Deep in the Forest of Death

Team 7 was resting in the shelter of thick brush.

They had stayed put for half a day.

Though every minute counted, pushing on recklessly while exhausted would only leave them vulnerable to ambush.

Sakura was still in fair condition, but Naruto and Sasuke had been fighting nonstop. Their chakra reserves were low, and their bodies needed recovery.

They ate some dried rations, rinsed their wounds and faces with what little water remained in their bottles. Soon, the containers were nearly empty.

Sasuke rose, stretching his arms, and glanced around. "We're almost out of water. I'll go fetch some."

"I'll go! I'll go!" Naruto leapt up instantly, brushing grass from his clothes. Scratching his head, he grinned sheepishly. "Sasuke, you should rest a bit. Leave this to me."

Sakura curled her lips, unable to resist a jab. "Forget it. What if you get lost?"

"I won't get lost!" Naruto scowled, puffing his cheeks.

"Pfft…" Sakura stifled a laugh at his indignant face.

Sasuke had spoken casually, but when Naruto volunteered so eagerly, he sat back down without argument, a faintly knowing smile on his lips. "Fine. Let Naruto go. The river isn't far. There's no danger."

"Huh?" Sakura blinked. That was unusual. Normally Sasuke never trusted Naruto's careless behavior why so agreeable now?

Before she could ask, Sasuke crossed his arms, lifted an eyebrow, and smirked. "Naruto's so fired up because he plans to check whether she might be by the river, right?"

"Eh?" Sakura froze, then realized, and sighed. "Seriously "

Not far away, Naruto was slinging an empty bottle over his shoulder. Hearing Sasuke's tease, he flushed and scratched the back of his head. "N-no! I'm just getting water!"

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a look and laughed.

Red-faced, Naruto gave a couple awkward chuckles, then hurried into the trees before they could tease him further.

He had studied the map before entering the forest.

He remembered: in the heart of the Forest of Death flowed a wide river, and Class 7's entry point wasn't far from it.

If she Karin really was near that river, just as in the dream, this could be his chance to meet her.

Excitement welled up in him. Naruto picked up speed.

The forest was dim, filled with the musty smell of rotting leaves and damp soil.

Only the chirps of insects and birds disturbed the silence.

Naruto jogged for ten minutes before the faint sound of rushing water reached his ears.

His eyes brightened, and he quickened his pace.

Soon, the trees thinned, and a broad, glimmering river stretched ahead. Sunlight flickered across its rippling surface.

Naruto slowed, scanning the area.

No one.

No battle marks on the muddy banks, no hint of another presence.

His shoulders sagged in disappointment.

In the dream, I found her here… but in reality, nothing.

"Am I just overthinking things?" he muttered.

Still unwilling to give up, he searched up and down the bank but there was no sign of her.

Finally, he sighed, crouched by the river, and filled his bottle.

Cool water splashed into the container. Naruto splashed some onto his own face, savoring the refreshment.

May as well take enough for Sasuke and Sakura too, he thought, tightening the cap.

Just as he stood to leave

"Ahhh !"

A sharp girl's scream rang out from the forest behind him.

Naruto froze. His eyes darted around.

Almost immediately after, the roar of a beast thundered through the woods. A loud crash followed, as if a massive creature had toppled a tree.

"Girl's scream… and a bear?"

Naruto's heart leapt. His pulse quickened.

"Could it be…?"

Without hesitation, he grabbed his bottle and sprinted toward the sound.

Branches whipped against him as he dashed through the undergrowth.

Soon, he spotted a small figure fleeing desperately through the trees.

Her hair long, crimson, like flames blazed vividly against the green forest.

She stumbled and staggered, clearly exhausted.

Not far behind her, a hulking black-brown bear crashed through the woods, bellowing as it gave chase.

"H-help!"

The red-haired girl gasped for breath. Seeing the giant bear barreling down on her, she screamed in terror.

Her thin legs finally gave out, and she tumbled into the weeds.

The beast's eyes gleamed with feral hunger. With a thunderous growl, it swiped its massive paw, flattening the brush before it, then lunged forward. Its jaws opened wide, fangs flashing as it went straight for Karin.

At that instant, an orange figure shot in from the side.

Naruto sprang forward like lightning, his heel driving up under the bear's chin.

Thud!

The beast let out a strangled roar as its skull slammed back against a rock. Its eyes rolled, and it slumped heavily to the ground, unmoving.

Naruto landed lightly, checking the fallen beast before exhaling in relief.

He turned back quickly, offering his hand to the girl. "Hey, are you okay?"

Karin still sat on the ground, trembling. Only after seeing the bear unconscious did she regain her senses.

When she looked up, she met Naruto's bright blue eyes filled with concern.

The boy smiled at her, carefree and genuine. "Great! You're not hurt, are you?"

Karin blinked, dazed. Though they had never met, something about him felt strangely familiar.

His chakra radiated warmth and light, wrapping her in an inexplicable sense of safety.

"Uh thank you," she murmured.

Her cheeks tinged pink. Adjusting her black-rimmed glasses, she reached for Naruto's outstretched hand and rose unsteadily. "I-I'm fine…"

Her voice was shy, her heart fluttering. This was the first time a boy her age had protected her so openly.

Naruto gave her a once-over, noting only a few scratches. He grinned. "That's good! Haha, for a second I thought things were bad!"

But before he could say more, Karin's expression changed. She pushed his hand away suddenly, panic flashing across her face. "Run! It's an ambush!"

Naruto froze. "Ambush? What ambush "

"Useless brat, you really ruined it for us!"

A roar split the air.

From the branches above, a shadow dropped, kunai gleaming as it streaked for Naruto's back.

"Ah !"

Karin's heart sank. She lurched forward instinctively to shove him clear, but her legs were too weak. She collapsed back to the ground, helpless.

Her chest tightened. She knew that figure.

From the moment they entered the Forest of Death, her two Kusagakure teammates had shoved the Heaven Scroll into her hands.

"You're weak, and people will target you. That's good we'll be waiting above. As soon as they move for you, we'll strike and finish them in one blow."

Then they vanished into the trees, leaving her as bait.

She had understood perfectly well. To them, she was nothing more than a lure.

If the enemy was weak, she'd take the beating.

If the enemy was strong, she'd be abandoned to die.

And they had even let her be chased by that giant bear without lifting a finger.

Despair had set in until Naruto appeared like a flash of sunlight, striking the bear down in an instant.

Now, the boy who saved her life might die because of her.

Her teammates were inhuman, monsters in human skin.

Her eyes closed in grief. She couldn't bear to watch.

But the scream she expected never came.

Instead

Thud! Thud!

Two dull impacts, followed by a mocking voice.

"With this level of skill, you thought you could sneak up on me?"

Karin's eyes shot open.

The Kusagakure shinobi who had lunged so confidently was now pinned beneath Naruto's foot, his face smashed into the mud. His features were contorted, his muffled cries pathetic.

"Damn it! Where are my teammates?! Why am I the only one caught?!"

A low chuckle answered him. "Looking for this one?"

Karin's head jerked up.

Another Grass-nin, limp and unconscious, was being dragged from the treetops by the collar. The one holding him was a dark-haired boy who descended with effortless grace, landing lightly beside Naruto before tossing the body to the ground.

"Sasuke!" Naruto exclaimed, eyes wide. "Why are you here?"

The newcomer was indeed Sasuke.

Not far behind, Sakura emerged, panting but fierce. "Hey! I'm here too! Not that I was much help!"

Naruto felt a rush of warmth in his chest. His nose stung, his throat tightening.

"Sasuke… you're the best!"

....

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