"Willing to 'understand' and even 'forgive' the one responsible?"
Kabuto's voice was smooth, probing.
"Does that… really align with human nature?"
His words left Sasuke silent.
Eliminate the impossible—what remains, however improbable, might be the truth.
If Naruto wasn't being controlled… then why would he act like that?
That wasn't the Naruto Sasuke knew—the one who would risk everything for his comrades.
That complete absence of hatred felt unnatural. Artificial. Unsettling.
Seeing doubt flicker across Sasuke's face, Karin felt a surge of triumph—but maintained her stern expression.
Meanwhile, Naruto, immobilized in her grasp, burned with urgency and anger. Yet his body wouldn't obey him. He could only watch as suspicion deepened in Sasuke's eyes.
"No matter what—let him go first," Sasuke said coldly at last.
Instead of complying, Karin's face fell in exaggerated hurt.
"Sasuke! You don't trust me? That's so cruel—we're teammates!"
"And Naruto and I are both survivors of the Uzumaki clan. Why would I harm him? I'm just checking whether he's being controlled by something weird!"
Her eyes flicked sideways, and a sly, almost malicious smile crept in.
"Oh, right! I've got good news for you~"
She pointed toward the cave entrance.
"Thanks to Nagato's last effort, most of Konoha's people are alive again. Including… the 'enemies' you've been dreaming of killing."
She dragged out the words deliberately.
"It's chaos out there right now. Perfect time for revenge. Aren't you going?"
Despite his paralysis, Naruto's eyes lit up with relief.
Everyone in Konoha… alive again.
That was all that mattered.
But Sasuke's reaction wasn't what Karin expected.
His vigilance didn't waver. If anything, it sharpened.
These two had restrained Naruto. What were they planning?
Seeing Sasuke refuse to take the bait, Karin clicked her tongue. Acting bored, she dropped the pretense and turned to Kabuto.
"If he moves, stop him. Don't let him interfere."
Kabuto's altered eyes gleamed.
"Heh… I'm not fond of pointless battles. But restraining an Uchiha boy? That's manageable."
Karin ignored Sasuke's blazing fury and focused fully on Naruto. Her expression shifted to pure curiosity.
"Alright, little Naruto~ Don't be nervous. This'll be quick."
Her tone was playful. Her actions were not.
The warped, murky energy around her hand surged again—denser, darker, thicker than before.
Then she drove it into Naruto's body like an injection.
"AAAGH—!!!"
Naruto's scream tore from somewhere deeper than his throat—like something ripped straight from his soul.
Inside his consciousness—
Memories burst open.
The cold stares as a child.
Expired food. Hunger.
Jiraiya's death.
Kakashi. Hinata.
Resentment. Loneliness. Fury.
All the negative emotions he had buried beneath resolve and belief erupted at once.
"Hehe… how does that feel?"
Karin watched his face contort in agony, sensing the violent turbulence in his spirit.
Satisfied, she casually flung him aside—like discarding a toy—and hurled him toward Sasuke.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke dashed forward, catching him barely in time.
"You two are so close," Karin clapped mockingly.
Kabuto's mouth twitched. When had he become the stereotypical villain?
In Sasuke's arms, Naruto trembled violently. His eyes were shut tight. Veins bulged at his temples. Sweat poured down his face. His teeth ground audibly.
"What did you do to him?!" Sasuke roared.
Killing intent radiated from him like heat.
Karin only shrugged.
"I told you—he's being controlled. You didn't believe me."
"Just wait. You'll see proof."
As her words fell, Naruto's condition shifted further.
His pained cries became fragmented mutters—broken phrases filled with anger and despair.
Yet at the same time—
A warm presence radiated faintly from within him.
It was gentle. Soothing.
Like sunlight struggling through storm clouds.
"Feel that?" Karin's voice trembled with excitement. "The force controlling him—it's being forced into the open by his real emotions!"
Kabuto narrowed his eyes. He sensed it too—the abnormality.
"The energy you injected… what exactly was it?"
Karin didn't look away from Naruto.
"An Abyssal aura."
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