The Next Day – Deep in the Forest of Death
The morning mist curled around the thick canopy of trees like silent serpents. The forest was alive with distant roars and shrill cries of unseen predators. It was the second morning inside the Forest of Death, and danger hung in the air like a predator watching from the shadows.
Naruto awoke first.
He stretched silently, casting a brief look toward Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke remained unconscious from the cursed mark, twitching occasionally. Sakura was alert but tired, her hand resting protectively on Sasuke's shoulder. Her eyes met Naruto's with a silent question.
"He's stable, but we need to move soon," Naruto said, his voice quiet and firm.
Before she could respond, Uzuhiko's alert chimed sharply in his mind.
"Three high-speed chakra signatures approaching. Sound-nin. Hostile intent confirmed."
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"Get ready. We've got company."
Moments Later – Outside the Cave
Naruto stood at the mouth of the cave, arms crossed, acting every bit the overconfident knucklehead as he faced the approaching threat.
From the trees, three shinobi emerged — the Sound Team: Zaku Abumi, Kin Tsuchi, and Dosu Kinuta.
Zaku sneered. "So you're the Uzumaki brat? This'll be easier than we thought."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"You guys really need a better entrance. All that noise, I could hear your chakra from a mile away."
Kin's brow twitched. "Cocky much for someone with a comatose teammate and a medic girl to protect."
Naruto smirked.
"I'm sorry, was that supposed to intimidate me?"
Zaku was the first to move. He raised his arms, preparing to unleash a Decibel Blast with his air cannons — a destructive wave of sound meant to rupture bones and scramble chakra networks.
Naruto moved faster.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade Barrage!"
He weaved hand signs quickly and unleashed a flurry of cutting wind arcs that sliced the terrain and forced Zaku to jump back mid-attack.
In a blur, Naruto closed the distance, grabbed Zaku by the collar, and drove a seal-tag straight into his gut.
"Fuinjutsu: Chakra Disruption Seal."
Zaku's body locked up instantly, his chakra pathways jammed as if seized by invisible chains.
Kin launched a volley of chakra-threaded senbon toward Naruto from the side — but Naruto's kunai spun midair, slicing the wires with uncanny precision.
"You really should have aimed for someone who isn't a sensor."
Before Kin could recover, Sakura appeared behind her — taking advantage of Naruto's distraction. With a precise strike, she knocked Kin out cold with the butt of a kunai.
Dosu, watching carefully, didn't underestimate Naruto. He moved with more caution, activating his arm device and using Resonating Echo Speaker to generate targeted soundwaves aimed at Naruto's brain.
But Naruto didn't dodge.
Instead, he absorbed the attack with a glowing seal on his palm.
"Custom Seal: Vibrational Dampener."
Dosu's eye widened. "Impossible—!"
"I built it last week." Naruto smiled. "Now sleep."
He vanished from view.
In the next instant, Dosu's body crumpled to the ground, Naruto behind him, his hand glowing from a soft stunning seal applied to the base of Dosu's neck.
Aftermath –
Sakura, who had tied up the unconscious Sound-nin, sat by Sasuke, whose body was still writhing slightly from the cursed mark.
Naruto stared at the unconscious trio thoughtfully.
"Someone sent them. This wasn't random."
Uzuhiko replied, "Agreed. Their orders were precise. Eliminate or cripple Sasuke. Likely tied to Orochimaru's appearance yesterday."
"Then it's time we got out of here soon."
As Naruto tended to the sealing of the unconscious Sound-nin to prevent their escape, Sakura watched him with a mix of awe and confusion. He was so calm. So prepared. So… different from the Naruto she thought she knew.
But for now, she said nothing.
Naruto said- sakura go to sasuke and stay with him, I deal with them.
Sakura nodded and went towards the there cave camp.
Karin- naruto's underground base-
Meanwhile, back at the spiral-inscribed hidden base beneath Konoha, Karin cautiously walked through one of the side corridors. She had spent the night recovering her energy, and curiosity had finally gotten the better of her. The walls pulsed gently with chakra, lighting her path as if the base itself was alive.
She turned into a vault room—rows of glowing seals etched into the floor and walls, shelves filled with ancient scrolls, chakra batteries, and prototype drones floating in stasis.
Her hand reached out to touch a glowing orb when suddenly—
"WARNING. Unauthorized interaction detected. Step away from secured prototype. Identity: Unknown."
The voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere. Startled, Karin jumped back, holding up her hands.
"Okay! Okay! I'm not touching anything!"
The base hummed quietly. The orb's glow dimmed.
"Awaiting directive from Prime Operator: Uzumaki Naruto."
Karin let out a slow breath. "You're definitely not normal, Naruto… Who are you?"
Back in the Forest – Naruto's POV
As Naruto stared at Zaku and Dosu who was lying unconscious, bruised and bloodied, against a fallen tree. Standing nearby, arms slightly raised in surrender, was Kin Tsuchi—bruised, her clothing torn, but alive and conscious.
Naruto stepped forward from the shadows.
Kin turned sharply, fear flashing in her eyes, but when she saw him clearly, she relaxed a little—like she had been waiting for this.
"please don't kill me, you can take our scroll and don't kill me."
Naruto raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.
Kin reached into her pouch slowly and tossed their Heaven Scroll toward his feet.
"Take it. I don't care about Orochimaru's tests anymore." She took a shaky breath. "But I need something from you in return."
Naruto folded his arms. "Go on."
Kin dropped to her knees.
"I want out. Out of Orochimaru's reach. I want safety. In exchange, I pledge everything to you—my skills, my loyalty. I'll serve you however you ask."
Naruto was about to speak when she stunned him.
She bit her thumb hard enough to bleed. Then, placing her bloodied thumb over her heart, she whispered:
"I pledge my loyalty to Uzumaki Naruto—upon my will, my chakra, and my soul. Let this blood bind my vow."
Her chakra flared faintly as the improvised blood-seal ignited on her skin. Naruto stared in silence.
"I'm not a good person," she said softly. "But I know what monsters look like. And you… you look like hope."
Uzuhiko's Voice in Naruto's Mind
"Her words are honest. The chakra binding confirms it. This isn't a trap."
Naruto finally stepped forward and helped her up.
"Alright, Kin. But from now on, you follow my orders—and my path. We don't hurt people unless we have to and meet me after this test end until go with your teammates and take this seal to contact me. Understood?"
She nodded and took the seal quickly.
"Yes, Naruto-sama."
Naruto grimaced. "Let's… stick with Naruto for now."
Kin watched it in shock. "You're not just a ninja… You're something else." As she took her teammates and went towards otherside.
Naruto didn't respond. He simply turned to head back to the cave where Sakura and Sasuke were.