A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-Davis Nguyen
-Cain
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-HADES
-Varun Madhu
-Aziz Makda
-Gonzalo Sumalavia
-Klip
-JWolf
-kevin Williams
-Shadow260802
-MIKE
-KD2001
-merp.
-Jose Carrillo
-Derek M
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
—————————————————————
Karin didn't know how long she had been unconscious.
By the time she woke up, the sky had completely darkened.
However, the forest at night wasn't cold—because waves of warmth kept washing over her from nearby.
Turning her head slightly, she saw a campfire burning beside her, with sizzling, oil-dripping skewers of roasted meat cooking over it.
"You're awake?"
A gentle voice reached her ears, and a hand was turning the skewers above the fire.
Following the hand, her gaze landed on a handsome face—one that had appeared repeatedly in her dreams just moments ago. It confirmed that this wasn't a dream.
Remembering how she had fainted earlier, Karin's face flushed red again. Fortunately, the flickering firelight masked her embarrassment.
Quickly, she scrambled to her feet and bowed deeply to Ryūsei. "Thank you for saving—"
Before she could finish, darkness clouded her vision again. Her body swayed unsteadily, threatening to collapse right into the fire.
Ryūsei swiftly grabbed her small hand and pulled her into his arms.
Holding the girl—who was about the same size as Sakura—Ryūsei had no intention of taking advantage. He soon set her down beside him and advised, "Your body is too weak. Don't let your emotions get too worked up. You can thank me properly once you've recovered."
After speaking, he handed her a skewer of roasted meat. "Eat something first."
"...Thank you."
Karin took the skewer and murmured her gratitude, her voice as soft as Hinata's.
Her head was still buzzing.
'This person's scent… it's so nice! Mmm… even better than the roasted meat!' Karin thought to herself as she ate.
Of course, Ryūsei had no idea what she was thinking—otherwise, he'd probably be sweating bullets.
Truly a fangirl with obsessive tendencies!
Ryūsei picked up his own skewer and took a bite before cutting straight to the point. "I gave you some basic treatment earlier. What's with the bite marks on your arm?"
"Th-this…"
Karin's mind went completely blank. Her first thought wasn't about explaining her ability—but whether these bite marks would disgust Ryūsei. Would the hero who saved her look at her with revulsion?
Seeing her speechless, Ryūsei continued, "I examined them. The bite marks vary in size and shape, so they weren't made by the same person. Also, your body is perfectly healthy, but your chakra reserves are pitifully low—completely inconsistent with your physique. Does your ability involve giving your chakra to others?"
Hearing no trace of disgust in his tone, Karin let out a silent sigh of relief.
"Yes… that's my ability."
She nodded, not hiding anything. "But it's not about giving chakra to others—it's healing injuries. Ever since I was little, I've known my body was special. No matter how severe the injury, if someone bites me, their wounds heal almost instantly. But the cost is that the more severe the injury, the more chakra I lose. If my chakra isn't replenished, it starts draining my life force. My mother… she died because of that."
As she spoke the last sentence, her eyes dimmed.
Seeing her low spirits, Ryūsei patted her shoulder and changed the subject. "By the way, we haven't even introduced ourselves yet. I'm Hoshina Ryūsei. What's your name?"
As if touched by his concern, Karin—who had always prided herself on her resilience—suddenly felt her eyes welling up. Her voice trembled as she answered, "I… I'm Karin."
Like many orphaned geniuses in the shinobi world, Karin had never been cared for or valued since her mother's death.
The people around her had only seen her as a replacement for her mother—a medical tool to be used.
Yet now, in someone from an enemy village, she felt the same warmth only her mother had ever given her.
At this moment, Karin's defenses crumbled.
Watching her bow her head in tears, Ryūsei knew it was time.
Gently patting her trembling shoulder again, he asked softly, "Karin, do you have a family name?"
"N-no…"
"Then do you know what your ability is called?"
Karin lifted her tear-streaked face, shaking her head. "N-no…"
"You mentioned your mother had the same ability, right?"
"Mm."
"Then I think I know what your ability is—and what your ancestors' surname was."
Under Karin's puzzled gaze, Ryūsei smiled. "Most likely, Karin, you're a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. Your ability is called Healing Bite!"
"Uzumaki clan? Healing Bite?"
Karin was even more confused.
Kusagakure was a minor village, its historical records nowhere near as extensive as those of the great villages. There was no way it would have records of the long-extinct Uzumaki clan.
If it had, neither Karin nor her mother would have suffered such treatment.
They certainly wouldn't have sent Karin to Konoha for the Chunin Exams.
Clearly, Karin knew nothing about this ancient clan that had perished first among the great shinobi families.
So Ryūsei began explaining patiently.
"The Uzumaki clan was distantly related to the Senju clan, which is why Konoha has complete records on them. From what I know, they once lived on an island, founding a hidden village called Uzushiogakure. They were always allies with Konoha. But because the clan specialized in sealing techniques, many nations feared them. Decades ago, they banded together and destroyed Uzushiogakure. By the time Konoha's reinforcements arrived, the village had already been massacred. They only managed to save one person—the Fourth Hokage's wife."
Seeing Karin's dazed expression, Ryūsei continued, "The Uzumaki clan's distinguishing traits were red hair, immense chakra reserves, and several unique abilities—one of which was Healing Bite. That ability is exactly the same as yours. If I'm not mistaken, Karin, your mother—or perhaps your grandparents—must have been survivors of the Uzumaki clan."
Karin looked stunned, never imagining that her lineage and ability had such a grand origin.
Then, Ryūsei suddenly said, "Karin, do you want to join Konoha?"
"Eh?!"
Karin blinked in surprise before her face lit up with nervous excitement. "C-can I?"
Karin wasn't particularly interested in Konoha itself, nor did she care much about her ancestry or abilities—those were just stories from decades ago, things that had nothing to do with her anymore.
But the thought of joining Konoha meant she could live in the same village as Ryūsei. That alone made her heart race.
Still, thinking of her current status, she hesitated. "But I'm a shinobi of Kusagakure. Would Konoha really accept someone like me?"
"Absolutely."
Ryūsei nodded firmly. "If you're willing, your hair and abilities alone are proof of your heritage. I'll also ask my jonin instructor to recommend you. I'm sure the Hokage will approve your entry into Konoha."
"I want to join Konoha!"
Without hesitation, Karin nodded.
The girl knew this was her only chance to change her fate—and stay close to Ryūsei.
After living in hell since her mother's death, she didn't want to miss this opportunity to grasp the light.
"Good. Once the Chunin Exams are over, I'll ask my instructor to petition the Hokage."
Ryūsei stood up and extended a hand to her, smiling. "Welcome to Konoha, Karin."
Under the flickering firelight, Ryūsei seemed to glow—and Karin's gaze turned infatuated once more.
At this moment, she felt a strange gratitude toward the very village she had always hated—Kusagakure.
If they hadn't forced her to participate in the Chunin Exams, she would never have met Ryūsei in this lifetime!