
After secretly retrieving Katsumi's corpse from Kusagakure along with Karin, the two bury Katsumi on a cliff in the Land of Fire where people rarely venture.
Standing in front of the tree where Katsumi's body was buried, Karin looked down silently.
Kuroto stroked her head and lightly said, "It's okay to cry ..."
Choking and holding back tears, Karin shook her head, "Oka-san said that the strong Kunoichi did not cry... I can't cry me... I have to be strong like Oka-san..."
Kuroto said lightly, "It's okay to cry today..."
As said before, weakness is a sin in this Shinobi World, but crying and lamenting one's death is not a sign of weakness…
Kuroto knew exactly what Karin was feeling, after all, she also lost her parents at an early age and only relied on herself to survive.
It was Yui who taught him that crying is permissible. if we are sad.. if it hurts. then crying will ease our pain…
For a little girl who was only about six years old, it was natural to cry after losing the only person who cared for and loved her to death…
Kuroto said softly, "It's okay to cry today, I give you permission."
With Kuroto's permission, Karin could no longer hold back, and the tears she had long tried to endure broke instantly.
And she cried, she cried loudly, she vented all her sadness and loneliness, all this time, the Uzumaki symbol on the back of her neck shone and spread an unknown warmth in her heart.
Karin remembers this warmth, that is what she felt with Oka-san by her side.
Kuroto curiously looked at the symbol, and he could see what was happening. The Uzumaki Clan's symbol holds Katsumi's Uzumaki Chakra as well as life force, and perhaps even a fragment of her soul which is why she can feel Karin's emotions and act on it.
After a while, when Karin finally calmed down, she said to the stone slab between the giant roots of the tree, "I will become the strongest Kunoichi ever... and I will make you proud Oka-san... Until next time..."
Leaving this sentence, he turned around and spoke to Kuroto, "Let's go Kuroto-sama."
Kuroto nodded as she silently glanced at the elusive image of Uzumaki Katsumi standing in front of the tree she could see.
She did not tell Karin about this because Katsumi gestured for her to remain silent, and she nodded.
With Karin finally ready to leave, Kuroto takes her to Ancor Vantian.
Karin was honestly very surprised to see Ancor Vantian. It felt like from the fairy tale…
Karin repeatedly asks a lot of questions from Kuroto, she answers the questions she agreed to tell Karin at this time.
Karin's arrival shocked Gaara, and he was quite nervous right now.
In Suna, Gaara's situation is similar to Naruto, Gaara has no friends.
So when Karin arrived at Ancor Vantian, Gaara was nervous whether she would treat him like he was treated at Suna.
Karin clearly did not have any prejudice against Gaara. In addition, he could sense that Gaara's chakra gave him a protective feeling… And because Shukaku's chakra is completely sealed and because Karin is not yet proficient enough to sense such hidden chakra then she cannot sense Ichibi's evil chakra.
Therefore, he looked at Gaara with curiosity, but if you ask him, he was more curious about the character of Kanji on Gaara's forehead than Gaara himself.
Kuroto said as she looked at the two children, "Well you two introduce yourself..."
Karin was the first to speak, "I'm Uzumaki Karin, I want to be the strongest Kunoichi, happy to meet you..."
Karin's cheerful attitude towards her surprised Gaara and after a little hesitation she finally bowed and introduced herself, "I am Gaara, Jinchuriki of Ichibi, Shukaku... my dream is to become a powerful Shinobi worthy of Kuroto-sama's recognition..."
Karin nodded, then asked curiously while tilting her head, "What is Jinchuriki? And what is Ichibi?"
Gaara suddenly stopped, he was not sure if he should tell him about Shukaku.
Perhaps because Kuroto felt Gaara's gaze, he suddenly stopped and said, "As far as you are Gaara-Kun. if you want, you can, otherwise you don't need to."
Gaara fell silent, meanwhile, Karin turned to the fourth person standing in the room and asked, "What's your name Ojii-san?"
