"Eh? Karin-nee isn't coming with us?"
Just before the Gale Breaker left port, a loud exclamation came from the docks.
Fortunately, in the Lawless Zone of Sabaody Archipelago, this was nothing unusual. Hardly anyone turned their attention towards them.
"Hmm... I want to see this world on my own."
"This world that's so completely different from the Ninja World."
Karin clasped her hands behind her head, her tone relaxed.
Hearing this, Konohamaru wanted to say something, but Naruto beside him cut him off.
"That's true. After all, ever since bringing you all here, we've been busy running around."
"And besides, how can a fledgling grow up if it's always sheltered under someone's wing?"
Saying this, Naruto gently placed his hand on Karin's head, ruffling her hair just as he had when he first met this girl.
Feeling the gentleness in Naruto's voice, the vulnerability Karin had just hidden away almost surfaced again.
But she managed to keep a straight face, looking seriously at Naruto.
"Naruto-san."
Karin's eyes held determination and resolve.
"Please, all of you, witness my growth."
Even now, Karin couldn't quite articulate what exactly she felt for Naruto.
Was it admiration for her savior, or attraction towards a perfect member of the opposite sex?
Truth be told, Karin wasn't even an adult yet. The first half of her life had been confined to Kusagakure, a place that only left her with scars.
Growing up in such an environment, even after meeting Naruto and experiencing so much, there were still many gaps in her personality and mindset.
And if she continued to stay by Naruto's side, those gaps would never fill themselves in.
Because Naruto would only offer unconditional protection… he wouldn't give her a dream or an ideology of her own.
In his eyes, these were personal freedoms that shouldn't be dictated by anyone else.
And that was precisely what Karin needed.
What was her life meant for?
What could she do with this power she wielded?
If not as someone else's tool, not as a Ninja, but simply as an independent individual, what should she do?
To be honest, upon hearing Karin say this, Naruto's first reaction was a twinge of guilt.
He was well aware of the girl's feelings for him, which went beyond mere admiration.
But Naruto also knew this affection couldn't be reciprocated.
Setting aside whether this feeling was a distorted illusion born from gratitude, even if it were genuine, Naruto couldn't respond.
On one hand, there was the age difference. On the other, Naruto truly didn't have room for a third person.
Frankly, getting involved with Stussy and Hancock was already giving him a headache.
And he wasn't the irresponsible type.
So the girl's admiration was destined to come to nothing.
However, after the guilt came more a sense of relief.
Because he could sense Karin's confusion.
It was precisely because she was thinking that confusion arose, showing Karin was beginning to separate from him and become her own person.
She was no longer an appendage to someone else's will, no longer living for someone else.
She had finally escaped the [Kusagakure] within her own heart.
And what awaited Karin next was her own life.
So when Naruto gently covered Karin's head with his hand, the smile on his face came from the heart.
"Go out and explore boldly."
"But don't forget, no matter when, no matter what you encounter, you can always trust us. You can always come back to me."
Saying this, Naruto straightened up, smiling at Karin.
"But don't make us wait too long, okay?"
"I don't think you'd want to miss Kosei's childhood either."
"And there's Jiraiya-sensei. In a while, I'll return to the Ninja World and bring him over to stay for some time."
"He'd probably be very interested in all sorts of things here. Maybe the Icha Icha series could get a new sequel."
Mentioning Jiraiya brought a soft smile to Karin's face.
Besides Naruto, the person she trusted most was her teacher, Jiraiya.
Or rather, more than a teacher, Jiraiya left her with the impression of a grandfather.
Though they shared no blood relation, this old man always gave her meticulous care.
He was much more thoughtful than the unrefined Naruto. When it came to a young girl's heart, Jiraiya was also better at offering guidance.
During the period after being rescued, Naruto had to entrust Karin to Jiraiya's care because he needed to go to the One Piece World.
Back then, Karin trusted no one but Naruto.
Yet, incredibly, Jiraiya took just over a month to become friends with the little girl, dissolving her unease and wariness.
What a lovable old man.
Thinking of this, Karin's eyes became firm and bright again.
"Two years. I'll come find you all on Amazon Lily in two years."
Her tone was decisive, without a trace of hesitation left.
"Good. We'll be waiting for you."
The atmosphere was warm and touching.
-It would have been even more perfect if Sasuke hadn't so mood-breakingly walked past just then.
"Hmm?"
Seeing everyone's puzzled looks, Sasuke instead had an indifferent expression.
"You're going to Amazon Lily to take care of a child. No need to bring me along, right?"
"It's rare to come to another world. I want to look around on my own too."
Saying this, Sasuke also smiled.
"By the way, I'd like to visit that [Kano Country] you mentioned, Naruto, to learn the secrets of the [Hasshoken] from the Happo Navy."
Speaking of this, Sasuke got somewhat excited.
Only after casting off the shackles of hatred did Sasuke reveal his true nature.
That pursuit of strength, that yearning for powerful foes.
"Compared to that, I'm more looking forward to whether you can find your own 'other half'."
Naruto leaned in mischievously, wrapping an arm around Sasuke's shoulder.
"Don't forget 'reviving the Uchiha Clan'. At the very least, you should have eight or ten children, right?"
Thump!
Sasuke elbowed Naruto hard in the chest. However, apart from making his own arm go numb, the blow had no effect.
Of course, even if useless, an elbow strike was necessary.
Holding his arm, Sasuke said grumpily,
"Do you think people are pigs? Eight or ten children?"
"So you're not denying finding an 'other half', then."
"Get lost, get lost..."
As they talked, both laughed.
"How come when it's my turn, you're so at ease? No more words of advice?"
Saying this, Sasuke rarely smiled.
"Rather than worrying about you, I should worry about the people who become your enemies."
Indeed, having experienced the large-scale Summit War and even faced the Five Elders head-on, perhaps only the three Emperors could threaten Sasuke now.
-Oh, and maybe some special Devil Fruit users.
One could only hope Sasuke would be careful and not fall into someone's trap.
Parting between men didn't require many words.
Compared to his fatherly demeanor when Karin chose to leave, like a child venturing out for the first time, Naruto seemed quite at ease with Sasuke.
As the wind stirred the sea, the distance between the Gale Breaker and the dock grew. Karin and Sasuke's figures also appeared smaller.
"What? You want to go out and make your mark too?"
Naruto didn't need to look to know the expression on Konohamaru's face beside him.
This kid was practically nodding his head off.
"You, brat, still have a long way to go."
Naruto pushed Konohamaru over with a single finger, then crouched down.
"At the very least, you need to learn Sage Mode before thinking about going out to make your mark."
"Eh... come on..."
Their voices grew fainter as the Gale Breaker sailed further away.
On the dock, Karin and Sasuke looked at each other, then tacitly turned their heads away.
"Hmph, don't you follow me."
Karin took the lead walking towards the island. Although she had the ability to fly, for the sake of keeping a low profile and wanting to experience a different life, she planned to buy a ship first.
Before leaving, Naruto had left each of them with plenty of Berry. Purchasing a small sailing vessel was completely no problem.
Watching Karin's departing back, a smile also suddenly appeared on Sasuke's face.
Then, he transformed into Huodou, riding flame clouds to soar into the sky, heading straight in another direction.
"Tch, show-off..."
Karin muttered softly.
Within her mental space, Momoshiki, still bound in a specific type of restraint, was calling out.
"Hey!"
"Human!"
"Karin!"
"Look at me!"
To get attention, he even unprecedentedly used Karin's name.
Unfortunately, Karin, who could now actively choose whether to block out the mental space's sounds, simply couldn't hear it at all.