… Or worse. They'll punish me for failing the exam…"
Naruto remained silent for a moment. Then he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a military ration bar, unwrapped it, and handed it to her. Karin stared at it like it was sacred food.
"Eat. You're coming with me."
"W-What…?" she stammered.
Naruto smiled again, softer this time.
"You're an Uzumaki, right? That makes us family. I won't leave family behind. You're coming back to Konoha—at least for now. I'll figure out the rest."
Karin began to cry again, but this time she didn't try to hide it. She leaned into him, her small frame trembling as years of rejection and loneliness poured out. Naruto didn't say anything, but his hands gently ruffled her hair.
"Tch, another lost soul the world tossed away," Uzuhiko muttered in Naruto's mind.
"Good thing you caught her."
"She's one of us," Naruto replied inwardly.
"And I won't let her fall through the cracks."
From afar, the river kept flowing peacefully, as if nothing had happened—but within that moment, a new bond between two Uzumaki had just been forged.
Naruto glanced at the still-weeping Karin, who was now nibbling on the ration bar between shaky breaths. His gaze shifted slightly, becoming sharper with focus. With a single hand sign, a puff of smoke appeared beside him.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
A perfect replica of Naruto appeared, hands in pockets and expression calm.
"Take her to the underground base," the original Naruto instructed in a low voice. "Access route omega—use the forest entry node through Training Ground 21. Bring her through the secondary purification seal. Uzuhiko will guide you once you're inside."
The clone nodded silently, then looked down at Karin, his tone soft but firm.
"Karin, I'm going to take you somewhere safe. Somewhere only I and a few trusted people know about. It's protected by sealing techniques—nothing will hurt you there."
Karin blinked up at the clone. "T-There are two of you…?"
The clone offered her a small smirk.
"Just one too awesome to stay in one body, dattebayo."
Naruto chuckled internally.
Karin hesitated, but after everything she had seen—giant bears, death, and now kindness from someone like her—she nodded and carefully stood up. The clone supported her gently as they began to move through the trees, Karin leaning on him for balance.
As they disappeared into the dense foliage, Uzuhiko's voice echoed inside Naruto's head.
"Sending her there already? Bold choice."
"She needs help. You sensed it too, didn't you?"
"I did. Her chakra coils are… chaotic but deep. She has potential. Old blood. Strong blood."
"Then I'll help her find her strength. Like I did." Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. "She deserves that chance."
A faint buzz of chakra activated in the distance as the clone reached the secret entry point—a moss-covered stone slab hidden in the roots of an enormous tree. As he placed his hand on the spiral insignia carved into the stone, an elegant pulse of fuinjutsu glowed, recognizing Naruto's chakra signature.
Welcome, Uzumaki Naruto.
The entrance slowly opened, revealing a tunnel illuminated with soft blue chakra lights, leading deep into the hidden base—Naruto's sanctuary, R lab, and second home.
"Time to show her what it means to be an Uzumaki," Naruto muttered as he turned back toward the forest river, preparing to rejoin his team.
As Clone Naruto led Karin deeper into the glowing spiral-lined halls of the underground base, she looked around in awe. The warmth of the chakra lights, the hum of hidden seals pulsing with energy, and the sheer depth of the structure gave her the sense she was stepping into something far more than a safe house. It felt… like a hidden kingdom. A place meant for something greater.
Eventually, they reached a quieter side chamber—walls lined with old Uzumaki clan patterns, a soft bed, and a small table already set with preserved food and clean water.
Clone Naruto stepped inside and gestured to the cozy little quarter.
"You'll stay here for now. No one else comes down here without permission." He smiled, then added, "This place is built by my boss—you'll meet him when he returns."
Karin blinked. "Your… boss?"
The clone's smirk turned almost smug.
"He's the real me, dattebayo." Then he pointed to the walls. "Everything here? He made it with his own hands and fuinjutsu. You're safe here. Rest up, and don't worry—he'll explain everything when he gets back."
With that, the clone gave a nod and flickered out of existence in a puff of smoke, leaving Karin alone, wide-eyed and speechless at the room prepared for her.
Back in the forest...
Naruto returned to the cave beneath the old tree's roots, a string of freshly caught fish in hand. The scent of river moss still clung to him as he ducked under the hanging foliage shielding the entrance.
Sakura was still fast asleep in the back corner, wrapped in her cloak. Sasuke, pale but stable, lay quietly under the faint glow of a low-level medical seal Naruto had activated earlier.
As Naruto laid the fish down and began preparing a small fire, Uzuhiko's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"The girl's settled in. She's curious—and still scared. But she's strong, Naruto."
"I know. That's why I'll help her." He carefully skewered the fish and placed them over the small flame. "She's one of us. She deserves a future."
"So do you. Don't forget that."
Naruto sat back against the cave wall, eyes watching the fire flicker gently across the stone walls. Tomorrow would bring more danger, more tests. But for now?
He had protected someone.
And that, for him, was enough.
Author's Note:
So, how was this chapter?
Nothing major happened plot-wise, but it served its purpose—introducing Karin into the story. Sometimes these quieter chapters are needed to set the stage, and trust me, she's going to play an important role going forward.
Thanks for sticking with me even during the slower moments! Don't forget to comment, review—your feedback always keeps me motivated!
- Author