Asked by Karin, the fourth person who had been silent until now, tilted his head in confusion and said lightly ... "I don't have a name ..."
Karin was confused, "Why not?"
Gaara was also confused, he had yet to recognize who this person was even though he felt this person was familiar.
The Kazekage puppet was confused and after a moment of silence, he said, "I was never given a name ..."
"Why not?" - asked Karin again.
The Kazekage puppet said, "I don't know, maybe Kuroto-sama knows..."
"Why does he know? Parents don't give their children names? She is definitely not your parents, so how could she know?" – Karin grew even more confused as she spoke to this Ojii-san.
Now even Gaara was looking at the conversation of the two.
While the Kazekage Puppet was staring at Kuroto for answers and explanation, he was late because Kuroto had already left the room and went elsewhere.
…
The Kuroto side.
After leaving the room to give the two children time to make friends, each of Kuroto was now thinking of a training plan for the two.
Due to the initial awakening of the Sand Element within him, Gaara's starting point can be said to be second only to Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Shisui of the same generation. Even if Kuroto did not interfere, it would not be wrong to say that Gaara could naturally grow into a top-tier Kage Class shinobi himself.
But since Kuroto had taken Gaara under his wing, so obviously Kuroto was dissatisfied with anything below the top-tier Super Kage Class.
After all, anything below the Super Kage level was almost useless during the fourth great shinobi war. And Kuroto obviously needs Gaara to be at least at the level of Senjutsu Enhanced Kurama Mode Uzumaki Naruto, below that is pointless.
With that intention, and taking into account Gaara's fighting style... Kuroto must formulate an exercise plan.
After thinking a little, Kuroto decided not to follow any fancy training plan, but rather started by training the basic skills of Taijutsu Gaara with minimal reliance on the Sand Armor…
One is combating wisdom, the ability to fully display their own power. Many people had the ability first, yet not everyone had the ability to fully demonstrate their strength in battle.
Take for example Hiruko, even with five Kekkei Genkai, he lost and had to sacrifice his legs and hands, meanwhile, Yondaime-sama alone with Hiraishin no Jutsu and Rasengan became the most feared shinobi of the third great shinobi war.
So just having strength alone is not enough, training the wisdom of fighting is much more important.
The second factor is none other than Chakra control.
Chakra is the root of all Jutsu, so better and smoother control of the Chakra, shinobi will be better in all forms of combat.
And since Gaara had always been strong since childhood, therefore, he did not have proper fighting wisdom. Gaara could actually defeat others with his superior strength, but when against someone of the same age and the same strength, there was a high chance that he would lose.
This is evident from his panic and shock when fighting Rock Lee, and Uchiha Sasuke. Although Gaara did not lose, when he was on the verge of defeat because he was completely overwhelmed.
Especially against Uchiha Sasuke, when Gaara was on the verge of losing control in the canon.
Therefore, Kuroto planned a physical training plan for Gaara.
Moreover, Taijutsu combat is the best method to defeat in combating the wisdom within a person. In a fast paced taijutsu fight, one must learn to predict the opponent's next move, learn to use deception, mislead others, look for loopholes and opportunities, and also learn to look for traps and all, as well, so that the experience of fighting increases easily.
Therefore, Taijutsu is the best.
After Gaara's training plan was decided, next was Karin. And Kuroto plans not to train Karin for now.
This was not because Kuroto could not think of a training plan for Karin, but because during Karin's stay in Kusagakure, she did not receive the appropriate nutrition. Therefore, even though he was an Uzumaki, his physique was still quite weak.
Before starting to practice, Karin had to recover and reach a normal point if there would be no negative sequel.
Of course, Kuroto would not release him as long as he recovered.
With Karin's talent and her Uzumaki descendants, Kuroto would naturally not be satisfied if she was only part of the support and logistics department. He must be someone who has the same level as Gaara. Someone who can fight alongside Gaara on the same level while also holding him back if Shukaku gets out of control.
To this end, Kuroto will begin his teaching in calligraphy and train his numeracy skills, which is very important for Fuinjutsu.
