The Akatsuki meeting reached an unprecedented level of shock after White Zetsu revealed whose body the Akatsuki cloak was on.
Nagato, manipulating the corpses from his high tower, felt a surge of stifled rage gather in his chest.
Why did this organization seem to be full of traitors?
"This is your doing." Konan was furious internally but didn't act, because this organization was the culmination of Yahiko, Nagato, and her own efforts.
Moreover, taking action would consume Explosive Tags, which was too wasteful.
The hardships of her impoverished childhood had instilled in Konan a habit of frugality.
Perhaps sensing the atmosphere wasn't tense enough, White Zetsu added, "Konchin's ring seems to be on him too, by the way."
White Zetsu's transformation ability was unrivaled in the shinobi world. Observing someone covertly was effortless for him. If not for his abysmal combat strength, he could assassinate anyone.
He couldn't get close in the wilderness, as his intent would be too obvious. But in towns, he could transform into a passerby and walk past Naruto from a distance. As long as he showed no aggressive intent, even Jiraiya wouldn't notice him.
Silence fell across the room. What was the meaning of this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
"Does this count as an outer member of the organization? Gah-gah..." White Zetsu quipped.
"Cough, cough..." Nagato coughed out his pent-up frustration, controlling the Deva Path to say, "Alright, let's put an end to this matter. Also, Kakuzu, there won't be a next time."
"Oh," Kakuzu replied, but he didn't take it to heart at all. Selling clothes wasn't selling intelligence. A fool wouldn't make money when it was available.
In the evening, Naruto bathed his pets.
With their life in the wild, plus the considerable dust Naruto generated from blowing up trees, they needed a bath once a month.
It wasn't frequent; bathing too often could damage their fur and make them prone to skin diseases.
The others would splash about, but Ginger, the orange cat, as long as a piece of meat was dangling in its mouth, would rest its head on the basin's edge, motionless, letting you do whatever you pleased.
Looking at Ginger, who seemed to have shrunk by two sizes with its wet fur, Naruto suddenly asked, "Big Fox, have you ever had a bath?"
"No," the Nine-Tails was bewildered. What kind of thought process was this kid's? Had he ever seen a Tailed Beast that needed a bath?
"Want to try?" Naruto was eager. When you keep pets, how can you not bathe them?
He still harbored a sliver of fantasy, hoping that perhaps the Nine-Tails was just plump from fluff, and its fur would flatten once wet.
"No, I don't like water." What do you take me for? That cat in your hand?
"Come on." Naruto crawled off the Nine-Tails' belly, jumped down, and pulled out a rope to measure the fox's length and width.
A swimming pool was out of the question; he'd be content just to build a bathtub.
The Nine-Tails was speechless. This brat had always been like this; he did whatever he wanted, never listening to a word you said. As long as you didn't hit him, he'd just keep bothering you.
"Thwack..." Naruto patted the Nine-Tails' backside. "Tuck your tails in."
Having too many tails had this downside; it was hard to measure without tucking them in.
The Nine-Tails controlled its tails, drawing them in.
Even with Naruto tormenting it like this, it still cooperated.
Because, after ten years together, it had grown used to it.
Watching Naruto walk towards the forge, the fat fox's mouth curved upwards, and it turned its attention back to the TV show.
The Nine-Tails wouldn't be used to it if Naruto didn't torment it.
Three nights later, Naruto sat on the ground, twirling his ring.
He was troubled, not by the difficulty of building a bathtub big enough for the Nine-Tails, but by his inability to learn Karin's Adamantine Chains.
Even with Jiraiya's help, he hadn't figured out how to learn this passive skill.
"Don't overthink it. Go for a walk and clear your head," Jiraiya said, resting his chin on Ginger's body while writing his book.
This cat, serving as a cushion, gave him a lot of inspiration.
"Oh," Naruto replied blankly, pondering where he should wander off to.
Land of Snow, Land of Waves, or Ryūchi Cave...
Wait... Ryūchi Cave?!
Thinking of Ryūchi Cave, he thought of the Snake Sage, and then Kabuto.
How did Kabuto obtain others' abilities? By juicing people and injecting them into his own body.
Should he try juicing Karin too?
