Karin's crimson eyes spun thoughtfully, and that mischievous smile returned—brighter than ever.
She lifted a finger and tapped it lightly against her lips, speaking in the tone of someone who had just discovered a delightful new game.
"So, Sasuke… you said that monster specifically 'eats' chakra…"
She paused deliberately, scarlet eyes sweeping across the tense trio—lingering especially on Naruto.
"Doesn't that mean…"
"If you use enough chakra—strong enough chakra—you could 'feed' it… or maybe even lure it out?"
The question sounded innocent.
It wasn't.
Earlier, Sasuke and Neji had used the threat of unleashing the monster as leverage against Naruto—by detonating their chakra in desperation.
Now Karin had stripped that threat down to its core—and judging by the sparkle in her eyes, she was more than willing to test it.
If Sasuke and Neji had treated the monster as a bargaining chip—
Karin was treating it like a toy waiting to be unwrapped.
Naruto's pupils shrank sharply. His chakra flared uncontrollably for a brief instant.
Sasuke felt his heart sink.
The worst-case scenario was unfolding.
Meanwhile, Karin hummed casually, staring at the ground beneath her feet, as if deciding which "flavor" of chakra might best wake the "sleepy" monster below.
Across the Shinobi World
Countless people held their breath, scalp prickling with dread.
With a single airy sentence, the Demon Child had shoved an already unstable situation to the brink of total collapse.
The tension—inside and outside the projection—tightened to a snapping point.
"Karin!" Sasuke stepped forward despite dizziness and blood loss, voice firm. "We absolutely will not let you do that."
Karin's gaze flicked over his missing arm and pale face.
Her expression openly conveyed: You're in no position to lecture me.
Then she turned to Naruto, smile returning—innocent and sly all at once.
"Naruto~ aren't you trying to 'destroy the world'?"
She pointed downward.
"Wouldn't releasing that monster be perfect? It eats chakra, right? Once it's out, it'll clean up all those ninja and their massive chakra reserves for you. Faster than doing it yourself—and way less effort!"
Her suggestion was efficient.
Cruel.
Utterly Karin.
Naruto's expression hardened instantly. His Rinnegan glowed faintly as he shook his head.
"Karin. Abandon that thought."
"What I intend to accomplish, I will accomplish with my own will and power."
"Relying on an uncontrollable monster that might devour even me? That is not my path."
There was unmistakable pride in his tone.
His goal was to dismantle the shinobi system—not mindlessly annihilate the world.
And releasing a creature that fed on chakra when his own strength depended on chakra?
That would be stupidity.
Hearing Naruto's firm refusal, Sasuke and Neji quietly exhaled.
For the first time in a while, all three stood on the same side of something:
Do not release the monster.
It was a fragile consensus—but a consensus nonetheless.
To their surprise, Karin did not argue.
She nodded obediently.
"Okay~ fine. If you say so."
She waved a hand, her excitement fading into something closer to boredom.
"Your fight is your business. I should probably get ready to run again. Want to know why?"
Run?
That old man who had chased her relentlessly?
Sasuke felt some of his tension ease now that she had apparently lost interest in the monster.
Curiosity crept in.
"Who is chasing you?" he asked. "Someone even you can't handle?"
He had witnessed her abilities firsthand.
For someone like her to flee in embarrassment—
That opponent had to be extraordinary.
Karin pouted slightly, reluctant.
"You wouldn't know even if I told you. So I won't."
She rolled her eyes.
"I just happened to see something unfair and stepped in to 'help.' Then I offended someone I probably shouldn't have."
Help?
Unfair?
Sasuke frowned deeply.
He knew Karin.
The idea of her selflessly helping out of moral indignation felt… suspicious.
"You're sure you were 'helping'?" he asked carefully.
Across the Shinobi World
Collective groans erupted.
"Oh no. Sasuke, you idiot! You're falling for it again!"
"You don't even fully believe Naruto—why would you believe Karin?! Has she ever told the whole truth?!"
"With her personality? She'd never drop interest in a chakra-eating monster that easily!"
"She's plotting something. I guarantee it."
"And Sasuke's asking follow-up questions?! At this point he should be dragging Naruto and Neji away from that seal as fast as possible!"
"She claims she was 'helping'? I'll believe that when the Five Great Nations sign a peace treaty with Akatsuki."
"This calm act of hers is way too suspicious…"
Almost everyone saw it.
Karin was being far too cooperative.
Far too reasonable.
And that was precisely what made it terrifying.
For someone like her to casually "give up" on such a fascinating toy?
Impossible.
She was brewing something.
Everyone could feel it.
Everyone—
Except perhaps Sasuke.
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