Rengoku left Karin behind alone because he wanted to ask about what happened in the Forest of Death.
He stroked Karin's long red hair and asked softly,."Why didn't you use your ability to save them in the Forest of Death?"
Karin flinched at the question and lowered her head.
But she soon stole a quick look up at Rengoku's expression.
When she found Rengoku's face gentle, she stammered and opened her mouth, "I… I…"
"I don't want to use my ability to heal them."
Rengoku was a little surprised, "Why, don't you think they're important companions?"
Karin stood frozen, head down, not speaking.
Rengoku just waited for her to say something.
Karin looked up with aggrieved eyes and said, "I don't want to be like Mom!"
"I don't want to be like Mom, passively enduring everything."
"I have my own thoughts! I want a life completely different from Mom's!"
"I'm not saying they're not companions, it's just that they weren't in mortal danger. I don't want people, other than Shishou, to bite me."
As she spoke, Karin cried in grievance; her face immediately turned into that of a little sulky cat, "I don't want to be like Mom, bitten by so many people until I'm covered in wounds. I don't want that kind of life, I don't—WAH! WAH! WAH!"
"It's okay, there, there, it's alright now."
Rengoku gently wiped Karin's tears and comforted her in a soft voice.
No wonder Karin's personality was almost the opposite of Kasui's, now it was clear why.
Karin clearly had childhood shadows and psychological trauma.
For her, Kasui being forced to be a blood bag and her passive, enduring personality were synonymous with disaster.
So Karin rejected Kasui's personality traits and the previous ways her own abilities were used.
If the situation hadn't allowed it, Rengoku might have intervened in Karin's thinking.
But now he held the Water of Life; Karin's ability could save lives, and the Water of Life could also save them.
There was no need for her to suffer through it alone.
"Then don't use your ability. Don't worry, no one will force you."
"From now on, carry some Water of Life on you; if someone is seriously wounded and near death, it can keep them alive, stop them from dying."
Hearing Rengoku's understanding, Karin was deeply moved; she hugged him and rested her head against his chest.
Rengoku ruffled Karin's hair, "Alright, then I won't force you to use your ability either."
Karin, still crying, twitched at Rengoku's words with a "uh."
She couldn't breathe for a moment, her face turning red.
Rengoku hurriedly patted her back, "What are you in such a hurry for, I'm not—"
Karin coughed twice, then hurriedly said, "No, Shishou, it's different. I'm happy if I can help Shishou."
For Karin, seeing Rengoku was the turning point of her life.
Rengoku was the kindest person to her in this world; the fact that her bloodline limit could be used for Rengoku made her only happy.
"Alright, and you'll still be needed later too," Rengoku smiled a little and patted Karin's little head.
Although he originally brought Karin back to the Uchiha for benefits, Rengoku truly doted on her. Karin felt gratitude, which naturally pleased him.
"Wipe your tears. Watch over Hinata and Hanabi; I still have things to deal with."
Karin pouted, grabbed Rengoku's clothes, and promptly wiped all her tears away.
Then she made a goofy face at Rengoku, "All wiped!"
Rengoku couldn't help but smile dumbly, reached out, and tapped Karin's forehead, "You little rascal, hurry up."
Karin stopped crying and smiled; she bounced away with light steps.
Although she'd grown up, Karin hadn't changed a bit. Still that child.
———
[Hokage's Office]
There were many people present this time.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were all there.
Because the Third Hokage had completely torn things with Rengoku this time and directly replaced the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.
Also, the ANBU sent to besiege Rengoku were brutally killed by him, dozens of them, and these were the Third Hokage's own men.
This many died even with Jiraiya's cooperation.
Jiraiya's side didn't fare well either; Shima the toad was burned by Amaterasu.
Although he severed the summoning, the toad's large body was fully engulfed by Amaterasu.
Now Shima's whole body is severely burned; though his life should be saved, how long recovery will take remains to be seen.
The Third kept redeploying troops and frequently moving ANBU, preparing for the Uchiha's thunderous response.
But what he didn't expect was that the Uchiha hadn't reacted yet.
The Hyuga side had the incident first.
Given today's situation, the Third had already dispatched many ANBU to investigate.
Many ANBU saw the green signal flare shot into the sky by the Hyuga.
Some ANBU even approached the Hyuga grounds.
They discovered fierce internal fighting among many Hyuga members.
As more intelligence came in, the Third deduced that something had happened to the Hyuga.
"A Hyuga branch family coup?", the Third Hokage asked, surprised.
Sarutobi Ishishu nodded gravely, "That's the only plausible possibility."
"And the branch family likely succeeded. Otherwise Hiashi would have appeared long ago."
The Third wasn't surprised that the Hyuga branch would rebel.
Where there's oppression, there's resistance; Hizashi and Koshin were all used as scapegoats by the main family. It wasn't strange the branch would rebel.
How the branch succeeded, however, the Third didn't know clearly.
But many ANBU reported that Hyuga people were covering work in the village, and many roles were being filled by clan members.
The Hyuga's functional roles were mostly the same, that wasn't the problem.
But this meant many Hyuga had died today, and their roles could only be roughly maintained for now.
As for Rengoku entering the Hyuga compound and finally taking Hinata and Hanabi out, the ANBU also reported that.
The Third thought that if Hiashi were alive, he wouldn't have allowed that.
It looked like Hiashi had put all assets into Rengoku's hands.
As for the stated excuse of attacks by Obito, Hiruko, and phantoms, the Third didn't believe it for a moment.
"The Hyuga branch had been planning against the Uchiha for years; even Sota from the branch planned this some years ago."
"We can't spare attention to the Hyuga right now. The Uchiha have already sent word."
"Rengoku is forcibly calling a high-level meeting."
Koharu reminded the Third what was most important now.
The Third took a drag of his pipe, "I'm not worried about the high-level meeting. I'm still the Hokage."
"I only worry Rengoku will act recklessly."
"Homura," someone frowned as if thinking of something terrible, "could he act directly?"
Koharu's face darkened, remembering being threatened by Rengoku before, and said, "It's not impossible."
The Third glanced at Jiraiya; Jiraiya shook his head slightly, "If Rengoku makes a move, I won't be safe either. Before you convene, prepare yourselves."
Koharu asked the Third, "Have you decided on what you mentioned last time?"
The Third's expression turned grave as he nodded, "Decided, and already done. Otherwise how could I produce so much money."
"But they won't spare the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki."
Sarutobi smiled with confidence, "I think, no one can stop it."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.