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Chapter 71: Karin: Ahh, I Have to Go Help Sasuke!
Konan was already prepared. The ground beneath Honoka suddenly transformed into a large sheet of white paper, lifting her along with the Water Prison she controlled high into the air, allowing her to dodge the lightning spear shooting up from below.
Kameda, wearing a flight device, descended from the sky and landed beside Honoka. He glanced at the battle that was about to erupt below and said quickly, "Leave this to me."
"Quick! Take over now!"
Three Sky Ninja behind him stepped forward, placing their hands on the water sphere. They jointly cast the Water Prison Technique, taking over control from her. Honoka released her grip. "Okay, Uncle Kameda, I'll leave this person to you. I need to go down and help Lady Konan."
"Go on. You can count on me. I definitely won't let this person escape."
Honoka nodded and dove toward the ground. Sasuke walked out of the base, his eyes sweeping over the situation in the air, his gaze remaining cold and emotionless.
Suigetsu suddenly wailed, "Ahhh... Sasuke! Jūgo was captured! We have to save him..." He then lowered his head and said heartlessly, "Oh... looks like we can't fly. Can't be helped. We'll have to let old Jūgo suffer for a bit."
As for Karin, she didn't spare a single glance for Jūgo in the sky, just kept staring at Sasuke, completely infatuated. Her inner fangirl exploded: Ooh! Sasuke acting all cold is so cool, so handsome! I can't take it, I can't take it! Karin, you have to be a lady, a lady...
Sasuke retracted his gaze and looked coldly at Konan. He wasn't worried about Jūgo. As long as he killed this woman who foolishly dared to provoke him, Jūgo would naturally return safely.
"White Tiger, you shouldn't have provoked me."
Sasuke dispersed the lightning spear and drew his Kusanagi Sword from his back. "You will pay the price of death for your stupidity!"
Konan remained silent. With a wave of her hand, a dense barrage of white kunai shot down from the air, forcing Sasuke, Karin, and Suigetsu to leap apart simultaneously.
"My, my, starting a fight without saying a single word. That really fits your cold personality, White Tiger!" Suigetsu drew his Executioner's Blade, licking his shark-like teeth. "Hehehe, cutting the Akatsuki's White Tiger in two with the Executioner's Blade... that sounds like a very good idea."
Konan didn't even look at Suigetsu, merely splitting off a single paper clone to deal with him. With a large source of water, he could unleash incredible power, enough to stall even the Eight-Tails. But without that geographical advantage, Suigetsu was just an elite jonin. His hydration technique was just a bit troublesome, that's all. A single paper clone was more than enough to handle him.
As for Karin Uzumaki... Konan looked toward Honoka, who said seriously, "Lady Konan, please leave her to me. At the very least, I can hold her off and keep her from disturbing your battle."
"Go."
Konan had some understanding of Karin's abilities. She wasn't strong. Her sensory and healing abilities were powerful, but her offensive power was weak. She hadn't awakened her Adamantine Sealing Chains, so she should be no match for Honoka.
Honoka rushed forward, her eyes fixed on Karin, and shouted, "Karin Uzumaki, your opponent is me!!"
Faced with an opponent, Karin finally tore her burning gaze away from Sasuke. She adjusted her glasses, staring at Honoka's red hair, which was identical to her own. She hesitated. "You're also from the Uzumaki clan?"
"That's right!" Honoka nodded, excited to meet a kinsman. "I'm Honoka Uzumaki. Just like you, I'm a member of the Uzumaki clan."
Karin glanced at Sasuke, who was facing off against Konan. As for Suigetsu, who was currently being beaten by the paper clone and running for his life, she didn't even look. She couldn't care less if he lived or died. Only Sasuke was important. She calmed down and began to carefully size up this kinsman who had appeared out of nowhere, her intelligence coming back online as she decided to gather some intel first.
"What is your goal? Are you trying to capture Sasuke? And that cold woman... how does her chakra suddenly seem several times larger than before?"
Honoka shook her head. "No comment. I will not tell you any information regarding Lady Konan." Looking at Karin, she could tell the other girl was two or three years younger than her. In her heart, she saw this kinsman as a younger sister, but she would never betray Lady Konan.
Karin could see that this naive-looking kinsman wasn't going to reveal any information. She immediately started walking toward the battlefield, preparing to return to Sasuke's side and help him. However, Honoka dashed forward, blocking her path. She said firmly, "You will stay right here. I won't hurt you, and Lady Konan won't hurt you. You and I are both of the Uzumaki clan. We are the last remaining relatives of our bloodline. I hope you won't go and disturb Lady Konan."
She could feel that her blood connection with Karin was very close. Perhaps their mothers or their grandparents were relatives.
Karin's expression turned cold. She said agitatedly, "What Uzumaki clan? What kinsman? It's all crap! Since it's already extinct, why bother bringing up the Uzumaki clan!! Back when my mother and I were suffering in the Village Hidden in the Grass, where was the Uzumaki clan? Where were you?!"
Honoka had a complicated expression. "Sorry, I also only recently learned about what happened to you and Aunt Kana."
"I don't need your apology! This has nothing to do with you!!" Karin walked right up to her. "Move! Or I won't be polite! Sasuke was the one who saved me from that sea of misery. I must go and help him! If you block me, you're not my kinsman, you're my enemy!!"
"Sorry..." Honoka reached out an arm to block her. "I can't let you pass."
"Is that so..." Karin's glasses glinted, hiding her eyes. Her tone became sharp. "Then you can just die!! Anyone who gets in my way of helping Sasuke deserves to die!" With a roar, she pulled out a kunai and stabbed it straight at Honoka's chest.
Shhh! At that moment, a golden chain shot out from behind Honoka. It snaked up Karin's right arm, the one holding the kunai, coiling like a serpent. In an instant, it had wrapped around her entire body, binding her like a golden-wrapped dumpling, leaving only her head exposed.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!!" Karin screamed. She had heard her mother talk about this: a Kekkai Genkai ability that only core clan members who had developed their Uzumaki bloodline to an extremely deep level could use. It possessed powerful sealing properties and restraining abilities, capable of binding even a Tailed Beast with ease.
"Let go!! Let me go!!!" She shook her head, her red hair flying wildly as she struggled. But it was useless. The powerful Adamantine Sealing Chains bound her completely. The chakra in her body felt as if it had been sealed, going dormant and making it impossible for her to use.
"Sorry..." Honoka gently patted Karin's head. "You'll stay here with me for a while. Don't go disturbing Lady Konan."
"Ahhhhh! You bastard! You rotten woman! Some crap kinsman you are!! Why are you stopping me from helping Sasuke!!" Karin cursed up a storm, a string of profanities pouring out. Honoka was unmoved, simply treating her as a misbehaving, rebellious little sister.
In less than half a minute, the situation on the field had turned completely. Of the three members of Taka, Jūgo had been captured and taken into the sky. Karin was restrained by Honoka's Adamantine Sealing Chains, unable to move. As for Suigetsu... he was lying on the ground like a dead dog, forced to keep his body in its hydrated form, passively enduring a continuous barrage of Exploding Tags. All three had been neutralized, unable to go and help Sasuke.
Sasuke didn't care about this. He was the strong one. This Mangekyō was strong. His teammates being defeated would not affect the final outcome. This battle, he would definitely win!
Crackle! Blue electricity sparked across Sasuke's body as he used his lightning-attribute chakra to increase his speed. He shot out like an arrow released from a bow, arriving in front of Konan in an instant. The battle began!