Karin is an Uzumaki, so teaching her Uzumaki Fuinjutsu is obvious. But Fuinjutsu certainly needed a lot of things, which he had to teach him.
Practicing his numeracy skills will not only help in Fuinjutsu but also become the basis for him when he starts to learn biotechnology, as he will become Kuroto's assistant so it is a must.
After everything was decided, Kuroto called the Kazekage puppet and instructed him on everything, who nodded respectfully.
And after everything was settled, Kuroto was about to leave, just then the Kazekage puppet suddenly spoke, "Kuroto-sama.why don't I have a name?"
Kuroto was surprised by the sudden question, and asked curiously, "Why is it suddenly interested in a name?"
The Kazkekage puppet told Karin and Gaara's question a while ago and then spoke after thinking a little, "Everyone has a name, Gaara-sama, Karin-sama, Itachi-sama, Shisui-sama, Pakura-sama, sir, Shinichi-sama, only I don't have one, why?"
Kuroto was surprised, 'Suddenly asked for a name, huh? I wonder what the next change will be.'
Kuroto honestly never expected that the Kazekage puppet would suddenly ask for a name, it seemed like he had turned into a living being…
After thinking for a while, Kuroto said, "Now that you mention it, you do indeed need a name..hmm, let's do it this way, since they both asked you, hmm, how about I entrust this to them. Let them both work out a name for you. This will be their first challenge in their Shinobi path."
The Kazekage puppet nodded and then went to tell Gaara and Karin their first challenge.
With the problem resolved, Kuroto smiled and started walking towards the exit of Ancor Vantian.
This time for the plan of bringing in subordinates, Kuroto continued his Sensei approach. Intervene and help children when their hearts are most vulnerable and they are in the most critical situations of their lives.
Kuroto being their savior naturally made her earn all their trust, so Kuroto believed that as long as both of them were brainwashed properly, and treated carefully, she was a little bit of a girl, either of the two would not hesitate to give up their lives if Kuroto asked. Which is the kind of eternal and undeniable loyalty that Kuroto wants.
Satisfied, Kuroto walked flying out of Ancor Vantian, and went to the agreed meeting place with Shisui.
In the past few days, wherever Kuroto went, he used the Tenseigan Chakra Mode, so not many days had passed. Because of this, Shisui who usually came from the Land of Wind had clearly not reached Konohagakure yet.
After meeting Shisui, the two went to Konoha.
…
A few days later.
Konohagakure, Hokage Office.
When Kuroto and Shisui return and give the Kazekage-dono scroll to Hokage-sama, they also learn about Kakashi and Guy's mission.
The two had already returned two days ago with the approval of the Raikage. And the Raikage clearly agreed to join in the raid.
As Sandaime reads the report, he is struck by the actions of Hyuga Kuroto and Uchiha Shisui who saved Sunagkure from Ichibi's rampage, as well as Ichibi Jinchuriki's execution.
While Sandaime chose not to pay too much attention to Suna's execution of Jinchuriki, Sandaime specifically praised Shisui and Kuroto for their decision to interfere in stopping Ichibi's rampage. This will improve the relationship between Konoha and Suna to some extent, which is indeed needed at this time.
Subsequently, Sandaime completed his mission.
By stepping aside, remove the two scrolls and order the four shinobi from the Anbu-11 team, "In the upcoming secret meeting, Team-11 will accompany me as my bodyguard, is it clear?"
Sandaime had been very concerned about eliminating Akatsuki, and due to the unclear identity of the spy, he had made sure to keep this attack a secret even from the other three old advisors.
After all, Akatsuki has too many rogue ninjas in Konoha, there is no guarantee who are the spies, it is better to just keep the fewest number of people involved in the entire attack.
Sandaime could not ignore, people like Uchiha Shinichi, Hiruko, and Orochimaru became part of Akatsuki.
Regarding Sandaime's orders, none of the four Team-11s objected and they nodded at the same time, "Ya Hokage-sama!"
.
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