No, Karin didn't need to be juiced; she came pre-juiced.
All jutsus in the shinobi world were related to chakra. If he couldn't release Adamantine Chains with his own chakra, what if he replaced all his chakra with Karin's?
If that still didn't work, then he'd try a blood transfusion.
If that still didn't work, Naruto had no other ideas. He couldn't really juice Karin into "sister juice," could he?
That would be too horrifying.
Having figured it out, Naruto stood up and returned to his room.
"What's wrong? Did you think of a method?"
"Got a bit of an idea."
"That's good."
After going back to read some sealing jutsu books and playing two games of shogi with the Nine-Tails, Naruto lay on the Nine-Tails' belly and drifted off to sleep.
The next day, at Orochimaru's base.
Naruto and Karin were discussing the matter of borrowing chakra.
Of course, he didn't mention blood transfusions or juicing.
Karin listened, dumbfounded. This kind of thing...
Kabuto, who controlled the dead, listened intently. Naruto's plan gave him great inspiration. If this was feasible, then...
His heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. Kabuto relayed Orochimaru's words: "Naruto-kun's idea is good, but it will be difficult to succeed."
"Is that so?"
Kabuto continued to relay: "If Naruto-kun really wants to learn this jutsu, I can find someone to teach you..."
"No thanks," Naruto flatly refused. "Then, Karin, I'll borrow you for now."
"Please do." The reanimated corpse made a gesture of invitation.
Compared to others, Orochimaru genuinely didn't care much about Karin.
Pulling the bewildered Karin towards the teleportation gate, Naruto waved, "See you."
On the other side of the gate was a small island with lush vegetation.
Karin looked around, then turned to look at the purple gate, muttering, "Amazing..."
If she had this kind of ability, could Sasuke still escape from her grasp?
"Check her." Naruto nudged Jiraiya.
Fearing that Orochimaru or Kabuto might be using a Transformation Jutsu to fool them, he would always call Jiraiya to check whenever he brought someone from Orochimaru's base.
"Hey, old pervert, what are you doing?" Seeing Jiraiya approach, Karin instantly became alert.
She had certainly heard about Jiraiya's reputation.
"I'm not interested in little girls," Jiraiya said as he walked, then swiftly dodged to the side.
"Clang-clang-clang... BOOM!"
Chains extended from Karin's body, slamming onto the grassy ground. Even with Jiraiya's words, she dared not let him approach.
Jiraiya scratched his head. Is my reputation really that bad?
Five minutes later, Karin, whose identity had been verified, said, "Let me say this first: just once."
"How is that possible?" Naruto replied. How could an experiment be done only once?
Karin clenched her fists. "You... I'm just making amends! Don't push your luck!"
"Don't worry, if there's a need, I'll compensate you afterward."
"How will you compensate?"
"To be discussed. Rest assured, you definitely won't be shortchanged."
"Hmm?" Karin pondered. She knew Naruto and Sasuke had a good relationship; it was evident from the battle at the base last time. If that was the case, perhaps she could get some of Sasuke's personal... Hehehehe...
Putting away her infatuated expression, Karin pushed up her glasses. "Alright, how do we do this?"
"Wait for me." Naruto crossed his arms.
Jiraiya immediately jumped to a distance.
Naruto raised a finger, and chakra instantly surged forth, blowing across the entire grassland, forcing Karin back several steps.
Naruto was full of chakra and didn't need healing. To absorb Karin's chakra, he naturally had to deplete his own.
This way, it would also be completely replaced by Karin's.
Ten seconds later, Karin swallowed hard. This person's chakra volume is simply monstrous...
Even as a fellow Uzumaki, Karin's chakra reserves couldn't compare to Naruto's. Even if she squeezed out every last cell in her body, she still wouldn't match a fifth of Naruto's.
After twenty-odd seconds, Naruto was drenched in sweat, panting as he lay on the ground.
Chakra and a person's state influenced each other; once chakra was depleted, a person would become extremely fatigued.
Jiraiya stood beside Naruto, on guard.
Karin's heart began to waver. In this situation... I'll be drained dry.
Unfortunately, this was an island; she had nowhere to run. Biting her lip, she extended her arm. "Come on!"
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