"Alright, let me handle it."
After saying this, Karin didn't care about Momoshiki's reaction and regained control of her body.
With preparations Naruto made before her departure, no matter how much stronger Momoshiki's spirit was, the 'priority' of body control remained below hers.
If she hadn't lost consciousness earlier, Momoshiki wouldn't have come out so easily.
Speaking of which, Karin felt a lingering fear, as if waking from a long, long dream.
Just now, under her 'own gaze', her moves suddenly became ineffective.
Afterwards, Karin only felt her consciousness sinking deeper and deeper.
The surroundings turned dark, like the deep sea.
When she regained awareness, she was back before meeting Naruto.
Back in the Kusagakure's team.
But this time, her luck wasn't as good… she didn't meet Naruto.
Not only that, her treatment afterwards was even more tragic than her counterpart in another parallel timeline.
Even Orochimaru didn't save her.
At that time, as if without her current memories, she remained a 'mobile blood bag', a 'tool' used by others.
Soon, like her mother, she became scarred and weak from too many extractions by the Kusagakure's Ninjas.
By then, Karin had grown numb, not expecting anyone to save her, only hoping to die quickly.
'If I die, I'll see Mom, right?'
Kusagakure's Ninjas quickly realized this little brat Karin wasn't as 'useful' as her mother, seemingly nearing the end, so they chose to transport her to the border frontlines, providing minimal treatment for injured ninjas.
They wanted to squeeze the last bit of value from this body.
Feeling her body temperature drop and vision blur, Karin felt relieved.
Finally, ending?
But fate played another joke on her.
Her frontline was suddenly attacked one night.
The attackers didn't seem like enemy Ninjas but more like killing purely for killing's sake.
Those guys wore black cloaks, holding sickles, hooks, or other 'torture tools'.
Yes, torture tools.
Created purely for inflicting pain rather than efficient killing.
Kusagakure's Ninjas were no match for the cloaked figures.
Their attacks on the others seemed like mud flowing into the sea, achieving nothing.
In contrast, the others just used torture tools on themselves, and strong Kusagakure's Ninjas immediately screamed in pain.
Blood soon soaked the ground, even covering Karin's corner.
The strong metallic smell almost made Karin vomit.
But she didn't even have the strength to vomit.
Before dawn, no survivors remained in the frontline camp besides Karin.
Unable to move, not eating for days, she was perhaps close to death.
"...Ah! A seed of suffering."
Suddenly, a cloaked figure walked before her, picked her up, examining her like a treasure.
Soon, more cloaked figures came, jointly lifting the battered Karin.
The first rays of sunlight shone on her at that moment.
Later, Karin was taken to their base, undergoing a series of treatments—
No, more like transformations in Karin's current view.
After being tumbled around, the Karin in that 'dream' completely rebirthed.
Reborn as a fanatic worshipping only the 'Jashin-sama', willing to offer everything for 'Jashin-sama'.
'No, not like this! You shouldn't be like this!'
No matter how Karin's main consciousness shouted, the Karin in the dream couldn't hear.
Karin witnessed bit by bit how another self became an undying Jashin's believer, eliminating various enemies for the Jashin Cult.
First small Ninja Villages, then small countries… soon, increasingly rampant 'sacrifices' attracted the attention of the Five Great Nations.
They dispatched elite ninjas from the Five Great Ninja Villages to confront them, but all died at the cultists' hands.
And Karin, who killed the most, gained recognition from all other believers that day, revered as the true representative of Jashin in the human world.
She was Jashin's vessel!
Even she herself believed so, feeling supreme honor.
Finally, in a crisis threatening to destroy the Ninja World, true powerhouses appeared.
The Legendary Sannin, the Five Kage, even the Akatsuki, but they all fell before her.
Until—
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I'll stop you!"
'No! Not like this!'
'How could I oppose Naruto-san?!'
Watching her dream self repeatedly defeat Naruto, torturing Naruto with various curses-
Though Karin knew none of it was real, she still suffered indescribable impact.
Simultaneously, various whispers echoed in her ears.
Torture him.
His not choosing you is his fault.
Kill him.
Make him regret.
This is what he deserves.
You did nothing wrong.
If you can't have it, destroy it!
"NO!!!!"
'If getting Naruto-san's love required this.'
'Rather than hurting Naruto-san, I'd rather die myself!'
Finally, as if some chain binding Karin herself broke, the dream that enraged Karin shattered-
Replaced by hopeful golden radiance.
The last trace of gloom in Karin's heart dispersed by herself.
At this moment, if Pure Gold had a spirit, it might truly acknowledge Karin.
Golden light spread from Karin's heart outward… soon, her consciousness rose from the 'deep sea'.
Like waking from a dream, Karin's mind half clear, half lingering in the dream's aftertaste.
But she quickly regained composure and control of the situation.
"Hey! You stinking woman! I saved you just now so you could live until now, don't—"
Snap...
Momoshiki was manually silenced by Karin.
"Whether you saved yourself or me aside, thanks for helping just now."
Rarely, Karin thanked Momoshiki.
This made the stomping, furious Momoshiki in the mental space pause, then turn away with feigned disdain.
"Tch… who wants a loser's thanks?"
But Karin didn't engage.
"Next, leave this to me."
Karin's body abruptly enlarged, instantly transforming back to the size capable of covering the island.
Along with it, the golden light full of warmth and hope also enlarged.
A completely different aura emanated from Karin's body.
Though still immature, undoubtedly, it was—
"Conqueror's Haki."
This Conqueror's Haki wasn't as domineering as Naruto's, Shanks's, or Kaido's, nor as sharp as Sasuke's blade-like intensity.
It was more like a sun.
Warm, gentle, yet with majestic might.
The golden halo behind Karin's head enlarged now, actively floating before her like opening a gate to heaven.
The next moment, the countless black sludge-like Jashin fragments were irresistibly drawn into it.
Then the halo contracted, reappearing behind Karin's head.
Dust settled!